The Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, Postscript

The Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus · Postscript

p. 139A POST-SCRIPT.

OUR famous **Fox Acts & Monuments London. 1610. p. 502.Martyr Iohn Purvey, in King Henry the fourth his raigne, delivered this Poſition, touching the preaching of the Goſpel; That whoſoever receiveth or taketh upon him the office of a Preiſt, or of a Biſhop, and diſchargeth not the ſame by the example of his godly converſation and faithfull preaching of the Goſpel, is a theife, excommunicated of God and of holy Church. And further, that if the Curates preach not the word of God, they ſhalbe damned, and if they know not how to preach, they ought to reſigne their livings, (as ‡‡Platina, Onuphrius, Bale Stella, Volateranus Celeſtin. 5 & Bonifac. 8.Pope Celeſtine the fifth, **Georgius. Pontan. Bohemiae. piae. l. 3. p. 36. Godwin. Catalog. of Bps. p. 212. 216 460. 564. 585. Mathew. Weſtminst. An. 932. p. 361. Newbrigenſ. l. 1. c. 14.Adelbartus the ſecond, Biſhop of Prague, Daniel the 6. and Firthſtane the 23. Biſhop of Winchester, John the 5. and Thurſtan the 28. Archbiſhop of Yorke, Thomas Spofford the 56. Biſhop of Hareford, beſides ſundry others before-cited, reſigned their Biſhoprickes.) So that thoſe Prelates, which preach not the Goſpell of Christ (although they could excuſe themſelves from the doing of any other euill) are dead in themſelves, are Antichrists and Satans, transfigured into Angels of light, night theives, manquellers by daylight, and betrayers of Chriſt his people. What then ſhall wee thinke or judge of many of our preſent Lordly ſwaying Engliſh Prelates, ſome of which never preached ſince they were made Biſhops; others, not once in a dozen yeares; others, but once in a yeare or two, & that not in their Dioceſſe to their people (where many of them never yet preached,) but at Court; few of them above once a quarter, or once a monethmonth at moſt? Where as ‡‡De Sacram. l. 3. c. 1. l. 5. c. 1.S. Ambroſe, eeTract. 9. 16. 20. 21. 25. 27. 29. 35. 37. in Ioan.S. Auguſtine, ffHom. 5. 6. 8. 9. 10. 13. 28. in Geneſ.S. Chryſoſtome, ggCatech. Orat. 7. & 14. & Catech. Myſtag. 14.Cyrill of Ieruſalem, with hhSocr. Eccl. Hist. l. 7. c. 2.other Biſhops heretofore, and iiFox Acts. & Monum. p. 1366.Biſhop Hooper, and kkFox Acts & Monuments. p. 15. 59. See p. 1115. 1153. 1457. 1579. 1696.Biſhop Ridley in King Edward the 6. dayes, preached once or twice every day of the weeke without faile or intermiſſion. Yea what ſhall wee ſay of thoſe Biſhops, who now everywhere put downe p. 140Lectures and preaching, both on weekedayes and Lordſdayes, to ſuſpending, ſilencing, excommunicating, impriſoning, depriving the moſt powerfull, painfull, faithfull Godly Miniſters in all their Dioceſſe; for no offence either in life or doctrine, for no violation of any Ceremonies by Law eſtabliſhed, but meerely for not ſubſcribing to their late Popiſh innovations, illegall injunctions and commaunds, warranted by no Law of God or man, the ſole pretended cauſe, yet in truth out of their deſperate hatred to the ſincere, frequent, powerfull preaching and Preachers of Gods word (which ſeemes to condemne their idle, ſecular, Lordly, vitious lives and practiſes,) to the progreſſe, power, and growth of our Religion, and ſalvation of the peoples ſoules? Nay, what ſhall we iudge of that proud inſolent Regulus and imperious Prelate Mathew Wren, Biſhop of Norwich, who hath not onelyonly put down many famous worthy preachers, and all Lectures throughout his Dioceſſe, both on the weekedayes, Lordſday Evenings ‡‡See his Viſitation Articles and injunctions for Norwich., yea and in the morning too in many places, and ſilenced divers Miniſters of cheifeſt note, for not conforming to his ſtrang…novell Magiſteriall innovations and late viſitation Articles, printed and publiſhed † Before the 39. Articles, & of the Diſſolution of the last Parliament. p. 20. 21. 22. 42. 43.(like an abſolute Monarch, King and Pope) in his owne name, & by his owne authority alone, in affront of his Majeſties **Magna Charta. c. 29 25. Hen. 8. c. 19. 21. 27 H. 8. c. 15. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz c. 12 5. Eliz. c. 1. 12. Eliz. c. 13. 8. Eliz. c. 1.Lawes and ‡ Declarations, for which hee hath incurred a Praemunire; but likewiſe very freſhly ſince his late coming to Ipſwitch (where he hath ſilenced 7 Preachers, and hath no Sermon at all oft times on the Lordſday in his owne Pariſh Church,) commaunded the Sexton of one Mr. Scots Church in Ipſwitch (a reverend ancient conformableooInconformity therefore it not… the thing the Biſhops ayme at, but the ſuppreſſion of the Goſple. Miniſter, whom hee hath ſuſpended vponupon no lawfull occaſion) to blott out this ſacred Sentence of Scripture (moſt proper for that Church and place it ſtonds in) painted on this Church-wall over againſt the Pulpit, (which Scripture I wonder any Biſhop or Miniſter can thinke off, and yet forbeare to preach or put downe preaching.) pp1. Cor. 9. 16.1 Cor 9:16For neceſſity is layd upon me, yea, Woe is me if I preach not the Gospell? An inſolency, an impiety, that no age can parallell. Certainly he that would command this Scripture thus to be raſed out of the Church-wall, would as gladly obliterate p. 141and rend it out of the Church-Bible too, and have neither preaching, preachers (and I feare neither reading nor readers) of the Goſpell, nor yet the Goſpell it ſelfe in being, were it in his power utterly to ſuppreſſe them; as this Prelate hath made a large beginning and progreſſe for this purpoſe. This notable late fact of his, makes me the leſſe to wonder, at the moſt inſolent exploict of Henry Dade (the Archbiſhop of Canterburies Surrogate for Ipſwitch) who about September laſt paſt ſolemnely excommunicated the Churchwardens of S. Maries of the Tower in that Towne, in the Archbiſhops name (I hope without his privity) for not blotting out upon his commaund this Sentence of Scripture written on that Churches-wall over the place where hee keepes his ſpitefull (I ſhould ſay ſpirituall) Court, (which Scripture is recorded by two Prophets and three Euangeliſts, and most proper for the Church by our Saviours owne reſolution.) qqIſay. 56. 7. Ier. 7. 11. Math. 21. 13. Marke. 11. 17. Luke. 19. 46. See Dr. Boyes Poſtill. on the firſt Sunday after the Epiphany p. 132 and on the 10. Sunday after Trinity. p. 446. 447.Isa 56:7Jer 7:11Matt 21:13Mark 11:17Luke 19:46It is written, my houſe ſhall be called an houſe of prayer to all people, but yee have made it a denne of theives. Which excommunication hee is ſo farre fro diſavowing or being aſhamed off, that hee not onelyonly refuſeth to abſolve the Churchwardens, but alſo hath moſt audaciouſly pleaded it in barre of an information brought againſt him by Ferdinando Adams, one of the Church-wardens in the Court of Starre-Chamber; for which preſumption alone were hee guilty of, and there charged with no other crimes (as hee is with other foule ones, againſt his ‡‡To wit, for affirming, That his Majeſty and the Lords of the Councell would be heartily glad, if all thoſe that went over to New-England. were drowned in the bottom of the Sea. A moſt trayterly, & ſeditious, ſpeech, as of his Majeſty & the State delighted in the deſtruction of his faithfull ſubjects whom hee is bound by Oath and duty to protect and preſerve.Maieſty and the whole State, & ſeverall extortions on the ſubiects) that Court moſt iuſtly may, and I preſume will deeply fine and cenſure him, for daring to grant out and plead ſuch an impious execrable excommunication in any Court of Iuſtice, to the very ſhame and obloquie of our Religion, Church, State, and inſufferable ſcandall of that great Arch-Prelate, in whoſe name and colour of authority it is granted; who ſhould doe well (for his owne juſtification to the world) to hang up ſuch a Surrogate for a preſident to all others, and ſuch a Suffragan Biſhop too, who beare ſuch ſpleen to theſe holy parcells of Scripture, as to raſe them out of the Church it ſelfe, though ſet vp by the expreſſe command of the Homilies, p. 142of repairing and keeping cleane Churches, and of the Right▪ vſe of the Church (which recite and preſcribe these latter text, as moſt proper for it) the Canons 1571. p. 19. & 1603. Canon 82. And here I cannot but ſtand amazed at theſe proceedings. For the Surrogate will not endure the Church, neither to be or called an houſe of prayer: but his Courthouſe cauſing this Scripture to be actually daſhed out of the Church; and the other will not ſuffer it to be or reputed an houſe of preaching; neither of them will admit theſe two textes of Scripture, to appeare therein, (no not on the bare wall where they are no hinderance) which intimate and declare it to be both an houſe of prayer and preaching too. And if the Church muſt now be neither an Oratory, nor an Auditory, neither an houſe of prayer, nor preaching, though our ppOf the right uſe of the Church of the time and place of prayerHomilies and qqDr. Boyes Poſtill on the 10. Sunday after Trinity. p. 448.Postillers define it to be both, I know not what they will make of it, but (what they begin to make their Churchhouſes in many places) a direct denne of theives, as our Saviour termes it, or elſe an houſe of rrHom. of the repairing & keeping cleane of Churches p. 80 of the time & place of prayer. p. 131.piping, minſtreſſie, dauncing and revelling: they having made the Lordſday ſacred Sabbath, ſuch a day already; juſtifying both in their viſitation Articles and printed Bookes; That dancing, piping, Morriſſes, Wakes, Ales, Sports and Bacchanals, are meet exerciſes for this holy day, and ſo no place fitter for them then the Church; appointed principally for the ssHom. of the right uſe of the Church of repairing Churches, & of the time & place of prayerdueties and publike exerciſes of the Sabbath day; to the ſtrict entire ſanctification whereof by religious dueties our Prelates are ſuch enemies, that they not onelyonly ſilence, ſuſpend and excommunicate ſuch godly Miniſters, who out of conſcience dare not joyne with them in encouraging their people to prophane it, and puniſh thoſe for Conventiclers, who after divine prayer and Sermons ended, meet together to repeat their Miniſters Sermon, read chapters, ſing Pſalmes, conferre or pray together, as they are taught by **Hom. 1. 2. 3. 5. & 10. 29. in Gen. Hom. 5. in Math.S. Chryſostomes and ††Defence of the Apology part. 5. c. 3. Diviſ. 4. p. 449. 450Biſhop Iewels doctrine; but one of them (D. Peirce the now Biſhop of Bath and Wels by name,) enioyned the Church-wardens of Batcombe (in Mr. Barnards Pariſh in Somerſetſhire) vnderunder paine of excommunication, to expunge this Scripture (anciently painted on their Church-wall) p. 143quite out of the Church (Iſa. 58. 13. If thou turne away thy foote from the Sabbath from doing thy pleaſure on my holy way, and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord, honorable and ſhalt honour him, not doing thine owne wayes, not finding thine owne pleaſure, not ſpeaking thine owne words. Then ſhalt thou delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, &c. ſtiling it, a **O Blaſphemy▪Iewiſh place of Scripture, not fit to ſtand or be ſuffred in the Church: (and by the ſame reaſon not ſufferable in the Bible, for the correcting whereof our Prelates may doe well to joyne with the bbSee Doctor Iames his Treatiſe of the corruption of the Scriptures &c. by the Prelates of Rome. part. 2. 3. 4.Papiſts in making an Index ex purgatorius, as they intend and giuegive out publikely they intend to doe on all ancient Engliſh Writers) which Scripture the Church-wardens refuſing to blot out, the Biſhop like an Heroïcall Prelate, r…de thither … with a plaiſterer to ſee it wiped out himſelfe; ſuch hideous Monſters of impiety, blaſphemy and irreligion, (that I ſay not Atheiſme) are this laſt generation of our holy domineering Prelates growen; who muſt now for ever ceaſe to affirme or boaſt their Epiſcopall Supremacy, Authority and Iuriſdiction to be Jure divino, ſince by vertue thereof they thus preſumptuouſly take upon them (a ſtraine beyond the Papiſts) to blot Jus divinum, the very Law of God and Goſpell too, out of the houſe of God it ſelfe. And can wee then wonder at thoſe immoderate droughts, thoſe watry ſeaſons, thoſe devouring ſpredding Peſts and ccSee the Homilies of the Right uſe of the Church of the time and place of prayer, of keeping cleane of Churches.Plagues, with other publike and perſonall judgements of God, which wee have lately felt and ſuffred, and are like to taſt of in a ſharper maner, when ſuch monſtrous impieties as theſe, thus plublikely breake forth, without either ſhame or reprehenſion in thoſe who ſtile themſelves the Pillars (being in truth the Caterpillars) and holy Fathers (in verity the unholy ſtep fathers) of our Church, from whom ddIer. 23. 13 14. 15.Jer 23:13prophaneſſe is gone out and ſpread over all the Land? Certainly if wee conſider onelyonly the lives and practiſes of our Biſhops (that I ſpeake not of any others) how they now openly fight againſt God, his Word, his Miniſters, Ordinances, worſhip, people, grace, holines, yea morall vertue, honeſty, civility, and that with both hands, both ſwords at once; wee may rather wonder that the Lord himſelfe doth not viſiblie p. 144deſcend **Gen. 18. & 19. See 2. Chron. 36. 15. 16. 17.Gen 182 Chr 36:152 Chr 36:162 Chr 36:17from heaven, and raine downe fire and brimſtone on us, as hee once did on Sodome and Gomorrah, and then tumble vsus all headlong into hell, yea our Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Prelates ſpecially, may juſtly feare hee will ſtrike them all quite dead with Plague, as hee did Pope Lucius the ſecond (who died of the pestilence,) **Faſciculus Temporum. 1144. Cent. Magd. 12. Col 1407. ſtella.Pope Caeleſtine the ſecond (ſwept away with the ſame diſeaſe, both within the compaſſe of two yeares,) aaAntiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 13. Godw. p. 53.Wichardus Arch-biſhop of Canterbury elect, (who going with great preſents from King Oſwy unto the Pope to Rome, to fetch thence his pall and conſe…ion, hee and most of his company there periſhed with the Peſt,) **Fox Acts & Monuments p. 364.Thomas Bradwardin, Archbiſhop of Canterbury An. 1348. The Biſhop of Marſelles and all his Chapter An. 1348. bbAlberti Argentinenſis Chron. An. 1348. p. 147.Daniel the 13 Biſhop of Prague Anno 1116. The Biſhope of Par…, Rhegium and Millain, Anno 1085. with many other Archbiſhops and Biſhops forecited, heretofore; that they might no longer be an inſufferable Plague and burthen to the earth, or provocation and greivance even to heaven it ſelfe; or elſe deale with them in that exemplary way of Iuſtice, as hee did with **Georgius Pont. Bohemiae piae. l. 3. p. 34.Thomas Arundle (Archbiſhop ſucceſsively both of Yorke and Canterbury) one of their predeceſsors, a greivous perſecutor of Gods people, and great ſilencer and ſuſpender of his Ministers; who occupying both his tongue, his braines and Epiſcop…ll power (as * Behold Conſtantienſis ad Herman. Appendix An. 1085. p. 357.too many of his ſucceſsors have done ſince) to ſtop the mouthes and tye vp the tongues of Gods Miniſters, and hinder the preaching & courſe of Gods word, was by Gods juſt judgmēt, ſo ſtricken in his tongue (with which hee had oft ſtaundered the poore Miniſters, & Saints of God, as ſeditious factions people, * Thomas Gaſcoine in Dictionario Theologico. Fox Acts & Monuments p. 541. Antiquitates Eccl. Brit. Bale and Godwin in his life, with our Chroniclers.rebels & Conventiclers to K. Henry the fourth, (as ſome of his Rochet doe now to his Maieſty) that it ſwelled ſo bigge he could, neither ſwallow nor ſpeake for ſome dayes before his death, much like after the example of the rich glutton, p. 145and ſo hee was ſtarved, choked and killed by this ſtrange tumor of his tongue. This (ſay all the marginall writers) was thought of many to come upon him by the iuſt hand of God, for that hee ſo bound and much ſtopped the word of the Lord, that it might not be peached in his dayes. Our Prelates now have farre greater cauſe then hee had then, to feare Gods Iudgements in this, or a more grievous nature, and that in theſe regards.

First, Becauſe they have his Example, with ‡‡Fox Acts and Monum. p 1902. to 1906. and Dr. Beards Theatre of Gods Iudgements. l. 1. paſſim.many other like Preſidents of divine revenge upon perſecuting, truth-ſuppreſſing Prelates, to wante and terrifie them, which this Prelate never heard of: and ſo are more inexcuſable then hee.

Secondly, Becauſe his ſilencing of the Preachers and hindring the preaching of the Goſpell, proceeded rather from error, ignorance of the truth, and miſguided zeale; then malice or hatred againſt the Goſpell, Miniſters, and profeſſors of it; But our Biſhops proceedings in this kinde, proceeds from direct and willfull malice and emnity againſt the truth, Goſpell, Miniſters, and Saints of God, againſt inward conviction and the teſtimony of their owne conſciences ſtaring them in the face; the very **Hebr. 6. 4. 5. 6. 7. c. 10. 26. 27. 28. 29. 2. Tim. 3. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2. Pet. 3. 3. 4. 5.Heb 6:4Heb 6:5Heb 6:6Heb 6:72 Tim 3:22 Tim 3:32 Tim 3:42 Tim 3:52 Pet 3:32 Pet 3:42 Pet 3:5ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt himſelfe, or next degree thereto, into which they are dangerouſly fallen.

Thirdly, Becauſe hee perſecuted, ſilenced, or ſuſpended none that profeſſed the ſame truth, faith and doctrine; which hee and the Church of England then embraced; but onelyonly thoſe whom hee and the Church of England then deemed both heretickes and Schiſmatickes. But our Prelates now ſilence, ſuſpend, excommunicate, deprive, impriſon, perſecute thoſe, who profeſſe and maintaine the eſtabliſhed doctrine and diſcipline of the Church of England, which themſelves pretend to defend and ſtrive for; thoſe who are members, yea pillars of our owne Orthodoxe Church and neither ſeperate from it in point of doctrine nor diſcipline, being likewiſe altogether ſpotles, innocent, undefiled in their lives, even becauſe they preach, and defend Gods p. 146truth, and the Doctrines, the Articles of the Church of England againſt Papiſts, Arminians, and ſuperſtitious Romanizing Novellers: (A thing ſo ſtrange, that the like was never heard or read off in any age, Church, State, but ours onelyonly; yea a thing ſo deteſtable, as not found among the Savage ‡‡At jam ſerpentum major concordia: quando Leoni Fortior …ripuit pr…dam …? quo nemore unqnam expiravit Aper, majo…s den…ibus Apri? Iudica Tygris agit rabida cum Trigride pacem; ſaevis inter ſ… convenit urſis. Iuvenal. p. 141.b…ite beaſts, as Tygers, Lyons, Wolves, Beares, who ever hold together and prey not one upon the other. Par…it cognatis maculis ſimilis fera, being as old as true, and therefore moſt monſtrous, moſt deteſtable in our Chriſtian Church, and Prelates, who muſt needs expect the extremity of Gods Judgements to light upon them for it.

Fourthly, Becauſe hee put downe preaching, and ſilenced Gods Miniſters in times of health and proſperity onelyonly; but our Prelates even now in this time of ſickneſſe and mortality, when God in ſpeciall maner cals upon them, **Iſay. 58. 1.Isa 58:1To crie aloude and spare not, to lift up their voyces like a trumpet, and ſhew the people their tranſgreſſion, and the howſe of Jacob their ſinnes: yea which is the hight and upſhot of all impiety, they take advantage of this preſent peſtilence and mortality, to put downe all Lectures and preaching, when as all former ages have ſet them up, together with prayer and faſting to, as a ‡‡Ezech. 9. 4 …. Chron. 6. 28. 29. c. 7. 13. 14. Ioel. 2. & 2. Zeph. 2. 1. 2 3. See the Bookes ſor the Faſt, in 1. Iacobi & Caroli.Ezek 9:4Joel 2Zeph 2:1Zeph 2:2speciall anti… and preſervative * againſt the Plague, which they now pretend to be a meanes to ſpread it. An impiety that heaven and earth may well ſtand am…azed at, and future ages will hardly credit; yea the very capitall ſinne of which the Iewes were guilty, f who both killed the Lord Jeſus, and their owne Prophets, and perſecuted and chaſed out, (as the margin renders it) the Lords Ministers, forbidding them to preach to the Gentiles that they might be ſaved, to fill up their ſinnes alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermoſt: A text which ſhould ſmite through the loynes and hearts of all perſecuting Prelates and ſilencers of Gods Miniſters, who prohibit and put downe preaching, the cheife and moſt principall office, whereunto Preiſts or Biſhops be called by the auehority of the Gospel, as all the Biſhops and whole Clergy of England have reſolved in the **1. Theſſ. 2. 15. 16.1 Thess 2:151 Thess 2:16Inſtitution of a Chriſtian man, dedicated by them to King Henry the 8. and ſubſcribed with all p. 147their names, as the very Councell of Trent it ſelfe hath deemed in theſe words: **The Sacrament of Orders f53. 54Praedicationis munus Epiſcoporum praecipuum eſt; as the Church of England herſelfe in the Homily of the right uſe of the Church, p. 3. 4. 5. and before them all our ‡‡Seſſ… 24. Decretum de Reformatione c. 4.Saviour Chriſt himſelfe his Prophets and Apostles have paſt all diſpute concluded. I ſhall therefore deſire theſe dumbe ſilencing and ſilent Prelates, (who would have all other Miniſters as laſie mute and ſilent as themſelves, favouring all dumbe dogs that neither will not, nor cannot preach, and perſecuting none but the moſt painefull Preachers, a thing well worthy noting, diſcovering their emnity to be directly againſt preaching and the Goſpell; (to remember that of Maſter **Math. 28. 19. 20. Mark 16. 15. 16. 1. Cor. 1. 17 Iſay. 61. 1. Math. 24. 14. Luke. 4. 18. Acts. 10. 42 c. 5. 42. c. 610. 1. Cor. 9. 15. 16. 2. Tim. 4. 2.Matt 28:19Matt 28:20Mark 16:15Mark 16:161 Cor 1:17Isa 61:1Matt 24:14Luke 4:18Acts 10:421 Cor 9:151 Cor 9:162 Tim 4:2Tyndall our godly Martyr, That B…ſhops who perſecute their owne office of preaching (for and by which they hold their … Biſhoprickes) are not worthy of it, nor ſufferable in it: and that Biſhops or Preists that preach not, or that preach ought ſave Gods word, are none of Chriſts nor of his anointing (therefore not Jure divino) but Servants of the Beast, whoſe marke they beare; whoſe word they preach, whoſe Law they maintaine, cleane againſt Gods Law: and therefore both Miniſters and people muſt and will henceforth call and deeme them ſuch. As for **Obedience of a Christian man p. 114. 134.thoſe Miniſters moſt unjuſtly ſilenced, ſuſpended and excommunicated by them, who now baſely ſit downe ſilent under their Suſpenſions, when as they ſhould goe … couragiouſly in their Miniſtery in deſpite of them, I ſhall deſire them onelyonly to conſider.

First, the qqActs. c. 4. & 5. throughout.Acts 4example and anſwer of the Apostles themſelves, who when they were commaunded by the High Preiſts, Elders and whole Councell of the Jewes (who had as much or more power over them then any Biſhops have over Miniſters at this day) not to speake at all or teach in the name of Jeſus, gave this anſwer; Wee ought to obey God rather then men; whether it be right in the ſight of God to hearken unto God more then unto you, judge yee? for we cannot but ſpeake the things which we have ſeene and heard: and though they were thrice expreſly inhibited from preaching, yea impriſoned and beaten for violating theſe prohibitions, p. 148yet they dayly in the Temple IN EVERI HOWSE▪ (which now forſooth muſt be a Conventicle, I am ſure an Apoſtolicall one) they ceaſed not to preach and teach Jeſus Christ, filling Jeruſalem and every place with their doctrine, the very Angel of God himſelfe commaunding them to doe it. If then the whole Senate of the High Preiſts and Elders, their terrible Prohibitions and Suſpen…ions, yea their impriſonments and ſtripes could neither keepe nor de…erre the Apoſtles from preaching; why ſhould our Biſhops threats, ſuſpentions, … moſt unjuſt illegall Cenſures (warranted by no Statute, Law ot Commiſſion from his Majeſty) hinder our Miniſters from their duty?

Secondly, The example of our owne godly ††5. R. 2. c. 5. 2. H. 4. c. 15. 2. H. 5. c. 7. Fox Acts & Monuments London. 1610. p. 415. 416 417. 418. 428. 434. 435. 438. 552. 563. 567. 588. 598. 800. 911. 1280. 1281. 1336. 1457. 1690.Martyrs, who both their Doctrine and example taught and profeſſed, That Ministers ought not to give over preaching for any unjust ſuſpenſion, excommunication, inhibition, Cenſure or perſecution whatſoever, either of the Pope himſelfe or of any other Prelate, going on boldly to preach the Goſpell, maugre all inhibitions, menaces, impriſonments and penalties to the contrary, though fire and death it ſelfe. Whereupon they never would give over their preaching upon any Prelates inhibition, no not in their priſons, where Maſter Bradford and others preached twice every day. And ſhall our eminenteſt Miniſters now in the Sunne ſhine of the Goſpell under a moſt gratious Prince, be more puſillanimous, baſe and cowardly then theſe godly Martyrs were even in times of darkneſſe under Popiſh Princes, Prelates and Tyrants, when it was death to profeſſe and preach the truth, which now (God be thanked) it neither is, nor can be? God forbid.

Thirdly, That poſition of our Godly Martyr, Master John Wicklife (excellently defended and notably proved by Iohn Hus at large in the Schoole of Prague, as all may read at leiſure in **Acts & Monuments p. 415. 416 417. 418.Maſter Fox:) That they which lea… off preaching and hearing of the word of God for feare of any excommunication, threatning, perſecution, or impriſonment, threatned, or inflicted by the Pope, or any other whatſoever, are already excommunicate by God himſelfe, and in the day of Iudgement ſhall be accounted the betrayers of p. 149Chriſt; which is ſo well prooued and defended by Hus, that all Godly Miniſters and people muſt ſubſcribe thereto. And who of all our late ſuſpended Miniſters, would be either accounted here, or adjudged hereafter, a man excommunicated of God, and a betrayer of Chriſt, yea of the very Word of God, of Religion it ſelfe, and of the ſoules committed to his Cure, who are ſlaine for lacke of ſpirituall food, whiles they out of a ſlaviſh feare, of I know not what or whom, ſitt mute and ſilent, and become ſo many laughing ſtockes to our Prelates, who would be terrified, daunted and repulſed by their Godly courage.**See the Prayer on the 5. of November lately altered, in the laſt impreſſion 1635. and Doctor Iohn White his defence of the Way, p. 6.

Fourthly, That Popiſh Preiſts and Ieſuites dare ſay Maſſe, and preach in a maner publikely, though a thing unlawfull and expreſſely prohibited both by the Lawes of God and the Realme, and no leſſe then ‡‡See Raſtall Tit. Rome. Recuſant …, Ieſuites, Preiſts.high treaſon, for which capitall puniſhments are preſcribed. If theſe Miſcreants and generation of vipers then have ſo much courage, for their falſe and trayterly religion, that they will not be ſilenced, nor ſcared from preaching, neither by Lawes, nor capitall puniſhments; how much leſſe then ſhould zealous faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpell, contrary to Gods Lawes and the Realmes, give over their Miniſtrie and preaching, upon the bare illegall ſuſpenſion or excommunication of a Lordly Biſhop, warranted by no Law nor Statute of the Realme, nor any Patent or Commiſſion from the King, and ſo no colour for any to obey or ſubmit thereto?

Fiftly, What a great blow and wound they have given to religion, what great diſcouragement and ill example to their people and fellow Miniſters; what loſſe and prejudice to their flockes, what encouragement to Ieſuites, Seminaries, Papiſts and domineering Prelates, who gett heart & head by their faintheartednes yeelding, ſilence and ſubmiſſion, encroaching every day further on their liberties, conſciences and Religion, ſo that they have brought themſelves and others into a meere vaſſalage to the Biſhops unruly luſts and pleaſures; all which their oppoſition and contemning of theſe their ſuſpen…ions and excommunications, beeing **25. H. 8. c. 19. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Edw. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. Canons. 1603. Can. 1. 13.meere nullities in Law (for want of a Commiſſion from p. 150his Maiesty a lawfull ground, a due maner of proceeding, and his Maieſties ſtile and ſeale) had prevented, and may yet chance to remedie.

Sixtly, That a **1. Cor. 9. 16. 2. Tim. 4. 2. 3. 4.1 Cor 9:162 Tim 4:22 Tim 4:32 Tim 4:4neceſsity is layd upon them, euen by God and Chriſt himſelfe, to preach the Goſpell, and to be instant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, and a temporall and eternall woe denounced againſt them, if they forbeare or give over to doe it upon any unjust inhibition whatſoever, which can neither nullify, controll nor diſpenſe with the commaunds of God. How then can they avoyd or ſhunne this woe, if the frowne or unjuſt ſuſpenſion of a prophane unpreaching domineering Prelate, may reſtraine them from this duety, or diſpenſe with this moſt ſerious taſke impoſed on them **Marke 16. 15. 1. Cor. 9. 15. 16. 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4.Mark 16:151 Cor 9:151 Cor 9:162 Tim 4:12 Tim 4:22 Tim 4:32 Tim 4:4from heaven it ſelfe.

Seaventhly, That ſolemne charge that was given them in the name and behalfe of Chriſt himſelfe, yea of the whole Realme and Church of England, and that ſolemne promiſe they made before God and the Congregation, when they were firſt made Miniſters; to wit, **See the Booke of Ordination of Miniſters.that as they would anſwer it before Chriſts tribunall at the great day of judgement, they ſhould and would teach, premoniſh, feed and provide for the Lords flocke, for whom hee ſhed his blood, AND NEVER THEIR LABOVR CARE AND DILIGENCE HEREIN, untill they had done all that lyeth in them, according to their bounden duety, to bring all ſuch as were or ſhould be committed to their charge, unto that agreement of faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripenes and perfectnes of age in Chriſt (which none of them hath yet done) that there ſhould be no place left among them, neither of errour in Religion, or for viciouſnes of life; and that for the ſame cauſe they ſhould and would forſake, and ſett aſide (as much as in them lyeth) all worldly cares and ſtudies, and give themſelves WHOLLY to p. 151this thing, and draw all their cares and ſtudies this way and to this end, and that they ſhould and would preach, and be faithfull diſpenſers of Gods Word in their Congregations; which charge being layd upon them by the Biſhop at their ordination in the name of Chriſt, by the whole **3. & 4 Ed▪ 6 c 12. 5. & 6. Ed 6. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1.Church and State of England, and the Booke of Ordination (confirmed by three ſeverall Acts of Parliament, the 8 Canon, and their owne ſubſcriptions to it;) and they particularly promiſing in a moſt ſolemne maner, to performe it to the …ttermost of their power. How any Biſhop can by Law ſuſpend them from preaching as long as they continue Miniſters, and are not actually degraded or deprived of their livings, for ſome juſt or lawfull cauſe, warranted by an expreſſe Act of Parliament; or how any godly Miniſter in point of Law or Conſcience, can give over his preaching or Miniſtry upon any unjuſt ſuſpen…ion, inhibition, excommunication or commaund of any Biſhop, Viſitor, or Ordinary (who cannot countermaund this charge or Booke of Ordination, ratified by 3 Acts of Parliaments) I cannot conjecture.

Finally; That if Miniſters will thus ſuffer, every Biſhop at his pleaſure, without any ſpeciall Commiſſion from his Maieſty, vnderunder the great Seale of England, or any juſt cauſe in point of Law, upon every humor, fancy, or new minted Article of his owne (which by the Statute of 25. H. 8. c. 19. and the 13. Canons reſolution, yea and his Maieſties too, in his Declaration before the 39. Articles, hee hath no power to make) to ſuſpend, excommunicate, and put them downe from preaching, then it will be in the Biſhops power to ſuppreſſe and alter Religion at their pleaſure, without his Maieſties or a Parliaments aſſent, and ſo all ſhall hang vponupon their wills, who have no power at all, either by the Lawes of God or the **See. 25. H. 8 c. 19. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 13. Eliz. c. 12. Can. 1603. Can. 1. 13.Realme, to inſtitute any new rites, Ceremonies, Articles, Canons or Injunctions, or to alter or innovate any thing in Religion, much leſſe to ſuſpend or ſilence Miniſters? Wherefore in caſe our Prelates preſently revoke not theſe their anti-chriſtian, illegall ſuſpen…ions, inhibitions, injunctions, or other Cenſures, to hinder Miniſters from preaching, p. 152I hope every Godly Miniſter, who hath any care; either of his owne ſoule, liberty, people, any love at all to God or Religion, any zeale or courage for the truth, or deſire of the good, either of Church or State, taking theſe conſiderations into his thoughts, and finding the Biſhops Juriſdiction and proceedings to have no lawfull warrant, either from the Lawes of God or man, will readily proteſt both againſt their uſurped authority and proceedings, as meere nullities and vanities, and proceed to preach, pray, and doe his duetie, as the Apoſtles and **Who had never beene Martyrs had …hey beene ſuch … cowards as moſt Miniſters are now.Martyrs did of old, without any feare or diſcouragement; that ſo Gods judgements, Plagues and puniſhments, which the Prelates late practiſes, with the Miniſters ſilence and cowardize, and all our ſinnes have drawen downe upon us, may be aſſwaged and remooved, and wee may ever retaine the Ordinances and Word of God among vsus, in purity, power, ſincerity and plenty, both to our preſent and future happines. I ſhall cloſe all with this Syllogiſme.

That calling, authoritie and juriſdiction, which obliterates, perſecutes, ſuppreſſeth, oppugneth the very Law, Goſpell and word of God, with the frequent powerfull preaching, preachers and profeſſors thereof is doubtles, not of divine right or inſtitution, but Anti-chriſtian and Diabolicall, 1. Theſſ. 2. 14. 15. 16. Rom. 2. 13. 10. Iohn 8. 39. to 48. 1. Tim. 3. 1. to 7. Tit. 1. 5. to 10.

But this doth the calling, authority and juriſdiction of Lord Archbiſhops and Biſhops, as the premiſes, and all ſtories witnes, eſpecially our Booke of Martyrs.

Therefore it is doubtles not of divine right or inſtitution, but Anti-chriſtian and Diabolicall.

p. 153If the Minor be not ſufficiently evidenced by the Premiſes, by the ſilencing of many Miniſters, ſuppreſſing of ſo many Lectures throughout the Realme, give me leave to inſtance but in two freſh examples more.

The firſt, in Doctor Peirce, Biſhop of Bath and Wels; who in his Viſitation in the midſt of Auguſt laſt expreſly prohibited all Miniſters in his Dioceſſe to preach on the Lords day afternoone; threatning ſome Miniſters to ſuspend them both from their office & Benefice, if they durſt preſume to preach any more on the Lords day afternoone; without alleadging any Law or Canon, (which there is none) or any danger of bringing or ſpreading the plague, (which there is not feared,) but onelyonly out of his malice to preaching; and to deprive poore people of the ſprituall food of their ſoules: to affront the Sta…utes of 5. and 6. E. 6. c. 1. 3. and 1. Eli. c. 2. which require OFTEN PREACHING AND HEARING of the Goſpell, upon every Sunday and Holy day, and preſcribe preaching twice a day, as well, as much, as Commonprayer, coupling them together in the ſame words to oppugne the Homily of the right uſe of the Church, p. 3. 4. 5. which preſcribes and enforceth, the dayly and continuall preaching of Gods word, and ſpecially on the Sabbath-dayes, from our Saviours and his Apoſtles owne Precepts and Examples; to make all Miniſters perjured, who at the time of their Ordination make a ſolemne promiſe and covenant before God, diligently and painefully to inſtruct their people, & never to give over preaching, &c. (as the Booke of Ordination, and the Church and State of England, both in and by it injoyne them,) and to ſpite S. Paul… himſelſe: who as by the ſpace of three yeares together, hee ceaſed not to warne every one Night and Day (therefore hee preached Evenings as well as mornings) publikely & from howſe to howſe. Acts. 20. 20. 31. So hee chargeth Timothy, and in him all Miniſters, To preach the word inſtantly in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon (that is, on Lords dayes, and weekedayes; Morning, and Evening, yea and at Midnight to if need be; in times of proſperity and adverſity; of health and peſtilence, when preaching is moſt ſeaſonable to p. 154raiſe men from their ſinnes;) 2. Tim. 4. 2. which Apoſtle were hee in this Biſhops and ſome other of his Brethrens Dioceſſe, they would ſchoole him roundly for ſuch good doctrine, and ſtop his mouth, to prevent the great miſcheife of often preaching, yea, … our Saviour Chriſt himſelfe, and his Apoſtles, were now among our Prelates and ſhould **Luke. 19. 47. Acts. 2. 46. c. 3. 4. & 5. The Homily of the right uſe of the Church p. 3. 4.Luke 19:47Acts 2:46preach DAYLY in our temples, as they did in the Temple of Ieruſalem and Jewiſh Synagogues, I feare me they ſhould be all ſilenced, ſuſpended, and laid by the heeles for their paines, by our Rare-preaching Lordly Prelates, ſince they thus uſe our painefulleſt Miniſters even for frequent preaching; If I ſhould demaund of them by what Law of God, or the Realme? by what Canon of the Church, or by what ſpeciall commiſſion from his Majeſty, under his greate Seale? (without which their Lordſhips ‡‡25. H. 8. c. 19. 37. H. 8 c. 17. 31. H. 8. c. 10. 1. E. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 2. 5. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c 1. and the Patents to Coverdale and ſtory. 5. E. 6. pars. 1.cannot by Law ſuſpend or ſilence any Miniſter, nor keepe any Viſitation without the danger of a Praemunire which they have all incurred;) I feare me they would be as mu…, as any Miniſter they have put to ſilence: And till they can ſhew ſuch Law, Canon, and ſpeciall Commiſſion (which not one of them can doe) hee is not worthy the name of a faithfull Miniſter, that will ſit downe ſilent altogether, as too many doe, to their eternall infamy or ſlack downe their former frequency and diligence in preaching, upon the proudeſt Prelates bare Mandate, eſpecially in theſe dayes of Peſtilence and Mortality.

The ſecond inſtance is, the ſuppreſſing of Maſter John Rogers Lecture of Dedham in Eſſex about the ſame time, continued ſo many yeares together with ſo good ſucceſſe that he hath converted more ſoules to God, and brought more to heaven, then all the Lord Archbiſhops and Biſhops Sermons from Queene Maries dayes till now; many of which though they have lived long, cannot I preſume name ſo much as one Soule they have truly converted, either by their life or doctrine, though they have murthered and ſtarved thouſands. The Pretence of ſuſpending this our Lecturer is, the great good will the Biſhops beare to the Towneſmen and Puritans (ſo they tearme them) p. 155of Dedham, over whom they are **2. Cor. 11. 2.2 Cor 11:2jealous with a godly jealoſie, to wit, leaſt the continuance of this Lecture ſhould draw the Plague to the Towne. But is this thinke you the true cauſe? If ſo, why then let me propound but 6. or 7. queſtions to our Prelates who are ſo carefull of mens bodies, that they are altogether careleſſe of their Soules.

Firſt, Hath not the Lecture beene the greateſt bleſſing that ever this Towne enjoyed? the cheife meanes that hath enriched it, and ever ſince its erection wa…ded of the Peſtilence from it, yea in the laſt great Viſitation when there was more danger? If ſo, as all the Towne and Country will averre, why ſhould it be peſtiferous or infectious now?

Secondly, Where did ever their Lordſhips read, that powerfull preaching was a meanes to attract or draw the peſtilence to any Towne or Pariſh? or the ſuppreſſing of preaching and Lectures an Antidote or Preſervative againſt it? What Divine, Phyſitian, Philoſopher, or Hiſtorian, yea what Epicure or Atheiſt ‡ Levit. 26. 25. Deutr. 28. 20. 21. 60. 61. 1. King. 7. 3 37. 38. 2. Chron. 7. 13. 15. 78. 50. Pſ. 126. 21. 29. Ier: 14. 12. 11. 12. c. 21. 6. 9. c. 29. 17. 18 c. 32. 24 36 c. 38. 2. c. 42. 17. 22 c. 44. 13. c. 34. 17. Ezech. 5. 12 c. 6. 12. c. 7. 15 c. 12. 16 c. 33. 27. c. 38. 24. Amos 4. 100Lev 26:251 Kgs 7:32 Chr 7:132 Chr 7:152 Chr 7:782 Chr 7:50Ps 126:21Ps 126:29Ezek 5:12Amos 4:100ever taught ſuch Doctrine till our preſent new Doctors and Lord Prelates?

Thirdly, Whether the reading of Common prayer and Homilies be not as apt to bring and increaſe the Plague, as preaching and Lectures, and the one as peſtiferous as the other? If not: then why doe they put downe and prohibit publike faſting and prayer, as infectious in this peſtilence, uſed as a preſervative, medicine and cheife cure in all others as well as preaching? yea how can they proove, that one of theſe is more apt to attract and diffuſe the Plague then the other? If ſo then; why doe they not put downe Common prayer and Homilies in all places infected, or in danger of infection, as well as preaching, (the one being as peſtiferous, as peſtilentiall as the other,) and ſo make us all true Atheiſts or Infidels, giving God no publike worſhip at all?

Fourthly, Whether the putting downe of Lectures and preaching hath beene a meanes to ſtay, keep off, or ſpread the Plague, or rather to increaſe and attract it? Religion teacheth us that were there is * moſt ſinne and wickedneſſe abounding, p. 156leaſt knowledge and ſervice of God, there is moſt danger of the plague, and … experience prooves it true for the moſt part, it ever raging more in the diſorderly ſuburbs of London, where they have uſually leaſt and worſt preaching, more then in the City, where is better governement, life and preaching. Powerfull preaching therefore being the cheife **Acts. 26. 18. c. 37. 38.Acts 26:18meanes to turne men from their ſinnes and evill lives, and winne them unto God, and the ſuppreſſion of it a meanes to continue and harden men in their evill wayes; it muſt neceſſary follow, that frequent powerfull preaching, is an antidote and cure againſt it; and the ſuppreſſion of it, the high way and meanes to bring it. If reaſon be not ſufficient, let late experience inſtruct us thus much. The Lectures of Chriſt Church, S. Martins and others in London, were put downe by the Biſhops this Peſtilence, to prevent the bringing of it into theſe Pariſhes: the very ſelfeſame weeke God ſends it unto them, and now it ſpreads among them much: But in S. Antholines Pariſh and ſome others, where the Lectures yet continue, (in the firſt every morning) no Peſtilence (bleſſed be God) hath hitherto beene heard off: The Lecture of Black friers on Wedneſdayes, at S. Cathrines in the ſame day, with ſome other have beene ſuppreſſed to prevent the Plagues increaſe, after its invaſion of theſe Pariſhes, to the intollerable greife both of Miniſter and people: yet the plague in thoſe pariſhes hath ſince every weeke increaſed and ſpread further. At Weſtminſter upon the firſt comming of the Plague, they gave over all preaching even forenoone and after-noone on the Lords day, thinking by this remedie to ceaſe it; (a preſident hardly paralleld in any age;) but what followed thereupon, the Bils ſince have beene doubled and trebled, and more have there died every day ſince, then did in a whole weeke before. This therefore is but a Prepoſterous remedy, and a vaine pretence to beguile little children, and fooles with all.

Fifthly, What place is there neere to Dedham from which that lecture ſhould draw the infection? were it in all or ſome of the neighbouring Pariſhes, there might be ſome colour for ſuch p. 157a pretext, and yet not ſufficient to put downe the Lecture, ſince men of thoſe Pariſhes might be prohibited onelyonly from it, and all elſe have acceſſe unto it: But ſince it is not ſo neare that Town (God be bleſſed for it) as that there is any ſuch feare of infection, this pretext can be but a meere cloake of wickednes to countenance a worſe deſigne.

Sixtly; Whether they hold not great Banquetting, Maſkes, Dauncing, Playes and Enterludes, as peſtiferous and infectious, as Preaching and Lectures: and the famous Vniverſity of Oxfords health and immunity from the Peſtilence, as much to be reſpected as the poore Towne of Dedhams? If any ſcruple be made of the former part of this Queſtion, his Majeſties and their owne Booke of Common prayer for the Faſt the laſt great peſtilence 1. Caroli, (which ††The Exhortation, and Orders at the end.prohibits all Playes, Maſkes, revellings, Dauncing, Paſtimes and Banqueting, as cauſes of the plagues, both beginning, ſpredding and continuance, and the proper▪ ſinnes of our Nation, which have made us a Proverbe and By-word to all other neighbour-Countries,) compared with Iſay. 5, 12. 13. c. 22. 12. 13. 14. &c. 32. 13. 14 Amos 6. 1. to 12. Exod. 32. 19. to 35. 1. Cor. 10. 5. 6. 7. …am. 5. 1. 5. 6. Revel. 18. 7. 8. and many preſidents cited in a late Tract againſt Stageplayes and enterludes, will put it out of doubt. Of the latter part of this Quaere there can be no queſtion, unleſſe the Biſhops be very unnaturall, to love a ſtranger better then their own Foſter-mother, and weavers, Clothiers, more then Schollers. If then exceſſive Feaſting, Masking, Enterludes, Dauncing and Epicureanpomp, the **Gal. 5. 21.Gal 5:21very workes of the …leſh, (and therefore moſt unſeemely of all others for thoſe who terme themſelves ſpirituall men, yea workes that ſhut men out of heaven, and therefore not fit for thoſe who profeſſe they have the keyes to let men into heaven) bee more peſtiferous and apt to bring the Peſtilence, then Preaching; and Oxford to be preferred before Dedham; what is the reaſon that our great Lordly Prelates in theſe dangerous times of mortality (when as they ſhould p. 158be all in ſable, faſting, praying, weeping and mourning with the people of their Dioceſſe, and refreſhing their ſtarved bodies with that prodigall expence they have there caſt away) have (to the great ill example of all other people, & grieving of the ſoules of all who are ſenſible of the Plagues we now grone under) beene ſo lately ſetting up and practiſing the one, at Oxford, to draw the Peſtilence thither; and putting down the other at Dedham, to keep the Peſt from thence? When as ſundry Councels in all ages, have ſtrictly inhibited Biſhops and Miniſters, neither to be Exhibiters, ſetters out, or ſpectators, but diligent ſuppreſſors, yea cenſurers of the one (eſpecially in mournfull times of Plague & Mortality which ſummon all men, but aaConc Laodice num Can. 54. Carthag. 3. Can. 11. Agathenſe. Can. 39. Conſtantinop. 6. Can. 24. 5. …. 62. Nicenum. 2. Can. 22. Turonenſe. 3. Can. 7. with ſundry others Bochellus. l. 6. Decr. Eccleſ. Gal. Tit. 18. 19. l. 4. Tit. 1. 7. l. 8. Tit. 10.Titus 1:7Gods Miniſters above others, to weeping, ſackecloath and baldnes, to turne their laughter into heavines, and their joy into mourning,) and inſtant both by preaching and Eccleſiaſticall Cenſures, to draw all men from them; but furtherers and ſetters up of preaching, yea of preaching twice a day, (and that principally in times of humiliation) which they now ſuppreſſe. Alast is the piety & zeale of thoſe Lordly Pontificians, who will needs claime all their Epiſcopalities by a divine right, degenerated to this Epicurian reſolution; bbIſay. 22. 12. 13. Joel. 2. 16. 17. Jam. 4. 9.Isa 22:12Isa 22:13Joel 2:16Joel 2:17Jas 4:9let us eate and drink, let us Maske and Play, let us feaſt and keep Revell-route, for to morrow wee ſhall die? Are theſe the ſermons, the good inſtructions they preach to King, Queene, Nobles, Miniſters, Schollers, People in theſe peſtilentiall times? Muſt they be feaſting, banquetting, laughing, masking, playing, piping, dauncing, when all others are weeping, Iay 22. 13.faſting, mourning, at leaſtwiſe gladly would be ſo, and that in publike (as they have reaſon) were it not for them? certainly if S. Bernard were now alive, and ſaw ſuch Prelates, he would be ſo farre from thinking them Gods Biſhops, that he would undoubtedly define them to be the Devils, yea and ſtile them ddSic facit Ieſus hodie, multos ſibi eligens Diabolos Epiſcopos, Sermo in Concil. Rhemenſi & ad Clerum.Devils too, and murtherers of mens ſoules. Who having now taken the higheſt degree at the Vniverſity, that ever the Schooles of Bacchus, Venus, or Epicurus p. 159can afford them, may be rather deemed their profeſſed Chaplains, then Chriſtian Biſhops. Yet miſtake me not, as if I thought it unlawfull for a Prelate or Vniverſity, to entertaine their Prince; farre be it from me or any other to harbour ſuch a thought: But to doe it now at ſuch a time, in ſuch a Pontificall, Epicurian maner, with moſt prophane and impious Enterludes in contempt and deriſion of all purity, piety and religion, is the onelyonly thing, which not I alone, but the whole Kingdome generally crie ſhame on; banquetting, masking, feaſting, Revelling, being altogether unſuitable, if not unlawfull to a Chriſtian, a Prelate, a Vniverſity, in a time of ſuch generall weeping and mourning, when **Joel. 1. & 2.Joel 1moſt hearts (but ſtony ones) are ſad, and many poore mens faces gather blacknes, even for very hunger, with which too many periſh; whoſe lives this prodigality would have preſerved.

Seaventhly, If the Biſhops have ſo much fatherly care to keep off the plague from our Preciſſians, and Puritans of Dedham (ſo they tearme us) as to put downe our Lecture, (yea Sermons on the very-ſolemne Faſt-day, where there is any infection, as if the ſick needed leaſt ſpirituall phiſick and inſtruction) to keep us from the Plague, what is the reaſon they have ſo little care of thoſe of our Religion and profeſſion, whom they have mewed up in ſeverall priſons in London? Why have the Prieſts and Ieſuites in the Gatehouſe and elſewhere (though **27. Eliz. c. 1. 2.Traytors to his Maieſtie and the Realme, and ſome of them condemned men,) with all other priſoners there, liberty granted them to goe abroad this time of Peſtilence, and yet D. Baſtwicke, convicted and cenſured onelyonly for ſhewing himſelfe a true ſubject to his Soveraigne, in defending his Majeſties Eccleſiaſticall Iuriſdiction, againſt the Popes and your encrochements, (with other of your High-commiſſion Priſoners,) no leave at all to retire himſelf into the freſh ayre for his ſafety; It being now, as it ſeemes, a great deale better to be an open Traytor to his Majeſty, or the State, then a meere oppoſite onelyonly to theſe our Lordly Prelats, even in their intollerable uſurpations both upon his Majeſties Royall Prerogatives, p. 160and his ſubjects liberties? Why have you given ſpeciall command, that Mr. Brewer, committed **Though their Commiſſion give them no power to cloſe impriſon any man, yet now their common practiſe is to do ….cloſe priſoner by you to the Kings bench, for the ſame cauſe, ſhould there be detained ſtill, and not remoove with the other priſoners, when as he had obtained licence to goe into Oxfordſhire with his fellow priſoners, that ſo the plague, which environs both thoſe priſons, might ſweep away both theſe Priſoners and eaſe you of them? Why doe you ſtill detaine others of your commitment in theſe and other priſons, of purpoſe to murther them as much as in you lieth with the peſt, when all elſe that are willing, are ſet free and walke abroad into the Country for their health? Why detaine you D. Layton in the Fleet, and Mr. Prinne in the Tower, notwithſtanding ſome Nobles mediation for the enlargment of the one, and the Queenes moſt gracious interceſſions for the other, whoſe Princely clemency and pitty, to thoſe of a different religion, is an everlaſting foyle to your unchriſtian mercies and barbarous inhumanity, to thoſe of your owne faith and profeſſion. Is this your Epiſcopall pitty, mercy, grace, and goodnes; that when all men elſe can find favour and reliefe, yet thoſe whom you unjuſtly perſecute, reſtraine or malice without cauſe, muſt finde none at all, no not though King or Queene deſire it? What, is your Pontificall malice now ſwollen greater then their Royall grace and goodnes? Never therefore diſſemble more with the world and us, that you have put downe our Dedham, or other Lectures, out of any love to us, or care of our, or their ſafety, as you pretend, to keep the peſtilence from us, or them; but confeſſe you have done it out of the malice of your hearts, againſt preaching, if not to bring the plague and peſtilence (as much as in you lies) even upon our ſoules and bodies, as you endeavour to do upon theſe **Iſay 59. 6, 7.Isa 59:6Isa 59:7poore priſoners thus detained by you, which theſe times of plague and faſting call upon you to ſet free. But take heed leaſt whiles you ſe…ke to put downe preaching and faſting, by ſuch ungodly meanes and pretences, to keepe off the plague from us and others, you draw it not downe, both on us and your ſelves. I have already informed you of many Biſhops, p. 161who have periſhed of this diſeaſe, I could acquaint you yet with more, as **H. Mutius Germaniae Chron. l. 18. p. 152, 153.The Biſhops of Colen, Spire, Ratisbon, Prague, Verden and Leodium all ſwept away in An. 1169: … Hildewardus Biſhop of Hildeſheim, An. 996. with many others; let their examples be your warnings; and if you will proove your calling to be of God, then henceforth learne to preach, not to ſuppreſſe his word; to be **Saxoniae Chron. Cent. Magd. 10. Col. 622. Lu. 6. 36.mercifull as he is mercifull; elſe all will henceforth conclude, that you are of your iiJoh. 8. 44.John 8:44father the devill, for his workes you doe: He was a murtherer from the beginning of mens ſoules and bodies, and ſo are you.

Now if your Holineſſes or any other deeme this cenſure of mine over-ha…ſh, one that was once of your owne Rochet, and after that a Martyr, kkSermon 4. before King Edward.(Biſhop Latimer) will aſſure you; that it was the very devill himſelfe, not God, that ſet up the State of unpreaching Prelacy, and that it is he alone who ſtirs theſe Prelates up to perſecute and ſuppreſſe the preaching of the Goſpell under the Title of Hereſie, and ſchiſme, and ill Magiſtrates to doe the like under the Title of ſedition; and our learned llHis Catechiſme, vol. 1. fol. 500.Thomas Becon, as he affirmes and proves at large, that the firſt and Principall point of a Biſhop and ſpirituall Miniſters office, is to teach and preach the word of God; ſo he reſolves, that ſuch a Biſhop as either doth not, or cannot preach, is a Nicholas Biſhop and an Idoll, and indeed no better then a painted Biſhop on a wall: yea, he is as the mmIſay 56. 10.Isa 56:10Prophet ſaith, a dumbe dogge, and as our Saviour Chriſt ſaith nnMath. 5. 13.Matt 5:13unſavourie ſalt, …worth nothing but to be caſt out, and to be troden under foot of men. Woe be to thoſe Rulers that ſet ſuch Idols and white-daubed walls over the Flocke of Chriſt, whom he hath purchaſed with his precious blood. Horrible and great is their damnation. Our Saviour Chriſt ſaith to his Diſciples ooIo…. 20. 21As my Father ſent me, ſo ſend I you. Now who knoweth not, that Chriſt was ſent of his Father to preach the Goſpell, as we may ſee in ppIſay 61. 1. Mar. 1. 38. Luke 4. 18. 19 31. 43, 44.Isa 61:1Mark 1:38Luke 4:18Luke 4:19divers places of the holy Scripture. It therefore followeth, that ſuch as are ſent of Chriſt are ſent to preach the Goſpell. If they preach not (the caſe of many of our Lord Prelates) it is an evident token, that Chriſt ſent them not, BVT ANTICHIST and THE DEVILL. Thus and much more Becon, who tells theſe unpreaching p. 162Prelates in plaine termes; that nothing abideth them but everlaſting damnation. What then will become of our great Lord Pre…ates, who will neither preach to the people themſelves, nor ſuffer others who are willing, to doe it; ſtoping up our preachers mouthes with their illegall, unchriſtian, anti-chriſtian ſuſpenions and excommunications, yea, expreſly prohibiting all preaching in theſe dolefull mortiferous times of Plague and peſtilence, and that on the very Faſting-dayes, for feare it ſhould infect mens ſoules and bodies? when as the whole **Surius. Tom. 3. p. 464.Councell of Paris under Lewes and Lotharius, Anno 829. l. 1, 2, 5. decreed the quite contrary, in theſe very remarkable termes. Statuimus pari voto, parique conſenſu, ut unuſquiſque noſtrum dictis & exemplis, plebes parochiae ſuae attentius ad meli… ra incitare ſtudeat, eaſque ut ſe a malis cohibeant, & ad Dominum ex totocorde convertant, ſolicite admoneant, Deumque quem peccando ſibi iratum fecerunt, digna paenitentiae ſatisfactione & eleemoſinarum largitione, ſibi placabilem facere ſatagant &c. Cum itaque Praedicatores SINE CESSATIONE POPVLODEI PRAEDICARE NECESSE SIT, juxta illud Eſaiae **Iſay 58.Isa 58Clam▪ NEECSSES, quaſi tuba exalt a vocem tuam, & annuncia popul… …eo, ſcelera …orum, & domui Iacob peccata corum: TVM MAXIME ID FACERE NECESSE EST, QVANDO IRAM DOMINI CONTRA POPVLVM DEI, meritis exigentibus, GRASSARI PERSEPXERINT, juxta illud quod Dominus per Ezechielem Prophetamloquitur. Ezech. 3. 17. 18. 19. &c. 33. 7, 8. 9. 10, &c. At which our ſilent and ſilencing Prelates and old doting Shelford Prieſt, may well bluſh for ſhame, eſpecially if they peruſe the 23, 24, 25. 28, 29. and 31. Chapters of the ſame Councell following. And good reaſon, for the very Romiſh Prelates in the qqSeſſio. 24. Decretum de Reformatione. c. 4.Concell of Trent, as lewd as they were, had ſo much ingenuity as to decree. That the preaching of Gods word was the principall part of a Biſhops Office, belonging eſpecially unto them, and that it ought to be exerciſed as frequently as might be, for the ſalvation of the people; and thereupon enjoyned all Biſhops in proper perſon, or in caſe of inevitable occaſions, by their ſufficient ſubſtitutes, and all Miniſters in every Pariſh, to p. 163preach every Lordſ-day and Holy-day at the leaſt; and in the time of Faſts, (as of Lent, Advent, and the like) QVOTIDIE, VEL SALTEM TRI…VSUS IN HEBDOMADE DIEBVS, to preach every day, or at leaſt three dayes every weeke, and at other times alſo as often as oportunity would permit, and to Catechiſe the people beſides. If this Popiſh Councell then preſcribes all Biſhops and Miniſters whatſoever, thus conſtantly and dayly to preach Gods word, (eſpecially on Lordſ-dayes, Holy-dayes and Faſting-dayes) without intermiſſion; our Lordly, laſie, Loytering Prelates, who will neither thus preach themſelves, and prohibit others to preach thus frequently and daily on theſe ſeaſons, or in any infected Cities on our Solemne Faſting-dayes; are certainely not onelyonly farre worſe then theſe Trent Prelates, but even as bad or worſe then the very Devill himſelfe (as Biſhop Latimer proves at large in his Sermon of the Plough, which I would wiſh them ſeriouſly to peruſe:) yea, they are meere Rebels, Traytors and enemies to God, his Church, Religion and the peoples ſoules. And can they then be ever true, loyall or faithfull to their Prince? No verily. Not to mention all the rrSee Balaeus de Ritis Pontificum. Fox Acts & Monuments, Mr. Tyndals Practiſe of Popiſh …rclates, Dr. Barnes his ſupplication to King Henry the 8. Godwins Catalogue of Biſhops.conſpiracies, Rebellions and Treaſons of our owne or forraigne Prelates againſt their Soveraignes in all ages, enough to fill a volume as large as Baronius his Annals; I ſhall inſtance onelyonly in three late examples. Anno 1536. Chriſtian the 3. King of Denmarke, (our King Charles his great grand-father by the mothers ſide) impriſoned all the ſeaven Biſhops of Denmarke, for their ſeverall Treaſons, Rebellions conſpiracies, and inſurrections againſt him, the Kingdome and Chriſtian Religion, and for uſurping regall authoritie, with ssChytraeus Chron. Saxoniae l. 14 p 407. 421 l. 15 p. 433. 434.the rule of the Kingdome to themſelves alone, and publiſhing Edicts in their owne names as the Senate of that Realm (as our Prelates do now in their viſitations & Conſiſtories) againſt the Miniſters and Profeſſors of the Reformed Religion. All which this King cauſed to be drawne up into a Remonſtrance, which laſted three houres reading, and on the 10. of Auguſt Anno 1537. (two dayes before his Coronation,) he cauſed a ſcaffold and Throne to be erected in the moſt publicke place of Hafnia the Metropolis of Denmarke; where he ſitting with all his p. 164Nobles and Senators in State; cauſed this remonſtrance of theſe Prelates deteſtable Treaſons, Conſpiracies, Rebellions, and diſloyall uſurpations on the Crowne, to be read publikely before them and all the people, declaring, that for them he had impriſoned the Biſhops, and demanding the Nobles and people, whether they deſired that theſe trayterly Prelates ſhould any more ſway the Common weale of the Kingdome, or be reſtored to their former dignity and power? Whereupon they all cryed out, No, and that they would be no longer molested with this. Antichriſtian trayterly generation of Vipers. Which ended, a publike Decree or Act of State was made by their unanimous conſents, that theſe Biſhops ſhould be removed, and that the politicall office and power of Biſhops ſhould be thenceforth wholy aboliſhed out of the Realme, which was forthwith put in execution; the Biſhops removed, their temporalities and revenues confiſcated to the King and ſeven Superintendents, being but ordinarie Miniſters, ordained in their ſteed. And thus was Denmark freed from trayterly Prelates by our Kings great grand-father, after it had been long oppreſſed by them ttChytreus Chron. Saxoniae l. 2…. p 64…. Bucanon Rerum Scotararum. l. 18. & 18. Paltricij Adamſoni …a linodia & Melvini Celſae Commiſſioni… Anatomia.Anno Domini 1571. Iohn Hamilton Archbiſhop of Saint Andrewes in Scotland, was apprehended, arraigned, condemned and hanged at Sterling, by Mathew Steward then Viceroy during King Iames his minority, for two notorious ſuoceſſive Treaſons: the firſt, for conſpiring and having a chiefe hand in the Murther of Henry Steward King of Scots, father to our late King James of famous memory, and grand-father to our preſent Soveraigne King Charles. Anno 1565. & for cauſing Iames Earle of Murra, Viceroy of Scotland during King Iames his infancy, to be traiterouſly murthered likewiſe Anno 1567. For which Treaſons, not long after all, Lord Biſhops were thruſt out of Scotland, by King Iames and the whole Parlements conſent, (though ſince reſtored) as Traytors to their Princes, contrary to Chriſts inſtitution, as the chiefe ſuppreſſors of the preaching of the Goſpell in all Countries. uuChytr…us Chron. Saxoniae l. 6. p. 49. l. 7. p. 219. 220. l. 9. p. 259. 261. 262. 263. 270. 275. l. 10 p. 297 309. 311. 340. 341. 342. l. 12 p. 358. 359 l. 13. p. 388.Guſtavus Ericus that famous King of Sweden, baniſhed, deprived, hanged up and beheaded ſome of his Archbiſhops and Biſhops for their many execrable Treaſons againſt himſelfe, and the whole Realme, and refuſed to be crowned, before he and the whole State of Sweden had p. 165by publike Act of Parleament, (though with much oppoſition of the Prelates) ſtripped the Prelates of Sweden of their exceſſive temporalities, revenues, wealth, and all temporall **Qui ſacris Of ficijs ob meritorum praerogativam ſunt applicati, dedecus et valde periculoſum eſt, terrenis actionibus, t… p… … lacris …cari Concil▪ Pariſ. Anno 829 l. 1. c. 28. S… Tom. 3. p. 376.Offices and Juriſdiction, which made them oft times to rebell againſt their Princes, Kings and Magiſtrates, to ſtirre up many ſeditions and to moleſt that Realme with almoſt continuall and dayly warres and ſchiſmes, for about an hundred yeares then laſt paſt, and had and did make them ſlow bellies, and unpreaching Prelates, ſerviceable neither to God nor man either in words or deeds, ſerving rather to intice them to riot, pride, idlenes, and ſeditions, then to true piety, and having no Title in the word of God to warrant them. Since which the Prelates in Sweden, ever rebellious and ſeditious to their Princes before, have beene more dutifull to their Soveraignes, and entermedled onelyonly with their ſpirituall functions▪ which they altogether neglected while they were Lords. Theſe three late examples of his Majeſties royall Progenitors, (to omit **See Mr. …yndals Practiſe of Popiſh Prelats, D^r. Barnes his Supplication to Henry the 8. Henry Stalbridge his exhortatorie Epiſtle▪ Antiqui Eccleſiae Brit. et Godwins Catalogue.others) as they may inſtruct all Princes how falſe that idle Paradox of the Prelates is, No Biſhop, no King, the contrary being an experimentall truth, and how little truſt and fidelity there is in Lordly Prelates (who have ever beene treacherous to their Soveraignes when and where they have born greateſt ſway.) So they may move his Majeſty to follow yySermon on of the Plough & 2. 4. 5. 6. before King Edward.Father Latymers councell to King Edward the 6, to unlord all our Lordly Biſhops, and remove them from all their temporall offices and imployments, that ſo they may follow their ſpirituall Plough-tayle, (which they will ſcorne to doe, as long as they are Lords, it being an unſeemely and diſhonourable thing for Lords to goe to plough;) and no longer ſilence their fellow Brethren, oppreſſe, moleſt and vex his faithfull Subjects, and roote out all powerfull frequent Preaching and Preachers of Gods word, as now they doe: From which kind of Lordly Prelates with their Antichriſtian Romiſh practiſes and Innovations now on foote, Good Lord deliver us; ſince they have neither Gods nor the Kings Law to authorize them, or ſupport that uſurped Papall tyrannicall Iuriſdiction which now they exerciſe, under which the whole Kingdome groanes and languiſheth, deſiring p. 166to be unburthened of it, as an intollerable yoake of bondage, which it can no longer beare, as now it is aggrevated I ſhall therefore cloſe up all, with the Canon of the Councell of Paris under Lewes and Lotharius, An. 829. zzSurius Tom. 3. p. 374.l. 1. c. 23. worthy our domineering proud Prelates moſt ſerious rumination. Quia ſunt pléri que qui non paternū affectū circa gregem ſibi comiſſum ſed quendam exercere videntur Dominatum eum que non ut Dominicum, ſed flatibus vertoſae arrogantiae inflati, ut ſuum proprium tractare non verentur. Quantum a paternitatis officijs aberrent▪ ſubter collecta Iohan. 21.documenta declarant. Dominus in Evangelio. Si diligis me, paſce oves meas: ME AS inquit, non TV AS. Item, qui major Math. 20.Matt 20eſt veſtrum, erit miniſter veſter: Et non poſt multa. Non ita erit, inquit, inter vos. Sed qui voluerit inter vos major fieri 1. Pet. 5.1 Pet 5erit veſter ſervus. Petrus, Neque dominantes in clero ſed forma facti gregis ex animo. Solomon, Principem te conſtituerunt? nolli extolli, ſed eſto in eis, quaſi unus ex ipſis. Fulgentius Eccleſ. 32.Sir 32in libro de veritate praedeſtinationis et gratiae; Non ideò, inquit, ſe ſolùm quilibet epiſcopus vas miſericordiae putet in gloria praeparatum, quia pontificali **Mitra.militia fungitur, ſed ſi progrege ſibi redito ſolicitus SEMPER invigilet, et PRAEDICET VERBO, inſtet opportunè, impertunè, arguat, obſecret, Tim. 4.increpet in omni patientia et doctrina. Nec ſibi dominatum ſuperbus uſurpare contendat, ſed Apoſtolicis informatus eloquijs et exemplis, ſervum ſe cunctis exhibeat, neque ſedis illius altitudine, collatum ſibi gaudeat temporale faſtigium, ſed humili corde fidelibus Praebeat bonae converſations exemplum. Quicun que igitur ſacris officijs ſervituri, ſub quolibet ordine applicantur, dignum eſt, ut illius dicantur, cujus ſervitio mancipantur, Quia ergò temeritate, immò PRAESVMPTVOSAVANITATE quilibet praelatorum dicere praeſumit; Illa congregatio mea eſt, aut Ille praeſbyter vel Clericus meus eſt, cum NONSITILLIVS SED ILLIVS CVI DICATVS EST? Proinde quia is inolitus ſeſus eccleſiaſticae non concordat regulae, corrigatur NECESSE EST.

p. 167Chriſtian Reader, this paſſage ſhould have been inſerted p. 123. l. 27. after miſtake not.

I ſhall cloſe up this, concerning the power and right of Ordination, with theſe enſuing Authorities and memorable examples. Anno Dom. 1389. the Lollards, Wiclifs-diſciples (as aaHiſt. Angliae An. 1389. p. 374.Walſingham records) winning very many to their Sect, grow ſo audacious; that their Preſbiters like Biſhops, created and ordayned new Preſbiters; affirming, that every Prieſt had received as much power to binde and looſe, and to miniſter other Eccleſiaſticall things, as the Pope himſelfe giveth or could give. This power of Ordination they exerciſed in the Dioceſſe of Saliſbury: And thoſe who were ordayned by them, thinking all things to be lawfull to them, preſumed to celebrate Maſſes, and feared not to handle Divine things, and adminiſter the Sacraments. This wickednes (writes he) was diſcovered by a certaine man Ordayned a Miniſter by them, to the Biſhop of Saliſbury at his Mannor of Sunnyng: By which it is apparent, that the Lollards and Wicleniſts, (the Prcteſtants of that age) beleeved, that the power of Ordination belonged as much to Preſbiters by Gods Law, as to Biſhops; that one of them might as well, as lawfully ordayne Miniſters as the other; and **This was the Doctrine & practiſe of all our Mayrtyrs Fox Acts & Mounments. 1610. p 483. 485. 500. 502. 521. 541. 552. 553. 556. 568. 588. 590. 592 598. 599. 602. 604. 639. 806. 874. 883. 884. 911. 931. 950. 956. 1001. 1006. 1006 1015. 1016. 1099. 1156. 1868. 1889.that as they might lawfully preach the Goſpell without the Biſhops licence (firſt preſcribed by the forged Statute, of 2. H 5. c. 15. made onelyonly by the Biſhops without the commons conſent; to ſuppreſſe the preaching of the Goſpell,) ſo likewiſe ordayne Miniſters without it; and that Miniſters ordayned onelyonly by Preſbyters without a Biſhops privity or aſſiſtance, were lawfull Miniſters, and might lawfully with a good conſcience diſcharge all Miniſteriall Offices; This being not onelyonly their received Doctrine, but their practiſe too. I find moreover that ^b Janruay 20. 1542. Nicholas Amſdorffius, a noble and learned unmaried man, was ordayned Biſhop of Newbury, by Martin Luther, Doctor Nicholas Medler paſtor of Newbury, George Spalatine of Aldenburge and Wolffgaugus Steinius of Lucopeira, joyning with him in the impoſition of hands; Which Ordination Lu…her afterwards publikely g Chytraeus Saxonia. l. 15. p 456.maintained to be lawfull in a printed Treatiſe. Loe here p. 168wee have Preſbiters not onelyonly ordayning a Preſbiter, but a Biſhop. If therefore the Prelates Paradox be true; That hee that ordayens, is greater in Jurſdiction and degree, then he that is ordayned. It will hence inevitably follow, that theſe Preſbiters (and thoſe who ordayned the firſt Biſhops,) were greater in Iuriſdiction, degree and order then Biſhops; And then farewell their pretended Hierarchie: ccChytraeus ibid p. 434.Anno Dom. 1537. Chriſtian the 3, King of Denmarke, removed and ſuppreſſed by a publique Edict, all the Biſhops of his Kingdome for their intollerable Treaſons and rebellions; aboliſhing their Lordly Biſhopricks, as contrary to our Saviours inſtitution, the meanes that made them idle, proud, ambicious unpreaching Prelates, and ſedicious treacherous Rebells to their Princes; and inſtead of the 7. Biſhops of Denmarke, he inſtituted 7. Superintendents, to exerciſe the Office of Biſhops, give Orders to others, and execute all eccleſiaſticall affayres; which 7. Superintendents Auguſt 26. 1537. received their Ordination from John Bugenbagius a Proteſtant Miniſter, in the Cathedrall of Hafnia, in the preſence of the King, and Senate of Denmarke. Loe here all Biſhops caſheired, as falſe rebellious Ttaytors to their Soveraigne, (as they have ddSee Centur. Mage. 4, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, 10, 11. 12. 13. c. 7. 8. 10. Antiquit Eccleſiae Brit. and Godwins Catalogue of Biſhops.ever beene in all States and ages, there having beene more notorious Traytors, Rebells, and Conſpirators of Biſhops, then of all other rankes of men in the world, as I am able to make good,) as contrary to Divine inſtitution, (and ſo not Jure Divins, as they now boaſt;) and Superintendents ordayned by a meere Preſbiter in their ſteed, to conferre Orders unto others in all the Daniſh Churches. In eeChytroeus Chro. Saxonia, l. 14. 15. 16. 17.the beginning of reformation in Germany and other places, Luther and other Miniſters, uſually ordayned Deacons and Miniſters, and ſet out Bookes of the manner of Ordination, without any Biſhops aſſiſtance; Which power of Ordination and impoſition of hands, hath ever ſince beene practiſed by Miniſters in all reformed Churches, which have abandoned Biſhops, (Such as ours are, and make themſelves) as contrary to GODS Word. Patrick Adamſon Archbiſhop of Saint Andrewes in Scotland, in ffPatricij Adamſoni Palin…dia. p. 49. 55.his Recantation publiquely made in the Synode of Fiffe, Aprill 8. 1591. confeſſeth, That the office of a Dioceſan Biſhop, Omni p. 169authoritate verbi Dei deſtituitur, et ſolopolitico hominum commento fundatur; is deſtitute of all authority from Gods Word, and onelyonly founded in the politick figment of men; out of which the Primacy of the Pope or Antichriſt hath ſprung, and that it is worthily to be condemned, becauſe the aſſembly of the Preſbitery, penes quem eſt Iuriſdictio et Inſpectio, tum in Viſitationibus, tum in Ordinationibus, which hath the Jurisdiction and inſpection, both in Viſitations and in Ordinations, will performe all theſe things with greater authority, piety and zeale, then any Biſhop whatſoever; Whoſecare is for the moſt partintent, not upon God, or his function, but the World, which he eſpecially ſerves. A fatall blow to our Prelates Hierarchie; For if Lord Biſhops be not Jure Divino, and have no foundation in the Word of GOD, then the power of Ordination belōgs not to them Iure Divino, as they are Lord Biſhops, neither can, do, or ought they to conferre Orders as they are Biſhops, but onelyonly as they are Miniſters. And if ſo (as is moſt certaine) then this power of Ordination belongs not at all to Biſhops as they are Biſhops, but onelyonly as they are Miniſters; and every Miniſter as hee is a Miniſter, hath as much divine right and authority to give Orders as any Biſhop whatſoever; (the true reaſon Why anciently among the Papiſts, as **Rationalis divinorum. l. 2. de Sacerdote Rubrica.Durandus confeſſeth, & now too; as the Rhemiſts witneſſe; and ggSee the booke of Ordination. and Canon. 35.even in our owne Engliſh Church among us at this day, Miniſters ought to joyne with the Biſhop in the impoſition of hands; Neither can our Biſhops ordayne any one a Miniſter, unleſſe Three or Foure Miniſters at leaſt joyne with him in the Ordination and laying on of hands. This being an apparent truth, I ſhall hence, from the Biſhops owne principles, prove Presbiters Superior and greater then Biſhops in juriſdiction, dignity, and degree. Thoſe (ſay they) to whom the power of Ordination belongs by divine right, are greater in juriſdiction dignity and degree, then thoſe who have not this power; and the Ordayner, is higher, ſuperior in all theſe, then the Ordayned. But the power of Ordination belongs Iure Divine onelyonly to Presbyters, as Presbyters, not to Lord Biſhops, and to Lord Biſhops themſelves, not as Biſhops but Presbyters; and p. 170Biſhops when they ordayne in a lawfull manner, doe it onelyonly as Presbiters, not as Biſhops; Therefore Presbiters are ſuperiour to Biſhops in juriſdiction, order and degree; and Biſhops themſelves, farre greater in all theſe as they are Presbiters (an office of Divine invention,) then as they are Lordly Prelates, or Dioceſan Biſhops, (a meere humane inſtitution.) Thus are our great Lord Biſhops (who **See Biſhop White his Epiſtle Dedicatory to the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, before his Treatiſe of the Sabath.vaunt of the weakenes of Puritan principles, Whereas their Epiſcopall are farre more feeble and abſurd,) wounded to death with their owne weapons, and all their domineering ſwelling authority, overthrowne by that very principle foundation, on which they have preſumed to erect it; the ancient proverb being here truly verified, Vis conſilij expers moleruit ſua. I ſhall cloze up this with the words of acute hhReſponſ. ad Turriani Sophiſmata pars 2. loc. 18.Antonius Sadeel, Who after a large proof of Biſhops and Presbiters to be both one and the ſame by Divine inſtitution, Windes up all in this manner: We conclude therefore, ſeeing that ſuperior Epiſcopall dignity is to be avowched onelyonly by humane inſtitution, tantum eſſe humani Iuris, that it is onelyonly of humane right: On the contrary, Since it is evident by the expreſſe teſtimonies of Scripture, that in the Apoſtles times, Biſhops were the ſame with Preſbiters. Iure Divino poteſtatem ordinandi non minus Presbiteris quam Epiſcopis convenire; that by Gods law, and Divine right, the power of Ordination belongs as much to Preſbiters as to Biſhops.

Page 51. l. 17. betweene ſame, and ſince; this ſhould have beene inſcribed.

So iiEuſebius Echiſt. l. 6. c. 8. 10. in the Greeke. 7. and 9. in the Engliſh.Alexander & Narciſſus were both Biſhops of Ieruſalem at the ſame time; Paulinus and Miletus both Biſhops of Antioch together: Theodoſius and Agapetus were both Biſhops of Synada at the kkSocrates Eccleſ. hiſt. l 5. c. 5. 1 Socrates l. 7. c. 3.ſame ſeaſon. mmPoſſidonius in vita Auguſtini c. 8. Cent. Magd. 4. Col. 679. 680.Valerius and Augustine were both joynt Biſhops of Hippotogether, by the unanimous conſent of the Clergie and people; and when as Auguſtine, was loath to be joyned a Biſhop with Valerius, alleaging it to be contrary to the Cuſtome of the Church, to have two Biſhops in one City; they repyled, Non hoc eſſe inuſitatum, that this was no unuſuallthing, confirming this both by example of the African, and other forraigne Churches; Whereupon hee p. 171was ſatisfied. In the nnPlatina B…l… us Luithpraudius, Albo de vitis Pontificum Theodorius a Niem. Zabarel & Marius de Sciſamte.Church of Rome, wee know, there have beene ſometimes two, ſometimes three, and once foure Popes and Biſhops at one time, Some adhering to the one, ſome to the other; but all of them conferring Orders, making Cardinalls, and exerciſing Papall juriſdiction. In the ooEuſebius, Socrates, Nice… borns; Tirpartita hiſtoria, paſſim, Cent. Mag. 4, 5, 6, 7. c. 10. Auguſtinus contra Donatum.Churches of Conſtantinople, Alexandria, Jeruſalem, Antioch, and Affricke, during the Arrian Macedonian, Novatian hereſies and Schiſme of the Donatiſts, there were ſucceſſively two or three Biſhops together in them, and other Cities; the one orthodox, the other hereticall and ſchiſmaticall; Yea, the firſt Councell of Nice Canon, 7. admitts the Novation Biſhops which conformed themſelves to the Church and renounced their Errors, to enjoy the title and dignity of a Biſhop, and to be aſſociated with the Orthodox Biſhops, if they thought fit; And ppDe Geſtis cum Emerito Donatiſt. Tom. 7. pars: 1. p. 781. 782: See M^r Carwrights anſwer to the Rhemiſh Teſtament on Phil. 1. pag. 499.Phil 1St. Auguſtine would have the Donatiſts Biſhops (where there was a Donatiſt Biſhop and a Catholicke,) if the Donatiſts returned unto the unity of the Church, that they ſhould be received into the fellowſhip of the Biſhops office, with the Catholicke Biſhops; if the people would ſuffer it; Poterit quippe unuſquiſque noſtrum honoris ſibi ſocio copulato viciſſim ſedere eminentius, &c. utroque alterum cum honore mutuo praeveniente. Nec novum aliquid eſt, &c. As he there defines: Therefore this was then reputed no novaltie. Platina qqIn vita Joannis 4 & Martini 7.records of Rhotaris, King of the Lombards, who declined to the Arians, that in all the Cities of his Kingdome, hee permitted there ſhould bee two Biſhops of equall power, the one a Catholicke, the other an Arian; and that hee placed two ſuch Biſhops in every City. rrIn Auguſtinum de haereſibus. har. 53.Danaeus proves out of Epiphanius, that anciently in moſt Cities there were two or three Biſhops. Nicephorus writes; That the Scythians neere Iſter, have many and great Cities, Eccleſiaſt hiſt. l. 11 c. 34. p. 758.all of them ſubject to one Biſhop; But among other people, wee know, there are Biſhops not onelyonly in every City, but alſo in every Village; eſpecially among the Arabians in Phrygia, and in Cyprus among the Novatians and Montaniſts; Yea, no longer ſince then the ttConcil. lat. cap. 9. Surius Tom. 3. p. 740.Councell of Later an under Innocent the 3^d. there were divers Biſhops in one Citie and Dioceſſe, where there were divers Nations of divers languages and cuſtomes: Which though his Councell diſallowes where there is no neceſſity; Yet it approves and p. 172Permitt where there is a neceſſity. Nay, uuSurius Tom. 1 …. 220. 222. 226, 343. 459. 165 414. 467. 799. Tom. 3. 740. 537.thoſe Canons, Conſtitutions, and Decretalls, which prohibit, that there ſhould be many Biſhops in one City, or that there ſhould be Biſhops in Caſtles, Villages, or ſmall Townes and Pariſhes, leaſt the dignity of Biſhops ſhould become common and contemptible; Manifeſt, that before theſe Canons and Conſtitutions, there were many Biſhops in one City and Dioceſſe; and a Biſhop in every little Caſtle, Towne and Countrey Village: And to come nearer home, the Statute of 26. H. 8. c. 14. ordayneth, that there ſhal be many ſuffragan Biſhops exerciſing Epiſcopall juriſdiction in one and the ſame Dioceſſe of England; with the Statutes of 31. H. 8. c 9. 33. H. 8. c. 31. 34. H. 8. c. 1. which erected divers new Biſhopricks in England, and divided one Dioceſſe into many, both intimate and prove as much. Why then there may not now bee divers Biſhops in one City, one Church, aſwell as there was in the Apoſtles time, in the primitive Church, and formes ages, or as well as there are now divers Archbiſhops and Biſhops in one Kingdome; divers Miniſters in one Cathedrall and Pariſh Church, I cannot yet conceive; unleſſe Biſhops will now make themſelves ſuch abſolute Lordly Monarks and Kings, as cannot admit of any xxNec quenquam jam ſerre poteſt Caeſurica priorem, Pompriuſve parem. Lucan l. 1.equalls or corrivalls with them, and bee more ambicious, proud, vayneglorious, covetous, unſociable, then the Biſhops in the Apoſtles and Primitive times, whoſe ſucceſſors they pretend themſelves to bee in words, though they diſclay me them utterly in their manners, lordlines, pomp, and ſupercilious deportment, which they will not lay downe for the peace and unity of the Church of Chriſt. I ſhall conclude this with that notable ſpeech of Saint yyDe Geſtis cum Emerita Donatiſt: Epiſc. lib. Tom. 7. pars 1. p. 782. 783.Auguſtine, and thoſe other almoſt 300. Biſhops who were content to lay down their Biſhopriks for the peace and unity of the Church; Et non perdere, ſed Deo tutius comendare. An vero Redemptor noſter de caelis inhumana membra deſcendit, ut membra eius eſſe…us, et nos ne ipſa eius membra crudeli diviſione lanientur, de Cathedris deſcendere formidamus? Epiſcopi propter Chriſtianos populos ordinamur. Quod ergo Chriſtianis populis ad Chriſtianam pacem prodeſt, hoc de noſtro Epiſcopatu faciamus. Quod ſum, propter te, ſum, ſi tibi prodeſt; p. 165non ſum, ſi tibi obeſt. Si Servi utiles ſumus, cur Domnini aeternis lucris pro noſtris temporalibus ſublimitatibus invidemus? Epiſcopalis dignitas fructuoſior nobis erit, ſi gregem Chriſti depoſita magis collegerit, quam retenta diſperſerit. Fratres mei, ſi Dominum cogitamus, locus ille altior ſpecula vinitoris eſt, non faſtigium ſuperbientis. Sicum nolo retinere Epiſcopatum meum diſpergo gregem Chriſti, quomodo eſt damnum gregis honor Paſtoris? Nam qua fronte in futuro ſeculo promiſſum a Chriſto ſperabimus honorem, ſi Chriſtianam in hoc ſeculo noſter honor impedit unitatem? To which I ſhall adde, as a Corollary, a like Speech of that holy devout man, S. Bernard, zzSee his life before his Workes, and Eſ… ncaeus. Digreſ. in 1. Tim. l. 3. c. 6. p. 330.Who as he conſtantly refuſed (out of conſcience) the Biſhopricks both of Genoa and Millaine, though earneſtly urged to accept of them; ſo hee brake forth into theſe admirable ſpeeches upon that occaſion, (Homil. 1. De Laudibus Mariae Virginis: p. 18.) Worthy all Lordly Prelats moſt ſerious contemplation. Erubeſce ſuperbe cinis, Deus ſe humiliat, tu te exaltas? Deusſe hominibus ſubdit, tu dominari geſtiens, tuo te praeponis authori Vtinam tale me quid cogitantem Deus, uti ſuum olim Apoſtolum, increpare dignetur: Vade poſt me Satana; Non ſapis quae Dei ſunt: Quotiens hominibus praeeſſe deſidero, totiens Deum meum praeire contendo, et tunc quae verè Dei ſunt non ſapio. Enough to cauſe all our Lordly Prelates, (have they any grace in their hearts) to caſt off their Rochets, and lay downe their Biſhopricks, their Lordly juriſdiction, which have bred ſo many ſchiſmes, controverſies, warres, and tumults in the Chriſtian World, and rent the unity of Chriſts Church in ſunder; in all acts. Which thing if they now refuſe to doe, I ſhall conclude of them, as Hermagandus did of the Greeke Biſhop, who was like to ſtarve him aaAventinus Annal. Boirum. l. 4. p. 202.Sanctiſſimus eſt veſter Pontifex quatenus ADVERSO DEO fieri licet. Literis ſacris enim pingitur Deus eſt charitas, cujus iſtum Epiſcopum omnino expertem eſſe, noſtro periculo ſenſimus.

FINIS.