Truth Maintained 2, Discourse · Second commentary 10 – First commentary 11
TREATIS.
D And whereas you ſay Reformation is of thoſe duties that are impaled in for ſome particular perſons.) It appeares that publike Reformation is ſo impaled; for whereas every man is commanded to obſerve the Sabbath, honour his Parents, and every man forbidden to have other Gods, worſhip Images take Gods Name in vaine kill, ſteale, &c. Yet the ſupreame Power alone in Scripture is called on for publike Reformation, and no private perſon, as Saint Austin hath very well obſerved.
E I anſwer, Auſcrenda Idola, non poteſt quiſquam iubere privatus Aug. cont. literos Utilium lib. 2. cap 92.this were a grand deſigne, if you could heighten Reformation into ſuch an holy Prodigy.) I need not heighten it, which is ſo high a worke of it ſelfe, that our longeſt armes cannot reach it, though we ſtand on the tip-toes of our beſt deſires and endeavours, till God ſhall firſt be pleaſed to ſend us a peace. A prodigy it is not (not long ſince you tearmed it an extraordinary buſineſſe) yet if it be performed whilſt warre laſteth, it is a worke of the Lord, and may justly ſeeme mervallous in our eyes.
F As you would of late the Church into the Prelacy and the Clergy.) When and where did I doe this? I ever accounted that the Cetus fi…l…um, the Congregation of the faithfull was Gods Church on earth. Yet I often find the Church repreſented in generall Counſels by the Prelacy and Clergy (who are or ſhould be the beſt & wiſeſt in the Church) & their deciſions in matters of Religion interpreted and received as the reſolutions of the Church in generall.
G And excluded the Layty as a prophane crew, and to be taught their diſtance.) What honeſt man ever thought the Layty, as Layty, prophane? I conceive our Kingdome would be very happy, if none of the Clergy were worſe then ſome of the Layty. And I am ſure that the godly Clergy are Gods Layty his foreign & the godly Layty are Gods Clergy, his foreign Yet now a dayes, ſome uſurping Lay-men may well be taught their diſtance, who meddle with miniſteria'l functions: Nor will a wel-meaning heart one day excuſe the unſanctified hands of ſuch Vzzah's, who preſuming to preach, hold not our Arke from ſhaking, but ſhake our Arke with holding it.
H Luther w…ll tell you this is one of the Romiſh engines.) Indeed this was a Popiſh device too much to depreſſe the Layty. But this engine thanks be to God) is ſince broken aſunder, and it will be in vaine for any to glew the peeces thereof together. And now ſince the Monopoly of the Popiſh Clergy (ingroſſing all matters of Religion to themſelves) is diſſolved; it is fit Proteſtant Miniſters lawfull propriety in their calling, ſhould juſtly be maintained.
I Thus you may take off many honeſt Labourers in the Vineyard.) Farre be it from me eſpecially if they be skilfull Labourers ſuch as will prune the Vines, not pluck them up by the roots. But this and what you ſay of thoſe to whom God hath held out his Scepter, is nothing to the purpoſe; except you could prove where God in the Scripture, hires or cals private men to make a publike Reformation.
EXAMINER.
And whereas you tell us that the ſupreame Power alone hath the lawfull calling as appeares in the Kings of Judah. I anſwer that if ſo the Parliament were now in a dangerous K praemunire for you know that is ſuſpended from us, and yet our ſtate goes on in their worke, enabled (as they ſay) by their fundamen…all power and conſtitution: I ſhall not here diſpute the emanations of this power in ordinances, votes and orders▪ they have made it appeare in their owne declarations; onelyonly this I read of an ordinance made by the Nobles and Elders of Iſrael, thoſe Lords L and Commons. That whoſoever would not come according to the Counſell which was taken for Reformation, all his ſubstance ſhould be forfeited. Here is no King of Judah's hand, nor a …yrus King of Perſias▪ but an ordinance of their owne to their owne people; onelyonly they have King Cyru's writ for their aſſembling and conſulting. Had Chriſt M and his Apoſtles waited in their Reformation for the conſent of the Roman Magiſtrate the ſupreame Power, they had not made that holy expedition they did. Had Luther and Zun…glius N and Oecolampadius ſtaid for the Emperours Reformation, they had not ſhed halfe that light in the Germane hemiſphere: There was a time when God tooke part of the ſpirit of Moſes and put it upon O the Elders.