The League Illegal, Speech
D. F. his Speech before the Aſſembly of Divines, CONCERNING The New LEAGUE and COVENANT.
M. Prolocutor,
OUr Brethren of Scotland deſire a Reſolution from this Aſſembly, concerning the Neceſſity and Lawfulneſs of entring into this New League: and how can we reſolve them, if we be not reſolved our ſelves, as ſome of us are not? I ſhall therefore humbly offer to your ſerious conſideration, Whether it be not fit to qualifie the word Prelacy, when it is ranked with Popery and Superſtition, after this manner; I will endeavour the extirpation of Popery, and all Antichriſtian, Tyrannical, or Independent Prelacy? for otherwiſe by abjuring Prelacy, abſolutely ſome of us ſhall ſwear to forſwear our ſelves. For Prelacy, as alſo Hierarchy, in the former and better ages of the Church were taken in the better part; Hierarchy ſignifying nothing but a holy Rule or Government; and Prelacy the preeminence of one in the Church above another. Prelation is a relatio diſquiparantiae, and Praelati are Relati to thoſe over whom they are ſet; who may be either the flock, or the Paſtors themſelves. If the Flock, in that ſenſe all that have charge of ſouls may be truly called Praelati, viz. Gregi; for they are ſet over them to be their Over-ſeers and Spiritual Rulers, Act. 8. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. Heb. 13. 17, 24. 1 Tim. 5. 17. In this ſenſe both St. Gregory and Bernard take the word; Praelati non quae ſua ſunt, ſed quae Domini, quaerant: & non Paſtores, ſed Impoſtores; non Doctores, ſed Seductores; non Praelati, ſed Pilati: let Prelates not ſeek their own, but thoſe things which are the Lords; now a dayes we have not Teachers, but Seducers; not Shepherds, but Deceivers; not Prelates, but Pilats: in which ſentence, Teachers, Paſtors, and Prelates are ranged together, as ſignifying the ſame perſons: In which elegant Antanaclaſis you hear that Doctors, Paſtors, and Prelates, are a kind of Synonyma's. In this ſenſe if we condemn Prelates, and Vote their Exterpation; we ſhall with one breath blow all the Divines that have cure of Souls, not only out of this Aſſembly, but out of their Parſonages, and Vicaridges alſo. But if Praelati are here in this Covenant taken in reference to Paſtors themſelves, and Miniſters of the Goſpel; and thereby ſuch are meant only who are Praepoſiti clero, ſet over Clergy-men themſelves, as having not only ſome precedency to, but authority over the reſt: neither in this ſenſe may we piouſly ſwear the Eradication of them. For there are Claſſes in the Netherlands, Intendents and Super-intendents in Germany; Preſidents in the Reformed Synods in France; and Maſters, Provoſts, and Heads of Colledges, and Hals in our Univerſities, who have a kind of Prelacy, and Authority over the Fellows and Students, whereof the major part are Divines, and in holy Orders. Here I conceive it will be ſaid, That none of theſe are aimed at; but only Dioceſan Biſhops already baniſhed out of Scotland. And Prelates indeed they are in a more eminent degree; and if Prelacy be reſtrained to them, it is Epiſcopacy that is principally ſhot at; to the Extirpation whereof I dare not yield my Vote or Suffrage, leſt this New Oath intangle me in perjury. For both my ſelf, and all who have received Orders in this Kingdom by the Impoſition of Epiſcopal hands, have freely Engaged our ſelves by Oath to obey our Ordinary, and to ſubmit to his godly Judgement, and in all things lawful and honeſt to receive his Commands. If then we now ſwear to endeavour the Aboliſhing of Epiſcopacy, we Swear to Renounce our Canonical Obedience; that is, as I apprehend, we ſwear to forſwear our ſelves.
It is true that the Dr. was furniſhed with many other Reaſons for Epiſcopacy, beſides theſe; and of ſome he gave a hint in the Aſſembly it ſelf upon other occaſions, as namely theſe that follow.