An Apology for the Discipline of the Ancient Church, Part 2 · Section 5 – Section 6

An Apology for the Discipline of the Ancient Church · Part 2 · Section 5 – Section 6

p. 98SECT. V. The words of the Letter.

The third degree of the Presbyterial Churches degeneracy, was its climbing up to the ſtile of a Provincial Church, whoſe Paſtour was not afrai'd nor aſham'd to aſſume the name and office of an Arch-Biſhop, and Metropolitane; leaving the ſervile and ſubſervient titles of Prebende, Surrogate, and Vicar-general, as termes good enough to the inferiour Officers his underlings. Of which proud and prophane Peſt-houſe, that Auſtin who was ſent from Gregory, the laſt of the good Biſhops, and the firſt of the bad Popes of Rome, is reputed and recorded to have been the father and founder in this Land; even then when he was ſtoutly and ſtifly oppoſ'd by the Monks of Bangor, Anno Domini 596. and in the reign of King Ethelbert, witneſſe Fox his Martyrol. page 119. together with the reſt of our Eng. Hiſt. and Evagr. lib. 2. c. 8.

Reply.

Sect. 5.YOu ſo promiſcuouſly uſe theſe termes Presbyterial, and Combinational, that I know not readily how to ſhape my anſwer; for were I to deale with the Presbyterians, I ſhould reply one way; but to you I muſt returne another anſwer. You ſay here, that the third degree of corruption was when it degenerated into the Provincial Church. But this is not likely,; for when the Church became Cathedral and Parochial, your Combinational Church vaniſhed, it was no more; now what hath no exiſtence, cannot by degrees degenerate: ſince degrees belong to qualities which have, muſt have ſome ſubject to exiſt in. Had you then ſaid the Church by theſe degrees rottened, it had been ſenſe, but to ſay that that which long before this, was not, did rot and degenerate, is not intelligible. But to omit this, I ſhall now conſider in what you place this Degeneration.

1. This was when it climed to be ſtiled a Provincial Church.

p. 992. When the Paſtour was not afraid nor aſhamed to aſſume the name and office of Arch-biſhop and Metropolitane.

3. When he left the ſervile and ſubſervient names or titles of Prebend, Surrogate, and Vicar-General to inferiour Officers.

4. That of this proud and prophane Peſt-houſe, Auſtin ſent from Gregory was the father and founder in this our Land.

This is the ſumme of what you deliver. To which I returne you this anſwer with what brevity I can.

1. The degeneration was, when it climbed up to be a Provincial Church.

But what if this prove no Degeneration at all? For every thing is ſaid to degenerate when it is changrd to the worſe, whereas this change (if there were any, which I ſhall not eaſily grant you) was into the better; for by this the Church was better ordered and governed than it could be without it. At firſt the Church was ſo ſmall, that an upper roome was able to containe it; it enlarged in Cities, then in Countries, after into whole Provinces. Governed it muſt be, when ſmall or great; and governed it was by the Apoſtles while they lived, and by thoſe whom they appointed. Theſe Governours by them placed, were ſeated in chief Cities, as at Jeruſalem, Antioch, Epheſus, Corinth, &c. And becauſe they had the Provinces allotted to them, the Churches were called Provincial. This I have ſhewed before clearly in Titus, who was ſet over Crete. But it may be ſaid the Provinces were not then converted, how then could ſuch Governours be ſet over them? This is not material. For as the Apoſtles might rightly be called the Governours of the whole world (becauſe Chriſt committed all Nations to their charge) though at firſt a ſmall Congregation did obey them actually: So that Governour that was placad in any Metropolis or chief City by them, though actually he had in his communion and ſubjection ſome few, yet he had in Charge, the converſion of the whole Countrey; and being converted, they were under his government, and he was called their Metropolitane. That you ſtartle not at the word, I have told you before, that it was very ancient, to be found in the Apoſtolical Canons, in the Nicene, Antiochian,Conc. Epheſ. edictum poſt adventum epiſc. Cypri. and Epheſine Councils, the words of this laſt Council being theſe, It ſeemeth good to this ſacred and Oecumenical Council to reſerve unto every Province untouched and undiminiſhed the rights which they have had foreign, from the firſt beginning, every Metropolitan having liberty according to the old cuſtome to take the copy of our Acts for his ſecurity.

I know well what you will caſt in my teeth, that this was the wiſdome of the fleſh, and the wiſdome of the fleſh is enmity with God. But firſt conſider that it was foreign, a cuſtome of old, and foreign, a cuſtome from the beginning; and the period of that may be for what we know to the contrary ſet in the Apoſtles. Secondly, I deny it abſolutely to be the wiſdome of the fleſh. For there is fleſh that is unregenerate, p. 100and the wiſdome of that fleſh is enmity with God; for ambition that is a corrupt quality reſiding in it, will prompt it to deſire honour; covetouſneſſe to aime at wealth; ſelfe-love to promote and ſerve its luſts. But there is fleſh again that is regenerate and borne anew, which is contented to be guided by Gods Spirit inſtructing a man to obey Gods will revealed in his Word, and this is not enmity with God. I ſhall never think that Grace outs any man of his reaſon; it may perfect, heighten, enlighten it, but darken or dimme it, it can never do. Whatſoever therefore a man ſhall do by the light of reaſon raiſed by Grace to this pitch, I ſhall not call it the wiſdome of the fleſh, nor be perſwaded it is enmity againſt God.

The firſt Fathers of the Church were men very eminent for the graces and gifts of the Spirit, men who were ſignal for illuminated reaſon: Even reaſon taught them that there muſt needs be confuſion where there was no order; where there was equality, there could be no order, and therefore in an equality it was not poſſible the Church ſhould continue. They ſaw that there was in one family but one Maſter; in one Army but one General; in one ſhip but one Pilot; in one Bee-hive but one King; reaſon taught them that there muſt be, and experience that there was ſub & ſupra in all Societies, and therefore that it muſt be ſo in the Societies of Gods people. Thus farre nature. But Reaſon improved by Grace taught them again, that God would not be ſerved according to mans inventions, and therefore they muſt look, that though Reaſon ſuggeſted this or that, yet nothing muſt be done, that was contrary to Gods will revealed in his Word. They here then caſt about to finde, if they could, any thing contrary to what reaſon dictated; now this appeared not, but rather the contrary; for they found it written, Let all things be done decently and in order, all to edification, and that this was a precept for the regulating of the Church. And upon it, it was eſtabliſhed foreign, from the beginning to this day, that in all Provinces there ſhould be one chief Biſhop, which from the mother City was called a Metropolitan, to whom all the other Biſhops ſhould be ſubject, and who to him ſhould be accomptable for what was done through the whole Province. This then was not the wiſdome of the fleſh, but the wiſdome of God, who would have all things done in order. If any man did foreign, teach other things than he taught, or foreign, teach any new things, and not according to the Analogy or rule of faith, or foreign, teach any vaine things, he might according to that direction that Saint Paul gives Timothy, have his mouth quickly ſtopt. For Diſcipline is the preſervation and hedge of Doctrine; and Diſcipline can never be well adminiſtred among them that have an equal power. I pray tell me, what was the reaſon that moved his Highneſſe the Lord Protector to take upon him the government of this Common-wealth? was it not becauſe he foreſaw that all would come to ruine in a parity of Governours? which was the aime of thoſe who fancied a fifth Monarchy. This is the very reaſon that he himſelf aſſignes. And ſay what you will to the contrary, this is and will be the fate of the Church, except in one Province there be one chief. Could I give no other inſtances of it, p. 101yet that which we have lived to ſee is enough.

This Calvin, Bucer, Zanchy, in their teſtimonies before alledged, foreſaw,Bezae reſponſio ad tractatum de miniſtrorum evang. grad. fol. 143. and therefore commended and allowed the ancient Primitive inſtitution. I ſhall onelyonly adde the teſtimony of Beza, and ſo ſhut up this point, eſpecially having ſaid ſo much before about it, when I ſpoke of Patriarchs. Dicamus ergo Primatum illum ordinis per mutuae ſucceſſionis vices (for ſuch the Presbyterians plead for) ipſa tandem experientia compertum fuiſſe, non ſatis virium, nec ad ambitioſos paſtores, nec ad auditores quidem vanos, alios vero adulatorio ſpiritu praeditos compeſcendos habuiſſe, communicata viz. ſingulis paſtoribus per vices hujus primatus dignitate. Itaque quod ſingulorum ſecundum ſucceſſionem commune fuit, viſum fuit ad unum, & eum quidem totius Presbyterii judicio delectum transferre, quod certe repraehendi nec poteſt, nec debet: quum praeſ…rtim vetuſtus hic mos Presbyterum deligendi in Alexandrina celeberrima Eccleſia jam inde à Marco Evangelista eſſet obſervatus, &c. Yea but ſay you ſay

2. This man was not afraid nor aſhamed to aſſume the Name and Office of an Arch-biſhop and Metropolitan.

AND what fear or ſhame then ſhould be in this aſſumption, I ſee not. The Office was very uſeful, and the Name not ſo impious and profane, as you imagine.

1. His office was to call the reſt of the Biſhops of the Province to the Synods, which were to be held twice every year,Concil. Antioch Can. 19. Conc. in Trullo. cap. 8. Antiochenum. Can. 9. Conc. African. cap. 127. & 28. Concil. Sard. cap. 14. to appoint the place of their meeting, when the Ordinations of Biſhops were examined and determined, and the deprivation and rejection of all ſuch as were found unworthy of that honour and place was handled. In the Synod he ſate as Preſident, and things were ſo moderated, that neither the reſt might proceed to do any thing without conſulting him, nor he without them, but was tyed in matters of difference to follow the major part; when they aſſembled but once a year, many cauſes that abide no delay, were committed by them to the Metropolitan hearing the judgment. To him then lay Appeales. And yet his power was not abſolute and arbitrary, for he was to execute the decrees of the Synods onelyonly, and to judge according to the Canons. And if he neglected his duty, he was by the Canons lyable to Cenſure and puniſhment in a general Council. And the Church ſtory is a plentiful record, that by Councils Metrapolitans have been puniſhed, cenſured, depoſed. Now ſay truly, what is there that in this Office or Order that ſhould offend any diſcreet man?

2. Oh but his name is profane, and it is blaſphemy to aſſume it; and for this afterward you give in this reaſon, becauſe it is ſuch a ſtile and title as is not communicable to any creature, but is proper and peculiar to Chriſts own ſacred perſon, being that beſides himſelf none can be ſafely ſaid to be an Arch-biſhop, or chief Shepherd.

I ſhall firſt encounter your reaſon, and invalidate it. For firſt you impoſe upon me; for Saint Peters word is not foreign,1 Pet. 5.4.1 Pet 5:4 but foreign. p. 102foreign. Secondly, were it ſo, yet it is but an argument à notatione nominis, which of all Topick arguments is the weakeſt. Thirdly, if this reaſon were good, then it would hold as well in all other names of Chriſt, and it were profane and blaſphemous for any man to bear any of them. And yet I read there is not one of them except Immanuel, which hath not been attributed to man;Pſal. 105.15. Matt. 2.6. Heb. 2.17. Heb. 3.1. 1 Pet. 2.25.Ps 105:15Matt 2:6Heb 2:17Heb 3:11 Pet 2:25 Jeſus is attributed to Joſhua, Hebr. 4.8. Chriſtus to Kings and Patriarchs: Nolite tangere Chriſtos meos. He is called foreign, and ſo are the praepoſiti, Heb. 13.17. foreign. He is ſtiled foreign, and yet how many in the Goſpel are call'd foreign; he the Apoſtle and High Prieſt of our profeſſion, and yet Saint Paul often calls himſelf an Apoſtle; he by Saint Peter is call'd foreign, and yet under him the Miniſters of the Church are often ſtiled Shepherds and Biſhops. There can be no ſtrength then in this reaſon, which is everted by ſo many examples; it muſt needs be as much profaneſs and blaſphemy for any creature to bear any of theſe appellations, ſince they were the names of Chriſt, as it can be for an Arch-Biſhop to take that name, if it had been his, which it was not. But it was no profaneſſe or blaſphemy in them, and therefore not in him.

But that the name may the leſſe offend you, call to minde the antiquity of it, and what kinde of men have born it, and yet the Church never held them for profane perſons. It is as old as are Metropolitans, and they are as old as Metropolies or chief Cities, where Chriſtianity was planted. Chryſoſtome ſticks not to call Titus foreign, and well he might who had ſeven Biſhops under him.Cypr. Epiſt. 45. Edit. Pammelii. Cyprian was Arch-Biſhop of Carthage a Martyr, a great Arch-Biſhop, for he ſaith, latè pa…et noſtra provincia, habet Numidium & Mauritaniam ſibi cohaerentes. Athanaſius, who ſtood againſt all the world for the truth of foreign, and had all the world againſt him, was Arch-Biſhop of Alexandria. What ſhould I tell you that the firſt thirty two Biſhops of Rome, who were all Martyrs, except one, bear that name? and that Chryſostome, Epiphanius, Baſil, Nazianzene, Cyril, &c. were all called Arch-Biſhops? And that you be not quite out of love with it, that glorious Martyr of our Church Cranmer dyed Arch-biſhop of Canterbury. I can never be drawn to imagine, that had there been profaneſſe and blaſphemy in the name, ſuch glorious lights of the Church, ſuch pious, good, learned men, ſuch pillars of the Faith, ſuch Martyrs in defence of the Truth, would ever have owned it, been once ſtiled by it. And ſo you ſee that foreign is foreign.

3. When he left the ſervile and ſubſervient names of Prebend, Surrogate, Vicar General to inferiour Officers his underlings.

THeſe names or titles I never heard the Arch-Biſhop or Metropolitane had, therefore I know not how he could leave them. Under him perhaps theſe were; but for the Prebend, he was no Officer. The Biſhop and his Colledge of Presbyters firſt lived together, and were maintained out of a common ſtock or treaſury of the Church, the Biſhop allotted to every one p. 103his ſalary monthly, which in Tertullian is called ſtipes, in Cyprian ſportula; Tertull. Apol. c. 39. & 42.and it was an honourable ſtipend or portion, as appears by the words of Cyprian, when he would have Clemens and Aurelius who were Confeſſors, admitted into the Colledge of Presbyters, that they might be honoured with this ſtipend. Sciatis nos honorem Presbyteris illis jam d ſignaſſe, Cypr. Ep. 34. Edit. Pammel. & 27. 36.ut iiſdem ſportutis cum Presbyteris honorentur; and in another Epiſtle he calls theſe, menſtrae diviſiones, agreeing with his Maſter Tertullian, who ſaith theſe ſtipes were given menſtruâ die. Thus it was at firſt, but afterward when Cathedral Churches were built, theſe Presbyters were called Prebends, and their ſalary Praebenda, Spalatenſ. lib. 2. cap. 9. Sect. 6.not that they had a ſeparate part or portion of that Church revenue to themſelves, as afterwards it was thought fit; ſed quod cui que ex communi illius Eccleſiae reditu alimenta praebebantur. Now this was the Original of Prebends, neither was he any more a Church Officer, then as a Presbyter, which if you take in the old ſenſe, you have no reaſon to carp at.

2. As for the Surrogate, I do not finde that ever any Arch-Biſhop had ſuch an Officer; I ſuppoſe, that you ſhould aime at,Conc. Ancyr. Can. 13. Neoceſ. 13. Antioch. 10. Conc. Sardic. cap. 6, Laodic. cap. 56. Socrat. Schol. lib. 5. cap. 21. Poſſidon. in vita Aug. Aug. Ep. 110. Naucler. Vol. 2. Generat. p. 667. is the foreign or Rural Biſhops, who were brought into the Church to ſupply the Biſhops place in abſence or ſickneſſe, who becauſe they abuſed their power, were diſliked, and timely abrogated. Or if not theſe, yet the ſuffragan Biſhops or Coadjutors, for ſuch then were, as it appears in the Church Records. Agelius the Novatian Biſhop being ready to dye, firſt impoſed hands on Siſimius to ſucceed him, but upon the requeſt of the people, made choice of Marcian, then of Siſimius; the ſtory is worth your reading in Socrates. Austin was alſo made the Suffragan to Valerius in Hippo; and afterward Austin himſelf took for his Coadjutor Eradius. Thus you may ſee a Coadjutor was allowed, but ſuch a one as ſhould be onelyonly a Presbyter, while the Biſhop lived; and therefore long after the time of Auguſtine, when Zachary Biſhop of Rome aſſociated another Biſhop, as a Coadjutor to Boniface the Biſhop of Mentz, he confeſſed it to be a thing forbidden by the Canons, and worthy reprehenſion, but that upon his importunity, of ſpecial favour, he had yielded ſo much unto him, that he might have ſuch a Coadjutor, whom with the advice of his brethren he might appoint to ſucceed him when he ſhould dye. Now if you do aime at theſe, there could be no great errour in the inſtitution, if the Biſhop either when he was in remotis agendis as the Lawyers ſpeak, or diſabled by infirmity or age, he made choice of ſome worthy perſon to be his Coadjutor; no otherwiſe then the High Prieſts among the Jewes did of their Saganim. For I read not of any expreſſe text of holy writ, that could or did warrant them to do it.

3. Thirdly, the laſt name that doth diſpleaſe, is the Vicar General, but neither was he properly any Church Officer. A Judge he was in the Arch-Biſhops Court, for ſuch matters as were reſerved by Princes to the Chriſtian judicature, to viſit for the Metropolitane the whole Province, and and ſo came into the place of them, whom the Laodicean Council calls foreign; Caranza tranſlates the word Viſitatores, but Meurſius Circitatores, p. 104Luſtratores, quorum munus eſſet circumire per omnes univerſae regionis Eccleſias, Laodic. Conc. Can. 57. Meurſii. Lexico mixobarb. Balſam. in Can. 57. Conc. Laodiceni.& inquirere de illarum ſtatu. And of theſe Balſam… upon the Canon of the Laodicean Council hath theſe words, foreign. A Commiſſion to this purpoſe I finde given by Henry the eighth to Thomas Cromwel, after Earle of Eſſex; that great inſtrument of expulſion of the Popes power out of England: by which authority he viſited all the Abbies and Monaſteries of the Land, and finding in them foul enormities, opened them in Parliament the next year, in which he ſate with the title of Vicegerent, or Cuſtos ſpiritualitatum; this power was not much unlike a Vicar General. And were it ſafe to utter my thoughts, I ſhould not ſtick to put you in minde of thoſe, who have lately done the ſame work under other names. For what elſe I pray, were the Propagators of the Goſpel? what elſe the Commiſſioners for ſcandalous and ignorant Miniſters? what elſe the Committee men? under whom I am ſure the Clergy felt a ſharp viſitation, yea, and ſharper then that of the Cuſtos ſpiritualitatum; for then the ejected had a competency of maintenance allowed them for their lives, which by theſe is not done. Laſtly, if I ſhould call your Approvers Vicar Generals too, I ſhould not much erre; for have they not the care of all the Churches? Modeſty retains me, or elſe I could ſay, that ſome of your Paſtours of Congregational Churches have been foreign, and been Informers or Agents to the prejudice of many an honeſt and laborious Miniſter.

But you ſay theſe Officers were Underlings; how otherwiſe could it be, if they were Officers? for Officers muſt be under; they were ſubſervient, ſo they muſt be alſo; for indicitur miniſtratio, whoſoever will be great among you, Mat. 20.26.Matt 20:26let him be your Miniſter. To be under was humility, to be ſubſervient their duty; but if among them any were ſervile, ſo ſlaviſh as to be at the Arch-Biſhops or Metropolitans beck, and to drudge for his ends, this was baſeneſſe; and if you note the men, they ſhall not be defended, but condemned by me as well as you.

But while I go along with you in the purſuit of theſe, I finde my ſelf in ſome danger; for I finde a Peſt-houſe nigh, in which plaguey people are uſed to be put; and to this thoſe you mention are ſent for their pride and profaneſſe, and I wiſh that all who are infected with the ſame Leproſie were placed there with them; for then 'tis poſſible we might meet with Corah, Dathan, and Abiram there, as well as Moſes and Aaron. For is pride and prophaneſſe only in Prelates? I ſhall ſpeak a bold word, and I know I can make it good, that I can ſhew you many more Arch-Biſhops and Metropolitans exemplar for humility and piety, then you can exemplifie as notorious for pride and profaneſſe. The birth of it in this land you intimate in theſe following words.

p. 1054. Of which proud and profane Peſt-houſe, that Auſtin who was ſent from Gregory, the laſt of the good Biſhops, end the firſt of the bad Popes of Rome, is reputed to be the father and founder in this our Land, &c.

1. OF Gregory, I know what you bring is ſo common that it is in every mans mouth, for as it is in M. Fox in the place you cite, that of the number of all the firſt Biſhops before him in the Primitive Church, he was the baſeſt, and of all them that came after him he was the beſt. Upon what ground the firſt part of this ſentence was ſpoken I know not; let them give accompt that ſaid it. For this is certain, that he was a learned and pious father of the Church, as his works teſtifie; and the ſtrongeſt battery out of the fathers we can make againſt the Popes claim and uſurpation to his univerſal ſupremacy, is fetch't from him. For he calls the title of univerſal ſupremacy by theſe appellations; 1. Typum ſuperbiae. 2. Nomen novum. 3. Vocabulum temerarium ſtultum. 4. Superbum pempaticum. 5.Jewel. Cont. Hardingum. Act. 4. Sect. 4.Acts 4 Perverſum. 6. Superſtitioſum Profanum. 7. Sceleſtum. 8. Nomen erroris. 9. Nomen ſingularitatis. 10. Nomen vanitatis. 11. Nomen hypocriſeos. 12. Nomen blaſphemiae, as Biſhop Jewel hath taught me out of his Epiſtles. Some men may perhaps eſteem meanly of him for giving countenance to ſome then growing ſuperſtitions in the Romane Church; but the commendation given him by two, who lived near the ſame time is great. The firſt is Iſidore Arch-Biſhop of Syvil, who writes thus preſently upon his death, Gregorius Papa Romanae ſedis & Apoſtolicae Praeſul, Iſidore de viris illuſtrib. cap. 17compunctione timoris Dei plenus, & humilitate ſummus, tantó que per gratiam Spiritus ſancti ſcientiae lumine praeditus, ut non modo illi praeſentium temporum quiſquam, ſed in praeteritis quidem par fuit unquam. Hildef. de viris illuſtrib.This is the teſtimony of Iſidore, which Hildefonſus Arch-Biſhop of Toledo having cited not long after, adds theſe words, Ita virtutum omnium claruit perfectione, ut (excluſis omnium virorum comparationibus) nihil illi ſimile demonſtret antiquitas. Vicit enim ſanctitate Antonium, eloquentia Cyprianum, ſepicutta Auguſtinum. And though no queſtion theſe praiſes of Gregory were hyperbolical, yet they juſtifie the latter part of Mr. Foxes words, that of all the Popes which came after him he was the beſt. He that ſhall read his life in Paulus Diaconus, will have juſt reaſon to have a charitable opinion of him; that I ſay not his own writings yet extant proclaime him in the gate.

Before I come to his Legate Auſtin the Monk,Juel. Artic. 3. Sect. 24. neceſſary it is that I premiſe ſomewhat. That Chriſtianity was early planted in this our Iſland, is evident by the teſtimonies of Tertullian, Origen, Chryſoſtome, Theodoret, which you may read in Juel: Patric. Junius Annot. in Ep. Clementis. Dorotheus in Synopſi.That Paul and Peter came hither and preached, there are ſome Records; ſome ſay Simo… Zelotes, ſome ſpeak of Ariſtobulus; but that which is generally received, and for which there is good evidence, is that Joſeph of Arimathea ſailing out of France with his ſon Joſeph and ten others, travailed through Britaine, and preach'd the p. 106Goſpel there;Vide Ephraim. Pagit. part. 3. pag. 1. 2, &c. Baron. Annal. Anno 35. to which purpoſe ſerves that teſtimony of Gildas, Tempore ut ſcimus ſummo Tiberii Caeſaris radios ſuos huic inſulae primus indulget Chriſtus, and Cardinal Baronius ſets down the year of Joſephs comming hither, out of an Ancient Manuſcript of the Vatican, viz. the nineteenth of Tiberius reigne, and the 35 of our Lord. Some teſtimonies alſo there are for the improvement of it in the next Century, but the light broke forth cleareſt under King Lucius about the year 180. who conſulted Eleutherus the Biſhop of Rome, and from him received advice. 'Tis the honour of our Nation, to have had the firſt Chriſtian King of the world: he was inſtructed in the faith by Elvan and Meduni, Lib. Til. Bal. Script. Britanniae. Cent. 1. pag. 17. Biſhop Godwin, Dr. Pitſae.and with theſe he ſent his own Embaſſadours Fugatius and Damian, qui quibuſdam ritibus, ac ſolenni Epiſcoporum diſpoſitione eandem formarent Eccleſiam. And he erected three Arch-Biſhopricks, one at London, and record we have of the particular Biſhops that governed in that Sea. A ſecond at York. A third at Caerleon upon Vsk, in which Dubritius and Saint David were Arch-Biſhops wirh others too long to name. For four hundred years then and more, that is, from the converſion of King Lucius to Auſtins coming, this was the ſtate and government of the Britiſh Church; but in the latter times much eclipſed by the incurſion of the Scots and Picts, and the tenth perſecution under Diocleſian, but more by the invaſion and cruelty of the Saxons,Beda. lib. 3. cap. 6.21, 22, 24. &c. when they were forced to retire, and their Paſtours with them into Wales and Cornwal. The greater part of the Land being now again become Idolatrous and Heatheniſh: this gave occaſion unto Gregory to ſend Auſtin the Monk for their converſion, which he effected in ſome part; but the greateſt part may not be attributed unto him; ſince it is well known that Aidan converted the North parts; Finan the Eaſt Saxons and the Mercians, whoſe Coadjutors were Ceadda, Colman, &c. Theſe profeſſed no ſubjection to the Church of Rome, and deſerve to be partakers of as much honour from our Britiſh Nation, as Auſtin. Him I ſhall eaſily grant you, upon the credit of the Records, to have been a proud, undiſcreet, and cruel bloody Prelate:Bale. Fol. 35. Cent. 1. Bed. lib. 2.2. but never that he was the father and founder of this proud and profane Peſt-houſe as you called it in this Land; I mean the government of the Church by Arch-Biſhops and Biſhops. For it is evident that in King Lucius time they were inſtituted: And before Auguſtins arrival, Anno 522. at the Coronation of Arthur, there was a great meeting of Lords,Galfrid. Monum. lib 9. cap. 12. 13. Bale fol. 28. Princes and Biſhops at Caerleon; and that of the three Arch-Biſhops of Britaine at that time, Dulritius Archipraeſul, Primas, Arch-Biſhop of Caerleon did the Office of the Church that day, being the feaſt of Pentecoſt. This Arch-Biſhops ſeat was afterward by his Succeſſor Saint David tranſlated to Saint Davids, which ſo continued till the Norman Conqueſt.Bale. Cent. 1. fol. 30. Bede. lib. 2 c. 2. Galfr. Monum. lib. 11. cap. 12. Godw. page 45. But the anſwer which the Britiſh Biſhops gave to Auſtin, being ſummoned to give him a meeting, where by perſwaſions, threats and all manner of means, he endeavoured to draw the Britaine Biſhops to an entire conformity to the Church of Rome, is ſo clear an evidence, that I cannot ſee how it can be evaded; for the anſwer was ſhort and peremptory, that they might not ſubmit themſelves to him, having an Arch-Biſhop of their p. 107own, &c. And in a ſecond meeting, being offended with his pride,Sir H. Spelman. Conc. Britan. An. 590. ex Manuſc. Saxon. Bed. lib. 2. c. 2. Bale Cent. 1. fol. 35. Bede lib. 2. c. 2. becauſe he would not riſe to them at their coming into the Aſſembly, they gain-ſaid him in every thing; for ſay they, ſi modo nobis aſſurgere noluit, quanto magis ſi ei ſubjici ceperimus, nos pro nihilo contemnet?

This repulſe occaſioned the ſlaughter of the Monks of Bangor, over whom Dinoth was the Caenobiarcha, as Bale calls him, who as it is ſuppoſed was that holy man in Bede, that taught them how to diſcern whether he was ſent of God to them or no. For ſaith he, if he be a meek and an humble man, it is an evident ſigne, that he bears the yoke of Chriſt, and offers the ſame to you; but if he be ſtout and proud, he is not of God, you may be ſure; and his deportment was ſuch as I ſaid, which alienated the Biſhops minds, and the Monks with them. Our adverſaries of Rome take it very ill, that Austin ſhould be thus accuſed of pride and cruelty, and uſe all their wits in his excuſe. They would perſwade us he was dead, when this Maſſacre was committed; but Biſhop Juel hath evidently confuted their allegations, and made it appear that in that Warre he was alive,Juel. defenſ. Apolog. quinta pars. cap. 1. diviſio prima. and the inſtigator of it. Had you then ſet the ſaddle upon the right horſe, and fixed thoſe Epithites of proud and profane upon Auſtin, you had ſome colour for it. But to faſten it upon the whole order, upon Arch-Biſhops and Metropolitans, for one mans ſake is want of charity, of which he was not the founder neither in this Land, as I have proved to you. Nor Fox, nor any Engliſh Hiſtorians, nor Evagrius ſay any ſuch thing; Evagrius could not, for nor Gregory was Biſhop of Rome, nor Auſtin ſent hither when he writ & ended his Hiſtory. All that Fox or any other Hiſtorian can ſay, is that Auſtin was the firſt Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury; and that ſhall readily be yielded you; now when I hear, how you can improve that conceſſion to your advantage, you ſhall receive an anſwer. I could if I pleaſed anticipate your objections, but I will not now do it, becauſe I haſten to what follows.

SECT. VI. The words of the Letter.

THe fourth degree of the Combinational Churches infamous defection, was its notably naughty enlarging it ſelf into a National Church; where, and whence (without controverſie) aroſe that Jewiſh imitation, and irregularly Religious obſervation of five frivolo s and foundationleſſe cuſtomes and traditions, of which the firſt was of National times, as the fifty yearly Feſtivals, or holy working-dayes, Curſed-Maſſe, Candle-Maſſe, &c. The ſecond, was of National places, as the Conſecrated meeting houſes, Porches, Chancels, and Church-yards. The third, was of National perſons, as the Univerſal Preachers, Office-Prieſts, Half-Prieſts, or Dioceſan Deacons. The fourth, was of National pious performances, as ſtinted Worſhip, Quiriſters, ſinging of Pſalmes with all the Rubrique Poſtures. And the fifth was of National payments, or ſpiritual profits, as offerings, tithes, and mortuaries; all which fruitleſſe and p. 108fantaſtical faſhions, were the illegitimate legal off-ſpring of National Parliaments, in this and in the Neighbor-Nations. Witneſſe the publick Acts, Statutes, and other Ordinances in that behalf.