Legal and Rational Plea, Postscript
A Poſtſcript.
CHriſtian Reader,aExod. 35. 4. to 30. c. 36. 3 to 10. 1 Chron. 22. throughout. c. 26. 26, 27, 28 c. 28. & 29. 2 Chron. c. 2. to c. 8. c. 24. 4. to 17. c. 27. 3. c. 29 3. to 21. c. 34. 8. to 15. 2 Kings 12. 4. to 7. Ezra and Neh, throughout. Iſa. c. 1, & 2, Zech. 8 9, 10 when I ſeriouſly conſider the extraordinary zeal, forwardneſſe and bountifull liberality of devout and holy Moſes, David, Solomon, Joaſh, Jotham, Hezekiah, Joſiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, and all Gods people under them, in contributing towards the building, maintaining repairing the Tabernacle, Temple, Houſes, Synagogues of Gods publick worſhip, and furniſhing them with all neceſſary ornaments and utenſils: their care in providing bJoſh. 21. 2. 2 Chron. 6. 64. and c. 9. 10. to 35. c. 31. 3. to 16. Neh. 10. 32. to th… end. c. 13. 10. to 15.liberall maintenance, encouragement, rewards for Gods faithfull Prieſts and miniſters; their tranſcendent cPſal. 5. 7. Pſal. 23. 6. Pſal. 26. 8. and 27. 4. Pſal. 42. 1, 2, 4. Pſal. 36. 8. Pſal. 52. 8. Pſal. 55. 14. Pſal. 84. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11. Pſal. 100. 4. Pſ. 116. 19. Pſal. 118. 26. Pſal. 122. Pſal. 132. to 9. Pſal. 135. 2. Luke 2. 27. 37.ardent Love, affectionate longing, hungry, thirſty, earneſt, panting deſires after God, and all his publick Ordinances in his own Houſe & Temple; with their chearfulneſſe, joyfulneſſe, pains, diligence in frequenting them therein, without the leaſt ſeparation from them; expreſſed in the marginall Texts. Together with the exceeding Bounty, Munificence, zeal, of dEzra. 1. throughout. c. 5. 13, 14, 15, 16. c. 6. 1. to 16. c. 7. 11. to 28. c. 8. 24. 25, &c. 33, 34, 35. Iſa. 44. 28. c. 45. 13.Cyrus, Darius, Artaxe…xes, and their Nobles, (though meer heathens) in repairing Gods Temple & maintaining his publick worſhip therein, expreſſed in their memorable Decrees. And when I further meditate upon the Propheſies of Iſa. 2. 1, 2, c. 56. 6, 7. Mich. 4. 1, 2, 3. relating to the times of the Goſpel, predicting, that under it, All nations ſhal flow & repair by great Troops to the Mountain and Houſe of the Lord; and thus call earneſtly one to another: COME and LETVS GO VP TO THE HOVSE OF THE GOD OF JACOB; For we will walk in his wayes, and …e will teach us his paths; and we will love the Name of the Lord, and b… his ſervants; who hath promiſed, TO MAKE THEM JOYFULL IN HIS HOUSE OF PRAYER: Upon the ſubſequent Preſidents of Chriſt and his Apoſtles (recorded in theeJohn 7. 14, 28. c. 8. 2. 20. c. 18. 20. Luke 20. 1. chap. 24. 3, 5 Matth. 26. 55. Acts 2. 46, 47. c. 31, &c. c. 5. 42. c. 9. 20. c. 13. 10. 14 44. c. 14. 1. c. 17. 10 c. 18. 4. 19. 26. c. 19. 8. Mark 1, 21, 39. Luke 4. 15, 16, &c. c. 13. 10. Matth. 12. 9. New Teſtament, for our imitation) who repaired to and preached DAILY IN THE PUBLICK TEMPLE and SYNAGOGUES OF THE JEWS; and of all the zealous Primitive Believers, Chriſtians, People, who reſorted and flocked by Troops EARLY EVERY DAY to the Temple and Synagogues to hear them preach and pray: CONTINUING DAYLY WITH ONE ACCORD IN THE TEMPLE, there participating of all Gods publick Ordinances in common, without Schiſme, or Separation from the publick Aſſemblies therein. And when I further ponder the eminent Liberality, Piety, Devotion of our ancient Chriſtian Predeceſſors, both fSee Spelman Concilia & Epiſt. Ded. Dr. Vſher de Eccleſiarum Brit. Primordiis.Britons and Saxons, in erecting magnificent Churches in all places throughout our Iſland; (not out of vainglory or ſuperſtition, but a pious g1 Chron. 22 5. c, 29, 1.contemplation of the Greatneſſe of God, for whoſe honour and ſervice they built them) in endowing them with competent Glebes, Rectories, Tithes, Revenues, for the Maintenance of Miniſters; and their aſſiduous care, zeal in flocking about the Miniſters of Chriſt, to hear Gods Word when and whereſoever they came amongſt them; thus recorded by our venerablehEccleſ. Hiſt. Gentis Angll. 3. c. 26, & l. 4. c. 27. Beda: Erat quippe moris, &c. It was the manner and Cuſtome of the people of England in that age, (to wit eight hundred years ſince and before) when ever a Presbyter or Miniſter came into any Country-Town or village, TO FLOCK and GATHER TOGETHER ABOUT HIM IN ONE, and to make it THEIR CARE and DESIRE, to hear the word of God from his mouth, gathering together about him for that purpoſe IN GREAT MULTITUDES to hear what he ſhould ſpeak unto them; and MORE WILLINGLY FOLLOWING and DOING THE THINGS THEY HEARD and UNDERSTOOD. And then compare theſe premiſes with the quite contrary practiſe of many pretended Sacrilegious Chriſtians, and Anabaptiſticall, Sectarian, Jeſuiticall (and I fear Atheiſticall) Saints in our degenerated times, who repute it the prime part, the chief character of their Piety and Saintſhip, to declaim againſt all our Churches, Temples, dedicated to Gods Worſhip; as Antichriſtian, Popiſh, Heatheniſh, Idolatrous, Prophane Steeple-houſes, &c. Saying one to another like the Madianitiſh impious, Pagan Princes, and their plundering Armies of old,iPſ. 83. 12. Let us take to our ſelves, the houſes of God in poſſeſſion: or like the Barbarian, Edomites, of ancient times, crying out againſt them, and our Miniſters Rectories too, (in their very words which John Canne takes up in his prophanekEpiſtle Dedicatory, and p. 2. 29. voyce, not from, but againſt the Temple) Raſe them, raſe them, even to the Foundations; leave not one ſtone of them upon a ſtone unthrown down; for if THEY WERE RASED TO THE GROUND IT WOULD DO WELL; and would preſently effect it, were their power anſwerable to their malice; and withall making it their principal work wholly to ſeparate and withdraw all perſons they can from our godly Miniſters, & all Gods publick Ordinances in our Churches, as Antichriſtian, Popiſh, Superſtitious, Impious, diſpleaſing unto God, &c. I cannot but ſtand amazed at this ſtrange Apoſtacy of theirs from the zeal and practiſe of all theſe Godly Saints both under the Law and Goſpel; yea of Chriſt himſelf and his Apoſtles; as a ſad forerunner of ſome ſevere ſweeping Judgement of God, ready to ſeiſe upon us to our utter deſolation, if not prevented by ſyncere repentance, or ſuppreſſion of ſuch unnaturall Harpies, Vipers; and as a moſt deſperate Deſign of the Jeſuites, to demoliſh our Churches, deſtroy our Proteſtant Congregations and (ſo our Religion, throughout England, a… they burnt, demoliſhed, ſuppreſſed, deſtroyed the Proteſtants Churches and publick Aſſemblies of lJubilaeum ſive Speculum, Jeſuiticum, p. 117. 132, 144 145, 175, 176. 185. Meteranus Hiſt. l. 27.late years (viz. Anno 1606. 1614. 1628. and 1639.) in Cracovia, and Poſnania in Poland, in the Dukedomes of Clive, Juliers, Bergen, Newburg, in Vilna in Lituania; and ſince that in Auſtria and Bohemia. Whereupon all true Saints and Miniſters of God have juſtcauſe, to pray and complain to God againſt them, in the old Churches Lamentation and words againſt her open, profeſſed Pagan Enemies, Pſal. 74. 1. to 12. O God why haſt thou caſt us off, &c. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetuall deſolations, even all that the ENEMY HATH DONE WICKEDLY IN THE SANCTUARY. Thy Enemies roar in the middeſt of the Congregations, they ſet up their Enſignes for Signes. A man was famous according as he lifted up axes upon the thick Trees. But now they break down all the carved work thereof with axes and hammers: they have caſt fire into thy Sanctuary; they have defiled the dwelling place of thy name, and CAST IT DOWN TO THE GROUND. They ſay in their hearts, Let us deſtroy them together; THEY HAVE BURNT UP ALL THE SYNAGOGUES OF GOD IN THE LAND. We ſee not our Signes, there is no more ANY PROPHET, neither is there any amongſt us that knoweth, How long. O God, how long ſhall the adverſary reproach? Shall the enemy blaſpheme thy name for ever? Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached thee O Lord, and that the fooliſh people have blaſphemed thy name. Have reſpect to thy Covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the Habitations of CRUELTY. O let not the oppreſſed return aſhamed, let the poore and needy praiſe thy name. Ariſe O Lord, PLEAD THINE OWN CAUSE, remember how the fooliſh man reproacheth thee dayly. Forget not the VOICE OF THINE ENEMIES (John Cannes VOICE, not from but againſt THY TEMPLE, MINISTERS, TITHES) the tumult of thoſe That riſe up againſt thee, increaſeth continually.
It was the practiſe of none but malicious Heathens, and profeſſed enemies of God and his Church, to invade his Inheritance, and Deſtroy, Defile, Pillage his Houſe and Temples, Pſal. 79. 1. &c. 2 Chron. 26. 18, 19. 2 Kings 29. 5. to 18. which cauſed this ſad Lamentation and Complaint in Gods Prophets and people, Iſa. 64. 11, 12. Our holy and beautifull Houſe where our Fathers praiſed thee, is burnt with fire, and all our pleaſant things are laid waſt. Wilt thou refrain thy ſelf for theſe things O Lord? Wilt thou hold thy peace and afflict us very ſore? And can it be then a matter of joy and act of piety in John Canne and his New Saints, to ſee Gods ancient and beautifull houſes erected by our Anceſtors, wherein our Fathers praiſed God, quite levelled to the ground, and no more Aſſemblies kept in them?
It is recorded by allmEuſebius, Socrates Sch… lasticus, Theodoret, Niceph… rus, Fox, Acts and Monu-Eutropius, Grimſton and others, in their Lives and Histories of their Perſecutions. Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtorians, as an act of higheſt impiety, wickedneſſe, perſecution in Diocleſian, Licinius, and other perſecuting Pagan Emperours and Apoſtates from Chriſtianity; that they endeavoured to deſtroy all the Churches and Temples of the Chriſtians, and raſed divers of them to the ground, to the end they ſhould not aſſemble publickly in them to pray, hear or worſhip God in his ſacred Ordinances: and can it then be now an act of eminent Piety, Zeal, Righteouſneſſe, Chriſtianity, and no perſecution, wickedneſſe, Apoſtacy at all in Canne, or his Anabaptiſtical, Jeſuited Saints, to attempt, perſwade the ſubverſion of all our Churches, and ſacrilegious rapine of all their Tithes, Revenues, of purpoſe to ſuppreſſe all Parochiall Aſſemblies, Miniſters, and praying, preaching in them, for the future? Surely I doubt the ſame Satanicall, Antichriſtian Spirit which poſſeſſed theſe Perſecutors, and Apoſtates heretofore, is tranſmigrated by ſucceſſion into Canne and his Apoſtate Confederates againſt our Churches and Miniſters now; which I wiſh them ſadly to conſider in due ſeaſon, that they may be diſpoſſeſſed of it, ere it lead them paſt recovery into everlaſting perdition, or to profeſſed Apoſtacy and Enmity againſt Chriſt, as it did Licinius and Julian heretofore.
As for thoſe Colonels and Army-Officers, who are active in promoting any ſuch deſigne as this, by their armed power; let them remember, that it is recorded in thenLuke 7. 2. to 10. Goſpel of that Eminent Centurion or Colonel, whoſe faith Chriſt commended to be greater than any he had found in Iſrael; how the Elders of the Jews gave him this ſpecial Encomium to Chriſt himſelf, as a perſon WORTHY to find favour from him, THAT HE HAD BUILT THEM A SYNAGOGUE, or Church to ſerve God in: And therefore it muſt needs be an unſouldierly, impious practiſe in them, to pull down thoſe ancient Synagogues, Churches which others have built for Gods publick worſhip, inſtead of repairing them, or building new where wanting, or demoliſhed by warres, or other caſualties.
And to ſtop the Jeſuites mouths, (the originall contrivers, and ſecret fomenters of the preſent plots againſt our Church Fabricks, Endowments, Revenues, and Patrons Rights) I ſhall recommend unto them this reſolution of oM…ralium quaeſtu…num de Caſibus Conſcientiae.Vincent. Filiucius (their fellow Jeſuit tranſcribed, approved by Alphonſus de Vargas, a Spaniſh Papiſt, yet anti Jeſuit) in his notable Treatiſe entituled, Relatio ad Reges & Principes Chriſtianos, de Stratagematis, & ſophiſmatis Politicis Societatis Jeſu, ad MONARCHIAM ORBIS TERRARUM ſibi conficienda, c. 41, 42, 49. wherewith I ſhall countermine them, Po…ifex & Caeſar (& by like reaſon all other Princes, Potentates, States) tam ex officio, quam quaſi ex contractu cum iis (fundatoribus) qui bona Eccleſiae reliquerunt OBLIGATUS EST LEGE DIVINA ET NATURALI, …am illis, qu…m iis in quorum emolumentum relicta ſunt, NON ALIENARE: adeo ut, ſi contrarium fiat, INJURIA FIAT FUNDATORIBUS QUORUM VOLUNTATE LEGITIMA ET RATIONABILI NON STATUR: L…ditur utilitas publica, Cultuſque Religionis: fiat INJURIA Religioſorum ſucceſſoribus: quae tanto major eſt, ſi praeter jacturam bonorum fortunae, famae quoque periculum adſit: quod tunc accidit, quando bona ita SINE CAUSA AUFERUNTUR, ut detur aliis probabilis ſuſpicandi occaſio, factum id eſſe, vel propter ignorantiam, inſcitiam, inertiam, vel propter vitam flagitioſam Succeſſorum. Itaque tenetur EX JUSITIA REPARARE id quod intereſt, tam in fama & exiſtimatione, quam in bonis temporalibus. Caeſar vi quidem Juramenti ſui, & QVIA EST SUPREMƲS ECCLESIARƲM ADVOCATƲS ET DEFENSOR, obligatur & cogitur, JURA AC BONA VETERUM ECCLESIARUM TUERI & AB HOSTIBUS RECUPERARE.
The Right of Patronage of Founders and Endowers of Churches, to nominate, preſent or collate Incumbents, and convenient Miniſters to them upon every Vacancy, is as ancient as Pariſh Churches themſelves; and confirmed by the Cano…s of Councils, Popes Decrees, Imperiall and Regall Conſtitutions ever ſince, as is evident by Concilium Arauſicanum, Ann, 441. cap. 10. ThepGratian. Cauſ. 16. qu. 7 See John Thierye and the Gloſſes thereon Decrees of Pope Gelaſius, about the year 493. the fourth Council of Aurelia, an. 547. Can. 7. The Conſtitution of Juſtinian the Emperour, about ann. 550. Novel. 123. Si quis Oratorium extruxerit, volueritque in eo promovere Clericos vel IPSE vel HAEREDES EJUS, ſi ſumptus ipſi Clericis adminiſtrent (as every Founder was to endow the Church with a competent Glebe, Tithe, and Revenue, before it was to be conſecratd, and to deliver a ſpeciall Charter of the DOWRY and ſubjection thereof to the Biſhop of the Dioceſſe, before its conſecration, by the Decrees of the ſecond Council of …racara Can. 5. Concil. Aurelian. 4. Can. 33. Gregory Epiſt. l. 12. c. 10. and other Decrees cited by Gratian. Cauſ. 16. qu. 7.) & dignos NOMINARINT, nominati ordinantur, &c. The qGratian ib. Surius Concil. Tom. 2. Centur. Magd. 6. Col. 607.fourth Council of Toledo, which decrees, Decernimus ut quamdiu FUNDATORES ECCLESIARUM in hac vita ſuperſtites fuerint, pro iiſdem locis curam habeant ſolicitam; atque Rectores idoneos in eiſdem Baſilicis iidem ipſi Epiſcopo offerant ordinandos. Quod ſi SPRETIS EISDEM FUNDATORIBUS Rectores ibidem praeſumpſerit ordinare Epiſcopus, & ordinationem ſuam IRRITAM NOVERIT, & ad verecundiam ſui alios in eorum loco (QUOS I P S I FUNDATORES CONDIGNOS ELEGERINT) ORDINARI. The rGratian Ca…ſ. 16. qu. 2. Surius Concil. Tom. 2.ninth Cuncil of Toledo about the year 660. Can. 1, 2. which Decrees; that Founders of Churches during life, ſhall preſent fit Rectors to them, to be ordained by the Biſhop; which Right deſcended to their Heirs alſo after their death; who were to provide, that neither the Incumbents, nor Biſhops ſhould deprive the Church of her Dowry. Filiis vel Nepotibus ac honeſtioribus propinquis ejus qui conſtruxit vel ditavit (it ſhould be dotavit) Eccleſiam, licitum ſit hane habere ſolertiam, ut ſi Sacerdotem, aliquid ex collatis rebus deſraudare praeviderint, aut honeſta conventione compeſcant, aut Epiſcopo, vel Judici corrigenda denuncient. Quod ſi talia Epiſcopus agere tentet, Metropolitano haec inſinuare procurent. Si autem Metropolitanus talia gerat, Regis haec auribus intimare non differant. Ipſis tamen Haeredibus in iiſdem rebus non liceat quaſi pr…prii Juris poteſtatem praeferre, non rapinam & fraudem ingerere, non violentiam quamcunque praeſumere; ſed hoc ſolum in ſalutarem ſolicitudinem adhihere, quod aut nullam operatio noxam nocens attingat, aut mulctam vel aliquam partem ſalutaris mercedis aſſumat. The ſGratian. Cauſ. 16. qu. 7.Synod of Rome, which decreed Monaſterium; (vel Oratorium) canonicè conſtructum A DOMINIO CONSTRUCTORIS EO INVITO NON AU…ERATUR, liceatque illi Presbytero CUI VOLUERIT pro ſacro officio illius Di…ceſis, cum conſenſu Epiſcopi (ne malus exiſtat) COMMENDARE. ThetGratian ibid. Decrees of Pope Gregory. Rationis ordo non patitur, ut Monaſterium vel Eccleſias CONTRA VOLUNTATEM FUNDATORUM, ab eorum diſpoſitione, ad arbitrium ſuum quis debeat vendicare: whoſe Heirs, and Coheirs ought to enjoy the Patronage of them, as he determines Capitula Caroli & Ludovici Imperatorum (colected by Anſegiſus & Benedictus Levita) about the year 800. l. 5. c. 1. 82, 83, 178. l. 7. c. 2 13. Ludovici Imperatoris ad Capit. Additio 3. c. 25. Addit. 4. c. 36. Legis Longobardorum. l. 3. Tit. 1. c. 44. The Council of Paris ann. 829. l. 1. c. 22. The Councils of Friburg, Mentz, and Cavailon, cited byuCauſa 16. qu. 17. Gratian. The Council of Lateran under Alexander the third. cap. 13, 14, 17. & Appendix ad idem Concil. p. 15. c. 7. Extravag. de Jure Patronatus c. 4. 10, 11. & de Inſtitutione c. 3. Concil. Arelatenſe ſub Car. Mag. c. 4. Turonenſe 3. ſub eodem c. 15. Cabilonenſe ſub eodem c. 42. Meldenſe c. 51, 52. Wormatienſe c. 8. with ſundry other Decrees, Laws, Councils of later times, confirming Patrons Rights cited in Grat. Cauſa 16. q. 11. Cauſ. 17. Bochel. Decret. Eccl▪ Gallicanae. l 8. Tit. 12, 13, 14. By ſome of which it is evident,XSee Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes, p. 393, 394. 82. to 88. that Patrons of ancient times, did preſent their Clerks to the Churches which they founded and their Heirs after them, and inveſt them freely in them, without the Biſhops privity; accept of refignations from their Incumbents, & deprive them upon ſufficient cauſe, till reſtrained by the Decrees of Councils, Popes, and Princes Edicts; & that Advowſons, or Rights of Patronage deſcended to Heirs, Coheris and Coperceners; who if they agreed not to preſent, the Biſhop might either ſhut up the Church doores, or put in a Clerk to ſupply the cure, till they preſented an Incumbent by joynt conſent, that ſo the Church by preſentation of their ſeveral Clerks to it at once, might not be divided into many Fragments, Churches, and ſo made incompetent: And in France, yMr. Seldens History of Tithes, p. 394.Patrons and Founders of Churches, had Droicts Honorifiques allowed them, as Precedence; Seats and the like. It is therefore great injuſtice to deprive them of their Rights and intereſts in their Patronages now, ſo long continued, enjoyed in all revolutions of publick affairs & higheſt impiety to deſtroy our Churches Fabricks, or pervert them, their ornaments, Dowries, Glebes, materials, to prophane or other uſes, contrary to the Founders pious intentions, and the veryzSee Hugo Grotius de jure belli, l. 3. c. 5. Sect. 3. c. 12. ſect. 6, 7, 8. & Annotata. Lawes of warre it ſelf, which preſerve Churches from violence and Rapine, even in an enemies countrey; which even barbarous pagan enemies have reputed ſacred, and exempted from ſpoil, or devaſtation, though ſome Anabaptiſtical Saints would defile, deſtroy, devour them now. But let them remember this Goſpel Text (relating to materiall as well as ſpirituall Temples) 1 Cor. 3. 17. If any man defile (or deſtroy) the Temple of God, him will God deſtroy: for the aPſal. 5. 7. Pſal. 11. 4. Pſal. 65. 4. Pſal. 79. 1. Pſal. 138. 2. Jonah 2. 7. Mic. 1, 2. Hab. 2. 20.Temple of God is holy.
FINIS.
Errata.
COurteous Reader, I ſhall deſire thee before, or as thou readeſt this Plea, to correct with thy pen theſe enſuing Preſſe-Errors, miſtakes, which the authors remoteneſſe from the Preſſe, and the Printers negligence and unskilfullneſſe in Law Terms have occaſioned, many of which quite vitiate the ſenſe, and falſifie the Authors true quotations.
Fol. 8. l. 14. in the margent r. Cook Page 16. l. 14. r. 113 9. p. 17. l. 7. r. Titles. p. 22. 2. Chron. 33. 3. r. 23. 3. p. 18. l. 2. r. plenarly. l. 3. r. caſes. l. 9. r. pleuarly. p. 18. in the margent r. Angelica. l. 19. r. double value of. l. 20. r. preſented to by Simony. l. 38. r. produced pro & contra. p. 19. l. 14. in the margent, r. 825. l. 23. r. 356. l. 26. in the margent dele 21. l. 27. r. 39 H. 6. 20, 21, 26. p. 20 l. 10. r. ſhould there come. p. 20. l. 1. in the margent, r. Weſt 2. c. 5. r. 21. l. 11. r. Ordinary alone in caſe he refuſe the Patrons Clerk without cauſe; or againſt the Ordinary, &c. p. 22. l. 15. r. who recovers. p. 23. l. 2. r. quartae. l. 6. in the margent, r. 4 E. l. 13. r 365. p. 23. 24. r. and the Common Law. p. 25. l. 3. r. redoubted. p. 27. l. 31. r. prevented. p. 29. whip, r. which. p. 31. l 32. r. now ſtiled. l. 32. 28 E. r. 1. all. p. 32. l. 8. in the margent, 225. 525. to 280: r. 580. r, 22. l. 17. r. c. 1, 2, 3.
End of the text · William Prynne, Legal and Rational Plea (1654)