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PERKINS LIBRARY
DuKe University
Karc UooKs
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THE TRUE
HISTORY
COUNCILS
Enlarged and Defended,
Againflthe Deceits of a pretendedVindicator of thePri mitive-Churchjbut indeed oftheTympanite&Tyran- ny of fome Prelates many hundred years after Chrift.
With a Detedion of the falfe Hiflory of Z.Vw^r^/ Lord Bilhop oiCorke and Rojfe in Ireland.
And a Specimen of tlte way by which this Generation conf uteth their Adverfaries in feveral Inftances.
And a Preface abbreviating much of Ludolphus\ Hifto- ry of HahajfiA.
Written to (hew their dangerous Errour, who think that a gene- ral Council, or Colledge of Bifhops, is a (upream Governoiir of all the Chriftian World, with power of Univerfal Legifla- tion, Judgment and Execution, and that Chrifts Laws with- out their Uni verfal Laws,are not (ufficient for the Churches Uni- ty and Concord.
By RICHARD BAXTER, tf U-vcr of Truth, Love, andPeacfy and a Hater of Lyi/jg^ Malignity, and Verfecuticn.
To which is added by another Hand, a Defence of a Book, En- tituled, No Evidence for Diocefan Churches. Wherein what is further produced out of Scripture, and ancient Authors, for Diocefan Churches, is dilcufled.
London, Printed for Tho. Tari^lmll, ac cJk Bible and Three Crowns, at the lower end of Chupfide, near Memrs Chappel. 1 622.
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To the Pious and Peaceable Proteftaiu-Conform- ing Minifters, who are againft our Subjection to a Foreign Jurifdidtion. Th®- notice of the Reafon of this Book, with a Breviate of Ludol- phm's Habaflian Hiftory.
Reverend Brethren
WHen after the effeSfs of our calamitotis di- vifions , the rejoycing Nation fuf^ofed they had been united^ in our King new- ly reflored (hy a General and Army which hadbeenfghtifig againft himanvited^ftrengthned by theCtiy^Smany other s^B an A^ of Oblivion feemed to have frefared for future amity ; fome little thought that men were about going further from each other than they were before : Bu t ihe Malady was evident to Juch ofm as were called to attempt a Cure, and neither the Caufes nor the Prognoflicks hard to be known. A cer- tain and cheap Remedy was obviotiS; but no Tleas, no 'Petitions, could get min to accept it. The Symptomes then threatned far worfe thanyet hath come to pa fs, God being more merciful to us than mijlaken men. We were then judged criminal for foreseeing and foretelling what Fruit the Seed then [own would bring forth : And fince then the Sowers \ay the Foretellers are the caufe of all. We quickly fiw, that niflead of hoping for any Concord^ and healing of the Bones which then were broken^ it
A 1 would
The Preface.
would l^e come our Care and too hard work ^ to endeavour' to prevent a greater breach. Though we thought Two Thou\lwd [uch Miniflers as were fUenced would be mi^^ when others thought it a blefftng to be rtd of them, we tbenje.iredy andfime bopd^ that no [mall number rnore would jolluw them.
It was not you that caft fuch out ; nor is it you that wifljthe continuance and increase of theCaufes. We agree with yon in allfoinis of the Chrifiian Reformed Religi- on : and concerning the evtlof all the fins which we fear by Conforming to commit, though we agree 7iot of the meaning of thofe Oaths ^ TromifeSyTrofefions, andTra- 61 ices, which are the matter feared. We live in unfeign- ed Love and Communion with thofe that loveTruth\ Ho- linefs and Teace, notwithflanding fuch differences as ihefe, God hath not laid our Salvation or Communion vj)on cur agreeing about the meaning of every word or Sentence in the Bible , much lefs on our agreeing of the fenfe of every word in all the Laws and Canons of men* Two things voe earnefily requefl of you , for the fake of the Chrtflian Religion^ this trembling Nation, and your own and others Souls, i . That you will in your Tar if}} Relations ferioufly t/fe your befi endeavours to p'omote true Godlinefs and Brotherly Love, and to heal the fad Divifions of the Churches : We believe that it mufl be much by the Parochial Minifters and ^ffem- Hies , that Piety and Troteflant Verity mufi be keft itf : And what we may not do, we -fray that you may do it who are allowed, a. That you will join with us again ft all Foreign Jurifdidion, Ecclejiificafor Civil, The Tarty which we dread I have given you fome ac' count of in my Re fly to Mr. Dodwcll. By their Fruits you miy know them. i. TJjey are fuch as labour to m ike: diir Breaches wider., ly rendring thofe that they divert
from
The Preface.
from odious , 'which commonly is by falfe accn\atiom; They call out for Execution by the Sword again fi thofe that dare tiot do as they do, and cry. Go on, abate no- ihing; they are fadiiousSchifmaticks, rebellious: They might eafily have learnt this Language, ''ju it h out fi dying long in the Vniverjities, andiJSJithout all the Bnmfionc Booh that teach it them. An invifible lutor can \oon teach it them without Book. He that hater h his i5ro- iher is a murtherer, and hath not eternal Life abiding in him. i. They are for an univerfal humane Govern- ment, with fower of LegiflatUn and Judgment over the whole Chriflian World. How to call it they are not yet agreed, whether Ariflocratical, or Monarchical ^ or mixt. Some of them fay that it is in the Collegium Epif- coporum, governing per Literas formatas, for fear left if they fay. It is in Councils, they JIjou Id presently be con- futed by the copious Evidence which we produce againft _ them. And yet they may well think that men will ash them [JVhen did all the Bijljop on Earth make Laws for all the Chriflian World, or fa\s Sentences on Offen- ders without ever meeting together 1 And how came^ they to know each others minds ? and which way the major Vote went ? And what, and where are thofe Laws which we mufl all be governed by, which neither God nor Councils made ? The Canons were all "made by Councils.
If you (ay that I describe men fo mad, as that I mufl be thought to wrong thefn, I now only ask you, whether our Cafe be not difmal when fuch men as you call mad, have power to bring us andkeef us in our'Divifwnsi or to do much towards it without much contradiBion ?
But others who know that fuch palpable darknefs will not \erve their caufe, do openly fay, that it is General Councils which are the Lcgiflative and judging Govcr-
nours
The Preface.
nours to the whole Church on Earth, as one Political Body. For they knew that we have 710 other Laws be- (idesGods and theirs, freteftded to he made ]or all the World. But when the Cafes ojjsned by me in the Second part of my Key for Catholicks, and elfe where, dojilence them, this Fort alfo is deferted by them. Even Alberr. Pighius hath rendred tt ridiculous, i. Jf this be the ,: fpecifying or iinijying Bead, or fumma Poteftas of the Vniverfil Church, then it is not monarchical but Arifio- cratical. a. Then the Church is no Church, when for hundreds of Tears there are no General Councils, an effen- tial part being wanting. And they that own but the 4 or 6 firjl General Councils, make the Church no Church, or to have been without its ejfentiatingGovernment thefc Thoufand Tears. And by what f roof, befides their incre* dibleWi-rd , can they tell the Church, that they are fub* je5ito the fix fir n General Councils, and yet not to the (event h, eighth, ninth, oranyflnce'l 3. I have oft Qa^ ^gainlf Johnfon, and elfewhere,') proved that there ne^ ver was an univerjal Council of all the Churches, but on- ly of fart of thofe m the Roman Empire ; Were there no prooj but from the recorded Ncimes of the Callers of Coun* cils , and all the Subscribers , it is unanswerable. 4. Who knows not that the Church is now divided into about Twelve SeEis, all condemning one another^ And that they are under the Tower of various Trinces, and many Enemies to Chriftianity , who will never agree to give them leave to travel to General Councils ? And who (Ijall call them, or how long time will you give the Bijloops o/Antioch, Alexandria, r^^ Jacobites, AbalTines, Kedorians, Armenian?, Mufcovites, and all the reflet o learn fo much of each others Languages, as to debate in- telligibly matters of fuch moment., as Laws for all the World mufi be* Twenty more fach abfurdities, make
this
The Preface.
this Ariftocracy over all the World, as maA a conceit as that f or ement toned: And when we know already what the Chrifttan Tarties hold, and that the [aid jsicohitcs, Neftorians, Armenians, Circa/Iians, MengreJians,Grccks, Mufco vices, ^c. are Jar more than either Protefcants or ^apftSj do we not know that in Councils if they have free Votes they will judge accordingly again fi both.
But this jort of men are well aware, that the Church ^ is always , but Councils are rare, and ifs, at leaft , uncertain whether ever there will be more; and the Ar- ticles of the Church of England fiy. They may not be called without the Will of Princes,- and the Church is now under fo many contrary Princes as are never like to agree hereto. And they know that fomebody muft call them, and fome body muff prefjde, &c. Therefore they are forced to f^eak out, andfiy, that the Pope is St.Tc' tersS\xccti{bt, the prime Patriarch, and frincipiumVni- tatis, and mud call Councils, and asPrefidcnt moderate and difference the lawful from the unlawful .* And that in the Intervals of Councils he as Patriarch is to govern at leaft the WcH., and that every Diocefane being ex Of- ficio, the Rcprefenter of his Diocefs, and every Metro- politane of his Province, and every Patriarch of his Pa- triarchate, what thefe do all the Bilhops on Earth do, . Andfo the Riddle of a Collegium Paftorum is opened, , Md all Cometh hut to this, that the Italians are Papifts. who would have the Tofe rule Arbitrarily, as above Councils; but the French are no Tafifts, who would have the To^e rule only by the Canons or Church Parlia- ments^ and to be (ingulis Major, at univerfis Minor, This is the true Reformation of Church-Government ^ in which the Englifh Jhould (by them) agree. And now you know what I am warning you to beware of. We are for a twtjt^ canjun^ion of the civil 'Tower
and .
The Preface,
\md the Eccle/ia[ucal, and for Christian Kifigdom, and
Xhurcbes, fojar national as to he ruled and proti tied by
.Christian Kings, in the greatejt Love and Concord that
can ie wtll obtained: And for Councils nee e^ary tofucb
ends : But we are fiot for fetting %:p a Foreign Jnrifdi-
■Bion oxer King and Kingdom^ Church and Souls y u^on
the filfe claim of uncapable Vfurjfers. One ofyourfe/ves
jn a [mall Book called, The whole Duty of Nations,^;/^
another. Dr. Jfaac harrow againft Papal and all Foreign
Jurifdidion, (^ptblijljed by T)r. Tillotfon) have [foken
■our thoughts fa fully, as that we only intreatyou to take
thofefor otirfenj.e, and concurr with us therein for our
ccmmon ^eace and Safety,
We reverence all Councils fo far as they have done good; we are even for the hAvicQ andConcotd <?/^ Fo- reigners; but not their JurifdtBion.
If you know the difference betv^een an Ajfemhly of princes consulting for ^P^ace and Concord, and a Senate to govern all thofe 'trinces as their Subje6ls, you will know the difference between f?»r Reverence to Foreign Councils, and the Obedience /'o them now challenged as the only way to avoid Schi(m. Ihofe you will join with us in being called Schifmaticks both to Italian ^W French Tafifis.
' The great Inftrument of fuch mens T)efign being to o- ver- extol Councils called General, and to hide their MiC- carriages^ andfobyfalfe. Hifiory to deceive their credu- louA farty who cannot have while to fearch after the truthy 1 took it to be myT)uty to tell fuch men the truth out of the mo ft credible Hiftorians, ef^ec tally out of the Councils themfelves as written by our great eft Adverfa- ries ; that they may truly know what fuch Bi/hops and Councils have don^i^. Ampng others this jxafferated a Writer, (^byjame called MK'-^^X^'^c^f)''^ho would make men believe that I have wrejjged. Councils andBifjofs,
and
The Preface.
and falfified Hiftory .• and divers other accuj^t tion^ he brings^ to which 1 have tendered you mine Anfwer^ I have heard men reverence the £nglilh Synods^ who yet thought that the $th^ Gth, -^th, %th Excommunicating Canons and the late- Engines to caft out looo Minifiers, f roved them fuch to England as I will not denominate. I have heard men reverence the ^refent Miniflry andZ)- niverjities, who yet have ^aid, that they fear more hurt from the worker fart of them to England, /^^/^ theyftjould do from an Army of Foreign Enemies whom we might refift,
I write much, and in great weaknefs and hafe^ and have not time for due penifal .• And my \ndgment is ra- ther to do it when 1 think it necejfary, a6 lean, than not at all/ And Mr. M. -would make hts Readers believe, when he hath found a wordof1)ci<to^Qit\^ hafiily mifta- ken^ ^«^ Calami tranflated Quils, ajid fuch matter for a few trifling cavils, that he hath vindicated the Coun- cils and Bidjop, and proved me afilfe Hiflorian.
Andean we have a harder censure of General Councils than his own Reverend Lords and Tatrons fafs ufon them, who tell tis that there is but fix of all the multi- tude to be owned. Ifalltherejl are to be rejected, I think the faults ofthofefix may be made known ^ againfi their ^efigns who would bring uininder a Foreign furi{di6ii- cn^ by the cirt of over- magnifying General Conncils.
I confefs thefe men have great advantage agawft all that fuch as I can fay ; for they have got a fort oj FoU lowers who Will take their words, and are far from ha- ving will or wit impartially themfelves to read the Hi- flories and try the cafe ; but will fwear that we are all Rogues and Schifjnaticks^ and unfit to be fuffered- And they have got young Rever-endPr lefts, who can cry, away with them, execute the Laws ; being confcious 'how much
[a] ^ hfs
The Preface.
/f/jr able they are to confute us^ than the Gaoler is : But this PS hut a T^ream : The mornitig ii near, when iz'e Jl^all all awake, ^erhap you remember thejeajiingfloryjjhh which Sagitarius begins the Trejace to his Me- ta^hyjicks: Jni^eed the hyflerical fiijfocativgVa^onrs do ordituirily [o 'uvork^ that in a place of Terjtimes or fa'eet- iiefs the Women flint ajid fn'oim'away as dead; andCa- ftorybr AjfaFostida, called Steicus Diaboli, or fuch like (Unk.r^viveth them like a Cordial. And 'ui'orfe vapours djfe^ the men we {peak of: Motions of LoVQ^ey can- not bear ; but reviling and fal[e acciijir.g Books and Speeches arj Food and Medicine to them.
One oj my chief CcntroverJIes .^ith Mr. 'M, is about the Atis and Ejf'eH^s of the Councils of Ephcfus andCiV cedon, about the Neftorian and Entychtan and Mono- thelite Controverfus. That the ijfue wasmofl dolefnlTii- vijions of the Chriflian World., unhealed to this day , is pafi the denial of fober men. Whether this was long of the Bijhofs and Councils is the quefticn. , 7 have fully proved that Ncflorius, Cyril, and Dioicoic\JiS were all of the fame Faith and differed but in wording the fame fenfe : And.if fo^ judge how much the World is beholden tothefe Councils of Bijljops : But thk Mr- M. takethfor afalj'e /Report.
Becaujeit is our mofi important diff'erence, I will here give the Reader an account oJ the Effect of thefe Caw- cils even to our times, in the great Empire o/Habafiia, out of the much praifed Hiftory 0/ Job Ludolphus.
Lib. 3. c. 8. /;/ order to declare ihe Religion of the Ha- baffines he frft declareth the Succefs of the Council of Calcedon, thus,— [ Damnatus Diofcorus Patriarcha A'lexandrinus tanquam Eutychis Defcnfor & Ha^refiar- cha, vcrberibus quoaue mulcStatus & in exilium ejcdius fuir,' alio Patriarcha CathoJico in locum ejus fuffedo---
Atrpx
The Preface,
Atrox exinde in Eccle/ia Alexandr ina Schifma, caede & fanguine conrinuatum, in caula fuit, ut non foium mul- ro maxima pars Ecclefias Alexand. a reliqua Ecclefia Catholica avclleretur, fed &7Egypras ipfa, attritis in- colarum viribus.in Saracenorum poteflatem veniret; qui difcordia Chriftianorum, utrofque opprcfTcrunt ; ut exi- guum, proh dolor ! veftigium Chriftianje Keligionis nunc in JEgypco fuperfir.HtKc atque alia taliaScriptores noftri, j^nd the hjs (?/^Egypc and the Souths fo jlrengthetied the Enemies of Chrifitifiity^- that this breach let mT)€- flruEtion to the "whole Christian Emfire : But the lofi of the whole Empre and IntroduBtoncf Mahomet anifm, in the Eyes of our fiery Cationeers, isuo dijijoiicur tothefe Councils: it is But jaying. It was all long o^ D/ofcor/is^ and the Hercticks: j^fid were not thefe Hereticks alfi Prelates andTrelaticah
But he procedeth, [ " But the JEthiofians thus re- *' port it, that Diofcorus and his SuccelTors, and their '■•followers did greatly complain of the Injury done ** them ; for he neither followed Etityches^ nor ever de- ** nied or confounded the Divinity or Humanity really *' exiftinginChri(l,but only was unwilling to acknowlcdg *' the word [Nature] to be common to the Divinftyand " Humanity of Chrillj and only avoided this, leflcon- *' trary to the mfnc of the Catholick Church, and the ** Decrees of the Gei eral Council at EphefuSy two per- *' fons of Chriit ihouK^ be afTerted : For that would foP " low, a we admit Two Natures," and two Wills in " Chrifl. And the word {(py'fTi?] [Nature] fignifyingfora- " what born or" created, no way fitteth the Divinity: '* Nor can the mind conceive of two Wills, in two Na- ** tures united in one perfon, without Divifion, Separa- *' tion, or DiHance •• And the Humane Nature exalted " into the flare of Glory, doth not will, do, orfuffer the
[ a 1 ] " jfame
The Preface.
*' fame which it willed, did and fufifered in the (late of *' Exinanition ; and fo in the prefenc ftatc of Glory , " the humanity doth neither will nor judge any thing ** but what the Divinity at once willeth and judgeth. " And this being our known Judgment , the qucrtion " feemeth idle, and a mecr drife ot Words, for which *' Chriftianft ihould not have hated one another. At Cal- ^* cedon they proceeded irom Words to Blows, and ** fought more than they difputed : And ^D^ofcprmwsiS *' condemned abfent, neither heard nor well underftood, •' as obftinate and guilty of Herefie in Hatred and En- J* vy rather than by right.]
, T/jis PS the Haballines Ofinion of the Comicil and Con- troverjie, falfe no douk in our Canoneers Judgment^ (^for alas they are unlearned men ; ) but indeed much truer and wtjer than their Adverfiries. . Hefroceedeth, *Primoreperiomnidubiocarere, quod
* Habe/Tini rejiciunt confilium Chalcedonenfe— a. Ob-
* fervavi eos in hoc crrore elFe, quafi Patres Concilii Cal-
* ced. Hypoftafin Chrifti dividere, & contra prjecedens
* Concihum Ephefinum ex una dua§ perfonas facere vo-
* laerint- Hanc ob caufamdamnant LeonemPapam,&
* in coelum extollunt fuum Diofcorum tanquam Ortho-
* doxae fidei hyperafpiften qui juftozelo diploma Leonis
* ad (e datum dilaceravit; eumque Marty riallimilant, ob
* accepta verbera, exculTos dentes & evulfam barbam. j {But tt eafed the Spleen of the Bp. at prefent.ajidthert all the following lojs feems tolerai?le.)He addeth, [4.Con-
* flat ex multis locis, quod utrumque abftradum, Divi-
* nitatem & Humanitatem, conjun&im in Chriftoaperte
* confiteantur. Quid autcm hoc aliud eft, quam agnofce-
* re duas fimul naturas in Chrifto. 5. Tellezius ex Rela- ' tione Patrum focietatis teftatur [utramque naturam ] * reperiri in eorum libris. 6. Hejhewsthat the BaBaffmes
* words
The Preface.
* words have 'various Jigm feat ion ^ atid by two natures-,' ' they meantwoPerfons-Which(/^7//-/j?Ludolphus)vvhcnI *read and confider, I find all to be confufed and per-
* plexed.* There is no certain ftateof the queAion, and
* the words are out of meafure equivocal. Perhaps ^z;^-
* tyches himfelt could not tell what ibrt of Nature was *madeoftwo, and what was its name, and what wasits ' qualities: Bik that he was fuch a fool as to think that
* the Natures in Chrift were io confufed as Water is with ' Wine, and that in fo abfurd an Opinion he had mod 'wife men agreeing with him; thisalmofl cxceedeth all
* behcf : Cerfainly the Ethiopians are not guilty of i^o ' grofs a Herefie. Wherefore I confefs I cannot under-
* ftand what thofe frequent Difputations were, which
* the Jcfuitshad with the Habafliines, of two Natures in
* Chrift, in which the^'fay they had flill the worfe, be-
* ing convidied by their ownBooks,which I eafily believe,
* feeing they mod willingly confefs Chrifts Divinity and
* Haijianity. To me it feemeth likely only that they ' could not agree in wordf.Do but explain to them that by
* Natures in Chrift we mean his Divinity and Humanity^
* & then ask them which Nature is it that fai!eth inChrift.- *Moft certainly they will anfwer that neither the Divi-
* vinity nor Humanity failed, but both continue eternal- ' ly. And fo it's plain, that they take the word Nature
* in a fir other fenfe than we, and that the true flate of
' the queftion with them is, whether and by what com- '
* mon Name the two abftracds are to be denominated^
* which they undoubtedly confefs.
Now good Mr. Morrioe, (with your Lords) yen ?nufl fardonme^ (or choufe) for thinking thai it is not necef- _ fary to Salvation, or to keep the Church from utter con^ fufion, to be fuch Criticks in Grammar or Mctafhy- Jicks., as to refolve the queftions about the fence oj Na- , ture,
The Preface.
' ture, and Unity, or Duality, which you m better re- (olve your [elves ; Ifi)\ it is fiot neceffary by Gods Law, but by fhe Councils .• And if I be a Schtjmatickfor hold- tng that ChriPts Vniverfil Law is fo jufficient for his Church, as that a Legijlative T ow er in Councils t o make jiich Laws asjijalltear all to pieces theChurchesfor 1 300 Tears^ and teach our Holy Fathers to damn Millions of the Innocent, is not either nece^ary or defire able \ a Schifmatick I will continue.
Ludolphus p'oceeding to of en the ambiguity of the wcrdsy addeth, [' A famous Country-man of ours, who * annoa(>T,^. dwelling in Egyp, read the Books of the
* Cophries {Tet. Heylm ot Liibeck.') judged that [/the
* DifTent of the Parties was more in their fear of the Se-
* quele, than in the matter itfelf: For the Grff-^J would
* obviate the Hereticks who confound Chrifts Divinity^ ' and Humanity : And the Cophties thofe who feign two
' Perfons in Chrifl.] And if indeed this be the cafe, that
* the Fight eitheir of old was, or ftill is only about the
* fenfe of wordsjverily no kind of Tears can be fo fliarp,as ' to fuflriee to weep for this unhappy Word-War ; NcBreaffc
* can be fo hard which would not mourn for the unhappy 'Contentions of them, to whom Chrift by his own ex- ' ample folicitoufiy commended the ftridell: Bend of Cha-
* rity : No mind can be fo cruel, which for the name of ' [l<laiiire'] would loofe the knot of Concord bctwdfen ' thofe whofe Nature the eternal Word afTumcth into
* his mod: facred Hypoftafis. ]
Fie, Mr. Ludolphus, canyon fo well describe Ethiopia, and no better know your Neigh bonrs ? Come into England and yon may foon know the Reverend and Right Re- verend, who will not only defend this Councils ABs,and condemn thofe that be not of their mind, but are ready to do the like themselves ^ andiriumfh over thethoufands
-filenced
The Preface.
filenced, as they judge, for kffir things; \e.i^ and male that Councils Canons fuch a Laze; to the Vnizerf:ilCl aych^ cis that all are Schismatic ks that obey it not,
^«rLudoJphusj)Y^ co7ifidering,addcth^^\x\ii\c\\ is the Infirmity of oar moil corrupt iSaturc, that where once Ambition hath begun, and from Ambition Emulation, and from Emulation Envy, and from Envy Hatred, the mind ppfrciTcd with (fuch) afic<Stion?, no morcpercciv- eth Truth, but as With Ears and Eyes (hut up, neither hearcth nor feetb, how or with what mind any thing is fpoken or written by the other fide.
O J/r, fiut£) I perceive you under ft and wore than yon jeemed to do.
But yet the History is behindXhe ^Foj)e hath longhad a gr^at defire to be the Church Governonr 0/ Habailia, but could never Come to kncju it, much k{s to bear Rule over it. AtlantheVoii\x^^\sgettingpG([tJ]ionoffome Mari- time parts^ isi^hcnce 'unjith much difficulty it was pojjiblc to come to them, the V ope got them to help the Habaf fines Ot a dangerous War iz'hich they had again jt their Neighbour Mahomctancs and Hc^ihcns, on condition that the Habafiincs would receive a Patriarch and Je- juites from Rome .• The Portugals Guns^ {zvbich that Country had not) and their own neceffuy, mjde the Ha- hiiXmQS consent : Tiie Reman Patriarch and Jefuits came over. The cuflom cf Habaflia had lotig been to receive a Metropolitan called their Abuna , from the Patri- arch c/ Alexandria, who being a poor unlearned Subjdh and alrn'^fl Slave to the Turk, fnade Abunas and Triefis as unlearned as himfelfr w-hen the Jefuits came furMilb- edwith Arts and Sciences, the matter came to lQngi)if- putes ; for the Teoplc, elpecially the Monks and the Ru- lers _^ *were loth to change their old accuftom^d Religion, called the Kkxandrian , for that called the Rom.ine .*
JLe
The Preface. . •
ne Knig would needs hai-e it done hy hearing both par- ties [peak: But the learned'] ({uttes were ft ill too hard for the unlearned Habafjlnes-. One Ktng [eemed to like the Romanes, but his Son (^Claudius) ftifflyrejified them: Others afterward again needed help, and recetvedthem^ and by thetrT>ifputes feemed really tobe for them, i^^i^fg bo^jumuch the fefnites excelled their Triefts ; (pecially K. Zadengelus, being taken with the Je[uits Treaching, when all his own Clergy only read Littirgies^HomilieSy (3neverpreacht:HefetuftheRomaneTutriarch'"Spower^ J^ /CSuI'ncus after him [ware Obedienc-eto theT^ope^and refo lately eftablijhed Topery : Difputes brought him to It : And the Jefuites knowing that it muft be fomthivg which feemed to be ofWeigbt, which muft make the Em- pire [ubmit to a Change of their P^eligion, accufe the Abaf- f\nes as erring with the Eutychians,/// reje^mgthe Coun- cil oj Calcedon, and denying two Natures and Wills in Chrift. This was chofen as the main Stibje^ of the great 7)i(putes : The Emperour was convinced of their Here- fie, andbecaine a refolute Profelite to Rome.- And^o* pery Eight Tears had the upper ruling hand.
But all this while the Empire was in dif content: The Royal Family and the Sub-Governours oft brokf out into Rebellion. To beJJjort^many bloody battels were fought. The Emperour ufually had the Vi^ory : But when one field of blood was dried up, a new Rebellion [till Sprungup, The Tapifts (till told the K. that God gave him the Victory for owning his-Church and Ciufe. His Rulers, Triefts, and Monks told him he killed his Subje^s, and tn the end would lofe his Empire for nothing but bare words. Af- ter many fights in the I aft about Eight Thcufand~of his Siib'jeBs called his Enemies, were killed : The Kings own adherents being no jr lends to the Roman Change, de fired the Kifig.to vicdu. the dead, and madv to him pefently
this
I
The Preface.
thisSfcech: 'Thcfewere notHear hens nor Mahomeranes.
* in whofe death we might juftfy re)oicc:They wereChn 'flians;they were formerly you rSub)eds,our6buntry men,
* andncar inBodyfome of them to you,androme to usr ' How much better might {o many valiant Brealls have ' been fct againft the deadly Enemies of your Kingdom. *It*s no victory which is got upon Citizens ,• with the ' Sword by which you kill them, you (lab your felf. Thole
* whom we perfecute with fo terrible a War do net hate ' us, but only are againft that Worfhip which we force
* them to : How many have we already killed for the ' changing of Religion (Sacrorum ? ) How many more ' arc there yet to be killed > What end will there be ot ' Fighting ? Give over we bcfeech you, to drive them to ' your new Religious things (fwva facra,^ left they give * over to obey you, elfc there will never be a fafe peace]
TeajheKjr/gs eldeft Son andlmBrother got the Gallans (Heathens,) that had been Souldiers for the King, to tell him they would fght againfl his 7)ijfentifig Chnfiiinsno more. The K. growing weary if War, and feeing and hearing all this, changed his mind, and called a Council^ in which it was agreed, [Thar the Alexandrian Religi- on ihould be reftored: And toeffcdl this they declared, that indeed the Roman Relii;ion was the very fame.* Both faid that Chrift is true God and true Man : And to fay. There is one Katurc, or there are two, arc words of fmall moment, and nor wcrthy the ruining of the Em- pire,] And thus the King was brought to give Liberty of Religion to the DiiTcntcrs.
The Romane Patriarch underftanding all this, gceth with the Bilhop and Jefuits to the King, and made this Sftech to him, [ < I thought we had been lately Conque- *rours, but behold we are conquered : The Rebels that
* ivere conquered have obtained that which they defired ;
[ b ] * Be-
The Preface.
' Before the Fight was the time of Vowing and Promifiiig, * but now is the time of Performing : The CathoHckand ^Tortugal Soldiers got the Vi(5tory, God profpering the *Catholick Religion: But now what thanks is given hira.^ ' When it is decreed the other day, that the Alexandri- ' an Religion fliall be freely permitted. And here you
* coiifak not with the Bps. and Religious men, but the ' dull Vulgar, and Gallanes and Mahometanes, yea and ' Women pafs Sentence of Religion : Bethink you how
* many Victories you have won againft the Rebels fmcc ' you followed the Romane Religion. Remember that it
* was not as conftrained by Arms or Fear, but induced by ' free Will, that you embraced it as the truer. Nor did
* we come to you of our own accord, but were fent by
* the Pope oiRome, the highell Prelate, and the King of
* 'Portu£al,2ind this at your Requefl:. Nor did they ever
* intend any thing (againft you^ but only to join your
* Kingdom to the Church of Rome. Take heed therefore
* left you provoke them to juft Indignation : They are *far ofFyou, but God is near you, and will demand the 'fatisfadion which is due to them, you will inure an in-
* delible Blot on the Lyon of the tribe of Judah, with
* whom your Enfigns fliine; and will imprint a ftain on
* your Glory and your Nation .• In a word,you will caufe
* fo many fms by your Apoftafie, as, that I may not fee
* them, nor the Vengeance of God, which hangeth over *you, I defire you to command that my Head may be *prefeQtly cut off.] Thus lay the Patriarch, Bp. and Je- fuits at the Kings feet in tears.
Readers^ Left you think that J have miftranjlated^ to ft the matter to our times , I intreat the Icarne-d to try it by the Original: Toupee that the things that are^ have been^ and that Jin fo blindeth and hardeneth fin- ners, that one Age and Country mill take no warning by many others. Ton
The Preface.
Tou fee here that the Name and Inter efi of God and Re ligion, and the Church may be f leaded by a blind aftibtti om Clergy^ for the murdering of Thoufinds for a hjre difference of Names and Words , and Gods Judgments threatned againft thofe that '■jvill not go on in killing and defiroyingy and making Kingdoms defulate By Cruelty ,- And th.it the hurt Satan doth by Witches and Highway Robbers, ii a Flea- biting in ccmparifn of what he doth by ambitions Trelates and valiant Soldiers. The dif malleft Story of the fuccefs of Witches is that cj the Swedes Witches, by Mr. Hornick travflated; But 'what is the killing of now and then one , to the Murder of fo many ThoufandSy the Ruine of fo many Kingdoms, the Silencing offo many Thoufand faithful Preachers, the Perfecting of fo many Thoufand godly Chnfiiiins, and the engaging the Chrifian World in Hatred and War, as the "Fopijfj Trelates have been guilty of^
But you'lexpe^ the Anfwer of King Sufneus to the Ta- tricirch.
Ludt^Iphus thus f roc eedeth, (li. 3. c. ii.) [* The King
* unmoved briefly anfwereth, thac he had done as much ' as he was able, butcoulddo no more. And that thebu-
* /inefs was nor about the total change of Religion, but
* only about rhe grant or ('Jber:y) of certain Kites for 'Ceremonies.)
{0 Sir .^ you had been hamper if you had known that fooner ! )
'The Patriarch anfwered, that he himfelf had indul- 'ged fomcthings, and was about to indulge more, which ' concern not the fubilance of Faith, (^you are for Tole- ration till the Tires are kindled^ fo be it another EdicSt might be proclaimed , that there might be no other change. The King gave him no other Anfvver, but thac the next day he would fend fome to treat with the Fa- thers. [ b 1 ] They
The Preface.
They that were for the Alexandrian Religion go to the Emperour, and by Abb.i Athanafim requell, that by a publick Edid he would allow his Subjects to em- brace the Religion of their Anceftors, elfe the Kingdom would be ruined. The King confenred, and fent fome to the Patriarch, to acquaint him with it. Thefe upbraid him with the many defedions of the People. * JElius, ^Cddbrael^ Ttcla-Georgey Serf jzax, with many Mynadej
* llain : And that the Laftenfes yet fought for the old Re- Migion, and all ran to them. But the King was defertcd,
* all the Habaffifies defiring their old Religion. But that ' they that would might follow the Roman Religion,
The TiJfifts [eeing that they could get no better but aloleraticn^ fent to the King this Answer by Emanuel d' Almeyda, 77^^^ ['the Patriarch undcrftood, that both 'Religions were tolerated in his Kingdom, and now he ' loved Ethiopia equally with his own Country Tortu- *'gal, and would prcfently grant as much as might ftand " with the purity of Doctrine, (^v-s.of the two Natures)
* But there muft be difference made between thofe who 'had not yet received the Roman Religion, and with ' them they might agree; but thofe that hai given up
* themfelves to it, and had ufed the facrcd ConfcfTion ' andCommunion, might not be fuffercd to return to the
* Alexandrian Religion without grievous Sin,] By this temperament the Patriarch would have kept the King and all his Court; for thefe had profelTed the Roman Religion. Out the King weakened with Age and Sickncfs gave them no other Anfwcr but, [* But how ean that be *done, for I have not now the Power of the Kingdom?] Home wtm the Prelates and Jefuits : And prcfently the Trunfipets and Drums founded, and the Crier proclaim- ed, [ * Oyes, Oycs, {Hear ye) We firll propofcd to you
'th^
The Preface
* the Romane Religion, taking it for good ; but an in-
* numerable multitude of menperiflicd, with ^Inis^Cii- *" hrall^ Tecla-George, Sertzaxo, and with the Country
* Lajlefifes; Wherefore we now grant you the Religion
* of your AnceAorS; It fliall be lawful hereafter for the ' Alexandrian Clergy to frequent their Churches, and to
* have their j^rciil^ for the Euchariff, and to read their *Liturgy inthe old manner/ So farewel, and Rejoice]
It is incredible with what joy this Edidl was received by the People, and how the whole Camps applauded and rejoiced, as if they had been delivered from an invading Enemy, fpecially the Monks and Clergy having felt the Fathers greatefl: hatred, did lift up to Heaven their joy- ful voices : The Vulgar Men and Women danced, the Soldiers prayed all Profpericy ro the Emperour: They broke rheir own Rofaries, and other mens as they met them, and burned fome, faying, 'That it was enough for *them that they BELIEVE CHRIST TO BE TRUE GOD •and TRUE MAN, and THERE IS KO NEED OF • EdSPUTlNG ABOUT TWOKATURES, af:d fo they r {turned to the old voay.
It's worth the noting here, that the PjJ?ifls zc^.iy was caff out as Novelty^ ar,d the other kep on the account of Antiquity : For Habaffia never had received the Tofe till the Portugals came to help them. Tet are thty not ajhamedhere to call theirs the (AdiKt\\^\QX\,becaii{ewhen- they had banilhed the old, [which was Jimple Chrijita- fiity~) we returned to it by Reformation.
Bejides the Uc^rine of Two Natures, about which they [aw they agreed in fenfe, while the Jefuites Here- ticatedthem, three things much alienated the Habafunes.' 1- Denying them the Sacrament of theEucharift in both kinds, z. Rcbapcifing their Children. ;. Reordain- Ing their Priefls.
Tbifr
The Preface.
Thk much being done^ the ^afifls were by degrees Joun overcome, i. The^atriarch is accuied for freach- ifig SedtticiL 1. Then the Temfles are taken from them, and they break their oiz'n Images left the HabafTines Pmild do it in fcorn. 5 . On Sept 16. 16 -1,-1. the Kivg died^ and his Son Bafilides was again ff them. 4. Ras-Secl- axus their mofi powerful friend is bani/hedy and others after him. 5 V^ofi more Accufitions their Farmes^ Goods, and Guns are fe I fed on. ^. They are confned to Frcmona .• Thence they petition again for new DifpUati- ons : The KingBMidcs anfi»ereth them thus by writing:
[ * What 1 did heretofore was done by my Fathers ' commrnd, whom I muft needs obey, fo that by his 'condiid*! made' War againft my Kindred and Sub- ' je6ts. But after the lad Ba tie in IVainadega, both learn- ' ed and unlearned. Clergy and Laity, Civil and Military
* men, great and fmall, fearlefly faid to my Father the
* King, How longflial! we be vexed & tired with unprofita-
* ble things? How Jong fhall we fight againft ourBrethren
* and near Friends, cutting off our Ri^ht Hand without
* Left ? Hew long fliall we turn our S.vords againft our
* own Bowels, when yet by the lloman Belief we know ' nothing but vvhat wc knew before? For what the Ro- ' manes call two Natures in Chrift, the Divinity and Hu- ' maniiy, we knew it long ago, from the beginning even ' unto this day: For we all believe that the fame Chrift
* our Lord is perfed; God and perfed; Man ; pcrfed God
* in his Divmiry, and perfect Man in his Humanity : But
* whereas thofe Natures are not feparatcd, nor divided, ' (for each of themfubfinerh, not by itfelf, but conjunct
* vviththe other) therefore we fay not that they are two
* things, for one is made of two, yet fo as that the Na-
* rures are not confounded or mixed in his Being. This
* Cjntrover/le therefore is of fmall moment among us :
' Nor
The PretacCo
* Nor did we fight much for this ^ but fpeciaify for this *caufe, that the Blood was denied the Laity in theUu- *charift, whenas Chrift himfelf faid in the Gofpel , ex- *ccpt ye eat the Hcih of the Son of Man, and drink his
* Blood ye lliail not have eternal Life.-- Bat they detell-
* ed nothing more than the Reiteration of Baptifms, as
* if before the Fathers rcbaptized us we had been Hea-
* thens or Publicanes: And that they Ilcordained our ' Prices and Deacon?.--- You toolate offer us now that
* which might have been yielded at the firft ; for there is 'now no returning to that which all look at with the " greatelt horrour and detedarion, and therefore all fur- ' ther Conferences will be in vain.]
Injhort the ''Patriarch and all the refi '■juere utterly baniJ}jedoiitofthe Em fire . Ludolph. ). 3, c. 1 5.
ladfl one but thing (ex cap. 1 4.) /<? end the flory. As the new Alexandrian Abuna was coming out 0/" Egypt, the foresaid 2)r. Peter Hcyling of Lubeck being then tn Egypt, took that opfortanity to fee }-{^b^{rm, and went With himiOn the Borders ^/Suagena they met the depart- ing Roman Patriarch ; where Peter Heyling enters the Lift with hirnf^ fo handledhirn as made it appear ^that it was only the poor H^hMnQ Triejls unlearnednefs , which had given the fefuit s their Sue cefs : And theTatriarch at the parting, fighing faid to his Compavy, If this Do- ctor come into Habaffu^ he will precipitate them in- to the extreameft Herefie. But what became of him is yet unknown. ^
And fo much for this Hiftory of the Roman Conqueft in Habaffia, by the Calcedon Council, and the Hereticating the HabafTines , about the one or two Natures^ and the Bight years p^ijjeffion Topery got by it, and the many bloody Battles jought for it, the Prelates power julOra^ toryfor ity and the Peoples more powerful again ft it;
the
The Preface.
^he Ktfigs mindch.uigedhy fid exferience, and tke Ta- ^ifls finally Extirpati d.
And it js exceeding ol^ferva^le, that their veryVi5fo- Ties itere their Riiine^ and the lafl and greatefl which killed 8coo, was it that overcame them, when they thought they had dene their work. And thofe that conquered Jor them drove them out, when they con/ider- ed what they haddijne : But had it not been better known at a cheaper rate ?
This Tragedy is but the fruit of the Council which Mr. MoTTiccjufufi'eth: The fruit of a Church determination above i ^o(b years ago. If you had feen the Fields of blood in Habaifia, would it not hive inclined you to my Opi- nion againft Mr. M. Or f he had \een tt^ would it not have changed his mtndl 1 doubt it would not ^ becaufe the Silencings andCalamities in England no more move fuch men ; and becaufe they ftill call for Execution a- gatnft tbofe that obey not all their Oik.\\% and Ceremonies, and will abate nothing,what ever it maycofi theLand.by the frengthening of them that are for ourT)ivifiun .-And beciiufe thei looyears experience hatbnot yet been enough to make them fee the fault tnefs of fuch Bijhcps^ Councils, ray, btcaufe thy yet take not all Gods Laws in Nature and Scri^tuy-e fr fufficient to Rule the Catholtck Church in Religion, without the Laws of thefe fime Councils, 'ivhtch have hidjuch ej]'e5is - But ^ome Bifljop and Cle-gy-Men yet fcand to tt , thit All mull: be taken as Schifmaticks who obey northcfe fame Councilsf'Dccrecs, 04 the Laws of the Vniverfjl Church.
A^d if Ludolphus and the AbalFmes can fiy fo much agiinft Hereticating t ho f called Eutychians, much more may be [ltd for the Neftorians, to prove that the Contro- ve>\y was but verb il.
Tb^renin Biblioth. Pat. To. 6. p. 1 31. tlK Midi qua
utun-
The Preface.
tttuntur antiqui Chrifliani Epifcopaius AngamalicnfiS in. Montanis Mallabarici Rcgni apud Indos OricntaJcs, e- mendata & ab erroribus blafphcmiifque Nellorianorum cxpurgata per Alcxium Menefmm Archiepifcopuni Goa- num an, i )99, I had rather have had tt with all Its Errours , that ive might haze truly knoizm hew much is getiuine. But it be nig one of themo^t Scripttral, rati- onaly and well compfed Liturgies of all there fuiflijh- ed: It woidd make one think ^ i. That the{eNeftorians were not fo bad a people as their Anathematifers would have made the world believe them. i. Jhat the Banifh- tnent of the Neftorians and Eutychians accidentally -prc^ ved a great means of theChurches enlargement beyond the bounds of the Romane Empire ^ whither they were ba- niffjcd.' And this is ^lain in cur n fit Hifio>y.
1 have given you tuis account of my IDe/ign in both the Booh, (The Hiflory of Councils, with its Ftndication, and the following Treat ife.) 1 add an Anjwer to a Lord Si/Jjop of Corke and Roue, ivho hath written mary Idi- fiorical Vntruths by his credulity^ believing falje Re- jporters. As to his and others Re-j>rchenJion of my Jljarp impeaceable words, my Cafe is hard; My own Confci- ence at once forbids metojuftifie my Stile orTaf^on; and alfo tells me that if making odious Gods fervants, fi- Jencing and perfecuting faithful Minifters, and Perjury, Jhould frove as great a guilt and danger ofT)ejtru^lion to the Land, as is feared, I cannot juftifie my long Silence^ nor that luff no more f>lj/rfnejs and fervency in calling the guilty to Refent,
Cc]
THE-
The CONTENTS.
\^ A Specimen of ths Waji by which this Scneration cof}fnteth j[\. their yidverfaries infcvcral Inftances.
II. In the Gcnerd Part; § I. Hard {or young mm to know what Teachers or Hifiory t» believe.
§ 7. T'emptini Re.ifons for I'ap^cy. § 8. Evident againfi it, § 9. 7hc Steps by which Bijhops afcended to Papacy. §1^. Ths different Opinions ef Pooery in the Englifli. § 18. The Cafe cf Fa^ difcerned, what Judgment I fettled in about Church-Power.
§ 10. For what Mr, M. hath wrote withfo much difpleafure a- giiinft me,
§ 22. Infiances of above an H^undred Councils^ befides particu- lar Biffoops, all before h.n. 10 JO. of whom I appeal to the Cohfci" ences of all fober Men^ whether they have not been the Tearcrs of the Church.
General Inflances of the greater Schifmsjiace then by potifh Bps. Some J^^ejhons put to Mr, M. andfome Reafons to abate hisdif- plcafu'e.
§ 22. Of a late Boc^ of the Hiftory of my Life, to prove me the Worfi cf men. *
§ 2^. Whether I be guilty of falfifjingHiflory,
in. The particuhir Anfwer to Mr. M's Vindication, Ch. I. Thi Reafon and Dejign of my Hifiory of the Schifms of Bipops and Councils.
Ch, 2. Whether we ought to tell of the Bijhops and Councils Church-corrupt irig Ways.
Ch. 3. Oj Mr. M's Indnfiry tojhew me to be unlearned. Ch. 4. Whether I vainly name Htfloriahs which I never read. Ch. J. Of my ufe of Tr an flat ions ^ and following Binnius. Ch. 6. His charge of my own mifiranflations and miflaks^' Ch. 7. Ills falfe Suppcjition that I am only for a Church of one Congregation.
Ch. 8. His flip SuppofitioH that J am a^ainfi Dioccfancs, n hen It's only t 'ge ill fpccies.
Ch. 9. Jdnd that I am a Independent, and yet plead for Pre shy-
tiYiaKS. i
Ch. 10. His falfe udc cm fat ion that I make the Bijhcps the canfe of all Hcrefies and Schijms, Gh* 1 1 *
The Contents.
• O. 1 1^ ^)id that I mention all the Bifl:op! Fanlts and none cf their Goodnefi.
Ch. 12. His Accufation of Spite, Malice, and Railing examin- ed, Dr. Burntt fat isfied.
Ch.13. His Suppofition that ijpcul^ againfi a/lBifscps Councils.
Ch. 14. Some mens Credit aboht ancient Hiflorj, tried hy their JJifloYji of this -^ge. Twenty Infiances of the Hijhry of cur times,. Mj own experience of it. Whether I hate compliance with Sf^peri- v^rSj or to preach hj Licence.
Gb. 19. Mr. M'/ Magijhrial ai^thorifing or rcjc&ing what Hi- florians he pleafes. His Acctifution p/ Socrates audSozomt^^jand valuing Valefius, Sirmond, &c.
Ch. 16. His Obfervaticn on my Notes cf credible and incredi- ble Hifiory. His Injlanccs cf my Railing particularly confidered. Whether the word[Htxcx.\CdiU^g'] h railing or caufelefs. An In- -fiance of Ftfty five of Bp. St. ?h\]i\\uuii*s accufed Hercjles, hy which I defre any fobermanto judge. Other In^ances. Whether St. Tfae- ophilus, or Socrates ^w^/ Sozomene n-frc the Criminals, Even Pp/>tf Honorius «W Vigilius hereticatcdfor being wifcr than other topes.
Cb. 17. Of his Cenfnrc of my Dcfign and Church- Principles i Whether I be guilty of expofmg Chriflianity more than Julian C^ Lu- •cian.
Ch. 18. Of his id Chap. Who is mo ft agair.fi Difcipline.Of An.t' thematiftng. Whether Novatus was a Bifhop or an ordainingPresbj- ter. Councils for rebaptifing. His Self-contradi^Jons. Some ^^^ejli- ons to him. Whether the Diocefttne P^ar/'^ (4J Mr. Dodwelj wlo ^Hllifie our Sacraments.^ are Heretickj^if the Re-baptifers werefuch. The old qu. was not of Rebaptifmg Hereticks^ but of fuch as Herc- tickj badbaptifed. Of the Donatifts and many Councils. Of our Liturgy's Rule to find Eaftcr-day. What the Novatians held. Pe- t^v'ms and Albafpineus Tefiimony of them. His qj^arrels about E^'X" plianius, f/?t? Arians, the kndhviS divers Synods, Antioch, Of the Circumcellians.Opratus o/?/^<? Donxu'^s as Brethren. His Ex- cufe of the Bifhops.
Ch. 19. O/' the ijl General Council at C. P. Whether Bijkops followed Emperours. Their ujage of Greg, Nazianz. . Of the Prif- cillianifts^f^^ Bipjops, and Martin. Of my Letter to Dr. Hill. Of f/jtf Co««f:u 4f Capua. Jovinian, Eaflcr, African /?/?/, Donatifts. Theophilus. Altars.
CI). 10.
The Contents.
Cb. 2 0. His 5 Cbap. Of the ifl Ephef. Council. His revillnl Socrates and Sozomer.e, as againfi Cyril. Cyrils Stor^. Of the Presbjterians Cruelty. Neftorius Cnfe. His cavils againfi my Tranf- latiotis. The ejfeBs of that Council at this day conjidered.
Ch. 21. Of the id Ephef. Conncil, Of Cyril, the Eutychians; and Diofcorus.
Ch.21. 0/ f/j^ Cilccdon Council: Pulcheria 4«^ Eudocta,^ iVhat one found man can do in a Council. Whether our late Concili- atory Endeavours about Arminianifm, have been as vain as thefe Councils, Of TheodoC.2. and the Eutychians.T^^ whole flory of that Council. Luther as well as -/, wakes the Controverfie verbal. Of the BiJhops?ccciv\mui: Many ^ccufations refelted: More ^' the Councils Succeffest and late Conciliators. 777<? Weftminfter S/Bff^. Mr. M'j way of Concord. Of the eld Conformity and ours, Mr, Ed- wards Gangrena, and the late Sells and Herefies.
Ch. 24. Of his jth Chapter. Of the old Here/ics. Whether PrO' jetls for A'foderation have been the chief diflratlers of the Church, He oft falfly faith^ that I charge the Bifhops with all the herefies in the world. What it is that I fay of them. The true caufe of Schifrt confeffed. His mifreports of the caufe and Bijhops. His falfe faying of me that I compared Oliver and his fon to David and Solorrion My prof eft Repentance which he feigneth me anEnemy to. What Noncon-^ formity is^ and what his mifreports of it. uin explicatory profeffio}f of the fneaningofthis Book^againft Mifnterpreters,
THE
(')
THE
Ready Way
O F
SPECIMEN
OF THE
PRESENT MODE
O F
Controvcrfie in England.
Joh. 8. 44. 1 King. 22. 22. Trov, 29. i2o & 19. 5^ <^, Rev. 21. 8. & 22. 15.
IN \66l. Dr. Boreman of Trimty-Colled^einCivnbrid^ey Pablifh- ed a Book againft me, as having written to Dr. Hill againft FhyfcdPredetcrmnationtoSin-^ and in it faith, That it is re- ported, That I k^^lfd a Man mth my own Hand in cold JBlood ; and- if it he not trne^ I am not the fir ^ that ha've been wronged. The Majlj
though promoted to the Charge of this Pariih, . St. Giles in thffifldsy
A V was
(O
vtii accounted Co weak, (forbearing his Miniflry, and faying he was fiifpended feme Years before he died) that I thought it vain to take publick Notice of his Words ^ neither imagining whence- he had tliem, nor ever hearing of them before.
But a few Weeks before the late Plot was reported, one Mr. P. came to me, and tc-ld me, That at tlie Colfee-Houfe. in Fklhrs- Rcr.ts^ wh«re PafiHs and rr<tff.7>T^rjufed familiarly to meet \ he pro- voking the PapiiT-s to Anfwer my Books, or to pifputc with mc, was anfwercd by a Gentleman of this Par-ifh, faid to dc' of the Church of En^Und^ That [_Mr. Baxter had kiU'd a. AUn in cold Blood with Ins own HandJ] Mr. P. provoked him by a Wager to make it good. He rcfuJlng the Wager, ^^'as told, Ke Ihpuld hear of it publickly, unlefs ho would ask mc Forgivcnpfs. After fome tinie, the Gentle- man came to ^e with ^^^.\•.'TafhoroUgh^J(Ju^x£ imprifoned, as is kiiown) and with great Civility, ask't me Forgivenefs. H6 was the Son of a Knight, and Judge, of my Acquaiutance ^ and had an Aunt, that had been my very dear Friend. . I told him, That Slandering isfo common, and asking Forgivenefs fo rare, that I took it for « note of great Ingenuity in him ^ and, as I muil forgive all Men as a Chri- itian^, fo { toujd eafily fT)rgive any v«rong to one related to fuch a Friend of mine. He told me, He was refolved openly to confefs his Fault, and to vindicate me on all Occalions.
Accordingly, at the fame Coflcc Houfo, he openly declared his Repentance. Upon which, Mr. P. tells mc, That Mr. G. an A-; ged Lawyer, Brother to the Lcdy Ab. was difpleafed, and faid, He would prove the thing true by many Witnelfes : ^And, faith Mr. P, the Story among Tome of them was, That a Tinlier did beat his Kettle at my Door, and being diilurbed by him, I pi/toll'd him, and was tryed for my Life at [VorccUer.^ Mr. P. faid, He provoked Mr. 6". to lay a Wager on it: And he refilling, was told, [Then he jhonld hear of it in \VeihminTter-Hull7\ Upon thi?, faith Mr. P. his YtVi<^\\-Catholkki inger.iiouily refolved to difown him, unkfs he would ask Forgivenefs \ which- Ik being unwilling to come to me to do, Mr. P. faith, Heat laft performed before ///>»i and Capt. Edmund Hampden. '>'
All this being done without my Knowledge (till after,) I was re- lating it to Mr. J'Mn Hnmfrcy : Why (^ faith hej / did twelve T<ars a?o hear JDr. Allcftry, novp RegtM-Profcffor in Oxford, fay the like^ Thflt he (Ohld r.ct thinkjvell of that Mm-} that hadkill'd a Man in cold Blood with hit own Band. • '
I i little
. (v) . . -
T little regarded all the reft : But Dr. jilUiiry had many Years been my old School- Fellow ; many a time I had taught him \ and he was the bell at Learning, and of the honefteft Dilpolition of any Boy that ever I knew \ and I thought, if T^rrra could draw fuch as he into fuch Guilt, there was little Account to be made of t lie Re- ports or Hillory of Men, if once they fell into diilerent Fadions. Wherefore I wrote to him what I\lr. Humfrey told me, and received from him this honeit ingenuous Letter, which I here annex.
And as to all this Story, I do here folemnly profefs, That I never killed, wounded, or hurt any Man in my Life, (fave one Man, whofe Leg I hurt with playful Wrellling, when I was a Boy, and once or twice boxing with School-Boys, and correding Lads when I was»onc Year a School -Mailer.) Nor in all the Wars, or in my Life, did I ever fee any other kill any Man, fave one \ and that was at the fame Bickering, (about Forty of a Side) when Joinings was wound- ed : While they were Fighting with him in one great Field, I be- ing in another near the Houfe, favs^ the Souldiers offering Quarter to a Foot-Souldier, and promifing him Safety, if he would lay down his Musket \ which he did nor, but Itruck at them ; and Captain Holdtih fhot him dead : And it proved after to be a W^f //fe-man, that undcrftood not Engltjh ; which grieved them when they knew it.
I have gone tht next day where Fights have been, and feen many dead, when I had nothing to do with the Armies of either Part. But I never faw any, to my Knowledge, kill or hurt any Man, but this one.
Dr. Jllfftry\ Letter : (Which I fhould not Publifli, but that even in Oxfordy and elfewhere among the Clergy, the Re- port yet goeth on.)
SIR,
MhJI: proftff fmcerely^ Ihdt I annot recollect I ever faid ^ fuch Words of you to Mr, Hum trey, ns it feems he does affirm did : ' But y^t I cannot but nckno'v ledge ^ tt ts very poffihle^ that I related J (^wd may he, to Htm) That I h^td^heard, yott kilPd a. Man in cold Blood : Since I very well remember^ th^it above Thirty Tears fnce, at the End of the War^ I heard thatfub-
A 2 lickly>'
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lickly fpoken before CompAfty ; and tvith thii farther Ctrcum- fiAfice^ that ii rva4 a SouUier^ who had Been a Pt :Joner fomt Hours. Norp this Report relating to the H^ari , i?2 which (J fear) fuch Things rvere no freat Rarities^ and from my very tender Touthy I havina not had the leajl Conz- rfe with yoa^ nor likely- of any for the future^ did not therefore ap^rehendy at pr fnty . any Concern or Occafion of inquiriyigy ivhcther it were true ; cf < tvhichy upon that confh:nt J^':verationy J did Jttxke ns do^bt. . And I tookfo little thought of laying up the Relation, that I protefi toyoUy as in the Prtfnce of Almiohty Gody it iiimfofji- hie for me to recover^ who made up that Company in which I heard it^ er from whom I heard it : And I wonder^ ho v if came into my Mindy to fay that I had heard it, f long after. But however y though it be fome Eafe to me, to bcl/eve the late Dif courfes of ity do not come from my relating fo long fmce that I heard it, neither are likely to receive any Ccnfrmation from ity unlefs it be made more Publick than 1 have made it ; yet I do "profefsy it U a great Affliction to we, to have fpoken that, though hut as a Report y which {it feems") was a Slander y (^for fo I be- lieve ity upon your Ajfeveration) and not having endeavoured to knoiv whether it were true. Andy as I have be£d God's For- give nefs of it ; fo 1 heartily defre, Ton will forgive me : And if I could direct my f elf to anj other way of Satis fa6tiony I would give it. This is the whole Account I can give of this Matter ^ to which Ifljall only addy That I amy : Ulaton-Coll. Dec. SIR,
Your very AfFeQionate Servant,
Richard AUeftry.
II. In the Preface to the Life of Dr. Heylin are thefe Words. Mr. Baxter may be f leafed to call to mindy what rvoi done to om Major Jennings,fijf Uft Wav^ in that Fight that wa* between Lyndfel and Lor.g- ford, inthe Counts of Salop \ where the Kings Party, having unfortu- nately the worfi of the Day^ the poor Man was Jf rift dnwft naked, and left
■for
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for dc Ad wth Field: Bat Mr.B'AXtcr-i af^d oie IiVw^*;?*?;?^ Hufdmafi, taking their Wa^among the womidedand dead Bodies^ perceived feme Life left in the Major, and Hurdinan run him through the Body in cold Blood ; jMr.'St^yittxaUthe while lookhig on, and talking ojf -with his on>n Hafrd^ the Kings Figure fern about his Neck^^ telling ht??iy as he was fwimngin his Goar, That he was a TopP) Rogue, and that was his Cracifx : Which Pi- ctwe WAS kcft by Mr.h^xtCV for many Tcars^tillit wasgotf-om htm (but not without wMch difficulty) by one Mr. Somerfifld, who then lived with Sir Thomas Rous, andgeneroHJlyrefloredit 'to the poor man, now alive At Wick r>ear Perfhorc m Worcefterihirc, although at the Fight fupfo- fedtobe dead: being, after the Wounds given htm, drag d uf af id down the Field by the mercilefs Souldtcrs ; Mr. Baxter approving of the inhumoTti- ty, by feeding his Fyes with fo- bloody, and fo bar barons a SptSlacle.
I Thomas Jennings, Subfcnbeto the truth of this Narrative abovtmen- t toned ; and have hereunto put my Hand and Seal thisfecorid Day o/March 1682. Thomas Jennings. Sigf^cd and •^^'^^ March 2. 1682. tn the Prr/>wc o/John Clark, i^mi/^er 0/ Wick, Tnomas Dacke. PubUfied ^George Vernon, Mimltcr.
The like was before Publiflied by Roger L' Strange.
jinfw. 1 do not think Major Jenmngs knowingly rxAz this Lye, but wasdireded by fome bodies Report, and my fending him the Medal. I do folemnly proteft, i . That, to my Knowledge, I never faw Ma- jor Jennings: 1. That I never faw Man wound, hurt, Itrip, or touch him : 3 . That I never fpake a word to him, much lefs any word here affirmed : 4. That I neither took the Piclure from about his Neck, nor faw who did it : 5. That I was notintheField,whenit wasdone.- tf. That I welkcd not among any wounded or dead ; nor heard of any kild,but the one Man before-m«:.tioned. 7. That the Pidure was never got from me with difficulty. But that this is the Ti-uth : The Parliament hadafew Men in Longford Wou^^^^ and the King at Lynd- fel, about a Mile and a half a-funaer ; who ufed oft to skirmilh, and dare each, other in the Fields between: My Innocent Father being Prifoner at Lyndfel, and I being at Longford, refolved not to go thence till he was delivered. I faw the Souldiers go out, as they oft did, and in another Field difcerned them to meet and Fight : I knew not, that they had feen Jennings ^ but, being in the Houfe, a Soui- dier fhewed a imaU Medal of Guilt Silver, bigger than a Shilling , a; d told us. That he wounded Jennings, and took his Coat, and took that A^edal frcm about his Neck : I bought it of him for 1 8 d. no one offering him more. And fomc Years after (the firlt time thct
I heard
I htafd where he v^"^.s, freely dedrcd Mr. SomerfirUto give it him from mc, that had never fecn him •, fuppoling it was a mark of Honour, which might be iifeful to him. And now all thefc Lies, are all the Thanks that ever i had.
r:i. The Ohfcrv^^or,-^. ptS. faith, fTor. ^Hio faith.they (the Prcshy- tntans) oionj^kt in the K\^g-)hcfdcs ycur [elf ^ Wh. /l/r.Hunt,f/;r Author of the CoKfurmisls Plea^ Air, Baxter nndvcho not ?
Tor. Prethec <t.rI^A/r. Baxter, If he l^^orvs who it vpaSy that vpentwith jive or fix more of his own Cloth and CharjEler^ to General MOnk, upon hiscomi'i^ uf to London, in 1659 \ tind finding agrcM deal of Comfjiny Vfithhim^ told his Excellcixy^ That he f aim d his time was precioHS^ and Jo would net trouble him with mM!y Words : BiiiTas they were of great weighty Jh^he ho^edy theywoi^ld muke an anfwernble !mfyejfi/)n on him : I hear a Report ■, Sir, (rzithht) th^^oH have fame thoughts of calling backjhe King ; but it IS my Senfe^Km the Senfc of thcfe Gemlemen herewith me, that It is a thl/tgyoa ought'i^pjo do on any termes : For Prophannefs is fo iufep.ir able from the Royal PSjyy that if ever you bring the King bacl^^the Power cfCodlinefs wi'lf^oft cerj'air.ly depart fr^m this Land.
^Ufw. Dr. Alintcn ('and.whether any other, I remember not) went once with rac to General Monk, and it was to congratulate him j but with this rc([ue"fl, That he would take care, that Debauchery aadCon- te/Kpt (f Religion mitrh: nut be let loofe, upon any menspretC/Ke of beina- for the King, as it already b.egan with fame to be. But there was not one word by mc fpoken, (or by any one, to my remembrance) against ^is calling backjhe Ki>ig, nor any of the reft here adjoyned -, but as to me, it is a meer Fifflion.
And the ^ff^Fwasfofcnfibleofthefpme that I faid, that he fent over a Proclamation againft fuch Men, as while they caMed thcm- felves ihe Kings Party ^ did live in Debauchery and Prophiinners ; WAich Proclamation fo rejoyced them that were after Nonconformists, that they read it publickly in the Churches. Snch grofs Falihoods as thefe, are part of the Evil deprecated.
As to his Qaeltion, Whtthrthe Presbyterians brought in the King? Who can affirm or deny any thing of eqiYivocal Words ? A Presbyte- rian \S) who thefe Men will call fuch. They that in the Face of the World deny the Publick Adls of Three Kingdoms, in the Age they were done in, no wonder if they multiply the grofTeft Lies of fuch as \. The Parties that reltored the King, were thefe j i . The Excluded Members of the Z.£'r;^P<irA;2//»f;7f, the Miniflers that were"
fince
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fince fiknced j andtlic fruflratcd endeavours of the Sc<>uh Aniufs^-^nd Sir George Bccth, Sir Thcm,:s Afiddlctoj^ joyning with fome of the iC/V/^i Souldiers, prepared Mens minds to it. 2. General //«;ir, and his Army, who were Figlitir.g agairll the King a little before, reprefi: C-.omvelshimy. ^.'\\it Long-Pur li.:v: cut McmbQXs rcllored, rgrecd todinblvcthuiifeives, ar.dlet up a Ccurxil to call home the iV«^. j^.SiiThomas AlUn^ Lord Mayor, ai:d the Aldenr.cn, invited General Mofjk. into the City, who joyning with him, turred the Scales. 5. The City Miniitcrs (called PrcsbytenaNs) perfwadcd the Lord Z'/iay- or to this, and wrote to Monks Color.els (called Frcsbytcrimi') to be .for the King : (Ipccially Mr. v^]?.', by Mr, CMmys Counfel.) 5. The Lord M>i2,,.ri::c^ Lord Broghily ard Others of the fame Party in Ire- Uud^ contributed their helj) \ ard Colonel i^r/^jr/, with others, fur- prized I>/;Wi.^Caiile. 7. Many of the Old rarU^mcnt lAt-a opcnfy provoked C7f,;' Monkj^ ar.d fecretly perfwaded and treated v\ith him, to bring in the /v.';>;^ (whom the Eiirl of yhg-lcfcy, the Earl of ShAftf- Inry, and 9thers yet living, can Name to you.) 8. li he ParluimcKt called by General ^/(?/.i;, (by agreement with tht Lorg-Parttamem^^ accounted mofliyof the fame Party, Voted the Kirgs Return : U'hich • no doubt alfo, the Old Royalills molt carnclUy defirqd, and en- deavoured.
This is the Hillorical Truth ^ which if in this Age, Men will deny, I will bear any lies that they Ihall fjy or fvvear of me.
Now, t\.ih{,X .XX\^ fore f aid Armies^ Parltamett mcru, Mimsfers^ &c. ivere Presbytcri.vrs, or not. If they rftre not -^ then, I. Say no more, that it reus Pi edyterians. th,:t r,vfcd W^r agMnfi the KtTi^ ; but- -that it was the EfifcofJ Men, if thefe were fuch. 2. Why then have you cal- . led them Presbyterians fo long, ard do fo flill ? Hut [{thcytoere Pref-^ bytcrians, thcnitrras fitch that- ReJ}oredtf}€ King. But alas, how con- . tcmptible, yea, how odious is Truth grown to this Generation !
IV. There is yet a more Famous Hiliorian, than any of thefe, though unnamed j who pretending to militate after Dr. St iHingjlcetj as in a id. PArt againB Separation^takes on him to give you theHifto- ry of my Life. Partly making it my Reproach, that when 1 grew to Underftanding, Ireaienibred how many Drunkcp or Ignorant Rea- ders had been my Teachers : Partly raking up retraced and oblite- rated Palfages of Old Writings j while at orce they perfwade me to Reviews and Rctrart-ations : Partl-y V.capii:^ up, .abundarvC of^ down right Falfhoods •• Partly clipping, Sentences, and leav'Ug out '
. ■ " the
(8)
the part that (houW make them undcrftood, and turning true Words, by perverfion, into Falfhoods : And partly by mixing this known Tnith, [That I was oh the Parliaments fide^ and openly d^claredit.'J
But when at the new Modd, I faw that they changed their Caufc, I changed my Pradlioe, & was from the Day that I went into the Army, a rcfolved Oppofer of all that they did,to the Changing of the Govertt- mem^ & their Vfurfation ^ & was fent among them to that end ^ which was immediately after A^^/f/^' Fight : And continued openly difown- ing the llfurpation, and the Means thatfet it up. And though I was Preaching and Writing againft the faid Ufurpers, when an Army was Fighting for them, againft the King^ and the King knew how to for- give and Honour them, that did fo much to his R5loration ; yet are the Accufers fo far from forgiving thofe that never perfonally hurt a Man, that they forbear not multiplying falfeAccufations ; yea, and accufmg thofe Minifters, and private Men that never had to do with Wars ; Yea, the fame Men that then wrote againft me for the Chan- gers and Ufurpers, have fmcc been the fierce Accufers of us, thatop- pofedthem.
• And if thefe Men be unfatisfyed of my prefent Judgment, I have no hope of giving them Satisfaftion, if all will not do it, which I have largely written in my Second Plea for Peace^ for Loyalty^ and againfh Mebellion ^ and all my Confutation of Heoker's PoUucks^ in the Laft Part of my Chriflian Dirtclory *, with much more.
But this Book muft have f if any) a Peculiar Anfwer.
• V. Lately, vv^hen I taught my Hearers, That we mufi not mAi the WorldMitvt^ that we are und^ greater SHJferingSy than we are^ nor ^e. Hmhankfnlfor onr Peace y and that we mnft when any hurt us, love and for- give them^ and fee that we fail not of our Duty to them j bnt not for fake the owning^ andjftft defending by Script urti-Evidence the^ Tr*tth oppofed, Tljey Printed, that I Bid the People Refifty andnotfiandJlUlj and dyclike Dogs. And I was- put the next Day to appeal to many Hundred Hear- ers, who all- knew, that the Accufationwasmoft impudent Lies. This is our prefent Cafe;
VI . The Players, I hope, exped no Anfwer to their Part.
ij.- . 0;i'.:; 'rr:'['.' v
£vndo>K Printed for R, Jamivafy 'vo.J3^cens-Hea^ Alley j\X^^ Pater-Nojler-Roiv^ 16^2.
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The General Tart containing the Vefim and Sum of this and the former 'Book, that it may be underjlood yvhat it li that Af/\ Morrice defendeth, and ojypofeth ; a)id what it is that I maintain or blame ^ and by what Evi- dence,
I
§ I. If Have been thcfc forty years much troubled with the temptation to wonder, why God futFcrs moft of the World to lie drown'd in Ignorance, Infidelity and Sen- fuality, and the Church of Profefled Chriftians to live in fo great Scandal, Contention, Divirion_, and for the greater number, in a Militant Enmity againft the Wprd, Will, Way, and Servants of Chrift, while in Baptifm they are Lifted under him. But of late fince Experience tells me of the marvelous Diverfity of Humane Interefts and Apprehenfions, and the deep Enmity of the Flefhiy Mind to Spiritual things, I admire the Wlfdom and Providence of God, that there is fo much Order,and Peace, and Love in the World of Mankind as there is : And that all men live not as in a continual War. And I perceive that if God had not preferved by Common Grace fome remnants of Moral Honefty in the World, and had not alfo fan([^ified a peculiar People, whofe New Nature is LOVE, the Sons of Men would have been far worfe than Bears and Wolves to one another $ and a man would have fled with greater fear from the fight of another man, than from a Snake or Tyger. But God hath not left himfelf without witnefs, in his Works, and daily Providen- ces, and in the Confciences of thofe who have not finned thetr-
felves into Brutes or Devils.
And hence it is that there is feme B Govern-
Governmeiit and Order in the World, and that fin is afhamcd of its propername,and even they that live in Pride, Govctoufnefj, Ambitionj Lying, PerfecutionjC^r. cannot endure to liear the name of thit which they can endure to keep and pracflifej and cannot endure to forfake.
§ 2. AnJ indeed it is a great Credit to Tfmjefijsnd Piety, to Trtnh^ and Love^ and Peace, and ]uflice, that the deadlicft Hiif- niies of them are ambitious of their Names ; and though they will damn their Souls rather thar>»be fuch, they will challenge and draw upon any man that dcnieth them to be fuch.
And I muft profefs, that I fetch hence a great confirmation ofthe Immortality of Sou!?, and a Future Life of Retribution, For if there were not a very great difference between Moral Good and Evil, whatfhould make all the world, even the worft of men, be lb defirous to be accounted* Good, and fo impatient of being thought and called naught , and as they deferve. And if the difference be {^o vaft here, muft there not needs be a Go- vernour of the World that hath made fuch a difference by his Laws and Providence, and who will make a greater difference . hereafter, when the End and Judgment cometh.
§ 3. Among other Gaufes of Humane Pravity and Confufion, one is the exceeding difficulty that young men meet with, in the communication of fo much Knowledge as they muft necef- farily receive from others. Knowledge is not born with them : It is but i\[t power and capacity of ir, and not the 4t^ in which an; Infant excels a Dog. And how fhall they have it but by Ol>jcf^s- diT\ACommimcation ? And Ol^jeds tell them not things paft, the Knowledge of which is neceffary to make them underftand things prelent, and to come; and without which it is not pof- fible to be wife. And God teacheth not Men now by Angels fent ftom Heaven, but by Men that were taught themfelves be- fore $ and by his Spirit blefl^ng mens endeavours. And when I have faid [by Mari^ how bad,how lad a creature have I nam^d ? A!as ! David's hafte Pfal. 1 16. was not erroneous pafllonj nor PafiPs words, Rom. 3. a flander, when they called all men Lyers, th.at is untrufty J and fo little do men know that muft teach »ther5,and fo much doth all corruption incline them to love flat- r«Qng Lies, and to take fleftily Intereft, the World, and the De- vil W their Teachers, and to hate the Light, becaufe itdifgra- ceth t^eir hearts and deeds, and fo much gocth to make a man'
wife.
O)
wife, that it muft be a wondeiLflf merciful Providence thiJt fnal] help young men to Teachers that (liall not he their Dcceiverr. There were ever comparatively few that were truly wile and tfiifly, and thefeufually defpifed in the World.
§ 4. And how fhould young men know who thefr are ? This is the grand difficulty that maketh the Errour of the World fo uncurable. It requireth much wifdom to know who is wife, and to be trulted; who can well difcern and value that Know- ledge in another, which he is a ftranger to himfelf ? Experience tells us, that young unexperienced men do commonly receive that man's Opinions, i. Who hath by nearnefs, or fome acci- dent the greateft advantage in their efteem and love : 2. Or his that fpeaks moft for their flefhiy Intereft, and for that which they would have to be true : 3. Or his that hath the laft word. It cannot be expe<n:ed that they judge of any thing, beyond the advantage of their fetifcs, and the Notitia commmesy accord- ing to Evidence of Truth^ which muft be received by long and ferious ftudy, and by willing honeft mind?, and by the help of an- tecedent Verities.
§ 5-. In this therefore Divine free EleEiion is very manifcft j As in giving the Gofpel to fome Nations in the World, when moft others never have it, ^0 in giving fome young perlbnsthe blefting of good Education, and Teachers, and chufing for them that were unable to chufe well for themfelves j as alfo in blef- fmg the fame helps to one, v/hich are defpifed by another. And verily when I have been long ftalled with the difficulties about EleTiion and Differencing Grace, undeniable Experience hath been my chief Gonvidion. If the Gofpel be true, the common world- ly flcftily fort, that areforChrift but by Tradition, Law andCu- ftom^-and arc religious for worldly ends, and no farther than the Intereft of the Flefh and World will give them leave, have no true Saving Grace at all. And the reft that lerioufly believe and feek a better Life, and live above fleffily worldly Interefts, are in moft places few, and made the fcorn and hatred of the reft. And if de faBo, God do fanftifie only a peculiar People, who can deny his differencing Will and Grace ?
§ 6. I was my felf in my Childhood ignorant what Teachers among fuch diverfity I (hould prefer. And firft God had fuch a witncfs in my Confcience, that Virtue and Holinefs were better than Hce and Sin, that it made me think that the fort of
B 2 Teachers
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Teachers who Traded mecrly for the World, and never fpakea ferious word of Heaven, nor differed from fober Heathens, but in Opinion j yea, that endeavoured to make ferious Godlincft to feem but Hypocrifie, were not like to be the wiftft and moft rrLlly men. And yet how to judge among the ferious, which were right, was long too hard for me.
§ 7. When I came to confider oftht D'rvifions of the Chriftian World, and heard the Papinls pretend co Ciiholicilin, and Cdll all others Schifmacicks or Heretick5,it Ibmetime feeined a plJufible Opinion, that the greateft Power and Dignity of ilie Clergv, was the Intereft of Chriftianity : By Riches, Honour and Power, they may protect the Godly, and keep Religion from Contempt a- mong the worldly fort of men, or from oppreflion at the leal>.
?. And I faw that in all Ages and Countries of the WorlJ, Hifiorians tell us how rare a thing, a wile and holy Prince hath been^ and how commonly by Wealth and Greatntfs they have been bred up in that Senfuality and Pride, which hath made them the Capital Enemies to ferious Piety j if not the Perfecu- tors of it.
^. I thought with my felt if fuch godly Chriftians, as much va- lue the Intereft of Religion hjd lived in fuch times andj^laces, where Rulers were Perfecutors of the Truth, how glad would. they hjve been to have had the Power of Church-matters put into the hands of their Chofen Paltors, what would they have defired more ?
4. And I read that till Riches and honours were annexed to the Office, the People had Itill the Choice of their ownPaftors, and therefore could not chufc but wifh their Eftatesand L'vc?,and all, fs well as their Religion, to be as much as might he in their hands. And ih no doubt when the Bifhops were advanced to great DioceifcF, and Power, it was by thedcfire of the inoli Religious ChriUians, wlro valued racil the Inierelt of the Church.
f. And I could not bur obferve, that though Chrilt gave his Apoftles no Power of the Sword, he fet them above other Mlni- Jlers, not only in Miraculous Gitts. and Infallible teflifying and recording his Commands and works, but in fome (brtof ovcr- fjgbf, which fccmeth a thing appointed for Continuance as well as preaching.
6. And I thought that if Church Grandure were the Intereft cf'B.c!i^ion and Unity the ftrength of the Church, it iookt very
pldufibly
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pldufibly to reafon, that as Bifhops were over Pjejbytcrs, fo there (hould be fome overBifhopSi and that National Churches fliou'd by fudi Government be hindered from Schifm and Here- fie as well as Parochial. And that Diocefans and Metropolitans Power (hould be<lerived from a Superiour as well as Presbyters. And that n hen poor Subjeds dare not reprove a Prince, fomc that ate above fearing his Power may.
7. And when I read the Popes Claim,I thought it Teemed not improbable, that Fetrm pri/r;H,<, and piifce oves njcas, ntd j:iper banc Fetram were not Ipoken in vuin And thefc thoughts pleaded thus for Church-Grandeur in Prelates and Popes.
§ 8. On the other fide, I faw I. That Chrift faid, HisKIng- tlom Vfas not of this world^ and comes not ui-m n^^'lv.^Js-M';, with obfervabit Pomp. And that when they ftrovc who fhould be grcaicji^ he reproved them, and Concluded [with )c:: it JlcAllnot ^f/^jand tliat ihe mofl ferviceable is to be accounted thegreateftj that Fetcr himfelf accordingly defcribeth their office, i Fet. j.
2. I find that Chrift appointed them another fort of work to do, even to Pre.ch the Gofpd to ali Nations tbrough^ all flreight?, difficulties and fufferir.g?, and to baptize, and teacJ|^ Chriftians to cbferve the La'AS of Chrift. And that as he nevc!^ , put the 5vvord into thtir band, fo an official declaring and ap- plyi.ng his Word to voluntary Difciples was all their Office, as ordiftary Paftorsto be continued.
I, I fird that Chrift ftnt them out by two and twc,as if it had been done on forefight, that men would erec!^ a Church- Monar- chy : And that no Scripture tells us of any divifion of the Church into DioceQe?, where ore Apoftle was a Monarch, or had Power above the reft,or was his Peculiar Province: Nor that the twelve fettled twelve fjch, or any as the feat; oftheir SuccefTors.
4. I find not thiiever any ore Apoftle cxercifed Government over the reft : Nor that ever Chrift gave the reft any Command or Dire(ftion to obey any one j Nor that ever the Conrcndirg or Schifmatical fort of Chrifti^ns were dire(fled to end their ftrife, by taking any one for the Head who muit determine alf their Controverfies : And that they that faid [T am. of Cephas"] are reproved with the reft. And that all are ealled Mem- bers of the Body, and only Chrift the Hr;d. And if it had been his will tbatO«« Vniverftl Head or Fgt^cy fhould have been fct up as the Frincipium, or Center of Ur/uy, it is a matter of fo
grejc ,
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•"great confequence^that it is not to be believed that Chrift would not have plainly cominanded ir.
y. I find tliat Chrift hath himfelf done ttie work, for which the ncccffity of Vniverf.-il Humane Government (by Pope or Councils) is pretended J vItl. He hath made and caufed his A- poftlcs (peculiarly qualified for irj to record Unlverfal Church- Laws, even as many as are Univerfally neceflary : And if (^o, I cannot but think, i. That he hath done it better than Man can doj 2. And that to add more unnecefTarily muft needs be a fnare and burden to the Church} 3. And that it muft be an ufurping the Power of Chrift : For if there be no other Univerfal Governour, there is no other that hath Authority to make Uni- verfal Law*. Therefore this is Treafon againft Chrift, and a making Man a Vice-Chrift.
6. I found that there is not fo much as a Natural Capacity in any one, or many, for an llniverfa! Government: Church- Government being of fuch a nature as maketh it far more im- polfible, than for one Monarch or Ariftocracy to Govern all the Earth : And to do it by a truly General Council, or by the Dif-
^Kufed Bifhops of all the World is further from poflibility than to io it by a Pope.
7. I (earchtthe Councils pretended to be Gcncral,to fee whe- * ther they had made any better Laws than Chrift's, or ma4p any defirable addition. And I found i. That while they were not wholly Papifts, they never pretended to make Canons for any Chriftians, but only thofe in the ^oaw^« Empire. 2. And (hat it had been much happier for the Churches if they had made no more Laws than Chrift had made them, for holy Do(ftrine,Wor- (hip, and Church- Difcipline, and had only as Teachers expound- ed and applied the Laws of Chrift.
8. I confidered the Prefc'nt State of the Church Univerfal, and I find it fuch as no Party of Chriftians in the World doth own. The Pope pleadeth for an Univerfal 5overaignty, and all his Clergy do the fame; fome faying it is in Councils, fome in the Pope, and moft in both together, or Councils approved by the Pope : And Proteftants, Greeks, Neftorians, Jacobites, and almoft all other Chriftians in the World, accufe this Roman Church and Claim.
The Papifts condem.n the reft: The Creekj^ Arminiam, and al- moft ^11 the reft accufe each other,
9.1
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9- I confidcrcd what Popery is, that is, CleYg.)-Pomr in its height, and what it hath done in the World. And I found i. A, woful defcription of the lives of multitudes of Popes, recorded. by their own mofl: credited Hiftorians. And x, I found multi- tudes of vicious Canons obtruded by them as Laws on the Uni- verfdl Church. 3. I found moft doleful Hiftories of the Wars and Rebellions that they have caufcci from Age to Age. 4. I found that they have corrupted the Dodrine of Chrift in abun- dance of particulars. 5. And that they have lockt up the Sa- cred Scriptures from the V'ulgar, as they have not done their Canons. 6. And that they have turned God's Spiritual Wor- Haip into a multitude of Superftitious Rites, and fcenical Cere- monies and Sliews. 7. And that they have turned Spiritual Charch-Difcipline into a fecular fort of Tyranny. 8. And that, they have moft fchifmatically unchurched the reft of the Church- es, beciufe they are not Subjecllts of the Pope. 9. And that they have branded, the foundeft Churches with the name of Here- tickSjWhile they are the grand Herefie of the World, i o. And that they have been and are the greateft Silencers of found Preach- ers, and hinderers of true Piety and Reformation in the Church.
1 1. And that they have wofuliy vipiated the People that arc their Subjedls, ^0 that odious wickedncfs fed by Ignorance, a- bounds among themj and it is their Votaries that are called i^^- ligioiUj and a tew Canonized perfons Saints ; as if Religion and Sandity were rarities, or apy could be faved without them,
12. Laftly, I find that they have lived upon B!ood,like Leeches, and have been the crnelleft Perfecutors of holy men, on pre- tence of killing Hcreticks: And that it is this to which they truft.
10. I took not this notice of them upon meer prejudice, buc have read, I rhink,as,manyPap.iiis Books, as Proieltants, or any other againft rfaiem. Nor have I taken it upon dark Scripture Prophecies, fufpeding my underftanding of them: But i. The matter of faft from themfelves : x. Againft their Papal Supre- macy from fuel) Arguments as are fully colleded by Dc.Barrow. 3. Againft their heinous Church-corruptions, from fuch Moral Evidence as Dr.i/. AJfoorc hath fully gathered in his AZ/Jfery of IfHijwtj/. 4, Againft their pretences of Tradition and Antiquity, I fet(?ht my Ar^urpents from tiie .Hiftories- and Authors jwhich they themfelves alledge, and efpecially their Councrls, with the Fathers Writings. " ' §9. Seeing
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§ 9- Seeing the Church in this fad Condicion, and rhe Papal part lo greatly viriartd, 1 confidercd how long ic had To been. And I tound that the Pope and his Bifliops grew not up like a Mufhroom in a dayj but had been long in thriving to maturity: And I met with no nun that could juft rell what Year or what Age the difcafe or tumor did begin. "B'iihop Br cm ha/l th'mki ']{ they wji'l abate their laft 400 years Innovations, we may have hopcofagreeing with them. BifhopC7///;«;>;^ will own no General CouncilSjbut the firft fixj fonae will receive eightj fomebut four. Mr. Morrice here goeth no fufrher in his defence of them, what- ever he think. Some begin Popery with Lfo the great, fome with Gregory's SuccclTour. But it is moft certain, that it was firft an Erabrio, and next an Infant and fo grew up from Childhood to maturity by degrees. Aiid the firft Church-corruption was not that which we now call Popery. And it is as certain that the tu- mor did neither begin nor grow up in the Bilhop of Rome alone, but in other Biftiops, who grew up withhim,& were his ftrength and Councils, and he their Head.
§ 10. It is known when the Greekj and Romanshcg^n moft notably to ftrive which fhould be greateft, and how the div^fion increafed, and when and how it came to an anathematizing or excommunicating each other.
§ 1 1. It's notorious that it was from the Councils o^Calcedon, and Ephefus^ that the great feparated bodies oi Ncjiorians and EfttjichiAnf(j^o\'i called facobites) that poflefs the Eafi and South, were broken off with Nejioritu and Diofcorus^ and fo continue to this day.
§ II, I confidered who were the Chief Authors of all thefc lamentable Schifms, and Church- corruptions in the feveral Ages when they rofe, and who continue them to this day: And I found that many Princes were much to be blamed, and the Peo- ple not Innocent, no not the Religious Monks. But the Bifhops that had the main Church-power, by abufing it, were with their Clergy the principal CaufeSjand fbare to this dayj: The breaches might yet be healed in Eaft, Weft, and South, vycrc it not for them.
§ 13. Finding this in Hiftory of undoubted Truth, I next confidered what was the Caufethat the Bifhops and their Clergy (hould become fuch Church-corrupters and Dividers, and ftiil continue the Churches mifcrles,
And
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And I found as followetb, .i. That none are ab[e to do (b- much hurt as thofc that have the greateft Parts, Power Jmercfi and Trufl. None kill io many (exccpr SouJdiersj as thofe Pbyfi- cians who are cntrufted to heal and fave them. If five hundred neighbours miftake a man's Difeafe, whom he never trufted, it hurts him not : But an unskilful Nurfe or Parent may kill a fick Child;and an unskilful or unfaithfulPhyfician may kill multitudes.
2. And there goeth fo much to make a man a skilful, faithful Paftor, as that fuch are rare. As a Phyfician is like to kill his Patient, if be miftake but fome one thing in his Difeafe, or fome Ingredient in his Medicine, though he were right in all the reft: So if a Guide of Souls were excellent in aH other things, what work one Opinion, yea or unskilful word may make , rot only the cafe of the A^cfiorians, E'^tjchians, xMomthsUtes^^c. tell uf, but even the ftrifethat arofe in the Church about Ujpcfiaft s:\v\6. Perfona, which had almoft hereticated ffrom himfelf, for all his skill in the Languages : And the cafe of the Greeks and Latines about [F/Z/c^;] and abundance fuch.
3. And Prids is the Heart of the Old Manj fiffl: living, and Jaft dying. And great Porver^ great Parts, and great Efieem do feed it, iftrue Grace do not mortifie it. Knowledge putfcth up; and efpecially when men live among the ignorant and unlearned, and are but half Learned themfelves, and are thought by the people and themfelvet, to be much wifer than they are: Inter cacos lujCHi Rex.
4. And Selfijhnefs is the very fum of all pofitive iniquity: And Pride and Selfifhnefs make men cefirous to be the Idols of the World, and to feem as Gods knowing good and evil, and to have their -will of all that they have to do with,
y. And the ftrongeft temptations ufe to caufe the greateft fins.
§ 14. Thefe Generals prefuppofed, it is moft clear, i.That the remnant of thefe fins^ even in Chrift's Apoftles, fet them on ftriving whofhould be greateft, and made fames and foha defire preheminence, and alfo to have called for Ftre from Heavenjand made them after Chrift's Refurredion, hope that he would have reftored the Earthly Kingdom unto Jfrael. And it put Patil to vindicate his Apoftlefhip againft many that difparaged him j As it made Diotrephes, who loved to have the preheminence, to eaft out the Brethren, and fpeak evil of fohu ; It gave Peter oc- cafion to warn the Bifliops not to Lord it ever Cod's Her tt age,
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ht to h: Ex'^n-jples tv the Flocks, overfeeing them not by con- ftrainr, but u'illingly.
2. Even in good men this fault, though not in a reigning de- cree, did live more in others afterwards, that had not that mca- fure of the Spirit as the Apoftles had to overcome it. And if even in Fanl'^ daies he had none like-minded to 'r</wo;^/,who na- turally cared for the good of alij fcr all (too much3 fought their own, and not the ihings that are Jefus Ghrift's, as Dcmas forfook him for fome worldly Intereft j what wonder is it if af- terward Pride and Woridlincfs grew greater, and Herefics and Strifes increafcd.
3. Yet while Chriftianity was a fuffering and laborious State, the Paftors of the Churches were commonly the belt men, that had more Knowledge, Holinefs and Love than others, and the Churches profpered under the Crofs : They that fpared not rheir labour*, but imitated the pattern fet by Pauij ^cts 20. did not ftrive who (hould have the largeft Diocefs, and undertake rhat which they could not do, but they (trove to do as much as they were able, and to increafe and edifie the Flock.
4. But when extraordinary Gifts abated, and acquired Ones became more neccflary, and few Philofophcrs turned Chriftians, able Taking Pi-eachers or Orators grew fewer, and thofc few that were eminent in Knowledge and Speech were juftly. pre- ferred before the reft. And ufually fome one man had the chief hand in converting men, and gathering a Church in each parti- cular Town, and then he rightfully was taken for their Paftor : And it being found that the publickand private care of Souls re- quired in each Church, where were fit men,more than one Pa- ftor i ' It was not meet that more ihould be brought to him that ' was there before, without his approbation and confcntj but that ' he were to the fftniors ais a Father^ And becaufe the reft were u- fualiy below him in Gifts and Worth, it was thought but meet that they fhould do what they did by his cor; fen t : And alfo to avoid Divifions, to which they were over-prone, it was judged fit thit one ftiould have the prcheminence, and a negative, and partly ruling Voce.
5. The Churches, which in the beginning had thefe Bifhops and Fellow- Presbyters, were finglc Congrcgationo : And fhortly they grew to be more than could meet together in fome few- great Cities } Pcrfecution hindering them from very large Af-
fcmblies,
femblies, befides their want of largt capacious Temple?. Dr. Hammond thinks that there is no evidence, that in Scripture- time there were any other Presbyters than Bifhops, and confe- qjuently aBirtiop had but one Congregation, unlc(s he went one hour to one , and another to another, which was not their ufe. But doubtlefs in this he is miitaken, as the many Speakers as Corinth (hcw.
6. TheGreatnefs of the Rdman Empire wag prepared by God to be then an exceeding great furtherance of the Gofpel : For undertime fame Civil Laws and Powers, where one or two Lan- guages were underftood by moft, Chrirtlans had the far greater advantage for Communication. Want of forreign Languages is now our great hinderance from Preaching the Gofpei to other Nations of the World : And the Confufion at Bmk'l was an un- rpeakable Judgment. But as Ships, yea Navies, can fail on the Ocean, when rmall Barks or Boats only can paf^! on Rivers j i'o the vaftnefs of the Rsmw Empire was a great help totbeChurch^ by Communication, Language and Accelles: Bar efpecially when the Emperour became Ghriftfan, the advantage was ex- ceeding great : Whereas now the Greatnefs of the Turl^Jh, Tar" tarian &: Indojliin Empire, are great Impediments to the Gofpei 9 bccaufc the Barbarians are more cruel Enemies than the Civil Romans (notwithftanding the tenPerfecutions) were; and their oppofition is the moreextenfive by the extent of their Domi- nions i and the Chriftian Churches having now more fcandalizcd the Intidels by their corruptions. While they were not corrupt- ed by worldly power and wealth, the great holinefs of the Churches convinced the fober part of the Empire. Albafpmeus fliews us clearly that their ftridnefs was fo great, that they en- dured no notable fcandalous fin among them ; yea and came ve- ry near to the Novatians in their Difcipline : And that it was not for greater (Iridtnefs that the Novatians were condemned, but for denying the Power of the Church to abfolve men penl-- tent that finned after Baptifm. And their Canons (hew it. And it is certain, that Chriftians obeying Vanl, avoided the Heathen- Judicatures as much as might be, and cenfured thofc that did not, and ended their Differences by the way of Arbitration, and. took the Bifhop with the Confent of his Clergy to be an Au- thorized Arbitrator $ and thus the affairs of all the Chriftians being cift upon him, and he having no power to force any
C 2 man.
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mar, but only to govern Volunteers, the Bifhops w^re con- itraincd to make their Rules of Dilcipline fo much the ftf»fter, that all that vrould not renounce Cbriftianity, anJ Church- Communion, might be brought to Obedience to cfcape Excom- munication.
7. God having made the Great l?cwer and Extent of the Ro- mj'i Empire, Co great a means for the propagation of ChrilKtani- ty, the Chriltians thoaght that the Greater they grew them- felves, the more ic would tend to the Churches deliverance, from contempt and perfecution: And their advancement lay in that advancement of the Blfhops, whichprivate men could not exped, fave only by fubfequcnt participation. Hereupon the Bifliops, by the Peoples confent, endeavoured to form the Go- vernment of the Church within the Empire, into a conformity to the Government of the Empire: And they contrived that thofe Cities whofe Governonrshad the chief Civil Power,their Bifhops fhould have anfwerable Church-Power; the Glory of the Empire drawing them for feeming Intereft, into imitation.
8. From the like Principles they defired greatly the enlarge- ment of the Churches of which they were Overfeers : And whereas Chrifthad made fingle Churches like Schoolsi, nnd eve- ry ftared Worfhipping Church, was alfo a Governed Church, as every School hath itsSchooI-Mafters, one, or more, by degrees thefe Churches were by degeneration quite altered into other things : Firft, They were like a Parochial Church, which add- eth Chappcls: They thought not fo contemptibly of thePaftoral work as we do, but found enough, as is faid, for many men in a Church of a few hundred or thoufand fouls : And when by Per- fecution, or Numbers, or Diftance, they could not all meet or- dinarily in one place, they appointed them to meet under feve- ral Presbyters, in fcveral place*, but without appropriating a particular Presbyter to each Affcmbly.
2. After they appropriated them to their diftiniH: charges, and diliingui(hed a ftatcd Worfhipping company from a Govern- ed Church, the Bifliopand his Confiftory ruling all in common j and the People tyed to communicate only at the Bifliops Altar, and elfewhere to be but Hearers and Worfhippcra.
5. After that they fet up Altars up end down for Monun.ents and Memorials of Martyrs,and then in the Presbyters Chappelsj yet fo that the People were at Eafier, IVhitfuntide, and the Na- tivity,
tivlty, to communicate with the BiHiopinthe Mother Chijrcti or Garhedra),
4. Then when Country- Villages diftant had a great increafe of Ghriftians, they allowed Gountry-BiHiops, Cocrcpifcopos ^(pre- yed by Petavimio be true BiOiopsj if they were not,Presbyrers ordained.) But they muft be fubjed to the City BiOiop. ^. After this they decreed that very little Cities iTiouId have no Bilnops, ne viUfcAt nom:n Bpi/copi ; whenas before that every City had a Bifhop and Elders,thac had Ghriftians enow : And every Town, like our Corporations, or Market-Towns, were called Cities; ct'a/; did not fignifie only fuch as wc now call Cities diftindt from fuch Towns j were they no bigger than Cencbrea, Majumaj and fuch others clofe to greater Cities, they had Bifliops. Yea every Church was to have their Elders, (and confequentlyBi(hoj)s,raith Dr. Hammond) where ever it was, by the Rule of the Holy Ghoft, -^u?f 14. 25. And God never fald. Let there be no Churches but in Cities : El fe when an Emperour would put down all the Cities, or many, he fliould put down as many Churches.
6. After this they fet upPatriarks as before they had doneMe- tropolitans : And it was three that they firft fet up (but no where out of the Empire: J And the Papifts find in thelnftitu- tion the myftery of Trinity in Unity : For they could not find any where Twelve Seats Succeffors to the Twelve Apoftlcs j and fo they feigned, that Veter being the Center of Unity, The Tri- nity flowed from him. i. He as Bifhop ercfted the u^ntiochi- 4? Patriarchate. 2. By St. Mark\i\i Difciple, the ^Uxa»dri- att. And 3. By his final Epifcopacy the -^ow/^w, faith foh.Dar- tiSy de fiatu Ecclef, tempore ApofloU^ pag. 23, 24. [^Imitatur Ecclefa D'um ut trintim in Perfonis & unum in ejfentia^ quatenus fcilicet una & eadem Ecclefa ejt multiplex ratione locorum j nam diflributio prima & generalis omninm Ecclejiarfim fuit in tres Pa- triarchatuSf Romannm, ^Uxandrinfim, & ^miochenHm^ ut unum ejfctper tres Antiftites Sacerdotium ad Trinitatis infiar cui una eft atcfue individua potcftas ut re^le inter pretatur Sjmmachus Pap, ad Eonium-- Dicendum e^ quod ficut in Trinitate una exijlente ef- fcntia^ tawen perfon<£ different ei exifiuHt, it a Ecclejia una eft ejfen- tia, licet plures particulares exiftant : Et ftcut omnes Trinitatis perfona originem fumunt k Patre, qui eft origo Ftliif & utcrquc Sp. San^if it a Ecclejia origo eft Romana aUarum.]
7. After
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7. Ac the fame time they began to defenbe Churches or Bi • fhops Provinces by the Meafure* of Land, which bctore were defcribed by the Perfons of Volunteers, inhabiting near each other, faith the aforefaid Dartts p. 128. Et fane diit duravit iUe mos tanju^m yipofloUcus in EcclejliSy ttt non ejfent alii termini Epifc.pAr»s cjnaw mulct tudo tor um cjnos ad fidem convert ijfent & ifapttz.a(]^€ntf n'hich he proveth out of the Canons.
8. Rome being the imperial Seat^ the Bifhop of Rome was neareft the Emperour and fubordinate Rulers, and fo mofb capa- ble to make Friends for Chriftians under any Acculations and Perlecutionjii by which advantage all Chriftians through the Em{)ire needing and being glad of fuch htlp, did willingly give the Primacy to the Romane Patriark.
9. The Ennperor Conftaritine rmm^g Chriftian, and taking then> for his furcft Souldiers, refolved to raife them as high as he well could, for the intereft of Chriftianity and his own, and thereby to work down theHeatheiis by degrees, and according-- ly gave them chief Countenance , and chief Power j and their BiOiop? being their chief men, it muft be done by exalting them., ile made them the authorized Judges of all Chriftians that de- fined it, even In criminal cafes. He yet gave not the Bifhops the power of the Sword ; but if any Chriftians had committed For- nication, Adultery, Perjury^ yea Murder, the Bifhop W£s to pu- nifh them by Pennance and Sufpenfion from the 5acrament:. Befides whichjChriftians had the chief Preferments as they were- capable of in the Armies and Civil Government: So that they triumphed over their late Perfecutors, And now Honour,Power and Wealth, were moft on the Chriftians fide,, but cfpecially the. Bi(hops.
Lo. Worldly Intereft being now on the Churches fide, much of the World by fuch Motives crowded into the Churchy and no man can imagine that it could be othcrwife, who confiders which way the Vulgar go, and how apt to be of the Prince's mind, and how much nature inclineth to flclbly Intereft; Who had not rather be kept from the Sacrament and Communion for. a crime, till he profefs Repentance, than to be hanged or bd- nifhcd, or ruinedfor it ?
But efpecially the Temptation was ftrongeft to the Bjftiops,. wiiofe baits were the moft alluring: And ever fince then they- that moft loycdiy^^/r/7,P<?irrr and//c;?c;/r (that if, the worft, moft
worldly
I
rvorlily men) have been the moft eager defirers and feekers of Bifhopricks : And while humble holy men muft rather be fought to, fuchcarneft feekers are like ro be the ordinary tinders and polTeflors.
ir. But yet three things kept up for fome time a confide- rable number of godly Bifhops in the Churches, which with the humble Presbyters, kept up the Intcreft of found and practical Religion.
1. Thofe that had been tryed worthy men before Conflan- tines converfion, and the Bifliop's exaltation, kept their Integri- ty in the main j though in the Nic:ne Council their Gonren- rious Libels fhewed that we are more beholden ro Confiamive than to them, that they fell not into fuch ftrifeas their Succef- fors did. Good men miy be carryed too far in Pride and Srrife, but they will not be maftered by them, and turn againft the Power of Godlinefs.
2. The People and Inferiour Clergy had the choice of their Bifhops : And fo (though they oft had tumults, as in popular Eledions it will be) yet the worft ambitious men were long kept our, and the beft oft chofen, till the People and Presbyters themfelves were corrupted.
3. And divers good Emperours arofc that took fome care to promote the beft : But alas I this had fad and frequent inter- ruptions.
12. For the Arians pofleft Conflantine himfelf with hard> thoughts oi Atbanafui and his Adherents : And it could not be exped:ed that fuhan (hould countenance the beft, \\henConft-<tn- tifts and Valens had done fo much againft them, and got moft of all the Churches headed by Arian Bifhops j to fay nothing yet of after times.
13. But now two things became matter of Contention a - mong the Bifhops and their C'ergy, and increafed the ftrife from time to time. The firft and chief was the Old Caufe great- ly ftrengthened, viz., Whoftootdd be greatefi ? Who fhould have the lafgeft, fattcft, and moft Ruling Diocefs and Seat ? The other was, Who Jhonld be taken for the ntofi Orthodox , and vphofe Explications of the Faithjhould be tak^nfor the foundefl j efpe- cially about the defcription of the Per fin and immanent atJs of Chrifl ? Or briefly, i. Jurifdirtion and Creatnefs : 2. Wifdom and hard words.
14. Now
(i6)
14. Now alfo ConjiaiuinopU contended with Rowe^ and being the Seat of the Empire which they judged to be the true Rca- fon of Church-preheminence, they rt firft modeftly rook che(e- cond place: And now the Trinity of Patriarchs was turned to five^^ernfalcm being made the fifth. At all this Rome grudged.
15'. All this while the oldDifcipline of the Church was tole- rably kept up; i.Becaufe though much of the world had got in- to the Church, yet a very great part were renaci!5us of their HeathenifhCuftoms, and prejudiced againft Chriftians by their Contentions, (odioufly defcribed by Am. MarcelUnHSj and many others, and prejudiced againft Cfl«/?<?«f;«<r for his Son Crifpiu and Sopaters death, Src. and againft Confiantim for the. Murder of /^a- //4«'i Relations ; and being taken with the plaufible parts of /.v- lian, and with the great Learning and highly extolled Lives of FlotiafiSf PorphyriuSj ^Ambltchm^ tyEdeftnSj Mnxim^u, ^roerefiw, LibanitUj ChryfamhihSj and fuch others, defcribed by Emapiw, &c. fo that except Rome ^n^AUxandr in, {or aoo years,and fbme iiew of the very great Churches for 400, the Churches were no greater than one Bifhop and his Conleftus, might tolerably go- vern by the Keys. 2. And all this while all the Presbyters were Church-Governours as well as the Bifhop, though he was their Chief, and all Excommunications were to be done by joint con- fentj And fo many Church-Governours may do more than one^
16. Then Councils called General, having by the Emperours Grant, and the Clergies Defire and Conrent,the Supreme Church- Power, it was in thefe Councils that the Pride, Ambition and Domination of all the worldly Prelates that were toofoongot in, didexercife iiTelfas the valour and wit ofSouldiers in a field of War: And as i. The good men yet among them ; 2. And the Articles of Faith yet retained by them, did caufe them to do much good againft fomeHerefies and 2)iforders,ro the Pride asd Turbulency, yea ignorance of the reft, caufed them to become the occafions of the doleful Schifms, and Herefies; and Enmity of Chriftians againft each other, which continue to this day un- healed.
17. Thefe hurtful Contentions in Councils at firft prevailed but little, and that at Nice did much more good (I think) than harm: And after at Cof^jiant : a little more hurt was done, and uinch good : And thofe that followed did worfc and worfe, till the proud worldly Spirit contri<5led Malignity, and fomuch
prevailed.
(17)
'-prevailed, that for a thoufard years at leaft the Bifliops with their Prelatica! Clergy and their Councils have been the grand Corruption and Plague of the Church j which many of the inoft Learned Expofitors of the KeveUtton, take to be the Image of the Beafi j and Dr. H. Mcore calls it a Heathenijh ChnflUmty, which they have rhdde their Religion.
1 8. In rheir progrefs to all this, as the Diocefles firft grew up from Qur Parochial Magnitude towards that of the prefent Dio^ cefan, fo the vtry Paltoral Power of all the reft of the Presby- ters, was by degrees taken away, fo far as that they had no confenring power in Ordinations or Excommunications, unlefs the B fhop would chufe a few for his Council: fo that the proper power of tht King's was confined to one Bifhop over many hundred Parities j and fo Difcipline became an impolTible thing;, lave as itferved the Bifliops againft fome that they dif- likcd : And fo the Church which was as the Garden of Chrift, became like the Commons, and good and bad were little diffe- renced in Communion.
19. Yet becaufe the Power muft ftill be ufeful to the Bifhops ends, as he fees caufe, fome fhadow of the old exercife muft be i^ept up : But the Bifliop having not leifure for the tenth part of the labour which this very (hadow required. Lay- iren are made his Chancellours to decree Excommunications and Abfolutions^ ^nd to Govern by the Church Krys ; like a fecular Court : And Commiflaries, Officials, Surrogates, and other hard names and thmgs, are fet up inftead of the Presbyters £nd their Antient Office.
ao. By this time the Antient Species of the Churches was al- tered; and whereas it was long held, that a Church and BiOiop were Correlates,and there were no more Churches than Bifliops, DOW many hundred or a thoufand Pariflits are become no ChurcheSjbut parts of one Diocefan Church,which is the loweft, and many fcore or hundred of the old fort of B ftiojs, all calt out and fwallowed up by one. Juft as if a th ^oi'^nd, or (bmc hundred Schools fhould have but one Ofvernirp. Schoolmafter, and be but one School, but each part have an UO er to read to the Boyes, and tell the one Schoolmafttr as a M \\^or ivhat they did amifs j but might correft none, nor put them out.
21. By this time they began to live on blood j and even ai they fwclicd in the beginning, cruelty grew up equally with
D Pride :
(i8)
Pride: For Reafon and Scripture were not on their fide, nor would juftifie their Caufe and them, and therefore violence mult do it : They defircd not the bare title ot Power, but the cxercife of it, to promote the IlTues of their IVst and Wtl/. They began with rafh filencing, e;e(fling and dcpcifing Dillenter?, and thence to anathematizing them, and thence to banifhing, till at laft it grew up to tormenting in the Inquifition, and burning them.
2x. And whereas (notwithftanding the petty Herefies am«ong Chriftians too earlyj the glory of the Antient perfecuted Chri- Itians was their entire Love and Concord, and the (hameof the Philofophers was their difcord j it came to that pafs^that where- as a Herefie of old did (tare up among a few for a (tnall time, like our Ranters and Quaker?, who fhame Religion no more than Bedlams fhame Reafon : Now the great Continent/ of the Eartt have been the 5eats of the millions of thofe called Hcreticks and Schifmaticks by each other, about 1400 or i3ooyears. £«- felni-s in Prapar. & Dcmotijir. copioufly fheweth that the Philo- fophers were all confounded in diflention (and yet did not per- secute each other) but that the Chriftians were all of one Reli- gion, cleaving to one Sacred Word ofGod : Of which alfo fee Rajm. Breganittm in Theol. Gent . dc Cogn. Dtt^ Enar. y. cap. 8. To be Lovers of good men,wa8 the charadlcr of the old Bifliops: To be dividers, and haters, and flanderers,and filencer»,and per- lecurorf, and murderers of them, grew up with corrupters Pride.
25. And with thefe did gradually grow up corruptions af Dodtrine, even while they pretended a burning Zeal againft He- refie j and corruption of God's publick Woriliip, till it grew up to all the Mafsand Roman Impurities.
24. And to fecure all this againft Reformation,, ridiculous Legends, and falfification of Church-Hiftory, made it hard for pofterity what to believe, or whom.
§ I J. Being thus farfure of the matter of fadl, by what de- grees Prelacy grew up to the height, that it hath now attained in the World abroad, I confidered whai men thought of it now at home (I am fpeaking yet but of matter ofhCt-,) and Ifound great diverfity in mens thoughts of it.
i^ As to the Roman height,! found that the Church of£«^/4»*^ fncc the Reformation till A.B.Z.<«;/^'s time took thePope to be the
Antir
op)
Antlcbrift; It was in their Chufch- books : Many other Birtiopsv as well as BKhop Dmnam, have written for it : WhatBifhop Morton, znd Hall, ana yibbot, and abundance fuch have written againft Popery I need not name.
2. I found that then the ftream began to turn, and the name ofAntichrift was put out, and our Reconciliation with Rome was tai^en to be a hopeful work, and actually endeavoured (which by their converfion all good men defire.)
^. I found that many among us of greateft reverence and name had laid down fuch tearms as thefe, *"' [That the Catho* " lick Church is one Vifibie Society under one humane Govern- " ing Soveraignty : That this Univer fal Soveraign hath power of " Univerfdl Legiflation and Judgment : That the Colledge of " Bifhops through all the World, are this one Supreme Univer- " fal Soveraign : That they exercife it in General Councils when ^' they fit: That every Bifliop is by Office the Reprefentativc *' of his Dioccfan Church j and thefe Bifhops may, or rauft have " Metropolitans and Patriarchs j and by thefe Patriarchs and *^ Mtlxopo\\^^T[S per literas formatas, and xht'xY Nnntii theVm- * verjal Sfipreme Colledge may exercife their Power over all the «^ World : And what they do thus, the Church or Colledge doth, " in the intervals of General Councils : That the Pope of " ^o«?^ is to be acknowledged the Pri«c//?///w Vnitatis to this " Univerfal Church and Colledge of Bifhops, and the Ordinary " Prefident of General Councils ex Officio. That Councils called " without the Prefident who hath the fole power, are unlawful " Affembiies, and punifhable Routs. That the approbation of ^' the Prefident, (if not of the moft of the Patriarchs; is the " note by which an authorjz'd obliging Council is to be known *^ from others. That the Pope *is to be obeyed accordingly as " Prime Patriarch, Principium Vmtatis, Prefident of General " Councils, and Patriarch of the Weft. That all that will not " unite with the Church oTRome on thefe tearms, are Schifma- " ticks, and fo to be accounted and ufed. That thofe that thus *' unite with the Church of Rome ^ are no Papifts : But a Papift " is only one that holdeth all to be juft and good that is done ** by Popes, or at leaft one that is for the Pope's Abfolute "Power of Governing above Canon-Laws and Church-Parlia- " nients or Councils. And that if they will but abate their laft I ^* 4^® ywrs Inioyations, or at leaft not impofe them on others,
^ D 2 '^we
(20)
** we may unite with the Churcl? of Rome, though they cfjitn *• as Fetn% SuccefTorf, the Univerfal Supremacy at leaft to be "exercifcd according to the Canons ot Council?. And that it ** is not the Chureh of Rome, but the Court o( Romr, which at " prefent \ve may not unite wirh. That the Church of Rome is- " a true Church, and hath had an uninterrupted SuccfHlon, and " irs Sacraments true Sacraments :But none cf thofe Prcueltanc " C'iurches are irur Churches, that have notDioceGn Bilhops; "nor any of their P.ifl: )rs true Minifters otChrift, who have roc " Diocefan Epirco[)jl Ordination j nor any that have fuch/mlefs " it hath as fuch been conveyed down from the Apoftles by ur- *' interru[ ted SuccelTion by fuch Diocefans. That fuch nen have " no true Sacraments, Gud not ovning what is done by any not '' fo ordained : That therefore they hav« noCovenant-promi'e **of, or right to Pardon and Salvation, becai.fe fuch right is '" given only by the Sacrament : That therefore all fuch Pro- " teftants Sacraments are but nuil'tie^ and a prophanaiion of *' holy things : And that the Hoiv Ghoft being the lnfti:uter of ^* thefefacred thing8,it is the fin againft theHolyGhoft to under- " take and exercife theMini(try,& celebrate Sacraments w'irhouc "•' fuch uninterrupted fuccefTive Ordination. That an Ordained "Minirter, hath no more power than was irvtended him by his • Ordainers : That in fuch Presbyterians, or Epifcopal Churches, *^ which have their power fVom theOrdainers,and lb far for want " of SuccefTion^are nullities j it is Me for men (as e.g. in France) **'ro be rather of the Roman Church than theirs.
§ 16, And as I found this Docftrine in the afcenclent in Eng-
layjd^ fo I met with fuch as were for ufing Proteftants accord ing-
■ ly, even for the filencing of them by thoufands, if they would
not fwear, profefs, promife, and do all that And for ufing the
People accordingly. And abating neither big nor little, an Oath or a Ceremony to unite or fave them. And 1 lived in an Age where thefe things were no idle fpeculations. I § 17. Being thus far fure of the Matter of Fad, I (tudied as
well as I was able to kno.v which of thefe waies was right : And 1 faw that either Popery that is, the Popes univerfal Headfhip or Government is of Divine Inftitution, or elfs it is a heinous U- furpation, and formeth a fort of Church which is not on any pre- tence of Concord to be owned. And as to the firlt I have faid before and in many.Books what 1 have to fay againft it 5 which
is
is all fummed up in Dpdor /z,. Barrow^ and Dodor H. Motre ^ and largely told the world bv Chamier^ Sudefl, Whjaker^ Jewet^ VfheVf Morton, White, ChiEitigworth, Crukenthome^ and abundance more. And I thought it ftrange if cither Papacy, or tliat Tym- panite of the Clergy which tended to ir, were of God, that the Perfons fiiould be ordinarily ^o bad^ and it fhould introduce (b great mifchicf* in do6trine, worfhip and praifliceover the Chri- liian world,and b.ing the C'lurch into fuch a divided and pollut- ed ftate, and that as the Clergy fwelled the Body fhould pine awav, and the Spirit ofholineft and Love be turned into the Skellecon of Ceremony and Formality, and into hatred, cruelty, and tearing and tormenting pains.
§ i8. UponallTuch thoughts I concluded in thefercfolutionsi I. That I muftnotaccufe any Office made by God, for mens abufe of it. 2. Nor muft I acciife the good for the faults of the bad. 3. Nor Confound the Office it felf, with its diftafe, ar.d the accidental Tympanite. 4. Nor aggravate humane infirmities in good men, z% if they were the crimes of mal'gnant Eremies. y. Much lefi lav any of the blame onChriftianity crPiety, when nothing in the world is fo much againft all thefe Evil?, nor Would they have been fo far limited, reftrained or reftfted, had it not l);^en for thar Chriitianity and Piety that was kept up a- gainlt it j nor is there any other cure of it. It is not by ReiigioHj but for want of more true and ferious Religion, that all thele mif- chiefs have fo lamentably prevailed.
§ 19. 1 therefore refolving to avoid extrcams, concluded thusj I. That it is moft certain that Chrift is the only Head of the Church.
2. And that as fuch he himfelfdid maVe univerfal Law?, and will be rhe final univerfa! J idge, and ^here is no other that hath univerfal Legiflative and Judicial Pouter bur he.
3. As fuch he infti'-uted necelTiy Church-Officers $ firft, ex- traordinary ones to be his Inftruments in Legiflation, a? Mofes was to the Jews, giving them his Spirit extraordinarily for that life, to bring all thar he tdught them to their remembrancfjand guide them to deliver and record all his Commands: And or- dinary Minifters ras the Priefts and Levites to the Jev/?) to teach and apply thefe Commands, or uniwrfal Laws, to the end of the World, but not to add, diminish or alter them.
4. That the formal ElTence of this continued Sacred Minil>ry
confifteth
(12)
confifteth in a derived Pon-er and OoUgation in fubordination to Chrift as Prophet, Prieft and King, to Teacb, to Guide the "Churches in holy Worfhip, and to Rule them by the Paftoral Power, which maketh themMmifterial Judges of mens capacity for Church-Communion j but they have as fuch no forcing power of the 5word.
^. ThiC there are two forts of thefe Minifters acc'dentally diltinguifhed: i. Such as are only ordained to the Miniftry in general, and not fpecially related to any one particular Church more than other ; whofe work is to do their beft to Teach lo- iidels, and baptize them, and gather Churches, and occufionally to Officiate orderly in fuch Churches where they come as need their help. 2. Thole that have moreover an additional call to be the ftatedP3ftor«,Over(eer8 or Guides of particular Churches as fixed Officers of Chrift. All which have the three forefaid E(- fentials of the Office, to Teach, Worfliip and Rule.
6. That the Office of thefe men is to be performed by them- felves, and 'no Lay-man may do any Eflential part of them by their deligation, and therefore ('as in Phyficians, Tutors, ficc.) receflary Perfonal abilities are as eflential as the neceflary Mfpo- fition7ateria is ad receptionem alicujusformx. And ex quovis ligno no n fit mercmiw.
7. That it is very much,and great, and moft important work, which thefe Minifters have to do. To Preach God's Word un- derftandingly, faithfully, conftantly, fervently; torefolvcthe doubtful, to reprove the fcandalous, to perfuade the obftinare, to confute gainfaycrs^ to comfort the fad, and ftrengthen the weak, particularly as there is occafipn. To vifit the fick, Cate- chize, Baptize, befides all ads of publick Government. There- fore one man cannot poffibly do all this for too great a number of fouls, but great Congregations muft have many Minifters : And fo they had in the Primitive Church, where the moft able Speakers preacht ufually in publick, and the reft did more of the perfonal and more private work.
8. And whereas it was very early that moft fingle Churches had one that had a preheminence amonp.ft the reft (not as of another Office, but as a Prefident in a Colledgeof Philofophers, Phyficians or Divine Student?, to be a Governour overthofe of his own profeffion, by moderate Guidance,) and it is not un- meet, that when one worthy Teacher hath gacjiercd a Church,
and
L
r^3)
and brought up younger Chriftians to Minifterial abilities, that they when they are ordained (hould take hinnfor their Father, I will never gainfay fuch an Epifcopacy in fingle Churches ( that is, focieties of Chriftians combined for perfonal Communion in Doctrine, Worfliip and Holy living under fuch Paftors as afore- faid,)
9. And becaufe I find that the Apoftles and Evangelifts had a Minifterial care of many Churches to teach, reprove, exhort the Paftors and People; And though the Apoftles extraordinary power and work cealed,yet Ch'^rch-Overfight as well as Preach- ing being an ordinary continued work; and when I find Chrilt hath infticuced fome Teachers over many Churches, I dare not fay that he hath repealed this till I can prove it. And the nature, of the thing tells us, that if fome grave holy men have the care of counfelling and warning and reproving the Minifters of many Churches who are below them in part* and worth} It may da much good and can do no harm to the Churches, while they have no power of force or tyranny. Therefore I refolvea never to fpeak or do any thing againft fuch Bifhopsof Bifhops, thougli Diocefan.
§ 20. Thus far I have ofc declared my felffor Ep#:opacy: But finding in all the aforefaid Hiftory, how the Church camera the woful State that it hath been in thefe 1200 years, and what it futfereth by the Bifhops and their Clergy in almoft all parts of the Chriftian World j and that even ^he Englijb Diocefans can endure no more Parochial Paftoral Difcipline than they do, (I mean fuch as Bucer in Script. Anglic, preft fo vehemently on King Edjv. and the Bifhops^ and that they cannot contentedly hold their Lordfhips, Wealth and Honours, without filencing and ruining Twothoufand fuch as I, or better ; and uiuig many thoufands of godly Chriftians as they do $ and finding that I and fuch others are accufed as being difobedient to them — and for not fwearing and covenanting never to endeavour any alte-- ration of their prefent Church-Government, and ail excommut- nicatc by the Canon that fay there is any thing in it (even from the Archdeacon downward to {jhe rcfi in O^ce ] repugnant to the Word cfGod) I took it at laft to be my duty to give the Reafons of my diffent in a full Treatife of Epifcopacy.
And becaufe 'I perceived young men and ftrangers to for- mer times^ deceived by the general noife,, How Ant lent and
Vtriv^T'-
(u)
V/tiverftl£pfcopacj hath beeni as if all that is called Epi[c«jhicj were but one and che fame thing; or as if we were againft the Primitive Einfcopaq' j therefore I fuddenly (ar.d too haftily for want of time,) beftovrcd a few weeks in fumming up the Heads oftheHiftory of Bifliops and Coiinci!*, out of a few Hiftorians which were moft common, next at handj and of moft credit with ihofe whofe fanirs [opened :That it might be truly known Hvw much the tumtfied degenerate fort of VreUcj h^d caf^fed the Divifons and Calumnies of the Church.
§ 21. For ih\iWir.Moyrice ('as fame faith) and many more are fo greatly offended with me, and fay of me herein whdf they do. And on pretence of F/W/Cdtr/w^ t\\c?rimitive Chtirch which untruly implycth that I who vindicated it agdinftcorruprers did oppofe Itj hedefef'deth the corrup ions ani finful mifcarnages anddifeafesofthe Prelates: And this he dorh, i. By driving to make me contemptible as unlearned, as if that would excufc the fins whiph I rehearfe and lament:He findeth in one place through myhalte and heedlefhefsja word oflheodcret- mifplacr d, and ihc word ICalami'] tranflated .=^«7//, which he thinks (hould be Reeds', and one or two more fuch j as if he prevaricated, and had a d^%n to extol the Book.which hefirds no more and grea- ter fault in, than he realh' hath done. And he j roveth it l.kely that I never law the Hiftories thar ftocd by me near twenty years, becaufe the Prii ter ; ut a Comma betAeen ^AJarquardiu'} and \_Frehcrw'] (\ thir4( there are a drze.'i Comma's mil; laced in my whole Book 5J when he himfelt faith of his own Book {The faults that have cfcapcd are almoji inji/itte.~\ But of thcfe thing! more anon.
2. He loudly and frequently chargeth me with malicious faf- fifying Hiftory j and when he cometh to the proof, I have (hewed vou who the falfifier is.
3. The great thing I amaccufed of, is maki ig the Bifhops more the caufcs of Herefie,Schifm and Vlol(nce,thanthey were : And of that 1 have fjid nothin:^, bur what I think I have fully proved: And let the Re^aer ;u ;gcby this following Catalop,uc.
Domineering Pride harh been the chief caufc of Herrfits -nd Schitms, efpccially working in thcClergy to tumid Prelacy and Tyranny.
I. I before noted how the Apoftles began to firive who fbould be grcatelt, till the effufion of the Spirit after Cbrifts rebukes
had
Cm)
had cured them. And what tiranny Diotrephes ufed through iore of Preheminence.
II. If the doubtful ftories o^ Simon Magm be true, his tumor was more than Papal j And Epiphanita makci Meuander^ SatHr- nilnfj BAjilides, to be but his Otf-fpring. The Original of the Ni- coUitans and Gnoiticks (who Epiphamtis faith, had enfnared him- felfonce ) is utterly uncertain j CarpocraSt Cerinthus^ Ebion^ya- ientims, Sccundus, Ptolom^Hs^ were all but Birds of the fdrne Gnoflicks Neft, a crazed fort of men that mingled Ghriftianity, Platonifm, and Magical Imaginations j and what they were themfelves, is not kno^vn : Such was Aiarciu^ CoUrbaftu^ He- raclcon^ the Ophite, the C^iintteSf the Sethians, CerdoiAfarcioH wasaBifhop's Son caft out for vice ; and Lucian, ^pe/les and Severiu his OtF-fpring, the Heads of their little Se^s ; whether Bifhops or not, is unknown. What kind ofHcreticks TertulUan^ TatiaKus, and Origen were, and how many faults as foul Laftar.- jM«^,and many not numbered with Hereticks have,is well known: And among all thefe in thofe early dales, till there were Pope* and Diocefans (fuch as now) in the world, none fuch could be Hereticks.
III. Many Councils contended about the time* of Eafier^ and f^fRor with one par: of Bifliops, excommunicated Polj/crates and the ^rian Bifhops j while, as Socrates and Soz^omen tell us, the Churches that left it indifferent had peace.
IV. A Council of the beft Bifliops at C^rf^^gff decreed Re- baptizing.
V. A Council of the Bifliops of Cappadocia,Ct!icia^GAUtf4^8cc, at Iconinm, for Rebaptizing thole Baptized by Hereticks : And Stephen Bifhop of ^owt excommunicated them all.
VI. A Council at Synadis, and divers others decreed the (amc Rebaptizing.
VII. Divers more ^frivan Councils of good Bifliops with C/;>r/4?;, decree the fame, whom5ff/?/6tf»Birfiop o^ Rome con- demneth.
VIII. Divers Bifliops are (aid to be SabelUan Hereticks.
IX. Taului S.tmofatenus Bifliopof -<^»f;o<;^ w;'.saHereticK.'
X. The Council of Bifliops at Cirta in JVmmdta under Secun- dus Mr. M. calls worfe than I do.
XI. A C^rrZ)^^^ Council of 70 Bifliops -^». 306. fct up the Dooatifis Schifm, Itriving for the preheminence^ who fliould be B\(hop of Carriage, E X\l. ^'fh
(i6)
XII. ^n. 508. Another Donatifts Council had 270 B)fhops. Miny more Couneils they had.
XIII. The firft General Council at Nice we honour,and aflent to its Greed: But thank CoKfianttrje for burning all their Libels, and keeping peace by his prefence and fpeech.
XIV. The Schilm made by McLettui and Veter^ Bii'hopsjs well known.
XV. The Here fie of ^n«i (a Presbyter that would have been a Prelate j quickly infetfted Eufebius Ntcomcd. \i not Effcbim Ca:f)iri:n/if^ and divers other Biihops.
XVI. Epiph^MMs fairh, that Andi^s was driven to his Herefie- by being long abufed, beaten, and at laft excommunicared for reproving the Bifhops and Priefts for their Coveroufhefs^ Luxu- ry, and other fins: And ^o he became a Biiliop himfclf.
XVII. Eujebiks Nicom. mjde Bifhop oi Confirm moplc (^whom you tell us VaUfms thinks was no Heretick) hired a Whore at ^nnoch, to father her Child on Enjiathius the Bifhop there, and got more Bifliops to depofe him, and the Emperour to banifli bim.
XVIIL A Council of Bifhops at T^^j'^ un juftly condemn and per-- fecute Athnna^tas.
XIX- Three Bifhops (faith Mr. M, overcome with too much Wine and perfuafion) ordained Novation falfly Biftiop of Rome (before this aforementioned.)
IXX. A Council at fernJ^iUm An. 335. tryed and approved Arim Faiih, and ref^ored him.
XXI. A Council atConjUntifjoph condemned AtarecUns Ancy- rayusj and Achjna/ini, and juftified Arifts.
XXU. A Council of near 100 Bifhops at -^^w/zi^c^, 36 being 'j^n/?«/, depofed AtbAtiafws.
XXIII. Another Council at Antioch make a new Creed with-
out [oi^v7iQ-r\
XXIV. A Council of 376 Bifnops at Sard.ca^ decree Appeals to Ro?93e, which Augujlin and the African Bifhops were againft.
XXV. The 'Semi- Ar tan Bifhops went to Philtppopolis^2nd con- demned fuch as the other at Sardica had abfolved, but caft out \a{xek(n©-'} as not fcriptural,and caftdreadful accufationson Atha-* nafus^ Taitlpis C. P. and Marcelhs.
XXVL An, 3yo. A Council at M1U19 received VrfaciussLTid tFaIe»j, Ariam.
XXVll. Stephm
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XXVII. Stephen an ^rian Bifhop hired a Wliore to go in to Bifhop Euphratasi and this Euphratas after turned Photinian.
XXVIII. ^n.i^i. A Council at ^r/ffi condemn Athanafiur,
XXIX. ^». 357. A General Council at Mihn of above 3*3 Weftern Bifhops (though theEaftern that were moft AriancouM. not come^ where AthAnaf%Hi was condemned, and communion with the ArUm fubfcribed.
XXX. An. 356. A Council at Bjterris condemned and ba- mfhed HiUry^ and condemned them as Separatifts or Schifma- ticks that renounced the -r^ri<«« Communion.
XXXI. A General Council at Sirmium of i^oo Weftern Bifhops befides the Eaftern, made three different Creeds, condemned AthAmftus^ left out the word [Jubftance] made P. Liherins^zi^i old Ofius fubfcribe againft Athandjms.
XXXII. The Oriental Bifhops at A^cyra were only for J^ o,uci«<77f J and not [^'oaoim^- 1^ and with Aiacedonins againft the Godhead of the Holy Ghoft.
XXXIII. A General Council 400 BifTiops met at Arimint4m j of whom moft at tirft were Orthodox j but after when the Em* perour interpofed, fubfcribed to the Avian Party.
XXXlV.The reft fate at Selencia.zn^ were moreOrthodox.but divided into Acaciansy who were for leaving out [Subflance'} and Semi-A>i4nSy\w\m'weTe for £LtksSuhfi<tMce.'] Snip, Severns tells uSj that many Bifhops quieted their Confciences by {^fubfcribing in their c-ivn [cnfe'X and fo deceived the Avians that thought they had won them.
XXXV, A Council at C. P. made a Ninth Creed, leaving out l_SHifi.ince and Hjpoft^ifisy The Semi-Arians for this banifhed the Aiithors.
XXXVI» A Council at Amioch caft out MiletinSj and made a Tenth Creed, worfe than the reft.
XXXV^II. ^(ilian Kt\gT\mgjAthana(itti calls a Council at-r^/f.v-' Htidria, which had almoft divided Eaft and Weft about the T\7kmt» {_H\poflc,pszn^ PerfonaQ but that feme wife men per- fuaded thein that the words were both of the fame fignificationj which yet was hardly entertained afterward.
XXXVIII. A Council at Antioch o^Scmi-Arians Petitioned Jo" vianfis to caft out the Acacians j till they knew his mind,and then the Arian Bifhops turned Orthodox.
XXXIX. At a Synod in T/ana Eaftath.Sebafl-. denied [o«o«ctO-] and the Godhead of the Holy Ghoft; E 2 XL. An
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XL. An ArianCouncW oFBifhops in C aria under Platens : And another ac Sir.gedam in Afijia,
XLI. Dantafus in a Roman Council condemneth Sifmnius for Converiticlei : For at the Eledion in the Church they fought for ihefe two: And Damafus his Party one day Icfc 137 dead bodies behind them, and got the better.
XLII. Faints by cruelty fet up Ari.zn Bifhops in a great part ofthcEalV.
XLin. The firft General Council at C, P. is commonly called the Second Genera', when yet that zx. Sardica , Ariminum^ Sirmium y Milan ^ were General alfo: They were many good men, and did good : But how they ufed Naz.ianz.en to the great grief of the Church ofC. l\ and how Nax.ianz^<n defcrib- erh them, I defire the Reader to take from his own words , and not from mine, or Mr. M.
XLIV. The Council at Ca.[ar u4t4gujia did that which made Martin feparate from them and all rheir Councils after to his death.
XLV. A Council at C. P. fet up Flavian at Antioch^ and a Council at -Row? were for FuuUnur. The former advance C. P. and fertifalem.
XLVI. Many Schifmatical Councils of Donatiji Bifliops fol- lowed. ^
XLVII. For Theophilas cafe I refer you to Socrates and Sozj* wene.
XLVIII. Epiphanifis his Schifmatical ufage orchjfofiomis un» cxcu fable.
XLIX. And fo \sThfofhilus profecuiion of him, anda5ynod of Bifhops caftinghim our, and Cjril^s refifting the reftoring of his name when dead, and reviling the /o4w«;>« that kept fepa- rated Meetings for his fake.
L. The Dtofpolitan Council abfolved Pelagins. Divers Car- thage Councils condemned hi»m. P. Innocent condemned him. Zojimus once abfolved him, and condemned his accufers.
The Bifhops caft out for Simony, I will not number here.
LI. The Contentions between Bomfaae jand Eulalius, and o-i thers after them to get the Bifhoprick oi Rome, are fo many as I will not number them. And the ftriving of three Bifliops fuc- cefliveiy againft the African Fathers for the Roman fuper-emi-; ncncc and Appeals to Rome^^x^ commonly known,
LIL Ojic
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LII. One of Bifliop Boniface's Decrees is, That INo Bijhop Jkallbe brought before any pfiig^, Civil or Miliiarj, either for anjf Qivtl or Criminal Caufe.'Jl
Lirr.What thcfirft General Council at Ephefus did in the Ciufe o^Neftorius\\iiwc'i\i\\\^ opened: D^r<?^(?«j Evidence is undeniable, that NejloriM was Orthodox as to the Matter, though he inif- took as to vvords, in thinking that Mary (hould not be called The A/otherofGoU, but o(Chr^j} who is God. ( wbicli Luther alfo fhcws.) ^ct fince that Councils anathematizing him, a great body of Chnftians in many Eaftem Kingdoms, to this day are a party hereticated by the reft. Is not fuch an ettcd of 1200 years coa- tinuance^a witnefs of the failingof that Councils
LIV. The Biflhops of C. P. and Alexandria ftriving which fhould be greatell,a Council at C. P. decided it forC. P. where Tbeodoret was for Alexandria^ and fell under difpkafure.
LV. Leji M. Bi(hopof^c?wir, claims the title of //f;«i o/f^^ Catholick^ Church.
LVI. Two Councils at C. P, one againft Entjfches 2ind the other for him.
LVII. The fecond Council at Ephefus is fo heavily accufedby Mr. M. and fuch others, that I need not accule it more. Fla- 'uianm of C. P. was there hurt to death. Yet Bellarmin confef- leth it wanted nothing of a true General Council but the Pope's approbation.
LVIII, A Council zx Alexandria under Diofcoms txconimM^ cateth Leo.
LIX. What the Council o{ Cake dan \\:n\\ done I have fh'ewed: Inftead of reconciling the Ncjiorian and f^f^c/^/^w Controverfies by a skillful explication of their ambiguous unfit words,they Anath:matiz.edhQih andbanifhedD;o/(;or-«j,And ever fince to this day, the Eutjchians and Neflorians are feparated DiflTenters.
LX. At Alexand. the Bifkops party that the Council was for (^Proteriiii) and Timothy whom Diofcorus party were for,ro raged^ that they murdered Proterms, and dragg'd his carkafs in the ftreets,and bit his flefh : And each party ftill accufcd the other.
LXI. PMlcheria^Theodofttis's SiWer ^nd Martians Wife ) be- ing for the Council, and Endocia . Theodo[ii<ti's Widdow for Diofcor ru!, they animated.the feveral Parties of Bifhops and Monks : And in Palefline 7«z/^«4/Bi(hop ofJerHfalem was expelled, Sever ianiM aifliop Qi SchjthopoUs killed, &c.
' LXn. Ls9^
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LXII. Leo the Empcrour commanding obedience to the Cdl- m:^^'"j Council, at u4lcxAHdriAZT\^ ^^ntiochihc kxm\^i of contend- ing Bifh^})» were in continual war, calling each other Nejiorians and Eht)chiuns\ oneBithop banifhcd by thcEmperour, the con- trary Bifhop murdered by the people, and caft into the River | the next getting the better again, &c.
LXIII. In Martian^ and L^o's dales moft Bifhops fubfcribed to the Council, ^^hcn BafiifcM ufurped, and was againft the Council, faith Niccph. three Patriarchs, and five hundred Bifhops renounced it, molt before having damned its adverfarics, Bafi- lifcHs recantcth his Commands, and commandeth all to be for the Council, and the B.fhops obey him, fave thofe o^ ^fa. Zeno recovereth the Empire, and is for the Council, and the A(\4n BiQiops turn for it , and fay they fubfcribed to BafUjcHsizhiiX for fear. Zeno feeing it impofljblc ot her wife to makepeace, leaveth all indifferent whether they will fubfcribe the Council or not. Then the War grew hotter between the Bifliops and their Armies againft each other, fpecially the Patriarchs ; all be- ing in Confufion , at Alexand. uinttoch and C. P. and no Em- perour wife enough to quiet them.
LXIV. yinajlaftm a peaceable man, made Emperour, leaveth all tD think of the Council as they will : Then the Bifhops fall into three Parties j ^omc for every word in the Council j fome anathematizing it, and fome for the indifferency : The Eaft one v«ray, rhe Weft another, and Lybia another; yea each Country divided among themfelves : Saith Nictph. So great confufion And bllndnefs of mind beJ:Hthe whole World, The Emperour falls upon the impeaceabic of both fides : At his own place C. P. the Sedition of the People overcame him, for their Council Bifhop, ivhich turned the Emperour more againft the Council, and that Bifhop and the reft.
LXV. At v/;'//Vc/^ the Armies of two Bifhops fought it out, and the Council Party getting the better, killed fo many Monks, as to fave the labour of buryirg them, they caft their bodies in- to the River: And after another Party of them made as great a flaughter. For this blood the Emperour banifh'd F/4z//4««/ the C )uncil Bifhop: This was called Pcrfecution.fff.^/f.v.being dead, tie Bifhops of u4lex, Egypt di^^ Ljbia, fell all into pieces among themfclves,and had feparate Meetings :The reft of theEaltfepa- ratcd from the Welt, becaufc thcWeft refufed Communion with
them.
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them unlcfs they would anathematize Nefiorius, Eutjchcs, D;- cfcorus, AioggHSt and ^cacius : And yet faith Niacph, ^iger- mani Diofcori & En'-ychetii fe^iatores fuere^ad maximampaucita' tern r^f<^^i?*./'"^^NotethatF/4^'i^« theCouncilBifhop for fear with his Fell ow-Bifh ops fthreatned by Bifhop Xenaias") fubfcribed an Anathema againft Theodore^ Theodorite, Ibas, as Neftorians: The [fafirian Bi(hops yield to anathematize the Council. Severm a fierce Eneniy of the Nefiorians made Patriirch at Aniiqch^ for- (ced many Bifhops to renounce the Council j and many to fly. The Ifaftriin Bifhops repent and cojideiiin Severm : The Empe- four commanded out two Bilhops for condemning their Pa- triarch : The People defend them, and force the Emperour to defilV, becaufe he would fhed no blood for Bifhop*. Hcl.as Bifhop o[ferufalem,CiVf all theBifhops in fuch confuAunj that he would communicate with none of them, but the Bifhop of C. P. The Monks at J^^r/f/^/.^w? proclaim ylnathemA to all that equal not- the four ConfiCih to the four Evangelijh, and write to the Emperonr that they would mak^ good the conflict to hlood, and wxnt about to engage men to the Council : The Emperour commanded the Bifhop to reform this: He refufeth. The Emperour fcndeth Souldiersto compel them, and the Bifhops and Monks forcibly caft them out of the Church. He fent OhmpiM with a ftrongcr band, who Gift out the Bifhop: The next Bifhops and more- Souldiers had yet more conflicts after this, and the SouUiers driven away by force.
LXVI. Fdix of i2o»2f, with 77 Bifhops, excommunicate ^ca- ctus o( C, P. fwith a [^Nnnqnam Anaxhematis vincal'n exuendns) and their own two Bilhops that obeyed the Emperour in com- municating. The Schifm between Laurenti'4s &x\d SjmwachHS,. came to blood-fhed, when five or fix Councils laboured to heal it. Symmachns excommunicateth the Emperour and Bifhop of C. P. as communicating with Hereticks j but not an Arian King then at Rome.
LXVII. A Council of 80 Bifhops at Sidon anathematize the Council of C.i/cf^(7«.
The flriving Parties keep up ftill in great Bodies, and the Mel- chites (as they call thofe that obeyed Kings and the Council) have one Patriarch at Damafem^ the Etitychian facobite^ one at Mefopotamia, the AfaroNttes one :it M. Libanus, all called Pa- triarchs of .^ntioch^ (und ihe Udmans mAe a fourth of the fame
title),.
title) and tte Nejioriam have their Patriarch at Af»zaL
Of the many Hercfies or ScCis that rofe up from the intem- perate oppofition to Neforius^ and the woful ruines they made in the Eaft after the Culcedon Councils, and all caufed by Pride and Profperity, and wantonncfs of Wit, and ftopt only by the Conqueft of the Sarnz.ens and ^ra/^iam^ and how orthodox novr in their Captivity and Poverty they all are, even the facobites^ the Neflorians^ the ^rtnenianSf the Cophti, the ^b^Jfines^ the Indian?, and the A'iaroMitcs, fee the notable words of Bnerwrod Enquir. p. i8o, 1 8i, i8z, 183. As alfo how the Pf/^w King was a great caufe of the fpreading of the Nftorians through his Dominions.
LXVIir. The Eaft and Weft v\Tre divided in 7///?/>>'s Reign,on the Qjeftion, whether the names of two Orthodox dead BilTiops fhould bereftored into the D^ptickj, even Euphemius and Ma- cedoNius, whom the Pope had damned as communicating with Hereticks J the Bifhops of the Eaft being for it, and the Weft a- gainft it.
LXIX. fuftitt turning theftreamfor the C'alced. Council, the Bifhops in a Council at ferufalem, and another at Tjire are for ir, and condemn Severus. And a Roman Council conde«neth the three dead Bifhops of C. P. ^t<»c/«/, Euphemius and Maceda-.
TtitiS.
LXX. So far were the Bifliops yet from Peace, that Jujlinian being Emperour, headed the Council Party, and his Wife thead- verfe Party:
About 30000 they fay were then killed in OP. atanlnfur- redtion.
LXXI. A mifchievous Schifm for the Biflioprick at Rome^ be- tween Boniface 2, and Diofcnras and Agapetus after Boniface,
LXXII. In 7«//«M«'s timeaControverfie arofe, whether we may fay [One of the Trinity vp as crucified?'] Hormifda^\{ho\i q{ Romefdld JSTo. The Ncjiorians took hold of this and faid, [_rhen^ v^e may not fay Mary was Mother to one of the Trinity.'] fujtinian fent for a Council about it to Pope John-. He and his Bifhops concluded contrary to Hormifd^t^ that we may fay [One of the Trinity was crucified.] And fay Baromus and Binius [Ita TMUtatis hofiibus arma mutari neceffe ffiit^ Faith changeth as occafions change. Reader, if thou feeit not here how Bifhops have bro- ken the Church in pieces^ I rauft Bot tell thee, left Mr. M. be 4angry. I in-
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I intrcat the Reader to fee what I faid, Hlft. p. iJ2. Of the Conference o^ Hypatipis and the EutychiaKs,
LXXIII. A Council at C. P. calls their BiHiop Patriarchs Oecumemcujydind condemn divers Bifliops, as doth a Council ac fi rti/alem.
LXXIV. At Roms the uirian King made S;7z/.-mj Bifhop; and others cholc VigHius that murdered him. Figilifts excom- municated/^i^««4 oi C. P. which fhflinian revenged.
LXXV. Anew Gontroverfie is itated whether Chrifts body was corruptible: The denyers had Gainas A. Bifiiop j The affir- mers had Theodofin^ 5 The firft were called Phantajiafiat the o- ther CornspticoU. Moft were for Gatnas^ but the Soldiers for ThlodofiHi'. They fought many daies, and the Soldiers killed ma- ny, and many of them were killed, and the Women withftones from the top of the houfcs, and the Soldiers with fire, continued the war: And thedivifion continued in Liberatns'i dales: 7»/?i- t3ian was fo zealous for the Council of^ CalcedoN^ that he murder- ed thoufands (as they fay ) in Egypt t and yet dyed a reputed Heretick himfelf, being for the Conw/r/ro/rf, and Evagrius faith, when he had (et the whole world in tumult, he was damned him- felf. But God belt knoweth that,
LXXVI. A Council at Barcelona. Decree that Priefts muft cut their beards, but not (have them.
LXXVII. By the Cheat of an Et*tycbian Biftiop fMflinian was pcrfuaded that the condemning of fome Writings of Theodore A-fopfuefi^ 77jf<7(fl?on>(f and. //^^f, would reconcile the Bifliops: He calls a General Council at C. P. to that end (ufually called the 5'th)His Letters are read opening the doleful divifions, that the Churches had no Communion with one another, &c. The three Bifhops writings are read : Theodorite charged by this Ge- neral Council with that fait Epiftle againftdead C;r;/,and a like Speech at ^mioch^ and none vindicated him : Binini and Mr. Mcrice and others fay the Letter is forged : I know not -, But the Tria Capitfilaarc condemned. And now this General Council hath made a new dividing fnare. Many that were for the Cfilce- don Council feared this was a condemning of what they did in receiving Theodorite^^c. The Adverfaries were never the more fatisfyed j but faith Binists X^xmi^tM {^TIjg end-was not obtained, but a mofi grievous mifchief added tothe Church — The whole Catholic!^ Church was torn by Schifm, and mrje^the Ewperourjiir'dup Per-
F fecution,
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ftcu'tion] dfpofed or l/anijhed P. Wig]\\us: But lefi the Eafi Jlooyld allforfakt the Wefl^ he recanted and confcnted to the Council. Doth cither the work, or the effect commend this General Council?
LXXVIII. A Council of fernJMem fave oneBiChop, prcfently received this Decree.
LXXIX. A VVeftern Council at ^quiLia condemn this f th General Council ;.tC. ?.and (faith Bitiiii4)feparatedfrom th: whole CatholickChurch(cvfn from Rome^ for an hundred yca^st HI SeTg\u% reconciled thcr/i. ..^Were the WeOern Bilhops or the Pope then the Weftern Church ? -So many feparated, that Vigilms being dead, there could but two Bifliops ( and a Presbyter ) be got to ordain Veh.ghis his Succeflbr. But the Emperour anJ his Pppe perfecnte the Bifhops,and the Schifm feemed defperate.
LXXX. Another Council at C. P. u4n. ^87. decree that John Bifhop of C. P. be called The VaivcrfaL Bijhop j which greatly in- creafed the Churches divifions.
LXXXI. King G««^/?r4«? called a Council at Mafcon An. 5:89, finding all things grow worfe and worfe, & all long of the Bilhops only, faith Biniw.
LXXXII. Even Great Gregory called a Synod againft the dif- Tenting Bifhops, and they not obeying hisfummons, the Bifhop of Aquileui was ruined ( the Weftern Head) S,ii^inian that fuc- ceeded Gregory would have had his Books burnt. Boniface the third got Fhocas the Murderer to declare Rome the Chitf Biihops Seat (He to whom Greg, had-fung Latentur cceH, & ex- ultet terra yd^cc")
LXXXIII. Next role up the Monothelite Controverfie. Cyrus Bi{hop of v^/^.v-<«^. to end the Controverfies aforementioned, was told that to ufe the word \Dei virilis operatio & voluntas'] would unite them aH,which paft as /.itisfaftton in a Council at-,^- lexand, F. Honori»s perfuaded them to lilence [One] and iTwo.]
But this Counfel was rejsded^ and now whether Chnfi had {One, or Trvo Wills andOper^tions^ became as defide^ the new War of the Bifhops through the world. Some were for [One'] and fome for [fTwo'j as if [fl^'/Z/and Operation, and One or Two^ were words that had but one flc.nification} When every Novice in Philofophy muft grant that C!irift's Will and Operation in fome fenfe, was but One^ and in other fenfes Tjvo, as I have proved. But Sergius Bifhop ofConfl. fet It on foot, HeracUus being for it^ and Pjrrhus his Succelfor followed it on. And Sergius by a
Council
L
05)
Council of Bifhops at C. P. decreed for [0»,? Will.']
The Opinion and the Empercur Cotjjtans bis filercing both, are condemned at Rome The Pope, Emperoiirs and Bifhopj, are all condemned, and perfeciiting each other about ir.
LXXXIV. Conft. P^^gonat. called a General Council at C P- called the 6th, which condemned Macarius Bifhop of -^«a. and the pacificatory Epiitles of P. Honorifisand Sergit^s as Heretical, and all that were (or One JFtll^ and O^e O per at iou of Chr if): ^ I. As denominated anaturis & earum principiis feu fACultatibfis^ the Divine ^.nd Hwr;ane WdUnd Operations were and arc Two : 4. As denominated ab nnitate perfona j they are the FF;//and Ope- rations of Oneperfoa^ and fo far may be called One, 3. As deno-^ minatcd ah unitatc olje^iva they are One : The Divine and //»- f?7ane Nature iv/7/the fame thing, fo far as the Humane willeth^ and do fo far the fime work : But if any will make a new He- • refieby difputing whether the Divine Nature alone do not will and atl ibmewhat without the volition and a^lion of the Hu- mane (fince the Incarnation^ they fliall have no company of mine in it. 4. In the fenfe as the Operation of the principal and inflrumentalCaufeare One^ producing One Ejfe^i foChrilt's Divine and Humane Operations are 0«^. y. As C onfcnt deno*, minateth Vnit^,2ind the Old Chriftians are faid to be of One heart and foul. One ?nind and mouth i and Chrift prayeth that we may be One in him,fo his IVilUnd Operation areOne^ 6. Yea if there be a fort ofVnion between Chrift & his Members, and between the Blefled in Heaven, which is quite beyond our prefent com- prehenfion, it is much much more fo between Chrift's Divine and Humane Will and Operations,
And now Reader, whether it was well done ro pafs over thefe and many other needful diftinftions, and -o [)i:t iv;en barely to fay that Chrilt's ^tll and Operations were not 0/;<?, hut Tivff,whcn really they were both One and Two j and to make the Pope him- (elf a Heretick, for one of the wifcft Epiilles that ever Pope wrote (I am no fuch enemy to a Pope as to be partial: J and to divide the very Weftern Church from Rome^Tii^d make ^quileia its Head for an hundred years, and to fet all the Roman Empire b a flame, anathematizing and feparating from one another, bci traufc they bad not skill or fobricty enough to ask each other by fuch diftindions what they meant, I fay, if this be wifely and well donCj and be a praife to Prelacy, and I be to blame for
F z blaming
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blaming ir, thervgbod and evil is but what every difeafed Coul will make it. Mr. Morrice and bis Mjfters, that honour their L:'viathan for fuch works asthefe, do tell us,that they would do it thcmfcives were it to be done again. And let it be their work, and the reward be their*: For my part I abhor and renounce ir.
LXXXV. Faith and Salvation now depended fo much on Arith- mctick, that the B fho|)s of SpamrXAld another Arithmetical Controverfie , afi'erting Ttsree Subfiances in Chriji^ his Divhiitj^ his SduI^ and his Bod) , and fay., [ yl Will begat a WUl^ that if, the Divim, the Humane.^ Thefc things are true. But the wife Pope was fo affrighted with yir it hmct teal Controverfie s by exj e- rienceof fhe mifcliievocs Effe<ftp, that he cautioned them much about ir, and for that Tome judged him erroneous.
LXXX.\'I. The Council at 7>//// was one of the beft that ever • they hid, yet fhewed the Core of the Churches Plague, by de- creeing, That nhatever alteration ths Imperial Power mak^th on any City^ the Ecc Icfi. 4 ft ic.d Order foall follow it. This Clergy am- bition nurft up Anti-Chrift.
HCXXVII. A Council at ^^/;rj7c;;4 condemned the 5cb General Council for condemning the Tria capituia. •
LXXXVIII. Pope Scrgias condemning the TruUane Council, the Emperour commanded him to be a Prifoner, and the SouUicrs bribed refcued him.
LXXXIX. Bard^vies PhiUppictts being made Emperor, he cal- leth a General Council at C. P. where, faith Btnius^ c/tt of th Eaft there were inntiwet able Bijhops^ (which is notftkl'of any'o- ther Council) who all condemned the 6th General Council^ and, their Decrees .of Two Wills and Operatioris.
Here (not I , but) Baronius and Biuius fay IThus at the Beck of an Emperour^ and the Will of a Afonothelite Patriarch.^ the holy 6th Synod is condemned ^and what theyfaid ofTivo tVills with Chrif^and two Operations^ and all re trailed by the Decree and Snbfcrtption of very many Oriental Bijlcops, that were in one moment turned from being Catholick to be A-f'nothelitcsJ But do they forget the loo Year, that even the Weft made a head' againft the jth Council and the Pope.
XC. Next all the World is fet together by the Ears about Images, for which the Pope rebelled againft and rejected the Emperour for Charles Marteloi France.
And Pope Zachary bid Bonijace call a Council to ejedl the kC- icnOTSOf^ Antipodes, XCI. IQ
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CXI. In a General Council at C. P. 338 Blfhop; condemn- ed the worfliipping of ImageSj and Avcar men not to adore them, and deftroyed reliques, &c. a-nd decreed, that Chrift's Body is not flefh in Heaven : But the Pope and Wcltern Bihops of his Parry, condemn this Council
XCII. The Grf<r/<^Bifhopscondemiuhe Rom.i>iB'\(hop% for add- ing ^FU'ioej{\ to the Creed, and fo another occafion of Schifm is rai fed.
XCIII. The Schifms in /r<?/; and RcTne itfelf now grew fo great a^d the Etfcifls in Blood and Gonfufions i^o difmal , that I muft not number them one by one.
XCIV. Conjiantine and Leo If.tar. Emperour?, being dead, a Woman Irer,c^ and her Infant Son are for Images, and call a Ge- neral Council for them at NicCj where ThArafius Biiliop of C. . P. f!;or the Bifhopsto carry it for Images and Rcliques, and the Chitf Uifhops that had condemned them before, nowcrvedjca- c^vimusy and condemned thofe that were againft adoration of Images, c^c. If Mr. Monies call me an Enemy to Repentance for reciting this, I cannot help if.
XGV. Yet m.ore Schifm : Two Bifiiops, FcsUx and EUpnndns^ fay, That Chrifi as ths etcrndWord was Gods lutrrral Sotf^ bm as Man he was but his adopted Son : (thinking that duo ftmdamsnta^ VIZ. Generatio aterna, & temporalis, dti as ftici'^nt Relation: s^ fili- Ationis in ti::a perfoKa. J Bat Councils condemned them as mak- ing two Sons. And the great Council at Frank^ford condemning the fccond Council of Nice, and Image- worfliip, condemn a'fj thefe two Bifhop.«, i. For faying Chrifi was GocCs Adapted Son ; 2. And that bj Grace j 3. And that he was a Servant. Is any of this falfe , not excluding a higher tirle ?
The Council concludeth that Chrif was not a Servant fnbjeB-^ ed to God by pcgalfo'virtide: Sure it was part of h'ls futfering for- our fins, to be in the form of a Servant, Thil. 2.7.
XCVI. Binim faith the P;//o^j was added to the Creed by the Sp4niJJ:> and French Bifhops without the Pope.
XCVII. One Council at C. P. reftored him that married the Emperour adulterouHy to another wife : And another condemn-- cd Theod. Sr/fdita and Plato, for being againft it.
XCVIII. The moft excellent Emperour LWov. Pins was fo zealous to reform the Bifliops, that they hated him, and in a- Council at Compendium {Compeigne) moft perfidioufly depofed
himv
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bim, and after bafcly abufed him, even without the Pope.
XCIX. As to pleafe his Son Lotharin'^ they defjofed the Fa- ther i fo when he was beaten by his Brethren, they after in a Council at Aqnifgrane (^Akcn) depofed LotbariHSj accufing hiiu as they did his Father.
C. At c. P. a Council was called by the power of another Woman Theodora and the Bifhops that had under divers Empe- rours condemned Image- worfhip, now turn to it again, and ana- thematize on a fudden the oppofers.
CI. The Bifliops own Loth^rii^ Adulterous marriage with Waldrada.
CII. The Councils that fet up and puH'd down Ignatius and ThotiM at C. P. and the woful ftir that they made as Eraperours changed, were lamentable.
cm. Many cootrary Councils were between the French Bifliops that were for Lotharins divorce and the Pope.
CIV. ^^/;/ the Emperour writes to the Pope to pardon all his Bifliops, or elfe they fliould be without, becaufe all had mifcar- ried, and turned with the times.
GV. A General Council at Confi, called by the Papifts, The Eighth General Councif, condemned Photitts again, and fet up Ig- TiatiftSf and the Changers cryed, /^^•c^^z'/w///, and make extreme Decrees for Images CBut they well condemn [nl'fcnhir.g to bt true to their Patriarchs and Bijhops-j but decree that all Prince* and Subjecfls worfliip the Bifliops, who muft not fall down to them. Other horrid Elevations of Prelates above Princes they decreed — faying, ^ Bijhop^ though it be manifefi that he is defli- tme of all Finue 0} Religion^ yet ps aPajlor j and the Sheep muft not refj} the Shepherd.
CVI. A dangerous Rent between Rome and C. P. what Bifliop (hould have the Bulgarians.
CVII. A Council at Metz. called Prddatorium, gave the King- dom to Car. Calv. un;uftly.
CVIII. A Council at Pavia falfly make Charles Emperour.
CIX. Another (Pontigonenfe) confirmed Itj (the Pope claim- ing the Power.)
ex. A Roman Council unjuftly made Ludov. 3. Emperour.
CXI. A General Council at C. P. again fet up Photitis^ and caft
out Z^^^^'^Ti'l
CXII. The Roman aftlons for and againft P. Forntof^s, are odious to allfober Chriltiaas Ears, CXIII. A
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CXIII. A Council at Sojfons confirm the A. Bifhoprick of Rhe?n:s to a Child of five years old, Son to the \L..o( ^qiUtani. Divers other Councils do and undo about the fame Cmk,
CXIV. The Hiitory of the Biihops of Rome ard their Councils from henceforward is fo 'amentable that even the moft flattering Papift Hirtorians mention them with deteftation. So that I mult nor rt.3v to name many particulars.
CXV. ^-In. 1049. A Roman Council was fain to pardon Simo- niacal Bifhops and Pricfts, becaule the Cry was, that clfc none would be Iffc to officiate.
CXVI. Being come into the Roman fink, I will pafs above an hundred more of the Councils of this woful fort of B.il:oj)S, left Mr. Mrrrics think that I fuppofe him to vindicate them, or not to abhor ihem. Only remembering my Reader ofafew General or notable things : viz,,
I. The multitude of Schifm*, and long vacancies at Rome ; and the horrid incapacity of very many Popes, which prove an in- terrupted fuccelTion.
II.The horrid wars that long infefted Italy by the Popes means.
III. The difmal wars with many Emperours, and the Biihops and Councils half on one fide and half on the other.
IV. The Cjuncil that called the Emperours and others Prin- ces power of inverting Bifhops, the //^wr/V/ViwHerefie, and )udg*d the Bifhops that had been for it to be dig'd out of their graves and burnt.
V. The Subjedingand debafingof all Chriftian Princes, mak- ing them but as the Body, and the Moon, and the Bifhops, to be as the foul and the fun. Efpecially the General Z^.trr/-**;; Council which decreed Tranfubltantiation, and all to be Hereticks that denied it ; And oblige all temporal Lords to exterminate all fucU Hereticks on pain of Excommunication, depofition &: damnation.
VI. The Councils o{'Co;;fiance and Ba/i!s that were for Refor- mation how filfly and cruelly they dealt with Hus and Jerome and rejecfted the four great requefts of the Bohemians, and fixed their pollutions.
VII. The Councils 0^ Florence, and that of Trent , which had more Learned men, who yet more obftinately managed the En- mity to Reformation.
VIII. The prefent State of the Univerfal Church throughout the World as it is divided into Pnpij^Sj ProtefantSyGreekj^AIof-
covites^
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cozfitcs, Gecrglafis, with the Circ^.Jjlxns and Mengrelians, Armc^ tiianj, Ncjli^rians, fdcobites^ Cophtis^ A'>tifneSy Alnronites, Md^ ch-tcs'. And what thoughts thift: have of one another. And I Wwuld defire Mr. Aiorrice to tell us,
1. Whether he believes not verily that all thefe Inftanccs prove thjt the Biflicps have been the chief caufe, and that by Ambition, Pride and Worldlincfs ?
2. Whether it be nor the Bifliops that in the Roman and ether Parries now, are the greateit hinderers ol Reformation, and of Concord ? and it would not be ibon done were it not through ihcm ?
3. Where it is that he v/ill ftop in his Vindication of the Bifhops and their Councils, and go no further ? and by what co- gent reafon ?
4. Whether he thought lie had well defended the Church- Tyranny which I accufed ? i. By vindicating the firft Ages, and others Avhom I praired,and accufed not- 2. And by letting fall hij Vindication (favea few conkqcent quibbles) at the fourth Ge- neral Council; vJiich was in 451. And fo feems to vindicate the Bifhops and Councils but for the fpace of lyo years of the time thatj mentioned their degeneration?
'^ Wliether if the Bifiiops had beefl willing when they had the King's CommifTion to make neceflary alteration, or were but to this day willing to prefer things iiecdfary before things hurt- ful or indifferent, we might not live in happy and holy Love and Peace in E)igland ?
6. Whether he can blame a man that believes in Chrift, for lamenting the doleful corruption and divifion of the Chriftian world, and for enquiring of, and lamenting the fipful caufes. *
7. If that Church PreUcy which they juftly call the bfft in all the world can endure no more Parifli Difcipline than we have, nor can endure fuch a Miniftry as are filenced.by hundreds or thoufands fthan whom no Nation on Earth abroad that I can hear of hath better) can you blame us for fufptdling thatfome- what is amifswith them, and morev/irh other? ?
8. I hope you will yet remember that I did not appear as an accufer of Prelacy or Conformity, but as imjjortured by your fclvesto give the reafons why 1 dare not take your Covenant and O.tth never to endeavour any alteration of your Church Go- vernment : and chat after feventcen years filencc. My prayers
to
■(4>)
to God (hall be my endeavour for thefe following Alterations.
1. That the Primitive Difcipline may be exercifed in the Pa- r'lfh Churches,ag Bacer importuned the King and Bifhops de Regn*
2. That to that end we may cither have fo many Bifhops un- der the Diocefan as be capable to do it, or the Presbyters ena- bled, allowed and obliged to do it.
3. And that wemay not inftead ofit have only a diftant Court of men that know not the Parifliioners^ where a Lay Chancellour decreeth Excommunication, and Abfolution, which the Parifli Pricft m.uft publifti, though his confcience be againft it.
4. And that Diocefans may not filence faithful Minifters with- out fuch caufe asChrift will allow, nor fet up ignorant bad ones and bind the Pariftiioners to hear and communicate with no other. I am fo far from precife expciflations from Diocefans, or from reviling them, that I do conftantly praife them as very good B'fliops who do no harm, or but a little,and [f they fhould never preach thennfelvesjfo they will not hinder others.
9. And as for my calling Things and Perfons as they are, I hope you will not fay that it was out of Malice ihit .An afi if fius TlatiKa, Majfuniy.s, Stella, Sigibert^ Baronius^ Genebrard^ Bin- nifis,S:c. have recorded fuch horrid crimes ofPopes, and others alfo of Prelates. And is it malice in me to tranfcribc their Hl- ftory?
I am of Dr, Henry Moore's mind, who faith, [Mjftery of Ini<j. p. 388. " Hence it is plain that thzy are the tr/^e/t friends to ^^ Chrifl endow, even to Rome it felf^ that do not foot h them ftp in " their ftns, by mitigating and hiding their foul mijcarriagcsy but " deal apertly and plainly with them for their oxvnfafety j that nei- " ther admit, nor invent fubterfuges to countenance or palliate their * ' IdolatroHS and fn per flit tous praElices, btit tell them plainly how *'■ mnch they are apofiatiz^edfrom the trne Worjhip of God and Chrifi " into Paganifm and Idolatry^ Better are the rebukes of a faithful ** friend, than the hired flatteries of a gloz^ing mercenary. 'X I pray mark this well.
10. I take two things to be the degenerating and corruptiom of Epifcopacy.
I. When they became fo bad that they were not mUini to do good according to their undertaken Office. Bad men will do ill in any place.
G 2. When
«. When they had put thcmfelves into a ftatc of ivcapMcitjr, that they coffld not do the Good undertaken, were they never fo willing.
1. Since great Baits of Wealth and Domination have tempted theworft men to be the SeekerSjBiiTiops have rarely been good, except under a Saint-like Prince or People that had the Choice j ro' are ever like to be. And what work the Enemies of Holi- neft will make by abufing Chrift'« Name agiinft himfelf, is eafie toknovj fuch will take the beft men for the worft, and call them all that's naught, that they may quiet their Confciences in dcftroying them.
2. And fince a Diocefs of many hundred or fcore Pariflies hath had but one Bifhop for Dil'cipline, the work is become impoflTiSIe to the beft. But when a few Bid men will mercinarily undertake ImpofTibilities, and fa Bdduejs and Jh',pojfibtiiiy go to- gether, alas, what hope , bur of a better world above ?
Sdillh Luther de Concil^ & EccUf.p. 300. Sedcjuam fwit^ intent i banc crajf.*m & afininam jatuitatem ? Vnfis Epifcopus mnuunijitam bahet tres Epifcopatus veL Diocefes^ & tamsn vacatur Vnitts Vxo' ris maritusj & tarn habet tantum unum EpifcopatHm, tanten ifffer- dkm habet ctntr^mj ducentaSf ejuingentas Parochias, tint etiaf» plures, iT vocatur tamen Spa-riftis uniHs EccUfta "Hi mn funt digami — Tarn inftilfas & ineptijfimas nanias recipit mens hnmanai it a pcrmittente Deo cnm aver bo dfcedimus, & oM>iia Umatius CT fubtilius fcrHtamw ^»am tpfe vult nos fo-u'-ari,] Whether you fC- IPcrcnce L^her any more than Calvin I know nor.
n. To conclude this matter, two things 1 de fire you, or at leaft the Reader to confider,
' 1. Whether it be not a dreadful thing for a man to make the Church corrupting, dividing and confounding fins, to be all his own by defending or excufing them, on a fal fc pretence of Vin- dicating the Primitive Church Government, which was contra- ly to them ?
2. Whether you truft to Truth and Evidence, or to Intereft anf^ depraved Judgments, if you think men (hall believe that t^ou have confuted all this undoubted Hiftory, and the prefenc ixperienceofall the woful Chriftian World, by a general Cry that 1 write fa Ifly and malicioufly, or by faying that I am un- learned, or that I trufted to a Tranflation, ox Binnius, or that mmm miftook the year, (ttiinga that I will not turn over my • - ~ Book*
f43)
Books to try,) or that I mifplaced or mifundcrftood a word of Jheodorite, or miftranflated CaUmi, or fuch like. Such Believers ofyou are guilty of their own deceit.
§ 21. There is lately publiflied by a namelefs Prelatifl-, to fhew the World what Spirit he is of, a Book pretending by the defcription of my Life from 1640. till i68r. to prove me one of the worft men alive. To that I will now fay but thefe few words.
1. That let them take me to be as bad as they will, fo they would have fome mercy on their own and others Sou!s,and the Church of God.
2. That it's no wonder that we differ about Antient Time* and Hiftory, and prefent Impofitions, when the main difference in our Times i?, who are godly, yea tolerable Chriftians, and who are intollcrable Rogues j and thofc that ("as before God) by long and intimite acquaintance,! judge to be the moft (erious, confcionable, humble, holy Miniftet^ and People that were ever known to me, are the Perfons that the Prelatifts profecute, fi- Ience,and cry out againft as the moft intallerable wicked Ene- mies of Piety, Truth and Peace. What is it that is the root of this?
3. That this forefaid Book is one continued Calumny,unwor- thy of an Anfvver, partly making my duty my fin ('as that I diG> liked the many drunken Readers that were the Teachers of my Youth, crcj and partly perverting fcraps of fentences j and partly reciting one revoked Bool^^ and a few retraced fentencen of another, when Angufiin is commended for retracing far jnore, and filling it with a multitude of moft grofs untruths,of hit own fidlion.
4. That as to his and Mr. Mortice and others talk of the Wars I fay.
1. That I never thought the Parliament blameleft.
2. That yet on B:lfo)is grounds I was in my Judgment, and Speech, and Adion, comparatively for them while they made their Commiffions to Efex for King and Parliament.
3. That from N^jeby Fight I wholly laboured to have drawn off their Souldiers from Errour, and Rebellion, and Ufurpationj in which I did and fuffcrcd more than multitudes of my Ac-: cufers,
4» That I never went fo far againft the Power of the King as
G » R. Hooksf,
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R. Hooker whom I hive long ago confuted.
5. That I never ftruck or hurt man in the wars.
6. That I will confcnt to be filenced and imprifoned if they will but give ihofe Minifters leave to preach Chrifts Gofpel that never had to do with wars (uniefs for the King.)
7. That when our beginning Concord had reftortd the King, the 5cflr /jthough unfuccefsfully fought for him,Mo«^& his Army, that had bloodiIy('atD;<«<2'fr,&'c.)foughf againft him,had with the Concurrenceof Sir 7/6/7. -^//cw, the Londoner i and Presbyterians reftored him, when the King by them came in Triumph, Ho- noured Viorik and others of them, confeft them the Caufe of hi« Reftoration, paft an Acl: of Oblivion that we might all live in fu- ture Peace, I fay, Ifafter all this it be Prelacy and C'ergy In- tercft and Spirit, that will rub over ail the healed wounds, and ftrivc again what ever it coft us to ulcerate the peoples minds, and refolve that the Land and Church (hall have no Peace, but by the deftrudion of fuch as reftorcd the King ; I flia!! think ne- ver the better of Prelacy for this. Bat ask them, why did yoa not 5peak it out in 1660 to Mo«/^and his Army, or rill now.
§ 11. ATid wherea»rha< Advocate (defcribed /«^.S.J andyou arc (till deceiving the ignorant by facing men down with Confi- dence that I lie in faying that \_Tv(io EpifcopulTarttes began the fr*?yi« England and the Papifls and Frefbperians CAma inbut at Auxiliaries.'] I again fay,
1. ^llow me but reafonable leave, and I will prove it to the fhameofyou if you deny it.
2. At prefent 1 will but recite one claufe in Whitlockj Memo- ■rials, pag. 45*. even after they thought themfelves under a ne- celTity to pleafe the Scots as far as they could. [" ^kko 1640; ** The Commons had debate about a new Form of Ecclifiajfical Ue- ^^ vernmentf din^fftljf 17. agreed^ That every Shire f hall be a fevs- '' ral Diocefs j a Presbytery of Twelve Divttus in each Shire^ and ^' a Prejident as a Bijhop over them j and he with the ajfijlatjce of " fome of the "Presbytery to ordain^ fufpend, deprive ^ degrade and '' excommHnicate, To h-tvc a Diocefan Synod once a year, a\ui " every third year a National Synod, and they to make Canons, but " none to be binding till confirmed by Parliament.
• '* The Primate, of Armagh offered an expedient for conjunBiow ^« '** fo''H of Dif^ipHne, that Fpifcopal and Presbyterian Govern^^ -^ mni might m^ ^S^t^ f^^ dtjinnte^ bni rcdnftng Epifcopacy to
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'• thi Form of Synodic.ilGiVernwerd in the Primitive CltiYch
Were not thcfe men Epifcopal ? It's much like Mr. Thoin- dike's own motions favlnsj his Opinion for Forein Jurifclidion.
§ 24. As to your firft and bit Chapters, and about the Antient Extent cf Churches, while my Treatile of Epifcopacy, which fully confutcth you, is unart(V\ercd j if I repeat it again, ic will not be read by weary men. And another hath anfwcred tbofe parts of your Book, which is ready for the Pref^.
I afrcr tell you where Chrjfodcm even in his time numbers the ChrilVians in that great Imperial City to be an hundred thoufand,that is as many as in Martins Av\d Stepney ParifheF^dnd perhaps in Giles Crippleg.it e too.
§ 1). To conclude, whereas Mr. J/, in general chargeth me 28faIfifyingHiftory, I ftill call myfeifa HATER of FALSE HISTORY, and loath Wr. Morricch Hiftory, becai.fc it is fjlfc: BMt if he wi!l inftead of falfifying and trifling, fhew me any falle H ftory that I have owned, I will thank him unfeignediy, and re- tratT: it. But f;i(ftious reproaching of good men, and painting the deformed face of Vice, go not with me for convincing proof. If I am not nearof kin to £'>'^y?«//j, I am a ftranger to my feir, even as MeraU, and M. .^d.imns defcribe him^ [^Inge^ia crat fintplex 'j ad<:o ahhorrens a menA^icio^ ut pae litis ttiiin't- odijfct: pue'os mefittentcs i CT" fe^nx ad illorum adJpciHum etiam corporc commoverettir. Diinitattifft CT* magnarum divitiarum conumax cofttewptor i ncqite i^tiicejuam prius (tia haBuit ac li^ertAte,'] And I think, as it isfaid oiCiifpiniaM^ [_Rattis fe fitisfnEluri^Ki ingeriMo Ldtori, fquig vcrijfim^ cjj: compcrijjet fimpl:c:ffim4 orutioue m^ii- d.iret pojhritati : fatis enimeft hijhrico («r prAcUre dixit apifd Ciceronem Catullus') non ej[e Mendactm,'\
And as to my endsand expe(ftation5, I am not fo vain as to write with any great hope of perfuading many, if any who are polTrft of large Diocefs, Wealth and Power, to forfake them, muchlcfs to cure the comraorj Thirft that corrupted Nature is polTeft with, and to be ine meansof aPublick Reform:uion: If I may fjtisfie my Confcience, and fave fome from being decei- ved by falfe Hiftory about the Caufcs of the Antienc Scbifms, it's all that I can hope for : Hid I lived in Alb. Cramz^iu: dales, I naight perhaps have (aid as he oi Luther [^Frater^ Frater, abi in cellam tua^t & die A<fiferere mei Dem :'} Et de Canonicis )(^T cCyJi^^ty di^is, Nunquam pcjfe eos redffd ad rndtQumfrugcm .
{4<5)
Ttifi pr'tus a vlrii docl'u cxpft^nata arze (L e. VAp.ttu.)
And for my fclf, none of the Interefted mens reproachei arc unexpe(fted to me : Anger will fpeak. I -know wbat thePaplftt fay of the Reformers, and all the Protcftants : And yet 1 cxpeft that all at laft willr turn to the difgrace of falfhood, by putting men to fearch Church-Hiftory for the Truth.
The cafe of^Capmo is worth a brief recital. A covetous ]cw pretending Converfion, contrived with the Fryers and Inquifi- tors, to get a great deal of money from the Jews, by procuring an Ediift from the Emperour to burn sll the Jews Books, that fo they might purchafe them of the Fryers. The Emperour will firft hear what Capnio a great Hebrician faith : Capnio ad- vifeth to fpare all that only promoted the Hebrew Literature, and burn only thofe that were written againft Chrift. Ho:kr ftrate and the Fryers were vext thus to lofe the prey, and accu- led Capnio of Hercfie: The caufe is oft rryed,efpecially at Rome : All the Learned Hebricians were for Capnio : The Fryers raged the more: This awakened many Learned men to fearch into the Caufe, and armed them againft the Fryers. Galatinns, Hntten, 'Erajmusy dec, are for Capnio. The Fryers accufe them alfo of Herefie : But by this they fiirred up fuch a Party of the moft Learned men againft them, that when Tcz,elif/s came to vend his Indulgencies, Lt^ther ha^d fo many ready to joyn againft the Inquifitors and Mercenary cheating Fryer?, as greatly furthered the Reformation. And two or three ingenuous Conformifts who have lately written againft the violent battering Canoneers, do tell us that fome are like to be excited by the Overdoing of the Accufing filencing Party, to fearch better into the matter of Fadt and Right, till they can diftinguifli between an Eucrafic ^and a Tympanite.
Or if this world be incurable, they cannot keep us out of the heavenly Jertifalem^ where there is no Errour, Schifm, nor Per- fecuticn, becaufe no Ignorance, Malignity or Pride, but the General Aflembly of perfeft Spirits, inre united in one perfect Headj in perfc(^ Life, and Light, and Love.
The
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The particular Defence of the Hiftory of Councils and Schifms.
A^ Account to Mr. Morrlce whj rfiy mentioning the ihu'-ch- Jijlratlhig fins of the Clergy^ ivhsn worldly grandeur cor' runted them, is not a ^ijhonoaring, hut a Honour ing of the Primitive Church. And to vindicate thofe fins is no Vindicat ion of the Primitive Church.
CHAP. I.
7/Jtf Reafon and Dejign of my Hifiory of Bifhops and Councils^
§ i.'npHEY that know the men with whom I have to do, and -^ the Caufc which I have in Controverfie with them, will cafily underftand my purpofe. The Perfons with whom I am ta deal, are fuch as hold,
1. That a General Council of Bifhops or the Colledge of Bifhops Governing; />i?r Literds format as out of Council, are the Supreme Governing Power over thellniverfal Church on Earth, having the Po.ver of Univerfa! Legiflation and Judgmen*-^
2. That among thefe the Pope is juftiy the Patriarch of the Wtft,,and the Principiumnnitatis to the whole, and the ordinary Prefident in fuch Councils. And fay fome. It belongs only to the Prefident to call them, and they are but rebellious Rouis thataf- femble without a ;ult call.
g. That there is no concord to be had but in the Obedience to this Univerfal Governing Church. But all Perfons and all Nati- onal Churches are Schifmaticks who live not in fuch Subje- ft ion and obedience.
4. That fiich as the Diocefan Epifcopacy which is over one loweft Church containing hunJreds or multitudes of Parifhes and Altars without any other Bifliop but the fald Diocefan is that Epifcopacy which all iuuft be fub/eftto, while it is fubjeil:: to the Univerfal fupreme.
5. That every Chriftian mud hold fubje£live Communion. witlitheBiftiopofthc place where he liveth: And fay fame:,
muik
muft not praLlife contrary to his Commands, nor appeal for fuch pfjiflicc to Scripture or to God.
6. That ifthis fupreme Power filcnce theDiocefan?, or thefc Diocefjns filence all the M'nifters in City or Country, they muft Ceafc their Miniftry and forCike the Flock?.
7. And fay divers of them. They are no triie Churches, or Minifters, that have not ordination from fuch Diocefans, yea by an uninterrupted (ucccirion from the Apoftles : And for want of this the Forein reformed Churches are no true Churches, but the Church o^ ^eme is.
Much more of this Nature I have already tranfcribed f and confuted ) out of A. Bifhop Ercmhall^Dr, Uc)Iiks Life of A. Bi- fhop Land, Mr T/jjnjdike, Mr Dodvjcll and divers other?.
§ 2. The fir ft thing then in my Intention is to fliew that the Reman Grandeur which is thought to be the Glory of the Church on Earth, and the neceflTary means of its Unity, fafety and true profperity,hath proved cle.^n contrary, even the means ofCburch corruption in Do(^rine, Worftiip, Dilcij lire & Converfation^ the Soil of the moft odious crimes, the means of tyranny, fuppref- fion of true piety, and perfccution of Gods faithful Servants, and of rebellious, War and cruel blocdfhed.
§ 3. To this end I defcribed the fteps by which the Clergy afcenJcd to the Papal height : For as allProteftants juftly main- tain that their Corruption of Dodrine &: Worfhip came not in at once bi]t by flow degree?, fo do they alfo of the Papal Govern- ment and difci[)line. And they commonly fliew the vanity of the Papills demandjW'ho ask us who was the man,and which was the year, as if the world had gone to bed in fimple Chriftianity, and awaked Papiftsthenext morning.Whereas it is moft evident in all Church hiftory that the Clergy leaving the Chriftian Purity,Sim- plicity and Love, did climb the ladder ftep by ftep till they afcen- ded to the Papal height. And it's a meer dream of them that think itvvastheBp-of /^cw.' alone that thus arcendecl,and not the Army that made him their General : As the boat rifeth with the waters, fo did the Pope with the afccndingClergy : Others ftrovefor fuperiority as he ftrove for Supremacy :The ftrife began among Chrifts Apoftles who fhould be greateft, and who fhould, fit next liim in his Kingdom j And though Chrift then fuppreft it by his Word and Spirit, and the fuflfcrlngs of the Church took down thofe afplring thoughts, as foon as Conflantins had fet them the
Ladder
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Ladder, what fcrambling was there who fliould climb highefl:. Yea Conftantinople ftrove for the Supremacy itfclf.
§ 3. And I the rather mentioned this becauG.^ I found fomelate learned Expofitors of the Revelations, taking this inordinate a(- cenr, for the promifed glory and felicityof the Church on EJirthj and taking it for the fulfilling of many of chofe prophecies and promiles which fome applyed to theMilicnninm, and fome to the heavenly ftate. And doubtlefs Hddfbrand and his adherents had fuch thought?, ana did believe that their rule over Emper- ours, Kings and Kingdoms, by the Power of the Keys cl the Kingdom of heaven, was the true Glory of the Church, and the Reign of Chrilt, and that all the honour was indeed given to Chrirt as King of the Church, vvhich was thus given to the Pope and theChurch-Parliamentsof Bifliops. CampanelU de Regno Dsi doth but fpeak the thoughts of greater Clergy men when he ap- plyeth the lorefaid Texts to prove that the Popes llniverfal Mo- narchy is the true KingBom ofChrifton Earth, to which all Monarchs and Men muft ftoop.
And Nature is fo apt to entertain fuch thoughts, efpecially in the Clergy, who think of it as their own profpcrity and glor]', that it is no wonder, \^ disVcmicr, and his Fifth Monarchy men, did itch to be getting up under the name of the Reign of Ghrift, and ^o did lohn of Leaden and his Company at Mufijhr; fo the Fifth Monarchy Clergy men, who can afj^ire more plaufibly, do long to be climbing, and are very reconcilable to Papal Great- nefs J and where Popery ic become a diftafted name,tliey never- thelefs defire their (hare in the Power^ Honour and Wealth, and under pretence .<)f Peace and Concord among all Chriftians, and reftorir.g the Church to its Ur.ity and Strength, ihey ftrive for much of the fame thing, and think it enoughtoavoiJ the name : And the Pope (hall be but Principi;:m Z^nit(<tis, and the Prefi- dent of the Clergy or Counci's. Get but the poor trick of cal- ling nothing Popery but- the Pope's Arbitrary abfolure Power, and do but tie him to Rule by the Confentand Laws ofChurch- Parliamentf, thut is, fct up the French Church-Govcrnment, and then they are no Papifts. Do not the French Proteltants deferve alt their futferings then for calling the Church orBifliopc there Paplflsy and feparating from ib Excellent z Government ?
§ 5". Aid it was not the leaft of my Motives to try, were in poinhle to cure their Love killing Errour, who think that all
H arc
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are Enemies to Uiiity and Peace, ^^ho are not for Obedience to this Univerfal or Superlative Prelacy ,and to favc us all from that confufion and calamity, which this Opinion is carrying on, while the Patron? of it think that ail are to be profecutcd, filenced, rDined as Rebellious Enemies to the Ruling Church, who do rot fuhkCt themselves to fuch a Prelacy j and that we muft or can hive no Chriftian Church Concord, but by Obedience to the llniverfal Church, as Bifhop Gtinfung hath over and over lold me, that js, to the Uiiiveffa! Colltdge of their fort of Bifhops : Yea not orly the Papifts, bur thele Bifhops among ujt, to this purpofe repeatand apply Pftf.yi.i t. Yea ail Kings fhall fall down before him : All Nations (ball ferve him. Or /fa. Co. 12. For the Nation and Kingdcm that will not fcrve thee Jhall penfi.: Tea thije Natiom Jhall ie mterlj w.tjied,'] which Bishop (j//»/*//7^ applyetb to the Epifcopal Ufiivcr/al-Govern- ing Golledge.
Thefe are terrible ihreatning?, as fuey lliew the principles and purpofes of men, however they miftake the mind ot God. Few parts o[ Europe have had more long and cruel Wars, than /m/; it felf, where thefe Principles have obtained: But the blood of thoufands of fincefcChriitians hath beer; a Sacrilicc to thefe Principles in the Clergy. When ^'c read in Jrfuj^ts^Fryers and Prelates, found Chriftians called Hereticks, and ali fuch He- reticks called, mortal, odious, wicked, | ernicious, intcllerablc Enemies to the Church, whom all good men are bound to en- deavour ro root out and dcftroy $ when we hear our neigh- bour Papifts fay. It is no more //« to ktll an Hcfeticl^than a Dog : And when we hear and read our Clergy calling out to Mjgi- ftrates for yet more Execution npon w^ for not obeying them againfl: that which we undoubtedly take for the Law of God j and the nearer any man is to the Papift?, ufually the more he is for our deftru(ftion, and for their way o. cruelrv, I thought it time to try if it were polTible, if nottofave the Land Irom this confuming fire, yet at leaft to ii\c fome Souls who till* were like to be tcmpred ro malignant Enmity to the belt and trucft Chriftians, and ro perifh forever by this deceit.
How mar.y honeft p.'flages are in Mr. Thorndikj which fhew that it was not any worldly iniereft of his own that moved himj but yet the Pov.cr of this Errour ^ ^/-^ Church that was Vni- verfalij One bj One Raling ColUdge or CcHncU of Prelates^ of
which
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whicJj the Pope was the rijhtful Prefdint^^Q.'] which mud be ac- knowledged by all Nations and Perfons, that will have Chriftian Commanionand not be condemned Schifmaticks, prevailed with him totheexclufion of all DilTenters, and confining his Commu- nion to thofc only who owned and obeyed Thit VniverfaL Go- verning Church,
§ 6. And as long as this Opinion prevailcth, efpecially in men of Power and Reverence who take other mens belief and obe- dience for their unqueftionable right^ where can we think hatred and Pcrfecution will (top. Will not they ftill think that they that kill or filenceor imprifon or banifh us^ do Cod fervice, and that the Magiftrate that doth not punifli us deferveth punifli- ment from God, if not alfo from the Church. And they that are moftfor Seldom preaching, and can difpenfe with our Minifte- rial labour therein, will nor beinditferent as to the filencing, im- prifoningor deftroying us.
§ 7. Whether we have any reafon to refufefwearing orfub- fcribing to them, and never to endeavour any alteration of their Government as it is in England, 1 have fincerely endeavoured to fliew in my Treatife of Epifcopacy. And if Chriftian Concord and Communion be fo hard and narrow a thing, as that no men are Capable of it who are notvof a higher form thisn I, as toun- derftanding, impartiality and willingnefs to know theTrutb, the Church an(#Ghriftianity are things beyond my capacity and reach: But I doubt not but it is humane errour that would dwindle it into fo fmall a Scdl:.
§ 8. Abswhat PerG^ns for Knowledge and Life can they bear with in their Communion, who cannot bear with fuch as they nience and ruinc in this Land ! And the Papifts can receive even thofe char know notChrill: ifrhey do but profefs obedience to the Clergy-Church. Luthers words arc harfb, but I will re- cite them d: Conch IS P.i't 3. P^g 291. Si monjlr^iviri-m tnihi unum alicjuem ex rota, ilia maltitudine (^ui. pojfit aciUAre un'tm al- •phabetarium in aicjHu erndita SchoLi, a^t in jun^mit doHrina Cbrifiiana, vel in ScripffirA SMratantam proficermt^ quantu/?r hii* ali^UA pnella feptem annoruot : tunc Hits concedam paUm— hip quod plus Calient tradition.'im hiimanarum, & S)Cophantiart4m : .^od V aide credo ^ & fimiHs q^tara in Deum cred', cum ?ne con- VihC4>}t faflo ipfo nt cred.im. To this pafs did the Clergies afpiring then bring the Church, when worthy men were filenced and per-
H 2 fecutcd .
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fccutcd.A nd xvc are unwillli.g of any thing that looketh toward* a dilFcrencing men Co contrary to that which Chrift will make at lilt.
CHAP. II.
Whether wi have nnj reafon to npart the Faults of fome Bi()?op5 And ConKcils, from the bcginniKg of their Depravation till the Uj]}
§ i.'XHat I Imd great reafc-n for it_, I thir.k wliat is before faid will evince i when wc fee men c!c(truying Chri- ftian Love, themftlveF, and us, and the Land, could ihey pre- vail, by their erroneous endeavour to grant no Concord, Com- munion nor Peace, to no Chriftians how ccnfcionable otherwife fbever, who cannot unite in a fpccies of Prehicy which they be- lieve (by fuch evidence as I have given) to he contrary to the Law of Chrift. To the Oving men from Herefie and Schifm now,- our oppofers ( and we) do judge it ufetul, to know how Hereticks and Dividers mifcarrled heretofore, thjt others may beware. And is it not as true if EKViops be the Dividers ? And alfo when the Clergies Ambition and Ufurpaiion have brought that upon the Chriltian World which it langu'fheih^nd groan- cth under in Eaft and Weft , is it not needful to open the be- ginning and progrcTs of the difcrfe, by fuch as had rather it were cured, than the Church dcllroycd by it ?
§ ^. Among the n.uliitudc of Protcftant Church Hiftorians ana Chronologer?, how few are there that do not do ihe fame, though in various degrees ? He that will read the Mi'-gdchur- genfcs^ or Lucas 0/iander, Jlljrici Tefi. Ftrit. MelarnUhon himklf^ and CarioiJ FuKtcrifts^yea peaceable holy Bt4choltz.er^ Aiicrelim^ Neander, Phil. Parea<y Heti. Gntkrleth^Scc. yea or fi.lins or fof. Scaligcr, Salm^ifiHSj Iiottcma}i, HottingeTj Morney^ fliali fee the faulfs of B (hops opened befure this day.
§ I. The pious and moder^^te Papills themfclves report and larn^MC them ; .^ :ch as Clcmangis, VeUgius Alvarus^ Mn Andiila^ fe-rti'^r'f^hofra, Lud. Kivs, Ucrj'on, Er^fmnf^ and many other fuch.
^ 4. The antient Godly BiHiops are ihcy who for the moft
L
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part have been frceft in reprehending the vices of the reftj ef] e- cially Greg. Naz,ianz,enf and Chryfojhm^ and many ancient godly Presbyters have been as free, as GiUas, IJidore Peltifiota, Sal^ viaiij Sulp. Severi'j^ Bernard.
§ J-. And if I have wronged the B (hops or Popes in this Abridgment, their o\vnHiftoriins,yei thrir chief flatterers have wronged them. One Pcpeargered Platina by imprifoninghim: Yet ifhe be partia', it is for the Clergy, and not againft them. But who will believe that Binnins, Ba^oniw, Crr.bj CenebmuU. Bellarmine^ Petavifis^ and fuch others have fpoken too hardly of them. There is no one man that I took fo inuch from as Bmniiu: And v>'har fhoulJ move him to name fo many of tlie mJfcarriages ofrhe Councils, but the neceifity of reciting the Ads ofth:- Councils hiflorically as he found them ?
§ 6. The Srcred Scriptures record the Crimes of the bcfl men in 2I! the Ages of which they write, even ^Idams^ Noes^ Lots J AjcroYiiy D.vjid^y Solomons^ Hez.(k:ahs, ^vftahs^ Petfrs^ all the ApoMcf^&'c. And it was not done out of fpite or malice j but as a nrcelfjry warning to us all.
§ '-. The falfhood of Hiftory is an intollcrable abiife of man- kind : To know nothing done before our timeSjis to (hut up man- kind in a dungeon j and falfe H ftory is worfe than none. And it may be fa'fe and deceitful in dcfsf/- as well as excefs. He that ftiould record all that was good in the Popes, and omit all the reft, would be a dargerous deceiver of the world, and do more than haih been done to make all Chriftians Papifts. Ycli tell us your fclves, that^he that (hould write the Hiltory of Cromwell^ e. g. or of any Sect that you are againft, end fhould leave otitall their faults, would be taken for a falfe Hiftorian.
§ 8. They that write the Hiftory of inens Lives, do ufe to record their Parentage, B'rth and Education : And fo mnft he that will t-rulv write the Hi;1ory of Church-Tyranny, Pcrfecu- tion and Scnifra The end is not well undcrftood xviihout the beginning. Who is it thjc heareth how many Ages the Chri- fiiaft world hath been divided into Papifis, Grerkj, Jacohitcs,Ne' (loriansy Afclchir€s,6cc. and that feeth wha: vvoik the Pjpacy I'.ath iiiadf, but \^ ill ask how all this came to pafs .^ Did the man thjt died of Gluttony, fwallow all at one morfel ? or raiher one bit after another ? And when the Ckrgy have ven- tured on one. merry Cup, or one plcafant morfel in cxccfs, it's
fifie--
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tifit to make them believe that one,anJ one,and one Cup more; one, and oi.e, and one bit more, is no more unlawful than the firft. Vnncipiis ohfij, is the Rule of Safety.
If Papifts intending the recovery o{ EngUnd to the Pope fhould (ay ['* Let w but jirfget them under th: O.itbs^Cover.ants ^'' and rraCiices which vee v;ili call Conformity ^ and jo caji cut mofi '' th/it litire aoffin^ and bj/ this engage them as two yirmies in con~ ** trary hit erefi to fight ag^iinfi lach other ^ and it willbc aneafie " matter to hr ivgt hi fwallowir.g Party to go further by degrees, and " to believe thxx as a Fart/Jj Church mujt not be tr.d pendent as to " the Diocifan, nor the Diocefan to the Aietropohticaloy National, " fo neither mnji a National he independent as to the Vniverfal : *' ^nd that the Vniverfal therefore mtili have its known (i.itcd Co- *' vernment as well as the National, ] Were it not nectfiary here for him tiiar would fave the Land from Popery to (hew the danger of the firft degrees.
The ufual Method is not to ufe Boccalincs Rofj.rn Engine^ which will help a man to fwallow a Pompion that he may get downaPill, but to fwallow aleflerPill fiift and a bi.egcr'nexr, till the Pompion wiU go down. Infancy is before manhood.
§ 9. But the great necelTity wasasaforefaid, from the reviv- ed or rather Continued attempts, of imitating the fatal ambitions and Contentions malady. If Prifcillians, or Gnoltitks fhouKi rife row among uf, were it not our duty to let before them the hiftory of the mifcarriage of their predecelTours. And when men are fo much fet on reftoring an Uaiverfal Supremacy, is it not meet to fhew them where, and when, and with what fuccefj the afpiring humour did begin. If we have fmall vifible probabili- ty ofefcaj)irig, we muft yet before we come to Sm:thfield,fn\i' ly our Confcicncesthat we betrayed not the Church.
CHAP. III. Of A/r. MV notice that I am Vnlearned.
§ I.Ayr R. A."8 Preface Conrradeth the Chief things which Xy\, he huh to fay againft me in his book, that the Reader may find them there all together. AnJof thefe \^that I ^tm unlearned "2 IS not the leaft. And if that beany of h":s queftion I allure him it (hall be none of mine. I am not yet fo vain as
to
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to plead for my Learning: Yea, I will gratify him (though heaccufe me of being a.2;ainft repentance ) with an unfeigned confcfTun that my ignorance is far greater than his accufarion v{ Hiilearncdnefs doth import. AIa« I want the kiiowledge of far more excellent things than languages. I do but imperfeftly know my relf,my own foul, my own thoughts and underftanding: Ifcarce well know what knowing is. Verily if no knowledge be properly true that is not adequate to the ob;c(ft I kiiowitothir^g : And fubfcribe to Za}jchiz.,<jmd nihil Scitnr^ (by fuch as I.) AKis Sir I groan in darknefs from day to day,& I know not how to be delivered ! Hovv little do 1 know of that God whom the whole Greativ.n prcacheth,and of that Society which I hope to be joyn- cd with for ever, and that world which muft be my hope and portion, or lamundoiie.Mahy whom lamConfrrained to diflcTiC from upbraid me with my ignorance,and I fuppofe it is that for which they filence me, reproach, hate and profccute me j even becaufe I have not knowledge enough to difcern that all their impofuions are lawful ( or elfe I knovv not what it is for j BjC none of them all can ( and will ) tell me, how I (hould be deli- vered from this ignorance: If they fay, \_It muft: be by h-irdjhdyj I canftudy no harder than I have done.lfthey dy [_[ muft be^vi'llirg to k'^iow the triifh j I take my felffor fure that I am i^o : If in that alfo lam ignoranr, iiithinking thit I know my own mind when I do not, what eUe then can I hope to know ? If they (ay [ 71>« m:ifl bi impa^ti.d'\ I think I am (b, faving that I mufi: notdeny or c^ft away the truths already received. If they fay [ Tc/^ JhouUr-ad the f.tms booi^t .which have convinced I4s~] I read far more of the Pa[)iltsand Prel.it ifls and ot her fccbs I'a^t \Nniaigi\v\^ m?, than of thcfcr that are for me. And the more I read the more I am confirmed. Aid when ihefe men preach and write agiinft the Cdvimfis, they render them odious as holding that ntenars n-:c:Jfitateu toji.i and to be d.-imned^ and ihat it is long of Gods Decree yrh^ehcuNytot be rcfijhd: Therefore I fuppofe they will not lay the Ciufe on God. I do then confefs my Ignorance, of mitters a thoufandfold greater and more reedful than thole v/hich thev mention in their accufation?. I coifefsmv lel fun- learned : But I intrcat them that tell me of my d'l-ife Awhich I know to my daily grief much better than they ) : > tell meahb Iiow I may be curcJ.If they fay that it muR be by Fin:s a-d Ini- ^rifonment it hith been tryed & I am ycc uncured ; Lhope they
will
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will not pronounce me remedilefs and not tell me why, who life ihemlelvcs to fpeak againft thofe that preach men into de- fperationjwould they but tell me the fecret how fo many thou- linds of them cime to be fo much wiler than I, in Ur fhorter time,and with far lels ftudy, it would be (if true) an acceptable deed of Charity $ rather than to tell me of the Ignorance which I cannot htlp. Could I but know needful truth in Engliflj, I would joyfully allow them to glory ofbeing more skilful in all the Ori- ental Tongues^and alfo in French, Ir if. ^j Spamjh and Italiaf/^thdin I am.
CHAP. IV.
Of his ^ccftfatiofjj that I vainl/ name Hifioriatis which J mver f^w oy read,
§ i.T Muftprofefs that it never was my purpofe ro tell the J. world how many Hiftorianslhavercad ; nor to abridge all that I have read : And thofe that I havemoft read I have there made no mention of, as not being for mv intended end : JVnd multitudes that ftood by me, I never opened to the writing of this hiftory, my defign being chiefly againft the Pjpifts and thofe Proteftants who moft efteem their writings, and h .d rather unite with the French Papift Church, than with us Nurconfor- mifts : Therefore when I was part the firft 400 or 5-00 years, it was the greateft and moft flattering Popifh hiftorians that I abriged, 2$ ad hominem being likeftnot to be df?nyed.
I told the reader that I made not ufc of Lutberiht^ Afugde- ^(■;rgenfes, nor the Collecftions o^Goldtjhu, A'f.ircjHardr.s FrcLcrKs, Retikri^s^ Vijiorim^^c. ] And the Printer having pur a ComtTja between MarqftArdM^Lnd Frehena^ he Conjetflures that I took him fcjr two men, becaufe I ad-c-ed not the Chrtftian names of the refi : And he concludes that fjvhoever this ??sifiake belongs tp, it^s plain that M.B. had bm little ac^^t^aintance with thofe CoUdlions.'} For I nam; Jome of the Authors therein.
ylrf. Seeing thefe things are thought juft matter for our ac- cufers turn/ I will crave the Readers patience with fuch little things while I tell him the truth. It is about 25- years (ince I Tead the Germat Hiftory in the Colledions of Freherus, Reube- tfn SindPiforim, and about 30 years fincc I read the Collc^ions
of
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ofGoldaflm : The Magdelurgenfes^ Oftandtr^Sleldati^ or any fuch Proteftants I thought vain to alledge to Papifts. About fevcn or eight years ago as I remember, I was accufed for Preach- ing, and Fined by Sir Thomas Davis ; and the Warrant was fent by him to Sir Edm. Bury Godfrey to levy it on me by Diftrefs : I had no way to avoid it but l^ora fde, to make away all that i had : Among the reft I made away my Library, only borrowing part of it for my ufe. I purpofed to have given it almoft all to Cambridge in NeW'EKgland : But Mr; Knowles ( yet livinp.) n ho knew their Library, told me tkat Sir Kenelme D glj had already given them ^ Fathers, CounciU and Schoo!mfn,but it was Hi- Itory and Contnentators which they wanted. Whereupon I fenr themfome of my Commentators, and fome Hiftorians among which were Frehems^ Reuberus and Fsftorins Collodions, and NaucIcyhs^ SabelltCHS, Thnnuus^ J of. Scaliger de Emendat. Tur'p. Sec i But Coldafius I kept by me ( as borrowed ) 2nd many more which I could not fpare j and the Fathers and Councils and Schoolmen I was ftopt from fending. Now whether I w^s unacquainted with thoft' that partly ftand yet at my Elbow, and which I had read fo long ago, muft depend on the Credit ot my Memory ^ and I confefs my Memory is of late grown weak, but not fo weak as to think that A^ar(j;t,trd:ij F.chcrijs was ret one man, ard a Palatinate Councillor, though it be names that I moft forget j why I gave not the Chrillen names oi Reuberns and Fijioriks^ whether becaufe I forgat them,or becaufe I mind- ed nor fo fmall a thing, not dreaming 'what would be inferred from ir, I remember net. But when 1 wrote that abridgment, I made ule ofnore that I thought the Papifts would excefta- gainft : For the ftrft a?[fs I gathered wkat I remembredout of the Fathers, and out of Fjifcbim^ Socrates^ Scz^omei;^ Evagrin^, Tbeodoret^ the Tn pa'i t it e ^N iccphortt^Libcr at m ^ Brev. V'lElcr Vric. Beda/dud futhothers as are by them received: Befides whichi principally followed andEji umized ^/vw»«<^, and Cr^^, and part- ly BarJti.HS, with PLifir.a, 0):y.phrins JPanur.iHs^ Stella, PetHzia^j and others of their own. And Irefolved I would not fo much ss open Go/d^iJ}/4{, or any Proteftant Colieftor, that they might not. except againft their Credit, aud rejecH: them as nuiltcicrts cr-rftd HeretK,i^s^ as Lnhbe Aqi]a M'-Ubior GAda^us arid almoft all fuch others as he mention? ; and as Gretfjr^ Satjdcrs, and other Papifts commonly do. Therefore even thofe Hiftoncs which
I be
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he in GoldaJlM,\ would not take as out of him,butromcoftbcm from the bouks pub!ifhed by oibers, and (bme as cited by BinnitUy PtfaviMs^oT other fuch. And this is now the proof of my Vanity.
§ 2. It is a miftnke if be think that I intended ^as he fpeaks^ to be a Compiler of Gcner.il Church i-JiJlorjt j When I prof t (Ted but to acquaint thcEnglifh Reader v/rh the true matter of f?<ft out of the Pdpifls themfelveF, what the arnbitii.us part of Bifhops and Councils have done, and by what de^reei the Pjp?cy fprong up, and whether fubjtcftion to the alandenr tKort Prelacy be ab- Iblutely ViCCt iTaiy to Ccrcord arrd S^lvfition. •
§ 3. As to his fjyln^f / 4W the fir J} th^t ci^ reckoned S^- zhnzcn Amo.-g Hrjhri^ns, 2 ^ ^'^^^ f^^ writings of the Fitherf, efpeciaily fuitm^ Clemens ^lex. TertMlliaf},C)p>'t^fft Eufehitts, Ba- fil, N'az.iar.z.en^ Uierom^ Chryjojlom, yiugujhv^ to be the beftpart ofChurch Hillory, efpccially their Epiltles. And of this opinion 1 am net the hr(>.
CHAP. V.
Ojhis u^ccfifition of my citing Hanmer and ithcv Iray.JlAtors^ /tnd being deceived b) Binnius and fuch others.
§ I. i.T'TE accnfeth me for not ufirg J^i^lcfius his Edition of XX. Eujebius and thofe Editions of the Cci^cils which he accounteih the beft : To which I fay,
1. lam nor Rich Enough to buy them, nor can keep i hem if I had them. Muft none write but Rich men f The French Coun- cils would coft more than many of us are worth : We have had no Ecclefiaftical maintenance thefc 19 years; and we cannot keep the books we have. Luther wrote his book de Conciliis whcnitfeems he had never read many of the Councils Ads, but as related by £u[ebins Socrates^ SbZ^omen, and the Tripartite Hiftc-
2. Dr.James hath long ago warned all Scholars to rrake much ctCrab and other old ones, ( and the Fathers as Printed at Ba- pi by ErafmHs, j^mcrbachiniy Sfc.) and not to truft much to new Editio/if, as coming through untrufty hands.
5. I«
(59)
5. Is yalefits a man of fo much credit with you ? Do you be- lieve what he faith ofGrottM as being in judgment for the Pa- pal Church, and only in prudence delaying his vifibic Communion with them, that he might draw in many with him ? ( r^hf. in Or At.de Petavio'. ) If he lye in this, and the fucceft oXPetavim on Grotif^Sy why (hould he be more tr^fted than others ? If not, I need not tell you what to think of thofe Biftiops a;id Drs.wlio profeft to be of the fame mind and Church as Grori/<s j nor again to tell you who they be.
4. My defign ledme not to make ufe of Criticks, but only to tell the world, what the Papifts them(clves confefs, fuchas I have throughout cited.
§ 2. As for my ufing Hanmcrs Tranfiation of £«y^^r^/; and Socrates, my cafe was as before defcribed : yaL-fus I had not : Gnneus I made ufe of heretofore. But fincel was by conftraint deprived both of my books and rn'mev robuy more, when! wrote that Abridgment, I had only Haamers Tranflition left me. And if that fort of men that forced me to give away my bookr, to keep f hem from being diftreinednn, will make u^c of this to prove me ignorant of them, the matter i« very fmall to me.
If you fay, I fhould not then have written, I anf\ver, could they fo have filenced us in the PuJpir, they had moreanfwerrd their own judgment than mine. I had no ufeforCriticks, nor for any thing in Enfehihs and Socrates that depends on the credit of the Tranllator.
§ 3. As to his oft noting that in Tranflations, and fometime in Chronology I err by following Bmuius, lanHver, had I written a full Church Hiftory, I fhould better have examined him and otiiers. ButI lay no ftrt-fs of my caufe of any ofBmnius hisTran- fiations, nor will I undertake for any Hiftorian that I cite : My bufinefs was but to telT thofe that believe Binnius^x\A Baronius, and fnch ©■ her, what they fay. Nar do 1 yet intend to beftow any time, in examining ivherh-r he wrong Binnifis or not, it be- ing nothing to my caufe nor me*, whether he miftook a year, or the meaning ofa word of the Authors whom heciteth.
§ 4. He fiiirh I ufe an old i>ncorrc(fl Edition o'i Bumins i 606. jAnf. it is that which is in nuft common ufr, entitulcd, A'tc^wi- /.^, Ah^4, notis I/iufif.ita, dedicated cothe P >pe, and to C. Ba- roniuSf (jtis monitu fcript>!, cjfti veterem illam, mriidof^nty mHttiim & coKfvftm compiUtme>ff wille locis t/lfffiravitf Stc. commonly
I X preferred
Prcrerrcd before Crub^ SHrius, Nicchntis^ &c. But any quarrti Terveth fome men.
CHAP. VI.
Of bis Acctifations ofmjowH Afijiranjljitions and M^^ukes, \
§ i-/^P thcfe there are two real Overfights which he V^ nameth, connmitted by too much haft and heedlef- nf fs: The one is, that I mifplaced {yirt'\ intheTrdnlldtion of a Speech ofThecdoras i a grofs overfight I confers : The other, that I put Z^P'!^''?^'] 2is if it had been the GeniLive cafe, when ic was the Nominative plural j whichalfb wasa heed'eP* overfight. And about the death of Stephani^y he noteih my mif^rai fljting CuUmi i and I imagine yet he is fcarce certain what it fignihed himfelf. As for his note of my ufe of {^Scriptfire'] about the Ephefine Ccuncil, I purpofely kept to the literal Trar.flaiior, that none mighc fay I did miftranflitc it j but I never (aid ibat by the 5!;/';/?/*rr<rr was meant the Bible. *
§ 2. This Accufer puts too great an honour on fuch a Hiflcry as mine, which goerh through fb many Ages and Ads in noting fo few, and fuch little things. I never pretended to be as good an H'fturian as he is j yet I do not think that it was any thing but a flij) of memory that m*ide him pur Efi/i.uhiif.< inftead of FLtvia^, ;is kickt to death at Ephcfw. And meihinks he thai thus begins his Errata of his own Book [7/^(? fa".lts that have efc.tpedare almofl infinite ;] fliould net for one fdlfl" Camilla of the Printers, have palfed the forefaid cenfureof me.
B'jt doth not this Learned Hif^orian know, how ordinarily the greatcft of them do charge ere another with manifold Errcurs, and of far greater moment than thefe forementioned. How few Hif^orians do not this ? Yea« what bitter cenfures doth he pafs himself on no lower Hif^orians than Socrates and Sozomen ? It would be tedicHis to give you thelnftancfs that every fuch Book affordeth. I fee he valueth Ldbe the Jefuite. How oft doth he accufe Hiftorianscf Errour, JgRorance, Malice, o^r. e.g. de u^nafiafio Biblioth. fo ctninent a Writer of the Popes Lives^ yet lErrar F'cJJiipi & fiqui alii cum Anajiafio TrcsbjterOf & c. ] And
even
even of that famous Hiftory of the Popes, [^Omphrins Panui- nius, Cerh. ^ojfins, d^ pleri<jfie alit kitimam c^nfent ejfe ah Ana- flapo fcriptaWjNicoiai i. Piiptt f^itamj & a Gi^ltelmo S.R.E, Biif^ liothecario additas fmjfe Hadr. 2. (^ Sreph. 6. P. VitAS ! Verum Cardinalis Baronius its reftagatur cidemque auUori ontties ilUi afcrthit } fnnt (^aocjue qui a Damafo P^pa^&c.^ Here the greateft Hiftoricns differ about one of the molt noted Hiftories.
Of Aftg»ftin's Works (Ta. i. p. 129.) he tells you that BelUr- mine tells us not what Edition he u(ed : But it's certain he ufed not the Antwerp, or PUmiman Editjon, which was the beft^ and the Original of all the reft.]
P. 132. River and /'fri^;>?/ are derided for difowning foirc Epiftit?.
P. 13 J'. Erafmr, Rivcti limilifimcjfie ridetur a doBis cenfuYA (viz,, de lib. Continent.') And I profefs my felf iefs skilful infuch matters than ErAjm^s.
Et ibid. Erafmus & Hifiis Juliano opas illai tr'huere videntur^ Ptimelifis tiinqitam incerti Author is allegat : Nos caw Lov.inieu- Jii-us BelUrminOy allifqae C.ithol:cis Auguflini eJfe csnjemus, nee trictt Riven deterrent.
P. 136. J^..'<c/?. Vet,f^ Novi Tejh. nan funt ^ugtiftini ut facile vmnesconfintifint : ^^ iwvtf /»b ejus nomine citato reperiantur aif Epijcopis Lutetitc Panf.An,82i[.. Conqrcgiitif & quibufdam aIUs,
Of Aufonir^s the ?ott, p. I71. he faith, [.^v.rw filfi ftnt quA de eo fc^ipji: fa. Trithcmius quivis vil ex tpja teitione ihtclltget.
O^ MAiUHan, p. 173. [£.v Trithemii encomio h<ic dr^bio procrtl crfini obltterandji: {^c^'J n^etro Virgilinm, Ciceron^m prof a ' aquar, ri! diczmjaperat : J Sunt cnim fa^fijjima iis qui gujium aliquem la- tinitatts h.ibent.
Oi Beda^p 184. See what hefdith of Will. Malmshnrj, Mat, Weftminj}. l^vjfws and Baronitu.
Of BiethtHty p. 204. Hcnoriu^ u4ugufiod.-'Ubi falfo n^rrat Aiediolan'i interfeiJum fuijfc— ~
P.2\j. FlttfTA adverfus LeuncUvium^ primus ear tim edit or em dccUrKavit 'fac. Billius (de C(t[nri9.')
De CUiiiioScoto,p. xzS. Tho, Dempfierus wait a pro more fm indigejta effudit'—
De Gerfone,p. ^6^. E^'rat pofi Poffevinnm Maraccins qui Joan, huKC MonacJnm orditiis coe'ejli — ajjcrit—'ldem quoque (X Patro-^ logo eradcndftm.
Sec
i6i)
Sec VI hat he f^ith de Julto yffricano, that the Annot at tenet eruditijf. in Eufeb. EccUf. Hift.'—Opiniont noflr£ in plerifqHe ad- vnfamm:'] I luppol'e he means that f'^alcjins which I wanted.
And dc JMJitno Mart* ScaUgerHm erraffi^ cr<:.] Et p.813. (in- figne mendfim ex "Trithcmio, Gcfncra^ Si^Uro, Sexts^ Fojfevin^^ Bcllarmino, Mira?o, ali$fcjne propalatutn—)
To.z, p.'^Gi. Smaragdos duos in ttnum confuderunt^ Tritht" ntiffs^ SixtMs Senetj/f(y PoJJeviuus, BellurmmHS^ MiYi.Hi altiejue pajfim — ] Abundance fuch charges tell us bow much greater Errours are cha^^ged on thegreatcft Hillorians, than Mr. ALrrice chargfth on me, with the leaft fhew of probability.
How many fcoreofHiftorians doth i)7ow^f//cite,who he thinks have falfly told us of a Pope Joan ?
What abundance of faults would Ca'ufabon have found in Bare- niMs, if he had lived to go through him as he began/' And I pro- fefs my felf much more ignorant in Hiltory than BaroniHs.
It would be tedious to number all the grofs Errours that Vojfitif c'litih de fcriptor. Gr£cis& Latinis i e.g. in x.\\c Later, ^,230. Hos duos conftidit Trtthemihs—vid. (jf4£ hahct de Flac. ^l- CHino^p, 290,291,292. De Vff^ardo^p. 295". cont. Guahcrium & Baron'um^ Wic(iliur»,p. z^6.& cap. 32. de Tnrpino contra Trithe- ziiiunt & alios, Bt cap. 17,, de WaUfr. Strah. Tntthcnius vehcmen' ter enat--'Et Laur. ShritiW BelLirmin, in CatAl. d; alios non- nullos i>i errcretn induxit.
Vtd. & c^UA de Aintoin'>i p. 308, 309. habet^ & contra Tojft- vinutn^p. 3 10. C^ contra altos^ 511. Et contra Baronium, Breu^ Hum, &c. 511. Et de Haimoyie cap, 3 j". contra Tritt/jenium, 0" de Kabano Manro^p, 515. Et de Landnlph. Sagace contra Ccf. Or- Lindittm. Dc Anajtaf.c. l^.p. 319. De Hintmaro contra Trttthe- niHn7,c. 16. p. 320. But I mult nor tire the Reader: Multitudes of fuch Inftances this one Author gives us : And how {t\\ Hifto- riang charge not others with Errours {0 much greater,and more than Mr. Af. with any Truth accufcih me of.
§ 3. As to his notes on my Titles of Ibme Councils, it*« paft my memory, whether ir was my carelefnefs, or (as I think) the Printer's Errour,to put C^ Council at ylra»fcanyTolejan.Regunfe, for ConciUum AranJicanum^ToUtanf4m, Rhegienfe.'] If it was my aft, I forgot that I had iirft put the Subrtantive in Englifh. But he may oft find the fame names ufcd to his mind: And fure it is no faifification of the Hiltory.
§ 4. But
§ 4, But he hatha far greater charge againft me, that I did not apprehend the mind of the Council at Tours j why fa ? The words are [^Nosvero jicjuos Lex ptnmi jthst^ fi cttpiunt andtre pr£Conent, voIhwhs ut convert ant nr advitam : Nam ptnmendi funt oris gladio & communione prtva*tdi fi reli^ia fibi fenioram deer eta ohfervare noluerint^ &c. Here he faith the meanii.g is, [The Ec- clefiaftical Laws do punifh fuch with perpetual Excommunica- tions, yet this Council thought fit to mitigate it,erc.] The Que- ition is. Whether \_^uoi Lex perimi juhet^ fignifte Death, or Ex« communication ?] I take it to be Death, and that ihe Council faith [Though by the Law fuch are to Die, if they nill hear the Preacher, we will h-:ve them converted to Life : But fo that if they will not be feparated, the Church Sword ofExcommunica- tionfhaiicut them off inftead of Death. ]VlyReafons whyf^<rj;^f- rimi /^^^r^fignifiethDeithjare from the exprefs foregoing word?, \^J^ia eti.im Lex Romana ccnflitHtt^ tit cjt>iiCHnq!4e jacr^turfi Deo firginem vel Vidnam fortajfe rapucrit, fi pojiea eis de conjunct ione convener It ^ capitis [enteKtia feriantptr. Item (icjuis^ non dicum ra* pere^ffd at tent are matrimonii ccnjungcndi cauf^^ jacram Vtvgmem aft fas fuel it, capitis fer.tentia feriatur. Cum etiam inChrcnicis htheatftr de yirgmibus Gent ilium tempore^ e^ua fe dea l^cft£ facra- verant, pojfm'jfo prnpo/t'o & cerrupta virgtnali g^atia^ Legalife*)* tentia vivas m terra fuijfe defoffas, Ifnoneofthis fignifie Death, 1 confefsl undfrftand not Latine. I thought the Council meant Death by \^Lex ptnmi juberfX ^"^ they would be more merci- ful i which I blamed them not for, but noted here what many other Cinor.s inftance, where they alfb puniOi murder but with keeping men from Connmunion, that this agreeth with fome Sedarics Opinion. I leave Mr. M's. great skill in expounding Couneih here to any equal Judge. But if I igriorantly miftake in all this, and neither \_Cdpitisfententia fcriaatur'] nor [^P^ivas in terra dsfoffus'] fignifie Death, but Excommunication, yet many other Canons after cited fully tell us of the Bifhops Clemency.
CHAP.
{64)
CHAP. VII.
Mr M'i.ExpofitioN of Church Hiflorj trjed tj his Expofttion of my ctvn words : ^nd i. Of his falfe fuppo/inon that I am onlyf<n a Chu'chofgne Corjgregationfn:eting in one place.
§ I. TF fo many repetitions of my Opinion cannot fave Mr A/. •*■ from ^0 untrue a fuppofition of my ftlf, I rrnift not too far truft him,ofthc fence of thoferhat he is asdilijnr from as I. Yet this fuppofition running through al) his book, (hews that he wrote itagainft he knew not whom nor whjt. Hi? fjundarion is becaufe I define a flngle Church by Perfonal pre fern Communion.
§ 2. Ido fo: And i. Doth he think ihtre is no fuch thing as Chriftians conjoyned for aflcmbling in Gods ordinary worOiip, under the Condu«fl of their Proper Paftors.I will nor ccnfure him io hardly as tQ think he will deny it. 2. Are thefe Churches or not. I fuppofe he will fay, Yea, 3. But is thereno Verjon.il Pre- [ nt ComwHHionhui inpublick warfhip. Yes fure Neighbours who Avorfi:iipGod in divers places, may yet live in the Knowledge and converfation of each other j and may meet for E!c(ftion of Officers,and other Church bufinelfef^and may frequently exhort, reprove and admonifh each other, and relieve each other in dai- ly wants i and many meet fometimes by turns in the fame plice, where they all cannot meet at once: We have great Towns, ( like Ipf^ich, Vljmouth Shrewfmry, ^c. ) which have many Pa- rifnesjand yet Neighbourhood makcth them capable of [Po/flW Communion in Prcjence ] as diftincfl from [ Communion by Letters or DelegAts wit 6 thofe that we neither fee ncr knorwltiu^ we have mar)y great Parifhes which have fcvcra! Chappcl?, where the People ordinarily meet yet per vices fome one time apd fome ano- ther come to the Parifh Churches. Have theft no Parochial Per- fonal Communion}
To the well-being of a Church, I confefs I would not have a firgle Church of the lowefrfpccies have too many, nor too few : No more than whofc Perfonal Communion fhould be frequent in Gods publick worfhip. Nor fo few as (hould not fully employ more Miniiters of Chrift than one, But to the Being of a Church,
I only
('55)
I only require that the End of their AiCocntlon he Per final Co m- MMnion as diftinft from diftant Communion by Letters and dele- gates. And by [ Communion ] I mean not only the Sacrament.
§ 2. It is in vain therefore to anfwer a book that goeth on fuch falfe fuppofition?, and a man that will facedown the world that I plead for that which I never owned, and fo frequently dif- claim.
CHAP. VII L
Of h'sfalfe fuppoption that I antagainfl Diocefan Bipcops^ becaufe . / am again j} that fpeaes of them which p;us dovjn ail the Bif/.Kps of fugle Churches^ and thofc Churches thcmfdves,
§ i.'X'Hls fuppofition gcerh through almoftall rhe book: In his preface he (aitli [ The f^ferlority of Bif:ops over Pre- foyters is acknowled^edhy Catholich^Sind Schifm.it ick^s&z Hereticks, ^c. and jet this Church hijhrv would have us bslieiic theContrarj.'^ Ai.d fo throughour.
§ 2. And yet to fhew that he knew the Contrary in one place heConfeflrili it, and defcribed parr of my judgment, and (ajtb that none will be of my mind in it, but ic is fingular to my felf: Yea I had in my Dilput. of Church Government, which he taketh on him in part to anfwer, and in my Treat, of Epifcopacy which he alfo pretends to anfwer in part, told them of more forts of Bilhopsthan one that I oppofenor, no not A. Bifhops themft Ives : And cne of them hereupon notes it as if I ditTered but about the name, fubmitting to Diocefansfo they may but be Called A. Bifliop?. To whom I anfwcred that A.,Bifhops have Bifliops under them, fo that though I over and over even to tedioufnefs tell them it is the dtp^ifing of all the fir ft or loweft Species of bijl:vps and Chuvch€i^x\dL Confequently ^WPoJfibi- liryoftrKi D\ ipline tt^ai I oppof',znd (bbmit to any that overfee many fuch Churches without deftroying ihem 'and their privi- le.lges inlVirutcd by ChriftJ I fpeak lliil in vsin to them: Thefe trut' Hiftorians f^ce down the world that I write whole books to die clean contrary.
K . C H A P.
(66)
C H A p. I X.
Of his f^ippojjtion that lam an Indepsndent^and j(t that I plead fur the cai.'fi of the Frefhjterians*
§ i.nTHis is alfo a fuppofition that is part of the 5f<rw?/;;4 of bis Bjok ; end how far he is to be believed herein judge by the evidence following. .
I. He knew what I faid before for three forts of Bifhops, I. Epjfcopi Grcgis, Overfeers of fingle loweft Churches, as of Divine Inliitution: 2. ¥or Epifcopi Epifccpor»m, or Prefidents- Bifhops cjufdcm Ordtni^^non ejufdsm Gradus^in the fime Churches, as of early Humane luTtitution, which I refiit nor. 3. Epifcopi ^/^.yc-o/'or/^w^ Overfeers of many ChurcheF, which 1 fufpeft to be SucceHors of the Apoftles, and of fuch as Timothy^ Titi'j, &c. in the continued ordinary part of their work, Cexercifing no other Power than they did :) Infomuch that Dr. Sherlock would bethought fo much lefsEpifcopal than I, as that he (jith_, It us Antichrifii.xn to adert Epifcopos Epifcoporum.
§ 2. And Dr. Park<:r \\3ii[\ newly written a B)ok for Epifco- pacy, which 1 hear many defpife j but for my part I take to be the ftrorgeft that [ have fccn written for it thele twenty years j. but to no purpofe againft me ; for it is but for Epifcopi^.cy in ge- neral, nhich I oppole nor. It excellent well improvcth the Ar- guments of the K. and Bifliops at the Ille of Wight j even that one Argument that a Superiority of fbme over others being fettled by Chrif): and his Apoftles, that Form mull be fuppofed to continue, unlefs we^iave clear proof of the Re[)eal or Ceda- tion. I have oft faid the fame ; I could never anfwer that Ar- gument : But this will not jultifie the depofing of thoufands of Bifhops and Churches, and of their Difdpline, to turn them all into two or three Diocefany.
§ 3. Alfo he knoweth that I have written thefe 3^ years againlt Lay- Elders ; believing that the Colledge of Elders which of old alFifted the Bifhops, were none of them f.ay-men, nor un-^ ordained, but of the fame Order_, though not Degree, with the Eilhop hiiuIelC
§4^
{67)
§ 4- And I have alfo written that Synods orBlfl70ps or PreC- tyters are but for Concord, and have nor as fuch by a major Vote a proper Government of the minor part or abfent: Much lefs that ClalTes, and other Aflemblies, are the flared Church- Government which all muft obey: And are the Presbyterians of any of the three forementioned Opinions ?
§ y. I ever held a necefiity of manifold dependance of all Chriltians and Churches. As all depend on Chrilt 3S their Head, fo do all the People on the Paftor?, as their authorized Guide?, whom they muft not Rule,hutbe Ruled by, t Thcfj^.ii^ii. Ihb. 13. 17/24. And all theft? Churches depend on each other for Communion and Mutual Help, as many Corporations in one Kingdom. And frequent Synods well ufed, are greatly helpful to ibefeends : And the Command of doing as much as we can in Love and Concord, doth bind all the {Ktrticular perfons to concur with the Synods in all things that rerd to the Pence and Edification of the Churchy or are not agalnft ir. And more than fo, if the general Vifitors or B:fiieps that take care of ma- ny Churches, do by God's Word dircrt^ inftrutn", reprove, ad- monilh the particular BiOiops and Churche?, they ought with reverence to hear them and obey them. And if Independents really are for all this, why do thefe Accufers re prcfent them odioufly, as if it were no fuch matter, but they were meeriy for Church-Dnriocracy ? Either you are not to believed ia what you fay of them, or of me.
§ 6. I know we have men that fay, that on pretence. of ac- knowledging all this Epifcopacy, I put down all, becauflf I take from them the power of the Sword, and leave all to defpifc them if they plejfe. Ar.f. This indeed is the power that under the name of Epifcnpscy nov/ too m«ny mean. Bifliop Bdjon knew no Power but Magiftrates by the Sword, aiKJ Minifters by the Word. But why name I one man ? It is the common Opi» nionofProteftants, and mo^ fober Papiits, that Bifhops as fuch have no power of force or Body orPurfe. But we deny not the forcing Power of the Mjgiftrate. 3. Bur we hearri/y wifli that they would keep it in ihcir own hards, and never \^{t ir to force unwilling men into theChurch, or to Church Communion; high Priviledges which no unwilling perfon hath any right to. This is my Independencj'.-
K 2 CHA?.
(68)
CHAP. X.
Of bis Ace (if At ion y Th.it I make the Bijl^ops the u^mhors cf aU Hcr:liei and Schifms , as dijiiu^ from Vreshjttrs ^ MeJiks and VecpU.
§ i.'T^His alfo runs throughout his Book ; and muft fuch Books be anlwered or believed ? I never dcn^'ed the guilt and concurrenee of others with them. I only fay. That as Bifhops were the Chief, fo they had the chief hand, as far as I can yet learn, in Herefies and Schifms, fince they came to their height of Power, and fpecially in thofe grand Hcrtfics and Schifms, which have broken, and keep the Cluirches in thofe great Setfts and Parties, which in Eift and Weft it confifteth of to this day. I never doubted or denyed but that i. The He- refies that were raifcd before the Church had any Patriarchs, or the turgent fort of Bifhops, were certainly raifcd without them. 2. And afterward fometime a Presbyter began a Hc- refie. 3. And the Bifhops were but as the Generals of the Army in all theChurch Civil Wars. But I never denyed but the Preiaucal Pricfts, Monks, and mukitLide were their obfequious Arnjy.
§ 2, Mr. M. faith. That thofe Bifhops that were Heretick?, were moftly fuch, or inclined to it before. Anfw. 1. Was there then a good Succefllon of Ordination , when the World groan- ed to find it fcif .Ariau ? Were all ihefc Arlans before their Confecration ?
Anfw. 2. Were they not all Prelarical Presbyters that afpi- red to be Bifliops, and fo as they fay had a Pope or B'ninp in their bellies. I never thought that Prelatical Pr efts thst ftu- died Preferment, and longed to be Bifhop?, had no hand in Herefies nor Schifms, no more than that the Roman Clergy are innocent herein, and the fault is in the Pope alone. What a deal then of this man's Book is loft and worfe, on fuch fuppO'^ fitions ?
CHAP. XI.
(^9)
C H A P. X r.
Of his confident ^ccufation^ thxt [ fKcmion all the fiuhi of t'.e Bifhops^ and none of their Goodncfs^ or Good D:edi.
§ i.TpHls alfo is a chief part of the ^4rp or Statnen of his Book. In his Preface he fjich, [_"7his Htftorj of " Btflo9pi is Koihing elfe but an Account cf .t'lthe fmlts th.it Bifjjps " have committed tn the fcv:ral Ages of the Chnrch, without yln^ *^ Adcntion of their Good ylftions, of their Piety ani Severity of *' th:ir Lives ; of their Zc^l for the Faith, &c.^
ylnfv. I. Whether this Fandamental Accufarion be true or filfe, let the Reader who loveth Truth fe i. In the very tirlt Chapt. from § 41. to the end, 2. ll -ough ail the Book where I ofc [)raife good Bifhops, gooi Cvmncch, and e.ood Cinonf, and gcoJ Books and D-ed?. 3. In the two laft Chap- ters of the Book, written purpofely to hinder an ill ufe of ih'^ Bifliops faults.
In tlie (irft Gh ".prer |^" Fery manyof the Bijioops thetnfshes were- " humble, half, f.iithfnl men, that grieved for the mi/carriages cf *^ihe reft: Though fuch excellent perfons as Gregory oi^ Neoc£- *■ fivea^ ^''^^- N'i^i'^nz.. Greg. Njfjlfi, Ba/ii, Chrjjjfto.n, AtiiUi' " jline, HilUry, Profpcr, FnlgcmiK4,^c. were not very common, '* no doubt bet there were many that wrote nor Book;, nor " came ^0 much into the notice of the World, but avoided con- *' tentions and factious flirs, that quietly and honcftly condu(!l:- '' ed the Fiocks in the waies of Piety, Love, and Juiiice. And " fame of them (as St. Martin') (eparated from the Councils and *•' Communion of the prevailing turbulent lore of the Prelates^ ** to fignifie the d!fw7:ng of their fi^s.~\
Ofthe Antients before the world crowded into the Church, I never m.ide queftion ; Such as CUmens, Fo/jcarp, Ignatius, fre- ft£U!, and the rtft.
How oft I have praifed holy Cjprian, and the yifricanYii\([\o[t% and Councils, he fometime confclVeth.
What I fay of Atticus, Frocbs, and other peaceable Bifhops, you may fee/?. 17. and very oft. Yea of the Bifhops of many Scds, much ofthe AUugenfes^^cp. 17,18, Yea
(70)
Vea of the good that was done by the very worldly fort />. 18, 19, 20. Yea of the Papifts Bidiops that were pious p. 20. § 4I
And §47. I vinlicate the excellency of the Sacred Office. And § 53,^8, ^9, 60. I plead forEpKcopacy ic feifin the jufti- fiablc (pecics of ir.
§ 2. But perhaps he will fay, that at leaft I fay more of their fj.uirs than their virtues: I anfAcr, of fuch good Bifhops as Cyprian^ Uafil^ Greg. Naz.i.inz.rit^ Chryfojiom, j^uguflin^ HUUry, jifjiriin^ &c. I rj)eak of their virtues an J nothing at all ('that I remember) of their faults. Of Juch as Theophilus, and Cynl y^Ux- ^ndri. ^nd £pipha.';iM, 0c. I fpeak of their virn:es and fbmc of their fiults ( as the fcripturc doth of many good mens. ) Of the mere ambiii. U5, turbulent fcrr, I fpeak only or moftly of their faults : For I profefs not to write a Hiftory of their lives, but to inform the ignorant what Spirit ic is that brought in Church tyranny anJdivifions. I dcnyed none of their virtues, though it was iicK my work to record them.
While I am confuting the Errours ofyour book,do I wrorg you unlef'^ I write a Catalogue ofyour good work?. Alomcj, lllyri- <r/«, and many others have gathered a C^zr.t^^//^ of old wirneffcs for Pfoteftant Verities. And Bifnop Morton hath cited multi- tudes of Papifts againft their party ; Have they wronged them becaufe they have not alfo cited all th^t the fame (aid for the Roffjan cau(e? I have mentioned the virtues of fome of the Popes, •even o^Grcg. 7. but of many others I have only mentioned their vices: This is not to deny any good that is in them : Nor do you accufe your fclves of any injultice when you tell the world how bad men the Parliaments have bin, and how hid Qromwell and the Armies, and how bad the Nonconformirts are, and I in particular/without naming any of iheir good deeds or virtues : Becaufe It is not your bufinefs.
CHAP.
(70
CHAP. XI I.
Of his ^cckfation that I do all in [pite and fPfalice agiiinfi B!f:cps, and as *ifn^g illlanguitge of them.
§1. 4 A^/ir. 1. Spite and Malice are heart fins : If the fame
Jl\. ctfcfcfl may come from other Caufef, how know you that thefe are the Caufe ?
ylnf.r. Is it from Spight and Malice that Proteftants common- ly dclcribe the vices of the Popes, fuch as Greg, 'j.Sergiw^AlcX' Andr.-^y Bcnifacs 8. foh.ii. and i 3, d^2i, & 23. & Eugen.^.&c^ And alfothjt they fo hardly fpeak of the pffiites, Ycd and Pa- pifts commonlv? Sure it may come from fome other caufe.
y^fjf. V Is it from Spight and Malice that you recite the tu- mults of the(j.'r;»47 Anabaptifts,the faults of ihoreat>1//y«/?fr,tbe Errours of David Geor^^, the many Enthufiaflick Scfts defcribed hy Bickr,;m Exercit. (of whom many asThaulen4S,Ker?^pi.<, Behmcit had much very commendable j andGr^r/V/j praifed foh» u4rr,dt.)U it from Malice that the Familifts, Seekers, Quaker*,. Anabaptifts^CTi^. are ufually by your party dcfcribed by their faults, without any mention of their goodnefs ?
v//-;/ 4. Is it from Spight and Malice that your Party have written what they have done of the great fauhinefs of theNcn- conformills, both former and latterj and that Calvinifis sxeCo odioiiOy reprefenred, that the Reformation by them isdefcribcd by hLyliK and others as Rebellious? That fuch books are written as Hcjlifis u-ie-' ins Rfdivivus, H. Fowlis^ the Evangel, ylrrfjatttm. The Ec clef. Pclit. the Friendly Debate, tl^e Coimterminer, the Vindicar. of Dr. Stilli>igjleet, the pretended fecond part, (which ts a continued Calumny againft my feif, fo full of particular falf- hoods as are not to be without a tedious Volume anfwcred : And a multitude fuch written to render the Nonconformifts odious and nnfiiffcrable. If all thefe be not written in Malice,how know you that mine were i*
^>if. y. And whereas fome pretending moderation accufe me of too bad provoking language, 1. Is there any Comparifon between the language of any of ihcfe books^ or yours and Dr^
Sher/oJlCs^
{71)
Shcrlo:i''szT\d iTi'me ? Read but Learned Godly moderate Bifliop Z)3iv«.iw his Defence of his Vifit. ferrnjn, his frequent changes C of fhimelefs, im[)udent Lying, and much more ] ap,ainft a Non- conformift thitgjve him no fuch language. Read but the ordi- nary Writings of fuch as Bifhop Bancroft ^ Dr. Sntcfiff) and moft others a^^ainlt the Old Nonconformilts ; and o( the Lutherans ag:/mft the Calviti'fts, even men that I am [jerluadeJ meant ho- neitly, but by Faction were exafperared, as HHituM^ Brentius^ AforUnuSj Mid'^c'^^us, Snepjjuj, IVigand^Sj JIcJhupHs^ Ani'^eas^ Selnectrui^ Heerhruud^ Calovjur, and many fuch. Read but our Grammarians, fuch as you may find in the mar.y Volumes of the Colle<n;ions of ^4a;/f Grtfterus, even thofe of CVj»?:r, And Pht I. Farar^s^and others againft himfelfj where Fools, KiuveSy Lyars, Sas, and worfe, mike up much of the ftyle.
Read but our 0!d Grammarian Reformers againd the Popifh Priefts, and Schoolmen, I mean Erafmus, Hutteu^t'aber, and the reft, v;Iut Scorns their Writings do abound with.
I will not refer you to the Qjcen of Navaxt:, and Stephanus his World of Wotiders, againft the Priefl?, left you think I ap- prove of the excef?.
Y'ea read but the Writings of our famous Learned Criticks, y;//.ar.d Jcjcph Scaligcr^ Hcinfw.s, SalMafius^^c. from v. horn the railing Jcfiiite L^bbs took advantage to fay, Tom.i.p.Sio. ['' Ri- " z'cto praiverat ^cfcphus Scaliger^ homo utique moiiefttjfir/tuSf *^ cjui Editorcs S. IrAndi Vt-C^t^ cUnjrfoSf niilcdkenttffimos. '^crcopas, Tartar eos, rjriphlegtthof.taSf virulttttnt. & proororum ** co};cicnatores^& edtttohem colonienftm^ cloacam Sjccpharttiartimf *^ latrinain convitiortipiy & (la'jt^l'rtm i};fcit!£.~j Through God's great mercy, while A<laliguity is the Comijlexion of the Ser- pent's Seed, and Lying is their Breath, and A^furder is their Work, the names of all thefe fins arc odious in the world, and guilt is impatient^ an*d cannot endure its own name.
Should I but mention the Lmguagc of Papiftf, how they re-" prtfcnt the holieft Proreftants as Lvar$, Deceiver*;, Devilsinto!- ieroblc, whom it is as lawful to kill as D:igs, Foxes or Toad*, K would concern none but thofe of you thjt ufc to fay, I had rather be a Papift than a Purirane, or Presbyterian j or thofe tharrervounce Com.iiunion with us, and own it with the Church oi Rome i who are,' alas, too many. Such L^ngua^e as Lrf^^'i-'s, l^ul, I /?. 8 1 9. is of the r>rectcr (brr, vn^. '' ^!if^uts es Jalutu
(7J)
" t(i£ amans, Omnes illico CahiniftAS^ Lmheranos^ SoclmA>'os ^* yinabaptifias^ fmilefcjue genertf bhrnant pcfies, C<iCod<tmohU'n '* infiar execrahre. This is but what wc daily hear: But while we hear it in a Language Co very like from the Papifts, and the Pulpits and Prcfs, and Roger Le Strange is be-come the Church's Advocate and M )uth, it will harden them that did ill joyn to- gether P if try and Prelacy in rheir rejf (ftions.
Honeft Tmaniis is amiable and hc)nour:\bIe for Speaking well of all that dfferved ir,withour partijfiry: But Gcrhypffuts is put to defend his Father-in-law y/o;;«j againf^ hi? iiniuft cenfure. In- deedfunius was a manof Eminent pcaccablerefs and moderation, (I would Arm:ui:is and he had been the utmoft profecutors of thatControverfie, notwiihftanding Dr. Tlv;^fj undervaluing his skill in School Divinity) And few men were more unlike 77^//^- nus his ill Chara<fter than //^«;«j: But Dr Manton hath told me that he hath been fully informed that it was nor 'fnnius that Ttna- nus meant but another that dyed thatyearCvvbich^»;/;>.'/ did not) and that by fome ill chance a wrong name was put in Contrary to ThnariHs intent.
§ 2. "Df. Burnet is a man whom I much value and honour, and pleadeth much for peace and moderation, and therefore mucli the more amiable to me : I thank him for his reproof of me to my face } but becaufe he goeth on to vend it as juft behind my back, where I cannot anfwer him, I tnuft do it here. He faith thst [; / began and that wii b tinchrififarjjprovokJKg language ^gainji the Con- formifis Hi my firfi Flea for peace^ which caufed all the JKCceedincr hcats.~\
u^rtf. I. I have to him and oft in print appealed to humanity and common fence whether one that was feventeen years fllenr,Sr communicated in the Parifh Churches, and under fcorns, and cjedion/imprifonment & muIcTts did peaceably conrinue Commu- nion with them without reply orfelf defence, and never wrote againft them, till they had long called out to him to give them an account of the reafons of his Nonconformity, and then durft not provoke them by a d'fpute, but barely named the matters which we jiidge unlawful, profefilng not to be the Accufer of Conformift?, but only lo anf-ver the Call of Parlijment-men, BiOiops, and others that urged us, and threatned us ifwe would not tell them what we (tuck at j and made this the Jultihcatioa of their profecution of many hundred men: I fa^-^whethcr fuch a
L man<
(^4)
man had a Call to fi>eak ? When the King Licenfed us, I had befjre brieHy defended our Preaching as Licenfed : But being thus (iimmoned by our Profecutors and Superiours, I told them what ne judged unlawful j and was this a beginning of the Flame ? VVas Seventeen years Poverty^ Prohibition and Pr©fe- curi{;n, and ail this Importunity, no provocation or call ro fpeak ? Did this begin ? If he were in the Houfe of Corre(flion,and were beaten but Seventeen years, or Seven years, to confefs the Ciule for which he futfered, and at laft confelFed it, and one Ihould fay, This was the beginning of rhe ftrife. Would he take this for a good Hirtorian ? And if he had written Hiftory, would this report advance the credit of it ?
§ 3. Bur the fecond thing accufed.isthe unchrilVian Language ofrharBook. Anfw. Doth a general Accufation fignifiemore ill of the accufer, or of the accufe-d, if it be nor proved by par- ticular Inftances ? I urged him to name the unchriftian word?, and I remember but two Inftdnces he gave me.
The firft is, that 1 ufe the word \_fintr tubs'] againft my Accu- fers. And i. I think the Reader will very rarely hnd that word in that Book. 2. Is this fo harfli as the common charge of L;/w^, uled even by the molt Learned fober Conformifts ? 3. I thought it had been a modcft word : What fliall a man fay when luch Volumes of Slander are publTThed againft him and others, as tends to preach all their Neighbours into hatred and perfecution of them? Alas ! Doth it increafc our crime to fay, It us untrue ? How fhall we then anfwer for our felves 8t any Bdr ? Is it tollerable voluminoiifly to tell the World down-right falfhoods of us? and is it railing for us to fay, [TX^f^ arc untrue f] What's this but like him that run a man thorow in wrarh with his Sword, and indicted him for cr^ ing,oh ? This is the Church Juftice even of our moderate HiHorians.
§ 4. But he faidi, I fhould not call it [a /^//7:'0(i^j or x/wfr^r/;] but.a mijtuk^. yl>}j>v. This is a fhirper word; for it fignifierh the fault of the miltaker ufually j whereas by (peaking de ohjedo, that it is f^lfe, I leave it to others how far the reporter is to be b'amed. But fure moft Logical Difputations are Railing?, if the words [j-^ljtim'] and [f.t/l.icii] be fuch.
§ 5". About a month or fix weeks ago the Obfervator, the Churches Advocate publiilicd, That [" a Captain of Horfe of *' ihc K'n;^'j.-, had the fortune to be difmounted, wounded and
"ftripr,
C75)
'* ftript, and aiCbapIain (naming me before) cut from about h'li '^ neck a Medal, which the Kng had given him, and tlieSou!- '^diers fpared in the heat ofbiood] I fent him word how falfc this was : I never faw the man in my life that I know cf; mucb lefs ever medled with him : But \vas in a Houl'e where a Soul- d'er brought a fniall filver-guilt MeJaI,ahouc the bignefs of a big Shilling, and faid, he took it from about the neck of one Captain fenutn^s, whofe Life he fp ired ; He ctfrred it to fale, and no one otferir.g him more, I gave him eighteen pence for it in 1643. as I remember : And dboat 1648. hearing where Captain fcn^ tiin^s was, fup[)ofing it might be of grt-ac ufe to him, I fent ic him as a gift by one \^t, Sommn field,'] And this /lander is all the thanks I hid. The Church-Advocate wrote me back, that he had it formally attefted. I craved as a favour of him to tell me if Captain Jinnings be livin ', how I migdr write to him. HeanfkA'ers me, that one was out of the way that he mnft firft fpeak with, and I fhould (hortly hear from him. The next I heard was as a fecond part of Dr. Stiliit:gfic(t^ the forefaid Book full of cruel falfliood, taken from my having been for the Parliament, -nd from many dlftorted words of m.ine : Now when this Book renders me worfe than a Jew, or Heathen, and u; fit to live, fome I fear will tell abroad that I am a Traitor, for laying, ihiz [^h js jl4nd<:Y0Hs or umru:,']
§ 6. Hs fecond Inltancewas thefe words of mine [^^ Pardon *^ me for fa)if}gy I thinl^that J/r. Tombs hath [aid more lil^e truth "fur ^mbApttfirji, the /^ir^ Hungarian /<?r Polygamy ^ mauy for *^ DrHnk^tmefsy Stealing, and Lyings in cafes of Neccjfttj^ than ever " I yet read for the Lawfttlncfs of all that I have here defer ibcd,'^
uinfv. I. Is there any Railing or unchriftian Language in thelc words ? which be they ?
Aiif\x. 2. Do I here fpeak-of any but my felf and the Non- conformiRs ? Do I not proteft againft accufing others, and only {ly^ what it would be tome, (hould I conform ? And muft I not, when importuned by B.ihops, Priefts and Rulers, fay what I fear, le(t others ihould think it intimAeth their guiltinefs ? Can I help that ?
yinfw 3 Did that man ever underftandingiy confider the matter, who can doubt of the truth of what I (iy ?
V On the one fide how heinous and manj the fins that nv feax are,if we fhould conform,! muft nor again name,fcr that's it chat provoker b, L 2 II. Now
{76)
1 1. Now as to the Comparifon,-
1. rie appeal to Learned Bifhop Barhw whether Mr. Tow^/ hath not made the Cafe of Anabaptiftry more difficult? Let them that deny it confute him better than I have done.
2. And why doth none aofwer the Hipigarians book for Poly- gamy if it be eafier done rhan the task in queftion.I have known the man that ntaintained,that if a King had a barren \vitV,and his Kingdom like to be undone by a deftrudive fjcceflor, he might as lawiully take another wife, as Adorns Children might marry inceftuoufly. And indeed the many unreproved inftances of Po- lygamy in -^^^r^^^w, Jacob, MofeSf David, Solcmoyi^&c, will allow men more pretence for ir, thin ever I faw brought for all ( I fay, but For all ) that I have named in that book.
3. And many Phyficianshave faid fo much (though zmU) for thelawfulnefs of a Drunken Qip inftead of a Vomit &• a Cordial in fome difeafes, as have made it a harder cafe than ours (c-ems to me : And I fay not what it fcems to others.
4. And de necejfurio concubitH legantPir qn£ a medtcis dicun- lur de jurore merino.
5-. And for ftealing nothing but prefent food tofave iif-^jherbat Confiders what God allowed a man to take that went through an Orchard, Vineyard or Corn-field, and what the Law of na- ture is, a;id whether the Kings Army on whofe ftrcnc^rh the iSjfety of King Zz Kingdom depends,mjy not violently take food without the owners confent rather than peridi, will find it har- der to jnftilie the denying Chriftendom an J Communion to godly Perfons' that fcruple our fort of God Father?,CroirjngandKneel- ing^G'v. than to confute the aforefaid ftealing, or that which is mcrrly tofave life".
6. A^id as for Lying in cafes ofnecefTity, No lefs men of their C'.vt: ji.rry than Grotinf de fnre Belli and Bifhop Jer. TajUr in jyu:/. Dtbit. havewritten for ir. And though I be againft ir, and m;iny Corformifts for it, yet I will not deny but if the Life ofihtM\ir!ij might befavefl among Enemies by a Lie; or t!ie Life of a l\iticnc by ni8 Phyficians deceiving him by a Lie,much n;iore may be pretended for ir, than for all the heinous fin wb'icii lYri-r.
§ 7. And if thcfc words be uncharitable Rai!ing,what means hive we left to give them that demand ir, the Reafons of our Nonconformity?
What
i
(77) What if we had gone further, and taken it for a crying Church Crime, and called all the Clergy to Repentance ? If that which we judge linful be not fo, let them confute us : If it be fo^ and as great as we fear, is it not our duty to bewail it, and mourn for it? JE<,f/^. 9.4. Zeph. $. 17, &c. And is not mincing afld extenuating great fin, an implicit iiardening men againft Re- pentance ? Should one Preach againft Adultery, Fornication, Per jury, Murder, as about a doubtful Controverfie, or a fmall thing, and fay but {Good men are on hoth fides y I dan not [aj it is a[in, though I dare not do it my Jeif: Or tf it be one, it is bnt Jucb as goodmen are ordinarily guilty of : We ma fl not judge one another,'] What were this but (worfe than EU to his Sons) to cheriOi Sin, and Preach Impenitence, and (erve Satan againfl: the Evangelical Preaching of Repentance ?
§ 8. For my Judgment, I profefs it to be the duty of me, and all men, to ufe no Language of Good mens faults, no, though they turn Perfecutors upon fome particular Errour, but what is confident with true Love to the men , and to cover their faults that are private, and meerly perfonal, as far as la\v- fnlly we may J but not to make light of publick^ aggravated Crimes, fuch as thofe of Hophni and Phinshas inor to (hew indif- ferency towards Buyers and Sellers in the Temple j nor to ftrengchen the Sin which threatneth a Land. If I thought that hundreds or thoufands of Chrift's faithful Minifters in any Country were unjuftly hunted and forbidden to Preach the Gof- pel to a People that truly need it, and this to the unavoidable dividing of the People, and the plain making way for a Forreign Jurifdidion, I fiiould take my Telfasa guilty hinderer o'Repen- rance, and Enemy to the Publick Safety^ if I fliould Gy only {This IS a do/Mfi'l Controvcrfe between Good^ ^^'f't and Li\irn(d men.'}
Labbc ends his To. i. as juflifying his bittereft Reproache?, with the Authority of Chrift, Peter, Pmd^ fohn^fude, Ignatius. And if he had only given great and publick fins, the true names nccelTiry to mens knowledge of them, for Repentance or Pre- fervation, thofe Texts, and many more would have ji'llificd him.
CHAP,
(78)
CHAP. XIII.
Of his Suppofition that I /peak, ag^iinji all BiJ)jops CouKcils. ^
§ I THls is not Co. i. I write oft for the great ufefulncfs of Councils. 2. I juftly praife no fniall number of them, efpecially before the ^reac Rifing of the Bfhops, for the firft 300 or 400 years: He once acknowled^eth it of the yifncan Councils : And he might have feen the like of many Sp.j)iijh, and fbme French and Germane Councils : The Erighjh I little medled with. 3. The Firft General Council at Nice I juftly honour ; yea and the Three follo.ving, and mjny more thjn three,for the foundnefs of their Faith, and as having many very laudable perfons in themj though I fhew the ill etfedti of their conten- tion and ambition.
I have heard fomeConformifts confefsthe great Learning and \)\tiy oC ihc\VeJtminifter Synod in 1642. and of the Synod of Dort^ where we had Delegates : and yet fharplirr fpeakagainft the Ads of both by fdr,than I have done by any fuch pious Per- fons. Even they that hive honoured Bifhop Cirlton^ Billiop Hall^ Bifhop DavenaMt^ Dr. IVard^c^c. that were there, have yet bitterly reproached the Decrees which they fubfcribed. And how many as well as Dr Hej/Un have written and fpoken ill of A. Bifhop Vfher^'of A. Bifhop ^^^or, A. Biihop GrtUii, A. Bi- fhop Parker Qea of A. Bifhop Whitgntft for the Lambeth- Articles which I ;uftifie not) who yet have a great honour both for Bi- fhops and their Cooncilf.
§ 2. But I confefs I am much of i^/rfz.;^«2-irh's mind, and I think I am no more againft them in the general than he wa?. A^id I am againfl our fubjciftion to the Jurifdidlion of Forreign Coun- cils, and the ufe that the Pope and ambitious Clergy have made of them, to become Maftcrs of Princes and of the world : I am not for £^^o'sFrr»c:/> Council which depofed Ludov. J'ius, nor for making them either the Popes Army, or the Army of Pa- triacks againft each other or of fuch Princes as ConflantiM^ Valens, TheodofiHs JHnior , Anaflafipu ThilippicHs^ fnfiinian, Irene, &c. to fulfiil their own miftaken wills, how honcft focver the men
might
(79) might be.Much Icfs am I for fuch work as the Council at Lateran fub Inmc, 3 madc,no nor that at Florence,
§ 3 And I take it for an Act of great Prudence in this my ac- cufcr, while he is vindicating Bi(hopsCouncils,to go no further than the four firft General^ when it is many hundred that I have mentioned. And is it not really an intimated accufation of them to vindicate ^o few of above 400. And thofe fuch as for their faith we ail own.
And yet a man would think by the ftrein of his ftyle and lan- guage that it were at leaft the greater part of Gonr.cils that he were pleading for. I fay ftillas Bifhop ^;7/o« and other Prote- ftints : Well ordered found Councils we owe great refped: and honour to, for Cou.ifcl, ftrength and Concord, hntfubjeciion and Obedience^ fiith he, We o.ve Ttjem none, (fave as we are bid, be all fubjed: one to another, and ferve one another in Love.)
§ 4. And now I leave any impartial man to judge what an- fvvcr lijch a book deferved, which goeth upon all thefe foremen- iioned untrue fuppofitions.
CHAP. XIV.
Some mens Credit about aicient Church Hifiory^ may be conjeFlu- rcd at bj their Reports of the Hiflory of the time and place th^t vj- live in.
§ i.TJ Y ^heir H'llory of late and prefent things we may con- ±j j.^dlure at theXr?Jitof not Mr. M's. but others of the Clergy-accufers and Proftrcutors of their Brethren. Almoft all that I remember that wrire againft me, agree in fuch mifreport- ing matters of facT:, yea the moft publick, of the perfons, place and time, iwhich our fenfcs have given us notice of, that we muft believe them wich as great difficulty as we muft believe Trar.fubftantiation, even in oppofuion to all our fcnfes and ex- perience. And whether rh.)(e men be fit Vindicaters of the Bfliops and Councils above a Thoafand years ago ('which are blamed by the H ftorians of their ovn Age, and by their own C^nfefTnns, and by their moit fervent Defenders) who noto- riaufly mifreport the perfons, unJ atlions of their own Place and A^je, I think it is not hard to jud^e. I will
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• I will inftance in TNVcnty particulars of publick notice ; for thofe agjjnlt particular pcrfuns, even my fclfj arc not to be RunrbTed.
I. It is now commonly taken for tree, that the prefcnt Non* coiiformifty, who gave in their Defires far Concord 1660, arc of the fame Judgment as thofe called Nonconformilts hereto- fure, and whatever can be raked up out of C-^rxy^. Gcoamuft Knux^ Kilbjj or is reported by Bancrofi^ is partly chargeable on them, when as their propoled Dcfires yet (hew the world that they never made any motion againft many things by thofe aforefaid fcrupled, in Dj(ftrine, Worlhip, and Ceremony.
And it is commonly fuppofcd by them, that the prefer.t Con- formity is but the fame as the OIJ, and the Cafe no harder to u«: And this notwithftanding all the ftill vifible Avis and Alte- rations, and Additions, which attcit the contrary to all the world.
II. In moft of their Inveftivcs the prefent Nonconformifls are argued againft, as if they had been in the Civil War againft the King ; or had been guilty of it more than the Conform ills. And that War is made a Reafon of their Silencing j whereas fo fev/ofthem had any hand in it, that I have many times told thcm,that if they will Silence none but thofe that they can prove guilty of any War, or Rebellion, or Sedition , i\\c relt of us will give them a thoufand Thanks, though we futftrour felves. Few of the prefent Nonconformiftswerc then in theMiniltry, and of thofe few chat were, few now living meddled with War.
III. They are i'o confident that the Parliament and Army that began the War in England^ wereNonconformilfs, yea Presbyte- rians, and not of the Church oi Engl and ^ that Mr.///>//(;/^;,&htre Mr. Morrice^ make a renouncing of their Senfes or Underfland- ing? necefl'ary to the believing of it. And yet they might as Well tell us, that they were all Turks or Papifts. Are not a Par- liament and an Army things publick enough to be known in the fame Age ? When we name to them the Chief Lords and Commons, and Chief Commanders, yet (and lately) living, who are known f^ill to live in their own Communion j and when we challenge them to na-me Three Presbyterians that were then in the Houfe of Lords, or the Houfe of Commons i or many that were at firft Commanders in the Armyj and we name them the Men that then Commanded, who were commonly known
to
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to be Conformlftg of the Church of EagUtfJ. And if they wiii not believe their prefent practice and profellion they may yet go to them and be fatisfied from their own mouths what were their former Principles. I have told them of a moft credible Member of that Parliament yet living,who hath ofc profeft to me that he knew but one Presbyterian in the Houfc of Commons when the war began,and I have named that one man to them, to try if they can name another. I expert not that they (hould believe me, or fuch other coRcerning thofe whom we knew: But they may be- lieve the men themfclves yet ]iving^& their moft familiar Friends. Yea the Records of many foregoing Parliament?, withZ/^wrf's Life written by Dr. HeyUniuWy (heweth them that the differ- ence arofe i. About the tear of Popery, ( and Armimanifm^i they thought tending towards it ) 2. About Property, Loan- mony, Knight-mony and afrer Ship-mony,5rc. 3. About Impri- fonmenr of members and other Gentlemen. And thefe were ftill the quarrel.
But faith Mr. //. Hotv then /!:>. -ill wc [relieve ortr fchfcs. Anj. See Reader, whether his moft confident Errours about paft things' be any wonder. He isnot fo fure of what he faith of the old Prelates, or the Ne^oriavs, Eutychians^ &c. as he is that he muft believe his Senfcs: And his very fenfes tell him th.it a Parliamert, even Lords, Commons, and an Army, many of whom are yet living, were of ano:her opinion in Religion than ever they were then acquainted with, and which was known to very few in Eyig-^ Ltfid till afterward.A^d this contrary to their Profeflion and pra-' dtice and the fenfes of their acquainrance* Lords are Pertbns,* of Co publick notice that they mayealily-yetbe informed of^he' living and the dead: In the Army the Chief Commanders were the E. ofE/<?.t-, the E. qC Bedford ( yet living ) Skfo/jn' Mcrrick^^ the E.oC Pctcrlforafigh^-Dolhiere^ thcE. oC S'tayit[o'rd,'t\\t'' Lord H hidings (E.qC Huntiugtofi) the Lord Rochford ( E. of Di;- vtr) the Lord F ie!dirig(^.oC DvtTingh) {\\^ hoT<it-'Mandevile (E. o{ M.v!che(J:^r ) the Lord Rohcns ( now Eirl of Radnor and Pre- fident of his Majefties Council ) the Lord St. Johns, (W\\\c<i at Keinton Fight.j Only the Lord Sajy and Lord Brook^yfcxt known Independents j and whether thellord Whamm ('yet living) was then for Bifhops or again-l them I' know not j but all the reft were of the Church of £»;^/.'/W.And i'o were the other Collonel?, S\: Henry CMmlej^ the late Lord ■IfaJli^,ColWtll.B4mp/ic{dj Col.
M Thoo
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77jo. Grant ham, Col. Iho. Ballard. C, Sif William Fairfax, Col. Charles EJfcx, Col. Lord WilloHghhj of Parham, Col. Sir PK^i^. ir4i^<rr,C'jI. f^vt'iw SuW^j, Cap, Lord OV7 of Groo^r jand I think ihen Sir IT;//. Confiai^Usind Col. H,impdcn. What mind Sir J»^»//. JDalfoore was of I know not: But 1 know his Country, man Cok Jirownwis too far from a Puritanc.
Bi t faith Mr. I/, [i./^r'j m-f// f/j<? Kijhops hadnofoare in ;/] v^«/! Lrc i/^/zw tell you what hind the difference between A.Billio[> ^buats Church of EugUnd d{\d Littd's then little P^rty had in the preparations. 2. And v/as the A. Billi )p o\ I'ork^^o Btfhop, who afterward was a Commander for the Parliament.
But faith he, \_ / pray Xfhcre were the Presbyteriavs when thj TArli<imer:t took, "p ^^^i • Were tbij not tht n ii being i ] .*^/./i An excellent Hiftorian! that maintaiuethParliamenr and Army were fach, as he knows not whether they were then in being. Yes Sir^ they were in Holland, and France and Geneva, and Scotland; and in England there was one "John ^;j//,andone "iAx.Langley, and afew more fuch old Nonconiormifts that never were in Arms, and old John Dod^ and one Mr. Gcree that was againlf the war and dyed for grief of the Kings death : But among thofe called PuritanSjfew knew what Presbytery was,till the Scots afterward brought it in. Much lefsdid Lords, Commons, and Army know it. In your fenfeSir they were not then in beings and therefore could not figh'.
Ic appears by 5^«o'6/i! and others that there had been once Presbyterians in England : But they were dead, and few even of the few Noriconforming Minifters fiiccceded them in the StLdy of that point.
But faith he, [_ Were they none of them in the houfe ] An[. Yc5, one {_ or did they proteji againfi the pnceediugs of the Epifcopal and Erjifliais ? Auf That one went with them. And Non entis uon funt accident la."}
But faith he [^ Can Mr. B. believe ( or think.any one elfe fo xseak^as to be impofed on in a matter fo notorious ) th^t it was a PtiV" liamcn^ of Epifcop^i/sj and Eraflians and not Pre soyterinns that be- gan thew.ir?']
uinf Thus youngmen that know not whom tbey talk of can controlc themoft publick matter of f.idl by their con jedures.Go ask the, worthy Mafter cf the Rolls 5ir HarbottU Gnmflor.^ wtofe Speeches were then printcd:Ajk Sir/o;>,A/^;;/^r^Hi8Ma-
jefties
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jefties Sergeant at Law who was one of them ;or any other of them yet living. Ask them 'whether they kncvthemfclves and their companions better than yoo, ^yho it fr.tms knew them nor. Burfjith he (^ IVsre thej Epifcopab thdt voted downEpilccpacy Root a:'>d Branch before the war begun ] Anf. I. Have you proved thjt they did fo ? 2. Do you think that acontradicTiicnf i. They had got a belief that BiQiop Laud had got fuch men into the Seats as were for a Syncretifm with the Papifts ( defcribed by Hejlin^ and againft the Subiecfls Property and Liberty. And it was the M:n and not the Office that offended them. 2. But be- came they were willing of the favour ofthe S'ffcfj, and thofc- Lon- donen who were againlt the Bifhops, they plcafed them by vot- ing down the prelent frame, intending to fct up a moderate Epifcopacy in \\.% fteadj Yea long after this when many Learned Divines in the Aflembly declared themfclves for Epifcopacy, but not for Deans, GhancellorsA'c. They altered the Covenant lb as todefcribetheprefent frame only : And when the Houfe of Lords took the Covenant, \A^,CcU7n.ii fan Ercifilan) gave it them openly, decfaring^that it was rot meer Epilcopacy that this Co- venant renounced, but only the £;,;^///^ defcribed Complicate form. And could they have had fu:h Bifhops as Abl-ct and the old Church of En^Und^ ihty hid never gone thr.s far. 5. And they thought not^Epifcopacy itfelf fj neceflary. ( though if mo- derate the beft fv)rc of Governments ) as to hiz:ird all for ir, which they thought had been in dinger. Even in 1640 ?ul/ 17. They Voted a Diocefan in every County, with Twelve Divines to Govern.
But, faith he, [^(Vdre they EpifcopaUthat Petitioned the Kit:g nt York /ar Rcjorm.tTioH in Difc-pLuc ^ini '(Vcrfhip then} i.e. for abolipoing EpifcepMy and Common- i-'ranr f"^ Anfw. I. Reform- ing is not Abolifhing- 2, I jnfwered that as to the laft. When they feared that the Old Houfe would fall on their beads, they were for pulling of it down, and building a New one, after fuch a Model as Bifhop Vpoer after gave, and iheGermaie, Sveedjh^ and D.tnifo Churches have j which they called the Prinnitive Epifcopacy : But before they could do it, they needed ih^ Scots help, who brought in the Covenant, which they chofe rather than to fall into the hands of thofc of whom they had fuch thoughts and fears, as I need not now defcribc. Erin's Hiftory of /v^//<^'sTryal de(i:ribeth them.
M 2 I Vt'ould
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I ivould ask this confident Hiftorijn (wb ffcnfes tell him virhAt lieligion men wtre of contrary to th:ir datlj prti^iicc of communis CA*i>jg in the Parijh-Churches conforntAhlj) whether the Longeft Parliament of all, which made the A<n:s of Uniformity, the Cor- poration and Veiiry Ads, the Two kCi-i againft Conventiclej^ the Militia A<ft, &c. were Presbyterian or Epifcopal ? Verily, ifthcTe were Presbyterians, I am none, nor ever will be : We fhjll then have a ftrunge definition of a Presbyterian^ lucb as will take in B.fliop ShtUon^ Bifhop MorlOi BiOiop CHnnm^^ and fuch others. If nor, did not the fear of Poperv make that very Parliament begin to look fo fowrcly on the Clergy, cs produ- ced that which I need not rell you of? And did not moft of the fame men meet in tlie next Parliament after, and look yet more fufpicioufly on the Clergy ? And the next yet more ? And doth it follow that they were not Epifcopal but Presbyterian ? But feme men are confident againft the Sun-light, and the moft no- torious Publick Evidence. But I muft confcfs that fuch have fliaken my belief of the meer Moral Evidence of moft Hiftory, and left me only certain of that which hath Evidence, which is truly Natural,ih the Natural ImpcfTibility of Confpiracy in a Lie.
There were men heretofore that would fwear that man was a Purirane, who would not fwear and drink with them, and would pray in their Families, nnd read the Scriptures on the Lord's Day, while others were dancing. And the word [P/«-;- tAfjc2 is now vulgarly changed into [^Preslytenan] (by the Cler- ■g"es ConduiH'.j And there are fome Clergy-mefi that will ray,a man is a Presbyterian, who reproves them for Drunkennefs and Srvearing, and other Crimes, fpecially if he would not have Nonconform ifis ruined and laid in Gaol with Rogues. In this (enfel deny rot but Lords, Commons and Army, had nlany Puritanes or Presbyterians among them, who yet never knew what Piesbytcry was.
But, faith Mr. M. [IVcre they Epifcopal who pray the King at Oxford to abolijh yl. Bijhops and Bijkcps^ &c. that entred into a SoUmn LeagHc and Covsnant ag.iiri[} Epifccpacy^ and for Kcforf^.'i»g the Church. afigr the Presbyterian Platform, and fet up Presbytery by fo mjiny Ordinances f]
u^nfvp. Dijlingue tempora is none of this Hiftorians Principles. How long after the War begun was this Petition at Oxford^ this Covenant, and thefe Ordinances ? He provcih them Pref-
byterians
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byterians at firft when ihey knew not what it was, becaufe they were for Presbytery a year or two after: Neg.ntnr Sequela. The Scots taught afterwards the Airembly,and them that which they never knew before,2.And all thefe Petitions & Ordinances (hew- ed not what they preferred as beft,but what they preferred be- fare expefted mine. The Ifliie proved this, Vi^dHeylm conftfl'eth it, and faith, They never fet up Presbytery in any one place (which yet is nor true, though they did not force ir.)
5. Do vou not know now living, thofe Epifcopal Conformifts, whoreftfe no part of your Conforrnity^ and are much againft Presbytery, who llnce the Difcovery of the Paplfts Plot, are fo much afraid ofPopery, and fo confident that too many of the Clergy are prepared for ir, that a little more would turn them from you, though they love Presbytery as little as they love your fclvef.^
In a word, The Old Clergy and the Parliament Men agreed. The NewClergy in Bifliop Land's time diftafted themiS: the Scots Presbyterians helping tbem in their firair?, partly turned fomc of them, and partly impofed on them unpleafing conditions.
But faith he, [The Emjiians and Indcpsyidems vv(re at'firfi in- coufider.thU^ ami ailed jopnly with the Trtsbytcrians^ &(^-2
yi)}f\v. Thus is Hiftory delivered to the deluded World! Nei- ther Independency nor Presbytery were underftood by many till the War was begun. The Scots CommifTioners by degrees- acquainted them with Presbytery, and Mr. Barton's Proteftaticn Protefted, and the five Dilfenters with Independency : T\\o or three Independents were in the Houfe of Lords, and feme few in the Houfe of Commons : It was Epifcopal-men that made up- the ma n Body : Thefe were of two forts ;The one fort thought Ei)ifccpacy of Divine Inftitution, but not Chancellors, Deans afld Chapters, Arch- Deacons, Officials^ C^<7, The other fore thouglu that Epifcopacy, not rampant, was the beft Govern- ment "Jure humanoi But that the Magiftrate being Chief, m.ight fet it up, or take it down, as he fee moft for the common good,. Thefe were called by fome Braftians : And that thefe at firft were inconfiJerable, is Hiftory written in defpight of EvidencCo Let any man i. Read what Parliaments formerly faid ; 2. And what many EfigliJJj Divines wrote for the Jm humanum againft the "Jus D^v'nmni j and what Teftimooy Prin hath given of it j 3. And what Dv»St'tlUngflat bath produced for it in his Jremcon-,
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4- And how commonly it was owned by Conformifts then m Conference j 5-. And how commonly the Lawyers were for the Humane Ri^hr ; 6, Yea and the Civilians ihemftlvcs} and then let him take this Hiftorian's word, if ht tell Poiteriiy rliut the Parliament and Army were not En^lifn men.
IV. Thefe Hiftorians candidly rel! the world, that the Non- confcrmifts, who ofTered thtir Deilrcs for Cnp.cord 166s. were Presbyterians, and fo are moft of the Norconformilts now. Whereas they never made ore motion for Presbytery, for Lay- Elders, for Ruling ClaflTcs or Afltmblics, nor againft Epilcopacy ; but or.ly ctYered the Paper called A Biftiop Vf:^)-^ Redudion of Epifcopacy to the Primitive Form j wherein neither A. Bi- fhops, ncr Bifhops, nor Deans and Chapters. Archdeacons,vverc taken down, or any of their Revenues, Lordfhips,or Parliament- Power. This is Presbytery with thefe Hiltorians. •
V. They make the world believe that the main Body of the Conformifts, are fuchas fuffered for the King, or complied not with the DwtCtoxy and Times of Llfur()acion : Whereas iv's pub. lickiy nor6riou?, that there are about 9000 Parifli-Churches in England^h^Mts, many hundred Caappels.&'many Churches ,that had more than one Minifter. And ulmolt all thefir cc mplied with the Time! or Drreftory, as theNcTiContormifts did : Ard of all tbcfc, it was but about xooo that Conforme.i not; fothat 7000 or 8cco of them that had kejn in, did on a fudden turn Coiifor- mifts. And divers that had been in Arms for the Parliament: Yea, fome that had written for the Engagement when I wrote againft it J yea fume that had fpoken or written r<*«r«w nonz. Juftification of the Killing of the King. And of thofe thar joyn- ed with us in cur Propofals for Concord, Dr. \) rth^ ard Dr. Reignolds vrere made liifhops, and divers otheis did Conform.
VI. Thefe Hiftorians would make the world I rlieve that the Pr(f«.nt Church, and fuch as they,did more ilun r;ie Parliamen- tarians, and Presbyterians, and Nonconformiiiy, to reftore the King j when it is notorioufly kiiown, how ofi their Attempts were defeated, and what the Scots Army under JL-nHilton under- went, to fay nothing of the next j and of the Lord Delamore's Attempt, and what the Reftored Parliament did : Rut fiire lam, that the Old Parliament Souldiers, and Presbyterian Comman- ders andSouldiers in General Monk^i Army, wirh rbofe in Eng- Jaf7d^nd freUtjd th'dt joyncd with him, and S\i Thcmas Alien.
Lord
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Lord Mayor, with the Lcndonersj at the perfnafion of the Pref- byrerian Minift^rs, drawing General Monk to joyn with them, did the main work, which the Council and Pdrliamenr after fi- ni(hed. When molt of ihefe men that will not enJur-? the ob- livion oFDifcordf, nor the Reconciling and Union of the King's Subjedls, do but Itart.up to revile others, and blow the Goals again, an J reap the fruit of other mens labours, that defire but to live in Peace.
V 1 1. That ■ there are able worthy men that Conform , we are far" from denying j and we earneftly defire their Concord, and the fuccefs of their Libour, anil hope love them as our fclves. B'Jt whereas the H (lory of this Party doth proclaim ho\\6much better and abler Miniftcrs than the Noncon- formirts are s;eneral!y put into their Placrs, that are no Novices or Ignorant Youths, no Drunkards, nor fcandalous, but more la- borious, skiifal Labourers, I will fiy nothing, buc Ice the Countries j idge.
VIII. And whether it be true that there is no need of fhc Noncontormiils Miniitry, but the Churches are fufficiently fup- plied without them, both as to the number and quality of their Teachers, I have in my Apology enquired i and with godlf men it's eafily judged.
iX. And whether it be true, that it was only for the K'ngs or Bilhops caufe that the Parliament put out all, or FTioft of theui that were heretofore remove I, I leave to the Witnelfes and Articles againft them. I am fure I and my neighbour Mi- nirters petitioned that none that were tolerable pious Minifters, m ght be put out for being for the King or Bifhops.
X. V is commonly now recorded and reported that the Pref- bytcrians and thofe that now conform not put down Catechi- zing, and turned the Creed, Lords prayer and Decalogue out of the Church Service. Whereas {' iffome few Independents did' any of this it is more thin I know, |jut)in all ourCountrey, and where: I came, I remember no Churches that did not ufe the Creed openly at their baptizing any, and the Decalogue fre- q-jencly read out of Exod. 20. or Dent. 5. and the Lords prayer trequenrh' ; as we did conftantly. But lome thought thuc we Avere not bound to ufe it every time they prayed. And the Di- reflory comm-nderh all thele to them. And all our Countrey agreed not only to Catechize publickly, but to take larger time
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^n tlie week dales to Catechize every family.
X I. Thefc Hiitorians (ay that I and fuch others take the things Tvhich we conform not ro,to be but inconveniences and not fing- And that we keep the Nation in Sc'iifme while we confcfs the things to be but Indifferent And our writings are vifibJc in which we profeft the contrary, an^ laboured by many arguments to jprove it and protefteJ that we would conform if we took them ot tobe fins. And we gave in a Catalogue ofwbat wejudged ro be fins : And this before the New Conformity was impofed : And fjnce the tierccft difpleafure is againft us tor telling them what we account Sin, and how great : When many years together our Rulers and the People were told that we confcflld tliem indif- ferent and refufed them but to avoid offending oar followers.
X I I. We frequently hear from them that weoppofe F.pilco- pacy becaufe we cannot be Bifliops our felvcs : When its known that nothing could more put men out of all fuch hopes than the Presbyterians Endeavours that both their power and wealth fhould be taken down .- And he that hath any defires of a Bifhop- rickfhould fbre be for the keeping of them i:p. And the fame men reprove us for refufing Bifhopricks and Deanries, and fay we did it to pleafe the People.
XIV. The new Hiftorians would make us believe that the Reformed Church oi^ EtigUnelhei'oreBifhop La^ds time were of their mind that now call themfclves Bifhops and Do(^ors of the Church of England, in holding as they do, that there is an Uni- verfal humane Soveraignty with Leg'.flative and Jcdicial power over all the Churches on earth ; and that this is inCounci!s,oran Univerfal Colledge of Bifliops ; of which the Pope may beaf- lowed to be prefident, and Principium Umtiitis ^ &c. and that he inuft be obeyed as Patriarch of the Weft j and fo we muft be under a forrei^n Jurifdidlion. Whereas it is notoriouflj' known that before Bifliop Laueis time the doctrine of this Church was quite Contrary, as may be feenat large in the Apology, the Ar- ticles of Religion, the writings of the Bifhoj s and Dodors jYca they writ copioufly to prove that the Pope is Antichrift, end pnt it into their Liturgy.And Dr. Hejlin tells us thst theRealbn why Bifhop Latid got it our was, .that it might not offend the Papifrs and hinder our reconciliation with themj And theOath of Supre- macy fweareth usagainftall forreign JuriCdicftion.
XV. The fame Hiftorians would make us believe that thefc
mens
mens doflrine is now the doflrine of the Church of England or agreeable to it. Whereas the Oath ofAllegiance is ftill m force, and foare the Homilies, and the Articles of Religion and the Laws and Canons for the Kings. Supremacy againftall forreign JurifJidion.And there is no change made which allov/eth of their docHirine : And the Church dodrine miift be known by its pub- iick writings, and not by the opinions ( f new rifcnmen.
XVI. The new Hiftorians mSke the Nonconforming Mini- fters to be men grofly ignoranr,preachingfaHc dodrine,of wicked principles and lives, and not lit to be futfered out of Gaols, And yet thefe 19. or 20. years how few of them have been convi(fl of any ^iK^ doftrine ? And I have not heard of four in England that have ever been convid fince they were caft our, of beirg once drunk, or fornicating, cheating, fwearing, or any immo- rality, unleft preaching and not fwearing, Subfcribing, 8:c. be fucii, nor for faife dodtrine.
XVII. The new Hiftorians have made thoufands believe that the docftrine or opinions of the Konconformifts is for fedition and rebellion 5 And that it is for this that they refufe to renounce the obligation of the Covenant as to all men befides themfelves and that they refufe to fubfcribe that it is not lawful on any pre- tence whatfoever to takeArmsagainft any CommifTioned by the King. Whereas we have at large in a fecond Pica for peace opened our judgments about Loyalty and obedience, and none of them will tell us what they would have more, nor where our profefPion is too fliort or faulty. Nor have they conv'idt any of my acquainr.ince of preaching any difloyal docftrine.
X V^ 1 1 1. Yea they have by writing, preaching and talking made multitudes believe that the Nonconformilts or Presbyte- rians have been long harch'ng a rebellion againft the King, and have a Plot to take down Monarchy under pretence of oppofing Popery. And how far thefe Hiftorians are to be believed, true Proteftanrsby this time partly underftand.
XIX. Yea tlicfc Hiftorians have made multitudes believe that the ParHamenrs that have been difolved hereoflare years have beendefigning to change the Government of Church and f^ate, under pretence of oppofing Popery. As if that Parliament that did that for them and againft us which is done, and made all the Ads which are for the Renunciation of the Covenant, and for all the Declarations, Subfcriptlons and Practices Impoled , and for Fining us 20 /. aiid 40 /. a Sermon, and laying us in Gar-ly,
N had
hici been for Nonconformifts, and againft Epifcopacyj and the^r that made tbeAIilaia A^, and fucli other had been againft the Kingjor his Prerogative : Or the other following had not been of the(ame Religion,
X X. But theboldeft part of their Hiftory, is their defcription of the two forts of the People in EngLinJ, thofe that are for the prefcnt Nonconforrnifts, and thofe thit arc againft them. Thofe that are againft them, they account the moft Religion?, Tempe- rate, Ghaft, Loyal, Credible, and in a word, the belt people through the Land [for of our Ruleri lamnot fpeaking.) And thofe that are for the Nonconforming Minifters, they defame as the mofl: proud, hypocritical, treacherous, diHayai, covetous, falfe, and in a word, the worft people in the Lind ; or as Foivli^f faith, the worft of all mankind, and unfit to live in humane Socie- ty. How long will it be ere the fober people of this Land be- lieve this Charadler ? One would think that the quality of the common Inhabitants of the Land (hould not be aControverfie, or unknown tiling. All that I will fay to thisHiftory, Is, to tell the Reader the utmoft of my obfcrvation and experience from my Youth up, concerning thefe two forts of men.
Where I was bred before 1640. (which was in divers places). I knew not one Presbyterian Clergy man,nor Lay,and but three or four Nonconforming Minifters. Nay rill Mr. Ball wrote for the Liturgy and againft C4«, and u^Jllen^ &c. and till Mr. Bur- ton Publifhcd his Proteftation protefted, I never thought what Presbytery or Independency were, nor ever fpake with a man ^hat feemed to know it : And that was in 1641. when the War was brewing. In the place where I firft lived, and the Country abour^ the People were of two forts : The generality feemed to mind nothing ferioufly but the body anil the world; They went to Church and would anfwer the Parfbn in Refjjonds and. thence go to dinner, and then to play : They never prayed la their famil,ie8,bat fome of them going to bed, would fay over the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, ^' fonie of f hem the Hail Alary : All the year long, not a ferious word of lioiy things^ or the Life to come, that I could hear of, proceeded from them. They read not the Scripture,r:orany good Book orCatechifm.Few of them could read, or had a BibIe:They were of two ranksj the greater part were good Husbands as they called them, and favoured of nothing but their bufinefs or Intereft in the World j the reft w^re Drunkards : MoH were Swearers, but not equally : Both
forts
(.91)
forts feemed utter ftrangers to any more of Religion than Ihavt? named j and loved not to hear any lerious talk of God, or Du- ty, or Sin, or the Gofpel^ or Judgment, or the Life to come : But fome more hated it than others: The other fort were fuch as had their Confciences awakened to fome regard of God and their Everlafting State j and according to the various meafures of their underftanding, did fpeak and live as ferious in the Chriftian Faith, and would much enquire what was Duty, and what was Sin, and how to pleafe God, and to make fure of Sal- vation J and made this their Bufinefs and Intereft, as the reit did the world. They read the Scripture, and fuch Books as Toe PraEiice of Piety ; and Deut'j PUin Man's Path W^iy ; and X^oA on theComma!^dmeti(s^dcc. They ufed to pray in their Fa- milies, and alone 5 (bmc on the Book, and feme without : They would not Swear, nor O'rfc, nor take Q'^^^'s Name lightly : They feared all known fin : They would go to the next Par'illi- Church to hear a Sermon when they hjd none at their own j would read the Scripture on the Lord's Day, when others were playing ::Thefe were, where I lived, about the number of two or three Families in twenty; and thefe by the reft were called Purl- canes, and derided as Hypocrites and Pfecifians,that would rake on them to be Holy : And efpecially if they told any one of his Swearing, Drunkennefs or Ungodlinefs, they were made the common fcorn. Yet not one of many of them ever fcrupled Conformity to Bifliops Liturgy or Ceremonies, and it was god- ly Conformable Minilkrs that they went from home to hear : And thefe M'niftcrs being the ableft Preachers, and of more fe- rious Piety, were alfo the Objects of the Vulgar Obloquy as Puriranes and Precifians thenifelves j and accordingly fpoke a- gainft by many of their Tribf, and cnvyeJ for being preferred by godly men.
This being the Condition of the Vulgar where I waj, whtn I came into the acquaintance of many Pcrfons of Honour and Power, and reputed LGarning, I found the fame ferioufnefs in Religion in fome few before defcribed, and the fame daily fcorn of that fort of men in others, but differently cloathed : For theic would ta'k more bitterly, but yet with a greater fiiewofrea- fon agairft the other, than the ignorant Country People did: And they would H^metime talk of fume Opinions io Rcligictp, ind forac of them would ui'c I'ome of the Common- Prayw in
N 2 ' their
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their Hnufe?, and fomc oftbcm would fwcar, but feldom, and fmall Oath?, and lived foberly and civilly i but ferious talk of God or Godlincft, or that which tended to fcarch and reform the Heart and Life, and ferioufly prepare for the Life to come, or to aw3ken Souls to a care of their State and Salvation, they fvoulJ at leaft be very weary to hear, if not deride as Puritani- cal. Mr. Roi;ert BgUoh a Conformil>, hath fully opened all this of both forts in his D;/co/3fr/i? of True H.ipphiefs, and Directions for Vfalkiv.r with Cod : And bow the name Pnritane was then ufed.
This being the Fundamental Divifion where I came, fome of theft that were called Puriranes and Hypocrites, for not being Hypocrites, but ferious in the Religion they proftdtd, would fomctimes get together, and as Drunkards and Spotters would meet to drink and play, they would (in fome very few place?, where there were many of them):v,eet afrerSermon on theLord's Dales to Repeat the Conforming Minifters Sermon, and fing a POlm, and Pray. For this, and forgoing from their own Pa- rifh-Churchec, they were firit envied by the Readers, and dry Teachers, whom they fbmetime went from, and next profecu- ted by Apparitor?, Official?, Archdeacons, Con.milfaries, Chan- cellors, and oiher Epifcopal Inftruments : For in former times ihere had been divers Presbyterian Nonconformifts, who car- -neftly pleaded for Parifb-Difcipline (as Bucer ^\(o d\d \nOper. ^nglic.y And tofubdue thefe, divers Canons were made j which li^rved the turn againft thefe Meetings of the Conformable Pu- riranes, and g'jlng froip their own Parifh-Churches j though the O'd Presbyterians were dead, and very few fuccecded them. About as many Nonconformilis as Counties were left; and thofc few m'o(t ftuck atSubfcriprionand Ceremonies, which v/cre the hindcrance of their M niftryj and but few of them ftuditdor un- derftood the Presbyterian or Independent Difciplinary Caufes.
Put when thcfc Conformable Puritanes were thus profecu ted, it bred in them hard thoughts of the Bifliops and their Court?,as Enemies to ferious Piety, and PerTccutors of that which thty ftiould promote: Sulfcring bred this Opinion and Averfation. And the ungodly Rabble rejoyced at their troubles, and ap- plauded the BiOiops for it, and were every where ready to fee the Apparitors on them, or to ask them, Are yoii holier or wifer than the Bifliops ? Aiid their Accufations were icadily en- tertained
tertained : This much inclined them to hearken to them thacr were averfe to Conformity, when fuch rofe up, and to fuch as were more againfl: the Bi(hop5, than there vvas cjufej fo that by this time, the Puriranes took the Bifhops to be Oprains and the Chancellors, Archdeacons,Commiirdries, Officials and Paritorsj,. their Officers, and the Enemies offeriousGodlinefr, and the vi- cious Rabble to be as their Army, to fupprefs true confciencious Obedience to God, and care of mens Salvation. And the cen- fured Clergy and Officers took the Cenfiirers to be Schifma- ticks, and Enemies to the Church, unfit to be endured, and fit to be profecuted with reproach and punifiuiienr j fo that the faid Puritanes took it to be but the common Enmity that fince C.r/'?'s daies hath been in the world, between the Serpent's and the Woman's Seed : And when the perfons of Bifhops, Chancellors, Official*, Apparitors, &:;. were come under fuch a repute, it was eafie to believe what fliould be faiJ apainft their Office. And the mare the Bifhops thought to cure this by punifhmentj the more they increafcd the Opinion, thic they were perfecu- ting Enemies ofGodlinefs, and theCaptatis of the Prophane.
And when fuch finful Beginnings had prepared men, the Civil Contentions arifing, thofe called Puritanes, moitly were againft that fide which they faw the Bifhops and their Neighbour Ene- mies for : And they were for the Parliament the rather, becaufe they fcemed defirous to Reform the Bifhops, and Reftore the Liberty of thofe whom they profecuted for the manner of their fcrving God. Yet they defircd, where-ever I was, to have lived peaceably at home: But the Drunkards and Rabble that former- ly hated ihcm, when they faw the War beginning,grew inragedj and if a man did butPray, and SingaPfalm in his houfe, they would cry [Dowf with the Roandheads'] (a word thtn new made for them,) and put them in fear of fudden violence, and after- wards brought 'the King's Suuldiers to plunder them of their goods, and they were fain to run into holes to hide their per- sons (A^,irth CrujUt in his Turco-Gracia defcribeth much the like Cafe of his Father.^ And when their Goods were gone, and their Lives in continual danger, they were forced to fly for Food and Shelter ; To go among thofe that hated them, they durfi nor, when they could not dwell among fuch at home. And thus thoufands run into the Parliaments Garrifons, and having nothing there to live upon, became Sou Id iers.
We--
(P4)
We had an lioneft very Old u^rminia}i(MT. Nayhr') in Coven- trj^ that wasagiinft the Parliamenrs Caufc ; and he would fay, {ihe King hath the bcfl Caufc^ and the Parliament the befl Men.'] And that he wondred how it came to pals, that the generality of fbbcr Religious men, (hould be all in the n'rong,and the molt Irreligious and Prophane, and Debauched be in the right.] But he knew but the Vulgar, and not the Grandees, who no doubt were many of them men of very laudable accomplirtiments.
And as the feud of the Bilhops and their Officers and Curates againft the afortfaid exerclfes of Religion occafioned thin (ad Di- vifion,fo did the fenfe of this in the minds of -^hofe called Pu- rirancs continue too long. Many a time have Ifecn abundance in great Perplexity, faying [We bclievrd them that pro fcfled that they took not Arms againft the King, bur to execute the Law on Delinquents and defend themlelvts and the Kingdom from them : We abhor the Regicides and Ufurpers : We would reftore the King, if we were ftrcnger than the Army. And yet we are in doubt how far we (hould adively contribute to our own calamity: For though the King deferve more than we can do, we doubt not but the Bi(hops will increafe our Burdens and make greater havock in the Church th«in heretofore] -Ar.d many fate Itill on this account, and as far as ever I could dif^ ■cern, next the Power of the Army, the fear of thcBiftiops was the chief delay of the Kings return.
I knew not all EngUnd-yhui according to the Extent of my ac- quaintance, I have truly told you the quality ofthofe then called Puritans and of their Common adverfaries.
And on which fide now proportionably are moftof the moft «nderftanding^ fober, charitable, conlcionable, and ferioufly re- ligious Pcrfcns, and on which moft of the contrary Cnot fpeak- jngofany Migiiti'ites ) I think it neither my work, nor our New Hiftorians to tell : For pecjle that live among their neighbours, will believe the'r lenfes and experience, what ever either he or I lliall fay. And I am well alfured that this argument (which I think was not found ) [[ We cannot heUeve that God Vi>ill fnffer the , Generality of the Religiom to be deceived in jo great a caje^ and the moft of the debauched ignorant haters of ferioin Cedl.nefs to be in theright^~\ did prevail with very many that could not try theCaule by the Laws and conftitutionofthe Kingdom.
§ 2. If 1 fhoul4 recite the particular unjuft reports of mul- titudes
(95)
titudes of thefe Writers it would be tirefome and loathfome : YeAall the miftakes of this Eminent Hiftorian are too many to be named : But I will here name one which feemsat once lo fmite and fmilc.
Pag. 2 7. [" There is a temper which Air. B. n ac<^Hatntc& " with thdt^ is not to be prevailed on^ either by threats or promifts ^' from th~' A'fagi/lrate ^afid feirns to hate nothing[o mhch -is coivpli' ^* ance with Superiors : There are Jams that /com to preach by the ^ Licence of the Government^ andpUce the Kingdom of Chvij^ p'^rely " in opy'^Jinon to L<t\v and M.igijlr.ifes. 3
yinf.y. Note the credibility of this HMtorian. i. Dnb their accufation of my flattering the Ufurpers (whom I more openly dXowned than molt of his Fraternity)'agree with this?
2. Did my longaiid earnelt Petitioning to be accepted but in a poor Curates place, though I Preachc for nothing, yea -f it were but in fbme ignorant obfcure Village, and only to preacli ov.er the Cjitechifm, agree with this?
3. Doth my large proftlTion of Subjedion in mySecond P^ea- for Peace roc yet blamed by them herein agree with this ?
4. I wjllingl'v took the Oaths of A!le/,;ance and Supremacy, and an Oath to be true to the King as his Chaplain in ordinury, and had this any fuch fignification ?
5. Did my begging in vai;i a Licenfe from Bifhop Morlex^ and craving and obtaining one of Bifhop S/7;/<^ow,fignific this ?
6. Bat th e fmile is that one would think by thefe words, I might have preached by the Governours Licenfe and would nor. And is that true? Did I not preach by the Kings Licente, and the C'ergy blame me for it? And as for the Bifhops Licenfe Ido profcfs that it's yet in force, ard I dopreachby it. Iflmi' ftake it is not my refufing ir. If he intimate as he feems, that by the Bifhops L'cenfe I might have had leave to preach in the Parlfli Churchesjt's now too latc.-But I would I had known how to get it. I confcfs one Summer in the Countrey about. ij milcsolT, I did venture upon the Credit of my Licenfe ('ac Amerjh^im^ ChefhAm^ Rickmerfvorth^^&c.') But it was too pleafing work to me to becontinued:One Church \T\SoHth\vai\l was once let into, but no more in or near London. I once craved leave of the moderate Bifhop that now is, that without putting down the meeting where I was in that great Parifli of St. Martin's^ I might preach fometime there and once a day at the Chappel
(p6)
which I bull r, which the Parifh Incumbent ufetb, and that he would quiet the Juftices to that end, and thought I had had his confent: But the Conftables and other Officers ftood from that day about a quarter ofa year together every Lord'* Day at the door of the former place of Aflembly, to have apprehended me by the Juftices warrant if 1 had gone. And never could I hear of a man in iLo'.Wc//; that was willinp I fhould come into his Pulpit ; but the beft have refufed it. Nor did I much defire it here : For it is not to preach to them that have no need that is my requeft j but to fuch as cannot come into the Parifh Church or othcrwifc truely need our help. Once I did try to have got leave two miles out of the City to have preacht a Kinfwomans Funerall Sermon on the right of my Licenfe : But the Minifter faid. He muft Hrft aik the Biflicp, and then denycd me.
Reader, ihcle are the Hiftorians that Charge me with mif- report of ancient Hiftory, vifible in the moft partial Authors on the other fide: Judge of them by their Pveport of the Hifto- ry of our Place and Age.
CHAP. XV.
Afr.Wi's. w^.)' of getting belief, by a A'/ag:/lerIalcondcpji:}Hgt/j: mofi credible Htflorians^ and atnhoriz.ing whom hepleafs.
§ I. T F we had not Euftbitu^ Socrates and SoTLomen, how n^ked X fhould we be left, and much unacquainted with the cafe of the Church from the Apoftles j ( Befides TJjfodoretsRl- ftory) till 440. And what a (hake is given to the Credit of all thefeby Mr. Af. and others of greater namt?
Though Enfcbiits himfelf be by PetaviM and many other Pa- pifts accounted an ^rian,ye3. and fcemingly proved fuch, and by BellarrKiiicde Script. Ecclcf its faid that ^//j;«.?//;^ fo calls him, and ferom calls him the AruinS\gn\kT and Prince, and the 7th General Council [o judgeth him, yet Socrates vindlcateth him, and thinks he is wronged ; And indeed though his own Epiftlc written to his Flock be" not juftifyable/mcautelousand unjuftify"- able words were too Common before his dales ( as Petavita hath too fully proved ) with thofe that we muft not yet call Brians, But Yfh'ik BdUmint ^tti W, A/, charge 5ocMf^J and
SoT^omcn
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'^az.omm as Novat'iam that is Hereticks tbemfelveijthey deprive £A/r^/V« of much of their defence, and render hisHiftorythe more fufpicious.
§ 2. And though I know Mr. ^/.hath more partners herein,! never (i\Y yet anv credible proof chat either of them were No- rattans: Good Chriftians are not afhimcd nor afraid to make pro- feffion of theirReligion.And they are i^o far from profcirmg Ir^thaf rhey oft fpeak of the Novations in difowningwordf. But they praised them for the good that is in them ! And would not any impartial Hiftorian do the likef Maft a man rail at any party, or hide their Virtues or elfc be taken to be one of them ? Iconfefs thjtfuch as Mt.MAo fully acquit themfelves from the fufpicion of b'eing Presbyterians or Nunconformifts. But fo did not A. BiOiopGnW^//, Bifhop/nvf/, k. \^\{ho^ Abbot A.^'xiho^VJher^ and many more fuch. Sure Candor and Impartiality is Laud^ibie in Hitiorians ; And Thaanus is moft honoured for thar. And nct- withftanding Mr. ^'s aflertions of the contrary, IproftTsmy felf a lover ^ honourer of the worth of many of theafpiring Bi- (hops th-it corrupted theChurcr'ind of many Popes, and of many that continue Church corruptions in the heightjCven many of the Papifts Cardinal*, Schoolmen and Jefuites. Who will not love and praifc the excellent Learning of fuch as St^arex^^Vafc^ucz,^ Vi- Cferia^Pctaviu^ and abundance fiich ? Who will not pra fc the piety of fuch as Gerfun , Borrom^iti, Sales, and many others , though we nevertbelefsdifown their Popery ? For my part I highly value the Clearcners,of.multitudesof the Schoolmep,and that they have nor in whole loads of their volumes fo much Kiaiicious railing as thejcfuits ard many of our late Confcrmifis have in a few fiiect«. Doth it follow that I am a P.ipift becaufe I praife them,or that Sccr ares ot Soz, Men were NovHtta/js bec^uib they fpeak well Oi r heir faith and piety.
There are abundance of Malignants, that acknowledge the Good Lives of thofe they call Puritanes fand if he had not had the late Wars between King and Parliament to fill all Mouths and Books againit ihem, the Devil by ibis time might liave been at a lofs with what Accufations to reproach them, Por he was put to ufe the Voices ( no names ) of {^RokndheaAs^ Whigs, ^c, when their Revilers were called Drunkards, Swea- rers, Dam-me's, O'c.'] But they that confefs the Goodjreproacfa them as Hypocrites that do but counterfeit it. Doth this ac-
O knowlec'gmcnt
(?8)
knowlfdgrnent prove ihcm Puritanc?. I fuppofeMr. M, know- crh rliac no fmall number of Hiftorians and Fathers confefs the Itru^nefs of the NovMiaus Lives, and vet were no Novatianj. 'And Ccnjfafitinc^s words to Accfua im|*ly that he' thought him fmgularly ftricH:. And Mr. M. faith Pref. [77^f Novatians, p;r)5r tbi Auihjr^ did not ffjfer much bj this Ediit^ l^ing befriended by ^b: EmpsrouYj xtbo h.id .m efiecmfor tbeir Bip:cp of C. P. upjn the AcccfoA of his Hohmfs^ And may not an Orthodox man confeft the Piety of others ?
§ 5. But Mr. Af. is Co Mjgifterial as to faj'. Tag. ^12. The fiorj f/Theophilus, and the Alonkj o/Nitria, no reafunable man can believe^ as it is reLitcd bj/ Socrates and Sozoinen, without laving a malicioM Lie."] So ih^lSccra'.es and S^z.omcn either be- lieved not thcmfclvef, or elfe Loved a mnliciom Lie.
Ar.d Page 319. he (dith, [The f}o)y of Theophilus bis charging Ifidore with doable Letters^ that -whoever was Conquer our ^ he might apply himfelfto him iu his nawe^ if of the fame piece with the refi of Socrates hisfiorj concerning that Bijhop-^ and in all pro^ ba^jiUtj an invention of one of thc.Aionks o/Nitria.]
It feems this Hiftorian believeih Old Hiftorian?,as the matters feem probable or improbable to hiinfelf. And To we may take him for the Univerfal Expofitor of Hiftory : It is not the Old Hiftorians that we mult believe, but his Gonjcdlures. And thus he deals wi.h divers others.
§ 4, For my part I profef:?, that before I had any Engagement in theic Controverfies, (Ince I firft read them, I took Socrates and Scz.omen to be two of the molt credible Hiftorians that the Church had till their Times, and of many an Age after them, I faid of them, as I ufe to do of Thnanus, A man may trace the fuotfteps of Knowledge, and impartial honefty, and foof Vera- city in their very ftyle. And there are few of the judicious Ccnfurera of Hiftorians, but do tell us of far more uncertainties mEnfebimyind after in Nicephoins^AV^A moft that fol]owed,(as far as 1 am acquainted with fuch Cenfurers) than in thefetwo. And if their Hiftory be fhaken, our loft will not be fmall. And I doubc not but the Anathematizing and Condemning Spirit hath done hurt, which hath made Enfebius an undoubted Arian^ and Theo' doret, firft a Neflorian^ and after at the fifth General Council condemned fome of his Writings, and impofed it on the whole Chriftian World to condemn them^ though many never heard of.
them
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them, and that made Rujjlnfis (and Chryfoftom) Origimfls^ and Origen a Heretick, condemned alfo by a General Council, and Socrates, and SoT^omen, Novatians, Epiphdnini an ignorant cre- dulous Fabler, SulpitiusSeveruSjind Beda, tvro pious credulous Reporters of many feigned Miracles, and one a Millenary, Ni- cephoYHs a Fabler, Anafafms BiblSwW of Fdlfhoods, VhiLifiritis an ignorant Erroneous Hereticator,C^j^^««x a Semi'TelaglaK, Cajfio- dori Chronic, cfl farrago tenmlentia incjuit O-mphrius Pan. Pene nunquam cum Etifebio conveuit injuit f^vjfits, &c. I fay. Though it be no wrong to the Church to take them for fallible, and fuch as have miftakes('which the Englijb Articles fay even of General Council8)yet it wrongfully fliakethall our belief of ChurchHifto- ry to call their Credit in matters of fadt into queftion for their Erroursor opinions fake^withoutgood Evidence that either they were ignorant, mif-informed or wilfully lied.Buc ifthe Novatians were more ftridl & precife than others, it's rather like that they were more and not lefs credible than others, and made more or notlefs confcience of a lye. Certainly that which the reft named are charged with is fomewhat more as toHiftorical Credit than to be Novatians : So thit if thefe men had been Nova't\ins^ I fliould yet fay by the Complexion of their Hiftory that They are two of our moft ufeful and credible Church Hiftorians.
§ 5. Bjt when it ferveth his turn he can gather out of Soz^o- men that even in Confiantine^s time, CcnftantinopU was [^^Itcge. ther a Chriflian Cit)~\ Becaufe he menrioneth the gre-at Enlarge- ment of it J and great encreafe of Chriftianity : When as no man that lived could be a fitter judge of the number ofChrifti- ans in his time than Chryf^fiom: hnA he that confidered that there and every where Conflanttnc left all the Jews and Heathens rincompelled to beChriltians, yea and ufed themVommonly in places ef dignity and Government in City, Provinces and Armies, and that they continued in fuch power under many Emperours after l^m, will hardly believe that in Conllantine^ time C. P. had hal#(^a quarter fo many Chriftians asv;ere in the time of ^r- c^^wn and ChryfofiofK', Ar.d yet then Chr)fo[lomcoT\)t(X\ixcih the Chriftians to be an hundred thoufand, and all the City poor half as many, bur the Jews and Heathens not to be numbred. ^ee him one -^^a' 4. Hont. 1 1. When he is making'the niioft of their eftate and numbers, faith he [ J pray you tell me : How great it rmmhcr of all fjrts ff men hath <?fir City ? How many Chriflians
O 2 wiH
(lOO)
wiHjoa that there be (That is will you grant, or do you think there be ?) W;ll jou that there be J'iK^y.ia-AJ'a.i, an hundred thonfAnd ? Bttt how great tt the Nnmber ojjewi and Ethnickj ? How many pounds of Gold h.ive heeu gathered ? (ox Myriads f) ^ud how great /.< the Number of the Poor ? fthat is,of the \Yho!eCity ?) J do not think, the J a''< above fifty th.'ufMid (Cor^wjeliu. hath put an hundred, thousand, as £.rafm:;s Tranflation, I fuppofc by the Errour of the Prcff.) Njw it'thercwas in Chryfiihm's ddies but an hun- dred thouCdnd (vvhicli many fay is not near fo many as there be in two Parifhes here, A/art ins and Strpney) it is not like that in Confiantine's Time they were half fo many at moft. And yet I am far from thinking that there was theu no more" than ufiially met in an Allembly, or could fo meet.
§ 6. Thejefuites, rahfius and Sirmondut^ I am no fit peir fon to cenfure. But I am not fatisfied why their Credit (hould go as far v/ith me as it doth with him : I have before fpoke of Falefius\ Record ing^C7rtfr/«/ as one that defigned to bring many with him into the Roman Church. And Crott'-is hirafelf faith, That many of the Engijh Bifhops were of his mind, as Bifhcp Bromhall,2r)d many Do(ftors by defending him feem to be: And yet when I wrote my Ch/ifiUn Concur J^.^nd Tie Grotian ReLgion, how many cenfured me as a Slanderer, for faying lefs than ^u- Icfim doth. Yet I am falfe with this Hiftorian, and VaUfius is a credible Jefuite.
And he vouchfafethto tell us the Judgment of Valefita^ that 'E-.'-fibiui Nicomcd. was no ^rian, pag. 332. where he fji(h[Eur fcbius of Nicomedia was r,o Herctick^in the 'jud^mcn,. o/V'altfius : B;it if h; were, he was net an Heretick^, hccaufe he did not begin th^ ylrch-Herefie, but fallowed Arius.]
What the meaning is of the latter words I know not [ If he "ivcre ('an Heretickj he wai not an HcretickJ] I ^onjecflure it is one of the almcfi Infinite Errata's of the Printer : (But he fuppofeth my Printer's to be mine own :) But that Eufibius Niccmed. fhould be no Heretick, whom all theftream of credibI(^^|(^o- rians make to be th.u Arch-Hi.^retick (I fay not the firft) who corrupted Confiar.une his Court and Son, which introduced the prevalency oi Arianifm to the almoft Ruine of the Orthodox Church, is a thing which he that believeth Fal fi.is in, muft pre- fer the Credit of one Jefuite that lived above a thoufand years after, before the whole current of the bcft Hiftorians of the
fame^
fame, and many following Ages. And did I ever fo dlfcredrt: the whole ftream of Church-Hiltorians, as on the word of one Jefuite, to bring them under the fufpiclon of fuch a L'e ? Bac I confefs I am more inclined to believe a Jefuite, and a PreU- ti(t, when they e^ccufe any man of Hercfie, thin when they ac- cu(e bim.
§ 7. Ill the Preface he tells us that['''//.*.'^ I co-tfnlted SirmondV* " Edton of the French Coh-kHs I mnji have WMiteU fveral Allc- '^ gat tons for theCongregdtioijalwAy, which are nothing elp bn* corrupt '^ readings of tlje anjiat Canons of thcGJ^\\cl^ Church, Noy an we ^' fi'/fpeU SirmonJ as too great afavowerofDiocefanBif^ops^fince it " is well kjwrvn how he is charged h/ ths AL'bot of S.QyrM\ Wider the " name o/Petrus Aurelius,/c)r havihg falfifcd a Canon in the C'.u cil " o/O'ange to the p'cjitdice of the Epifcip.il Ordcr^ f.faites ca^e ^^ as little for Bifhops as o'Ar Protefiant Diff enters can do.'] Anfw. I doubt not bur Sirmond was a very Learned man^and had not the Conformilb divefte 1 me ot all Ghuroh-m (i itenance, I had been like ti) have bought his French Councils. In the mean time, that notice wliich others before him give of the A-ls and Canons of Councils, (^jrticed to mv furniture, fully to prove the Caufe I maintained : But I confefs his pretended reafon no whit m- duceih me to give more cedir to a Jefuite than to another mail. Though Alb tfp^neus was a Bfhop, there is fo much Judg- ment and Hjnefty appears in his Obfervations, that I would fojncr believe him about Epifcopjcy, than a Jefuite that you fay is agiinil ir.
B.it it's as incredible to me, as the reft of his fpurious Hiftc- ry, that the fefmtcs care as little for Bifjops as our P rote fl ant Dif- Jenters an do. Sure many of thofe called Presbyterians and In- dependents, would have none at all. if this be true, then i.The Jcfuites would have no Bfhops of Rome^ though they be his IWorn Servants. 2. Then they wou'd have no B'Oiops to be lijbjecft to x.\\'i Pope. 5, Then they would have all particular Churches ro be without Biniops,orro be unchurchr. 4. Then they would have Ordination without Bifhops. 5: .Then rhey think not that an uninterrupted SuccelFun of E[)i(copal O.dination is neceHary to Church or Miniftry. 6. Then they think that Bi- fliop^ fli:)u!cl not c oiilirm. 7. Then they are againft the Coun- cils of Bifhops, General or Provincial. 8. And againft Diocefans Government of the Parilh Priefts. And yet is a Jefuire a Papift ?
Wonderful!:
(101)
Wonderful I that they will venture their Live* in endeavours for the Church ot Rome , and that they write fo iTiuch of and for Bifhops Councils, and yec arc quite againft them. ^
But if really this be {^o, you that take me for incredible, who amaj^ainft but the Corruption of Epifcopacy, do allow me to take Sirmondns and raUfins^ and the reft of the Jefuites foV in- credible, who are as much againft the very Office as our Dif- fcpters can be ? But what will not fomc Hiftorians conhdently (ayf
CHAP. XVI.
Mr. M's.Oufervatsons on mj Notes of credible and incredihle Hijiorjif Exttmirfcd.
§ I. I TJ Ecaufe I fuppofe that common found Senfes are to be Jo trufted : He i. Infers that I was afleep, & thought that I faw all that I relate; that is. He that faith he muft be- lieve fenfc, implies that he fecth all that he re porteth ; I am one of the unlearned, and this Loglck is too hard for me: Let it be his own.
2,. He concludes, Tfjat vre nnfft r.ot believe our [enjes, if they were net Presbyterians but Eptfcopal that begun the lute Wur ('in Engla^jd:) Asifhe had fecn not only the Parliament (Lords and Commons) then, and the Army then ( forty years ai;o al- Tnoft) but had feen their Religion, or heard or read them then fo profcfs it: Whereas I cannot learn yet whether he w^s then born, or of capable underftanding, and bath neither fi^nfe nor reafon for what he faith. The Cale that we are in is very fad, when both fides (ay they have the Evidence cfSenfe it felf a- gainfr each other j what hope then of Reconciliation ? They that are yet living, that were Lords, Commons, and Comman- ders, fay their internal Senfe and Self-knowledge told them that they were no Presbyterians, but Ej)ifc)p;al j and their dally converfe told chem, that their Companions were mollly of the fame Religion and Mind. But Your.g Men that never conver- (ed with them, know them all better, and that infallibly by feiife it felf.
§ ■^.
§ 2. II. Becaufe I fay,the Hiftory oftheGofpel is certainly credible y it is ground enough to fay. That ^U is not Gofpel that I write ; as if I had fa id it is.
^ 3. III. Becaufe I ^^y, Prophets were fare of their Revdaticn^t fiiith. It may be A<fr.B. hiafda Bene ftripffii : As if I had pre- tended to be a Prophet.
§ 4. IV. Ifaid that Hiftory is certain even by Natural Evidence, whtn it is the common Agreement of all men of moft contrary Interefts, 6c. in a matter of f^Ct and fcnfc to all that knew ir. To which he fiith iTbc Sy.periority of B-Jhops over Presbyters is aik!'owLcd<red by C^tholicl^s^ and Schifmaticks and Herd ickj^ "»'« ^^f very contrary ntindsydifp'c fit ions and intabfis; and yet thisChiircl.^ Hijtory would haze f*s beLcve the contrary,
^nf\\\ This is our credible Hiftorlon.
1. He doth not tell us in what Ages itwasfo acknowledged 5 when thofe who doubt of the matter of fadl, doubt but fome of 100, fome of 1 50, or 200 years: Doth an^^ doubt whether it be fo no\v ?
2. He tells us not either what Species of Bifliops the queftion is of, nor what Species of Presbyters, nor what the Superiority was.
3. He fpeaks without diftin(n:ion or Exception, and fo muft be underftood to fay thatf/;;j Church hi^ory would have vu to be^ lieve that even Prefidcnt Bifioops Ejufciem Ordinis had dcfii(flo 710 Superiority nt all over Presbyters in the fame Churches and oj the fame order with f/jcw^which is an untruth fo grofs a« is no Credit
to our Hiftorian. 1 have named both more than one ranckofBi- {hops whole Superiority de 'jure I deny not : & Popes, Patriarchs^ Primites^Diocefans who depofcd the Bifhopsoffingle Churches, whofe Superiority c/?/4l7o I fully enough affirm, in the ages and dej!;rees in which they did afcend.
It he fay that be meant it {^Even frcm the u4pofiks time^andthat offuchDiccefans as have fcores or hundreds of true Churches and u4U ta's without their par tic uLir Bijhops, or any Presbyters that were Ejufdem Ordinis with the Bijhops, and were 5[)ifcopi G regis, and that hadfuch Power of the Keys over thetr floch^^as onrs have not : or that had fo many fuch Affembiies that were no true Churchcs{^ if he will be proved a Hiftorian worihy Creditj^ Let him give us any proof that all men defcribed by him agreed defatloihdit there was fo long, fucha fuperioricy of fuch Bifliops. But tbefc
men
(104)
tncn deride diftinguifhing, and banifh Logick, that is Reafon, from their Hiftory.
§ 5r. V. The next Evidence of cerrairty which I mentioned, was from Icontinuca Ex-.flcnt vifible Ejfuis \vri:h prove their Ca*/fes.l And here this undiltinguiQiing Hiftorij'n is at it again. The Supc-' rionijof Lifijops over Vrcslyters is proved bjthe Laves .tndCHJtvmt ofallChurctoes. This hath the fame jrifwer, which I will nut re- pear. Eiiticr itij fly reporterhmy c'euyal, oritfalflv affirmeih that ail Churches in all ages have left us vifible Etfedts of the forcfdid fpccie?. And I^would he woulJ help us that ate ignorant therein vvich fuch Hiltory and Evidence from the begining of J:he Churches in ScoiUnd, and in the Southern an J EalternCuun- treis that were without the Empire.
§ 6. Vr. I faid, that Hiftory is credible which fpeaketh confentingly againft the known intereft of the authorsiand there- fore I named few teftimonies of the fins of Popes and Councils but of thofe iharare their moft Zealous Friends.To this he faith that my Charaders of ancient Bifhopsarc taken from their pro- fcfled Enemies, [as my account of -r^ri6^«^^fef, Thcophylns^ Cyril^ and divers others.]
uiihf. I, My account oTAtbannftiu is almoft all, if not all, in his praife^and isnot an enemies teftimony there valid. If I menti- on the difpleafure of 0«/<?«r/«tf againft him it is not anv C>iara- -(fler of him, but oC Cohfiantifje the Agent .- Nor do I think Con- flantine^OT Eufebiui Crfj^r.-meetto be numbrcd with his Enemies; why did he not inftance in fome words of mine ?
As to Theophjltti and Cyril, I do not believe that he can prove l\i2iX. Socrates and Soz^omcK, and the Hiftorians that Concur with them, were their Enemies. And it in reciting the Ads of the Councils I recite iheir Enemies words, fo doth S«r//t», A^/c^c;- liKHSf BinniH', Burom-^ and all ;uft writers of thofe sd?. And I ■do r.or find that Chryfojicm himftlf, or If dor e Telu/i,t a hhd any Enmiry to tbcm, ncr Pope Innocent neither. Of the reft before.
§ 7. VII. The next degree of credibility that I mentioned is that which deptndeth on the Veracity and fitnefs ol the're- porttr. Of v hich I named nine things requifice.
Here he fuppofeihme one that is unfitj and particluarly faith \yi'hether any hath railed wtfh greater inter?sperance,and le/s prozo-i ■cation ] ^7>f. I. i am not the Author of the Hiftory of the men- tioned Councils or Popes or Bifhops, but the Tranfcribcr. Let
me
(105)
me be as bad asyoi/, or any of your tribe have made me, that proveth not that Socrates, Soz^owen, Theodorite^ NicephoYHf, &c. or Binntpu, Baronitif^&c. have niifreported whit they wrire. If 1 have mifrcported rhefc authors in any material point, prove it and I will foon retrart it.
As for my railing, I expcft that title from all fuch whofe faults I name, and call them to repentance : He that cjIIs mm to Re^ pent, caileth rhem finners,and that is Railing be it never fo great.' His firft inltanctd railing is Pag. 19. \_Aje\v tuvbHlent Prelates V erfi: cute good men ~\V{^ i'iJxih thus I call the prcfrnt BifllOpa of the Church ot Engl.ifjd ; Doth he mean Ail or fame? If ^//he is an untrue Hiitonan : He may fee many named before my Apo- logy whom I except : And if I have named two I have annexed the proof.
The next is Past. 46, \_ fdencingdefiroying VreUtes^ Anf. Are there none fuch? Were not about looo here filcnctd ? Do we not continue fo and impoveriflied almoft 20 years ? Have none per'fhed inpnfons or with want .<" Do men call out for the exe- cution of the Liw, and plead for our Silencing as a good work, and rake it for railing ro have ic named ? Doth not Confcience recoil in thele men when in Pulpits, prefs and Conference they m^in^ain it ro be a good work, and tell the world how finful a thing it is'for rulers to futfer us out of Gaols ? What, are you now afhamed of your meritorious w.orks ? Sure they are fcant good ifit be railing to mime them. You will not fay I rail, if I call you Preachers, And why do you fay' fo, if I call you Silencers^ if that be as gcoci ?
The next railing is Pag. 73 [ If Allthe proud. Contentions, am- bitious, heret letting part ofth- Bif:ops, hid been of t bis Conflian mind ('to endure each other in fmall tollerable Differences) What fins. Scandal and fname^ what Crimes, coYifufion atid mifcries had the Ch^tf'iian wirli cfcap£d?'\ And is fhis railing ? Hath the Cbri- ftian world had no fuch Bilhops thefc 1000 years.? Have inoc whole Kingdoms been foi bidden all God« Pub'ick vvor{]iip by fuch, ev^n France and England among the relt ? Is it railing to tell for what littU^ things they not onlv Silenced men, but burn- ed and murdered many thoufands ? Were they not proud am- bitious Prelates that depofed and abuft.d Lud. PiM, and thofe that in Council decreed the dif;ging all the dead Bifhops ou-t of their graves to be bunt as Hereticks, who wire for the Era-
P pcrours
pcrourspovreroflnveftiiuresPDo I rail if I fay that Grei-j. wai Proud and ambitious when he threatened the Prince ofCalant with the lofsofhis dominions, unlefs he made his Bifhop (have his beard ? Do not fetvel^ arfU all Proteftant writers fay worfc than this of Papift Bifhops? Is there any fucb thing as pride filen- cing, burning, &c. If yea, muft ir never be kn«wn, reproved, re- pented of and fo forgiven to the penitent? And if yea, than how fhallic be known without proper names? By what name (hould I have CdWcd Stlencing^ but its own and fo of the reft? Gods power over Confciencc is marvellous that fi;i cannot endure its own name.
The next railing is the word [ HeuticAting. ] And how could I have known if he had net told me that this word is railing I Did not the Bifhops take it for a great fervice ofGod^ and is it railing to name it ? It's true I ufed one word inftead of a Sen- tence for brevity, to llgnifie the Bifhops culpable over doing in proclaiming me-n Hereticks. He that doth not believe that they did not well, nor do not to this day in Cutting off from the Church of Chrift all tbofe whole Countreys of Chriftians called NeftorianSf facohites, Melchites and the Monothelites^nd many fuch I cannot fave him from himfelf who will own all fuch fin and contraft the guilt of it. Hath not B\{hop £p:phafjini made us more Hereticks than he needed/Hathnot BifliopP^///t/?r/«.<.made many more than the Devil himfelfmade? Left this pafs for railing once more I will name fome of them.
I. His lit h fort of Hereticks are thofethat k^pt Ei(\eT-dzy at a wrong time ( as our Brittains <?«^ Scots did.
z. The Millenaries are the iith (fuch as many of the antient fa- therSf and ottr Mr. Medc, Dr. Twifs, &c.)
3. The 2Jth Offered Bread and Cheefe at the obUtl»n,
4. The2%thpf4t New Wine in New Vejfels in the Church.
5. The z^thPut their fingers on their mouths for Silence.
6. The 3 oth thought that all Prophet i ended not with Chrijf^
7. The ^^d went without /fjooes. S. The Novatians are the l^th.
9. The ^ith thought the EpijHe to the Hebrews was not writ' ten by ?iu\,but hy Barnabas or Clemens f and the Epiftle to Laodi^ cea hj Luke.
10. The j^ith are the Orthodox Milctians that Communicated with tbe'Orthodox and fome Arians too^
11, Tbt
11. The /^6th doubted of the diverfity of fteavens.
12. The /^"jth being ignorant that there is another Common Earth inviftbhy which is the Matrix of all things, do thinly that there is no Earth hut this one.
I 3 . The 48/^ thought that water Vf^as the common matter ^ and was alvfaies, and not made with the Earth.
14. The /^$th Herejie denjed that the foul was made before the hodvj and the body after joyned to it : and believed that Gods making them Male and Female ^rff was to be undcrjiood of the bodily Stxes: Whereas (^ faith he) it was the Soul that was made Male and Fe-. male, u4nd the Soul was made the Sixth day and the body the ']th.
15. The ^oth Here fte thought that not only Crace^but alfo the 'Soul itfelf^was by God breached into man.
6. The 5" \fi IS OngtVisQhat thought our Souls werefirfi- celeflial IntelleUs, before incorporate (as Mr, Glanvile and many now.)
17. TJje '^id thought that brutes had fame reafon ( as Mr, Chambre.J
18. The ^^th thought that Earthtjuakes have a natural Caufe,
19. The '^<^th Herefte learned of Triftnegiftus to call the Stats by the names of Living Creatures {as all Aflronome^'S do.)
20. Thi ^6th thought that there were not many languages before the confujion o/Babel,
21. The $yth Hcrefie thought that the name cfa [Torgue^^ro- ceeded firfi of the Jews or of the Pagans.
22. The ^Sth HereJJe doubted oj the years and time of Cbrip.
23. The ^9th thought ( as many Fathers ) that .Angels begat Giants of women before the flood.
24. The 6 ijl was that Chrifii.tns were after ]e\\s and Pagan?.
25. The 6id Hercfie faith that Fagins afc born naturally, but not ChriJlianSj that is^ that the Soul and body of men are not daily. Created by Chrifl^ but by Nature,
z6. The 6 ^d faith that the number of years from the Great tin Was uncertain aid unk^,o vn.
27. Tue 64 thought that the names oj the d^ies of the Wfek^ (Sun- day, Monday, Src.j were wade by Codfrfi and not ^^ Pjgjns, and were named from thi Planets.
2^. The 66:h was that Adam andR^t were blind till Cod opened their Eyes to fee tbfir n.<kedoefs^
29. The 6'jth Hercfie itnfuteth the Sins of Parents to their Chil- dreu,
P X . 30. Ths
(io8)
30. Voc 68 Herefie was of fome troubled about the Bool^ called
Deuteronomy.
3 r. The 69 thought th^t thoft fafifltfied in the Womb were jet conceived iajin.
32. The 7orh Her.fte thought that the World had been frfl di- vided bjf the Qrccki, Egyprianf, andFerfuns.
35. The 71 thought there was a former Flood under Deucalion and Pyrrh-J.
34. The •J1 faith that men are according to (cr under") the iz fgnsofthe Zodiack^ hot kt)owi>igth>it thofe iz fgns are divers Cli' matcSf and habitable R'cions of rhc Earth.
If. The 74 Hertjti is that Chrijt defcended into Hell to ojfer Kcpcntatice there to fwners.
36. The ' 5 dofibted of the ra'Nrc of the Soul, thir.k^.Ng it jpas made of Fire, &:c. (^as mat.) Gittk Fathers did.)
37. The 77 IS of Gods hardening Pharaoh, (OTc. whtre he defcri- ieth the Dominicans.)
38. The "j^ is that the Tfalms were not (^all) made h) David : and it demeth the equality of the P J alms, as tf thtj "were not all written and placed in the order that the things were done.
39. The So Herefie thought that Gods words to Cain [Thou /halt rule over him J w^re properly to be underffood^' whereas the meaning was LThcu fhalr rule over thy own evil Thoughts that are in thy own free Will.]
40. The 81 Herefie did not well underfland the reafon of Gods Words ro Cain, giving him Life.
41. The 82, Hirefe t height that the Stars had their fixed place in Heaven, and th^ir courje, not under flandtng that the Stars are every night brought cut cf fi,me fecret place, and fet up for ufe.^ and at morning return to ihcir fecrei place ^ gain, Angds beingVitfi- dents and Drfpcfers of them ^ Qhat is, asfervants bring Candles in^ ho the room at night andt.ike them cut again.)
42. The 83 doubt ca (as feme Fp.fccpal Commentators) of the Bco/^c/Cnr.riclef, left it had a carnal Senfe.
43. The 85 Htrcfie thought^ that the Soul of man was naturally Cods [mage before Grace.
44. Th: %"] Hi,refte thought^ that really four diving Creatures meufio^ied in the Prcphtts p'aifed Gad.
4 J. The 8 ;> Herefie r I ought that the Levitical Feafls were litte- rally to be underflood, not ^nowing that it was the 8 Feafls of the Church 1h.1t were mcaar. " 46. The
\
(lop)
a6. The 90 Herefie preferred AquilaV Tranflation before the Septnagint,
ATj. The ^i preferred a Tranfiition of thirtj men Befsr.ethe Sep"
tH-^gint.
48. The ^1 preferred an-ither Tranjlation cf fix men before k,
49. Another Hcrejie preferred the TranflAt^on o/TheodotioD at^d Symmaclius before it.
50. Th- 94 Here fie preferred the Scriptures fonnd in d Veffd af- ter the Ci^p' 'i-' 7 i-efoyc ir.
^I. Th'^G'hottgbt that M^\c\\'\ZcAe.ck h^d no Father or Mo- ther, not kjiowif.'g that 11'' s fpol^en of him as learmng that which his Father and AUt her never taught h-m
■ y2. Tb: 97 hold that the I lopt^n Zachariah of F^ifis, is 10 be properly under (rood ; when as it is ent for the jtur F"-(ii oj ihi Church, VIZ. /rr Cliriftmas, F;^fter, Epiphany, ana Pcntecoft.
55. 7*0^98 H:rc fie hold. th, th:t.Soh)mon's great bi>mber cf Wives and Concmines^ is literacy to be understood j whereas it it me Ant but ef aiveifitj of Gifts in th<. Cimrch.
54. The 100 Hcrejie thmqjjt that the Aleafaring Cord, in ^Zh chary, Mcas to he ttnderfloodof meafunng JcTufalem Lt^rallj where-^ as it meant the choice of Believers.
^y The 10 r Herejie not ttniieyfian£if:7g the Myf^ leal Sen je cf the Cherubim <«M<^ Seraphim, inlh'ubj are troKblia atout ir, and in- doubt ( And hers he M}Jl'tcally teHs jmthe A'fyliicalSerje.^
56. The la^ Htr<fie thought that one i^fthe Cberubims came fo Ifaidh, and with a Coaltop.Croed his Ltps, and th.it it was an yJngtl cr yini7nal with Fire ; whereas it is the Two Tejlaments, and tlje Fire ofGud^s Grace.
To^thefe yoHfnay add if you pleafe the Herefte of holding Ant't- podeSy determined by Pope Zachary,; by the Mediation of the holy BifJoopBonlfdce, I ihini^an Eng]ifh man. uindofwhat ptril tt is for Chrtfluiiis to eat "j-tyes^ and R<jokj, and Baigo j, a*id Hares, and Wood horfcs: And La^d muli not bs eaten before it is d'^yed in the Smoal^, or boiled on the Fire : Or if it be eaten unboiled, it mhji not be till after Eafter : And there muft be t.yree great L>cmps fet m a fecret place of the Church, after the ftmtlituue of the Tahcr^ nacle^ which mujl be kept burning j and at Baptifm others lighted by them.
Reader, remember i. That Vkilafirius as well as Ep-.phanins^ was a Bifhop j 2. Yea and a Saint j. whereas very few Bifhops
(no)
of all the Councils bad the honour to be Sainted.
Therefore if you fay that all thefe were not Anathematized by Councils; I anfwer, i. All thefe are Regiftrcd as Heretick«. 2. And they held fas Mr. Dodwell and his Company here do} that he that communicareth with Hereticks, is to be judged x-. Heretick. 3. And that Hereticks are no parts of the Church. And forget not above all the Henncian Herefie, which deter- mineth not only our King, but many Papift Princes to be Here- ticks, for claiming InveftitureF.
And now Reader, I unfeignedly hate uiicharirablenefs, and therefore deny no good that was in (iich Bifhops: But I muftno more be inditferent between Good ai,d Evil, than between Hea- ven and Hell j nor may I judge Chrilt a Railcr, for faying to his prime Apoftle, [Get thee bchmd me Satav, thou art an offence unto ;wf,8fc.i If fhe name of^Hereticatorj'] that if, too rafli pro- nouncing men Hereticks be railing,! will give thee no Charaderj cenfureor nameofthe aforefaid pra(^ice/or lean devifc no name which may not be called RtntUng. But judge of it and call it what you fee caufe.
And again, if you fay, Thefe are not the Decrees of Councils, lanfwer, Thefe are but Flea-bitings to the wounds that the Church hath received from Councils, by Anathematizing.
The next Inftance of Railing in thefe words, which he half repeateth [Either credible Socxdiits and others were fjrcfs Ljarj^ or this Patriarch and St was a downright Knave."} yivf. He him- felf is fo far from denying this, that he makes Socrates and So- z.owen not cnly Lyars, but Lovers of a Lie ; for what tl.ey (ay of St. Thecphilfts : And who is it then that is the Railer ? Read theS-^ory. *
. The next Inftance is, />.9j. that I call Bifhops the [Firebrands of the World.^ yinf. The words are thefe [/ tak^: them to be the Virebxands oj the World, and unworthjr the regard of fober men, who fretendto ktiovo mem Judgments belter than themf-lves, and allow not mens oun deliberate prof.ffions to be the hottce of their Faith."} If they will fay, that you are Hereticks in heart, though your Tongue and Life profefs found Dodrine, what means hath any man to clear himfelfagainft fuch, and keep from their Inqui- fiticn Rjcks or Flames f Is this Railing?
The next Inftance is the Word [Selj-conceited Bifjops} P. 98. Having mentioned the many Logical Niceties necclTary to de- cide
Cm)
cide the Queflion between the Nefioriant, Etitj/chidnsy and the Orthodox, I (aid [/j it not pitj th^t fuch ^eft-ionsjlpould he rm- fed about the Perfon of Chrifi-, by felfconceitea Bijhofs, and, mads necejfary to Salvation, and the l^orld fet on fire and divided by them ^2 Reader, remf mber the Divifion made by it continueth to this day, to the Separation and Condennnatinn of a great pare of the Chriftian World! Add is the name [^fdf cone cued'] in de- fcribing the caufe of this a railing ? How much worfe railcrs are they that will call a Drunkard a Drunkard, or a Fornicator a Fornicator ? Read the fidder words of LudolphMs.
The next railing is [mercilefsy furi't^s Bffoeps, pag. 196] ^nf. There is no fuch word: When I find where it is I (hill fee the occafion of it. Italy, Piedmont^ Ireland^ &c. have tried that there have been fuch.
The laft is pag. 183, C TheConfonnders ofChiiYchss. ^ ^nf I thought I had merited of them by my impartiality and lenity : As after I commend the Wifdom Sfpeaceablenefsof Pope/f(?;7<7- rius, fthough a General Council even for that made him an Here- tick,)n) I here juftly commend the Wifdom and Peaceablenefs of Pope f^igilt:iSt ^'Jio advifed the Council to leave dead men to God (Theod. Mopf. Theodorite and (his"} and not damn them when God hath judged them alreadf,and yet not to admit any of their wrong opi- nions.'} I fay \This wai the right way: If they had all dealt as wife- ly and Chrifi ianlike. Councils had not been the Confounders of the Ckwches:'] Is this railing? At laft they forced Pope Figilius co fubfcribe to them, and it fb confounded the Churches, that a great part oi Italy itfclf forfook the Church of Rome for it, and ^t up another head againft the Pope an i oo Years. Was not this confufion? And muft it not be known?
Reader, as far as I underftand them, the Paraphrafc of thefe mens words, is [If we kindle a fire in the Church, name it nor, much lefs call any to quench it; or elfe we*ll fay it's you that kindle it: fay not you arc excommunicate or filcnced whenyou are, though it be by Thoufands : elfe we will prove that you arc railers : If we lay you in Gaols and take all you have, do not fay, you hurt «x, much lefs you wrong us: take not on you to know or feel whenyou are hurt : elfe wc will have an Aftion of railing againft you.
§8. That which followeth I anfwercd before : But after he finds a notable piece of my ignorance. The Pope inviting the
King
(•II)
King of DffifftArk^ to conquer a Province of Hererickf , I know noc vvho rhev wtre unlefs they were the IV^Ueofs: WcU gncji, faith Mr. y^. WaUo was in ii6d, 8o Years after, ^wj. This will ftrve for men willing to be deceived. Ic wat the Perfons and Re/igiofj, and not the name that I fpokc of. Doth not he kn'i'x that K.iintrius himfelf faith, ihat thole Perfons (called Al- higenfcs. Waid^hjcs^ and other fuch namrs) profelfcd that ttieir way of Religion was Ajiaftoiical, and they derived icdown from Silvefters, xUa is Confi amines time > If I did not j^uefs'^f:!! I wrong no Bi "hops by it: and 1 confefTed mv I<inorance that I kncvf not whom the Pope meant: And why did not thiscallcnt Hiitoriin tell us who they were ?
§ 9. Next he hath met with my Ignorance for/avin^ Vienna tiear fr^nci^ which 18 in the Borders of F'^^nce. yi f i. I'J that any flander of Bifliops or Councils ? 2. Truly I had many a rime read in Council?, that Vienna was in Fraw, and had not fc^rgot it. if Ferraritis and Chenu had not alfo told it me j And vvbether it was the fault of the Punter^ or of my Hiiud, or my A^ mory^ that put near for m^ I leave it freely to his Judgment, fori re- member it not.
And if the manner of 5/«></«/ naming it made me call Or^ I'ropbetarum in GeU/ms a Book, it's no wrong to Epi(copacy\
! :«A : CHAP. XVII.
His Ccnfure oftnf D^JtgfJ^ and Chttrch-Principles^ cofijidercd.
§ r. A S to this his firft Chapter I have before fhewed bow ±\^ falfl/ he reporteth my defign. He faith he never jaw any thing which more nflultth on Religion : Lttcian and fulian ^tve left nothing ha ffo/canda/ons tn all their Libels againji Chri~ (iians, as this CnHtc^-Hijiory i^as r-^ked i^.p : Here is Hoth>ng to be feenin hts Booi^ but the ^vafic-, Jgnoranoe^ Mijiakci ana Jtivious Contentions of the G^v-rtfours of ibe Oiurch,
uinf How falfe thit is the Reader may fee in all the begin- ning, i.', : two Cha[,'ters in the end, and much in the midft, ^vhich are written contrarily to obviate fuch falle thoughts. 2 Is the afccndenc fjrc of PrcliPCS that were growing up tomaturitv till
Gregory
Gregorji the Seventh's dales, the whole Church of God ? Are there no other Chriftians ? Is all that is written againft the Pope andfuch Afcendents, written againft Chriftianity ? Oid Chrift rpeak againft Chriftianity, when he reproved them for (driving who fliould begreateft ? or Peter^ when he counfelled them, as I Pet.'i. And 7^<««/ when he fa id, / have no wafi likj r/ji>ieled i for they all fee k^t heir own thiugs^ and not the things that are fcf{:.s Chrifi^s ? Or when he faid, Demas hath for fake u wf, &-c? Or ^0/6;;, when he fdi J, Diotrephes loved to h.ive the prcht^fKiyience ? Or all thofe Councils of Bifhops which condemned each other, far decplier than I ;udg;e any ofthem ?
What have I faid of Fa(ft or Canons, which Binnius and their other Flatterers fay not ? Was it not there extant to the Hght of all ?
And that I Recorded not all their Virtue?, i. The Hiftory of Councils faith little of them. 2. Muft no man (hew the hurt- of Driinkennefs, Gluttony, er^;. and ^o of Ambitio»and Church- corruption, unlefs he will write {"o Voluminous a Hiftory, as to contain alio all the good done by all the perlong whom he blameth ? I have oft faid, that I wondered that inftead of fo greedy gathering up all the fcraps of Councils, the Papifts did flot burn them all, as they have done many better Books which made againft them.
§2.1 was about to anfwer all his firft Chapter, but I find it fo ufrlefs a work, that I (hall eafe my felf and the Reader of that labour, i. He takes on hirn to anfwer a Piece of a Difpu- tation written about 23 years ago, whereas I have lately writ- ten a Treatife of Epifcopacy, with fuller proof of the fame things, which he nametb, and takes on him to anfwer fome pare of it, and anfwers not : Till he, or foine other, fhew me the iTiiftakes of that, let them talk on for me in their little Veli- tations.
2. Moft that is confiderable which he faith, is anfvvered al- ready in that Book : As his ficftion that "UnKm ylltare in Igna- tiw^ fignilieth not an ord nary Communion Table,c^c. And much more out of Igfiat.tis^ and many more is added, which he faith nothing to.
3. I have before fhewed that he goeth on falfe Suppofitions, that I amonly for a Bifhop of a finglc Congregation, cr againlt ^11, and many fuchi when yet he himfelf confelfeih the con-
Q, trarv.
(•M)
trary, yfa^ftidcth ire for making Tv\'el\rc forts ofBifliop?, an.l being for (ucli as no Party is like to be pleafed witb.
4 The contradictions and miftakes are fo many as would t';re the Reader to perufe an anfwcr to them.
And when hehatii all done with the numbring ofChurchc*, (over-palfngthe full proof of the PriminvcForm of them which I gave as before) he conlefi'eth that even his great elteemed Jcfuite rah/ift.f, [^bcUevss th*t the Citj Church wis but One even ;« Alexandria, /?«./;« Dionyfius'i r;wr, p. (j^.
And while/?. 6-. he makes Pfr4i//«i and A^*i/^y/«j fo much to dilfcr, as to gather their contrary Opinions from the fame word?, and confequently one of them at lealt underftood them nor, I that profefs my felf nv>t comparable to either of them, fpecially PetAVins, in fuch things, am taken for a talfirter, if I mifunderftand a WoJ'd that concerneth not the matter of the Hiftory,
This thertfore being not about Church- Hiftory fo much as againft my Opinion of the Ancient Government, when he hath anfwered the forefaid Treatife of Epifcopacy, if I live not, fome one may reply, if he deal no better than in this.
CHAP. XVI II.
0/ his Second Ch.:pler.
§ i.T)Ag. 78. He would have men believe that it is Dif- J. ci[Jine againft real Herefie, that I find fb much fault with, and afcribe all mifcliief to—
v^w/w. Utterly contrary to my mofl: open Profeffion: It is only making thofe things to feem Hercfie that are none (either Truth, or meer diherence of words, or fmall miftakes,) or cu- ring Herefies by rafh Anathema's, without necelTiry precedent means of Convidion, or by Banifhment or Blood.
§ a. Is this it that you defend rhe Church for, and we op- pole ic for ? When we would have none in our Churches whom we know nor, and that have not perfonally^ if at Age, profclt unierftandingly their Faith. And what is the Difcipline that yoo cxercKc on Hercticks ? It's enough that you know thera
nor.
(''15)
rot, and Co never fi-ouble them. Your Talk and Pamphlets tru- ly complain what fwarms of Hobbifts,Sadduccs,InfideIs,Atheiftf, are among us: Do they not all live in the Pariflies and Diocefles? Doth the Bifhop know themf Are any of them Excommuni- cated ? I could never learn yet how to know who are Mem- bers of your Churches: Is it: all that dwell in the Parifhes? Then all thefe aforefaid, with Jews and Papift?, are in ic : And then why are ten parts of (bine Parifhes futfcrcd without D.f cipline to fhun thp Parilli Church-Communion ? Is it all that hear you? Then f. Ten parts in fome Parifhes,and two or three, or half in others are not of your Church, and hear you nor, and many Nonconformifts hear you. 2. And any Infidel may hear. Bare hearing was never made a fufficient note of a Church- Member. 3. And how can you tell who all be that hear you in an uncertain crowd ? 4. And why doth not your Dilcipline meddle with conftant Non-Communicants ?
3. Is it only all that Communicate with yoii ? i, Thefe are yet fewer, and fo the fir greateft part of many or molt Pdrifhes here are let alone to be no Church members at all, when ihey have been long Bjptized, and no ccnfure by difcipHne })aft on them. 2. Hjw know you your ftated Communicants, when any ftranger may come imqucftioned ? The truth is, ir is Parifh dif- cipline which you will not endure. No wonder if you named ic JJfAchars burden. Bucsr in fi'ip. ArjgliC. and all the Noncon- formifts after him long ftrove for it in vain. Ic is the haied thing. Were it pf-fTible to prevail with you for this, we fhould have little difagrecmeiit about Church Government. But the Popes that have been the greatert enemies of it, have yet glo- ried in a DTcipline to fct up their power over Piincts and Pec- pies, and to have their own wills^ and tread down all that are againftthem.
§ 2, To extenu-?re yf)iat/:e:-77.it:z.hi^(^ Vj very Common with Councils) he tells ys P. 81, rliatT " i^ct him he ^nnthcmA im^ "ports r.o more than that yvedccUre oUr abhorreticc offuchdo^lnnes., ** and will have nothing Common with thofe thatpmfcfs them.']
u4)if. I. We may declare our abhorrence of every known fin and Errour, in fuch as muft nor be an2thcmatized. 2. By (no- thing^ I fuppofeyou meai'i not \^fioti\\Gfame Kifig^CoHntrey^ £.irth,j^ir^(^c,'] but [not the fums ChHrch,ih: fame Cbiftian C m~ ffiniuon,fimUl(trity^ hte^ &(r'] Wher4ie«" you mean [ not the
CL2 fame
Tame God,Chril>,&-c. ] I know nor. But do you think the Ani.- theniarizing Bifhopsfounreafonabie, as to renounce all Ghnltian Communion with men and not tell why? Or to give no better Rfafon than £ \Vc abhor their do^lfinc :] How few Churches or men hjvc nothing worthy to be abhorred, tJiat i«, No Errour or fi 1 ? And muft we renounce Communion with all the Chriftian. world .' No, they were not fo bad : You ufe them hardlier than T. They took them to be no true ChrilVian?, as wanting fome- vvhac ofrhat faith whicli is necelfary to Salvation, and ElTential to a Chriltidn, and fo to have made themfelves no Cliurch-Mem- hcr$^ and therefore are to be fcntenceJ & avoided accordingly.
And how ordinarily do they expound [ Let h.m he ^nAthema] that is[ Cnt off [rem Chnjh ?\ Not only HiUebrana fo expounds- it often, but many before him: Whereupon they commonly a- grce that an Anathematized Hererickis none of the Church, nor can be faved without repentance.
And indeed to renounce all Communion with Chrifts true members not Cut otf from the Church, is a greater fin than I charge on them. Though familiarity and fpecially Communion may be fufpended, while delay of repentance makes the Cafe oi a finrer doubtful.
§ 3 Pug. 8z He begins himfelf with blaming Bifhop l^'iBor^, ** for EKdAngering the "Peace of the vphole Chtirch upon fo light occa- ^^ fim. Valefius ii of opinion ^tha^ it was but by letters of.iochfaiion, ■* ^nfjtf. I think it could be but by Letters of AccuQtion, Re- nunciation, and perfuading others to renounce them. For Bifhops were not then come up to their Commanding Power over otic another. But doth not Mr. M's. here rail upon a Bifliop, in faying the fame of him that I did, if my words were Railing ? Thus you fliall have him all along confetTing much ot that faultinefs by them, which he takes the mention c( by me to be fo bad.
§ 4- He nameth many Council?, v/hich-he faith I pafs lightly, over i then fure I fay no harm of them. Ht thinks it is becaufe I could not, as if he knew it were my will. And fo I am never blamelefs.
§ 5*. But he hath a notable Controverfie agajnft Earonihs^
\vvho thought NovAtns)^2id been a BiHiop (fuch Errours as Ba-
ronius was guilty of by Ignorance, are excufable in one fo far
below him in Hiftory as I am.^ But I congratuJace Mr. M'^^
difcovery,.
(117)
difcoverv, that he was bur a Presbvter: Eur ai! conftfs that he Oidained Felictjfimus Deacon : And here is a Presbyter Ordain- ing: But it was irregularly ! Let it be fo: He faith, that he oujiht not to have Ordained, but with CypnaHy or by his per- miirion. I grant ir. But i. If Q/'^'/^w's permifiian would ferve, then it was not a work alien to a Presbyter : If a permitted Presbyter may Ordain, a Bifhop's Ordination is not necefiary ad ej[e OJficii J and (^o that which is a diforder is no Nullity. 2. And \z feems b^ NovatHs's A(n:, that the NectHky of Epifcopal Or^ dinaro!! was not uiiiveri'aily received. An t I have not yet met with any that make it more nectffary ad cjfe PreshyteratHs qu.im Ditccniiths.
§ 6. Next he mentions another Carthage Councif, where one Vutor dead, is condemned, for making a Frieft Guardian of his CiVild, ard fo entangling him in worldly Atfairs. And he tells you, that all that I can fay againft this, is the rigour of thff^ Sentence j but be diflemhltth, and takes no notice that I men- tion it in praifc of the Bifhops of th jfe Times, who were f^ much againft Clergy-^mens medling with Secular Affairs : Wlut odious Puritanifm would this have been with us ? What I. cite in praife, our Hiltorian cannot underftand.
^ 7. And that you may need no Confuter of much of his Ac?- culatJoaof mf but himfelf, who Co oft faith, 1 fay nothing of B (hops an J Councils, but of their faultSid"^. he here faith as foHowech.
Q" j^fcer this hi gives a Jhort Account ofdoHncils calhd on the " SuhjtH of Kchnpt^z^^tion of Heretickj : And here, to do htm ri^hr%' '•' he IS jiifi^ enough in his Rem^rii^s : Th^ generality of the World '^ was for R:lnptiz.iKg Hsretick^s : And confid^ring whit mamicr *' of men thi firj} Heretic kj were^ it is prohaUe they hadTrn- *' ditioii AS \v:ll ai Reafoii 0,1 their fide. Jioveever^ Mr, Baxter " endeavours fairly to excufe thffe D:jfirences^ and f peaks of the *' Bjhops wiih hjiionr and refpett^ allowing them to he men of emi- ** ncnt Piety and Worth. Had he tsfed the fame Qatidour towards " others, Sec.
Afifw. I, If this be true, a great deal contradidory is untru?.
2. He greatly mifreporteth the C;:ntroverfie : It wus nc£ vfhether Hereticks fboulJ be Rcbaptiztd^ but thole that were Baptiz.ed by PIe>-eti:h, Lnd taken into their Churches. If a He^ retickhad been Bap., zed wiien found by a found Minifter, and
after.
^fter turned to Herefie, he was to be reftored by Repentance without Rebapcizing i and 1 think they all agreed in this. But£ imagine this wns but a lapfe of his memory in Writing.
3. But the Qncltion is, Whether rheBifhops, whole faults I ir.cntion, were of equal Worth and Innocency with thofe whom I honour and praife? Let the proof fhevv.
.1 would he would freely tell us, .^. 1. Whether he think at this day the generality ofBifhops (m ItahtSpain^ Francs^ Ger- rfiavj, TcLtndj the G>v^i^ Church, Mofcovy. ylrmemaySyria, ^c.) are fo commendable, as not to be notably blamed ? ^ 2. If not. When was it that he thinks they ceafed to be generally fo commendable? WcS it in HildihraKa'sTimt^ cr any time be- fore? JJV^ 3. Can you believe that the generality turn from good to bad juft in one Age? Or rather that they degenerated by degree.*? If they were moftly bad in a thoufand,or nine hundred, cr eight hundred, can you think that they were nor drawing to- wards it and near as bad a little before; ^.4 What was it think you in which the Corruption of the Clergy didconfift ? Was ic , not moft in a proud,dcmineering worldly Spiritf Is ir not that that you blame the Popes for?Was not their Afirent theirCorruptior? Sureyou all agree of that. ^..5". And did the Papacy Spring up in a year? Did Dot Leo begin to arrogate, and others after him( to fay nothing nov/ of thofe before him ) rife higher and higher by degrees as Children grow up to m;ir,hood, till in Greg. 7. it came to Maturity ? I know no Prcteftant thatdenyeth this ? .^ 6, And can you or any fober m.^n think that in fo ma- ry hundred years it was only the Blfhop of Rotkc that was fick of this difeafe, and that all or moft of the other Bifhops were Free ? Were they not commonly for afcending with rhcm : Did tioc they in the Eaft ftrive to be greareft ? And the Bifhops of the Weft ftrive to rife with, and by the Pope .? Were they nor, and are they not as his Army ? And did he prevail againft the Pri- mitive Purity and Simplicity without them ? Did not his Coun- cils, and Prelates,as his Armies,do his greareft works? Yea, have they net oft out- dene him, and over-topt him in Mifchief (as in the depofing of Lndov. Fiw againft his will ? fay good Hifto- rians.)
Tell us then at what Age iuft we may begin to difpraife the 8'.(ho[-s. And from that time forward, will you not be as great aRailerasI, and fcandalizc Chriftianity more than Lucian or luUant § 8, But
r"9)
§ 8. But I fomewhat marvel that he is again at it ( reciting Dionyfifiis words whi(;h he thinks I mirtool^ for Eu^chiuii ) That he does not condemn the rcbaptlz.ing of Jlcreticks vehich Wtts .t Tradition of fo great anti(^tiity'. I judge more Candidly of liini than he dotb^f me: Though he fo oft repeat ir^I will not believe that he knew not, that it was not the baptfzingof Hercticks as rucb,that was the queftion; but only of thofe that were b3pti4ed by Heretick5.Yet Iconfefs Enfebim phrafmgir, might tempt one to think ^0 that had not read Q)prian and others upon the quc- ftions. But when Ei^fel;i» s ind Dior,)fKsmcux.\on[}elaptiUn^Hc~ r^r;V;^.f]they m?an only thofe that were by Hereticl^s baptip?j e>.- -tered into the Societies and Vroftffun of f/.r(?//f/^/. If the wcrlt Heretick, yea or Aportate, had been baptized, by the orthodox, Cz/TM/; anj a!l the reft were agreed againft Rebapiizing fucli when they repented. Ths Dionjfin telling Xjfita Rom, of.in ancient Minifter that was greatly troubled in Confcience that he had been faljlf BAptizedby anHereiick( being him(elf no. Here- tick ) and doubted whether he fliould not be Rebaptized, yec faith. He told him he durft not Rebaptize him that had fo long been in the Church and ComtTiunicated,but bid him go on Com- fortably in Communion ( Much like a forementioned cafe puc to mej by fome that never were Baptizeo^but in our undifciplin- ed Parifli Churches had been without knowledge or queltioa admitted long to Communion, whether yet they (hould be Baptized at all : And Dionyftns'i Reafons againft it I cannot an* fwer.
§ 9. And here I may take notice how our new Church-men,. ( fuch as Thorndilie^ Mr. Dodwc/l and all their partners ) whonuU lifie ficraments delivered by one that haih not Canonical Or- dination by a Biftiop of uninterrupted Succeffion from the A- poftle5,do mikc themfelves Hereticks 'm the fenfc of the Roman Church which they allow : For 1. Baptifm is the fnil and molt necelTary Sacrament In their own opinion. Yea AhjHh and too many of old, hurfpccially too many now, take it tobeneceflary to Salvjtion ; 2. If therefore Biptifm be a nullify all that are Baprizfd in EngLnndy ScotUndund all the Prcteftant Churches by fuch as had no (lich Ordainers, mtjft be Bip.ized again or be damned. 5; If they fay, The\ may be faved without it, then i. they confefs Mr. bod'.re!ls Dodtrine to be faife, that faith norc have a Covenant right to Salvation,\Yho have it not by a Sacra-
me.'-iC
(no)
•mfnr from fuch hinds. 2. And they renounce the Do(flrine of the Nect fficy of Bjptifm to Salvation. Buz if they are for Re- bapt'?'ift^ all fuch Proteftant Countries, as neceflary to Salrationj they art uncharitable that do not fpcak it our.
§ 10. He pafTeih by Bifliop Stephens Excommunicating all the Oriental B.lhops oCC-tppadocia, Cilicia^ GuUtit^ and Repro- bating theii 5yn(^ds, for Rtbaptization : Doth he think that even then fome Billiops did not rife too faft ?
§ II. The man that is fo angry with me fcr telling of the faults of Bifhops and Councils, is pag.Sj. angry with me for ■not frying u'orfeagainlt >>ecHndiu his Council ofBifhopsat Cirtai and fjith, I hive not done right to the Cathalick Church : I jserceive the queftion is not, wh'^thtr I may Rail at Bi(hops,but what Bifhops they be that I muitRaii at.
As for the Council at Smuijjj^ 1 believed the being of it no more than he doth : And wheu I am but naming the common Catalogue, he might pardon my modelty for faying that the be- ing of it is a Conrroverfic.
§ 12. Of the Council of Jlliberis he faith butcontracftedly the Yame that I do, that It hath mar,y good Canons ^ and J ome that need a favourable Interpret it ion ^ and is very fevere in fome cafes. This nieafure of ;uft praile and difpraile, is jTadifcd by him that is condemning it in me.
§ 13. As to his Controverfie, whether Bifhopj^ or fuch as iirove to be Bifhops, were the very firft movers of the Doy^a- tijis Controverfie, who fhould be Cifhop, it's not worth the turning over one Book to fearch, as to my bufii.efj.
§ 14. Next he that accufeih me of Railing at Bifhofs, accu- feth me for faying (from fome good Author.^) that a Bffhop of Carthtngc^ Donatus^ was a good man, who he faith wis bad. It's iittle to me whether he were good or bad.
§ I)-. Next he noteih that 1 Err with Binnius and Baronius as to the year of a Carthage Council. I undertook not to ju- ftirte all the Chronology or Hiftory that I tr;'nrcribe ; Whether Optaiiis^ or Binnifis and Baronius hit on the juft year, little care I.
§ 16. I praifeJ a Donatiffs Courc'il of 270 Bifhops at Cwr- iliage for Moderation, agreeing to communicate with penitent Traditors, without Rebaptizing them, and fo doing for 40 years. «$. What was ihcfe mens Hercfic ?
He
(liO
" He faith, 7^/i looks Hkey <* piece of VoUcy than Moderation^ for It had no tendency to peace^but toftrengthen the Schifmr\
u4nf. Who knows how to pleafe men ? When they exclaim againft Separation if men Communicate with them, they judge it but Policy, that hath no tendency to peace. 2. And who is it now that moft raileth at Bifhops ? I am confuted for praifing the moderation of 270 of them, and he is their cenfurer even when they do well^ and their moderation with him is but Policy. E- ven ?s rhey fay, of me, that I conftantly Communicate with their Par.fh Churches to undermine them : Near or far otf, all's one with this fortof mcn^ if you ftickat any thing that they bid you Uy or do.
But lie will not believe that this Council of Orthodox mode- rate Dj!i.:tifis were fo many as zjo. " Becaufe 1. we h.ive only the * ' Authority for it o/Tychonius a Donatift.i. /^'j iwprdnble after " CoHitantine'j fhpprejfton of them that SchifmJhoMld fo fiddcniy " fpread. 3. Lefi it Jhould prove the Churches to be too SmAll: T'ct ** he faith ^ Thefe Schifmatickj fet r^p Churches in every City and " rf/Lige.li
uinf. 1. It's faid 7)f^<?«/«-.f confeiTeth this Council, becanfe the later Dcn^tifis would fain have buryed the memory of it: But that it depends only on the Credit of Tjchomus^ I think depends only on your Credit : 2. ^agHjJine that reports it, honourerh this 7)c/65;;/*jj and reciteth an Expofition of h-is of the Angels of the Churches,i?^z;.2.and 3.which I fuppofe difpleafeth you more than his Donatifm. 3. It fcems you would have believed fomc ftranger that knev/ it not, rather than a Donatift thzi fpeaketh againft the will andlntereft of his party. 4. It rather fecms chat the X>tf«^f//?j were the greater number of Chriftians there be- fore Confiantituh time, and like the Papilts therefore counted themfelves the Catholicks and the others the Schifmaticks. ConfhantsnesVTo\\\h\uon did no^- fuppiefs them. 5, Therefore the numeroufnefs of their BiOiops and fmallr.efs of Churches, rather fhcweth what was the (tateof rhe Churches before worldly grcatnefs fwelled them to that difea(e,wh;ch was the Embrio or infancy of Pope: \\
§ 17. Whether the Donatifls belike thePapiOsor the Se- paratifts ( much (efs to the Nonconform:!:?) if the Reader will but perufe what I have faid and what Mr. AL hith faid, I aiit content that he judge without more words.
R § 18. He
(Ill)
§ 18. He paffctb by divers Councils becaufe he could not fay that I blame them: And he pafleth by Conflantine^tE- plftlc to j^Uxandcr and Arinsi which raiUth at them more than i do ( in his fence.)
As to the Council of huodicea, it is not two or three fuch words as his that will make an impartial man believe that the Churches were like our Diocejfcs^ when every Convert before baptifm was to fay his Catcchifm to the BilTiops or his Presby- lers: Or that the Command that Presbyters go ftill with the Bi- fhop into theChurch,and not before him,do not both imply that t'.icy were both together in every Church.
But he will have it confined to the Cathedral i And when I fay, There were long no Churches but Cathedrals, he faith he will not differ with me whether they (hall be called Churches or Chappels. Bjt the difference hdt re : They fay themfelves that ABifhop and a Church were then Relatives : And when they have put down many hundred Churches under the Dtocefan^fov- footh they will gratifie us by giving us leave to call them Church- es. As if they put down an hnndred ro one of the Cities and Corporations, and then give us leave, to call them Corporati- ons when they are none. Yet b'ufh they not to make the world believe that they are that Epifcopal party ( who put dow^n a thoufand Ch^irches and BiQiopsin fome one Dioccfi ) and lam againft Biftiops.
^'ea when they have not the front to deny but that every Ci- ty then had a Bifliop ( that had Chriftians, ) and that our Cor- porations are fuch as they called Cities, Yet when we plead but at leaft, if they will have no Chorcpifcopi, they .will reftore a Church and Bifliop with his Presbyters to every fuch City with irs adjjcent Villages, hatred, fcorn and derifion goeth for a Con- futation of us j Though we do it but to make true difciplinea poflTible thing $ Which they call Iffuchar^ burden, and abhor it, and then fay, Ic is poflTible and pracftifed.
§ 19. As to the ^ow4« Council which he believeth not, he might perceive that I believed at leaft their antiquity as little as he : But the Canons arc fo like thofe of following Couricil? that fuch it's like were foraetime made.
* And whereas I noted that their condemning them that wrong timed Eafter, would fall on the Subfcribers to our £«g///fe Li- turgy^ where 2000 are Silenced for not Subfcribing, the man
bad
.had no better anfvvers to give, than thefe r. Ti?at IJloohU bavefaid the Alm^nackcMakers. As if he would have had men believe that Falfliood,that it was the Almaaack Makers and not onr Liturgy changers that were deceived.
2. [ ^Us ] one year they miftook^ ] As if he would Perfwade men that their rule failcthbut one year, which faileth oft.
3. T/je Silenced Minifters have little Reafon tothMk^him orary body clfe^t hilt giveth this Redfott oj their Separation. It's grange thisjhot^ld trofiUe their Conjcierxes that Care no more ycrEafter than for Chriftmas,^/*^ only that it Falls upon a Sunday.
Here fee his Hiftorical Credibility, i. Would he perfwade men that we give thit Reajon alone ? Or \Yhy may it not be one with twenty more ?
2. He intimateth that I give them as reafons of Reparation: As if to be Sile»ced,yveT€ to fepar at e^znd to be pajfive were to be a^ive.
3. He intimateth that as Nonfubfcribers I and fuch other are . Separ i ils^which is falfe j While we live in their Communion.
4. He taketh on him to know our judgment as againft Eafter ( but for S:rnday ) when we never told him any fuch thing.
5". He intimateth that it's no credit to us that we make Con- fcience of delibera:e [irokiTiig.AJfent to a known untruth in o- pen matter of fad : Ara if cht Contrary be their Credit, I wifh they may never be WitnelTej againft us.
6. He intimateth that a man ih3t is not for keeping Eafler, is the lefs excufable, if he will not Profefs a known Falfhood a- bout the time of Eaffer. If Confcience flood a man in no ftead for greater Ends than worldly wealth and eafc and honour^ who would not be a Latitudinarian Confoi mift ?
§ 20. Next when Iden^^ belief to thefe Councils, he blames me for making advantage of the Hiilory of them. Asifhefaw not that I do it,but ad homir.em to ihePapifts who record them as if they were really true. For it is principally the Papifts (from Infancy to Hildehrands Maturity )againrt whom I write.
§ 21. He next comes to the Novatians as my Favourite feft^ Kn^[_Favourite'} may fignifie to the Reader a truth or diFalJhood, I. Doth not every Ghriftian Favour them that have kifer Er- rours more than them that have greater?
2. Do I not as oft as he profefs my great diflike of every fed, as a feA?
R 1 J. Do
3- Do I not difclaim this Novatian fcft and their opinion;, and own the Contraryf
4. Ir feems he raketh me to be too Favourable to fotncBi- fhops and their followers; The queftion is but who they be that mult be favoured ? I ii'sy come to be taken for a Novatian by fuch mrn as well as Socraies and Soz.omen.
§ 22 Here f wi hout rai'ing ) he bedawbs Novatut and Novatian to the purpufe wirh horridCyimts^^. Fharifalc^l Stinf, Ferjured, and vvhat nv^t? Bjt what ! Were rhey nor Epifcopal ? * Yes, hedoub;s ir not : It was for to be a Biihop that Novatian wrought his Villanies ; (what if 1 h^d thus bedaubed the Epi- Icopaf ?) But yet the very word [ Puritan ] is of ufeto him, 77///, faith he of iVot/^/wj, was the tender Conjcience of the an- ihof of the Ancient feSi of the Puntams ? Can you tell who the manaimeth at .? Is it NonconformiIts?A^o^'4rtt/& Novatian were Prelatifts, and never fcrupled more Ceremonies than our Pre- lates impofe. Who then can it be but men that in general, though Epifcopaljdo profeft Tendernefs o( ConfiicNCc? And there I leave them, without the application.
§ 2 3.'But thisDefender of Surgent Prelacy, fticks not Co difgrace thofe whom he fcemcth to defend. It was three of the Catholick B.fhopsthat Confecrared A^o^'^f/-?;;, and ('without rail- ing) he calls them 77^?^^^? plain ignorant Bipops. Tocfs good men f^fpciling no trtci^^ And overcome with his good entertainment, with too much i'Vine and p?rjw^fl'ns, were forced at Lift to Uy their hands on him ^nd Confecrate him B ifhop f]\ . Igtjorant Bifhops; z.Overcome with too mnch Wine^ and entertainment : 3. And with perfwafion: 4. To do fuch an Ad as to Confecrate fo bad a Bifhop,&" that in liich a city as Rome, and that without the Churches choice or Conlent. Hovvmucli worfe have I faid of Bifhops ? But, yec \jhey were good men."] But if they had been Nonconformifts, what n.mes had been bad enough for them? No doubt if they had been ftrqL'eOred und caft out( for their too much wine and fuch ordination)ho\v odioufly might the agents have been dcfcribed as enemies to the Church and Pcrfecutors ofgood men.
§ 24. Yet further this New Bifhop engageth men to him by Oaths, enough tofi-rikea horror in the minds (?/f^e Reader, faith he;
See what a man may do for a Biftioprick ? It reminds meof many good Canons that forbid Bifhops (wearingtheir Clergy to them ; And of our £t C^t^ra QuU in 1640 never to Confcnt to
- - any
any alteration, ( to fay nothing of our times) and the old Oath of Canonical obedicnce.lt ftrikes horror into mens minds now that we fcruple thefe.
§ 2j. He makcth the Novatian dodrine hUfphemous (with- out railing ) and me too Favourable in reprefenting it. As to that I fuppofe he is not ignorant how great a Gontroverfie it is what they held, even among the greateft Antiquaries, and Ene- mies of Schifm and Herefie. And I ufe in accufations to meet with moft truth in the moft Favourable interpretations.
And here I will tell our Hiftorian, that while I take leave to diflent from his accufation,it fliall be but by tke authority of thofe whom I judge as well acquainted with Church Writers and Cu- ftomes as any that ever Mr, M. or any of his Mafters read, not excepting more knowing men than Valefim.
The firft is D. Petavius in Ep-iph.in. de C^th. Where firft he tells us, that no lefs nor later men than Tno[t of the ancient Fathers, zni SpeciAUf ih?: Greeks y \r\\^0{ik Novattts 2iX\A Novatian for one, or thjughr the (eel had a fingle Author j naming Etifei?. Theodoret ^ Epiphtn. Nax^ia^u Ambrofc^ -Anjiin, VhiUflrnti^ yea and Socrates. Yet half as great a miftake in me would have been (corned.
2. Againlt Epiph, and Thcodoret he faith [ Non ea Nova-- tiani Opimo fttit ,eos cjui gravioris pecc^ti noxam comraberenty ab^ emni Jpe confecjuendA faint is excludi : Nam & ilhs ad capeffendam pxnitemiam hortari foleb^int : Et tit Divinam clemcntiam lachi'J' mis ac fardtbm clicerent identidcm admohebant ; Sed hoc unnm ne- gabant 9 ad Ecclc/ia fideLum ContMunionem rscipi amplius opor- te^e : NeejHs penes Ecclefiam reconciliandi jus ulicm ac potejlatem ejfc : <^ipps unicam ilLim peccatornm indulgentiam in illiits ar^ bitrio vcrfiri, cjha per B^jptifm^m obtinetur -, which he provcth out of Socrates, Ambrofc . And he faith, that they were not counted Hereticks for wronging the lapfed, by denying them Communion, but for wronging the Church Power, by denying the Power of theKcyes for their Reft tution. (Like enough.)
The other fliall be that excellent Bifliop Albafpineus Obferv,- lib, -L.Obferv, 20, 11. p. (mihi) 130, 131. [^ Advert ant Neva- tianorum err or em non in eo pofnum, quod dicer ent ftc^ae lapfum^ neque excommunicatum in morte d peccatis liberandum j fed h£^re- ttcos ideo habttoSy qHodopinarcnti^ir Deum ipfum EccUfia neque re- mittjndorum mqtie rctinendottim ptccatoram CApltaUmn pate (i ate m
Cfpuiwqw
'" idplam^uefccife : uitcjUe h£c in eo fuit viguitque iorum hdrejts^ tjui quanquam illttd confequeretttr ex eorum fMfa Opinione, ut ab- folutioncm non Urgirentur^ tamen hoc eorum faHum tjon htrifis no- mine tifftcicHcium erat, ncque ad h£rejln Accedebat ob aliafn-csHjam qUitf» quod d fonte illo & quaji capite hare/in o/ente dimandrar, eo tn.ixtme quod Novatiani crederent id EccUJis a Deo non futjfe pr^t- (litHm i7* coKcejfum • qus c.tfdfa foU fait cur praxis ilia cen difci- plintt N'ovatsanorumrariohxrejis nomen notioncmque non cjff^geret.'^
The Clergy felt their own Intereft^ and the NoVAtiansA(i:\K<i their Power to retain, as Well zi forgive capital Crimes, and thought their Keves extended not ^o far.
And that the Cafe of the lapfed was it that they began with, Epiphanii^i himfelfand others agree.
Ar.dOl'f^rv. 19. he fliews that Ncvatianus did this agdinft his former Judgmcntj in Envy and Fadion againft the Bifliop,be- caufe he mift of being Bifhcp himfelf. A Bilhoprick was it tbtt provoked him to deny this Pardoning Power in Bifhop?.
Aid ylibafpiKeni hath in many antecedent Obfervations fticwedj how little, if any thing at all, the Novatians di^tvtd clfc from the Antient Church in the ftriiftncfs of their Commu- nion, and avoiding finners: So that he thus begins his fifth Ob- fervation [^IncredibtUa prope [t*nt ^ quA his capittbus ditluri frmus : fed tamen ita vera & certa^ & qua c/ij^fqne animAm fummam in admirationem rapiantj Eccl<ff.i7» primis tewporibHs nulla vel Ic' viffim4 labe inquinatam ffiiffe y quin ita ilUbatam intaBarnqne Ut tn>}ii ratione^ cm 4 & jolicitttdtne profpexerit^ filii ut fhi q/tam d Baptifmo hauferant pftritatcm eam nulla afperfam vitii alicujus macula &fa:dttatc confervarent^ Imo ea fe veritate adhibita ut fugiendum fibi deteflandumque peccalum^ quovis terrore propcjito pMrarent. Non folum autem multa crimina peccataque nume- T'ibantur, quorum futhorcs artificcfque abfolutionem ontnem defpC" rabarit^ fed & ea quoque quibus ignofcet poenitentiam concedi opor- tere ctvffteratf peccata ita ulcifcebaturjittt non ni(l femcl eis qui ea commifffent, unitts posnitentitt copiam faceret Ecclejtay hoc efl Jipofi Baptijmum lethaliter peccaffent. ^uod fi cum Ecclefta rcconci' liatus in idem aut aliud mortale peccatum itcrum proUberetur^ ita in perpctuumtribus primis fdculis ab EccLfa rcpulfam fercbat, ut non nifi poenitentid, & in morte precum quA reltqua erant fubfidia expeflandajfbi duceret^nulla abfolutione dataqudt infpemvenia il- ium erigeret, ] And he adds, that many that cannot deny his
proofs,
proofs, yet will not believe that ever fuch a Difclpline was ufed.
But this was in the three Firft Ages : After, when Profperity and Wealth ticed the ungodly into Bifhops Seats, and into the Church, the Cafe was altered, and as he fhews, Obferv, 6. the Cafe was (b altered to the loofe extreme, that Criminals were admitted toties quoties. And in his Notes on Tertullian he fheveth, that this was a difference between the Orthodox and theHercticks, that the Orthodox did diHtftHlturnqptedcUbcrare ^uos in. foc let at em ejkfdcm Ecclcjid^ & corporis recipere debeant-^ut the Hereticks were ready to take all that came. Yet I fuppofe not near fo loofe as thofe Dioccfan and Parochial Churches that know not who comes, but without queftion take all that will but come to the Rails and kneel : And when by the magnitude of Diocefs and other means, they have fecured themfelves a- gainft the trouble and pofTibility of Paftoral Difcip!ine,the Prieft wipes off all guilt with a word, and faith. If they were Atheifts, Hjbbifts, Sadduces, Whoremonger?, common Blafphemers, Drunkards, it's no fault of mine, I kno v it not j and no won- der, when he knoweth not who in the Parifh are his Flock.
TtiuE'^fe^iuj himfelf and others named by Petavi;u m'l^ook the Novatians is no wonder to thofe who read the volumes of- palpable Falfliood written againft thcNonconformifts in this pre- fent age,and hear witnelfes at the barfwear thofe Plots andCon- fpiracies &: Treafons againft men, from which grave and confcio- nable J'jries quit them.
But me thinks when Mr. M. had faid that Socrates is anHifio* r tan of good Credit and acquainted voith them'] he much forgot his own ends when he recited thefe words as his [ Some took p Art with Novatian, and others with Cornd'iuSi according to their Jeveral inclinations and Ccurfe of life : The loafer and more licentt' out fort Favouring the mtffi mdfilgtnt difcipljme^the other of mire an- ficre lives incliningmofi to tha Novatian fevsrity.'] Good ftil), I now fee that the Novatians indited were Puritanes, though E- pifcopal, and I accufe not our accufers of any fuch Herefie. But I confefs that I fhall believe a Novatian Hiftorian, who being fo find againft fin muft be ftrid againft a Lie, rather than thofe that Scorn fuch PUritanifin, and deride the Perfon that cannot fwallow a bigger Pill.
And when Mr. M. labours to (hew out of Socrates that it- was
was not only Idolatry that they ccnfured, he labour* in vain : It was the btginnirg of their Schifm that I mentioned, and not 'Socrates his Age.
As to the judgment of the Council o^EliUrisznd all the three Firft Ages, I have told you what ^Ibafpine faith before. If you can confute him, do j I am not engaged to defend himi but I believe him.
§ x6. I conclude this and the former Chapter with thii Counfel to the Scorncrs of Puritanes : Never truft to your Titles and Order, how good focver, without a careful holy obedience to the Supreme Law-giver, either for Concord on Earth, or Salvation in Heaven. True Parifh-Reformation is the way to fatisfie godly perfons better than either Violence or Separation. Butifyouftill obftinately refift Parifh-Difcipline and Reforma- tion, ypu muft have Toleraiion of fuch as will not confent to your Corruption, or elfe perfecure the beft to your own ruine. Theophilns Parochialis hdthCi'\d more for Parilh Order agair.ft the Regulars, and Priviledged, than you have done againft the Se- pararifts. And yet the Confraternity of the Or.ncri.ins fet up in every Parifh, was the beft way he could devile to recover the ftate oflapfed Parifhes: As the priviledging of Fry.ars was the Pope'i lalt Remedy inftead of Reforming his corrupted Cliurch.
C H A p; X I X.
of the Council of Nice Andfome following*
§ i.'npHls Hiftorian having put hlmfclf intoa m'litary pofture J feemcvh to conceit that every word proceed? from an Enemy. And firft he fcigneih me to make CchftantiKc judge that \_the Bijhops and Cour.cils were of little nfc J when 1 had no fuch vfuYd or thought , bur the contrary.
§ 2. Next hehimfelfconfefleth that which I bl;me thofe Bi- fliops for i Even thofe Libels which they Concent ioully f fiered agdinft one another j to have raifed Quarrels inftead of Peace, and which Confl^iotine caft altogether into the fi/r \\iihout read- ing them. And when he confefleth what I fay, is he nop a Rai-
kr at the Bifliops as much as I in that ?
As
As to his excufe thatf It is no wonder confidering their great dijfentions in Religion^ &c.'\ I eafily grant it : But in this excufe he faith ycc more againft them.
§ 3. Becaufe I faid that Ath^znafim differing fromCoNftafj^ tine about the reception of -^nW his repentance [ Canfed much Calamity ] he feigneth me heinoufly to accufe jithanaftm which I intended not : Even a juft a(^ion may [^Canje Calamity ']is Chrift faith his Gofpcl would bring divifion. All his labour in juftifying udthanafiu fighteth but with a fpecftre of his own ima- gination. Andyetlam inclined to think that if an Hypocrite Arim had been connived at to pleafe fuch an Emperor, the death o^ y^rius would have left the Church quieter than it didjthough he here thinks greater rigour had been fafer : And I think mul- titudes of SadduceSj Infidels and debaucht Perfons in one of our Di6cefles, yea or Parifhes, is worfe than one jirias while Hy- pocrifie reltrained him from Venting his opinion.
§ 4. And here he that dreamed I accufed yithanapw^ really accufcth Coriflamine as trnpoftd on by a C(untcrfeit Repentance and rcJloriKg tie incendiary to opportunities of doing mifcbitf^ and ht'w.^ againft the means ih'd^migbt fhive ended that fatal mifcbief. Bjt I confefs Conftantine was. no Bifliop, and therefore this is not an accHJation of BiJhops'oTZ railing at them.
§ 5. Next when I had fully opened the Cafe of the MeUtians out o( Epiph.viim on prerer.ee ofabbreviating,he leaves out that which he likes nor, and tells us how the Nonconformifls have advantaged the Papifts : If I thought the man believed himfelf I would try to undeceive him- In the mean time Idcfire him to think again which party moft befriends thePapiftsj "They '*that are for a reconciliation with them on thefe terms, that " there may be acknowledged an Univerfal fupreme human '* Power over all the Church on Earth, and the Pope to be Pnn- " cipium Vnitatisand Patriarch of the Weft,and he fhall abate us '* the laft 400 years Impofitions, and all be accounted Schifma- " ticks that unite not into this Church} and that all the *' Preacher? in JE;;^//rW ihall be f:lcnced that will not fwear.pro- ^' mife, profefs, and pr«(ftif(r all that which is hcreiiripofed on ^' them, Plough they think it heir.cns fin.and others thin-k it but " matter inditierent, and all the people fliall be proffcutcd that " hear them} and that this Divifion ihall rather weaken the ^' Kingdomj and advantage the Papifts^ than the Confcifnces
S '' of •
^
('JO)
" of men, as wife and faithful as themfclves (hall be cafed of " fuch Impofitions, or they fuffered to Preach the Gofpcl of ** Chrirt ; Or thofe that being condemned to fuch Silence, Pri- ** for.s and Ruine, had rather be delivered, though a Papift be " delivered with them, than bedeftroyed.] Methinks we arc ufed by thefe Church-Fathers, as if they fhould determine that a great part of the Protcftants who are moft againft Popery, fhdill J)e hangeJ, unlefs the Papifts will beg their parJon, or cut the Ropej which if thefe Proteftants accept, they fhall bcfaid to be the Promoters of the Papifts.
§ 6. A? for all his Exceptions againft £/>'^'&4«;;//, they are no- thing ro me, who did not undertake to jultifie his word«, but tranfcribe them j nor think it worth my labour now to examine the Cafe of fo fmall concernment.
§ 7. When fome have blamed me for condemning the Ayiaut too much, he faith^ that I fay fome what very much to the dif- advantage of the Dodrine of the Trinity, but he was fo gent!c as nor to tell what it was, unleft it be telling what Petavins the Jefuite faith : About that I am wholly of his own mind. But the exprefs words which Petavius d; Tr'init. cireth out of all thofe Old Fathers, cannot be denied : And verily they are fo many, and fo grofs, that unlefs his Argument fatisfiedmejtr/z:. \T^he Votes of the Coutjcil office JJ^ewed what was the Cowwofi [er.ce 0/ the Churchy better than the words of ail thofe Fathers'^ I (hould think as Philofiorgins in point of Hiftory, that there were no fuf- ficient confuting ofthe Brians from thofe Fathers, though fbme- times they have better words. Vifible words cannot be denied, even where they muft be lamented. That's the ditTercncc be- twecn Mr. M's. Opinion of Hiftory and mine.
§ 8. As to the Andiansj 1 recite but Epiphaniush word?, who in other cafes is greatly valued by thefe Accufcrs : They will believe what he faith 0^ Aer'nt-f. And as ro what he faith to the contrary oat of Theodoret^ he may fee that he faith all by hcarfay, and faith_, that They hid that which he accufeth them of, and were Hypocrites, profcfllng too much ftriftnefs, /. 4. c. 91 which is ftill the common way of accufing the beft, againlt whom inftead of proveable faults, they turn their ftrid;neft into a crime. Epiphanita is much more particular than Theodoret in the ftory.
§ 9. The reft which he nolcth of my words ofthe Council
of
of ivr/cjy have nothing needing a reply. Tetavitu hath fully proved that the Chorepifcopi were true Bifliops. But now we are odioui Presbyterians if we would bur have a Bifhop in every City, that is, Corpcrition, Defiring only that Difcipline might become poiTible. And for this we are proclaimed to be a^ gainft Bilhops; that \s, faith this fort of men j They that would have but One Bidiop over a thoufand, or many- hundred, or fcore Churches, arc tor Epifcopacy j and they that would have every Church have a Bifliop, as of old, or at leaft every great Town, and (^o would have twenty, or forty, or a hundred for one, arc againft Epifcopacy : And that which is ftrange i8,There men are believed.
§ lo. I praifed the Council of Gangra for condemning fomc Superftitions, and he fjith, I have nothing againft it : Whether it be a Cowmai Mifi.-ike that Arius was here received to Com- munion, Tie not ftay to examine.
§ 1 1. When he hath weighed ail he can for the Synod at ^ntioch^ he is forced to'confefs thar they were a packt com- pany of Bilhops, that complied \y\ih Conflarstius and Ealebins'i Contrivance. And what do 1 fay worfe of them than he ? As to the Canon againft Priefts or Deacons not gathering AfTem- * blies againft the Bifhops will, I am for it ;\s much as he, if the Bifhops and Churches be fuch as they were then j but not in France nor / alj.
He faith, / leave my flhg behind w«?, and end very angrily ,• for tliefe only words [This is thar fire ngth'] menioning the Coun- cils (^that was againft yltbanaftfts) (upprelTingDiflenters as Se- ditious by force. I (^ce angry men think others angry when they are^ and are ftung if we do but name their ftinging us : As if Prifonsand Ru'ine were norfo (harp a fting as thefc four words. If it be not their ftrength, why do they fo truft to it, as to con- fefs that their Arguments and Keyes would do little to uphold their Prelacy without it. In the dales of the llfurpers I moved for a Petition, that when they granted Liberty of Ccrfcience for fo many others, ihey would grant Liberty for the full exer- cife of the Epifcopal Government to all that defired it. But the Epifcopal Party that I fpake to,wouId not endure it, as knowing what bare Liberty would be to theirCaufejUnlefs they could have the Sword to fupjjrefs thofe that yield not to their ReafonF. § 12. Next he faith, I fpare my Gall for aboiit a dozen
S 2 tiiiics.
time?, not regarding how it contradi*fl« his former Accufationi. But whereas I recite the horrid Accufations of the Council ac Philippopjl'j 2ga\nA y^tfjanjfuf, PMilus dii\<\ Afarcel/us^ of open Matters of Fad, as Murder, Perfccutions, Burning of Churches, Wars, Flames, Dragging Priefts to the Mirker-place with Chrifts Body tyed about their ncck5, Gripping Confccrated Vir- gins naked before a concourfc of People [and offering to fend mefiengers on both fides to Try ihe Fadl:, a^id to be themfelves condemned if it prove not true] he is otfcnded that 1 feem fiaggcred at this, Aihan^'.fius having deteded before ^o many Subornations, &c.
u4r>[n\ I did not fay that 1 was ftaggered, much lefs doubted which of them did the wrong : But that a Reader may by fuch a Temptation be aftoniflicd, and confounded whom to believe. But d d I ever rail more at Bifliops than he here doth ? What I. So great a number of Bifhops, 2. Deliberately in Council, 3. To affirm fo vehemently, 4 Such matters of open Fa(ft, J.. And offer it to the Trial of Witneflcs of both fidesjandail this to be falfe^ 6. And to be but the confequent of former Sub- ornations and Perjury j can you name greater wickedntls ?
O^;. But t bey were ^r/^«/, ^i}f\v. But they were Bifhops. The worfc for being Brians. 2. Yet called but Semi-Brians^ and renounced --^r/^j, and pretended Reconciliation. 3. And they were the Oriental part of the Council at Sardica, called Gemral by the Papifts. 4. And they were believed againit Mar- celhts by Bafil and Chryfoflom : But all that I cite it for, is to tell the Reader what a doleful cafe the Church was fain into, by the depravation of the Bifhops. Did none of thefe profefs before to be Orthodox ? I do not fay that it was ^t/atcnns Bifhops that they did all this, but that multitudes of Bifhops were tlien be- come the fhame and calamity of the Church.
§ 13. Next he fcorningly accufeth me lor giving too foft a Charader of the CircumctlUansi and faith, A-fj A'loderation and Charity may extend to John of Leydcn. And he calls them The Mofl barbarous and defperate yUlains that ever defamed Chrijiia- tiity by ajfdminq- the Tit He. 2
u4nf. I. This is the man that faith I rail. I named fo many and great fins of theirs, that I little thought any Reader would bave thought that I fparcd them too much. i. Yet they were DonatiSls,^^^ of them Optaws blmfclf faith, /;^. 5. [" ^vM "voi
*"' & Apud noi Vna e^ Ecclefafiic4 converfatio j Communes Le- •^ Ei tones : E^dem Fides ; ipft Fidei Sacr amenta^ eadem myfle^ '* ria] that is, faith Alhafpins [Vn-i EcclcJi.iFtica difciplina : Eo- demmodo Scripturas ExpUcamns : Ipft ReguLi Fidei : Idem Aij- lierium quod confertur & Jigniftcutur^ & eadcm res Vijlbilts per qnamres fpiritrt^is dAtm'] m li^. ^.p. ry3.
And faith Optatus, lib, l. [_Ncquis ' die at me inconjlderAte cos fratres appe.'Ure, qui tales pint, .^tmvis & illi tion negerjt & omnibus notum (it^ quod nos od/o habea-jt^ & execrentu\ & nclunt fe dicifratres nofhos j tamen nos recedere d timors Dei non poJfM- mus—Junt igitur fine dfibio fratres qajmv.'s non honi : .^are nemo miretur eos me appelUre fr.ttrei^ qui non p-jjftnt non effs fratres.
Obj. But the Ci.'cumcciUans were worfe than the reft.
u4nf\v. They were of the fame Religion, but the unruly fu- rious part in their pracflice : And Optaius faith, Though they would tdil in words [^pd unum qu\Asm vix invraimus cum quo per liter.is, vcl hoc mouo loquitur ;] AnJ (^o goes on to ciH V^r- menian his Brother. And it's worth the confideratioii how much •^/(^jj^/.';i? includeth in Fraternity ^ nate firft", & tnObfervat,
3. And they were O.ihodoY tierce Prelatifts, doing all this for the preheminence of their Bifhop*. And what Kfomi Pre- latifls now fhould hurt their Brethren more than the Circmncel- Lans did, muft I call them therefore thimofi barbarous rUlaiHs that ever defam:d Chriflianity. yirtgufhne fjith. They made a Water of fome Salt or (harp thing, and caftin mens Eyes in the night in the ftreets : No man can think that this barbarous adtion was done by the moft, or any. but fome furious fools: They fay that they would wound themfelves to bring hatred on the Cathol;ck«, as if they had done it, or drove them to it : He thit knoweth what Self love i?, will believe that this was the 'cafe bur of a few; and an eafier wrong than fome that abhor them do to their Brethren. And muft we needs Rail indeed a- gainft fuch numbers of hurtful Prelatifts f What if any rude per- fons of your Church fhould be Whoremongers, Drunkards, Elafphemers^ and feek the Imprifonmenc of their Brethren, yea their Defamation and Blood by Perjury, fhould the Church be for their fakes fo called, as you call them? I fpeak them no fairer than O/^r^r^j did.
§ 14. When p. j7. 1 commend the many good Canons of the ^/r/c*i« Councils, andche faithfulncft of theBifliop?, he noteth
none
(«}4)
Donc of this, becaufe ic provcth the untruth of hii former Ac- cufaciona.
And when I name twenty five or twenty fix more Councils of Cifhopjt, ro:iieGenci\'l, and fome lefs, which were for Arianifm, or a conij/lijnce with them, he defendeth none of them^ but ex- cufcih them, and faith, that [jhcji were not much to the honour of the Chfirch : Tet the evil EJids and Confc^uences of them arr ra- ih:r to le cha^'gcd on the Arian Emperour^ than the BifJjops,^
yJufw. I. Ibis is the (anrie man that clfcwhere fo overdoes me in acculing the Brians.
2. TheEmperour was Erroheous, but faid to beotherwifc viry commcrdibie. And is it not more culpable for Bi(hopsto Err in the Myfteries of Di'Jinity^ than a Lay- man ? And for many hundred to Err, than for One AUnf And do you think that the B fliops Erring did not more to feducc the Flocks, than the Emperour's ?
But he faith, that [^/f many fell in the Day of Try al, they are 'i\.ther, to be pitied^ than ir.fdtcd cicr^ for we have all the fame infirmities^ 6cc.
ylnfw. lv\rjtc in pity of them and the Church, without any iiifultin?, purpofe. If any now to avoid lying in Prifon, and ftar- vinc: their Famiiicf, by Famine, fhould furrender their Confcien- ces to finfui Subfcriptions afrer a Siege of Nineteen years, Ifhall I<icy them, and not infult over them. Nay, if I fpeak of thofe that lay the Siege, and call out for more Execution, 1 do it not ir.fukingly, but with a grieved heart for the Church and them.
But when I largely recited HUlaYy''s words of them, he fairb, [Thi ^ccQum is very f ad'] (and what faid I more?) i.>r, faith he, yet fich as Jhews rather the Calamity^ than the Fault of the Bifkops."}
^nfw. Nay then, no doubt, it's no fault to Conform. Hillary then, and all that kept their ground, were in a great fault for fo heavily accufing them. And Co the World turned Anans in (hew (as hierom and HUUry fpeak) is much acquit^ and the Nonconformifis are the faulty Raiiers for accufing them. It had been enough to fay, // ^as no Crime j but to fay, no Faulty i« too gentleil^for the fame man that fo ^talkt of Perjured Arians before.
§ I ) . Yet becaufe he is forced to confefs that it was mofi hy faroi all the Biflioj)S, even in CohhcUs (he of Rome not ex- cepted)
ccpted) thar thus fell, he muft fliew how it offended him to be forced to it, by telling the world how contentious I hAvebeen agahift all forts and Se^is (the firft is falfe, and he knows it I think, and the latter is true formally of a Setl as jkch-^ even his own SeB-.) And fame judge mefiioh a sirunger to Peace^ as to need a Moderator to ftand between me a:-3d the Contradi^ions of my own Books.]
Anfv. Ye?, the Bi(hops Advocate Roger VEfir.vige , where nothing bat grofs ignorance, or malice, or negligence, could have found Go.itradidionF, were the whole places perufed. And where I am fure my felf, thit there is none; I have Come what elfe to do than to write more, to fhew the Calumnies of fuch Readers. Who moli feeks Peace, you, or thofc that you profe- cute / One would think it fhouid not be hard to know if men be willing.
C H A P. X X.
Ofthi firs} Gc}i:ra! Cfojcil .it Conft-antinople. His Cap. a.
§ i.TXE begins with accufing me of imitating the Dcvifj A A Dorh fobfrvc God for nought ? becaufe 1 fay that \ths i^afon why the IVeUr was freer from the Afian Hcrefie^ thvf the East, w.is r.ot at the Pupi<is fty, that CbrtFt prajed for Peter, that hi: Faith nj'tgkt not fn'^ but b:canfe the Empcrours in the West were Orth-^dox^ and thofe in th: Eaft Arians : And the Bifhops much followed the Empcrour's will.] What, faith he^canbe wore tinchriHian> Aiifv. I. I never fa'd that this was the Only Canfe.
2. I proved thar this PiivileJge of Rome was not the mean> ing of Ghrift's Prayer.
3. Is not this the fame m.in that even now \-i\A the fall of far more Bifhops, even moft in the World, on the Eniperour, a« overcoming them by force and fraud ?
4. Doth not God himfelf keep men ufually from ftron^ temptations, when he will deliver them from fin ?
5'. Were not the Eaftern Bifhops, and the Weftern, of the fame mold and temper ? And if the Eaftern followed the Empc-
rourF,
rours, had not the Wcftcrn been in danger if they had the like temptation ?
6. Doth not Bafil that fent to them for help, complain of them as p'-oud,and no better than their Brethren ?
7. Did not MarcclliKUi fall to Idolatry, and Libcrins to fub- fcribe agalnft ^tkanafinf with the yiriuns ?
8. Did not the Weft adually fall to Arianifm when tempted for the nioft part? Judge by the great Council at Milane^ and by ///7/*i9's complaints .
9. Hith Rome and the Weft ftood fafter to the Truth fince then f" What! all the Popes who are by Councils charged with Herefie or Infidelity, and all wickednefs, and thofe manywhofe^ Lives even by Baronius and Gencbrar<i,^vt fo odioLfly delcribcd ? Is the Weft at this day free from Popery and its tYuits ?
10. Do you thi.k in your confcicncc thit if we had not here a Prorrftant King, bur a Papift, many of the Clergy would not be Papifts ? Why then are they fo in France, Sp^in^ Jtal)'^ Vo- land,&:c? And why did the moft of them turn in Qi». M.iry^s dales? I do not infulr, but lament the Churches Cafe, which ever fince Wealth'and Honour, and too much Power corrupted ir, have had Bifhtips far more vvorldly, and Icfs fairhful than ihey were Uie firit three hundred ^ ears. Though I ftill fay that ever fince, God hath in all times raifed lomc ferious Be- liev.crs that hive kept up ferious Piety in the Church : And as I doubt not but there are Co many fuch among the Conf^r- mifts^asis our great Joy, fo I hope that, though foully blot- ted with Superftition and Errour, there are many fuch among the Papifts themfehes.
§ 2. Yet he faith, / t^o the Bif:ops Rt^ht a^^un^w-ithoin thinks in^ of doing themJpiThice, while J tell how m,Vjy were mhrdered.
u^rtfiv. I. Doth he know my thoughts/' 2. It's true I in- tended nor to do any other Jufticc, than to praife Chrift's Martyrs and Confellbrs, while I lament the Cafe of Perfccu- tcrs and Revolters ? Is the praife of Conftflbrs any honour to the Hcreticks ?
Bat perhaps he means, I right the Order ofBifliop?. yiifw. Did I ever fay or think that there were no Bifhops that kept ihc Faiih ? Do I fay All fell, when I fay Moft fell ? The Man /j-eaks as his imagined Intereft leads him, and fo interpreteth my words to his own fenfe, not as written. And if that be the
right
(157).
right way, I think he will grant that there were more Martyrs and Sufferers under Talens^ Conjiannus, HunnericHs, and Genfcrt- ctK^ in the Eaft, and in yifnck, by far, than were when iheir Tryal came in all the Weft that is now fubjed to the Pope. And what moved the man to dream that when I Co defcribe and praife their conftancy in Sutfering, I did it as at unawares ?
That the greater partof the Bifhops of the Empire were Bri- ans, I will not offer by Tcltimony to prove, when it is Co com- monly by Fathers, Hiltorians, by Papilh and Proteftants agreed on. How many of them were Bifhops before, and how many but Presbytfrs or Deacons, I'lc not pretend to number. The turning of multitudes all agree on. The Conftancy of many he falily intimareth that I deny, and faith, / injunoujl^ reprefent thentj and cannot tell a word wherein that Crime is found.
§ 3. Naming the things that were done by the Council at ConHaniir.oph^ I mention both the fetting up, and after the put- ting down oiGreiory-y & left any Caviller (hould carp at the word ^putting dcxvfj'] I prefently open particularly what it was that they did toward it ; that refolving on his dcpofuion,they caufcd him, though unwilling.rather to give it up,thanftay till they caft him cur. This great Hiftorian had no more manlike an Excep- tion here, than to fay, that againft all Hiftory, and againft my own Explication, I fay that ^They Depofed/jiw.^ I faid [T/jc^ put him down'] in the manner, and as far as! explained.
§ 4. Whle he here himfelf accufeth the Timss then of Gene- ral Corruption, and the Church oC Divifions^ adding, [What ^ge hath been jo happy as not to labtur under thofe Evils ?J he accufeth me of making mifufe oi Gregory's words, to reprefent the Coun- cil in an odious manner.
Ahfvf. Ic is to reprefent the worfer part in a lamentable man- ner, as far as Gregory did, anu no further. And as to bis quar- rel at my citation, I (hall fay no more j but if the Reader will but read Gregorfi own words , I willingly feavc all that Caule to his Judgment : If he will not, my words cannot inform him. Yet he hmfclf faith \_He doth indeed in fever al places find fault With this CcnuAf] AnJ can you forgive him .? I think I find no more than he did. But for this yon find fault with him \__He did refcnt the Injury (And was it an Injury?^ and did not hear the deprivation of his Bifhoprick^with I he fame generofity he propofed^ which made him a little more foarp than was decent in his repre^
T fentation
fentationoftheBiJ)iopi"'What vpondenf poJirpened withdifcontentf he exeUim VfithfomewhAt too great a p*jfnu agsinsi the admini- firutton of the CiJHrch which he hid been forced to cjuit J Aof. Ail will be cont'efk 4«o«, when I have been acculed for fdying it be- fore him : That'* his way. But it was not for leaving a high and fat Bifhoprick that he was grieved, bu: for being feparatedfrom the People that he had partly fcrved in their lower ftate, and partly won from Herefie, and who came about him with tears intreating him not to forfake them. And though it were more. ih^n generojhy to fet light by the Hononr and Wealth, it is rrea chcry to fee light by Souls ; And they changed to* their great lofs. He refigned much to quiet thejPeople lelt they fhould do as they did for Chrjf'iflom afcer him. It is no new thing for the Major vote of the Oergy to Envy thofc few that arc better and more efteemed than themfelves, nor yet for the Godly People to be loth to leave fuch paftors.
§ 5. He faith [//;/ cenfnre of Councils that he kr:evc none of them that have any happy End, was not the fault of the expedient ^ bat of the men'] An[. And what did lever (ay more. It is his cuftom when he hath ftormed at me, to fay in EffecSl the fame that he ftcrmed ar. Some Papifts would perfuade men, that it was only Arian Councils that he meant, but moft Proteltanrs that Write about Councils againft them, do cite & vindicate thcfe words of Gregory : And the impartial Papifts confefs that it was the Coun- cils alfo ef the Catholicks that there and el(e where be fpake of.
§ 6. In the Cafe of MeletiuSf and FoMlimsy two Bifhops in a City,and the Cafe ofL«c//<?r Calaritanus made a Heretick for (eparatingfromlapfed Arians^ he faith over the fame that I do;. l\i2X good men cannot rightly underftand one another, and fo it ever hathbeeny andii^s the EffeB of humane frailty and not Epifccpacy^ In all this I agree. Buti. If humane frailty make Bifhopslwell in pride and ambition, and domineering, it hath far worlt Etfectg than in other men : z. And Bifhops are bound to exccll their flocks in Piety, humility, Sclfdenyal, peaceableneft, as well as in knowledge. If ihePhyficians of this city fliould prove unskil- ful, and yet confident where they err, it is not quatinusPhy- ficians that they are fuch : But if it be tjui Phyficians that are fuch, they may kill thoufands, ^while the fame faults in all their neigh- bours may kill few or none. If your Intereft made you not fmartand angry without caufe^i you would not cavil againft fuch plain truths § 7. About
§7. About the Prirdllianifts he faith {^lalU/vng cbfervethtt Rule, to he very {avoHtable to all Hereticki and Schifmatickj h they never fo much in tb: wrongs and to fdl on the Orthodox party Hud improve every mifcAtriage of theirs into a mighty crime.'}
An[, If all along this accufation.be filfe, then alt a long your Hiftory ferveth fucha ufe. But in Prame^ Spam, Italy, he is fa- vourable to Hereticks that takes not the orthodox for fuch, or that is not for racking and burning them. And in England he is favourable to Schifmaticks that taketh not the greateft lovert of Piety and peace for rucb,andthe Church Tearers for Church- Healers : As y\x.Dod\x€ll phrafeth it, they are Schifmaticks that ['^'ffer themfelves to be excommnnicate ( for unfinful things in the Bilhops account, and heinous fm in theirs j and fo that are not fo ripe in Knowledge, as to know all the urjfinful things to befuch which may be impofed.
§ 8. What would this enemy of raifing have had me faid more than I did of thePrifciliianifts ? vioi. that they were Gno- fiickt and A'ianichees ? Was not that bad Enough. No, I favour thcmftill ? And what fay I more of the Bifliops and the whole caufe, than SulpitiusScverm the fulleft and molt knowing De* fcrlber faith ? Why doth he not accufe him for the fame de- fcription? Yea and their Mr. Ri. Hooker who in the Preface to his EccL. Pol fiith of Ithacius the like ? Yea Baroniushm- felf confenteth ? Where I fay that to the death Martin feparated from the fynods of thefe Bifhops (I faid not from all Bifhops in the world) he faith, he renounced only the Commnnton of Itha- citjs his Party, and that others did as well as he. Reader, it will be thy folly to take either his word or mine, what an Author faith, when we differ, without looking into the Book it felf. Read Sulpitita Severm j I will tranfcribe fome words^ left he fay, I miftranflate them.
*^ Prifcillianus, familia nobiUs , pradives opibus^ acer, inquies, ^' fitCHndtu, mult a leBione eruditufy differ endi (jf dtfpntandt prom^ ** ptt[ftmHS--»vigilare multumjamem & jitimjerre poterat .babendi '* mtnimecupiduSfUtendi parctjfimus (Was it a crime to (ay fo •' much good of him ?) But proud of his Learning, fet up a He- " refie, and two Bifliops Inflantitts and Salvianns ioyned with •* him, and made him a Bifliop— At Cdfar u^ugufta one Synod " was gathered againft him. The Story I before recited. Next " a Synod at Burdeaux tryeth them. Saith Sulpitius i^ Ac mea
T 2 ^ ^uidcm
(140)
" ejttidfm fententia cfi, mihi tarn reos (]Uam accufatorcs dsfpltcere. '' Certe Ithaclum nthd pcnft^ nthiifan^ti habuijfi definio : fuit cnim " atidax, locfuaXf imprfdcns, fumptu^fus, v:ntr't & guld plurimum " impcrtiens. Hie jiultitix eo ufcjue proC!fJ<.r.*t ut omnes etiam ^^ fan^os viroSy ejuibus ant fi-udium erat Icittonis^ Aut propofuum *' trot cert are jt'jumiSy tWne^uam PrifcilUani focioi aut difcipuloi in " crimoi Ar:(jferet. ylufus etiam mtf:r est ea tempesfare Mart mo *' Epifcopo — pttam objciT-Jire hdrcfis infumiam, lmp:rato^ per *' Mjigr.um V RMfamEpifcopos depravatm a mttiortjus confiUis de- ''j?.^Ar«; — So he tells how many were put 10 ^^^'M- -Cater um *' Prifciiliafjo octifo^ non folum non rcpr;j[A ejt h^tref.s— fed cor.fir- '* mata, latiw prop.igata eH-; Nam^ite fcfhitores (jus qui eum *^ prius ut fanBum honor averam^ poflea ut Maxtyrcm coUre crp:- ** runt, Ac inter noTtros perpetuum difcordi.vum helium exarfer.it^ ^' (^uod jam per ^uindicim annos fardis dijfer.fienihw agitatum^ *' nulla tnodo jopiri poterat. Et nunc cum maxime difcord^is Epf- *^^coporum turbari aut mifceri omnia cc nerentur, cuntlaque per eos " odio aut gratia, mctu, inconjiantia, invidia^ faclione. libidinf, *' ava-'itia, arrogant ia^ fcmno^ de/tdia, ejfcnt dcpravata : Voflremo '*' plures adverfus paucos bene confulemes, infams cohfiliis & perti- *• nacibus fiudiis certarer.t : Inter h£C PUbs Dei, & Optimus qut[- '* que probro a'cjue ludibrio habebatur,'] So ends Sulptitm Hiftory. Do vou.'not fee, Mr. Morrice, that there have been Prelates and Puriranes/vcnEpifcopal Puritanes before our Times fDoth not your ftomach rife againft Sulpitius as too Puritanical and fevere ? Is not my Language of moft of the Bifliops fofc in com- parifon of his? Yet he wa« fo early as to live in that which you row call the moft flourifhing Time of the Church. Sir, I hate Difcord, and love Peace i but I never look that the En- mity between the Woman's and the Serpent's Seed, or Cu/;; and Abel^ (hould be ended ^ or that the holy Title of Bifhops and Priefts fhould reconcile ungodiv men to Saints. Sir, England knoweth, that though (bme fadious perfons have done other- wife, the main Body of ibofe that your Law doth Silence, Ruine and Revile, have a high cfteem of fuch Bifhops as have been ferioufly godly ; fuch as were many in Antient and late Times : And deride itas long as you will, the ferioufly religious People in England are they that are moft againft Church-Ty- ranny, and which Parry moft of the debauched and prophane are of, hath long been known.
§ 9. But
• § 9. But the Reader fhall further hear how litde you sre to be trufted. Saich Sul. in VttA Man. {^^^p^d Netnaujium Epifco- forum Sj/noJ'^ h-ibebatur ad quxm qaidem ire nclhcrat — (There's another Synod.)
Ec pjig. 5 84. InMon. Pat. {J^ Maximus Intperator aids vir *' borsHf.^ depravatju conjiliis Sacerdotum, poji Frifcilliani neccm " Jthacit4m EpifcoptimPrifcilliani accufitorem cxterc/cj; Ulim focios, " cjtios nomin^re non eji ncc'/fs vi regia tuehitur. — Co:igregati apud ^^Trcveros Eplfropi('ib€Te'sanoiherSyncd'te}3eb:jmur^<:jsii (jnotidie " commimic antes Ithacio commnncm fibi cau[^m ft-Ccrant : His tcbi " HHtiCi^tHm eft tnopinantibHs^ adejfe A^Artimim, tctis animis la' '' bcfAtJi\ majfita^e & trepidare capcrunt. — Nee dubium erat q:iin ** Sanciornm ctutm mj'.xim.tm tmb.im temprflas i{ia depopnlarura " t(J'jt. Etenim tunc fclis ocalis d'fcermmt inter hominum genera^ . •* cnm qnis Pallo^e pottus ant f'^efie, quamfide^ h£reticiis AJfimare- ** tnr. Hag necjuaquant pLicitura iMurtirio Epifcipi faciebant. — " Ineum cum Imperatore Coijilium ut w Jjis obviaw A/.tgiftri cf- " fcialibHs^ tirbem ifiam (A:fartinia'J Vitaretnr propiiu accederc, (But it was not five Miles from all Cities and Corporations.) — *' luterea Epifcopi quorum commiinionem A'fartin'Ai non in ibxt trc- '* pidt ad Regem cofjcirrunt, per d.imnatcs fe concfucrcntes a-^um " efjfe de [ho omnium (iatUy fi Tljeogmfii pertinaciam qui eos SO- *^ L'US p.iUm lata fententia coademn4verat, A^Artini artnaret au- " t hoy it as : Nen opjrttiiffe hommem capi mtxnibns iilis : Non jam '* defenjorcm hAreticcru,n cjje, fed vindicem (Methinks I read Mr. '' Afsrrice^ Nihil aHtsm morte Prijciliiani fi Adartinns exerceat " lUiHi uliioncm. ( Thefe men have done nothing till they " have dertroy'd all that are againft their Tyranny.) Poflrcmo '■^ proftrati cum flttu (they could weep too) & lamct:tattone Po- " teflatem Regiam impbrant^ nt utatur adveffus VNVM homi- " nem vi fua : Nee multtim aberat quin cogeretur Imperator Afar- " tinum cum hareticorum forte mifcere.~\li\M the Emperour know^ " ing his eminent Holinefs and R'='puration, tryeth perfuafion j " \_& bUnde appellate hareticos jure damnatos, more judiciortim ^' publicorumf potiHS quam in feUatiombus Saccrdotum'. Non ejje *' caufam qu.% Ithacii CAtererHmq-, partii ejus cojnmunionemj pitta- *'■ ret ejfe damnandam^ Tioeognifum odiopotitts quam caufa, fecijfe *^ dtjftdium ; Eundem^-^tamen SOLZJA^ effe qui fe a communione ** interim fe par av It j a reliquis nihil novatum.^ You fee here that " M.M faith truly, that Martin feparatcd but from the Bifliops
*of
(•40
** o^ IthMius'% Party: That is, All ^3i\t one T^eognifl-ut (and " Ja^tnui is elfcwhcre named. ) Is not here a great accord of the Bifhops ? ) []" ^iifietiMm paiicci ante dies habit/t Sjnodns (Sy- ** nouS ftil!) Ith^ciffm pronunctaverut culpa non tencri^ no won- •* dc : Synods have juftified the {'orbidding of two ihoufanj to " Preach the Gofpel.) At laft when no other Remedy could " (dvc the Lives of men from the Leeches, M^mn yielded once "to communicate with the Bifhops on conlition the mens "^ Lives fhould be fjved : The Bifhops would have had him *' ^iibfcribe this Communion : But that he would never do. [Po- '* fttrodie mdejeprortpiens^cum revert ens in viam mcej^uf ingemifce' ^* ^^^ 5 [^ "^''^ *^^ horam noxia comrnHhitni ejfc permixtum-'-fHb' *'fedit, ca/ifjim doloris & fat}i accufanite & defendente cogttattone " pervolvens^ ajiitit ei repcnte u4ngelus ^ M.erito inquit Martine * compungeris, fed aliter exire ne^Hifit : Repara virtutem : rcfumi " ConjlAritiam j ne jam non peric»lum gloria^ fed f^lntis inctsr- *' rerts. Itaque ah tll» tempore fatis cavity cnm ilia Ichaciana ^* part II comm anions mifceri. Carerum cum quofdam ex inergu- " men is ^ tardus quam folebat^ & gratia minore curabzty fttbinde ** nobis cum lachrymis fatebatur^ fe propter communionis tUtus ma- ^' lum cuife vel pstnclo temporis nccejfuate, nonfpiritu mijcuijfet, de- '* trimentum Jentire virtutis, Sedcctm pojiea vixit annos : Nul' *' lam Syncdum adiit; ab cmntbus Convent ibus fe removit.2 Now Reader, judge how great Ithaciush Party was» that boafted but one or two men were againft them : And whether Martin fcpa- rated not from their common Synods.
Methinks I fee Mr. M. here in the ftrait of the Pharifees, when put to anfwer whether foJonh Baptifm was from Heaven, or of men. Fain he would make Maitm and Sulpittus Puritanes and Fanaticksj but the Church hath made a Holy day for Mar, tin, and dedicated multitudes of Temples to his Honour; and all
men reverence Snipitius and him. Yet he ventures to go as far
as he durft/?. 142. againft them.
§ 10. But here Mr. ^. fmarreth, and faith {_This Inftance
could become none xtorfe than Mr, B. who in a Letter to Dr. Hill
confeffes himfelf to have been a Man of Blood-'']
^nfvp. ti Man of Blood \t your Libertine Phrafe, If yoB would
have publiftied that fecret Letter, you ftiould i. Have told the
whole,and worded it truly j 2. And have profcfled yourfelfa
derider of Repentance, while yoa call for it. I lived in an Age
of
04?)
of War, and I wa« on the Parliaments fide, and that was enough to prove that I had a hand in blood while I was on one fide, though I never drew blood of any man my fcif ((avc once a Boy at School with boxing.)
Bjic he thinks I fhouid have imitated Aiartin in renounci."ig Communion witli men of blood.
ylnfw. Martin renounced Communion wirh tho(e that were for deftroying even downright Heretick?. Alas Sir, I dare not renounce Communion with tbefe tl^at Silence thoufands of faithful Minifters, and continue ftill to Plead, Preach, and Write for their Prolecution by Imprifonment and Ruine. I hope many do it in Ignorance, and if I do ir, it may increafe the diftance thati wou'd heal. Noncoiformiltsareno Prifciliianifts.
And if I renounce Communion with all that were in Wan, it muft be with fome prcfcnt BiHiops, and a great part of the Land. \
But I underftand you j it muftbe with all that were in Arms for the Pari ia men t,2^<?. ^r,fw. The King then will condemn me by his kCt of Oblivion, and by his own pradice : Hnh he not one of them for the Lord Prefident of his Council ? and ma- ny more in Truft and Honour ? Did he renounce Communion with General Monk^ and his whole Array, who were long i.i ArniS for the Parliament ? Or with the Citizens, and multitudes of Commanders through the Land, who drew in, & encouraged General A/<?»/^? Or the Minifters that perfuaded Sir T/^ij. -r^//^w, Lord Mayor, to draw him in .?
To be plain with you Sir fihough you call it Railing) Men of your Faculty kindled the Fire, and (et the Nation together by the Ears, and when fad experience brought rhem to repentance and to define unity and peace, and thofe that had fought for the Parliament had reftored the King, this evil Spirit envyeth the Kingdom the benefit of this concord, and would fain break us again into contending Parties, and will not let Kingand Kingdom have peace, while God giveth us peace from all foreign enemies. Do we need anv other notice what a Contentious Clergy have ftill been, than the woful experience of what they are. If you would have had (7. Aionk^ and his Army, and all fuch that joyned with him destroyed or excommunicate for what the-y had done, why did you notfpeak out at firft, but when we would all faia have peace and concord thus twenty years after caft your Wild- fire
( « 44)
hrt-you vsr«irn the Prcfcnt Duke o^ Aii>emarle to cxpccl to be ac lafl called to account for his original fin.
§ II. But his padlorj makes him (ay he knows not what, P. 14X [^" I need not call Mr. B. to rcmfmbcr«.nce who compared *"* Cromwel to £)<it//Viand bis Son to Solomon j But this has tran- 'Mporicdmea littletoofar.]]
■^}>j. He faith this plainly of mc afterward, to (hew the cre- dibility of his Hiftory ? DiJ he know it to be falfe ? If fo, there's no difpuring with him. Ifnot, v\hy did he not cite my words. Yea he after iranfcribes the Epiltle meant, where he (aw there were no fuch words : But others had tolJ that tale before him, and that was Enough. Even as one of his tribe bath written that 1 have written in my Holy C(jmmon- wealth, that an^ one Peer fKAj ji^dge Ojc Kmg. If ihefe Epifcopal Hiftorians tell forrei^ners that we have all Cloven Feet and Horns,arid goon tour legs, yea and if Tome fwearir, we have no remedy: They can prove our nofcs horns, and our hands Feet.
I again tell ihcm^U Martins Angel and Miracles be credible, woe to tholi? Prelatifts that are for ruining violence, and filtnces againft men better thantheC^ws/^/c/^j. If they be not true,let them not tfult too much to thebeft Hiitorianf.
§ 12, Oi the Council at Crf/;«/» I faid that they decreed that the two Bifliops and their People J]:onU live in loving Com- munion, Mr. M. finds me miltaken here. The words in BmntM are [Vt tarn Fiaviani qnam Evagrii f^utores tn Communionem Cai/joLc.im admit t ant ur^ tnodo Catholic a fidei ajjer tores invenian- tHf'} I thought Catholick Communion had been Lovmg Cowmn- nion: And I thought if their faurors were to be received, fo were they : And 1 thought yintioch had been a part of the Ca- tholick Church, and Catholick Communion had extended to ylK- tioch: But if Mr. M. deny thcfe, I wiJI not con^tnd with him.
§ 13. He ttlls LJ, that \_No man wtth his Eyt: open ever fiw the Condemnation t/Bonofus hy the Council of Capua] (for deny- ing the Virgin M«»*/'s perpetual Virginity.
yx!jfu\ Ic is Criticifmand not Hiltory that the man is beft at. They did it mediately, while thty referred it to them that did it. Saith Einnius ['* Canfa Bot.cp cujkfdam in Macedonia Fpifco- *' Pt harettci^ ncgautis delibaiam Dc, genitricti Marta yirginita- " tern, pojl pan um in judicium uc dull a efl. Sy^iodus cogmtionem " cai'ja, Anyjio Tfjejfalonier.ft c^m Epifcopis tpft juijeUts delegavit.
"■Ah
(«45)
** ^b j^njfio Bono[um damnatuw, sorfint^ne quos ordifhijfet coniMn- '^ nione privafum ejfe tefiatur Innoc. P. And he knows it's a Hc- refie now. Yet this Council condemned Reordinations.
§ 14. That fovinian a Monk was called a Heretick, for Do- (ftrines judged found by Proteftants, is no ftrange thing. Thai one not a Blfhop was the Head of a Herefie, was fomewhat ftrange then, but not before they got too high.
As to the Qijeftion, Whether Bifhops were the Chief Heads an J Fomenters of Herefie, I crave his impartial Anfwer to thefe Qii^ft'ons. I. Do not your felves maintain that all Churches in the world had Bifliopsj and that the Bi(hops were the Ru- lers, and of Chief Powerf If fo, can you imagine that after they had fuch Power, Churches could be ufuaiiy made Hercticks without them ?
j^. 2. Do not Councils, and all Church-Hiftory tell us how many Councils of Hereticks there have been that were Biihops ? c^ 3. If any Presbyter broke from his Bifhop to fet up a Herefie, was it not one that fought to be a Bifhop? Or did they not make prefently him or fome other their Bifhop and Head ? Herefie or Popery had made but fmall progrc fs,* had it not been for Bifhop?. ■ § 15. When I commend the Novations Canon, which al- lowed all men Liberty for the Time of Etflcr^ as better than burning men as Hereticks,he takes it for iin Immoderate Tr^mfport that I fay Q'^j (odd as I can fpeak^ Ifallths Pro/jd, A7nbuioi4Sy '' Heretic It ir.gp^rt of the B'fioops had bsen of this mh^d^ O what *'/i>i, wh.it fca-jdal, and what Jhar/tj , whit cruelties, confufions and '• miferies had the ChrifiUn world efcapcd ?] That is, had they left fuch Indilferent things as Indifferent.
And is thisagainft Moderation ? I would fuch Zeal of God's Houfe had more eaten me up : Dare you deny but that this courfe wou!d have faved the Lives of all ihofc thoufands of^/- bigetfes^Waldenfcs^ and Bohemians t\\ix. z\\Q'?£^\\\sk\\\ed'. And the death and torment of multitudes by the Inquilltion ? And the burning cf our Smnhfield Martyrs : Ar * it's like moft of the Wars between the Old Popes and Emperours about Invellitures ? And the blood of many thouQndmore. AnJ it wnuli have fa- ved more Nations than ours from the Tearing and Divifion of Churches by the Ejeftiag and Silencing of hundreds or thoufands of their Paftors, as the cafe of the Germane Interim^ and other
V fuch
(146)
iiich aftions prove. And is ic Immoderate Tranfport to wifli aH this Blood, Schifm, Hatred and Coi.fulion, and weakning and (helming of the Church had been prevented at the rate ofToU- rating Ir.dijferent things: No wonder if you had rather Eng- l.indiWW futfered what it doth, and i? in danger of by Schifm, than fjch things Inditferent (hall be tolerated : It is not for no- thing that Chrift and P<<«/ repeat, that iomc h.ive Eja And fee ) ot ^ Ears /tr:d hear mt^ ^C.
§ \6. And here he again \vouId mal^e his Reader think it's true, that the Nonconformifts pretend that their Silencing is for not keepl.ig Eajlsr Day at the due Time j as if this m.in that I4vetb among us did not kmvv^that it is the avoiding of ddiberate Lyingby fubfcfthing to a knoxn untruth, which is tiie thing that theyrefufej and they mention it only as an appurtenance of the Impofition ad homines , that it would bind them to t^vo dif- ferent times.
Whether, as he faith, oftr difeafc be a wantotin^fs fed bj con- crjfion, ^nd we are moji violent when we know not what we would have, thofe men are no credible Judges that fjr feventeen years would not endure us to fpeak out our Cafe ; and when before we debated part of ir^would not vouchfafe to anfwcr us jand at Idii when we tell it them, do butaccufe us wiih a fhjrperltorm, inftead of giving any thin;; that a man can call an AnI'wer that ever knew the Cafe, e.g. to our Fleas for Peace^ and my Trea- iife of Epifcopac).
§ 17. He confelTeth that I praife the u4frican Bilhops as the belt in the world, though ic contradi(ft his former charge. As to the Magnitude of Diocefle?, when he hath aiifwered my Treat. of Epifcopacy, fame body may be edihed by him.
1 agree with him that (jood men will do mttch Good in a great Diccefs. But 1. Worldly Bfliops arefo far bad : And worldly Wealth and Honour will ever be mod foiight by the moft worldly men : And ufually he thatfeeks fhall find--£r^o---And 2. A good min cannot do Impoflibilities : The befl: cannot do the work of many h^idred.
Forty two years ago fome wifht for theReftoring of Confef- fion.
Theophiltis ParochialU brings copious Reafons and Orders of Princes, Popes and Prelates, that all (hould confefstoihe Pari(h- Prieft. If you had fet this up here, how many men muft have
gone
C'47) gone to it in the Parifhes of St. Martin^ Giles C^ipple^ate, Si£p- ney^ dzc ? But how much greater work hath Dr. Hammond, and Old Councils, cut out for him that will be the fofe Bifhop of many hundred Parifhes ? I have named ic clfewhere.
And, if any man of confideration think I have not proved againft Mr. Dodwell^ that Bifhops Government is not like a King's, who may make what Officers under him he picafe, but depends'more as a Phyfician's or School-mafter's owPsrfonal Abi- litj^ I will now add but this Qneftion to him \}Vhj is it that Monarchy may be hereditary^ And a Child or htfam may he King] but an Infant may not be Bijhop^ nor any one not qnalified with Ef- fential Ability ? I have at large fold you how fharply Baromns and Binnitii condemn that odious Nullity of making a Child (by his Father's Power) A. Bifhop ofRhcmes.
If I heard twenty men fay and fwear that one man is fijfficient to be the only Msfter of many hundred Schoof?, or Phyfician to many hundred Hofpira!?,or that one Carpenter or M.!fon may alone build and rear all the Hgufes in the City afrer the Fire, cr one man be the fole Mjfter of an hundred thouDnd Families j what can I fay to him, but that he never tryed or knows the work ?
§ i8. When I note that the Donnt if- i' took themfelves for the Caiholicks, and the Adverfaries for -Schifinaticks, be- caufe they were the greater number, he very honelUy faith that Multitude m-iy render a Set} formidable^ out it's no Argu^ went cf Rigbr.
Very true j nor Secular Power neither. But what better Ar- gument have.ihe Papifts, and many others that talk againft Schifm?
§ 19. Bethinks the Dsnatifls Bijhsps Churches mre not fo [mall as our Bartjloes. Ai:[\v, Not as forne : But if, as I faid before, Conftantinople in the height of all it's Glory in Chryfo- floryf's dales, had but i;oooo ChrilVians, as many as three Lon- ,^o«-Pdrifhes have, judge then what tiie Doaarijls hiid.
§ 10, His double quarrel with Bmnim and Barcniasy let who will mind. What I gathered out of thofe and other Cjnons of the fmalnefs of Churches then, I have elfcwhere made good. His Reviling Acccfitio^s q( Envy to their Wealth, deferveth no Anfwer.
§ 11. He comes to Sr. lhicphilHi\ Cafe, of which we fpake
V X before.
\
(148)
before. The Monk* tlut reporred evil of bim, were^ it may be, faich he, dowKnght Knaves^ The Reviling is biamelefs when ap- plied to fuch. Ooubrlefs ihcy were ignorant rafli Zealots: But one that reads what the Egjptiar, Monks were in Anthonys daieSj and after, and what Miracles and Hollnefs, Sulpitini Scve- r^ireportech of them, and why T)^/// retired into his Monaftery, &c. may conjedure that they had much lefs worldlinefs than the BiHiops, an! not greater faults
§ 22. I think it not defirable or pleafant work ta vindicate thccredi: of Socrares and Soz^omcn accuHng TLcophihu : But if his Con;edure« in this cafe may fcrvc againft exprefs Hiftory of fuch men, and fo near, let him leave other Hiltories as loofc to our Con)e(rture5. Poi^huiniAmu Narrative in Sidpitms, is but of one piece of theTragedy.He thinks it improbable that Origen fhould be accufed for maki.'ig God Incorporral -, and fiich Gon- iedtures are his Confutation of Hiftory : But Ongen had two fore of Accufcrs ; the Bifhops, (iich as Theophiliu and Epiphmius had worfe charges againft him •. But the Anthroi^omurphite Monks were they that brought that Charge againft him (ihat God had no face, hands, eyes.) And Thecphilm before them cryed down Origen in general, to fave his life, by deceiving them, that they m'ght think he did it on the fame account as they did. This is Socrates his Report of the Cife.
He faith, that the Impudent Mutinous Afonlrs were fiot afl.amed. to tell all the world, that all th^t were againfi thsm were yinthropO" fh:tes.
Aijfiv. It was other Monks that I here talk not of, that he means : It was thefe Monks that were Anthropomorphites them- selves, and would have killed TheophiLv^ for not b^Ing fj, till he laid to them, Adethrnkj I fee your faces as the Face of God : And the name of the Face of God did quiet them. Jliercm was a Party againft: Chrjfftom j it was for not pafTing that Sentence on Origen, that Epiphanius would by mafterly Ufurpaticn have impofed en him, that Chryfojhm was by him accu fed.
§ 23. Could any Sobriety excufc that vmn Fp-phaniiy^ that would come to the Imperial City, and there purpofely intrude into the Cathedral of one of the beft Bifiiops in the world, for Parts and Piety, and there play the Bifliop over an A.Bifhop in his own CburclV and feek to fct all the Auditory in a flame at the time of Publick Worfhip, and require him to fay that of
Origen J
(«49}
Origen, which he there without any Authority impofed on him ? I know not what is Pride, Ufurpation, Turbulency, if not Malig- nity, ifthis be not.
But at laft he faith, [_'' I do mt intend to exctifo Theophilus in " this pAYticklar : (Thafik^Pope \t\noccm') He did certainly pro- ^' Je cute his K'fcntmcnt too fur: Rut he was not the only m.tn : " Epipbinius, a pcrfon of great Ilolinefs j Hierotn, ahdfevernl *^ oth:r pcrfons renowned for their Piety ^ were concerned in the per^- " fecutton of this Grcmt man^ as well as he : yind to fay the tmth^ '' thts K thiir weak^icfs i far that St verity which gives men gem- ^^ rally a Reputation of Holtnefs, though it mortife fome irregular " heats, yet is apt to difpofe men to p°evifcn;fs.~]
BLit true Holinefs ever fincerely loveth holy men, and fpecial- !y (l)ch as are piiWick Bieffings to the Church : And though [ cenfure not their main State, your Jhij Pcrfecutors of ihe bed of Chrifl's Servants, will never by Chrift be judged fmall Oiten- ders.
Alas ! it's too true that JhcophiLa was not alone : A Coun- cil of Biiliops were the Perfccutor^. And it's hard to think thac- they loved Chryfoftom as themfelvc5. When the forementloned Council at ConftantiHople had turned out N<iZ.i^uz.en^ even the^ great magnifiers of General Councils, iJ.irow/wf and B/nnius, thus reproach them, that they drove away a holy excellent ma^, that a man wai fet tfp in hii( fiead thtt was no Chnftian-j that it was th: Epifcopi Nundinarii that did />, ihs Oriental Bifh(ps firjl- leaving ihcm, and going away with Gregory. And if the M.ijoy Vote of that General Council were Epifcopi Nundinani, what- Ch'yf)Tiom's, Perfecucors were may be conjedlured. Do not thele Papifts here fiy worfe of them than I do ?
§ 24. Yet though he confels aj much as is aforefaid, and- b.ring but his Can/cdures mixt with palpable omilfions againft the exprefs words o^ Socraus^rA Soz^cmen, he hath the face ta make up his failing with this Calumny [f'^ I have dwelt fo long err " thisy not only to vi id cat e Theophilus, but to fljew once for ail ths-- " manner of onr Author^ s dealing with his Reader in his Ch:-irch~ '^ Hiflory. Any fcandalom Story ^ thouifo it be asfalfe and impro- " bable as any in the Aoni Mirabiles, or Whites Centuries of Scan- " daloHS AAinijlers, any Fiilion that reflets with difgrace en *•' Bi/]:ops and Councils is.^ct down for aHthwtick^^ no matter whi^ '^ dflivtn it ^ friend or foe.'}
Anf\\\
(>5o)
ylnfiw kTc not Buroniui and Bimim friends to the bighcft Prelacy .'' Dorh not he hirnfelf fay that Socrates is a credible Hi- Jhriai ? U his Authority weighty enough to difcredit them whom he contradi(fl« ? Huh he proved one wrord faifc that I have faid o^TnecpbUtu ? Is not Chrjfojiom as credible as he ? Doth he not know how iU he 'is fpoken of by a great number of Chryfu Hera's Defenders ? And how fmartly Jfidorc Pelu/Joia re- liefs on him ?
But who could have difgraccd him more, than he that will imply that the things mentioned of him are as true as what is laid in White's CentHries of ScandAlotis Mmificrsy or the ^nni A'lirabiles. I know not all or moft things in either of them. But he was a Granger in En^Lmd that had not credible Teftimony of divers of the things in \.\\t Ahni Mird-ilcs. And Mr. WhUe^ the Chairman of that Parliament- Committee, wascommonly re- puted a grave and godly credible man ; and if he lied, the whole Committee muft concur in the Lie j and the Witneflcs muft ali- he falfe. I will not further meddle in fo unp'eaTant a bufintT?, than to tell yon, that all that I knew acciifed of Scandal, bad Witneflcs of ir, that in the places where they lived were thought to make as much cor.fcicnce of a Lie, as t'le beft of their Neighbours: And whether fuch a mans fcorn that was then in the flicll, is in Hiftory a fufticicnt j)roof that Commit- tees of Parliament, and WitneireSjWcre all Lyars, 1 leave to con- fideration, I well know what School-maftersand Curates I was bred under, and what the two Minifters were that were fc- queitrcd in the place where I after came : And all the Country can tell you. They conftrained me to name them, and the Cafe in my Apology for our Preaching, and my Anfwer to Mr.///«^- le-j : It's yet the fame Age : Any may enquire of ihem.
§ 25. As to his Note of ^/r.ir/, I doubt not but there were -at the Memorials of Martyrs Ct^wwfwfr-rrer^ Alt ays erccftcd in the third or fourth Centuries : But what's that to Commttnica- lory Alters ? anj thofe in the firft and fecond Century?
§ 26. I fiippofe he wrote againft my Book upon f^jme others •Reading. I did in a Parenthefis fay (^Innocent Excommunicated Thecfjiln^, ArcA.iiiii and the EmprefsJ And of another matter •cuidtd • yet d dthi< p,ijs wirhout co'itr.idlitiofi : Aid he confounds them, ard faith, [^Any thing pajf.ih wik^ htm for Hiftory : This £p'J-!e c/ Innocent is all forged.^ Aajiw I fee not his proof: But
I had
C'5')
Ihad rather it were proved falfe than true : But v\hen I fpeak againft Papal Ufurpation (be the men never Co good) I think f<^ llich Bimins and B^ironipu are meet WicnefTe-s,
§ 27. BonifAcs's Decree of exempting Bifhops from Civii Judicatures, be thinks not fu x-^ntienr, and fiith, We have oily the Authority of Gratian for it: But his Conjetl:ureand a fiirc at me is ail the Confutation : And he cannot doubt but that Ek" emption hath fufficieitly priviledgcd BiiTiops fince then : As is after proved.
CHAP. XXI.
Of the firfr Co/wci! of Ephefas, e'c. I/is C ip. 5.
§ i./^UR Accufer in his Fifch Chapter p.^fleth by the yudi V>/ Praifes which I give to Pcj.iMble Bi(hop5, as crofTng hij Slander that I difpraife all, or fuch as well as the unpeacc- able, vvhofe J.jfti'ication it is that he undertakech.
§ 2. He begins with an Accufarion, \ihn[jt) prejudice th^ Re. i~ Air ag4i ,Ji CyvW s CcitncU, I give the vroyji account of hiT?j that I cxild p.::ch »p oMt of all the Libcb .tad ^ccf:f^tions of his En:" liiics.']
^>;fv. U\y/ Prej-idtce be meant Informing him of Hiftorj-^-ivA byjr>'/? is meant Inj\irti.il Recitatio:-! of what Hiltory Cairh ; and by P.itchr.r^ up be meant fuch Riciting j and by Enemies be meant the bsfc and moft credible H,ftorians. that h.ive written of ir, then this is true: Elfe ic is the work of that Uider- t-iker th.t is engaged to call EvilG.:od,?xnA D.irkiiefs Lght, and preferreth fpeaking. good of bad adions , before Ipeaking truly.
§ 3 Aid that you miy know by what Spirit men that will not reproach the btH that ditfer from the Prelates, are them- felves reproached by this Sedt, and alfo >vhat fort of Hiftory this man giveth the Lie to, oa pretence of giving it me, and how far he is from Railing, he thus proceedeth.
[" The firft thing he is charged with is the Opprefiion of the " Novntians, This was enough with Socrates or Sez^omen to *' paint him as ugly as men do the Devil orAntichrift; and
"theri-
(15°)
^ therefore there i? no great credit to be given them in thefc '* Relations, as manifeftly efpoufing the Caufe and Qnarrel of '-' the Nov.itiavs.']
yir.fw. 1. Juft us T/;«4;;/« or EtAjmui efpoufed the Caufe of the Protcftanrs by Truth and Peace, when others hated and be- lied them. 2. Methirks the man revilcth me very gently io comparifon o^ ^octAta and Soz^omcn^ the tvvo moft impartial and credible of all our Anticnt Church-Hiftorians f with Thco- dorot.) But who can wonder that he imirateth that which he defendcth.
§ 4 But he faith, [/f maj be the Novatiang dejerved tt-'-and it's rot ttnlik^lj that thej were verytroublcfum and fed it ions."]
Anfw. It's not uKLkeljf now that others will fay ic was (b. But mark Reader which of ihefe Hiftorians is moft credible [^Sccra- tcs and Soz.omen lived with thofe that knew the things and per- sons : They have told us Truth in the reft of their Hiflories : If fhey had been Novatiaus^Mr.M. faith, They believed finning after Baptifm had no pardon or abfolution : And were thev not like then to fear fuch Lying and falfe Accufing a* paints a Saint like the Devil or Antichriit.] On the other fide [Nir./l/. liveth above a thoufand years after them ; He is ore of the Parry that take it to be not only lawful, but a duty to fay and fwear all that is impofed now, which I will not here defcribe :How truly he writes theHiftory of his own Age, even of Parliament and Warf, and living perfons, I have told you. He fail h no more againit the Hiflorians credit here, but [^tt^way he'] and [_:t^s jjot t:n'ikjly'] and [(h.y were Novaciars, Schidnaticks, Alexandrians.] Even fo theirCounterminer^and^manyCynformi'lLsthat lave many years reported us to be Rajfing a War againft the King, had their [y^^^^-^c'fe] and £/:*j ;.!?; unlikely'] and \thcy tire Scbljma- tUkf}toprove it : And Others foon rofe up and fwore ir. And when fome lament their Perjury, it f^oj.s not the reft. Butfome have fuch Frcc-ivUly that they can btlieve whom they lift.
§ 5". SocatcSj faith he, wakfs it part of his charge that he ti ok Oil him the Government of temporal Aff.iirs. This wjs not the ZJ [input ion ofth: B'J>'opy hu: the Indhlgeice of the Empcrour'. And he n^.ews the Churches need of it.
u^r-fv. That which he is charged with is, that he jvas the frji B.fi.'.p that himfclf ufd the Sword. And I. Do you think thicfo great a Patriarchate & Diocefs would not Had a confcio-
nable
(15 5)
naMePaftor work enough^ without joyning with' it the Magi- ftratcs Office ? 2. Was not the Church greatly changed even fo early from what it was a little before in the daies of Martin and Sulpitim, when even Ithacim durft not own being fb much as a feeker to the Magiftrate to draw the Sword againft grofs Hereticks j and the heft Bifhops denied Communion with them that fought it: And now a Bifhop himfelf becomes the ftriker not of grofs Hereticks, but fuch as peaceable Bifhops bore with.
I remember not to have read that C)ril had any CommifTion for the S'.vord from the Emperour : Others then had not : Bur I deny it not.
§ 6. He faith, that elfewhcre I fay [_IJhallnot diJJootioHr fach^ nor difohey t/jem.l^ ^nfw, I fay and do fo : If a Bifhop will take another Calling from the King's Grant, When be hath underta- ken already 40 times more work as a Dioccfan than he can do, lie honour and obey him as a Magiftrate : But I would be loth to ftand before God under the guilt of his undertaking and omilfioDS.
§ 7. As to all the reft of the Hiftory about Cyril's Execu- tions, and the wounding of Ortflcs the Governour, I leave it between the Credit of Mr. Af. and Socrates. : And he very much fufpe^ls the Story of Cyrifj making a Martyr of him that was exc^ cured for it : I leave all to the Reader's Judgment. I think I may tranfcribe Socrates without flandering Cyril.
Here his fpleen rifing, faith [^Therc arc rz/en in the world, that honour fuch as Alartyrsfor murdering a King.'}
^nfw. You may fmell what he infinuatcs : I think he will not fay, that he ever did more againft them than thofe that they call Presbyterians have done. We Wrote and Preacht againft them when he did not. I know not the Presbyterian living to my remembrance, that was not againft the Murder of the King, and Prin^ whom the Bifhops had, crept and ftigmatized for be- ing againft them, as ^n. Era ft I an ^ was the hotreft in the Par- liament, for the Execution of the King's Judges : But I knew di- vers Cunformifts that have written or fpoken to juftifie or ex- cufe that Facl.
§ 8. As for the Murder of /7;^.?/;^, Heave him to his fcuflle with Socrates and Dariiajcin^s^m which 1 interelsnot my (e\f, §9.1 thank Pope Innocent Mr. M, durft not d*ny Cyril's
X faults.
fau!t«, in his Enmity to the memory of Chr^foflcm j and jct he • calls my reciting the matter of Faft a rfproach. He is conftrain- f'ed to contefs [" T/^^r the J^arre^ was i: f:ims hereditary to him ^'•^'(fo is Original Sin) anA hi did profictite it beyond all eq^itif or '^^ dtcetKy againjl th; memory of a d:a-im.tn : Th:< w.is a [aiiU^and " and be th/tr ts without anj^ or without avy pa tJcnLir atiimojitjf *^ fpfcia'lji if he be ifi any eminent place, U't bm c.tft th: fi'-jt ftoneJ} ^nfv. Thank* to Confcience : We feel your Animofuies: Put is not this man a Railing Accufer ofCnl, if I am fuch ? What faith he lefs in the main ? Yea be now renews his Accufation of his Predf cefll)r, faying, Ir was hercdita-^y. To profccufe malice againft the very n-me of a holy extraordinarv Bifhdp, beyond all e<jui!y and decency— whd^i will ChrilVianity or Hamanity call it ? But Faifiion faith, /> wis a f^:rdt,and he th/J is wi'hout afjy,Src. Thus talkt Eli to his Sons: So one may fay, To Silence 2oco Minifters^, or to hate ih-e belt men, and (eck their ruine, is a fault, a Prelatical peccadillo; and fo was /^:?;;;;a's ufjc^e of the Martyrs ; and lee him that is vvichouc any cart the tirft ftone. And Sr. ^e^» faith. He that hateth his Brother is a tfUtrderer, and none fuch hath Eternal Life abiding in him; and that as C7.?/», he is of the Evil One, the Devil. And I beliei'C him.
§ ID. But he faith, I itjj-^rioiffly charge h'W with caHiv^ K\c:<- ander a boldfaced mxu^ w'.cn Atticus was the fi^fl: ^'J;::hcr cf that word.
uinf^v. ^tticii4 mentioned AL\'af:dcr\ ccrfidtnr/rue and ne- ccfTary Counfcl j C;r/7contradi(fling ir, calls the WMVi^yiman of a confident face or mouth. If another Brfliop (aid ihe fir ft words before him, do I wrong him in faying he f .id \\\t f.cor.d? O tender rnenl His urging the keeping up the names of" fuch as Nechiiiw and jirfacms, and cafting out Chryfficmit'^ is {h like our Canons about Readers and Norconformilt?, and cor Cano- necrs defcriptions of their Country Parfon?, and the Puritanes, Lliat I wonder not that you defend him.
§ 1-1. But he faith, tlut /t^s a little unchnftUn to bUfl his memory vpith the faults which hecorrcEled in his life-time.^
u^nfw. I, It's neceffary to tell that truth which blarteth the Reputation of fuch fin as was growing up towards Papacy. -ri/«/,2.Then Chrift was unchriftian to tell the Jews of their very Fathers murders of the Prophets, while they difclaimed ir, and. built their Sepulchres, Mat. 23. And theaic was unchriftian in
the
the Holy Ghoft,to blaft the memory of yldam^ A'oe, Lot, David Solomon^ Feter^ yea or AUnaJfeh, with fins repeiite^ pf. a.Hiftory muft fpeak truth about things repented cfj or elfe it will buL deceive the world. 4. The Honour of God, andGoodnefs, and Truth, muft be preferred before our own Honour. Repefitance, if true, will molt freely confefs a mans own fin^ and poft fully fhamcir.
§ 12. Whether all his far-fctcht Con;c(n:ures that Cyril re- pented, be true or no, is nothing to me. I will hope he did, though I nevnerfaw it proved : The very laft Sentence of Death might do it. His retortion is, [_I know no man dee pi r engaged in the Contentions of the Charcb (than \) The writir.gof his Eighty Bo'^kj being but Itk- fo many pitcht Battels he has foyghr, and mofi commoKly in the-da'\y when he was h-irdly atl: to difcuver fnuid from foe. 2
^nfw. It's too true, thit being ail written for Prace, the Enemies cf Peace have fought againlt them. Ntmis dn habi- tavit, anima n-jsa itttcr ofofes p.ici^. ^\Z pro caput Letloris^ 5rc. All men rake not th? words of fuch as he fur Oracles. How much I have written and done for Peace, let others read and judged 1 long I .bourcd'ard bcgg'd for Peace ia \z'\n wiih fLch as he defender!;. And it's admirable iftliis pittilefs Enemy of Se(fts and Erro ;rs can be for all the St{ti and Erroi:rs that I have writ enaga'pft. Have I in thcdark taken for i(jts by Er- rour the Arheiits, the Intidels, the S.idducc", the Hobbifts, the Q^iakerf, the Ranter?, the Papifts, rhe Socinians, the Libertines called Antinomians, the Anabaprilts, the Separatifrs, and StCts as Se<fts ? Be of good comforc all : Thcfe Prelatifts that accufe us for too dark and (harp Writings againft you. Teem to tell you that they will more hate perfccuting or diftrelTmg you j Ves when they cgree with themfelves.
H.8 Prayer that I may have a .more honorable opinion of Re- penrance he calls me to fpesk to in the End.
§ 13. Whe:her good IjUorc pch^Ji.ta were a man £'^very eafj to tak^ any imprijfnns, andtipo i filfc information char get h *^' Cyril with prcfccmin^ his private i^-iarrelts with NeftOrius *' under p' etc nee of z.cal jar the faith ] I leave all men to believe cur Accufer as they fee cjnfe. ^{A tie fume I fay cf that which is fo great a Gontroverfic amcng rhe Critical Hiftorians,whether Jhcodnrcts Epiftle to foh, ^ist. -againft Cpil be Goun;crfeir, or,
X 2 . WfTf
were written on a falfe rumour ofC^nis death. Their 5-th Ge- neral Council hath ir. Baronius and bnmius fay, fome EatjchiAn knave hath corrupted the Acfts of that Council. Muft Councils be the Lawg of all the world, and hath the Church and Tradi- tion kept them no better, that we know not when we have them truly ? Leave us then to the univerfal Laws of God.
§ 14. He faith truly that [ the Can-.cilof Ephefus xvas chiefly dirdlea bj th: authority o/Cyril ] An[. And fo was that at Trent by the authority of the Pope And when he hath confuted the credible Hiftory wich rells us of the womensand Courtiers ha- tred of Neftorinf, and proved that the Em[)erour and Pnl- cheriA the Emprefs were but one, I will gran: tli.;t the authority oj the CcHYtdirellcd not Cyril ; and that then and now Bifhops neither were nor are direded by the Civil powers.
§ I J. When I fpake againft Nefloriiu his cruelty to Secftaries lie asketh [ What JJereticaters were hotter than the Prejfyterians tn 1646. The In^f/ijition is not more fever e than their ordinance a- gaiuft: Herejies, which they dcfiredfoould bs made felony and punijh- id by death cr^.J
Anf. Reader Judge of the mans Credit ai to ancient Hiftory ftill by his truth about the Prefent age. i. The l-o^j/nfttionjie faith, is not more fverc. Do I need to anfwer this to any man of 50 years of age. ^ It's Capable of no anfwer but what he will call by fomc name deferved by his own.
a. I can find no fuch ordinance: He faith It was iff ere d^. Is- thatall/' And by whom .?Was it the body of thePresbterians,or who?
3. What were the Herefies named by them? Were they not down right Blafphemy?
4. Who and hcw many were ever either tormented or put to death for Herefie, from 1641 till j 660 : I remember not one, {■i\^ \\\njjmes Nayltr w^i imprisoned and whipr, and had his Tongue bored for blafphemous Pcrfonacing Chrift, and that not by the Presbyterians.
5. Why are they io ordinarily reproached by the Prelatifts for tolerating all S>t€ti here in E'igUnd ?
6. What if all this had been true ? What is it to me or any of n)y mind ? I never had a hand inperfecuting one man, to my remembrance. How few can you name of all the Nonconfor- liiiils now in England, that had any band in the Severities you
mention ?
(157) mention ? I know not four in EngUnd, that I remember. And' what's this to us any more than to you ?
7. And v/as it well done, or ill ? If well, why do you liken them to the Inquifition ? Are you for n? If ill, why do you plead for it In others ? Imitate it not if you diflike it.
For my part, as lam againit all Seds as fuch, I am much more againft the cruelty of any. I ftick no more at the dif- gracing the Presbyterians fins, than yours :: And L am readier to difgrace my own than either, if I can know them. I would cherifh Errours no more than you j but I would not mine or imprifon even fuch of your felves as have too many. Herefie rauft have its proper cure. I thank God I had once an Ortho- dox agreeing Flock. But again I fay, the Presbyterians were too impatient with Diflenters ; and it's better have variety of Fifn in the Pond, thanj^y the Pikes to reduce them to fpecial unity.
§ l^. He faith that Nejlorius conpaurntially demcd the God- Head of CoTifi, p. 192. Next he hath found a contradicTiion in my words, that the Emperor was wcd'j of thisflrr : And yet thic [ Cyal did it to pleafs the Court ] Thefe critical men can make tht^ir two hands enemies to each other. How came hcwjkir<!; to dream thatrhis was a contradiction, when Hiltorians tcH us- that the Women and Courtiers hated hoiYiChryfofiome ^^rA Ne(to~ ritis ? He implyeth that the£w/?r?i;rand the Court were all one, or of one mind. But I am not bound to believe him, n) more than of many other Einperours whofe Wives kept up one party and they^another. And I pray you why fliould wc be conhcient t\\n ThcndofiHs 2, himfelf called an Entychian by the heretica- ting Bifliop^jWas notagainft Nejionus when he called that Giun-, cil,t^' at firft Condemned both him andC;n7,ind after him A )n^? I did but recite the Hiftorians words, and was thar forget fuhnfs ? § 17. His m.iny words about this c(fitroverfie with Nefiori- jvjare the molt unworthy of any anfwer of all his Books : fome- time he faith as I, as p. 193 [ It had been h^ippy for ths Chrrch if to( rrjj'icriei of our Religion had never been curioufiy dtfputcd : fometime he confelfeth ihat Neitonus fp.tke the fame thifig with Cyril J fW Chrifi- had two natures in one Perfon : ibid.. And that hi cxprcffeth himfelf one wotdd thinly very orthodoxly. p. 202. But the Hcret ick^diffemhlcd and hid his fence. And fo this man after above T 000 years knew the mans mind to be contrary to his words : whereas it's palpable to him that readcth the Hiftories, thar the
ivl in
•wan wasfo far from hidmi and dijfewblirg, that he was fowrlr and morordy ac'd:(fled to Itlck to the wor \!s and Notions he had efpoufed, and too litrle to regard a peaceable complyance ro. mollifie hisaccufer?, His fault lay en the clean contrary fide. But he provcth him a Heretick that meant Chrifl w^srwo ?er. yo«/, though he faid the contrary, i. Becaufe he faith that the Humare Nature was united in digmty and honour to the Divine.
^)i[. As if either the hypoftatical union weredenyedby thofe words, or he knew that Neflcrita meant not to include it in ihofe terms:
Blithe faith he «:feth the word 'at^st-f^y* and not iVsarr^ ^tf_ As if 'rrc:^-^-^^^ ncver fif^nifyed more than a Relative or official PcrfoP, when befjdea the many place§ cited by Dercdon^ Nij'.o- riusoU explainerhhimfelf in the common orthodox fence,
Butth" fou'eft charge i«,that he feems once^^ twice to dlHin- giufh C{:rift from the Divine Nature, y.'nf. By [ Chrilt ] he ex- j>reireth himfelf to mran tb€ hifm,i:ne n.-it!irc anoirted to his Office : And the Iran thcn<!;hf that the Divine Nature was nor fu anoin- ted : and diflinguifliir.g is not dividing.
It is not his Naj/ and my 7^(a that can inform any Fveader whjt Nejiorms faid snd meant without reading his own words ('raihcr than Cyrils of h'm. ) And if fuch as Mr M. will pretend Char'- tVj ard co: trary to plain evidence facedown the world that a Ji^Ia)2 dtiyith cunfiquoiliaiiy Cbrifts G:d- Nc.:d, avd the Z/;;irj of his PcrJoK, while he profeft the contrary, no mans innocency is flflicicnt roefcape the fangs of fiich herecicaters : And.Iec him C'-'ll mewh^t his lift inclintth him to call m.e, lagain jrofefs that o -the reading of 0>/7, NeftonuSf and the Council, and Diro- i-ok\ Citations, I am quire part doubt that the controverfy was Verbal^ which of ihtmfpak.^ orthodoxly while (hey bo(h meant the fame thing; and wheii%nefaid Afary wasth' Mo'h-r of God^ and the other fijid,no; Sh: w-ish/nthc Muth.rofthM Vtrfo-s who is God J ihi^ Jin,(fs of the phrafe was the matter of their quar- leL
Aid coi.fider i M ^ny think that whtn a higii point is in con- troveify to the danger of theCiurcfi, we mult ulcihe cxjcleft phraftp, and not fay all thai may be jii'.tihed.
2. \nd asp'w.i d4t nomasXo loa^tn (orm.il! s.^or dcnominiting<? pr.'nu is more exad and j>roper than a m.ttcYiii : A^d therefore though idiotKi m.:y tc C)m.niuriicated, h" that i.". co.'urove rfie
dene mi-
denominatech the Divine NiCure from its o:vn properties/peak^ more exadf]'.
3. If one fhould in our Pulpits fay ordinirily [T^jelVor/J was Created bj M.An : j The eternul proceeding of the Holy G-jojl wa: Jfem a A/an : Fhpo and Blood w.is fr(.m Etetmty \^ m^ny found Chrjftians would not like it. And yet it's true in the Com- municative fenfe, viz.. [ He that is now man made the world as God: The H:/Iy GhoU eternally proceeded from the 2d PL-rfon in the Trinity who is now God and Min : Ghriit who was flcfh- and bioo-1 o.i Earth, was Eternal as God. J So if o;ie nowfay [] Gjd was confined to the Virgins Womb, and to the Manger: Gjd could notfpeak in the Infancv of Chrift : Go.l vvas but a- bout 30 year old when Chrift was Baptized : God knew not the day nor the hour of Chrilh fecund coming: God was a!leep> huagry, forrowiul, in an agony, crucified, dead, buried, cr^r. 3. A'i this is thus far true, vi^. Of C-jrif^ \who was God, not as Gjd but as mjn : A id yet if I fho aid deny but the //V/>v/f ot'this^ lpe.;l( ng, I were ju!l fuch an Heretick as JVefiori»s was: And mmy ihac are no H.reticks for all thac would not reilifh ir.
Eithirr my Eyes could not fin J thac in iVc;;?(?r/,vj which he sfht'ms ofhirn cr elfe he is a mc-er llandercrof him, when he liith Pag. 193 that he dcnyed Yea obftiaatcly ] that /I/^»7 was the Ai'thy^ oj th^t Ptrfon who was God.~\ He hat'i pro iuced no fuch. word. That which he ftood to 'fvi?, that inltead of [4ying M.iry Wis the Mother of God^ we (liould Cdyjhc was th: Aiothir of Co'ifl who is God and Alan. And of the unity of Perfon I. have c ted already his own A^ords fo fully, as moved Dsrodm to Ciy [^ f d ure boUly [ay^ no Chrifiian hrJj hitherto fp. ken trpil^er u-id ylaimr of the muty ofChr't^s Verfon i ; two natures than Nelto - riu5 3 And that it's UXi't that he confeft but an union ofdignity fihe lame cited words fhcw : Ncxu adeo fihUmi (^ fairh he) Di-- vino^m & admirabili ( mentioning the conjunction of the Divin:-- ty and humanity ) xt Divina natura eajibi vendicct q:^<e Corpo'is ■ ulio^Hiiifint propria J Epiit. ad Cyril.
And as to all his julVirications of C/ri/,he knoweth that 1 jufti- fy his Djclrine as well as he, but not the work that be made>, which is not undone among Nations of blcftonans to this day. But if the man were able to be impartial, and fo happy as nor to draw on himfelf the guilt of fuch fins by juftifying them, he might eafily fee in his own confefTion that Cjnl the Hereticator
/pai<.e
1
fpake as bad at leaft as Neftortut, He oft confelTcth ( for he can- not deny ir ) [th^it he doth jreo^ueatlj own br.t one nature ] p. 197. and 198. [ thut there ts but one nature of the word incarnate 3 To p. 201. crc. But C;r/7 meant well, that i>, by i\r<<f«rtf he meant ferfoK. And was not this Eatychian Speech as improper as Nefto- rius is ? Is the natrire and Per/on to be confounded ? Did the Fathers fpeak thus ? U Nature put for Perfon be pardonable, why is it not pardonable to prefer a denomination a propnctate velforma^ to another ? And thus you make C)r%l to dilTer from the £«9c^z4«j, in their dilfcrent meanings while they ufed the fame words. If I had faid that Chrift had but one N.itnre I Ihould have had a cenfure otherwife meafurcd.
And though this man feem to deny it, I have cited many of his words in which he faith [ Duas nAturas unit as ajfcrimus : po[t unionem vero tauquam adtntpta jam in d^fits diftin3ione^ v.y,am ejfs credimuifiUi naturam^ tayiquam unius fed inhumati & incarnati & adfuccef. Nihil injufti facimus dicentes^ ex duabus naturis faBum ejfe concurfftm in unitatem : Pofc unionem vero non dtjtin- (Tuimus naturas ab invicem. Butl have cited enough before.
Thefum and truth is, to judge no one but my fcif, 1 muft be blind by ignorance or partiality if I be not paft doubt, 1. That unskilful explication was their difference. 2. That C;n/j words were Eutjchian. 3. That i^/f/?«?r;«/ words were orthodox in the main, but not fufticiently yielding to a tolerable phrafe. 4. That they both meant the fame thing. 5. That all their war was managed, 1. For want of diftinguifhing fully the ^bftraB [ Dei- tAtcm ] and the Concrete [^Deuni] 2. For want of diftinguifhing [ J^ui Deus ] from [ ^a Deus^ and a ftrift formal tx\)n fllon Irom a morelaxe that's tolerable. And 3. For want of diftingui- fhir.g n divtjion ] from [ difinclion ] of natures. 4. For want of explaining the various fort* and fer.fes of {Vnity\ and [^Vlhrali- ■ty. 3 I cannot but know this to be true, though Mr, Ai, fcorn me for jr.
What [^ I that underjcand not the language they wrote iu to pre- tend to ({now better than the Council ?'} Anf i. So fay the Papiits : what? will you pretend to know more than the Church and Councils ? If it be implicite faith that they are bringi: g us to, let them tell us which Councils we muft fo believe when they condemneach other ? 2. I thought Icould ma'ke fhift tounder- Itand their language, though I be no crltick in it : But if he know
me
(i6t)
me better, I ftrive not for the reputation of Learning ; not only Baronius and Binnim, and all the reft that he nameth that had no skill in Greek, but moft of the Schoolmen, fcem to me with- out it, far more Learned than he. I can tell him of Lads whcfc Learning I admire not, that fhall vie with him in Languages Oriental and Occidental, and gi\re him odds j And when he fcorns D:toAoi}s diftin(ftions, telling ns it's making two bad Groats bji fit- ting a Sixpence^ &c. I leave him to glory in his Conlufion : But I fufpec'^t- the Fox that (peaks againft Tails is like enough to want one himfelf.
But when he hath Oiewed in all this Hiftory of Nefiorius^ Cjirtlj and the Council, little but that partiality which can talk confidently to the ignorant for any caule, without any fliew of confuting Derodons juftification of Nefiorihs^ or my Conciliati- on, his craft or pafllon attempts to divert the Reader by the art of the times, and as if it muft ftop our Mouths from lament- ing the fin of HereticatorSj and mifery of the Church thereby, he tells us how men in thefe times call themPapifts that arc none» ^ttf. If it be ill done, why condemn you your felf by de- fending thofethat did the like? If it was well done in Bidiops Councils^ why not in them? 2. But what's this tome, if it be not me that he means? If it be, i. If you will read but the laft part of my Cathol. Theolog. judge of the mans front. 2. It is none but thole that are for a humane Soveraignty orer all the Church on Earth that we judge Papifts: And if you judge them not fuch, we will thank you to tell us what a Papift is in your own fenfe.
§ 18. His faying^. 22^. that [fohn Comes that gives a fad aC' count of the Council is tnuch to be fufpeBed, &c. doth but tell us that he would have your belief of Hiftory guided by the Intc- reftofhis Caufe.
§ 19. As to his (corn againft my tranflating the words \jhe Scripture and Sacred'^ which mean that imperial Scripture, Idid think a litteral Tranilation could not have been judged a mifun- derftanding or miftranllatlon : Why may they not be called in EngUJh what they are called in Greek) And he had aftrong ima- gination if he thought that //^^w^rj Tranflation ofEufebipu^Scc* atfordcd me fuch materials as thefe.
§ 20. His conclufionof fome that fcorn to preach by the I-i- fff«c<? of the Government I before mentioned. The Truth and
Y mlnifterial
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n^inidcrial Honefty of ir, is much like as if Thoufands fhould petition the Bifhop, that their fick families may have liccnled Phyficians, and he rejetteth all their Petitions, and prevailcth witti the Parliament to do the like: At laft the King pittieth them, and licenfrth the Pbyficians, andtheBifhop and his Cler- gy arc offended, and get it revoked, and the Phyficians praftile at their peril without licenfe: And our credible Hiftorian (liould record if, that they fcorned to praJtire aslicenfed by the Govern- ment, even while ftill they make all the Friends they can to the Clergy to be licenfed, and are not able to prevail. But the ages that knew not them and us, that are to come, may pofTibly be- Here thefe men as they believe their Predecellor?.
§21. To conclude, Reader, if now thpu have any fcnfe of Chriftian Interefl, Unity and Love, judge of the whole cafe im- partially, and begin with notorious matter of fa dt.
1. We find atthisday a great Bjcly of Chriftian?, called M"- fiorians, inhabiting the Countries of Bahjlon, ^Jfjria^ Afefopa- tamia^ Parthia^ and Media^ yea, fpread Northerly to Cataya^ and Southerly to Indix-^ abundance of them even in Tartar j , faith VauUh rtnet. See Brierwood p, 139. And we find that they are by the Weftern Churches, if not the Cretkj^ called Here- ticks, and at the eafieft Schifmaticki. And yet as tbofc very Friars that have lived among them fay, they are commonly free from any fuch Opinions as are charged on them, but only ho- nour the name of Neft-orins, and condemned the Councils that condemned him. This Mr. M. nor no Prelate will deny that rc- taineth humanity.
1. We find that this woful fratllon hath continued about one Thoufand two Hundred and thirty Years.
3. We are put to enquire what was and is the caufe; andvre find that on both fides it is the Bifliops and their Clergy that now continue ir, and it was Patriarchs and their Bifhops that af^rft caufed ir.
4. Yr^e enquire how they did it: And Mr. Morrice confefleth thai it began in a difpute between the two Patriarchs (whether the Virgin Mary was to be called The Mother of God, or rather The Mother of Jefus Chrtft who is God and Man : and that on this occafion Cyril charged Nefioni^s , as making Cbrift to be two Perfons, and he himfelf faid Chrift incarnate had but one Nor ture, but ht^d n© more skill in fpcaking, than by one Nature to
mean
i
'mean om Terfon^ ( though Derodon labour to prove that he meant worfe,) that Neftorius profeired two Natures in one Per- fcn. And Mr. M. faith, JS^eJloriits whfn he fpake well meant iiJ, and C;ril when he fpake ill meant well. And upon this a Gene- ral Council itfelf is firft divided about them, even to blows: and after by the importunity of C)ril'^s party, Nejlorias isbanifhed, and the BiHiops divided, fume for one, andfome for another to this day. Another Council is called at C^/t:£^^(?», and conhrmeth the Condemnation , and the Neflorian Bifhops condemn that Council, and for many Ages the Bifhops were divided alfoabouc that, one pare condemning it, and the other fubferibing to it, and honouring it. Judge now what thefe Bifhops have done to Chriftian Religion and the Church of ChrifV, and continue to do: And if you dare join with our Canoneers in making the guilt your own, by juftifyingfuchdifmal workj the further you go, the more of it you have to juftifie, till your Souls have guilt and load enough.
Honeft Dr. Moore charged with Neflorianifm, is fain to ac- cufe NeftoriHs out of his Enemies words to clear himfelf. That he owned not a [VhyftcaL Vmon of Nature f] is an ambiguous, un- safe word ! A Phy fical Union feems to fignifie one <pwW which is not to be faid. He never denied a perfonal or Hypoflatical Uni" on. And if he had fas he did not) oppofed the word Hypoftafr, fo did Hurom that was no Heretick, and many more for a long time.
I fuppofc Mfi M. is not more zealous againft Neflorianifm than the Hereticating Church o^ Rome'is: And how great they really thought the NefiorianHereCiCf the ftory which I mention oi P. Horm/fdateUsyoVi whkb. I will repeat. [ There arofel controverfie whether it might be faid that [One of the Trinity ivas crucified,'] Fo^c Hor ml fda faid fxYoJbecaufe they that were for it were fufpefted to be Eutjichians: The Nefi or inns laid hold on this, and faid, [Tthen we may not fay that Mary was the Parent of one of the Trinity.] This was a hard cafe : fuflinian (ent to Pope fohn about ir. His infallibility and Hormifda's were contrary : he and his Council fay that we may fay, that [0«^ cf the Trinity was crucified.^ Hereupon Baronius and Binnius give us a ufeful note, [/f4 mutatis hofiias arma mutari neceffe fftit."] What fhould the World do if we had not had fuch a Judge of Contro- verfiCB, I hope Mr. J\i, will not be (b heretical, or fchifmatica I,
38 to fay that cither of thefc Popes erred againft an Article of Faith: But will rather recant his Accufation of Nefiorius, and number this with Thhigs Indifferent , which the Church hath power to change at her pleafure.
CHAP. XXII.
Ofthc Conncil o/Ephefus 2d.
§ i.T^Hat our Hiftorian may mftifie the Dividers he maket i. himfelfa Party, and by downright mlftake againft both faith, i. 'Yh^t\^eftoTi(4s fellinto BUfphemy^ denying Cbriji to be true Gcd. 2. And that Emjchei denied Chrijt to he true Man.'] This is our Reformer of Hiftoryj when both of them prof( fled Chrift to be true Godj and true man. I doubt not but the Man can write another Book to juDiHe this j for what is it that feme cannot talk for ? Yea, he is at it again, p. 230. that Eutychcs held Chrift not to be true Man,
§ 2. He confefleth again that Cyril affirmeth but one Nature^ and meant but pne P^fon^ and that Et4tychesu(cd the fame words, but faith, [tire they cannot be [0 mad as to jail an fo violently when they fay the farr^e thing & words, Flavian cof^ld not be fo fooljh or fo wickedjdcc.^nf, I juftifie not the words oiEatychcs oxCjrtly but if I have great reafon to believe, that as he confcfTcth Cyril fo grofs as to ufe <f>J<^i for vTTc'jrtc^f, fo Entyches who had tar lefs Learning than Cyrily did word amifs the conception?, which were the fame with Cynls, I leave it to this mild Cenfurer to call them Fools ^ and mad^ and wicked. It's taken for railing in me to blame them.
§ 3. He fditli [Cyrilnever faid there were two Natures in Chri^ before the Vuion. An[. I have twice cited his words: Find a true difference between them and thofc o{ Eutyches if you can. I believe they both meant better than they fpake.
§ 4. But the Spirit of dctra<!^ion ufeth to fetch Accufations from Heay t sj^ 7hoP!ght s^diuA fecret ylElionsj7^i\(\ fodoth he againft Eutyches ; and he faith this hath been done of late times ^ To deliver that in feleH Aieetings^ which they will not in phblick^ promifcmus jijftmbliei : as evil Spirits are under refiraint in conjecrated places.
'u4nf. Therefore it is that the Nonconformifls have 20 or 19 years fo earneftly beg'd for leave to preach In publick cor- fecrated places to promifcuous Aflemblies, that they might be out of fufpicion, but could never obtain it of this fort of Ma- imers. Ex ore tuo— Thus they that caft the Itonc at others oft ' find it hitthemfelves. Mr. Edwards Gaugrena is here commend- ed to thofe that are for Toleration. As if all d'tferenccs were equally intolerable or tolerable: And he that faith [Tolerate not tbofe that preach BUfphcmy or intolerable errour ,] faid no worfe than he that faith \_Silence Two Thoufand Preachers^ unlefs tUj will Profefs^ Promt ff, and Swear, and do all ihat is (oft defer ibcd) impofed on them.
§ %. In his Narrative he is no more tender of the honour of Birtiops it feems than I am, nor fo much of Emperours; for when he had faid the Emperour f was too much adJitlcd to this kind of rermtne ( Eunuchs ) and JJjews hif bitternefs againji Flavian, he faith thatf/j<? Letters which called this Council fitggefled fufficicntly 11 hat it was to do^ ^nd that their bfifinefs was to condemn a Bijioop th: Emperour did not care for, though without anj jnfl gro:4;:dy naj, for Lis honefly^,
I deny none of this : But were the Bifhops of the Catholick Church in a good cafe then,thar,when they knew before that they were called to fuch a work as thi<,would meet in a General Coun- cil and do it ? No j he accufeth them himfelf, I need not do it.
The Emperour^ he faith, h^new how to choofe Bifoops, ("and yet his SummofiS was general to all to comej and the Prejidenty if half be true that is faid of him, (and if that be a doubt, how cre- dible are your Hiftorians f j wat one of the mofi wicked^ profligate Wretches in the Worldf] yet he was one of the Patriarchs, and all the Council Biftiops, and till they met, were not thuaaccufed. You lee the man is a far greater railer than I even sgainft Bi- fhops : But it is but againft thofe that are againft his Intereft and fide.
§ 6. He defcribes thofe Bifhops as ufing- violence, forgetting that it is it his Party truftcth to continually : juft with the front as Baronius and Binnlus, and many other Papifts, juftifie 'fartin for being againft putting Heretickr. ro death, and condemn Itha- ci/ts^ while their Kingdom is upheld by that which they con- demn, and worfe, even the burning of true ChrilVians as Here- cicks, and it's Heretical with them to imitate Martin, juft as
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tbofc AiAtth. 25. Your leathers killed the Prophctf, and yoa build their Sepulchers, and fay if wc had lived in the days of our Fathers, wc would nor, dc.
§7. But in the paflTage I tir.d our Hiftorian in a more charita- ble mood to this J-ph.-Jtfic Council of Bifhops than his Brethren, [_How hadfievcY Diofcorus and this Council \rere^ yit they are m wy judgmertt tc he looked en rrtther as favourers cf Her efe than JHeretickSi the/ followed the tnear.tiig I believe as well as the Wordt 0/ Cyril.] ^nf. And now I may hope lam Orthodox and Cha- ritable when i have no lefs thun his Judgment to /uftifie mine, 4nd AnatoliM jufiifteth us bo:h.
§ 8. But Sir, row you are in a good Mood, will you confider,
1. Wh::Iier thofe Bifliopsand Councils that fet the Cbrillian World in that Flame that burneth dreadfully to this day, after above 1200 Years, vi-ere not guilty at leaft of a peccadillo or venial fin,
2. WLethfr they are imitable.
3. "Whether this General Council had a fupream Legiflativc and Judicial power over all the Church on Earth, which all muft obey and none muft appeal from.
No : faith Bifliop Cumingf It tvas a meeting ofvioler.t Robber s^ yinj^ But it was a General Council: which it (cems then may be fucb.
CHAP. X X 11 1.
Of the /^i\\ General Council at Calcedon.
$ i.rTE begins his Chapter comically, and notably derideth JlI me for faying Tulcheria was the fame that before at Epbef;44 had fet the Bifliopsagainft Neftorius. Is this fo ridicu- lous ? It's well known that Hiftorians make her very powerful with her Brother: (he chofc his Wife Eudocia, (* They were long of two minds.) It's no wonder that fhe chat got him con- demned at Ephifus, got the the fame further done at Calcedon^ when ihe was Emprefs her felf, having made Martian Empc- rour, and her nominal Husband, ffor they were not conjugally to know each other.) Is there any thing in this that deftrveth the ftagc? Though Thtodofm be reproacficd by Popifh Hiftorians
S8
as an Eutychian, ora favourer of them, if credible bonefv So- crates may be believed, there bave been few fuch Princes in tkc World, (for Piety, his Houfe was a Church ; for Patience, ne- ver fcen angry i for CompaflTion, would never let a man die for Treafon againft himfelf.) But bis Sifter (a. Woman eminent for Wit and Piety) was thought to govern him very much, & fpe- cldlly in the fcveritiei againft Neflorius, Evagrins who bitterly reproacheth Nefl-oriw, tells us of fome writings of his that fell into his hand, in which he faith, that the Emperour was his friend, and would not fign his banilhment, and laies the cruel- ties that he underwent on his Officer: and confidering the cafe of a fuffering man, I fee nothing unfecmly in the Letter to him, which Evagritii chargeth with contempt.
§ 2, My wifb for the Churciies Peace, that the unsl<:ilful words Q^ Nejlorius and Eutyches had been fi]enccd by negled^ra- ther than the flame blown up by honouring ihcm with two Ge- neral Councils difputation , doth with this Gentleman defrrve this Replication, {_He cannot be more violent and outragioMSy more bitter and malicious render ail the provocations imaginable, than he is under that negleB v, hich hiwfelf prcjcribeth for the cure.'] ^nf. If this be a true acculer, he can prove what he faith : It's eafie to fay this of any man : But if a man that harh a cholerick Sto- mack fhall fwcar that there was Aloes in his Phylick, his word is no proof Thefe arc the men into whofc hands we are by Gods permiiTijn failn, while wearecaft out, judged to filence,. prifons, & beggary, if we do but repeat the words of the Laws and Canons, and in 17 Years time when mod that they turned out are dead, if the reft at their own urgent demand do but tell them what they judge unlawful, and anfwer thofe that accufe them, they are outragioM, vioUKt, bitter, and matictous. As if one that wounds me (hould fue me for faying , Tott hurt me. It's violence and an unpcaceablenefs to feel, but none at all in them to ftrike or to deflroy. We will give you many thank« fir you will hurt us no more than we do you.
§3.1 faid that one skilful healing man that could explicate am- biguous words,and perfnade men to Love and Peace ^ti/l they under^ flood each other^ had more befi-iended Truth, Piety , and the Church, than the htreticating Coundls did,"^ And why, faith he, may not that skilful manjhevp hi^s skill in Councils, as well as dfe where ? -^nf, Who dcnieth it? But the qucition is, how he fhall be
heard
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heard and prevail? I told you that here One man in ohe fentence did fo^ by differencing between mental difinguifmng and divi- ding-, even Bafd of Selew:ia^ faying, [Ccgnofcimus dttai nMnrasy non dividimusi ticcjuc divifas^ necjuc confujas dicimns.'] Tbi.t was true and plain enough, to have ended all the quarrel : But who laid hold on it, or did improve it ? What the better was Naz.i- anz,en for fpeaking well in the Council at Const jjitinople? Or Chrjfoftome for any thing he could fay to the Bifhopsfor himfelf? I hope few of all that great number ofCouncils that wtvtArian, Semiarian^ Entychian, A^onothclites^ for Images, &c. were fo bad as to have never a Bifhop among them that could or would fpeak right : But did they prevail ? In the very Council at Trent were more good Speeches than did prevail j and if Luther ^ Me- lanc/jtljon, Zpdnglinf, and fuch others, had not done more good fingly by Writing and Preaching, than Vndtthiiif could do at Trent, or any of them at JVormss, or Ratisbone, &c. there had been little done. What good did Phi/pot do in the Convocation? Some fay one Paphntittus turned the Inclination of the firft Nicene Council for good j But that hearing temper was too (hort or rare.
§ 4. Next he tells us, that [/« many lite Difpates offuftifica- tion, occ. vce find not that any of thcfe healing men were able to re- concile Parties any more than the Councils of old."}
jinfw. I. If that were true, it's alfotrue, that tbey have not made fo great and many Parties as Councils did. We have not caft the world into fo many Nations of Jacobites, Neftorians, and other Seds.
^nfvp. 2. Through God's mercy it is much better than fuch Hiftorians w^culd make men believe. Dr. Heylin tells us what work the Arminian Controverfie made between Bifliop Lau£% Party, and the Parliaments and Abbots Party, as if it had fet ut all by the Ears. It is not fo now: One of your Brethren late- ly tells us, how that Controverfie is quieted : WhatContenti-on do you hear of among the fJonconformifts about it .^ No man hath fo much as writ a line, that I know of, againft my Concilia- tion in my CathoL Theology. How little Itir doth the Ar.tinomian Controverfie make ? If one or two men do vent their difplea- fure about any of thefe, we neglect it, and it is prefently for- gotten. I hear fometime that called Arminianifm hotly preach- ed in the Parifli Churches : It provoketh not me, and I take no
notice
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notice of it. I (rareJ>') hear fome preach againft the ArntlnUns : I take no notice of it, and there it dies : Wherea« if one fivould write Challenges and Accufations to the Preacber?, we might make work enough for all the Country. .1 never yet met with many fucb, but if you make not a War of it^ and engage them by oppoficion, they grow weary themfelves, and grow into un- obferv'd neglect or contempt. Moll of the fpr^ading Errours and Contentions among us have come by the Bellows of too ftrong or imprudent Oppofition or Difputes. I hear of no con- fiderablc Do(ftrinal Strivings among all the Nonconformifts now in EvgUnd. One Ignorant Uncalled Fellow is lately crept into London^ and wrote proud Challenges for Antinomianifm.and none anfwered him, and he is contemned, and hath no Second that I hear of.
§ J. Though he fay \he U wearjf, yet h? mush vot pafs hj^ that when I mention Socrates his moft high praife of Theodofius (living under him 3 and the miracles which he faith God, wrought for him i I fay, if this be tnte^ God owned bis Aiodcraticn by Mira- cles, not\vith(landivg bis favouring the Eutychians, more than he did any ways of violcncc.2 And here the Qian hath found me in Con trad !(flion, and faith, [77ycy^ miracles could not countenance the Eutychian ca^^fe that was after, x. That ths Eutychiansn^tfr* the mofl violent men. Such Contradiiftions he and VEfirange find in my Writings.
^trf Bur, I. Is it true that I faidthofe miracles countenanced the Eutychian Ciiuih? I faid only that God owned the Moderati- on (not the Eutychian Opinion) of a man called an Eutychian by the Hereticators,notwithftanding his favouring x.\\QEntychiar,s.Hc was a man that ftudied the reconciliation of the contending Bi- fhops, and was moderate towards all, but perfuaded that the major Vote of the Bifhops being againft Nefioriiu, and for C;r/7, and Diofcorw^ it tefided to peace to take that fide. His Mode- ration was the fame before the ftir with Emyches as after. I on- ly laid that God by miracles owned that mans moderation^ who is charged with after favouring the En^jchians.
1. And what I fpake of Moderation oppofiteto violence, in way of fupprefTing Hereticks, he feigneth me to fpeak it as oppofite to violence in the Verfonsfupprejfd: I fpake of r/J^r;;r« in the Prince as agent, and he feigneih me to fpOfy^ of Violence in the parties that he dealt with. He may find master at ihi^ rate
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to write greater Volums againft any man. I"read of none ef the Herefies then contended about, Neftonan or Eutjchian^ but the accufed Bifhops nere violent for them: But though they were all violent, yet if the queftion were, whether' the Emperour fhould ufc violence or Moderation againft them, I may fay, that Godowneih more the way of Moderation.
§ 6. P. 246. he faith [^f Ephefiis Euftathius xvask^kt to death ^ and all thoje that durfl de find him were threatned to be ferved in like manner^ Anf Of this before: Hi« memory failed him: It was not B (fjl" at hi tis but FUvmnitf. 2. Yet he afrer excufeth Di' ofcortu from Herefiej more Bifhops than were Hereticks were violenr.
§ 7. As to hi« Reflcdlion, [^* It may be he thinhj the Empe- *' rour took, a particular Delight in that kjnd of crttelrj, and that "he hud rather one Jhonld be kj^kt to death, than that he jl.ould be '^hanged or beheaded \ vchich tvonld not be much to the credit of hif *' A'loderation : And to fa) the trmh ^ hif Letter to Valentinian **difcovers a firange kind of Spirit; for thtre he jtiflifies the pro- ^*ceedir,gs of the Eutychians ^r Ephefus, and fates that all things ^'' were carried on with much freedom and perfe^ Truth, and Flavi- " an found gftH'y of Innovating in Religion. This i< bm an iUfgn ** that Mr. B. is a hater of falje Htjiory^ when he lets this pafs un- ^* reproved.
Anf I. Had I reproved fuch an Emperour, I might have ex- pected that fome of you would have publiihed me an Enemy to Kings.
Anf 2. Rather Sir, you andl fliould hence gather, that all men muft have pardon and forbearance, and that for want of that, the names of Neftorians, Jacobite*, Melchites, Greek*, Papifts 3 Proteftants , Lutheranes , Calvinifts , Prelatifts , and Presbyterians, (^r. havealmoft fwallowed uj) the Name, much more the Love of Chriftians.
Atif 3. May it not confifl: with modefty and the hatred of falfe Iltforj, to believe the high praifes of this Emperour, pub- lifhedby one that knew him in fo pious and credible words as Sco'^.'ffj fpeaks, as I before told you, giving him fto mej a more credible Canonization than the Pope could have done, as a man of eminent holinefs^ wonderful Clemency ^ that would not let a Traitor go ofte of the Gates towards the place of Exechtion, and when be was moved {0 any Execution, anfwered, he had rather ,
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Vpere he able^ reflore the Dead to Life: exceUing all the Clergy in meeknefs, artd never fe en angrj. May not I who am branded for a railer by meek Prelatiftf, be tolerated to think charitably of fuch an Emperour, and to wilh that the world had many more fuch.
u4nf. 4. Judges are taken for unjuft if they will not hear both fides rpeak. And why (hould not I rej^ard the words of fuch an Emperour, as well a« of one halftheBifliopsagainft the other? Anf. 5 . Surely Modefty requircth me to think that the Em- perour was much more capable of knowing the truth of theacfls of his own Subje(5t« 5 when his Servants prefent gave him an account of them, than lam 1200 Years after: And fo good a man woLld not willingly lye.
^nf, 6 Therefore my own Conclufion is , God is true and all men areLyars, that is^ untrufty : and that Hadacia and his Courtiers had much power with him forD/<»/^<'^'«/againft FUvi' M^^sTclcheria had agaihft Hejiorius j bur rhat it was the Peace and Concord oftheBiftiops which he moft ftudied^and thought that it lay in going with the major part.And I befieve things were bad on both fides, and worfe than the Emperotrr thought with the Eutychian Bifhops, and ♦vorfc than others fay with their Adver*- fariesj and that the Emperour, though fallible, was as Socrates faith, beyond all the Clergie.
But here I fee th^t I am blamed for not railing igainft a meek and piouv Emperour, and as a Railer for lahaenting the fin? of the ClergiCi
§ 8. \bout the Council of Calcedon he accufeth me in gene- ral, as ^dijirigeHiouJly mincing the A^s, and njing aH the foul plat pojfible,
'. Eafily faid : And Whit's the proof? Why, i. Leave out that
tht^ XK'cre Violently beaten t9 it. ^ ' * «"'i tJ^
^nf. Tbf Reader may (^e that this is filf^ f ! rflefttion it oft, pag. 10 1. \tbe BJhifps ajvp^r^dy that they did it againfl their Wttis, being under fear : C^rdemnation and banifhment was threat" ikd^ S' uldters were th:ri with Clhbs and S\xords.'} Shall I believe rhii man againft fuch aS ^^pr^rf/, of things done 1200 Years ago, that will face me du.Vn with fuch untruths about tny own yet vifiUe Writings ?
i. But is it fallhood to omit what is faid in fuch and (b many* VoJumni? May not the Reader there fbc \if Dolcontradiiflit?
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Muft I write many Folio's or fiotfiing ? I refer,*!! Readers to
tbe Adt*. . ! n- : -•■•:• <> . ' /■
§ 9. But he faith, [/f ixould^o near to cxcufe their Complignct with A mcrcifulnta.n.'}
yit[. I confcls luch are not fo bad a> the GIergy-men,that wiU fm for meer Prefcrmenr,ard vrill wrire»igainft,and revilc^and call for Exccarioni3n rhbfe that. will not do as they. But if Noncon- formifts after 19 Years EjeftrTon an.i Reproach,, and Sufferings by more than Threats, fliould at lart (Urrenjer to heinous iin^ can be think it would excufe their Comf>iiance, when Ghriit faith, Luk: 14' ■ ? ?•! ^^ thatforfaktth i!9f all that he hath cannot be viyDijciplci (tibe thidk MiircVdom a work orSu|)ererogation,he is dangeroufly niiftaken. And he tliat to day tliinks Jhrearnirg and DaK^er.iQ Excufe far ■htr.f>i^ may to morrow think Poverty, and the next day the (kfire. of preferment an excufe.
§ lo./);5yiror«^and the £«r/tf/:?ytiwj holding clofe to the Council oiNjcc^-Qs fufficientiM-ti Teft of rhe Orthodox,to which nothing wisfo be added, . Jarecitin^ this he bath found my Ignorance V\tr^ii{[it\ng.^ctfr^^J^f>y [retr^{tJ2 if not the Engl ifh word of the fame fence wib the Latine ?< If not;- and I be ignorant in Engliib tooi .nrhat wrong-is that to any Bifhop ? > § 11. When he tjad charged Ncnfence and GonfHJion on that which he underftoodnor, and mentioned Fu{ih, I>or;/. giving the l^etQ ^Htyches, heconfefle.th tbajt tbething.wa^jtrue. ; . .'; •0 J-|U*:'i*.^55. He" faith, When the gUdj ral^hlf of Monies with Swcrds and fiaves, //^i? Bedlams broke loofe^ run upon fhtnt-^-^^ JhftHldrather fity them than infult. ';, |;: .'jr"." ■ ; ■ ' .',\ '
Anf, If the Hiftory be an infiiitlng, his, own creJired Hiftori- ans infult by recording it. If noting it as a fault be infultingythcna motion to Repentance is infultij-g, and if he vyould have us pity them for their fin, and not only for their fuffcring , that is,iji- fuiting too; But to own tbeiif fin,-and{dr^^ a^jito imitfrterfh^m, fhall be none of ray Compaffion. .\ ^ y^^^.^y \ . vv"] jm vm He minds me of Veicn Denial, andx th^ Difciples forfaking CbrilY. Alas ! he is not a map that is not lenfible of Humane frailty ? But i« it nov if^r^^^.to be blarned? Wh^ dot^ Scr;ip*- ture mentiofl it« bi^t that we may avoid the like/ Is i^ to tenqijpit others to the like? Did Chrift infult when he faid K^Veter^Gct. thet bemnd nJ6' SataHy &^^,: ^.ttY,-*/,f, -\ c, V* H'.
|;i3. He next, ft lis into, his familiar ftrain, to carry that e»
Cjfthedra,
Cathedra^ by (entence, which be cannot do by proof, and faith, \W'lyen I vent/ire on Obfervations it's an evets Uy th^t I am ct:t. J ^n[. That is, I am out of the- way of hlS; Magjrtry , Prccon^ cejpt and Intercft. ,
Ic is my Gonciliitory words that the peaceable man is an- gry at, viz,. [That this doLejul ^ ContintioHs ^ AnAthemaXiiL'ing ^ and ruining o^ each, other ^ wai about the Jenje of,ambigHOi^ woras^ and they were lattj of one mind in the matter and l^iexv it not.)\ He cannot but confefs , that my judgment of them is lofter than theirs that hereticatc each other. And Derodon hath fully proved that this Council when they condemned Ne^orius^ were of his Judgment in the whole matter, and faid ; .byt t,h«e fame as he. . . "' ; • -.^
'^ §,14. As to his telling me, that Eutyches denied Chrift to be truly and properly man, I will no more believe him, than if he had faid C/n/did %.
§ 15; But he faith, the Aionothelites were the genuine Difci- pies <?/Eutyches. They were of his mind in that Confequencc: And fuch another Controverfie it was. And how much greater errour againft our Belief of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft , have I proved e, g. to be, in your Dr. SherUks Bookj ,,Aod yet Ihopc he meant better than he fpake. -•jo ii-,
^16. P. 255-. He confeJeth of one Party what I faid, viz., [ "0/Diofcoru8 and Flavian, / am apt to believe ihoy 'cnre much *' of the fame Opinion as to the, point tn controverfe^ and kjiew it "well enough i which was the only caufe why Uiotcoxu^ with bus ^^ party of Btjhops and Monkj^ would not endure to come to any Di- ** bate of the matter^ for fear it would appear that j hey all agreed y "' andthen there would have been no pretence to condemn Flavian , ••• which w^s the Defign, if not of the EmperoHr, yet at Ic^fi of thofe " that governed him."}
^nf. Fie Dr. will you thus abufefo'many Orthodox Bifliops ? And alraoft condemn your vindicating Book? And harden me in myErrouri' But 1 am much of your mind, and if one of us err, fo doth the other.
§ 17. And I like his Ingenuity, faying ^«/«^o///^ confefleth in Council, ' that Diofcorw was not condemned for Hercfe but Tyranny^ and no man coxtradiSled him. Anf, Not in anfwcr to thofe words, but the Accufations of many contfadided him before.
§ 18. That they mean one thing by their various exprelFions
I have
(i74) I have fully proved, and he no whit confutcth : That the FMy'- chtans acknowledged no diftinft Prtpirties^ and Ncflonui own- ed an Unity but in Dignity and Title only, arc his flat Dander^, to be no way proved but by their Adverfaries accufationi. The ve- ry wordi I named even now, [^Divino^mirabiU^ [ubltmi nexH.~\ and many clearer, fhew it o{ Nrftoritu. And I wi(h him to take heed himfelf how he deftneth the Hypoftatical Union, left the next General Council (if ever there be one) make him an Here- tick.
Can he believe that the great number of Efttjchian Bifhops were fo mad, as not to know that Cbrifts Mortality, poHlbility, material Quantity, Shape, &c. were the properties of Chrifts Humanity and not his Deity f But fome Men can believe any thing well or ill, reafonablc or unreafonable, as Intercft and af- fedtion lead them.
§19. He faith, that \_ If it were a faB ion that denied thi^, it was a ftrong ont , and never was oppofed by any Perfon before Mr, Baxter.
uinf. 1 heard yon were a young man 5 but if you be not above one Hundred Years old, your reading cannot be great enough to excufe this confidence from fuch temerity as rendereth you the lefs credible. How many Thoufand Books be they which you or I never read ? How know you that none of them all op- pole it ? But would you perfuade the Reader that I call it a Fa- ftion, to believe your fence of thefe Councils.^ Fadtioui men are forwardeft to judge others Hereticks without caufe^ and all that I (ay is, that Though fuch deny my AJfertionit is true: Doth it follow that I take all for fa^iom that deny it ? If I had faid, [Though Tapffts deny /r,] that had not been all one as to fay, [^if are Papifis that deny /r.]
2. But did never any perfon oppofc it ? i. I named you Da- vid Derodon before, who though he largely labour to prove Cy- ril an Ehtychian in words and fence, and that by?y'whe3id mean Natura^ and not Perfona, yet as to Neftorim he copioufly pro- veth, that the Council of Calcedon was juft of his Mind, and condemned him for want of Underftanding him. Though you have not feen that Book of Derodonsy I have, and you fhould not judge of what you never fa w.
2. Luther de Conciliis firft accufeth Ncfi-orins as a Hcretick,' denying Ghrift'i Godhead, or holding two Pcrfons j And prcftnt-
(175)
Jy retrads ir, and conFcficth he was feduced by believing the Papifts, but ((hough he had not read muchot'theCouiicil«, but what he had gathered out of the Tripartite and fuch Hiftoriansj yet he gathered from the PalTages of the Hiftofy, that the dif- ference lay only In u^ords, which he opcneth at large, and yet turns it (harply againft A^eflcritu, for thinking that we may not fpeak of Chrifts Godhead or Manhood by communicated names or Attributes, and greatly rejoiceth that this ferverh his turn, in his Opinion about Gonfubftantiation and Sacramental words.
Becaufe I wiU leave nothing in doubt with you, but whether Ltither was before my days, and left you (ay again that I cite Books which I fee nor, I will give you fome of his words, be- ginning earlier , (not tranflating left I have not skill enough) but they are fo like mine, that I doubt you will be no Luthe- rane.
De Concil. pag. i^j. Ecclejia Rowana & C. P. Ambitiofe fix A" tdfunt de re nihiliy •vamjfimts & nhgacijfimis ndniis donee tandem utraque hornbiluer vafiata & deleta eji.— Jlla omnia libentius re^' citOf ut videat prndcns LtHor quomodo ex tarn celehri Sjnodo Con- ftantinopolitana^ feu exfonte nianaverint feminamaximaram Con* . fufionunt. proptcreaqiiod ibi Epifcopus Ecclefid m Patriarcha f(i6' rat Prafe^M,— p. inS. J^am horrihilia certamina & content io'- nes mover unt hi duo Epifcopi de primal u: tit facile judicari po^et Spirltnm fjinEium non effe authorem hujui Infiituti: u4Ua habet Epifcopus lofige potiora qua agar, quam funt hi pueriles & inepti ludi- — Prdimunemur quod ConciUa prorfui nihil novi dehent commit nifci vel traders.
De Concil. EpheC p. i8o, i8i, ExceJferantjamevivisfanHi Patres, & illi optimi Epifcopi^S, yimbrofius^ 5, Martinui^S, Hi' eronymus, S. ^ugu(iinus ( qui eo ipfo amo quo Synod'M coatia ef mortuus eji ) S. Hilar ius , S. Eufebius & fimiles 5 eorumque loco prorfus dijjimtles patres fuborti fuerant. Ita ut Imperator The0d1.fl' ui amplim eligi Epifcopum C, P. ex Sacerdotibui vel Clertck Ctvi- tatis C. P. hollet : hanc ob czufam quod pUrumque effent fuperbi , ambit io/i, moro/t, qui mover e certamina^ (^ tumultm in EccUfiis
plerumquc tolerent, p. i8x. Cur/tjam videret Neflorius tuntas
turbas ortas ex corrupted multipUci^ gemens prorupit in hotcverba^ Tollamus e medio omnes ambiguitatcs qua? primum praehuerunc occafiones iftis certaminibus , & fateamur palam Mariam rede vocari Matrem Dei, Scd nihil profecu Nifiorii^^ ne tmcquidem
urn
(17^)
cum revocaret [nam errarenti fed voct publico condc mnatiu, ex of- be Imperil univerfa ejcciiu & explofm efi : ^uancjuum ilU duo Epifcopi j4ntioch:nas & yilexandnnus^ etiam pofi Concilium cum rediijjent :n [>uts Ecclifias, fe ipfi m.-anis convitiu l^Ctrab-int, & cmnibHs diris dsvovebAKf. Etji po^ea res ad pUcidiim exit urn de- dn^a eji : ^.vi<jnam tAmcn dolendum ho:, & eff^fts Uchrymis dc- plorandum in Ecclejia efi, tarn prafi^ntes viros adto indullijfe [mis affeUibfiSf tninftar rfiulier^m ant pnerorum mtptijfime inter [e rix- arentttr, Omaino fiujfet cis cpM aUquo Conjiantino ^ (^ui ipforttm jurgia & conterAtefa [cripta etiam conjecijjet in ignem. — p. i8^. Mentioning the falfe accufations of Nejloriffs, making twoPcr- fons, C^r. \_yitqiie adco mtncata & coi.fitfa f^m cjtta fcrihunt, ut exipifmm r.e quidem ipfosfcire in bHuc ujque diem^ cjsiid & propter ^uas caufasdimnavertnt Ncfiorittm. H^c inde conjicito. Patent fir credidijje Ncftorium quod Obriflus jit Dens & Homo — exhis cer- ium ejt <^tiod NeJlortMs non crediderit Chrifiu?n ejfe purum bomi' nem.-'- Con^at Nejlorium non duos fedumtmChnjli^m credidijfe^ id qucd ifforum verba teftantur — ideoque mn pottnt credere effc duas perfvnas, Ncc ullibi reperitur in hifioriis (juod N eft or ins unum Chriftnm crediderit habere duas per Jonas, nifi cjuod Pontifices & ear am hiftorid it a argutantui. yipparet Papam & fcriptores Pon- tiftclos hac verba contra Neftorittm calumnioje & veteratorie finxifje, /jtiod ChriHfim pro puro homine & non pro Deo^ & ejuod unum Cbristum pro duabus perfonis vel gemino Chrislo h^buerit. — Ne^ Jtorius f Hit homo inflatus tumcns Pbanfaico faslu , & indoEius'^ Et cum fy.bito cjfet evettus ad fupremum jaftigium Eccltfia, adco ut habcrctur pro [ummo Pontifice, Patriarcha, Jommabat fe unum an- tccellere doflrma & eruditioneomnes homines in toto genere humano^ r.ec fibi opus eJfe leHione librorum <]ui erant firipti a Aiajoribus aut aliisy tuc in expUcatione magnaram rerum retinendos effe modes lo- ^jue:idi anti(juitus receptos in Ecclefia pur tore ; fed quia & voce va- Isbtii^ & ex temporalt facutidia volebat cjfe dvi^iJtKns, DoEior vel AI agister J & formas loquendi quibus ipfe utcreiuf tantum recivt- endas cJfe in Ecclefia , non alias. Et tali faftu armatus adorieba- tur ilium arttculnm, Maria eH mater Dei, aut ger.etrix Dei; Jbi inciffim Epifcopos in adverfa parte invenit permde itifiatos, quibus vchcmsntcr diJpUcebat Neslorii faftus, in primis Cjrillum yllexan- drjiium: quia tunc kuUus erat j^ugustinus aut ^mbrrfius.—"^. 189. Htnc manifeftf'.m esl^quod Ne^orius ut homo imprttdens & vanijji- ma perfuafione audu^us^ loquatur quidem bono z.elo dc CbriBo : fed
ex
(t77)
ex mera infcitia mn intelligat qHid& c^aomodo loquattir.''-' p. 191. JSfon est Neflerii error cjuod Chriiipim credit tantnm ejfe purfimho' minemf nee i» df^as perfonas eum dirimi; fed dftas natnras Deum & hommem in una perfona uniri fatetur : fed communicationem idio- matum non vult concedere. Objictat autem hie alicjuis^ NeUorium infidiofg confeffum eJfe, c^uod Chn^ui Deus jit & una perfona. Refp. ^od non : T^m ingcniofus enim & induslrius nonfuit, fed ferio it a jtidiCAvit, — ^d hac accejfit aliorutn Epifcoporum infolentia, qui non cogitaverunt quomodo fananda effcut talia vuifiera, fed mult» magis trritandis & refricandis caufam dederunt. Vide C£ttra.
P. 202. De ConciJ. Calcedon. ^deo tndulgebant fan^i Patres mutups odiis & diffenfionibus ut alter non facile vellet alteri cedere — (hewing the uncerrainty of the Hiftories of this Council, and the Lies of the Papifts not to be trufted. fam dtvina qua rat to- ne ego ero /alvanduSf qui nee ipfum Concilium affequor , nee cauf^im Concilii fatisperfpicio. p. 205*. ^tt^od Eutjchemon tantum unatn in C/jriifo naturam effe itatuat , ofiendunt PapiFtarunt Verba, qui dtcunt Eutychen concejfijfe in Chrifto duas naturaSyV\z, Divinitatem C Humanitatetn^ quA a Divinitate eft aJfumpta—-Sed quid Eutj- ches voluerit quod poftea in Chriflo tantum Divina natura manfe' rity deferta humana^ tbi prorfus funt muti j & re nondum certo cogni- t(t dicunt, ftatuijfe Eutychen quod in Chrifto du£ natura, & tamen non dua fed una natura ft : It a poftea hiftoria fiunt incerta & ob- fcm^ , tit nemo poftlt imelligere quid Eutyches fenferit, ant quid PontifictA hiftoriA fentiant. ^mittimus hi fee ambagibKS concilium una cum caufts propter quasconvocatum eft. — Ego meas conje^uras rccitabo : ft rem affequor, bene j ft non, non propter ea labcfaBabttur fidesChriftiana.Eutychis opinioffcut&JVeftorii^errat circa idiomata, quamvt^s alio modo. Neftoriuf non vult idiomata humanitatis tnbu- ere Divinitati inChrifto:— -Contra Eutjches non vult idiomata di- vinitatis tribuere humanitat i,€tiamfi & ipfe firmiter & mordicus re- tint at Chnftum ejfe verum Deum O" hominem. ZJt (i dicerem in Concionepuhltca, Vcr bum ft Hum Dei effe conditorem Cceli & Terrs (tqualem Patri ab aterno — Et hoc Verbum, ilium filium Dei ejfe verum hominem : Hoc concedit mibi Eutyches nihil dubitans. Jam fiporro dicam, ^od ills homo Chrifttu ft conditor cxli & tin <c, hoc ojfendit Eutychen , qut putat prorfus effe abfurdum dicere, Homo creat co?lum & terrain.-— P. 210. Ibi vides quod idiomata faciU occafionc homines non pramonitos offendant c)" perturbcnt. Hic crat ffibveniendumtenerisConfciemiiS fraterna^ arnica & faint ari admo-
A a mtioiie
(178)
nitioKCf nic ffipirbijfimi errant es 4bjlciendi ejfent. Vtinam m eo jft- dicio mn refpondcAt cvempu: fed vcreer profeElo altquos haretices in tiOViJfitMo die fieri jfidicesi & illos ipfosEfifccpos penes quos fnit ju' dicandipoieftaSjin Arernum damnnteSffiiDens eji- mirabilisd^ iucom' frehcr.jibiUs in jtit^ JMdicits\ nifi e^uodjcimm eum ejfe propitiHm humi" libtts (^ irjfefifiJfimHm [nperbif. Et prafertiw in Concilii^ & EccUpis nihil crit agendum mIo vel invidia , vel fHperbiaf ^uia Dens non poteft fi-rre.
§20. Readers, you fee \v^at tedious work feme men can make us: Many are fcandalized, as if we gave them falfe HiftO' ry, if we do not thus confute them ; and if we do, we tire our felves and you. If I (hould cite you many more thus to confute his faldiood, that never perfon before meoppofcd that FaHionf you would be weary of it.
§ 21. Yet now my hand is in, you fhall fee further how much Xwf^ff'/' was for the fame that I have written, l^i vo/st poterit ttlterlMS legcre aUa Concilii, privata op(r^. Ego ad tddiMw & naH^ [earn ttjq'^ Ugi ifiai ejitfmodi Chaos ctremoniarfim & conftif.onum efi ibij fit videatar reHe judicajfe Greg.Naz.. qui Synodos ertiditiori- bus & fedatiorihtis inteffHit, — & fen bit {^Sic affcttus fum fi dicen- da efi Veritas^ ut malim ownes Epifcoporftm convent us vitare^ qs4ia nulltus Sjnodi finem vidi bonHWy aut qui ntagis t oiler et mala quar/* AMgeret. Nam cupiditas contentienis & priticipatus^ d^ ttmulatio •vincHnt rationem. ZJt proftUo miror quod propter h<ec verba non dk- dmm eum excommnnicaverftnt ut atrocijjimum htcrcticum. Sed quid Jit quod die it in Sjnodis Epifiopos certajfe ambit ioKe^ fuperbia, <fiKonm\a,y habes in hac Sjnodo clariJftmHm exemplum. .^od rf«- te^n certurn fit quodhic dicit fe nullius Sjnodi vidiffe finem bonum , decent no s hi florid: Nam Ariana harefis jocus fuit ante Nic^num Concilium pra ilia confufione quam ipji pofl Concilium excitaverunty (that was not long of theSynod.j Talis etiam fuit Macedonici & NeftoriaKi Concilia: Nam ilia pars quA cfi condemnata co fuit conjuNtliory ut tali fpecie Concordia & unit at is fnas prafligias pin- gerent qptafi nulli jufia rat lone damnari pojfent. Subinde excitarunt major a certamina contra Concilia qua ipfinon reHe tntelligebant.'-- P. 2147. Illud pojfum facillime probare quod mifer ilte Paflor in Hippone S. Arfguftinus plus docuit quam or/inia Concilia— Dicam & qtiiddam amplins', Majus Lumen ace edit Do8.rin& Chri^ianA ex Catechifmo pusrili quam ex omnibus Concilns^ (jr oratio Domi- nica & decern proicepta plus cominsnt dQ^finA & cruditionis qnam c^mma Concilia, " §2,2.^
(»7P)
§ 2!. Becaufc I recite the words of the Bifiiops crying Petc^- vimtiSf he exclaimeth againft me, as making Repentance and Rc^ cantation a derifion , and this by the Spirit of Schijm which u nice in point of honour , no ConviBicn f/:aU he able to reciaim it ^ though in the mofi indcfcnfible thing in the Worid.'\
^nf. Add but with the Inquifitors , [fTherefore bum them m hopdefs,'] and you are come to the end ofyourLelTon. The pe- netrating Wits of fome men are admirable. This man whofeface I never (aw, knoweth my heart fo much better than my fclf and my acquaintance, that he can tell that it is to avoid difhonour that I avoid Repentance, when I offer him my Oath, that if I have any knowledge of my own defire, I would thank him as my deareft Friend, who will by Evidence (hew me any necefla- ry truth that I deny, or Falfiiood that I hold, and wiU joyfully publilh my recantation.
2. And he can fee Schifm in my forbearing known and hei- nous fin in the fatisfadion of my Confcience; while I write, and preach, and pradife Communion with their Church, and can fee none in filencing Thoiifands, and ipfofa^o excommunicating ma- ny more Thoufands of godly Chriftians, and denying Baptifmand the Lords Supper to fuch as think it is fmful to do — he knows what.
3. And he can fee thofe things to be moft indefenfible, which after our beft ftudy we take to be clear, and can get no rational Reply to our defence.
4. And (for want of memory ortendernefs of his partners ve- racity) when their Advocates have fooft and fcon^fully chirked me with RetraBations, and alfo told the World how much my own party (as they call them) f^eak againft me, and my many large and free oppofitions to the faults of Nonconformifts that run into any extream, do all ()roclaim how lirtle I have fee by fuch honour j yea, when himfclf faith that I have fiercely con- tended againft all Seds and Parties, and they call me Ifhmael ^ whofe hand is againft every man: After all this to proclaim as aforefaid, fuch obftinatc Impenitence for the love of Honour, I confefs doth no more further my convi(flion than the Oath of an Irifh Witnefs would have done: For if he had fworn it, I would have fhcwed my Books and their contrary teftimony, and have askt him , whofe honouring of me is it that I buy ^o dearly ? It is not the Rulers, nor the Prelates, nor their Clergy,
A a 2 ror
(i8o)
nor their adherents, noble or ignoble: And if 1 have vvilling>y and laborioully difjiieafed and loft the Sccftaries too, whofc ho- nour i« it that I (ell my Soul for ?
§ 13. But did the man think that Vticonftancj and compliance with powerful HercfiCj is the fame thing with Repentance for it ? Or is it well done to perfiiade the Reader that it is Repen- tance or Retra(ftation of Herefie I write againft, when I recite the words of the Council and their own ? Do 1 fay that ptccavi- mw was their fin ^
§ 24. And I would humbly defire him in time to confider, 1. Whether ic was a venial fin not to be named by me, when the raoft zealous Papifis and Hiftorians name it, for fo great a num- ber of Bifhops to turn and turn again fo often, and that with Anathematizing one year of what they voted for before with Anathema 'to the contrary. I crave your impartial confiderati- on but of two Iiiftances: How oft did they with Anathema's vote for and againft the Council of CAlccdon as the Emperours changed ? Yea in the fame Ufurpers time, BaJiUfcas, when he changed himfelf. 2, In the cafe of Images: How oft did they change in Councils, for them and againft rhem, as the Princes changed? Sir, v/c mind this with lamentation andnot inliltingly : But if you take thefe for venial little fins, and our not fwearing and covenanting all that you bid us for a mortal fin, are you not partial?
2. And I would wifh you to think on it again, before you make this guilt your own, by mincing and excufing it j and left: you make all other mens fin your own, «vhom hereby you en- courage in the imitation of them. Thefe are not things indif- ferent.
3. And do not fo diflionour Prelacy, and yoiwr Chtirch and Difcipline, as to tell the World that thefe in Bilhops are little things j what then is left for you to ftick atf No man fhould make light of fuch Beams in the Eyes of thole that fhould be the moft i)ure, while they are pulling rhe mote of fcrupling a Cere- mony, yea an Oath. &c. from their Brothers Eye, and that by fpch Iron Inftrumenrs as they w^c.
§ 2 J. Next comes his Logical terms, ]jhro\ving dirt^ outragi- ons^Oitter^minlicioM^^c^ And what's the matter ? \_[ give not one loofi at Emperours and Courts : [corning to change the game, iharging the, Bijhops with- the pidts of the Aiagijiratf , and lajfifg
all
(i8i)
*// the blame on them.']ln what words ? 1 fay, [yt> fur could jiercct aadfacitous Prelates prevail with a picas and peaceable Prince^ hj the pretences of cppo^ng Hercfxe andSchifm.
jinf 1^ Was he noc a moft pious and peaceable Prince/ Then $ocrates ihni knew him, and proteltcth againft flattery, and many others, are not to be believed f yea, if he excelled noc the Bifhops ?
2. Do I fiy that none but the Bifliops perfuadedhim? Where do 1 lay all the fault on them ? Do I not after name the Empe- refs Eudocia^ as the Agent to perfuade him for the Eutychians, and Pfikhcna to perfuade him againft Nejhrms : My words arc vifible.
3. VVhat*Bifliop8 were they that perfuaded him to make a Law to confirm the Ephcfine , Eucychian Council ? Was it noc DivfoGYtis a-.d the Eutychians ? Were they not Billiops ? Did they noc do it ? Yea, doth noc this man oft revile ihem far more bitterly than. ever I did, and revile me for freaking fo cha- ritably of them? Would you ever have expected that the Uvc^c mvn fliould have fo reviled mc, for faying that thefi? Eutychian Bifl^iOps prevailed with a good Emperour to confirm that Coun- cil of Eutychians ?
4. Is it a fin not to fpeak hardlier of Co good a Prince, who after repented and puni[hed his Wife and Eunuch for pcrfuading him? It was a blaming him to tell to what he was perfuad- ed.
Truly the mans anger here for my blaming the Eucychian Bl- fliops, in condemnation of whom he hath poured out fo much more than I, doth makerae think that there is fomewhat in the found of foine words, tliat turns his wrath this way or that: When he hears the name of an Eucychian, away with them^fpeak^ not eafily of them. When the fame men are called Bifhops, it's malice, outragiotts bttternefs to blame them for getting a Law to confirm that called an Heretical , Murdering , Latrocinian Council. His words are, p. 146. [_Were there ever greater vio- lences committed than in that infamous Conventicle ^f Epbefus ?3
§ %6. P. 265, He confetfcth that the Debate between ty Council and the Egjptian Bijhops was fomethingteo warm : but faith that heat was not altogether witho-at rcafon. Anf This is his way to confefs their faults, and therj rail at me for bare reciting the words of the Debate or Hiltory. But it was not without reafon : He
confcQeih
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confcfTeth not fo much as this of the filercing and ruining Mlni- frers now. It fhal! not be the ufe of my rcafon to make Fig- leaves to cloath and cover the fins which God abhorreth.
Mtn Witt he men he faith, wherever thcj are placed^ whether in M Council or in the Churchy cr even at the ^It^r,
yifif. By Men I fuppcfe he meaneth Sinrers : and it's true. But of all Sinners Oh that God would fave his Church from thofe who bate reproof, and cherifh the worft that will be for them, and excommunicate and profecutc the moft confcionable that will not obey them in things which they call indifferent, for fear of finning againft God.
§ 27. His trifling words about Leo and Rome are not worthy ofanAnfwer.
§ 28. He bath, P. 268. hit again on the overfight which I before confefled, even the effedt of ray receflirated haifte, that in tranflating Thcodoret'$ words Iput {truly) in the wrong place; I ask him forgivenefs, and the Bifhops, if that be any flander againft them j which is nothing to them.
§ 29. He faith, P. 269. [ There is no truth in what our Ah' thor faith, that Ibas Epifle was acqf^it.'] Anf. There is no xruth in faying that I fa id it was, when my words were disjunrtive, £ The Epiflle was acq'tit, or at leaft th' Bsfhop upon the reading of »r.] Hefiich, Ibaswas not acquit on the reading the Epijile, hut on the defence he mads^ th>it he communicated with Cyril. Anf. His Accufations of Falftiood arc commonly Boyifh Quibbles. His Defence and the Reading of his Letter go together, and in Bin- nius the Letter, and the Letters of the Clergy of Edcjfa dire the !afl things done before he is difcharged.
§30. P. 270. He faith, T The truth is, the E^ifiernBiJhops were not Jo ingenuous and fair after their rccoKciliation with Cyril, &c. ] Thus he becomes himfelf ftill anaccufcr of the Bifhops.
§ 3 1. Becaufel fay that the Judges paft (entence to caft out both Stephen and Baffian from Ephefus, and aU confented, he ftiith, [One would thinly here the fudge s paffed fentence againfi the confent or Inclination of the BiJloopsJ^ Anf There is no end of anfwering your thinkings. I did not fay that the Judges palTcd the Councils Sentence but their own : And whether it were a- gainft the Fore-incUn'/.ticn of the Council let any Reader judge, when the Judges asking the Council their fence, [^c/, Epifcopi clamaverunt, judiiia Baffianum vocat: ReguU valeant. The
Judges
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Judges anfwered them that their judgment was that both were ro be caft our, and a third chofen, and the Council fuddenly con- fented. If he would be believed conrradidting this he muft deny the Adts.
§ 3?. He hath foqpd: matter for a quibble againft tafling Pore- rius Flejh with their Teeth. Teeth taltenot: Dangerous lalfeHi- llory, or want of Learning is learnedly heredifcovered. When he cannot deny the moft woetul, calamirous diifentions which followed the C<</tW(?» Council, he faith, [^Was it the mtsjort unt or thefantt of thefe or.ly not to he abh to hcAlthe dsjferences of tbs Church ? Or was the dcfcii in the Councils, or the blame to he tm- VMted to thofe ohftimte men thAt oppofe4 the Rnle cj^ahliftoed hj them /J
^nf No : They were neither the fir(i nor the laft that have jiiifcarried. Nor are we the firft that fuffer under fuch mifcarri- age. It was the misfortune of the Churches to have fuch Phy- ficians: But as it is the honour of fome Phyficians to fhew how many Patients they have cured, fo is it of fome others , when moft die under their hands^ to be able to fay, that it was long of the Patients that would nor be ruled^^ dr that they killed them ftcundnm artem. It was a Proverb in Sfitton-Co/dJidd^ [^IVho be- gun f] A poor man had but one Afs and he loaded him too hard, and the Afs being in pain bit his Maifcr a little on the But- tockj and his Mafter knockt him down , and killed him ; and •when he faw him dying, , [_Well, (faith he j Bnt who hegun?'] But who had the lofs ? There be Clergy-Men that can impeni- tcntly fee the Strages, the divifions, the fwarms of fin that are the confequents of their needlefs mafterly Impofitions, and wipe their mouths and Cay, It wa« the obftinacy of thofe that would not be ruled by us I They kill a Flea on a mans Fonehead wkhj* Beetle, and fay they meant not to kill the man* bic r./rj •>t.v ?] But if that Councils A(fls were a fit means to cure the Churches Divifions , how came they to be prefentiy and through many Ages, yea, ever fince to this day, thereby increafed fo many fold i" Though the Afiembly at ferufalem cured not all the Jewifh Teachers of their blind Zeal for Mofes Law, it was fo far from increafing the Diifentions and number of Diflen-! rers, that it fatisfied the Gentile Chriftians for the moft part , and many of the Jewifh, and greatly diminifhed theDifcord. It's one thing «<?/ wholly to cure, and another to ma{efar worje,
§33*
^53. He inftanccth alfo in the Dort Sjnod th4t m^tde things worje.
ylnf. I. 'Ihc Synod of Dort made things the worfe in tberr own Country, not by their DoUrin.tl Dccifions^ but by too much of the Mafltrlj Spirit, engaging the Magiftrates againl) the ylr. mtr.ians iti ihcufe of the Sword. Whether it be true that they fay, that they were necefTitated to do what they did againft Btirnevclt and Grotius for the I'afety of their State, I am no Judge : But I am fure it is of an ill found to thofe that read it: And fo is it to read in Epifcifius and others, what violence the People have uled againft the ^rmlniatis, and they were fain to tolerate them when ail was done.
Ana it's no wonder that the Diflention increafed in England, when the Clergy would not long ftand to the decree? thar by our own fix Delegates were moderated: Dr. Hnlm tells you how Bi- fhop Lana's Zeal was the caufe of our following Contentions: And ho w ? By bearing down al I that were againft him.
2. But the meer DoUrinal Decrees of the Synod of Dort are Co moderate and healing, that where Violence hath been forborn, and Reafon ufed, many have been pacified by them. And
3. What that Synod did not, a few private Peace-makers have much done : The Writings of Camera ^m^raUus , Capelliit ^ Place us ^ TeJIarduSy Lud. CrocihSy Mat, jMarttnius^ Conr, Bergi- »s, foh. Bergtusy Blondely DaUe^ and above all, Le Blanli^ have for ought I hear, half ended the controverfie. And having my fclf written one Book (C^r/W. Theolagw) for Reconciliation, I have not to this day had a word of Coiitradidion, but the Con- fent of very many. And as 1 before noted. Is not even in Lon- don where other differences might exafperate, yet this Contro- verfie almoft laid to fleep ? But if our ^rminians will but get as fevere Laws and Canons made againft them that are not of their Opinions, as be againft them that dare not conform to the Dio- cefane Model and the reft, they fliall quickly fee this quarrel re- vived. The Articles of the Church o\ England dtitimhc not thefe Controverfies, and thar is our Peace. ' Put in but one de- termining Article againfteither fide, and it will break us more in pieces. Doth not our own Cafe; and Experience then confute thofe over-doing Councils ?
§ 34. His next Inftance is that of the JVeftmmfter Affembly,--- So far from reconciling the People. ^ that after this thty vpere dh-
praa-ed
08?)
JtraBed into innumerable Schifms : Never rvai there fo lament Ms a face of things^ never fnch variety of Herejielj and fuch Wan- tonnefs, and Extravagancy^ in bUfphemmg God under pretet,ce of Religion and Confcience: And tJjis is the State vphither the fame mAnner of men are driving again.
Anf. I. I fay again I knew fo many of that Alfembly, as that I do not think that the Chriftian World had ever an Airembly of more able and truly pious Clergy-Men, the(e 1300 Years at leaft. But thcfe Upftarts that knew them not can tell us any thing that Facftion hath taught them to believe concerning them and other*. The Parliament was by feeming necelTity drawn to gratific the Scots: The Affembly, though Conformilts, all, fave Eight or Nine, were as fenfible as the Nonconformilis of the milchiefs of filencing worthy Minifter?, and forbidding After- noon Sermon?, and fuch like ; and they were as much againft Arminianifm and Popery as the Church of England was in A.Bp. Abbat^s days, and as much as he againft the Dodlrine of Main- waring SLnd Sibthorp: And the Parliamenc abfolurely reftrained them from debating any thing but what they propofed to them j fo that they that were for the Primitive Epifcopacy had no li- berty to debate it, or fpeakfor it, but on the by. But when the Covenant was offered them againft Prelacy, they were about 10 enter a Proreftation againft it, and were Itopt only by limiting the renunciation to the Englifti frame defcribed in an explicato- ry Parenthelis. But for my part I think them much to be bla- med, that they did nor, though againft that prohibition, re- folve to propofe fuch moderate healing terms to the Parliament as were agreeable to their judgments, oratleafthave teftified againft the limiting of Church Concord to fuch narrow termes, as muft exclude fuch men as were for the Englifh Epifcopacy : They might eafily have known, that the numbe: of fuch in Eng' land was fo great, ns that an exclcdirg Law muft needs be an Engine of great Divjfion; and that Conqueft will not change mens Judgments.
And as I doubt not bat the five DiflVnting Independents were greatly to blame, for making fuch a ftir for leave to gather their Churches, when nothing was Impofed on them which they could accufC} So I doubt not hut the Afiembly were to be blamed for making a greater noile againft errours than they had caufe for. Their defire of Concord, which was good itfelf, did rai(e
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them to too great Expe(ftation8 of it, and too great impatience of lictle differences. They publifhed their Teltimony againft the crrours of the times, in which they took in Dr. Hammond^ and made many differences worfc than they were , too like the old Hereticatorj. And they wanted that skill to compcfe their differences with the Independents, as was needful to that end, and might have been attained. And will the faults of that Aflem- bly juftiHe the far greater faults of others ? But
2:. This fort of Hiftorians do much more differ from us about the matters of FacH:, which our Eyes have dayly feen, yea^ about cur own Thoughts and Minds, than about the Hiftory of the an- cient Church. The cafe was very f*ir different from that which he defcribeth. Mr. Lawfon^ a Conformift, faith, [There was ne- ver better Preaching, Piety encouraged and encreafed, &c, than at that time. In all the Counties where I was acquainted, there were many young Orthodox faithful Preachers, that gavcthem- felves wholly to do good , for one that was ten Years before, and not any confidcrable number noted for any immorality : We were in the County where I lived almoft all of one mindi for Kpifcopal, Presbyterians and Independents uniting in that which they agreed in, and leaving all to Liberty in the relt, we lived in conftant Brotherly Love and Peace without Dilfention. I ne- ver knew of any of a divers Religion in aH the County , fave at the end, in one or two corners about Twenty Qnakers: And near me were about Twenty otherwise Orthodox, that denied Infant- Baptifm, (and perhaps as many more in the whole Coun- ty,) and Two or Three ignorant Socinians. In the nexc County t heard not of fo many Heterodox : Never did I fee, before or fince, fo much Love and Concord among Minifters, and all reli- gious People, nor read of any Age that had fo much for 1500 Years. And whereas the common cry is. Oh, but they were all Rebels againft the King'. 1 have named abundance of the Mi- nirtes in mine Apology to Dr. (jW, (who being Epifcopal was a Guide in our Meetings, and after fo accufed the Nonconformiihj and c'lallengcd him to name one of them that ever meddled with Wdrr. 1 knew none in all the County that was in any Army fave the K'ng's, fdve Mr. Hopkini ofEveJham (dead) and my felf, and one that is a Conformift, and one Independent (dead»)
But it's true, that they were then fo fet upon Parifii Refor- mation and Concord, that they were more troubled at any one
that
that did turn Qiiaker, oragainft Infant Baptifm, thanfomeiii- different Perfons are at Multitudes. And I was one that difputed moft againft them, and wrote againft feme diftant Antinomians, moftly Souldiers j But our Difputcs fatisfied and confirmed all our Neighbours more than Prifbns would have done. Wepunilh- ed none of them, and none of our People there turned to them. But Iconfeft we were commonly too little fenfible, how much hurtful Violence hindereth Concord, more than loving forbear- ance of tolerable differences. As too many were how much for Peace they fliould have abated of the Zeal for their private Opi- nions, which they thought to be better than they were. We were much like the days that followed the Apoftles, which had fome troublcfome Secftaries, but the main Body of Chriftians did cleave together in Love, till fuccefs had puft up a rebellious Army to make themfelves Rulers, to the Confufion of themr (elves and others.
§ 5^. At laft mentioning the common DlflTentions of the Churches, he fcems to refolve the Queftion, What then muft- be done ? But he puts us off only with the Negative Anfwer, that \the Rule, /. e. of our Uniformity is not to be altered. And why I [We have no ajfmance that we Jh all find anj/ Conformity to it more than we have nowP^
An}. I muft not call this Anfwer as it defervcth.
1. You were about dealing otherwife with the Papifts : Dr. Heyhn tells us how much they were to have altered for Con- cord : Mr. Thorndikj threatens the Land, if you alter not the Oath of Supremacy for them : The name of the Pope and Anti- Chrift hath been expunged for them j yet you faid not. We k^iow not that they will come any nearer us.
2. By thefe meafares a Rag or a Ceremony fhould never be abated for the Peace and Concord of any Church or Kingdom : You may ftill fay we ar« not furethat this will ferve them. The Pope may fay k\ where he refufeth to abate the fhaving of the Priefts Beards, or the leaft of his Impoiitions j yea he knows that would not ferve. They faid fb to the Bohemians four De- mands : They concluded fo at firft againft Luther. This very Ar- gument hath kept them from ail Reformation.
5. Can you find nothing in your Impofitions that in the nature of the thing; is worthy to be altered ? If not, you have more or lefs Wifdom than Bifhop Morton, and the reft of the Church
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Do<flors who at IVijIminfler motioned Co many Alcerationg. If one fn )uld bet then move you to correcfl your known falfe Rule for find iif, E.iJIcrda}, or to give Parents leave to be the ftrft Promifers foriheirotvn Children, and Godfathers but theirfe- conJs, or not to deny Chriftendom and Communion for that or a Ceremony : No, come on it what will, nothing muft be al- tered, left men ask more. And yet you preach againft Clergy Ii;faliibility, (ox fubfcribe at leaftj
4. But if you are fo much againft altering, why did you alter to our greater fulfering, and add as much more (yea five times more) to the former Task and Burden? You can no doubt fay fomcwhat for all this.
5". And when it is the fame things that the old Nonccnformifts ftill asked, and we fince 1660 asktyetlefs, what realun had you to raiie that fufpicion that we will not be fatisfied with what we 2tk? Have we given you any caufe f If you mean that per- haps there be fome ftill that may be unfatisfied , will you deny Peace to Co many that beg it of you, becaufi? others will not accept it on their Terms f Or will you never agree with a- ry left fome difagrcement fhould arife hereafter.
Some Travellers were affaulted by the high way by a Cap- tain of Souldiers, who took all their Money, Swords and Horfes, and fwore he would kill them if they would nor take an Oath to conceal him : One took the Oath to fave his Life, another fcrupled it : They begg'd his Mercy to reftore fo much as would bring them home: He askt them what would fitisfie them: One would have his Horfe, another his Sword, another part of hi« Money. He told them , Tou are a Ccn:p4n)- of RogHcs, that can neither agree what to ask^^ nor give me affurance if 1 give pti this you will ask no more. I compare not the Authority but the Reafons of the Denial.
§ 36. But feeing no abatement of their Canons, crr. muu Le granted^ what is it that muft caufe our Concord? He would not tell you j but it's difccrnible what's left : It muft be no Concord but what Punifhment can procure: Ajid what punifh men t ? Sharper than is yet tried; for that hath not done it: Such Concord as Tertullian nameth^ Solitudinem faciunt & pacem vocam : The Concord in Spain is worfe than the Amfterdam toleration.
Again I remember the great Fifli-Pond mentioned by Judge liaie^ that had multitudes of Fi(h and friej and at laft two
fmal)
(i§S>)
fimll Pikes put in ; when the Pond was drawn there was never a Fifli but the two Tyrants (as he calls them) grown to a huge bignefs. The fear leaft Popery and Prelacy ihould be the two Pikes, tempted men irregularly to covenant againft them. To have fuch variety as Rocb, Dace, Pierch, Tench, Carp, made it a Schifmatical Pondj The two Pikes were againft Schifm and Toleration, and for ending the Divifion by reducing all to unity of Species.
§ 37. A« to his Qneftion ofQii. Eliz^aheths days, the Iniiiiia- tioa may fcduce the ignorant , but none elfe. i. If he know not that it was the Subfcription required in the Canons, (that nothing in the Bookj is contrary to the Word ofGody fcrupled, which broke the Peace and Concord of England, he is unfit by his Ig- norance to be an Informer of others. I have known many than would have yielded to come into the Conforming Church, if that one word had been but forborn: For when any pradice a- gainft their Confciences about baptizing. Communion, or Bu- rials had fain in their way, they would have lllently fhifted ic oft^ or been from home, and have ventured toanfwer it, fo they, cou'd but confcionably have got in. But our Canoneers are for all or nothing.
2. He is fure no Englilli Clergy-man, if he know not how much is laid on uSy that w^s nor known m the days of Qj. E//- z^abeth. h it to inform men, or deceive them, that he makes the difference to be between 36 and 39 Articles , and faith nothing of all the new Covenants, Declaration?, Oaths, Subfcriptions, Dodrine and Pradifes ?
§ 38. Many make ufe olt Mr. Edivai'ds Can^re}ia, and the Lon- don AiiniiTcn Teflimony againft erronrsy to prove the Herefies and Confufions of the late times. No doubt all fin is odious: But few men living are more competent Witnefies of thofe things than I. The Errours that fprung up were much more tenderly, refented then than now. You now have many called Wits and Perfons ofQiiality, who at a Club difpute againft the Providence of God, the immortality of the boul, and a future Life j and therp is neither Cburch- Admonition, Excommunication, nor any great matter made of it , but they are Members of the Church of E«g/^«^', thepureft Church in all the World ; Whereas inthofe licentious tiraes/if one Souldier had fpokcn fuch a Word, it would have rung out through the Land, and perhaps his Tongue would
have
(ipo)
have been bored with an hot Iron. It wzt the errours oi . proud rebellious Soldiers that made moft of the noife, that had no confiderable number of Minifters left with them. I had a hand in Mr. Edwards Book thus: An Aflembly of Minlfters after Nafebjf Fight fent me into the Army to try if I could reduce them. Dayly difputing with them, a few proud felfconceited Fellows vented fome grofs words. At Amctjham a few Coun- try Sefftaries had fet up a Meeting in Dr. Crooki Church, todif- pute and deceive the People : A few of Major Bethel's Troop (that afterwards turned Levellers and were ruined) joined with them : I met them, and almoft all day difputed againft them, and fhamedthem, and they met there no more. I gathered up all the grofs words which they uttered and wrote them in a Let- ter to Francis Tyton, and after I found them cited in Mr.Edwards Gangrena. And what's the abfurd Speeches of a few ignorant Souldiers, that are dead with them^ to thcHerefies and Schifms that thefe looo or 1200 Years continue in all the Roman Com- munion, and they fay in all the reft of the Chriftian World. One cheating Papiftas a converted Jew got into an Anabaptifts Meet- ing, one Maxwell a Scot, and all England rung of it. But when Bifhops have made and keep France, Spain^ ^falj, 5rc. in the fame Errours, Dr. Hejlm^ and Bp. Bromhall, and fuch others , took them for fuch, with whom a Coalition on the terms by them defcribcd was very defirable.
CHAP. XXIV.
His 'jth Chapter confidered.
.§ i.np H E Man had not the courage to defend the furgent X Prelacy in its Manhood and Maturity, but only in its Infant and Juvenile State; nor to defend the many hundred Councils which I mentioned after the Council of Calcedon, in which either his Modefty or Cauteloufnefs comes (hort of his Rd. Fathers, who fome of them own the fix firft General Coun- cils, and fome of them eight, and fome would unite with the Church of R^Me^ if they will abate but the laft 400 Years addi- tions,
§2, In
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§ 2, In his Gleanings in this 7th Chap, he over, and over, and* over perfuadeth his Reader,that I make or affirm that {^the Bps. were the caufe of all the Herejies in the worlds and of all the Here- fies^ Schifms, and Evils that have afflifled the Church. And hath thisHiftorian any proof of this ? Or is it the melancholy fiflion of his Brain ? Yes, this is his proof contrary to my manifold Inftances, becaufe I fay in one age , [^We have a fir ange things a Herefie raifed by one that was no Btjh$p : which Ihave anfwercd before. To be thenfhange^ and never to he at all j are not words of the fame fenfe ? But his Anfvvers throughout do mind me of Seneca'i Words, that a man that is fore complains (or cries Oh) when he doth but think you touch him.
§ 3. He thus himfeJf accufeth the Biiliops, p. 276. ^There have been wicked men and wickedBiJloops in all times r\ And p. 277. [ That fome Bijhops have ah fifed their Anthority and Office^ and been the caufe of Herefie and Schifm cannot be denied.'] But yec [_He hath Poewed fufficiently, that rnofh of my particular Accufiti- ens are void of all truth and Ingettuity, ] Anf Or elfe thofe words are fo.
§4. He faith All EcclefiafiicalPVr iters agree^ that Simon Ma- gus was Author of the firfi Herefie in Chrifiian Religion,'] Anf All confefs that fudas was before him : And if it be a Herefie to buy the Spirit for Money, it is a Herefie to fell Ghrift for Mo- ney. But I confefs fome tell us of his after pranks at Rome^ and imitating Icarus, at Peters Prayers : If you would fee why Dr. More takes this for a toyifh Legend, fee his Alyfiery of Inic^m- ty^ Lib. 2.C. 19. § 6,7. p. 447, 448.
§ f. P. 286, 287. haroniw firlt, and Vhilaflritu after, are made guilty of Forgery and difregardable Hiftory , fo that I may well bear fome of his Cenfures,
§ 6. P. 290. To confute me etfedually he faith much what the fame which is much of thefum of all my Book : And yec it's falfc and malicious in me, and true and charitable in him: viz.t [Praifingtbe firfi 300 years ^ ('when the Biftiops were fuch as we offer to fubmit to:) he adds iThe following Ages nere not fo happj-, hut as Chrifiians generally degenerated fo did- the Bif:opstoo.']
■^»f What ! Before the Council of N/cj / That's a fad Con- feflion. I was ready to fay as a Roman Emperour faid to a fiat- tercr^ that ftill faid all that he faid, IDiQ alind aliqmd tn duo /-
mtis,]
('90
muSf] But bis nex< words allay ir, [^Bntjet not fo much Ai our Ah- thor would make it appear.'] As the Dominicans and Oratorians muft fay fome talfliood of Calvine, left they be thought Calvi- nifts.
And yet he addetb, [The Beginning of the /^tij Century was very unhappy to the Church, for Verftcution without , and Herefie and Schifm within. Meletius an Egjytian began a Schifm ^ forfooh the Communion of the Church, &C. Next the Donatifis, Brians, 8{C.2
^r.f It feems that the Emperours Confi.tKtim and r.tlens were without the Church, and yet the u4rian Prtcfls and Bifcops were within it. When he defineth the Church we may underftand this. But is it not this ^\h Century that is made the Churches more flourifhing ftate by others •?
§ 7. Even the great Hiftorianof Herefies, Epiphauirii, is faid p. 292. to be [^unaccountably mij}ai(^en in Jeverat things relating TO that Hifiory.\ And 293. hath [^a jhange unaccountable mifial^c in diverjc othir things relating to that matter.^ If I had at any time erred vv^ich fuch a Bilhop and Father , I might have been excuGib'e for reciting his Hiftory.
§ 8. Pag. 19^. He opens the very Heart of his Parties Prin- ciples, and faith, [ The Church is never di/ir.Ulcd more by aty thing than Projects of A^o deration.'}
Anf. Experience proveth t,hat yon fpeak your Henrr. The words are no wilful Lye which agree with a mans Mind, be they never fo falfc as difagreeable to the matter. No man was more of that Opinion than Hildebrand^ that would notyieKl the Em- perours the Invcftlture, nor as I before faid, abate the Prince of ■Calans the Ihaving of his Bifhops Beard to fave his Kingdom. i^;c7o>' began with that Opinion too foon, but his Succeflbrs have thefe Thoufand Years been as much for it as you can wifli.
2. But to whom is it that you intend this? Sure not to ail : Was Bifhop Laud of that mind toward the Papifts if Dr. Hcylm fay true ? Was Grotim of that mind toward them ? Was Arch- Bifhop Bromhall, Forbes, Bcz.'iar^ Thorndikj (and many more fiichj of that mind ? No: Tie excufe you , that you meant not them and their Proje^s of Aioderation : Nor I believe neither CaJfander'Sj Erafmus^s, Wicslim's , Sar.^a Clara's ^ Leandfr''s ^ Qcc.
But towards fuch as I am, you have been as firm to that Prin- ciple as any one of our Enemies could wifh. In 1660, 1661. it
was
was ttioft efFe(ft:uaIIy improved j and you have attained much of the fruits then foretold: and ever fince have been unmoveably and prevailingly true to it.
- 3, But this maketh fome men the DifiraBers of the Church, if not the^r^4f^y?, which truly I have better thoughts of: Such as faniHs , ParaM , yim^rMdm ^ Lc Blanks , Davenant, Ward VJher^ Hold/worth, Morton^ Hall^ Sec. And lately when we were preparing for the Kings Return, Bp. Brownrig^ and after his death Dr. Garvden, Dr. Gulfion, Dr. Allen, Dr. Bernard^ and diverfe fuch did offer themfelves to a Treaty for Moderation : And fince then Dr. WUkins, Dr. Burton, Dr. Tillotfon, and in di. ebu4 illis Dr. Stillingfleet have been guilty of this crime, of di- fira^ing the Church by ^rojcUi of Moderation : But I can name the Bps. that were not guilty of it.
To abate or forfake the neceflary points of Faith and Pradlce on pretence of Moderation, is to deftroy Chriftianity on pre- tence of Humanity or Peace. But to make Laws that men fliall preach with Horns on their Heads , to fignifie the Vidtory of Truth, and to ruine all that will not keep thcfe Laws (much more if men (hould command worfe ) and to fay a Projeft for Moderation would diftradt the Church, would be as far from Wifdom as it is from Moderation: And fome Prelates have done as bad as this.
§ 9. He confcffeth/'. 296. that by force and Fraud \thexvhoU World in a. manner was turned Arian."^ And did I ever fay worfc of the Bifliops than this ?
§ 10. He maketh Aerim to fpeak againft Bifhops becaufe he could not be a Bifliop, fo that he was of a Prelatical Judgment and Spirit, and calleth him \^'The Cartwright of the times, '} by which if he mean that Cartwright would have been a Biftop, it doth but tell us that he defcrveth little belief in his Hifto»
§ II. He is a moft fingular Hiftonan , ;>. 303. in telling us, that after the Monothelices in following Ages of the Church the Devil ftarted up but few Herejies till theje Ages,—- Swenkjeldians^ Anabaptifis, 6cc.
By this I perceive he believeth neither Papifts nor Proteftants : For the Papifts name many Herefies fince , and the Proteftants fay that Popery is but a Gompofition of many Herefies , and name us many that concur*d thereto.
C c § 12. He
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§ 12. He there giveth me thi« ferious Admonition, \^ It is a much greater wonder that any man that makes Confcience of what he faithj Jl.oNld tigainfl all truth of Htjfory , and againd his own knowledge, charge the Bijhops with all the Here fie s in the World : that a per font hat fe ems jo jerfible of approaching "judgment ^ asfre- cjHeutlji toj?iit hinjfelf in mind of it—-floouldyet advance fo malici- cm and groundlcfs an ^ccufation. There is no dallying with the all- feeing God-"What Pica /hall be made for whole Bookj full of Ca- lumny and Dctraition^ &C.]
^hif. This is not the leaft acceptable paflage to me in his Book ; Hove the man the better for Teeming ferious in the belief of Judgment; and I hope his Warning fhall make me fearch my Heart with fome more \caloufie and care. He fcems here to be- lieve himfelf 3 but being my felf far more concerned than he is to know how far I am guilty of what I am accufed, as far as I can know my Heart and Wrirings, Tie tell the Reader what to judge of his words and me.
1. That 1 charge the Bi/hops with all the Herejies in the World, never was in my mind, nor can I find it in any of my Writings : Yet this he very oft repeateth : And fhould a man fo often write a falfhood about a thing vilible, and never cite the place where 1 fay it, and this while he is thus ferioufly mentioning Calumny and f:idgmcnt.
2. Can he make men believe at once that I do perfuade men that Bifhops or Diocefanes came not up till about i ^ o years af- ter Chrift, and yet that I make them the Authors of the Here- fies that were in thofe times ? Non entis non efi actio : Could Bi- ftiopsbe Hereticks when there were no Bifhops?
3. If I had charged the Bifhops with all theHerefies, it foliow- eth not that I had charged no one elfe with them, and made the Bifhops the fole Authors , and acquit People, Priefts, and Princes ; why then doth he name many Monks and Priel^s that were He- reticks f Or Emperours that promoted them, as if this eroded what I fay ? Did he think that I excluded the Army if I blame the General, or the Prelatical Priefts when I blame the Prelates ? If I took the Bifllops of E'igUnd to be the chief caufe of our Church-Schifms , and Calamitief, doth it follow that I acquit fuchas y.ou, and all the Clergy like you ?
4. That I have done this [_againft allT/uth of Hifiery'\ which I.. tranfcribed out of the Councils and Hlftorians molt partial for
ttiC
the higheft Prelacie , is either a great cntruthj and unproved by him, or I know not what I read or write.
J. That I do this againft my own Knowledge I am certain is an untruth.
6. That my Accufations are maliciom I zmccrtnin is untruth, as being able to fay that I fpeak in pitty to the Church, and t® fave Souls from deceit, and malice no man j but pray with the Liturgy 5 that God \n\\\ forgive our Enemies^ I'erfecfitors, and Slanderers^ and turn their Hearts. ^
7. That I have brought any Grotindlcfs u^ccnjatiotf I muft take for an untruth, till my Grounds produced are better confu- ted.
8. Much more that I write whole Books full of Calnmny and Detraction.
All thefe and more untruths being heapt up with the mention of Death and Judgment, tells us whither Fadion and Prepof- fcflion may carry men.
2. But what is the truth I fhall again briefly tell the Reader: 1. About 20C0 of fuch Minifters as I confidently take for the moft fpiritual , and confcionable and devoted to God and the good of Souls are filenced, and in Law imprifoned and ruined 5 and all the People of their mind are ipfofa^o (if they confeft it) excommunicated, befides their other penalties. I accufe roc the Law but mention only the matter of Fa6l , which the K. once commiffioned Bps. to have prevented. •
2. The Kingdom is dolefully dividedj and alas, the fad con-' fequents are not to be named.
3. Befides all our Penalties the Bifhops accufe us as thecaufes of all, and as wilful Schifmaticks, and call for the Execution of the Laws againft us.
4. We fay, we dare not do that, which when ever they will give us leave, we are ready to give our reafons why we take it for heinous fin againft God, and tending to the ruine of the Church : nor dare we forfake our Miniftry while the Churches ncceftities are to us paft doubt.
S- We beg of them but to abate us fome needlefs Oaths, and Covenants, and Profcfllons, and a few things called indijferem: by the Impofers, that we may all live in Chriftian Love and Peace , and we offer them as unqueftionable fecurity for our Peaceablenefs, Loyalty , and Orthodoxnefs, as the faid Oaths, PromifeSjOrProfeftionscan be. C c 2 6, They
6. They tell us, Nsthing is to he ^ibated «/, and we mufi ceafe pYeachiHg^theRuU muft not be altered ; vte will do more harm in the Church than out; Proje^s for Moderation mofl difira^ the Church i There is rto Concord or Liberty to be expecled, but by our total obe- dience to the Bijloops-f It is obeying the Church, yea the Vniverfal Church of BifcopSj that is the only way to Concord.
7. To confute this 5upporition, which is the root of ourCa- iamitic?, I tranfcribe out of Hiftory and the Ads of Councils, how great a hand in the Schifms, and Herefies, and Confufions ofChriftians, thofe Bifliops fiave had, who have fvvellcd up a- bove the primitive fpecies , by vaft Dioceires , Wealth , and claim ofGovernment over other Churches and Bifliopsj and that it is notorious that this Grandeur ana exorbii ant power of Bi- (hops, hngly or in Councils, hath been fo far from keeping the Church from Schifms, that it hath been one of the greateft caufes of the Schifms of moft Ages, fince (uch a fort of Prelacy fprung up, and that Popery came not up in a day, but rcfe from that Juniority to itsprefent Maturity. This was my work.
§ 15. He truly tells you, that the Original of all mifihiefs /> the Lufis that war in our Members, and not this or that Order of
When the World had a good Pope, if God would blefs that Order of men, fome think he might do more good than any other man. But he hath toucht the Core of the Churches Mala- dy. Verily, the grand Strife is between the Flepund Spirit, the feed of the Serpent and of the Woman: And if Patriarchs and Di- ocefans were but as much fet on the promoting of a holy and heavenly Life, as thofe Minifters are whom they filence and im- prifon, they might do much good, though the largenefs of their Diocefs render them uncapab/e of performing the 40th part of a true Bifhops Work. No doubt but Bifhop Hall, and Potter , and VJJ:er, &:c. did much good, by fuch preaching, writing, and good living, as others ufe that are no Bidiops.
But will fire burn without fewcl ? And will it not burn if com- buftible fewel be contiguous ^ Do not x\\t Lufis that war in cur Members live upon that food which we are forbidden to pro- vide ? Do you think that the Lufjt of the Flefh doth not more d^efire Riches than Poverty, Honour than a Jow Eftate, Domi- nation over others, to have our Will on all, than humble Sub- ^(flion ? Where the Carkafs is there will the Cagles be gather- ed
(197) cd. Do not you your felf fay , that the Bifliops and Church grew more corrupt after the third Century ? Do you be- lieve that when a Bifhops Power was made equal to a great Lords, or more, and all his Pomp and Riches anfwcrable, that the Luft of the Fielh would not more greedily defire ir, than it would defire a meer mediocrity ? Or that a worldly proud man would not feck more for Lordfliip and Greatnefs, iham SjnefiM, and fjch others as you fay fled from it ? If the poor retired Monks were as bad as you make them, what wonder if great Lordly Bilhops were much Worfe f Will not the fire of Luft grow greater as the fewel is greater ?
I am fatisfied that Riches and Power well ufcd, may greatly ferve the Intereft of Religion : But two things muft be confi- dcred.
1. That the greateft Power and Wealth belfcg far more defired by carnal Worldlings, (that is, by bad men) than by mortified heavenly minded men, the more men defire them, the more eagerly they will feek them by Friends, Flattery, or any means : and therefore the liker they are to attain them, except when the choofcrs are fome rcfolvcd godly men. And fo which way can a Succcffion of the worft men be avoided Z But a mediocri- ty that doth not to the Flefh overwcigh the labours and diffi- culties of the facred Office, will encourage the good, and noc much tempt the bad : Or if good men will be never fo bounti- ful to pious ufcs, their bounty and Church-Lands may better maintain Labourers enough for the work, than be madea fnare to one.
2. And that Power which depopulateth and deftroys its end,, is unlawful in its very ftate, as well as in its ufe. The Power of- one man to be fole Phyfician to the City, and to have none but Apothecaries under him } or of one man to be the only School- Mafter in the County, and have none but Ufhers under him, is rather to be called Defirutiion than Power, It is Bifhops carting ©ut Power that I am againft, that is, the necelTary Power of the Keys in the Parifli Miniftfrs , or putting down necefiTary Bifhops i and alfo a Power to filence Chrifts faithful Minifters,, and deprive Souls of the ncceflary means, by impofmg things needlefs in themlclves, and finful in the receiver, that after fais:. beft fearch believes them fuch.
Seeing then that ^ arc agreed, that it is the Infi that war-^
rctk
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nth in men, that is the corrupter of the Church, let but the face of the whole Romanc Clergy thefe loco Years at leaft tell us, whether it be not the fweliing of the Power and Wealth of Bi- fhops, that harh caufed Co long a SucccfTion of a worldly, luftful, tyranical Clergy.
§ 14. And he truly faith^ [/?. ^06. that the generality of men when they have gained Wealth and Honotrr , are commonly willir.g to [ecttre the enjoyment cfthofe ToJJejfions ^ by letting things run in their ordinary courfe.
( The Spanifli Proverb is , The World is a Carryon, and they are Dogs that love it ^ and they will fnarle at any that would take it from them, and if it lie in .the Ditch, Dogs rather than Men will gather about it : and its pitty fuch men fliould by fuch a Bait be temptedinto the facred Chair.) And he truly adds, that Repulfe and IT^appointment vcill end fttch mens Patience. For really as the man is, fuch are his defires : It is rot only turgent Prelacy but aPrelatical Spirit that troublerh the Church : And If Novatianfu or Arius would fain be a Prelate, it is in his heartj and no wonder if he be a Schifmatick ; Trahit fua quemcjue vo- luntas. Appetite is the Spring of A(flion. All the Popes Clergy are much of his mind ; for they participate of his worldly Inter- eft, and depend on him,, and therefore participate of the Papal Spirir. The Intereft of the General and Army arc conjunft.
§ 15. And its trae that he faith, that the BiJJoops Imerefl oh- ligeth him to maintain Peace andVnitr. And fo no doubt from that fenfe of Intereft ic is endeavoured, in Italy, Spain, France^ Germany, &c. when a ftrong man armed keeps his houfCj the things which hepofTelfeth arc in Peace. But whether therefore the People did ill that forfook the Blfhops and followed L«- ther 5 or are all bound to cleave to the Bifhops Unity, is the doubr.
§ 16. Whether it be true, /'. 3 10 that very few if any one were Bijhops when they turned Heretickj, I have enquired in the Pre- face; though it they afcended from Herefie to Prelacy it's all one to me. But by this I con;ed:ure that he taketh fewer .for Hereticks than others do, and that he pretends acquaintance with their minds, in that antecedent part of their Lives which no Hiftory mentioneth. I confefs I think that for the moft part men are Papifts before they art^ Popes or Papift Biihop s : And ycr i think that ic is firft the defire of Papal and Prelatical Gran
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deur^ and next the Exercife of it, which is the caufc of Schifin and Perfecution.
§17. I verily believe as he doth, that Platonick Philofophy, and a willingncfsto win the Heathens by compliance, had a great hand in corrupting many Doctrines j and not only Monks but others of the moft religious Chriftians, had a great hand in ma- ny of the ancient Superfticionf, efpecially thofe that tended to the over-honouring of their Martyrs, and too much advance- ment of their Bifhops, when they came newly from under the Perfecution of the Heathens. But it came not to be univerfaf, nor the Engine of great Corruption and cruelty, till theBifhops turned all into a Law. Who could make any of all this necelTa- ry, but Pope, Prelates, or Princes, who pretended a Legifla- tive Power hereto ? Even Lmhcr and McUnBhon were indiffe- rent to diverfe Ceremonies, fo they were made to be indiffe- rently ufed. But when they are madencceffary by a Law Spe- cially more neceliary to a Miniller than his Miniltry, and to a private Chriftian, than his Church Communion, who doth more vehemently condemn them than they ?
§ 18. That P.ifchafnu R.iSertiiJ Was the firfl: that: broached; the Dodrine of 7V4«/^/7y?4/;f /^f /<?», is a doubtful exprefTion. Ei- ther he meaneth the A^af^e or onlv the T/j-h^ under another Name. If the latter, he will do more than Edm. yllbcrtinm^ or Bp. Confim have done, if he prove it: If it be the name that he meanetb, I think fby my Memory, for 1 will not for that go read him all over) that he will not find the name in Radbertu^, nor any where before Stepbanm Ednet^fts^ about 1 50 years after him; and that all that he can truly fay, is but as EelUrmine doth, \_Hic Author prim M fnit c^ni ferio & copiose fcripft de veri- tate Corporis & Safigttini^ Dommi in Euchanjiia contra Bertra- mum ?rt[byttr'4m.
§ 19. ThM the Bijhops charged by me With thefi Corruptions, were the onljf Oppofers of them thai we find in anticjHity , as we may fee i'l the Canons of -Afnck 4;;^ Spain, ] is a faying very near kin to much of his Hiftory: I confefs that fo few Presbyters in comparifon of Bifhops were publick Adors, whofe Judgments were notified to the World, that Tt's no wonder (after Confian- tineas time) if there be more proofs of their words and deeds than of other mens: But there area great number of excellent men here flandered againft the credit of all Church- Hiftory, and
their
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their own Writing* yet in our hands. Would it be worth the Readers Price and Labour, I could fwell my Book with the proof that what be fpcaketh is untrue. Did he think that I could not prove that fujitn Aiartjir, yitheftagoraj, "TatiauM, lertuUi- 4», Clemens jilexandrina^, OrigeM^ ylrnol/iput LaUaminSj Ma-- cartttSf Miiternus FirmicuSj Ephrem SyrHs, FaHflinpts^ Hierome, Rujjintis^ PvHdentiuSj Snlpitius Sevcrus, Sednlius, Mamwertus , CajfianuSf Vtncent. Linnenfis^ Socrates^ Soz.omen^ Jfodore Pelttfi- Ota, &c. did fomething in oppofition to fome Church- Corrup- tions ? Though fome of them promoted fome others : Yea, ^r.- tome and abundance of Monks that furthered fome, oppofed others no lefs dangerous: Though many of them may be accu- fed as Bellarntine doth Sulptt, Severhs^ for faying, Ecclefiam ew- ro non fir ai fed defirui.
Judge of time paft by what we fee j Is it onlj the Bifhops that areagainft the Popes Church-Corrupting Ufurpation in Italj^ Spain^France^diCQ. Is ito»// the Bifhops that arc againft the Mafs Corruptions, and againft all their corrupt Do(ftrines of Indul- gences, Purgatory, Images, &c. and againft all their Ceremo- nies, and prophane abufe of holy things ? Was it only the Bi- fhops at Cor.ftance and Bafil^ that were againft fupprefling the Bohemian and Moravian Reformation ? In the end ofLyatns up- on Prateolus you may read a Letter fubfcribed by fo great a number of Lords and great men , for John Hhs, and Hurome , and the Reformation, which yet prevailed not wich the Bifhops, as will tell you who was then the greateft Oppofers of Church- Corruption. And I think Princes and Drs. oppofed it more than Bps. in Luthei'^i time. Is it only the Bifhops that have oppofed warping towards Rome for Church-Uniiy .'' Have none but Bi- fhops been againft corrupting the Churches, by filencing good Minifters and ordaining bed ones f The things that are, have been. Iconfefs our difference is great on the cafe, xvhat is to be acconnted Church-Corruption. For that which in one Country go- eth for Corruption, in another (yea the famcj goeth for Ch»rch- Clory^ Strength^and Beamy i Our main difference is about what'« good, and what's badj what'* Virtue, and what's Vice.
§ zo. He next comes to Sedition , and asketh [}Vhat Reign have they difturbfd here with their Sedition ? ] And becaufe he knoweth that I can refer him to the large Volume of their Trea- fons written by Prin^ and abroad to the many Volumes in Col-
dafiMS^
Mfius, and the many Hiftories of the Wars of Popes and Coun- cils againft Emperours,] he prevents all my Proof with a down- right Untruth, that [ " //"^ ^^^'^ ^^ ^o^ bUnd he may fee thnt my " Hifiory is only defigned again f Proteftant Bifioops under a general '* Name.
Anf. Was it not enou gh fo grofly to write this Unrrirth of me, but he muft a!(b reproach all the Readers as blind that will not judge falily of what they read ? Doth he kno'.v my meaning bet- ter than my feif i* He knoweth that I plead for the Primitive Epifcopacy, and that I profefs to intend this Hiftory moft to di(^ cover the Rife, Growth, and Maturity of the Popirfi deftrucftive fort of Prelacy. Readers, can you believe this man, that I wrote the cafe of the Bifliops before and under Popery, and of the Popes, and of above Five hundred Councils, and all thefe be- fore the name of a Proteftant Bifliop was known in the World, and as he faith, gathered their faults, and all this only againit the Proteftant Birtiops, and not againft: Popes or Prelates, or any of the Councils that I named?
Perhaps he would tempt me to refer him to the Hiftory of Bifhop Luna's Trial, or to what Bifhop Abbot^ George and Ro- . bert^ Bifhop Hall d.i\d others faid againft him: Or ro tell him of A, Bp. M'^illiams Arms for the Parliament. But ihtfc arc notSub- jeds fie for our Debates.
§ 21. P. 3 18. When I fay, that v^here Prelacy wirh the Pa- fijts is at the highej}. Princes are at the lowefl-. He asketh, Is tt the Bijloop or the Papiji that is hers to bUme ? Is this the ejfc^ of their Order ?
AnJ. I. I thought the Pope of Rome and the Bifhop of Rome had been the fame. 2. But this Corredor of Hutory taking Untruths not only into the Co-mpletion^ but the Stamina and Scope of his Book, among all the reft fuppofeth me to (peak againft a Biflxp as a Bifoop , when I have troubled him with my repealing fb often that I am fur BiJl:ops, and that it is not the Office but the tumor ^ and that t.'4mor that maketh another fpecies which I oppofe. Doth he not think that the Popes Bi- fhoprick is faulty (yea, as a corrupt fpecies?) And as it is more tf^mid than the Patrfarcijs, is not the Patriarchs moie tumid than the Mctrcpolitanes , and that than the Diocffwes ? And if Dr. Hammond were not deceived , wlio thought that there were no jlatedworjlsipptng Affembiiesin Scripture times without a prefent
D d B\P:op^
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BifTop , is not the jcle Bi/hop cf a Thoufand or a Hundred fuch AiTf mblics dilferer.r from a Bifhop of 0/;c calj ? And if many Ca- nons rpcak truly, that lay a Bifliop flicmld oc in czery City that hath a Ch-rch, snd every great Town like our Corporations and Market Towns was called a City, dcth not a Bifhop of one Ci- ty, and a Bifhup of 50, or 40, or 10, differ fo far, that a man may be againft one without being againft the other f Doth he rj;eak againft Patriarchs that fpeaks againft the Pope ? Or againft Diocefants that fj eaks againft Patriarchs ? Or againft the Primi- tive Bi(hops that fpcaks only againft fuch Dioccfanes as put them all down, and all their Churches, and almoft all true DifcipIInc of fuch Churches, like Eraftuins.
§ 2x. P. 3 19. $22. Hif Charge on Socrates and 56Z,c;;;;;,f ((ba- king the credit of Church Hiftory ) i.s writing that [ which no reafon.xblc r»,iyj crn believe .is it :s rcl.it ed ij thcKi^ Without loving a maliciom LyeJ] I fpake to before : If fuch Hiftorians heUeved not what they wnte or loved a m^tUcioui Lye\ alas, whom ftiaH we believe ? Is he better than they ?
And his note that Valcfim judged Eufebius Nlcowed no Htre- tick^^ I before-ndted.
But I will follow that cafe no further, left he fhould draw me to fcem to charge the ancient Bifhops wiili fcdicion, whom I ne- ver intended fo to charge j but only to dcfire thofe that can ex- cufe the Language c. g. of Gregory the great to Vhicas, o\\Am- Lrofe to EtigsuiiiSy of the Bifhops to Adaxiwn* , and many fuch like, not implacably to reproach and hunt thofir that did no more or not fo much.
§23. His full Stomach difchargeth itfclf againft me three limes over with one charge, P, 314, 320, 352, [Oliver Crom- well .-md his Son, the David and Ablalom o[ Air. B.] And [ He compares the wofi barbarous villain in the World to King David, inhis Epijlle to his Son.
Anj. Reader if there be no fuch word in any of my Writings, after all thefe Accufations of this man and many fuch other, I muft leave it to thy felf how thou wilt name thefe men, their Hiftory, and their dealings j for if [name them they will fay I rail.
Yea , what if this very man ('it's eafie to know why and whence) doth even here, f. 352. Oc, reprint the very Epiftle which he thus accufeth, and cite no fuch word, to tell us that
he
he knew there wasnoTuch word there, and yet thus affirmeth ir, what will you call this ?
The words cited by himfclfare rhefe, [ " Many chferve that . ^^ yoH h4ve been ftranglj k^pt f'^om participating in any of our late «' bloody ^Contentions, that God might make you a Healer of our iMlfM '* Breaches, and employ yott in that Temple Worl^, which David '^''•'f i^^j^^ " himfelf might not he honoured with, though it was in his mind, be- j^^\ ^'*^'' *' canfe he had Jhed blood abundant ly^ and made great Wars, i Chr.^f thdrchitf 22.7,8.] Dfs Elegy
Is here ever a word of 0/ivcr? Is he here called David? Did >^?on Oliver I not purpofely fay, ^ David himfelf 2 and cite the Text, ki^^^^''^^^fj^i any fliouid feign the fame that he doth ? Any man may fee that tlurs)what he hath nothing to fay, but to accufe my Thoughts^ and fufped jho:ddiha-je that I had fucha meaning. And who made him acquainted wiih hurdjmut Thoughts that were never uttered ? Or made him a Judge of c?'L^)Jfl^^^ them ? If his and other mens thoughts may be thus by conjedure jhttnedO- accufed, no Enemy need to want matter of Accufation. liver, while
It's like he will appeal to my Confcience whether it were no^ ^ "pcvly dlf- my thought ? And i. By what authority will he fo do ? 2. But "^'^l^^^,^ I will (hrive my felf to him thi* once. It is fo long fince, that lutmivthdr truly I remember nor what was in my Thoughts , any fur- ifiMke iuth ther than my words exprefs: But I well remember my /^r- -^"^ ?'■£ '^^- wer ^^iions , and what was then my judgment of Oliver "^^ and his Adlions, and I ufe nor to fpeak againlt my judgment. Many knew that he being acquainted the firft day that I went into the Army, ('which was after Nafeby Fight) that I was fcnt by an AlTembly of Divines, to try whether I could turn the Sol- diers againft his fubverting Defigns, (then firft difcovered to me,) he would never once fpeak to me while I was in the Ar- my; and that ever afrcr I was driven away, I openly in Pulpit, Prefs and Conference difowned, and warned men todifown his Acftions againft King and Parliament, and his Ufurpation ; and that I wrote againlt the Engagement: And therefore I do not think that ever I meant to call him D^ivid, and I am fure I ne- ver did It. But they fay old Men can fee better afar olT than near at hand ; and ^0 all thefe notorious Unrruths about vifible prefcnt things, may yet confift with fuch mens credibility about things faid and done 15:0 Years- ag:>.
§ 24. And now I am here, ( muff not pi^fs; by his friendly Ad- monition, p. 3J-7. af:er his reciting my E;>i(t!e?, [" If I were as
D d 2 " worthy
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** xvorth) to advife Mr. B. ai he was to advife Cromwell, / wohU ** jiij^ It were fK.'ich More advtfcable for a Chrijhianj fpeciaily for *^ one that thinks he ts fo near his eternal State , to repent ahd cry " peccavimjs, than to fland on ffifiifcation of the fa^^ Sec. ]
^nf. I, Is vvasufual formen tocboofetheirown Confeflburs: But it being the Cuftom of the times for Paltors and ConfcflTors to be fc reed on Dilfcnterj, I will fubmit now to your way^ though my former ConfefTions and my Communion with you have been turned to Re[)ro3ch and Scorn.
1. I do daily begcarneftly ofGod, to let none of my fins be unknown tome, and taken for no fin , and be unrepented ofj and that he would forgi^-e that which I would fain know, and do not.
2. I do not repent of owning Oliver^s Adions againft King and Parliament, or his UQirpation; for I never owned them , nor the Anions of them that fet up his bon.
3. I do not repent that I loved the Peace of the Church, and thatldefired the Governour, though a Ufurper, fhouIJ do good and not evil.
4. I do not repent that feeing the Armies Rebellions and Con- fufions, I ftirred up Rulers and People to take heed of favouring fo great Sin.
<), But I do now by experience of other ways perceive that I was fometimes too eager in aggravating mens Errours, ard re- pent that I ufed not more forbearance of fome of my Accufati- ons of fbme of them.
6. I did think that Richard Cromwell was an Ufurper : But when we had been twelve Years at leaft without a rightful Go- vernour, I then thought as T'homas White, alijs Blackjow^ the moderate Papilt, wrote, that the Land could not fubfift in Soci- ety without fbme Government, and x.h2.x. No-Government isworfe to the People than diVfnrpedone: And that it is fomtimc lawful to fubmit and uCe an Ufurper, when it is not lawful to approve his Entrance. And wherein I was deceived I am willing to be better informed.
7. But I do unfeignedly repent that I wrote thofe two Epiftleff, though it was to put a man on to do good, whom I never [aw, nor ever had the leaji to do with.
8. And I do more repent of the caufe of all, viz.. that I ap- pointed Cod a time, and limited his Providence; and thought
that
that becaafe Co many Armies and Endeavours had failed Twelve or Fourteen Years , that had attempted the reftoring of the King, therefore there was no probability of accomplilhing it : I do not repent that I was not a Prophet, to know before what God would do J for it was not in my power j nor do I repent that I preached Chrifts Gofpel under Ufurperi j but I repent that I waited not Gods time, and did not better confider that want of humane Power is no hinderancc to Omnipotency, and nothing is difficult to him.
9. I nas drawn too far by Mr. Harringtons Scorn, and the diQike of Sir Heur^ f^anc^s Attempts for a Common- Wealth, to meddle with matters of Government, and to write my Politi- cal Aphorifms, called, ^ Hcly Ci.f?imon-Wealthv And I do un- feignedly repent that ever I wrote and publifhed it, and had not more confined my fclf to the matters proper to my Calling, and let thofe meddle with forms of Government who were fitter for ir.
All thefe, bcfides what's formerly faid to Mr. BagJJ:aw\ I de- clare my unfeigned Repentance of And though it pleafeth you to feign me a Schifmatick, and hater of Repentance, f for fpeak- ing againftthe fault, that needed it) I (hail thank you to be a real helper of me in fo nccefl'ary a work as Repentance i?.
And that I may do the like by you, I (hall now only requite you with this Advice , that before you write next, you will fet before your Eyes the Ninth Commandment, Thou J}:i alt not hear falfe Witncfs againft thy Neighbour ; And that when you fay your Prayers, you would be ferious when you fay , Lord have Mercy upon us^ and cnctine our hearts to keep this Law.
§ 15. A Roman Zeal tells us, that Faction and Schifm, when animaced by worldlyIntereft,and grown up to a malignant hatred of the things and perfonsthat are averfe to it, is hardly bound- ed, but is thriving up towards deftruitive Perfecution, asfwel- ling Prelacy did towards the Papacy and the Inquifition. It is not one or two Fifhes that will fatisfie the ftomach of a Pike: Nor is it the flandering or ruining of one or two men, or filen- cing of one or two of the Miniftersof Chrifl-, that will fatisfie a malignant Spirit. One Meal will not make a lean Man fat. Whe- ther there be a Legion in thofe that would deftroy a Legion of Chrifts Servants, or one have fo much Power I know not j but the effc(fts tell us what manner of Spirit they are of. But let the Papifts pafs. § x6.
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§26. When lr«d;?. 337,and 3j8, 359. and fuch paflagc?, it makes me think of them that cried , [ His Blood he on Hi , and car Children^ together with our Judge's words, [ In as much at JOH did It or did it not to one of the leaji of thefe my Brethren^ you did it or did it not to we."] P. 337, he faith, [ " There is great ** reafon to value the peaceable Kefi^mtion of the JVonconformifis^ * ' when xvc confider by what VfuYpation and Violence they were brought '' in, and what a number of worthy learned A'finifiers were turned " out to make vacancies for thcfe men, who were to inflru^ the PeO' " pie in new Myjleries of Religion, which their old Paflors had not *' the Confcicncc or ability to teach them, that is, of the Uwfulnefs " of Rebellion.— And p. 3^8, &"C. There were many cfthofe Adini- *^ Jltrs Vfarpers^ and h<hi intruded into th: Churches of other metiy " who had been filenccd and cafi out."- There were many ethers that " were intruders into the Miniflry, and fuch not a few cf them as " Mr. B. himfelf would not have thought fit to have continued, j4ll " the refi were fnch as would not fi^bmit to the Rule that was then ^^ efiablijhed in the Church, but chofc rather to leave their Livings, " and the Bijhops could not help it, any otherwife than as they were " Members of Parliament j for it was the Law th^t tied them to *' their choice^ and not the bifheps. If Mr. B. means what happened ^' before the Lifi Ctvil IVUrs, as it^s lively he may ^t hen thefc ancient *' Teachers were theinfirumentspfanAntimonarchical,Antiepifcc- ^* pal FaBion : They wouldpreach but they wouldnot conform to the *' Efiablijhed Religion : Nay many of them would preach againft it, *^ andagainfi their Goveruours too. Thefc were fnch Incendiaries as ^^ no Government woff Id endure, &"C. ]
AnJ, When you have noted this part of his Hiftory, it will not be hard to ;udge of his credibility.
I. The things that he defcndeth is the filcncingand profccu- ting of three forts of Minifters. i. Many Hundreds of Noncon- form'ifts in the days of Qu. Eliz,. K. fames, and fome few in the time oi'K. Charles 1. 2, Miny Conformifts in the time of K. Charles 1. under Bifhop Laud. 3. About 2600 that conform not to the New Laws of Uniformity in the time of K. Ch. 2. What thefe Minifters were or are, and what the fruits of their filencing have been, and what it hath done to the Church of EugLvid, and to many Thoufinds of Godly Chriltians, I will not be judge : Nor will I difpute that which all England fees or feels. But it fecms fo.well done to ourHiltorian, as that he is
willing
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willing deliberately to juftifie or defend it, which as I undeiftand is ro make it his own, and to undertake to be one of thofc that (Tiall anfwer for it. What if another had done as much agalnit hini, as he hath done againft hinifelff And fur howlnulla prize.?
1 1. As he before would infinuatc ,' that what is faid of tlie great number of Druni^ards, and ig^noranc men turned our, was falfe, though fo judged upon the Oaths of men accounted the greateft loverscf Religion in their Parifhes; fohe feemeth here to intimate that it was only or chiefly into the j)!aces of learned worthy men, that the fileoced Miniiters fucceeded j whereas it was not one of mjny that came into any fuch mens places of them that were filenced at the fatal BartU/owew day.
•III. He feemf th to intimate, that when the Parliament (Tuppofc by wrong) pur out either fuch as he or I defcribe, the Land muft be utider anlnterdic*^ till the Biftiops and King were reitored, and that Chrilis Gofpel vviis no more to be preached in Engl i-.d^ tillDiocefanes returned, but all Souls be given up to Damnation , unlefs Chrift would fave them without the preaching of his Gofpel, and the Land was to be left to the Devil and Paganifm. And who can deny now but the Dioccjane Species is ejfential to the Church ?
I V. When I fpake only of the filencing and ejeding Att, of ^f'^. 24 1662. he would make the Reader believe, that this Change was to reftcre the Churches to their eje(^ed Paftors, or caftuut IKurpers ; whereas unlefs Ignorance or worle hinder him, he knowerh that all that were call out and were alive, l^id claim t J their Benefice?, and were reftored before that, and their Li- vings rellgned quietly to them, to fay nothing of the reft that were fuppofed to be at the Lord Chancellors difpofal. Thofe that were put out that the fequeftred might re-enter, were none of them filenced, nor made uncapable of other Livings till Aagu^ 24, i66x.
V. He would infinuate that it was only the ISJoficonformifls th:t were caft out of fuch fequeftrations : Whereas in the Countries that I cither lived in or heard of, it was as many or more of the Conformifts, that had fcqueftred Livings and were caft our^ and took new prefentations.
V I. And this is evident by his Intimation, as if it were a ve- ry great number of the Church Livings that were fo poflTeft:
Whereas
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Whereas of Nine Thoufand or Ten Thoufand Miniftcrs then in Pofleffion , Seven or Eight Thoufand Conformed : There- fore it's likely that the Conformifts had moft of the Sequeftra- tions.
VII. He tells you that the Ejeded Minifters were brought in to inftrucft the People in the Lawfulnffs of Rebellion; Doth not this intimate that this was the cafe only or chiefly of the filenced Nonconformifts? But I have oft cited /rirf/defend- ing the French ProteftantSj Was not he a Bifliop f I have oft cited Bilfon, affirming it no Rebellion if the Nobles and People defend their Legal Conftitution againft one that will--- ( I will
not recite the reft-. ) I have oft cited Ri. Hooker whofc
popular Principles I have confuted, and goeth higher againft ab~ folute Monarchy, than 1 or any of my Correfpondency did in ail the Wars. He)lin is for Conciliation with thePapiiis : He know- eth not their Writings who knowcth not that the Papifts arc more for popular Efedtion, and Power towards Princes, far than ever fuch as I were. And had he nor put his Head and Eyes into 2 Bag, he could hardly have denied but that they were Epifcopal Conformifts en both fides that began the War : But being got Into the dark he loudly denieth ir.
VIII. He faith. There were many ethers that himji If wohU net h.VJe thoun^ht fit to have continued. Anf. I thought I was more likely to know them than he. I remember not one fuch of an hundred' that did not conform. I confefs that when the Prtlatical party intreated me no longer to refufc the JVcJlmiKfler Commiffioners Letters, deputing me with others to try and judge of fome Epifcopal Conformifts that (tood then for Livings, to avoid all feeming oppofition to that way I did ftretch as far as I durft, to approve and keep in fome Conformifts, of very low parts who knew not a quarter fo much as fome Lay People did: But none of thcfe were Nonconformills.
I X. He fd ith, [_All the refi were fuch as would not fubmit to the Rule then cfiablif^ed in the Church. This is true: And what was that Rule ? Did Peter or Paal make it, or fubmit 'to it? Did they refufe any thing that God commanded in Nature or Scripture? Or any Circumftantiais neceflary tn gencre left in fpe- cieto theMigiftrates determination? They v/ere guilty of be- lieving that God is above -man, and that there is no Power but of God, and none againft him j and that we muft j^Ieafe him
whoever
(i'op )
whoever be difpleafed. They were guilty of Co much Self-love as to be unwilling to be damned for a Benefice, or for a Bifliops Will. They did net confent to profefs Aflent and Gonfenc to all things contained in and prefcribed by three Books, written by fuch as declare themfelves to be fallible j and fuch as not one of Fourty ever faw before they declared the faid Aflent and Confent to them. They did not confent to C3iii out all Infants from Chriftendom, whofe Parents durft not oftcr them to Bap- tifm, under the Sacramental Symbol of the Crofs j nor^irJefs they might have themfelves been Covenanters, Undertakers, or Promifcrs for them, as well as the Godfathers: Or that fcru- pled getting Strangers to undertake that perfidioufly for their Children which they never intended to perform. They durft not read Excommunications againlt Chriltstrue Servants, nor repel thofe from Chriftian Communion, who fcruple kneeling in the reception of the Sacrament: They durft not fwear that maRy Thoufands whom they never knew are not obliged by the Co- venant, when they know net in what ftrce they took it: For they are not willing to believe that the compounding Lords and Knights did not put a good fence on it before they took it. They durit not fay that all is fo well in our Church Government by DiocefaneSj Lay-Chancellours Power of the Keys, Archdeacons^ Ofticial?, Commiflaries, &c. that we may fTvear aj^ainft all en- deavours to amend it by any alteration ; They do believe that the Law of Nature is Gods Law, and that as italloweth a fingle Perfon only private defence, (b it alloweth every Nation publick defence againfl Enemies notorious deftroying afiaults : And they dare not fwear or covenant, that if any fhould from rhe Lord Chancellour, &c. get a CominifTion to feze on the Kings Navy, Treafures, Forts, Guard?, Perlbn, and to feize on the Lives and Eftates of all his Innocent Stibjecfts, that it is unlawful to re- fift any that execute fuch a ComrnilTion. They find it fo hard a Controverfie , what God doth with the dying Infants cf Atheifts, Infidels, Mahometanes, a^d Pcrfeciitors , that they dare not declare, that if any of their Children be baptized and die,/f ;■/ certain by th: word of God t/j.it they are undotdnedlj favcd. We fay not that the Law binds us to any of the evil which wc fear : But we dare not take Oaths and Promifes which we lin- derftand nor. '
Aburdance I pretermit.
E e He
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He is cxtreL\mly ccnforious if he think that Mr. R. Hooker, Bp. Biljon^ Bp. Griudal, A. Bp. Mbot ^ ^^. Roh. yihhot, Bp. fewel, iic. would have been Conformifts had they been now alive.
X. He faith, [77;7 chofe rather to leave their Livings. ^ j4n[. They chofe not to conform, but fubmitted only to leave their Livings; Eiigcre cfi agerc. They were paflfive in this, they re- fufed to conform as fuppofed by them a heinous Sin^ but they chofe ^not to be filenced or caft out ; but they chcje to eidtfre it when the Bilhops chofe it for them.
X I. He faith, that [ the Bijloops comU not help it any other- KVife than as they were Alcmbers of Parliament.
^n[. I. I confefs Scripture ufeth the like Phrafe , Can the Leopard change his Spots, «c. or they that are accuftomed to do evil learn to do well? And Rom. 8. 6, 7. The carnal rnindis enmi- ty agairjjl God, for it is not fnlje^ to his Law, nor can le."] I will not hereiroo much contradicH: him, 2. But is it nothing that they could have done in Parliament, had they been willing? 3. Is it unlawful for us to know if he know it nor, or deny it, how much the Bifhops and Clergy did with the Parliament-Men ? 4, He (hould at leaft have Itayed rill Dr. Bares, Dr. facomb, and I are dead, who wrote and difputed with the Bifhops by the Kings Commiffion, before he had talkt at this rate to the World. Did not the King make his Declaration about Eccltfiaftical Af- fairs ? And did he not under the broad Seal commiffion thofe Bifhops and Doctors to treat with us for the making fi-.ch altcn:- ticns us were necejfary to tender Confcicnces ? Did rhey not main- tain that no alterations were thereto liccejfaij, and fo ( nd the trea- :y. 5'.Did they not in their next Convocation lay afidc the Kings Indulgent Declaration, and make the Additions to the Liturgy ? And yet could they not help it ? Nor was it none of their do- ings ? 6. Doth not England know that Parliaments' fmce have by experience perceived their Mif^ake, and would have fufpend- ed our Profecution, and reftored us to Unity, and the Bifhops and Clergy will not confent but rage againrt ir, and preach and write to have us executed according to the Laws, and no abate- ment to be made, and as this man, think that the Cb igrchcs Di- Jiraftiou is from Projefls of Moderation. What name fhould one give to fuch" Hiftories as thefe.? The guilty cannot bear their names.
Xir. He
X II. He faith, [/f was the Law that tied th:t» to their choict and not the Bijhops.
jinf. I. Suppofe the word choice were proper here , [ Is it any juftification of the Executioners ? ] Ic was the Empcrour Charles the jth's Edid that tied all the Proteftant Minifters to conform to the Interim^ or be gone : It was the Law that tied the Martyrs in Qu. Maria days to profefs what they believed nor, or to be burnt. Alas! How could Bonner and Gardiner help it? 2. But how many Bifhops were againft the paifing of that Bill ? And who perfuaded the Lay-Men to it? Muft we not know when it's night if you deny it ?
XIII. He tells you, that []f/v ancient' flenced Teachers be- fore the Civil Wars^ were the Injirumenls of Antimonarchical and ^ntiepifcopal FaBion.
^nf I. Which of them all faid fo much as Mr. Hooker ^ Bp. Btifen^ Bp. fewel^dcc. have done ? 2. If you make any Con- fcience ot the 9th Commandmenr, prove the Truth of what you fay of thofe that were fur[)ended and driven out of the King- dom in the times of A. Bp. Laud, Bp. IVren^ Bp. Piercy, &c. for not reading the Book for Lords-days Dancing and Sportif, and that were profecuted for Preaching twice on the Lords-day, and for not turning the Table Altar-wife, and railing it in, which even Bp. A-fontague as well as Williams was againft. Was Bifhop Aiiles Smjfth Q^Glouccfler, were A. Bp. Abbot or Grnid<ill Anti^ monarchic aI or Antiepifcopal ? 3. Prove if you are able any Anti- monarchical Principles, Words, or Deeds by Mr. HUdeyJ^sim, Mr. Bnnjley ^ Mr. Paul Baine^ Mr. Dod, Mt. Knewjlnbs ^ and hundreds of fuch I might name. The moft malicious are fain to talk- of or.e ^//<7.v, ot otic Goodman, or oi\Q Juntm Brutm^ (that is, Htiberrm Langustju Mtlaniihons friend) or fomewhat in ^^- chana>j, not the tenth part io much as is commonly faid by the Pap fts, wirh whom our A.Bp. BromhalUnd his Companions fo much plead for Concord. 4. Doth not Al. Cope, and Sanders, and Patefon in the Image oj both Churches^ and lately the nomi- nal Bellamy in his Philanax Anglicas, and many more (uch, fay all the fame of the Bifhops and Church of England^ and all that they deride z.%\_Prottj}ants of Sincerity^ as guilty of far more re- bellious Principles and Practices, than ever you can prove by the mcer Nonconform ifts old or new ? And is ic enough to accufe ?
E e 2 XIV. He
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XIV. He faith, 71} ty would preach but they would not confortn
tc t he ejiublip:cd Religion.
^nj. I. But why fhould they be forbidden to preach (which was good and they were devoted to ? ) If a man will not do ail that you would have him to do, (hall he do nothing?
2. What wa».that which he calleth the Rfiahhjhed Religion? it was the Ceremonies aL-d Subfcription, th.it there j.< nothing in the Liturgy contrary to the \Vt,ra of God.^ And was this a Crinr.e worthy the forbidding men to preach the Gofi)el? Or why fliould the Souls otlhotifandsof the Innocent People be fo hea- vily puniflied for another mans omifTion, even becaufe the Teachers fear Conformity. .
3. But rtill we fee what thefe mens Rchgkn is : Had their Religion been the Scripture, or any Dodrine or Woilhip com- men to the Chriftian or Proteftant Churches, the old Noncon- formifts willingly confented to it. But here they fliew that their Ceremonies and proper Liturgy forms are their Religion. But then I. Why do Dr. Burges and all that plead for your Cere- monies and Invention, build all on this, that you make them not any par.ts of Worfhip or Religion, ( which they confefs man jnay not invent) but meer accidents ? 2. Hovf old i\\tr\\s your Religion'* Your Liturgy was made fince Luther began his Refor- mation. 3. It feems then that you are not of the fame Religi- on with the Proteftants that have none of your Ceremonie?, Li- turgy or Subfizriptions. 4. Is not then your Church of a fingu- lar Religion from all the World, and confequcnily a fingular Church ? And is it the whole Catholick Ciiurch tlien , or a Schifmatical Church ?
Iconfefs that you fhew more evidently than by fuch words, that your felf made Rules and Circumftances are your Religion : For I. You make Conformity to them to be de fatlo more neceflary than omv Preaching the Gofpel, or o:.y Church Com- munion, or any publick Church Wc ■ Hiip of God. 2. And you excommunicate by your Rule or Canon evtry Mt mber ofChrift in England, that doth but thi'k :ind fay , thdt any thing of your Impcfition, Liturgy^ C/'iemonies, or Govern- ment are finful. 3. And yet when yoi. liave done you call all your ImpoCmons things indi^ff'erent. 4. A -^i ihereby you declare that your Religion in part is a thing indtjf.ion. j. And no Man or Woman ihall be of your Church that cannot know nil the in-*
difirent,
different things in the ^Vorld which may be impofcd on rhem, fo he Indifferent and not Vnlawful; when you know for you know not whom you dwell amongj that we have much adoe to get one half your Church to know things neccjfarjf. 6. The Papilis that put a greater neceOity on their Inventions will deride yoa for an Indifferent Religion.
There was a poorPuritane Nonconformift that fe.ired Lyin^, that went about the Streets widi Ink to fell, and was wont tru- ly to cry, [J'^ery good Inl^, very good Ink^',"] but once his Ink a little mifcarried, and he durft not call it [_(^cry good^']h\M cried, Vretty good Ink^^ Vretiy good A^,1 and no body woulJ buy of him, And he loft his Ink. And if you cry up [^An indifferent Re^ ligion^"] whatever ycu have for numbers, you will have for qua- lity but an Indifferent Church, (Tave our Rulerj.^
XV. But he add?, \_Many of them wottid preach agaiufi it and their Covernours too. j
ylnf I. You tempt them towards it. If I ask the Butcher {^Is your A/cat fweet ? ] and he Qy it is indijfcrent , I ain excn fa- ble if I think it frinks. i. They judge by the tlfc(fts : They thought that Vihtmn indifferent thing cafteth cut a neceflary thing, it becomes naught. 3. But yet your Accufation is un- faithful : Why did you not fay then, that ic was not for Non- conformity that men were caft our, but for preachir.g againfr your Religion!' \Vho were tbofe? Was it proved ? Iffo, what was that to the reft ? Do you punilh mjny learned moderate men for the fault of a fevv others that they were not concerned wirh ? You now alltdge Mr. Hilderfio^m, Bnll^ BradfJoaw, B.:ine, Knew- finL>Sy and abundance fuch, for being againrl Sepirution, and perfujding men to come to the C )tnmun Prayer, (and manv of them to kneel at the Sacrament,) and yet Vvhen you {-lead for their Silencing, even other mens words may fervc againit them.
XV J. Toconclad.% in all helayeth thecJufecf their filencc on themfclves for not conforming, and vet will not tell us what we fliould do ro help it. Would they have us Conform while we judge it 15 (Inful as I have mentioned in my firft Vie a for Venice ? No J they profcfs the contrary. WouU they have us believe all to be la-vful ? V/e cannot : Our Judgments are not at our Command: What would they have us do to change? Worldly Iitereft maksustoo willing! Weftudy as hard as they I
We
Wc earncltly beg Gods Illumination to five us from Er rour We read all that they write to convince us : And the more wc read, ftu Jy, -and pray, the more heinous the Sin of Conformity feems to fome. I askt Bp. MorUj the fame queftion when he for- bad my preaching, before the eje(fting A(ft; and he bid me read union and Hooker : I told him that was not now to do: and in both of them I found the Principles which are made the caufe of my Silencing, my greateft Crime?, and in one of them worfe. He then told me, IfGodwould not give me his Grace he conld not help It: And yet moft of thefe men are againfl: fatal, repro- hatiKg^ neccjfnatir,g Decrees.
The impofing Papifts ufc men worfe : Of whom will you par- don a Fable.
A Bee and a FLe were catchttogecher in a Spiders Web : The Spider when they were t'rcd with Itriving, claimed clicm both for her Food, as a punifhmcnt /or breaking into and troubling her Web : And agaioft rhe Bee (he pleaded that fhc was a hurt- ful Militant Animal, that had a Sting; and ^gainlt tl:e Fliethat (he was noifbme £nd good for noching. The Bee anfwered that her meliifying Nature and work was profitable, and Nature had armed her with a Scing to defend it. And the Flie faid, as (he did little good fo (he did little harm, and could make her felf no better than Nature had made her. And as to the Crime al- ledged againft them, they both faid, that the Net was made by a venomous Animal, fpun out of the Air and the V^enom of her own Bowclf, made for no ufe but to catch and deftroy the In- nocent, ar.d they came nor into it by malice, but by ignorance and miftake, and fliat it was more againft their Will than zgainft the S];iders, for they contrived not to fjJI into it ; bur (he con- trived to catch them 5 and that it was not to break the Ncrthat ihey ftrove, but to (ave their Lives. The Mafter of the Houfe overheard the Debate , but refolved to fee how the Spider would judge, which was quickly done without more wordsj (lie took them for Malefaftors, and killed them both. The Ma- Iterof the Houfe fo difliked the Judgment, that he ordered that tor thetime to corhe, i. The Bees(hould be fifcly hived and cherifhed. 2. And the Flies, if not very noifomc, (liould be tolerated. 3. And all Spiders Webs f'wept down.
I need to give you no more of the Expofition of it, than by the Spider I mean the Pjpai noxious Canon-maker?, and that by
the
(115)
the Net 1 mean their unneceflary and enfnaring Laws and Canons^ which are made to catch and deltroy good men^and are the way toithe Inquifition, ox Bonner'' $ Coal-houfe, orSmithfidd Bonefires. Bot I mult defire you not to iaiagine that I Tpeak againft the Laws of the Land.
§ 27. As to the Conclufion of his laft Chapter, I fhall now add no more but this: If what I faid before and to Mr. Hmkjey fatisfie himnor, of what Religion and Party both fides were that began the War , and Mr. RHJhworthi CoI!e(ftions, and oiher Hi- ftories of former Parliaments be not herein ufcful to him, let him but fecure me from burning my Fingers with Subje^^s fo red hot, by mens miTinterpreting and inij^atience, and I will (God willing) give him fo full proof, that (to fay nothing of latent Inftigators and con(cquent auxiliaries on either fide, nor of the King himfclf, whofe Religion is beyond difpute,) the parties elfc that begun the War in England di\^ ditfer in Religion j bnt as A. Bps. L^ud^ and Nealy and Brombaly and fuch others, and A,Bp!^. ^U'or dind IVtIliams, and Bp. Bilfon, on the ether fide j and as Dr. Afainwanng^ Stbthorp^ &:c. on one fide, and Mr./?;. Hockcr and fuch on the other fide differed. And if my proof be confutable I will not hereafter undertake to prove that Englijh is the language of England.
But my Bargain muft be thus limited, i. I will not under- take that from the beginning there was no one Papift on the Kings n.de, or no one Presbyterian on the Parliaments: I could never yet learn of more than one in the Houfe of Commons, and a very few Independents, but I cannot prove that there was no more.
2. You muft not put me upon fearching mens hearts : I un- ^:?rtake not to prove what any mans heart in England wasj but vvliat their Profefllon was, and what Church they joined with in Communion.
3. And you muft not equivocate in the ufe of the name [_Pres~ I'jterian, ] or [^Nonconformifl , ] and tell me that you take fome A. Bps. and Bps. and fuch Divines as Ri. Hooker.^ and Btlfon^ and Bp. Doxvn^me, the Pillars of Epifcopacy and Conformity, for Presbyterians.
And if it may be I would beg that of you, that you will not take the long Parliament for Presbyterians and Nonconformifts, who made the k(Xs of Uniformity, the Corporation Ad, the
Militia
(ii6)
Militia Aft, and thofe againft conventicles, and for baniflimcnt from Corporations, G^c. Notwithftanding their high Votes about the Succellion and Jealoufies of Popery, and that which they faid and did hereupon : For I confefs if it be fuch Nonconform- ifts or Presbyterians as thofe that you mean, Tie give you the better. And I muft alfo defire that you call not the next Pjrjia- inenr, which confifted moft of the fame Men, Presbyterians or Konconformiftsj nor the other fince them ? Or at fcaft that hereafter before we difpute we may better agree of the mean- ing of our terms.
And I declare to the Reader, that nothing in nil this Book is intended againft the Primitive Church-Government cr Epifcopa- cy, nor againft the good jiifhops, Clergy, CounciL^, or Canons, which were many ; nor againft King, Parliamenr, MagiiUacy, the Laws, or Liturgy, or Church Com,munion ; noragainftour peaceable and patient fubmilfion where we dare not practically obey : But only againft the difeafcs and degeneracy oi Biftiops, Clergy, Council.% and Canons, and thofe dividing pradices, by which they have for 1200 Years and more been tearing the Chrihian World into the Se(fls of which it now ccnfifteth j and againft the whole afcendent Change from the Primitive Epilco- pacy to Papal maturity: andaj^ainft our fweuring, Subfcnbing, declaring, covenanting, profelling , and pradifing, where we ^inderftard not the Impofers fcnfe, and are unwilling by our pri- vate Interpretations to deceive them, and where we are per- fuaded that it would be heinous fin to uf, rot meddling n ith xhc cafe of. Lawmakers or Conformifts, who have no fuch fears, but think all good,
ChrjJGjtcme (before cited) in y^^l, i. Horn, 3. p. Qyiihi) ^72. fpeaketh harder than 1 ever did : {_iKa^Kh&'( ^'i-^j'^i &"c. which Eraf. ?/^ns rranflatcth, TNon ter//ere dlco, fed tn ajfetitu [ttm & [entio ; No« uriitrcr i.'jWr Saccr dotes ?rjrittos cfjc ejHi. fthi fuoit, fed mfi!:o f lures cjui p.r^wit. His reafon is the lame which lome give "hv they think moft Fhyficians kill more than they cure, becaufe there is Co much Wifdom, Goodnefs, Watch fidncfs, and Dili- gence required to their Callir.gj which few ot them have.
LtitUr is much ftiarper than I ever was, v.'hcn he faith, [/Vi- eroti^mus-O^-aUi Patres vixernm tn temporati SucceJJione Ecclcfa^ expiries CrpiCts & p:rfccf!tiovis. Epifcopi.enim j^m turn cocperant crtfccre 'S' anger t cpilus^ exifiimatione &glcria.in Kmndo .• Et pie-
nqfie
Yi<j[He etiam tyrAnnidem exercebant in pophiunt cui pracrant^ utte^ fiatftr hifloria Ecclsfiafiica ; Panci faciebantfrta Officia^ &:c. Lgc Com. 4. ClafT. p. 79, 80.
Et Cap.xy. p.^, 8. de Sj'nodis. /« pofteri^r.bm Conciliis nhHqu.im ds fde, fed jewper de opinionihui & qudtflionibm difpatatum faftcr tbe titftj ut mihi Conciliorum ncmen pens tam [itfpelifsm ^invl- fum fity qujim nvmen Liher^ arbnni.
What MeUn^hon thought of the Papal defign of magnifying Councils, and pleading the necefTity of uninterrupted SucceflTi- on ofEpifcopal Ordination, fee in his Epiftles, cfpecially of the Conference at Ratifbotie.
Dr. Henry Moore in his Mjjlery of Inlcjuitj faith, p. 132,' (I ^* That Principle tends to the ruining of Faith, which liip- " pofeth that without right Succeflion of Bifhops and Priefts, " there is no true Church, and therefore no true Faith : and " that this SuccefTion may be interrupted by the Mifordination " or Mifconfecrationof a Prieft or Bifliop, the Perfons thus or- " dained being Atheifts or Jews, or ordained by them that are ** fo — As if a min could not feel in his own Confcience whe- " ther he believed or not the truths of holy Scripture, without " he wcrefirft alTjred that he was a Member of that Church, ^' that had an uninterrupted lawful Succeffion of the Priefthood '* from the Apoftles times till now.
Perhaps EpfcopiM and CurcelUus will be more regarded. Read that notable Preface of CurcelUpu to Epifcopim Works, p. 12, 13. \_Rtfp. Experi^Htiam docere nnllas unquam Comrover- Jtas de Rcligione inter Chrifiianos exortas auRorirate fjnodAli fd-
Uciter termm^tas fHiffe-'-& certiorem multo pACis viam effe
Next he (hews how little good even the Nicene Council did , and how much worfe things were after : Hicrome faying, that the whole World was Arian, And Conflantim reproaching Libe^ riui for being with one man againft all the World : The Vulgar Dicier lum being, Omne ConciliHm parit Billum, Whence he ga- thers that Councils , fuch as the World hath hitherto had, mn cffe idoneum componendis Rd gionis diffidiis Remedium : Et qHam- din illHdiifarpabitKr perpetftas in EccleftAOr Republica turbas fo- re.
EpifcQpii & prAcipuorum emicuit fides d^ animi mAgnitudo , quod nepranjtffj qtiidem foi'itionis ejufdem quo ante a fruebatttur fii- pcniii^ induct pot Hsrint ut fe adftlemiam quod impCTtibatur fervan-
F f d^m
Ui8)
du»» ohfir inherent, etiamf nomuilit tn m»gHa ret fumUiaris anghjisa vcrfautttur.
So copious and fharp is Epifcopitu^ Qu. 52, p. j6. b. in main- taining that the Magiftratc hath no Authority to forbid ficrcd Aflcmblies to tolerable DilTenters, and that Minifters and Peo- ple forbidden them rauft hold on to the death, that 1 will not recite the words, but defirehis Admirers to read ihera.
An
(ii?)
s<&» *A» «A» «A» «^ ♦*» «A» «!♦ I infill ♦«!• ill JSllXi^ «^
«$« c^ «f7 «^ «^ *f» cf* «f* « «^ I
«^ «^
i^/^ Ac(3/^;2f to Edward Lord Sijlop of Cork andKo[{e in Ireland, of thejuccefs of his Cenfurc of Richard Baxter in England : Veteciing his manifold Un^ truths in matter ofFaci,
% I. fTTlO give myCharadler of you whom I know not, as I you do of me, is none of my work: But i.Your ■ Stile alloweth me to fay, that by it you feem to me to be a man of Gonfcience/earing God. 2. And yet your Aiatter aflTureth me, that you fpeak abundance of Un- truths confidently ; I fuppofe, partly by not knowing the per- fot\8 and things of which you fpeak, and partly by thinking that you ought to believe the falfe Reporters, with whom you arc better acquainted.
§ 2. The ftrait which you caft us into is unavoidable : Either we muft feem to own all the falfe Accufations brought againft us, which will hurt others far more than usj or elfe w^e muft de° ny and contradidt them^ and that will pafs for an intolerable ad- dition to our guilt, and we fhall be fuppo(ed fuch intemperate, fierce abufivc Perfons as you defcribe me, while you think we give you the Lye, or make you Slanderers. But we cannot cure your Mifrcfentments, but muft be content to bear your Cen- fureSj while we call you not Lyars, but only acquaint you with the truth.
§ 3. For my own part my final Judgment is fo near, and lam confcious of fo much evil in my felf, th^t I have no reafon to be hafty in my own Vindication, but much reafon to take all hints and helps for deeper fearch, and will not juftifie my Stile. And God knows I am afraid left fclfilhnefs or partiality fhould hinder
F f 2 rae
{110)
me from fi;iding out my fin:, and I diyly and earneftly beg of God to make ir known to me , that I may not be impenitent: ButeiiherPrejdd.ee, Converfe, or fomwhatelle, maketh a ve- ry greii dirference between your Judgment and mine, ofGood ana Evil : And 1 cannot help it : Jf I err it is not for want of willingnefs :o fee my Errour, and openly retra(!t it j nor for ^vantof an ordinary Diligence to know the Truth.
The Sum of our difference, as far as I can underftand you, is in thefe particulaFf.
I. Whether there be no fin impofed by the Laws or Canom on Minifters and People here f
I I. Whether it was well done by the Bifhops and other Cler- gy-Men to do what they did to caufe thofe Laws, which filenced the whole Miniftry of EnglarJ^ unlcfs they would conform to all things fo impofed in the Afft of Uniformity j ard adlually fi- lenced aboui 20:0, and made thofe other Laws againft their Preaching to more than Four, and againft coming within Fivft Miles of Corporations, and fuch others, as adjudge Nonconfor- mifts to Gaols and Ruine j and whether the Clergy do well ftill to urge the Execution of thofe Laws, ajid are guiltlefs of the doleful Divifions of this Land, and danger of itsRelapfe to Po- pery ?
III. Whether it be unpeaceable for a Nonconformift after 17 years filent fuffering, to tell his Superiors why hedarenot con- form, when he is by them importuned to it? And to write a Confutation of a multitude of Volumns of falfc Accufations brought to juftifie the Executions.^
§4. If you think you have proved all thofe Impofitions fin- lefs which I have mentioned in my firft Plea for Peace ^ I think you might as well have fiiortly faid, {}Ve Bi/hcps are of fo much Wtfdom and Authority, that you mufi hold them law fnl^ becaufevpe fayfo.^ And muftall be ruined that would not be fo convinced ? But it any of thofe Impofirions prove to be fin^ and fo great fin as we cannot chufe but think they are^ is it a greater fault to name them (when importuned^ than to impofe them.^ And a greater fault to feel, and (ay we feel, than to ftrike or wound men.?
If we had taken it to be our Duty to have called thofe Cler- gy-Men to Repentance , which \wc think are ignorantly undo- ing themfclves and the Land, how fhould v\'e do it without
naming
y
(III)
naming tbcir Sin ? Yea, and thegrearrc-fs of it ? And if we think it our Duty to deprecate our Deftru(ftion, and beg of you to fpare our Lives or Confciences, how can we do it without telling what we fuffer ? If it be well done of you, and be bo per- fecution, but your Duty for the Churches good, (as no doubt the Executioners think) the Hfftory is your praife^ and you need not extenuate the Fad: Valiant Souldiers glory in the multi- tudes they kill : Had you filenced the other 7000 that conform- ed, when you filenced but 2000, your V\(\ory had been the more famou?. Some think thofethat are here againft your ways, are not half the Land j were it murdering of one man, that ano-: iher is judged for, it were not unpeaceablenefs to (dy, that he deferveth to be hanged : But the judge deferveth praife if he condemn an hundred fuch. But when thofe men who fhould be the tendereft Peace- makers, and skilfulleft therein, fhall be the men that bring fuch a Land as this into the Cafe that we are in, and will not be intreated, nor by any Experience be perfuaded toconfent to irs Relief, I know not bow to (hew mercy to the Land or them, but by perfuading them to repent. AneCif all fm- were made a matter of Controverfie, and many learned men^ were for it, this would not alter the Cafe with me. If I may compare great things with fmall, who linned more ? The /rtfiy for murdering looooo, or Sir fohn Temple ^ Dr. Henrj ^^«r/, the E.ofOr^r^jfor recording and reporting what they did?Was it the fin Q{\\!itSavojArdi and others to kill and ruine theProteftants in Piedmont ? Or of Perrin, and Sir Sam.Mooreland to write the fro- ry .'' Did Thuanw, D^vHah, &"c. iin in recording the French Maflacre? Or the French in doing h ? Is it the French Prote- ftants now that are criminal for defcribing and complaining of their Sufferings ? Was John Foxe the Malefacflor for writing the Sufferings of the Proteftants under a lawful Queen? This day came out (Afar. 10.) a Narrative from Bnflol how they are crowded in the Gaol on the cold ground, CT'c. Is the Report the Crime ? Do you find a Juftification in humane nature of fuclv terms as thefe, {Tom po all [t^.fftr •whatever we will ir,fli^ on jou y hut jijall not tell any that you are hurt ^ or who did it, or why? J
§ J. I have told the World fo often over and over, that it is not all the Conformilts, no nor all the Bifliops that I impute our Sufferings to, thatlmuft fuppofeyou to underftand it, fpeci»lly when the Prefatory Epiftle of the Book which you fall upoa.
tells.
(ill)
tells it you of many Bifhops by name. Therefore when p. 6'8. you fay, C ^ ^PP^J ^^ y^'* ^°^' ^^'*" ^^^^f ^ Thef. 2. i^*. 7hej pleaje ttot God, Sec. ] and add, t / beUeve in mj Confcience he ts mifiakcn.2 Either by [to «.<] you mean, al! the Conforraifts or Biftiops, and that is not trtte, as the words tell you : Or you mean, [^Vs that procured or own, and execute the aforefAid filencin^, dffli^ini Acis: J which your wor^s feem to mean. AnU then £ do but fay, Oh ! What may temptation bring even good mens Judgment to ? It the filencing of 2000, the afflifting of many times more of the Laity, the Jealoufics, Diftra»ftions, and Dan- gers of this Land, fo fmal la matter, orfogood, xhzt God isntt difpleafed with it ? And can you \nyour Conjcicnce own what the Bilhops did towards it ? No wonder then if Ceremonies be ai- led things Indiferent. Certdunly this cannot be iKdifferenfi It is a mbft meritorious or excellent work, or elfe a. heinous Crime : It is either fuch a Cure as the cutting off a Cancerous Breaft, or elfc if it be a fin, it muft be as great as contributing to the endanger- ing of as many fcore Thoufand Souls as 2000 Minifters were likely to have helpt to fave, and to the corrupting^ of the Church j and the Introduction of Popery, And few Chriftians think that: Klathan finned by unpeaceablenefs more than Davidhy Murder and Adultery, though but oncej or Samuel more than 54///; or the Prophet that reproved him more than Jeroboam $ or Chrift Matth. 23. more than the Pharifees j yea, or than Peter^ Mat, 16. when he faid , Get behind me Satan ^ thou favour efl not the things that be of God; or Paul more than Peter, Gal 2. or than the Jewilh Teachers, whom he called the Concifion & Dogs j or fohn than Diotrephes^ Sec.
Guilt is tender, and they that think God is of their Mind when he is filenr, Pfal. 50.21. will think men fhould be fo too.' And man dare not bid defiance to God, and openly proclaim a War againft him, and therefore hath no way to fin in peace, but by a conceited bringing the Mind and Law of God to his. What fm is there that Learned Men father not on God: And then they* muft bepraifed and not reproved , and then it's worfe than un- peaceable to aggravate that which they fay God owner h } fuch men as I, would think itfcarce crcdible[jthar the Span if Inquifi- tion, the French Miflacre, the Powder- Plo', the Murder of 20.000 in Irelatid, the Perjuring of a Nation, the filtrcing of Thou(ands of faithful Minifters^ lliould have one word of Jufti-
fication
fication ever fpoken for it. But we are miftaken : No doubt men can write learned Volumes to defend any oFthefc j and if one do but fay, They pUafe not God, men may be found that can fay, [I believe in mj Confcience that you are mtflaken^ ^md fp-'al^ un- fcaceahly: Godu( pleafed with it all.^ Sure the day of Judgment will be much to juftifie God himfelf, who is thus flandered as the Friend of every mans Sin. What wonder is it if there be nume- rous Religions in the World, when every felfifh man maketh a God and a Religion of bis own, fitted to his Intereft and Mind ? But when all men center onely in one God , and bring their Minds to his^ and not conceitedly his to thsirs, we may yet be^ One.
And if we could make men know, thitCodi) Ket fafth:m,2nd accepteth not of a Sacrifice of Innocent Blood, however men think that they do liim good Serviccj yet they would not have this known : It's long fince unhumbled Sinners turned Chorch- ConfeflTion into Auricular j If 54*7 do fay at laft, / havejlnmd, he would yet be honoured before the People. But the time is near when thofe that honour God he will honour, and thofe that de- fpifc him fhali be fightly elkemed.
Few men living can eafier bear with others for different forms and Ceremonies than Ij but I take not the filencing and ruia-ing of 20D0 Minilkrs for Ceremonies f were that the worft of ir) to be a Ceremony.
§ 6. Vug. 69. You fay. We Are net all of oy.e mind yet: A fad word from a Bidiop. Do you think that any two Men on Earth are of one mind in all things? Were thofe agreed whom Paul perfuadetb, Rom. i^. to receive each othtr^ but not to donbtful Difputations, and not to Jud^e or de/pif: each other, (much icfs to nience, imprifon, and deflroy.) We are agreed in all that is conftitutive of Chril^ianity, and agreecKhat allChriftiansihould love others as themfelves , and do as they would be done by. I confefs if you have fuch eminent Self- deniaff as to be wil- hngy if ever you differ from the publick Impofition?, about the lawfulnefs of any one thing, tobe notonly caft outof your Lord^ fliip andBiflioprick, but to be filenced, imprifoned and deftroy- cd, I cannot accufe you of Partiality but of Errour. I have known too many Conformifts who needed no Bdliop to filence them, (they never preached. ) But that will not JAiftifte their, dcfircs tliac others be filenced.
I have.
I have oft enough tolJ you in how many tblngf the Con- formiltJ arc r.ilcgrrcd: 1 now fay ihe Bifhof^s thtrmfelvcs arc not agreed of the very S^iTiVjof the Chw'ch of EngitKd: To fay nothirg of their difagreement of the Confiitutn-e, national Head or Covcyr.our j tbcy are not agreed, whether it U ovdj a part of ■ an univcrfal, humane, political Chttrch, fuhjeU to an univerfal hu- mane fnpream Power^ who hath the right of Legifl.ttion and j-'*dg- zner.t ever i hem^ or whether it be a compleat national Church of it fclf a part only of the univerfal as Headed by Chrift, but not as by Man, or as humane Politie, having no foreign Govcrnour, Monarchical or Ariftocratical^ fPopc or Council.^
Overdoing is iHdoing and undoing. He that would make fuch a Law of Concord,' as that none (hall live out of Prifon who arc not of the fame Age, Complexion, Appetite, and Opinion, would depofe the King, by leaving him no Subjcds. Thclnquifition is •fet up in Love of Unity: But we know that wc (hall differ while we know but in part: Only the perfeifl World hath per- fect Concord. 1 greatly rejoice in that Concord which is a- mongall that truly love God. They love one another, and agree in all that is necelTary to Salvation : The Church of the Con- formifts is all agreed for Croffmg and the Surplice ^ and for the Jwpofed OathSfProfeJfions and Covenants: Oh tliat all our Pari(hi- oners who plead for the Church were agreed that the Gofpel ts true, and thatChril^is nor a Deceiver^ and that Man dyeth not as Dogs, but hath a Life of future Retribution.
§7. l\ 69. Asking, {}Vere not almofl allthe Weftminfter uif"
femblj Epifcopal Conformable men whc?i they came thither?"] He
can fay, {_ No , not in their heart s, as appeared by their fruits. J
And he cites fome words of thefenfe of the Parliament, /«». 12.
1643.
^nf, 1. See here a BifliOp that knew the hearts of hundreds of men, whom he never faw, to be contrary to their Profeffion andconftant Pradice.
2. And he can prove by their reporting the Parliaments words what was thefe Mini(ters own Judgment.
3. And he can prove by thofc words in 'fun. 1643. what was their Judgment a Year or two before, and is Cure that the Scoti Arguments did not change them.
4.And he can prove that thofeare noEpifcopalConformiftswho arc for the ancient Epi(copacy only (dcfcribcu by ^'iUxo^VJherf)
and
and t^c the EngUJh frame to be only lawful, but not unaher- ahle^ or beft. And if really he do take him to be no Epifcopal ConfoYMifij who is for enduring any way but their own, it is he and not I that gave them fo bad aCharader: It is he and not I that intimateth, that thofe moderate Conformifts who had ra- ther Church-Government were reformed, than fuch Confufion made by (ilencing and hunting Chriftians, are at the Heart no Epifcop^/ Conformifts: Their Hearts I confers much differ from the Silencers and Hunters.
§8. He maketh me a falfe Hiftorian for fxi>:g the Way on ths Jiraftia^i Tarty in Varlianjent. An[. Did 1 lay it only on the Eraftians .? Have I not undeniably proved that the War here be- gan between two Epifcopal Parties ? Of which oi^e part were of A. Bp. Abbots, Mr. Hookers, and the generality of the Bi- fhops and Parliaments mind, and the other of Bp. Lauds, Stb- thorps ^ Maymvaritigs , Beylins , h.'^^. Bromhalls , Sec. mind: And the firft fort fome of them thought Epifcopacy fure Divino ; but the EngliJJ} Frame not unreformable: And the other fore thought it was hMtjure humruio^ and thefe w-ere called by fomc Eraftians. Let him give me leave to produce my Hiftorical proofs, even to fingle men by name, that the Eugiijh War be- gan between thefe two Parties, and I defie a'll his falfe Contra- diction : Only fuppofing, i. That I fpeak not of the King, nor of the War in Ireland or Scotland. 2. That I grant that the Nonconformifts were moft for the Parliameut, and the Papifts moft againft them.
But when I have faid fo much to Mr. Hir.kjey already to prove this, did this Lord Bifliop think to be believed without confu- ting it?
§ 9. But it tranfcendeth all bounds of Hiftorical credibility, that he anfwereth this by faying, [H? and all his Abettors mttft know ths Catalogues of that Parltamem^and that Affcmbly are f-ill in our hands^ ths Copies of their Speeches^ and foarnals of their Votes^ Sec. ] Anf They are fo to the Shame of fuch Hiftorians. You have many of them in WhitUcks Memorials j I knew fo great a number my (elf of the Parliamenr, Affembly, and Army, as makes me pitty the Ignorant World, which is abull-d by fuch Hii^orians as you and yours.
§ lo. As fur your alTurinf'me l\ui joh look^ cr.e da) to anfwer for ulljonf.iy^ it minds me of th? words of your Dr. Afntoi;,
G g Chq-
(11 5)
Chaplain to the Duke of Ormjni, who (as going to the Bar o f Cod) undert^k^s to prove, that it is through Vridc aud Covctoufncjs that we conform not. The Inquifitors alfo befieve a day of Judg- ment. And \vh<it is it that (ome men do not confiJcntly afcribe to the molt holy God ?
§ 1 1. Yourpraifes of me are above my defert : I am worfe than you are aware of: But mens fins againft Chrifts Church and Servants in EngUnd, ScotUnd, and IreLinddiXt never the lefs for that.
§ 12. You fhew us that you are deceived before you dcccitei. You do but lead others into the way of falfhood which you were led into your felf, when you fay, 1 am Ifatd to have ajferted^ that a man might live without anj aUual Sin.'] A Lord Bifhop (^Mcrlej p. 13.) told it ycu, and you a Lord B. (hop tell it others, and thus the poor World hath been long ufcd j i'o that of fuch Hiftorians men at laft may grow to take it for a valid Corfe- quence, \_lt is written hy them : Ergo it ts incredible."] I rell you firft in general, that I have feen few Books in all my Life, which in fo few Sheets have fo many Falfhoods in matters ot Facftdone before many^ as that Letter of Bifhop Morlefi-^ which upon your ProTocation I would manifeft, by Printing my Anlwer to him, were it not for the charges of the Prcfs.
2. And as to your Inftance, the cafe was this : Dr. Lanj im- pertinently talkr of our hchgjftjhjied or.ly hj the Ad: of Faith, and not the Habit : I askt him whether wc are unjuflified in our fleep.? which led us further, and occafioned me to fay to fome ObjCiftion of his, that men were not always doing moral Afls good or evil : and thence^ [_that a man is not always aBnally jinning , viz. In amans/l^ep, he may live Jomctimcs and not aH nail) Jin; as alfo in an Apoplexy and other lofs of Reafon.] Hence the cre- dible Bifhop Morlej printed that I (aid, A man may live without any aSiual Sin.: Yea, and fuch other Rcafons are given for his forbidding me to preach the Gofpel. And now another pious L. Bp. going to af}frv:rit at judgment, publifheth it as from him, O what a World, is this, and by what hands are we caftdown? Is iTjy Affertion faife or doubtfil.? Dr. Bates and Dr. facombc '^*"'\Vho\Yere prefent are yet both living. By (uch men and means is the Church as it is : Arife O Lord and fave it from them.
§ 13. You tell me, ds Bp, A^orlcy, of b^'ing the top of a fatli- cn of my opftj mukj^^gf neither Eptfcopalj Presbyterian^ Indepen-
' dent
ilent^ or Eraflian'. 1^«/. So, to be againft all Fadlion js to be the top of a Fa(ftion : I am neither anArian,nor a Sabeilian^nor an Apollinarian, nor a Macedonian, nor a Neftorian, orEutychian, or Monothelite, or a PapilV, &c. Conclude ergo I am the top of a new Herefie, and filence and iraprifon me for it, and your Di- ocefane Conformity will be paft all fufpicion feven at the heart.) 'Bot you will oneday.kno\Vj thattobcagainft al!Fa(ftion,and yet to bear with the Infirmities of the weak, and love all Ghriftians as fijcb, i« a way that had a better Author,
§ 14. P. 73, 74. As to your extolled Friend a Noncofjformifi^ who you fay, told you that [/ ^am not able to bear being gainfnid in any thing, for want of Acadcmick^ DifpfUes, Scd,
uinf I. Was your great Friend fo excellent a man, and was it a good work to filence him, with which in your Confcience you think God ts p leafed f
2. Now you name him not, he cannot contradi(fl you: Mr; Ba^Jhaw faid fomthing like it of Mr. Herb, Prolocutor of the Aifemblie , which his Acquaintance contradi<ft.
3. Ijuftifie not myPatiencej it is too little: But verily if you liad filenced me alone, and Gods Church and Thousands of Souls irad been fpared, 1 think you had never heard me twice com- plain. Judge you whether I can endure to be gainfaid, vvhea I think there are Forty Books written againft me by Infidels, So» cinians, Papifts, Prelatifts, Quakers, Seekers, Antinomians, Anabaptifts, Sabbatarians, Separatifts, and fome Presbyterians, Independents, Eraftians, Politicians, Oc. which for the far great- eft part I never anfwered, though fome of them written by Pre- latifts and Papifts have fpoken fire and Sword : Nor to my Re* membrance did any or all thefe Books by troubling me ever break one hour of my deep, nor ever grieve mefo much as my own fin and pain (which yet was never extream) have grieved me one day. Alas Sirl How light a thing is the contradiftion or reproach of man who it fpeaking and dying almoft at once ?
§ 15. P. 75". As to my Political ^phorijmsi haVe oft told you I wifli they had never been written : Bur all in them is not wrong which Bifhops are againft. The firft paflage challenged by your Bifliop Aiorlej is , My calling a pretence to unlimited Mo- narchy by the name of Tyranny ^ adding my reafon, becaufe they are limitsd by God who is over all. Minifters were never under Turks thought worthy of puniftiment for fuch an All'ertion : But Bi-
G g 2 (hop
(2l8)
fliop Morley is no Turk. If Monarchs be not limited by Cod, they may command all their Subjeds to deny God,or bUfphcme him, to take Perjury, Murder, and Adultery, for Duties: and they are unwife If ever they will be fick^ die , or come to Judgment.
§ 1 6. You fay, [ ^* / was told by a Reverend PreLtte, that at ^^the Conference at the Savoy, Mr. Baxter, being demanded what " VFOhld fatisfie hinty replied, All or Nothing : On this I refiefled " on what that grave Divine told me,"]
Ar>f. Alas good man! if for all other your hlftorical notices you arc fain into fuch hands> what a mafs of Untruths is in your Brain ? But why will you difhonour Reverend Prelates fo much as to father them on fuch ? I never heard the queftion put {What will fat isfie yoH ?] nor any fuch anfweras All . Nothing: When the King commiflioned us to treat of fuch Alterations as were necejfary to tender Confcicnccs^ the B. (hops, i. Would noc treat till we would ^it/*? tljem tn writing all that we blan.id in the Littirgjy and all the Alterations ive would have, and all the addi- tioKal Forms we defred. 2. When thu8Conftrained_, we offered thefc on fuppofition, that on Debate much of it would be de- nied us, or altered $ but they would not vouchfafe us any De- bate on what we offered, nor a word againft our additional Forms, Reply, or Petition for Peace. 3. To the laft hour they maintain- ed, that No alteration at all was neccjfary to tender Confciences.^ And fo they ended, and the Convocation doubled and trebled our Burden, and the Bifliops in Parliament together.
Once Bifhop Cotjfins defired us to lay by Inconveniences, and name only what we took for downright Sin. I gave him a Paper defcfibing Eight fnch'. We did but begin to debate one of them, (Caflmg fuch from the Commt4nion of Chrifls Church that dare not take the Sacrament kneelingy though they bemiflaken) and our time ended.
Dr. Tterce undertook to prove it a Mercy to them to deny them the Sacrament j and he made a motion to me, that he and I might go about the Land to preach men into fatisfacftion and Conformity : I asked him how 1 could do that when they intended to filencc mc f For though I fcrupled not kneeling at the Sacrament, if they made any one Sin the condition of my MiniUry, ] fhould be filenced, though they abated all the rein it may be this went for {_All or Nothing. ] And I am forty that;
tke
the BiHiops be not of the fame mind : St. fames way, that faid^ He that hreahth one is guilty of all : And Chrilt was, who faid, He that hreaketh one of the ieaft of thefe commands^ and teachah men fo, /hall be called leaf} in the Kingdom of God.
So that it was not u^U Inconveniences, bur ^U flat Sins that we craved in vain to have been exempted from : Much lefs was it the Eflablijhment of all that we propofed to have been treats fd of, openly profelTmg our felves ready to alter any thing amifs or neediefs upon treaty, and fuppofing there would be many fuch words : But they would not touch our offered additions , nor entertain any treaty about them.
And nowpitty your felf who have been drawn to believe fucli Reverend Prelates as you fay, and pitty fuch as your Writings will deceive.
§ 17. That you take it to be contrary to a Chriftian temper to be fenfible of the Sufferings of the Church, and to name and defcribe the fin that caufeth them, and that but in a necelTitated Apology for the Sufferers, is no wonder, the Reafons and your Anfwcr 1 gave you before § 4. and ^. I think it no breach of Peace with Perfecutors or Silencers, to tell them what they do ^ cfpecially when the Sufferers are feigned to deferve it ailj and not to fin and that deliberately, is made a fin deferving all that we fuffer and the Nation by it.
§ 18. But /?. 77. tells us yet more whence your Errour^ come, even by believing falfe Reports^and then reporting whac you believe. You fay , [ Some People have talked of a Comhina^ tion orPaii amongfi tbemfelvesj that except they might have their- (tyvn Will throughout ^ they wonld make the V/orldktww what a breach they could makf, and how corifiderable they \vere.~\
Anf I. Do you not think that ^oij^rj, Bradford, Fhilpot^ and the refl, did fo in Qy. Afanes dayy, and that it was they that made the Breach by being burnt? What is it that fuch HI- ftorians may not fay ? So Luther was taught by the Devil, JSr^cer was killed by the Devil, fo was Oeclampadi/i-Ji Calvin was a ft ig' matized Sodomite, and what not: And even the moft publick things are yet uncertain before our Eyes : Godfrey killed him- self: The Papifts had no Plot: The Presbyterians have a Pior againftthe King: The Nonconiormiftsfilenctd thcmfelves: And. did not the Citizens of London born their own Houfh ? When y,0u that area Bifliop cite other great Bifhop^ for fucli th-irigsas*
you
ytju do, may it not come in time to be the Fanh of the Cburtbf and thence to be necejfary to all.
2. But how do ycu think all thefe that were fcattered all over Er.^Utfd, and knew not one another by name or Dwelling, fhould fo confederate?
3. Do but think ofit as a man. There were Nine or Ten Thou- fard Miniftcrs that hud conformed to the Parliaments way in pofleflion: They were all to conform or be caft our. The Bool: and A(ft ofUniformity came not out of thePrefs till about that very day -^/■/^. 24- Neither Conformifts, nor fafrerj Nonconformifts could fee ir, but ihofe in or near London : What t-ime was there to tell them all over England in one day ? How knew we who would conform and who would not, when NineThoufand were equally in PofTcfllon ? If we had written to them all, would not One Thoufand of our Letters have detecftedit? Or at leaft Tome of thofe that conformed, with whom we prevailed not?
4. What was it that moved them all to this Confederacy ? To fuffer Ruine in the World? To make themfelves cor.fderabls joufay, and/hew what a Breach they could make f And for what ? Vnlejs they might have all their own iVills ? And what was their 'Wiili' Was it to be Lord Bifhops? Or domineer over any.^ Or to get great Benefices f I think no high-way Robbers do any Villanies meerly to ftiew what mifchief they can do, muchleis ruine themfelves to fhew that they can do Mifchief by Suffering. Some fuch thing is faid of fome odd Circumcellians that they killed themfelves to make others thought their Perfecutors: But Perfecutionwas more hated then than now. Did the former Life and Doftrine of rhefc Two Thoufand men fignifie a Spirit fo much worfe than the reft ?
5. And do you think that the other Seven Thoufand or Eight Thoufand that conformed did confederate beforehand to con- form ? How could they do it who declared AfTent and Conlent to €very thing contained and prefcribed in and by the Book which they never faw, unlefs they confederated at a venture , to do whatever was impofed ? And if Seven Thoufand could agree without confederating, why not Two Thoufand.? I could not then have my Poft Letters pafs without Interception* And it's a wonder that no Letter of this Confederacy was taken.
And rie tell (not you, but thofe that believe me J how far we were from, ir, When we V7crc all caft out and fome new mo- tion
(^3 0
fion was made for our fcrvice, one weak man moved here, tbac we might draw up a confenting Judgment to how much we could yield, that we might not differ. I anfwered that it wasnoc our bufinefs to make a Fadion, or to ftrengthen a Party; ror were we all of one judgment about every Ceremony^ and therefore no man mufl: go againft his judgment for a Combination with the reft : If they would abate but fo much as-any one mans Con- fcience would be fatitfied in, that one man muft fcrve the Church accordingly. And if any were taken in^ the reft would rejoyce.] This Anfwer filenced that motion, and I never heard any move it more : And I am fully alTured there was never fuch a Com- bination.
But with this exception : How far any thought the Covenant bound them againft our Prelacy I cannot tell, Thofe that I con- versed with faid, it bound them to no more than they were bound to before. But I confefs we did all confederate in our Baptifm, againft willful fm : And I know of no other Confedera- cies but thefe : which indeed was enough to make all men for- bear what they judged to be finful.
§ 19. You add, [*' But jet it is not fair to over-reckon kpow' " ^«^^7, *ifi'^ in ordinary courfe Two Hundred in the ffirnj as Mr. "Baxter and othirs do , p. 15* j-^ 210. thereby to fwell the ac- ** count to the greater odium, by cowpUining roundly Two Thou- ** land : This I mufi conclude to be done k^2owingly , for jcmtimes ** he only mentions One Thoufand Eight Hundred^ p. i j i^ &"C. ]
uiiif I am perfuaded that it is not knowingly that you fpeak fo much befides the truth j but for want of knowing what and whom you talk of. I never medled with gathering the number^ Mr. Calamy did, and fhewed us a Lift of 1800, upon which I; long mentioned no more, and fekiom faw him afterward : But Mr. Ennis who was more with him, afTuring me that they had after an account of at leaft 200 more, who were omitted 5 I fometime to fpeak the leaft mention the 1800, and fometime fay about 2000, and by his laft account that was the leaft. Yet with a Lord Bifhop that knoweth nothing of all this, I k^nowing- ly over-reckon : But MGod be pleafed with their filencing, why do you take this ill ?
§ 20. The next and great Accufation is my extenuating theK-^- ffoops Clem:ncy, and aggravating our Sf^jferings^ and that againfi my Confcience I impute to the BtfKops that bloodmefs which they ;.---
vcr
rser intended but alUr. ^nd he will not believe Vphdt I faj of the iicath of atjj by Intprifonment or WAnt,
jinf. The good Lady that pittied thrBeggars when flic came in out of the Froft and Snow, when (he hid warmed her felf, chid them away, and faid, it was warm enough. I could name you thofe in London^ that travelled out of the North in great want, and took up with fuch cold Lodgings here in great want of a!! things, that they were paft cure before their mifcry was known. How many poor Quakers have dyed in Prifon many know : It's like you never heard of the death of Mr. Field^ a worthy Minifterj in the CAte-houfe; nor of Mr. Thowpfon in the noifome Prifon at Brtjlol, nor of Reverend Mr. Hughes of Pli- fnout/j's Death, caufed by his Prifon fickncfs j perhaps you ne- ver read the Lite, Sufferings, and Death of excellent Jofcyh Al- len q{ Taunt on \ I will not be the gatherer of a larger Catalogue, But I believe fome others will. But thefe you knovo not of,
^21. The words in my Book which I fpeak argumentativcly, fhewing clearly whirher their caufc will lead them, if they truft to bring us to "Unity by force, you unworthily feign that I fpeak OS accufing theBifliops Inclinations. My Argument was-, JfjoH think by violence to effeci your ends, it wufi be either by changing mens judgments j .or by forcing them as Hypocrites to go agatnjt ■t-ietr jridgmentSf or elfe by utter dejircying them till there are no Dijfemers: But none of thefe three xvajs will do it : Ergo Violence will not do it. 1. I prove that force will not change their Judgments. X. I prove they are fuch men as will rather fuffer death than fin againfi their Confciences ; and (o lefs Sutferings which cure not do but exafperate the Difeafe. 3. I prove that if, when \th doth no good, you would deftroy them, that would notdo your work butcrofs it. And doth this fignifie that I charge the Bifliops with bloody purpofcsf They openly tell us that it's pu- fiiJljingDstlut muft bring us to Concord. I tell them, Lejfer will not do ity and greater will but hurt themfelves. A man would think that 1 hereby rather infer that Bifliops will not be bloody, than that they will, when I argue ab incommodo. Truly Slr^ I fee no- thing in your Book which tempted me to lament, that I mift the happiaefs of your Academical Education or Difputes: Nor <io I envy thofe that now enjoy it. God favc his Church from the worfer part of them.
§21. You fjy, Z'. 79. Yen my^Jl mcds bok^on my aggravating
my
my own and the Dijf enters offerings bejond Truth ^ jou are fure he^ yond Vrobabilitj^ to have proceeded from want of temper. i\s for faying that fbme have lived en brown Bread and Water.
Anf I find ftill that our difference lieth in matter of Fa(ft3 done in the open fight of the World: And if it were whether we arc £«g/i/^-men, I have no hope of ending it ! O what is Hi- ftory I My own Sufferings by them are very fmall, favc the hindering of my Labour: Leave to work is all the Preferment that ever Idcfired of them ; What I have had hath been againft their Will», who have called out for my greater reftraint. God hath enabled me by the Charity of others to fend fome fmall re- lief to a few of thofe whofe Cafe he will not believe. Some of them have Seven or Eight Children, and nothing at all of their own to maintain them, and live in Countries where fcarce two Gentlemen of Eltates within their reach do befriend them $ and the People are generally poor j and many of thefe have none to preach to, being not permitted , And when they attempted to meet with fome few (ecretly, to fafl and pray in fome cafe of need, have had their few Goods carryed away by Diftrefs. Good Alderman AJlohurfl, now with Cbrift", took care of many, ard hath fhewcd me Letters and Certificates of undoubted cre- ditj in the very words which I named. One is now near us, that was put to get his Living by Spinning. Mr. Chadwick^ was the laft of whom I read thofe words in a jufl certificate, that he and his Children had long lived on meer brown Rye Bread and Wa- ter. It is now above'a dozen Vears fince Dr. l^ermuxden told me thacM^. Matthew HillwdiS his Patient, with Hydropical fwell'd Legs, with drinking Water and ufing anfwerable Food through meer Poverty : But God turned it to good j for neceffity drove him (when a Tttle f^rengthened) to Mtry-Land^ where he hath been almolt the only able Minifter they have. Wc that know them our fclves, and beg Money to relieve them, are fuppofed to be Lyars: for telling that which all their Neighbours know. Through GoJs Mercy few in London fuffer fo much, (thougfi di- vers are in great ftreights.j But greet numbers in the Countrys who live among the poor^ had not fome of them now and then a little Relief from London, were like to beg for Bread, or fall in- to mortal Difeafes by Food unfit for Nature. Even in London thdy that knew Mr. Farnivorth, Mr. Spinage^ and fome others, and how they lived and dyed, unierltand me, Tie name Mr. Mar-
H h tin
(^4) *D.*tfi tin formerly of PViff^ow, * very poor in London, to tell you of finci tin yQur impartiality ; though he loft one Arm in the Kings Army,
^th^f ^^ ^^^ °°^ * ^^^' ^^^^^^ ^'"^ '" JFurwici^Gzo] for preaching. § 12. As to hi« repeating all my mention of their dealings and my blaming the Bifhops at the Sdvojf for our prefcnt divifi- ons, and my aggravating the evils which Violence will produce if they truft to that way, I judge k all neceflary to be fpcken; Unknown fin will not be repented of nor forborn; nor unknown danger prevented j nor the unknown needs of the Peoples Soulr relieved.
He asketh. Is thu the way to be at Teace with ut ? I anfwer^ There is no other way: What Peace can we have with thera that think they are bound to filencc us; and keep us fix Months in Gaol for every Sermon, and fo on for the nexr, and for the next.? Or to pay 40 /. a Sermon, and to bani(h us five Milei from Corporations, andmuftnot be told ofanyfuch thing? He was not unpeaceablc that faid, He that fceth his Brother have need and fljmteth up the Bowels cfCompaJfion from him, how dwel* leth the Love of God in hint? Nor for faying. He that hateth his JBrother is a Murtherer: Nor Chrift for telling us how he will judge them that did not relieve and vifit him ia his little oncsj and how he will ufe him that beat his Fellow-Servants. It is with you and not with your fins that we would have peace. Not only MaJfoniMZu^ Platma^ but even Genehrard, and Baro- niM fpeak far fharplier of the faults of many Popes themfelves, and all Hiftorians of their Prelates, and yet arc taken robe peaceable men. Either thofe chat I mentioned will repent here or hereafter, and then will fay far worfe of themfelves than I do . And may I not forctel it them, when it is but in neceflitated deprecation of the miferiesof the Land?
§ 23. One of their Champions wrote that he was not hcund to deny his own Liberty^ becnufe others would pievifhly taktfcaad^l At i{. I fliewed the fmfulnefs of that Conclufion, and that a mans Liberty often lay in as fmall a matter as a game at Chefs, a Pipe of Tobacco, or a Cup of Sack : and moft fcandal is taken bypievifh perfons : and yet even apievifh mans Soul is not to be fct as light by asfuch things. Chrift and Paul made more of Scandal : And this very arguing of mine is numbred with my unpeaceable diftempered words. §24. At to his talk abcuc our Controverficj of pafTages in
Conformky
CM 5)
Conformity, he confefTeth that he hath not .'read my PUa for Feaccj in which I have partly opened them : And much lefs what I have fiid fmce of them to divers others j and I confefs I have neither mind or leifure to fay all over again in Print, up- on the occafions of fuch words as his, which have been oft an- fwered.
§25. Immcd the Mirtyt'E'iihops Hooper, Ridley , 5rc. as Nonconformifts to the Laws of their Perfecutors, to fliew that fuch Sutferers leave a fweeter name than their Per- fecutors j and he feigneth me to have made them Nonconfor- mifts to our Laws, and faith, [^Ingenuity and Chnflian Feractty would blujh to ownthis u^rt,'} Thus ftill falfe Hiftory is t,hat which allaulteth us.
But I humbly ask his Lordfhip, i. "Whether he think that Cranmer^ Ridley, and Latimer, were more for Conformity than fewel, BUfon, and Hooker, and Alibot ? And 2. Whether he will fo far reproach thefc men as to fay, that leveel, BUfon, and Hoekcr would have conformed by approving that which they raoft cxprefly wrote againft ? I have oft enough tranfcribed their words.
§ 16. To fhew that fmce my expulfion I drew not the People q{ Kidcrminflir from the Bifhops, I faid that I [^never fine e came near them^ r.or except very rarely fent them one Line', which he pretends I con:radi(ft", by faying, 1 fent them all the Bookj Ivprote. One might have found hiftorical errours enough in his words without a Rack or Qnibble. i. Sure Books are fomwhatrare- lier written than Letters. 2. An ordinary Wit would have un- derftood that I fpoke of one Line of Manufcriptj or one Letter, and not of Printed Book?, I delivered them to MrSimmons, or their Neighbours to fend them without Letters. And few of thofe Books were writterrbefore this Apology.
§ 27. As a Self-contradi(fter he faith of me, fomtlme I am againp a!.'. S.iv[cYihing, as p. 60, 113. CCC. and fometimes not.
uinf. Still untruth! P, 60. The words are [^ If men xvere not ehiven fo much to fubfcribe and fxvear as they a> e at this day. 3 Reader, is it true that this is againfl All Suhfcriblng ?
Pag. 115. The words are, [// m had learned the tricky of fpcaking, writing, and fweartng in tinixrerfal terms, andmeaniKg not tititverf ally b;4t particularly, as many do, we could fiy, or ////?- fcribe, o^fwear as far as yon dejire m.~^ And [ Take off the penalty
H h 2 9f
of[:tb[cribingt declaring, crojfing, Sec. what good doth fubfcribing a Sentence vchicb he believtth not f ] Is this againfi uill Shbjcrt- bing ?
§ 28. Whether to profefs our tenderncfs of other mens Re- putation, and yet to name the nature and aggravations of the fin which we fear our felves, when wc are importuned to ir, be conrradidtory, let the impartial ;udge.
§ 19. P. 92. He faith, as my judgment, iTofnbfcrsbe and de- clare, that it is not lawful on any pretence whatjoever to tal^e Arms againflthe King, or that an Unlawful Oath cannot bind wen to ««- lawful Anions , if Perjurj^fome ofthegreatejl that Hellfuggejleth.'y ^nf. Not one true word ? I believe all this to be as he faith : Both in my firft and fecond Plea for Peace, I have largly told him what it is, and what it is not which I own $ but he hath leen neither, and yet feigneth me to fay or hold what I have fa oft renounced.
§ 30. P. 94. He might have known how oft in Print I have retraced the Book called, I'he Hol^Comnion-WeaUh^ wifhingthe Reader to take it as Non-fcriptum : Yet he faith, [ as far as is generally kpown I have not done it. ] And how ihould I make ic generally known more than by oft Printing it ?
§ 31. P. 9j. He pittieihmc for calling the Author of the friendl) Debate, the Debate maks^'. And I pitty England for fuch pittierf.
§ 32. P. 96. Whereas the Convocation hath impofed on alf Minifters a ProfefTion o[ undoubted certainty of the Salvation of dying bapnz^ed Infants, without excepting thofe of Atheifts or Infidels, 1 ask whether all the young, unf^udtedCort of Minifters have arrived at this certainty any more than I, and how they came by itf and crave their Communication of the afcertain- ing Evidence. And what doth his Lerdfhip but pretend that I call the Convocation thcfe young, unfludied wen, as if they had made this Kubrick for none but themfelves ?
§33. And he hath found another fault which exceedeth all, and that is, the Title and Dedication of my Adethodud TheologiAi where I fay, that I dedicate it not to the fljihful, h^tfiy^ tired SeHaries, 6(C. but toftudieui, ingenious, humble.^ S:c. yo^.ng wen, r.s leing the perfons thit are above a!l others born, d'fpo/cd, confe- Gra!e.itoTrt:th, Hoiin^ff^ and ths Churches Peace, 6[c.^ Excccd- i;iebjd!
Will
(137)
Will you hear the proof that this is excefTive Pride ? i. Tl^e Book^ inthefiront indireSljr andJUIy calls the Reader, Jlothf:<l, raP:, foolijhj &c. Anf. Is this true i* i. It is only thofe chat I would Kot have to be the Readers. Yea, 2. Only thofc that I Uy it ]& not dedicated to.
And do you think there are none fuch in the world ? Will not his forefaid Debater^ and Dr. barker, and Dr. Sherlock^^ and abun- dance more , tell you that the Nonconformifts are many of themfuch, and will you now deny it? If not, ami bound to dc^ dicate rwy Book to fuch ? By what Obligation ?
But he faith fo voltifninotu and cmbofl a Title will deter tlic Readers, But do you not know the Dedtcai ion from the77r/^, on- ly becaufe it is printed on the Title Page ? Is that unufua! ?
But the odious Arrogance foUoweth, \jOoHld any thing cafilj he Jaid with more {appearance ofy Arrogance i in the very Title Fage too,than that hisBock^is above all others of the fams SnbjeU,(^[ know not how othenxife to interpret his fupra omnes, viz^. Metho- dus Thoelogiae ChriftiancT,] &c. framed, difpofed and hdloveed to the propagation and growth of Holinefsj to the Peace and He nour of the Church.'] I will now for ever acquit him fff hypocritical Modeftj,
Anf I defire Mr. Aiorrice to compare this Ld. Bp's TranOa- tion wi:h that overfiglit oiTheodoret'^s words which he faftcnetii on in me. What if I had faid that this Bifhop knoweth not how ro interpret a plain Latine Sentence_, as he faith it of himfelf.*' That which 1 moft exprefly fiy of piOM, ingcnioui Touth, he feign- eth me to fay ofwy Boak^. Reader, look on the Book and judge whether Methedus^ the Nominative Cafe fingular, agree with na^Aj d'fpofiiA^ confecratA ^ the Dative Cafe, when ^uvcntHus- Farti fi-»diof£, fednU, with many other Datives, went before ir: There are no lefs than Twelve Adje(fl:ives joined to Parti in tie Dative Cafe, and yet he conftrueth the three laft a agree- ing with the very firft Tide- name in tlie Nominative Cafe. And is this the way to Eiake me lament my want of his AcaJcmical Education ? Is it any wonder if thefe men prove us Ua;s aud prouJ, and if they fentence us for leffer Crimes?
Yea, here he concludeth that I write [/o pievijhly^ f) v r- «»,y/7y and unconftaml) to mj f:!fy fj blindly.^ as if willfully bin. dan I not penitent of my owngnilt, And fo arrogant Ij ^and difdatnfHlly^ &:c. J You hiVC heard the proof.
(m8)
^34. Pag. 99. He proveth my unpeaceabUnefs from the Te- tittonjor Peace, and Additions tm the Lit urgy: The Crime he rr If, [There's not one Office, }w net one Prayer of the oldLttkrgy, and is rtiled A Reformation of the Litttrgj, and Utile more than a Di- re il or y.
Anf O miferable World! What cure is thtre for thy De- •cei(4 ? Thts good man talks as he hath heard, and foall goes on.
But I. he knoweth Rot it (ecms what Title our Copy had, but judgeth by that which fome body printed.
2. It feems he knoweth not that this Draught was only offer- ed ro debate^ expecfling abundance of Alterations : We openly declared that it was done on fuppofition of obliterating and al- tering all that they had any juft exception againft, were it but as needlefs. And for the claufes, [Thefe or the lik^e words'^ wc pro- fcft, rhat we expeded an Obliteration of them, but had rather the Biihops didJrhe impofing part, if it muft be done, than we.
3. He knew not it feems that ours were offered but as additional Forms, that fuch of them as both fides agreed on, itiight be mixt as Aliases with the old Liturgy, And doth his Lordfhip then exclaim w^ith reafon, that [Not one Office, not one Prayer of, th: aid xv^s in, when all (after corredion) was to be in, and none left out. Oh what is Hiftoryl and what men are its corrupters ?
Andfthathis work may be homogeneal^;?. 100, lor. having recited my Commendation of their Liturgy as better than any in the Bibhoth. Patrum, he addeth as an Accufation, [Yet /?. 2 1 9. /^e complains of fuch failings in it^ that IT IS A WORSHIP which vsie c.tnnot in faith be affnred God acce-pteth."^
Reader, This is one of the lelfcr fort of deceiving Accufarions. I (did that (among greater fins which wc fear in our Conformi- ty) we fear lejft by AlTent and Confent to all things contained and prefcribed. Cc we fhould be guilty of juftifying all the failings in that wOrfhip, and alfo q{ offering to God alVorJJrip that rve cannot in faith be (iffnred that he accept eth. This Lord fo word- eth ir, that the Reader who perufeth not my words would ve- rily think that I had fiid this of the Liturgy in the fubflance of Worfhip there prefcribed , which I faid only as to the things r hich we dare not conform to : And I ex'plained it by faying, \\Ve dare no: jffl-ifie the bifi Prayer w: put up to God in all things."^ E.g. To dedicate Infants to God without their Parents exprelt Dedication , or confent , or their promife to educate them as
Chrifti-
Chriftians, and this upon the fal fc covenarrtwig of Godfathers that never' owned thcnij nor ever mean to educate them as promifed, (u is known by conftant experience, neither they nor the Parents intending any fuch truft in the undertakers) and to dedicate them by the facramental Sign of theCrofs, or ^ badge of Chriftianiry, and to refufe all that will not be thus baprifed. This we fear is a worfhip that God will not accept. But is this therefore faid of the fubftance of the Liturgy ?
And if the Lord Bp. be wifer or bolder than we, and be be- yond all fuch fears, (hould he not fuffer Fools gladly, feeing he himfelf is wife ? And if he like not our fearing an Oath, Subfcrip- tion, Declaration, Covenant, or Pradice, which bethinks to be true and good, and we think to be falfe and evil, why may he not endure our timoroufneft while he may rufh on himfelf and ventures (hould he not rather pitty us, while S^.TauliVub, He that doubt eth is dammdtf he eat, ^ecaufs he eateth not in Faith,
§35-. P. 1-^8. He queftions whether their communion be my practice: and p. 1 10. givethme two friendly Council?, i. To perufe my Books, and retra(ft what's amifs. 2. To tell the World now my fobcr Thoughts, what I could and would do were I to begin the World again.
I heartily thank him for his Counfel, for it is good and honeft. But alas, what a thing is it to write of things which men know not! I. He knowethnot thati have retracted much already j partly by difowning, and partly by large Obliterations : Of the firft fort arc my ^phor. of Juftificarion, and my Po!:t. ^phorifms (though not all that's in them.J Of the 2d he may fee many and large Obliterations in my Saims Reft, my Kiy for Cathoiic^s, d^c.
2. He feemeth not to know what bloody Books^ to prove me one of the worft men living, their Church Advocates have writ- ten againft me, fetcht mainly from thefe retracTted Books and Words. Nor'howthey that commend ^nguftiKe^ reproach mc as mutable for thofe Retraftations.
3. It feemeth he knoweth not that I have already performed his fecond Advice, in my Cure for Church-Divijions, my Second Flea for Veacs , (about Go'Tferument) Yea, Bifhop Aiorley before the King , Lords, and B fiiops at W'orcefter-houfey fpeaking of Ceremonies and Forms, caufed my Dlfputatiom of Chmch-Gc- vernmcnti produced and faid, J^Jo man hath written better than Air. Baxter^ (as if it were «5gainft my felf) And in Doitrinals^.
my
nyCaihol. ThcLind \tethcd-is Thco!. and Ckiflian Dire?}ory\\TiiitZX^xcC- fcd my maturwlt-, calmcit thoughts. But hcihatconnftlj rrctoitunows nor rbat it is already done. And more for Rcvifing and Rctradation I would do, ifnccciiity did not divert ir.c, even tbc wane of time and itrcngrh.
§ 36. P. 1 1 J-. Ycu fay. [That Heverer.d and great man Bp. Morlcy ttfft ut \_'-t.cg:r.eraUty o/Noncofifotmtng Divines fifewedthemjelvei unwtlUng to en- teron Dijpute^ and feeincd to lil^e much better another tray^ tending to an
■amicable and fair compliance ^ tvbich was wholly frujlrated by 4 cer-
tain perfonsfuricui eagernejs to engage m a Dijputatun.^ This if as it Jeems thsfenje of both fides at that time.']
^inf. How far from Truth? It was the fcnfc and Rcfolution of the reconciling Parry, called by them Presbyterians: We all dcfired no- thing but an amicable Treaty— We wercpromifedby thcyfhouli
tncet us half way. When we met, Biftiop Sheldon declared the Agree- ment of his Party, that till we had brought in all our Exceptions againji the Liturgies^ aisd our additional Forms , they would rot treat with «/. Mr. Calamy^ Mr. Clarke , and orhcrs, would have taken rbal as a final Rcfu- ial, and meddled no more, IcftDifputefliould do more harm than good : I was agsinftluch an untimely end , and faid, Tnej will report that ire had nothiig tof.^y : It's better let the caje befeen in writings than fo break^off. The reft wrote the Exceptions about the Liturgies : Ibmc Agent of the B:ihof s anlwcred them without the leatt concefTion for alteraricn at ill. I wrote a i^£'/'/r,and rhe Additional Forms, a nd a Petition to the Btfhopj, and they would treat of never a one of them: But at tbeerd, putustodif- putc to prove any Alteration neceJJ'ary, they maintaining that none at all was ncceffury to the e<ije cf tender Confciences. (Of which before.)
§57 I bad thought to have proceeded, but truly the work which the BifhDp makcth me is fo unpleafant, almoft all about the truth or Falihood of notorious matter of Fad:, that 1 have more Patience to bear his Accufiiions (' whatever his learned Friend faid of my impatience) than to follow him any further at this rare. But whereas he faith, that {^fome will thinly that many things in his Book^want truth.'] I am one of ihofe, and leave it to the Readers Judgment whether they judge nor iru- Jy : And whereas be lays fo muchftrefs on Bp. Morley's words, if any Printer Ihall beat tbc charge of Printing it, I purpofe while he and the WiTnecflsarc yet alive, to publirti rhe Anfwer to his Letter, which J caft by to avoid Dilplcafure. And ifthey will llill be deceived, let ihcm be deceived. I cannot help it.
It is no wonder that hethat is defcribcd , foh. 8. 44. ftiould carry on his Kingdom accordingly in tbc World : But rr-uft his Dial be let ®n the Steeple of ChriftsCburcb, and have accnfccrated Finger for its Index? Olameniablc Cafe!
FINIS.
( DIOCESAN
CHURCHES
NOT
Yet Difcovered in the Primitive Times.
O K
A Defence of the Aniwer to Dr. Stilling' y/^e/r Allegations out of Antiquity for
jfiichGhu?ches.,,...,.ll.i'.^f
Againft the Exceptions offered in the Preface to a late Treatile called a Vindication of the Pri- mitive Church.
WHERE
What is further produced out of Scripture and
Antient Authors for Diocefan Churches is
alio Difcuffed.
Printed for Thomas Tarkhurfl: at the Biblie and three Crowns at the lower end ofCheap-Jule near Mercers Chappcl 1682. /
>
i
"aooia
T <) W
lit^i^vO'jliCI :ij i
* V /
X Age 59.1. 4. r. SIrtnend. p, 57. 1. 3},t< ro. p. 7d» r* £uodius. p. 80. ]. 14* r. oiiitcv rum. p.8tf. 1. i6.r.CongiegifSoii». p 9l.4.a7-r. fiiiiops. p. 9$. I. 2. r- J^aLfVTnKnf, p. ult I. 9. r. Icfs. bcfides imPacccntiDg fomc Creek words, and other sjif-poiDdogs;
.i i
'J C y 0 J
"^1 n ^:
io bij^
T H E
PREFACE-
DIflcnters are accnfed ^Schrfin ly fame of this Churchy both thefe and the other are branded not only as Schifinaticks^ bm as Hereticks by the Papifts. ^ wha ufon this account judge us unworthy to kve^and had a&ually dejiroyed both together y if God in Mercy had not dtfcO'- yfird their devilip Vlot* The difcovery garue them fome interruptior^^ and fut them upon an of ter-gamCj to retrieve jphat had mifcarryed. And this n^js fo. to 6iv'id^ ttSy as that our Mvcs pould belfjhem in their defign to mmcxis all^ jphen they hadlj^s hopes to do it alone. In purfuance hereof fucb inflnence they have had upon too many ^ as tori^i^,\i^themikgt*eater'^ averfation to Diflenters thM't<i^¥^^\^^_\Tmft the Conipirators count their ot^n, ^ thinl^^ they M4y rpell do foy fince
A 2 fhej
The Preface.
they are too ready to concmre rvith them in thetr dejlgn to exterminate thofe, who ar^ true Prote- ftants in every point , and differ no more from this Church than thofe in France do^ 2vho by the fame Connfeh are at .this time in extreme danger to he utterly extirpated. Others are fo far f re- loaded with as to mah^ Jife of one of thefjar^ejl weaf Otis they have againfl diifenting Protejlants^ and that is the charge ^jf Schilme, lately renewed and re-inforced.
In thefe hard ciramjiances^ while we do what we can againjl the common Enemy^ we are put to ward of the blows offuch as C notwithftamling jhmepefent dtfiempcrj we will count ow Friends. Amongji other expedients ^ fufficient tofecurema- gainfl this attaque^ it was thought not nnufefidy to anfwer the allegations out of Antiquity^ concern- ing two foihts^ wherein only the Antients were rnade ufe of toaurfrejudicCj vis^. i. F^rDioce- ian .Chiirchesy and then 2ly. Againji the ElediA en oF Bidiops by the people; i^/ the frimitiUd times. Something was performed and fublijhed in reference to both thefe' in a late difcourfe. One half ^ ' ' of
The Preface.
ofivhich^ u^here the latter is difcujfecl^ concefnhig the popular Eledions of Bifhops^ hdtb yet fajfed without any exception that I can fee or hear of-^ yet^ this alone is enough to defend us agawfl the aforefaid charge : For thofe )vho mil not mal^ the primitive Church Schifinatical^ muii not condemn any as Schifmaticks for declining fuch Biiliops^^^^ {hat Church would not oivn. .^ u -;
Again(l the former part: of the Difcourfe^ con- cerning Diocefan Churches^ fome exception hath been made^ hut very little; a late Author in his Preface to a Treatife of another Subjetl^ hath touch- ed about 5 pages in 40. Imtfo as he hath done them no more harm^ than amther^ n>ho to fnd one fault therein^ runs himfelfinto two or three^ about h-^cxu, render d indefinitely according to the mind of the Am- thor who ufesit^andthe moft common ufe of it.
I difparage not t he Gcnthmms Lea f>nng7pho at- taques me in his Preface ^he jhews that which, (with anfwerable care and Judgment^ J might be fervice- ablein a caufe that deferves it. But much more than he jhews ^ would not be enough tofupport 7vhat he would eHablijh. And he might haveforborn the z>i-
A 5 lijyifig
The Preface.
"Vilifying of thofe^ rvbo are l^ton^n to be Mafters of triHCb more valueable Learnings than apfeitrs in either cf m. The neglect of fome occur at enefi in little things^ remote from the merits of the Caufe^ in one fpho is not at leifnre to catch flits^ is no argn- me?nthathe is deUitnte of Learning.
I Complain not of his proceeding with me j bnt am obliged by htm^ that he treats me not rpith fi much contempt as he does others^ who lefs defcrve it, I n>ifh he had dealt more temperately with Af* Bi it iPould have been morefdr his reputation ^ attd nd prejudice to his widertaf^ng ; a good ^anfe^^ ^hen it hath a fuffident Ad^wcate^ does nm need ttiiypM(^emfii]^]emenys.^^ ^-^ <>'•
Afier I have ckdreif Ynf ifift:oiirfe from this Gentleman's excefttons^ I thought it not imperti- nent ioferp iphat in reafm cannot he comted Com- fetent poofs /^DioCekn Chi\rch:^;tbat if any mil piyfue bis debate farther^ insiml of oppofng m^ they may not beat ti£ Att^aml am-xfe thofe that en- ifHir& afer tntth ^ mtb i^hat h ififgnifcant, Withal I have given an at count ofi^bat other alie- gations out of Serif fure ^ Amiquity thf^ Author
hath
The Preface.
bath brought in other f arts' of his Treatife for fuck Chnrches ; and jhemd that there is tio evideme in theifty as to thefHrfofe they are alleJgedfor.
Infhorty I find nothing in this Author, or any other before him^ which majffatisfie a judicious aftd impartial man, that in the two firft Ages^/C/^rr- Uianity any Bifhof had more than one f articular Church or Congregation for his f roper charge ; or that in the third Age, there was any Eijhop which bad a Church confining of more than are infonte one of our Paridies^ unlefs it was the Church of R om(? Cnor is there fujficient evidence produced for that: J Or that in the middle of the fourth Age there were 4 Churches jeach of which comprifed more t/^M could affemble in one place ft hough if they hadcQK^ tained morejthat might he far enough from mah^ng them Diocefans ; J Or that afterwards, within ihi^ time of the four firft .General CbutiGifey wi'^^ there were fevtrd Churches helongingto oM Bifbop} he did exercife jurisdiction over them alone ^ or only by himfelfand his Delegates. It\Mli be tim:^^ nough to centre us as Schifmaticks for declini^t^ Diocefan Churches, rphen they have made it op-
pear^
The Preface. peaKy that there ^vasfuch^ in the heH ages of Chri- Hiamty : ( which not affearingy the cenfure falls' upon the primitive Chriiiians^ from n>hotn it mU> Hide of upon tbemfelves.J If they mil forbear m^ till this he performed^ rpe need defire no more. Vn- lefs TPe may prevail irith thofc who fimerely profefs the^rfehes Proteftants, to regard the fecwing tbemfehes and their Religion ^o;?^ the deftrH&ive dejigns of the Papifts ^ more than thoie things which are net properly the concern either of Fro- teftant or of Religion.
( As for thofe who prefer the Papifts before Dif- kntcYSy and revile thefe as worfe^ though they differ mno one point of Religion from other true Prote- fl:aiits : We need not ivonder ifive meet with na better treatment from them^ then from declared Fa- pi^s'yfnce by fuch preference they too plainly declare ?/?^FrQteftant Religion tabe worfe than Popery^ intkeir account.The following fheets have lain by me' nlmyJ\^omhs^ and had done fo flill ; but that the importunity offome^ and the mifreprefenting of my fleace by others ^forced me tO' pubkjh them, * -
CO
Diocefan Churches not yet difcoz'ered in the Primitive times.
To {hew that many Presbyters in one Church was not enough to prove it a Diocejun , I I made it manifeft that it was ufual in the anti- ent Church, to multiply Presbyters, beyond vphat we count ncccjjary 5 ('not beyond what is neccflary, as it is too often mifi'epre(ented:J For this I ofFer'd two Teftimonics, one a flirting it to be (b in the Firli ^e, the other in the' F^;/r//j, and thought thefelufficient, if they could not be denied, (as they are notj to evince it to have been fo in the Third : For who can reafbnably fuppofe, but that had place in the Thirds which was ufual both in the Ages hefore and after ? The firfl: was that of ''Bifiop Downham^ who fayes, at the firji Convcr- (ton of a ties J the t7umberof people concerted were not nrnch greater than the mtmher of Presbyters placed amongjl them. But//j7/, its fayed can be of little nfe -^ "^becaufe, i. This ' was not the cafe of the Church of Carth^age^ it was
* not a new converted Church, but fetled long before,
* and in a fiouri(hing condition.
The Church of Carthage by the fierce perfecutions in Cyprians time (which is the time we fpeak oQ was brought fo low, and reduced to fb very few, as if it had been but new converted, and how was it in a fetled a?rdfloti- rijlm/g condition^ when it was fo lamentably wafted, and (till harrafTcd one year after another .=' or who can bc-
B lieve
ff. 4
(O
lieve it, that reads Cj/^r/^//; lamenting, Trcffurd; ipuf iant iurhidafjj vajiJtJtem^ qn£ grcgcnt volirnm muximu ex pat1c popnluiacji^ 'adhucO^ nfqac fopnlilnr^ and that they were politi wtcr pltivgentrum mhufs^ et liwcmiu;;; rcliquicu^ ititcr mif/icrofim 0' Lwguet7t7nm Jiragem^ ct cxiguat}/ jiuvti- (3.)U'c..\. iff//pdu(ita'.cm^ fa) Was not this much the cafe of the ^/fpojidhal Clunhcs^^ unltfi tbiis of Cn-thagc was wor(e, and fo lefs for our Author's advantage .<^ Or if this were othervvife, the Churches in Naziaf/zc/is time were not 7icivJjco}!zcrtcd^ but^t'/Zf^/ long before, and in :i Jio/nyJ/j- h!g (ond.liov-^ which yet cannot be denyed to have had more Presbyters than rce coiwt vcedfitl. So that this was the pratiiiein every condition of the Church, whe- ther flouridiing or not.
2. ' He faycs, many more Presbyters may be ordain- 'edin a City, than is neceffaryfor the firft beginning of 'a Churcli, with refped to future incrcaie. (yc.
And who will qucftion, but the many Presbyters in the Church of C<?;7/-.7^r were for future hnrcjfi both in City and Country ^ So that herein the cafe is not diffe- rent ^ And the dcfign of that number of Officers might partly be for other Congregations, (l^pifcopal Churches, though not Dioccfui) to furnilli them with Officers. This is apparent afterwards in the practice of tlie ^fri- cdf! Churches^ who when a new Church was erected, fup- plyed itwithaBiQiopor other Afliftantsfrom phces bet- ter rtored with Officers , And it is exemplylied particu- larly (as we (liall fee hereafter) in the provifion which St. Aufiin made for FnJJ.dd.
' Hefayes further, the multitude of Presby ters belong- ing to one Congregational Church, might be occafi- ' on d by the uncertain abode of moft of the Apojlks ^ and thcu'CoMwrjJwh'crSj Vv'ho are the Principal, if not
* the only Ordainers of Presbyters mentioned in Scrip-
* turc.
But
( i )
But herein he does but gucfs, and had no rcafon to be pofitivc, unlefs the Apojiks and their Comwjjjwfiers^ (as he calls them,) had been then the only Ordaincrs, which he will not venture to affirm, knowing what evi- dence there is againfl: it.
'Laftly, he (ayes, if this opinion oCBifiop Dowrht^-* 'had any certain ground in Antiquity, we fhoukl pi 'bably hear of it with both eares, and we Qiculd have 'it recommended upon anticnter Authority than his.
This of Bipop DoTcnham hath certain ground in the beH: antiquity, if the^\^cir jTc^^we^;/ be fuch , where it is plain there vvere many Presbyters in diver(e Chur- ches, fuch as are not yet, nor ever will be proved to be Dioccjj?;.
Tox\y.\to^~j\jt%7anzcf7'^ he (ayes, 'it hath received 'its anfwcr, and adds, he that cannot anfv/er it to hini- 'iclfj from the great difference between the condition of 'the Church \\-\ Cyprian^ and in^^/z/.wzcv/s time, hath 'a (bndne(s lor the Argument.
This is the anfwcr it received, T^^g* 51. and this dif- ference was thus exprcOed a little before 5 ' But that any * Church fixt and (ctlcd, having its Bifliop alwayes pre- 'lent, (hould multiply Presbyters tcycfjdrtcccjpty^ in the 'circumftances of the Primitive Chriftians before Co?i- \lhi?/twc^ is altogether incredible 5 for the neceflary ex- ' penccs of the Church were very great, the poor nu- 'merous, the generality of Chriftians not of the Rich- 'eft, and the Eftatcs they had being at the dilcretion of 'their enemies, and ruin'd with perpetual perfecution, &c. He (iiyes, multiplying Presbyters kjw/d vcccjfity^ and vpithout ?;ccefj>ty'^ while he alters my words fo as to change the (cnle, he difputes againft himlelf^ not me :i But this looking more like an Argument than anything before, I fnall take a little more notice of it. 1. Is not all this applicable to the Churches in the ./^pofi/e^s times,
B Q ^vhen
(4) when it cannot be denyed 'Vrcsh)tcrs were multiplyed beyond what \vc count ncccflary .<* Tke poor mimerous^ the generality of ChrilUcins not of the T^chejl^ and the Ejiates tkey had bch/gat tke clifcrction of their enemies^ and mind vcilh perpetual perfecuiion.
Further, the Church before Consfantine SLud Carthage
particularly , fuppoling thcfe to be its circumftances,
might have many Presbyters without any great charge :
For lil. the Church Stock was referved only for thole in
Tfant, 70K A'j{j^oii^ as is determin d in one of the Canons
C^)can. 4. which pafs for ^pojiolical^ ("b) and the fame decreed in
(r) Ci^. 25. the fynod at yintioch. (c) ylmhrofe even in the A^th.
Age^ will have none to have a ftipend who hath other
revenues, '^ifidci exercct nnlitiunr^ age Hi Jin fi-itciibusy
(i habet^ debet ejfe content us ^ (inon fjabet^ stipendiorum fu-
(d) offic. L. I. orumfru&u, (d) And ChryfijiomteWs us that in Eledions,
c- 3^- thofeof the Competitors that had Eftates did carry it,
bccaufc the Church v;ould need to be at no charge in
maintaininsjof fuch, *"<' avJ^iono r^'<i(pi^Ai ly. rm rm ItcK^maf
(cj De facird. 'TfoffiJ'av. 2ly. When they had no Eftates, and theC/.«r<:/j
7i[lsa.tfiP' co'-i^<^ not maintain them, they were to provide for
thcmfclves by fome honeft imployment. The Council
of Elvira allows all forts of Clergy men to drive a trade,
for their living, provided they did it only in the Prb^
Can. 19. vince where they lived, (f) and in the 4th. Council of Carthage it is ordered, that the Clergy, though they be learned in the word of God., fiall get their living by a trade,
an. 51. (^gj and in the next Canon that they fiiall get food and raymcnt by a Trade or Husbandry^ with this provifo, tfjat it be not a prejudice to their Office. Our Author (ayes in-
?ag. 154. deed, (h) that this is contrary to the ufige of all other Chur- ches ^ how true this is may be feen by the Canon before cited. He (ayes al(b, that this is forbidden by the c^d. Council of Car t/oage 5 but neither is this fo, that Canon adds but another reftridion, viz. that they get not their livings.
■ by
£
by an employ metjt that is fordid or diJI.)or7eJl^ whercsthe (i) can. 15. /« Latine and Greek both agree in it. gly. The Church ^°^' '^• was to allow none of them, no not BiJJwps more than?;c- ceffary^evcn after Cw7?^w/7/;e's time. That Canon caird the Apoftles^ and the otlier Atiiioch forccited, exprefs this in the fame words, the Bipop may have of the Church Stock re hat if neeedfidl^ if he he f/eccjjitons^ ra S'mTct ei Aoho oe;? dvct^Kcti- Ai xfsirtf) for 7:ccejfary ifs^ and thcfe are afterwards ex- plained to he food and ray merit. 'Zonaras exprcfles it fully and clearly, whom he that the Cafwn doth not fatisfie, may confult.
Having (hew'd out of Juftimat?^ that 60 Presbyters belonged to the great Church in Conjiaf/ti/wple , and thence inferr'd they were numerous in ConftaK-tine's timc^ the ' number ((ayes he, J) was become extravagant in Ju- ^ ' Ilifiians time 5 but what is this to their number in Cy- ^prian'j }
He fliould have asked the Dean this, who to prove J)i^f^?; Churches from the number of Presbyters, im- mediately after Teftimonies out of Cj^m;;, brings this of Jniiinian.
' For this very edid of Jitfit-ian fhewsthat this multi- 'plying of Church Officers was an innovation, Ciud there- ^fore would have them reduced to the firft eftablifh- ment.
Jufinian took order to retrench the numbers of Pres- byters, not therefore becaufc it was an innovation^ but bccaule the Church revenue could not maintain (bmany, which is exprefs in the Novel.
' But that firft cftablifliment it (eems admitted great ' numbers, for one Church had 60. True , but itmuft al(b 'be noted firft, that thefe 60 were to ferve more than 'one Church.
Some may be ready to ask how it can be /r»e, that one Church Ihould have 60, and yet more than one had thcfc 60 amongft them. ' For
(6 J
' For there were tlirec more befiJes St. SophU to be ' (iipplycd by thcfo Presbyters, c^r.
True ^ but this fkill confirms what I anfwer'd to their argument fromthc multitude of Presbyters, that in the anticnt Church the Officers were multiplycd alwve ivhat tvc loufil f!ccclful : For it is not now ihought needful that any 3 or 4 Churches in a City, fliould have 60 Presby- ters, 100 Deacons, 90 Subdeacons Headers no. Sc
' Yet after all, thc^re is no argument to be drawn from 'this number, for thelc were C/w^;jof a particular foun- dation, defign'dfbr the fervice of a Collegiate Church; 'and no meafiare to be taken fiom thence concernino; the 'numbers of Presbyters belonging to the Diocels. This 'isevident from the Preface of the laid Novel.
If no argument is to be drawn from this number, why did the Lcar^/cd Dean draw one from it ^ 2ly. This fcems fcarce confident with the former Period .* there, thefc Presbyters were for 3 or 4 Churches^ here they arc but ^ox ofjc Collegiate Church of which they were Cunofis^ and this faid to be evident in the "Prefare^ where I can- not fc'e it. 3ly. Si//cc 710 meafure is to he take)2 fromhcnci, couceming the tmmbcrs of T^rcshjters bclo?;gif;g to a Dio- ccfe ^ it Icems there may be this number of Presbyters in a place which cannot be counted a D/occfi^ (as this one great Church never was, nor can be) and then no argumcntdrawntrom the number of Presbyters at Romc^ Carthage^ ildcjja^ &c. will prove a Diocefm Church ; for here was the greateft number, which any where we meet with.
Dr. St. to prove Dioccfan Churches from the "nume- roufnefs of Presbyters, mentioned 60 in C. P. mji/jii- ma7j\ time 5 from hence on the by, I thought it reafon- able to luppofe they were numerous in ConJLwi i^/e'stimc^ when yet Thcodoret iayes, all the Brethren met together TTJth the Bijrjop. That the number of Presbyters is no
Proof
(7) proof of a Dhccfin Church was evinced fufficicndy be- te )rc: this fell in occ.ilionally, and was added ex abuN- cUuti 5 Yet upon this fiipernumirary fcragler he turns his main force, fpending about 12 Pages on it. lam littleconccrned what becomes of it, fince the main Hy- poth.cfis is already Iccurcd by the premillcs 5 but that thisGcntleman may not quite looic all his labour, 1 am willing to loofe a little, in taking fome notice of it.
' I mufl: confefs that what is added concerning the ' Church of C. P. is Ibmcwhat furprizing, no doubt '•(iiyes he, that the Presbyters were wore ?Jumcrous in, ' C. P.
Indeed it might have been furprizing if I had fiid as he reports me, that they \VQYQ.worc iiuf/icrons'^ but I fiw reafon not to fty (b, though what reafon there was to impofe it on me I know not : 1 cited Soc : mifprintcd Soz: f\}'ing, Co//Jhi/:i7ffC built trvo Churches at C. 7^. , but laid no flrels on it at all. fk) It is tme^ he f lyes fwt that (V; so:. i. r.. he built ?wmor£thaf2 tvpo^ but his cxprelTion plainly im- plyes it, an:l he \'\'asconcernL'd if he had known any more to have mention d it, when in the flime Line, he (ayes Covftaniijjc intended to make it eqj.ial to 1.{ome, Eujebi- ///s words agree well enough herewith, he ia}'es Cotifiat;- iine adorf7\l it ^ ctasiouw, irith more Churches ^ and that's true, if he built but two more, or any more than w^as there formerly, orany more than was ufiial. And theie fjfore Churches were not in the City, but fas the Hijiori.w. Ipeaks) partly there, and partly '^f0 7««^'s"«©'» which as thci word is ufcd , may denote places many Miles di- ftant from the City, as the Ge^/tlemcw cllewherc ob- ferves after Videfius. S^2:.(?wa; fa}'es he built ^'aak?, ma- ny Churches, (not very man}' as he will have it) but«if he thereby meant more than are named by Socrates^ wc need not underftand that done before the time Theodoret (peaks of p Norlhould a lax exprefllon be more rclyed
on,
C. 12.
C8)
on, than one that is pundual and definite 5 unlefswe have a mind cither to be milled, or to let the two Hijlo- ri.v7s together by the ears. Sozofpten names but one Church more than Socrates did, and that not />;, but a good difta nee from the City, (70 Furlongs by Land,) and 3 may' pals forw^wj', when it was a rare thin^ for any City to have More than am. The beft Authors, as they fbmctimes expreis^'crj' few by mtic^ and Tigemrality by 4// 5 fo they cxpre{sw<>rc than ordinary by niatiy 5 and ircoox three fuch Churches in one City were more than ordinary atthat time, when oneCity in an Hundred had not two Churches, and one in a Thoufmd had not three Churches, that could be fly led y^'--y^^'' ^//that Qovfiafitine built here were T'^r/', both Eufebhis \i\i more^ and Sozo^ men's many^ are iiiid, by them to be very great, /x4;v?»/. But no confiderable Author that I meet with in that Age, or fome Hundreds of years after, names more than two very great Churches ^it^^di by Co72Bantim in that Ci- ty. And if comparifon be-made, there is no Hifiorian of thole times, to be more regarded in matters which concern C, 7-^ , than Socrates who tells us, that he was 1,9. c. 24. born and educated in C. P. , and continued there fas an advocate^ whenhewrote his Hiftory.
But if we fhould fuppofe that Sozomen intended more than ? or 4 Churches, or that the Emperotir built no more than was requifite, and only conlulted convenien- cy, and defign d not State or Magnificence, (which yet our Author a little after ftyes he did 5 and we know no- thing is more ordinary than for great Cities to have more Churches than are needful : it was fo in London before the Fire, and the retrenching of their number fince IheM^s it :) yet this will be fo for from proving Alexan- der^ Church in C. *P. to be Dioccfin^ that it will not prove it greater than fome fingle Congregations; for there were 1 2 Churches in Alexandria^ when yet the Church
in
(9)
in that City adhereing to .Athnnafius confifted of no more than are in fome one of our Paritlies. For which fuch Evidence has been brought, as is not yet, nor I think, can be defaced. ' Nor can we imagine that two "• Churches, much lefs one, could fuffice all the Chrifti- ' ans in C T. when the City onielropolfsbeing convert- 'ed to Chriftianity required more, and ConficwtiKC ' built feveral for them, ^x-^wnat 'j Kvffoi,
The word plurally expreffed is much improved by our Author ^ he makes out of it diver fi Churches^ and all thefe Churches^ when yet all thefe were but of?e Church, as Socrates himfelf makes it plain a little before/, for \soc, Li.c.12. having related how Corffiamine ordered a Church to be built near the Ouk^^at Mumhre^ he adds, that he order- ed afjother Church ("not ChurchesJ to be ereuled at Helio- polis, i7iejf.v ImKmajf >^iu^K<lctSnv(u, And to put it pad doubt, Eufilius whom the Emperour employ 'd about thofe ftru<rtures, and from whom in all likelihood 6*^- crutes had the Relation, gives an account but o^okc Church there founded by the Emperour^ which he calls oiyj>v\v)mi^iovlKKKYiaieii m^ and that it was furnifhed with a mi.i.c.$6.Dt ^JjJiop^ T^resbjters and Deacof?s. So that the Bil"hop of ^'^'^ coniUnt. Heliopolk had but one Church for his Diocefs, which our [Author (hould not be fo loath to own, fince it can- not be proved that at this time one Biihop in an hundred, had more.
Vulcfius (whom our Author much relies on), in his U\(otcs upon this place, is fo far from thinking that Con- jiuntif;e built more Churches in Heliopolh^th^t he judges this one at prefent was not neceflary for it, the Town having then no Chriftians in it : and affigns this as the reafon why Eufehius fpeaks of it as a thing uinifual, that it (hould have a Bidiop appointed, and a Church built in it. His words are, Fortajfe hoc fjovam d^ wauditum fitjjje intcUigit^ 6cc. He may think, this new and unheard
C ofi
( 10 ;
of^ that a Church JJwuld he built iff a City^ where as yet there jvere no Chrijhafis hut all were alike idolaters. Therefore this church was built at Heliopolis, not for that there was afjy ffeccjjity of it, but rather iff hope that heffiight i fruit e all the Citizef7j to the profejjioff of the Chrijiiaff Religioff, So that the Bifhop here had none for his Diocefe but one inUL'^.dtvit. Church, and that empty, there being then no Chrifti-
Confim. c. 58. ^j^g jj^ ^j^3^ Qj^g p^j.- Qj ^ ^j^j^j^ y^^ ^^g ^jj j^g j^^j ^^
make him a Diocejatf.
The better to confute T/je(?^^f/, whofaies ("for they are his words, not mine ) that Alexattder with all the 'Brethrcfi ffict together, he endeavours to (hew the ftate of that Church about tlie latter end oiCofjflantiffe, &c. this he does here and after by an undue Apphcation of fbme paflages in Sozofne?f, For the account which that Hijloriaff gwcs of that City is not confined to Coffflaff- tifje's time, but reaches beyond it, ay, and beyond jF«- liaff's too, which appears, as by other pafTages, (b by his mentioning the hcatheft Te/f/ples in the time of that Emperour. And with refpeft to the time after Coft- Jiat7ti}7c muft that expreflion be underftood, which makes C. 'P. to exceed Rome, riOt ofily iff Inches, but iff the f;ufffher of Iffhabitafits, otherwise it will be apparent- ly fal(e. For when Chryfijioffte was Bifhop there, about 70 years after (when it is like the number of the Inha- bitants were doubled, it cannot be queftioned but they were far more numerous) he who beft could doit, rec- n In An. Horn, kons the Chriftians then to be an 1 00000 » 5 our Au- I l,pdg.6^^. thor will have us look upon the Jews and Heatheft there to be inconfiderable but let us count them another looooo. Yet both put t08;etherwill fill incomparably (hort of the number in old Koffic, which by the compu- o T)t Magnit. tatiou of Lipfius was at leafk two milliofis 0, And in KoM. lib. 3.^.3. Coffjiufftif/e's time ffew R.ofne was as £ir ftiort of the old
as
as to its greatnefs in circuit, for whereas Herodiiw de- clares that Severus quite demohilied ^Byzarttifim for (id- ing with ^ger^ and reducing it to the If.^te of a Filbge fibjeCfed it to Perinthus, t^V" AA«5tW Ui^n'SjioKJSconJh'^ p^ ^Uh. 3.?. 58. we cannot in reafon fiippofe it to be extraordinarily (parlous 5 yet as Zofimus reports, all the inlargement which ConUavtitit gave it, was but the addition of 1 5 Furlongs ^^'^ '^^vt^'^"^^^ q. Now (uppofe it was 30 q /;t. 2. ;. 52. or 40 Furlongs in com pais before ("and fo larger than one City in an hundred) yet this addition will leave it lefs than Alexatidriu,^ v/hich, as Jojep/jud defcribes it, was 80 Furlongs, that is,ten miles in circumference r, yet A- rD(3d'c • lexa?7driu'w:ns four times left than T^j^^^r, for by Vopifcu/s ' ' *' ^^^' ' account, in i4//rf//^// s time, not long before O^^^;;///?/', tke rcalls were made by him rear 50 miles in circuit. So it will be in comparifon of CotijlaTitirjople when firft built, rather like a jS^tion than a Cit\\ as .A^rfiotle f^id . of the other '^ahylor?^ '«X" '^n^iye^ip^'' i^hKov X^wit nmnai j. s ?ol. ULv:- If then we will have this paflage ofSozomen to have any appearance of truth,itmuft be extended far beyond Conjldfjiinesixm^^ when, as Zofimus xcWs us, many of the fucceeding Empcrours were ftill drawing multitudes of People to thatCity,fothat it was afterwards encompafled with walls far larger, "^^^-^ i^-^iom^ than thole ofCor/JiaK- line t. And in an Oration of 77>e«/7yr///if,it is made a que- 1 ^^'*- ^-h ^'s- (lion whether Theodoji/^ jumor did not add more to C,P, than Conjiantine did to "Byzantium,
' Many of the Jervs and almoft all the Heathen were ' converted and became Chriftians.
The expreflion of Sozomen docs not hinder but as the main body of the Jews remained, (6 the numbers of the Heathen might be confiderable. TcrtuUian fpeaks of Citizens in his time as if they were almoji all Ckriliians^
C 2 pen9
( lO
u Apo!. c. 37. pp^^ offfnes crvcs chrijliam h 5 yet no inftance can be gi- ven of any one City v/here the Chiiffcians were the major part of the Inhabitants .* thofe that take his words, in a ftrid fcn(e are very injurious to him, and make him fpeak that which no antitnt Records will warrnnt. Sozowef!-.\\{b may fuffcr by draining his cx- prciiion 5 but I will not digrefs to take farther notice ofwhat is not material, for 1 defign not, nor have any need,to make any advantage of the numbers of the Hea- thens in this City.
He tells us of 950 Work-houfcs who(e rents were al- lowed to defray the Funeral expences of all that died in the City ( for (b it is expreilcd in the Conftitution,
being performed with great folemnity, and multitudes of Attendants maintained by thofe rents for that pur-
I X Kov.$9.c.2. pole X, How this here makes the Chriftians in C ^P. to be fo very numerous as he would have them, he fhould have (hewed us , I am not yet Co fagacious, as to difco- ver it. The number of the Decani was determined cod.diEccl. by Hopiorhis to 950 y. Our Author thinks it '^ probable they were fo many nt the lirft eftabhfliment,
but there's more ground to believe, they were much fewer in Conftantims time ^ for about 800 were counted iufficient in Jitjiimani Reign, 200 years after, when the City was both larger, and much more populous and
I z.Vfl«/.59.f.2. jn its greateft flouriftiz.. Thofe that confider the pre- mifles, may v^cll think, he might have form'd his con- cluiion in terms lefs confident, to fay no worle of it.
Next he forms an Obje(ftion againfl: himfclf : ' not- ' withftanding the number of Chriftians in C P. might *^ be much too great for one Congregation, yet the ma- ' jor part might be Here ticks or Schififidth'ks^^ fuch a& ^ came not to the Bifhop's Church , and therefore all
that
( 13 ) ' that adhered to him might be no more than could ' meet in one Aflembly.
To which he anlvvers, that the tinmhcr of Hereticks and Schifmaticl{s was JKCo^flderahle, and will not except the ^riaffs or j^(ovatians. For the Arians^ he laics, they had ?!0t yet made a formal Separation,
But if they did not Separate themfelvcs, the Church would have them (epa rated, and did exclude them from communion, and withftood Cor;Jia»twes importunity for their admiffion, both here and in other places : ^thaffafius was threatned by Eufcbius of V^comedit a^ i SocMb,2.c.i'! and banifhed by the Empcrour for this caufe among o- thers. And Alexander beinpj lecured by ^riHs his death from admitting him to Comm.union, was the oc- cafion of this pafl'age in Theodoret which gives our Au- thor (b much trouble. Now the .Arians being debar- red from communion, leflcned the Bifhop's Church, both here and elfe where, as much as if they had Sepa- rated them(elves. And they were numerous here, this being the place where they had greateft fivour , in C offfla/it we' sEd\(}: againft the Heretrc^s whofe meetings he would have (iippreflcd, the Brians were not men* tioned when the other are named/'. Socrates \vnx.Q%\i-Eufth.dtvitA> that the People in this City was divided into two '^''''^''''^- ''^' ?• • Particsthe^m;// and the Orthodox, they had co-ntwii-'^'^'' ^' ^' ally fjarp hickerwgs^ but while Alexander lived the Or- thodox had the better 5 as (bon as he was dead (which vvas"^' \v\\\\QCo?rJlaf7titie lived J it feems they appeared '^Vzkiobferv, . equal,fbr the cof/tefi^£\\Qs he, was dubious^ dfMprisi^f « f^^it c, '.'^ ^^^' ^ ^"^^ In 9^aziif}zer2s time fo far they overtopt the Orthodoxj c s'oc.lib.2.c.6, . that this great Diocefin Church appear'd but in the form of a private Meetings held in a very little honfe^ where he kept a Conventicle with them, ^voiKio-Kaf^K^alwiKma^i^ io So%ometi J, and Socrates agrees with him in the ex- dUb.^.cap.^^ prefTion, hf(M^ShiM<rm^ fuch a diminutive place feems as
un-
( 14 ) unproportionable for fuch a Dioccfan Chilrch as a 5V«f- Jl:ell ^or Homer s Iliads^ or a Kej-hok for a Witch^ to u(c our Author's Elegancies.
As for the Novutij^s to which he will have no more allowed than a Conventicle^ they were numerous in o- thcr places, they had once diverlc Churches in ^Icx- a?:dria^ many Churches in Rov/e and in other places. It is like they were numerous here, for here they had as much favour or more, and longer too, than in the Cities forementioned, here Socrates fliyes they had three e Ub.i.up.'^o. churches f, and if three Churches would but make one ifjconfiderable Comjcnticle ^ it is pofTible the other Ortho- dox Churches (though he will have them to be many) might be comprized in orie vaji Congregation.
I might obferve how much Sozomen is miPreprefent- ed in what he (ayes next of thofe concerned in the ^di£f^ the V^vatians efpecially. He fpeaks not mincingly as our Author would have him, but fully that the fJ^ava- tians did not fuffcr much by the Edidi 5 he does not (ay only that it was probable they (uffercd little, but fayes this only of a rea(bn him(elf gives, why they differed not much. He gives other reafbns for it than ^^e opinion, the Novatians had of that Bifhop. He docs not (ay the other Heretic ks tvere altogether extirpated. He does not confe(s that the Nov2tians fi/ffered the fame meafnre vpith ethers every where^ no, nor any where elfe, it is the ^ontanifts that he (ayes this of. He dares to affirm they had a Conventicle or more, for he affirms they had an eminent Bifhop in C. 7^. and were not only mimerons therebefore the Edidt, but continued fo after. The Gentle- man was in too much hafte here, as himfelf will per- ceive, by obferving how much his account differs from the HiJioria?/s.
At laft he comes to that paffage of Thcodoret which occafioned all the(e lines, but Theodorct affirms they
were
('5)
r^cre m ntorc than could meet in one Churchy and that they did aUnally do fo^ 'I aiifwer, fayes he, that Theodoret ' does not (ay fb, and the paflfage cited does not con- * elude it.
I did not fay Theodoret ajjirms they were no more, than cotddmeet in one Churchy but he Hiyes the fame in efFed, viz. that al/ the Brethren aj[fenihlcd TTTth A\QX2inder. His words are, Alexand^r^ the church rejoycing^ held an Af- femhly with all the '"Brethren^ T^'^y^g ^*^^ g^^'^^h sf-^^'^f)' ing God. The words are plain, and the fenf^, I take them in, is open in the face of them. Nor do I believe that any difinterefted perfbn would put any other fcnfe upon them than this, that the generality ofChrifiians of which the Church at Conftantinople conjiflcd^ ajjembled together with their '~Bifl)op Alexander, to pruife God joy- ful/y for their deliverance by the death of Av'ius. But he will not have the words taken in a general Jenje^ but wil/ fippo/e them taken with refpeCi to that particular Congre^ gation^ in which Arius war to be reconciled. Yet this fup- pofition hath no ground either in the words, or in the contexture of the Difcourfe, or any where elfe that I know of, or our Author either 3 for if he had, we fhould have heard it with both ears^ as he fpeaks elfe- where. He will not have al/the Brethren^ to be all the Believers at C. P. yet he knows that Brethren and Be- lievers are Synonymous terms both in Scripture and an- cient Authors. And thofe were the Believers or Bre- thren of the Church of C.T^. which had occafion to re- jovce, and that was the whole Church there .* as for »<^»'7fi^, rendered Z)niver[t^ I do not takeit j^r all and every ' otje of the Chriftians there 5 for in all A(remblies,of great Churches efpecially, many are alwayes abfent. He had dealt more fairly with Theodoret^ if by all he would have underftood the generality ofChriJiians adhereing to ' Alexander at C P. or the greateft part of tbem, and '
about:
r i6)
about fuch an abatement of the full import of the word, there had been no need to contend ^ but his itfiraint of It to a particular Congregation agrees not with the words, nor theoccallonof them, nor hath any fupport tl few here.
Nor is that better which follows, ipilefs you mil fiy that tvitb all the Brethrev^ does r70t figf^ijie their ^cr final frcfirjce^ hut only their uvammity.
This looks more like a fliiift than a plain an(wer, and therefore he was well advifcd in not venturing to own it.
' Theodoret could not think that all the Beleivers of C. ' P. could come together to the Bifhop's Church, for he ' cites a Letter of Confidfjtims a little after, where he 'gives an account of the great increalc of that Church. /// the City that is call'd by my name by the Providence of God^ an infinite midiitude ofl^eople have joined themjelves to the Churchy and all things there wondcrfilly increafing^ it feems very requisite that more Churches fiohld be built 3 undcrfijnding therefore hereby what I have refolved to do, I though Jn to order y OH to provide 50 'l^ibles fairly and le- gibly nnttcn.
He does not (ay an ir?finite multitude^ the words of the Letter are ^v^v 'j^Tijvi^ that there was a very great w!/ltit/ide of Chrijiians \snot denied^ nor that he intend- ed to build more Churches 5 but this confirms what is fig- nified before, that thefe very many Churches were not yet built, but only in defign, .and that with a profpeft of Chriftians there ftill increafing. And the Bibles^ if they were intended only for C. P. might be for the future Churches, not the prefent only.
His Conclnfion is, ' where Chriftians were fo multi- * plied that it was neccflary to build more Churches, ' and to make fuch provifions for the multitude of their "• AHemblics, it could not be that they (hould all make 'but one Congregation. ' He
He (hould have concluded that which is denied, o- th^rwKe all he hath premised will be infignificant, and to no pnrpo(e: it is granted that all the Chriftians at C.P. di make more than or,e Covgrcgattcn^ and for Jjjpjicoiiv'eniency met at other times in (everal Churches. ^Tn^Vhiwh is denied is, that the main Body or genera- lity ofClTiftians there could not meet in one Aiiembly, or dia not (b meet at tliis time with their BiCliop Alex- av^er^ ;'s to this he hath proved nothing, and therefore did well to conclude nothing againft that which is affir- med to be the plain import ofTheodoret's expreffion.
•1
And it may be fuppofcd that Thcodoret^ if he had not exprefled it, wight well thwk^ (though the contrary be luggefted ) that as great multitudes , as CoKiianUf7e\ Letters fignified, might meet together at the Bi(hop's Church 5 for himfelf declares what a vaft Congregation he preached toat ^ntioch^ having an Auditory i^matiy ^Myidds f. I will not ask him what ^nfcbius could tkw^^ [Ef. 85. when he tells us the Chriftians had i^v^isufJ'^Hi ihnvA'^ayas^ ^Jfemblics cofjft^wg of Myriads g. Nor what Socrates i^il'-B' dp. u thought, when he tells us long after, of C. P. that the ia>hole CHy became one ^jjembly, and meeting in an Ora- tory, continued \\\(iXQ 2\\ day h^ "0A»7rcA/f /u/*&K,xAHw'i««>«Vs7Bh£_/3,y ,,^^23. h d -^^ ivKTv^Cf> -^vof^oi^ <^c. 'But I would have him tell me^ how he underliandv that palihge of Chr)feficme^ ^y^?
TihUvi, What is die import of thele words? Do they \Hom.2^.iH iignify that ten (Myriads were ailcmbled in one place ^^''^- ^"^^ 2- ^ tohearChrjfoftome^ Iffo, there will be no qucftion ^''* but that the generality of Chriftians might meet in one Church with Alexander hiConJiantine's Reign 5 for that then, ("about 70 years before J) there was any thing near fo many Chriftians as an 1 00000 3 adhereing to one Biftiop in this City, cannot with any reafon be injagin-
D ed.
C i8 J) ed. Or does he mean only, that there were (b tudfiy
' e>I^rW/ of Chriftians contained in that City. <* Iffo then he (aics here no more than in another Homily {oxt- cited, where the number of Chriftians in C. P. is com- puted to be an looocc, reckoning all besides Jews af/d Heathcvs. Now if they were no more in his time, they cannot with reafon be fuppofed to have been above half (b many in Covjiantims (unleli any can imagine, that their numbers advanced more in 6 years than in yc^ when the fuccecdine: Emperours mukiplyed the Inhabitants exceffively, ^^nt tUu %f«Wj as Zofimis tells k LiK a. us 4, crouding the City fb full as that they could (carce ftir without danger : ) and a great part of thefe were fallen off to Arius while ^lexufider was Bifhop : the j^ovatiufjs alfo, were numerous, having feveral Chur- ches --i and thefe with other Seds being deduced, the Chriftians there that communicated with Alexander will be no more (if fb many^ than belong to fbmeone of our Parifhcs.
' It would fwell this Preface to too great a Bulk, if I '' ftiould aniwer the reft (b particularly.
Since he defigned to be (b breifj and to have fb fhort a Preface, I wifti he had employed more of it a- gainft that which is the ftrength of the Difcourfe he oppoies, and of more conf^quence to the main Caufe 5 and not have fpent fb many leaves upon a by-pailage, for which we have little reafon to be concerned : for if he could make it appear, that the Chriftians at C. P. in ConfldijUms time were more than could meet in one Congregation, yea, or in two either 5 that would be far from proving it a Diocefin Churchy unlefs fbme one or two of our Parifties can be counted fb.
Let me add in fine, that our Author ha? done Jtift no- thing towards the difproving of what Theoderet was al- ledged for 3 unlefs he (hew, that C, P. exceeded old
RomCy
I
C I? )
RdMe^ was furnifhed with fuch an infinite number of
Chriftians, fo many ('more than two J magnificent
Churches there erefted, the 50 Bibles thought needful
to be provided, and almoft all the Heatkcn befides many
Jews converted ^ before Akxa^fder (who is (aid to hold
this Aflembly with all the brethref?^ deceased ^ and ih
unlefs he prove that all this was done (which himle'f {
think can fcarce believe) in lefi than a year. For V.ile-
Jius (upon whole authority this Gentleman takes much)
proves at large ("making it the bufinefs of one of \\\$
*lBooks) that Alexander died ( and yet muft live (bmc
while after this panegyrical k^emhly") in the year 55 1. z:. 2. ohprv. li
And its manifeft, that C. P, was not built, nor had that '^'"^•^'^''^•
name till 331. For tho' it was building the year before,
yet it was not finiOied till 2 5 of Conftantine\ Reign (as
Jerome and others:) and the beginning of his Reign is chtonic.
reckoned from the ^ezx^Ciof Conjiantiits his Father, who
was Conful with Maximianus in the year 506, and F4,2 cw/*/,
died in the middle of it. There needs not a word more
to (hew that all his di(cour(e on this fubjcft is wholly
infignificant, and not at all for his purpole, tho' this be
the moft confiderable part of his Preface.
' This Author gives (everal inftances of(everal Bi(hops
* being in one City at the fame time, in an(w'er to the ' Dean of TWs, who affirmed that it was an inviolable ' rule of the Church to have but one, ev. Jernjalem is ' thefirft inftance, &c. I wonder to find a man ofLearn- ' ing cite this paflagc, than which nothing can be more
* di(ad vantageous to his Cau(e.
There is one wtio I (uppo(e paffes for a man of learn- ing who for the (ame purpo(e makes u(eof thisinffcance, Hnce mine was publifhed 5 We haze, faith he, Exan/ples in EcckfiaJHcaifiory of of two Bifjop's at tie fame time in the fame oer, and yet this was never thought Schifntaticdl^ when th fee end was advanced by the confent of the firf},
D 2 Tfms
( 20 )
Thus Alexander a Bffl.wp in Cappadocia toOi r/iade Brfljop
of]cruia\cm jr/z/cNarciflus »v« livwg^ but very old: and Anatolius at the fame time^ fate in the Church ^/Cxlirca with ThcotccnuSj a?}d this vpm St. Au^'in soivnraje^ rvl.o ^"'^'""af ^* ^^^^^^^^^i^' Brfiop (7/Hippo while there was another Bijhop living I. He (ayes alio, Nothing ca^i be more difadvan- tjgeoHs to my caufc than this pdjjage. If it had been no advantage to my caufc, I fhould have thought it bad enough 5 but if nothing could.be more difadvantagc- ous, I am very unhappy : let us fee how it is made good,
' 9s(ardf[ns having retired, and the people not know- ^- ' ing what had become of him, the neighbouring Bi-
' (hops ordained Dius in his place, who was fuccLcded ' by Gordiiis and after by Gcrmanico^ ( it Qiould be by * Gcrmafiico^ and after by Gordii/s ) in whofc time ' Narcijfus returned, and was defired to refume his ' Office, and did fb. What became of Gi-rw^wV^ (he 'means Gordiju^) is not (aid but probably he refigned ' or died prcfcntly.
There rs nothing to make either of thefc probabk^, it isaltogethcr as likely, if not more, that he continued bilhop there with NarciJjHs for fome time 5 but bccaufe tiijebius fayes nothing of it, I infift not on it. But be- fides he tells us, NarcilTus tooh^ Alexander, i^ito the par- tifipation of the charge. That fignifies Narcijfus was not excluded from the Epifcopal charge^ both had their parts therein. No, but fayes he, Alexander ivas the T^ifjop, Narciflus retained biU the name and title only^ that is, he was but a Titular, not really a Bifhop,. and why ^o ^ becaufe Alexander^ fayes he, joined witis him in prayers^ and the Hijiorian fayes he woi not able to officiate by reafon €f his. great age. He was not able it may be to perform all the Offices of a Bifhop, but what he ims> able to do no doubt he performed. Now if they miift be but ti- thlar Bifhops, who perform not pcrfonally all the Of- fices
(21 )
fices of a Paftoral charge ( when they cannot pre- tend A/7iaf2j/ j%{f^ how many real Biihops fhall we find' in the World .<? But befidcs the V^me and Titk^ did he not retain the Power and Authority of a Bidiop ^ If not, how came he to loofe it .<=* Did he rejign^ or was he dcpofcd .<? That he refigned there is not the leall: in- timation in this Hijloriun or any other ^ nor any in- ftunce in the antient Ghurch, that ever any Bilhop di- verted himfelfofall paftoral 7^tf?rcr upon this account. To have depofcd him for his great age had been a barba— rous Ad, andfuch as the Church in thofe times cannot be charged with. No doubt but he retained the Epi(co- pal power, though through Age he could not excrcife it in all inftances ^ and if he had not only the Title but the T^cirer^ he v.'as really a Billiopj. and there were two BiQiops at once in one Church, and then this inftance is fb far from being ^^/ojl difadvaTJtagcoi's^ that it ferves me with all the advantage I defigned in alledging it.
As for the words o^Valcfius cited by him, if they be taken in the lenfe which our Author would have them, that learried wan will not agree with himfelf For but a very few lines before, he (Iiys, thefe t^vo were Co- EpiJiOpi^ ^BjJJjops together in that City, fipcrjlite epifcopo adjutor d^ coepijcapus eU adj/wCfus^ And I ho' he (ays (but fays it doubtfully with ^mi falldr ) this was forbid- den at Surdka (above ico years after J ^ yer he adds that, fiotrvithj}ar?dwg it was fljlhifial hithe Churchy 7;ihil ominus idcntidem in ccclefia ufurpatttm eji^ which is all that I need defire. And afterwards, where iiufebius'mi.'j.c. again mentions two BiQiops in one City, he oblerves, that in one of hisCopies, the Scholiaji. h.is this note up- on it in the Margin, j;^ c-vTaCsit ^fu; ir7i<jK0^»< J\)orrfovri)(;iiv^ here M there jvcre two Biflwps of one Church. Vulejius adds, the Scholiajl under flan d.s Alexander, vpho Wiis 'BiJ/jop of Jeruialem /^^e//;f r with Narciflus. .
The
(22)
The next inftance is o^Tkcoicaiui and j4nat6\iM who were Bifhops of C^jiirea, together. Againft this he hath little to lay, I fuppofe becaufe nothing can be (aid againft it in rcafon. Only he feems willing that ^nato- hus fhould pafs but as Epifiopt/s defigfiatus^ whereby if he mean one, who is not yet aftually a Biftiop, but de- figned to be one hereafter, as Eradius was by Ji/gi/fivie, it is inconfiftent with what ^ufcbius faycs and himfelf quotes, but one line before, viz. that Theotecnus or^ dained him BiJJjop ifi hfs Ijfc-tw/e-^ for if he was not a&f/jllji Bifhop after he was thus ordained, he was never
m Eufib. 1, 7. BiQiop at all m.
^•32. Another inftance was of ^hcarius and ^axhtms
both Bifliops at once o^JcrufulcM.
He would not have J^^/a/^/z/j" to be Bifliop while Z\4acarins lived, becaufe it is (aid he was to rule the Church after his Death.
But Sl4aximus was to govern the Church not only after his death, if he furvived him (as he was like to do being much younger) but while he lived 5 and fo did adually together with him, avvn^S^t^ which. denotes
n5fl\./.2.Mp.thecxerci(e of the lame Fundion together n : befides the Hijiorian fayes, Maxinms was before this ordained Bifhop of Z)/>^(7/Af, and if he had officiated at Jeritfu' km^ where they were fo defirous of him, in a lower Capacity^ their kindneft to him had been a degrading him ^ which it cannot be fuppofed they would either offer, orheyeildto.
I alledged ^piphanius^ who figmjiesthat other Cities haSi two BiJIjops together^ and excepts only Alexandria. To which he anfwers, that Epiphanius cavnot mean that all other Cities had two BiJIjops at a time^ nor did I (ay that he meant this, but his exprelTion imports no lefs than that it was ufualfor other Cities to have two Bifiops, Nor is there any reafon to think that Epiphanins refpedsonly
the
(23) the ca(es alledged 5 it was quite another cafe that was the occafion of his words ^ and diverfe other inftances might be brought of a different nature and occafion, though this be fufficient to (hew, that the rule againft twoBidiopsinone City was not ifivioluble : He adds, 'I ' do not fee what advantage can be made of this paf' '{age.
This p^ffage (hews that there was commonly twoBi- (hops in a City at once, ^Alexandria is only excepted as varying herein from other Cities. And this is ad- •vanttigc enough for «re, and it is enough agaivfl him too ^ and leaves no reafon for his pretence that it was only in extraordinary cafes. I affirmed it could 71 ot be Epiphanius his meavit^g (as a great Afitiqiiary would have it) that Alexandria vp^is /sever fo divided^ as thatfeveral parties in itfiould have their rejpc&ive Bijl.wps there^ and brought (everal Inftances to evince it .* firfi it was di- vided in the time of Epiphanius, when the Catholicl{s had Athana(ius, the Arians had Gregorius, and then Geor- giusj and afterwards the one had Peter the other Lucius, and the Novatians had their Bifiops fuccejjivelj in that City till Cyrii's time,
' He anfwers however I do not fee why that learned ' Antiquaries opinion may not be maintained againft this ' Gentleman's objeftions, he (ayes that Alexandria was ' divided before epiphanius his time between fcveral Bi- * fhops (I faid in ^piphanius's time) it cannot be denied. ' But that is not the thing Epiphanius (peaks of^ but that 'before the Election of Theonas againft ^thanafius ^ ' there were never two oppolite Biihops as in other ' Churches.
But this doth neither agree with the one nor defend the other ^ it agrees not with Epiphanius^ but makc3 him contradict himfelf^ for he tells us there were two oppoflte BiQiops at Alexandria before Theomts v/as cho-
fen. .
(en. For this was not till Alexaf/dcrs death,but he (ayes ^^Pijhfs was made Bifhop there by the ^riatis while n ntr. 6;.\'uK. Alcwwckr washving o. And ht could not be ignorant pfvucV-jJf. of what ^ufcbiHs declares p, that upon the divifion in I ./. 3. C3p. 4. '^^gypi occaiioned by Arins^'m every City, vj.V\)>^?\ui mkty^ ikrc vrjs Dijbop a^,rr;jl Bijlwp^ and People againft Peo- ple. Nor doth it difirjd the AfJiquary^ for he (peaks univcrftlly without limiting himfelf to the Eleftion of TkeoTim^ ^ccledam Alcxaffdrinam 7:n}?qiiam h? partes fcif- fint qUiintm fivguU ^pijiopuni fnum hahebant^ that Church was never divided fo as to have opposite Bifiops.
' Theinftances are all later than this Fact, and therc- ' fore are infignificant, fiyes he.
They are fully fgrnficant^ both in reference to the Antiquary againft whom they are brought to prove that he miftook cpiphamns^ when he would have it to be his meaning, that Alexa^jdria was never (b divided as to have two oppofite Bifhops ^ for they (hew it was of- ten (b divided : and alfb in reference to Epiphurjins^ they were (b late as his time on purpole, to Ihew more un- queftionably, that could not be his meaning, which was againft his knowledge, and notorious inftances in his own time.
But he will not deny the ir? fiance of the ^^(ovatiaiis to he fgKJficavt^ only Socrates does fwtjaj that they had their ^ijbops ficcejjjvely to C)'rirj" tin/e.
Nor do I lay he does --, but he (ayes Cyril 1 fi/a up the Novatian Churches there^ and tooli^ away all the ficred treajkre in them^ and deprived their '^'Rjjl.wp Theopom- jiusofall he had. Now when our Author meets with Churches, and a 5//7jtfp over them 5 he is not wont to qucftion^t Succejfwn^ unlefs it appears he was the firft.
*' It may be they began there after this time, for there * is little Account in Church-Hiftory, that I know, of *.any U^QyvatJans in Alexandria before ^thanafins^
We
We are little concerned about this, yet it may be they began before this time, for there is tio accciwt at all in Church Hiftory^ th'at the Novatians began there in^ or after Athanafius his time.
I had produced evidence that many African *~BjJI}ops declared, in the cafe o^ Valerius and Auflin^ that it was ufual in all parts, to have two Bi(hops in a City at once 5 to this he anfwers, ' but fuppofe all this true, that this ' might be maintained by the Examples of (everal ' Churches, what is it that two Bilhops may be in one ' Church ? no, that is not the matter, but that a Bilhop ' when he growes old, may appoint or ordain his Suc- ' cefTour, to prevent the mischiefs^ that are ufitaUy produced ' by popular Ele&ions,
If what the African Bijfjops did alledge, werereftrain- ed to that particular cafe he contends for, yet this is enough to make good all I intend, viz. that nfial/y in the antient Church, there were two '^ijljops together in one place. For when one is ordained Bilhop in the fame place, when another is ftill living, with whatever defign, upon what occafion fbever this is done, yet there are two Bifhops at once in the fame place.
I (ee no reafon why this fhould be reftrained to that particular cafe, the occafion of what the Bilhops affirm may clear it, and that was Aujiins fcruple, not to (uc- ceed ValerifAf, but to be made Bifhop of Hippo, while his Biihop there was living, Epifeopatum fufiipere, fuo vivente ^pifiopo, recufabat^ for (b there would be two together, which he took to be againft the Cuftomofthe Church, contra morem ^ccleji£ , but they all perlwade him that this was ufually done, id fieri folcre, and prove it by examples in all parts ^. And Valerim his defire q PoffiJ(0:vhd and propofal was, that ^ufiin might be ordained Bilhop ^^i^?- ^^h^* oi^ Hippo, Quifu£ Cathedra non tarn Juccedcrct fed Con fl- eer dos accederet, not as one that was tofucceed him only, but to be IBiJhop together with him* E When
( 20
When he afligns this as the rcafbn of appointing a a Succeflbur, to preze^n the mi£chiejs that arc nfnally pro- duced by popular eleliions^ he (peaks his own fence, not theirs ^ for they were better advifed than to brand the general pradice of the ancient Church as rmfihicvous^ and how this fuggeftion becomes one, who undertakes to write a vindicatmt of the T^riw/twe Churchy let him- felf confider. Others may judge it, a more intollera- ble Jefledtion upon the univerlal Church in the bcftand after times, than any t^. '^B. can be juftly charged with. However the rcafon afligncd for it by *VoJJido' nim is another thing than appears in this Authors whole Ibid, account, it was becaufe Valerius feared left fome other
Churchy Jlwuld feek^ him for their BiJIjop^ and get a per- fonfo approved^ from him.
Whereas in fine he (ayes, ' The(e Ca(es (pecified ' were not thought to violate the Rule that allowed but ' one Bifhop to a City. Yet it was thought (b by Sr. ^uflif;^ when he excu(es his fufFering him(elf to be made Bifhop with Valerius^ by thk^ that he knew no: it was forbidden by a rule of the V^certe Council^ ^uod Cotjci- lio ^^Qcefw prohibitum fuiffe vefciebam^ and c;ivcs this as the rea(bn why he would not (b ordain &adius.
Next he would prove, that this provi(ioft for a Suc- ceffour does not dejiroy that "T^ile^ by an inftancc, I need not tran(cribe it at large, the fum of it is this, when the Government k ^Monarchical^ if it full out onct ("in many Ages, as it did in England once in above 500 years) that another King be crowned^ bcjides him rvho hath the Throne x, yet it will be true enough^ that it is the rule of thofc Kingdoms to have but one King. To which I (ay briefly, if it be ujital to have two Kings in (uch a Go- vernment, it will (carce be thought true, that it is the inviolable T^le of tho(e Kingdoms, to have but one King, And then how tMs ifnftance will (ute his pur-
po(e.
Car)
pofe let thofe judge who take notice, that, I have al- ready proved it nfid in the antient Church for Cities in all parts to have two ^iJJjops at once.
From fa-g. 12. he paffes to pag. 29. To fliew there were more Bifhopricks than one in the Region or Dio* cc(s of Hippo I brought (everal inftances , and might have produced more, but that. I confined ray felf to thofe which the learned Dean alledged to the contrary. Fujffala is one of them, and that alone this Gentleman takes notice of. St. Auftin calls it CafieUum diverfe times in one Epiftle. He finds fault that I tranflate Ca.^ fieUum a Ca(tlc. I did no more exped to be blamed for this, than if I had render'd Oppidum a Town. But I fuppofe he counts it no great crime, fince he runs into it himfelf and in a few lines after calls it a Cafile,
' But the(e Caftles, (ayes he, were Garrifon Towns, 'with a good dependance of Villages belonging to ' them.
They were Fortreffes, and fometimes had Villages depending on them, and might contain fo many build- ings as there are in fome Village or litde Town 5 how- ever he calls them Caftles^ and may give me leave to do fo too.
He adds, " It was 40 miles diftant from Hippo^ and ' was in St. Anjiines Diocefs, and never had a Biftiop of its own.
It is (aid indeed to belong to the Diocefs of Hippo, but I do noufind it (aid to be in St. Aufiine's Diocefs or Bilhoprick , thefe are two things and (hould not be confou nded. When it is (aid to belong to the Diocefs of Hippo, fo farr diftant, Diocefs is not taken as an fcr/e- fiaflical fenfe as it is with us, for pact of a Countrey under the Government of one Bifhop 5 but as it was ufed in Afi-ica in a riz;z/ fenfe, for part of a Province, without refpe(3: to one Bijhsp^ or to a??y one Difiop at all. Some
E 2 parts
( 28 )
parts there call'd Diocefles had m BiJfjops^KOr rccre to haze
r con. Carth. 2. anj by Decrees of the African Cotwcils r. Other places
frTXz.^'^' ^^' "lied a Dioccjs had more BiOiops than one. T^etilian
fayes, that in the place where his Collcgue Jamtarins
was Bifhop there were 4 BiQiops befides, all five in una
(coU.cartb.D.i Dio^ccft s. And thus it was in many Other places, parti-
Km.m. cularly in that called the Dioccfs <?/Hippo, as I (hew'd
by diverle inftances, and St. Aujlins own Teftimony.
Hereby it appear^ that in .Africa^ a Diocefs and a '^rfioprkk^were not the fame thing, though they be with us. There were diverle Diocefles and no Bidiop- ricks and many Bifhopricks where but one Diocefs, (b that Fffjffala and 20 other Caftles and Towns might be in the Diocefs (?/Hippo, at 40 miles difiance or more ^ and yet St.^^///?/>/sBifhoprick, not one jot the larger for it, nor he more a Diocefan.
Whereas he adds, that it never bad a Bifjop of its own. It is unqueftionable that Fuffala had a Bifhop of its own in Aitflins time , and this renders it wholly unfervice- able to their purpofe Wof the Biflioprick of i^ippo^ faid to be of 40 miles exteHf^ will not upon the count of FtiJfuU be 40 yards largeK Nor wilj either of thefc Bi- (hops, nor any other in that Region be Diocelans 5 un- less there can be two Diocefans, and I know not how many more, mone Diocefs.
I afligned this reaibn, why FnffaU had not a Bifhop fboner, becaule Auflin declares, there was not one Cat ho- licl^in it^ and fuppofed this might ferve the turn, not dreaming that thole who count all the people in a very large Parifli, or in an ico Parities little enough for a Diocefan 5 could think his Diocefs competently furni(l> cd when he had not one Soul (or but ibme few) in communion with him.
He fayes, the Town or Cafile indeed had none^ but the County belonging to it had feme , he will have the Terri- tory
tory or Parifli depending on this Cajiie to be a County, I cannot but obferve the admirable power of a fancy tiniftured and prepoflefled. It will turn a Fari[() into a CoHuty^ and a Cafik into a County Town 5 and fince a County with us, was a T^rovince with them, one T^ro- "vince muft be as much as all Africa 5 and a very fmall part o^t^Qtmidia^ muft be far greater than the vphole. But there are (bme Hypothejes, >vhich may ftand in need of (ijch imaginations.
However he likes not my reafbn, and why .<? be- cause, though it had no Catholkks in it then^ it might have feme before and concludes it had, becaufe it belonged here- tcfore to the Diocejs ofHippo^
" But that it formerly had Catholicks, ((aies he) we " may conclude by Mr. Baxters reafoning, becaufe it " belonged heretofore to the Diocefsof i^/p/'^.
If Diocefs be taken in a civil fenfe ("as it is frequendy in African Authors ) this will be no proofj that there had been any Catholicks in it^ becaufe in this fenfc ^ujfa- la might belong to that Diocefs, though there had not been either Chriftian or Bifhop in the whole Region; Nor will it be hereby proved, taking it in the .Ecclefi- aftical fen(e , for that part of Hippo^ which was under the Donatijl Bifhop, had no Catholick j and yet de jure, as he tells us, belonged to the Diocefs, (as he calls it,) or charge of St. ^ujiin. Yet fince he allows Mr. ^Baxter's Argument, he mufl admit what it concludes, viz. that a place that hath no Chriftians or Catholicks in it, belongs to no BiQiop ^ and then FuJ/ala never belonged to St. -^>//?/» as its Bifhop 5 cither before it had Catholicks,for againft this the Argument is admitted to be conclufive .- not after, for then it had a BiQiop of its own. And fb all they have to alledge for the largenefs of St. ^hjiins BiQioprick comes to nothing.
''So
(30 J
" So that I conceive the reafon will not hold, ^r its " having no Biihop of its own, (ince the (ame reafon " defkroys its dependence upon the the Dioceis ofHrppo^ " which is exprefly affirmed.
The reafon I gave for its having no Bi(hop, was, becaufe St. sAnftin declares there vpos no Catholkhjn it. This reafon w2l hold^ unlefi they think a place may have a Biftiop where tjiere are no Chriftians at all 5 when as yet they judge, that a place which hath Chri- ftians enough to make a good Congregation^ or many^ ought not to have a BiQiop. Whereas he (ayes this rea- fon decoys its dependance upon the Diocefs^ I wonder what dependance he imagines, fince it is (uch, as both the not ^i«z/7/;^ of Chriftians, and alfothe having ofthem^ deftroys it. The former he here affirms, the Jame reafon (which is its not having of Catholicks) destroys it 5 the latter is undeniable, for when F»JJala had a competent number of Catholicks, a BiChop was there conftituted 5 and then it depended no more on the Diocefs of Hippo^ than one Bilhop's Church depends on another, when both are independent.
The dependance of Fuffala upon Hippo was fuch, as that of a Countrey place upon a greater Town well furniftied with Officers for their help, to convert and reduce the Inhabitants, and when enough are convert- ed to help them to a Biftiop or Paftor. This St. Aujiin did for Fjujffala^ he imployed Presbyters to reduce the Donatifts there, and when they were reduced, he adds them not to his own charge, would not have them £- pifcopo cedere\ but advifes them to have a Biftiop of their own,. and procures one for them. This was the pra- ftice of the primitive times, in thefo methods were Churches and Biftiops multiplyed , it was not out of ufe in the fifth Age^ this of FuJJala as managed by St. ^afiin is a remarkable inftance thereof, and if otherBifliops had
imitated
(31 )
anitated him, as he did the Apoftles, and beft Ages, the Church would not have been troubled with de- bates about Diocefins.
That ^lifiin would not take the Charge of a Place (b far off as Fttffala^ he will have it afiribed to his tMo- (kliy. But it was fuch Modesty as this excellent Perfbn made Con(cience of, being convinced certijjima ratio^e^ by niofl certain reaforr^ that he was not futhcient for it. If all other Biihops had been {bwodeji^ (b confcientious, there might have been, as.,^<?2:/^z,eA? fpeaks, when Bi- {hops were multiplyed in Cappadocia^ -^vxav Iw^wAwetTXt/w, a much more defirable thing, to thofc that hve Souls, than a great Dioceis.
He gives a rcafon why this muft be afcribed to St, ' ^ufijns modejiy^ becaufe he difeharged the Office of a n^ipopthre^ in ///ore difficult times, rehilethe rresbyters he imployed there, rverebarbaroujly ujcd.
I need not deny that he performed the Office of a Bi' jliop there ^ for it is the office of a Bilhop to endeavour by himlelf or others, the converting or reducing of all that he can. Only this will not prove Fujffala to be thena part of his Bilhoprick, no more than it will prove ^thanafiu^ t6,h2ve been Biftiop oi' India '^ becaufe he encouraged,^ and (ent Frumeniius with others thither, to convert the Indians t. x.Soc, U. c,i$.
The learned Dean had cited ^ufiin as calling himfelf ^c^- ^'i.c- H* the Bilhopofthat 7)/We^(fundcrftandingby it a Region of vaft extent J I obfervcd that in the Epiftle quoted he ontly faith he had the Epifcopal charge of Hippo. By this the Gentleman changing my words, will have me to fignifie, that he was the Biffiop of the Town only, . This I did not intend, but that, he was not the only Bifiop of that whole Region. But whether he was Bilhop of part of the Town only, or of that and fome part of the Region alfo, I am not much concerned. His words are
as
«' as if he had bccnBifhop of the Town only, nay, but " of part of that neither, for the Dor?ati^s had their " Bifliop there .• fb this will ftrangely diminilb the Bi- " (hoprick of St. AuJIjm which at nrft appeared fo large. Then he anfwers, for the Dotiatijis having a Bipop tkcrc^ it ftgtijfies little to our prefcnt purpofi, (iftce he was but an Ijfitrper.
But this Ggnifiesas much to my purpofeas I need ^ for the Donatifis having aBiftioprickin Hippo, St. ^ftftins muft needs be diminiOied thereby, and altogether as much leflened, as if they had not been Ufarpcrs. And they were counted no otherwife ZJfirpcrs, but (b that if the Do»atifi Bifhop had been reconciled 5 by a Decree of the African Church he was to continue in his Bilhop- there, as a rightfitl T^offeJfoHr, and there would have been ftill two Diocefles ( fuch as they were J in one Town.
He would have us believe Aujlin as if he declared, that he was not the Bifhop of the Town only 5 but his words are, Ut modum dijpenfationis me£ non fiipergrcdiar hoc Ecclefi£ ad Hipponenfi/n Regionew pcrtinenti prodejfe conteftor, which, (ayes our Author, plainly fignifies, that all the Chirch belongit7g, not only to tht Toivn^ but but aljb to the T^gion ^Hippo, belonged to him.
But if he pleafe to view the words again which him- felf hath quoted, he will find it plainly fignif}'ed, that Auftin's church belonged to the Region (?/Hippo, but 7iot that all the Church both in Town and Region^ belonged to him. ^ntonius Bifhop of Fujfala might have (aid this as truly of his Church there^zs Aujlin did it of his Church at Hippo 5 it did ad Hipponenfem T^egionem pertinere^bc- long to the Region of Hippo. And it may be as juftly in- ferred from hence,that all the Church both in the Town and Region of Hippo belonged to the Bilhop of FuJ/ala, If our Author wiU allow of this (as he muft if he will
ftand
(33) ftand to his own account of this pa{lagej.////7?7«'s Bilbop- rick will hefirangely dimimj})cd indeed, it mufl: be con- fined to a part of Hippo^ and made leG than I reprefent it. For I did not fay, nor had I any need to affert, that he was Bifhop of the Town only. We may allow him beiides his part of the Town, diverfe Villages in the Countrey (though I have not (een it proved) with- out any danger of afligning him a Diocefm Church. For Kiddermwftcr fas one tells us, who very well knows it J hath 20 Villages belonging to it, and (bme thoufands of Souls therein, yet according to our mo- dern meadires will (carce make a Diocefin Church //. u m. b. «/ e-
To (hew that there were more Bifiops in the Region of^^^'j'^'J* ^^'^ Hippo, than St. ^ujiin^ befides particular inflances ("which he pafles by) I alledged a pallage of his where the Donatiffs were defired to meet together vpith the Co.- thoUck^ BiJJjops^ that were in that Thgion^ and who there fifferedfo much by the Donatilfs : to this he anfwers, ," That thefe Bifliops who are laid to be in Rcgione Hip' " ponenff^ were not the Bifliops of that T(egion^ but " Ibme Bifliops of the T^rovince met together there.
But that thele were Bifliops of the ^Province met to- gether there, is a meer conjedure of his own, without the leafl: ground either in this paffage or any other in that Epijile, It will not be hard to anfwer any thingat this rate. If there had been a Provincial Council then held in that T(egion^ there might have been fbme pre- tence for what he fayes 5 but there is not any hint of this in the whole Epiji/e. That which is defired is a infecting for conference^ Hoc eji ergo dejideriHm nojirunt^ d^c. Vrimum Jl fieri potefl ut cum Epijcopis nofiris pad fie c
confer at k , ideo nos conferre volumus' , and the
prime occafion of it was the outrages committed in that Region by the Donatijls^ wherein the Bifliops of that place were particularly concerned. This is figni-
F fyed,
( 34 ) fyed, as in other parts of the Epiftlc, Co particularly in the pajjiigc c itcci^ ifpijiopos tiojiros qui jm:t hi Rcgionc Hip- po;;€/!jr\ uhi l.wta m.iU pjiiwur. This Mcetino; was to be with the CiJtholh\ Billiops upon the place, in Rcgione Hrppotfcfifi^ not any to be call'd from other parts. And thcfe words (ccm brought in to prevent an objeftion which the DofratiflsnYight make againli a more general, or more publick meeting,as that which might bring them in danger of the Laws in force againft xhcm--^ An forte ijix leges Imperatoris zos non permitUwt ?:oJiros ilpifoposconve' ;/7re,and then immediately follows the(e words in anfwer to itjjBae interim^pifcopos fiojiros qui fntit in Kegiotie Hip- pO}7ef?ft^ 8cc. fo that this to me feems the plain fence of both Objeftion and anfwer , If becaufc of the Laws you dare not meet us in a more General or Provincial Council, yet give a Meeting to the Bifhops of this par- ticular Region, where there can be no apprehenfion of danger. All which makes me judge, what he (ayes concerning the BiJ/jops of the Provif/ce as here intended, * to be no better tlian an Evafion.
To prove that there was but one Bifhop in the Re- gion ofHippo^ he tells us, " That the Clergy there cal- "led in the Infcription of an Epiftle, Clerici Rcgio/ris- ^^ Hippomndum^ fpeakingoftheBifliopof H//?;'^?, do call " hira their Billiop, and not one of their BiQiops, &c,
-■ .>q Off 'A '' >JS.
But the Clergy (b called, may be only the Clergy of H/ppo^ and fo they are in the Title of the Epiftlc C/ericz HipponeCathfllici : and well may they of Hippo be called the Clergy of the Region;, both becaufe they were in that Region,and were theClergy of it i^T «^ox^\But iftheex> predion fhould be extended to f^tore or to </// in the Regi- on,their caUinghim Epifcopus 77oficy\\v\\\ be noproof that they had no other BiQiop, but him at Hippo, For that
phrafe
("35 J
phrafc Epjfiopus noUerovEpifiopi Noflri^'\\\ along in this Epiftle, doth not denote the Bilhop of that particuUr Church to which they belonged fas he would have \t) but a Bifliop o( xhtw party or perJh\ifo;;. So they call Vulerftimts rioflrum CatholicHm ^pifcopum^ who yet was not BiQiop of Hippo. So they call them ^pijccfos ?;oJ}ros^ whom they defired the Donatifts to meet once and a- gain TV, and thrice in another page, where our Author wpag. 575. finds iipifcopos }wUros x. He may have many more in- x pig, 571* ftances hereof in that Epiftle. If there was fb many Bifhops in Hippo or in that Region, as the Clergy call ^pifiopos ttojiros^ he muft grant many more Bifhops in that Region than 1 need dclire. So that this *Vhrafi however it be underftood, is a medium unhappily cho- fen : if it be taken in my finfe it is impertinent and can conclude nothing for him , if it be taken in his owfffcfjfe^ it will conclude diredly againft him.
He pafles to ^lexatidria^ and topag. ■:^2. Theif7Jla77ce ^/Mareotis he fiycs little to^ fo our Author, I might think it enough, where there was (b little occafion.
"He infinuates asif^areotis might not have number " enough of Chriftians to have a Bilhop, but this ^tha- '■^mfiits does fufficiently (hew to be a groundle(s con- *' jedure.
I had no intention or occafion to fignifie that Mareo- tis had not Chriftians enough to have a Bilhop, I knev/ that it both had many Chriftians, and a Bilhop alfb, and named him too '-, and therefore the groundlep cofjje- Bure may be fixed fomewhere el(e.
" And even before Athana^ius^ the generality of the " People there were Chriftians.
How long before ? Diofiyflus in the latter part of the third Age declares it 'ff>'f«f'w>'«cAi^?% quite deWtnte of ChriUia?is y^ and the gaining the generality there, to yEuf(U.7.c.iu the Faith, required fome confiderable time, and it is
F 2 like
( 30 -
Tike proceeded not far, till Chriftianity generally pre- vailed.
Befidcs Ifchjras^ I had mentioned Dracofitius^ both Bifliops in the Territory of ^Icxaticlria. (^as Agathammott z/i;o/.2.;.5r2. al(b wasz-J o^ Draco fiti us he takes notice, and (ayes, pojfjbly he rcas a Chorcpifcopits*
But a Chorepifcopus is elfewhere with him a Diocc- ipii' s?o- j^f^ a^ jjrid here he (ayes that he did accept a '~BiJJjoprickr Now the(e put together will go near to make a Dioce- fan Bifhop. But then if there were two or three Bifliops in the Diocels of Alexandria^ bcfides Athanafim , they will (carce be (b much as half Diocefins.
He (ayes ^thanafius prcJJ'dhiMto accept it. If (b this great Per(bn was no more unwilling to have another Bifliop in his DioceJS'^ and in a Conntrcy place too, than Au^in was to have one at FttJfaU^ He fayes further this was an extraordinary cafi^ though what was extraordi- nary in it I cannot imagine ^ to prove any thing there mentioned to be (b, will be an hard task.
"And allowing this man a Countrey BiQioprick, " that of Alexandria would be a great deal too bigg for " the Congregational meafure.
And lb it might be, and yet be no Diocefin Church 5 if that will fatislie him which is too big for thofi meafiires^ he (eems content to drop his caufc, and may leave it in the hands of '^Presbyterians, And he is in the more danger, becau(e he (eems not apprehenfive of it, but counts it enough if he thinks a Church is any where found larger than (mc Congregation.
I had given in(\ances of feveral Towns that had Bi- fhops, and were but two or three or four dv. miles diftant one from another this he denies not ; but asks Tvhat does this ccticlnde ^ nrigbl. mt ihofe Uiocejfcs be yet nthch larger than one Congregatrcn i
I
(37)
I might conclude that thefe were juft fuch Dhceffes as our Countrey Paridies are , and had fuch Congrega- tions as thole Parifli Churches have. And (bme of them in time might have provifion ("as (bme of ours havej for more Congregations than one. And if our modern DioccJJcs were of this proportion, they would be much more conformable to the avtknt Modells.
" Suppole the chief Congregations of Holland had " each a Bidiop, yet I conceive they would be Dioce- " (ansjthough thole Cities lie very dole together.
He might have laid the/:e?/e at home, where we are better acquainted, and fappofed this of our Countrey Towns ^ or of both the cUrfi and leffcr Towns in Hol- land 5 if he had deiigned what would be moft parallel. But to take it as it is formed, though tho(e Cities lay- not further diftant, and had each of them a Bilhop, yet if their Churches were governed in common by Bifhop and Presbyters, as the antient Churches were ^ they would not be Diocejar?^ but more like t:hc Model of the Churches and Government which Hola.vd hath at pre- fcnt.
" And now after all this, though we iiave (everal in- " fiances out o^Egypt^ how near Cities were together '■'in fome parts ^ yet upon the whole account the Dio- " cefe (Jo appear to be large enough, from the nura- *'berofthem. '
He would have us think where Cities are 7^ near toge- ther (as I had fhewed) yet becaufe of their mimher the Diocefl'cs might be large enough. But where they were fo near together, they could not be large enough to make any thing like the modern Diocefles, no, nor larger than our Countrey Parifhes if they had Bi(hops in them. And the Ancients thought themfclves obliged by the Apojile's rule to have a Bilhop, not only in fome but in every City, ^ffyJiTmif'iS'a'mfJ^vv ^ (ayes Chryfi-
liome^
C38J
b In 1 Tim. rioWC^ ^ ''^S' iyj^'-^i'7riKiroa^*^''^'*vb, and Thcophilu^ ^y^.
How. II. prefles n^-r^-re:>jv by j-jtd' fc^itW TziA/K^ without exception of the ImaUncls of the place or its ncarncfs to others. The reafon diverle Cities had none, was the want, or the inconfiderable number of Chriftians in them. No- thing but this hindered any City from having a Billiop in the four firft Ages; though the grcateft part of their Cities (as may be made manifcft J were no greater than our Market-Tow^ns or fairer Villages. And upon this account many Cities might want Bifbops, and it may be did fo, in Egypt particularly , Hcathet/ifi/c pre- vailing in many places there, even in ^thcnufius his time 5 for which I could produce fufRcicrr evidence ^ but will not now digrefs fo far. Afterwards the affeda- tion oi great?icfs in fime^ was the occafion of new mea- fores 5 and orders were made'that Towns which had no Biftiops before fhould have none after : though the reafon why they had none before was gone 3 and thofe places had as many or more Chriftians in them, than mofl: Epilcopal Cities had of old.
" For in ^thatjafius his time there were not an hun-
cAthiin.Apol.2. " dred Bifhops in all Egypt, Lybia and T^e^/tapolis c.
I was a little furprized to read this, and foe ^thatia- fius cited for it. For I knew that ^thana^ius reckons 95 Bifliops from Egypt befides himlelf, at the Council of Sardkat) and others from Africa, wherein L>'/'w and T^entapolis are ufually included 5 and it was never known that a major part or a third of the Bifhops in a Countrey, did come to a Cotpicil at fuch a diftance as Egypt was from Sardka. It is fcarce credible that A- ihamfiHs would fo far contradict himfclf, as to fay there were not fo many BiOiops in all thofo three Countreys, when he had fignifyed there were many more in om of them. Some miftake I thought there muft be, and con- fulting the place I found it not intirely reprefented.
There
C 39 ) There is this Claufe (immediately following the words he citesj left out, ^«^«'5 tktwi/ \\uZi imSiv^^ vone of thefi ac- cHJed wc, whereby it appears that the meaning of the whole pafflige is this, there was an himdred BiJJwps in the Dioccfs ^/ Egypt vpko appeared ?70t agawfi him^ or that fiivoured him. But thofe who favoured ^Arius (whom he calls izufebiaus) and Mclctius^ to (ay nothing of Co- luthus (for into fo many parties was that Countrey then divided) are not taken into the reckoning s otherwife it would have amounted to many more than an hundred. Sozomen fayes the Bifhops there, ,who took Arius his part were many, '^'^"^ TSv^ffvpTruv d, and in Athavd(ius d ub.i. f.14. there is an account of many (^eletlm Bifhops by namec^ and in ^piph^rnus it is (aid, that in every Re- t Apol.2.f.6i^. gion through which a^cletius paflcd, and /// every place "pohere he came he made BiJJ.wps f. (Ep- Hter, (58.-
The next thing he takes notice of is the defence of Mr. Baxter's Allegation out of Athanafi//s^ to (hew, that all the Chrifljuns <?/ Alexandria (M. "^'s words are, the main body of the Chriftians in Alexandria ) could meet in one Church.
" It is to be confefTed that the expreflions of that " Father (ecm to fivour him, yjic^mivjoi tt/';^/ and that " the Church did ^yU H^^t hold all, &c.
I am made more confident by all that is faid to the contrary, that the evidence is really (iich, as will need no flivonr, if it can meet with Jaftice.
" Now (iippoie that nil the Chriftians in Alexandria^ " the Catliolicks at leaftwife, could meet together in " that great Church, yet all the Diocefs could not.
All that was undertaken to be proved by the pafTage in queftion, was, that the main body of Christians in Alexandria adhereing vo Athana(ius QovXdi^ and did meet in that one Church. If this be granted nothing is de- nied that he intended to prove. As for a Diocefin the
Countrey,
C 40 J
Countrey, if he will (hew us what, or where it was, and that it had m ether Bffiop hi it, he will do (bmething that may be confidered , yet nothing at all againft what this Teftimony was made ufe of to evince.
He (ayes adly, " Suppofe this great ^great Church " could receive all the multitude, yet if that multitude " was too great for Perfonai Communion it is infignifi- "cant.
Upon tKis fippojition it might be too great for an or- dinary meeting in the Congregational way, yet not big enough for a Diocefan Church. But the fippo fit ion is groundlels and contradicts Athanafins who (ayes they had Pcrfbnal Communion, they all prayed together^ and did not only meet within the Walls, but concurred in the worJJjip, and /aid. Amen,
He feyes ^dly, " Before the Church of ^exandria "met in diftinft Congregations, but we are told that " thofe places vpere very/mail^ port and fir ait places.
All xht^Qfave one^ I (aid, which he ought not to have omitted. And they were ^ofntall^ becau(e tho(e who were wont to meet in them (everally, fo as to (ill them, could all meet in one Church, and did (b as Athanafius declares.
" But that they were fuch Chappels or Churches, as "forae of our Parifhes in England have as great a num- " ber as Alexandria^ is hardly credible.
I know not how tho(e places could be well exprefTed with more diminution than Athanafius hath done it, he (ayes they were not only firait and J^m//^ but the very finalleB. If he will make it appear that our Churches or Chappels are le(s than tho(e that were ^e^')^-^'^^^ I (hall underftand that which I could ne\'er before, that (bmething is le^ than that which is kali of all. But he will prove they were not (b finally becau(e firft the Church of Alexandria woi very numerous from the begin- ning
(40
vhg. Why it (hould be counted (b very tJumerous from the beginnings I know no reafon, but the miftake of an Hifiorian who will have a Seel of the Jevps (which was numerous in or about Alexandria) to be Chriftians.
" And if they met all in one place it muft confequent- " ly be very large.
Thei^roundof the confcquence is removed, Valejlus his own Author (ayes they had but one Church to meet in^ in Dionyfius his time^ almoft 3 Ages from the begin- ning g. If that one was large, yet it is not like that it g;^^ 54. ftood till ^thanaftus his time ^ after Co many Edi&s for demoliftiing of all Chriftian Churches, and a (evere Execution of them in Diocletian's Perfecution.
" Nor is it likely they (hould divide till they were " grown too numerous for the bigge(t Meeting-place " they could conveniently have.
It is as likely as that S^thanaflus (peaks truth, in a matter which he perfectly knew 5 he tells us they did divide^ and yet were not too numerous for one great Churcify in which they met conveniently too j yea, bet- ter than when difperied in thofe little places, as he (ayes and proves, '^'" ^^Awr h^ ^c.
adly, He (ayes, " Though before the Empire was con- " verted they might be confined to little places, and " forced to meet (everally 3 yet sifter Conjiantine became " Chril^ian, it is not likely that the Alexandrians would " content themfelves vj\thfmall andjirait Chappels.
Nor did they content them(elves with tho(e little ones, for befides this built in Athanafius his time, there was one greater than tho(e (mall ones fini(hed in Alex- anders time, where the body of Catholicks aflembled with Alexander y the other places being too fkrait, nvaroPTuv rtAAwpTafT^TTwr, this is that One I excepted, when I (aid (after Athanafius) that the reft^ allfave one^ were exceeding fmaU, But is it any proof that thefe were not
G very
C 40 very (mall which ^thafiaftus reprelcnts as fiich, becaufe there was one (exprefly excepted from that numberj (bmething larger ^ As for what he adds, that thet? every ordinary City^ built very great and wagnificent Cathedrals^ itiseafily faid, but will never be proved.
" 3dly, Some of thele Churches had been built with " a dcfign of receiving as many as well could have per- " fonal Communion in WorQiip together.
Neither will this hold, unlefs fome of thofe Churches could have received all^ which had 'Per fonal Communi- on with ^thanafius in this greatefl: Church •-, which he denies, and makes u(e of to Conjianfius as a plea why he madeufe ofthe^re*?/^.
" As Tkeonas is faid by ^thanafius to have built a " Church bigger than any of thole they had before.
Where Theonas is fiid by ^thanafius to have built a Church, d^c, I find not, nor does he direct us where it may be found, I fuppofe for very good EVeafon. In- deed Athanafius in this Apology fpeaks of a Church called Theonas fit s like in memory of a former Bifliop of that place) where he (ayes the multitude of Catholicks met Wwh .y4lexander^ (rvi;H3«vgx«//*7i7r^rt9(9- ^ in like Circum- ftances, as a greater multitude affembled with himlelf in the new Church, which was greater, and pleads Alex- anders example in defence of what he did. But Theonas could not build this Church, for he was dead many years before, being Predeceflbur to '^Peter whom Achil- Iftt'lrn '' ^ sind Alexander fucceeded k
L I.e. a, " And yet this and all the reft were but few and Irrait
" in companion of the great multitude of Catholicks " that were in Alexandria.
I expefted another Conclu (ion, but if this be all, he might have fpared the premifies 5 for one part of it we aflert, the other we need not deny, only adding with ^thanajius^ that the ^>v^/e^ Church was capable «^^<*«9w^ w^yTttfj ofrecnvif7g this great multitude^ But
r 43 )
But here he fticks,and will wriggle a little more," But " I conceive, fayes he, after all this, that the exprefli- " ons of Athamftus do not conclude that all the Chrifti- " ans in Alexandria, were met in this great Church.
That alldiwA every one did come, was never imagined. It is but the main body of the Catholicks that M. jd. in- tends, as our Author obferves a little before.
" For the tuMultuous manner in which they came to " their BiQiop to demand a general Aflembly, makes it " probable that not only Women and Children, would " be glad to abfent themfelves, but many more^ either " apprehenfive of the efFedt of this tumultHons proceedings " or of the danger of fuch a crowd.
The Women he will not admit , but was it ever known that fuch a great and folemn Aflembly for Wor- (hip confiftcd only of Men ? Were not the Women in Communion with Athanajiuss Chriftians, that they muft be left out, when he (ayes all the Catholicks met.<? Can all be truly (aid to afTemble when the farr greater fart (Women, Children and his many more) were ab(ent^ Are not the Women in the *~Primitive Church often noted for (uch Zeal for the Worfhip of Chrift, as made them contemn fir greater dangers, than here they had any cau(e to be apprehenfive of .<i* The fuppo(ed danger was either from the Crowd or the Tumult, For the for- mer, did the Women and many more never come to Chri- ftian Affemblies, when there was any danger of being crowded .«? I think there was as great danger from a crowd in '~Bafilifcus his Reign, when the whole City of C. T*. is (aid to have met together in a Church with the ^m- perour, but yet the Women flayed not behind but crcwd- ed in with the men^ as Thcodorns Le&or reports it, "'^f
owt lit •TnMai dvJi^dfftv a^M ;^ yjveu^U^ h iff iKKKmet uufnt ^a0l\lffK\t
cw<t^poi^i(rH( i, Befides Athanafms here fignifies the dan- i colU^. lib, i? ger of acr^TTi^wasin the lefler Churches, (not in thisj
G 2 where
r 44 )
where they could not meet but ^^ xjvJWv vwo)^^ anj (^ prefers their allcmbling together in the great Church as better.
As for the Tumults (which might have been conceal- ed in a VifidJcdtion of the primitive Church^ if there was any thing tumultuous, it was over when Athanafius had complyed with their defires to meet in the great Church. And (b no apprehenfion of danger left to roomen, or any elfe, upon this account.
" And even thofe that did aflemble there were too " many for one Congregation, and was an allembly " more for Solemnity and Oftentation than for Perlbnal " Communion in Worlhip, and the proper ends of a " religious Ailembly.
Here he runs as cro(s, to the great Athamfius and the account which he gives of this Allembly as if he had ftudied it^ debafing that as more for Oflentation than for T^erfoKal Communion in Worfhip, and the proper ends of a Religious hjjembly, which kthanafius highly com- mends both for the more defirable communion which the Chriftians had there mWorfiipy and for the greater ef- ficacy of it as to the proper ends of a T^ligious hfjemhly. k.4;>»^.2.p.$9r.Let any one view the paflages 4 and judge. He (tts ^^** forth the harmony, and concurrence of the multitude in
vPorjl)ipwith one voice. He preferrs it before their affcm- blies, vphen difperfed in little places, and not only be- caufe the unanimity of the multitude was herein more ap- parent, but becaufe God would fooner hear them, «7w )y Tuxie^ • Ov)( imKvH, Far if fayes he, according to our Saviour s promije, where two fljall agree concerning any thing HJljall be done for them by my Father^ &c. how prevalent will be the one voice offo numerous a people, affembled to- gether and faying hmcn to God. ^ and more to that pur- pofe, by which we may perceive, Athanafius being JudgCj how true is it that this Aflembly was more for
Solemnity
('45)
Solemnity and Oflef?tathrr , than for *~Perfofial CommU" vion in Worfiip and the proper ends of a. Religious ^Jfent- hly. And thus much to let us (ee through the ^Arts ufed to cloud a clear pafl'age alledged out o^ ^thanaftui 5 if M. B. hid betaken himfelf to fuch little devifes^ in like Circumftances ^ our Author would have taken the Li- berty to tell him, that he was driven to hard Shifts.
Before we leave Alexandria I am to take notice of what is (aid by our Author ^ to part of a Letter writ by a Friend to M. ^. concerning this City and the num- ber of Chriftians therein in Conjlantius his time. The Writer of it oblerves a grols abufe put upon him in the Vindicators Anfwer to it, and defires his defence may be here inferted. It contains an argument to confirm what was concluded from that paflage in Athunaflus here infifted on, that the Catholicks then could meet in one place. After that /><i^^e and to this purpole M/B. introduced it, as is very apparent /. This our Author 1 chmh wn, (eems to obferve when he begins with it '-, he adds, (ayes ^''^' ^' ^®* he, to this oj Athanafius ("the very paflage mentioned^ another argument given him by a learned Friend m. And m ?ai: 5?. after he hath done with it », becaufe c^. B. has endea- n pa^, 6^ TJOHred to reprejent the Church <?/'Alexandriay^ inconjidcra- hie even in Conftantius hts dayes, &c. And yet, how it comes to pals I know not, it is quite out of his thoughts while he is examining it. He was Co hafty for confuting, that he ftaies not to take notice what he was to confute, though the intent of it be moft plain and obvious, both by the occajion and vpords of the Letter : But Forces that fenfe on it, and makes that the defign of it , which I was far from thinking, would ever come into any man's Fancy, when he was awake. The words of the Letter are thefe ^ The City <?/ Alexandria, fiyes Strabo, is Uh^ a Soldiers Cloaks, &c. and by computation about ten miles in compaf^, a ^d, or ^th, part of this was taken up -with
public^
C40 pihUck^buildh!gs^ Temples and T^yal T^ataces ^ thus k two miles and an half or three and a qnarter tah^n j/p. He anfwcrs," I will not (ay this learned friend hath impofed " on M.D. but there is a very great miftake betwixt them. But the miftake is his own, find^fucha one, as I won- der how he could fall into it. He takes it for granted, that the Argument is brought to prove what Chriftians Alexandria had in Strahos time. Here is not the leaft occafion given for this, unlefs the citing ofStraLo fliew- ingthedimenfionsof that City .* hwt^Prinutc ZJfljcr is quoted too, on the (ame account , and lb as much rea- lon to fancy the defign was to iliew what Chriftians A- lexandria had in the T^ri mates time. Jerome^ Epipha- nins^ Theodoret^ Socrates^ Sozomen are alio cited there 5 why could not thefe as well lead him to the right Age, which their words plainly point at, without the leaft glance at any Age before, as Strabo alone (cited with- out any refped to the time when he writ ) (b far mi{^ lead him ? Nay, the 4th. age is exprefly mentioned in the Letter 5 and the numerouftiefs of the ^^(ovatians and Brians in Alexandria at the time intended , is infifted on 5 could he think any man fo ftupid, that had but the leaft acquaintance with thofe things, as to fpeak o^Arians^ and V^vatians in Strabo's time ? But it may be, though I would hope better, our Examiner was too inclinable to fix an abfurd thing upon the Wri^ tcr of the Letter , that he might be excufed, from giving a better anfwcr when it was not ready.
But let us hear what he (ayes to it 5 yet what can be expedted to be faid by one who makes his own dream the Foundation of his Difcourfe ^ However let us try if we can find any one claufe that is true and pertinent in the whole, and begin with the beft of it.
Though Strabo (ayes that Temples and great Palaces tcx>k up a 4th. or a 3d. of the City, yet our Examiner
will
(47;
will have us think there might be inhabitants there 5 when ^piphamits (ayes, as I cited him, that part was ?f«f*®-, deftitute of Inhabitants, fb he tells us IJr^/f/i///;;/ was. The Examiner denies not Bmchiitm to be that Re- gion of the City which Slrabo fayes, vpos taken up with ruLlick^ ^Htldings^ but adds, what all the publick^ huild- ings of the Town in one legion .<? But who (aid all the Publick Buildings > This is his own fancy ftill.
" And that an outer skirt too, as it is de(cribed by " the Greek ^xrtjrology in Hillarion^ Sec.
If he mean it was not a Part or Region of the City Sirabo and ^pipktnins will have Credit before a Uory out of the Greek cM.irtjrology^ or him that tells it, when it appears not in the words cited. In Strabo it is M©" part of the Crtj, in EpiphaniHs it is a T^gion^ h7aC§ii^G> y^\\i/Jm ^^ ^^ K>^iMtTt. For as "l^me was divided into 14 Regions^ and mm^, i6S. C, 7^. in imitation of it, fo Alexandria was divided inta 5, whereof -Br//rZ'///«/ was one, and the greateft of all. So I underftand Ammiamts ^MarccUijius^ who upon the lots of Brnchium (aith, amifit rcgionum maximam partem qu£ '^rKihhim apeUatur 5 Alexandria loft the greateft of its Regions^ which was called Bruchium.
" This ^piphaniits (ayes was deftitute of Inhabitants in *' his time, and not unlikely, and perhaps deftitute of " Publick Buildings too, for it was deftroyed after an " obftinate (iege in the Reign of kurelian as kmmiamts ''^ ^Marcellinus^ Or ofClaadiits as ^nfebins.
When he hath granted all that I detigned, that thk part was deftitute of Inhabit a7its^ and more too, that it was deftroyed^ yet he would have the City no lefts ^ no ?;eccjfity of thif^ (Iiyes he, fure we are not yet awake ^
can a City loo(e "n-m^Tovn x) r^iroif Va rnvrQ- yn^iCoKM jd^<Q^ ^ in the Hftorian swords^ a j\.th.yca^ or a third part of its largencfs^ and yet not be fo much the left ^ He hath no- thing to (alve thisj but it may be^ and it might be^
ground*
c 48 ;
groundlefs (urmifes, without cither reafon or authority. " They might inlarge upon another quarter, being it
"may be forbid to build Bruchiym — they might
" dwell clofcr than before, and fo their multitude be un- "diminifht.
How far it is from being true, that their mHltifude was mtdijfihiijl)t ^ and how tjeedkfs either to i/ilarge — or to dvpcU cloj'er, may foon appear. The multitude rauft needs be much diminifhed in fuch a War, and a clofe (lege of many years continuance, for fo it is reported
in chronic. t)Oth by Eufchins and Jerome ^ and it was much wafted and in a confumptive condition, before it was thus be- fieged and difmantlcd hy ClandiHs 2. or kurclian.
It was greatly diminifbed in numbers by Caracalla who
Maflacred a great part of the Inhabitants. Hcrodian
layes, 'j^<r'^T(^iyi.vvn<ph&ai^^^ionait/Ar<&-^ &c. ihejiaughter
was Juch that with the fireams ofblohd.^ which ran from the
' place^ fjot only the vajleji outlets ^/Nilus, but the Sea, all
oHiji.Lib.4. along the Shore of klexandm was di/coloff red 0, Towards the latter end of the third Age, Dionyjius gives an ac-
p In Euftb. lib. count of the ftrange diminution of the Alexandrians p^
•J. cap. 22. (ignifying that informer daies the elderly men were more numerous, than in his time, both young and old, com^priz,- ing all from infancy, to extream old age, *7rB vmmv ctf^n^uVw
" However certain it is, that this City long after the " deftrudtion of Bruchium, retained its ancient Great- " nefs 5 and is reprefented by no Author asdiminifht ei- " ther in Number or Wealth.
This is rer^4z« no otherwife than the former, i.e. quite the wrong way. For not long after the deftrudion of "^Bruchium^ in the Egyptian War made by Diocletian m^- on kchilleus, which Eufebius, <?«/r<7/?7«/ and others men- tion : It was greatly dimzniJJjt both in numbers and wealth. For Alexandria after a long Hege, was taken by force
and
2I»
(49)
md plundied, great Execution done upon the Citizens^ and the Walls of the Town demolithcd.
^ great part of the City (fayes the Letter J ^^^ ^JJW^- ed to the Jews, fo Strabo wdcfniiely as Jofephus quotti him; others tell m mere pm^ually^ tLit thcirfiare was two ofthefizedivifotis-j though ma^i} of them had their habi- tations in the other division s^ yet they had two f^th. parts in- tire to thcmj elves 5 and this is Ifippofc the ■^^'^^ ''"^*'&' which Jofephus fiyes the Sttcceffors <?/ Alexander, fit apart for them 5 thf^s we fee how 6 or y miles of the 10 are dif fofed of To this he (ayes, '^ The number of thofe *' 'jews was much leflencd within a little while after " Straho by an infurredion of the Alexandrians againfl: " them.
I fuppofe he means by that flaughter of them which jF(?/?p^)r/i- mentions f, where 5oocoweredeftroyed^ ^^^'^k^i!i}(!^\ what were thefe to the vaft number ofjcips in Egypt, which *Thilo r fayes amounted to no left than a mil- r ugat. ai lion? ^''''''
" The civil Wars afterwards under Trajan and his " Succeffor had almoft extirpated them.
It was in T^^/ei7;»e where thefe Tragedies were aded, and was ib far from extinguiftiing them in ^gypt or A- lexafidriaj that thereby, in all probability 5 their num- bers were there increafed 5 for being diverted of about 1000 Towns and Garrifons by ^ez^er^ (Adrian sGenC' ral) as Dion reports, and forbidden all accefs to Jern- falem as Artlio *~Pelleus in ^ufehius f this made other (Ub,^caf.6 places more defireable, thofe particularly where they might have good entertainment as they were wont to have at Alexandria, and what Dion ChryfoHome (ayes, confirms it.
But all this which he (ayes, if there were truth in it, is impertinent 3 for the Letter is not concerned what Jevps were there near Strabo or Adrians time, but in
H the
C5o)
the fourth Age. Yet this is all that he hath to fay to the reft of the Letter^ befidcs the publifhing and repeating of his own miftakc, and upon no other ground making himfelf (port with the Writer of it.
Thus he begins, by the fame rule he might havedifpofid of all at 077 c€^ a}id coti eluded out <7/^StraboV divifion of the Tann^ that there was ?70t one Chrifiian in it : and repeats it thrice in the fame Page, V^o matter what number of
Jews or Hcathe-fts it had ifi Strabo'/ dayes , it is kindly
done to provide for Chrifiians before they vpere in beings furely Strabo, who makes the diflribttion^ never intended the Chrifiians one foot of ground in all that divifion, and this learned Friend might have fpared hit little Town ofS or lO Furlongs, which he Jo liberally bcfloivs upon the 'Bifiop
<?f Alexandria, before our Saviour was born , and he
tP4^ .69.34. is at it again feveral times in the following difcourfe t.
How defirable a thing is it to have M. TB. and his' Fricffd render'd ridiculous .«? when rather than it (hall not be done, our Examiner will publifh his own indifi cretion (b many times over to eftedl it. But I will for- bear any fharper reflexions upon this Author, for taking him to be an ingenuous Perfon, 1 may cxpedt he will be levere upon him felfi whenhedifcernshiserrour, which 1 doubt not but he wiiliee clearly by once more reading that Letter, ' - '
Next he would diiprove M. TB's reprefentation of the Church o£ Alexandria in ConS/antiu/s time, by giving a view of tliat Churches greatnefs from the firft Founda- •a Pag. 61. tion of it « '-) which becaufe it may concern theLc//cr du- ly underftood, I (hall take fome notice of it very briefly. But there is fomething interpofcd, between this and the ' Letter, which requires fbme obfervance 5 there we may have an inftance of this Geptlcraan s fevcrity upon M. B, and how realbnable it is^j "His rtmark, (ayes he, " upon two Biihops liviflg quietly in Alexandria is fo
" dilkige-
" difingdnuous a fuggeftion, that he hath realbn to be "a(ham'dofit.
But what is there in this fo dijirjgcr.nom andjlyamefittf Does not Epiphavi/^ fty this, and our Examiner ac- knowledge it b ^ Ay, but M. B. means that there were b pag. k^. not only two Bil"hops, but their difiifiU Churches in this City. Well, and does not ^piphamus give him fuffici- ground for it .<? Does he not tell us that ^dctius made Biiliops,who had their '<^''« iv.Kw^ai in every place where he came } Does he not fignifie that the <^eletians in Alexandria had their dijiinti Churches or Meetings both in the time of Alexander and Athanaft/fs > (ayes he not particularly of cyJfe/f/7>if that bewg fiimiliar Wwh^lex- under he ftayed long in that City, having '«^*««' nra^ty ^r* Tth UloK a drjiind SHeeimg vptth thofe of his ovpn T^arfji i Were there not innumerable Cities in that Age which had two Bifhops and their Churches, fbme three or fmtr at once (thofe of the Arians^ the Dortatifis^ the 5A(j?z/4- iians, the ^eletians^ &c. befides thofe who were ftyl- ed Catholicks) Would this Gendeman take it well if M. 'B. (hould tell him, that he who denicsthis is difingenu- ous if he know it, and hath Ibme reafbn to be afliamed if he know it not .<=* Ay, but Epiphamus was deceived in this account of the Meletians^ and mif^reprefents them. Indeed our Examiner makes as bold with ^piphanim (a BiQiop of great Zeal and Holinefs, a Metropolitan, a famous Writer J as he does with M. B. charging him with much xvcakpefs fas one eafily impofed upon^ mavj ovefjights^ groj? f»ifiakes^ diverfi abfard thif^gs, andjuch ilories^ that he will fcarce wiQi worfe to his Adverfary, than to believe him c. Nor does ^piphanius alone fall cPag,m.ii^> under his cenfure in his Vindication of the Primitive ^c. Church (as he calls it) he goes near to accufi more par- ticular Perfons ("Biftiops amongft others) of eminency in the aatient Church, than he defends 5 fb that one
H 2 may
(S5 )
may (iiipect his deligii was, not (b much to defend emi* mnt ''Bipops^ as gnat Bijlwprkks fuch as the antient Church had none, and to run ciofs to M. B, more than to vindicate any.
" In Stc^arl(s t\me ./fkxamJna had feveral Churches,
dEuCtb.hK.iS though but one Bifhop, &c d.
What ^iifchins (ayes of Churches in hlcxavdria at that time, is grounded upon a miftakc, as appears, becaufe immediately after the words cited, he adds, fe great was the pjhltitude of Belcivcrs at Ms^rksfirji attempt there^ that Philo in hk ivnt7/7gs thought fit to give an accontit ofthew^ «V itf yes^f^i A^iSfou Tcv irihoiva.^ izufcUus couccivcd that the Effefies^ ns ScaBger^ or the TkerapeiitiC^ as J^aleftHs^ whom Fhilo defcribes, were the Chriftians o^ Marl(s Converli- on 5 and there being Aflemblies of that Sed: of the Jcvrj in n^hilos time , the Hiftorian fpeaks of ChrilVian Churches at Alexandria in Marias time 5 but thofe who believe that he erred in the former, can have no reafbn to give him credit in the latter. Our 8xami^7er docs not deny that he was miftaken, but layes, it k not ma- terial nhethcrthty were Jcivs or ChrifiidMs '^ yet tho(ewho inquire after Truth fincerely, will think it material -^ and little value a Teftimony which hath no better ground than a miftake.
cvai.62. The next is no better c, that is an Epiftle of A-
dnan^ which Others are puzzled to make fenfe of^ or fuch fenfe as can have any appearance of Truth. That very pafTage in it, which is the only ground of our Authors Argument, himfelf acknowledges to be ialfe ^ for he would (hew the Chriftians in Alexandria to be numerous enough for his purpofe, becaufe it is there faid thatfime (whom he takes tobe Chrin:ians)did f{>rce the Patriarch ( whoever he be ) to jvorfijip Chriji, and yet adds, there is ?w doubt hut Adrian does the Chri' flians wrong in this pointy for they never forced any tfi their
Religioft.
( 55 )
T^eligiof/, Will he have us to rely upon reafbnings, which have no better Foundation, than what is »«- doubtedly falfi by his own Confeffion ? He (ayes alio itk 7Wt material to ov.r pnrpofe vchether this T^atriarch were n^fpop of Alexandria, or chief Govermur of the Jews, If (b, then it is not material with this Gef?tlemar!^ either to argue from that which is not true, or elfe from that wliich is nothing to his purpofe. For if this Patriarch was the Bifhop of Alexafidi'ia^ that they forced him to worQiip Chrift, is not true^ he did it of his own accord ; and if it be not one, who was no Chriftian, that they forced ^ then is not any thing in this paflage to his pur- pofe, and Adrians Epiftle might have been waved as a meer impertinency.
That which follows yj hath not the fhcw of a reafbn, i?ag.6is " the great Catechifts of^lexa/fdria, as T^aritenus^ Cle- " we;;/, Origetj and Heracles^ did not a little advance " the growth of Chriftian Religion in that place, d^c.
Mull there needs be a Diocefv; Church there bccaufe the Catcchijis did advance Religion not a little .<?
The next concerning Dioffyftui his Church meeting at Chdrofi (Cephro it fliould be) and Coiktl.io^ is already fully anfwcred, as it is offered with better improvement than our Examiner gives it,g. It cannot ealily be ap- gr^otvidenci prehended how a larger Chufch meeting with Diony-^"^^'^'^^'^^* '///<f, made up of thofe banifhed with him, and others from feveral parts o^Egjpt^ at Cephro^ a Village in L;'- /'w, a diftinft Province , fhould prove that he had a Dioccfarj Church in Alcxa^dna^ to any, but thofe who are very inclinable to believe it without proof Nor will others undcrftand that Diof^yCins is better proved to be a Dioccfm by the Chrifiians which came fi*om Alex" avdria to Cohithio in fS^areotes-^ (there being none there befides) for the Believers in Alexandria it felf^ were no more than one Church could hold, as Valefms colleds
from
I
C S4 ) from this ver}' place to our Examiners regret, Ejc Ijoc loco coLigitur^ tctate quidcm Dioftyfii^ iwicam aclhuc friffit ^l€X(wdri£ EcclcJIiWt, in quam omms TJrbU illius f'delef^
h NVr. in Lkft9. Oratiortk caus^^ cofne^jid>a/;t b.
tp. 7. cap.u. j^ ^^^ ^^^^ Paragraph our ^xawincr nrgues for the great numbers of Chriftians at Alexandria , from the multitude of Martyrs at Thebes.
" Under the Perfecution o^ Diocletian what numbers *' of Chriftians might be at ^lexattdria^ may be judged
I PAi. ^4. u ^y ^^^ multitude of Martyrs that fufFcred at Thebes 7,
But here he miftakes ^ufebins^ who gives an account not of the Martyrs which were ^ 0«^<«<, in the City Thebes^ but ^ 0«C*«/*, the 'Province Thebais : which was half ofthat large K.ingdom,according to the antient divifion of it into the upper and lower ^gypt. The Supe- rioHr 6gypt was Thebak^ the inferiour was called fbme- times the J^elta^ (bmetimes Egypt in a reft rained (enle, and this divifton in thefe terms we have \nEufebins(xo go
^ a/>. 5. no further)a little before A., ^ ©nf<*»A n^T 'Atyjrlov^ where he begins his account of the Martyrs in this Countrey. Nqw if the Chriftians in that Provice of large extent, and comprifing very many Cities may be concluded to be very numerous from the multitudes of Martyrs which (ufFered there 5 yet nothing at all'can be inferred for any numbers to his purpofe in the City Thebes^ by which he would conclude their numeroufne(s in Alexandria. But if M. 13. had miftaken one City for Co large a Countrey with multitudes of Cities in it, and made that miftake the ground of his reafoning ^ it is like our Examiner would have expofed him for it in his Preface^ as he does for (bme lefler matters.
1 Pag, ^5» In the following Paragraph /, there is a groundlefs
fuppofition, that the divifion o( Alexandria into Parifies was antienter than Arins^ there being no mention of it
by
r 55 ;
by any antient Author : as alfo an accufation of PetU"
vUts as miftaking ^pphamts his words, without any Serm. ofSeptn-
caufe that I can difcern in thofe words, though he ^""'^^^•
(ayes, // is plain there. That which he fayes is plain,
the learned Dean of Taid's could not difcern, but un-
derftood ^pipbiwins as T^etavhts and others did before
him. Thefe I took to be preliminaries and expefted his
Argument, but found it not, unlefs it be couched in
the firfl: words.
" The Divifion of Alexandria, between (everal Pres- " bytcrs, as it were into fo many Pariihes, c^r.
But this fignifies nothing for his purpofe, if thofe in Alexandria thus divided could all meet in one place, as Athanafius declares they did 5 and that fo plainly that any one will judge fo, whole intereO: is not too hard for his judgment. Valefius ("who had no byafs unle(s what might lead him the other wayj underftood it as I do 5 and exprefl'es it in thefe words. ( deciding the >
matter fo long infifted on, againft our AuthorJ Sifter' wards i?i the times /7/"Athanafius, when there voere more Churclies built by diverje ^ifiops of Alexandria, the Citi- zens ajjcmbled in jeveral Churches fever ally and in parcels^ as Athanafius^j'^j in his Apology to Conftantius 5 but on the. great Fejiivals^ 8afeer and *Ventccoft^ no particular ajfewblies were held^ fed univerfi in majorem Ecclefiam conveniebant, ut ibidem teftatur Athanafius, but all of them affembled together in the great Church as Athanafius tefeifies.
"So that there can be no pretence that the Church in Alexa?;driawi\s Diocefin at tliis time, unlefs thofe who could meet together in one place might make fuch a Church. Yet this was then the greatefk Church in the Empire fave that at T^orne^ and what he adds makes that at Ps^ome very unlike liteh Diocejan Churches, as are now aflerted.
^ ValefJui
( %6 J « Valcfius infciTS from the fame paflage of Po^>e //m*- " ce fit's- EpiCllc to Dcccfjthis^ which ^Pctavius brings to " prove the contrary, that though there were fcvcral " Titles or Churches in Rome then, and had been long *' befcvc, yet none of them was as yet appropriated to " any Presbyter, but they were fcrved in common as " great Cities in Holland and (bme other reformed "Countrcys, that have (everal Churches and \4ini- " fters, 6^c.
The Advocates for thcfc Churches, who affign the bounds of a Dioccfs with moft Moderation, will have it to comprize a City with a Tc';/-//^?^ belonging to it , but there was no Church in the. Territory which belonged to the Bifhop of Rome^ he had none but within the City, as Imjoantius declares in the cited Epiftle, where- as now the greateft City with a Territory larger than (bme antient T^rovince is counted little enough for a Diocejf. Further it is now judged to be no Dioce(s which compri(es not very many Churches with Presby- ters ^appropriated to them 5 but he tells us none of the Churches in Rome were appropriated to any Presbyter,
ET but they were ferved in common. How ? as greater
Cities in Holland and (bme other reformed Countreys, and then they were ruled in common as the(e Cities are. The Government of many Churches is not there, nor was of old, ever entrufted in one hand 5 and thus the Biftiop of T(ome was no more a Diocefan than the Pres- byters of that City.
mfag.66. He concludes m with two AfTertions which will
neither of them hold good. The firft that it is evident out ^/Athanafius how the Bijhop of that City had from the beginning fever al fixed Congregations tinder him.
This is (b far from being evident in kthanafius^ that he hath not one word which fo much as intimates that the Bifliop o^ Alexandria from the beginning had any fuch Congregations under him. The
(57)
The other is that thofe of ^^arecics mufi be fippofed to rccchc tiefuit'h almofi as early its Alexandria.
How true this is we may underftand by Dmiyfit's BiQiop of A/cxrfWr7.« towards the latter end of the third A^e, who declares that then c'Tl^arectes w:\s 'e?"^0-«c/^v (pay K, fTTisJ^cuav dv^suTrnv ;;^ It was io far from having any n Eufib'. l 7. trvc Chriftians in it, that it had none of our knthcrs ^•^'• oldclrijihvsy i. e. virtuous^ good men 0. Nor is it like- °^^^' ^°' ly that the faith was there generally received till many years after ^ and therefore not almoft fo early as klcx- a^/drh, unlels the diftance of above 200 years will con- flft with his ahwjl. For klexandria received the Faith by the preaching of Ma)\^ who arrived there, fayes eufcbius, in the 16.. o^ Claudius f, others in the 3d. of P^^''""' '^"^^^• Caligula q. But in the time o^ Diofjyjtus it doth not ap- q chm. Alex, pear that Mareotes had lb many Chriftians, as Bifhop IJlhyras his Church there confined of, though thofe were but feven, * ^>^w«' «^7«« ^v avva^py^av X^v r. But enough r Athan. Apol. of Alexandria, though our Author is far from bringing 2.pag.6i$. enough to prove it even in the 4th. age a Diocefin Church. He may be excufed for doing his utmoft to this purpofe^confidering the confequence of it,for if this Church was not nowfo numerous astobeD/^cep;7,it will be in vain to exped a difcovery of any fuch Churches in the whole Chriftian World in thofe times 5 for this is ac- knowledged to be the greateftCity and Church in the Roman ^wpircncxtto Rome. So that there cannot be fb ^
fair a pretence for any other inferiour to this, fuch as JeruJalew,Carthage,AntiochjB)Cc.mMch lefs for ordinary Ci- ties, which were 10 times lefs confiderable than fomeof the former, as may be colleded from what Chryfojiome (ayes of one of them ^^ mMap 7nvnmfJ)jvA7iv'^ltu^§i'i<*ij that it was able to maintain the poor of ten Cities/" <"/« Mat: Hovt,
So far the Writer of the Letter. Let me now return ^^^' to our Authors Treface 5 To (hew that the Chriftians
I in
in Alexandria adhercing to ^thanajlus were not fb ex- • ceeding numerous as is pretended, and not to be com- pared with the Chriftians now in London^ I had (aid, that the great cfl part of the hkabitafjts of that City were at this tiff/c Heathens or Jews j ofthoje who paffcd for Chri'
u ?az. 34. flians^ it is like Athanafius had the lejfcr fiare u, the No- vatians and other Sed^j^ the Meletians cjpecial/y, and the Arians, did probably exceed his focli^ in numbers^ it may be the Arians there were more numerous. This laft claufe ("which appears by theexprellion, I was not pofitivein^ he alone fixes on, and would difprovc it by a paflage out o^^thanafu^. But the Greek is falfc printed, and and the(cn(e defedtivc for want of fome word, and (o no Judgment can be well pafltd thereon, unlels I (aw it 3 and where to fee it he gives no diredion. My con- cern therein is not fb great as to fearch for it through fo voluminous an Author. It will ferve my turn well e- nough, if the ^/^//i" were but very numerous, or as
^ Lik. I. c.i^: Sozomcn expreflcs them, ^Klhiyn fioles^nKAu tr^ which cannot be denied, though they alone were not more numerous. The lafk thing he would take notice of, is the Dioceft of Theodoret, but this is remitted to the Dean ofPsLwVs-^ yet one thing he faycs he cannot omit , though fome may think that he had better have paflcd it (as he had many other things) ^ than being fo much in hade, to (lip at almofl every line, as he does inthofe
* few which concern it.
Iftheje 800 ChurcheSj not 80 as this Gentleman reckons fhem fit was not he but the T^rintcr that fo reckoned them, as the Errata fhew ) belonged to him as f^ielropo- litan, aful tfxy were all 6pifiopal Churches (I never met with any before, that took them for Epifcopal Churches^ and how he fhould fill into this miftakc I cannot ima- jTine 5 I will not believe that he creates it, to make himfelf work) this poor legion ^/ Cyrus would have more
^ipps
C59)
Bifiops than all Africa (not (b neither, for by the c&fi- fercnce at Carthage, and the ahhrcviiition of it by St. Ah- Jiw, much more to be relyed on, than the V^titia pubhftied by Simond^ which is neither confiftent with others, nor with it (elf^ Africa had many more BiQiops than 8co) votvpithftiwdwg they were more 7inmerous there than in any part of the World befides. Nor will this paft for true with thofe, who take'his own account concern- ing their numbers in Africa (which he reckons but ^66 P''iHdit.p' 149. taking in tho(e of the Schifmaticks too, about 66 for each Province one with another, counting thera as he docs Jeven i) and the account which others give of their numbers, in the antient T{oman *Vrovincc^ the King- dom (?/Naples, the Ifland Crete^ Ireland, to (ay nothing di Armenia^ and other parts of the World.
That which follows, is I fuppofe, inftead of an ^n- freer to the other fart of my difcoitrfe concerning the fO' pular eleUion of Biftiops, which this Gentleman was as much concerned to take notice of^ as of the few paf^ (ages he hath touched in the form%r part, why he did not I will not enquire further, but (atisfie my felf with what is obvious , efpecially fince he tells us he intends a difcourle of fuch a Subjed. If in this defigned work he (atisfies me, that it was not the general pra&ice of the antient Church, fir the T^eople to concur in the choice of their Bifljops, he will do me a greater dilpleafure, than the confutation of what I have writ, or any other that I can fear he intends me --, by taking me off from further Converfation with antient Authors^ as perfons by whole Writings we can clearly know nothing. For if that point be not clear in Antiquity. I can never exped to find any thing there that is fo.
I intended to conclude this difcourfe here, without giving the Reader further trouble 5 but confidering there are mifapprehenfions about the Subje(^ in que-
I 2 ftion
C6o J
uion,tho(c being taken by diverfc, for Dioccjan Churches which indeed are not fuch, and arguments u(ed to prove them (o which are not competent for that pur- pofe, ('of which there are many inftances, as ehewhere ib particularly in the latter end of this Authors dif^ courlc ) : I thought it requifite for the refti^ing of thefe miftakcs, and to (hew the infufficiency or impcr- tinency of fuch rcafbnings, to give an account what mediums cannot in reafon be efteemed, to afford com- petent proof of Diocefan Churches.
In general, Thole who will fatisfy us that any Churche?, in the firft Ages of Chriftianity, were Diocc- fifj^ fliould prove them to be fuch Dmefamsis ours are, as large or near as large ^ otherwise what they offer, will fcarce appear to be pertinent. For the rife of this debate is the queflion between us, whether the Bifhops of thefe times be fuch as thofe in the prmithe Church. This we deny, becaufe modern Bifhops will have^w^^z/vr fort of churches or Diocefes,than were known in the belt Ages. Not that we rejed: all Diocefcs or Diocefan Churches, for both -^e^iKla, and a/oixmot< arc ufed by the Antients for fuch Churches as we allow. It is thofe of a later Model, that we approve not, as vaftly differ- ing from the antient Epifcopal Churches. The modern Diocejes, and Churches thence denominated are ex- ceeding great and extenfivc, confiding of many fcores, or many hundred particular Churches, whereas for the three firft Age* we cannot find 5 Bifhops that had in>o particular Churches in his Diocefs, nor in the 4th. one in 50 (if I may not fay one in a hundred) that had ^are. So that the difference is exceeding great, and more confiderable in the corjfequcMce thereof which I had rather give an account of in the words of the very learned D. St. than mine own. Diocejes generally^ {ayes he, in the prmitivey and ^aflern Churches n>cre verjftftall
and*
(60
and Uttle^ as far more conveme?2t for this md of ihcm in ike Qovarnmcnt of the Church under the Biflwps charge x, x mn.^.^i^* and elfewherc, Difiiplwe, fayes he, vp^fs then a great deal worcJiriSf^ Preaching more diligent^ Men more ap- prehenfivc of the weight of their Fun&ion^ than for any to undertake J fich a care and charge of Souls ^ that it was ini- pojfihlefor them even to k^Jon\ ohjcrve or watch ozer^ Jo as to gize an account for them y^Men that were imployed in the y Pag. 332. Church then did not confult for their eafe and honour^ and thought it not enough for them to fit fiill^ and bid others zi'^^-s??- W0r\z. St.Aufrin fpcaking of the 5d.Age,makes account of many thoufind ''Bifjops then in the World a. Our tcontn Crefm. Author fccms to treat that excellent Perfon fomething ^'^'^' courfely oil this occafion, and goes near to queftion his judgment or veracity for it , b Come may think this ^ I'^i' 5^4- not over decently done ( to (ay no more ) when it is his bufinefs, to vindicate (bme antient Bilhops v;^l\o need itjto refled upon one,fo untainted,as to need nonc.How- ever fince he fiyes that Father judged of other Ages by his own^ when Dioccfes were exceedingly multiply ed r, we ^ p^„ -^^ may (uppole he will grant there were many thoiifand Bifiops in the 4th. Age. Yet among fb many thoufand Bifliops I do not exped that any can ihew me 20 fif I may not fay 10. J who had fb many Churches in their Dioccjs^ as fbme Tlnralifs amongft us may have, who yet never pretend to have a Diocefan Church. Thofe therefore who will make proof of fuch Diocefin churches as are in queflion, mufk (liew us fome in the primitive times fomething like ours in largenefe^ and extent. A- mongft the inftances produced for this purpofe by for- mer or later Writers , I find none any thing near to ours, fave that only of Theodore t in the 5th. Age. But this in the former Difcourfc was fhewed to be fb infuf- ficient to (erve the ends it is alledged for, that I may hope it will be prelt no more for this Service.
More
c ^o
More particular!}', ift. It proves not a Church to be Diocefan bccaufc it coniifts of more than can meet together in one place, for there are Parifhes in this Land that contain many hundreds or thousands more than can meet in the ParilTi Church, and yet are but counted fingle Congregations. Though multitudes in fuch Churches be far from proving them to be Dioccfar?^ 51 et I think tvpo inftances cannot be given in the third Age of more in one Church than are in fbme fingle Con- gregations amongft us 3 nor many afterwards, till ^- rianifm and Donatifm were fuppreilcd 3 which the lat- ter was not in Africa till after the famous Conference at Carthage^ Anno 410 5 nor the former in other parts dur- ing the 4th. Age s for though Thcodojim made (bme fharp Declarations againft them and other Hereticks, yet none but the ^uftomiatis were profecuted, if we be- d Lib.*,. C.20. lieve Socrates d 5 that Emperour gave not the leaft trouble to the reft, forced vone to commumcate vpith him^ but allowed them their ZMeetifigs^ and even in CT*, when afterwards the Arians divided among themfelves, e Lii'.jl ir.23. each party had (everal Congregations in that City e 5 both that which adhered to dHaritius^ and that al(b which followed Dorothins^ thefe keeping the Churches vphich they had before and the other erediing new chur- ches,
I know there are thofe, who from fome pafTages in
. fApoUe.^'j.& Tertnllianf would infer that the Chriftians in his time
*d scApnUm. ^gj.gj.j^g major part of the Inhabitants in all Cities, and
! fo enough not only for vaft Congregations, but forD/-
' ocefan Churches, But TertuUian was a great Oratour and
j frequendy u(es hyperbolical expreflions, which ought
not to be ftreined. Such are thofe infifted on, and by
regular conftrudtion they import no more than that the
*^=' Chriftians were very numerous in many parts of the
Empire. Thofe that will have them ftreined, and un-
derftood
derftood as they found, offer great injury to TerttiUiatt, making him intend that which hath no warrant in any Records of Antiquity, Civil or Ecclefiaftical, that I can meet with. Before they impofe fuch a (enfe on him, they ought in reafon to make it manifeft, that the Chri- ftians were the major part of the inhabitants in (bme confiderable Cities at that time 5 when I believe they cannot produce tvco inftances in the tvhok Empire, I ne- ver yet could meet with ef7c.
Our Author from the(e Oratorical expreflions flicks not to conclude, that it is evident that the Chriftians were t\\Q major part every whcre^ hut in Rome more emi- 77ently fo ^ and Dr. Dowvham fignifies that TertuUian (j)eal{s chiefly of the City <?/Rome g, this Gentleman (ayes, g Defenct l. 2* that by hk ace omit it is made zcry probable^ that they were ^' 5* ?• 9®» the better half of the Roman Empire, and tells us, it is fag. 54.' certain that the number ofChriJiians at Rome vpas propor^ tionably greater than in any p^rt of the Empire, Now how far the Chriftians at T^me were from being the tmjor part of the Inhabitants, we may judge by the vaft dil^ proportion between the poor in the Church at "Home^ and thole in the whole City. Cormliiis near 50 years Si^txTertuUUn (when it was of more grovn:h by half an Age) reckons the poor of his Church to be 15005 whereas out of Suetonius and others, the poorer forts of Citizens, qu£ h publico ti&itabat^ are computed to be
520000/1. hUpfmde
Many take occa'fion from the thoufands ronvertcd at ^f^i- ^o^' I'l* Jcrupikm^ Adts 2. and 4. to conclude the vaft number ^'^^' ^' of Chriftians and exceeding largenels of Churches elfe- wherc. Our Author hath nothing from Scripture for Dioccfan Churches but this, which is confiderable/^ ip4^.49$,d;-<:. nor will this appear fo, if but a fnall part of tho(e thou- fands can be counted inhabitants of Jerujalem^ and fo fixed in that Church. And this is as deraonftrabic as
any
C «4 ) any thing of this nature can be. For this miraculous Convcrfion was at T^entecoit^ one of the three great Fea^s^ when there was a vaft concourfe of Jcrts and T^rofchtcs from all parts to that City. Thefe converted were not only Inhabitants o^Jcrufalem but Forreigners , and in all reafbn moreoi thefe proportionably, as they cxxcedcd the Inhabitants in number. And then thofe of the City will (carce be a 20th part of the 5 or 8oco Convert J. For the Forreigners that rcfbrted to Jmtfi/cm at thefe great Solemnities are reckoned to be three mil- It /o/^/'W^B^/. lions, itc iKctTJ^ii Tiiccy^inety ixv^ioUbp /^^ whcrcas the Inhabi-
caf.'24. ^'^' ^' ^^"^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^y ^^^^ ^^^ about an 1 20000 ^v 'f^J^n^- ^i/f/Mf, but of this elfewhere more fully.
The Author of the Vindication will not have fb great a part of thofe Converts to be Strangers^ and to return home when the Feaft was over, and afTigns fbmething like reafbns for it.
" ifl:, That the Scripture gives no countenance to this " Conjedure, but faycs all thofe ftrange Nations were " Inhabitants of Jerufilew, and the Original word in- " clines moft on this fide.
That he (hould fay the Scripture gives no countenance to thk^ is fbmething flrange. It is plain in Scripture, that God injoyned the Children ofljrael to repair to Jeru- Jalem from all quarters of the Countrey where they dwelt thrice a year, for the obfervance of the three great Feafis. And it is apparent alfo that they were wont to come up to Jerufilem at thofe Solemnities, both yews and Profelytes e^**" '^^ avHKti\v^(ni.i mcmi ut ({>v\ou^ zinEufih.U. }^'mv\^vmva. And it is evident in that Chapter cited, ^ ^^ A&s 2. The Feaft of Pentecoft being come, there was a
refbrt of Jews and Profelytes from all thofe parts of the World to this City. Ay, but the Scripture fayes, all thoje Strange t^ations were inhabitants ^/Jerufalem.
He
C6i)
He can't judge that the Scripture fayes this, but upon a fuppofition that the word K^'rviK^vm,^ A&s 2. 5. can fignify no cJther thing tfian whaLitafits, but this is a mi- ftake, for the word denotes fuch as abide in a place, not only as whubitatits^ but SLsJiraz/gcrs or Sojourners. Thus Dr. Hdmwo/;d w'lW have- it tranflated alidwg^ rather than dwelling ^, thofe that were thci-e as nraf7gers r, and b /« he. here expreflcs thofe abiding at Jcrufalem, to htjcws ^ ^^ ^^* '°-*- Tvhich came up to the Feaji of the PaJ/covcr, and l/rnfi- Ijtes which had come from fiveral V^tions of all garters eft he World. Thus alfo Mr. ^cad d, for the ivord^^'i'^xmit.i^t iig.'niKvv'ntj {aith he, which 1 iravJJatc Jojourmtig rather ' ^' ^' than dvpcUing (^for fe I findevHand it^ that they rvcre ?7ot proper dwellers^ Lhtfich as came toirorfiip at Jerulalem from thofe far Coimireys^ at tie Feajl of the Fajfcovcr and Pcfttccoji^ and Jo had been contir.uing there feme good time) it is true that in the ujual Greeks , 'o'yda and >jt7r/K*« fignify a durable manfion^ but vcith the HeUenijls in whofi DialcB the Scripture Jpeakcth, they are ufid indiffei-ently for a ftay of a fiorter or longer time ^ that if ^ for tofojouru as TpeU as to dwells as thcfe two examples out of the Scptu- agint will make manifeft^ Gen. 27. 44. i Rings 17.20. there yj-T^tyJiy is tofojottrn only. In a word o'^<o and y^.-pnySa anjwer to the Hebrew Verb "^^^ which fignifcs a77y fiay or remaining in a place. Qrotius faith it anfvvers the He- brew word which is render'd not only by y9rMy.^v but ■m^iKHv^ ^c. adding, therefore it is not (aid only of them who had fixed thdr habitation, but of thofe who were come to the City fir the celebrating of the *~Paffcover or T^cn' tecofi, fiaying therefor a while. The beft and moft lear- ned Expofitors generally take it fo in this place, as de- noting, not fettled Inhabitants, but (uch as refided there only for a time. Indeed when this Author would have the Scripture fay all thcfe firarge Rations were ifjhabi- tants t7/Jerufalem, he makes it fpeak things inconfiftcnt.
K. For
C <50 for it is faid zcr. 9. they were »ai")c»mf ^ dwellers at ^c fopotaMU, J tide J ^ Cippaclocli^ T^ontus^ ^fu^ 8cc. by which muft be undcrftood, cither that they were ;>i* habit ants or Sojourners in thole Conn treys 5 that they were now Sojourners there, no man will imagine, nor can any man be faid to be adtually a fojourner in a place where he is nor, And if they were itihabitaftts of thofc Regions they could not be inkabitatjts ofjerufile/;/^ un- lefs they could be inhabitants of (cvcral diftant Coun- c Ibid. treys at once. To the fame purpofc Mr. t^icad c,
01 yj.-niKvyTK rliu UiffDTnnfxidM ^ vrhcrc ?;ote by the vraj\, that cj yj.-niKvfT\i tOjj'' UiTvm-rtfxJa^ are comprehended in the number of thoje whom my Tex t fiith rv&rc y^-niMvnt Iv rvf rtfK^aXM.t*^ 7vhich co7jf'rms my interprciaiion that k^tthk^vth there iigm- fies fojourning^ and not dwelling ^ for that they cmld not be faid to dwell in both places.
" 2. Suppofe there were fb me of them fir angers^ &c.
Suppofc, fayes this Gendeman, there were fbme of
them Strangers .<? but docs any man that undcrftands
how or by whom thole Fcafts were celebrated, ever
Hippofc that there were not very many thoufmds of
ftrangers^ liich as were not Inhabitants, prelcnt at thofe
Solemnities } Jofcphus (^and Izufcbius after him ) fayes,
there w^rc three millions in the City at the Paflbvcr, and
declares what courle was taken to give Ceflius G alius a
certain account of their numbers f, but then they were
all in a minnQv jlraagers^ for he adds, '^^ ^ "^^ irxwd®-
"ilici^v avxxi}^-nti^ ifjjf i;aji multitude confijled ofForreign-
f !>f bii ]ui. crs f Yet our Author goes on and confirms himfclf in
ub.7. r. i^i. j-|^g former miftake by another 5 the vcrfe he cites to
prove them fixed Inhabitants at Jerufde^n is mifunder-
ilood, the words are ©e^^xtf^TtpfcTif rf cAcfttx?", wliich do
not lignifie any fixed abode in that place, but only their
conftancy or perfevering in the duties mentioned while
thcv were there. This is the ufe of the ExprefTion in
the
C^7)
the New Teftament, CoL 4. ?, '^i «re;^-i^xf ^c^^Mfn^^n^ and lb Thm. 12. 12. CofitwuhigmT^rayer^ which they might do if they never had a fixed habitation, nor con- tinued as inhabitants in any place. And thus the ^uan- gelHi Luke ufcs the phrafe in this book of the A&s c. i: vcr.i^. c, 2.46. 6,6.4. B^^t our Author I think will never find it ufed in this form for any fettled or contin- ued abode in a place, and had no reafon to fancy it here.
He thinks it not probable g that the zeal avd devotion g P^i- 437' oftbofc Converts vpoidd fnffer them to leave the ^pofiles^ whereas it is certain that the Primitive Zeal and Devo- tion, though it crucified them to the World, yet heigh- tened and improved a Chridian care of their Families and the Souls of their Relatives and others. And their zeal for Chrift, and love to Souls would haften them homeward, that they migh acquaint their Families and others with Chrifl and the Doctrine of Salvation, as thofe dirperfed from Jernjalcm did, ch, 8.
The five thoujand mention'd chap, ^ver.^. he will have to be a new acceflion to the three thouland before Converted, but (hould not have been fo pofitive in it without reafon. Thofe who are engaged in the fame caufe with him ( befides many others ) are not of his opinion herein, as they would have been if they had feen any ground for it. Dr. Hammond h takes the 5000 h in loc> to be the number of the Auditory^ not of the Converts, Biihop Doivnham includes the three thoufand in thofe five 7, and xhtDean ^/Paul's makes account but of five i Difence i. 2. thoufand in all k. To me it is not material whether they 'r s-P^i-^s. were $000 or 8000 or many more, feeing ^here was r/tHnpjUZ not the twentieth fart of them other than Forreigners, and fuch as for any thing 1 can fee or heaj defigned not to dvpeU at Jmifak^n^ and fo intended not to fix them- felves in that particular Church. There can be no jufi: reckoning of the numeroufnefs of a Church, from
K 2 an
C 68 )
an occafional rccourfc of ftrangcT% wlio inhabit remote parts or forrcign Countreys.
If there had been more Chriftians in the Church of Jcrnfilcm than could meet in one place, that would be no Evidence that it was a Dioccjan Church, whereas 1 A£i. 2. 44. the whole is (aid in the A^fjto meet in one place /. He 6. 2. iic. }^2f{j nothing to fiy againfl this which is confiderable, m Pag. 441. [)^t that the alf^ nuy denote only thofc that vpereprefint m^ and fo the fenfe will be, all that were in one place. Were in one place, if this can pleafc him(clf^ I think it will (atisfic none el(c. Let Dr. Hdmmond decide this bufi- ^ nefs, for in fuch a caufe we may admit a Party to be
n An{xetr to L. Umpire f^ What folloTPs^ faith he, of the paucity of^e- Mintflns. pg. Ijcucrs^ a>jd theh meelhg'i}! one place^ is willingly grant- ed by m. What they fay of the point of time^ Adts 2. 41* that believers were Jo nuMcroud-^ that they cohld not conve- viently weet in one place ^ this is contrary to the evidence of tie Tcxt^ ivhich fith cxprejly ver. 44. that all the believers xipcre ^ tccuJtb^ Tphichin the lajl 'Paragraph they interpret- ed meeting in one and the fame place : the Ukc might be faid of the ether places^ Ads 4. 3. ^^d 5. 14. for certainly as yet^ though the number ofBelieners increajed^ yet they were ?wt diftributcd into fever al Congregations, o P. 442.443. Concerning the difperfion, ^&sS. i. 0 he tells iis, "Though diey are all (aid to be (cattered befidcs the " Apoftks, yet it cannot be under flood of all the Be- '' leivcrs.
No, but of the generality of them, all that could commodiouOy fly as ftrangcrs might do. Nor mufl it be confined to all the Officers only, the generality of Ex- pofitorsare mifreprefentcd jf tliis be made their fcnf*.% nor doth it appear that tzufebius Co undcrftood it, f^^nrcu is ufcd in Scripture and other Writers, and Eufebius him- fclf, to denote Believers and not Officers only. As for
the
Ul.
C69 ) the//V?/eof the difperfion (though I need not infift on it) probably it was nearer xKis great Pcntecoji than (bmc would have it. On the firft day of the week in the morning were the three thoufand converted, the next or ( as Tome tell us ) the fame day afternoon, at the ninth hour />, the number of the Converts was increafed p d. ju to five thoufand. While this Sermon was preaching the Apoftlcs are apprehended and committed to Cu- ffcody till the next morning. Another, it is like the day after, they are imprifoned, but enlarged by an Angel in the night, chap. 5. In or near that week were the feven Deacons chofen, prefendy after the Di- Iciples were thus increaled and the Apoftles imprifoned and difmillcd. The expreCTion fignifies it, chap. 6. i. It is not ^ '<^vax(^ in thoie daies which may admit a lati- tvide and (bme good diftance of time, but w'-wv't*/;^ jn thcfe daycs, which denotes the time inftant , or that which immediately enfues, without the interpofure of any fuch diftance. And (b the phrafe is ufed by St. " Ltik^ both in the Gofpel and in the AGs. It is Dr. " Hammond's obfervation upon Lnk. 1.59. The phrafe « h -nvTztii luti fiuiiMf^ in thefe dayes, faith he, hath for " mofl: part a peculiar fignification , differing from « l4> vide^ji tKHVHf^ in thofe daies. The latter fignifies "an indefinite time, fbmetimes a good way ofT, but the " former generally denotes a certain time then prefent, *' inftantly, then at that time 5 Co here, that which is " faid of e^ar/s going to ElizaLeth was fare immediate- " ly after the departing of the Angel from her, and •■' therefore it is faid (he ro(e up <*4? -^wc/^^, very haftily, "fb T^f r. 2 4. «*7tt TttUTct^ TwV M.oieje^j i,e, immediately <5//z.^- " /'e^/j conceived, fo chap. 6. 12. hTMiYtui^iimu-nxn^ i e. then, at that point of time he went out to the Moun- tain. See Chap. 23. 7. c. 24. 18. ^c^s i. 5. c. 11. 27. . arrcl 21. 15.
Imme-
(70) Immediately after the choice ofthe Deacons, SiepU/t one of the Seven is apprehended duAvi x^^s^^'^"'-, as fion ar ever he was ordained^ as if he had been ordahiedfor thk <«/^/;e,{aith E'Mins (\.2. c. i.J And at the (ame time the Perfccution began which difpcrdd that Church. Where- as he faith, ' vvhatfbever numbers were forced away, it ' is hkely they returned, if he underftand it of the JiraK- gf)'s driven from Jernfalew^ that they returned to fix there, or otherwile than occafionaUy, it is no more likely nor will be fooner proved than what he aflcrts a little after ( pag. 444. ) viz. that the empty Sepulcher preached rvHh no lefs ejficacy than the ^/fpojlks.
This is enough to latisfy what our Author would draw out of Scripture concerning the Church ofjeru- filem. After fome trifling about Objections which he forms hirafelf, and then makes fport with, he comes to prove that Jerufakm was a Diocejan Church in the A- pofkles time. But firft he would have us believe that James rvoi the proper Difiop of that Chmrh^ and would evince it by two Teflimonies, that oi Clemens and He- gejfppus. But what fayes his Clemens .<? He faith not only that James was ordained '^iJJjop of Jerufalem pre' fintly after our Saviours ^fcenfion^ but what I think our Author was loth to mention. If he had given us the intire fentence it might have been better underflood. After the ^fcenjion of our Saviour^ Peter, James and John, the moji honoured by onr Lord^ would not JH con- tend for thefirji degree of honour^ f^ ^JiyJii^t J}!^n(^ -but chofe James thejuji "^Bifiop of Jerufalem, ^poftolorum (S- fifcopum. T^ffinus reads it. This feems to fignify that his being made a BiQiop there, was fbme degree of Honour above their being Apofklcs. A learned Roma- q ^aU7^- ^ifl tells us ^, that the books where ^ufebius had this did fo abound with Errours, that they were not thoughts
worth
C70 worth preferving, and fo are loft ("as thofe o{ Tap fas and Hegifippffs are for the fame reafon) this may prove c»e inftance of thole many Errours. That which (eems to be the (en(e of his words is more fully exprefled by one who goes under the name o^Ckmtris too r, 'james r l.2,R(cogni(. the Lord's Brother was Trince of^Bifiops^ and hy his E- pifcopal Authority commanded all the Apoftlcs^ and fb the former Clemerjs in Rnffmus calls him the ^Bifiop of the Apoflles f. If he means fiich a Bi'liop as ours ( and mid. L2.C.2. otherwife his meaning will not ferve our Authors pur- pofej then the Apojilcs were but the Vicars or Cw\ttcs of James, This is bad enough if James was an Apoftle^ the abfurdeft Papift will fcarce afcribe as mich to ''Peter, But if he was not an Apoftle, it is yet more intolerable. If our Author can believe his own Witnefs, Ibme may admire, but I think few will follow him.
Let us hear Hegcfippvs fnot quite fo antient as this Gentleman makts him, fince he was alive in the Reign of Comm.)dtfs) he (ayes, James ruled that Church M«7tt 1UJ *A7n^Kav. If sve take this as it is render'd in Jerome after the Apojilcs^ it is not only againft Grammar^ but without Truth, and makes James to be Bifhop when he was dead, for he was martyred about the 4th. of 5A(Vr<7, and all the Apoftles but the other James furviv- cd him. But if the meaning hz that he ruled that Church with the ^pofiles^ it ipeaks him no more .the Bifhop ofjernfdim than the reft of the Apoftles, who were not fixed or topical Billiops, but Oecumenical Of- ficers of an extraordinary Office and Power and accord- ingly 'is James dcfcribcd. One antient Author faycs that he no leis than Veicr did '^res'^lw tvh ou^fj^-ni *)•<». /i^A^tu, ■ y\iid ^piphamus reports /, that Hyginus after t lurn. ardoni James^ Tctcr and Taid ivas the mnth Bifiop of Rome fucccftively, fignifying that he wasasTnuch Bifiiop of
Rofhx
C70 ^T^me as Vanl and l?ctcr, I need not quote that other Author who layes he ruled the holy Ckunh oft he Hebrews, u Ep. to Jimts. as alfo he did all Churches every where fomided u,
" However certain it is that James was Bilhopof ^c- " rufilcm^ not or.Iy from Hegifippus and Clemens .Aiex. " but alio from St. P^///, who mentions him as one of " the ^pojilcs that he had Converfed with in Jernfilew^ " and it is Hkely there were no more there at that time " but he and *Peter.
This is no way certain from Ckmefts and Hej^efjpp;^^ and Co far from being certain by St. Paid^ that his men- tioning him as an Apojilc makes it rather certain that he was not a Bilhop 5 for the Offices of an Apofi/e and of a BiJJjop are inconfiftent, as is acknowledged and proved w Dr. Bmow by an excellent Perfon of your own. w " The Offices Suprem.pA2o, « ^^f ^^ Apoftle and of aBilhopare not in their nature " well conjijlent, for the ApofileJJjip is an extraordinary " Office, charged with the inftrudlion and Government " of the whole World, and calling for an anfwerable " care ( the Apoftlcs being Rulers, as St. Chryfiftom " faith, ordained by God, Tylers not taking Jezeral Na- " tions and Cities^ but all of them in common intn/fle^ '•'- with the whole world ) but ^pifcopacy is an ordinary " flanding charge affixed to one place, and requiring a " fpecial attendance there, Bifhops being Paftors who, " as Chrjfijiome faith, do ftt^ and are imployed in one '■^ plate. Now he that hath fuch a general care can " hardly difcharge fuch a particular Office, and he that " is fixed to fb particular an attendance,can hardly look " well after fo general a charge, &c, IBaronins faith of .'• St. P<?/cr, that it was his Office not to fiay in one place, ^'' but as much as it was pojjible for one man to trazel over ... . " the whole world, and to bring thofe who did not yH believe
^^ to the Faith, and throughly to ejiablijlj believers. Iffb ''• how could he be BiQiop of Rome, which was an Office
in-
(73) *' inconfiftent with fuch vagrancy. It would not have " befeemed St. Teter the prime Apoftle to ailume the " charge of a particular Bilhop, it had been a degrada- " tion of himfelf, a di{paragement to the Apoftolical '' Majefty for him to take upon him the Bifhoprick of " Rome, as if the Ki^g (hould become Mayor ofLoKdo^, " as if the Bifliop of London (hould be Vicar of Paft- "nv/y. And little before, St. Peters being Bifhop of " Rome (it holds as well ^/JamesV being Bifiop ^/ Jerufa- " lemj would confound the Offices which God made di- " ftinft,forGoddid appoint firfl: Apoftles,then Prophets, *' then Paftors and Teachers,wherefore SirPetcr after he " was an Apojile could not well become a Bifiop^it would "be luch an irregularity as if a Biftiop (hould be made a " Deacon.
" Eccle(iaftical Hiftory makes James the ordinary Bi- *' (hop and Diocefin of the place.
There is nothing in Eccle(iaftical Hiftory for it, but what is derived from Hegejippus and Clemens^ whom o- thers followed right or wrong.
" It is ftrange to fee Salmnfim run his head fo vio- *^ lently againft fuch folid Teftimonies as thofe of Heg^- *' ftppus and Clemens, ' That great perfon underftood things better, and di(^ cerned no danger in running his head againft a (hadow, and there is nothing more of Solidity in what is alledged from thofe Authors.
Further he would prove it a Diocefin Church by a paffage in Hegeftppus, who (ayes, " that feveral of the " JewiJJ) Sedaries who beleived neither a Refurredlion " nor Judgment to come, were Converted by J antes ^ " and that when a great number of the Rulers and " principal men of the City were by this Miniftry " brought to believe the Gofpel, the Jews made an " Uproar, the Scribes and Pharifees laying, that it was
L "to
(74;
'^ to be feared that all the people would turn Chrl-
s PiC' 44^' ftians x.
He {ayes many of the p-wtc Se&aries were converted by JdMes, but this will (carce prove fuch a Diocefun Church as he contends for. That which would lerve his turn (tkat all the people would turn chriftians ) was not effccled^ hnt only feared by the J cvps^ who took a courfe to prevent it by kilhng James. But if this were for his purpofc, Hegeftppu^ is not an Author to be reli- ed on, part of the Sentence cited is fahc, that the Sc&s i}ie72twhed (and he had mentioned fevenj did nut believe the T^efiirre^iion nor Judgment^ whereas the Pharisees
/I LHfeb.2.c.2^. and others of them beleived both, which Valcfins ob- ferves. One fahe thing in a Teftimony is enough to render it fufpedcd, but there are near twenty things falfe or fabulous in this account he gives ofjames^ ma-
y Animid. in ny of them marked by Scaligcrj^ divers by Valejius ?-,
z in Luftb! i2. ^^^ ^on^c acknowledged by Petavius a.
C2p. 23. He would not have us (ufped that the numbers of the
!,J^!g/ ^^' Church at Jernfalcm were not (b great as he pretends, becaufe Pella^ an obicure little Town, could receive them all befides its own Inhabitants, " but we mull: un- " derftand that Town to be their (Metropolis^ and the " Believers all fcattered through the whole Countrey, " and this as ^pipharims writes.
But where does ^pipkuiius write this / Not in the place cited, he writes the contrary both there and cl(e-
> £p>o.H«r.3o. "^here, that all the Believers (in one pi ice /^) that all the Difaples ('in another place ^ ■mvrnhi {^^n-nti ax.ncmv U
c Dt Ponder. & TiiKhn c.^ what he adds is but to dcicribe where the
MenJ.cap.js. j^y^^ was fituated, all I he Dijdples^ all the Believers dwelt beyond Jordan in 'Vella, ArchbiQiop Whitgifi brings this as a pregnant proof th it the Chriftians at Jeriijakm v;ere but few in comparifon ( and no more than could all meet in one place^ as a little before he af- firms
(75 J firms again and again J his words are how few Chri- " ftians.was there at JcrufJcm not long before it wasde- " ftroyed, being above Forty years after Chrift .<? Does " notEfffehJHs teftifie^ that they all were received into a ^ Li^-S- ^'^P- s* " little Town called T^elU > yet the Apoftles had (pent " much time and labour in Preaching there ^ but the "number of thole that did not profefs Chrift in that " City was infinite e. This might be farther cleared by e DtUnccoj An- what ^pipkanius (aith of that Church in its return from Z"^^-^'""'- 5 ^• Velld^ but I defign briefnels. '^^' ''^'
Our Author adds one Teftimony more, to (hew that under the Government of >?//«e(7« great numbers were " added to that Church, many thoufands of the Cir- " cumcifion receiving the Chriftian Faith at that time, " and among the reft Juflus^ d^c. pag. 448.
But thole who view the place in ^ufcbins will fee, that he does not (ay thofe many of the Gircumcifion were converted by Simeott^ or were tinder his Goicrn- ment.i or belonged to that Church 5 and (b it fignifies nothing for his purpo(e. And fo in fine, the account wherewith he concludes his Di(cour(e of ]ernfalem will not be admitted by any who impartially confider the PremifTes.
As for his other Scripture inftances, there is not fb much as the (hadow of a proof (hewed by him, that there were near fo many Chriftians as in ]erufakm^ or as are in fome one of our Pari(hes, yea, or more than could meet in one place, either in Samaria ("where he ikyts'it appears not what k^nd ofQovernmeftt ivas clfablifi' ed^ pag. 4.$ I. ) ot'm Lydda^ which was but a Village, though a fair one, and fir from having Saronfor its pro- per Territory, that being a plain between Joppa and C<€farea^ or m^ntioch^ pag. 452. muchlefs in Corinth and Ephefis which he advifedly paffes by, pag. 45^.
L 2 Our
(70
Our Author does in cfFeft acknowledge that in Scrip- ture it appears not that thefe Churches were ^pifiopaf^ much Ie(s Dwccfin 5 " It is to be confeflcd, faies he, " P^S- 4^^' that the Scriptures have not left fb full and^ " perfcdt an account of the Conftitution and Govern-' "men: of the /r/? Churches, d^c. Thus we have no " more notice of the Churches of Samaria and of]uddCit " (]erufa!cm excepted) than that fuch were founded by " the Apoftles 5 but o( their Gozenwrn^t and CoTfftitution *' we have not the leaft Information. What mfornjation then can we have that they were Diocefan or Epifiopal .^ He goes on, " And the profped: left of ^;y//<7c/.'inScrip- " ture is very confuftd, as of a Church in feri^ where a " great number of eminent perfons laboured together " to the building of it up 5 but only from ^cckftajiical " Writers, who report that this Church, when it was " (etded and digefted, was committed to the Govern- " ment o^^uodias^ and after him to Igfiati^s^ d^c. So that after what form the Church at Atitioch was confti- tuted does not appear fit may be Congregational and not Diocefan, for any thing this Gentleman can fee in ScriptureJ but only from Ecclefiaftical Writers.
But his Ealejiajikal Writers do (b contradiftone ano- ther as renders their tcflimonies of little value. Nor is there much more reckoning to be made of the traditi- onal account they and others give concerning the Succef^ lion and Government of the firft Bifhops, than this Au- thor makes of ^ufebins his traditional Chronology, pag, 454. Some make ^wdias the firfl Bilhop and he being I LKiib.Li.c.i-:.. dead Ignatius to fucceed him/5 on the contrary fbme will have Ignatius to have been the firft, and make no gchryf.orat.in mention of &fodia^ g i, others will have them to have hcitmm Con- governed that Church both together h , (bme will have ^iuU.-].c.i,6. Euodias ordained by Feter^ and Igt:atius byT^aul^ o- thers report Ignatius ordained by Pe/er, and fbme mo- dern
dern Authors of great eminency, both Proteftants and Papifts Cnot only '^aromus but Dr. HammoficT) find no more tolerable way to reconcile them, than by aflcrting that there were more Bifliops than one there at once, which quite blafts the conceit of a Diocefan Church there.
And what is alledged for the numbers of Chriftians there, to fupport this conceit of a Diocefan Church, is very feeble, pag, 452, 453. A great ?ntmher believed^ ^As 1 1. 2 1, and much people^ ver. 24. The next veries (hew, that there were no more than Paul and l^arfiahas affembled within one Church 5 meeting ^ ^f o^rcxmct^ for a year together, and there taught this ^w^^* 01 '^f'-^v "ox^^^. The fame divine Author iayes, ^(^s 6. 7. "^^^^ ox^&T a great Company of the Prkjis were converted^ and will this Gentleman hence conclude that there were Priefts enough converted to make a Dioceje^
He hath no ground from Scripture to think otherwi(e o^T^me Cthat wemay take in all his Scripture inftan- ces together ) however he would perfwade us that there were (everal Congregations there in the Apo- ftles times. Let us fee how. " By the multitude of " Salutations in the end of that Epiftle he makes appear "the numbers of Chriftians in that City. Salute *Vrif '■^ cilia and Squill with the Church that is in their " houle.
The Dean of l^duls will have this Church in their houle to be but a Family^ this Author will have it to be a Congregation^ as if it might be either to (erve a turn. I think it was fuch a Congregation as removed with ^quila from one Countrey to another, for this Church which was in their houfe at Ephefis before, (i Cor 16.) is (aid to be in their hou(e at T^ome^ Rom. 16, that is, there werefome of the Church which belonged to their
Family.
r78)
Family. It is a queftion whether there was now at- 1(ome any one Congregation fuch as our Author intends, \inKom. 1 5. Groiius i thinks it probable there mu rtotie at all. But let us fuppofc this to be a Congregation, where finds he his feveral others } why where another perfbn would fcarce dream of any ? " It is not improbable, faith he, " that feveral that are mentioned with all the Saints that " are jrrth them, may be the Officers of feveral Congre- "gations, f^^. 457. 458.
But it is manifeft that in the Apoftle's times one Con- gregation had many Officers, how then can feveral Of- ficersbca good Medium to prove feveral Congregati- ons.'? The antient Authors whiich count thofe Officers (mentioned Ro/^/. 16.) do make them ''BiJJjops (^and iome except not V^rciJJm nor T^rifca^ i. e. Vrifdlla^ tho' her Husband alfb hath an Epifcopal Chair alligned him) Now if they were not Bifhops at Rome but other places, they are alledged to no purpofe ^ if they were • Bifhops at T^ome^ there will be very tnafiy Bifhops in that one Church (it may be more than VrifalJas Con- gregation confifted of) which rather than our Author will grant, I fuppofe he will quit his plurality of Con- gregations here. Indeed what he adds next doth no waies favour them, and this number was afterwards in- '' creafed confiderably by the coming of Paul, who con- " verted fbmeof the Jews, and afterwards received all " that came, whether Jew's or Gentiles, and preached " to them the Kingdom of God for the fpace of two " whole years, no man forbidding him, pag. 458.
Van I preached at Rome in /w hired koufefor tvpoyears^ all this while he received all that came to him 5 there is no queftion but that all the Chriflians there did come to hear this mofl eminent Apoftle .• fo that it feems from firft to lafl there were no more Chriftians at Rome than a private Houfe could receive.
He
(79)
He would prove what he intends from 5\jro's Per- " jfecution, who is faid to have put an infinite multitude "ofChriftians to death upon pretence that they had " fired Roffte^ pag. 458. Tacitus fpeaks of the Chrifti- " ans as guilty, and (ayes they confeffed the Crime, and " detefted many others.
Now thofe who (ufFered, either confeffed that they fired l^me and then they were no Chriftians 5 or they did not confels it, and then he wrongs them intolera- bly, anddefervcs no credit. But our Author toexcuie him (againfl: the {^'^{k of (uch who beft underftand him, LipjiHs particularly , befides ^aromus and others ) (iiyes, they confcjfcd not that they burn t T^ome^ but that they were Chrijiiar/s. Whereas the inquiry being con- cerning the burning of T^ome^ the queftion was not whether they were Cbrijlidfis^ but whether they fired the. City, of chislafi: Tuciuts fpeaks, and will be fb un- derftood . by thole who think he fpeaks pertinently. But for truth in thofe accounts he gives of Chriftians, it is no more to be expeded than from other Heathen Authors of thofe Ages, with whom it is cuftomary on that CwbjcCtfpkndide mcntiri. Some other inftances here- of we have in this report of Tacitus^ which I fuppofe our Author will (carce offer to excufe, as when the Chriftian Religion is called E.xitiabHfs fitperfiitio^ and when the Cluiftians are faid per flagitia invifos vnlgo fn7j[e.
But (uppofe he fpeaks truth, what is it he iayes } Nero put an itifinite miilliiude of tlem to deaths but itigens multitudo^ which are his words, may be far lels than an infinite muliititde. Two or three hundred may pafs for a great multitude, and extraordinarily great, wher> that which is fpoke of them is extraordinary. The Martyrs burnt in Queen Marys dayes were a great midtitHde 5 and few may be accounted very many, to
fuffer
(80 J
fuffer in fuch a manner, as thefc did by V^ros Cruel- ty, Ferarumtcrgis cofiteciiHt UniatHcamtminterirent^ aut crndbus affix? ^ aut flaf^xvandi, atque nhi defecijfet dies in jifiim tioHnrm luminis nUntitnr^ in the words of Taci- ins.
To this he adds the general account which ^nfebius givcsof the fuccefs of the Chriftian faith immediately after the firfl: difcovery of it, that prejently in all Cities and Villages Churches abounding with innumerable nmlti- tudes were affcmbled^ Sec. />;:z^. 459.
If he will not deal unkindly with Eufebins he mufl: not fet his expreflions upon the Rack, nor ftretch them be- yond his intention, nor forget what is obferved to be ufual with him ^ Oratorem more rem amplificare, Thele Churches confiftin^ o(^ innumerable maltitudcs are (aid to be not only in a// Cities, but Villages ^ now I believe it will be an hard matter for our Author to (hew us any Villages^ even in Conftantines time, where there were a Thoufand, yea, or 500 Chriftians. Thofe who will not abu(e themftlves or their Readers muft give great allowance to fuch exprelTions, and not rely on ihem in ftrid arguing.
And here it may not be amifs to take notice of what he (ayes o^T^me in another Chapter, M. IS. had decla- red, that he found no reafen to believe that Rome and A- lexandria had for 200 years more Chriftians than fome London Pariftics (which have ^ocoo Souls J nor near, V church Hijl. if half fo many A: The chiefj if not the only argu- p. aV^'" ^''^^' ^^"^ ^^ prove them at Rome more numerous, is a paf- fage in Cornelius his Epiftle (hewing the number of the Officers and of the poor, this was in the middle of the third Age, and fo not within thefe 200 years, but yet proves not what it is alledged for in Cornelius's time, near ^nno 960. The number of Officers fignifies no fuch thing, as hath been made evident, the number of
the
(SO
the poor, being 1 500 rather proves the contrary. This was cleared by comparing the proportions of the poor with the reft in other places, at ^;^//<?r^ in particular, as was (hewed out of Chryfijiome^ who reckons the poor to W a tenth part of the Inhabitants, and if it was (o at Rome in CorneliHss time, the Chriftians were about 1 5000. This will ferve M. *^ s purpofe well enough. But the time and circumftances being exceeding diffe- rent^ makes it moft probable that the Chriftians then at 'Rome did nothing near (b much exceed the poor in number. It is far more likely that the proportions were nearer that at Coftjlantwopk^ where Chryjbfiom fayes, the poor was or,e half, this would (poil all our Authors pretenfions, and (b he advifedly takes no notice of it.
However fomething he would (ay againft M. IB. if one, could underftand it. It is about the word-^^/^^/wVo* in Cormlms Epiftle rendered the poor, Valcjius obferves the word is ufed by the T{oman Clergy in an Epiftle to thofe at Carthage^ five V}du<e Jive Thlibomef}?^ i. e. /W/- geNtes^ faith he, as Rufimis tranflates it, and tells us alfb that Cypriatz I calls them panperes ^ indigetites qui labo- 1 Ef. 4* rant. Thefe, (ayes our Author, were not only poor^ hvt (ick ^fid dljcajed^ alledging that of the Roman Clergy for it after Valefms^ and if he mean not only the poor, but the (ick ahb and the difeafed he is right, for Corfre- tins fignifies thofe that were maintained by the Church, Widows and Indigent whether fick or well. But when he fayes the fe poor were fitch only as were not able to come abroad, he feems to confine it to the fick and difenfed, and then it contradidts the former, and is without rea- fon, againft the ufe and import of the word, as render d by all Interpreters former and later that I meet with, and indeed againft common fenfe f for the number Con/dins (peaks of is fixed, as that of the Presbjiers and Duicons^
M (iieh
(80
(uch as may be conftantly known and a certain account given of it, whereas the number of the J/c^ is not fixed, but fuch a contingency as is very uncertain and various. But Cornelius fayes in the (ame Epiftle that tkepeoph tfhis Church vpcre wmtmerahk. True, that is, accord- ing to the frequent u(e of the word, very many ( it is granted they were more than in any other Church) as when Dio fayes the Nations conquered by Trajan were innumerable, and Socrates exprefles thofe wounded ia the fight between the Chriftians and Heathen in Alex* andria about the demolilhing of an Idol Temple were dyAs'i^uM-nt m^ which in Sozomen is but »tany 7t j and ano- m Lib.^.c.i$. ther anticnt Author fayes there were innumerahlc Eifiops uub.'].c.i5. j^ j{j'Yica^ which yet this Gentleman can eafily r^/zw^^ and tells us that Schifmaticks and all were but 466 0^ oFag, 151; M. *^. may allow him what he falls fhort in this rec- koning, which is more than half^ and may grant there were many more hundreds of Chriftians in Rome than any of thele ivmimcraiks come to, and yet make good what he (up poles.
The great liberality of the Roman Church is offered as no (mall argument of its greatne(s, theyfent to a great many Churches^ rcleiving thofe that were in want^ and fending necejfaries to fuch as were condemned to the ^/t^inet^ thus in Severfis's time, and in the time of Dionyjlus the *Prozinces of Syria, with Arabia were thereby relieved eve^ ryone, pag. »^^.
M IB, need not doubt, but fbme one Parifh near him might do what is equivalent to this , if the an- tient Charity were revived, which opened the hearts of Chriftians in thofe times further than their Purfcs. could well extend.
But the words are odiy (\retched, for they did not relieve every one in all thofe places,but fuch as were in great want^ and thofe particularly who were condetftned.
la
C5i)
to the itMhies ^ and Im^v mufi: denote as // were the al fuffickncy of the T(oman Churchy which fome would lay is, as H were Blajphemy^ but our Author meant better, the proper import of the word is no more than Jlipem coufcne.
He alledges two paflages in ^nfehius />, the former p Fag, 54, concerns not T(ome more than any other place in the ^mpre^ the import of it is this, not that every foul of every fort, but that many of all forts were lead to the Chriftian Religion, if '^'^^ -^^yif be flretched to every foul ^hfchius is made to fpeak what is in a manner no- torioufly falfe, and monftroufly extravagant. The later which concerns T^me does but fignif}', that more of Good quality for Rrchef and Birth with their Families and Relatives came over for Salvation q. Thefe he will have q i-ib. 5. c.2u to be of the Nobility^ but thofe were counted noble who defcended from fuch as had been Magiftrates in Citiefi or free Towns. How this can make that Church near fo great as our Author would have it, or greater than M. B. fuppofes, I don't underftand.
What he fubjoyns is very furprizing and mud: feem ^^i' $4» ftrange to thofe who are acquainted with the flate of Church in thofe times, that the Chrijiians were the better half of the Roman Empire, that they were the major part every where^ but in Rome more eminently. This hath no good warrant from antient Authors, no, not from Ter- tuUian^ though he writ many years after Commodus. He like an Oratour draws fomething bigger than the life ( as our Author fayes of 9^azianzen^ pag. 137.) and muft have allowance on this account by thofe who will not be injurious to him. In that very Age wherein Commodus reigned, it is (aid the Chrijiians were fo often flaughtered that few could be found in Rome who profeffed the77ame ofChrifir, And near 150 years after, Y^h^n r PUtm vitl Conjiantine had reigned near 20 years in Rome ih^gene- ^y^*'
M 2 rality
(-84;
ralhy of the Inhabitants ftiewed (uch difafTcftion to Chriftianity, as that is given for one rcalbn why he (zofmsyHijl. transferred the (eat of the Empire to Byz(ifitinm [, l.i.p.6i. pj^ j.yj^g beyond M.B'j bounds towards the middle of
the third Century, and tells us tke great cji p,irt ^/Alex- ander Severus hk FamJlj ncrc ChriUians. And fo they might be, and yet no more Chrifiians in ''i^we for that, if they were Chriftians before they came in- to his fimily , which is more likely than that they were converted in it. However many more fuch Ad- ditions will not increafe that Church beyond M. Es Mea fares, nor make it near fb numerous as that Parifli to which Whitehall belongs. Va£, 5$, What he next offers neither concerns Rome^ being
general expre(Iions,nor M. 'B. referring to the Ages af- ter tho(e which he is concerned for,whether by tmulvJ'sHf ^mciyt:<ii we under ftand the great multitudes which were gathered into theChriftian Profeffion (as Valefius') or that affembled together for Chriftian worfliip ( as our Author) is not material 5 though the former is more likely, unleii we can think iiuJeLius^ an eleg.\nt Writer, would ule (b much tautology in fo few hnes. That from which he may exped more fervice is the next expreiH- on, which he renders the ?miltHude oftkir c*^fcethgs in every Cit)\ but may with better realbn be render'd, the 7wmeroufiief$ or multitudes oftLoJe that r.jjcmlled in jcveral Cities. For it is fb far from being true, that every City had ntafiy Congrcgaiiutis of ChriiVians in it , that there wxre many Cities long after, which had no Chridians in them. And two inftances cannot be given of any Cities in the whole Empire that at this time had more Congregations than one 0 unkls where th^y all might have allemblcd in one place, they thought it better in Prudence to difperfe themfelves into feveral Meetings. For in Akxajidria^ which was the greateft City next to
RoT^e^
(8s) T^omc^ and the mofl populous Church in the whole World, there is no appearance of more afTemblies till the end of the tenth Pcrlecution, and the death ofTe- /cr Bilhop there, who (affered in the ninth year of it /. tEnfib.l.'j.c.:}!. And therefore the elegant gradatmi^ in difcoverinjf of which this Gentleman would have us take notice that he has a more comprehenfive faculty than Valejiusficms not very well founded.
That which follows is an hundred years or more be- Pj^. $$. yond the time to which M. B. limits his Aflertion, " About this time or not long after T(or;/e had above " 40 Churches, which we muft not imagine to be built " all at the fame time, but by degrees, according as the '' number of Behe vers did require 3 d^c. pag, 55.
From the number of Churches he can't reafonably conclude fuch a mukitude of Chriftians as he contends for. There were many Churches in AlexandrU when Atha^rafius was Siihop of it, and yet there were no more Chriftians in his communion than could meet togetherin one place. '^Barohi/^s tells us, that there was a City in Gir?^affywUih had ^00 Chmrhesi^ it •■) and yet no rea- ^«wio8,m* (on to think that Town was comparable for Circuit and Populoufiiels, either to Ro^ffe or Alexa^^drra. If I (hould fay that in OptutHs there were not (b many Churches, but the number miftaken by the Tranfcribers , this would be as good an anfwer as that of our Author, who will have the 12 or 14 years o^ Athanafius his BaniQi- ment in ^pipLwJus not to be (o many mo'neths, and that years are put iiiftead of mou; ths by the miftake of the Copies, pag, 115, Or that other about the number of Bidiops in the Council at ^fftic<:h^ where he will have 30 in diverfe Authors to be a miftake of the Tranlcri- bers for, 90 ( or 97 or (^^.u) Omphrius muft have u;^^.i25,i24. liked fuch an Anfwer to this of Optutus^ who tho' he •=5- was as much concerned for the greatnefs of the Roman S?^ "'"'^
Church
C80
Church as any, and no le(s inquifitive into the antic nt ftate of it, yet delivers it as a thing manifeft and cer- tain, that Rome had but 28 Titles^ and this number notcompleated till xh^ fifth Age, But there's no need to^ifift on any thing of this nature, it is not fo material how many Churches there was, as when there was fo many, and about the time he will have '~Blondd to mi- ftake, and M. B. to follow him therein 5 be had been nibbling at Blofidell a little before upon a (mall occalion and with aslitde reafon, as might be fhew'd, if it were fit to follow one in his Vagaries. Let us fee whether here he doth not follow yakftus in his miftake, who will have Optatus to fpeak of the Churches at Rowe in thetme of Diodctvan sT^crfecHtioft^ ter/tporc perfecutiofiis whEufeb, Diocletiamw. l^m Optatus (peaks of tho(e Churches ' • • ^' 43* when extant and capable of receiving Congregation, as is plain by his words 5 but what Churches were at Ro^e or other places, in the very beginning of that Per(ecu- tion, were all quite demolifhed, and that /» of/e day^ xH/fi./.<.f.?8. ^ycs Theodoret x, or the T^afchal dajes, as ^nfebiusy 5 ^Chron. and there's no probability they could rebuild them while the Perfecution lafted, or that fo many could be V. 7. c. 49. rai(ed in Icfs than many years after, ^cephorus fpeaks but of 14 Churches at Cotiflatitwopk in the reign ofTTie- cdojius junior, nor meet I with any Author that gives an account of more, yet this was about an hundred years after Byzantium was re-cdif}'ed, and both Con- fiantine and the (ucceeding Emperours endeavoured to make that City as populous as could be,and furnilhed it with Churches anfwerable to the numbers of the Inha- bitants. So that there's no likelihood there could be 40 Churches in Rome at any time nearer Dioclejians than Optatn/s.
But to help this our Author tells us out of Opfatuj,
that
(87j that there were three Domtijis Bifhops at Rome fuccef^ fively before ^acrobius^ who was Contemporary with Optatus^ and that the firft of them was J^i:for Garbk^fls, and he will have Optatus to fpeak of the State of Rome (the 40 Churches therej not as it was in his own time, but in that of this ViC^or, when this was, he (ayes, is not eafietofix. pag. $6.
Yet this is certain, it cannot be in the time of Diode- fians T^erfeaitiorr^ for the Schifme of the Donatifis did not break out till ^jjorims was ordained f who was the firft Bi(hop of the .Fadion made in Africa or elfe- where) and this was fometime after the Perfecution was there ended, as Optath's and Valcfjts after him, and o- thers declare z. 5 and fometime muft be allowed after z ttt Schif. d»» this for the DomtHis fettling in T{ome^ and fuch an in- *''^' ^'^^' ** creafe of them there as to need a Bifhop. '^aronius makes this Vi&or to be BiChop in SH€efiers time, which might be long enough after Dioclejians Perfecution, for he lived till 3 3 5. All which our Author hath to alledgc for the more early date of Vigors BiQioprick, is that there were two or three Donatift Bifhops between Vi&or and Optatus ^ but this will (carce ferve his turn. For there were four Bifhops of Rome in the former part of that very age wherein we are now concerned, who held not the Chair ten years among them, MarceUus^ Enfebhts^ f^clchiades and tMarcus. But we may allow the three Donatift Bifhop at Rome near ten years a piece from the time of Optatus^ 378 (as both Blo»del and ValejiHs agree) and yet Vi&or Garbiefifis may not be Bi- fhop till Amw 350 and fo nearer to Optatus his time, than Diockjiatis,
2dly, It is no proof of Dkcefin Churches that thofe who belong to it, do occafionally divide themfelves into diftindt Meetings, A large Church, and fome-
times
C83)
^ times a fmall Congregation may have occafion to divide and meet in parcels for their convenience or lecurity; Particularly in time of Perfecution, that -they may aC- femble with more lafety, and be the better concealed from thole who would difturb or apprehend them. The people that belonged to Cyprian did meet all together on fevcral occafions, as is apparent in his ^pifiks 5 yet when Perfecution was hot, he thought it advifable, catite non glomeraiim ncc per mttUititdifiem jtfuuljun&am^ 1 f;. ^ cofivewcndum /, they durft not in (bme parts «? t^ ^vtes*
in So\. /.I./.2. ^;t;^p;^„^^ jn the beginning oiCofrfi^ntint^ Reign m.
DafPMjiis, the fa ppoffi' Author of the Pope's liver^ fayes, ^uarifiits Tititlos Trerbjtcrff drvifit^ divided the Titles in Rome to the ''Presbyters^ and by Titles fbme will have us to underftand Parifi Churches. But it is incredible that the Chriftians in Trajans time when Euarifiiis was Bifhop, could ered any ftrudures in form of Churches, or had any diftinguifhable from other houfes, fb as the Heathen might take notice of them, as ufcd or dcfigned for the religious exercifes of Chrifti- ans. Who can imagine that when it was death for any one to be known to be a Chriftian, they (hould fre- quent any known places for Chriftian Worfnip .«? It is far more reafonable which Tlaiina (ayes of CaliUus's time, more than an hundred years after, that then the mtetirig ofChrijiiansrpere all fecret^ and rather in Chappels^ /tndthoje hidden^ and for the moji part underground '-^ than in open and publick. places Cum ea tempejiate ob crebras perjecutiones occulta ejfent on/nia^ (j^ fuceua potius^ aique eadem abdita (^plcrumque fubterranea%, quant apertk in lo- in v^a. x-^1' ^^ ac publicis fierent. Dr. AV. (ayes, I confejs it Jeents not probable to tne that thofi Tiiuli were fo foon divided oi the time ^T/'Euariftus, rvho li-zcd in the titne tf/'Trajan, when the Perfecution was hot againfi the Chriftians j but Damafas
feems
Jems fsot to believe ^mjelfi for in the life ^/Dionyfius he faith^ Hie *Tresb)tcris ^cclcfias dizifit. His reafbn con- . eludes as much or more againft the Titles under this notion alcribed to ^arceUus 200 years after ( which fbme will have to be 2 5, but Omtfhrim fhews they could not be more than i $ « ) for MdrceUus was Biftiop of n inttrpm.Vau Rome for fijf years of the tenth Perfecution begun by ^'"^'*'-^ Diockfiaf/y which was the longeft and fierccft that ever befel the Church 5 when the Chriftians were fb fir fram ereding any Churches , that all before eredted were by (evere Edicts to be quite demolifhed. But what is laid of Titles divided by Euariflus may be true in this (enle, that (ince they could not fafely meet toge- ther in the Perlecution under Trajan^ they difperled' thcmdlvcs into diftinft meetings, and had Presbyters affigned to officiate in eaeh of them. And yet the Chnftians at 'I^ome were then no more, nor long after, than might all meet together for Worfliip, and did fb when it could be done in (afety. In the time o^Xyfluy who had the Chair at Rome under ^drian^ it is laid becanfe of the frequent flaughters of the Chriflians^ there vrere fevp found who dnrjl profefs the name of Chrifl^ prop- ter freqne}7tes c£des pauci reperirentur qui ronien Chrifti profitcri audcrent 0. And there was an order in that 0 ruthn Church that xchen the ^ifiwp celebrated^ all the 'Presby- ters Jljould be prefent, Zepherinus vohnt *J^resbj'teros- omt^esadejfe cekbrante Epifiopo^qiiod etiam Euarifto/'/rfrw/V, this is laid to be made in the time of ^narijins to whom this divifion of Titles is alcribcd, and it was in force an hundred yearsafter, being renewed by Zepherinus who was Bifhop till Anno 2 1& about 9c years before Cornelt- w/, who Ipcaks of 46. Presbyters at Rome. Now the Lords Supper was frequently adminiftred in thole times, atleaft every Lords-day^ and when the BiQiop was pre- sent, he himlelf did celebrate, and if all the Presbyters
N were
\i
r9o>
wrre to heprefi^t Tvhcn he did celebrate^ then all the People likewife were to be prelent, or elfe they had no Publick Woifhip, for they could have none without Bilhop or Presbyters.
3dly, A Church is not proved to be Dhcefan by the numbers o^'Vreshytcrs in it, this I have made evident before, ^nd made it good againfk our Anthors excepti-
p Tig, $52, ons. But he brings a new inftancep, and will have £- dcff.t to have been a Dhcefan Church becau(e of the nu- merous Clergy, the Clergy^ fayes he, oj the City of E- defla vp as above 200 perfons^ fwt reckpnwg that of the CoHfitrey vpithin hk Dioccfe^ and thk p?as a Diocefan T^/- JJjop topurpofe.
He did well not to reckon that of the Countrey in his Diocefi : unlefs he had kown that (bmething of the Countrey was within his Diocefe. It was not unufual for the BiQiops charge to be confined to a Town or City
qinnocm.Ep. Rome it felf is an inftance of it q^ Cum omnes ^cclefitt
ad D(cmtm. „^jiy^ j^f^^ civitatem co?7fiHut£fiwt. But why it (hould be judged to be a Diocefan Church becaufe 200 fuch Perfons belonged to it, feeing the great Church at C. P, had above 500 Officers amgned it after Juftiman
t ,vm;.3. f.3. had retrenched the numbers r, and yet was never coun- ed a Diocefe, I do not well underftand. But he hath fome other reafons for it, and becaufe he thinks they prove the Bifhop o^Ed^Jfa to have been a Diocefan to pnrpofe^ let us on the by a little examine them , thefe he gives in fummarily, This was a Diocefan '^ij/jop to pur- pafe^ who befides a large ^Dioccje, had excommunicating Archdeacons^ and a great revenue,
I find nothing alledged to (hew he had a large Dio* cefe or any at all, but this, the City of Battina was in the Dioceje f?/ExieQa, for Ibas is accujed of having endeavour' ed to make one John Biftiop ofit^ 84c.
Battina
C9I )
Bafttffa had a Biftiop of its o";vn, how then can it be (aid to be in the Dhccfc oCEdcJfa^ unk(s Province and Diocele be confounded ? 8dcjfi was the Metropolis of Mejopotama^ the BiQiopofit was the third i^etropo- litan in the patriarchate of ^ntioch^ as they are ordered in the antient V^titia, The Bifhop of ""Battrna wa$ one of the many ^'/zj^*/*^^/// belonging to that Metropo- litan, « How then comes the Diocefe of^dejja to be any wayes large upon this account .<? Is the Dioccfe of Cr;/- tcrbury one foot the larger, becauf^ there is a Bifliop of Peterborough in that Province ^ Thefe things are not eafily apprehended nor can be well digefted.
adly. The greatmjfof his T^vemtc is no more appa- rent, there is nothing to prove it but the riches of that Church:^ and its great Revenues, and hereof our Souther gives us no clear account, no value of the V^miifmata^ nor is there any Evidehce in the Coumil for the Man- nors he fpcaks of but only the jelliffg of fome wood in a certain place there named.But where there was ^iDiocefan and ^rchdeacofis , decorum required there fliould be AlaKwors and vaft Revenues for the Bifbop. Nor do I quarrel with it, only this breaks the fquarcs a little, and diflurbs the corrclpondence between thole and our times '-, that if the Revenues of that Church had a- niountcd to ten times more, yet the Biiliop would fccircc have been one jot the richer for it. This will not feem ftrange to any, who take notice of the antient Orders, concerning the revenues of an Epifcopal Church. The Bifhop was to have vothif/g thereof if he could main- tain himfeifotherwiic. When he was ncceffitous, no- thing was allowed him for hirafelf but ticceffiriesy fiod ^^^^^ Antioch, and rdiment f He was to purchafi nothing while hec.25. lived, nor to leave any thins: got by his BiQioprick \ ?'^^ ^if'J!' when he died, to his Relatives 01 others, but only to c. d» Epifc.sov^ the Church that maintained him ^ The BiQiop of '^'•^' 'v^"''?.
N 2 ei//,'"-^-'-"^^
C 90 ■^dcjfa^ or any other in the(e Circumftances, muft beri poor Dioccfatf^ and one in a good Evghflj Re&ory or J^/- car/dgc, is in a fairer way to be rich, than any in the •antient Bifliopricks, Co ordered. And if Riches or Revenues be good Arguments to prove a Dioccfin^ one of our Vicars may be a better Dhccjun than the Bifhop oCiidcjf.i. It is true there is (bmc intimation from TPpwe, that the Bi(hop iliould have the /\.th. part of the Chiirches revenues, but there's no appearance of fuch a <5/7//r//'//- //^^, till after the time of the four firft general Coun- cils f, nor in any Countrey but Italji till an hundred years after : Nor did it ever obtain ("that I can difcover after forae inquiry) in the Gra'^ Churches.
9. The other proof that Ibas was a Diocefitf^ viz. becaufe he had excommumcating Archdeacons^ our Author would make good by telling us, that one of hk ^rch' deacons excommunicated Maras. Now this though it prove not what it is alledged for, may prove more than he likes. . An Archdeacon in the antient Church (though he be another thing now) was not lb much as a Presbyter^ he was but in the lower Order of Deacons^ though chief amongft them, and cholen by them, as u Ep. ad Evil- Jerome (ignifics //, Diaconi eligunt deje quern indufirium gymm. vovcrint^ d> Archidiacomtm vocant^ the Deacons chufe
from amongU themfelves one whom they l^ww to be indu- JirJouf^ and call him Archdeacon, Now if a Deacon had the power to excommunicate^ there can be no doubt but the Presbyters had it, being of a Superiour Order and Power. And excommunication being counted the higheft ad of Jurirdi(3:ion, it cannot be queftioned but the other acts thereof belonged to them ^ and fb the Presbyters having all the Jurifdidion of D/Jhops ( all the power of Government^ what did they want of being Biihops but the honour of preliding in their Aifemblies?
And
r90
And if they were no farther from being Bifhops, they will go near to be as much Diocefan^ and Co this Gentle- man may chule, whether he will have all of both forts to be Diocefitis^ or none of either.
4ly, It is no Argument to prove a Diocefan Church to (hew that it confifts of fuch who live at a good di- ftance one from another. Dionyfus had a great Con- gregation at Cephro^ a Village in Lyhia^ but thofe which made up this Church were of another Countrey, coming partly from ^exaridria^ partly from other parts of ^iyPU as Eufehius (hews us, yet none ever efteemed that to be a Diocefan chtirch. In Jnftifi Martyrs time tho(e that were in the Countrey, and thofe that were in the City, when thole were no more than made one Congregation, met together in one place, Wf7«j'^'w 'nihuii^ iy^ii u%pov}m i^Tvdvn avvihdJffjf ^ the Meeting con- iifted of (uch as lived at a good diftance, but none will imagine it to be a Diocefan Church, but thofe who will have a fingle Congregation to be fuch a Church. ^U the Chrifiians in City and Countrey , fays Dr. Downham^ if they had been affemhkd together^ would have made but a fmall Congregation, w. " y/Defenetl.i,
Our ^uthonr would prove the largenefi of "^ajil's ^'^-M^* Diocefs by the diftance between C£jarea and Safima. * x;**^. $45,54^ He makes much of it and takes the pains to meafiire the diftance between thefe Towns, or rather, as he fays , to make feme guefi at it out of an Itenerary z.nd.VutingersTa-^ bles'^ yet tells us the diftance mufl: be as great at leafl as between Hippo and Fuffala^ that fo ^S"^. nafh Diocefs may be as great at leaft as that <iCSt Aujiins, I think they will prove much ahke , for as I have fhew'd that Aujiins Diocefs was not one foot larger for FuJJala^ fb it will appear that St, "^ajll's had not the leafl: enlarge- ment upon the account of Safima, That he might not be out in his meafures nor have loft all his labour, two
things
things (hould firft have been cleared, neither ofwkkli is (or I think can be proved ^ ift, That Safiwa was in Rifil's Diocefe, for if it was but ohly in his Tre^itrce^ how far (bever it was from C^cfarea^ his Diocefe can be nothing the larger for it, though his Province might. To prove it in his Diocefe I find nothing but his own afTertion, that Safmm isfiid exprejly to be tak^tt out of the Dmefe (TjfBalil , but where is this faid exprcf}}'', or by whom, except by himfelf .<=' The words in the Margin fignify no fuch thing, but only fome attempt to deprive a f^etropolk (?/Safima. For a Metropolis may be de- prived of a Town which is in any part of the Province, when another Metropolitan feizeth on it. And I believe our Atithor is yet more out in taking the tiMetropoUs which ^N^7ji(wz.en (peaks of to be Q^jareat^ when it ap- pears by the ^iftle to be rather Tyava, For as the wlwle Epiftle is writ to B^/F/, fo thefe words cited, af- ter many others by way of (harp expoftulation, are di- rected to him as endeavouring to deprive a Metropolir of this Town, called ironically 'j^p ^^fAT^Sy ^a^f^n ; Now Ctejarea was not the Metropolis which Ba(il would have deprived ofSaftwa, he earneftly endeavoured to have it annext thereto , but he would have deprived Tjuwa. of it , if Anthif}it^ the Metropolitan there, had not made a flout oppofition. csdiy. He (lioukl have prov- ed, that after this part of Op^^^ij/^a^ was divided into ;f:i7(? Provinces, Saftwa was in that Province which fell to Bafih (hare ("for if it was not in his Province how could his Diocefe be any larger for it ? ) but inftead of this our Author offers what may ferve to difprove it, telling us that in the antient Greek V^titia, Safima is fet down in the feconciQappadocia fwhich belonged to Anthimus as the firft did to Bafil) andfi; fayes he, ;/ k vot Hkelj to be 'very near Caefarea* No indeed, it is thereby proved to be fo far from Qefm-Cd^ that it did
BOt
(95) hot enlarge *lBaJil's Province, much lefs his Diocefe. Thus it is alio placed in the A/*7V7rv«; of Leo Sofkus wW" der the Metropolitan of TJ'/iw^?, not of C^jSrc^. It is true Buftl laid claim to it, but after fbme conteft he yeilded, and Anthmus carried it, placing Enlalm there as one of his Suffragans, when V^zianzen had quitted
it. . •
He goes farther on to (hew the largenefs of Oiocefes in Bajtl's Province.
" ft is plain by V^Azianzcn that Cappadoaa had but " 50 Bilhops, for fo many he (ayes Bafil h^d under him, " and confidering the extent of that Countrey the Dio- " celes muft needs be large.
He does not (ay "^ajil had no more under him, nor that he was making no more , he knew BaJIl was con- ftituting more Bi(hops in that part o£Cappaclocia which was his Province, and V^zianzen commends him for it as an excellent undertaking on (evcral accounts^. y oyntJtBdt^
" Confidering the extent of that Countrey, the Dio- " ce(es muft needs be large, for the Countrey as Straha " computes, is near 400 miles in length,and little le(s in " breadth.
If he means Bafil's own Province, where he told us there were 50 Suffragans under him befides Safima^ &c z : fas I know not what he can mean el(e, if his z vag. 54^;. Difcourfe be not impertinent and inconfiftent 5 for Ba- ftl as Metropolitan had no BiQiops under him, but tho(e in his proper Province ) Strabo is ftrangely mifrepre- (ented to (erve a turn , for it is the whole Countrey which paCfed under the name of Cappadocia^ that the Geogra- pher gives us the dimenfions of in the place cited, and tell us«t was divided into ten T^refeUures^ Mektena, Cataonia^ Cilica^ Tyanitis^ Ifautitk^ &c. whereof Ba^ fil\ Province was but one, viz, that called Cilica^ and that of AnthintHs^ Tjianitis , another, &c, Mazaca.
Cafterwards
i96 )
(afterwards called Cd'firea) being Metropolis of Bafirs and T^iif7a o^Tyafiitk^ 8cc. and after he hath given (ome account of thefe ten Prefectures^ he adds the dimenli- ons of the whole Countrey, in thefe words, the extent ^Gippadocia in breadth from the Euxine to Taurus, is l8cc Furlongs^ in length 5000. So that our Author vvill have the extent of '~Bufih Province to be no lefs than that of the vohole Countrey^ when it is but the tenth fart thereof And as if this were not enough, he makes the breadth of the whole Countrey, to be near twice as much as it is in Strabo 5 but he hath (bme falvo for this, flich as it is.
" And little leis in breadth, as Caufabon reftores the "reading of 1800 Furlongs in the 12th. Bcok^^ by " a paflage in the fecond where the breadth is made « 25oc.
It is true Canfabon obfervcs (cfme difference in the places cited,, but he (hews how they may be eafily re- conciled, without changing the Text here, or making the Countrc}' broader than it is here dclcribed, viz. by taking 'Vontus in one place for the 6*^^, in the other for the T\egion (b called, leparated from Cappadocia by tHOimtains parallel to Taurus s and then concludes. Sic von erit difcedenditm a vtdgat'a lec^ione. So that he hath no relief by Quufabon without curtailing the Paflage.
" And in this compafs Bifhops may contrive 50 Dio- " cefes of very competent extent, and not inferiour to *' many of ours.
Let him try how in 'Kafirs Province of about 40 miles in length, he can contrize room for above 50 BifhopSj with as large DioceRs as thofc he plesl^s for. That which is now thought litde enough for one Bifhop "^ajfl conceived too big for Fifty.
What
C97 )
What Diocefes Bajtl (and others before him) thought (ufficient for Bifhops both then, and in former times, ap- pears by a paffage which our Author next cites, where ^mphihchiHs BiJJjop of Icofjiuw^ is eUre&ed to co?iftitMte ^iJI)Ops for the T^rovwce of Iconmm^ in little Corporati' ons and Villages, a. Hundreds of inftances might bea£^4o^/ brought of Biftiops ellewhere, in fitch little places and Villages^ but I will go no further now, than the in- ftance himfelf offers us, whereby it is manifeft that a littleCorporation^ or a Village might furnilh a Biihop with (iich a Diocefe, as was then thought competent, both by "^afil^ and the Church before him* For in (uch lit- tie places there was Biftiops before, as "^afil there fignk- fies, and he gives direftion that it ftiould be fo ftill. Yet he, that would advife the reducing of Biftiops to fuch Sees now, would be counted an enemy to Epifco- pacy iy and his advice deftrudive to Biftiops. So much do we now differ, both from the judgment and prac* tice of the antient Church, and the mofl: eminent Bi- ftiops in it.
Hereby alfo it appears that the mMpfying of MetropO' titans was no (uch occafion of multiplying Bijbops^ btit that their numbers increafid, when there was not that occafion^ And this in Cappadocia, which is our ^- //j(7rV eminent inftance. h For Biftiops were multiplyed b Pag. 545. by erefting Epifcopal Sees in Villages^ and little places^ this was done in Ifauria^ a Province in Cappadocia^ as appears by thefe paffages in '^afil^ before the conteft: between him and jinthimus., upon the conftituting of a new Metropolitan : and after that difference was Compofed, '^afil thought it advifeable that it fliould be done ftill. And the like may be (aid of Africa^ the inftance hemoft infifts on, and fpends many Pages up- on it, pretending the occafion why 5iftiops were fo numerous there ^ was the schifm of the Donatifis^
O Whereas
(98) Whereas \he rule by which the African Fathers proceed- ed in eredingBifhopricks in little places^ and (b increa' fing the number of Bifhops, was as themfelves declare, who bcft knew it, the increaje of the mimber of Christ' cConeil.Cirth. af/j : r Where thcfe were mukiplyed, and defired a 2 Can. 5. Bi(hop, they thought themfelves obliged to let them have one ^ not excepting the meannefs or (malnels of the places, where he was to be conftituted. And wc muft believe ("if we have any reverence for thofe Fa- thers) that they would have done, what they judged themlelves obliged to, though there had been no Do- natijls amongft them. And when there can be nofuch pretence of occafion from the Do^atijis^ the practice was continued, as appears by St. Anflins procuring a Birbop for Fufj.ila^ which he calls a Caflle^ upon fbmc increafe of the Catholicks there, diverle years after the noted conference at Carthage^ where the heart of the Donatifis was broken 5 Nay, many years after the in- vafion of the Vandals^ and the death of St. Aujiin they proceeded in the lame methods, or rather exceeded their Prcdeceflbrs in multiplying BiOiops, by erefting Epis- copal (eats in fmaller, and more inconfiderable places, ii Ep. 85' if Leo hisEpiftle may be credited, d
But to return to our Author, and the paflage of Ba- ft!^ infifted on, by which (ayes he, ' it appears that ' IJauria was part o^ Bafil's Province -, How this appears by any thing therein,' I cannot imagine, our Author fignifies before that Jfanria was a diftinft *\Prozince^ the Metropolis of it fas he fuppoles) Seleiui^^ which had a metropolitan and fufFragans before, and being now deltitute, the Bifhops in the Vicinity were care- ful to provide others. Which being (b, that it (hould be part o^'~Bafih Province (eeras as incongruous, as if it were (aid, that the Province of Ti^r^, is part of the Province of Cant^rhhry ; but if this coujd be digefted,
that
C 99 ) fliat one Province is part of another, yet Ifauru would rather be part of Antphilochiui his province, who (as he tells us) was to cortjiitntc a Metropolitan and other Bilhops therein, than of Bajil's, who is only reprefent- ed as giving advice about it. Or if giving advice and diredion, would prove any thing of this nature, the T^apijls might think it a good argument, that Africa. was part of the Rowan Prozince^ becaufe Leo Billiop of Rome gives ad vile, how Biftiops (hould be there con- ftitutcd. e cibld.
Next he brings in the Chore-pifcopi in order to his de- (ign, and tells us / they were ' CoHtitrey Bifiops, and ^ ^^^' *^°* ' their Church confided of rnanj Congregations , and ' thofe at a good diftance one from another, and al(b ' that (bme of them had the infpeftion of a large Ter- ' ritory, no left it is like than the County of Fuffala,
But not a word for proof of this, fave Bajll's men- tioning a Chor-e^'iCcopus 'T^vroiruy of feme places ^ Where- as if he had been the Biftiop of two or three Villages, this might be enough to (atisfie the import of that ex- preffion. Yet he knows there is fbme one Countrey PariQi, that hath ten times as many, or more Villages in it, but never pretended to be a Diocefan Churchy and that fuch a pretence would be now counted ridi- culous.
He adds, that which, if it were true, wouldgo near to dethrone thefe Qountrey ''Bifiops 5 (for IBaJil fpeaks of them, as having their Thrones in Villages^ and ren- der them le(s than antient Presbyters, for all their large Territory^ and there being Diocefans,
' But yet thefe were but the Deputies or Surrogates of *■ the City Bilhops in point of jurifdidtion , for they * were to do nothing of moment without their Bifhop.
O 3 If
( loo )
If this be (b, it would be lefs wonder that the P^pe will have Biftiops to be but his fubftitutes ^ and that fome BiihopB will have the Paftors of Parochial Chur* ches to be but their P^karj or Cfirates, I hope our Am* thor intends better, however it is well that fuch odd Hypothefes have no better fupport than that which is add- ed, for fayes he, they were to da nothing ef moment with- $Ht their BiJIjop ^ this is his argument, ^nd he is not alone in urging it. Let us (ee whether it will not do the Bifhops (for whole advancennent it is defigned) a» much diflcrvicc, as it can do the Chorepifcopi , or Presbyters 5 divefting them of that which is counted more neceflary and advantagious to them, than a large Dioce(e. The Provincial Biftiops were obliged to do nothing, f<»'i^*' wf«wi7«r ih^t^eiv <ti'x<» « fwr^w^AsS^^ ^tf"KW, withoui the H^jjljop of the <^etropolis^ this the (ynod at Antioch decrees, accordirg to an anticnt Canon of the g Can. 9. can. Fathers, g By this argument we muft conclude, that ci/." Af//5if "* the Bi(hops in a Province were but the Dcputiej and Can. I}. Surrogates of the Metropolitan. And it may proceed proportionably againfl: the Metropolitans with re(pe{i to the "Ef <«fX*' or 'Primates ^ and alfo to their prejudice in reference to the Patriarchs, It will go near to d<> ftroy tke'~BiJhcps likewife, if we follow it downwards. In the antient Church the BiJIiops were to do r.othifig of mcment^ without the *Vr€shyters^ this the moft judicious and Learned ^ffarters of Epifcopacy acknowledge 5 h ff. BiKnn, h Nay further, in the beft Ages of the Church, the Do-^ihai\ b!' '^^fi4^ ^^^6 ^9 do nothing without the people, that ij^ Hiii^ M. without their prcfir.ce and confent% This is moft evi« f(ih?rf'^'' ^' ^^^^ '" Cyprians ^pifiks, and is acknowledged by fuch i 'i^ide defmct 'Prelatijis as are otherwife referved enough, i Now io?!!'^''^'*'* by this A^ment we may conclude that BiQiops were but the Deputies or Surrogates of the Presbyters , or which will be counted more intolerable, that Bifliops
hadi
C loi ) had their juri(Hi<ftion from the people by Deputatku and Vicarage, It may be this GentUfptan will not like his argument fo well, when he (ees what improvement it is capable ofj yet in purfuancc of it he adds, ' "^afil ' is fo refolute upon his prerogative, that he will not en- 'dure they (hould ordain, as much as the inferiour 'Clergy, without his conlent^ and if they do, let ' them know, ((ayes he^ that whofoever is admitted ' without our confent (hall be reputed but a Layman*
I fuppofe the T?rcrogatsve for which he will have Bti^ (it fo refolute , is a Negative in ordinations upon the Countrey Biftiops ^ but this cannot be concluded from the words cited. For the Council of V^Qce gives the Metropolitan a power, as to ordinations in the fame words, k declaring that if a Bilhop be ordained by the kc^^r^^ Provincials, 7^f y*^p»f* withont the judgw^fjt 6J the Me- tropoHtan^ the great Council will have him accounted no '^ipop 5 and yet the Metropolitan had no Negative up- on the Provincials in Ordinations, for the fame Council determines, that in ordmation* plurality of Votes fiall prevail, which is utterly inconliftent with any ones Ne- gative voice. What then is the import of IBaJtl's *y^ ynii^tfi} take it in the words of a very Learned and Ju- dicious Dr. of this Chnrch, // // indeed there faid, that noK€ fiould be ordained 7^6Kyy^tmt hout the opinion of the t*4^etropolrtan, hut that doth not import a Negative voice in him^ but that the ir^ifaClion ftyo.ld not pop in hu abfcxce^ or vpithout thij knowledge y adzife andfitffrage^
^^- ^ , \Bamvofth*'
5. It is no proof of a Diocefifi Church, to fhew that po/'" su^um-
a Town, bcfides the Clergy or Officers in it, had fome '^* ^**' *^ Presbyters or Congregations in the Cpuntrcy belong- ing to it. The inuances which fignifie no more, or not fo much, are produced as fo^icnt arguments to
prove
C 102 )
prove there were fuch Churches. As that ofGaiuf Diddertfis Treshjter, fuppoftd (with what ground I examine not) to have been a Countrey Presbyter be- mrindicition.lon^ngtoCurthage^ and under Cypriav. nt And that P' 504- of tclix fdid to do the Office of a Presbyter, under DcdtHHs another Presbyter ^ a thing unheard of in thole times, but let us take it as we find it, and upon the very ilender reafon alledgedagainft Gof/larti/iJ (who ;s of another Judgment) believe, that he was a Prieft n P:ii. S06. in fbme Village belonging to Caldcniuf his Diocefe. n 5^'^- And that order for the Presbyters from their Churches,
o Con 4. Can. ^^ f^^P^^^^o ihcir proper IBifi Op for Chrijmxn Africa^ 0 in 55. Spaif?^ p and in France, q To theic are added, for
p roi. I. Cap. fj^jj-ther evidences, the Churches ("(aid without ground qy'ufcoK.CM.i. tobe W4W),) belonging to Hippo DUritorum 5 Al(b the N , Church of Thy ana , belonging to Alypius Bilhop of Tagciia^ which without reafon, we muft take to be a confiderable City , r and the City Milevis , becaufe r '£• ^ ' PctilranfiycsTfinra belonged to it once, though now it had a Bi(hop of its own ^ and by our Authors Art of computation , Towns ^ J'lllages and Cities muft be- long to Milezis^ upon the fole account of Tz/wc^, fome- f/»4^. 528. ^'"^^ appertaining to it, /andthefe with FuJ/ala, (of which before) are the chief inftanccs to prove that Africa had very large Diocefe s not infmour to thofe of ojirs^ in extent of Territory, t Belides in the Council t ag-i^ ' ^^ Neoc<efirea Countrey T^resbytcrs are diftinguithed c^n \\ ^^^^ Others ^ « and that of ^nticch provides that w an. 8. Countrey T?resbytcrs jkall not gize Canonical ^pifiles^ n> and allows the Bifhop to order his ovon Churchy and the yCi^- 9- "^^i- Countrey places depending on it. x And Epiphanius ^\ji^ Vi \fpeaks of a Church belonging to his charge, which we mufi underftand to be his Diocefe^ though in the y^-'o'- 55S- p^fi^ge cited, it is twice called his T^rovince^ y in fine, Jerowc fpeakes of fome baptized by Presbyters or Dca*
C J03 )
cons in Himlets^ Cajlks^ and Tfaces remote from the Bijbop.
The(e and fuch like are u(ed as good arguments for Diocefin Churches^ whereas there are diverfe Towns in EtigUnd^ which befides the Officers in them, have mii- ny Congregations and Presbyters in Villages belonging to them, and contained within the Pariih \ and yet our Author and thofc of his perfwafion would think Diocefans quite ruined , if they were reduced , and confined to the mcafiires of thofe Parifh Churches, and left no bigger than fome of our Vicarages and Parfona- ges, though fiich as Mr. Hooker affirms to be as Urge as fomeantknt Bi(l}opricl{s 5 he might havefaid wofl^ there being not one in many greater or fo large. I yet fee no ground in antiquity, nor can expefi to have it proved, that the larger fort of ordinary BiQiopricks in the fonrth age, and fometkne after, were of more ex- tent than two fuch Vicarages would be, if united. Yet a Biihop of fuch a Difl:ri<!t in our times would be counted fo far from having a competent Diocefe, that he would (carce efcape from being (corned as an Italian Epifcopellus,
But his greateft argument, (in comparifon of which his other Allegations, he tells us, are but accidetjtal hints, z. ) which he mofi: inlifts on, and offers many z Pas- 508. times over ^ fo that it makes a great part of his dii^ courfe on this fubje6^. a It is drawn from the mtmher ^J"^^- 5°3- '" ofBiJJjopsin CoHtfdls, by which he would evince the 5^9.* L]. 556.. largemfs of antient Diocefes, when it no way proves '^ 5^^* Diocejhfi Churches of any fize. He proceeds upon this fuppofition that there were great mtmhers of Chrijiia^s in all parts and Cities, bin the fir si age." ^f;d that theb Pag. 530. Bifl.'Ops rvereftwer in former times than afterwards. The former part of his Hypothefts, if he underftands the num- bers of Chriftians to be any thing comparable to what
they
( 104 )
tlicy were after Cotrflantincy when Bifliops t^rc much
multiplied 5 (as he muft underftand it, if he expeft any (crvice from it) wants proof, and he offers none but fbme pafTages in 7cr/«//w//, (trained far beyond what is agreeable to other afiUcnt Authors^ of which before. Let me add that 'J^ziatjzcn comparing the numbers of Chriftiansin former times, withthofe in Julian's Reign, fays, they were trot many in former Perfecutions, CChr i- ftianity had not reached many, »^ ^ mK\\tf,J no, not in that of Dioclejlan^ &c. ( though they were at that time, farr more numerous, than in Tcrtullians age) but
c Oris, 3. ti^at Chriftianity was found only in a few «' •'^V*^ ^' The ether part which needs no proof^ (ince it is granted, (and may be without any advantage to himj he at- tempts to prove largely and induftrioufly , but by fuch; a medium as makes that which is granted to be que(H- onable, fuch a one which as it is ordered may conclude backward, and prove the contrary to what he defigns. That this may be raanifeft, let it be obferved, that he will have us take an account of the number of Bifhops in the Church by their appearing in Councils^ more or fewer j and accordingly judge in feveral periods, whe« ther they were leis numerous, and confequendy their Diocefes larger in former times than afterwards. And to this purpofe we need view no other inftances than himfelf produces. At Lambefe in Ajrka there were 90 Bifhops againft Privatus 5 but not fb many in any Council after (though not a few are mentioned in that
df>f. 509. CountreyJ till the Donatifis grew numerous d. In Spain the Council of Eliberis had 19 Bifhops in the be- ginning of the 4th. Age, and the firft Council oiTokdo had no more in the beginning of the age after. But the following Synods, at Saragoffa^ Gemnda^ Ilerda^
«;*i«$57-558 Valentia^ Arragon^ had not fb many e. In France .the Council at Valence had 21 BiQiops in the fourth Age,
but
C 105 )
but thofe following them, in that and the after ages had dill fewer, viz. That of T^z;, Orange^ the third of Aries, that at ^ngcrs^ that at /^//r/, and Vatnes and another at ^rks. For Gemral Councils, the firft at ^ice had ^iSBifliops in the beginning of the fourth Age, that at Epkefus above an hundred years after, had but two hundred, that at C. T. in the latter end of the fourth Age had but one hundred and fifty Bi- fliops.
So that if we take account how many Bifhops there were of old, as he would have us, by their numbers m Cotivcils^ there will be more before the middle of the third Age, than in the beginning of the fourth 5 more in the beginning of the fourth than in fbme part of the fifth 5 and more in the beginning of the fifth, than in fbme part of th^fixth 5 quite contrary to the Hypotjde- Jis on which he proceeds. Whether by his argument he would lead us to think Dmefes did wax and wane fb odly,as it makes Bifhops to be more or fewer,! cannot tell. However fince he grants that in the fourth and fifth Ages Diocefes were very fmallf, and crumbled into^^/ii' $$2.' jmall pieces g^ (and fb nothing like oursj .• there's no ip^i' si^» expectation he can find any larger, if any thing near fb great, in any former age : unlefs they can be larger when incomparably fewer Chriflians belonged to thcfe Bifhops 5 which will be no lefs a paradox than the for- mer. For it cannot but be thought ftrange, that the Bifhops Diocefe fhould be ^re^/<rr when his flock was undeniably far/e/r. And they feem not to be chiftian HBiJIjopricks^ whofe meafures muft be taken by num- bers of^cres rather than of Souls 5 or by multitudes of Heathens rather than Chriftians.
He denies not, that the generality ofBifiops^fir a lorg n^hile after the ^paflles^ had but one Co??gregation to Go- Pof* 7'' vern. What then f* fays he, If all tk Bikivcrs iff and
P nboHt
C ro6 ) itlout a City would hardly make a Coffgregatiott^ that is to be afcribcd to the co?jditiofi ofthofi times. Diocefes with him, wcrelargcft in the firft times 5 but Bifhops being dill multiplyed, they became lefs and Icfs, and fb were very fmall and crumbled into very little pieces in the fourth and fifth Ages. This is the tendency of his di(^ courfe all along. Thus Diocefes muft be langeft, when a BiQiop had but one Congregation , but in after ages when he had more Congregations under his infpedion Diocefes were very fmall. If he will fland to this, our differences may be eafily compromized. Let him and thofe of his perfwafion, be content with the Diocefes in the firft ages, when he counts them largeft 5 and we fhall never trouble any to reduce them to the meafures of the fourth and fifth ages, when in his account they were fb lamentably little , and crumbled fo very ffffall, , , '
The particulars premifed contdfri'ttibtf^fi to fatistie aV^ that I have yet feen alledged out of Antiquity for Dioccfan Churches^ fo that no more is needful, yet let me add another, which will (hew there is a medium be- ttveen Congregational, and Diocefan Churches. So that if (bmc Churches (hould be ftiewed out of the ^ntients exceeding tlie Covgregatioval meafures ("as fbme there were in. the times of the four firfk General Councils^ yet it cannot thence be immediately inferred that they were Diocejhi^ fince they may prove a third fort of Churches, and fuch as will as little pleafe thofe of this Gentleman's perfwafion msCongregaiio^al.
6. It's no argument for a Diocefan Church, that there •;vere (everal fixed Churches, with their proper Presby- ters in a City or its Territory 5 fo long as thefe Chur- ches,how many fbeVer were gdmrncd ini common by the Bifhop and Presbyf'ers in filch a Ptccini^. For though few inftances can be giiren of fuch Churches, in or
be-
C ,107 0
ielonging to a Gity m the 4th. Age 5 yet wherever they were extant in that , or the following Age, ia things of cojnmott concern to thofe Churches, they were ordered in common by a Presbytery, that is, the Bi- fhop with the Presbyters of that Precinit. Jerome de- clares it dc jrtre^ they ougkt to be goverfied in common^ in commnni dcbere ^ccleftam regerc» h h i« T/fw 1.
And Felix 3 BiQiop of T(ome^ ("than whom no Bi- (hop was higher, or more abfblute in thofe times,J de- clares it de fdUo^ when he fpeaks of the Presbyters of that Church, as t^^rlaf fxtr Xy^ rJr diu^KiKiv ^iovoy, ruiiffg that Church rtith him. It is the fame word that the go- verning of Churches by other Bifhops, is expreffed by ^ W^f fat ^/wT<w 0/ T*f 575'f /^ <^ti7nv uxAH^fic; yvd^n^ as Alex- ander faith of 'iN^rcijJus^ oTiolfM Mray Tivro'rov^^KO'mf. i It imports no lefs than prisfldere^ and is afcribed to^^^^**'* ^•^" Bifhops and Presbyters, jointly by Tertullian^ 4 Cjpri- k Apoi, c, 99; an I and Firmilian, m Hence the Presbyters are fre- '^'^' i- ^^ 3* quently faid to be 'n/^A"Ttff>o« with the Bifhop, n for ^ ml J! Hi(i.i, then the Governing power of Bifhops was but count- 4. c. 8. Epl- ed a ^Minijiry^ hnm^yiAi ydq \^ ri-ni '^<TM7nimyLA<^i\>^oriuVi P^"'^- ^'*'* 42*
a and the Presbyters y^/Z^jp t^inijiers with him, and oifidmLib.^: joint Adminiflrators in the Government. They are ^^ 2^0- ftyled <^/^'re/(M^'««» p fellotP T?aJiors^ they did not then P^^^-^'''^^ r- dream that a Bifhop v^^was file T*dfior of many Chur* ^'^*^^* '^' ches. They are alfb called ffyvU^Jjradt which is no lefs than c^v^imiy q for the Presbyters had their Thrones with (^ignxt.adr. the Bifhop. So Nazianzen fpeaks of Bafil when or- '"« ckyfod. in., dained Presbyter, as promoted Uioti^^omi^to the Sacred '^'^"^-i-*- Thrones of the T^reshyters, r They are alfb called <rvu- r orat. 20.
Horn'. I, But further evidence is needlefs, though abundance may be produced, (ince the great Tafr&ns of Epifco-
P 2 pacy
( io8 ;
pacy feems not to queflion it, that the Church was gr
zcrned in common^ and the Bifhop was to do nothing of
importance without the Presbyters, it is acknowledged
' Vii^tt Gd- by Bifhop Bflfon, t Bifhop Doronham^ n BiOiop Hall
r,trn.cip. II. alTerts it, as that which is Uvivcrfally accorded hy all an-
\,^l!Z"iz.' *^^^''^y-> that all things in the afitian Church were ordered
w Inn, P. 47. a>7d travja&cd by the general confint of l^resbyters, tv
Mr. Thorndike proves at large, that the Govertiment of
X Fiim. Co- Churches pajfed in common 5 x Primate Uf^er more fac-
''^'kdua. oj ^^^^^^y but efFedually. y Add but Dr. St. who both
rpifcopac'y. alTcrts and proves it, 2, there was fiill one Ecclejiafiical
z irtn. Pag. Senate., which ruled all the fcveral Congregations of thofe
**' ^' ' ' Cities in common .^ of which the fcveral Presbyters of the
Congregations were ^/Mcmbers.^ and in which the Bifiop
acfed as the Prefidcnt of the Senate, for the better Qoverf>
ting the affairs of the Church., &c.
Let me add, when the Churches were fo multiplyed in City and Territory, as that it was requifite to divide them into Parifhes, and confHtute feveral Churches ; the Bifliop was not the proper 7^;//er or Pajior of the whole Precind", and the Churches in it, or of any Church, but one: The Parifhes or Churches were di- vided among Presbyters and Bifhop, they had their fe- veral diflinfi cures and charges 5 the Bifhops peculiar charge was the Ecclejta principalis., the chief Parifti or Church fo called, or Av^ivriMi MAiJ^?A, The Presbyters performed all Offices in their feveral Cures, and order- ed all affairs which did particularly concern the Church- es where they were incumbents 5 thofc that were of more common concern were ordered by Bifhop and Presbyters together, and thus it was m the Bifhops Church or Parifh, he performed all Offices, adminiflred all Ordinances of Worfhip himfelf, or by Presbyters joyned with hnm, as Affiflants. He was to attend this particular cure conftantly, he was not allowed to be ab-
fent
( 109 ) fent, no, not under pretence of taking care for fbmc other Church 5 if he had any bufincfs there which par- ticularly concerned him, he was to make quick d'lC- patch, and not (xp°^'^(^^^ '9 ^Va^"' '^ "'Jt^'^ ^<^'^y as Zo?2aras) jlay there with the vegkci of his proper pock^^ this is all evi- dent by a Canon of the Council of Carthage a^ Rur- r/« zom.u.'jj fum placuit ut ncmini fit ficulta^^ reliUa prificipali Cathe- ""'^^ ^ ^'* dra^ ad aliquam ^c cleft am in Dioceft confiitHlamfe con- ferred vcl in re propria^ dintius qnam oportet conUttutum^ airam vel frequent ationem propria Cathedrae 7!Cgligere. Of this Church or PariQi he was the proper Paftor or Ru- ler, called there <'^©' -^fo^O-, and elfewhere/^ o}x«a jG^Oe/g^^ b c^w.jg. in contradiftindion toother parts of the Prcci'^c^t, called here Diocefes 5 and the people of it are called ohHQ-AAQ- by the ancient Canonifl r, \i\s proper flocks or people, his c zona, ia loc own (pecial charge. This was the particular Church under his perfonal Government, but he was not Ruler of the Precinft, or any other Churches in it, fave only in common^ and in conjundion with the other Pres- byters^ who jointly took cognizance of what in his Church or theirs, was of greater or more general con- fequence, and concerned the whole, and gave order in it by common conjent.
And while this was the form of Government^ if there had been as many Churches there, thus alTociated, as Optatus in the fourth age fiys there was at T^me^ or far more, thvy could not make a Diocefan Church, un- less a Dioctjan and a Preshjtcrian Church be all one. jPor this IS plainly a *Vresbyterfan Church, the antient 'Presbyteries differing from the modern but in a matter of fmaller moment. In thofe their *~Prefident being fixed and conft mt, in thefe commonly though not al- ways circular. The Presbyteries in Scotland compri- zed lome twelve, fome twenty, fome more Churches^
their
in reafbn be denied them ^ but this the antients afcribe n A 4 Hiliodo' to them j So Jcromc^ 71 t^Mihi ante T^reshjtcrioft fcdcre r*w- fion licet ^ iUi ft pcccavero licet me tradere Jatan<£ ad inter-
ritum cAYHis^ ut ffiritus falvus (it. Chrjfoflome thrcat- ned fome of his Auditory, while he was a Presbyter, to Excommunicate them, '^mp^djottyti'mivCfAh rSv U.^av rira? oHo'*i. 17. in ^^lutAi if^^vfuii^ o to wavc all oF hke nature inlifted on ^"'''' by others ; jHtiiftiutt in the 6th. Age fignilies plainly,
that not only i)///;^;?/, but Tre/////fr/ might Excommu- nicate Offenders, in his Conjlitntions he forbids Billions and '^Presbyters to cxclitde any from Commmiion^ till Jtwh caufe nas declared^ for which the Canons appoirted it to be doTie^ "«" l toU ^JKi-roif ;^ rr^tr^vrieyn o^rntppJio/u^, d^o^i^nw
m* TV 'cI}Ia( Kotvo/iAi, gcc. and will have the fentcnce of Excommunication rcfcindedj ivhich u>as pajfed by 'BiJJwpf p 'Soul. 123. or *Presbyters vptthoHt caufe. p In theO^e both Bilhops ^' *'* and Clergy are forbid to Excommunicate in certain ca-
fes, and then mentions the cafes for which they muft
not, »» <t(pofi^w M tLvct^iiActji^Hr MV €9©* td/S'tbj' tKseinmy, aU
q ux g 9, Stc. though they had been accustomed to it, q
2. Tit. di Efifi:
Now while Presbyters had thk power there could
be no Diocefan churches.^ whether they exercifed it in
common., as was (hewed before, or particularly in their
feveral Churches, as will now be made apparent ^ For
by virtue of thcfe powers the Presbyters were really
Bifhops, though they had not alwayes the Title, yea,
they are called Bifliops, as a Learned T^relatiU obferves,
by the antienteft Authors, Clemens., Ignatius., TertuUian^
r r,mnd. Prim, y and have frequently the JSJames and Titles which fome
^a""!' ^^^' would appropriate to Biftiops, and which the Fathers
ufe to exprefs the Office of Bi(hops by, 'sra^'P^-m T^r^epo-
( Um.firvki.fiti., ^ntijiites., T^r^jidente:^ fbic. And fo there was as
i'^i- ^8. many Bifhops really in every Diocefe, as there were
particular Churches and Presbyters there 3 And well
may
C 1" )
may they be faid to be really the (ame, fince they were of ihe very fi^/e Ojjice 5 for Biftiops in the anticnt Church, were not a^/?fw«r Or^er to Presbyters, but had only a Precedency in the (ame Order. This fbnie of the moft judicious and learned Dejajders of Epilco- pacy aflert. And thofe who hold that Fdtriarchs^ Me- iropoUtans and '~BiJI?ops differed not in Order^ but in degree only, which is the common opinion of Eprjcopal Dh'wes^ and yet contend that Bifhops and Presbyters were of a different order ^\v\\\ never be able to prove it. The difference they affign between '^BiJIjops and Me- iropditar^s is, that thefe prejided in Synods^ and had a prwcTpal itttereU in Ordinations^ and what more did the preeminence of antient Bifhops , difbinguifliing them from Presbyters amount to } It confifted in nothing material but their prefidcncy in Presbyteries, and their power in Ordinations. This lafl is moft infifted on, ^s making the difference wider, between thefe than the other. But with little reafbn all things confidered. For thofe to be ordained, were firft to be examined and approved by the Presbyter?, (^ ^aa®? ;^«£f ttj^'^^k ecxAa ? If^oJ^^av )o.myJy JhKtcut^ivTwv t^ the ordaining of one to the t neophHns
Presbytery was to be 4"?^ ^ ^-i''^^ '^ Khn^a TravJQ- ;/. Jt Csmmnitor.
was a crime for which the greateft Bifhop in the World u'^c/m. consit^ was cenfurable, to prcferr any, or make Ordinations ^''^•''■^•S-f'^P' 1^ yvdmv rk KA»)p«, as appears by what Chrjfijlorfie was ^^* i^*r ip: accufed ofj though it is like falOy ir, and this is counted whoUncbryf, by feme the fihftunce of Ordination, wherein the Fres- '^r'^'^-f^ijuf' bytcrs had no leis inarc (to lay no morej than the cap.z2.TuTon;2^ Bifliop. And in impof.ng hands^ which was the Rite of Ordiiihirg^ the Presbyters were to concurr with the Biiliop, for which there is better Authority than the Canon of an African Council, for faith a very learned J^olUr x\ to thkpnrpofe^ the laying on of The hands oft he ^ ^^^"- ^ ^TS* 'Vresbyt<;ry y, is no rvays impertinently all edged ^ aU hough y i rim. 1. 1
9K fitppofe St, Paul toconcurr in the a^ion \ hecauje if the Thresh) tery had rto thing to do in the Ordination^ to rvhat purpofe nxre their hands laid upon him .<? Was it only to be Witnejfej of the fa&^ or to fignijie their confint .<? '^oth thcfe might have been^ done vpithout their uje of that Cere" tiiO}2y^ which vrillfcarce be inflanccd in^ to be done by any hkt fnch^ as had power to confer r jrhat was flgnifyed by that Ceremony. And diverle inftances are brought by xhQfamc hand to (hew that Ordinations by Presbyters zpat. SI 9' was valid in the antient Church z.
But if the Presbyters had been quite excluded from Ordination, and this power had been intirely rclerved to the Bilhops, yet this would not be fufficient to con- ftitute thtm 2L foperiour Order. For the Rite of Or- daining was fo farr from being an ad of Government or Jurifdi&ion, that it did not inferre 2LnY fiperiority in the Ordainer , nothing being more ordinary in the prac- tice of the Antient Church, than for thofe were of a lower Degree and Station, to Ordain their Superi- ours.
While there was no more diftance betwixt BiOiop
and Presbyters but only in Degree, (b that as the Bi-
(hop was but primus Presbyter, ( as Hilary under the
a In 1 rim.Au- name of ^nthrofe, and others 4 5 or Primicerim as Op-
^^•^^'^'^^'tatus, defined by a Learned Civilian to be ^pw'wf
1? Gothofrid, in '^^f^i') b the firli Presbyter^ fb the Presbyter was a (e-
coiu cond Biftiop c* ^^-A^n ^fmn, as 'lhQi%ian%cn. As the
n^ijhop was fitmmus ficerdos, in the ftyle o^TcrtulIian
and others, that is, chcif 'Presbyter^ fo the Presbyter
was Bifiop a degree lower , not that he had Icfs pajloral
power ^ but becaufe he wanted that degree of dignity or
preeminence, for which the other was ftyled chief
As the T^r<eter Urbanm was called fS^aximus^ yet he
had
("3)
had no more Power than the other, Tr£fonm idem erat collegmm^ eadem potefias c, but only (bme more privi- c Bodh, lib. j, ledge and dignity, digmtate cteteros anteibat proptcrea ^' ^* tnaximus dkehatiir d, and the *fX»>' tWry/x©-, at Athens dFeH.in ttrl. was n^r£ior maximus^ yet all the reft were pans potefla.- ""'i"^- etc j T^ifiopf and Presbyters had idem mimUcrium as tibid. Jerome^ eadem Ordinatio^ as Filarj iy they were ofthe f j»i t/«. 5, fame Order and Office, had the (ame power, the porver of the Kej/j, all that which the Scripture makes efTential to a '~BiJl30p. While it was thus, there could be no Dio* eefin Churches^ that is, no Churches confiding of many Congregations which had but otic Difiop only.
J 6k \
1.7
I I. iwii.
POST-SCRIPT.
A
Late Writer prefumes he has deteded a notable miftake in the Author, of No EVidence for Diocefan Churches (af» cribed to one who owns it not) about /^yfw, which I fuppo(e he would have Tranllatedi Ten Tljoufands definitely ; but there it is rendred indefinitely thoufandsy as we are wont toexpreis a great many, when the precife number is not known. Thofe who underftand the Language, and have obferved the w/e of the WordjWill be farr from counting this a fault : and thofe who view the paflage will count it intolerable, to render it as that Gentleman would have it. That of Atticm Bifliop of C 5^. may latisfie any concerning the import and ufe of the word, who fending mony for the releif of the poor at 'Hiceto Calhofius^ he thus
writes,
Pojl'fcrip.
writes, 'ifut^v iMgi'tK l¥ tt? sbAh mtvm>TUt A7<d^ «>^ .^ «t^9«i
where he tells him that by /wf/W he underftands a multitude whofe number he did not exadly know, thus (i. e. indefinitely) is the word moft frequently ufed by Greek Writers, and particularly by Eufehitis the Author of the
Hij}.i.2.e. paflage cited. So he tells us, Nero killed his Mother J his ^rothers^ his Wife , avu ctAAo/f ^i/pfo/f.
i.Q.c.ip of her Kindred : And TimotheH^ ofG<t^^,:he fays, indurcd i^^sica ^a/jtmi- Many more miglit be added, where the word is notrendred by the bed Tranflators (Valejius particularly^ ten thoufand ; but ftill indefinitly hiiiumerali'tr ksotinfimti^ oxJexcenU^ &c. Noxhave I mec with one inftance ( though pofTibly there may be (bme) in him where it is.uied to ex-r prefs ten thoufand precifely* . . mi
Howe^ er it had been an unpardonable in* jury to EuJehiuSy to have rendred it £b in thi& place ', as if he would have deluded the Worid with a moft palpable untruth,, wkich .both he, and all men acquainted with the ftate of the Church in thofe times, know to be fb^ For this make Kim lay that tcnthoufaind:Bl^i
Qiops
, Pofi-fcript.
/hops met iii Councel at Anttoch in the third Age y when as he never knew a Synod of fix hundred Bifihops in the fourth Age, while he lived ; though then Bifliops were farr more numerous, and had all encouragement to meet in greateft numbers. This makes him fignifie , that ten thoufand Bifliops af- fembled in the skirts of the Eafi part of the Empire : When as their was not near fo ma- ny (this Gentleman is concerned to maintain there was not one thoufand) in the whole Chri- ftian World,
This is moje than enough to fliew that there is (ufficient warrant to Tranflate mtot, TI)Oufands more than once ; though that it is in that di(courfc (which he ftiles a little Tam- phlet) Co tranflated more then once, is ano- ther of his miftakcs. And a third (all in two lines) is that the -Author grounds his Argu- ment on it. Whereas thofe that view the paflage, and the occafion of it, will fee it had been more for his advantage to have tranfla* ted it ten thoufands. He that can allow him- lelf to write at this rate, may eafily be volu* minous, and look too big to be defpifed, as a writer of little famphlets. The
^* Pofl'fcript.
Tl)e Letter jnentioned pag. 45? hemg mnmuni'
cated to nie by M. B. that fart of it H^hich concerns
Alexandria is here added^ that tt may appear how
much it is fntjlaken^ and hw fan from hem? an-
fwered.
For Alexandria it was the greateft City in the Empire next to (J^owe, ««?<'57» /<j rUu vufjdw h TrfA/^ fays Jofephtis de hello Judaic lib. ^.c.ult. And Epi- phanius gives an account of many Churches in it afligned to feveral Presbyters, vi;^. befides Cf/ir^^ finifhed by Jthanafius^ that of Dionyfi" as J neona^y Tterius^ Serapion^ Terfeas , Di:^ia Mundidtus , • Annianus , ^aucalas^ adding ;^ iw^t. Hi^res 69. pd^e 728: This notwithftanding that the Chriftians at Aiexandria which held Communion with Athanafius^ might and did meet together in one Church^ihehimfelf de- clares exprefly in his' Apology to Conjlantlns pajrc 551. Tom. I . Edit. 6oimnelin. Anno 1601. The whole paflage is too hige to tran(cribe or tranllate, this is the fence of it- He being ac- cufed for affembling the People in the great Church before it was dedicated (-^fV ovtU Ti^eia. ^ujctj) makes this part of his defence. ' The .^confluence of d:.e Peo^^le at thePalchal folem- ) r .tV)\'.\^wii^' ^u\\ io 'Jt;nity
Pofl-faip.
mty was fo great chat if cSey hacf met in (eve- ral aflemblies ( ><r f^r^- ^ Mmv^t ^ the other Churches wcrelo lucle and ftraic, that they would have been in danger of fuffering by the crowd, nor would theuniver(al harmo- ny and concurrence of the People have been lo vifible and effed:ual, if they had met in parcels. Therefore he appeals to him, whe- ther ic was not better tor the whole multi- tude to meet in chat great Church (being a place large enough to receive them altogether
trrQ- JicAf TVTB 7« J^jyetftifk Si^ctSK, Ticwrut, iv eturu nnK^v^^^^WQ,
CO have a concurrence of all the people with
one voice ( xj rim avrU/i' f^ mjfi<p6>yt'Ai ^ kaov j^Ve^ rtw
(paviuj\) For if fays he according to our Savi-
viours promife*, where two Ihall agree as
couching any tLing,ic fhall be done for them
of my Father, Sec. How prevalent will be
the one Voice of fo numerous a People afTem-
bied together and faying Jmcnzo God? Who
'^th-erefore would not wonder,who would not
' count ic a happinels, *o lee fo great a People
'"met 'together in one place ? And how did the
people rejoice to behold one another,where-
as formerly they allembled in ieveral places ?
• Hereby ic is evident that in the middle of
the fourth Age, all the Chriftians at /^/c-x^j/z-
Pofl'fcrift.
dm which were wonc ac other times to meet in feveral aflemblies, were no more than one Church might and did contain, lo as they could all join at once in the Worlliip of God and concurre in one Amen.
He tells him alio that Alexander his Prede- ceffbrjCwho died An. ^25 )did as much as he in likecircumftances, "l^/v aflembled the whole multitude in one Church before it w^as dedica- ted, pa^^. 532.
Thisfeems clear enough,* but being capa- ble of another kind of proof which may be no lefs Iatisfa6tory, let me add that alfo. This City was by Straho his defcription of it, x^<^i^^* H^< li -^uA, like a Soldiers Coat, whofe length at either fide was almofl: 3^0 Furlongs, its breadth at either end 7 or 8 Furlongs, Geogri lib. 1 7. pag. 546. fo the whole compafs wiW. be lefs than ten Miles. A third or fourth part of this was taken up with publick Buildmgs, Temples, and Royal Palaces, 'ix^ ■nnTrir^f-njx.wtr^
01?^ ixisQ-' tbtd. tw^o Miles and half .or three and a quarter is thus difpofed of I take this to be that Region of the City which £pip/;^«i«^ calls ^f^Vv, (where he tells us, was the famous Library of Ttolomeus Thiladelpbus) and fpeaks
of
Toft'fcript.
of it in his time as deftitute of Inhabicatits, ^fffiMf Tvtvvv &rwVx«»'» ^^ bonder. ^ mmfur^ n, ^.p.i66 A great pare of the City was' afligned to the
Tews, TmKieoi A^da.^ yii^a, /atf©- tzJ" I^vh rit^- So StrdUO
indefinitely, as Jolepbus quotes him. Jntiqtut. Jtd. l. 14. c. 1 1, Others tells us more punftu* ally, their fhare was two of the five divifions {Upms Annals Latin, fag, 859.) Though many of them had their habitation in the. other di- vifions, yet they had two fifth parts entire to theiillelves, and this is (I fuppofej the wG-TcO®- which Jofcphus laith , the^ Succeflbrs of Alexander let apart for them (cu)'m( d^deimv, hello Jud, L 2. cap, 1 1 . Thus we lee already how 6 or 7 miles of the i o were taken up. The greateft part of the Citizens (as at ^me and other Cities) in the beginning of the 4th. Age were Heathens. Otherwile Antonms wrong'd the City,whOj in Athanajius's time,is brought in thus exclaiming by 'jerom. Vit, Taul. p. 24^. y^e tihi Alexandria qud pro Deo portenta "X^eneraris ; V£ tihl ay It as meretnx m quapi totius orhis d^monia cofifluxere^ &c. a Charge thus formed, fuppofes the prevailing party t<?be guilty. But let us fuppoie them equal, and their proportion half of the J or 4 miles remaining. Let the reft be divided amongft the Orthodox, the Arrians,
the
Poft-fcrift.
the No^uittam and ochei' Scdts ; And if we be juft a large part will fall to the fliaie of i lere- ticks and Sectaries. For not to mention crhers, the KoVatians had leveral Churches and a Bi- fhop there, till Cyrils time, Vid, Socrat. : Jtft, I. y.c, J, The Aruxnsy^zxQ a great, part or thofe who profelled Chriftianity, ■« a«« i* oKi>« m^^ {Sozom, Htji. L I .c.i 4.)ind it we may jncii" * of the followers by their leaders, no lol;-; r.han half. For whereas there were 1 9 Presbyters and Deacons in that Church (Theod. Hift,L 4. c. 23.) (12 .was the number of their Presbyters by their Autient Conftitution, as appeal's by EutychmSy and 7 their Deacons, as at ^nie^ and elfewhere) 6 Presbyters with Jrius^ and 5 Deacons fell off from the Catholicks. So;^om. Hiji. /.I. c. 14. But let the Ariatis be much fewer, yet will not the proportion of the Catholick Bifhops Diocele in this City, be more than that of a fmall Town, one of 8 or I 2 Furlongsin compafs. And (b the num- bers of the Chriftiaps upon this account, will be no more than might well meet for Wor^ (hip in one place. •
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