A modest discourse, of the piety, charity & policy of elder times and Christians. Together with those their vertues paralleled by Christian members of the Church of England. / By Edward Waterhouse Esq; Waterhouse, Edward, 1619-1670. 1655 Approx. 378 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 139 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A96073 Wing W1049 Thomason E1502_2 ESTC R208656 99867584 99867584 119900 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A96073) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 119900) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 192:E1502[2]) A modest discourse, of the piety, charity & policy of elder times and Christians. Together with those their vertues paralleled by Christian members of the Church of England. / By Edward Waterhouse Esq; Waterhouse, Edward, 1619-1670. [4], 271, [1] p. Printed by A.M. for Simon Miller, and are to be sold at his shop at the Star in St Pauls Church-yard, London, : 1655. Annotation on Thomason copy: "May. 14". Reproduction of the original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Early works to 1800. Virtues -- Early works to 1800. 2007-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-03 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-07 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2007-07 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Modest DISCOURSE , OF THE Piety , Charity & Policy OF ELDER TIMES AND CHRISTIANS . Together With those their Vertues Paralleled by Christians Members OF THE Church of ENGLAND . By EDWARD WATERHOUSE Esq Conscientiae satis faciamus nihil in famam laboremus , sequatur vel mala dum bene moerearis . LONDON , Printed by A. M. for Simon Miller , and are to be sold at his Shop at the Star in S t Pauls Church-yard , 1655. TO MY Most Dear and Indulgent Father , FRANCIS WATERHOUSE of Grenford in the County of Middlesex , Esq ; . SIR , I Would fain testifie my reall duty and observance of you by some action that most speaks me grateful to God and you for your extraordinary affection to me ; And since it is not my happinesse to command an opportunity wherein I might expresse the honest ambition I have to shew ( to that degree I know becomes me ) my sense of your favours , yet my confidence is that you will accept the humble tender of him who now and ever craves your blessing , and subscribes himself , Sir , Your dutifull and obedient Son , E. WATERHOUSE . A Short View OF ANTIQUITY AND ELDER TIMES AND CHRISTIANS . IT was an old and true complaint , that Truth hath ever been crucified between two Thieves , those I count Superstition and Innovation , the Churches Scylla and Carybdis , at which in all her voyages thorow-the severall Centuries of the world she hath been bulged , and sometimes neer to a fatall miscarriage , while she is threatned by the two rigid adhaesion of her professors ; who as the Jews of old , prefer Abraham before Christ , antiquity before verity ; and had rather have no Religion , then not that they have been bred in and accustomed to , though it be like the Gibeonites bread dry and mouldy , and clouted with unnecessary and vain Ceremonies : Another while she is in a storm from those wanderers , who will seek abroad , when there is bread enough in their Fathers house , being discontented at any thing which is not new , and desirous of every thing but what is old : The vanity of these excesses ( the utmost angles beyond which mans pride and petulancy cannot go ) God hath in mercy to his Church , and in right to his own glory ( passive under their Tyrannies , ) discovered in all ages , setting notable brands of his displeasure on the ringleaders , and impudent chieftains in this wickedness ; some of them he hath suffered so to be swollen with pride , that the earth hath not been able to bear their burden : Others he hath so flatted by detecting that brazen face , that to cover its effrontery had the veyl of virgin verity , Jacobs voice but Esau's rough hands , that like decryed actors , and bankrupt Mountebanks , they departed the stage with a stink , and lost their course in that fog by which they designed to annoy the Church . As the best state of Man , Innocency ; and the best place , Paradise , was chosen by Satan to act his first and greatest craft in , so ever since hath he taken the purest times of the Church , as his harvest and gainfullest season of temptation , vitiating and annoying them most dangerously with suppurated Opinions , and ulcerous Doctrines ; He thought that the way to overcome Adam was by Eve the weaker vessell ; and the Tyrociny and nonage of the Church , he took for the fittest time to sowe his tares in , because he expected less resistance from Infancy then from further Growth . Even in our Lords time , the devils Chappel goes up by Gods Church , Simon Magus peep● forth ; and no sooner our Lord ascended , but his Disciples have beasts to contend with after the manner of men ; then came in damnable Haeresies , such as that of Elymas in Claudius his time , of Menander under Titus and other following Emperours , of Ebion , Cerinthus and others , in which Ecclesiasticall Writers are copious . Notwithstanding which torrent of Evil , it pleased God to raise up many valiant and pregnant assertors of truth , who with great courage confronted these affronters of faith , and rendred them so despicable , that no man who would be thought any body consorted with them , but avoided them as the first-born of Satan , sent abroad to pervert souls and subvert Christianity It hath been observed , that the authours of errours and scismes in the Church , have been Church-men , either grosly weak , or proudly wilfull , whose Ignorance or pertinacy , hath wooed them to forsake the wholsome form of words , and to take up new Methods both of language and Doctrine , under which canting drolleryes they utter the devices of their own brains , gain credulous proselytes , and dishonour all who differ from them where they themselves disagree with truth and order ; That as Agrippinus of old perswaded those which he condemned , that it was best for them to be condemned , For ( said he ) I do not give sentence against them as an enemy , or one that would ruin them , but as a good guardian , who dispatcheth them out of that life , which they cannot live but in misery ; so do these seduce and lead away silly souls , and yet possess them that the only way to finde heaven above is to lose the Church below , and that Christ is not in his Word , but in their fictitious dreams , where he hath not appointed men to seek for , nor promised men to finde him . Thus as C. Curio the Plebeian Tribune is charged by Paterculus to be the firebrand of Romes Civil Wars , bold , prodigal of his own and others modesties and Fortunes , ingeniously wicked , and able to publique mischiess , so may these most justly be stigmatiz'd for the infamous , lewd Boutefeues of the Churches peace and purity , and therefore praied against in the Prophets words , Let them be as chaffe before the winde , and let the Angel of the Lord chase them , let their waies be dark and slippery , and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them , Psa . 35. 5 , 6. And as all things produced are of the nature of their Producers , as is the Artists skill such ordinarily is the Artifice , so happens it with errours and disorders , mostly they resemble their Patrons ; Crafty heads look before they leap , and design their march by steps and grand paws , setting up as it were with pinns and points the little baubles of their aymes , and as those vent so marshall they out greater and more : They know forbidden wares must not be sold in market overt , therefore skulk they into bye-streets , and lodg they in the suburbs out of the freedom , where the lewd varlets of wander lye ; there and to those they put their tinsil follies , and with those cheap and new , do they outbrave the truth , which covets no greater honour then the touch : Some mens eyes fail them , they beleeve every thing gold that glisters , because they are moon-blind , and rather dark then clear , with such these crafty Merchants bartar freely , taking Souls in exchange for their cheats ; These principled to purposes of seduction , like blind stallions , accost all comers , hit or miss ; and most an end succeed best with the multitude * , for the blind must lead the blind , how else will they fall into the pit that is digged for them by him , who deceitfully cries O coelum , but steereth to that infernall center of which he is Prince , namely the bottomless pit ? But with others of a more florid and accurate nimbleness , he deals under-board , making them unawares Theomachize , turn the levell of their parts against Heaven , thus became the Philosophers Patriarchs of Haeresies , and disturbers of truth by their corrupt doctrine , as Jerom upbraids them ; thus coggs he many into his lure , by prevailing with them to be instruments in division and unsavoury opinions , making beleeved and received truths , as questionable as Guy of Warwick , Don Quixot , which many believe fancies , and reducing them to they may and theey may not be , and by crying up rationall and plausible axioms , for dogmatick credends , as if God were accountable to man , and the Altar religion not sacred , unless the gold of humane reason sanctified it , or as if humane and depraved reason were the standard , to which the things of God are to be reduced , and to which conformed : That as the Tyrant stretched every one he took upon his bed , and fitted them to his beds proportion , by cutting them shorter if they were too long , and stretching them longer if they were too short ; so these resolve every mystery of Christianity by that rule , which is too weak to warrant them , too narrow to limit it . These Errors that have marched under the white banner of Reason , as they have been most plausible , so strook they most dangerously at the root of Christianity , endangering the fall of that Tree , which with incomparable procerity reacheth Heaven , serving the Church for a ladder of ascent thither ; Other Opinions and Heresies inchoated from immoralities , and seconded by persons debauched and profligate , like Boorish uproars , soon decline and come to nothing ; blasphemous tenents need no confutation , they fall by their own weight , the Eunomian , Arian , Macedonian haereticks , though they differ in Name yet agree in mischief ; yet S t Jerom sayes , they dealt plainly with the world , and there needed no confutation more then they gave themselves . But the Pelagian haeresie , that keeps it self covert , does the mischief , this flies about and chatters in every corner , and hath so many secret evasions , that 't is hard to charge it with any fault , to cover which it hath not a curious and well contrived black patch : There is no Church-Traytor so horrid , as he that gives himself and his opinions , as Caligula , did the lovely titles of Pious , Great , Good , whenas he was rather a Monster then a Prince ( they are Suetonius his words , ) so those Opinions are rather blasphemy then piety ; these Adamites figleaves never long covered their nakedness , nor have the misling showers of their Oratory wet to the root of sober mindes , soon they have ripened , and as soon have been rotten again ; But those errors that have been dyed in the grain colour of Reason , cladd in the purple and noble vest of an exact liver , dress'd with the garnishes of Achitophels brain , have harmfully passed currant , not only with the vulgar , whose faith is pinned usually upon their Rulers sleeve , their Religion mercenary to his pleasure , and their souls at his service ; but with those that boast they have the discerning of spirits , and can judg the Pearl of truth from the pibble of trash : upon this hank , Novatus a crafty perjurious and inhumane fellow withdrew many excellent Presbyters , such as Maximus , Vrbanus , Sydonius , Celerinus , who yet were called off from him , and Sisinnius the Novatian Bishop , by his noble carriage and pleasant wit beloved of all , and thought the most excellent man of his time ; yet being a Heretick did much hurt , and proved a great trouble to S t Chrysostom . As in all courses of life labour tends to rest , and the weary traveller longs for his Inne , so in the mindes Navigation there is a port wished for , Solomon gave himself to know wisedom and folly , but when he had wearied himself with disquisition , he concludes all vanity ; making that the Ararat on which his floating Ark rested ; Knowledge hath its bounds beyond which it must not go ; God often suffers pride to border upon parts , that Carthage might be Rome's alarum to watch ; since she hath a politique foe , and there is no impossibility of surprisall , the love of God is more seen in keeping his from the danger of a fall , then in suffering them to behold the glory of this world in the vast speculations of their minde , and to be on a pinacle dangerously precipitous to gain the prospect ; And if he that gave himself to know every thing , when he knew most knew too little of himself , may we not fear that many men of great parts often pry so farre into the Book of Eternity , into the cabinet of wisedom , into the counsels of Providence , that at last they come away leprous , and prove infectious to others as well as uncomfortable to themselvs ? He was a good man that cried out , Scientia mea me damnat . As Stars differ one from another in glory , so errours have been different in their influence and malignant aspect on the Church , some errours have been of the first magnitude , errours in the foundation , those of Cerinthus , Montanus , Arius , Donatus , and others : These with others little lesse vexatious , had their broach from men proud and discontented with their condition ; Arius was a Presbyter in the Church of Alexandria , and became so great a pest to the Church meerly out of envy against and ill will to Alexander Bishop of that Sea , who was preferred before him , against whose Life and Doctrine he could take none advantage , and Novatus because he would but could not be a Bishop set on foot that great mischief which bore his Name , and not only so , but the devil took advantage to seduce men of great parts to this design of errour in the Church . Socratos tels us of Dorotheus and Timotheus two Arian Bishops , great Clerks , ( who revived Arianism when it was almost dead ) yea , to perfect his policy he takes women into the plot , and makes them his lying spirits , Proctresses to his hellish Incantations ; I have it from S t Jerome , who reports that Simon Magus was aided by Helen the harlot , Nicholas of Antioch by the women he brought into common use there , Marcion by one he sent before him to Rome , Apelles by Philomenes , Montanus by Prisca and Maximilla , Arius by Constantia Sister to Constantine the Great , Donatus by Lucilia , Zoroastes by Galla , and Elpidius by Agape ; It seems 't is a credulous world that takes womens words in matters of this moment , and a crafty devil that knows the cogent argument is from that charming Instrument Woman . I need not recite the cursed machinations they set forth to serve their designs , what politick practiques they enfranchised , what desperate untruths they hatched , what glorious lights they obscured , what goats-hair and badgers skinnes they used to attire their monster in , to name is to blemish them enough . Nor will it be usefull to tell the number of their names , the times of their regency , the severalties of their poysonous tenents , these are at large contained in the Church-Stories , elder and later ; My drift only is to be Antiquities Samaritan , and to give Bail to that Action brought against her by ignorance , which indites her of many guilts which I hope will be easily expiated for , and she appear to these later times tanquam inter stellas luna minores . And here with the curious Painter I must borrow colours from flints and pibbles , and so work them into a compliance , as that they may answer the requiries of what I intend , a lovely portraiture , which ( when the utmost Art of my pensill is evidenced ) will be but imperfect , and complain that it hath not to its lively depiction a Saint Ierome who might raise a blush in their faces that disparadge , and a confidence in their countenances that dare own it ; I am not ambitious to make this as he did the buckler of Minerva , which he made , and in which he so cunningly inserted his own name , that it could not thence be taken but with injury to the sculpture of that incomparable shield : no , it is the least part of my thoughts to evidence any thing in this beyond an honest heart , which I hope God will give me ever grace to shew towards the Church and State wherein I live , and in which I hope to die a true and Christian man ; This only I to all the world publish , that if ( as 't was said by the Orator of Phydias He was an excellent Artist at any Statue , but chiefly about the gods ) mine Excellency were in any thing , I would have it more exact and signall when 't is exercised about ought which concerns the Church ; for true is that of a great Preacher , Our hands if skilful to write , should be employed as Sacretaries to the Church , our feet as Messengers of the Church , our tongues as Advocates for the Church , our wisedom and learning as Councellors for the Church , our wealth as Stewards and Almoners for the Church . And well fare those excellent Christians who made Church-work the labour of their lives , and Church-charity their heirs at death , and that upon grounds of faith and holy love , not merit or hope of supererrogating by them . I do not here mean to collect all those severall virtues that those glorious golden ages of the Church excelled in ; as their diligent reading the Scriptures and hearing the word preached , their devout prayers for those in authority , their loving and forgiving enemies , their modesty and calmness of conversation , their fidelity to their relations , their ministring to the necessities of the Saints in wants , and visitings of such in prison ; their exact continence , their care lest in Habits they gave scandal , their courage for the truth , their serious observation of Oathes , their industry in their callings , and those many other excellencies in them ( though by degrees allayed with much frailty , ) least I should swell my design into an unwelcome greatness ; my scope is to cull out such of them as most seem to rebuke those bravadoes of men in this age , who with Hyper-Pharisaicall pride , commend their own piety from the dishonour cast upon elder times and elder Christians , who were in no instance of true devotion behind them . I know there were blemishes in Antiquity , the ancient Fathers tell us of many ridiculous follies in use , as vanity in clothing and habit , in baths , in observation of the nativity of their children , in being present at sports and interludes ; their accompanying with pertinacious Haereticks ; and sundry other such follies , which here I defend not ; for their virtues I appear against those that mistake Antiquity , misnaming it for a pedlars pack , in which to one pure Venice glass , there are wooden kanns , horn cupps , trifling rattles , and many such ignoble trashes , as if it were a Mint of forgeries , the womb of Monsters and Sier of Legends , terming its Religion policie , its charity meritmonging , its unity combination , its Government a trap to catch men in who were not one with it ; and it s All , a wilderness in which were more beasts of prey then birds of Paradise ; S t Jerom spake of such long since , The world , saith he , produceth many Monsters , Centaurs , Syrens , Owls , Stymphalidae ( birds whose nature is to darken the Sunne rayes ) the Eremanthean Boar , Nemaean Lyon , the Chimaera and many headed Hydra ; and he tells us Spain produceth some of them , only Gallia hath no Monsters , but abounds with most eloquent and warlike men : and happy had it been if Vigilantius had been Dormitantius , and never been born , rather then prove a scar in that face which before it produced him was lovely . It was the fault of that Pern Vigilantius , to turn every way and at last to break out against the inoffensive honour of Church reliques then in account , and not abused to superstition , as since they have shamefully been : And it shall be mine endeavour ( with Gods blessing ) to bespeak due veneration of such things as are fit to be respected and retained in Gospel times , and to be defended by Christian Magistrates . I mean not herein to revive that Interim of Charls the fift , by making a medley of differences ; nor will I take upon me to deal with men of all sides , least that befalls me which usually trips up the heels of such endeavours ; all agree to oppugne , and every one rests more obstinate in defending his own party : Nor will I approve , nay I do sadly lament the preposterous folly of those , who make men hereticks , and blazon them enemies to Christ , for every difference almost , though not in Points essentiall , but circumstantiall and rituall , as if they picked quarrels with their brethren out of choice : The ancient Church in England did not so , for Bede tells us , Sese invicem venerabantur licet dissimiles caeremoniaes observarunt , sic Aidam Episcopus , quamvis more Scotorum Pascha celebraret , tamen ab H●norio Cantuariensi & Felice Orientalium Anglorum Episcopis , in honore est habitus . Cent. 7. c. 7. p. 119. This Cachexie hath been the Churches trouble and pest too long ; thanks to those hot heads , who cry out , Curse ye Meroz against all that crow not to the same tune with them ; these have made more hereticks and disloyall sonnes to the Church , then ever gained sober and submiss children : to these that of Baro the Dalmatian to the Emperour Tyberius is applicable , when having asked , Why his Countrytrymen had been long and so desperate enemies to the Romans ? he replied , Ye your selves are in fault , who send to your flocks , not Sheepheards and Doggs , to keep them , but Wolves : I wish it were well weighed by some ; for as Albergatus that great Polititian , wrote to the Cardinal Nephew to Pope Greg. 13. Sometimes the heat and precipitances of men , exasperate small and composeable breaches , into great and uncloseable gapps ; by which ill offices of simplicity , if not design , hoped and prayed for Peace and Union is defeated . My prayer to God is for Humility and Moderation ; I will not judge any thing rashly , nor before the time , since the Lord is at hand ; I wish the definitive sentence , of this or that , which is under a problem and disputable , might be referred to the just Judg , and that those that agree in the unity of faith , may hold the bond of peace . Novit Deus qui sunt ejus , novit qui permaneant ad coronam , qui permaneant ad flammam , novit in arca sua triticum , novit paleam , novit segetem , novit zizania , caeteris autem est illud incognitum quae sunt columbae & qui sunt corvi , S t August . in 11. Johan . I account the Church a Vineyard , wherein the grapes of Love , faith , patience , selfdeniall , are to be gathered , to Christians comfort and refreshing , rather then a threshing-floore , on which the flayls of furious smitings , and boisterous baitings and boylings of passion are frequent . For my part as I have ever yet , so I hope by the assistance of God I shall still offer my mite to the Churches Treasury , and make my prayer an offering for her peace , accounting it a greater honour to speak for her , now she is like Rachel blubbered , then if she had more outward lustre : And I wonder Christians should be otherwayes minded , who know Christ is in his Church , and his Word and Sacraments in his Church , nay Heaven ( in a kind ) in the tenure of the Church ; whose sinnes ye remit they are remitted , the Church being the Tyring room in which we furnish our selves for Eternities Halelujahs . To those that are of other judgement , I shall say in Dyonisius his Laconick Cook his words , when making by command of his Master a Laconian Bisque , which Dyonisius disrellished , as unsavoury ; replied , I have not such ingredients here as the Laconians have ; O quoth Dyonisius , Wee l have them sent for , and I le see them prepared and compounded : I but replied the Cook , ( Sir ) you do not get a stomack by exercise , nor do you bathe in the River Eurota as they do : My meaning is , The reason why the Church is no more their darling is , because they are sick of sloth , abounding with full humours , and do not bathe themselves in those refreshing streams of pious counsel and comfort , which the Church as the spouse of Christ , le ts runne at wast to her children . What then I have to write shall be short ; considering most readers impatience , which loathes to view any thing that 's long . — cíto dicta Percipiunt dociles animi , retinentque fideles . For I have ever held , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . When I propose Antiquity my Theme , I mean not Antiquity in the latitude , that is God himself , He is the ancient of days , He is from everlasting to everlastiug , He is veritas entis & radicis , this would be emptying the Sea with a Cockle-shell , t would be to attempt with Icarus his waxen wings to fly ore the Sea , and deserved his misfortunes in those waters . In this , Who at any time hath known the mind of God , or who hath been his Counsellour ? This is a Noli me tangere , which I hope thy restraining grace O Lord will ever forbid me attempting : That Antiquity and those Elder times I drive at , is , that which is opposed to yesterday , or later times ; Antiquity , not as before the Flood , the prints of that are perished with the old world ; Antiquity not as amongst the Jews , old things ( in that sense ) are past , all things are become new : but Antiquity since Apostolick times , till these last , and I pray God not worst times , that is the Antiquity I recommend . I must do as one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , having but a ridg to walk safely on , look least I tripp ; there are many detractors , who like Kerns in woods , are ready to snap , yea often their malice breaks out and their trap falls , while good meaning is but nibling at their baits , and not caught by them in their ginn of surprise . Since I would not pay the tribute of my Pen to any party , but only to Truth , they are not ingenuous , who rather wish for then pardon my failings ; God forbid I should honour my Saviour more amongst the Doctors disputing in the Temple , then in the manger ; or think him less the Sonne of God , who inviteth little children to come to him , and perfecteth praise out of their mouthes , as well as greater Scholers , gaining glory by their elaborate tongues and penns ; the pen that blemishes Christ in the least of his distributions , ought for ever to be execrable ; Let O Lord that right hand ever forget its cuuning , 't is a weapon formed against thee and must not prosper : My drift is , to shew to the praise of Antiquity , not only what from the Apostles time hath been laudably practised , in the great matters of moment to a Christians security and comfort , but also in many advantageous and necessary things civil , whose influence reacheth to those that were without , in the conservation of things and persons , in their respective nature and kind praiseworthy : I know there are those , that since they question every thing , will not let my Card by which I must steer ( Church story ) pass their torture and exception ; they make Ecclesiasticall writers Judg and party , therefore grumble they much , for a good Enquest ; those that would have every thing new , would have new stories made , as well as a new Heaven and a new earth , in which they would neither admit , nor continue any thing that is old ; If these taskmasters deny me straw I can make no bricks ; if they will not be tried by Good men and true , and hear those that are secondarily Apostolick , I must be plain with them in those words S t Jerom used about Traditions , Where they do not oppose truth , they are to be embraced , notwithstanding the endeavours of any to the contrary , By their leave then I will use Church-stories , and those as little suspected as may be , for I love not Hagar while Sarah is in place , nor need I court Zipporahs where so many daughters of ' beauty suffragat . First , I find Christian Antiquity vehemently contesting for the reverence of the holy Scripture , as the perfect rule of faith , neither adding to , nor detracting from the Canon , not only asserting it their tether and boundary , but exalting it as a rampire against the invasions and intrusions of crafty men , and craftier Satan , who endeavoured to entice the Sonnes of God by the daughters of men , and to make traditions , the Copper of Demetrius , pass for the currant Coyn of Jesus , and this in them was not only zeal but holy policie ; the sacred Scriptures were the wells out of which they drew their comfort , their armories , whence they took forth their weapons of spiritual warfare , lights for their direction , and salt for their seasoning ; should these have been pudled , and robbed from them , how unprovided would the Church have been ? she might well have complained , her veil was taken from her ; Had this Ark been taken by the Philistims , the glory had been departed from the Israel of Gods Church : How much prophane mirth would the sonnes of Error have made with these Songs of Zion , had God given them up into their power ? But blessed be God the Church hath ever had ane held the Scriptures in high value , though not admitted all parts of it for Canon at one and the same time ; sometimes they found parts of it not in good hands , as they thought ; other parts by Hereticks were corrupted , and handed to them not as they were in the autographon , but with emendations , to which were added many spurious and rejectitious Gospels , Prophecies and Epistles , fitted to answer the lying divination Satan had no foot ; other parts of Scripture not primariò authenticae , the ancients allowed to be read , sub regulâ morum , but not as a rule of faith a , but such only as were received from Prophets , and allowed by Christ Jesus b , his Apostles , and their Scribes and Schollers , and their successors , hath the Church owned and adhered to , and those are the Books in the Canon of our holy Mother the Church of England ; not that all mouthes have been stopped , or all Christians agreed in the harmony , no all have not beleeeved Gods testimony in the Churches report and traditional fidelity : S t Jerom tells us , that it was usual with hereticks to corrupt Catholick Authors ; the Eunomians dealt thus with Clemens the elder , and Ruffinus is not behind-hand for this trick , while he prefixed the Name of a holy Martyr to a book of Arrianisme ; and Evagrius charges them of entitling their hereticall books , with the Names of Holy , Orthodox men , such as Athanasius , Gregorius , Thaumaturgus and Julius : in brief , Theodoret is round with them , telling us , they cared not what Law they broke , what boldness and freedom they took for maintenance of their wickedness ; nay oftentimes they made it the master-piece of their blasphemy , to violate the holy Law of God. As men in groves cut this stick and that wand they like , and leave the rest , so pick ( erroneous men ) this book and that passage here and there , and leave the rest as useless ; Whatever is contrary to their device , and casts dirt in their face , they reject and disown , their darkness and the light of Scripture agrees not ; Light is au ill guest to an ill conscience ; and because Scripture troubles their Owle eyes , and dismantles their impostry , they cannot away with it : Tertullian perstringes the Valentinians for their clucking into corners , and their sculking up and down , and sayes , Our Doves-coat hath no guile , is open and visible to all comers , who have liberty to see and hear what we do : And 't is a Note unimprobated , that patrons and professors of error , and none but such , have ever dishonoured Scripture , or questioned its authority ; nor have ever any who had a grounded hope of Heaven by Gods mercy , held themselves above Ordinances , as the means of attaining it ; nor have they ever pick'd and choos'd , cull'd and refus'd this and not that Ordinance , but had respect to all Gods commands , and equally adored all his dispensations : Charge an holy soul with queaziness in this kind , object to it , that it loves not to be limited and enlarged by the word , not to humble it self to God in prayer , not to obey Authority for the Lord and for conscience sake ; and it answers in Hazael's word , Am I a dog that I should do this ? No , this spot is not the spot of Gods people , 't would be a sully which mountains of niter could not cleanse : 'T is true indeed in the interpretation of this or that particular Scripture , there hath been , yet is , and ever will be to the end of the world , different opinions , and many passions have lathered so high , that charity hath often layen in the suds , as is the Proverb ; even amongst men otherwayes without exception , as between S t Augustine and S t Jerom , in the Exposition on the second Chap. of the Galatians , yea and in many things and under many temptations , some of you have lived and spoken somewhat against the majesty and authority of the holy Scripture , as Origen by Name , who therefore confessed his errors , and publikely retracted them , as appears in his Epistle to Fabian , and as S t Jerom testifies in his Epistle to Pammachius and Oceanus . And therefore Legends Canons and Traditions brought into some Churches , as grounds of belief , and made obligatory to the conscience , as onely the holy Scriptures ought to be held , are but of late date in the Christian Church ; for S t Jerom , or Epiphanius in him writes thus to Theophilus , That thou mindest us of Church-Canons we thank thee ; but know this , that nothing is so antique as the Laws and rights of Christ : And Father Marinarus in the Counsel of Trent , denied that the Fathers made Traditions to stand in competition with Scripture , but good man he was born down with the many voices that decried his sound assertion , as that which better beseemed a Colloquie in Germany then a Counsel of the universal Church ; but what he said was nevertheless true because disliked by those vipers ; for as they then , so their predecessors long before cried up Traditions , and perhaps they had it from the Jews ( or rather from the devil , the author of it both in Jews and others . ) Our Lord Jesus arraigns the Jews , for making void the Commandements of God by mens traditions , and transgressing the Commandements of God by traditions , yea of rejecting the Commandements of God to fulfill them : and the Apostle S t Paul reproves this and cautions against it , Beware ( saith he ) least any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit , after the tradition of men , after the rudiments of the world , and not after Christ . Where the Apostle doth not simply dehort from traditions in affirmance of Scripture , or civil custom , but from such use of traditions as tends to the eclipse of the testimony of truth in the word written , which is transcendently above the witness of man ; and therefore I cry out to all those New-lights as S t Jerom did , Spare your pains , hug not the cloud of your conceits instead of the Juno truth : Why do you bring that to sale , which the primitive Church for four hundred years never heard of ? Why take you upon your shoulders , that task which Peter and Paul never taught , nor were they now alive would own ; untill this day the Christian world hath been without this Doctrine , and I in mine old age will profess that faith in which I was born , and into which baptized . Would S t Jerom have been stanch , had he lived to these times , wherein old and sound Religion , is like wormeaten lumber cast into the outhouses ? or like unfashionable furniture , turned out of the chambers of note , to adorn the Nursery , or the Chaplains lodgings ? I trow he would ; and had he , he must have reproached many professors , who now would pull out the eyes of those their Teachers , for whom , not many years since , they would have pulled out their own . But enough of this . I return to Traditions , which , while they contend with Scripture , or are made as supplements to inch out Scripture ( thought too short , ) I wholly disallow . Though I confess , I love ingenuous freedom , and I beleeve Religion is not in many things so stiffgirt , as some ridgid people suggest , while they portray it clubsisted , ready to smite every one it meets with , nay in a keenness , like Peters sword , strait out , and off with the ear of every opponent ; yet do I not comply with the judgment of some , who rest on a Counsel-Canon as on Gospel , and make less difference between them then is almost discernable ; because I fear it hath somewhat of a popish smatch in it , for were not the Popes infallibility , and the Popes virtuall presence and authoritative influence in Counsels in part leaned to , some of our Profession would be more nice in that kinde then they are ; I will contest in reverence and duty to holy Counsels and Synods , lawfully called and convened , with any he that 's most a servant to them ; God forbid I should depraetiate worth in any man , or judge my self fit to censure , and not rather to be censured ; but this I say , Da mihi Magistrum Christum , Da mihi Regulam S. Scripturam , In matters of this weight I 'le to the beam of the Sanctuary ; no Master will I own ( as to imperation over my faith ) but Christ ; I like not to crave mens pardons , as the Sicilian Ambassadors did Pope Martin the fourths blasphemously , Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi miserere nobis : While they speak according to Scripture I 'le obey them , and take heed not to offend them , but if they prove illuminates , and eccentrically wilde , that they tell me Christ is in this Enthusiasm , and that new Light , which neither I nor they understand , nor doth Gods word clear out to me , they are to me but as tinkling cymbals , I neither care for their Euge's , nor fear I their Anathema's . Whatever then becomes of other Writings , my zeal and vote shall be ever to preserve the renown of the holy Books of the old and new Testament , let loose persons call them by those profane nick-names of Lesbiam regulam , Evangelium nigrum , Theologiam atramentariam , nasum cereum , and let Atheists deride them , they are the Christians Magna Charta for Heaven , cursed be he that violates them to profane uses , they are the Christians Canaan . Let profane worldlings look with bloody Gardner's eyes upon it , & not endure to see the Book called Verbum Dei , yet the sincere Christian values it as his Canaan , the milk and honey of which refresheth him against his tedious march in the wilderness of this sinful and sorrowful life , accounting all other Books as Egypts garlick and onyons , to its Manna and Quails . This , this is full of the dew of Heaven as was Gideon's Fleece ; when all other Writings profit nothing , but are dry and sapless , 't is the Iliads , which every devout Alexander ( who by faith overcomes the world ) lodgeth in his noblest Cabinet , his heart : 'T is the Tree of life , on which hangs the Fruit of the knowledge of good and evil ; 't is the Ark of God , in which ( as it were ) is the pot of Manna and Aaron's rod , comfort and correction , therein are Gods staves of beauty and bonds , his binding and his drawing cords ; yea , therein the whole duty of man both to God and his neighbour is comprized . Now judge , O man , what could God do more for his Vineyard the Church , then he hath done ? In giving her such an Oracle for her doubts , such a Light against her darkness , such a Touchstone of her Purity , and her rivals adulteration . And what can the Church do less in return to God , then by signal fidelity maintain the honor and authority of this Canon deposited with her ? Let that blasphemous new light , M r Edwards mentions , call the Scriptures the golden Calf and brazen Serpent , that set at variance King and Parliament , and Kingdom against Kingdom ; that things would never be well till the golden calf and brazen serpent were broken to pieces ; yet ( next to heaven ) I will venter all I have in the holy war for Scripture ; He that comes to surprize that Capitol , shall have my life his sacrifice , and my prayers his curse : and let all Christian people say , Amen , Amen . This is the first Jewel in Antiquities Crown , her zeal for the reverence of the holy Scriptures . Secondly , The elder Church Christian was express about a Ministry and the right qualification of Ministers , according to the holy Institution of our Lord Jesus , the great Head , Doctor and Bishop of his Church , who left her not as common , in which every Christian ( as to the publick use of gifts ) had alike right , but separated some to instruct , to exercise power of the Keys , to continue succession , and to minister the holy things of the Gospel , by virtue of an infallible promise of his cooperation with them to the end of the world . This separation has been for many hundred yeers declared by Imposition of hands , which the Church calls Ordination , and has Apostolique practice to warrant it . In Acts 6. 6. Stephen is mentioned to be a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost , yet did he not execute any Ministerial Office ( upon account of his gracious qualifications ) till he was presented to the Apostles , they had prayed for him , and laid their hands on him ; a Scripture well to be weighed by men of contrary judgement , especially since backed by the general practice of the Church Catholique . For if the Churches fidelity in this Gospel Tradition and Universally received Ordinance should be questioned , the Canon of holy Writ , and all the Doctrines and Practises of Christianity will become litigious , since the Church as the pillar and ground of truth , is the deliverer and declarer of them . And we are not to doubt , but that the holy Ghost , who leads into all truth ▪ hath rightly guided the Catholique Church to this belief , since all holy men , of all times and Churches , how different soever each from other in Rites and situation , have agreed upon it , and accordingly declared themselves , and nothing hath ever been found against it , worthy the sway of our assents in contradiction to so Oecumenical an acknowledgment . And truly I much wonder any should be of contrary judgement , who ought to know the validity of Antiquities , consent echoing to Scripture ; were Scripture silent , had the practice of Antiquity no footing therein , I should be as unwilling to follow it , as any he that is most against it . For that of Reverend Calvin is most true , Si in sola Antiquitate , &c. If Antiquity be only the Judge , then prodigious heresies which brake out in Apostolique times , will become Catholique faith . But when the Word of God gives rise to what in this kinde Antiquity embraceth , and becomes precept or president to its practice , then is the Church to be followed in such her warrantable customs and observations . In the 28 Chapter of S t Matthew , our Lord Jesus is mentioned to have ascended ; in the 16 th verse the Eleven are said to go away into Galilee unto a mountain where Jesus had appointed them , there he appears to them in a glorious condition , which caused them to worship him as Emanuel ; God , Man , Mediator . In the 18 th verse our Lord owns the donation of all power to him both in Heaven and Earth , before this Christ is not mentioned so solemnly to transfer power Ministerial to his Apostles ; he asserts his own Authority before he gives them theirs ; that done , Go ye therefore and teach all Nations , follows , which compared with that other passage , As my Father hath sent me , so send I you , fully cleers to me , That transferrency of power Ministerial from God the Father to God the Son , and from God the Son to his Apostles , and to their Successors in the Ministry , who in Tertullian's phrase are the Hereditary Apostles and Disciples of Christ . I do not affirm , there is an equality of spiritual power in Ministers now to that in the Apostles , no more then in the Apostles to that in Christ , all Vessels are not of a capacity ; if the Spirit were on him without measure , and upon Apostles and Ministers restrained , and as they could bear , then we must allow a disparity in the degree , God gave him a Name above all names both in heaven and earth , saith the Apostles , and no creature must contend with its maker . But this I dare affirm , That the power Spiritual and Ministerial which the A-Apostles expressed by imposition of hands , and since in conformity to them , and upon the same ground they do carry on , who are lawfully called to the Ministry in the Church Christian , is as truly spiritual power in them , as in their Head from whom they received it ; and that the Church has now as clear a Charter for her Orders , as the Apostles had for their Apostleships , the great D r of us Gentiles is my Author , God hath set in the Church , first Apostles ; secondarily Prophets , thirdly Teachers , &c. Prophets and Teachers , that is , Ministers as well as Apostles ; both fixed by Christ as necessary to carry on his spiritual building the Church ; Both ministring Spirits for the good of the Elect , both his good Angels , to summon from all quarters his chosen ones , both usefull , one to lay the foundation , and the other to perfect the Structure . I write not this to ingage my self in controversies , I shall ever indeavour to decline them , as well knowing they account nothing to Church peace , or Religions purity ; but this I must profess , that my judgement is flatly against entrenchment upon Church Offices ; let Christians imploy their Gifts soberly , and instruct themselves and their Families thorowly , and they will finde enough of that task . If our Lord had laid the right of teaching in mens readinesses , or their talkative abilities , he would have appeared to those multitudes of people , whom he in the course of his life and Ministry taught , fed , and cured of infirmities , and from whom he had approbation to do and speak , as never man did or spake ; it 's probable he might have found as nimble orators , as pregnant gifted men in prayers , as great measure of self-denial in some of the people , as was in Peter , James , John , or the rest of the Apostles : But he appears to the Eleven met according to his appointment , and them he culls out of the mass of the multitude to be the Churches Faetificators ; and he bids them as ver . 19. Go ye therefore , &c. Ye , an exclusive phrase as well as a personal ; not onely ye as well as others , but ye only and above others , ye as the grand Masters and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Church edification ; lay ye the foundation , let all the after-building be according to your pattern from my prescript . And teach all Nations . These Metropolitans had large Diocesses ; Eleven to preach the world over ; this Commission must be largely taken , not restrained to their personal but Doctrinal Visits , not to their lives , but to the perpetuity of their succession , Ministerial not Apostolique , for can we think those few could peragrate the Universe , into many parts of which there was then no means of convoy or transport ? or that the hour-glass of their lives did not speed too fast , for them to sow the seeds of grace in , to so many several and various people , and Nations ? or can the Apostles in any sense natural be said to continue to the end of the world , till when Christ promises to be with them ? I tro no : most of the Apostles died within the first Century ; If Christs promise was to continue them so long as he continued concurrence with them , then must they not have seen death till the end of the world , for so long he saith he will be with them . And if they died so soon after , and the world has yet lasted above 1500 yeers , and how long further it may last , God onely knows : the promise must be understood to the orderly succession of the Ministry in all the ages of the Church , who are to carry on the Apostles Office of teaching and exercising Discipline in it , to the end of the world . And this the Apostles understood and followed in their practice , for though Judas fell from his Apostleship , yet the Eleven by prayer and calling on God , were directed specially to compleat their number by the admission of Matthias , Act. 1. 15. remembring that Christ Jesus had a work to carry on in the world , which required the full help he had in his life time assigned to it ; and though the Apostles admitted none into the priviledge of their order , but upon special direction of the holy Ghost , as in the forementioned case of Matthias and S t Paul , whom the holy Ghost commanded to be separated as Ministers , yet were Disciples , Evangelists , Bishops and Presbyters , by them chosen , and from them sent ; who in their succession carried on the work to this day , and those learnedly bred , and humbly submitting themselves to Church-approbation , were accounted worthy to labour in the Word and Doctrine , as Pastors , able to feed the people with knowledge and understanding , as the Prophet hath it , Jer. 3. 15. yea , and such men as S t Paul exhorts Timothy to be , 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study , saith he , to shew thy self a workman , that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the word of truth . The consideration of this , made Ministers anciently very modest to offer themselves to this weighty charge , and the Fathers and Bishops very precise and scrupulous in admitting any unto the care of souls , but such as were well reputed , and had great knowledge both in Humane and Divine Learning . Saint Jerome plainly tells us , that in his time the Church was so well served , that it was hard to tell whether the Clergie excelled Eruditione seculi an scientia Scripturarum , and S t Cyrill says , Humane learning , est catechismus ad fidem . I will not deny , but that great parts are often hinderances to the work of grace in the soul , men will not come off to Christ without great ado who are wedged to the wisedom of this world , which contradicts the wisedom of God in the foolishness of preaching ; learned Pharisees are apt to reproach Saint Paul's with the titles of bablers ; Ministers like him in Erasmus , who being 80 yeers of age , knew nothing higher in their calling , quam in scholis Dialecticam ac Philosophicam vel docere vel decertare palestram , hîc sine fine , garrire , ad predicandum Christi Evangelium elinquem , &c. are in a kinde monsters , these set the ass upon Christi , not Christ upon the ass ; this to tolerate , is as Campanella well notes , to measure Christs rights by our straight and narrow model , to hide as heathens do the light of Scripture under an Aristotelique bushel , for surely the work of a Minister of Jesus Christ is , to preach the Word in and out of season , to treat of the mysteries of faith , not to trade in frivolous questions and nice subtilties , to acquaint the soul with what is Gods command and mans duty , by prayers to move God to mercy , and by tears to prevoke men to pity themselves , to raise a holy flame in the heart to God , and to every thing that bears his likeness . This , as Erasmus appositely notes , is the work of a Minister . And if some Ministers would consider this , and more endeavour to be what God requires them , their success would be greater then now it is ; for when people see such Ministers catching at this , and hunting after that advantage , instead of being crucified to the world , and dead to the desires of it , crucifying the world by their discourses , which preface it to bonds and blood , when they see them Chemarims , whose fiery zeal and devout outsides serve onely to palliate covetuousness and pride , they are much offended at , and less resolute for the honour and estimation of the Ministry . And alas , it is no new thing to see Religion passive under politick projects , in coyning which to the Churches dishonour as well as Christs , his pretended Vicar is not behinde hand ; for since pride and state hath bin incathedrated , the Priest is so confounded in the Prince , the Christian simplicity so over-winged by politick craft , that they not onely forget to be humble , which Erasmus notes , Nostri temporis Episcopi quidem suos habent pro servis Emptitiis imò pro pecudibus ; but also charge the Church with the burden of their spurious productions , and deny her the Ordinances which Christ hath indulged her . A learned Father of our Church , in his notable Treatise of Scisme , lately come forth , hath furnished me with a very pat and pregnant instance to this point ; The Pope ( as head of the Church ) to use their words , is to supply the Church with all necessaries to Doctrine and Discipline , and to the preservation of a succssion in the Church , to do which , he is to propagate the Episcopal Order , in all places under subjection to him ; upon the revolt of Portugall , he refused to admit any new Bishops there , and the reason he gave , was , Lest by that he should acknowledge or approve the Title of the present King against his Catholique Son of Spain ; by which neglect of his , the Episcopal Order in Portugal and the Dominions annexed to that Crown was well neer extinguished , and scarce so many Bishops were left alive , or could be drawn together , as to make a Canonical Ordination ; the three Orders of Portugal did represent to the Pope , that in the Kingdom of Portugall , and the Algarbians , wherein ought to have been three Metrapolitans , and Suffragans , there was but one left ; and he by the Popes Dispensation non-resident , and in all the Astatique Provinces but one other , and he both sickly and decrepit ; and in all the Aphrican and American Provinces , and the Island , not one surviving , so that as zealous as his Holiness is for successions maintenance , he can be contented to endanger it to take a revenge , or to shew a displeasure . Thus between those who deny Ordination , and others who for private ends disuse it , the Church suffers , and Christs holy Ordinance hath not its due reverence , which the elder Christians provided against , this made them nourish up young plants to supply the decay of old Standard ; they knew that dangerous men and errors would come in when Apostolique men departed ; and as old Ely nursed up young Samuel , so did they cherish the youth of after hopes . 'T was a good note of S t Cyprian , that the Devil has no greater envie against any , then men in place and eminency in the Church , ut Gubernatore sublato , atrocius atque violentius circa Ecclesiae naufragia grassetur . In the Emperour Adrians time , when men were giddy , and had more itching ears , and inquisitive heads then before , Egesippus notes a crowd of errors forced the Church , and he assigns this for reason , Men of Apostolique abilities being dead , and those who succeeded them being not so qualified to resist them by argument and the sacred force of reason and Scripture , they broke in , tanquam in vacuam domum & custode suo privatam . An Argument perswasive enough to Christians , that a learned Ministry , and Schools of Institution , are necessary and usefull , since nothing more disorders then Error , nothing sooner discovers it then Art rightly used , and carried on by the blessing of God. Alas error comes with a top-sail charged with the colours of Truth , and so dexterously is the craft of this pyracy couched , that none but an exact Artist can discover it . The Arians and Orthodox differed but in one letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , yet upon that depended the honour of Christs coaequality and coessency with the Father ; how easily might zealous ignorance have dispensed with an Iota , upon which so great a point of faith depended , and so have given way to Christs dishonour , had not the Fathers learnedly and with Athanasian mettle withstood it ? O Christians , there is more goes to make up the Churches and Religions prosperity then good meanings , there needs sound heads as well as honest hearts , to make her terrible as an army with banners ; Satan hath more sophistry , then a sigh , or an elevation of the eye ( both good , both beseeming ) will enodate . His craft winds it self into company with the sons of God , and ought he not be a notable craftsman who can cull the scabbed sheep out of the flock of faithful ones ? Lord what baits has he to beguile us with , an Apple for Eve , a look-back for Lots wife , a Bathsheba for David , a witch of Endor for Saul , self-love for Jo●as , and fear for Peter's temptation . And when he is most swollen with malice , then his masque is holiness ; Servetus , that blasphemous Spaniard burnt at Geneva , called his errors , the restitution of Christianity . And others , that are wanderers , hope to steal upon truth undiscerned by the conduct of new words , and unused phrases , and ever when men in their nomination of things do vary from the Law , which is the quintessence of reason , they do it in a humour , which is the quintessence of fancy ; and when men suppress their opinions till they see a fit season , 't is a sign they are more factors for fame then Lovers of truth , and have a design of self , to which the night of this or that policy , not the Sun-light of an honest and open ingenuity must give furtherance . The Right Reverend and Learned deceased Bishop of Salisbury tels us , that in the Synod of Dort , when the fourteen Divines that had subscribed their opinions in affirmance of Arminius his Doctrine , first were demanded by the Synod severally , whether they now acknowledged for their Doctsine , that which formerly they had set down in collatione Hagiensi , and published in print ? not one of those fourteen could be drawn to say in plain and expresst terms , that he either held that Doctrine for true , or he held it not ; but as S t Jerome wrote to Pammachi us concerning John Bishop of Jerusalem , I cannot brook ambiguous words and sentences that bear two senses , truths are best in their open dress ; what he accounts simplicity , I call the malice of his stile , loc that beleeves aright , ought not to speak in a phrase unusual , unapproved by true beleevers , and Orthodox Christians , Alas words are cheap ; when Boner was Elect of London , he said , he blamed Stokesly Bishop of London his Predecessor for troubling those who had the Bible in English ; saying ▪ God willing , he did not so much hinder , but I will as much further it , yet he proved a most bloudy wretch ; and he can do little to his advantage that hath not his quiver full of them , and disperses them not about to the credulous vulgar , who are in some tempers and on some occasions , so devoted to charity , that they give themselves up to beleeve whatever is communicated to them , in a serious manner , with invocation of God , and seeming self-denial . When Nestorius ( after Sisinrius ) became Bishop of Constantinople , he made an Oration to the Emperour , in which he blasphemously said , O Emperour , clear the world of Heresie , meaning the Orthodox belief , and I will give thee heaven for thy reward ; yet when this man had his preferment , he proved as great a plague to those Cacodox Christians who were not of his minde , as to the Orthodox , for within five daies after he was setled in his See , he decreed demolition of the Arians Church , and soon after vexed the Novatians because Paul their Bishop had a good name , and was thought a pious man ; when once men swerve from Catholique Tenents and Phrases , they run into a Cyclops den , both of infernal pride , and confusion , and without great mercy , never return thence by repentance , but perish in their gainsaying , for true is that of Tertullian , Quod apud multos unum invenitur , non est erratum sed irradiatum . And therefore as the Sceptiques of old by their upstart Pedantism , endeavoured abolition of all good learning , turning all into utrum's and questionary debates ; and for that reason were opposed by the Ancients and their followers , with great mordacity ; 〈◊〉 ought these in their new Systems , 〈◊〉 Divinity to be treated as persons that have somewhat to vent contrary to the received faith , who word it contrary to the received phrase ; And those ( saith a learned Bishop ) that will arrogate to themselves a new Church or new Religion , or new holy orders , must produce new miracles , new revelations , and new cloven tongues for their justification : Till when , I shall joyn with the Church of Christ in the belief , that the spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets , and that the Schools of the Prophets are most probable to acquaint men with truth and peace , and to disseminate it amongst the people , as that which will at once make happy both Church and State. And though as the Jews in Christ's case , and the Heathens in Christians cases , bitterly inveighed , sharpening powers against them , as stirrers up of the people to mutinies and rebellions , so it be common now also to possess Governours with ill principles in distrust of pious and regular Ministers and Professors , yet will it be found upon search , that nothing laies so strong a ground of just Government as true Religion ; for besides that Gods restraint is upon them , and they dare not do that in his eye , which will be rebuked by his word , and punished by his hand of Justice , they cannot be ill subjects upon the account of retaliation ; for where they receive protection , they ex debito owe subjection , and are injurious and ingrateful if they pay it not : And no Magistrate is so merciless to his own fame , as he who neglects to be a nursing Father to the Church , and a Patron to her Schools of learning , Digna certe res in qua totum occupetnr Parliamentum , nisi enim haec semina dostrinae teneris animis tempestivè sparsa fuerint , quaenam in Republica vel exoriatur spes , vel adolescat virtus , vel effloreseat pura Religio , & vera faelicitas ? As the University of Oxford phraseth it in their Letter to the Marquess of Northampton , temp . Edw. 6. For take away the encouragements of learning , what despicable combinations of men will Common-wealths be ? what shall we do for learned Politicians , skilful Physicians , subtil Lawyers , reverend Antiquaries , polite Orators , acurate Logicians and Schoolmen , and facetious Poets , Non omnis fert omnia tellus — God , and Nature ( by his leave ) makes us men , but 't is Learning and Art renders us wise and worthy ; Houses of Learning are the Palaces in which these royal wits are educated , and the world is as the field in which they scatter their seeds of renown , and the stock on which they graft their noble Cyons ; and therefore as S t Jerome after he had writ that Summary of Ecclesiastical Writers from Christ's to his time , breaks out , Discant ergo Celsus , Porphyrius , Julianus , rapidi adversus Christum canes , &c. Let them know ( quoth he ) who think the Church of Christ produces no eloquent Writers , that they are deceived , for there hath ever been a number of such who in all times have ●lourished in her , and her have vindicated from that imputation of rustical simplicity , that those Ethniques have charged on her . So must I brand these enemies of Schools and learning , as underminers of order , civility , and all good institution , and endeavourers to surprise the Capitol of our Faith , when learned men , as the watch thereof are drawn off and discharged ; and therefore I appeal to such as prosecute Learning with contempt , in S t Jerom's words to Jovinian , when rehearsing that of the Apostle , They are clouds without water , he says , Nonne tibi videtur pinxisse sermo Apostolicus Novam imperitiae factionem , aperiunt enim quasi fontes sapientiae qui aquam non habent doctrinarum , promittunt imbrem velut nubes propheticae , ad quas perveniat veritas Dei , & turbinibus exagitantur demonum & vitiorum . So he . Alas , they are in a devious road to fame who endeavour Learnings ruine , and deserve no nobler a memoriall then * Scylla had , whose evils were so great , that there was neither le●t place for greater , nor number for more . That wise man of the Garamantes spake truth to Alexander , Glory ariseth not from violent substraction of what is anothers , but from bestowing on others what is our own : the best way to be remembred for gallant , is to write our memoriall in the Table Adamant of a Charity and Bounty that may outlast us . I love Aemilius his gravity and imitable worth , his vertuous minde and Learned head , better then Aristippus his rapacious heart , though it had to friend a grave countenance , and a purple robe : The Lord deliver the Learned from those men , who would have the Name of Learned perish , and their seed begg their bread , and give and preserve to them such Kings and Protectors , as may speak comfortably to them as God did to his , He that toucheth you , toucheth the apple of mine eye . Thirdly , Antiquity and Elder times have been Zealous for Government and Order in the Church , as the Church of Christ hath no custom for contention , so not for co●fusion : God is order , and good discipline is one way to make men conform to God as orders Law-giver . S t Cyprian one of the first Fathers and a noble Martyr , defines Discipline , the keeper of hope , the conservative of faith , a good conductor in our race of Christianity , a benefit reaching forth security and increase to those that embrace her , and portending destruction to those that refuse or neglect her : And Calvin when he disownes all Church usurpation , yet concludes , That the Church hath Laws of order , to promote concord and defend government . And reason it should be so ; for if God be order , and his administrations be orderly as himself , then disorder , as nothing of his , ought to be kept out of the Church , to which it is peculiarly an enemy . The Church is a treasury , disorder robbs it ; 'T is a clear stream of living water , disorder puddles it ; 'T is a fair and bright Heaven , disorder clouds and inlowers it ; 'T is a chart virgin , disorder is an impure raptor and corrupts it ; 'T is a precious orb of spicknard , disorder like dead flies putrifies it . The foresight of this made our Lord Jesus bespangle his Church with gifts to all purposes of Order and Ornnament . He hath set ( sayes S t Paul ) in the Church first Apostles , secondarily Prophets , thirdly Teachers ; then gifts of healing , Helps to Governments , diversities of tongues . And now I have found Church and Government both in a Scripture , I hope I may without offence joyn them together , Church-Government ; and assert that of Divine Institution . I think most parties are agreed , that Government Ecclesiastique as well as Civil is of God : all the litigation is , What this Ecclesiastique Government which is of God , is ? By what Name and Title it is distinguished and dignified ? And God wot , the heat and humour of peevish brains , have set Paul and Barnabas ( as it were ) asunder , nay hath made such a crack in Christian Eutaxie , ' that as Bernardas Dyas Bishop of Calatrore said of the Church of Vicenza , that may I of this Chuach of England , It is so disordered , that it requireth more an Apostle then a Bishop . Orpheus sooner charmed Pluto and Proserpina to part with his Eurydice , then men amongst us be perswaded to part with their passions , though all their swellings and monstrous impregnations , like that of the mountains , produce only a Mouse , a most ridiculous and inglorious scabb of self-conceited Leprosie . One party will have Church-Discipline so precisely set down in the Word of God , that nothing is left to Christian prudence to alter . Others are diametrall to these , and make , with Cardinall Cusanus , Government accountable to the times , as he said Scripture was , and therefore to be expounded according to the current rites , and yet ( forsooth ) it is not to be meant as if the Church at one time expoundeth in one fashion and at another time in another sort ; a Riddle ! the Scripture must be expounded according to the times , and the times according to which Scripture is to be expounded , are now this , an on that ; and yet the Church must not be meant to expound it in one fashion at one time , and in another fashion another time . There are a third sort who fix the essentials of Government in Scripture , and the collaterals they admit as left to the order of the particular Churches of Christ : this I take to be most safe and moderate ; and this S t Augustine delivers as his Opinion to Januarius long ago . These things ( quoth be ) are left free ; there is no appointment by God concerning them , prudent Christians are at liberty to conform to whatever Church they come , and in which they live ; for whatever is enjoyned not contrary to faith and good manners , ought to be submitted to for peace and civil societies sake , and I ( saith the Father ) diligently considering this thorowly , do deliver this as an Oracle receiving confirmation from God. And truly this I judge to be the meaning of those brotherly expressions that have and ought ever to ebbe and flow from Christian Churches to each other , and from the Protestant Churches especially : For if the Church of England when it was under Episcopacy , saved the rights of other Churches which were disciplinary , and condemned them not , but held correspondency with them , giving them the right hand of fellowship , and the other forreign Churches published their candor and approbation of Episcopacy where it was constituted , and pressed obedience to it , witnesse Reverend n Calvi● in divers places and on divers occasions , Learned Zanchy * , Grave Bucer . o , Eloquent Beza p , Profound M●uline q , Accomplisht Chamier r , yea , and multitudes of others of note in the Reformed Churches ; then doth this arise from that apprehension , that the generals of Government being one and the same under both Disciplines , Charity ought to passe the rest , to the least injury of Christian Concord . Farre be it from me to part whom God hath joyned together : Wherein the Churches agree , let them mind the things that tend to piety and unity , the rest God will reveal in his good time ; for as Calvin . after S t Augustine determines it , Let every Church observe her own Customs ; It is profitable sometimes that Religion should have some variety , so there be no ●mulation , and new things be not introduced for novelties sake . The Churches of Christ then have agreed upon Government as appointed by God , yea and about the persons interessed in it , those Bishops , Presbyters and Deacons , they never owned Armilustra's in which Souldiers were Priests , nor Gifted men , unordained , for Church Officers , this is of late date , and no pedigree hath this presumption beyond our times . And I wish that these men who arrogate to themselves ▪ the Office of the Priesthood , would consider how unqualified they are to it , and return to their callings , for by reason of these wandrings , all the grand renown of Antiquity is blemished : For they to gain a Name so themselves , reprobate all Church uses and Church-stories , and make them matters of superstition and offence to tender Consciences ; so wise are the children of the world in their generation . But for all their confidence , the Church of Christ will glory in that they count her infirmities ; she will preserve her Catalogues of Martyrs , Confessors , Bishops , Presbyters ; she will own Churches and Oratories set apart for her use , before Dioclesians time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which daily increased in number and magnificence . She will own Lyturgies and set forms of Devotion , and can instance S t James chosen Bishop of ●erusalem by the Apostles , called Jacobus Liturgus from a Liturgie he made for the use of that Church ; Maronita asserting Litnrgies made by the Apostles for the Eastern and Western Churches ; Origen speaking of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and Eusebius of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used by the good Emperour Constantine in his Court , by Justin Martyr , Cyprian and others , upon which the painfull Centurists conclude , Without doubt ▪ certain forms of prayers publick they then had ; and they adde , not to know and rehearse those forms of prayer , was in a kinde to disown the name of Christian ; For as S t Augustine said of the Donatists , then they ceased to be o●r brethren , when they said not , Our Father which art in Heaven . And if set Forms be erroneous , and to use them be an error , 't is an error of the purest times , and purest Christians ; so long as Christians have Christ Jesus for their Patron and pattern , they may use holy set Forms , not neglecting their exercise of graces in due time and place , with much benefit . I and the Church will avow set Forms of faith ; Creeds and Systems of sound Doctrine and belief , such as were the Creeds which they and we call the Apostles , the Athanasian , the Nicene Creeds , yea and those of Tertullian , Origen , Gregorius , Niccaesariensis , Nazianzen , Victorinus , Hylarie , Basil Epiphanius , Da●asus and others ▪ and singing of Psalms in her meetings ever since Ignatius his time ; witness also Plynie's Epistle to the Emperour Trajan , which Eusebius records , l. 3. c. 27. And sundry other things of like nature she owns without blushing , wondring that any should distaste her for her fidelity . And that order may appear to be the more conservative of whatever falls under its Empire , I cannot but observe , how precisely the Heretick Church imitated the Orthodox , and so notably did they ape it , that thereby they gained much consistence to themselves , and gave much grievance to the Christians of more purity then were they . The Arians had their Bishops and Presbyters , eight of them were in the famous Counsel of Nice , Nestorius was Bishop of Constantinople , and there is mention made of Paul a Novatian Bishop and others , they had their places of meeting , in which were Scriptures read , and Sacraments administred , their Creeds , yea and their Martyrs , such as Metrodorus , Themison and Alexander , Eusebius tells us that the Montanists boasted of their Martyrs , and no worder , for S t Chrysostome gives us the reason , The Devil , saith he , hath his humble and meek , chast● and charitable , his fasters and prayers ; of every good thing that God made to mans salvation , he hath a shew and semblance , which he imploys to seduction to the end , that there may be no distinction between real and seeming good , that plain-hearted men , who are artless in distinguishing , may be caught by the snares of those whom they mistake for the faithful servants of God. Thus that Father . And may we not fear this old Serpent hath been too busie in the differences in Religion , not onely abroad in the world , but also at home in this Church , while he hath made divisions amongst brethren , such as no age or story exceeds ? O Lord Jesus , how sad is it to think , that the legacy of peace , which thou bequeathedst to thy Church is expended , nay defrauded , and lost in the crowd and throng of private passions and private insolence ! and that out of this Church should come evil instruments , who not like theeves only steal grapes out of the Vineyard , but like wilde ▪ Asses tread down all the Vines ; such as Boner who when truth is backed by power , shews himself a very exemplary Protestant , but when the Lord Cromwell was dead ( who preferred him for what of God he thought was in him ) then he proves the most pernicious Papist , and bloody fiend that the Papacy here had : and truly I think there is no Church-enemy so great as a waverer , who is not much beneath an Apostate , for he that is any thing to gain an interest , will soon be nothing indeed to preserve it . And in all this coyle and hurry in this Hinnon of distasts , wherein our children of prudence have been offered in sacrifice to the Molech of Passion ; and Contest were carried as Suid●s sayes , those were between Dorotheus and Ma●inus , both Arrians , more out of pride then piety , to advance their own wills rather then to polish truth to a pervious clarity , for what is the matter ? speak Conscience , be ingenious , their faces will gather blackness of reproach at the last day , whose have not now the blush of full and free confession . Was Christ and his Cause , holiness and her Rights the main drift , the cause of mounting the scaling-ladder against the Church ? speak ye sons of Levi , whose thunderbolts not long since rent all in sunder , and whose virulent irritations made such wide breaches in charity . There was I confess , ● time when Priests were ingaged in wars , but not with their brethren , but Midianites , not by choice but command of God. Ye grave men of the Clergie , who dissented from what was established by Law , and hoped to have had your judgements answered to their latitude in the change of Church-polity , suffer me , I beseech you , to bemoan that ye should rise up in prosecution of your spiritual Fathers and brethren , whose blemishes that Evangelique piety should have covered , and for whose reformation , not ruine , ye should have strove in prayer with God , and by petition to men , did ye well to be angry ? have ye comfort in those reproaches that some cast on you , when yo●r frailty is displayed in the Escocheon of your punishment ? When Reuben grows unstable as water , and goeth up to his fathers bed , no wonder Jacob condemns him not to excell , though once he were the excellency of dignity and of power ; Ought ye not ( O holy and pious souls ) to have stood between the living and the dead , and said to the destroyer ( when he was no adder to your voyce ) It is enough ? How comes it to pass that ye call Christ Lord , and do not as he commands you ? forgive your brethren , not to seven , but to seventy times seven , as oft as they offend you ? 'T is sad , that Christs Banner should be the Standard of Church-discord , and that offences should so abundantly germinate , that every thing of order and decency must be censured and suppressed . I have heard many of you offended with Bishops , from some of which Order divers of you had little encouragement , more injury and hard dealing , but did you well therefore to punish the demerits of a few , with the disgrace and vituperation of a whole Order ? Must Episcopacy be Antichristian , because some Bishops were ( in a sort ) unchristian , in imposing more upon you then the Canons of the Church required from you ? Was there no correction for innovation and arrogance , but extirpation and abhorring ? could not the faedity of Ely's sons be charged on the Priesthood , to determine it ? and shall the peevish tartness of some Bishops perswade you to labour annihilation of Episcopacy ? Truly this seems to be hard ; but God hath begun with his Sanctuary , and I appeal to ye grave , learned , and sacred Presbyters , ye siltrumpets to the more numerous Rams horns , whose clamorous ravings have thus stuperated Church affairs . Is single and pristine Episcopacy against the Word of God , or the use of the purest Church ? I know ye that are wise and worthy own not such assertions ; that which in Episcopacy offended you was Praelature ; and why , I beseech you , should the bounty of Kings and Princes be your exception ? have secular honors bestowed on Clergie-men original sin ? do they defile all , men and all administrations ? may not rich men preach the Gospel , as well as poor men receive it , since mercy makes no distinction , that it may justifie its freedome and bounty ? May not great Titles , ampl● Revenues , full Tables , minister to Christ , where well used ? yea is not Religion more advantaged when the professors of it are thus accoutred to all purposes of eminency ? O but say some , the Bishops were idle , belly-gods , disfavourers of good men , Lords over Gods heritage ; God forbid any should be such , and have ●ontinued Bishops , and God forbid any hereafter shall be permitted to be such , when God shall put it into the heart of our Governours to bring home the banished Ark with triumph . I am for Bishops who would make the Church happy , and religion flourish , such as are for age fathers , for wisdome Senators , for gravity St●iques , for light angels , for innocency Saints , for industry Labourers , for constancy Confessors , for zeal Martyrs , of whom that may be said as of our Bishop Grindall , His Books were his Bride , and his Study his Bride-chamber . And some such we had , who might deservedly have this said of them , that S t Bernard said of the ancient Bishops of Rome , Fuerunt ante te qui se totos pascendis ovibus exponerent , &c. that is , There were ( O Eugenius ) Bishops thy predecessors , who gloried onely in their tending their flocks , faithful Pastors , who thought nothing unworthy them , which made for the safety of their charge , such as enriched not themselves with the spoyles of the widow , nay of Christ himself , but contented with little , as freely they received , freely they gave . And were not such worthy Honor , and liberal maintenance ? or can these be carped at for unworthy or unsufficient , unless envie and ill will be Attorney-Generall , and draw their Indictment ? Would it not be a paradox , to discard Ministers because Frier Bacon said long ago , Some of them were better Lawyers then Preachers , more industrious Farmers , then conscientious Husbandmen in Gods spiritual husbandry ; honestly pay their Landlord rent for his house in which they dwell , but allow not the lawful Incumbent , ( whom for the imputation of Malignancy they enter upon and eject , ) not the fifths allowed by Powers , no nor any thing if they can avoid it though they eat his bread , while he starves and cries to God out of anguish . Consider this , ye heretofore erring sons of the Church , whom it concerns rather to be Oakes then Willows , burning and shining Lights , not portentuous Planets , and passionate blazes , and search whether ye your selves were not as guilty of lack of humility , as your discarded fathers for too much pride . For had ye thought every one better then your selves , ye would not have snuffled against what is the honor of Christians to submit to , Governments ; and to pardon and not revenge injuries ; for , as that sad , Rollock hath well observed , Only in the School of Jesus , onely in the Gospel , this point of Doctrine is taught and learned ▪ That men should not do evil for evil , but good for evil . Indeed if there had been no other way to Christs● triumph then by trampling upon rejected Bishops and Presbyters , it had been fit his Hosanna's should have been given him , though their skulls and bones had paved the way to his procession ; yea , I hope their piety would have been such , to have licked willingly the dust of their own confusion , and to have cleared him when thus they were judged ; but when he delights in mercy rather then burnt-offerings , to think to please him by entring into the gate of your brethren in the day of their calamity , or to lay hands on their substance in the day of their calamity ▪ which God charged on Edom as their sin ▪ will never be approved by God or men as a virtue . Ought ye not rather to have mourned in secret , and prayed that the iniquity of mens hearts might have been forgiven them ; and dealt with them in that Gospel-way of admonition , and spiritual conviction , considering that the ways of God are secret , and his purpose of good not ever to be discerned by us ; that many belong to God , who are missed , and will be recalled in Gods time ; and that to cause them to wander further , by oppression upon them , is a kinde of accessariness to their sin of intemperance ? So long as God has left such presidents of calling S t Anthony Kingston a Commissioner at M r Hoopers death to be his convert , and Bishop Latimer from being Cross-keeper at Cambridg , and a violent opposer of famous M r Stafford , to be a glorious Confessor of his truth , ye should have forborn tartness against those , who differed from you but in trifles : Abim●l●ch was more just then Abraham , when Abraham would rather study his own outward peace , in regarding his life , more then in guarding his wives modesty . Mistake me not ( ye Reverend Ministers of Christ whom my address in this kind concerns ) I am not discontented with you , I am no rejoycer in your failings , God knows I daily bemoan you in private , and as occasion is , defend your Calling and rights to my utmost power , and so by Gods grace , I hope ever to do ; I am none of the generation of those , who gave rise to that too true speech , profectò Laici semper sunt inimici clericis . My desire is to honour your persons and employment , yea to serve you hip and thigh ; yet can I not forbear mention of some of your mistakes , by which , you have caused many to wander out of the way , and made your selves objects of reproach . I know God has yet reserved in the Church , many grave and Learned Presbyters , who may justly be called Burning and shining Lights ; yet I conceive , he hath trodden under foot many of the mighty men in the midst of her : and if God hath heretofore suffered a spirit of delusion to be upon some of his Prophets of old , for some time , and upon some occasions , and given some of his servants up to great fondnesses , and caused the vision to cease to them : If men of rare parts be permitted to lose themselves for a while in errors , as did that famous Divine of Peru , the Oracle of the American world , of whom , the Learned Sonne of a Learned Father , tells us out of Acosta , that he grew so wild in his Divinity , that he averred his holiness to be granted him above Angels and Apostles , that he was proffered hypostaticall union with God , but refused it , with sundry other such blasphemous passages . Or to admire their own conceits above what they deserve , and think they see more into the Cryptick parts of Theology , then truly they do ; as did Napier the Lord of Marchiston , terming his Book , A plain discovery of the Revelation of S t John ; and Forbs another Scot , his Book , An exquisite Commentary upon the Revelation of S t John ; when the greatest Schollars , with Castalio , profess their non intelligo of the thousand part of that Book , and with Junius , Deodate , and BP ▪ Andrews , declare , the mysteries in it are very , hard , reserved under Gods secret seal , and beyond their reach : yea those that wade deepest therein , do but besmear themselves and lose credit by their confidence , as did Arias Montanus the Spaniard , and Johannes Brocardus , who lost himself in the exposition of that Book , who thought to finde Venice there : and a Belgick Doctor in the Synod of Dort , who thought to finde Grave Maurice there ; and M r Brightman , who beleeved ( as saith mine Author ) not only to finde England , but also his two friends Cecil and Walsingham there ; If I say such mistakes have betided Learned and good men , why may not many of you have been mistaken also ? and why may it not become you soberly to confess as did the holy Prophet , Thou hast deceived us O Lord , and we are deceived ? 'T is worth ▪ O ye Ministers of the Lord , 't is worth your tears , to bewail and your serious thoughts to consider , for there ▪ is great offence taken by many poor souls , upon your violent courses against your fathers and brethren , who were more wounded by your Sermons and Exhortations , then from the secular severity of Magistrates who would have been lesse strict towards them , had ye not sharpened the Instruments of their dispatch ; And therefore I beseech you hear my motion to you seconded by two men of your own Coat , every way without exception , the first my right worthy and meriting Friend D r Gawden , whole words are these , I desire both my self and others of my minde and profession may by an ingenious acknowledgement of our failings be fitted for God and mans absolution ; both in present and after ages , that it may not be said that the Ministers of England erred greatly and were punished sharply , yet knew not how to repent humbly and truly , every one palliating their own errors and transferring the blame and guilt upon others , when themselves were in some things more blameable then any men ; and merited in their own censures , to be esteemed the chief of sinners . Thus he . The other to the same tune , is Learned M r. Baxter , who writing to the Ministers has this passage , Have not some of you so led the way to seecet and open vilifying , deriding , contemning and aspersing your brethren , that you , even you have been the means of raising those calumnies you cannot allay ? Have you not had yet time and means enough to observe , how God hath been offended with your unpeaceable proceedings , seeking to suppress and subdue each other by force , rather then to win each other by love and evidence of truth ? And in another place ; For my part ( saith he ) I daily look death in the face , and live in a constant expectation of my change , and therefore have the better assurance of being faithfull to my conscience ; and I must needs profess , that when I look back upon my life , I have more comfort in the least means that ever I used for the Churches peace , then in all my most zealous contentious engagements . Thus he . And what can be more fully written to their honours , and the shame of those whose high stomacks incubate their confessions ? But I know the wise in heart will consider this , and for the rest , I pity , not reproach them ; Zacheus is as well to be imitated in restauration , as in his taking from men their rights , &c. Thus much of the head of Goverment , though I conceive it necessary to add somewhat concerning Ceremonies ; such I mean as are decent , and not supernumerary ; I know this is a noli me tangere , , and perhaps may be born out of time ; But yet since my aime is to please no party by a base parasitism , nor to provoke any by a sarcastique freedom ; I think fit to insinuate ( with all humility and submission ) my thoughts about Ceremonies , which I look upon as flesh and skin to the soulary part of Religion , as mounds and fences , to the granaries of sound doctrine ; I know as life , so Religion may be preserved by plain clothes , and fewer rites , as well as by richer and more numerous ; Therefore I offer my conceptions not as a peremptory dictator , but as a petitory Monitor ; I confesse the primitive times had little of Ceremonies , They were in Persecution , and the Christians in them under restraints , not owned by Magistrates , nor in any polity for a great while , Aliud fuit tunc tempus & omnia suis temporibus aguntur , saith S t Augustine , but so soon as the condition of the Christian Church grew better , and Emperours and great men shewed themselves propitious to her , then prudence dictated somewhat more lustrous and suitable to the prosperous condition of the fixed Church , which ought not to be considered less then the garden of God , wherein are things of variety and virtuous delight , as well as of absolute necessity ; And though I know all things in the Church should be done to edification , yet do I not believe it unedi●ving to have in the Church various expressions of Gods gifts to me● , all which tending to the admiration of God , call man to be edified in the high and holy contemplation of his infinite greatnesse , who ( ●owithstanding his so liberal indulgence to man ) is yet compleat and inexhaust ; And therefore as Reverend Calvin well saies against Versipellis , Whatever is pertinent to Beauty and Order , we are not to account of humane appointment but of divine approbation ; So say I in the case of Ceremonies , so far as they relate to the usefull Order and Ornament of the Church , they are not only not to be contemned , but honoured and kept ; And these that are hotly violent against them quâ such , had best consider , that there may be use of them to do the drudgery of worship , and to stave off prophanesse , and when they are emploied but as Cryars of Courts of Justice are , to minde men of their reverence to what is sacred , and to learn them to be bare and submisse to their betters , there is no ill construction can be reasonably made of them . I know they have and ever will be ( while men are ignorant , ambitious , and worldly ) subject to be abused , partly by the ignorance of superstitious people , and partly by over activity of men of note in the Church , who of good purpose introduced them , as did S t Chrysostome Church-Musick into the Church at Constantinople , to prevent the Arians withdrawing of the Orthodox to their Church or Oratories in which they had such Musick : I know ( I say ) that by this and other means the number of Ceremonies grew so great , that the Church was not able to abide them , That S t Augustine and many others greatly inveighed against them , and wished correction of them . And therefore as all things of discipline and order , constituted by man , may ( upon just cause ) be ordered and altered , as to prudence shall seem most meet , Provided it be done in lawfull manner , and by persons lawfully called thereto ; so endeavoured many in the Church , to put a stop to this evil , and to offer a remedy thereto . But alas ! It was a disease past cure , Men of estimation hugg'd their own Apes , and in the customes and Rites of their own initiation , hung up Trophees and Banners to their Memories , happy was he thought that could travell farthest in this wildernesse of imagination , and have the remarque of adding something to Church-Solemnity , under pretence of some notable zeal , noble charity , devout-rapture , matchlesse self-deniall ; so that at length the Ceremonies grew to have no name but Legion for they were many , which made many holy men cry out against them , and some professe , that the soul of Religion was overlaid by the body , yea , every thing so out of order , that even Pope Adrian the 6. in his Instructions to his Legate , professed , Scimus in hac sancta sede aliquot jam annis multa abominanda fuisse : nay , for many years before him holy S t Bernard cried out against some of place , as more proggers for their own advantage then the glory of Christianity ; Vides omne Ecclesiasticum zelum ●ervere sola pro dignitate tuenda , honori totum datur , sanctitati nihil aut parum . lib. 4. de Consid . ad Eugenium . Heu , Heu , Domine Deus ipsi sunt in persecutione primi qui videntur in Ecclesia primatum diligere ! Yea , even in the Councel of Trent ( about the gathering and managing of which more carnal policy was expressed then comported with the simplicity of Christ ▪ and the reall honour of his pretended Vicar ) there was a loud out cry againsi extravagant Ceremonies ; And that from the mouths of Learned Prelates and Friars of the Papacy , Insomuch that Langi Archbishop of Saltzburg said , It was but reasonable to be disburthened of them ; But the Pope and his party had too much gain by this craft to part with them cheaply : The Colledge of Parish ● Priests at Rome is now become a conclave of Cardinals , and hath Church-Princes , and the Pope Head of the Church , to rule it which way it will : yea , his Palace the Commonwealth of Christians , as Albergatus his words are to the Cardinall Nephew to Gregory the 13 th ; They I say becoming so great must have support . And finding this among the politique accoutrements of the Papacy , could not give ought but a deaf ear to those endeavours , Nothing obtaining audience at Rome but what hath the Oratory of gain , or the impulse of invincible necessity : The Crys and humble Remonstrances of the Waldenses , Nicholaus Clemingius , Petrus de Aliaco , Humbertus de Romania , Gulielmus Parisiensis , Petrarch , Bernard , Adrian the 6 th , Cornelius , Antonius , Picus Mirandula , Lawrentius Cardinal of Ratisbon , Gilbertus the Monk , Durand the Schoolman ; all which ▪ in their times importuned Reformation , produced nothing , those Addars of Rome would not hear the voice of these charmers though they charmed wisely ; till Luther broke out no general Councel could be gained , and when that was brought about , there was such tricks , such postings from Trent to Rome , such designing things to crafty and secular ends , such tying up of the Fathers and Prelates there convened , that some of the braver spirits muttered , that the Pope did but hold the world in hand , that he called that Councel to reform the Church , but that he ins●nded nothing lesse , which made the French Embassador protest In the Name of his Master and the French Church , that they would not obey any thing co●cluded there , for as much as they were the Decrees of Pope Pius the fourth rather then of the Councel , all things being done at Rome not at Trent . Now ( as it were ) the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree , Germany reaks on t the heat Luther had roused up in her ; Many of the Prelates ( faithfull enough to the Papacy in spiritualibus ) are not displeased at the cheque , that this new appearance is expected to give to the career of the Conclavique policy , and divers Princes not only not oppose Luther , but openly mediate for him , and at last prove protectors of him : The Germans naturally sturdy and rough enough , adore this new risen Star , and use pretences of zeal for warrànts to violence and extravagancy ; Religious men and houses go to wrack , and all the symptoms of popular dirity and confusion are visible . Many partiall Reformations there were in some parts of Germany and France , and sundry Princes favoured Luther , wherein his enterprises gratified their interests , as to Supremacy and justification of Princely authority against the Popes Usurpation , the Emperour Charles the 5 th the then King of France , and Henry the 8 th of this Land , found not themselves aggrieved , Vnus in mundo Sol , Vnus in regno Rex , Vna in Religione Religio , ne ubi non una , ubi multa , nulla fiat , saith the Politique Marselaer , as Luther by distracting the Papal affairs did them no disservice , so silently they applauded him : but when once Religion grew concerned , then all of them fell foul upon him , Henry the 8 th wrote against him , and the other two Princes prosecuted the Lutherans severely ; So God calling up Luther , and calling out of this life Henry the 8 th , and the Crown of his Land descending to his Son and Heir Edw. the 6 th ▪ Reformation began to be in credit here also ; In the short Reign of this blessed Josiah , by the counsell of his godly Uncle ( the Protector of his person and Government ) and by Learned Bishops and Presbyters , both of this and other Churches , the Scheme of our Church-service and decency was ordered , and to such a degree refined , that Spalatenses a Forreign cals our old Praier-Book , Breviarium optimè reformatum : And no otherwise thought our Parliaments of those times , as 5. & 6. Ed 6. c. 1. 1. Eliz. c. 2. 8. Eliz. c. 1. call it a godly and virtuous Book , and a means together with the preaching of the Word , and Administration of the Sacraments of the pouring forth of the blessings of God upon the Land ; Yea , when the Popish Parliament of pr● Q. Mary repealed the Act of the 6. Ed. 6. by which this uniformity of worship according to the Common-Praier-Book was setled ; The Stat. of 1 El. c. 2. saies , That Repeal of Q. Mary was to the great decay of the due honour ●f God , and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion : But we are wiser in our generation then those Fathers of Light our worthy Progenitors ; We are more holy then they , because lesse orderly , lesse solemn in our service of God then they , yea , to excuse our selves ; We pretene their Reformation was but partiall , whenas , God knows , there are who wisely beleeve that their settlemenrs were such as will not be bettered by any their Successors . For although they appointed set Forms of devotion for the Publike as a help to their weaknesse who could not pray without them , and as a prudent entertainment of the Congregation , while it was gathering , which in great Parishes was long , and unto Servants who came late , beneficiall , for by that means could they get time enough to Sermon , yet intended they it never to justle out the gifts of men , whom God had specially enabled to extemporary praier , who therefore were left free to use their gifts both in their Families and before and after their Sermons , Nor to soothe up people in ignorance , or so to accustome them to Forms that they should never endeavour by seeking more interest in God , to receive more ability from him . Nor did they appoint Holy dayes to be kept in obedience to any Popish Canon , or in memory of Saints , but upon civil reasons , thereby to give people ease from their hard labours , and to call them to the service of God , in prayers and praising of him , as sayes the Statute of 5 , and 6 Ed. 6. c. 3. Neither hath this Church kept decent habits for her Ministry , out of a desire to symbolize with Popelings ; but according to the wisedom of the first Reformation , confirmed by the 30 th Injunction of Queen Elizabeth , wherein habits for order and distinction sake , were enjoyned Ministers in their Universities and Churches ; These I say , though carped at by many , were harmlesly setled , and some think might usefully have been continued : but they are disused now , and how much purer our Religion hath been since they have been voted down , let the world judg . — Nunc seges ubi Troja fuit . Only if good pretentions were enough , the Donatists had them as much as the Orthodox ; yet 't was observed justly of them , that their designs were brought forth by passion , nourished by ambition , and confirmed by covetousness . I will not say any thing of those , who whe●● they had place , misplaced things well ordered , let God plead his own cause . Aliter hominum livor , aliter Christus judicat , non eadem est sententia tribunalis ejus & anguli susurronum , multae hominibus viae videntur justae quae postea reperiuntur pravae , saith S t Jerom , Let men of fury and passion rave as they list , being as S t Gregory stileth them appositely , Bellonae sacerdotes , non Eccle●iae , Martis faces & tibicines , non Evangelii lumina , Cometae infausti , pestis & dira omnia , non stellae salutares Christum pronunciantes ; yet my judgement shall be ( with Gods leave ) calm and moderate . I will pray for a peaceable temper , and till I know better , conclude that councel , concerning forms and order in the Church , good , which reverend Calvin wrote to the Protector forementioned , Vt certa illa extet a qua pastoribus disc●dere non liceat : I crave leave of the Reader for this excursion , which I thought necessary , and I hope he will not condemn as offensive ; A plain ingenious freedom best befits me , who am to act no part but that of a good Christian , and therefore it shall be my constant resolve , to rank flatterers , as Erasmus did Eriers , inter falsos fratres , who the more holy they pretend to be , are the more execrable , for , nihil turpius sanctis parasitis . But I leave them to their proper Judge , and make to the third head of Antiquities Piety , which consists In care to countenance truth and censure errors . And here is good reason for this , if we consider the nature of truth , which makes the soul free , not only in professing , but also in not fearing what may be the consequence of boldly owning it , which armed the Martyrs with invincible courage , and made them , more then conquerours over their fears and persecutors . There is also much to be said for care to prevent growth of error even from the nature of error , which ( in the words of Constantine the Great ) makes those in whom it raigns , enemies to truth , promoters of dissention , and often of assassination , counsellours to every thing contrary to truth , favourers of dangerous and fabulous evils ; In a word , being under a shew of piety great offenders , and contagious to all that border on them . The good Emperour by sad experience knew , what shifts and deluding courses the Arians took , to bring to pass their designs : therefore laid he load of reproach on them ; And that not without cause ; for first they conveyed their poison under gilded pills , and in not to be understood expressions ; and to such a clymax of vanity ascended they , that they would allow none of the ancient Fathers to be compared to them , but appla●ded themselves to be the only knowing men , the only men of self-deniall , the only men to whem Jesus Christ was revealed , and to whom such mysteries were made known , as never came into the thought , or under the experience of any men before them , that as Mahomet made use of an Epilepticall distemper in which to arrogate to himself divine authority , so did these of an over self-conceit and pride of soul , to be the only illuminates of their time . Nay when Arius was called to account for his errors , he averred , he had rejected them , and denied those to be his belief or doctrine , swearing that he beleeved as did the Orthodox in the Nicene Counsell ; yet for all this , holy Macarius made it his prayer to God , to take Arius out of the Church , least errors and heresies spawned too much for truth to overcome or outlustre them . And good man it fell out as he feared ▪ for though the good Emperour took away from them their meeting places , and commanded their return to the Church , though they were condemned and banished by the Emperour and Counsell of Nice , and their books commanded to be burned , that there might be no record kept , neither of Arius nor his corrupt doctrine ; yet after the death of Constantine , they rallyed , and made a most dangerous charge on the Church , obtained ( by fraud ) Bishopricks in the most eminent Cities , gather Counsels by power , abrogate and constitute what Laws they pleased , though contrary to the Laws of God , and the Nicene Councell ; deprive the good Bishops and banish them ; Falsiy accuse blessed Athanasius , and in short prosecute generally the Orthodox , by banishments , whippings , and exhaeredations more like Barbarians then Christians . The world then may view the tricks of these degenerous Church-wolves , who are all for ruin and blood , whose moderation is utmost mischief , and whose mercy is cruelty : such an one was the varlet Hacket , who in a private injury was so merciless , that as he was embracing an engenious Schoolmaster , who came to be reconciled to him , bit off his nose ; and being intreated to restore it , that it might be sown on the face while the wound was green , he refused , and like a dog devoured it . What would this fellow extraordinarily called from God ( as he and his accomplices gave out ) have done had he had people and power , would he not have been a John of Leyden , a Ket , an every thing of menace and ruin ? There are no enemies so pestilent to the Church as Apostates ; which made Plinius secundus a witty man cull out such as had been revolted from the faith twenty years , and before his face sacrificed to the gods , and worshipped the Emperours Image , as informers against the Church , lib. 10. ep . 79. I am not for fire and sword , Verberari Christianorum proprium est , flagellare Christianos , Pilati & Caiphae est officium , yet am I of the minde of Cardinal Richlieu , whose Note is notable ; Tolerata a Regibus Religio , legitimum Regem vix tolerabat . I beleeve God is not ever in the thunder and lightning of severity ; but I know he is second to a thorow-paced and rightly religious courage for him . It was no argument of Henry King of Navarr's zeal , who being a Protestant , and pressed by Beza to appear for those of the Religion , made answer , That he was their friend , but he resolved to put to sea no further then he could return again if a storm arose . Religion ever hath a still fire to try and refine , though not ever a piercing one to melt and dissolve . The least holy Magistrates can do , is to disown error , and to keep it under , that it say not as did the bramble in Jothams Parable , I will be King. Holy S t Augustine cannot hold , but he professeth , He knowes no reason but the Church may compell prodigals to return , as well as those miscreants compell others to accompany them in their mischief : and a little after he gives this caution , Sic enim error corrigendus est ovis , ut non in eo corrumpatur signaculum redemptoris , that is , so the error of the sheep is to be corrected , that the mark of the owner may not be defaced : 'T is good to be scrupulous in punishments , and I shold ever desire to erre of the right hand , that is , by moderation . I like not passionate revenges acted upon pretensions of zeal for God. Nor ought life and death to hang upon the thin twine of mistakes , where first comes to hand goes to p●t ; He that passes sentence of reprobation on any man upon a bare difference in opinion , is as rash a Christian , or rather as unchristian , as he was a rude rash Knight , Provost-Marshall to Ed. 6. his Forces in the West ; who hearing a Miller had been very active in the Western Rebellion , came to his mill , and called for the Miller who then was abroad ; his man came and made answer ; Quoth the Marshall , Are you the Miller of this Mill ? yes quoth he ▪ How long have you lived here ? About three years : Come along then sirra , quoth he , to yonder tree , you shall be hanged as a notable Traytor ; But the fellow cried ( Sir ) I am not the Miller but his servant ; the Marshall hangd him for his falseness notwithstanding : and when it was told him by some , that he was not the man aymed at , but his servant ; he put them off with this jest ; Can he shew himself a better servant , then in being hangd for his Master ? Had the braving Knight had sentence from the Divine Law , he that thus causelesly shed mans blood , should have had the Law of retaliation . What Powers and Judiciall Magistrates may do , is too high for me to determine ; but my conscience according to Gods Canon , must be the rule of my particular . I do not find craft and cruelty in the catalogue of Virtues ; God sealed in Rev. 7. of all Tribes but only of Dan , now ● Dans character ( Gen. 49. ) is to be a Serpent by the high way , an Adder by the path , that biteth the horse heel , so that his rider shall fall backward . S t Jerom blames Theophilus for too much easiness , and layes the increase and expatiation of error to his lenity ; adding , That such persons are never afraid to offend , where 't is but ask and have pardon ; and good men are much discouraged , when patience gives aid to the factions of error , and by not disturbing , encourageth them . I know 't is hard to please parties , and almost impossible to be a good Christian in difficult times ; I do as little beleeve God to be in the flaming bush of fierce and disorderly zeal , as in the soft prefaces of flattery . That German Prince , who in the quarrels about Religion in Germany , was tormented so much with the importunities of Calvinists and Lutherans , each desirous to gain him , that he professed , Quid faciam nescio quo me vertam non invenio , tells me the ridg they go upon , who are in high esteem , in ticklish times ; the Esaus and Jacobs in Nations wombs , put the Rebeckahs of integrity to grievous straits , and hard throbbs : Christ● commands to put out the right eye , and cut off the right hand that offends us , and we would fain please our selves in moderation ; 〈◊〉 would have the younger blessed , and we would fain blesse the elder : Holy Abraham makes as bold with God as he may in the case of Sodom , and I cannot blame him for his prayer for Ismaell , that he might live in his sight : they are not sonnes of Zyon , that cry Down , down with enemies , even to the ground ; that make men offenders for words , that spoile a man and his her●tage , and can never forget and forgive an injury . It shall be my everlasting practice , to be tooth and nail for Candor ; where I my self am concerned , no malice I hope can provoke me to revenge , orobdure me against preterition of enmities : but where injuries veirg upon Christ , where they encroach upon his Seigniory in my soul , I le not displease my Lord by concealing what 's an injury to him ; error is a purpresture , which the Tenants of the Lord of glory ought to present as a grievance ; I must not cut large thongs out of Christs leather ; the Churches and every Christians power , is by and under , not besides or above Christs , I finde amongst the Ancients two chief practises for est●●ishment of truth and conviction of error : One was to preach and write truth , taking all opportunities to call their auditors and disciples together , and when their own parts were ripest , and their hearers in fittest temper to be wrought upon , then they catechized them , they explicated Scripture to them . In many of the Fathers we finde Homilies for every day almost , especially at some times of the year , as also upon Feasts and great solemnities . And as their preachments were frequent ; so were their lives continued Sermons ; those Pilgrims and strangers here l'ved as having their conversation in Heaven , as bringing themselves under subjection , as dis●ntangled by the world ; I ever think moderate and unengaged men competentest Judges ; Anchorites are likest to give the truest account of divine contemplation ; they who care not to die , are most valiant for the truth , and value not those theeves of fear and flattery , that misguide the most , to their own infamy and other mens seduction . I read in S t Jerom , of Anthony , Hilarion , Paul and Malchus , who left the world out of zeal to serve Christ in a severity of life : and in the Church story , there is frequent mention of Ignatius , Polycarpus , Athanasius and others , whose whole lives were spent in circuit of doing good , instructing the ignorant , convincing the obstinate , confirming the wavering , comforting the dejected , reclaiming the exorbitant , and restoring the lapsed Christians . Not solliciting their own gain , not labouring their own preferments , not jubilating their own praises , not seen in Princes courts ; not the Parasites of their Tables , not partakers of their pleasures , not busie at publike conventions of State , and seducing this and that mans soul , by the tickle of his ear : No , this is the traffick and guise of pieties Apollyons , of Court Sollicitors , Jesuited spirits , such as Philip the second of Spain , called Clericos negotiatores , such as Marcus Antonius Columna Viceroy of Naples , described to have la mente al cielo , le mani al mundo ; l'anima al Diavolo , not of Church-men , men sacrated to God : The old Fathers were in fastings often , in prayings often . much upon the pearch of holy meditation ; these Elijahs had left the mantle of earthly care , when they passed to Heaven in the whirl of a holy rapture : O hearts set on fire by divine charity ! O hands elevated in zealous oratory ! O eyes fixed on Heaven in devout confidence ! O souls in your Saviours bosom while in your own breasts ! What seek ye ? for whom are ye pleaders ? If ye ask grace , ye have it ; 't was that which moved you to ask it : If ye seek a Kingdom , 't is yours , you have the prelibation in assurance , aud ete long you shall have the possession ; are ye not contented to be happy your selves , but would ye have others also joynt partakers with you in your Crown ; O inculpable ambition ! O immitable love ! O grace like the giver of it , free and indeterminable . But if these Church-Champions saw error come in like a mighty flood , daring with Goliah any to encounter it , then they took up the Sword of the Spirit , and bestir'd themselves with all their might . S t Jerom mentions not only Athanasius encountring Arius , and after him Eustathius Bishop of Antioch , but Origen taking Celsus to task , and Methodius , Porphyrius : so S t Augustine the Pelagians and Manichees , S t Cyprian the Jews and Novatians . And if Powers menaced rhem as the Proconsul did S t Cyprian , that he will write the Christians rules of obedience in his blood , all they make of it , is , the will of God be done : they had no cursings and anathema's , no bloody execrations , or unchristian imprecations on Governours , but holy submissions to that Power , before which they had the honour to make their confessions ; Christ bore a highher price in ancient times , then a little pelth , or a breath of favour , or a small compass of land amounted to : S t Jerom tells of famous Apollonius a Roman Senatour , in the time of the Emperour Commodus , who being by his servant discovered to be a Christian , and asked by the Senate whether he were so , in all hast replied , Yea , producing a large Confession of his Faith , which before them all he read ; and by their decree was put to death , according to an old custom among them , That no Christian convented before them , ever came off with his life , without deniall of his faith . O glorious conquest of faith over frailty , when never men with more animosity contested for temporall Crowns , then these for Martyrdom ; never pusillanimy more willing to save life , then these Martyrs daring to lose it for Christs sake ! O stupendious masteries of nature , when destroying flames were to Christians , as Jubilees to bondmen , that day of death , beyond this of life ? Lord what fair copies have our foul lives and faint deaths ! How farre short ought we to come of Martyrs Crowns ? who have not in our selves the courage to dare , nor deserve to have from God the honour to die for his cause . O Antiquity , our shame , our accuser , how art thou acclamated by the Mercuries and Orators of Ages , for thy Piety , Charity , Zeal , Order , there is no blemish in thee , thou art all lovely compared to us ; who envy thy praise , but follow not the pattern . Let then the world hang out what Trophies it will ; let the Grandees and excellentissimo's of it dream with Julius Coesar , that they are joyning hands with Jupiter , and making a League offensive and defensive between their two great Monarchies of Heaven and earth , the Church will glory in nothing but the Cross of Christ , and in her Cross for his sake ; her peace is founded upon the blood of her Saviour , and her encrease owns much the bloud of Martyrs , as S t Jerome elegantly . Religion for above a thousand years together was ( next to Gods mercy ) supported by praiers and tears , It never leaned on these worldly props of power , 'T was never a bond of iniquity or a holy League of disloyalty , Holy men never attempted to resist authority , though they had number to make good their opposition ; Their faith in God put them upon praier for their Princes , though Persecutors . We pray ( saith Tertullian ) for Emperours , that they may have long life , peaceable Raigns , orderly Courts , Valiant Armies , Faithfull Councels , Discreet , Subjects , and all the world in amity with them : yea , so true were Christians to heathen Governours , that they served them faithfully both in Armies and Councels ; Eusebius tels us of Marinus a Christian in great command in the Roman Army , and of Astyrius a Christian , who was a Romane Senator , so much meditated they on that Scripture , There is no power but of God , and he that resists the power resists the Ordinance of God , and he that resists shall receive to himself damnation . This O Princes and Rulers was the honour of ancient Christianity , that it subjects to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake , that is , If it cannot lift up the hand to assert , it will lay down the neck to suffer ; If it say not Go up and prosper ( as it cannot to a bad cause , because it dare not disobey God in calling evil good , ) yet it will pray that God would overrule mens designs and out of them modell his own glory , For as Tertul. said well long ago , God forbid , those should contrive their advancement by force whose glory it ought to be to suffer , and thence to have the testimony of their fidelity ; For Christians ought not to obey powers as those Heretiques called Sataniani did the devil , Ne noceant , but out of conscience , because Power is of God , and Conscience is Gods Deputy to keep man from misrule . Thus much briefly for the piety of elder times in order to God , Now somewhat of their Charity in order to themselves and others . First , Elder Christians abounded in love one to another , Our Lord gave the rule , Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another ; Time was when it passed Proverbially , Ecce quam diligunt Christiani ; When S t Cyprian was led to Martyrdom , the whole people ran with him crying , Let us die together with the holy Bishop ; And when Christians were sick , though of diseases infectious , yet Christians would go to them and tend them , though they died with them : A Christian must not be waspish , the nettle of humour , that harms every one that toucheth it is a weed in Christs garden , but all Love , even to Enemies for his sake , who loved us when Enemies ; so much and no more know and beleeve we of God as we love him for his own , and our Neighbour for his sake ; Let men talk as they will , yet if they have a spirit of opposition and cannot walk peaceably with their brother , yea , and in a great measure with those without , I shall not think their condition ever the better : If their principle be to be singular and unsociable , Vae soli , for as the Father hath it , Cum Deo manere non possunt qui esse in Ecclesia Dei unanimes noluerunt , ardeant licet flammis , & ignibus traditi vel objecti bestiis , animas suas ponunt , non erat illa fidei corona , sed poena perfidiae , nec religiosae virtutis exitus gloriosus , sed desperationis interitus , Occidi talis potest , coronari non potest . There is nothing more reproachful to man then disunion ; we are all Natures progeny , and we should not strive to the distemper of the womb that nourisheth us to production ; the sociable soul that God hath infused into us , seems our Director , that we should agree to serve our Creator , yea and one another in all reasonable Offices of Civility ; We see the Harmonij in nature , and that the drift of every thing is to accomodate the end of God , in the inferiority and superiority of things , there is no mutinies amongst the Creatures sensitive and vegetative , The Supream Lawgiver hath implanted his Soveraign will on the instinct of every creature , and it acts as and no otherwise then according to that limitation and designment ; Only Rationall being are frayers and breakers of the Peace : 'T was an ill spirit in a Brother to imbrew ( even in the beginning of time and penury of men ) his hands in his Brothers bloud , yet Cain did this , but he had a Mark of Vengeance set upon him for it : And 't was fit he should be branded for a Butcher who had no provocation but piety , no person but a brother to act his murtherous villany upon : How much more divine was the soul of Abraham who would have no contention with Lot , for , quoth he , we are Brethren ; who put himself upon a holy colluctation with God for sinful Sodom , and would not be denied till Mercy had put importunity to blush . S t Bernard Ep. 6. writes to Bruno to deal with certain Monks who had deserted their order , and he prescribes the Method , Flectere oportet precibus , ratione convincere , & columbinam eorum simplicitatem prudentiâ instruere serpentinâ , ne putent obedientiam inobedienti adhaerere , &c. Yet alas ! we are at but a word and a blow , we make men offendors for words , for a trifle , a misplaced phrase , a mistaken sence , a petulant carriage , cursing one another as Jews and Samaritans did , Morning and Evening in their Orisons . The judicious S t Edw. Sandys notes , That do the Psaltsgrave and Lantgrave whatever they could by inhibiting the Lutherans to rail against the Calvinists , yet would they not be restrained but professed openly , That they would sooner return to the Papacy then admit Sacramentary and Predestinary Pestilence , meaning the Calvinist . So in the conference of Mompelgart when Frederick Earl of Wertonburg exhorted nis Divines to acknowledge Beza and his Company for Brethren , and ro declare it by giving them their hand , they refused it utterly , saying , they would pray to God to open their eyes , and would do them any office of humanity and charity , but they would not give them the right hand of Brotherhood , because they were proved to be guilty Errorum teterrin●orum , that was the doctrine of Election and Reprobation : A blemish which ancient Christianity knew not , nay , which the Protestant Religion is now much reproached for , I wish we were not so ambitious to be more wise and Learned in Arts of reviling then our Forefathers were , and if there must be a triall of wits , would to God the subject and matter of it may be somewhat else then the life and honour of peace and Christian charity : For in most Church-contentions it hath fallen out , that one errour opposed hath brought up as great an one even from the opposition : I know not what many think of contention and brawls , but S t Paul cals it a fruit of the flesh , and makes it exclusive of heaven , and S t John saies , He that loves not his brother whom he hath seen , cannot love God whom he hath not seen . In pure times Christians reckoned their love to Christ by their love to his members , whom they relieved , as that excellent Bishop Chrysanthius did , out of his own estate , and by their sound knowledge and skill in the things of God , accompanied with justice , modesty , patience under the hardest Trials , and advancing his glory , as they had opportunity to do it , they evidenced their love to God , and to their Brethren for his sake ; This was the aemulation those holy men had to glorifie God by holy lives , that those that saw them might be ashamed of their contradiction and persecution of them ; Primitive Bishops were simple-hearted , not crafty and insighted in worldly policies , but abounding in the work of the Lord , rich in faith and Scripture-knowledge , ready to do good , and to suffer evil for so doing ; Alas , Alas , it is not grace but perverse nature that byasses men to varnish over their rotten posts with the gold and azure of the Sanctuary ; Holinesse loves not the periodiques , how intentions and anon remissions of Zeal ; It loves not salutations of Markets , not the highest Seats at Feasts , not the Title of Rabbi , not the shouts of popular madnesse : 't is delighted in converse with and likenesse to God ; 'T is counting its glory from its stripes above measure , its imprisonments , its labours , its watchings , its fastings , and is cleared up to be what it is by its purenesse , knowledge , long-suffering , kindenesse , by the holy Ghost , and by love unfeigned , 2 Cor. 6. 5 , 6. How do the Primitive times upbraid us , who yet boast that Christ is more set up now then ever , while never any age gave greater Testimony to self-admiration then this doth ! The Apostolike Counsell was , Let every one prefer another before himself , Now Christians think of nothing but their own advantage ; Nemo eorum coelum putat , nemo jusjurandum servat , nemo Jovem pluris facit , sed omnes apertis oculos bona sua computant . When Cardinal Caraffa a man of a strict life and humble diet , comes to be Pope , then no dyet would serve his turn but that befitted a Prince , no ordinary solemnity at his Coronation , but an unusuall pomp must be expressed , then his way is in all actions , to keep his degree with magnificense , and to appear stately and sumptuou● , then the humble Priests words are ▪ That he was above all Princes , that he would not have any Prince his Companion , but all Subjects under his feet , — O Prelate Oblivious of the Masters Mandate , It shall not be so amougst you ; O Mortall , prodigiously elated , and hellishly intumour'd by worldly ambition to a contempt of those whom thou oughtest to honour ? O Antichristian Monster , that thus confrontest thy Lord , whose Vicar thou pretendest to be , but yet wilt be loftier then was he , who took bread and fish not only before but also after his resurrection , Joh. 21. 13 , 14 and who washed his Disciples seet , when thou countest Princes worthy only to be thy Footstool , whom God hath elected to power and place inferiour only to himself ! How unfit art thon to rule the Church of Christ who knowest not the mean of Self-Government ? How unlike is thy tongue to be infallible which hath deceived thee in this over-valuation of thy self ! But thanks be to God though Paul the 4 th be such a spirit , yet all Popes affected not that vanity : 'T is said of Adrian the 6 th , That he was never so taken with the Popedom but he preferred a private life above it . Gregory the great would not be called Vniversall Bishop , Cel●stine was loth to come from his Wildernesse , and when he was forced to Rome , was thought , for his humility , unfit to stay there , and therefore retired again to his solitude ; Marcellus the second would not change his Name l●st the world should conclude honours had changed him ; Groperus Coloniensis refused the Cardinals Cap , and would not , from the favor of Paul the 4 th , receive either the Title or Ornaments : When I see men in holy Orders greedy after prefermeuts , ravelling out their lives in progging after great Friends and Fortunes , as if godlinesse were a Bustrophe , a course of going forward and backward , to the right and left hand , for advantage sake : I think of that Speech of the Lord Bardolf to Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury made Chancellor to K. John : Sir , quoth he , If you would well consider the dignity and honour of your calling , you would not yeeld to suffer this yoak of bondage to be laid on your shoulders , and for my part it shall be ever my judgment to shun seekers of preferment of men least worthy for , and least fitted to them : Fides integra non manet , ubi magnitudo quaestuum spectatur . In the time of King Rufus there was an Abbots place void , and two Monks of the Covent went to the Court , resolving to bid largely for it ; The King perceiving their covetise , looked about his Privy-Chamber , and there espied a private Monk that came to bear the other two Company , whom eyeing he guessed a more sober and pious man ; The King calling him asked him , What he would give to be made Abbot of the Abby : Nothing Sir , quoth he , for I entred into this Profession of meer zeal , to the end that I might more quietly serve God in purity and holinesse of conversation ; Saist thou so , Replied the King , Then thou art he that art worthy to govern the House : Honest men cannot with Marcus Arethusius do the least evil to gain advantage , nay , to save life dare not flatter as did Teridates , when he came to Nero as to his God , and worshiped him as he did the Sun , for a petty Crown under him ; No , they are contented to be in their stations , and to walk before God in the light of their own Candle , to keep within the warrantable Circle of their Vocation , and if they see dangerous honours pursue them , they fly it , and wish in Davids words , That they had the wings of a Dove that they might fly away and be at rest ; Thus did holy Moses disable himself being willing to be excused from rule , Exod. 3. 11. God will send Moses , and Moses cries , Lord who am I that I should go to Pharaoh , and bring forth the Children of Israel out of Egypt ? God tels him , He will be with him , It matters not much how weak the Instrument be which God employs on his Embassies , since power goes along to perfect weaknesse ; Moses demurs yet , Nature will have a Miracle ere it resigns its doubtings ; Whom shall I say hath sent me ? What is thy Name ? v. 14. God gives answer , that He by whom Pharaoh is , and is King of Egypt sends thee , I AM THAT I AM sends thee : O but my Lord , What if the Egyptians will not beleeve me upon my bare word ? cap. 4. v. 1. God tels him he shall go provided , the rod in his hand shall become miraculous , and his Call to that Office appear divine from the signs that God gives of his extraordinary power , his Rod turns into a Serpent , and returns into a Rod again , v. 3. His hand put into his bosome whole becomes leprous , and put into his bosome again returns perfect and sound flesh , v. 6. & 7. And if these two miraculous indigitations of Gods powre prevail not , then a third is appointed for Moses to convince them by ; Take of the water of the River , and pour it upon the dry Land , and it shall become bloud upon the dry Land , v. 9 , One wonld think now Moses is at a Non-plus , Modesty ought not to diffide it self where God by miracle affists , and by Election witnesseth sufficiency , but nothing will satisfie Moses but self-disablement , O Lord , cries he , I am not eloquent , neither heretofore nor since thou hast spoken to thy Servant , but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue , v. 10. And though God convince him , that all utterance and enablement is from him , and promiseth him his might shall accompany him , yet Moses not out of restive renitency but ingenious humility , abaseth himself , O my Lord ( saith he ) send I pray thee by the hand of him thou wilt send , v. 13. 'T is time for Moses to desist reasoning with Majesty , when the anger of God began to be kindled against him , as it was , v. 14. So the Prophet Jeremy when God tels him he had appointed him a Prophet unto the Nations , Jer. 1. 4. replies v. 6. Ah Lord God , behold I cannot speak , for I am a Childe : as if God knew not what he did in choosing him his Messenger : but God soon silenceth that modesty , ver . 8. Be not ( saith he ) afraid of their faces , for I am with thee : O the force of worth in an ingenious soul , which inclines to depreciate rather then extoll it self , Moses was therefore fit for power before it sought him not he it , and Jeremy qualified to serve on Gods errand because he entred on it with humility . And truly it hath been noted that those who have been least desirous and gaping after trusts , but rather avoided them as matters of trouble , have proved best Executors and Feoffes of trust , and with clearest conscience discharged them . When S t Athanasius was to be made a Bishop , Sozomen tels us , he hid himself ; And when Alexander the then dying Bishop of Alexandria called out for him , as his Successor designed by God , Athanasius could not be found till by a speciall Providence he was discovered : so Chrysanthius the Novatian Bishop in Constantinople was taken from the Court , where in his younger years he had been an Officer , and constrained to be a Bishop , yea , and that in his old age , after he had been Lieutenant in Italy , and Deputy in Brittain for Theodosius the Emperour , and though he fled to avoid the call of Sisinius who nominated him his Successor , yet the people never gave over search of him till they compelled him to take his charge , and he well deserved it , for he was a man famous above most both for prudenec and humility . I know the bravest spirits have been engaged in affairs of Government , 't is fit starres of the first magnitude should enamell the firmament of rule , and lead the lesser lights their march of service ; and plain it is , that to be a Moses to Israel , and a Joseph to Egypt , to have every sheaf bow to our sheaf , carries much of cogency in it : most listen to so pleasing a temptation as honour and profit , few with Joseph turn their ears from the sweet musick of advantage ; this Helen inebriates great , wise , valiant men , with the wine of her intoxication . But yet there have been those , who with the Olive , Figg-tree and Vine , valued their contented meanness above greatness , to which is ever entailed envy and trouble : and therefore a wise man concludes , Bono viro ad conscientiam satis est non affectasse publicam curam . It is ( I confess ) somewhat questionable , how men extraordinarily qualified , and duly called to publike trusts , can in duty to God and men quit them to avoid their own trouble , since all men owe themselves to providence , and should not , aut Deo , aut Patriae , aut Patri patriae deesse ; but rather with Codrus , offer themselves the price of their freedom . But it is without all doubt , that he who doth take rule , though he may be good to others , will hardly bring good to himself , unless he be an Audax , in his element , when out-facing troubles : Crowns and Robes of State have their burthens and terrors , and those who accept them are ill appaid , if they have not subsistance and reverence by them . 'T was a wise speech of Marius , to those that envy great men their honor ; Let them envy them their burthens . Men in power and place must expect people murmuring against and often complotting the subversion of them ; and they who have principles of rule in their mindes , are disturbed by mens envy , no more then mountains reel at the casting of Moles , or Rocks melt away by the dashing of waves against them . And if God the most soveraign and diffusive good , be invaded by the deicidiall sinnes of men , and threatned as much of destructive insolence , as mortall worms can marshall out against him ; men , like themselves , how worthy , how Noble soever , must not go scotfree . The consideration of which , puts those that accept rule , upon courses of self-preservation , and therein of generall peace , little perhaps to the genius of their mindes , were they in a private sphear , and makes them accounted by some rather Principes necessarii quam boui ; and dreaded as was Marius , of whom Tully said , Consulem habuimus tam severum , tamque censorium , ut in ejus Magistratu , nemo pranderit , nemo coenaverit , nemo dormierit . Since then the end of every Government is Peace and Order , Piety and Property , the promoters of these are to be honoured , and the impugners of them severely dealt with , not only in the State but in the Church ; For heresie , error and scism , are the forlorn hope to civil broyls and disturbances . And though God in mercy bring the grapes of Piety from the thorns of presumption , and make the figgs of courage sprout out of the thistles of contradiction , yet the naturall child of Church busle , is irreligion and barbarism , or at best but superstition ; so true is that of S t Augustiue , Nunquam . faelix nunquam ferax Dei Ecclesia fuit , vel in diluvio Noachi , vel in dispersione Abrahamitarum , vel in Egyptiaco exilio , vel in persequtione Jezabelis , vel sub jugo Hieroboamitico , vel sub tyrannide Manasses , in sola Davidica familia remansit Ecclesia Christi . So that Father . Were this beleeved , we should have fewer differences in the Church then we have , less smiting of the tongue and pen , then is in use ( most unhappily ) amongst us . As children learn gaming by pinns and farthings , and after by habituating themselves to play , stake pounds and hundreds , Mannors and lands ; so men begin to carp at their brethren who vary but in expressions , and at last differ toto coelo from them , and ( as much as in them lies ) rend them from the body of Christ : If there be but the least dissent , presently he is to them as a hea-and a publican . Alas , the Ancients were more zealous but less touchy then we ; they made men not offenders for thoughts , and opinions in lesser matters ; We , we are the generation of those Enthusiasts that claim kin with the knowledg of the Almighty , who would fain be thought to set an end to darkness , and to search out all perfection ; the hearts of men pass us not , but we dive into them ; Such a man is a Malignant in his heart , secretly disaffected to us , hath a Pope in his belly : these uncharitable pryings into men , have been and yet are frequent amongst us ; from these brambles , fire hath come out and devoured the Cedars of Lebanon , as the phrase ls , Judg. 19. 15. And to what end ( I pray ) this curiosity ? not to amend them , if evil , by good counsel , earnest prayer , civil carriage towards them , but to take the advantage to triumph over , and to endeavour the ruin of them : The Saints of God should be Doves , ( that creature the Father saith , is harmless , neither hath gall , nor does injury with its bill , ) and not as was the Assyrian , rodds of Gods wrath ; or as those in the Psalm , Swords in Gods right hand ; or if such , yet very warily and upon sound warrant such ; so sayes a man of breadth amongst us ; Gods people must be wary whom they curse , and take heed lest trifles cause their curse , and not impenitent and implacable enmity against Christ : because no man knowes the mind of God , every one must use holy moderation in censure ; but if some had not contradicted in their practise such good doctrine , venting not hilastique but sarcastique Divinity from their pulpits , we had not seen such confusion in the Church , nor heard such different notes amongst Church-men , as we have . What had been amiss had wisely been amended , and those in the Ministry who had been insufficient or immoral , admonished or rejected w th some reasonable allowance to their families ; 'T is hard measure , that the utmost farthing of a families felicity , should be paid for the spot of the male of the flock . In Primitive times , all those who professed Christianity held communion together as one Church , notwithstanding difference of judgment in lesser things , and much corruption in conversation . So say the the Learned Ministers of London , in their Vindication of Presbyteriall Government , p. 139. What Fronton a Heathen said to Nerva , that say I in the case of Liberty , 'T is an ill Government which gives no Liberty , but much worse which gives all liberty ; Man must not binde or loose where God hath not : 'T was holy Nazienzens observation long ago , That Antichrist would gather strength by the dissentions of Christians , and it is a thing I have ( ever since these differences in our Church ) feared that the violence of parties would much endanger the surprise of our Religion , Because of the mountain of Zyon which is desolate , the Foxes walk upon it , Lam. 5. 18. In the Netherlands difference , all things accounted more to parties then peace ; the Papists cruelty and the Reformists violence , ended in a petulancy destructive to the Church , for all that was the Churches , was swallowed up between them ; Granuell Bishop of Arras and the Cardinal of Lorrain , promoted persecution of the Reformists , pretending the cause to be , zeal for God , and advancement of his Religion , but the truth was , they aymed to be enriched by the spoyl of those that were condemned of heresie . On the other part , those of the Religion , begin their outrages with Churches , break down the utensils of service in them , carry away with them what was in them moveable , frighten the religious men from their houses and Cloysters ; leave no Church in Cities fit for devotion , rifle Libraries and burn Books . I will not say as S t Bernard of old , and Luther from him , Now Domini sed daemonis haec pascua , hi pastores . But this I will pray as good Jacob did , Into such secrets let not my soul enter , mine honour be not thou joyned to such assemblies ; for they who dare make the things of God their prey , will make nothing of devouring the lives , liberties and formtunes of their brethren . Oh the divisions of Levi amongst us , w ch have not only caused great thoughts of heart , but also broken out into bigge words ; like the horses in S t Johns vision , Rev. 9. Out of whose mouthes have come forth , fire , and smoak , and brimston , and from whose pens , bitter lines both of defiante , and unkind crimination each of other . He that reads but the books of their furious encounters , shall satisfie himself , that Ephraein hath been against Manasses , and Manasses against Ephraim ; and I pray God that of Salvian be not applicable to us all , Quid prodesse nobis prarogativa illa religiosi nominis potest , quod nos Catholicos dicimus , quod fideles esse jactamus , Quod Gothos & Vandalos haeretici nominis exprebatione despicimus , cum ipsi haeretica pravitate vivamus ? I wish that they who talk so much of heresie , making every dissent an error , would consider that mortals intellects differ as do their faces , and that the beauty of God is more or less in every creature and its capacity , that in matters of this moment 't is not safe to be ●ash , but to consider the spirits , whether they be of God or no , and them to try by that tryall which the Law appoints tryall of heresie , the Scriptures and the four first generall Counsels accordant with Scripture . For my part I will not with Philastrius , pronounce any man hereticall for varying from me in opinion no more then any man dumb whose language I hear not , nor when I hear understand ; but rather pray , that God by his grace will so direct me , that I practise what I know , and endeavour to know what may be usefull to my self and others : did this spirit possess many , they would have more comfort from the small Violits of sincerity , then the great garnishes of religions Tulips , which offer much content to the sense , but less answer the 〈◊〉 noble part of a Christian : Then would our light rise out of obscurity , and our darkness break forth into the brightness of noon day ; then would one thought of Charity chase a thousand , and a thousand put ten thousand misprisions to flight ; then would our spiritual Oxen be strong to Iahour , then would the Church be at unity within it self ; no axe or hammer of passion be heard in her , but the oyl of compassion distill from her , to heal the wounds and close the breaches of her children . But O Lord who shall live when thou dost this ? By whom shall Jacob arise , for he is small ? Tell us , we beseech thee , how the bones which thou hast broken shall rejoyce , that we may pray for the Churches Jubilee , and fast to entertain so blessed a feast as would be that Epiphane ; for as Pomponius Laetus well writes , Christianos omnes sub un● signo crucis militare , nostram Religionem unicam esse Rempublicam , unicam ipsius Dei urbem cujus nos cives sumus , & bellum inter nos esse non posse , nisi civile But alas , the Church Christian hath long been in her wasting fits , the watchmen have smitten her ; Novelties , words and projects have committed ▪ wast , and we may well bring a Devastavit against them . against them . S t Jerom of old complained , Nunc sub religionis titulo exercentur injusta compendia , & honor nominis Christiani fraudem , magis facit quam patitur , intus Nero , foris Cato , totus ambiguus ; The wits of Rome were smart , when they added , to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Zeno , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Heraclius , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Constance ; the Interim of Charls the fift , as of no better import to the Church then those Imperiall Constitutious : And with leave of God and wise men , I think , I may add Reformation , as sometimes it hath been managed , for no less a damager to the State Ecclesiasiasticall , then any open violence whatsoever . Let the times of H. 8. be considered , What vast Possessions lost the Church , by his opposition to the Pope , and the effects of it ? And in Ed. 6 th his Raign , more went from the Church ; yea there is who tells us , That one of the Visitirs of Oxford in Ed. 6. time , did so cleerly purge the Vniversity Library of all Monuments of superstition , that he left not one book init of all those goodly Manuscripts , with which by the manificence of several Benefactors , that place was amply furnished . So true is that of Trully , No injustice so gross , as that which they do who will be accounted good , that they may by that means be more evil . While I forget not Paulus Cremensis a Legat sent hither from Pope Honorius the second , to redress the vices of the Clergy , and chiefly their lechery , whenas he himself next day after he had bitterly inveighed against them , was found abed with a common strumpet , I shall fear there may b● errors in the greatest pretenders , and look upon remedies as possible to exceed diseases in their ill consequence . For in publike outrages , not only Constantinus Pontius Confessor to Charls the fift ; in his retyred life a brave and holy man , is commanded to prison immediatly upon his Lords death , and that upon suspition of heresie , but when dead , his statue is demolished and disfigured by K. Philip of Spains Mandate . Rutilius the Roman . Consul , destroys the Temple of Lucina , because his daughter while she was there worshipping brings forth a dead child ; Numa must be without a monument of his piety , and Lucina without a Temple for her worship ; but is was noted an ill time in Rome , when status cujusque Dei in Senatus aestimatione pendebat . All men naturally love themselves , and few scruple any thing that answers their ends ; Satan is an industrious droll , cogging us into designs of evil , upon pretences fair but not altogether warrantable . Consuetudinis est saecularium hominum , ut cum honorem adipisci desiderant , caeteros fibi prius per amorem acquirunt , cum vero adepti fuerint , elati potestate eos ipsos , per timorem sibi postmodum , subjiciunt quibus prius privati , non terrorem sed amorem exhibuerant . If Timotheus Aelurus have desire to be Bishop of Alexandria , and Proterius stood in his way , he will so order the matter , that before the See be void , the Monks shall each of them be visited in the night , by one in grave habit and of angelique speech , calling them by their respective Names , and in the Name and by the Spirit of God ( as is pretended ) admonishing them to decline adhaesion to Proterius , and to joyn themselves to Timotheus . Henry the eight cleared the Point , That power would command any thing . Even Papists , such were the Parliament , for their ease to avoid Citations and charges from Rome , divest the Pope of his headship to place it on their Prince . Revenge is a great spur to bad actions , as well as is ambition . There is a notable vilany fathered on the Franciscans at Orleance , discovered in Anno 1534. after this manner : The chief Judg of Orleance his wife dying , requested of her husband , that she might be buried in the Church belonging to the Franciscans ; this was done , and the Franciscans presented by the Praetor the deceaseds husband with six Pistols ( a bribe farre beneath their avarice ) but they resolved to have a better gratification from a fall of wood of the Praetors , out of which they desired some trees , which he denied them ; that defeat so inflamed the Franciscans , that they plotted to bruit it abroad , that his wife was damned for ever : To carry on this villany undiscern'd , they suborn a young man to act his part so notoriously , that by hideous noyses , at time of publike devotions , he should cause disturbance , and be prologue to the Tragedy ; a Doctor of that order and an exorcist , whose plot this was , ( for he daily used these cheats ) so designed the scene , that no answer was to be made by the young man ( if any question were asked of him ) but only by signs , which the exorcist only understood having preappointed them ; and so could report to the auditory : when the young man had amused the people with dismall and ununderstood notes , the exorcist boldly asked him , Whether he were a spirit or not ? if a spirit , whose spirit ? relating the Names of all such as had been buried there : And when he named the Praetors wife , the young man gave sign that he was the spirit of that Lady : Then the exorcist asked , if she were damned or no , and for what offence ? Whether for covetousness , or lust , or pride , or for want of practicall charity , or for the upstart heresie of Lutheranism ? and what he meant by those clamours and unquietnesses ? whether the body there buried should be digged up and carried elsewhere or not ? To all which he by signs answered affirmatively , which they prayed the Congregation there present to take knowledg of : yet upon the Praetors complaint to the French King and Parliament of Paris , and Commission issued forth to report the truth hereof , the wickedness of this contrivance came to light , and the parties actors in it were severely sentenced according to their deserts . I finde another story of the Dominicans as vild as this , acted at Bern in Switzerland : There being a great heat between them and the Franciscans , about the Virgin Marys being conceived in Original sinne ; one affirmiug , and the other denying it ; the Dominicans , to determine the controversie , purposed to evidence the truth of their opinion by Miracle : four of the prime of their Order were privy to the contrivance , one of which was Subprior , a Magician , who called up an evil spirit to assist them in the more effectuall conduct of this undertaking : The spirit appeared to them in the shape of a Moor , and promised his assistance , provided they gave him an Instrument signed with their own hands and Names written in their own bloods , in testimony of their compact with him ; which done , the evil spirit appeared an assertor of the Dominicans Doctrine , threatning Purgatory to their opponents , and overthrow to the City , unless they cast out the Franciscans thence ; much more of like trumpery there was discovered , to the shame of the Dominicans that were privy to it : And therefore 't is good to search the spirits , whether they be of God or no. There is no action so vild but hath a fair mask on it . There was a famous cheat plotted by Romish Priests in Staffordshire , much of kin to this , and discovered by the grave Bishop of Durham , and all to make way for the Popish Doctrine of Miracles . 'T is Satans artifice to steal his surprise in at some port of pleasure or profit ; The Statues of Kings , the Miters of Popes , and the Arms of States , sometimes hang out at common houses , and those often of no good report ; 〈◊〉 I have seen the Holy Lamb , sign to a place of tipling . Good men are often deluded by their own presumption , and lead into a fairer belief of themselves then they deserve : We are all in love with our own Apes , and we often hug them , till we smother reason the most beauteous child of nature ; yea there are no greater follies acted by any , then those that do vow and declare most against them . Peter was a bold assertor of his fidelity ; Though all forsake thee , yet will not I , I le die with thee , Lord Jesus ; Matth. 26. 35. yet he denied and forswore him for fear . In the troubles of the Netherlands , the confederates protested before God and the world , Nihil omnino velle , hoc foedere nostro moliri quod vel ad contemptum Dei , vel ad diminutionem authoritatis & dignita tis Regiae statuumve suorum tendere posfit : but it fell out otherwise , for when they had power , reason of State , and necessity of self-preservation , made them do what they ( as they published ) at first did not intend . As in growth of bodies there are degrees , so in mischiefs there are the tender plants of blushing , before the full years of sturdiness , uemo repente fit turpissimus : 'T was a good prayer of David , Who knows how oft he offends , keep me from presumptuous sinnes : Man is never neerer miscarriage then when he least fears it , nor is the heart ever more treacherous , then when it sollicits with greatest earnestness , to lend an ear to the delusion of a sycophant , or hearken to the propensions of our nature to accommodate our ends . What plots did Gardiner and the Lords of H. 8. Council lay for Cranmer ? Wricthsly and others for Q. Katherine Parr ? yea and Tottis a Priest , to prove that the Pater noster might be said to Saints , made a blasphemous exposition thereof , contrary to the sense of Christ Jesus . Katherine Mary Dutchess of Mompensier , sister of the deceased Duke of Guise , was so horribly transported with malice against the Protestant party , and had so great a desire of revenge upon the King of France , that notwithstanding her nobler endowments , she dishonoured her self with that Jesuited varlet Clement ( his murtherer ) the more to encourage him in the accomplishment of his villany , and to give him assurance of her acceptance of that treasonable assassination . Opinions and parties are humble at first , but when they are entred they like ill humours in the body , steal away the nutriment , and force judgement into some little angle and petty principality , whereas it ought to rule the whole continent , and command in Chief ; Opinion does by Reason , as Empericks by people , fits with tricks quick and grosse , to please all seasons and Companies , sometimes it curdles Reason and makes it shrivle up into uncomely narrownesses , another time like a thriftlesse Housekeeper , it opens doors for all comers ; And as that Friar refused none an Alms that asked for the Virgin Maries sake , so if Holinesse to the Lord be upon the surface of it , the Cry is , Come in thou blessed of the Lord. Men are ( pardon the phrase ) Jaels in this , and these Sisera's they court into their hearts , offering them not the cold comforts of hammers and nayls of dispatch , nor the pulse of slender welcome , but the Royall fare of their fancy , yea , they dance about the May-poles of their late acquaintence and guests , as David did before Gods Ark with all their might ; But 't is pity they should want Michels to scoff at them , who are so taken with novelties , and so pleased with Nothings ; Lord what Mushromes and Cocks combs are cooked to the gust● of the curious pallated world ? And how greedy are men not only to devour a well-sauced poyson , but to applaud the Cook that tempers that Circoean Cup of their Inchantment ? How many hopefull and virtuously disposed mindes may observing men view deflowred , whose parts ( as Moses's Rod ) have become Serpents , not to win peevish natures to truth , but to further craft and harmful subtlety , which never return'd again into their Native purity , whose eloquent tongue like the beauties of the old world have seduced well-inclined and easie Christians , to follow them into the deluge of Errors , and to scoff at the Ark of Truth , the Church , as a mentitious sigment ; He was a wise man in his time who said , Pruritus disputandi scabies Ecclesiae , Opinions and Disputations have begat one another to the end of the Chapter of Church-peace , so that Religion is wholly drowned in Opinion ; Men are grown Monsters like that in Praepontis , which had a great head but shriveled members ; Ancient , sober , practical Piety is almost lost , and men come to such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of speculation , that they are perswaded to be too wise for Instructors , too holy to observe Scripture-Rules , too contentious to be endured almost in civil Societies : Hollerius his Italian hath spawned such Scorpion'd brains , that 't is daugerous to converse with them lest we be infected by them ; So that as Pomponius Laesus said of the Christian quarrels , that may we say of active spirits amongst us , Viri Sacrilegi mo●tuos quiescentes turbant , templis minime parcunt ●avidi sanguinis civilis & praedae , mali Daemones sic implicuere nostras mentes ; ●ut relictis veris hostibus , quos longa pace frui permittimus , in nos nostrorumque membra armatas & sang●inolentas convertamus manus . How careful were ancient Christians to avoid all things that tended to offence ? What tendernesse expresseth the holy Apostle , when he professed , He would rather never eat then offend his weak Brother ? And the glorious Saints of pristine piety and courage , when they denied themselves to gratifie the consciencious scruples of weak Christians ! When they with tears bemoaned the inadvertency of some to give , and the peevishnesse of others to take offence ? Optatus was much troubled that the Church should be disturbed by the Orthodox licet , and the Donatists non licet ; And Tertullian did not approve that Christians should be called either by the Name of Albinians , or Nigrians , or Cassians , but that which is their proper Name , Christians . 'T is Satans project to exartuate Religion by new names and new factions amongst her professors , and to weaken the power of godlinesse by introducing argumentation and debate , the pleasure of wits , and the Pensioner of carnal policy : that as ingenious Florists , to pick the purses of witty persons , delighted with their art , have so heightned flowers by transplantations , preparations of mold , adumbrations of them at unbenign seasons of the year , by cutting their Roots , and sundry such , not uncommendable feats of their skill , that out of one single root of a Lilly hath come forth 122 blowings , and amongst Roses , gilly-flowers , and Pionies , incredible varieties ; So out of the glorious and pure Doctrines of Faith , which the Apostles and their Followers comprised in repent and believe , there is put forth such an ocean of points of Religion , and all of them pressed on the people to be believed , that it is hard to finde truth in the crowd of contests about her , and easie to mistake as Mary did the gardiner , for Christ , error for truth , both pretending their Jus divinum's their authoritative confidences , as their just Titles to mens beliefs , and blaming men as restive and sottish if they resigne not themselves to a sensless and universal credulity . In the mean time things of greater concernment are neglected , and the things God slubbered over , and made to run counter one to another ; disuse of Church-Government hath made every man a Micah , an appointer to himself of whatsoever likes him best , and a neglecter of those services that the Christian Church thorow out the world imbraced ; there are many that make preaching like the lean Kine in Pharaoh's dream , to eat up all other Church-Ordinances , though never so beauteous and well-favoured ; publick Prayers , and publick Confessions of Faith , even that which our Lord Jesus taught us in the Gospel , as the Form of Prayer of his own dictation , hardly passes current ; no nor is that Creed which bears the name of the Apostles Creed , ( which this Church hath ever received , and her Martyrs in Queen Mary's days , by name Bishop Farrar , Hooper , the Bishops of Worcester and Glocester , Taylor , Philpot , Bradford , Cromt , Rogers , Saunders , Lawrence , Coverdale , owned , as that they believed generally and particularly , censuring those to erre from the truth who do otherwise ; and judicious Calvin says , was the form of Confession which all Christians had in common amongst them , as writ from the mouths of the Apostles , or faithfully collected out of their Writings . ) This Creed , I say , many think unfit to be rehearsed in Congregations , and some are suspected to villifie it ; yea the Sacraments of Christ are almost obsoleted amongst us , in some Parishes neither Sacrament , in others but one , and if that , so restrained to particular persons , that there seems to be a tacite reproach laid on those who are not of the number of Communicants , who therefore become enemies to Ministers and their Messages , because they are in a kinde cut off from the Congregation . I confess it is fit that holy things should be given to holy men , and it were to be wished , all the Congregation were holy ; but if perfection be reserved for hereafter , Ministers must bear with the imperfections of their people , as well as people with the over-rigidness of their Ministers . If people be not scandalous , the Church never denied them the benefit of Sacraments ; and if Ministers be not over-scrupulous , they will not begrudg men their Saviours allowance . In my opinion it seems but reasonable , that people should give a sober & free account of their faith to their lawfull Pastor , in a loving and unimperious way desiring it of them ; but then Churchmen should be advised what is competent knowledge in a Christian , and propose such questions to them , as argue not a design rather to blunder them , then satisfie themselves of their understanding . Ministers are fathers , and must bear with the infirmities of their flocks , They must not be brambles , rending and tearing the people committed to their charge , but fig-trees , vines , and olive-trees , yeelding them fatness , sweetness , and fruitfulness . To such as these , I am perswaded no sober Christian dare deny an account of his faith ; For if the Apostles charge be , to be always ready to give answer to every man that askoth you a reason of the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear , then much more to the Embassadors of Christ , his Ministers : His Ministers , I say , by Church Mission , and Canonique Authority ; not presumers , who come unsent ; for , as the Civilians well observe , Non sunt successores in officio qui ad officium accedunt alio modo quam institutum est , to such Ministers as are truly called , no man ought to deny a declaration of his faith , as competently he is able . And with such discoveries I think Ministers ought to rest satisfied , and the ignorance of their Parishioners to pity , pray for , and by their best instruction to amend . And those Ministers whom a Parishioners sober account and inoffensive conversation will not convince to admit as worthy to communicate , may be feared to have somewhat more in their design , then the glory of God , and the good of souls ; and if they will not give testimony of their candor while they live , their death-beds will tell tales to the world , little to their credit or comfort . Learned D r Reynolds reports , that Luther when he lay upon his death-bed acknowledged to Melancthon , In negotio coenae nimium esse factum , yet , saith the learned ( Sir Simon D'ewes ) taking counsel rather of men theu Gods Word , for fear lest if he retracted them , the people would suspect the rest , and so return to Popery , he accounted it best to declare his judgement in private . Thus he . Well fare the ancient Fathers , who valued truth above credit , yea conscience above life . Ruffinus tells us , that S t Clement in his Apostolique Epistle , counsels all his fellow Christians , rather to forsake him , then to part with the peace of the Church , and to incur the danger of division . And S t Aug. tells us , That in his time by the turbulencies of some in the Church , many Orthodox and excellent Bishops and Presbyters were cast out of the Church , and separated from their charges , yet they bore the disgrace and persecution patiently , never making Schism or starting up heresie to annoy Christianity therby . Docebunt homines quam vero affectu & quanta sinceritate charitatis Deo serviendum sit , hos coronat in occulto pater , in secreto videns . Rarum hoc videtur genus , sed tamen exempla non desunt , immo plura sunt quam credi potest . These mens demeanours ( quoth he ) teach the world , What the power of grace and sincerity is in the soul , and how God is to be waited upon even while he hides his face from the seed of Jacob. But though these ( quoth the Father ) be rare examples of self-deniall , yet such presidents there are , and those more then can be almost believed . For , as the same Father proceeds , true Religion is neither to be found in the confusions of Pagans , nor in the purgings of hereticks , nor in the feebleness of schismaticks , nor in the blindness of Jews , but amongst those who are Orthodox and Catholick Christians . And therefore the differences in this Church , upon these small grounds that appear to us , were in no sort worth owning ( by sober men ) especially to the degrees they are ascended to , but rather are to be deplored with tears of blood ; for those that have true Christian charity , would sooner part with much of their own Interest , as did the true Mother , 1 King. 3. 27. then have the Church divided : Let Astrologers , not knowing the true cause of the Coelestiall motions , to salve the appearances , tell us of Eccentriques and Epicicles ; and Philosophers , when they are at a stand , pray aid from their occulta qualitas ; and Lawyers , when they know not well how to give things a bottom , tell us they are in abaiance : and some late Divines fill our heads with dreams of the Churches outward pomp here , That the Saints must be the great men of the world , and must trample down every thing of Order and Antiquity : Let them tell us of new Heavens and new Earths , whereinto are received such as the old never willingly bore ( for Lucifer was cast from Heaven for pride , and Corah and his company were swallowed up by the earth , for mutiny against Magistracy , ) and let them bespeak mansions in that Novus Orbis , let them be Masters of rule in the world in the Sunne , and precious men in the Moon of their fancies , and there promise themselves coelestial clarity , I shall neither envy nor admire them the more , but fear them as such as Salvian speaks of , Apud nonnullos Christi nomen non videatur jam sacramentum esse sed sermo , and I shall pray that they may see their wandrings in time ; and as the Father sayes well , secundas tabulas habere modestiae , qui primas non habere sapientiae . For let them cry out never so bitterly against regulations , and orderly forms and establishments , yet they will hold tack , when their Tabernacles of ill-mixed altogethers dissolve and become vain . For as a Learned Bishop of the Church hath lately observed ; If foundations which were in their own nature good should be destroyed for accessary abuses , and for the faults of perticuler persons , we should neither leave a Sunne in Heaven , for that hath been adored by Prgans , nor a spark of fire , or any eminent creature upon earth , for they have all been abused . And since it is the will of God that heresies and offences must be , let all good Christians patiently abide Gods triall by them . For as wise master-builders out of the chaos of rubbish raise beautifull frames of structure , so God out of the janglings of Christians , by infinite and matchless wisedom compiles his glory . Vtitur gentibus ad materiam operationis suae , hereticis ad probationem fidei suae , schismaticis ad stabilimentum doctrinae suae , Judaeis ad comparationem pulchritudinis suae , as S t Augustin pithily . Let then the devout Christian , not so much study policy as piety , not more endeavour after power then peace ; let the Ministers of God rather seek to deny , then gratifie themselvs in any thing that is worldly , let the world alone to those whose portion it is , they are greedy enough after it . Aurelian would never take it for his glory , to have the children sing it and salute him with an applause of his valour , for sla●ing thousands of the Sarmatians : Vnus homo mille , mille ; mille decollavimus ; and adding mille , mille , mille ; vincit qui mille mille occidit , tantùm vim habet nemo quantum fudit sanguinis , If he were not wedded to the world , and resolved that Power was his heaven . God forbid holy souls should when they see preferment shun them , and the world frown on them , cry out as Eli's daughter in Law did , 1 Sam. 4. 21. when the Ark was sursurpris'd , My glory is departed , the Ark of my safety and content is taken : Let those delight in it , and boast of it , whose wisedom is carnall , and opposite to God ; who venture the double Ducket of Aeternity against this single Penny of Earth ; which that French King would not , when his brother counselled him with small forces to sally out of Towers , upon the great Army of the Duke of Mayne . Let politick Richlieu profess , that his desire to be Cardinall , Duke and Peer of France , was but to shew the world , what and how great his King and Master was , since he the Cardinal how conspicuous soever ; was but a ray from the Kings Sunne , and a rivulet from his Ocean : yet God sees another motive in the heart , then the tongue mentions : no secret excludes the Sunne of Righteousness from view , nor any shift the God of Truth from weighing the temper of spirits , and discovering them to be what they are , though with Balaam , they shift from place to place , and thing to thing , to gain a subterfuge and opportunity of serving themselves most advantagiously , yet at length God meets with them ; and when their glasses are runne , which cannot be long , that glory which maketh worthy men live for ever , dieth with such , and their memory of honour is enterred with them . And though the most of men are convinced of the truth of this , yet how greedily do such great spirits gullop down the world , and with what eagerness do they profecute it , by a dangerous hospitality , which entertains Devils oftner then Angels ! What noble Paradoes doth self-love make , forcing Religion to be Chaplain to bless their banquets of Ambition , unto which they invite all their admirers , and to warrant which they have such musters of Scriptures ( though misapplied and misunderstood ) that they look like the Archangel Michael and his forces , advancing to discomfort , as it were , the Devil and his Angels , of contrarients diffidence , we know who said , Behold my zeal for the Lord of Heasts , 2 King. 10. 16. yet ver . 18. & 31. his zeal was murther and idolatry . Am I come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it , the Lord said to me , go up against this Land and destroy it , were the words of Rabshecah , 2 King. 18. 25. yet God in Chap. 19. ver . 28. interprets this a rage and tumult against him , and sayes , he will put his hook in his nose , and his bridle in his lips , and turn him back by the way by which he came : yea by an Angel destroy his hoast , and defend Jerusalem , as it is ver . 34 , 35. I love not their Principles , who make Religion usher to Lyon-like practises , as doth the Spaniard in the Indies , which they by force possesse , and in which they have put to the sword and other butcherly torments , millions , it is thought , both at Cuba , Hayta , Peru , Panama , Mexico , and all under pretence of planting the Catholick faith , and placing Christians in the room of Infidels : such courses may thrive for a while , but in the end God will pluck up those poysonous roots for medicine to others , that they may hear and fear , and do no more presumptuously . I cannot blame Heathens , who know and hope for no other Heaven but that of temporall felicity and worldly greatness , to aym at it . I wonder not at Mahomet the second the first Turkish Emperour , whom story tells us to be of no Religion but a meer Atheist , worshipping no other God but good-fortune , thinking all things lawfull that agreed with his lust , and keeping no league , promise or oath , longer then stood with his profit or pleasure . No marvell though they think so well of themselves , who dare as did Alexander , command their own deificacations ; in dayes of their Triumphs , with Octavius , remove the statues of the Nations god : Not only weep upon view of the Image of one that lived before , and had been conquerour beyond him ; but also dream , I and have the confidence to tell the dream , that he had committed a rape upon his mother , as did Julius Caesar , which the standers by interpreted to portend his Empire over the world ; or to disown manhood , and to profess openly , Ira Dei ego sum & orbis vastitas , as that Eastern Temires said of himself . These I say may not be wondered at . But for Christians , who beleeve in a crucified Saviour , and expect a Kingdom not made with hands , but eternall in the Heavens : for them to take such bye pathes , and forsake the way of Christ Jesus , who bids us , strive to enter in at the narrow gate , and decline the broad way which leads to destruction , is much my wonder . For as Gregory Nazianzen piously writes ; Let Thrones , Princedomes , Greatness , Riches , Fortunes adiew , as vild and contemptible glories , and theatrique follies , which perform nothing of what they promise : it is the Christians part to make Gods word his delight , and to study communion with God , as that which can only and lastingly make him happy , &c. for Christianity is no abrodiaeton , wherein is professed pleasure and delicacy , but mortification and self-deniall Yet not so strange as true ; for there have no greater practiques of sensuall pollicy been acted by any , then Christians in name , and in profession such . Pope Alexander warres against the French , and rather then that warre should not be followed ; invites the Turk to his ayd , and consents , that the money gathered in Spain for a Crociata against the Infidels , should be imployed against the French. Coesar Borgia maligned his brother bastard the Duke of Candy , because he was corrival with him in his Mistris , and for that their common father Pope Alexander the 6 th had bestowed great dignity on the Duke , hereupon Borgia caused him to be murthered one night as he rode thorow the streets of Rome , and after to be cast into Tyber . The same Borgia desired a match with the Daughter of Frederick King of Naples , and to have in dower with her the Principality of Taranto , not by that alliance to strengthen the Interest of declining Frederick , but that thereby he might be the better able to justle him out and distress him . Mauregat the 7 th King of Oivedo and Leons , about the year after Christ 383 , that he might hold his Kingdom under the Moors who had invassail'd all , made himself a Tributary to Abdiramis their King in Spain , and though he were a Christian , yet consented to a Tribute uuworthy any Christian , namely to yeeld him yearly 50 Damsels of Noble extract and linage , and as many other meaner mens daughters , and them to send him as a present to his lust . Nicholaus Catalusius Prince of Mytelene , turned Turk , to gain the favour of Mahomet the Great and save his life ; after he was circumcised , Mahomet caused him to be apprehended and put to death . Henry the second of France , burned many Protestants upon pretence of heresie , and in favour of true Religion , as was said , but untruly , for it was but to fill the purse of Diana Valentina the Kings Mistris of pleasure , to whom he had given the confiscation of all goods for heresie throughout his Dominions . Vladislaus King of Hungary , concluded a very noble peace with Amurath , and swore to it with very great solemnity , yet afterupon pretensions of very great disadvantage to the Christians by that peace , and by solicitations of Cardinal Julian , he broke it most barbarously , and was well paid for his faedifragousness , in the loss of the battell of Varna . When the Turk in Charls the 5 th , his time invades Transilvania on the one side , and Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria puts hard for it on the other side , promising to keep it for the young sonne of John Vayode , George Martinaccio Bishop of Veradino a man of excellent wisdom and great reputation in that countrey , willing to keep it in freedom ; and being unable to wage warre both with the Turk and Arch-Duke at one time , adhered to the Arch-Duke , which the Austrians knew would effect their purpose ; they , to oblige the good Bishop , promised a Pension of 80000 Crowns , and the Emperour obtained of the Pope a Cardinals Cap for him ; but when the Anstrians discovered , that nothing wrought with Martinaccio , to prefer the house of Austria above his native countrey , some of the Arch-Dukes ministers had command to murther him , and they did 10 , and the bruit was , that he held Intelligence with the Turk ; whenas , good man , he had nothing but honour and honesty in his eye , and they blood in their hearts and on their hands . But these are but pettytoes to the great Goliah Richlieu the late French Cardinall , against whom the blood of many cries ; but in chief that of Monsieur Le Thou , the famous Historian and most accurate Scholer , whose memoriall published in the names of all the grandees of Europe , remembers great dishonour to his once Eminence . The words , as I finde them in a notable Author , are these ; Sub fortunatissimo Rege , nuper malis artibus fascinato , ob Reginae , filiorum , parentis jura , summo studio , contra nefarios ausus , secundum regni leges adserta , ob expetitam regalis familiae dignitatem libertatemque Franciscum Augustum Thuanum , magnis adhuc in juventa virtutibus illustrem , Baestia sevissima de Arena saphistica , Latro Cardinalis , Hostis senatus , Pestis Patriae , dedecus Ecclesiae , per Tyrannicae potestatis satellites , subornata judicio trucidavit , Omnes Europâ tota Optimates praestantissimi , Thuani desiderio , maestissimt posuere . I forbear his projects on both the Queen-Mothers , let S t Germine blazon them , though methinks one hath already fully done it , in these few words , Reginae matris beneficiis ditatus , curis prometus , & potestate potentior factus , illam gratiâ regis , libertate , bonis , Galliâ , & demùm exulem Coloniae vita privavit , ne mortuae parceret , supr●mas ejus voluntates rescendi , & insepultum cadaver per quinque menses ( post quos ) ipse extinctus est , incubiculo relinqui voluit : Thus my Author , But I enlarge not this , nor do I call to memory the deaths of Memorancy , and many others , of which he is said to have been notoriously guilty ; that exquisite revenge on Puyleaurens , gives an essay of the man ▪ and tells us he was none of those that did aperto vivere voto . No marvell though a man of those tricks were termed seculi sui tormèntum non ornamentum . He must needs be covetous of glory , who was not ashamed to boast in print , Volui fidelitatem necessariam esse non liberum , docui obedientiam caecam , atque in hâc parte penè religiosos volui esse Francos , Perturbavi Madritensem sapientiam , &c. who besides the violence acted at home , discovered Spanish counsels before taken , revealed their secrets before machinated , brought Madrid to Paris and kept Paris at its own distance from Madrid , terrified Italy , shook Germany , vexed Spain , supported Lusitunia , Lotharingia and Catilonia , supplied Sweden , spoyled Flanders , troubled England , yea and made a disport of Europe , & utinam non & faxsit sibi alio in orbe , qui in hoc Europae suit ; as that Author hath it . Ex pede Herculem ; Let men judge then what tenebrious souls those men have , who will be the Gundomars and Protopoliticoes of their ages ; Such I mean as Lewis Debonair , Charls the bald of France , the Great Evan Vasilowick of Muscovia , Don Pedro of Castile , and others ; these are monsters , not men , whodesign every minute for mischief to all that they think disaffected to them . As did the forementioned Cardinall , of whom one saith , Ainsi non seulement la Royne Mere du Roy , matis tout les grands du Royaume sont criminels , pour rendre le Cardinal innocent Tout ainsi que sur les ruines de S. M. & de la plus grande partie des Princes de France , il a basli sa fortune , il faut aussi qu'on fonde sa gloire sue le des-honneur de tout ceux que'il a persecuté , who refuse nothing which accomodates their ends . I have it from Lottinus a man well versed in this trade , Nullam quidem tantum est vitium quod non tolerabile aliquando existimetur , & pro minùs malo accipiatur , ita suadente rerum statu & semper sive occasione , que quidem inconficiendo quolibet negotio ; utramque , quod dicitur paginam implet . No wonder then the death-beds of Statesmen wrings from them great pennances , while they bemoan with Henry the fift of this Land , that they have wonne the courtesies of mens knees , with the loss of many mens heads , nay of their own souls . The confessions of two eminent in their times are very remarkable ; One Cardinall Woolsey , whom Charls the fift called the butchers curr , that had worryed the fairest Buck in Christendom : And was so great as never any man before him , a subject , was in this land ; ruled all , knew all , enjoied all that heart could wish , yet lived to see himself accused of Treason , seized upon , forsaken of his friends ; insomuch that he cried out bemoaningly , If I had served God as diligently as I have done the King , he would not have given me over in my gray hairs ; but it is the just reward that I must receive for the diligent pains and study that I have had to do him service , not regarding my service to God , but only to satisfie his pleasure . Thus the Cardinall . There is a second , a man of great experience and business , S r Thomas Randolph , who had been thrice Embassadour to the Peers in Scotland , thrice to John Basilides Emperour of Russia , thrice to Queen Mary of Scotland after her return from Frrnce , seven times to James the sixth of Scotland , once to Charls the ninth , once to Henry the third of France ; yet this Gentleman writing a letter to Secretary Walsingham a little before his death , mentions how fit and necessaay it was , that one ( meaning Walsingham ) should leave off the tricks of a Secretary , and the other ( meaning himself ) of an Embassadour , and employ their time before their death , in repentance for the sinne of their life : which occasions my mention of a passage in S t Germaine , where comparing the death of the Queen-Mother with the Cardinall her enemy , he sayes here was the difference que nostre Princesse a acheueé la fienne en Royne Tres Chrictienne & que son per sequuteur cest retire eu homme politique . So true is that of the Emperour Otho , I had rather be Mucius , Decius , Regulus , or any other worthy and unwanting private Citizen of Rome , then Marius , or Cinna , or Sylla , or any of the other most potent men of that Commonwealth . The consideration of this presses hard upon all men to do good while they have opportunity ; all things here are casuall , no man knows what a day may bring forth . 'T is a true note of Causabon , Dies hora , momentum , evertendis dominationibus sufficit quae Adamantinis credebatur radicibus esse fundatae . Therefore wisedom layes up against an evil day , ( versa rota fortunae , ante vesperum potest esse miserimus , ) looks at nothing so much as what is the most reall and catholique good . All Christians are to serve God , and their relations in their sphere , and according to their proportion ; but Princes and Governours chiefly are concerned to do worthily , their families , their fames are at stake , yea their subjects weal or woe is moulded according to their care or neglect : Is it not a happy thing to rule and live so as to deserve Inscriptions on our Monuments as Constantine had , Restitutor humani generis , propagator imperii , ditionisque Romanae , & fundator eternae securitatis , as Claudius had , Cujus vita probitas omnia quae in Republica gessit tantam posteris famam dedere , ut Senatus Populusque Romanus , novis eam honoribus post mortèm affecerit . It was a Princely vertue in a vicious man Galba , Veterum morem obstinatissimè retinet ; and he deserves the top step of the ascent of honour , who , dum privatus fuit major privato visus , as Tacitus says of one : They have too narrow souls for Soveraignty , who think ought worthy their endeavour , but piety and power , and preserve those darlings by any thing but Justice ; which Severus said was dearer to him then kindreds and alliances . Justice is the great basis of Government ; as it forbids Governours to be mock-shews , sorting the Purple robe with the Reed ( no emblem either of state or might , ) so it presents as amiable moderation ; ( Aureliane clementer te age , si vis vincere , was the Philosophers speech to Aurelian the Emperour ; ) calling for distinction between offences of infirmity , and malicious contrivance ; and awes from picking quarrels upon words and trifles , and on grounds which may as well not be taken notice of , as remembred : It was no inconspicuous vertue of Alexander Severus before-named ; who sent no man sad from him , gave access to the meanest , expressed affability to all , yet with success enough man aged his affairs : nor have Princes shewed themselves wiser in any thing , then by giving fair termes to enemies , rather then either to hazzard successes ; or wast their own dominions to obtain victory . Dioclesian said not amiss when he answered , That bounty and mercy were the proper qualifications of Princes , and where these are not , Ducem esse debuisse non principem . Philip the second of Spain , none of the most vertuous Princes , but fouly stained in glory , yet had this fore-thought to declare in the case of the Netherlands ; That it should be lawfull for any that would not embrace the Romane Religion , to depart from thence whethersoever they would , or else to sell their estates , or to receive the profits of them whereever they were . And not many years after he gave liberty to the Mahumetan Moors of Spain amounting to divers thousands , to depars freely thence , into any province of Africa , there to enjoy freedom from the bloody Inquisitors ; and with his own shipping conveyed many of them safe into France , thorow which by the gracious permiffion of H. the Great , they had safe and free passage . Charls the ninth of France , did by his Agents earnestly solicit Lewes de Clermont Prince of Conde , and Jasper de Coligni Earl of Castilion , Admiral of France , being chief directors and commanders of the Protestants affairs , to depart France with the rest of the Religion , and that they might begin a Plantation in the Island of Florida in America , he not only gave leave to the first Expedition , which was undertaken by In o Ribald in Ann o 1562. but also at the Admirals intreaty did very largely contribute to the second Navigation , which was entred upon by Landover and other Protestants . And were there no other motive to moderation then that of the Apostle , The Lord is at hand , it were enough ; a cogent argument to Christians ; As if the Apostle had thus said ; Manage power wisely , use advantages warily , be thrifty Stewards of your talents while ye are in office , the audit day is neer , God is entring on his circuit to enquire how his Miuisters have discharged their trust : He will have no pity on that servant , who when he had his fellow-servant on his knee beging pardon for his sake , refused him . It is a shrewd brand of ignobleness in the Counsel of H. 8. who when they had , as they thought , the good Archbishop Cranmer on the hip , and that he was accused of demerit against the State , suffered him to stand without doors among the Lacquies and serving-men for the space of half an hour . Brave spirits pity , not rejoyce over the ruins of their betters ; 't is good for every one to remember , the measure we mete to others will be measured to us again , therefore let your moderation be known unto all men . This also calls upon men in Rule , to remember Posterity by imitating elder Christians , in raising , supporting and adding to things of publike and lasting piety , and unquestioned charity . In this sense that of the Apostle is very pressing . To do good and distribute forget not , for with such sacrifices God is well pleased : In this methinks 't is good to begin with God , and to remember what he increpates Hag. 1. 4. Is it time for you to dwell in your seiled houses , and to let this house ●ye waste ? M r Ca●vin notes well upon these words , That much time had pass'd , and now God had given them peace , he expected that they should not lye still , but build his house ; but ( saith he ) the Jews were so indulgent to their private advantages , to their ease and delight , that they thought the worship of God not worth looking after , so they had sacrifices and an Altar , it mattered not where or what the place be in which they serv'd God : This was the cause that the Prophet had command from God so tartly to reprove them . And truly the good man comes home to us ; Nuuc , saith he ; quis gratis accendit Dei altare , &c. Who amongst us takes care of Gods Altar ? every one looks after his advantage , in the mean time the Interest of God suffers , no zeal for , no care of God ; yea , what 's worst of all , multi lucrum captant ex evangelio , perinde ac si ars esset quaestuosa , that is , Many drive a subtle and gainfull way of Religion , making it serve their turns , and speak their language ; Thus he . Much more pure and daefecated was Christianity in those ages ( which many amongst us called blind ) but their deeds shew otherwise : Then Churches and Chappels , Houses ( in their intent ) for Religion and the honour of God , were erected and liberally provided for , by their care and charity to the worlds end : For my part I must judg faith by works , and if living charity appear , I will not judg that a dead faith which moved it ; they must have somewhat to say in extenuation of other mens charities , who never mean to be renowned by any of their own . Famous Wickliff magnifies the bounty of Princes to the Church , but he blames highly , the rapines and damages done to them by unworthy Popes and particular Interests . Farre is it from any sober mind , to censure those who not only appropriated the Tenth to God , but endowed him with all ( in a kinde ) tbat they did possesse , who cloathed naked Christ ( with reverence be it written ) in their best vests , and never thought themselves richer then when they had expended all they had to puchase him a rich seat , and prepare for him a goodly retinue , at whose Tables he in his Members fed , and by whose bounty their necessities were supplied , It is a sure fign of devout times , when Churches have their reverence and decent attire as well as Courts of State and Law , when the Rights of God and Religion are inviolate as well as those of men ; For as a Right Reverend Father of our Church long ago published , The two Estates Civil and Ecclesiastical make the main angle in every Government : God himselfe hath severed them , and made these two to meet in one , not one to malign and consume the other ; And the happy combining of these two is the strength of the head and of the whole building ; If it bear but upon one of them , it will certainly decay ; It did so in Sauls time , he little regarded the Ark , and lesse the Priests ; David saw Sauls error , and in this Psal . 75. 3. where he sings ne perdas to a Commonwealth , promiseth to have equal care of both Piliars , and to uphold them both . Thus the Bishop . It was reckoned also a sign of calm times and to the praise of Government , when publike buildings were raised , and decayes provided against . Vespasian is commended for a brave Prince , in that he gave liberty & encouragement to build , in those wast places of Rome , which fire and sword had deformed ; and at his own charge repaired the Capitoll , the Temple of Peace , and the Monument of Claudius , yea in all places of the Roman Dominion , erected some Trophie of publique use and Ornament , and Paulus Diaconus tels us , that as Emperours have been good or bad , so have publique buildings been either preserved or neglected ; And Guevaera asserts it the duty of good Governours not only to exterminate vices their Countreys , but also to adorn them with famous structures , a token that they are good Fathers of their people , who by their liberality to posterity declare the duty of a noble Prince to extend to the weal of Government first , and next to his own preservation by it ; Octavius might well justifie himself no unprofitable Shepherd ; When in his Reign Rome had changed her russet for purple ; In stead of clay become marble , and Trajan deservedly hath the honour of Dions pen , while he writes both in times of Peace and War ; He was a most eminent builder and repairer of High-waies , Gates , Watercourses , Guilds , to accomplish which his way was only that of vertue , He shed no mans bloud by the gain of whose estate he might defray his expence , ( for he was naturally what a Prince should be ) magnifique , and of a great soul , he envied , he ruined no man , but encreased the honour and dignity of worthy persons . And it is no lesse a note of Religious times and Princes ; When rescue is made of Houses of God in possessions of men , and when those that are ruined may own Powers their benefactors . Solomon the wisest of Princes was a Temple-Builder , and those glorious ones whom God will own for his and blesse as his , are described ; Not to be transformers of Churches into Barns and Stables , Nor demolishers of Houses fit for mens habitation , but such as shall build the old waste places , such as raise up the foundations of many generations , such as shall be called ( not in complement but justly ) the Repairer of the breach , the restorer of paths to dwell in , Isa . 58. 12. In Psal . 74. 5. a man was famous according as he had lifted up Axes upon the thick Trees , but now ( saith the Psalmist v. 6. ) they brke down the carved work thereof with Axes and Hammers , &c. And I am of the Opinion , That man which dares prophane any thing that relatively is Gods , though at greatest distance , hath some more then ordinary tincture of Atheism in him , and durst he , he would , and when he sees time he will shew it : Julian derided Churches and Priests , and not long after blasphemed Christ himself ; For our Lord who ( by an Heroique Act ) cast out buyers and sellers out of the Temple , will not approve those who buy and sell Temples : If he permitted not sellers of Doves in the Temple , though it was very opportune for the Sacrificers , then not those who sell the Temple in Sacrifice to other ends then those of Religion , which buys to dedicate , not sels what is dedicated to God. There is somewhat sacred in places consecrated to God , even by the light of nature , for the Heathens who had no revelation held it so , which made them avoid all injurious carriages to places of divine designment ; As they thought no wealth more thriftily expended then that which was laid out either in Purchase of ground on which , or in building and adding to places built and dedicated to their gods , so did they highly reproach all outrage on those places or on any thing that related to them . Therefore they acknowledged Temples sacred , and punished most severely those that did violence to them . In the Law of the twelve Tables , 'T is said , Let him that steals away any holy thing , or dedicated to a holy use , be punished as a Parricide : And the Aethiopians had a Law , that If any were convinced of that Crime amongst them , there was a Potion given him to drink made of compound Poyson , which they had no sooner drank off but they rid themselves of their lives , as conceiving they were stung with all kinde of Serpents . S t Augustine tels us , that when the City of Rome was sacked by the Goths and the barbarous Nations , Omnis humanitatis expertes , ad caedem alias natae , yet they did not only spare the Temples and Churches , sed etiam Ethnicis & omnibus promiscué qui ad Christianorum Templa confugissent ; Yea , so far were they proceeded in adoration of them , that they thought the ground on which they stood , holy ; though the building were erased , and the use interdicted , which is affirmed by Trajan , whom Pliny brings in averring , Licet aedes collapsa sit Religio ejus occupavit locum , therefore is it that I reade of no religious or civil man , much lesse Christian , ever allowing himself or others in the demolition or expilation of any place or thing devoted to God , but exploding it as that which he abominates and dare not practise nor approve of , when and by whomsoever practised . Learned Bucer hath a Chapter which he entitles , De restituendis Ecclesiarum Ceremonijs & sanctificatione Templorum , and therein he hath this further passage , Templa vocari in Scripturis Domus Dei & domus Oratinis atque hinc agnoscere , quam horrendam ij faciunt divinae Majestati contumeliam , qui templa domini habent pro deambulacris , locisque tam prophanis ut in illis quaevis impura & prophana cum similibus , suis garrient & pertractent . I reade indeed of a Sicilian King , that to inlarge his Palace pulled down an old Temple , but the good Emperour Marc. Anton. was much offended at this fact , calling it a beastly and lewd action , not to be spoken of without shame , protesting it was a matter of wonder to him , and of scandal , not only to the whole City , but to the sacred Senate ; And Stories tell us of gripple men that have made the things of God their prey , and suffered highly for their insolence : Xerxes sent 4000 men to destroy the Delphique Temple , and bring away the precious things that there were , but his whole Army was destroied by Thunder and Lightning from Heaven , Caepio the Roman Consul ransacked the Church of Tholouse , but the Historian tels us , That all that fingred the gold thence taken , lived and died miserably ; Marcus Crassus after he had taken 2000 Talents of Gold out of the Temple of Jerusalem which Pompey left there , was no sooner past over the River Euphrates but his whole Army was routed by the Parthians , and part of the gold which he caused to be carried out of the Temple , was melted , and powred into his mouth after he was slain , with these words , Now surfet of Gold after thy Death , wherewith thou couldest never be satisfied all thy life long . The Japyges thought to be the Cretians , grew so wanton and proud of their successes , that they despised the gods , brake down their Images , and destroied their Temples , as things needlesse and superfluous , but at last they were slain by brazen Bals of fire from heaven : Herod hearing that vast Summes of money were laid up for safety in the Temple , and hid in the Sepulchre of David , sent men of war to rifle the place , who in digging as they came near the Coffins of David and Solomon , were destroied by a fire that brake out of the Cave , and burnt them to ashes . There are many other parallel Stories , not onely of Belshazzar , Leo Copronymus , Julian of the East , Felix , but also of Rotman , Knipperdoling , Muncer , Phifer , and others of later times . And truly as S t Augustine complains of the Donatists , that they in their outrages exceeded the very heathens , whose cruelties to theirs were mercies , so may the Church say , the nearer the Church , the farther from God in goodnesse : How little is God beholding to men when they keep up houses for their Habitations , and Rooms they use properly , but suffer Churches to fall down , or abuse some of them to other uses then they were designed for . How much was Dioclesian discommended , who contested for the priviledges of his Palace , but cared not what became of the places dedicated to God ; And Nero who as much as in him lay , butchered Christianity , decried not only the Ordinances , but the Feasts and Solemnities of the Religion , yet then institutes his Juvenalia , Feasts in memory of his beard then first cut ; and to make the folly more pompous , the hairs of it ( forfooth ) must be put into a case of gold , and be consecrated to Jupiter ; Aelia Catula , an old noble Matron , aged 80 years , dances for triumph , and those that do least , make merry by singing and dancing . It is no sign of great piety , when men are bold onely upon the things of God. When the World was under the power of Arians , Church-plate and Treasure was seized upon , and no place will serve the Tyrant Julian to piss against , but the Communion Table ; nay , when the bounty of a Constantine and Constantius shall be scoffed at by an Apostate Foelix in these words , See how sumptuously the son of Mary is served . And no less impiety is it to rifle from the Church-man his maintenance , which some of late endeavoured , but God brought their counsels to nought , and their devices to none effect . And just it was with God to scatter and disappoint them , qui quaerunt mercedem Phineae sed operantur opera Zimri , that is , who cry up Christ , and cry down his Servitors , who ought to live upon his Patrimony , and who are to receive maintenance from the Altar which they tend : yea and exclame against Magistrates who ought and do defend them . There is no need to dispute the right of Tythes qua Maintenance The Christian Church in her purer times , ever held Ministers worthy of maintenance , and of double honour for their Calling sake , and feared much to detain or curtail their dues , or to alter the species and manner of conveying it to them . Those Christians were ever carefull to give the labourer his hyre , and to minister temporals to such as to them imparted spirituals . And therefore till the time of H. 8. I finde no Act of Parliament in this Nation , that prescribes punishment for non-payment of Tythes , the people held it so right a due to the Church-man , that they made no scruple of it , but if they failed , the Law-spirituall punished them by pennance ; which they dreaded so much , that they did seldom incurre it : After that H. 8. had broke with the Pope , and brought the Church-man under his lash , then every one trampled upon the conquer'd worm : The Parliament of the 27 th of his Raign seeing the inconvenience , declared by Statute their judgment of such as refuse payment of Tythes . And so they hold to this day , and I hope ever will : for Caesar ought to be a sonne of the Church , Christ only is Lord and Master of it : And let carnall and worldly spirits sleight the Church and her servitors , yet they will in conclusion finde , that whensoever the Churches last day shall be at hand , the evening thereof will bring in the States ruin and dissolution : So true is that of the Wiseman , He that robbeth his father and mother , and saith it is no transgression , the same is the companion of a destroyer . I know there are many who think sacriledg no sinne , and the absorption of Tythes no sacriledg , the Clergyman amongst those supernumeraries that ought to be disbanded ; and they would laugh to see Powers as dreadfull to the Clergy , as was King John , who accounted all spirituall m●n his enemies , and was himself an enemy to them : Or such times as that after when the Lord Chief-Justice declared openly , Yee sirs that be Attorneys of my Lords the Archbishops , Bishops , &c. and all other the Clergy , declare unto your Masters and tell them , that from henceforth there shall no Justice be done them in the Kings Courts , for any manner of thing , although never so heynous wrong be done to them ; but Justice shall be had against them , to every one that will complain and require to have it : There are some I fear , who would make the portion of God , not Benjamins , a worthy portion ; but an Ishmaels , an Issacars porton , a mean and worthless trifle ; so good Patriots they are , that they would dare God to curse the Nation as he did the Jews in Mal. 3. for exceeding the deeds of the wicked , in robbing their God , by taking away Tythes and Offerings , ver . 8 , and 9. On which words Calvin presents God speaking thus to the Jews ; Compass ye the whole world , go into the most barbarous nests of the Heathens , ye shall finde no such gross licentiousness as is amongst you : For those Nations barely by the light of nature , give reverence to their gods , and abhor to take sacrilegiously what is devoted to them : But ye make no matter of defrauding me of what is mine own , Am I inferiour to Idols ? is my prerogative less dear to you , then that of false gods to those Nations ? Such it is plain there are , but blessed be God , I hope they will never prevail . For if Pharaohs divinity , and Josephs true piety abhorred to sell the Priests Lands , God forbid that either their Lands or Tythes should be alienated in days that give themselves the name of Reformation . And it ought seriously to be weighed by men in Power , that besides the comeliness and piety of supporting those that are Gods messengers , whose errand is to save our souls , and the gratitude that ought to be expressed towards them , that are our instructors in good letters ( as generally Clergy-men are ) and the greatest Masters of Art : there is much worldly wisdom evidenced in countenancing the Clergy ; Magistrates are in nothing more self-preserving , then while they make the Ministry of their party , and by protection of them conjure them their humble servants in all wayes of honour and honesty . And I think that if search be made in stories ; the Clergy , one time with another , have been as faithfull and forward in all worthy enterprises both of counsell and action as any ; which made Charls the Great ( no mean politician ) take their counsell and consent in all his warres and expeditions . I do not say but that the spirituality may sometimes oppose the civil authority , and employ their interests as they did in Henry the second of France his time for the Pope against him . Prudence in that case may hinder such unkindness , and punish it , by preventing addition of what is combustible ; State Injunctious ought to repress causes of disturbance in any ; for Magistrates must not bear the sword in vain ; but when the Church-man is quiet , and minds his ministration , when he meddles with no secular things , any further then they entrench upon Gods peculiar , and exalt themselves against what is called God , then to be narrow towards him , is no argument of Christian Ingenuity . I know there also are some , who think the Clergy of this Nation hardly dealt with , when not only their preferments Ecclesiasticall , but their Votes in Convocations and Synods contemporary with Parliaments , and wontedly convened as they , are also not allowed them : Nor hath their body ( which for number and nature is very considerable , ) any suffragans in the lay Counsels of the Nation , Levi hath none of this inheritance among their brethren . I confess I am one that think somewhat of this unreasonable , especially since they are subjects , considerable both for number and quality . But I would humbly beseech the Ministry to adore Gods Justice in this case . Some of them looked out false burthens and causes of banishment , as the phrase is Lament . 2. 14. Now all they can expect , is food convenient for them , and the Crown of glory hereafter prepared for them . I wish them the patience of Saints , and the victory of Martyrs . It will become none of them to use Luthers Cedo nulli , but holy Bishop Jewels couragious sobriety : I deny my living , I deny mine estimation , I deny my Name , I deny my self , but the faith of Christ and truth of God I cannot deny : And when God sees this temper in our Prophets , he will return , make up their breaches , and heal their wounds ; yea he will perswade Powers to set the Ark in its proper place , and referre debates in Religion to religious and learned men ; Pontifices religionis sunt judices legis Senatores , was a Maxime of the Heathens : For as a noble wit said in Parliament , Was it ever seen that Laymen should determine upon doctrinall points of Divinity , Divines alone excluded ? Theologie is not so low , so facile a trade ; Let us maintain the Doctrines that are established ; to declare new , is not fit for our Assembly . So he . And till it come to pass , that what concerns Religion , be considered by grave Bishops and Presbyters , who in full convocation propose things orderly , debate them scholastically , moderate them candidly , and report their conclusions to Superiours faithfully , I expect no peace in the Church , no nor unity in the civil body ; we shall still be Ismeals to each other , every ones hand will be against his neighbour ; The hur● of the daughter of our people will be healed slightly ; though some may cry peace , peace , there will be no peace , as it follows , c. 8. v. 11. For matters of Religion are tender things and to be handled gently ; proper for the debates of an Vsher , a Hall , a Morton , a Bromrigg's chayr , environed with Learned and Reverend Assessors , the choice of the Order of Presbyters ; These well countenanced , may by Gods blessing , bring Church-confusion into form ; from other then such as these , I look for nothing but wander ; Nor do I expect this Nation will long be renowned for Learning , unless not only those poor encouragements that yet continue , but greater advantages be setled as rewards of Learning . Lectius . and Spanhemius both professors at Geneva , much admire our Church-Honour and Orde , praying the continuance of it , as that which by its liberall encouragement of Learning , highly contributes to the multiplication of Truths-Champions ; and good men , they may well commend it , from the sad consequence they finde of the contrary in their own countrey and other Nations ; whenas so grand a Master among them as Calvin , was ( for ought appears ) kept so short , that all the gains of his life , left not ( Books and all ) at his death , above 40 lb sterling : Sure God was his Library , as the Ravens were Elijahs purveyors , a Miracle alike in both . Mine humble prayer therefore to our Governours is , that they would consider the Church-man , and think how better to encourage Learned men . If in the Military trade were no Offices of Command , which have great pay annexed to them , who would covet to be more then ordinarily expert ? who would venture life if his General had not power to reward him ? In State-affairs who spends his whole life and pains , where places of Honour and Trust are not to be obtained ? Men that have great spirits , love ( as S r John Perot said of S r Christopher Hatton ) to come to Court in Masks , and to dance Galliards by which they c●per to their after-greatness . Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof ? who maketh an experiment , and carrieth not away the secret and advantage of it ? only in Church-service there must be no advance , be the parts and pains never so eminent . Alas they see little , that see not Ministers men as well as others , that know them not to have Children and Families which require supplies , as other mens do ; that finde not amongst them many pregnant wits and great spirits , that with the Marigold love the warm beams of power , and glitter best in the Sun-shine of favour ; whom a sprig from the plume of Royalty much becomes and enlivens . In the firmament all the Starres are , yet are not all of a use and magnitude , their influence is according to their composition , situation , and the nature of the subjects under their dominion . So in the Church , all Ministers are not all of one size , or one way gifted , yet all usefull in their orb , shining bright when set in the proper candlesticks of their own genius and naturall addiction . In the Souldiery , some are excellent for the field , others for siedges , some for designs , others for action , some for horse conduct , others for foot ▪ some desperate in single service , others with company ; excellent Generals proportion to every one that command in which they are best versed . The Lawyer is no less renowned that forms a Pleading skilfully , that draws a Deed advisedly , that resolves a Case maturely , then he that pleads aptly , and evidenceth to a Jury eunningly : In the Court , he is as well thought fit to be employed in negotiations with forraign States , that speaks little , but thinks more , plodding through the touch marches of his intrust , as he to be sent on courtly congies , and politick Ceremonies ; who hath no parts more noble ▪ then to know the rule of civility , and after what rate the exchange of ceremonies are ? and in what garb State-ministers are to be treated and accosted . The Phisitian that is skilfull in Anotomy , and knows the severall vitiosities and atrophies that the body is subject to and decayed by , is as much admired , as he that casts an Urine well , and concludes by the Symptoms and his experience what a disease is , and after writes ▪ with quickness a recipe to cure it . In Mechanique Arts , all are not alike excellent ; some masons excell for water-work , others for land : Some smiths are rare for locks , others at Barrs , and Guns , and Instruments of Battery : Some gardiners have rare faculty in improving flowers ; others no less in ordering plants and trees : Shall we count no man a complete mariner , but he that with S r Francis Drake hath compassed the world . A good Pilot is eldest brother to the greatest Captain ; and he that can keep his Vessel from the Bishop and his Clerks ▪ not less an arts-man , then be that goes a greater voyage . If in these Cases , diversities of gifts are honoured and rewarded , why not in ●ee Church-man , where there are as great variety as in any Artist . whatsoever ? If gifts are from God , why are we partiall , and esteem no gift but that of the Tongue ; if a man have Language to preach nimbly , and pray fluently , hee 's presently qualified ; as if God did , or men ought to choose Preachers as they do Parrots by their l●quacity : If all talents are from God , then to be valued by us , as bestowed by him for the Churches use . If the Bishop of great years , and having a great charge , the care of his Diocess ( and performing that conscientiously and vigilantly according to his duty both by the sacred and Canonick Laws ) do not preach constantly , or but seldom , then the cry is , Belly-gods , idle : truly I am positive a Bishop ought to have a gift of Preaching , and to use that gift as frequently as he may , and mostly where in his Diocess there is greatest want , and the constanter and abler our Bishops were in this kind , the greater hath been their renown , and the more the shame of those that reproach them ; yet is not preaching the sole work of a Bishop , he must take account of errors in Doctrine and manners , which many have found when they have worthily discharged it , a great burthen : If God hath set in his Church Governments , 't is a labour which equals any other : If there be any man not so extraordinarily gifted to a quick preaching as are others , though he be vir omnium horaiu● ▪ a Cock for his early rising to his study , an Apollos ; mighty in argum●nt and writing , an universall Languager , that can read all Originals , and usefully impart them ; yet this gift of God must brand them to a reprobation : As if there were not gain-sayers to be provided against , and Hereticks to be silenced by disputation , as well as affections to be warmed and understandings to be informed by frequent preachings . Our Religion hath gained much by books of Dispute against the Romanists , as well as by preaching practicall Doctrine . O but they say , Let every one be provided for properly : I say so too : But how ? but where ? mens geniuses are directed by God when they tend to vertuous studies , and the door is open to all that come and are fit for admission into the Ministry . If there be a gracious heart and a competency of Learning , who can forbid marriage to his Order . And when men are in a function must they not live by it ? If all preferments in the Church are reduced to Tythes , all Ministers must to preaching , or rest unpreferred , perhaps starve . While there were preferments and other courses of support , many whose talents were to more knotty studies , turned that way , and performed such parts of service as they themselves were best qualified for , the rest by deputies ; ( and they had been sufficient ones ) for ought I know the Church might have fared never the worse , the spirit of Eliah is sometimes doubled upon Elisha . But now those helps are removed and alienated , what shall those usefully gifted men do : Put some of them are out of their Livings and Fellowships . Qualified many people say they are not to the work of the Ministry ; truly I think they are not fit for those heavy ears , which deserve not the alarums of silver trumpets . What then ? Must they be exposed to shame , and want , and servitude ? God forbid these vessels of gold , which the liberality of Heaven gave in Ornament to this Church should be transplanted , and others of no nobler mettle be set in room of them : I know there are some Oaks , nay a great many , blessed be God , who have kept their stations in this great fall of Church-timber , who are very able master-builders , and highly deserve of the Church of God ; these cannot but grieve to see , when those that fed delicately are desolate in the streets , they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghils , Lam. 4. 5. to hear the bels of Aaron in such discord : yea they must needs lament , to see that the fire of destruction , rather then that of purifying , hath passed upon their brethren of the Clergy , many of which were holy and good men though of different judgments . My prayer to God is , that our Governours may consider the great scandall that Religion is under , while by our Indignities to the Clergy , that are not all of the current opinion , we not only turn a base calumny of our Jesuited countreyman Campion into a Prophecy ; but also help to fulfill it ( Nihil putidius clero Anglicano , saith he , ) What a Jubilee doth this cause to our adversaries , when they see the Horsmen of our Israel dismounted , and the Chariot of Government overthrown , at least disordered ; and our garments of beauty like a beggars vest , patched and clouted with shreds of all sorts and colours ; O what advantage do we give our adversaries , when our variances fill us fuller of animosity then holy zeal , which bright Sun is seldom in the souls firmament contemporary with the Moon of sensual passion : I wish that some would give way , and others not take the way of their brethren , but all endeavour to excell one another in humility . In moderateness : no mans humour is valuable with Church peace : they who will carry all with high hand , and not bear with their fellow Christians in lesser things , should consider the demeanour of their Lord Christ ; Ille servare docendo homines studuit , hi perdere armia satagebant , that is , in Scripture phrase , He came to do the will of his Father , and to bear the reproaches of sinners , when they must have their wills , or we no peace with their consents . It was an excellent spirit of that gallant Archbishop of Colen in Charls the fifth his time , and well were it if it were diffused amongst us ; for he ( good man ) when the Emperour resolved to put Prince Adolph . in his place , making great warlike and invasive preparations against his territories , which would not only have wasted them but the neighbouring countries , by which thousands of innocent people would suffer ; generously , to prevent that mischief , absolved his subjects from their Oaths , and resigned his right . If they that are eager to propogate their own tenents ▪ and cry up themselves for men extraordinarily illuminated , would think themselves less , and others more worthy then themselves , they would with Jonah , indure any danger and diminution , rather then imperill multitudes of souls : in this case that of the Poet is not true , Solàmen miseris socior habuisse doloris . But I hope God will perswade Lyons and Lambs to lye down together ; and use Learning and calm breeding as an instrument ( subservient to his grace ) for effecting here of ; for as the Poet said — Didicisse fideliter artes , Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros . This made elder Christians to their love one to another , adde a second expression of charity , con●isting in care of educating youth , and nourishing learned men in all Sciences , as their Tutors and Conductors . For as the best built Vessels will miscarry if they have not good Pilots , and able Steers-men , and the gainfullest Ports are lost , if the seasons of making them be not observed : so are the greatest wits confounded by want of method , and all their promised usefulness immerged in their misconduction . Charls the Great was a Prince of prudence and Royal Grandeur , aiming to raise pyramids of Renown to his Memory , and to be called the Patron of Learning , of him Mutius reports , That he endowed men of Science , and eminent Artists , with honorable pensions , and gave them personal respect . And in the Imperial Laws there are numerous Constitutions to this purpose . Yea Lupoidus de Babenberg tells us , that the old Germune Princes , and those Potestates of the Roman Empire , held themselves in honour most bound ( next the immediate service of God ) to encourage and disperse Learning thorowout their territories . And though I doubt not but mercy hath rewarded that Charity which is from them accepted , and there can be no addition to them by our Eulogium's , yet that their examples may animate others to do worthily , and rest renowned , as they , I shall enumerate such instances of charity as I judge pertinent to my purpose . For I hold it very uncomely , that such worth ( as was in a brave soul , the Jewel of his time , ) An Aurelian , who made the world Roman , learned and civil , should be concealed . It seems to be a monstrous ingratitude , that such a fautor of Learning as Maecenas , should have no Writer of his praise . If the Jews presented the Builder of a Synagogue amongst them , as worthy Christs compassion , I will be bold to tender noble Emperours , Christian Kings , Learned Popes , Puissant Princes , charitable Subjects , Founders of Schools of Learning , in all quarters of Christendome as worthy of due honour and mention . I mean not to mention those Asian Schools which we reade of in Eusebius and others , because I have elsewhere touched on them . Nor can it be expected , those vo●illating times could afford such liberall Charities , as since Peace and settlement hath blessed the world with ; those Academies were rude , because the times were barbarous ; but when Christianity became Epidemical , and Power was baptized into the Name of Christ , then Charity displayed her self this way : No Nation ▪ but has her Academies and Schools publick , besides their private Gramman-Schools . I f●●de about 20. Academies in Germany , one of which is that of Vienna , founded in An. 1239. by the Emperor Frederick the second , to the end , that he might leave to his son and successor Contrade , an orderly Empire abounding with learned men , and being environed wi●● heir . counsels b●●ght be invincible . In Italy twelve , of which Bononia is most ancient , founded by Theodo sius Junior , in Anno : 420. In the Charter whereof is this passage , If any one be so bold and haughty , injuriously to offend any Student going to or coming from this Vniversity , he shall be punished with death . In France 16. In the Netherlands 6. In Denmark and Poland 5. In Spain , Arragon , Casteele and Portuagall , abo●t . 16. All which owne for their Founders , men of Piety , Bounty , and Blood. Nor have our worthy Ancestors been remiss in this kinde ; for the two Sisters ; whose milky breasts have nourished such multitudes of learned children , leave testimony from a learned man and a Forraigner , To have in them more commodities to encourage is 〈◊〉 men , then all the world besides : He that considers their great Revenues , august Stru●●ures , ample Priviledges , prudent Statutes , orderly Government , frequent Exercises , will confess that their Founders were wise and noble , that their improvement ought to be suteable , and so blessed be God it hath : What brave Princes they have educated , what noble Statesmen they have compleated , what renowned Church-men they have instructed , what able Countrey-Gentlemen they have accomplish'd , yea what Catholick-Artists have there studied ; the Nation , the World knows , and to the Nations honor owns ? Do not the foundations there perennate the name of their Founders ? are they not lasting Pedegrees of honor to their Families ? surely yes . We that are living ought to praise God for their bounty , and to mention them with gratitude , I will not repeat what elsewhere I mentioned ; onely know all men , that the Clergie have not been sparing in their bounty to our Universities , no nor have the Nobility and Gentry withdrawn their helping hand . By the noble Kings Edward the second and third was Kings College began and finished ; Elizabeth , Queen to Edw. the 4 th and Henry the 6 th , founded and inlarged Queens College ; Elizabe●h Countess of Clare , founded Clare Hall ; Margaret Countess of Richmond and Darby , stipended a Professor of Divinity , and added much to Christs and S t Johns College ; John Keyes founded Keyes College ; King Hen the 8 th , and his daughter Queen Mary , founded Trinity College ; and Frances Sydney Countesse of Sussex founded Sidney College ; and the last , but not the least , is Emanuel College , founded by Sir Walter Mildmay K t , Chancellor of the Exchequer , and one of the Privie Councel to Queen Elizabeth , of late and famous memory ▪ whose zeal to God in that glorious Work , hath been rewarded in the success of mens Studies there , and their usefulness after in the Church and State ; in the number of which , the grave and pious B● of Norwich yet , living deservedly is reckoned , and it ●●●ely had one , though not bred in it , yet Head of it , ( O mihi locum ▪ suavem ubi incipit occasio sio memorandi & nom●●andi suavissimi odor is virum , ) Dr Richard Holdisworth , a man of holy life , pure belief , matchless industry , profound speculation , fitted both for the Ghaire and Pulpit . But alas , he is dead , and it also must decay and come to a period ; But O Lord cause the sun that threatens its ruine never to arise ; may that day never come , wherein good men say , We have no pleasure in it ; let it ever yield faithfull and usefull persons both to Church and State ; let no son of violence come neer it ; peace be within its walls , and prosperity be to all its Members and B●●ne factors ; for it hath been a fruitfull Mother of many beauteous and admirable , virtuous and learned Children ; Quid faciam ? vocem pectori negare non valeo , amor ordinem nescit . Nor hath Oxford been without her number of Noble Benefactors ; Of the Clergy I say here nothing , because they are otherwhere remembred : Amongst the Laity , Baleol King of Scots whilehe was prsoner here founder of Baleol College ; S r William Peter Secretary to Edw. 6 th , augmenter of Exeter College : S r Thomas White Alderman of London , restorer and augmenter of S t Johns : D r Hugh Price Founder of Alban Hall : and M r Wadham Founder of Wadham College , are ( with all due veneration ) to be remembred : Nay I could wish , our emulation were to excell them , in this or some such kind of bounty ; Men live in a charity longer then in children , and obtain a Name better then those of sonnes and daughters ; but if we be too cold and chill to be provoked to do good , I pray God never to permit us to do evil ; if Learning be not advanced , let it never be injured by us : 'T was a brave speech of H. 8 th in the Parliament house Anno 37 Regni , If I contrary to your expectation , should suffer the Ministers of the Church to decay , or Learning which is so great as Jewel to be minished , or poor , or miserable , to be u●relitved ; you might say that I were no trusty friend to you , nor charitable to mine , even Christian , neither a lover to the publike wealth , nor yet one that feared God. And it is the glory of the Medicean family , that they have ever loved Learning , and cherished Learned men , for which they are noted to be blest with riches and honour above most houses fn Europe . Let men in place and powe● take heed , all they do to inoculate their Names into the stock and rolls of Royalty , amounts to nothink if they disoblige the Learned ; for though prowess and hardiness , diligence and wealth , are great advancements to glory , yet they are things perishable , and have no influence on succession ; when the Lyon is dead or disarm'd , then every body beards him , ( and Goliah deserves to be infulted upon , who defied , when in his array , and in the head of Philistims , both Israels God and Israels host : ) but he that hath been a bounteous and brave Prince , good in Office to Religion and Learning , may expect after his death to live in the eternity of Historians pens and Orators tongues , and have Encomiums like that of Leo the tenth ; Thou O Learned Leo , art the worlds darling ; all man-kind are enamoured with thee , as the restorer of peace , the determiner of warre , the establisher of safety , the calmer of strifes , the father of studies , and the fosterer of student , the great Patron of ingenuity . And for my part I almost think Cardinall Richilicu half recompenced for all the invectives against him , in that Epitaph the Schoo●s of Sorbon made upon him ; I le mention but part of it to avoid prolixity . Hic oriundus a Regibus aut pro Regibus , Superavit seipsum , major aliis & semper se minor , &c. And then concludes ; Though Richlieu be dead , yet his wisedem lives to move Europe ; yea he lives in the Schools of Sorbon , in which nothing dies , but hath immortality of fame : The knowledge of this hath so convinced great spirits , that they , next to the Gods , have been awed by nothing more then the fear of being disgusted by men of Learning ; Though Caesar made great changes in Rome , yet he not only dealt gently , but liberally with Learned men . Omnes medicinam Romae professores & liberalium artium doctores , quo libentius & ipsi urbem incol●rent , & caeteri appeterent , civitate donavit . There are other instances of the charity of Elder times , to poor of all sorts , whether of Noble houses decayed , or ingenious Callings antiquated , or the like , but I pass them by ; concluding , that no encouragement to Art answers those of Rewards and Honours : for as S r Edward Deering witily wrote , Great Rewards do beget great . Endeavours : and certainly when the Great Bason and Ewer are taken out of the Lottery , you shall have few adventurers for small plate and spoons only : If any man could cut the Moon all out into little Starres , although we might have still the same Moon , or as much in small peeces , yet we shall want both light influence . Thus much of the second Head , under which I reduced the glory of Elder Times , their Charity . I come , now to the last , The Policie of former times ; not that Policie of Circum vention , but of Government , by which Laws , honesty , property and civil order were immured . I do not propose any Scholasticall or nice stating of these severalities , under heads precisely to their nature , but so I rank them , as may give me method to write of , and the Reader some little delight to read them . As then the foundations of buildings are first to be well laid before the superstructure can go forward ; so in affairs of Government , the reason and method is univocall ; Laws are the supports of Government ; which made the Philosopher say , No Laws no Cities : Laws , are the boundaries of lust and lawlesness , Without them lust ( saith M r Pym ) will be a Law , Covetousness and Ambition will become Laws : Laws are as necessary to Polities , as Physitians to naturall bodies , and as Cyrus said well , They must needs be unjust , Who will not be obsequious to Laws , which are beneficiall to all ; and when they are just and lasting , equally respect all that are to be bound by them . It is the frailty of our nature to trespass upon lenity ; therefore wise men care not how severe Magistrates are when they are just , because they resolve not to provoke . Governours that are prudent , consider Laws under two regards , as initiall and constitutive , as subsidiary and establishing what is already well disposed ; for changes seldom advance peace , but multiply the care and insecurity of the changers ; to prevent which , Governours eye disorders at that distance , in which they are least dangerous , and put irons in them , ere they break prison to publick annoyance ; as an advised Physitian , who sees a disease in the matrix of ill humours , when ( as it were ) the materia ex qua is hardly massed , long before it be articulate and quick ; or as Apelles , who saw Protogenes his art in the carriage of his pensill but half a line : Laws , like nets ought to lye round , to compass all offenders : and those who ( being subjects ) hope by their greatness to be priviledged from the command of them , either meet with no Governours worthy their place , or no Laws worthy their Name : The generall end of Laws is Order , for all Laws are either mandative of duty , or tuitive of property , or remunerative of vertue , or punitive of vice , all which tend to Order , and Order is then rightly cared for , when to Superiors duty , to Equals love , to Inferiors pity , and to all Justice is given , and whereever these are in any sort omitted , either the Law is too short , or the Executioner too remisse . God as he is the first in Order and Dignity , so the great and Supream Law giver , when first he permitted mans prog up and down the world for a livelihood , he gave him his Credentials according to which he should negotiate , This was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the unwritten Law , graven by the finger of God in the Tables of Mans heart , though blurred by sinne , yet never so to be erased , but that it had power of accusing or condemning , so said the Apostle , for when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law , these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves , which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts , their conscience also bearing witnesse , and their thoughts accusing or excusing one another . What this radical Law was , and how farre it reached is somewhat above me to determine : But this is plain , that from the right use of this Law there is enough to make us know God , our selves , and our Neighbour , and to abhor injury to any of them . 'T is true , God explained this Law by superadded Laws which he gave his people the Jews , and according to the equity of which we Christians proceed , but he never superseded or nulled that Primitive Law ; But rather strengthens it by these latter . Though the fairest draught of this Law was that on the heart of Adam , yet the remains of that divine Art is admirable in the heart of every man , who from that is taught to love and fear God as the most excellent good , and to do every thing as in his sight , yea , not to do wickednesse because of the divine adversation to it . There are amongst the Learned those that specifie the heads of this Law written in the heart ; Our late deceased Selden out of the Rabbins reduces them to six heads , Idolatry , Blasphemy against God , Shedding of bloud , Incest , Theft , judiciall Proceedings , and they farther say , that after the Floud there was added a Seventh against eating of bloud . I purpose not to say any thing of this further then to shew the necessity of Laws to keep Nature in awe , and the great use of them ; For what Saint Chrysostome saith of Governours that say I of Laws , their right hand , If people had no Rulers and Magistrates , men would have lives lesse calm then wilde beasts do , and would not only snarl at but wholly devour one another . As God commended the use of Laws by his first compiling of them , so hath he principled man with dispositions desirous of and conformable to Laws ; No Family , no combination , no number of men but have their Laws , Customes , and usages according to which in matters of all natures they proceed ; If there be any Casus omissi , they consult about them , and make prudent provisions concerning them for the future . The Law of nature is the generall Law of mankinde ; A Law immutable hath been and ever will be what it was till it cease by dissolution ; What was to Adam a sin by the light of Nature , is no lesse a sinne to us by light of the same nature : To disobey our Creator , To forget reverence to our own selves , To do injury to those that live with us ; These and sundry such things are abusions to nature , and against the law of it . Upon this Text of Nature , Men in all ages have largely commented , and the severall Laws of Nations are as so many Pandects and multiform Cases upon the Institutions of God in nature , God hath given man understanding to proportion Government to the best advantage of civil society ; The Authority to rule is Gods , the frame of Government mens ; They at first order it as seems best to the advantage of them and their people . In all Governments there hath been great care to compile Laws with advice , and to execute them answerably ; Therefore the more innocent times and people resigned themselves and theirs to the pleasure and conduct of their Religious and holy men , or to such martiall spirits as yet were guided by them , and wholly rested on their sagacity for conduct : It was no vulgar policy to possesse people that Law-makers had colloquy with the gods in the contexture of their Laws , the nature of man by a voluntary and yet in a sort awed propension , believing best of that which came from the divine supervising : And indeed there were no Laws ever made or continued good , but such as have their patern from that lustre and equity which is in the divine Law , whether in pure Nature or in sacred writ ; For while Law-makers consulted with themselves and endeavoured to enter●ize their powers , and entail to their Families the glory of Soveraignties , they were apt to embase Laws by mixtures of injury , which lacquied to their Usurpations ; And while they had rewards and honours to bestow , wanted not Parafites to excite them thereto , and Orators to defend them , with pretended Reason for so doing ; But when they consulted with Right , Equity and Justice , and considered that to oppress others to right ones self was injury , and a plausible ground of the oppresseds conspiracy against their oppressors , and that they ought not to do as they would not be done by , then they betook themselves to equaller distributions , or to such designs of prudence as gave them honourable establishments by consent ; And so Volenti non sit injuria . Of all the Law-givers that I reade of none more absolute then Moses , yet none more ingenious , the nobility of his minde and the tendernesse of his conscience would not permit him to fix rule upon his Family , he left the dispose of it to God whose it was . There is a second much to be admired , It was Mycithus Servant to Anaxilaus Tyrant of the Rhegini , who had by his dying Master commended to him the Government of his Kingdom and Children ; But he carried himself so gently and justly all the time of his Viceroyship , That the people thought themselves governed by a person neither unmeet for rule , nor too mean for the place ; And when his Regency grew out by the full age of his masters children , he resigned his power to them , and therewith the riches he had accumulated , accounting himself only their Steward , and contented himself , parvo viatico , living at Olympia to old age , very privately , but with great respect and serenity ; A great temptation to be other then he was , but a greater vertue to be as he was . These two ( I say ) denied themselves much , and were excellent Rulers , but for the most part Law-givers have done otherwise , Fuerunt bona principia quod oppressam voluit defendere civitatem , mali Eventus quod superatis dominis & ducibus savis graviùs ipse civitatem quassavit , qui se publicae calamitatis fore promiserat defensorem . And many times in so doing not amisse ; For where no injury is done who so fit for Government as those who know the Rule of Government , and will use what means conduceth to the Preservation of Government against all who either by fraud endeavour to subvert , ot by hostility to vanquish it as a Subject to their Levelling Triumphs . Of all the Heathen Worthies none more famous for their Laws then Lycurgus among the Greeks , and Numa in the Romane Common-wealth , the former wrote his Laws in bloud , having the Sergeants of Death attending those that violated them , and but requisite it was he should so do who had fierce and fallacious Greeks to deal with : where Sampsons of destruction are there must be cords of Adamant to keep them under with : The latter was so milde , that next to the care of the gods , for he was ( Religion● deditissimus ) he thought nothing more precious then perswasion or compulsive on men then a convicting moderation ; And so often as I reade of his politique Laws , I am amazed to think how he that never did any warlike thing , or ever had any powred force about him , should do and settle as he did , a●d never be opposed in it ; But then was then , government as an ordinance of the gods was honoured , and men were not so hardy to provoke De●ties , but zealous by all means they could to appease them , and preserve them tutolar of them ; This made Government easie , and Laws fewer in number and lesse tart in their nature . The adaptation of Laws to persons and times , explorates notably the counsel of Law-makers . All Nations are not to be indulged or prohibited alike , nor at all times , nor in all methods and waies ; As in language and habit so in conversation , Governours are in policy to comply somewhat with their Subjects ; Rattles please children , and small concessions people , who if enraged will rest satisfied with nothing beneath their own will , and perhaps their Magistrates ruine , but yet that is sometimes to be withstood when they ask what is neither fit for the Magistrate to grant or them to have . Of all Laws those of Justinians methodizing commonly called the Civil Laws or Laws of Nations , are the largest for extent , as the Common Laws of England are the most free in their concessions and indulgence ; Of the first to say much is needlesse , there are infiuity of Volumes in commendation of them : Indeed the peace and communicat●e sociablenesse of one Nation with another , the stability of their pacts and amities , the bounds of mine and thine so justly kept , are Testimonies more then can be refuted : somewhat then of the chief heads of the goodnesse of ancient Laws and Canons . 1. They established Propriety , and declared the rule of Justice , not only between man and man , Nation and Natio , but also between Subject and Soveraign , yea , in a sort betwixt God and Man. By Laws Canonique and Civil were Religious men and Religious things set apart continued and preserved to Religious uses . Had it not been for good Magistrates such as Constantine , Theodosius , and later as worthy ; There had been a seisure of all the Houses of God in the world to the use of Prophanesse , Priests might have wandred in Wildernesses , Sabbaths have given way to Wakes , Sermons to Interludes , Sacraments to Bacchanalian Feasts . Had it not been for Laws the strongest had been the best , and the wickedest the wisest man , for such sometimes thrive most : The beggar would have praied no dole at the rich mans gate , Nor the rich man have had out of which to bestow an alms , nor yet to relieve himself : Had it not been for Laws vices would have been vertues and vertues have heard the reproach of pusillanimity . Were not Laws , small offences would be beneath and great above punishment ; Nay , what could be an offence when there was no rule against which it was an offence ? It were well for Nero and his Sect of monsters if there were neither Clerk to recor nor Law to bound their follies : But it is to the good of humane society , that there is this restraint upon exorbitancy , and this encouragement to good and order . The Ancients were very zealously addicted to their Laws and Customes , not more out of superstition then policy , they knew that uno dato absurdo , mille sequuntur , therefore when they saw mischief bold and menacing , they gave it , if not the ill welcome of a sturdy allay , yet of a taunt and scornfull invective , sometimes the cry is fures privatorum furtorum in nervo atque in compedibus vitam agunt , Fures publici auro atque purpurâ , sacrilegia minuta puniurtur magna in triumphis feruntur , and when vertues declined , and outrages plaied their prize , but for triall of activity , yet were they punished with much useful severity , Cato Vticensis his Son was banished but for breaking the pitcher of a girl that brought it by him with water , which she had drawn for her use ; And the Son of Famous Cinna but for robbing an Orchard , and yet both these offendors were children under 15. years of age apeece . Acrius illo aevo in errata joco admissa , quam hodiè in flagitia seriò , & ex destinato facta . And when changes for the worse grew epidemicall , then even milde Marcus Antoninus gravely and resolutely censures them : So ( my Pollio ) let the immortal gods love me , so may my hand be prosperous in warre as I judge rightly , that he who in this time is of most exemplary conversation , hardly is compararable to the most dissolute of former times . And in another place bemoaning Rome he ●anches out into this Pathetique , Can this be beleeved to be Rome , in which anciently and in the golden Age lived venerable Fathers , modest young men , well-disciplin'd Souldiers , most just Senators and Censors ; Is this Rome nothing losse so farre from what wontedly it was , that it hath no footstep , no shadow , no appearance of old Rome . And Paterculus seconds him , Rome is not what it was , Watchings are turned to dead sleeps , courage is drowned in effaeminacy , industry invaded by idlenesse . O the happinesse of those Ages wherein Scipio Aemilianus lived , who said , thought , or did nothing but what was praiseworthy : And Aemilius Paulus , A man as fully meriting praise as vertue could make him ; And Cate one most like vertue and in wisedom liker a God then man , who never did well for vain-glory but because he could not doe otherwise , who judged that most reasonable which was most just , whose minde was ever under the power of vertue , and concluded that best which was his part to undergo . Or Livius Drusius whom Paterculus cals the most noble , the most eloquent , the most devout of men . Well might those be called the gemmy Ages which abounded with such not almost to be credited Worthies , the least flaw in the manners of men will appear , when such polisht Tables of crystall stand amongst them , who both have wisedome to make Laws , and credit enough with the people to sway them to obedience to them so made . And as their Laws were dear to you , so was every thing of order and honesty much in their eyes to preserve and deliver over to posterity , what care took they to keep up the pale of distinction ? how unwilling to suffer Ataxie to peep through the least cranny of Government ? What exemplary outsides did they speak by to after ages ? How observant were they of gestures and habits , which if not comely and according to warrantable and customary mode , heard ill ; There was no rank of persons but kept precisely to their fashions and robes , and were ridiculous out of them : How vehemently did S t Cyprian and Tertullian inveigh against Christian women , imitating heathens in their attire , recalling them from their vain tricking and trimming , their embroideries and costly arrays to the wonted way of Matron-like modesty ? and in a perswasive and oratorious addresse courts them to bedeck , themselves with vertues beseeming them ; To be loyall and loving to their Husbands , to be houswisly , to keep home , to clothe themseves with the scarlet and purple of sweetnesse , piety , modesty more becoming them then gold and persumes , concluding so set out , Even God will be in love with you : And this they did not only in order to God whom Christians ought not to displease no not by appearance of evil , but to avoid the scandal of contrary doing , and to signifie that this world and the vanities of it were no further usefull to them , nor valued by them , when it fitted them , for running their race with patience , that so they might reach the reward with certainty : A good lesson for sober Ladies to learn , for Certes that of the Civilians is most true , No action of inquiry lies in soro saeculi , for attempting the chastity of a woman , if she be habited as a lewd person , and not as a grave and civilly fashioned woman . Nor are we to think habits of light and impertinent consequence , since Antiquity eyed them as suspiciously dangerous to steal in vices by their excess , and to import more then they seem upon the first examen of them to do . The Romans honoured Cato for his grave habit : And the Satyrist upbraid one that was vian that way . Non pudet ad morem discincti vivere nattae ? And Sulla in Suetonius counsels the Senate to beware of Julius Caesar , as one that was ominously clad . Yea Maecenas the favourite of Augustus , is by the Poet blamed as is believed under the name of Malchinus . Malchinus tunicis demessis ambulat . And nothing had like to have ruined Alexander so much , as that mutiny in his army about change of his Macedonian habit and manners for the Persian . I know God is no respecter of persons and habits , he views the heart , and if that be upright , all is well towards him : but man who judgeth by the judgement of discretion and visibility , cannot but conclude a weighty mind concerned to express it self in an unantique habit , for cloathes and company tell tales in a mute but significant language . As to the stating of fashions I pretend nothing , nor think I there is any precise rule to be observed ; it is one of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and arbitrary things which prudence and custom justly may be dictator of : Only the restraint is against vanity and affectation of what is not sutable to our station and condition , to our sex and age : Vests of youth ill beseem backs of age , and as badly suit , as Esaus rough hands with Jacobs smooth voice ; or as Instruments , which by their discordant notes , unadapted to answer each other , are wide from making up a consort : Observation and conversation are the best conductors herein : Religion hath no rule to prescribe in lesser things , where conveniency , and a due proportion to our condition is studied , and offence not vainly given . Only methinks it is not fit that persons whose Ancestors were as it were anonymous , should arrogate Paragaudae's , which became only those whose families were supream , and whose commands were soveraign . I wish Christians to study the adorning of their souls , and to look that they abound in faith and good works . Hic est habitus victoriae nostrae haec palmata vestis , as Tertullian said alluding to the garments of Triumph used by the Heathens . And after that not to despise things of civil distinction , but advance them . For order and honorary differences are morall and universally owned by mankinde , and not cancelled by Christianity , which corroborates , and to all worthy ends , improves them . Next , the Ancients were full of ingenuity disdaining to molest neighbours ; and inferre violence upon no grounds of provocation , they thought nationall compacts too sacred to be violated upon reasons unreasonable in the judgement of honour and conscience . The Historian tels us , the Romans alwaies took arms upon weighty and just grounds . Force is ill imployed , when injuries may be recompensed upon the demands of the sufferer , and as harsh doth it seem to generous ears , to buy victory rather then win it . I know the common rule is that which Livy reports of the Grecians , who held it more glorious to outwit then out fight an enemy . And this Adgandestricus a Prince of the Catti knew well , which made him profer his service to the Romans to poyson Ariminus their enemy , which they bravely refused , saying , the Romans did not use private means to dispatch enemies , but to reduce them by force in the field . And truly it befitted Roman spirits to do nothing in the dark , for by how much the more their craft , by so much less their prowess wherein they chiefly gloried , appeared ; according to that of Aurellius , who tels us , That amongst them was counted generous and gallant , which was obtained by courage : When men were loather to incurre the shame of an ill accomplisht victory , then undergo the penance of an honest misfortune ; when leagues were not beleagured , and victor'd , by unjust sollicitings of advantage to the prejudice of right . Let the Consul Pius be a warning to all men in command , by Commission from Romans , for he overcame the Sarmatae by wine , whom he should have dealt with by battel ; and though he saved Roman blood , yet he lost Roman glory , for which he was adjudged to lose his life , and the reason the Senators ordered to be epitaph'd , upon him was , Hoc voluere Patres Romani extare sepulchrum . Vt Ducibus foret ▪ exemplum speculumque futuris . Nam justis hostes precibus placare vel armis Vincere non vitiis , his deliciosa decorum est , Vna quibus cordi est , Romanae gloriae gentis . Further they were very express in asserting the honour and rights of Magistrates , and defending them as the defenders of Church and State ; for since Government is of God , Governours , while such , are to be reverenced by men under their subjection : and well they deserve it : For true Princes are as he in Stobaeus said of them , Not swayed by avarice but reason , favour honest freedom , practise magnanimity , and contemn neither the meanest friend , or abjects foe . But remember to take and consider . Agatho●s counsell , that They rule men : Ought to rule according to law : And must not ever rule . This well digested will make them glorious in the Catalogues of fame , and only covetous to deserve of their dominions , 'T will intitle them to the blessing that attends peacemakers and peacepreservers . For what argues greater policy or merit in Princes , then To keep their Countries peaceable . In peace the Learned thrive , and the ruder are instructed . In peace the Gentleman keeps hospitallity , and the pesant gains wealth . In peace the Merchant sends to sea roundly , and the Lawyer quotes his books and presidents boldly . In peace both Minister and people frequent their Churches , not fearing to have their blood mingled with their sacrifice . In fine , Peace assures men the command of their own , and gives a generall content , because a generall good . The Historian giving an account of blessed times in Rome , summes them up thu● , T●●c finita sunt bellae civilia ; sepulta exter●a revocata pa●● sopitus ●bique a●morum furor , restituta vis legibus judic●●s authoritas senatui majestas , redi●t cultus agris ; sacris honos , securitas hominibus , certa cuique rerum suarum possessio . And if the Magistrate be the instrument of so great emolument to subjects , if he mannage his affairs with clemency , shunning cruelty as the falsest guards of Government ; if he prevent factious and uproars , which sometimes make such havocks of men , as would force a compassionate Patriot to cry out with Me●●●rates , O unhappy country which within thy self hast destroyed so many worthy men as would have sufficed to conquer all the Nations barbarous . Wherein can he be loved and encouraged beyond his deserts ? Kings , Princes and Fathers of their countries must have the honour of reverence to their persons , of obedience to their laws , of patience to their punishments , of maintenance to their estates , and of fidelity to their crowns : and if Governours be lesse carefull and obliging , To pray for their amendment , is more Christian , then to contrive their ruine . God hath armed his Saints with prayers and faith , by which they overcome the world and all the injuries of it . And good men own Gods will , confining and concluding theirs : what they want in the hands of force and power ▪ they have in the wings of faith and prayer ▪ and by how much the liker men they are who revenge injuries ▪ the more of the likeness of God they have who pass them by as unworthy their revenge . Next elder times were considerable in their care to educate their children , which Luther saith , is res seria & quae Christi universaeque Christianitatis plurimum intersit , not lightly and to antique frolicknesse , but to the precise square of vertue , and in proportion to their fut●re probabilities and dispose of life : C●to would do nothing before his children but what he would do before the vestall Nuns ; And good Parents will not permit Children to do ought in their sight which is ●ncomely without reproof and high disallowance ; There is nothing so great a f●et to the mindes Nobility as idlenesse and inoccupancy , which made the elder ages educate their children thriftily , and in some kinde of toil : The Patriarchs and their posterity kept flocks , watching them by day and night ; And most of the Nations Eastern and Northern busied their youth in some Art manual , not only to keep their fancy from wander , but also to be a hidden stock for them whatever distresse God should cast them into ; It is a good Proverb amongst us , Breeding is no burthen ; If many mens hands a●d arts had not ministred to their necessities , they might have begged their bread , and been bare-back'd for want of cloathing : It was a notable Providence of Ethelward the Grandchilde of great Alfred the Saxon , who had many children , Sons and Daughters ( all after great Pri●ces and Princesses ) yet thus they were brought up ; His Daughters he set to spinning , and to the needle , his Sons to the study of Learning , Vt quasi Philosophi ad Rempublicam gerendam non jam rudes procederent , a very noble President worthy the imitation of every one , who ( as the Proverb saies ) knows his beginning but not his ending , and may be brought to a condition so abject and necessitous , that he may wish he had been the childe of a Corydon rather then heir to a greater person : That may befall any one which reproachfully is written of Cardinal Richlieu , Parvus cinis modo est qui magnus ignis fuit , teter fumus nunc est ▪ qui nuper coruscans splendor , ●omnium oculos perstringebat . Inheritances are no durable Freeholds of mortality , Riches have wings , and that which hath wings will away ; Honours are the bitter sweets which choak more then they make happy ; In the Court of H. 8. was a Noblemans Son that said , It was enough for Noblemens Sons to winde their horn , and carry their Hawk fair , and that Study was for children of a meaner rank ; To whom Doctor Pace nobly replied , that then Noblemen must be content that their Sons winde their horns and carry their Hawks , while meaner mens Sons do wield affairs of State. Those only are praearm'd against changes who rest upon this world but as uncertain , and know how to lay their mouths in the dust , when there is onely hope for them in their humiliation , and to earn their bread by labour when toyl and travell is by God designed their portion and penance ; Let no man disdain poverty and reproach the abjectnesse of that condition , lest he curse himself and his posterity , who may time enough , and sooner then they expect , come to ecclipse ; Families have ebbs , and honours have their Syncope's ; Sad is the Story of the great warlike Belisarius who served the Emperour Justinian , and wanted nothing that this world could present to his accomodation , whom his Master loved , and his souldiers so respected that they would not disobey his commands in any thing , Suidas sets him out as a guard to property , none of his Souldiers durst violate any man , nor take any fruit from the Trees in their march , so valiant and expert in conduct that with 8000 Greeks he chased almost 200000 Goths out of Italy , recovered all Asia from the Vandals , and by a grave and resolute Epistle to Totilas the Goth , diverted his course against Rome , and prevented its ruine ; Yet this man after all his merit is by the power of Trebonianus Chancellor to the Emperour ▪ reduced to such a condition , that he was not only ( as write some ) strip't of all , and a guard set upon him , as a publique enemy , but ( as others report ) had his eyes put out , and was reduced to such want , that he was enforced to get a little shed by the High-way sideclampt up , wherein he kept , making moan to the passers by , and praying them thus , Date stipem Belifario , quem rerum prosperè gestarum magnitudo extulit , & nec error , sed livor , & inimicorum invidentia excoecavit . There is then policy in Parents to breed children thriftily and to industry , and prudence in Children while they may , to take it , and to imbibe it with all greedinesse ; Forasmuch as the evil day may come wherein what we can do will more steed us then Moneys , Lands , Friends , times may come that will try the greatest and dismount the proudest , happy he that hath his Quiver full of those artifices that may befriend him in his want , which idlenesse and vain education will not doe . I will conclude this head of Elder times policy in writing of Books warily , and cautioning that Books of publique offence to true Religion , be either not written , or when written suppressed , or at least stigmatiz'd ; There is nothing more to the honour of God then to propagate his Gospel by pen , and to confute gainsayers at distance and by argument , And by nothing is errour more wo●nded then when it is denied safe conduct , when it passes by chance and as a spy , not by license ; S t Augustine tels us of Imperiall Laws made against both heathen worships , hereticall writings and outrages ; And I reade of Marcianus his Edict against nice and uselesse disputations of divine Mysteries , yea Honorius and Theodosius commanded the Books of prophane men written against the honour of Religion , and in defiance of the Church , to be burned ; In S t Jeroms time Origens Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was ill resented by the Orthodox ; Ruffinus and Pammachius carp at the father for translating it , and charge the errors therein upon him , as making them legible by his Edition of them , which otherwise would not have been understood ; And S t Jerom is forced to answer it thus , What I did I did to discover Truth , Do you think me an Interpreter ? Proditor fui , prodidi haereticum ut Ecclesiam ab haereticis vindicarem . Ruffinus is charged by Pope Anast●sius to have affixed a Martyrs Name to an hereticall Book , on purpose to have it take more and spread farther ; The Book of the Trinity charged on Tertullian was not his , no nor S t Cyprians , but a Novatians : It hath been ever a course in the Church of God to censure and inhibit Books and Disputations which tend to destruction and not to edification , and is so farre from being , an entrenchment on Christian Liberty , or a burthen to tender consciences , that it argues a high and holy zeal well becoming Christian polities and governors , 't was good counsel Maecenas gave Augustus , Vt ipse Deos moribus patriae receptos colat & ad eundem cultum alios compellat , nec Deorum contemptorem qu●m permittat , aut prestigiatorem tolerot haud dubium nihil magni futurum qui deos contempserit . Having thus shortly given a touch upon some of the most remarkable Vertues of Antiquity and Elder Christians ; My conclusion aims to draw an humble parallell to these excellent presidents from the notable Christians and Christian practises of this once glorious Church the Church of England : I know , Comparisons are odious , and it ill becomes us to vye with Fathers and Martyrs , whose lives have been lights , and deaths harvests to after-times , yet in this case I conceive it pardonable to advance the mercy of God to us by this just and warrantable Vindication , and the rather because our mothers miseries seem to be a most triumphant gratification to her enemies , making them conclude her forsaken of God because smitten by men , and advantageth the interest of the Papacy , as Cardinall Sfondrato upon the like grounds in his Negotiations with Charles the fifth ▪ noted : To give then this inflammation some lenitive , and to return their insultation a gentle refutation ; I shall hope by Gods leave to present her as famous for order and enconragement of Learning , and her professors as remarkable for their piety , charity , and policy as any Christians that preceded them , and that not only before but also since the Reformation of this Church in the abjuration of Popery . First then , The Church of England since the Reformation hath had sundry pious Princes and Prelates , who have with warm zeal maintained the honour of Scripture , allowing it the only rule of faith both in the direct precepts and necessary divine consequences drawn from it , forbidding all traditions in competition with it , all adulteration in allay of it , and commanding its translation purely out of not understood tongues , into the mother Language , that people might know and hear the will of God i● his Word declared to them , and celebrating all Church-services , so as people may be most edified by them ; This was no small advance from Popery that Religion grew English ▪ that care was taken that in the Lessons and Liturgies of our Service pure Scripture was read ; and if any of the Apocrypha , which but rarely , yet that only which was morally virtuous , and least to be suspected or offensive . In this Church , not only Martyrs in the daies of Queen Mary died , but also Bishops and Presbyters numberlesse ever since , have preached and wrote for the honour of holy Scripture , as that which contains all things necessary to salvation , So declare the articles of our Church . And though ( with grief I write it ) all of place and learning amongst us , have not given Scripture that testimony in their lives , but that a morall Epictetus , or a Seneca might upbraid them : yet the Church in her aggregate consideration , and thousands eminent in her , have personally attested their obedience to Scripture , and brought all doctrines to the test of it , according to that of the Prophet , To the law and to the testimony , if they speak not according to that , 't is because there is no light in them . Therefore in the Stat. 1 Eliz. c. 1. Not the Pope , not partiall and factious Conventions , but the Scripture is the judge of heresies , and Counsels rightly convened , judging according to it . This the Laity declared not but upon serious consultation with the Clergy in Convocation , that so every sanction might have its due weight . I know there have been those that contrary to Scripture have brought in , though ( blessed be God they had no rooting ) dangerous doctrines and practises , threatning overthrow to our well-ordered Discipline , by their innovating pragmatiqueness , but these were not owned by any publique Canons or State laws , but upbraided as encroachments , and openly disgraced as scarres to our Religion ; and some of those that furthered this have accounted to God and men , and therefore are to be passed over without further censure . The Church hath ever been stanch and her doctrine Apostolique , barked at by many , but overturned by none : traduced for new and worthless , but upon search found to be , As the apple trees among the trees of the wood , shady and fruitfull , comfortable in life , and pleasant at the hour of death . This made the L. Cromwell in H. 8. time , in his last speech neer his death , call to the people to bear witness , that he died in the Catholique faith , not doubting in any article of his faith , no nor doubting in any Sacrament of the Church : And all this , because the articles of faith were not founded upon S t Francs , S t Dominick , this Pope , or that Councill , but upon the Scriptures , upon Prophets and Apostles , Jesus Christ being chief corner stone . 2. This Church hath answered primitive times in care of Government Ecclesiastique . No Nation in the world had a more thriving Church then we : In none more purity , state , decency , learning then we : In no Church the Clergy more honestly priviledged and respected , then in ours ; wherein Government was not at the Ordinaries pleasure , but limited and confined by Laws , and fettered to prevent impertinent domineering . In this Government , according to the pattern of elder times was avowed the Power of Rulers and Princes over all persons within , and pretenders from without their Dominions , though not their power in sacris , yet circa sacros , & in sacros , which every person in Orders was to subscribe to ; 1 Eliz. c. 1. confirmed by 5 Eliz. 1. so Canon . 1. Convocat . Anno 1640. In this was maintained the antique Episcopacy , as of Divine right , and of annexed Prelacy as of civil foundation and Regall bounty : the sacred Order of Presbytery and the validity of Ordination by Imposition of hands , and holy separation to to the Ministry . Thirdly , This Church of England hath answered Antiquity in countenancing Truth and opposing Errour both in Doctrine and Manners : It hath ever yielded stout Princes , who have been warm and kindled in the Cause of God , against errours of all sorts . Prelates and Preachers have flourished in it , whose breasts and brains by constant reading and meditation became Christs Libraries . As S t Jerom saies of Nepotian , They that consider but the expences and rewards given by Ed. the 6. to learned men sent for hither to assist in our refinement ; the grave Councill took in the declaring of the Christian faith , and doctrine of the Sacraments , for avoiding of diversity of opinions , and for establishing of consent touching true Religion , the zeal and open Protestation of many of our Prelates and Professor● against Toleration of Popery : By name ▪ the not long since deceased Primate of England , Archbishop Abbot , M r Powell Chaplain to the then Bishop of London , D r Su●liff Dean of Worcester , D r Willes , D r Hackwell and others : Yea all the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland , as appears by the Instrument read and pronounced by the then famous B. of Derry , Doctor Downham , before God and the whole Estate of Ireland , at the Cathedrall of Dublin : The proceedings of King James with the States of Holland in the case of Vo●stius , and against others in the Synod of Dort , the Synod of this Nation in Anno 1640. Can. 3 ▪ & 4. against Socinianism , yea and the judgements against Ham●unt , 21 Eliz. Anno 1579. and Lewis , 25 of the same Queen , and Hacket with others ; together with the many excellent laws , and prudent sanctions , for promoting the honour of God , by incouraging preaching , praying , and holy exercises , by commanding sanctification of the Lords day , and prohibiting any servile work therein , with sundry other provisions of like nature . They ( I say ) that well weigh these things cannot but commend our Churches well-grounded zeal . I wish those that rend from her would consider what S t Jerom said to some in his time , Segregas te cúm tuis vermulis , & nov●m balneum aperis , si te Angelus aliquis aut Apostolus rebaptizavit , non infringo quod sequeris ; si vero in sinu meo natus , si uberum meorum lacte nutritus , adversum me gladium levas , redde quod dedi , & esto si potes aliter Christianus . Fourthly , This Church of England hath had the blessing of God accompanying her in her waies of study and practise , of general learning , and holy preaching : 'T were endless to enumerate the learned Bishops , laborious Presbyters , renowned Physicians , accomplisht Lawyers , florid Philologers , and practicall Clerks bred up in her : yea so great , so considerable they were , that the whole Body of the University of Oxford , in An. 1603. published , There were then more learned men in the Ministry in this Land , then were to be found amongst all the Ministers of the Religion , in France , Flaunders , Denmark , Germany , Poland , Geneva , Scotland , or all Europe beside . This touch concerning the piety of our Church . No less her charity : This Church was much at unity with it self , few snarling or factious spiritati's in her , all her notes were by the book : her language Canonique , things were so carried , as offence to tender consciences might be as much as possible avoided ; I know there were ever , and ever will be smaller differences in the Church , and who can help it , since God concludes them necessary , that those who are approved might be made manifest , &c. I am not ignorant that many bitter invectives and hot ragings were currant between the Disciplinarian and Conformable party , but yet ( I trust I may say ) they kept the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace , and were not alienated in affection each from other . Nor were they wanting in works of Charity to the poor , Gods poor , and the Nations poor , to both there are instances of charity , since the Reformation and extrusion of the Pope . I 'le begin with the renowned liberality of King Ed. the 6. who by the advice of that after famous Martyr , D r Ridley , then Lord Bishop of London : and after his Sermon preached at the Court upon mercy and charity , was moved to found the Hospitals of Christ , for poor Orphans , and of S t Thomas and S t Bartholmews for diseased people , besides which he gave great relief to house-keepers at their own houses : To perfect which charity the Bishop travelled greatly , and brought the Citizens of London into the work : To them and their successors for ever he gave the charge thereof , and on them setled lands to the value of 100 l per annum , with license to take lands in Mortmaine to the yearly value of 4000 Mark : all which he setled not above two daies before his death . At which time in the hearing of his Councill he uttered these words , Lord God , I yield thee most hearty thanks , that thou hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the glory of thy Name . The greatest and most noble Work that ever I read of done by One man , and he a subject , was that of the Memorable Gentleman M r Thomas Sutton ▪ the Princely Founder of the Charterhouse , for the entertainment of youth and decayed Gentlemen , who by maims in the Warres , or other casualties had been ruined . The provision there is so bounteous , that it hath scarce a match to it in Europe , the very house and appurtenances cost ▪ him to purchase 13000 l , which he endowed with five Mannors in Essex , two in Lincoln , and eight in Wiltshire , besides very many rich Pasture grounds of near 4000. Acres in that County , Two in Cambridgeshire ▪ besides his Lands in Hackney Marsh and Tottenham in the County of Middlesex , and with all and singular the Woods , Reversions , Presentations , and Rights of him the said Thomas Sutton in any the aforesaid Mannors . Over and above this he hath given great gifts to poor Towns , to mend High-waies , to loans of young men to set up trade with gratis ; To the Prisons , to certain Colledges , to make additions to his Hospital ●5000 lb , and to the Treasury of the House to defend their right , if need were 1000 lb and other Gifts he hath given right liberally . Next The Royal Foundations of the Exchange for the meeting of persons of trade and business , and Gresham College by S r Thomas Gresham , in part of which poor people are lodged and provided for , and in the rest Lecturers in all the Arts are allowed , is a most memorable act of charity and bounty . So also is that of S r Thomas White Lord Mayor of the City of London , who first purchased Glocester Hall in Oxford , and then founded and endowed S t Johns College , Built also Grammar Schools at Bristol , Reading , and a College at Higham Ferryes ; Gave great Legacies to poor Clothiers , Good Stocks to 18 great Towns in England ; And other things he did of like remark . But give me leave to mention the charitable Foundation of Sion College , which truly was a very gallant work and much an Ornament to this Metropolis , and would be a greater , were the Library ( capacious enough to contain Books ) more filled with them , and when I consider the diffusivenesse of such a work , and how much to oblige the publique a bounty of this nature doth import : I cannot but much encourage men to think no expence of money more provident for preservation of their memory then this , I judge men to live in the fame of a bountifull charity , more then in Children or in any Escocheon of honour . But I proceed to the numerous Hospitals and Houses of Relief in the trust of the most faithful Trustees of this Nations Charity , the worthy Societies of London , the charitable distributions that they make , the compassionate hearts they expresse to their poor , precisely according to the will of the Testators , and the bounty of their Legacies encrease , testifies their fidelity ; I should swell too bigge to name the Charities of the Lord Viscount Cambden , Sir John Ramsey , M r Kenrick , M r Lamb , M r Randolph , Alder. Hayden , M r Blundell , M. Chilcot , M r Rogers , M r Fuller , M r Russell , M r Gale , M r Palin , M r D●ve , M , Iones , M r Goddard , M r Aloworth , Sir William Cockain , and memorable S t Paul Pindar ; And herein they shame those of whoever they are who distort things charitably given to other uses then the Donor appointed , which causes that of Ennius to be verified , Benefacta malè locata , malefacta arbitror . This for a short View ef Reformation-Charity . I come now to assert the Reformations imitation in point of policy , Policy , not of fraud , but necessary preservation , and that in the point of Laws which are the Tropicks upon which weal and woe wheel and move , wisedom commended and made , and courage preserved them so made from contempt ▪ That I have to adde is my Observation , that good Laws were chief in the care of the best times , It was wont to be the ambition of Governours to serve the Church first , and respect her security most ; The Learned Vivaldus speaking of the Excellency of the Kings of France saies , Semper pro legibus & juribus Ecclesiae Dei , summorumque Pontificum soli fideliter decertarunt , and in times past with us Acts of Parliament began with something like this , In honorem Dei & sanctae matris Ecclesiae statuimus : So begins ( in effect ) Magna Charta , pr o West . 25. Ed. 1. 1 & 2 Ed. 3. the 5. 15. 25. 28. Ed. 3. and many others : yea , to secure the Church was the first care of the Parliament , Ed. 6. ann . 1. c. 1. 1 El. c. 2. 1 K. James 4. 3 of the same King c. 4. & 5. And it was a brave Speech of Sir Edward Deering in the Parliament 10 Nov. 1640. had it been hearkened to ; Let the Sword reach from the North to the South , and a general perdition of all our remaining rights and safety , threaten as in open view , It shall be so farre from making me to decline the first setling of Religion , that I shall ever argue and rather conclude it thus , The more great , the more eminent our perils of this world are , the stronger and quicker ought our care to be for the glory of God and the pure Law of our souls . I neither may wholly omit nor shall I write much of our Laws , though I think they make the best judgement of happiness who rely on that foundation which the experience of many hundred years hath given proof of , and deservedly ought they to be admired , while they assert property and abhor injustice : yea , when they are so necessary to keep Subjects up to the duty of Loyalty ▪ that a great Master of them wrote not long since , He that takes away the Laws takes away not the allegiance of one Subject alone but of the whole Kingdom ▪ and therefore corrupt Judges and he●dy Parasites who desgrace the good Laws of this Nation ▪ and misguide Governours ( who with reason and warrant enough enquire of and are conducted by them as men of skill , and as they think conscience ) have ever been severely punished , and by few ●ober persons pitied , as by name Hubert de Burgh , Pierce , Gaveston and the Spencers , Trifilion and the Earl of Oxford , Henry de la Pool , Lord Hastings , Catesby , and the Duke of Buckingham , Empson and Dudley , Card. Wolsey , yea , for injustice all the Judges in H. 4. time but M●tingham and Beckingham were removed and f●ned , so that he that considers the punishment of Trea●on● , Murther , Rapes , Riots , and all kindes of injury , that weighs ▪ the ●ecurity of trials for life and livelihoods by Juries of Gentlemen and Free-holders of fortune and fidelity ▪ he that views the Judges in their circuits , the Justices of Peace in their Shire● , Mayors and Bayliffs in their Corporations , and Constables in their Liberties , would wonder any disorder should arise , much more passe unpunished . But alas men are but men , and God suffers some to give their conscience challenge to disturb them : Judges who are men of years , fortune , and learning , sworn to do right and to preserve men in so doing , are highly accountable to God , if fear or favour make them warp : they should remember what that Noble Virgin Queen said , when her Attorney Generall came near her , and the Lord Burleigh told her , Here is your Graces Attorney General , Qui sequitur pro Domina Regina , No , said she , I 'le have the words altered , Qui sequitur pro Domina Veritate : and when they do not as they ought between Prince and People , man and man , they deserve the judgement which Judge Belknap spake of , and which they often adjudge lesser offenders to then themselves , and if by craft or the favour of men , they escape punishment here , God sometimes suffers them to run the course of Morgans and Hankeford , and others , yea , of one who a little before his end dreamed , that he saw all the devils in hell haling and tugging him in peeces , and all those whom he had murthered crying out for vengeance against him , which the historian saith , Non esse somnium sed conscientiam scelerum . I know there are great temptations on brave men , even in the best times ▪ Man is altogether vanity , and acted by motives altogether unworthy him , yet ought good men to eye God and consider his commands , which bound Governours to rule justly and soberly , as well as Subjects to obey loyalty and will take account of the errors in both , and in both punish them ; Thus m●ch for the goodnesse of our Laws and the zeal of our Countreymen to them . After the example of Antiquity this Nation hath been very observant of their habits , not so changeable as the French , nor so austere as the Spaniard , but between both , the dresse of wise men being ordinarily such as hath least of prodigality in the matter , and affectation in the manner of setting it forth ▪ I know it was an old itch of this Nation to affect the guises of other people ; Andrew Bord an English Priest going about to paint an English man , drew divers designs of him , at last was fain to draw him a naked man with a pair of Sheers in one hand and cloth in another , as who should say , Fashion your Garment to your own minde , for none can please you ; And upon this reason were there divers Acts of Parliament in Ed. 3. & Ed. 5. H. 8. P. & Mary , & Q. Elizabeth reigns , made against excesse of apparel , but by the 1 Jacob , all were repealed , so that now I thin● no act is in force for apparell , yet 't is pity we of this Nation are not of our selves more regular then we are : the best cure for excesse herein is Governours Presidents : how are things altered since H. 6. time , when that renowned Prince did wear his Gown of lesse value then 40 s , but we take a greater swinge , & forma vestium deformitatis mentium & morum est indicium , saith the Father . Further , This Nation hath ever been observant of Leagues with Forrain Princes , Promissa sunt servanda is a maxime in every Nation that is just , And they that herein deserve the stigma of falshood need no additional infamy ; For Articles of peace and war ought to have audience above all Pleas of private profit and advantage , and therefore the ancient honour of us is very great abroad : Our Princes did not like Julius Caesar more eye greatnesse then veracity , but precisely kept them to the conditions agreed upon , and from them varied not , for as they who have fortunes will take heed to enter into bonds because they have solvent estates , so Princes of honour will not break the confederacies they make upon slieght grounds , because their reputation is built upon their fidelity . The faithfulnesse of God is one of his glorious Attributes , and the truth of a Prince one of the prime Ornaments in his Crown , For the Throne is established by righteousnesse . But above all , our Loyalty to our Princes for the most part hath been notorious and imitable , We have recognized their Crowns , supported their estate , obeyed their Laws , defended their persons , affronted their enemies , praied for their lives , and not rejoyced in their deaths or ruines , and that not only when they have been Octavius's perpetuò sani , so benign that they might deservingly be called Patrons of generall peace , and such as by the change they brought , occasioned not the people to repent their power : But when with Bassiaenus they proved Princes of fury and extraordinary frailty , then even then we honoured them as Gods Vicegerents , and were so far from derogating from their dignities , that we paid indisputable and legall obedience to them ; The daily praiers of our Church were for deliverance against all sedition and evil conspiracy , as well as false doctrine and heresie , hardnesse of heart and contempt of Gods Word and Commandments ; And therefore I pray that all men in power may ever rule justly , and men under power obey readily ; For jealousies in States do but provoke Governours to get and preserve high power , and nourish thoughts in Subjects how to dissipate and scatter it . Nor have we deceived the expectations of our following the good patern of Elder times in education of Youth , for although the vanity of some is so great and unreasonable that they think no condition of life honourable and ingenious but that of idlenesse and violence , yet the sober Englishman hath a very friendly eye on callings that employ younger Children , and augment families to a very conspicuous magnitude : and if we view the great Families of Nobility and Gentry in this Nation , who now for the most part have the great estates and most prosperous fortunes , many of them will be found within less then 200 years to have been the products of men of laborious professions , by which chiefly if not altogether their Ancestors accumulated that fortune upon the tiptoe of which they overlook others of greater antiquity though now lesse conspicuous ; And though I know many would tugg much to have their pedigrees rifled , and the top of their descent to be from the City and the Innes of Court , yet I will not doubt to assert , that as many of the new great ones have come thence as from Court or Camp , or Schools , or all . God hath commanded men to labour , and condemned him to toyl as the punishment of his sin , and the Apostle saies , He that will not labour let him not eat ; There is no bread so sowr and innutritive as that of idlenesse , no labour so uncomfortable as that of being illaborious , for besides that it brings nought home , and clothes a man with rags , yea , makes him uselesse in his generation , it is accompanied with many dangerous vices , and prostituting debaucheries , the minde● of man like places constagnated contract filth for lack of motion ; As vessels decay more by disuse then by age ; This makes the thrifty Father dispose his Son to a profession which will both advance his preferment and secure his vertue , there is no course of life but if in it God blesseth honest endeavours , will yield a livelihood , though some by a secret hand of God to shew his power ( that the race is not to the swift , nor the battle to the strong , nor bread to the wise , nor riches to men of understanding ) miscarry and bring their noble of wit to a nine-pence of wealth ; But yet Callings are not to be neglected , for they have fruitfull wombs , and nourish men to a very great growth of eminency . Let every Artist then be encouraged ; but in some cases there is a great lamentation to be taken up , the differences amongst us have anticipated a great part of the Nation , who by precended disaffection , or real disgust , are either forcibly excluded , or voluntarily withdraw themselves from publick view and service , so that multitudes of them will be exposed to want , or to what 's second to it obscurity , and be forced to retreat out of fight , that no body see their reduced penury , to contemn them rather then pity it . And some I doubt will be tempted to courses of desperation , to the dishonour of their Families and Parts . To prevent which it were well worthy Governours , to give all the liberty of life and lustre they ( with security to their own power ) may , that so hopes of subsistence may bayle indigent men , if of parts , from impatience , and ingaging in vilanous actions , and encourage them to be civil and orderly in expectation of the good Angel that may stir the healing waters , into which for cure they desire to be cast . For surely there is no labour base which relieves nature and answers need , no calling but comports with honour , where it supports it , and without which honour would be honourless ; and he is much to be pitied , who hath hands and head , and has not taught them some subserviency to his necessities ; 't is a loose breeding and degenerous , which provided not some stay against an evil time . The learned and worthy S r In o Cheek , Tutor to Edw. 6. being one of those that avowed the Title of the Lady Jane , for which he was fain upon Queen Mary's coming to the Crown to fly , was glad to take up his old Trade , and relie upon that hidden Treasure of Parts , which rendred him fit to be chosen Professor of the Greek Tongue at Sirasburg . They are too coy , who wholly trust on Lands and Moneys , and cannot labour , not want , but are miserable when they miss a ceremonious folly ; they never mean to be Martyrs , or be prescribed , or suffer under the force of barbarous Rebels , as the Irish Nobility and Gentry have done a long time , who can do nothing but eat , and drink , and sleep , and play , and talk . It is good to be Clerkly and acquainted with business , to be handy and disposed to Country thrift ; a very great wisdome to be able ( thorow Gods blessing ) to do somthing towards subsistence , Quaelibet patria Ingenioso patria , Ingenuity and courage has given entertainment to great minds and persons , when their friends and Tenants have disowned , and their Lands yeelded them no bread . I will conclude the Parallel of the Church and Professors of England , with those of elder times , in writing Books warily , and so as truth had honour by them : and the better to promote this , here was ever an Imprimatur to pass upon all Books publickly to be vented ; and the Licensers were bound to take notice exactly of all things that went under their eye , as they would answer the neglect upon their censure , and great displeasure of Authority . I know that Books have stollen into light , which had they received their deserts , should have been , as Vives saith , Cum authoribus suis ex toto consortio humani generis eliminandi & deportandi in insulam ubi solae degunt ferae , aut in illas Africae desertas arenas , ubi nihil nascitur praeter venena , Books derogatory to God , to Government , to civil property , profane , scurrilous , and every way detestable , they are not to be charged as faults on our Supervisors , so long as they declare against them when they see them , or would proceed against the Authors of them , if they could be discovered . But in Books of controversie , our Church hath been exact , and allowed those her best Champions , who have least wandred from sound Authours and Doctrines . A just weight and ballance gives adversaries least advantage . Some in controversie are so rigid , that they give no way , keeping so high a dam , that all bursts in pieces by their severity . Others yeeld so far , that they are at last nonplust how to make an honourable retreat to their party , and not lose what may give their enemy the boast of conquest . Ex utroque periculum , In rough Seas shores are safe , so rocks be avoided . Passion is an ill ingredient to contests , especially when it is permanent , and such as doth not suit viro constanti , therefore those who have with least acrimony entered the lists of controversie , have been most success full ; for 't is easie in an humour , or out of high animosity , to say that which shall disadvantage a whole profession . But this , God be blessed , few of our Church have done ; we have in all controversies so carried Arguments , that there hath no blemish rested on us , but that which we account our virtue , that we are constant . And as our Polemiques so our practical Books have been rare , and by all Christians that could reade and understand them requested : What accounts has our Nation had , and yet has , from her Preachers and Writers of the treasures of art and holy Theologie ? what rare discourses are there extant in all Sciences , on all Subjects , for all Seasons ? The world judgeth our Church and Nation Learned to a wonder , and yet some amongst us ( who know better ) prefer forreign counsels and models above those at home , which I think ( with submission to their better judgements ) will appear when moderated most convenient and usefull to carry on peace and piety amongst us ; Indeed I should rejoyce to see beauty and order in Church-matters , and I blesse God for so much of it as yet there is : that which grieves me is , that the Charret-wheels of our settlement go so slow , that passions are more in request then praiers and tears , and that men fear not to run mad when ( to use a womans phrase ) they bark against the Crucifix , and revile the Spouse of Christ , of whom they ought not to speak but calmly and with reverence ; It is no good Argument of Gods being amongst us , when we are thus broken in judgement , and so evil-eyed to one another ; But I hope God will send Peace and Truth in our daies ; I trust to see Religion and Learning a praise in the earth ; My ambition is to finde that in Christians now adaies , that Baroniu● notes was soon after Christs time ; It was ( saith he ) Christians praise tc have little to do which arose to a debate , but if casually Christians were at variance , care was to take it up and avoid scandal . For our Lord hath given the rule , to be at peace one with another . FINIS . Errata . PAge 14. marg . reade M. Marshall . p. 43. l. 21. r. to the Ministry , p. 76. l. 15. r. infesti . p. 82. l. 22. r. Versipelles . p. 90. l. 9. r. pretend . p. 92. l. 20. r. omina . p. 93. l. 17. r. there . p. 95. mar . r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 96. l. 15. r. ingenious . p. 98. l. 15. r. should . p. 121. l. 27. r. Feoffees . p. 125. l. 18. for presumption r. persecution . pag. 126. l. 20. r. Teechy . p. 128 l. 2. r. it . p. 138. l. 20. for purposed r. proposed . p. 153. l. 19. r. habuere p. 162. l. 25. r. Austrians . p. 192. l. 6. r. Ismaels . p. 199. l. 3. r. horarum . l. 9. r. him l. 28. r. that . p. 199. l. 11. r. had they . p. 204. l. ult . r. vacillating . p. 208. marg . r. Bernardus . p. 223. l. 19. r. communicative . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A96073-e220 John 8. Josn . 9. 5. Quia progrediendum a facililioribus . Acts 8. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Euseb . hist. l. 2. e. 12. & l. 3. c. 20 , 21 , 23. Histor . Magdeb. Ceut . 1. l. 2. c. 7. p. 368 , 371. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Stob. Serm. 147. p. 488. Vir nobilis , ●l●quens , audax , suae alienae & fortunae & pudicitiae prodigus , homo ingeniosissimè nequam , & foecundus malo publico . Paterc . l. 2. p. 450. Edit . Sylv. * Nihil novi asserunt , quin hujusmodi applaudente sibi perfidi● simplices quidem & indoctos decipiunt , sed Ecclesiasticos viros qui in lege Dei die & nocte meditantur decipere non valent . S. Hyeron . ad Ctesiphont . adv . Pelagianos . Philosophi Patriarchae Haereticorum Ecclesiae puritatem perversa maculavere doctrina , Idem eodem loco . Hi sunt fumi , hae caligines quibus ex oculis hominum conaris lumen auferre . S. Hierom. advers . Ruffin . Apol. 3. Tom. 1. p. 672. edi● . Parisiens . Non necesse habet convinci quod suâ statim professione blasphemum est : Eunomiani , Ariani , Macedoniani , nominibus seperati , impietate concordes nullum notis laborem faciunt , loquuntur enim quod sentiunt . Sola haec haeresis ( Pelagiana ) quae publicè crubescit loqui quod secretò docere non metuit . Hyeron . ad Ctesi . adv . Pelagian . To. 1. p. 815. Pius , optimus , maximus , &c. Monstrum non Princeps . Sueton . in Calig . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Euseb . de vit . Constant . l. 3. c. 21. Euseb . l. 6. c. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Socrat. Eccles . hist . 6. c. 20. Eccl. 1. 17. Eò acriores inimicitiae quò injustiores . Theod. l. 1. c. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . l. 6. c 35. ●ocrat . l. 7. c. 6. Ad Ctesiphont . adv . Pelagianos . Sententias vestras prodidisse superasse est : Patet prima fronte blasphemia , S. Hier. ad Ctes●phont . To. 1. p. 815. Dijs quae hominibus conficiendis melior . Quint. Marshall Serm. Curse Meroz . p. 49. Disciplina jubemur deligere inimicos quoque orare pro eis qui nos persequuntur , &c. Tertul. ad Scapulam . S. Cyprianus l. 3. ep . 10. Tert. l. de Mar. Multa in orbe generata sunt monstra , Centauros , Syrenas , Vlulas , &c. Sola Gallia monstra non habuit , sed viris fortissimis & eloquentissimis semper abundavit . Epist . 55. adv . Vigilant . Hist . Counsel Trent . p. 295. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Dion : l. 55. p. 570. Nam aliquando tam inepti insamique homines inveniuntur ut iis quae parva sunt & facilia , magna & arduae videantur , acerbasque res saevis modis exasperent , neque negotium ullum proponere se callent , quam finistro , & inepto more illud corrumpant & infaus●●um reddunt , Fab. Albergatus de Diss . Imper Eccles . cura . p. 389. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Stobaeus Serm. 117. p. 373. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Apollodorus . Horat. Non minus placet Deo Hosanna puerorum quam Hallcluja● virorum . B● Andrews in Prefat to the Command . O praecidendam linguam a medicis , immò in●anum 〈◊〉 caput , ut qui l●qui nescit discat reticere , S t Hieron . e● 55. advers Vigilant . Traditiones Ecclesiasticas praesertimquae fidei non officiunt , ita observanda ut a majoribus tradita sunt , nec aliorum consuetudinem aliorum contrario more subverti ad Lucinium ep . 28. Scripturae quidem perfectae sunt , quippe a Dei verbo & spiritu ejus dictae , ●Iraeneus l. 2. c. 47. Cant. 5. 7. 1 Sam. 4. 21. Euseb . l. 3. c. 3. Euseb . l. 3. c. 19. a Vtiles quidem & commodi sunt , sed in numerum receptorum non referuntur . Epiphanius . b Lege Athanasium in Synopsi div . Script . Epiphanius lib. de Mensura & Pondere . See Cent. 4. c. 4. p. 172 , 173. hist . Magd. Lib. 2. Apol. adv . Ruffin . Apol. l. 3. To. 1. p. 782. Paris . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , l. 3. c. 31. Tom. 2. p. 562. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Theod. l. 2. c. 31. Gravis mal● conscientiae lux est . Senec. ep . 122. Nostrae columbae domus simplex , etiam in editis semper & apertis , & ad lucem adv . Valent . c. 3. Psal . 119. 1 King. 8. 17. See their Epistles in the 5 t Centuar . c. 8. p. 440. Hist . Magdeburg . Origines in Ep. ad Fabian . Romanum . Quod de Canonibus Ecclesiasticis mones gratias agimus , sed tu scito nihil nobis esse antiquius quam Christi Jura serv●●c . Ep. 68. Hist . p. 152. Matth. 15. 3. Mark. 7. 9. Col. 2. 8. Quisquis es asserior novorum dogmatum , quaeso ●e ut parcas humanis auribus , ut pareas fidei quae Apostoli voce lauda●a est , cur post quadringentis annis ●ocere nes niteris , quod ant● nescivimus ? cur profers in medium quod Paulus & Petrus edere noluerunt ? Vsque ad hunc diem fine istâ doctrinâ mundus Christianus fuit , illam senex tenebo fidem in qua puer , natus sum , S t Hyeron . ep . 65. Gal. 4. 15. Quid est aliud Ecclesiae ( Romanae ) potestas quae hodiè jactatur quam licentiosum & fine lege modoque in animas Imperium , quod eas miserrima servitute opprimat . Calvinus de Ncess . Reform . Ecclesiae . John 13. 13. Hist . Cons . Tr. p. 161. Si pro oraculis , habenda sunt quaelibet eorum placita , ubi nulla exceptio , illi● infinitum Imperium : Calvinu● lib. de necess . Refor . Eccles . Lege Humphredum in Puritano Jesuitismus , p. 86 , 87. Acts and Monuments , old Edit . p. 140 2. Judges 6. Gangraena , p. 54 Iraen ad Victor . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Per omnia debemus Ecclesiae Catholicaeunitatem tenere nec in aliquo fidei & veritatis hostibus cedere , S. Cyprianus ad Quirinu●● . Respons . ad versipellem . Haereditarii Christi discipuli . Philip. 2. 9. 1 Cor. 12. Epist . ad Magnum Orator . Romanum . Lib. 1. contr . Iulianum . In lib. de ratione I heologiae . In Apologia pro Galilaeo p. 26. Lib de rationa ver Theologiae In lib. ratio ver . Theolog. Doctor Bramhal Bishop of Derry , p. 194 , 195. Balatus Oviu●● p. 2 , 3. Lusitaniae gemitus , p. 20. Epist . 3. lib. 1. ad Cornel. Theod. l. 2. c. 6. Answ . to Gods Love to mankinde . p. 41. Molo verborum ambiguitates , nolo mihi dici quod & aliter possit intelligi revelata facie gloriam Dei contemplemur , quam'ille simplicitatem v●cat , Ego malitiam interpretor , persuadere mihi vult quod purè credat , pure etiam & loquatur . Ep 61. ad Pannuch . Socr. Eccl. hist . l. 7 c. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Idem codem loco . Socra . l. 7. c. 29. Treatise of Schism . p. 159 Lib. de Script . Eccle. Li 2. adv . Jov. * Tanta fuer● Syllana mala ut nihil addi posse videretur . Non paratur gloaia aliena au●erendo & rapiendo , sed pria dilargiendo . Guev . horolog . l. 1. c. 33. Vixis inter nos non consuetudi●e peregrina sed gravitate . Romana Cassiod . l. 2. ep . 3. In purpurâ sub magna gravitatis superficie nepotatur . Tert. Apol. 4. Lib. de habitu Virg. Disciplina custos spei , retinaculum fidei , dux itineris salutaris , fomes atque nutrimentum bonae indolis magistra virtutis , facit in Christo manere semper . Lib. de ver . Ecc. Reform ratioue . Leges non alia tulit unquam vera Dei Ecclesia nisi qu●e ad retinondum ordinem ad fovendam concordiam ad tuendam disciplinam facerent . 1 Cor. 12. 28. Council of Trent hist . p. 252. Hist . Council Trent p. 159. Epist . 118. ad Januarium . Totum hoc ge●●e rerum liberas habet observationes nec disciplina ulla est i● his melior gravi prudentique Christiano quam us eo modo aga● , quo agere videret Ecclesiam ad qu●●cunque fort● devenerit ; quod enim neque contra fidem , neque contra bonos mor●● inj●●gitur ●●diferenter est babendum & corum inter quos vivitur societate servandum , ego vero de haec s●utentia etiam atque etiam cogitans ita semper habui , tanquam eam coelesti oraculo susceperim . n In Opusc . Conf. Gallic . p. 110. si● in Ep. ad Regem Polon . * In Thesibus de Re●or . Eccl. rat . & in Epist . ad Grindal . o Lib. de Regno Christi . p Ep. 23. ad Grind ▪ Epis . & ep . 12. ad fratris quosdam A●glicanos . q Thes . de notis Eccles . par . 2 d● Thes . 33. r De Papali Monarchia l. 3. c. 14. &c. 5 art . 6. In Respons . ad Versipellem . Hist . Magdeb. i. 3. c. 6. Cent. 5 ▪ c ▪ 6. Tert. lib. 2. ad Vxorem . Vide Aegesippum . Li. 6. adv . Cels . Ds vita Constant . l ▪ 4. c. 17. Cent. 2. c. 6. Cent. 7. c. 6. In Psa . 32. conc . 2. Tom. 8. Socr. l ▪ 6. c. 8. Sanctus Hieronymus adv . Luciferianos . Euseb . de vita Constant . l. 4. c , 63. Sanct. Hyeron . de ▪ Pastoribus To 4. Cent. 6. c. 9. &c. 12. Cent. 2. p. 287. Eus . l. 5. c. 15. To. 7 ▪ in Math. homil ▪ 4. ad ●iu . Acts a●d Mon. Old Ed. p. 1061 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Suidas in verbo ▪ Ar●ani . Numb . 31. 2. Gen. 49. 3 ▪ 4. Lib. 4. de Con●i . ad Eugenium . In his Lect. 23. on 1 Thes . 5. p. 288. Obad. ver . 13. Acts and Mo● . Old Ed p. 1525 Pag. 986. Lam. 1. 31. D. Merick Causabon in Treat . Enthusiasm . p. 77. See Pref. to the Revelation Revealed . Apology for the Ministry , p. 17. Christian Concord . p. 96 Pag. 99. Ep. 50. Bucer . in Resp . ad Hopperum . Scimus quaecunque ad decorem & ordinem pertinent , non habenda esse prohumanis placitis , quia divinitus approbantur , in respons . ad Versipellem . Cent. 5. c. 6. p 361. Goldastus part . 〈◊〉 p. ●9 , 31. Ep. 33. ad Maurit . l. 4. B● Derry of Scisme , p. 161. Dissert . de Imper . Eccles . p. 392. Humphredus in Puritano Jesuitismus , part . 2. p. 354. Goldastus , Tom. 3. p. 571. Lib. 2. de Legatis , Dissert . 29. Nihil vid●o in libro esse descriptum quod non sit ex divinis literis desumptum , si non ad verbum ut Psalmi & lectiones tamen sensu ut sunt collectae . Bucer . in censur . Ord. Ecc. in A●g . p. 456. Vide Bucerum libro de Regno Christi & in Resp. ad Hop . Ep. 39. ad virgines Hermo●enses . Epist . ad Protectorum . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Euseb . de vita Constantini . l. 4. c. 62. Theod. l. 1 c. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Theod. l. 1. c. 4. Lib. 1. c. 14. Socrat. Eccles . Hist. l. 1. c. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Theod. l. c. 14 Euseb . in vita ejus , c. 63. Socrat. l. 1. c. 5. Sozom. l. 1. c. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , loco precitoto . Th●●d . l. 2. c. 31. p. 88. To. 2. l. 2. c. 15. & c. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Theod. l. 4. c. 19. & l. 2. c. 8. Brow●s ann . Q. Eliz. p. 49. See Tertull. Apolog . advers . Gent. Athanasius . In Testam . Politico . Cur ergo non cogeret Ecclesia perditos silios ut redirent , si porditi filij coegerunt alios ut perirent . Ep. 50 ad Bonif. Comit. In Anglorum controversiâ moderationem tenui , cujus me non poenitet . Calv. in Epist . Hollingsh . p. 1007. Super ●efaria haeresi quod multam patientiam geris , & put as Ecclesiae visceribus incubantes tua posse corrigi lenitate , multis sanct is displicet , ne dum paucorum paenitentiam praestolaris , nutrias audaciam perditorum & factio rebustior fiat . Ep. 68. Gen. 25. Mat. 5. 29. Gen. 17. 18. Psa . 74. 7. Mic. 2. 2. Solos credit habendos — Quisque Deos quos ipse colit . Juven . Sat. 15. Sic ●igile● tolera●tia ut non dormiat disciplina . Aug. l. 17 de verb. Apost . Phil. 3. 20. 1 Cor. 9. ult . Nudas latrones non time● ; Quia mori paratus sum ideo latrones non tim●o . Hi●ar . Eremita apud Sanctum Hier. in vita ejus . Monachus in oppido ● was as strange as piseis in arid● . Apolog. 3. adv . Ruffin . p. 798. To. 1. Edi. Par. Faciam ut in sanguine tuo caeteri discant disciplinam , respondisse dicitur Sanctus Cyprianus fiat voluntas Domini . Panam de adversis mundi ille sentit cui & laetitia & gloria omnis in mundo est , ille moeret & deflet , si malè sibi sit in seculo , cui benè non potest esse post seculum . Cyp. contra Demet. Trast . 1 Veteri apud eos obtinente lege , absque negatione non dimitti Christianos , qui semel ad eorum judi●i● protracti essent . Sanct. Hieron . de Script Eccles . Viget apud nos spei robur , & firmitas fidei . & inter ipsas seculi labentis rui●as , erecta mens , & immobilis virtus , & nunquam nisi laeta patientia , & de Deo suo semper anima secura . S. Cyp. Tract . 1 contra Demet. Alias cum Jove dextras j●ngere . Sueton. in vita ejus . p. 16. Fundendo sanguinem & patiendo magis quam faciendo contumelias Christi sundata est Ecclesia p●rsecutionibus crevit Martyrijs coronata est . Ep 62. ad Theo. Quamvis nimius & copiosus noster sit numerus . Ter. Ap. Cypr. contra Demetriad . See History of those of Meridol & Cabriers Acts & Mon. In Apol. c. 30. Precantes sumus pro Imperatoribus , vitam prolixam , Imperium securum , domum tutam exercitus fortes , Senatum fidelem , populum probum orbem quictam . Lib. 7. cap. 14. Vt aut igne humano vindicetur divina secta , aut doleat pati in quo probatur . In Apolog. Moriamur sim●l cum Sancto Episcopo . In vit . Cypr. Cen. 3. l. 6. p. 97. Tra. 3. de simp Praelatorum . Maledic Domine Nazaraeis &c. & e contra . Surv. Western Religion . p. 172. Pag. 566 , 567. B. Salisbury's Reply to Gods Love to mankinde , p. 45. Sixtus Senensis Praef. in l. 5. Biblioth . Sanct. p. 1. & 2. Ardebant veteres tanto flucerae pietatis ardore , ut dum unum errorem omni virium conatu destruere anuituntur , saepe in alterum oppositum errorem vel deciderint vel quodammodo decidisse videantur . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Socr. l. 7. c. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & o. Euseb . l. 1. c. 4. Eus . l. 6. c. 30. tels us , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. Petron. Satyr . Admonebo populares meos , ut illos populares caveant & fugiant qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solent ▪ & fimiarum more blandiuntur , omnesque gestus effingunt , interim tamen v●lut flabella seditionis circumcursant & ubique locorum populum concitant . Humfred . in Ep. Dedicat. ante Puritano Jesuit . Hist . Councel of Trent . p. ●91 Mat. 20. 26. Nunquam ei in Pontificata ita benè fuisse annotari poterit , quin intra privatam vitam consistere , multo malle videretur . Platina de Adriano 6● p. 383. Sic de Pio secundo d. 329. Platina . Platina p. 83. Platina in vita ejus . p. 243. Hist . Councel of Trent . p. 390 395. Holling . p. 159 Quid aliud cunctorum negotiantium vita nisi fraus & perjurium . Salv. Tacitu● Annal. Hollingsh . p. 18 , 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Dion l. 63. p. 717. Psa . 55. 6. De honeribus profiteor , admisi dignitates non ambivi , mereri eas volui prius quam assequi , nee tamen post meritum honores admisissem , nisi ut honorarum Ludovicum . C. Richlieu in Testamento Christiano . Lib. 2. c. 16. Socr. l. 7. c. 12. Judg. 9. Sym. l. 10. c. 15. Invident honori invidcant & oneri . Apud . Salust . Ars prima regni posse te invidiam pati . Seneca Her. Fur. Guil. Parisions . Trebell . Pollio c. 7. p. 257. Edit . Silburg . Epist . ad Vinc. Neminem judicames , aut a jure communionis aliquem , Si diversum senserit , amoventes . Conc. Carthag . de Bapt. Haeret. Job 28. Simplex animal , solle caret , rostro non laedit . S. Bern. Serm. Purific . Isa . 10. 5. Psa . 17. 13. M. Marshall in his Sermon Curse ye Meroz . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Dion l. 68. p. 769. Orat. 14. Exacerbatis utrique animis 3● nihil lene ac moderatum qu erebatur , & non minor insolentia reformatorum quam Pontificiorum severitas & in utrisque petulantia summa visebatur , Dinothus . de bello Belgico . l. 1. c. 46 Hist . Council . Trent . p. 413. Dinothus lib. 1. p. 47. De Conpier . ad Eugen. l. 4. Lib 7. de Gubern . Dei. Vt multa facies sic corda diversa . S t Hyeron . Multa a Philastrio inter hareses numerari quae verè hareses non sunt . Bellarmin . de Script . Eccles . ad ann . 380. Bochartus Geogr . Sacra . p. 71. Isa 5. 8. 10. p. 534 edit . Sylburg . Eccl. 5. 7. Ep. ad Rustic . Hist . Counsel . Trent . p. 289. Preface to S t Tho. Cheeks true subject to the rebell . Nulla est capitalior insustitia quam eorum qui tum cum maximè fallunt , id agunt , ut viri boni esse videuntur . 4. Catilin . Holing shed . p. 42. Counsel Trent . p. 417. S t Bern. 〈◊〉 serm . Serm. 6. Theodor. lector . Collect. Eccles . Hist . l. r. Lavater de Spectris . c. 8. p. 35. Sleidau . l. 9. Lib. de spectris . c. 7. p. 27. See Wilso●● Hist . Great Brit. p. 108 , 109 , 110. Dinothus . l. 1. p. 14. Psal . 19. 13. John Serres in Ann. 1589. Pomponius Latus notes , that Stipatores & ●ustodes Principum iosos principes ad omne genus sevitiae armabant , In Constantio chloro . p. 233. edit . ●lyburgit . Exod. 7. 9 , 10. Sr. Henry W●ston . Edit . Sylburg . p. 534. Tertull. ad Scapulam . Joh. 20. 15. Divinae legis sententils quasi quibusdam velleribus sese obvolventes . Vincent . Lyrinens . Judg. 17. 5. Gen. 41. 20. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 1400. old Edit . In Opuscul in Ca●●ches . parv . O quot manipulos tritici eradicavit , qui ante tempu● Zyzania a tritico discernere festinat . Ex Epist . Leodiens . advers . Paschalem Papam . Vindic. Presbyt . Govern. p. 88. Pastorcsesse bonos vicarios suos Christus jussit non voraces Lupos . Ulricus Huttenus in Praefat. ad Leonem decimam Pontisicem . 1 Pet. 3. 15. Proelect . 4 2 in Apochryp . p. 53. col . 1. Treatise Primit . Pract. Pres . Truth . p. 3. Lib. 1. c. 2. S t Aug. lib. de vera Religione . Neque in confusione pagnerum , neque in purgamentis haereticorum , neque in languore schismaticorum , neque in caecitate Judaeorum , quaereuda est religio , sed apnd eos solos qui christiani eatholici vel orthodoxi nominantur , Id. eod . 〈◊〉 . Salvian . lib. 4. B● Derry in his Treatise of Schisme . p. 38. Lib. de vera Religione . Flavius Vopisc . p. 272. Vt scirct orbis qualis & quantus est Ludovicus , cujus radius & rivus est Richilius . In Testam . Christ . Numb . 23. Knolls in Turk . Hist . p. 337. Edit . 1631. Simulachrum Dei detraxit Suetonius in Octavio . p. 21. Orbis terrarum arbitrium portendi interpretantes , Suetonius in Jul. Caesar . p. 2. Filesac . in Selecter . l. 1. p. 142. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Epist . 57. Mari●a hist . Hisp . ad an . 383 Turk . Hist . p. 364. Conc. of Trent p. 387. Turk . History . p. 294. ad 298. Counsel Trent , Pag. 373. Mercurio de Vittorio Siri To. 2. lib. Terzo . p. 1234. Recueil de Pieces pour la defense de la Reigne M●re , Imprimée a Anvers . An. 1643. In Testam . Poli. Galliam subegit , &c. Angliam turbaevit . Europam lufit . In Testam Contrario in oodem Vittorio Syri . Rarissimus innocentiae & popularitati locus in summa administratione relinquitur . Sabellic . l. 8. c. 2. Scir Germain en Recueil de Pieces . p. 12. De Sacris Cardinal , Comitijs in Thesauro Politico . p. 462. Hollingsh . p. 713 Hollingsh p 917 Browns Annals Q. Eliz. p. 38. Pa. 27. ad finem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Dion . l. 64. p. 732. S. Wa. Rawleigh Pref. to his Hist . of the World. Pomponius Laetus p. 535. Edit . Sylburg . Trebellius Pollio in Claudio . p. 267 Sueton. in Galba Hist . lib. 1. Carior est mibi tota respublica consanguineis . Alex. Severus apud Lamprid. Flavius Vopisc . in A●rel . p. 277. Moderationis tantae fuit ut nemo unquam ab ejus latere submoveretur ut omnibus se blandum effabilemque praeberet . Idem . Pompon . Laetus in titulo de Nemefi Dea. p. 431 Comp. Rom. hist . Prim. Practise Preserv . Truth . p. 58. See M. Fox in his Life . Heb. 13. 16. Judaeos ita addictos esse suis domestacis commodis suae quieti , suis etiam dilicijs , ut cultum Dei fere pro nihilo ducerent . Haec causa est cur tam severè illis succens●at Propheta . Calvin . in loc . De fundationibus Ecclesiarum & dotationibus per principes honorificè loquitur , de rapi●is autem & expilationibus earum per Papas justissimè quaeritur . Humfred . Puritano Jesuitismus . p. 304. B. Andrews Serm Court Christmas day An. 1610. p. 30 Hic Romam deformem incendijs veterib●s ac ruinis permissa si domini deessent aedificandi copiâ , Capitolium aedem Pacis , Claudij monumenta reparavit : multaque nova instituit , per omnes terras , quae jus est Romanum renovatae urbes cultu egregio . Aurel. victor , in Epit. de Vespafian . Prout Imperatores vel boni vel mali evaserint , ita minutebantur vel augebantur aedificia . lib. 6. de gestis Rom. Landatorum principum est , vitia rerumpublicarum plurima extirpare & abolere , & praeclaris pae●riam ornare aedificijs . l. 1. c. 16. Inveni lateritiam reilqui marmoream . Sueton. in octa . p. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . &c. Dion . l. 68 p. 772 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Id. ut supra . Apollonius cum Templum Jovis Olympij essit ingressus , salve inquit bone Jupiter qniusque adeo bonus es ut teipsum nobis communices , Apud Philostratum . Sacrum sacrove commodatum qui rapsit parricida esto . Cicero pro Rosc . Facet & exemplum sacrilegi ophiusam bibere cogantur qua po●a , terrores minasque serpentum observari aiant , ita ut mortem fibi ex metu consciscant . Apud D. ●eatly Dip. dipt p. 214 De Civit. Dei. l. 1. c. 1 , 2 , 3. Lib. 1. de Regno Christi . c. 10. p. 45. Res foeda . turpis , non exponenda sine pudore & illi maximo stupori , urbi universae offendiculo , & Senatui sacro-sanctae affendiculo : Gueu l. 1. c. 18. Xerxes ante Navalem congressionem 4000 armatorum Delphos ad Templum Apollinis diripiendum mifit , quae tota manus nubibus & fulminibus deleta est . Justin hist . l. 2. Ipse & quicunque ex ed direptione aurum attigisset mis●ro , cruciabilique exi●● perierunt . Liv. l. 67. Steph. in verbo . Ecce in Regione nostra Hipponensi quoniam cam Barbari non attigerunt , Clericorum Donatistarum & Circumcellionum latrocinia , sic vastant Ecclesias , ut Barbarorum fortasse facta miliora sunt . Ep. 122. Ecelesiae facultates in alienos usus converti● sacrilegium esse dicunt aessentior . Calvinus ad Carolum quintū de Refor . Eccles . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion . l. 61. ad finem . p. 698. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Theo. hist. Eccles . l. 3. c. 11. Hist . Counc . of Trent . p. 281. Prov. 28. 24. Hollingshi . p. 172. Idem p. 302. E●●e circuite totum mundum , non reperietis tam effraenem licentium in Gentibus qualis inter vos grassatur , Illae enim obsequium aliquod reddunt dijs suis , & sacrilegium illis est abominabile , vos autem me fraudatis : An ago inferior sum Idolis vel deterior est mea conditio quam illoru● . Calv. in loc Cent. 8. cap. 6. p. 224. 1 Chron. 15. 1. Sir Edw. Deering his Speech against taking away Bishops Votes , p. 91. Jer. 6. 14. Praescript . Theol. l. 2. Dubia Evang. 3. p. in Ep. Ded. Beza in vita Calvini prope finem . Frgm Regal . Egregios invitant praemiae more 's . Hinc priscae redeunt artes , foelicibus ind● , Ingeniis aperitur ●ter , dispectaque musae Colla levant . Claud. in Paneg. ●1 . In ●tilicon . Rocks on the Western Coast in Southwales . Par. 1. Vowell p. 78. Mutius in vita ejus . Cent Mag deb . ● . p. 6. p. 226. Lib. de Zelo vet . Ger. Princ. c. 9. Ergo Thersiten , Simonem ●oeteraque prodigia vetustatis & nos benè sci●●● & posteri frequentabunt , Divum Aurelianum , Clarissimum Princip●m , Severissimum Imperatorem , quem totus Romano nomini orbis est restitutus , posteri nescieus . Tiber. apud Vopiscu● . Solus Maecenas vir Clarissimus summè cruditus deque bonis literis & earum cultoribus optimè meritus Musarum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominem virtutum suarum preconem scriptoremve potuit invenire . Meibonius in vita ejus . p. 7. Lege Prefat . ad Lud. liter . Stur . Vt fitio & haeredi suo Conrado Imperium benè ordinatum , & doctis instructum & munitum illorum consilijs possidendum relinqueret . Si quis tantae fit audaciae &c. Cambridge Oxford . Nullae in orbe Christiano vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ha●●nt ad ●●●par●●d●s ecclefia●● minist●●s commoditates quentus Anglia , Bucer . l. 2. c. 6. de Reg. Christi . In my Apolog for Learning and Learned men . Cambridg● . Sanct. Bernadus l. 4. de Go●fr●do Carnol us Episc . Sanctus Hieron , ad Cromatium alios . Oxford . Hollingsh p. 971 F●lic●m igitur hanc domum quae juvandis instituta est literis , cui a teri etiam debentur seculi hujus dotes ? cujus alterius beneficio revocatae ab interitu Graecae pariter ac Latinae sunt litera . Huttonus in Praefat. Vallae ad Leon. 10. Pontif. Roman . Tu ille orbis amor illud humani gencris delicium restorator Pacis , belloru● extinctor , author securitatis , turbarum sedator , Pater studiorum , fomes literarum , opeim ●rum artium , foelicis ingeni●rum cultus reparator . Idem eodem loco . Vittoria Syri Mercur. Suctonius in vita ejus p 9. Edit . Sylburg . Pag. 112. Demosthenes saith well . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stob. Serm. 143. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Demosth . M. Pym Earl of Straffords Case . pag. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Nisi potestas publica esset alter alterum vivum degluitiret . Prov. Hobr. apud Grot. de jure belli & pac . l. 1. p. 92. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Apud Stobaeum Serm. 143. Apelles ex unicae lineae ductu , Solo Protogeni tunoiuit . Plin. l. 37. c. 18. Rom. 2. 14 , 55 Cap. 2. de Synedriis Judaeorum . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Steph. in verbo . Macrob. Satur. l. 1. c. 11. Julius Exuperantius in Opus . de Sylla . Aul Gell. l. 11. c. 18. Seneca cp . 88. ●pist . ad Poll. Ita me ( mi Pollio ) Dij ament Immortales , ita manū in bellis Mavors meam regat , ut qui nostro aevo habetur , &c. Gu●v . cap. 2. p. 9. Hanecine Romam illam esse credis ? Vbi priscis temporibus , & in aurco illo saculo senes erant honoratissimi , &c. p. 15. l. 1. c. 3. In somnum a vigiliis , ab armis ad voluptates , a negotiis ad ociū conversa civitas . l. 3. c. 3. Qui nihil in vita nisi laudandum , &c. Pater . l. 1. de Sc. Aem. Virum in tantil laudandum , in quantùm virtus intelligi potest , & Cato , homo virtuti simillimus & per omnia ingenio Diu quam hominibus propior , qui nunquam rectè . &c. Paterc . p. 37. Vir nobiliissimus eloquentissimus , sanctissimus . p. 28. Vestis aspera , Zona peuic a , cibus locustae melque silvestre . omnia virtutu● continentiae preparata S. Hier. ep . 4. ad Rustic . S. Cypr. ac Heb Virgin , Tert , dr Hab. Mulier . Caput maritis subijcite , & sati● orua●ae eritis , manus lanis occupate pedes domi figite , & plusquam in auro fulgebunt , vefilte vos ser●co probitatis , byssino sanctitatis , purpura pudicitiae , taliter pigmentatae , Deum habebitis amatorem . Lib. de cultu Foeminae . Si quidem meretricia veste faeminae , non matrum familiarum vestitae fuissent . Salmuch . in Paneicoll . li. 1. tit . 45. Perseus Satyr . 3 Vt malè prescinctùm puerū caverent . Sueto . in Julio Ca●sare . Horat. l. 1. Satyr . 11. Merbomius de Maecen . p. 119. Lib. de Coron . Militis . Fallax hostem quum vi superare gloriosiùs duxerant . l. 42. Non fraude neque occultis sed palàm populum Romanum hostes suos ulcisci solere . Nobis non placet praecio aut praemio aut dolis pugnare . lib. 3. c. 9. Malo me fortunae paenitcat quā victoriae pudeat , Curtius v. 4. Sum●a faederum Roma●orū religio est . Florust . 1. c. 6. Nemo human● potestatem nisi qui prius divinam contempsit . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Serm. 142. p. 527. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Idem p. 152. Paterculus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Plutarch . Apot. p. 191. Lib. de Instit . p●erorum ad Magist . Germ. Fox Mon. Old Edit . p. 149. Johan . de Reg. In Epitaph . advers . Zonar . Tom. 3. annal . in Justin . Procopius & Crini●us de hon . disciplin . l. 9. c. 6. Epist . 48. De correct . Donatist . l. 17. l. 5. de Sum. Apol. Hieron 1. advers . Ruffin . Epist . ad Episc . Johan . Hicron . Apol. l. 2. Si quid d●trimenti passa est Religio , ille non intulit qui prohibuit . Car. Richli●us in Testam . Christ . Meibgnius p. 35 Nostris peccatis barbari fortes sunt nostris vitiis Romanus superatur exercitus . S. Hiero. Ep. 3. De morte Nepot . Hist . Councel of Trent . p. 275 ▪ Art. 39. Isa . 8. 20. Non facit Ecclesiastica dignitas Christianum , non omnes Episcopi sunt Episcopi , attendis Petrum , sed & Judam considera ; Stephanam suspicis , sed & Nicholaum respice . Sanctus Hieron . ad Heliod . Ep. 1. Ep. 3. ad Heliod de morte Nepotiani lectione assiduae● & meditatione diuturna pectus suum bibliothe●am fecerat Christi . 13 Eliz. c. 12. 39 Articles . In his letter to K J. against a toleration about the Spanish match . About Anno 1603. Holingshed . p. 1299. Adv. Luciferian ▪ Answ . to the Nonconform . Petition , p 31. Sic sententiam temperasti ut nec simplicibus displiceres , nec tuos offenderes . Sanctus Hyer . de Epiphanio . Nemo urgetur in aspera quae ferre non potest nulli quod recusat imponitur , nec ideo condemnatur a caeteris quod in eis se imitandis fatetur invalidum , charitati virtus , charitati sermo charitati vultus aptetur coitur in unam conspiraturque charitatem hanc violare tanquam Deum netas ducitur . Sanctus Aug. de moribus vest . Eccles . c. 32. & 33. Holingshed p. 1082. Survey London p. 479 , 480. Suttons Hospitals Case . 10. Report . Surv. p. 91. Book Speeches pag. 8. L. Ch. Justice St Johns Arg. E. Strafford . p. 60. Sir. Ed. Cook p. Instit . Instit . p. 224 , 225. & 146 , 147. 3. Instit . p. 79. Hollingsh . p. 456. Pag. 1100. P. about 10 Ed. 4. 1458. 1459. Polidor . Virgil. in R. 3. Hollingshed . par . 1. p. 172. Cook 3. instit . p. 199. S. Bern. l. 3. c. 5. de Consid . Si violandum est jus , &c. aliis rebus pictatem colas . Sueton. in Jul. Caes . p. 6. Edit . Sylburg . Ut optimi status author dicar Sueton. in Ost , p. 24. Edit . Sylburg . Erasm in praef . ad Script . Rom. 1 Thes . 3. 10. See his Life Printed 1641. Vives in praefatione ad vigiliam Scipionis , p 68. Maledicta ista charitas sit quae servatur cum jactura doctrinae fidei , cui omnia cedere debent , charitas , Apostolus , Angelus è Coelo . Lutherus in Ep. ad Galatas . Fox Act. and Mon. Hist . of Merind . and Cabriers . Ad ann . 57. p. 437. Tom. 1. Praeclara Christianitatis lau● estcum nullo habere negotium , quod si ex aliqua vexatione & tentatione lis alicui oriatur curer ut ea transigatur , etiamsi detrimentum pati debeat .