THE jury OF INQUISITION De Jure Divino.  
Whether by Divine Right it is lawful to inflict Punishment upon the offending Lordly Bishops yea, or no.  
Printed in the year, That royal was exceeding dear. 1640.   

THE JURY OF INQVISITION DE JURE DIVINO.  
Whether by Divine Right it is lawful to inflict punishment upon the offending Lordly Bishops; yea, or no.  
They who being within the Church, have offended against Faith and discipline; let them knew the rigour of Princes: and let the Princes power establish that discipline, which the distressed Church is not able to execute upon the necks of the proud. Saith Isidorus, in his book of Authority and care of Kings.  
TO inflict punishment upon the offending Lord Bishops is no unholy thing, but is a thing both lawful, just, and right.  

Argument.  The Argument. TO inflict punishment upon evil doers is no unholy thing; But the troublers of the Church and State are evil doers; therefore Lordly Bishops being troublers of the Church and State; it must needs appear that they are evil doers. 
Conclusion.  And so it must needs of consequence follow, that to inflict punishment upon offending Lordly Bishops it is no unholy thing, but lawful, just, and right.  

1.  To prove that it is lawful to punish evil doers, Saint Peter saith, That we ought to submit ourselves to the King,& to the Governors set over us by him for the punishment of evil doers, 1 Pet. 2.13 14. And Saint Paul saith, if thou do that which is evil be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, and a revenger to execute wrath upon that man that doth evil, Rom. 13.4.  

2.  To prove that the troublers of the Church and State are evil doers. The Prophet ieremy saith, that the Lord is against them that prop●esie false dreams, and do tell them, and cause the people to err by their lies, and by their lightness, as it is jeremiah 23.32. And how have our Lordly Bishops and Prelates prophesied false dreams, and endeavoured to corrupt the Church with errors;& by their lies and lightness troubled the whole Land: nay, all the Kings Dominions, from consideration whereof, that saying of Constantine is no more but justice? 
Theodoretus. book 1. cap. 20.  If the Bishops( saith he) move troubles, by my hand they shall be punished, for my hand is the hand of Gods Minister.  

The office of a Bishop.  The office of a Bishop is to teach the people truth; and to instruct them in the ways of peace and love; Therefore our Lordly Bishops who have set up lies and falshoods instead of Truths, and have moved troubles in stead of peace and love? have much abused that holy office unto which they pretend they are called.  

Rason.  The reason( why to inflict punishment upon the offending Lordly Bishops is no unholy thing) is plain: Because the Lordly Bishops are movers of troubles in the Church and State.  

1. How they have troubled the Church.  1. They have been movers of troubles in the Church, both by their establishing of the Popish Ceremonies; and by their Lordly Government.  
By their establishing of Popish Ceremonies; by binding the consciences of men to the observance of them: as setting up of Altars, Images, and Crusifixes, wearing of Surpluses, bowings, Chringings and the like: Of which Saint Paul warned the Colossians to take heed of, saying, beware least any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, 
4. books of Virgins.  and not after Christ. And Saint Ambrose saith, that by good right, we are to condemn all new things that Christ hath not taught, even all such things saith he, and to be judged detestable, and to be defied.  

2.  By their Lordly government, in silensing and punishing holy Ministers, and neglecting and passing by the too great abuses of others, of whom the Prophet Ezekiel speaks( saying) will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley, and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, Ezekiel 13.19. and as the Prophet Malachy speaks, now we call the proud happy, yea they that work wickedness are set up, Malachy, 3.15. It is not long since we might have taken part with Saint Austin in his lamentation, 
In his 119. Epist.  nay the time of comfort doth now consist chiefly in hope; This thing saith he, doth grieve me, that so many things wholsomely commanded in the holy Scriptures, are not regarded, and that our times are full of so many presumptions, that he hath been more sharply punished which with his bare feet hath touched the earth in the octavas, then the drunkards &c.  
II. They have also been movers of troubles in the State, and that both with our neighbour nations, and also among ourselves.  

1. How they have troubled the State.  By troubles with our neighbour nations; in so much that had not God been merciful to us, our land ere this might have been a woeful desolation, with our streets full of blood, and our fields full of dead unburied carcases, whilst wee having our Swords emburde in the blood of our neighbouring united nation of Scotland, and their swords also pierced into our sides; all being the subjects of one King: In the midst of this woeful tragedy, we might have been all surprised by a foreign enemy; witness that great Spanish fleet, with all their munition, wives, and children: But ever blessed bee our good God who hath preserved us.  

2.  By troubles amongst ourselves, by compelling to ungodly, and unlawful oaths, by abuses in their unjust proceedings in their Courts; but we now hope to see these cockatrice eggs crushed to pieces.  
Excellent is that saying of cyril, we travill saith he, 
7. Epistle to Theodosius.  earnestly in this thing above the rest, the ecclesiastical estate may remain sure, in such sort as is seemly for the glory of God, and fit for our times, that it may continue in peace and tranquillity, by common consent without variance, that it may be quiet in ecclesiastical matters, that godly religion may be preserved, and that the life of such as are chosen into the Clergy and Priesthood, may be clear from scandal.  
Let us but consider what the issue of their proceedings might produce; should they have gone on in bringing Popish ceremonies, 
The end of their Ceremonies.  superstition and Idolatry into the Church, as may appear by their jestures, by their ornaments and by their actions.  

1.  By their jestures, in their bowings, and adorations before the Alter, with their faces towards the East, or at the name of Jesus, as if God was enclosed in the Alter; as if the East were fuller of Gods Majesty then the West, or other parts: and as if the name Jesus, was above or before the name of jehovah, all which is Idolatry and superstitious.  

2.  By their ornaments? In that they would make us believe that holinesse is in the surplice, Cap, Tippit, or Cope, above other garments: that the Altar is holier then the rest of the Temple;& that the Temple wales make the people holy. And that these ceremonies our Lordly Bishops and Prelates would have us to worship God, which is nothing but Idolatry and superstition: therefore saith the Prophet jeremiah, Trust ye not in lying words saying, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, are these, jer. 7.4.  

3.  By their actions. In that they assume to themselves Lordly Titles, and rule over other Ministers; which our Saviour Christ reproveth, saying; If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all, mark 9.35. This indeed is the practise of that great Idol of Rome the Pope. But oh that all our Lordly Bishops, and idle Prelates would call to mind that saying of Saint Austin, 
In his 7. Homily.  O brethren most dear( saith he) If the best of men at the last day of Judgement shall scarce be able to give an account for themselves, what shall become of our idle Lordly Bishops, and dumb Prelates; at whose hands so many souls shall then be required?  
These superstitious ceremonies belong to Rome, that great whore of Babylon; but our reformed Churches cannot digest them: It hath been found recorded in the ancient records of London, remaining in Guild-Hall, that when King Lucius sent to Rome to Elutherius the Pope, to know the customs, laws there established; that so the same might be practised here in England, he received this answer: yea may saith he, reject the laws of Rome, but the laws of God can ye not reject; ye have received saith he,( through the grace of God) the laws of God and the Doctrine of th● faith of Christ into your kingdom; you have the old& new Testament in your realm; take out of them by the grace of God,& advice of yourselves a law,& by that law, through Gods assurance rule your realm. But bee you Gods Vicar in that kingdom, but blessed be the Lord who hath put it into the Kings heart so to do, without sending to Rome, for should we now have sent to Rome for laws or discipline, we should have found Elutherius dead, and instead of his grave counsel, nothing but Idolatry and superstition: and if our Lordly Bishops had not such counsel from Rome, I wonder how they met with all their Romish Ceremonies: but now happy is this our kingdom, fince our gracious King doth now advice with his subjects in calling that honourable and happy assembly of Parliament; to establish the laws of this our realm, according to the laws of God written in his holy word, and that since the Pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord, jer. 10.21. our gracious King himself is the true Vicar of God, and maintainer of his holy laws; allowing no laws in his kingdom but the laws of God.  
Yet albeit these profane Prelates, 
In his Coment on Isay 13.13. ( as Calvin saith) would turn and withdraw us from under this government, yet will we hold ourselves fast unto it, because we assuredly know ourselves to belong to it; and leave them to your Majesties further consideration, and to the high and honourable assembly of Parliament.   
FJNJS.