A LETTER From A FRIEND In The country: To a MEMBER In the honourable house Of COMMONS. Printed 1643. A Letter from a Friend in the Country, to a Member of the Honourable House of COMMONS. SIR, I Have had a great conflict within myself, whether as the times stand, I might make bold to writ unto you, or no; not well knowing, how you may take it, or what distaste I may draw upon myself. The sincere charity, which I bear to your Family, urgeth me to speak, but the care of mine own quietness persuadeth silence. Yet considering, that Abigail, a weak woman, gave that counsel to David, which was pleasing to God, and profitable to man; and that it was not one of Davids least honours, that he followed her advice, I have adventured to speak; and I hope, with Abigail in a good season. I know, the dayes are evil, and judgement is like to begin at the house of God; blame me not then, if I proffer you some few Observations, in the midst of your greatest Consultations; especially if I go not beyond my Line. God knows, my intent is, to withhold you from Uzza's sin, 2 Sam. 6 6.7 E●endens Vzza manum suam,& volens arcum retiner●… cum Sacerdos non esset, quoniam cam contingere praesumpsit, extin●…ctusest. Josep● Antiq: l. 7. c, 〈…〉 Ma. 24.9. joh, 16.2. Ib. v. 3. lest perchance you fall into Uzza's punishment. I have heard it spoken, and lamented even by Citizens, and such as are strangers to my blood, that the Clergy were never in the memory of man, in such disrespect, as they are at this present. Indeed if the care had not heard it, the eye cannot choose but see it; in so much that I plainly perceive, that the time is drawing on, whereof our Saviour foretells, that men shall hate us for his name sake, and persecute us; and whosoever killeth us, will think, that he doth God good service. But this shall be done by those, who want the true knowledge of God and his Christ. I question not, but you hold it not onely dangerous, but odious, ●… o. 23.2. ●… ov. 11.21. to follow a multitude to do evil. I shall therefore entreat you to peruse, and weigh well these few considerations. I. The first, that I shall present you with, is that of the Lord, Deut. 17.12. The man, that will do PRESUMTUOUSLY, ●… ar the Lord, ●… honour the ●… riests. Ecc. 7. ●…. and will not harken unto the Priest( that standeth there to minister before the Lord thy God) or unto the judge, that man shall die. II. Of the Apostles and their successors, our Saviour saith, ●… eron. ad ●… arcel. advers. ●… ontan. Chri●… s honoratur ●… servis suis. ●… i apostles promittit di●… us, qui vos re●… it, me recipit, ●… c. Hieron. in ●… pitaph. Luci. ●… jeron. ad Fu●… am. Cypr. ep. ●… n. 7. Salviā. ●… Gubern. Dei ●… 8. Ib▪ He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me. Luk. 10.16. Et apud nos Apostolorum locum Episcopitenent, so S. jerome, In all orthodox Churches, Bishops hold the place of the Apostles. This then is spoken of Bishops, so long as they be Orthodox. Hence is that of the same Father; Illius vita laudanda est, qui VENERATIONI HABET SASERDOTES CHRISI, & non detrahit gradui, PER QUEM FACTUS EST CHRISIANUS. And that of S. Cyprian; Sacerdotes Dei AB EO QUI SACERDOTES FACIT, vindicantur. And that of Salvian, sacrilegii genus est, Dei odisse cultores. And again, Benignissimus ac piissomus Dominus COMMUNEM SIBI CUM SERVIS SUIS & honorem simul,& contumelian facit; nequis cum Laederet Dei servum, hominem tantum a se Laedi arbitraretur. ●… eut. 33.11. III. Consider, that of the Tribe of Levi it is said, bless Lord his substance, and accept the work of his hands. Smite thorough the loins of them, that rise against him, and of them that HATE him, that they rise not again. And this is a true Rule, Plus diligit Deus figuratum, quam figuram: God takes more care of his Church, then he did of the Synagogue. IV. Consider, that both in the Clergy and laity there is a two-fold condition or state. We are members of the Church and State; and so are ye, As we are Members of the State, we are subject to the laws of the Land; and as ye are Members of the Church, ye are subject to the laws of the Church. As the laws of the Land bind us, so long as they affront not the Law of God: so the Laws of the Church bind you, as long as they cross not the Word of God, or the fundamental laws of this kingdom, Dic Ecclesiae, Mat. 18.17 complain to the Church, will reach over all Christians in divers cases. For there are certain causes, that belong to the cognisance of the Church jure Apostolico, by apostolical right, Cod. Afric. Can. 59. that so they may there in the Church courts receive determination. And he that will not hear the Church, that is, the Governours of the Church( by whom she speaks▪ Sit tibi velut Ethnicus& Publicanus, Mat. 18.17. let him be unto thee as an Heathen, or Publican. V. Consider, that matters of faith were, even from the beginning of christianity, decided and settled by Church-men. At the first council, the question of Circumcision was ref●r'd ad Apostolos& Presbyteros, to the Apostles and Priests, Act. 15. ●. or Elders. They are the onely men, that debate and decide the question. And what they resolve on, the Brethren subscribe to. The Canons also of the Church, were always made by Bishops. Apostolos, ide●… Episcopos, D●…minus elegit. Cypr. ep. 65.13. For this cau●… left I thee at Cret, that thou should set in order the things th●… are wanting Ti●. 1.5. Isa. 49.23. There are none made after our Saviours Ascension( in the new Testament) but onely by the Apostles, who in the judgement of all Antiquity were Bishops: and no power given to any, by the Apostles, to make Canons, but onely to those, who were Bishops truly and properly so called, namely to Timothy, and Titus, the one being Bishop of Ephesus, and the other of crete. And thus it continued clean thorough the best and ancientest times. But after it had pleased God to give Kings to be nursing Fathers, and queens to be nursing Mothers to the Church, councils were called by Kings or Empero●s; or at lest by their Licence: and the conclusions or Canons of those councils were by them confirmed made( I say) by Bps. confirmed by Kings. And when spiritual censures would not serve the turn, penal and coercive statutes were made by Kings, to compel their subjects to the observation of these Canons. That matters of Faith were ever referred to Councells of Bishops, is a truth so clear, that no man that hath the least acquaintance with the four first general Councells can make any question hereof. And is it not as plain by the same Councells, that Bishops made Canons also, for the well ordering and governing of the Church? ●… n. council. tom p. 362. Yea the Emperour Marcian, attributed so much to the wisdom and piety of the Bishops in his time, that when he understood of some disorders that were crept in amongst the clergy, and those that professed a monastical life, he would not use his royal power, in making laws for the redress of such disorders: but he complains thereof to the Bishops, gathered together in that great council of Chalcedon, and desires them to provide a remedy for those abuses which was accordingly done by those Fathers, in the third, and in the twentieth Canons of that council. Thus also when Dioscorus, and some other factious Prelates joining with him, had not onely deprived, but degraded two Orthodox Bishops, viz. Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople, ●… agr. l. 2. c 18 and Eusebius of Dorylaea; the Emperour Marcian received their complaints, but put them over to the council, to receive relief, or sentence according to the Canons of the Church. ●… h. 4.11, 12. VI. Consider that our Saviour gave to the Church some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastours and Teachers for the PERFECTING of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ, That we may not be tossed to and fro like children, 〈…〉. v. 14. and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, by the slight and cunning of such men as lye in wait to deceive the simplo, and credulous, and such as are noughty, like our Mother Eve. But there will be this tosseing and deceiving, for all our preaching and writing, if some of these name here by the Apostle, have not power to make laws against such dangerous persons, and authority to put such laws in execution, when they are made. VII. add hereunto that command of S. Paul, Heb. 13.17. Obedite praepositis vestris, obey them, that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves unto them, for they watch for your souls, and in those dayes they had no other Governours that watch●d for their souls health, but only Apostles or Bishops, And if we obey not our Bishops, we shal give an account for our souls, own& not they, if so our souls perish for want of being well governed. VIII. Consider that the very murmuring of the children of Israel against Moses& Aaron, is called rebelling against the Lord. Numb. 14.2.9. because they were the Lords ordinance. Yea, their chiding( or wrangling) with Moses, is termed Rebellion Numb. 20.3.10. And Moses& Aaron were amongst his Priests, Ps. 99.6. IX. Consider that he which justifieth the wicked, Pro. 17.15. and he that condemneth the just, even they both are an ABOMINATION to the Lord: God therefore hath given us two ears, that we might have one at least open for the defendant. Qui judicat aliquid, parte ina●dita altera, Aequum licet statuerit, haud aequus fuit. X. Besides the quality of the accused, as also of the accuser is to be considered, 1 Tim. 5.19. against a Priest( or Elder) an accusation is not to be received without two or three witnesses. Calvin in 1 Tim. 5. 1●. And reason good( saith Calvine) for none lye more open to calumny and detraction, then godly teachers; yea, though they be most exact in their office, and free from blemish, yet shall they hardly escape a thousand slanders, such is the subtlety of Satan, to alienate the minds of men from Gods Ministers, that so the doctrine itself may fall into contempt, yea( saith he) look how much the more sincerely every pastor studies to promote the kingdom of Christ, so much the more is he envied and hated, and so much the more is he assaulted, and persecuted. If a slander be once raised upon him, it is presently taken for true; and he stands convicted in the opinion of the multitude: thus it usually falls out, because the devil stirreth up almost in every man, too too easy a credulity against Ministers; insomuch, that no inquisition at all being made, the people greedily condemn their pastours, whose credit they ought in duty to uphold. S. Paul, therefore hath just cause to oppose himself against this strange injustice, and will not have Priests subjected to the malicious tongues of wicked persors, until they be convicted in a legal course. For, what wonder if they be pestered with enemies whose office it is to reprehend the vices of the time, to oppose themselves to the greedy rapine of all men, and to repress with severity, al those whom they know faulty or offensive. Thus far Calvin, and it is worthy the consideration to observe, whether he be not rather a Prophet, then a Commentator in this place. ●… oncil in Con●… antinop. Can. ●…. Cod. Affric. ●… an 19.128. XI. Consider that it was never held fit, that every man should be admit●ed indifferently to accuse an Orthodox Bishop, indeed if it were a civill or private suite between party and party, such as concerned debt, or fraud, or trespass, or he like, it was lawful for any man without exception, to prefer his bill against a Bishop. But if it were a cause of ecclesiastical cognisance, then was it not lawful for any heretic to accuse a Bishop, ●… mnes servi,& ●… roprii liberti ●… d accusationem ●… n admittan●… r, nec infa●… ae maculis ●… persi, id est, ●… striones, ac ●… rpitudinibus ●… ubjectae perso●… ae, haeretics ●… iam, sieve pa●… any, seu judaei ●… odd. Affric. ●… a●. 129. neither was it lawful for such as profess the true faith, and yet separate themselves from the canonical Bishops, and assemble in private Conventicles, neither was it thought meet, that any such should be admitted, that had been either censured, or deprived, or excommunicated by the Church( whether they were of the clergy or laity) before they had satisfied for their own crimes. In like manner they that were accused of any foul sin, might not be permitted to accuse a Bishop or any other of the clergy, till they had cleared themselves of those objections, wherewith they were charged. But if they were liable to no such just exception, then might they freely prefer their complaints, either against Bishops, or other of the clergy, but after this manner onely. First, they were to exhibit their libel before all the Bishops of that Province, and before them to make their proof: and if it were so, that the Bishops of that Province were not of sufficient power to correct those enormities, then were they to appeal to a greater Synod of that Diocese( as it were now to all the Bishops of the Kings several Dominions) gathered together in a council for that very purpose: neither was their libel or bill to be admitted before they had by bond made themselves liable to the same penalty, or danger, Calumniator tenetur ad pae●…nam talionis. 〈…〉 in c. si quam p●…nituerit. sect●… notandum, 2▪ 3. which was to fall upon the person accused, if so the promoters were found to have dealt injuriously, and to fail in their proof. But if so any man shall scorn this course, and shall molest the Emperour with clamours, or trouble the tribunals of secular Judges, or a general council, with complaints, his accusation is not to be admitted, because he sleights all the Bishops of that Diocese wherein he lives, because he disgraceth the Canons, and overthrows all good order in the Church. This Canon was made by the Fathers of the council of Constantinople, Sozonen. l. 7●… c. 9. An. Dom. 383. confirmed it was by Theodosius the great, council. Const●…tinop. Can. 6 〈…〉 and received by the whole Church of God with full consent, made it was at such a time, when many endeavoured to subvert and confounded all ecclesiastical order, odiously and slanderously traducing the Orthodox Bishops, that governed the Church, feigning strange accusations against them, Cod. Affric. Can 131. Testes eos, q●… accusator de mo suâ prod●… erit, interro●… non placuit, Paulus l. 5. 〈…〉& l. 24. D. intending thereby to blemish the reputation of the clergy and to raise tumults among the people, that lived in peace. For this very cause was this Canon made, and this is worth the observation too. And as none of these may be accusers, neither may they be produced for witnesses against the clergy, nor any that are of the accusers family. ●… aucorum cul●… non praejudi●… t religioni. A●… stolorum fi●… m Judae pro●… tio non de●… u●it. Hieron. ●… vers. Vigilant ●… Gen 18.23. XII. Consider that a whole society, corporation or profession, is not to be condemned, because some few of them be bad. If so, what society or profession can stand? It is Gods own rule, Onus suum unusquisque portabit. Deut. 24.26. Gal. 6.5. Every man must stand upon his own legs, and answer for his own faults. And far be it from the Lord to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked, be that far from the Lord, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? And we must endeavour to be just, as our Father in Heaven is just. ●… h. 6.70. X●II. Consider that if Gods choice be not always good, man may easily mistake: ●… iphan. haer. ●… Nos affectus ●… perturbatio●… s, quàm diu ●… tabernaculo ●… poris hujus ●… bitamus,& ●… gili carne cir●… ndamur, mo●… rari& regere ●… ssumus, ampu●… re non possu●… us Hieron. ad ●… metriad. Tim. 3.2. Tim. 2.2. ●… it. 1.9. God elected Saul to be King over Israel, 1. Sam. 15.1. And yet it repented the Lord, that he had set up Saul to be King, Ib. 5. v. 12. Our Saviour made choice of t●elve Apostles, and one of them was a devil. The Apostles picked out seven Deacons from among the faithful, and one of those seven was author of the Nicolaitan heresy, we must needs therefore confess that we also are men of like passions with you, And yet, let men so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the mysteries of God, 1. Cor. 4.1. XIV. Consider, that S. Paul will have Bishops and Priests apt, and able to teach: and not onely so, but able to convince the gainsayers, and adversaries of the truth. Apt we are many of us( blessed be God) to teach, by those excellent gifts of nature, ●… dia Scriptu●… um& liborum ●… ltitudine,& ●… entio, ac libra●… um sedulita●… uodq, propri●… est, securita●…& ●t●odictā●… m indigent, ●… cron. Marcel. ●… Anapsychiae. ●… ceph. l. o c, 5. which God bestows upon us from the cradle; but able we shall not be to teach, as we should do, or to convince and confounded the adversaries of the truth, unless we prove industrious and learned. Learned we shall not be, without books, and books are not to be had without money. When I●lian therefore took away the means of the Church, he was said, non tam sacerdotes, quam sacerdotium occidere, not so much to slay the Priests, as the Priesthood itself. In truth, it is the ready way to banish learning, Ea est 〈…〉 ingratitudo, 〈…〉 de fovendis ve●…bi ministris n●… multum sit so●…citus;& Sat●… hac arte, tentat●… doctrine â priv●…re Ecclesiam, ●…inopiae& fami●…metu plurimos absterret, ne id oneris suscipian●… Calvin. in 1 Tim. 5.17. Ep●… Latymer Ser 5 before K. Edw●… 6. Luck. 11.52. Mat. 23.13. to unpeople the Universities, to expose us, and the whole kingdom, to contempt, and scorn; what Nation under the sun( to Gods glory be it spoken) hath more learned men of our profession, then this Church of England? But, by heare-s●y, if some may have their wills, we sh●ll not long be guilty of too much learning. For, if such courses be taken, we shall as Bp. Latimer complains, Have nothing but a little ENGLISH DIVINITY, that will bring the realm into very barbarousness, and utter decay of Learning. It is not that I wis( saith he) that will keep out the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome. Thus the key of knowledge shall be taken away; and the kingdom of Heaven shall be shut up against men; that so we may neither go in ourselves, nor suffer others to enter in. God of his mercy preserve us from this dangerous sin. It was the glory of former times, that senators and great States-men became Priests; witness S. Ambrose, Paulinus, Pammachius, Nectarius, and divers other. And it will be the infamy of these later dayes, that none but the refuse of the people will stoop to our contemptible calling. Sublato honore, tollitur virtus. It was Ieroboams sin, to make Priests of the meanest of the people; and this sin was the ruin of his Family, even to destroy it from the face of the earth. 1 King. 13.33.34. Neither is this to speak like a worldling; but with S. Paul to inquire, Who goes a warfare at his own charges? 1 Cor. 9.7. Ib. v. 9. or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Is it lawful to muzzle the mouth of the ox, that treadeth out the corn? Is it lawful to stint him? If we have sown unto you spiritual things, Ib. v. 11. is it a great matter, if we shall reap your worldly things? 1 Tim, 5.18. Is not the labourer worthy of his reward? Will any man of worth labour, where no reward, or but a poor one, is proposed? Their ingratitude therefore( saith Calvine) is not to be endured, who deny sustenance to their Pastors, Calvin. in 1 Tim. 5.18. quibus nullam satis dignam mercedem possunt rependere, to whom they are never able to return a reward answerable to their pains. ●… it. 27.28. XV. Consider, that no DEVOTED THING, that a man devotes( or dedicates) unto the Lord, of all that he hath, both of man, and beast, or of the( Land, or FIELD) of his possession, shall be sold, or redeemed: every devoted thing is MOST HOLY UNTO THE LORD. The Priest may not make it away; neither may the Donor revoke, ●… m 16.37 38 or redeem it. The censers of those sinners, Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, being offered before the Lord, were hallowed. And though they were offered by bad men, and for a bad end; yet might they not be put to any common, or profane use; no certainly, unless it be in case of necessity▪ And, blessed be God, we cannot pretend necessity, in so great plenty. 〈…〉. 5.4: ●… o condemna●… quia post vo●… obtulerunt ●… si sua,& ●… ejus, cvi se●… ea voverant: ●… temque jam ●… alienae sub●… ntiae reserva●… ant. Metuen●… famem, quam ●… ra fides non ●… et, praesen●… meruere ●… dictam, non ●… delitate sen●… tiae, said cor●… tionis exem●… ut paenadu●… m hominum ●… doctrina ●… ltorum Hie●… ad Demetri●… Bezain Act ●…. c. ●… sh. 6.19. ●… sh. 7.24. ●… v. 5. 7.8.25.● odoret in ●… ua. q. 9. From hence, from this Law before recited, it arose, that it was unlawful for Ananias and Saphira, to subtract any part of that, which they had given to God. Beza saith, that it was Sacrilege even in them, to detain that from the Church deceitfully, which themselves had lately given. What is it then in us, to take that from God and the Church, which we never gave them? Nay, which is more; Achan stolen that, which was neither consecrated, nor given, but onely promised to the Lord: and yet it cost him full dearly, even all his substance, and his life, and the lives of all his children, to the utter rooting up of his posterity. Yea, though Achan onely had offended, all Israel suffered for his transgression. For their enemies smote them, and chased them so, that they turned their backs, and fled before their enemies. The reason is given by Theodoret; and this it is. Gods purpose was, both to correct this man for his sin; and to strike a terror into all; that so even they, who are diligent in their own particular to keep Gods commandements, may be careful to reprove others, who transgress the same; otherwise they shall be sure to have a share, in the same punishments, with the offenders. And this is one reason, that hath spurred me on, to writ thus much unto you. XVI. Consider, what curses are laid upon those, Id est, Omn●… consiliorum●…lorum authore qui dixerunt, Haereditate p●…sideamus& 〈…〉 Cassiod. in L●… that do but say, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God into possession. Ps. 88.12.13. &c. He that adviseth any man to do this, doth but attempt the ruin of that mans family. I wish hearty, that you would take the pains, to red Sir Henry Spelman, De non temerandis Ecclesiis, that you may foresee, and avoid that danger, the wise man speaks of; Prov. 20.25 It is a snare to a man, to devour that which is holy; and after vows to make inquiry. XVII. Consider that wonderful observation of Sir Henry Spelman; Nescio, quo fato fit, S. Hen. Spel●… non temeran●… Eccles. sect. 〈…〉 in margin. ut eadem temporis periodo( viz Anno 68.) post ereptas per Nabuc.& Hen. 8. res Templorum, stirps utriusque regia extincta sit, imperium sublatum,& ad aliam gentem devolutum. This Nation hath been shrewdly taxed, Reginald. P●… Eccles. Unit. fens. l. 3. fol.〈…〉 Bellar. Apo●… 6. sect. Tra●…deinde. and our very Religion branded, for that havoc of Church-lands, which was made in K. Hen. VIII. time. And those, that are accounted unfortunate families amongst us, should do well to consider, whether some of their ancestors had not an hand in this spoil. That truly religious, and admirably Learned Prelate Bp. Andrewes professeth, Populari op●… sacras, bon●… omnibus, R●…ante omnes●…plicet. Resp●… ad Bellar. A●… c. 6. sect. ad●… that this havoc was unpleasing to all good men, but especially to K. james. And, that the King was hearty displeased therewith, he manifested to the world, by those his laws made in the beginning of his reign, and in his first Parliament, as I take it: wherein he provided, that the lands of the Church from that time forward, should not be alienated, or passed away, to any Peers, or other of this realm; no, not to his own Sacred Person, or progeny. Reges in eo imitatus. I●… Ad aeterna●…nimae suae●…tem, nomini●… gloriam,& po●…tatis mem●… Herein( saith Bp. Andrewes) he imitated the godly Kings, to the eternal salvation of his soul,& to the endless glory of his name. And shall we fall back to our loathsome vomit? God forbid. XVIII. Magna charta is that, which hath ever been stood upon, for the general good of the Subjects of this realm. We are freeborn Subjects, and not the worst members( I hope) of this kingdom: and we are the first, that are provided for in that great charter, Ecclesia habeat libertates& privilegia sua. 〈…〉 Hen. Spel●… n. de non te●… rand. Eccles. ●… t. 5. These have been confirmed to the Church, by Parliament laws, and by the charters of Kings, with many s●lemn vows and imprecations, against all those, that should at any time attempt to violate the same. As is to be seen in Rastals abridgement. Tit. confirmat 3. And, Sententia lata supper chartas. ●… angelii fra●… jam& ja●… s videbitur ●… majestas, si ●… vit alterius ●… reti novitate ●… erari. Cypr. ●… 30. n. 6. XIX. Consider, that every Law, that is made against the Law of God, is void ipso facto, as soon as it is made; and very dangerous to those that make such laws. XX. It is also worthy the consideration, to behold, how tender that religious Emperor Constantine the Great was of the reputation of all Bishops. For in his time, by reason of those controversies, which were raised by Arius, and maintained by a faction, there arose such a deadly feaud amongst Christians, that not onely Bishop against Bishop, ●… odoret. hist. ●… c. 11 Socrat. ●… c 5. Gelas. ●… ic. l. 2. c. 8. but Lay-men also preferred accusations against Bishops, and gave them into the Emperours hands. The Emperour received them, and presently sealed them up with his own Signet. And when he had laboured a reconciliation, and in part effected it, he took all the accusations, and cast them into the fire, in the presence of the Bishops, protesting deeply, that he had not red one syllable in them. Adding withall, that if he should find a Bishop committing folly with another mans wife, he would cover them with his own purple rob, that no mans eyes might be offended with that sight. He professed also, that it was not fit, that the faults of Priests should be made public; lest taking occasion by this open scandal, they might grow impudent in their sins. ●… as. Cyzic, Ib. Yea( saith Gelasius Cyzicenus) such, so great was the reverence, that good Emperour shewed towards Bishops, that it may induce all those, who are truly wise, to stand in admiration thereof. This great and religious Emperour, S●z●●●●. l. 1 c. 16. thought himself an unmeet person, to judge of Priests, and their actions: But, see how the world is altered; that is become almost every mans profession in these dayes, which that Great Constantine thought unlawful for him to meddle with. I might add hereunto, Theodoret. hi●… l. 1. c. 2. what a charge he laid upon all those Christians, to whom he had committed the government of his several Provinces, to use all Priests honourably, threatening death to any man, that should abuse them, The blessings, Euseb hist. l 1●… c. 1. 2. &c. that were showered down upon this good Emperour, were infinite; he conquered all his enemies, he enlarged the Empire beyond all, that were before him; he supressed all his competitors to the crown; Euseb. de vit●… Constant. Mag●… l. 4. c. 53. he settled the Empire upon his own issue, and he ended his dayes in peace, in a good old age, full of glory, and good works. This also is memorable, Euseb. Ib. l. 1.〈…〉 35. Sozom. l. 〈…〉 c 8. Theodoret his●… l. 1. c. 11. that Constantine the Great was the first Emperour, that gave revenues to the Church, Eosque non tam egentium necessitate, quam sua ipsius magnificentia mensus est, wherein he rather considered his own magnificence, then their wants. And Julian the Apostata was the first, Theodoret. Ib.〈…〉 that robbed the Church of her revenues. XXI. Consider, that in all the Church History we never red, that the Orthodox were persecuted by catholic Christians. But that great Lawyer, my Lord cook tells us, The L. cook R●…ports. part 2. fo. 44. b. Leves●… de Winchester●… case. that it is a more grievous& dangerous persecution, to rob the Church, and spoil spiritual persons of their revenues, whereof they should live; then it is to put spiritual persons to death. The reason. Because( saith he) upon this, in a short time, insu●s great ignorance of true religion, and of the service of God, and thereby great decay of C●●istian profession. For none will apply themselves, or their sons, or any other, that they have in charge, to the study of Divinity; when after long and painful study, they shall have nothing, whereupon to live. So my Lord cook. Latymer. ser. before K. Ed.〈…〉 March 8. ●… 49. Bishop Latymer saw the Church shrewdly shaved, and he complains to King Edward the sixth, that there was a plain intent, to make the Clergy slavery. We the Clergy( saith he) had too much; but that is taken away, and now we have too little. And yet we have been strangely polled, and pulled, since that time. ●… it. 1.8. Tim. 3, 2. S. Paul would have a Bishop to love hospitality, and to be given to it. But how shall they be able to do this, if their means be taken from them? If a Bishop be not given to hospitality, he sinneth, by breaking this command. What then do they, that make him unable to keep hospitality? that enforce him to this sin? XXII. Consider, that no law can be made to the disparagement of Churchmen, but it is against your own kindred, your own flesh and blood, and, perchance, against the seed of your own loins. For who knows, what profession God hath allotted your children unto? besides, it is against the rules of policy to bar your own children, from any one faire and honest course of preferment. XXIII. And is it not worthy our best consideration, to examine sincerely, whether any power in the world can divest, or uncase an orthodox Bishop of that power, which God hath endowed him with? But a Bishop hath power given him by God himself, ●… it. 1.5. to set in order all things in the Church. He hath power given him, over all the Presbyters within his Dioces, 〈…〉 Tim. 1.3. to charge them, that they teach no heterodox, no false, no other doctrine. 〈…〉 Tim. 5.19. ●…. v. 20. ●… it. 1.13. ●… it. 2.15. If there be any complaint against a Priest, or Elder, the Bishop hath power to receive the accusation against him. The Bishop hath power to rebuk that Priest, to rebuk him sharply, ●… pud D. Hie●…. l. 1. ep. 48. and with all authority, if he deserve it. That is, as Theophilus Archbishop of Alexandria interprets it, Prophetica false succidat; which ariseth to no less then Excommunication. If the Preachers teach any undutiful Office, 1 Tim. 6.3. Ib. verse 5. Gravissimè damnatos extra Ec●lesia●… ejicit, ut superbos. Beza in loc. ubi verbi Dei gladio prostrat●… ac vi veritat●… confusi fuerint posse illis ab E●…clesia imperari silentium, et si pergant, salte●… a fidelium com●…munione arcer●…posse. Calvin. in Tit. 1.11. Calvin in Tit. 3.10. the Bishop must withdraw himself from them, that is, cast them out of the Communion of the Church. He must stop the mouths of schismatics and heretics, Tit. 1.1. And after the first and second Admonition reject them, Tit. 3.10. that is, Graviter quasi censoria correctione reprimendi sunt, they are severely to be suppressed with a censorious Correction, not onely by Excommunication, but otherwise, if necessity require; so Calvin upon the place. If any Question be made who this heretic is, that St. Paul speaks of, Calvin resolves us, that not onely he is aimed at, that brings in perverse and erroneous Doctrine, but all Ambitious, refractory, and contentious Persons are also intended, who out of a cross, perverse spirit, trouble the peace of the Church, or rend asunder the unity thereof. Now to what purpose is it, for a Bishop to receive an accusation, against any of these troublesone and schismatical persons? to what purpose is it to reprove and rebuk them? Yea, to what purpose is it to silence, to excommunicate and cast forth of the Church, such refractory and incorrigible persons, if so be they shall still hold their benefice, because they are made a Freehold by the Law? It was julian the Apostata master-piece t●… maintain all factious in R●…ligion, that so b●… might undermine and overthrow the catholic Faith. Sozomen l 5. c. 5. &c. 2● Is not this to nullify the censures of the Church? Is not this to maintain faction in Church and State? Is not this to make voided all Acts of Parliament whatsoever, that have been made against simoniacal Persons, Recusants, and against all such as after subscription shall fall back and preach, or writ, against any of the 39 Articles, or the book of Common Prayer, or the book of Ordination, or any point of Doctrine established by any of the four first General councils. These things are worthy to be considered of. Calvin affirms that in those two Epistles to Timothy, In duabus ad Timotheum Epistolis, quasi●…●… nâ tabulà, de●… ctum habe●… us verum ●… cclesiae Regi●… n. Calvin. ●p. ●… Edvard. So●… erseti Ducem. the Apostle hath set down, as in a Table, the right, the true Government of the Church. But this government of the Church is by Bishops truly and properly so called, as these Epistles, and the Epistle to Titus, manifest. They then that cross this kind of government by Bishops, endeavour to cross the spirit of Christ, and to subvert the true Church government. XXIV. Finally consider, that though the name of dean and Chapter was not known in the primitive Church, yet the thing itself was. We red of Collegium Sacerdotum, a college of Priests, ●… pr Ep. 52. 67● ncil Antioch. ●… n. 24. and this is evident, that circa Episcopum, about or with the Bishop of every diocese, there always lived certain Priests and Deacons: These Priests and Deacons were to bee so thoroughly acquainted with the particular goods, lands, and revenues of that Church, that whensoever the Bishop dyed, or were otherwise removed, none of those goods, lands, or revenues might be embezzled, lost, or alienated. For it is just( saith the Canon) that the goods a●d possessions of the Church should bee preserved for the Church, with all diligence, as also with a good Conscience, and faith towards God, who hath the oversight of all, and judgeth all. ●… ost Can. 40. ●… d Afric. Can. ●… 33. For these goods are {αβγδ}, the Lords possessions, and it is not in the power of man( the case of necessity onely excepted) to sell or waste, or give them away, or to dispose of them to any common use. When I had with no small grief observed the manifold distempers of these times, and laid them to heart, I was much distempered therewith, wondering whither all these tended: but when I called to mind that of S. Paul, that wee must know, 〈…〉 Tim 3.1. that in the last dayes perilous times shall come: I resolved, that this prophesy was now fulfilled: For a man that hath but half an eye may see the whole Rabble, that the Apostle reckons up in the seven next verses, even in the midst of us: but my comfort is, that there bee many living, that shall see also the conclusion of this prophesy, and the confusion of this rabble: for the Apostle assures us, that they shall proceed no further, for their {αβγδ} their folly, their madness, Ib. Verse 9. Amentia. Bez●… their sencelessenesse, shall be manifest unto all men, and then will all men detest them and cast them off. These considerations one after another coming so happily to my mind, I could not but impart them unto you, as a testimony of that true affection which I bear to you and yours: God of his mercy grant, that they may work that effect, which they were intended for; that so both you and I may one day hear with comfort, that Euge bone serve, come my good servant, that delivered'st this good word in due season: come also my good servant, thou that didst harken to this good word, and madest the right use of it, enter, enter both of you into your Masters Joy. This is the Prayer of Your truly affectionate Friend and Kinsman &c. Errata. page. 2 in marg. l. 3, for Priests red Priest. Ib. l. 18. for Christ red Christi. Ib. l. 24. for cont●●eli●● r. ●●nt●●●liam. page. 3. in marg. l. 7. for Cret r. Crete. p. 4. l. 1. for say. r. J say. p. 5. l. 11. for souls own, r. own souls. Ib. l. 16. for N●b. r. Numb. Ib. l. 22. for ina dita, r. inaudita. p. 6. in marg. l. 1. deal in. Ib. l. 2. for he. r. the. FINIS.