i 
 
-1 
 
 sCf 
 
A-J>V\A/\ f. "7 
 
 A^iAvvaO r - i OWL*** 
 
 * 
 
Hi*f/&Ht:f ffo//rff&tte?j9trsitMf Mff, wot toy itisms cm 
 
 ififrltt faf£t/rtfff,Jt\u> en JiWly tf//i fair few rJZKci/*^ 
 
 'U*<7 
 
 vcAuA Me A^/a'j Slut £& a* y '^hi 7 -di^ifj/u/j Jiuc/iJiJ 
 k^j?an tAtifcCttJe \vfoni 'jfittiJW faifiJiSlC Wl)'lut\\ 
 
 > 
 
 f 
 
.v 
 
 
T H 11 
 PASTOR and the PRELATE* 
 
 O R 
 REFORMATION and CONFORMITIE 
 
 fhonly compared 
 
 By the Word of God, By Antiquity and 
 
 the proceedings of the Ancient Kirk, By the nature 
 and ufe of things indifferent, By the proceedings of our 
 ovvhe Kirk, By the Weill of the Kirk and of the 
 peoples foules , And by the good of the com- 
 monwealth and of our outward eftate: 
 
 The Anfvvcr of the common & chiefefc 
 obje&ion^ againft everie part; 
 
 Jhetoing 
 
 Whether of the two is to be followed 
 
 
 
 by the true Chriftian and -J 
 
 Countrieman. 
 
 Joshua 24. 22. 
 
 ^Andlojhuabfaydunto the people , Tee are fbitnejfes againjl 
 
 y our fe lues, and they fay d, We are ^itnefes. 
 
 But 1 Kings 18. 21. itisfayd , 
 
 And the people anfaeredhimnot a Word. 
 Anno u. dc. xxvixi. 
 
To the Chilian Trader. 
 
 OR no other is this intended : not 
 for him that readeth not , butcafteth , 
 it by, orcloafethhis eies leaft he fee /f> 
 |p trueth, judging of things controver- 
 ted byhisowneconceits,or upon re- 
 port , and not upon tiyall. In either 
 for him that is either fo Antichriftian , that he hath 
 not the patience to reade one page written againfl: 
 Prelates and their Hierarchie, or that is founchri- 
 flian,that his earthly defignesare his higheft inten- 
 tions, &efteemethall motions about religion that 
 crofle him,or comfort him not in thefe,to be either 
 feditious commotions , or nothing butidlements 
 of indifferencie. Butfor him vvhoaboue all things 
 loues to fee the trueth, & aboue all things loueth 
 the trueth, when hehathfeeneit, that is euen for 
 thyfelfe (Chriftian Reader) haue we cntred into 
 this Comparifon ofthe Paftor and Prelate, and at 
 thy hands dovveexfpeft the performance of two 
 chriftian duties: oneis for thy owne good; That 
 thou wilt labour with thine heart for more feel- 
 ing now, then thou had faith at the firft, when it 
 was often foretold from the word of God, and 
 the woefull experience of former times, That thts 
 tranjcendent Hter Archie of Lordly and lording ?r elates , 
 brought in upon the Kirk cfChrift without precept or ex- 
 ample from himfelfe Should proue at lajl the mine of Reli- 
 gion. Now may be feen what was faid before, that 
 a the government of the Kirk and the vvorfhip of iPmbsfi* 
 God are like the twinnes /pokenofby Hippocr. **"' 
 
 A a and 
 
- ■ 
 
 and that the one of them dwynlngaway,&: dying 
 amog us,the whole face of the othcrlookethpale 
 and pitifully proclaymeth(if the crye of our finnes 
 would fuffer us to hear) that religionherfelfisfick 
 at the hatt: for what are the dayly encreafe of old 
 papiftrie.the fpreadinggangre ofnewherefies,the 
 tcoffing at holines in ftead of imitating, the laugh- 
 ing at lin in itead of lamentation , but the unfepa- 
 rable effects of this prelacie,and the ordinarie pra- 
 (Sifes of ourPrelats , theSymptomes of the ficknes 
 of Christian religion,and the caufes of this cloude 
 of wrath, that fo long hangs and hovers aboue us. 
 Coniiderthat (according to Bernard his obfervati- 
 onof thefe blindwyndingftaires thatleade down 
 b gjdd'wn ever- to deftru&ion b) this Hierarchie which in the be- 
 ^JlttlZiIit*. ginning feemed a weight fo infupportable , that 
 uf^clZ^priml t he y vvhotooke it upon them could not hold up 
 tU, importable vi- their faces for fin,and for shame,did appeare foone 
 [ljfii\Z^ u \faf- afterward albeit heavie yettollerable, of heavieit 
 ^:2 became light, oflightinfenfible,ofinfenfible de- 
 po(i^icx>eftnties, l e ft a ble, & of delegable it is at laft become amat- 
 
 vaulo poli nee (en- . r ! ' -r*L 1*1 !'•■•!_ 
 
 r Uts,paub pnftetn ter or glonation. That which was a glone is be- 
 t^tli7/d"- cornea shame, and that which was a f'hame is ac- 
 m!^averfftem. counted a glorie. Of late Minifters could not be 
 strn*rd.adEi%en. found to fill the voyd places of prelacie: now pre- 
 lacies cannot be found to fill the voide hearts of 
 tbc minifters : fo far re haue we turned from that 
 which weeuen now wcre,andin fo few yeeres, 
 that which was nothing els but a rope of di(grace, 
 is wonderfully changed into a chaine ofpride. 
 As thou loveftjefus Chrift, and thine ownefoule, 
 and would be loath to communicate in all the 
 finnes,and toinvolue thy felf into the guiltines of 
 
 all 
 
■PVW h^MiK f 
 
 all the evils that this Prclacic hath produced : 
 take heede that thyne eye be not dascled with 
 the vernice and fplendor that the world hath put 
 upon it (for in fubftance it is the lame it was at the 
 beginning, and in the fruits hath proved far vvorfc 
 then at thefirft was feared ) labour ro keepe thy 
 judgement found and affection finccre, dill think- 
 ing of the painfull Paftor and proud prelate , as 
 they were thought on lince the reformation , and 
 praying to God, as good men did ofoldjn the cor- v™Z>hium }*»- 
 nipt times of the Kirk, c That he would put to his J^f#&£ 
 hand,& purge his vineyard, That he would whip ^t£j^2 
 buyers and fellers out of his Temple: That he umpu *»«/«*• 
 would ftrike Giezites with Leprotic, and that he Jltl^ 
 would brine; low fuchSimonites as now are fo *" mUa "™* m 
 high, beinghfted up by the miniftene or Satan. mpus******. 
 Another Chriftian dutie (Chriftian Reader) we 7lUl xm g"c£Z 
 exped at thyne hands, for the good of the %2£Si'JZ, 
 Kirk , That vvhatlpever be thy place , higher or '«• sat*^ mi. 
 
 1 r | c g- J * i . i m° • ft • nisterioin extt urn 
 
 ower , farther,, ^5r nearer unto his Majefties tuv^-nude*** 
 
 perfon, who gladly would acquainte his Ma- SiS^E" * 
 
 jeftie particularly with the eftate of the Kirk, 
 
 in his Majefties Kingdome of Scotland, 
 
 as what it was once , what it might haue been 
 
 before this time, what it is become of late, 
 
 and what it is like to be ere long : But either 
 
 can not for vvante of occafion , or dare not 
 
 for awe of the Prelates, vvhofe courting is 
 
 more to be feared then theire curfing : That 
 
 thou would doe what thou may to make this 
 
 following Trcatife comcto his Majefties hards : 
 
 for wee his Majefties loving people of Scotland dfyM*« 
 
 who J both louehisMajefticspeiiba and Croune, JSJJEm! 
 
 A j acknovv- 
 
acknowledging the dune we owe to his Majefty, 
 commanded in the firft Commandement after the 
 firft Table, to come neareftunto that religion and 
 piety, whereby we worfhip Godhimfelfe, e vvho 
 neither loueSchifmes in the Kirk , nor vvittie re- 
 concilements of trueth and error, but would keep 
 the trueth in peace, vvhoneytherare Puritanes, 
 nor Brownifts, nor Anabaptifts , nor feditious, as 
 men calumniate: butProfeffors of the Religion as 
 it was at the firft reformed amongft us, and as it 
 hath furnished unto us all the hope that we haue 
 ofeternall happines, wewouldshevve his graci- 
 ous Majeftie,that according to the faying of Salo- 
 mon, Whenthe righteous are in authoritie the people re- 
 ioyce.drc. f Our hearts were filled with joy, and 
 our mouthes with laughter , when at the firft be- 
 ginnings of hisraigne,vve did not onelyheare the 
 fame of his princely Inclination to equitie & righ- 
 teousjudgmet, butdidperceiuethe nobleproofes 
 thereof, in trying the trueth of things controver- 
 ted, whilehis Majeftie, with that worthy King, 
 kept ftilloneeare shut for the other partie,& with 
 that wyfer King, when he declared that the wife- 
 dome of God was in him to do judgment, would 
 haue both parties to ftand before him at once, 
 *hathearingboth,theymightfpeede beft,and goe 
 out tpoft chearfull from his Majefties face , who 
 had the beft caufe. By this we were confident, 
 that his Throneshould beeftablished,theNations 
 fweyedby hisScepter exalted,&:our caufe, which 
 is no mans particular, but Chnfts ovvne caufe, 
 should be heard at laft , and righteoufly determi- 
 ned, that everie thing in the houfe of the God of 
 
 heaueo. 
 
heauen might be done after the will of the God of 
 heauen, then which there can be nothing more 
 reaibnable,andwhich.istbefumme of all our de- 
 fires. Our adverfaries upon the comrade, out of 
 the experience they finde of his Majefties difpofi- 
 tion tocquitie, &: out of the confcience they haue 
 of the iniquitie ofthecaufe that they maintaine, 
 onely becaufe it maintaineth their greatnes , haue 
 ufedall meanes to prevent his cryall , haue flopped 
 fofarre as may be,all vvaies of information, & (ac- 
 cording to the craftie counfell giuen to Pericles) 
 not being s able to make account,haue done what i^l'JJ/?"', 
 they can, that th y be not called to account- When rS^r 
 Commiffioners were to goe to his Majettie , they Z^ZJ^iZ): 
 would haue none but their owne, & when fbme Sjft* ; "*'"' 
 that were not their owne were chofen by a meet- ?«"»*w*;»r*- 
 
 • /* i v • « t 11 i t tianem non reddv. 
 
 ingorthe Kirk, they would not haue them to goe. v0Ur.1un.Gk4f 
 which hath made us after long waiting in filence **' 2 * 
 and many eflayes to refolue in ende , there being 
 no other way left unto us, with allfubmiflion of 
 minde, to fend up our Paftor and Prelate in print , 
 who haue been impeded by the Prelates to come 
 together in perfon. Neither can it offend the Pre- 
 late, that the Paftor fpeak the trueth this onetime 
 for himfelfe and the Prelate , fince the Prelate fa 
 many times hath fpoken his pleafure for both. Our 
 filence and ceaflng in the caufe would giue great- 
 eft worldly eafe to our fclues, and greateft con- 
 tentment to our adverfaries, who now Crye no- hSi/mmmmmml 
 thing but pcace,peace, that is, a peaceable pofTef- "f^tE^E 
 lion of their honours and wealth, and a cruell op- <Ht p nm t mm ^ 
 preffionof their brethren. h But withall would S^^iT. 
 proue us, to be unfaythfull.both to our God, and x ^^; HuT9n ' 
 
 to our 
 
to our King, for befide the obligation that is com- 
 mune to us with other reformed Kirks , we Hand 
 bound by lolemne oath, covenant and fubfcripti- 
 on,published to the world, to defend the do&rin 
 and discipline of this Kirk , and tooppofe theHie- 
 rarchie , and all rites and ceremonies added to the 
 worship of God. Silence in fiich acaufe may be 
 finneto other Kirks, but to us it is perjurie in the 
 fight of God, and would alfo proue us unfaithfull 
 to our King. For howfoever the Prelates prof efTe 
 in publick, That no Ceremonie no Bishop , no Bishop no 
 King) and doe fuggeft in feeret the fervice that 
 they can doe to Monarchic-, they doe but minde 
 themfelues, and their ovvne Idoll. That govern- 
 ment of theKirk is moft ufefull for kings and king- 
 domes, which is beft warranted by the Word of 
 God, by whom Kings reigne, and kingdomesare 
 eftablished. The pillarsof his Majcfties Throne 
 are of Gods own making, Religion upon the right 
 hand, &: Righteoufnes upon the left. Thepompe 
 of Ceremonies, and pride ofprelaeie are pillars ar- 
 tificially wrought by the witteof man, for fetting 
 up and fupporting the Popes tyranny, No ceremony 
 no Prelate^ no Prelate no Pope. When his Majcfties 
 vvifedome hath Searched all thdTe-creitis of this 
 controverfie, let us be reputed ythevvorft of all 
 men, let us all be cenfured, (ilenced, confined , de- 
 prived or exiled, as fome of us are, andhauebeene 
 for a long time.If the caufethat we maintain shall 
 be found any other , but that we defire that God 
 be f ervcd,& his houfe rul ed according to his ovvne 
 will, and if it shall not be found, that theKirk of 
 God perfedin order, and office-bearers without 
 
 Prelates 
 
Prelates and their ceremonies, may be governed up- 
 on afmall part of their great rents , with more ho- 
 nour to God, with more heartie obedience [to the 
 Kings Majeftie, with greater riches andglorie to the 
 Crowne, with greater contentment to the body of 
 the whole kirk &kingdome, greater peace amongft 
 our felues,and greater terror toSatan & all his traine 
 ofherefie,prophanefleand perfecution, as we shall 
 be ready to demonftrate particularly (if this which 
 followethbenotfufficient) whenibever his Maje- 
 ftie shall be pleafed to require : and which we arc 
 afTured his Majeftie wilperceiue upon fraall confi- 
 deration, for aminde inclined by divine power to 
 religion and pietie, will*efca??irft fight difcerne, & 
 bepoflefledwithrheloue of theheauenly beautic 
 of the houfe ofGod,they both proceeding from the 
 famefpirit. Godalfufficientbleflehis Majeftieboth 
 in peace and warre,both in religion & juftice , with 
 fuchfuccefTe, as may befeene euen by the envious 
 eye of the enemy, to be from the finger and favour 
 of God, and may alfo make hishappie gouvernment 
 tobeamatterofgratulationtothe Godly, and to be 
 admired and remembred by the pofteritie , as the 
 meafure and example oftheirdefires, when they 
 shall be wishing for a religious and righteous 
 King- 
 
 Wrmxt THE 
 
#^f Jm s$« ?§#§ ?§«a J§#§t ^ 
 
 The forme of wor- 
 ship , and govern- 
 ment,to be learned 
 from the Word. 
 
 THE FIR ST P ART. 
 
 The Paftor & Prelate compared 
 by the Word of God. 
 
 Hat the Worship of God &the Government 
 of the Kirk, which is the houfe of God,are to 
 be learned out ofhis ovvn , Word:it isa trueth 
 againft the which the gates ofHell shall never 
 prevaile. For we ought togiue this glorie to 
 God,thatallhis bookes are full, and written 
 on both fides; as the bookeofnature , the booke of provi- 
 dence, and the bookc of confeience is perfect, foalfo the fcri- 
 ptute, which is the bookeofgrace,is perfect. We ought to 
 giue this glorie to the fonne of God : that as he is a petfect 
 high Prieft for reconciliation, he is alfo a perfeel: Prophet for 
 revelation 5 anda perfect King and lawgiver for ruling ofhis 
 owne KirJc and kingdome. We ought alfo to giue this glo- 
 rieto the Spirit of God, that as he purpofed to fetdowne a 
 Co venant,a Teftament,and a perfeel: Canon , fo in fulnes of 
 Wifedomehe hath performed his purpofe."We ought hum- 
 bly to acknowledge,that the Kirk hath no po\v r er('whethcr 
 by tranftation of divine ordinances from the old to the new 
 Teftamenr,under pretext of pictie , or by imitation of the e- 
 nemie,fecme it never fo charitable, or by mans invention let 
 it appeare never fo plauflblej to make new lawes, or to infti- 
 . L 7. . ^ tute any new office or office- bearer,anyminifter, or part of 
 
 Vhat then is the . . n J . . . . r r ^ . ' . ' , . . , * 
 
 irkspart. miniftration in the houfe of God. a But that it is her parte 
 
 Iii d u tir utu t0 ^ ee l ^ c ^^c>f God obeyed, and to appoint Canons and 
 tguia adtquita- Conllitutions, for the orderly and decent difpofing of things 
 
 Z? t Z'ri, Bodint " before infticucci We call here the Prelates and &&ms of 
 
 Conformi- 
 
If 
 
 ^r: hum 
 alii 
 
 Conforming to a threefold consideration. First, that they ™ e ^ong*hc 
 agree not amongft themfclues about the matters in queftion: Woes. 
 fcfomc of them affirming, that their Hierarchic is warranted fdfuZm^X 
 by divineauthoritie; others confefling, it is oncly byancient % te *j? 
 cuftome: and a third fort defending neither of the two, but notantlm 
 thatitis Apoftolick. Againe fomc of them make the forme SjSj^fifl 
 of Kirk government to be univcrfall and perpetuall , others —<*»** »*•<> < 
 holding it to be conformable to civill policie, as if man might ^j^u^mmM 
 prefcribe unto God, what forme ofgoyernment is fitted for nf«emmmt^m 
 his houfeifor that which is highly eftcemed amongft men, is tmwimmmt\ 
 abhominationin the fight of God, He that hath thefeauen lc c m ' ut cx r \ Iu r e!L 
 eyes feetn better in his owne matter then man that lecthno- Dowamo, Barit 
 thing but by his light. Wifedome that hath built her houfe, rf^iZlt 
 and hewed out her fcuen pillars , can not be content that **&*» fit* e 
 mans wifedome should devife and hewe out theeightpii- ""'"*" 
 lar. Secondly, they fhouldconfidcr,that the arguments Theyhaitbetwd 
 and anfwers that we giue to them againft their Hierarchic Sc twr 
 ceremonies, are the lame that they ar forced to ufein defence 
 of the trueth agJnft the Papifts .-and the anfwers and argu- 
 ments that the Papifts giue them for traditions, for the Popes 
 monarchie,and for their will- Worship , they are forced to 
 ufe them againft us in defence of their caufe.-reftingthus in 
 their lukewarmnefle, &c halting betwixt two, for the loue 
 of the world. Which hath made the Papifts to fay ,that the 
 Prelates disputing againfl: them are Puritanes,& while they 
 difputc againft the Puritanes they are Papifts, & turne to their Jnew c^in 
 fide. Thi rdly, they fhould consider, that the forme of bw- 
 Government, and divine ceremoniesunder the Law, were fiMtfimS^SJi 
 not removed to giue place to the inventions of man under i»tett*tm mortw^ 
 the Gofpel. 'What is bell de the particular precepts of God 'himtmml'&j^ 
 inScripturejs againft the generallCommandement: Tboushalt T r r '™ e - rt T ^ m r f' 
 not adde tothe Wordjhat 1 bauecommanded,8cc. Andthereforclct cmttndititr d-iZ 
 us fay vvithAuguftine: Q Weart br ethr en, why ftriue we y Our father r ^£ji™c t 
 died not intejlate, but made a Teslament, and dyed and rofe againe : The t*m f »/**(»« in 
 father lyeth in thegraue without fence , and yet his words are in force , u^Z/um/uZ 
 Chrifl fittcth in heauen^and IwTeslament is contradicted on earth, let it be ril ptUnim i» r »- 
 
 B i read eye. mtM*4p«i*n~ 
 
 tur,&rtcitcntHf, Index intentw^Hdir/advoQatiJilff^r^ona JiUntiwfhtmnf,<?Q, *i»g*.in rfiLi i - 
 

 md&c: Let the Paftor and the Prelate be prefen tec! before 
 theLavvandTcftimonic Let the authoritic of the one and 
 the other be podered, not in the weights of worldly avarice 
 and ambition, but in the ballance ofthe San&uarie , and let 
 ns meafure their callings and cariage, not by thecordeof the 
 Canon Law, but by the golden reede of the Temple, & vye 
 shall foone fee,whetherofthetvvo hath warrant fro God. 
 
 rheperpemallnd > ■ \ Jj , E , PA ? T(XR acknowledge* no offices -in the 
 be officebearers I Kirk,arter the extraordinane or theApoftles, Prophets 
 tithe Kirk. f & Evangelifts,but the ordinarie rfof Paftors^eachers,, 
 
 l^i Count. 1 2.2$. H Elders and Deacons,appointed by Chrift , as fufficient 
 
 for the Weill of the Kirk,and of everie member there- 
 of in all things ipirituall and temporal!. 
 
 The P R^E LA T Efetteth up one bierarchie of Archbishops & Lord- 
 bishops: having for the head the Roman Antichrifl,andfor the traine Suf- 
 fr Agones, Dearies, Archdeacons, Officials (Sic. never named in Scripture , 
 No difference in nor kpoivne in the purer tymes of the Kirl^, againfl the weill ofthe Kjrl^, 
 .Scripture between and of every member thereof, both in things jpirituatt and'temporall. 
 a p.\{tor & a Bish. 2. The PASTOR, according to the Scripture , putteth 
 ^JptiUcVa'i d difference betwixt the names of the Office-bearers in the New- 
 Z.& 14. becaufih'e Teftament, e never calling the ordinarie by the name of the ex- 
 xfm 4,, lApoftu m traordinarie, nor the inferior by, the name of the fuperior, as the 
 l ^uwo T %c"r% Paftor b Y the name of the Apoftle or Evangelift : but never put- 
 z^'andEpaphrodt'- tetn difference at all betwixt a Paftor and a Bishop: making eve- 
 ttujhhi.2. 25 . are rie Paftor to be a Bishop , and taking the Paftor and Bishop al- 
 
 Tf l if zr^z waies for one - 
 
 %&. ao .18 f . vhK 1 : The P R^E LA T E maketha confufion of names, that he may put him- 
 i?Ks}fe'fji£ felfi in the place of the Apoflle,ds thePope will be in the place of Chris! -.but 
 »»»<;orBi ."put the azoinsJ all Scripture will make fo great difference betwixt a pallor and a 
 
 Word that fignifies the ,^ . , , / .„ , ~ J r, 6 i JJ t>. . i . r t f t i- 
 
 wder.tpet.M.2. bishop, that he wtllhaue no Pastor to be a Bishop, and that there be no bi- 
 3£,a5£K 'h"f but the Prelate. 
 
 J".X?j h <Mae£'I? 3- The PASTOR can fee no /Lord Bishop in Scripture, 
 »4?««e«ra« , «*t«- but the Lords Bishop oncJy , a name of labour and diligence, 6c 
 
 I f;7beto' b iewo?d"« not of nonour ancl cafe. 
 
 a*L .ThatTLnT- T£* P /^ E JL ^4 T E willadmitt no other bishop but a Lordbi- 
 ' w^ranfe , H°to'ki 1 n i K c s h s ^°pytvhich he hath made a name of honour and eafe without labour or di- 
 
 | -*vhich the foni of Ze- HqCnCC . 
 
 | wbu" "hi : Apoftj« 4. The PASTOR is a bishop fet over a flock , in refpeel: 
 
 I So B?.o?Bishops, wherof he is- called a Bishop, g & not in relatio to other Paftors. 
 
 or naftors in Scrip. The P RE LATE fetteth Umfelfe as a Bishop over payors, and in re- 
 
 fhij. l4 ..»p«>t. fleet. 
 
If 
 
 Jp eft of them ts catted a Bisbop,dnd not in relation to any flock. 
 
 5-. The P A S T O R is fet over a b particular flock, that may EveryPaftonn fa 
 convene together in one place, amongft who he is to exercife the CJS^ 1 l flS" 
 whole paits of theminifterie,as preaching,prayer,miniftration of none is without 
 the facraments & difcipJine,according to the truft committed to flock . nor viha 
 him by the Son of God,in whofe name he is Embaflador,fr6 who fvJJk of i»dea 
 he deriveth his power,on who he depeds in th'cxercife of his mi- G/iM.lV/^r'w 
 nifterie,&: to who he muft be coutable,& to no other Paft.orBif. G*U$is gal 
 
 The P RELATE both ordeyneth Pastors at large,without afignaio ^^^JJj'Jj 
 of a particular flocI^( as if be were either waking Mafters of Art & doctors "nUbtr of multitude 
 efphifick^or as if ordination should goe before election, which is as abfrrde, a* fir ^Act.y. j3 . it 
 as Hr ft to crow fie a kin?, or in flail a magistrate, & then to choofe him) and ujpoke of the whole 
 
 r l 1 ■ r ir- 6 a ^ t 1 • e* f l nation of the leiret 
 
 fetteth himfelfas a proper pastor over a whole province ',£2 over many kirks in the ] r n ( i„ n ejfe 
 in divers provinces, as well of thofe that he never faw, as of that where his camping about ihe 
 feate is,efteeming the pastors to be but his helpers & Substitutes, as having *rke. 
 their power from him, being obliged to render accounte to him, and whom 
 he may continew and dijplace at his pleaftire. 
 
 6. The P A S T O R, w.rh his felloe presbyters, as he ispur ™2$%*t 
 in truft with the preaching or the word , and miniftration of the - n,which the pre- 
 facraments, hath received alio of Chrift the power of ordination late appropriated. 
 of Pallors, i where presbyterie never ufed in the new Teftament do\h\VAM« y Vw 
 to fignifie the office of priellhood or order of a presbyter, can be E^^ffirtd 
 no other thing but the perfons, or company or naftors laying on JJSb^I^iiKj 
 their hands, and that not onely for content, but for confecration, I % e /-"i le 2Ti p r ;^ 
 of which number any one may pronounce the words of bleiTing. InnMfe dwyeth td 
 
 The P B^E L.for the honour of *h* priefthood, that is, out of his ambi- £TJ£«ibytar, a bat th* 
 ' tioushumour,takcththepowerofordeyningpaftorstohimfelfe : denying ^f £f5S«S«3 
 that a wIjoU presbyterie without him may otdaine apaftor ; excepting the %J**£ciJhm!£ 
 cafe ofextreame neceffitie, as women are admitted to baptife- y wherefy in a a<™ eccllfu d ^^ 5 
 tnaner he calleth in queflion the lawfulnes of our miniflerie , thejefixty bJwrfcpiTepifcopo* 
 yeeres paft, fince the reformation . Uc'SSSattfe ' S" ' 
 
 7. The P A S T O R hath committed to hfm by Jefus Chrift Jgjf X" IuD " 
 not onely the keyes of the inward &. private court of confeience, The raft, hath tin 
 but alfo of the outward and publick court of ^jurifdiclion , for P ower rf J"5J f<fi £ 
 decyding controverlies,making of conftitutions,and inflicting of palate ufarpethsc 1 
 cenfures , they being both but one 6c the fame power of binding appropriated, 
 and Ioofing. He hath the shephards ftaffc in his hand , afwell as j^tJf£.Sr!Jjfi! 
 the Shephcards pype at his mouth. rV\'V* Kl^'S 
 
 The P B^E L. keepeth the ftaffc in his owne hand , and arrogateth to HA.ij.'i 7. 
 himfelfe, euen amongst them who never heard him , allfower ofjurifdi- 
 ition (whether 1 Domgaticl^,DiataHicl^, or Cryticl^ as it is distinguished) mfie^mffinj i^cSj 
 which the Apoftles themfelues,notwithftanding their extraordinarie gifts, 
 would never doc, but %n all the fe parts ofjurifdiction beloved themfdues at 
 fresbytcrs. 
 
 B 3 8. The 
 
 n< n« tor order.or cc«» 
 
 fun ii" of offetHC 
 
No Rich majoritie 8. The Paftor, findeth it to be fb far againft the word of God 
 power of one to claime any authoritie over his brethren, that albeit there be a 
 ffherTasthePrdSte divine order in the Kirk,whereby there is one kinde of Minifte- 
 [claimeth. rie, both ordinarie and extraordinarie , in degree and dignitie 
 
 before another, as the Apoftles before all others , the Paftor be- 
 |m By fcripture no f ore t j ie Eid er an( j Deacon, m yet he can finde no Minifter ordi- 
 WefanotZ/^Z nar * e . or extraordinarie , that hath any majoritie of power over 
 file , nor Evange- other inferior Minifters of another kinde : as the Paftor over the 
 lid over another Elder and Deacon , faire Iefle over other Minifters of the fame 
 T'fve'r anlthe'r kinde, a s the Paftor or Bishop over the Paftor. 
 ier, nor Deacon The Prelate findeth it to bejb fane againft his place to quite his autbo- 
 r another Dea- ritie over his brethren, that albeit he hath no ivarratfor any other kind, of 
 quail. Ht a Ure € " degree ofMinifterie then the Paftor , yet he ufurpctb majoritie of power 
 over Paftor s, and taketh upon him, both diretlion and correction, and that 
 notfociall, but authoritatiue, to bcate them at his pleafure. 
 The Paftor med- 9. The Paftor is feparate from the n World to the Kingdome 
 iers I M Wi £ m h" °- f thrift, which is not of this World : He will not be called gra- 
 ^•e^risrnor^in CI0US Lord, nor ftriue for the right hand or the left , he should 
 he world, then a- not follow the pomp of the worId,but muft shine in knowledge, 
 Dut chrift. diligence,and godly fimplicitie: he may not afllime an other ec- 
 
 A.Tzlch.\^}i 7 clefiaftkal office,far leffe take upon him a fecular charge:he may 
 Matth.i$.6. !.«<. not divide the inheritance, nor burden himfelfe with worldly af- 
 9-f9- <^i2. 13. faires. 
 
 ' t 5 ^a% It.Rom Tbe Pre ^ te ^ feparate from theKjngdome of Chrift, (3 thrufteth bim- 
 1.1.2 Tim.'z.q. ' felfe into the throng of the World, he would be called My Lord, and Your 
 Grace, and without rejpefi of age orgiftes, prefcrreth himfelfe to the moJi 
 reverend Paftors: He robbeth the nobilitie and Magiftrates of their places 
 and dignites, aud willhaue his Cufchion, his Coach, and his courtly traine. 
 He is a Lord of Parliament of 'Counfdl and Jcfiion, a Barone, a Steward , 
 a Iudge of chill and criminall caufes :& why not Bishop of the order of the 
 Garter? and Count Palatinc,that at laft he may haue both [words, and the 
 triple Crowne , as the Abimelech-Uke brambles of the world haue done be- 
 fore. 
 
 1 o. The Paftor taketh the fumme and. formes of prayer from 
 the directions of God, from the Lords prayer, &. from the pray- 
 ers of the godly in diverfe places of Scripture , the particular ar- 
 guments & petitions from the prefent purpofes,perfons, places,, 
 times, and occalions , which as the mouth of the congregation , 
 according unto the pace giuen unto him from the H.Ghoft , he 
 prefenteth before the throne of God the Father in the name of 
 lefus Chrift. 
 
 The Prelate would tyc the Paftor, albeit he had the tounge of an angeff, 
 and occafions never fb contrarie, to certaine words, and afetforme ofLei- 
 tonrgie 7 and would divide the pr Ay ex betwixt Paftor and people , and ly 
 
 many 
 
 The Paftor &pre- 
 lats forme of pray- 
 er. 
 
 o Mat. 6. 7.8.9. 
 &c. Luke 11. 1, 
 Exod.32.1 i.%m 
 14.13. ^chz. j. 
 
1^^— — — 1 
 
 many idle repetitions, Would bring both Paftor and people under the guil- 
 
 titles ofvaine balling, and popish fuperslition. T S pr ? Ch ' R *' I 
 
 1 1. The Paftor thinketh it the principal! part of his miniftc- ^q.^'.] c?r?i'.aiB 
 rie to labour in the word & doctrine, becaufe p woe is unto him i Cor. 9 . \6\ r. : . 
 if he preach not the gofpel. And when he preacheth he will haue 4-ii« 2 w-w* 
 Gods Word onely to founde in his owne noufe, reading nothing l or ' 3,12, c * 
 but the Canonicall text , & comparing Scripture with Scripture Mufick. 
 
 for edification, that he may faue himfelfe 6c thofe that hear him. q i Chre*. 29. iJ 
 
 The Prelate thinketh of preaching as acccfforie,& would haue it worne ^? r in the s J n *' 
 
 tut ofufeby alongdcadleitourgie. In reading he would haue no differ {JEJL, &f"r\\*r 
 
 rence betwixt the Apocrypha and the Canonicall Scripture , and likcth bcsl time ofceremoniatl 
 
 effuch Sermons, as are fluffed with Phihfophers, Poets, Oratours,Scoolc- worship. \Cer. 14. 
 men,and ancients in Greeke and Latine, that he may preach himfelfe, and I 9 ' ? z6 r f,f r 
 
 be admired of thoje that heare him. i5. 
 
 12. The Paftor loveth no q Mufick in the houfe of God , but 
 
 flich as edifieth,and ftoppeth his eares at inftrumentall mufike,as Baptifme. 
 ferving for the Pedagpgie of the untoward Jewes under the law, a^lj^' 19 ' fj 
 and being figurariue of that fpirituall joy , whereunto our hearts shewing btpHfm^ 
 fhould be opened under the Gofpell. tobeanotedifcer- 
 
 The Pre/ate loveth camall and curious Jinging to the care , more then ™»£ c j» ri /K a "'fim 
 thejpirituall melodie of the Gojpell , and therefore would haue Antiphonie &ficb places pr* 
 and Orga?ies in the Cathedrall Kirks , upon no greater reafon then other wg Bap:if me J9 
 shadowes of the Law ofMofes, or letter Instruments, as Lutes ,Cithcrnes, b J. A H ne °f C*r£m 
 
 • 1 1 r 1 ■ 1 T , • j ft 1 ™ profefiion ,• 
 
 crpypes might be ufed in other Kirks. ■ JUsniy The ba. 
 
 1 3. The Paftor miniftreth r Baptifme in the place of the rm- pnfme at iorda* 
 hlick affemblies of Gods people, it being a note of our Chriftian /•&>»»•• •ndafai 
 profeflion,and a proteftation of our fayth , and therefore should ^ythT^pl'/iiTsfac 
 be celebrate publickly, as wcl as ordination of miniftcrs,excom- fimetimej um'im 
 Timnication,conferrion of converts, or reconciliatio of penitents. th f. ■«#»«« of the 
 
 The Prelate hath piuen place to private 'Baptifme , and thereby enter- X&K "' hch , cmmt 
 
 1 1 r a- • r • r 1 rr r r-n. r t • 1 • noa> be * rule to tu 
 
 tayneth the fuperftitious conceit of the necejjitie of -Baptifme , bringeth in f » * ^fr£ c«»/fa * 
 the abfurditie of conditional! baptifme, and maketh a ready way for private ted. 
 ferfons and midwiues to baptise. 
 
 14. The Paftor,/ as the words of the inftitution prcfcribe,& JSbSSif ^ 
 after the example of Chrift and his Apoftles,hath a Table prcpa- {Manh^i. 26. 
 red for the celebration of the Lords fuppcr : he iittcth downe in ^^14.22. l«^ 
 a publick communion with the congregation , in the moft cufto- 22 -i9- * Cor - n« 
 mable and comely forme of fitting:Yarre from all danger of Ido- ^L^///'^ 
 latrie: when he hath giucn thanks , he breakcth the bread facra- the whole iifhtu- 
 mentally:when he delivercth the elements, he uttereth the words '«•»« te cleaned 
 of promife: This is my body,This is my bIood,dcmonftratiueIy: "?*"?&'* ** 
 
 TL r A 1 t-a r J l V 1 i 1 r 1 J place alone, (tncett 
 
 I he people diitribute the bread and cuppc among themielues e ant*net A met all 
 lovingly. They eate and drink in fuch meafure, as they may find thing belonging t> 
 rheinfelues refreshed fcnfibly,- And as before the action they r I / " , I 'f r ; ; . 
 
 were 30 .' ^taq, 4 * 
 
were prepared by diligent examination , and powerful! lermons 
 for trying themfelues, fo in the time of the action their eares 6c 
 their hearts are rilled with pertinent readings , & pithy exhorta- 
 tions, and after the action difmifTed with joy, with ftrength, and 
 with fpirituall refolution,to the great honor of God, the inlarge- 
 mentof the kingdome of Chrift, the terror of Antichrift , the 
 peace of the Kirk,and unfpeakable comfort oftheir owne foules # 
 The P I^E LA T E -pretending the words of the o f Pfalme, & after 
 the example of Antichrift and hit followers, hath turned the Table into an 
 Altar-like cupboorde, the table-gcfiure of fitting, into the adoring gefture 
 of kneeling{with no better excufe ofidolatrie , then u expreffed in the ob- 
 feme termes 0/ abftractive ab objecto , 4«*/objecl:um a quo flgnifi- 
 cativej the publickcommunion into a private attion betwixt him and the 
 communicant, the facramentaU breaking into a preparatiue carving before 
 the attion,the enunciatiue words of the inftitution into a forme of a prayer 
 or oblation, the chriftian diftribution into a ftewardlike partition , the re- 
 freshment of eating and drinking into a pinched tafting , the preparatorie 
 examination and preacfjing into a fchifmaticall difputation about kneeling 
 and fitting, thejpirituall exhortations in the time of the aftion , either in 
 a dumbe guyfe, and comfortleffe deadneffe,or in a confufion of the Header* 
 T£ading,and his ownejpeakjng at the giving of the elements , both at one 
 time, and thejpirituall joy, ftrength and refolution after the action , into 
 terrors of conscience in feme , the opinion of indifferencie in all matters of 
 religion in others, and ofloofenefle of life in many, to the mocking of God, 
 the reentrie of Antichrift, renting of the Kjrl^, obduring of the Papift , 
 ftumbling of the w cake, and grief of 'the godly . 
 Obfcmuonof the i y. The PASTOR thinketh it no Judaifme nor fuperfti- 
 fabbath. xlon, but a morall duetie t to obferue the Sabbath : becaufe firft 
 
 kofDe^i^wm*. tfte obfervation of one day of feauen, albeit it be pofitiue divine, 
 iy-3*« rtehm.ii yet it is not ceremoniall nor for a time, but unchangable,and ob- 
 iy . ifa. 5 6. 2. and figeth perpetually, as is manifeft by the time when it wasappoin- 
 rfaP' l0 o\ l .'iX. te d before the fall r when there was no type of redemption by 
 *o. 16.16. ^4&.2 Chrift, and by numbring it amongft the tenne precepts of the 
 i.& 20.7. 1 Cor. morall law, written by the finger, and proclaymed by the voyce 
 CoUfi^'ti' 10 °f God,which cannot be faid of any changable law. Neyther can 
 level. i.iq. it be called perpetuall and morall in this fence , that acertaine 
 time is to be allotted to divine worship, for then the building of 
 the Tabernacle and temple, the new moones , and other legall 
 feftivities conteyning in them a gcncrall equitie , might afwell 
 be accounted morall. Secondly, the change of the Sabbath from 
 the laft to the firft day of the weeke,is by divine authoritie from 
 Chrift himfclfe, from whom it is called , the Lords day, who is 
 Lord of the Sabbath , who did inftitute the worship of the day , 
 ' and retted from his labours that day , whereon all tilings were 
 
 made 
 
17 
 made new by his refurrection , and fandHficd k , cucn as in the 
 beginning God reftcd from all his works on the feauenth day, & 
 blcffed it. He thinkcth it no more contrarie to Chriftian liber- 
 tie , then it was to Adam in his innocencie to kccpe one of the 
 feauen, and therefore he labourcth to make the Sabbath his de- 
 light , obferveth it himfelfe , and by his doctrine, example and 
 difcipline teacheth others to doc the like , and to ceafe uot one- 
 ly from all fervill workes, which require greate labour of the bo- 
 aie,but from all our owne works whatfocver»draw ing our minds 
 from the excrcifes of religion , and ferving for our owne gaine 
 and commoditie , except in the cafe of nece/iitie, caufed by di- 
 vine providence. He would haue it well conlidered , wherein 
 the Jewes were more ftridtly obliged then Chriftians, and what 
 libertie we haue, that they had not. Befide the Sabbath he can 
 admitte no ordinary holy dayes appointed by man , whether iu 
 refpect of any mylterie , or of difference of one day from ano- 
 ther , as being warranted by meere tradition , againil the do- 
 ctrine of Chriit and his Apoftles , but accounteth the folemne 
 fails and humiliations , unto which the Lord calleth , to be 
 cxtraordinarie Sabbaths , warranted by God himfelfe. 
 
 The P J^E LA T E by his doftrine , pratlife, example, and neglect 
 of difcipline , declare th , that he hath no fitch reverend eftimation of 
 the Sabbath. He doteth fo upon the obfervation of Pafthe , %uile , 
 and feftivall dayes , appoynted by men , that he preferreth them to 
 the Sabbath , and hath turned to nothing our folemne Fasls, and blcffed 
 humiliations. 
 
 16. The PASTOR findeth that everie parte of Refidence . 
 his office, and everie name, whereby he is called in Scri- vCaran{* prove; <■ 
 pture v doeth call upon him to be perfonally refident , and the »«*/W#/rd 
 where he refideth to be a terror to the wicked , and a com- *&JF M ff Bub /& 
 
 c , ,, 7 by fine places of thi 
 
 fort tO the godly. oldTeftam.by thri 
 
 The PRELATE eyther waiteth upon Counfell, SeJJion, out of the bvange 
 or Court, or dwelleth fo farre from his charge t that the (beach of Ca- &***&**% 
 
 / ■ j n- • r ' r ,, & r r r -n • / i 1 the apo(loltci{ u rt 
 
 ran^a ( proving the necejiitie of the perjonall rejidence of Bishops) may be ti ' a ,,dhowcv 
 applyedto him : He is a Bishop but without overfeeim* , an Em- be he a buhtp , * 
 baifador, but runneth where his errand lyeth not, a Captaine 6c fhepi**TH*»*tt 
 Soldier, but farre from his ftation, a Father and ftcward,but fuf- m ^rej!d€»t, 
 fereth the children to nerish for want of foode. Or if he hap- 
 pen to be refident , his Lordship is a protection to the Papift , to the car- 
 nail profefor , and to the Idoll-Minisler and Idle-belly , and fitch a 
 vexation to the vigilant Pastor, that he had much rather he tv ere a 
 ~Non-refident. 
 
 17. The PASTOR muft be fo unblameable, that he haue Lifc & convcrra: 
 a good teftimonie of them that are without , he muft rule o»c»r.i.i».in 
 
 C well 
 
I ,2. tot. 6-4.12 well his o\Vne houfe,having his children in fubjection , with all 
 • Mdl'.7*' Ttt ' 1 gf a vitie, not accufed of ryot, or unruly. He muft be fober , not 
 giuen to wine , he muft not be greedy of filthy lucre , nor cove- 
 tous: he muft not be a brauler,a ftryker, nor fighter. 
 
 The P i^£ LATE mocketh at conscience ; gravitic ,fiobrietie , mo- 
 deftie, patience, fainfulnes &c. and calleth them Puritanism?. 
 I k-he pretence and lS * TIie PASTOR Iaboureth to keepe faithnnagood 
 I siefTingofGod. confcience, and by the bleffing of God upon his labours findeth 
 I \i Tim.i.ig.ier. the encreafe of the gifts of God in his old age , and the grace of 
 f P ,IO '^ 2 3'i~r God growing in the hearts of the people. " 
 Z*c. 11 i5.1tf.17 The P i^£ LA T E by loofiing a good confidence maketh shiptvracl^of 
 1 Pet. 2. 1 5-. \6.jfyth,and by the cur fie of God upon hvsflouth and defection mayfinde him- 
 fie If e lil{c Balaam , who feeling homes did too fie hu eares , that tsfeekjng 
 preferment he loft the gift ofprophefie, (3 may fee grace decayed & worn* 
 out of the hearts of the people. 
 
 iude 1 1 , 
 
 Revel. 2. 
 
 }bjedT: Bishops are 
 warranted by the 
 void. 
 
 \nf. Shewing that 
 :he Prelate hath no 
 ivarrarin the word 
 and the manifold 
 mfference betwixt 
 pe divine 8c dic- 
 jjltefane bishop. 
 
 dixit ^irift.inme' 
 
 ; t*t l yf> 
 
 The Prelates objection. 
 
 THe Prelate will ob)e£t,notwithftanding all the evillthat hath been 
 fityd, or that ye can fay againft him, That the name , the calting , the 
 power, and the life of the Bishop is Jet downe in the Word. 
 
 The Paftors anfwer. 
 
 TH E queftion is not of the Bishop,but of the prelate orDio- 
 cefane Bishop , whether he be the divine Bishop. Hamarr 
 could thinke upon no man but himfelfe , when the man was na- 
 med whom the King would honour : euen fo the Prelate imagi- 
 neth no other Bishop to be fpoken of in Scripture but himfelfe. 
 And as Alexander the great tooke Jupiter^Qmmotis falutatioh £ 
 7micf[iov O chi/d,orBabe^ for a 7iui Ai(&> ofonoflufiter. y 
 euen ib in the Prelates ambitious care , everie word of a Bishop 
 founds honour unto him. But the trueth is,that the paftor &. not 
 the Diocefane Bishop is the Bishop divine. 
 
 1 . The Diocefane Bishop is but one in a Diocie over many hi^'kj- 
 The divine Bishops may be many in one citye , and over 
 
 one Kirk. 
 
 2. The Diocefane bishop hath a forme of ordination of his owne, diffe- 
 
 rent from the ordination of the paftor. 
 The divine Bishop hath no other but the ordination of 
 the paftor. 
 
 3 . The Diocefane Bishop preacheth at his pleafure , and is not obliged, 
 
 to preach by the nature and neccfifitic of his calling. 
 The divine bishop is bound by his calling to preach with 
 ill! diligence. 
 
4, The DiocefaneBishop hath no particular congregation for hrsfoc\, 
 tofcede with the Word and Sacraments. 
 The divine bishop is tyed to a particular flock. 
 5*. The dioccfine Bishop is for the greater part afccular perfon. 
 The divine Bishop is a perfon meerJy ecclefiafticall. 
 Therefore the dioc*elane bishop is not the divine bishop, ney- 
 ther doeth the Word of God acknowledge any dioccfane Kirk , 
 or any prelate or diocefane bishop charged with the care of ma- 
 ny particular congregations y and having majoritie of power to 
 direcl and correct other Pallors. 
 
 The Paftor & Prelate compared 
 
 by Antiquitie, and the proceedings 
 
 of the Ancient Kirk. 
 
 E reverencethehoariehead,andnameofAn- £S l £? e !j 
 
 1 • ! II 1 !!• mitlue KVK » tn 
 
 tiquite: but witnail'we know, that there is Fathers of cw 
 antiquitie of trueth, &c antiquitieoferror,and orts ' 
 therefore would make difference betvvixt ori- tiaettCbnfm m 
 
 n ... 1 1 • I r f cx.iiJ.mm.: 
 
 g ginallantiquitie,orthatvvhich was from the &f m iifd^ 
 beginning, and of the firftinftitution^and ami- 43T£S<?3 
 cjuitie of cuftome,or that which is of long continuance. They he vcnerKU 3 
 that take themfelues wilfully to cuftome againft chefirftia- Z^SZaS 
 ftitution refolue a not unlike the Councell of Conftance, /fa*r*<x*9**4i 
 when they fet downe their blafphemous ad , Non obslantc. ^tf^uillu^ 
 Ve doc not mifrecarde the pra&ife of the Primitiue Kirk af- f*fav*\ 
 
 i . „. r • it • I « I'll var,6-c LaranT, 
 
 terthe Apottles, especially it being compared with the ages famm*e*c.c»*A 
 following. But would haue it in comparifon of the Apo- fj>-iifj!» : "" : " 
 
 ,11 ill iii * J*TtSlis,ip/apr$l 
 
 itolicall Kirk to be efteemcd,butdirivatiuc, as "which ad- m*ttvsecciefi*$i 
 mitted many changes from better to vvorfe both in doctrine %™ m &J<CUH 
 
 C i and 
 
anddifcipline. "We honour the Fathers, but Co that we 
 giue the firft honour to the Father of fathers, befides 
 whom we haue no father. To his fonne Iefus Chrift 
 the onely Prophet, whom we should heare. To the 
 Holy Ghoft, who onely teacheth us the trueth, and to the 
 Holy Scripture, which onely carryerh their divine autho- 
 ritie. Wishing all that arc ftudious of the trueth in the 
 pointe of the controverfie in hand,to take notice of thefe 
 iL-u • . ,. KO „ n f two things : Firft, that the maintainers of conformitie ma- 
 
 i frhe tramtevners of & t /- i . • r\ i 
 
 fcformitie forgette nvvvaves rorget themleluesin the matter of the authon- 
 ^^^ tie of the Fathers. For albeit they Awfe* us with the Fa- 
 thers, the Fathers, the ancients , and all antiquitie , yet they 
 themfelues will not hear the voice of the Fathers in their 
 difputes : whether againft Papifts, whom they anfvver 
 with the fame exceptions againft the Fathers, which we 
 Y%fva!Lmm& bring in thiscaufe againft them, 6 or in their difputes with 
 I - s *: us, when the Fathers make again ft them : and thus while 
 iHieranimum'aper- they profeilethat they honour the Fathers, they doe but 
 sArUnu ejfe , r i>ou- moc £ them , fometimes putting upon them the purple 
 
 uku contra omncs r t . . „ % r . . ^ r ... . rr • 
 
 he* ,nevat Petnu* robe or authorme, & at their plealure pulling it oftagainc. 
 
 vuEfifamfiif Next they forget thefelues in this, that albeit they know, 
 
 uaiesftmt , am .r that the vvitneffe and not the teftimonie is to be believed , 
 
 'lo^hfclKitJ, they alledge notvvirhftanding < fome counterfeit, fome 
 
 mensy i^mamit , corrupted authors , and fome latefchooimen , for the an- 
 
 TcopagitS, Egejtp. cient Fathers againft us. Becajfus, Calvin , Beza , Martyr, 
 
 |» # Dorothea, &c. [ U q\\$c c . bring them againft the Papifts, who denye not 
 
 Jje qutbm Mortonm . p © T i "t J 
 
 mrtpomificios.Lar- their authontie. And thirdly, they milregard the order 
 "CncHiaZC$ U pof. of divine difpenfation inrhe courfe of time, notvvithout 
 '\nt t vimautemcor- ingratitude to God for his gifts, and to good men for their 
 ■m*. u tbn de ' labours, d by preferring the meaneft, that carrieth the 
 \ iiium maiigmtatis name of Antiquitie , unto the worthieft inftruments of 
 W^nuJllprlfm- that blefTed worke of Reformation , who had aboue all 
 m£ t Jr^ H ^ § '- that went before them many greatehelpes of the langua- 
 
 \jjl,ni/iquod Libittna 
 
 \eravit Horat. Ne c nosfumut Nani, nee illtgigante: , fed omnes ejufdem flatura, & quidem nos altitu evetli, 
 tyritm benefieio , ma-neat modo in nobis quod in illu ftudium , attentio am mi , vigilantia & amor veri . qua fi 
 wfint y)amnonnanifum-Ai , nee ingtgantnm hnmeros fedemm, fed homines tn fl m magnitHdinii humi pjojlratt. 
 I ludov. vivti de caujts corrup. art. lib, I . jpLc\rrr 
 
 I ges,of 
 
IP 
 
 ges, of humane literature, and of printing, and to whom 
 many fecrcts were made knovvnc by the accomplishment 
 of prophefics, efpecially concerning the Antichuft, who be- 
 ing conceived in the Apoftlcs times, was brought forth,and 
 brought up unwittingly by the Fathers, who looked for 
 the Antichrift from another quarter , which maketh them 
 to be incompetent judges in the matter of Hicrarchie, & Ce- 
 remonies thereof. ThcRomaniftsthemfeIues,who profefle 
 to be the greateft favourers of the ancient Fathers,are forced 
 to blush at many of their grofTe and shamefullabfurdities,& 
 to confe(Te,that many things, that were of old either doubt- 
 full, or altogether unknov vnc , are now to the meaneft be- 
 come cleare and certainc. Some of them haue exploded it as 
 an impertinent fimilitude, that we being copared to the an- 
 cients,are as dvvarffes upon the shoulders of Giants. Theo- 
 ther thing,that we would haue the ftudious reader to take 
 notice of, is this, That of the Prelates Scmaintainers of con- 
 formitie,feeking the fountaine of antiquitie,anduncerraine 
 whereto finde it, fomegoe back to the old teftament, to 
 bring the Prelates pedegree from thence, fome would bring 
 his difcent from Chrift, fome from the ApoflIes,anda fourth 
 fort from the primitiue Kirk. But before they ^et a fight 
 of their ovvne Prelate, in his pompe , inhis power, and ia 
 hisbuske of Ceremonies , they muft goefarder downe tho 
 flreame, till they come in fight of the Antichtiit , and there 
 they shall fee him not far of,vvaytingon, as may be appa- 
 rent by this which follovveth. 
 
 ws^^^^^^s^^sa^^s^^s^^a^ 
 
 The 
 
The paftor is not 
 older then the N. 
 Tcrftamct, the pre- 
 late would fetch 
 his prelacte from 
 the Old Teftam. 
 e Jttntatefiicerd.0' 
 tiotwiitatur 
 
 y ■ ' \ 
 
 The paftor and not 
 the prelate warran- 
 ted by Chrift. 
 
 f ^4pof\ 
 
 HE PASTOR acknowledge* the difference of 
 the Kirk and minifterie of the old & new Teftament 
 feeketh neyther type , nor patterne of his office from 
 the Leviticall priefthood,but bringeth his oldeft war- 
 rant from Chrift and his Apoftles , and exponeth the 
 ™fa Ancients,as Jerome and orhers,who iniift in the flmilitude of the 
 feet. 7. 12. Exfi- minifterie of the old and new Teftament, e as fpeaking by Uut 
 I g»racommuni>jinc wa y of allufion, and not from any warrant of divine translation. 
 I ITJeltfari'Z ™* P ^ LA T E fearching the fountains ofNilus , would bring 
 ufi. iuu.de fontif. his defcent as high as from Levi,as if the chief priefts,who had no epifcopaU 
 authoritie over their brethren, were turned now into prelates : the infers- 
 our Priefts into paftor s, and the Levites , who had no proper care of the 
 poor e, were changed into our Deacons. He bringeth the ancients to reckon 
 this Genealogie, but with fuch fuccefte,as thefonnes ofHabajah had,when 
 they failed in reckoning their linefi'om Aaron , andfo proved unworthy of 
 the prieft hood Nehem. 7. 
 
 2. The PASTOR hath an ordinarie and perpetuall office 
 appointed by Chrift, but the office of the Apoftle and Evangelift 
 was extraordinarie,& to continue but for a time. So that (how- 
 primumoffictajl. foever ahtiquitie ufeth the words of Apoftle & Bishop amply, cal- 
 'dinaria./g^ificll't Iin & the -Apoftles Bishops, and Bishops or pallors Apoftles , and 
 officiu^ipofteii & fucceffors to the Apoftles ) yet neither is the one kinde of office 
 Euang.continet in compatible with the other , nor can the one properly be fayd to 
 utelZnnr% fu cceede the other. /So different are they as well in refpecf of 
 nonfirmaiiter'/cf- charge , as of gifts and difcharge ofduetie. For the Superior 
 ficiu autt epifcopi doeth not onely doe that which the inferior may not doe,buthis 
 minnt^larianon manner of doing, of that which is common to both, is far higher 
 <fatur epifcopatus an d more eminent. 
 
 extra apottoLtu , The P t\E LAT E repelled by the officebearers of the Old Tef a- 
 miM'nuTtfwtd*. me , nt J cc k e ^ ^ enter with his diretliue power and jurifdiHion among the 
 miniflcrs of the Go/pell, but with likefuccefe. For a pajhr and doHor,lm 
 power overpaftors and dotlors fujfereth thcrn not to be. He urgeth to be 
 taken in with the Apoftle or Evangelift, and to be efteemedg Jucceftor to 
 them, but his office and theirs are not compatible. For formally their office 
 was e xtraor dinar ie, and without fucce ft ion , and materially his office is not 
 contcyned in their offices, as is the office of a p aft or , there being no exam- 
 ple in Scripture, without the office of Apoftle or Evangelift of fuch power 
 as the prelate claymeth. Whether his life and forme of ministration be a- 
 foflolicall, all that k>ww him may difcernc. 
 Th - Pift and 3' ^ ie PASTOR and not the prelate is the firft minifter 
 
 dieiYeLwarranted ^ tilc F cJarcs owne confeflion ) whom the Apoftles appointed 
 D by the Apoffles. in Kirks, when they firft planted them. The paftor and not the 
 prelate is the minifter , whom the Apoftles in their time doe ap- 
 proue, and the Paftor and not the prelate is the laft minifter , to 
 
 whom 
 
 lur prcsbytcratui. 
 
 g In gradum nemo 
 jiiccefiir ^poflolU 
 €7- Euan g.'m caput 
 fuccedunt p assorts 
 erdinaru. 
 
 
whom the Apoftles, when they were to remoue,or were neare 
 unto death, did recommend the care of the Kirks , and there- 
 fore the Paftor and not the prelate is the minifter warranted 
 by the Apoftles. 
 
 The l J f^ELA T E denyed of Chrift, would father himfelfc upon 
 the Apoftles , and finding no warrant from their doctrine Wfra&ife in h inttrvaUuwt i8*d 
 Scripture .albeit the Atts of the Apoftles containc the hiftorie of many ** *lt.e L *Aa. +Apt>ft, 
 yeeres after Chrifts afcenfion, h Hefeemeth to be Cure of the ecclefiafti- f™ dmm ) 7 ' ' 
 
 ni -a • ii- i a at ■ c* l a n /• ; • n- • "»perium plane cum 
 
 call hiftorie recorded in the Apoftles times, (3 vy Apoftolickjnftitution, varrone i^xw voeari 
 a begunne fucceffion of Bishops in lerufilem, l{pmc, Alexandria, An- potest, lo/fph. Scalig. 
 tioch &c.But here alfi heftandeth without ,bccaufe the bishops ofthofi gSjV ia chr9n '"* 
 places were either Apoftles, and therefore could not be properly Bishops, J 
 or els or din arie paftor s of no greater place nor power, except for age & 
 gift, then other preslyters labouring with them: Such were Linus, Cle- 
 mens, Qletm, Anaclem, fellowpresbytcrs at Rjme at one time , one of i vt hiatum txpleret 
 them living feme (pace after another , and to shewe the order offuccef- Eh f L *«*» ***&—, 
 fionfrom the Apoftles againft Heretickj, who urzed it, they were num.- a . emin <" *&% -1* 
 
 l , j / J < ;• 7 - 7 ^ , ,. nr m (non eit cntm ille eru- 
 
 bred,as if they had not lived at one time , and in the line ofjucccjjion ditm Alexandrine i 
 were called Bishops , by Eufebiui and others after him , i agreeable to t*H*ms)&mhj*n. 
 the corruption of their owne tymes , when now men had of their owne S/'?*.*0SS^f*. J »•■ 
 
 7i * ire l • -n • 7 7 n 1 ?• melioru Jcrtptom line 
 
 head put a difference betwixt a Bishop and a paftor , and not according delctln.,ea deprompjit. 
 
 to the puritie of the primitiue times, of which they did write, when a pa- *&»• 
 ft or and a bishop was one and the fame. 
 
 ■ 4. The PASTOR is the divine and Apoftolick bishop, ^E^SS'T* 
 
 r i i r t m c i r if i -i . . 7* ' n»s place, and aiuhori- 
 
 or the lawfulnefle or whole calling,and power m the primitiue tie in the primitiue 
 Kirk after the Apoftles there was no queftion. The paftor by Kjrk.whcn tha \- 
 confent of antiquitie (when now by humane wifedome the g^f^be* l ft worke " 
 conftant moderator was brought in and called the JBishop)had deraor , orperpt 
 right and power, not by grant but by his office , not onely to pfcfidem. 
 preach the Word, minifter the Sacraments , and ufe the keyes 
 in binding and looting the confidence, but alfo with the fellow ^ihbnh^ZT^" 
 presbyters k, to ordaine minifters , and in the presbytcriall , fttn »f GU^bJtwri 
 provincial!, and nationall affemblies, to decide controversies , »*w trdeyned by 
 to make conftitutions, to inflict cenfures, eucn upon Bishops, Kf??"?* '" f undrie 
 and by his paftorall authoritie to doe all things ncceflarie for jSwwtt^SJ^S 
 the edification of the Kirk. And this right and power , that tkofepaiu nin 
 God gaue him, he maintained in fomc Kirks in the molt cor- i " e : '*><>pp°f<iti»j;iu^ 
 rupt times , when now Antichrift was fet on his chaire , and Sd^FteUhtTiuS 
 prclacie for the moft part, of humane was become fatanicall. 39. 
 
 The P RELATE holden at the doore by Chrift and his Apoftles j PiViUrim aUlXmvil 
 After their times \ by the ambition of fome paftcrs, and fimplicitie of 0- patribtu nihil minm 
 thcrs, when he had long hung on, got in thefoote to be conftant mode- e"Si rAn ^ lrM *s, raJui c- 
 rator, but not finding entrie at thefirft, for hit grcate head, made up of J^ 
 [ok ordination} of monarchical! juriJHiftion } ofciviU power , worldly mtxjnzrefaamiui*, 
 
 pon.pe, 
 
 
■adurn ilium \n\- pompe and Juper 'Slit ioili ceremonies , he hydeth his miter in the mySterie of 
 no .<;i:;dem m oU- i n ia u itie , win? on with it foote forfoote , and draweth in by fraude and 
 
 ffanhi.i.ac tandem _ 1 'f> & r , -',.. J . a - j r 
 
 % horretidam ilia force, one limme after another, till at lajt , after many ages , and much 
 antichnfiiana ty- working (for he atteyned not to the degree of an Archbishop , till after the 
 
 rannidem acume- Councell of Nice) he sheweth himfelfe Lord in the houfe of God , having 
 
 vicaevcxit, hand ~ • ~'~ ■ -■ - ^ ■ ■ * • ' • * • - -. o 
 
 l fZVfctoanunqul no morc tfthefirSl institution of a Bishop , then the ship Argo had of her 
 
 I abolenda mfifimel fir Si buylding , tvhen after her expedition shee had lyen at a full fea feme 
 
 ' JiiblatU quib-M eo hundreds of y cares, or the beggers cloaks patched with many clouts andcou- 
 
 iwdtnem'divin* Iwrsjhat hath paftcd through feme generations, which he it may be,makes 
 
 tmUtutiona redi- more of then of a parliament robe, hath ofthefirft shaping, 
 gatur. Ee^degrad $ t The PASTORas became the humble fervant of Chrift, 
 
 f The 3 naftorfeek- an ^ a m inifter of the New Teftament, procured and maintained 
 
 bth no honour but the dignitie and true honour of his minifterie , by holding forth 
 
 the world. teoufnes their robe and ornament 
 
 The P B^E LA T E tooke him to the contraric courfe,for his credite, 
 
 I and transformed the beautifullfimplicitie of Chrift s I^ingdome into the 
 
 glorie of the kingdome of the world , albeit when he was of his oldftampe , 
 bis great eft dignitie was his chair e , and fay th full teaching the flower of his 
 garland : yet now degenerating from his fir SI finceritie,and being infetled 
 tvith fecular fmoake, he came to be cafe in the mould ofthefirft Beaft , his 
 chaire gaue place to his ConfeStorie and throne, his jurifdiHion and govern- 
 ment, honoured with the title ofpreheminence caried all the credit, Teach- 
 ing as a bafe works was giuen over to the pettie presbyters , and everie of- 
 fice in the K^rk^was counted a dignitie worthie of honour leffe or more , as 
 it had more or left e fur ifeliciion annexed, as thefe are more or lefie honou- 
 rable in the common wealth , that hauc more or lefee civill authorities 
 And thus prelacie came up, a?id preaching came downe 3 and the Kjrk.be- 
 came more worldly then the world itfelfe. 
 The paftor wit- 6". The PASTOR when all was going wrong , fome ray- 
 • nes for the rrueth f in g contentions, others gaping after honours,the braines of ma- 
 1 fcaton'^Wch is n y being bigge with herefies , all giuen toheape up fuperftition 
 \ vi ought by the and Atheifme, and the prelate with his popish hierarchie,pofTef- 
 | prelate, perverting fi n g both the holy citie and outward court,he then gaue teftimo- 
 
 ' tiurcd hSlS ° nCe n * e to r ^ e trucrn > kept fti^ tne temple , and within the temple 
 
 kept in the light, as two oliue trees growing up by the fides of 
 
 the candleftick, and dropping downe from the branches oyle in- 
 
 ?A -^ $f to the lampes, for the comfort of fuch as Jehovah Shammalfhad 
 
 chofen for life, and would faue from the deluge of defection. 
 
 The P /^i ■: LA T E once pojjcffed into the Kjrkj never ceafed, till he 
 had changed the J^irkjnto a court , power t cc'efi aft icall into civill policie , 
 the Scripture into tradition, the trueth into herejie ,finceritic into fuper- 
 
 Sfition, 
 
1? 
 
 jktion , the worship of God into IdoUtrie , as the worship of ima~ 
 ges y Sainfts and bread-worship , the pure ordinances of Cod mtd 
 Maffes , Altars , Images , Garments , Fafiiug , and follies ofPaga- 
 nifme and Iudaifme , ///^ afmoal^eout of the bottomlcfle pitte, grow- 
 ing grofier and thicker everic day , and in the middefi of the myjt built: 
 up his greatnes , upon the ruins not onely of the Kjrks, but of the com- 
 monwealths of the world : for when the ftanes of heauen fell into the 
 earth , the mountaines and Hands were moved out of tbeir places , and at 
 this unhappy miltfwellcd biggc in the bodie with wealth and honour , the 
 life of religion became flint , the Princes and Nobles of the earth like 
 the noble parts in the body decayed , and the meaner ones like the hands 
 andfecte withered away. The Popes f elicit ie was the whole worlds mife- 
 rie y andfo was the Prelates to feverall nations and provinces. 
 
 7. The PASTOR and with him the godly of the time Tbepaftcompbi* 
 wearied with long oppofition, poured out their heavie com- ned of tb.u which 
 plaints, m that the grief of the Kirk was more hitter in peace , Sfcthei^perfe- 
 then eyther under perfecution orhere/ie,that she had brought up cured them ti»c 
 and exalted her fonnes,&. they had dcipifed her. If a profefTcd complained. 
 Heretick should arife,she could caft him forth of her bofome , if Zlnt^me*™'* 
 a violent enemie,she could hide her fcJfe fro him, but now whom rifsima,amar*pri- 
 shall the Kirk calt out,or fro whom shall she hide her felf,all are «< «■ »'« nwrgh 
 friends, & yet all are enemies,al are domefticks,& yet none feek t$au*\u?i£\ 
 her true peace, for all feeke their owne things, and not the things rum. amarifumd 
 of Iefus thrift. They are the minifters of Cnrift,& feme the An- »»»c »» **• 
 tic hrift.H e complayneth , nthatjevotion had brought forth riches, & ^TrlflZTum' \ 
 the mother had devoured her daughter. That of old the Bishops were of 
 gold&the cups of wood,but ?ww the bishops hane chaged their metal/ with 
 the cups, p That of old Chriftians had darke KJrkj } but light fome hearts , „ Dcvotio peperit 
 hut now light fome kirks and cLirke hearts. That the prelates inquired what divit'm,&j!tu <(e 
 rent the bishopricl^rendered,andnot how many joules were to be fed in it, ?°? avtt matron* 
 That their bodies were clad with purple and Ji Ike, but had thrcedbare con- olim f u(rlint /;_ 
 fciences. That their care was greater to emptie mens pur fs, then to extir- gnei c*lice* t & ««- 
 pate their vices. That when they confecrate a Prelate, they kjl/a (rood man r "j*cerdotes:rHuic 
 
 '. , , . „, y J ... ... ■ 1 i ° 1 centra fr.nt aurci 
 
 by advancing him. That no greater evill could be wished to any man , then a , ; . c . } 
 that he be made pope. That in the eftate of the Kf<\Hcauen is be lowland ttrdttes.vutgo^ 
 earth is abouc. The fpiritobeyeth, and the flesh commandeth. That in the £ittat i :i - 
 mouths of the Prelates was the law ofvanitie, and not the law ofventic, ^i ir ,(}™ nos ',' 
 and that the lips of the prieftes under them kpptfccular , and not fpirituall tempi*, fed lucid* 
 knowledge. ZllriSll T* 
 
 And when he fearched the caufes of the Kirks miferie , he ^™#t/^4 /•«£ 
 condefcended upon the neglecting of Scripture , and &fiatntis t 
 multiplication of mens inventions , the ignorance and 
 idlenes of prelates , like dumbe dogges , that could not 
 fcarke , their covetoulhefTc aboue the Pharifees. 
 
 D They 
 
They fuffred doues to be folde in the temple, but thefe fell botfr 
 Kirk and facrifice. Their pride and ambition declared in theyr 
 great horfes , and other fuperrluous pompe,and that as Tonnes of 
 Belial they haue caft off the yoke , not indurin^ that any should* 
 aske them, why they doe fo and fo, the unequal! proportion feen 
 in the Kirk,when one is hungrie an other drunke , fome fo enor- 
 mioufly overgone in riches and pompe , that the weaknes of the 
 \Ju reft is not able to beare them. 
 
 The P I^E LA T£ ftillmadde of avarice and ambition Hood upon 
 JJJ the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that they 
 
 g< should not blowe, and oppofed himfelfe againft the doctrine and complaint 
 
 g i of 'the Pallors, condemning them for Here ticks , giving out againft them 
 
 e , decrees of corrupt councels ,thundring them with anathematifmes : & per- 
 
 b fecuting them by fire and fword. He punished the clergie under him more 
 
 fever ely for the negletl of a ceremonie then for facr Hedge or adult erie , and 
 J finally leasl hisfraude andfalfehoode slwuld be Iqiowen , he forbad all men 
 
 tj the reading and uftngthe holy Scripture. 
 
 i he Paft. defyred, 8. The PAS TOR and all good men , that longed and Ia- 
 5c urged a refor- boured for the reformation of the Chriitian Kirk , for the fpace 
 imtion, which by of flue hundred yeeres, a as the Waldenfes, Marfilius Patavinus 
 L r Sfcd hepfe " Wickleife, and his fchollers, Huffe and his folIowers,and ail fuch 
 od. Reynold bit a s the Lord ufed for inftruments in working the reformation , as 
 Utter to s.Franeit Luther, Catvin, Brentius , Bullingerus, Mufculus &c.did teach „ 
 S»;"Swf that a11 P aftors are of equall authoritie by the word of God, and 
 i i%%.makethThl all that fpace of time urged this point of reformation, as without 
 «&*/<• which no fucceffe could be expected in the reformation of the 
 
 doctrine and worship. 
 
 The PRELATE Rowing, as it was often preached & writ- 
 ten, all that time of £00 y cares, that the maine caufe of the corruptions 
 of the KjrJ{ was Ins owne place, his pride, and his avarice,and that the defi- 
 red and urged reformation of the Kjrk^, which w at now brought to that 
 fafie, that as one fayes well, she could never beare her owne difcaft y nor yet 
 fujfer remedie, behoved to beginne at himfelfe , the great eft hie in all che 
 hodie, by allmeanes held off reformation, as his owne ruine, and whenfeve- 
 rall nations were bringing it about c, he could never be moved to giuehis 
 confent,fo deare was his myter and bellye unto him. 
 
 The Prelates obje&ion. 
 
 febi.TheChrifm *~n H E P }\E LAT E will confeffe , that it were better, to haue m 
 Kirk for 3 00 J- Bishops then fuch monsters, as the I{oman Kirk, brought forth , but 
 ycres.had inch hi- prydeth himfelfe in antiquitie , andaffirmeth, that the Christian Kjrl^in 
 225*' as we haue all places for the (pace of three hundrethyeares after Chrift and hisApoftles 
 
 had Bishops in evcrie thing like himfelfe,& that afterward the shepheards 
 
 became wo lues. 
 
 The 
 
The Paftors anfwer. 
 
 ry-» HAT which Tcrtullian in his time faid unto the Gentils 
 X may be replycd to our Prelates; Ye boafl ofantiauitie : but your Anf Shewing i« 
 dayly life is after the new fashion. Maifter Phantaftico at Athens , ra ' n >; paract.iirs 
 whensoever he perceived any ships entring into the harboure,he ^J^ 1 
 ftrongly apprehended that they were his ovvnc, and ufedto fcafc due Bishop* , Ji 
 upon them, as if they had becne his ownc indecde. Sodeale our ourprelaw, who 
 Prelates with the ancient Bishops , they come no fooncr in their i^a^Ris'o^s^ia 
 light, but they take them for their owne, albeit they be verie un- t he moi* corrn; 
 like unto them , for were they living they would blush, and be times. 
 ashamed,that fuch f hould be called their lucceflbrs , as Angelo 
 the famous Italian Painter pourtrayed Peter and Paul for the ufe 
 of a Cardinall at Rome , with redde and high coloured faces , 
 shewing thereby, that if they were living, they would blush at 
 the pompe and pride of the Prelates of that time. Our Prelates 
 are rather of the late Roman cutte , and not (6 like unto the pn- 
 mitiue , as unto the popish Bishops , who comparing themfelucs 
 with others before, 6c ours now come after them might fay with 
 the Poet ; 
 
 Our parents age tvorfi then their predecelfors, 
 
 Hath brought us forth more wicked their fucccfioYS, 
 
 Ere it be long , if we con ti new thus , 
 
 We will bring forth a broode more vitious. 
 
 1. /For the Primitiue bishopsfafter that the name of Bishop rrttprumt, 
 common to all paftors beganne to be Impropriat ) were neyther CCi \'f>* primoraiu 
 ordeyned by bishops nor metrapolitanes , out onely chofen by ^JJ^ 1 efi fy* 
 paftors, to be their conftant moderators, or perpetual! presidents, p 9 fie*mfiitut$ fit- 
 hut without warrant from God or his tructh. er*,fciticetqiiifc» 
 
 Our Prelate muft first by afimulateforme of election be made my Lord V*^™'/"* 
 
 via it ■ r ' • i r r„ prtcjfenf.Hnde col- 
 
 Elect,and then receiue a new conjecratiou,with a new guije of Ceremonies Untur & mn eft 
 draw en from the Rgman Pontifical/, as lit It knowen to poore antiquitie,as idipfim a Chri/h, 
 the words themfelues of ordination, confecration ($c. v &yo[iolmt,iittti. 
 
 2. The Primitiue Bishops looking more to theoewtie then 2m»i ? w/. 3% 
 dignitic, furfered violence, and were conftreyncd by paftors and ftimm y*»d /un- 
 people, whether they would or not, to receiue the charge, Mum Oych/ufi. 
 
 Our Prelate when the Bishop H an old yuan, then he ftanjkth diligent- ZmupmhM 
 ly and learnethfaft,but onely how to make credite at court, and when after panccn/ircnturv 
 long expectation the place itvcyde, by pojlin* , promi/in*, and propyuing , jure&gr^bt. Se- 
 heprocureth himfclfe to be chofen firft without the knowledge andfyne^a- '£%?£££. 
 gainft the will both of Pastors and people. ft y, , r nm apmby- 
 
 teru dift'tnttorum ord^^fjvtgradiv til eonfl k n tm ,fwijfi rpifopts tamyuam mnarchit.&c. Ckawicr.de * aiitmcn. 
 t°"tif.Ub. \%.cap. ^.jid.6- Refpvndcopatrumaurh.ritem nihil tfficert, ratio , qnian n ^L-nJnnr nullum un- 
 <j*<*m xcn\p\M extitijfe cum cjfent epifcopi parts prtsbytcru,fd tantum mxcjualitatsm tjfc vctupl'UmMn,ac vni- 
 *&m apojiolorun temporibut, quod not uUrofotcw.tT, idem Chamitr.lib. to. cap,6'Jccl.z^* 
 
 D z 3. The 
 
 t<sf.ttup*ren*.wn t 
 pey svi* tulit not 
 neqmeres/Btx d+- 
 
 turuA progtr.. 
 ti^Ji'jrcrn, Horat, 
 i Ex hu lAmbrop] 
 &• Hierommi con- 
 
25 
 
 J, The primitiue Eishops knew not fuch a creature , as was 
 deiigned afterward by the proude name of an Archbishop, who 
 should be a Bishop of bishops , having power over Comprovin- 
 ciall bishops his furTraganes. 
 
 Our Prelate prydeth himfilfe in this proude title, and will haue one & 
 the fame creature to be Metropolitane Archbishop and primate, that what 
 he may not doe as Metrapolitane he may doe as Archbishop , and what he 
 may not as Archbishop, he may as Primate- and as another Pope. 
 
 4. The primitiue Bishop was in the presbyterie like the Con- 
 full in the Scnat, as firft amongft the presbyters he moderated in 
 their meetings, reported matters done before, asked the voters, 
 and what they concluded, he did fee it executed upon others,and 
 m was fubjed to it himfelfe. 
 
 Our Prelate in the Presbyterie will be like a king in his Counfell , and 
 thirtieth Ins authoritie no lefie without the presbyterie then with it , and 
 what the Synode may doe with the Arch-bishop , that he may doe without 
 the Synode, 
 
 5". The primitiue bishops dwelled fo neare together, that fixe 
 of them convened in a caufe that concerned an Elder, and three 
 for a deacon. In a Synode they convened in great numbers. 
 Privatus was condemned by 5)0 Bishops. Againft Novatus were 
 convened 84 bishops. In fome Synods 217 , in fome 270. 
 
 Our Prelate Jpreadeth his wings over fome hundreds of Kirks , lying in 
 divers provinces alfo wide as Mers, Louthian, Fyffe, Angus,Mernes &c. 
 As therefore our Prelate was shewed before , not to be the 
 Lords bishop, autharifed by Scripture, fo is he not mans bishop 
 made up in the primitiue times of the Kirk,but the fame that we 
 had before the reformation, the fame with the Italian,, Spanish , 
 or French Prelate under the Pope, and the fame with the Anti- 
 chriftian Prelates, in the moft corrupt times of the Kirk, efpeci- 
 ally the laft ^00 yearcs,excepting his fubordination to the pope, 
 by which exceptio our princely prelate is made greater then the 
 popish. And what was written of the popish prelate in thofe 
 times, is ofnew againe ^verified of ours, as of their civill offices 
 and advocations. 
 
 7 Intonienfis armiger , Some Bishops Metropolitane 
 
 Pncfidet ad Scacanium , Presides at the Exchequor, 
 Ad computandum impiger. For counting he's a bufie man , 
 
 . . , Piget ad Euangelium , To preach the Gofpell flacker. 
 
 ^t> £(^*7 Sic Lucrum Lucamfuperat, Lucre wort - h is more then Luke , 
 M&cam marco pr^ponderat <3c marks the marke weigh better 
 lit librae Ubrumfubjicit. He fets the pound aboue the boke , 
 And cares not for the matter. 
 
Of their zeale in urging ceremonies upon others , while they 
 fayled in fubftance thcmlelues , the old Poem , called Afini pami- 
 tentiarim, wherein the wolfe confeflcth himfelfe to the fox, &the 
 fbxe to the wolf, and both arc abfolvcd, but the poore afTe truit- 
 ing to his innocencie for abfolution , was condemned to dye by 
 the other two, for no other caufe , but that in his cxtreame hun- 
 ger he had been Co profane 3 as to eate the ftrawe garters of a re- 
 ligious pilgrime. 
 
 Immcnfumfcclus eft injuria , quam peregrino 
 
 Fecifti : fir amen furripiendo fibi . 
 Ron advertifti , quodplura pcriculapafm , 
 
 Plurima pafurus , quod per egrima erat { 
 Now advertifti, quod evper maxima teftA 
 
 Et pelagi (patutfit peragranda via f 
 Totius ecctcjiic fuerit cum nuncius ifte , 
 
 Pertulit abftrafto ftr 'amine damna vue, 
 Cumfis confefttis , cumfts conviblus, babes ne 
 
 Quo tales noxas occuluijp queas t 
 Es fur, ignoto cumfecens hoc peregrino : 
 
 Scis bene , ////' quali debet honore mori. 
 
 How great a finne wete this to thee , 
 
 A Pilgrim poore to wrong ? 
 Had thou not mind what dangers he 
 
 Had travelled farre among ? 
 -Could thou not thinkc, that he dull alfc 
 
 B'hou'd paffe through Sea and land , 
 That nunce of holy Kirk he was 
 
 Running at their command , 
 Thou haft confeflTed , convinced thou art, 
 
 Nothing thy crime can hide ; 
 Thiefe thou did eate his ftrawe garter^ 
 
 Death shall thee now betyde. 
 
 D i The 
 
3° 
 
 THE THIRD PART. 
 
 The Paftor & Prelate compared 
 
 in their judgment and pra&ife about 
 
 things indifferent. 
 
 Many controver- 
 fies Sccontentions 
 about thingsindif- 
 r rent. 
 
 I. In the ^pofilet 
 timesS 
 
 B 
 
 E $ i d e the fpecularions of the Schoolmen devf- 
 dedamongftthemfelues , in their fubtilties aboute 
 things indifferent, 'which vvorke mightily upon 
 mens wits^but more wcakely upon their affections, 
 then to make any greate divifion, There hath beenemuch 
 adoein the Kirk fince the beginning about adiaphorifme^,&: 
 things indifferent. Firit in the infancie of the Chrirtian 
 Kirk the heate and the contention was greate betwixt the 
 converted Jewesand Gentiles , aboute the keeping of the 
 Ceremonies of the law , which before were commanded 
 afterwards were forbidden, but in that tract of time were 
 in a manner indifferent. Concerning which wc finde, that 
 the Apoftles never impofed them upon any people orper- 
 fon, that judged them unlawfull, that they thought that eve- 
 ry man should be perfuaded in his ovvne mind, and should 
 doe nothing againil:, or without the warrant of his confer- 
 ence ; that by all meanes fcandall should be avoyded , as 
 which bringeth woe upon him by whom itcommeth,and 
 deftruction upon him upon whom it commeth , and 
 many fuch rules of confeience and Chiiftian prudence, 
 which ferue to the Kirk for direction in /natters indifferent 
 to thecommingof Chrift. Secondly, there was greate bu- 
 _ llncfle aboute ceremonies, and things called indifferent, in 
 * the infancie of the Reformed kirks,in the time of the Interim, 
 
 when 
 
 2. ^At the firjh re- 
 formation, amonq 
 
7F 
 
 when with fo greatc power and persecution the Romish 
 corruptions were forced againe upon them, under the name 
 ofindifferencie : at that time politicks and vvotldly men, 
 more carefull of their own wealth then of Godsttueth , 
 gauethcmfclues to ferue the time, and received all that was 
 obtruded underthe firide cloake ofindifferencie. Thefe 
 were accounted friends to Auguftus. Others of grcatc gifts 
 and effceeme in the Kirk- wished from their hearts, that thefe 
 ceremonies had never beei\ urged, yctthoughr italelTc cvill 
 to admit fome thinginthe externall part of Gods worship , 
 and thereby uniformitie in religion with the enemies , then 
 by aftoicaUftifncs (as they call it) andfra-obftinacie to pro- 
 voke authorise , and thereby to bring upon themfelues ba- 
 nishment, and upon Kirk and common wealth defolarion. 
 Such men looking more to unitie,then to veritie, &£ more to 
 the event, then totheirovvn duetie, were called canie,vvife 
 and peaceable men. A third forte fetting afide all fophifti- 
 cation.andcollufion with the encmie , taught plainly by 
 word and writ from Scripture, and not from the grounds 
 of policie : that when any part of Gods worship is in dan- 
 ger, that then forthe honour ofGod, confirmation of the 
 trueth , and edification of the Kirk,ConfciTionisneceiTane. 
 He that confefieth not me , he that is afhamed of me kfore men^&c. 
 Thcytaught,that it was not lavvfull to fymbolize with the 
 encmie^thatin thecafeofconfeffionthe fmallefl: ceremonies 
 arenotindifferent: that at fuch times the Kirk should ffand 
 fall: to her libertie,againft fuch as would bring her into bon- 
 dage: that yielding to fuch ceremonies was a great fcandalJ, 
 it being a returning to the vomite, the patching of an old 
 cloute upon a new garment, & making the vveake torhinke 
 that the reformation of the Kirk was not a worke of God, 
 but of man : that the untimely change of ceremonies was a 
 shevveof defection from the whole reformation: that when 
 theenemieurgethuniformitie , his intentio should be loo'cd 
 to, beciufe he never refts,but proceeds from the corruption 
 of outward worship to corrupt the dodtrinc , and to leaue 
 nothing found. Men that taught after this manner were ac- 
 counted 
 
tedKjrks thu daj 
 
 P 
 
 counted by the former politicks, andpeaceableformaliffo,, 
 to be contentious fpirits, and troublers of the peace of the 
 ^TrTsihl^I'y K jrk * Thirdly ,albeir the reformed Kirks agree now for the 
 mod part in the general!, about the nature and ufe of things 
 indifrvrenr,yet they goefar afunder in the application of the 
 generall to their particular practifes. The Lutheran /Cirks 
 hold fome things for indifferent,which the/Cirk of England 
 receiveth nor, and England holdeth a multitude of ordinan- 
 ces aboutedifcipline and ceremonies for indifferent, which 
 we taKe to be unlawfull,and befide the word. E verie Kirk:, 
 judging, orat leaftpractifing,according totheyr owne mea- 
 sure of reformation : all crept not forth of that Roman de- 
 luge equally accomplished. No marvell that fome of them 
 should fmell of the wine of fornication, wherewith they 
 all forfo manyyeeres were drunke. But obftinacie againft 
 the ingyring light,and the refufingof a further degree of Re- 
 formation's fearefull, what is it then to drawe others back 
 from their reformation, and to binde them up againe into 
 their old chaine ofdarknes. Thefe manifold contentions a- 
 bout things called indifferent, and ceremonies haue proved 
 fopernitious by defacing the kingdome of Chrift, fetting up 
 the tyrannic of Antichrifl: , dividing Paftors, offending peo- 
 ple, difmembring the Kirk,and almoft putting out the life of 
 true pietie,that we may truly fay, nothing hath proved lefle 
 indifferent to the Kirk, then the contentions about things 
 indifferent, and many haue been more hote for them , then 
 for the hart of religion, becaufethey concerne the face ofthe 
 Kirk 5 and as Erafmus fayd in another caufe , thecrownes dc 
 bellies of Kirkm en. W^hether our old Pa ft or, or new prelate 
 hath here the greatell: guiltinefle, "will appeare by this litle 
 thatfolloweth. 
 
 THE 
 
THE PASTOR, ever fcarcth defection , and ftil The pafto 
 urgcth Reformation , rill every thing be done in the ^SSfct^*- * 
 houfe of God, according to the will of God. He ac- difiScnrgood,bot 
 counteth the conftitution of a Kirk , that is but indif- would be at fcr- 
 feicntgood, or midway betwixt idolatrie and Re- ,hc ; r Reformation: 
 formation, to be but like the lukewarmnefTe of Laodicea. ru£h P io Slfj&ioii" 
 
 The P R^E LA T E pleafah himfelfe in this , that there be many 
 Kjrks in tvorfi cafe, resfeth in his indifferencie , and lukowarmncfie , and 
 rather inclyneth downward to further defcHion,then aymcth at any higher 
 Reformation, like the Prie/ts of Samaria , that were alsfi( earnetl a- 
 gainfi the true worship at lerufalem,as they were againft Baal and his ;./<?- 
 lati'ie. 
 
 2. The PASTOR looketh not to the world but to Reli- Thepaft.tb 
 gion in matters of Religion, and therefore thinketh not that in- "y^dSSSy 
 different in Religion, which bringeth good or evill fpirituall up- or evil to the fc pe°- 
 on the Kirk,and the ibules of the people , albeit in their worldly pies toules:theprc 
 eftatc immediately it doe them neyther £ood nor evill. T* ^U 116 ?, 
 
 -,, nr»r-r/«4r-/i / J j ■ - J-rr * ■ n /■ • tnat indifferent. 
 
 The P R^E LA T E ejteemeth many things indifferent in Religion , vhich j^^ ne {_ 
 
 becaufe they neyther bring good nor evill to his worldly ejiate, albeit rbey do ther good nor evil 
 
 good or evill to the Kii\, and to thefoules of the. -people, and looketh more J° his wondiy e- 
 to the world then to religion in matters of religion. 
 
 3. The PASTOR acknowledged) three degrees of mat- The paft.;hink«h 
 tcrs of fayth , fome to be of the foundation and rirft prin- l J°* h ! D 8 JS^i 
 ciples of the doctrine of fayth , fome to be neare the foun- jJXJJ wordTthe 
 dation , as the conclufions clearly following upon the former, prelateeverything 
 and the third to be of all other matters warranted by the that is not funda- 
 word , and what is of this third ranck , were it never fo mem * 
 
 farre from the foundation , and never fo fmall in our eyes, not 
 ro be a matter indifferent, but to binde the confcicnce,and to be 
 a matter of fayth. 
 
 The P R^E LA T E profefleth the firfl andfecond to be matters of 
 fayth Jnit when he comet h to the third he efteemeth the to be no matters of 
 fayth, but indifferent and wondereth that a wifeman should be fo prccife 
 and puritanical!, as tofiandupon matters that are not fundament all , but 
 indifferent. For fo he dislinguisheth , making evoy thing eyther funda- 
 ment all or indifferent. 
 
 4. The PAST, comparing the worship of God under the gof- Thcpaftor findah 
 pell with the worship vnder the Iaw,rindeth that the commande- tho °««^ion for 
 ment Deu. 1 2. ^2. Every word that I command you, that ye shall obferue JjJ'^SSa under 
 to doe, thou shalt not add unto it, neyther shall ye deminish from it , doeth the gofpcl , as it 
 equally concerne both. That the mynd of man permitted to it fclfc was under die law 
 would proue as vayne dnd foolish under the Golbell , as under the law, ^feEjjf^I 
 
 t T t r- ~r •?. r- \r n ^ • Jt it it r r ^ , dc:h lintO lt,as It It 
 
 and that lejus Chnit was fay >thj nil as a Sonne m all the houje of God, were uppeifiMK 
 
 EAr^lA^V aboue 
 
w 
 
 ahoue Mofes who was but a fen <ant, and therefore albeit the ceremo- 
 nial obfervations under* the Law were many, which was the bur- 
 den of the Kirk under the oldTeftament, and ours be few, which 
 is our benefit,yet the determination from God in all the matters 
 of his worship he findeth to be alfparticular, the direction of all 
 the parts of our obedience to be as cleare to us , that now liue 
 under the Gofpell, as it was to them that lived under the Law. 
 
 The P B^E L. as if cyther it were lawful! now to adde to the word, or 
 mans minde were in a better frame t or the Sonne of God were not fo 
 faythfu/las Mofes the fervant , or as if direction in few ceremonies could 
 not be as plaine as in many \ would bring into the fQrk. * new ceremoniall 
 law, made tip of tranflations of divine worship, of imitations offilfc wor- 
 ship, and of inventions ofwillworship, to fuccede to the abolished ceremo- 
 nies under the Law, which he interpreted to be the libertic and power of 
 the Chriftian Kirl^in matters indifferent, aboue the KjrJ^ofthe old tefta- 
 ment: but k indeede the great e doore , whereby himfelfe & other s,flrange 
 office-bearers, whereby dayes, altars, veflures, croft e,kneehng,and all that 
 Romish rable Ins shaddow, haue entred into the Kirk^ofChrtft, and which 
 anil never be shut againe till himfelfe be shut out , who while he is within 
 holdeth it wide open. 
 The paft.appoint- T* The PASTOR giveth no power to the Kirk to appoint 
 eth no new thing other things in the worship of God, the are appointed already by 
 j? the worship of Chrift the onely Lawgiver of his Kirk , but to fet downe canons 
 is Tnew Waiver anc * con fti tut i° ns about things before appointed , and to difpofe 
 ° ' the circumftances of order & decencie , that are equally nece (fa- 
 ne in civill and religious actions , and therefore refolveth iirft', 
 that nothing pofitiue , or that floweth meerely from inftitution , 
 can be indifferent, or can be appointed by the Kirk. Secondly, 
 that reafon may be giuen ftom Chriftian prudence , why things 
 are appointed by the Kirk thus and no other waies. And third- 
 ly, that the conftitutions of theKirk about things indifferent can 
 not be univerfall for all times and Kirks, and therefore can not 
 be concluded upon any morall or unalterable ground , which 
 made the ancients to obferue ■ that albeit Chrifts coate had no 
 feame, yet the Kirks vefture was of divers colours, and that uni- 
 tie is one thing,and uniformitie another. 
 
 The P RJE LATE as a new Lawgiver wiU appoint new rites , and 
 myfticallfignes in the Kji'k> l ^ At depend upon meerc inftitution , and are 
 wot concluded upon any reafon of Chriftian prudence for fuch a time and 
 ■place, but upon grounds unchangable , and therefore obliging at all times 
 and places, as is evident by the reafon that he bringeth for feftivall dayes y 
 kneeling in the fact 'anient &c. 
 The paftor is fofar <*• * ne PASTOR diftinguisheth betwixt the nature and 
 iimiied , that he ufe of things indifferent, and confelfeth with a& the learned,that 
 
 albeit 
 
 
57 
 
 albeit many actions be in their nature indiffcrent,yer that all our AMceth nothing 
 adions in particular ( at lead fuch as proccedc of deliberation , £j«tarK|lS 
 which is the exception of fome of the Schoolmen) are eyther ute accouaceth 
 good or evill, and not one of them all indifferent in matters moft *■« ™ beprecife- 
 indifferent, which obligeth him to fceke a warrant from Godjfor **P« 
 that which he doeth , that he may doe it in fay th , to walke cir- 
 cumfpedlly,to take hecde to his words, gefturcs,6cc. and to do 
 all that he doeth to the glorie of God. 
 
 The PI{EL. abhorreth this doHrine as the foundation ofPuritanifinc* 
 the reflraint of his licentioufhes , and, the mine of his monarchic ,& there- 
 fore to the contrarie finneth with a bold confidence, and maketh the people 
 to finne, fiome with erring, fome with doubting , and feme with a contra- 
 dicting confidence. 
 
 7. The PASTOR giveth care to the H.Ghoft , charging Thepaftorfare^i 
 that we put no occafion to fall , nor Humbling block before our Sings i°differcn I t , • 
 brethren, (for that is to deftroy him for whom Chriit dyed) co- but the preiare i$ 
 manding the ftrong to beare with the infirmities of the weake , ^° ld atld *****? 
 and not to pleafe themfelues with the neglect of their brethren , ou$ * 
 and threatning woe to them, by whom offences come , againft 
 which no authoritie of man can ltand , becaufe it can neyther 
 make fcandall not to be , nor not to be finne , nor not to Be his 
 finne that giveth the fcandall. 
 
 The P I{E LA T E flopping his care againfl the commandement 
 charge and tjjr earning of the H.Ghosl, whether he intend to glue fcandall 
 or not by his manifold abufie of things indifferent, and cjpecially by receiving 
 into the Kjrl{.againe things called indifferent , which for their great abufie 
 were abolished,giveth offence to all forts: as the boldnes and increafe ofpa- 
 fifts, the contempt and mocking of the profane , the fiuperflition and per-* 
 plexitic efthefimple, and the grief and crofes of the godly doe declare, a- 
 gainft which he never had any excufi, but the pretext of authoritie. 
 
 The Prelates objection. 
 
 TH E P J^E LA T E will slillobj 'eel, that ye were more wife to quit objett. None but 
 the name of confidence in matters fio indifferent , as the controverted puritanes are pre- 
 articles, and others of that forte be ; thenflillto talks of confidence, cotifici- ^1$™™™™' 
 ence,and that ye are, but a patkfif puritanes , that arc fio prccifie andjingu- 
 Ur beyond your neighbours in matters indifferent. 
 
 The Paftors anfwer. 
 
 TH E prelate perfwading to put away confcicnce , is not un- 
 like the foxe , who through his evill guyding having looled ^nf. Diftingmsh- 
 his taile, would hauc peri waded all his neighbours to parte with fcf» dfwffiS 
 theirs, as an uncomely and unprofitable burthen , that all being r Puritanes. 
 
 E 2 like 
 
like himfelf,his deformitie might no more appeare. A good con- 
 fcience would pleafe God in all. things in fubftance and ce- 
 remonie, but with due proportion. It firft and moftftandeth at 
 Camels , and yet next it ftraineth gnats , when the light of 
 Gods trueth makes them difcernable. When he calleth us pre- 
 cifians , he is quite miftaken : for he that is fo felfe precife , 
 that he will rather part with the puritie of Gods worship , and a 
 good peece of the trueth too , then want a complement of his 
 Lordly dignitie , or peece of his worldly com moditie, or difch 
 of his delicacie , and not he that is fo precile in the matters of 
 Gods worship (wherein he hath no power to be liberall) that he 
 will forfake all to follow Chrift , he and no other is the right 
 precifian. He calleth our pallors and our profeffors Puritanes , 
 and confequently Hereticks , but blefTed be God, can not 
 name their herefie : They are ftill in profefllon that which he 
 was not long fince , when he was farther from Herefie then he 
 is now. Tnis calumnie conftreyneth us to diftinguish betwixt 
 two forts of Puritanes ; the one is the old hereticall Puritane , 
 who from the author of his feci:, was called Novarian , and from 
 his herefie , Catharift , or Puritane : fuch a one our paftor is 
 not: for 
 
 I . The Puritane denyed the haptifme of infants. 
 
 The Paftor waiteth on baptifme , as a fpeciall parte of his 
 
 calling, which the Prelate doeth not. 
 
 , 3 
 
 The Puritanes had their atvne Prelates and liked of pelade. \g 
 
 The Paftor in this is no Puritane, but the prelate the 
 Puritane. 
 
 The Puritane condemned fecond mariage as unlaw full. 
 
 The Paftor mainteyneth the honour of mariage againft 
 the Putitane , the Papift , and the Prelats manifold 
 matrimoniall tranfgrefsions. 
 
 The Puritane denyed reconciliation in fome cafes to peni- 
 tents. 
 
 The Paftor would be glad to fee the Prelates repen- 
 tance , notwithstanding his greate defections , and 
 that in the time of peace , without the leaft effaye 
 ofperfecution; and therefore our Paftor is not a Pu- 
 ritane. 
 
 The other forte is the new nicknamed Puritane in our times, 
 wherein the Papift calleth it Puritanifme , to oppofe the Ro- 
 man Hierarchic The Arminian accounteth it Puritanifme , to 
 defende Gods free grace againft mans free-will. The Forma- 
 
 lift 
 
lift thinketh ir Puriranifmc toftand out againft conformitie. The 
 Civilian , not to feme the time , and the Prophanc thinketh 
 it eflcntiall to the Puritane to walke preciefly , and not to be 
 profane , and fo eifentiall is it indeede , that if all were profane 
 there would be no puritane : for the profane and the puritane 
 are oppofed. He then is the new Puritane that ftandeth for 
 Chriit againft Antichrift, that defendeth Gods free grace againft 
 mans free will , that would haue everie thing done in the houfe 
 of God according to the will of God ( which is his grcatcft he- 
 refiej that feeketh after the power of religion in his heart (and 
 this is his intolerable fin<nilaritic) and that ftandsat the ftaftcs 
 ende againft the finnes of the time (and this is his pride and 
 melancholie ) after this way that the world calleth herefie fer- 
 veth he the God of his Fathers , who haue all beene Puritanes 
 of this ftampe fince the beginning. Abel , who was hated 
 for his holynes ; Enoch , that walked with God : Noah , that 
 was a perfect man in his generations : Heber , that made 
 Peleg his name a teftimonie , that he was free of the build- 
 ing of Babel: Mofes , that ftoode upon an hooue : Mordecay 
 that would not bowe his knee ; Daniel , that would not hold 
 his window shutte : Efeazar , that would not catc one morfell, 
 Paul that.would not difpence with one houre , nor with an ap- 
 pearance of an evill: Marcus Arethufas,that would not redeeme 
 his life with the giving of an halfpenny to idolatrie : Caius Sul- 
 pitius , who was eiteemed evetCby the Pagans a good man , but 
 that he was a Chriftian , &c. were they living at this time, 
 they would not efcape this cenfure , and would be accounted 
 good men, if they were not Puritanes. The Widow of Sa- 
 repta , who enterteyned Eliah , the Shunamite the hoft of Eli- 
 shah , Annah who for multiplying to pray , and powring out 
 her heart before God was rashly ceniurcd, to be a daughter of 
 Beliall; Annah the widow , that fcrved God with falling and 
 prayer night and day , and fpake of Chrift : The godly wo- 
 men that waited on Chrift , miniftred unto him of their fub- 
 ftance , and told the Apoftles of his refurred:ion : Lydia , 
 that conftreyned the Apoftles to abide with her : Lois and 
 Eunice , that had a care , that their children shoulde haue 
 grace : The elect Ladie , the famous Hildgardis , who li- 
 ved in the 12 Centuric : Mcchthildts , Elizabeth die Ger- 
 mane : and many moe, who cenfured the corruptions of the 
 Kirk , and efpecially of the Prelates of thofe times , and 
 prophefied of the Reformation , which they longed to fee, were 
 they now living would be cenfured, for holy lifters , and doting 
 Puritanes,and that the rock and fpindle had been fitter for them. 
 
 E 3 Can 
 
Can any man or woman be vexed with the filthy conversation of 
 the wicked 2 Pet. 2. be ftirred up in fpirit againft IdoJatrie,Adt. 
 17. be hot in religion,Revel. 3. fervent in fpirit, Rom. 12. walk 
 precifely, Eph. f. feare an oath , make the Sabbath his delight , 
 Efa.^S. loue the brotherhood 1 Pet. 2. Take the kingdome of 
 God by violence, Matth. 11. and keepe a good confcience in all 
 things Ad.24.and not be made the drunkards fong,the byword 
 of the people, and mocked for a Puritane. It was the faying of 
 Petrach. Simplicitie carrieth the name offoolishnes , malice the name of 
 tvifdome, and good men are Jo mocked, that almofl none can be found to b* 
 mocked. 
 
 THE FOURTH PART. 
 
 The Paftor & Prelate compared 
 
 by the Reformation, and proceedings 
 
 ofourowne Kirk. 
 
 S no fair ilie or civill focietie, where the fun- 
 damental! lawes are neglected, and theluft of 
 the flesh, thelufl ofthe eyes, and the pride of 
 life are followed, can contincw long , except 
 it be reformed. Euen fo the Kirk of God, 
 through the mifregard ofthe lavves of God & 
 dirc&ion of Scripture, and through the ambition and cove- 
 toufnes of Kirkmen did fall away fo farre from the firfl: inte- 
 gritie, that there was a necefluie of Reformation, &c nothing 
 more certainly looked for, and more plainly foretold a long 
 low Reformation time before any of our 1 eformers, or Luther himfelfeca me in 
 mmoH^ht. the world. This reformation that could no longer be de- 
 layed was often urged, but never likely to be obteyned in a 
 genera ICounfcll, nor with confentof the Clergie & Court 
 
 of 
 
of Rome, to whom Reformation was a ccttaine mine. 
 And therefore in feverallkingdomes, countries and flatcsof 
 thechriftian world, it was wonderfully wrought by the 
 Lords mighty power in his weake fervants. Such were a- 
 rnongftothersNl&aldusofFranc^HusofBohcm, Jerome of 
 Pragc, Luther of of Germanie, Wickleife of England , and 
 our Knox of Scotland, 'Whereupon it came to paffe, that 
 although one part ofChriftendome knewe not \rhat ano- 
 ther NJ^asdoing, yet they allagreed fas maybefeene in the 
 Harmonie of Confeflions published to the vvorldj) in the 
 moft ellentiallandfundamentall matters of fayth : becaufe 
 the Lord was maifter of that worke : bit hadalfo their own 
 differences and degrees of Reformation j becaufc men were 
 the inftruments, and they were not Angels , but men that 
 were to be wrought upon. Fwwhofe divers difpofitions in "pronx ■ 
 fundry nations there b chooved to be divers difadvantages to 
 the work. We are not rigid cenfurers of other Reformed 
 Kirks,norare we Separating from themrbut this vvethin!<c 
 that a twofold duetielyeth upon us, and them all, whatfo- % ^ t ^ jf *"?\ 
 ever be the^meafure of Ref rmation:Oneis (albeit there be /^n£. ' 
 ever fome Catholick moderators, that will be Tryfters be- 
 twixte us and Rome, andthinke to agree Chrift and Anti- 
 chrift) that we all with one heart prayfe God for feparating 
 us from Sodome , refolving never to returne againe , where 
 there be fo many herefies, both againft: the common princi- 
 ples and particular articles of fayth, fo manifold idolatrie 
 both againlt the firft: and fecond commandement,fo proude 
 a Hierarchie as canneyther ftande with the fpirituall King- 
 dome of Chriit, nor the civillKingdomes of Princes , and 
 fo bloudy a tyranny againft all who refufe to bclieue theire 
 herefies, to practife their idolatrie, and to be (lavish to their 
 hieran hie. Returning to any point ofthcit profeffion js an 
 approbatio of their crueltie againft them that haue denied it. 
 And who foever approue their worship , they bringe upon 
 themfelues the bloud of fo many Saindts, and faythfull mar- 
 tyrs of Chrift , who haue teftified the word of God, & haue 
 ■washed their Robes in the bloud of the Lambe. The other 
 
F? 
 
 M r <- 
 
 SueueTJthat albeit there be evenomeadmphomfs!v^i^ot 
 theirowne particular make many things, and »Wv«moe 
 things to be indifferent in the worship of God, that under 
 this pretext they may bring them back that haue been ad- 
 vanced before them in the worke ofReformptionrthat we 
 Reformation allpraifeGod with one heart for the mcafrire that evene one 
 hath atteyned unto , and they that are brfunde in reformat i- 
 on, whatfoever their outward fplendor be, envye not them 
 wo haue runne before, or ftudie to draw them back to their 
 degree, leafl: both returne to Rome : but that all againfl: all 
 impediments preffe forward to further perfection , ever re- 
 forming fome what according to the patterne, there being no 
 itaying neither for the Chriftiannorfor the Kkk. The Kirk 
 of Scotland hathlitiecaufetobe pleafed vvithherfelfe,vvhc 
 she looketh upon her late fuddain and shamefull defection/ 
 butgreate and lingular caufe to praifeGod, when she look- 
 eth to his gracious difpenfation. For as Scotland, albeit far 
 from Ierufalem,wasoneofthefirit nations,that the light of 
 the Gofpel shyned on, when it appeared ro the Gentils,and 
 one of the lad that kept the light, when the shado wes of the 
 hilles of Rome began to darken the earth. So when the fun 
 came abouteagaine at the Reformation, ifthisbleiTed light 
 shyned firftupo otherSjallthat had eyes to fee both at home 
 andabroadc, haue feene and fay'd, that it shyned faireftupo 
 us, Divine providence delighting to fupply the defect of na- 
 ture with aboundance of grace , and to make thi s iackfide 
 of the earth 5 lying behind the vifible funne, bythecleareand 
 comfortingbeames of the Suune of righteoufnes , to be the 
 ftinnie fide of theChriftian world, whereof thefe follow- 
 ing teftimonies are fuflicient proofe. 
 
 One of M. George Wishart martyr : 
 This Realme shall be illumtnated "frith the light ofchri/ls 
 go/pel^ as clearly as ever ^/ts Realmefince the dayesof the 
 K^pojlles. The hotsje of God shall he budded in it , yea it 
 shall not lackj^hatfoever the enemie imagin to the contra- 
 tie) the very top-flone; the glorie of Cod shaft evidently 
 
 appearc 
 
appear e \ and shall once tryumph in defpight of Sathan* 
 But alas, if the people shall be after unthankcfull, then 
 fearefull and terrible shall the plagues be ,that after shal 
 follow. Hift. of the Kirk of Scotland pag. icS. 
 
 - - a Magnn eft hoc Dct m I 
 
 Another Ol OCZa. quod una & religionempu- 
 
 9am , & ivjjiw , dotlris*. 
 
 a This is d great e gift of God, that ye haue brought into Scotland rt-rmntnd*™*culum » 
 
 togitherpure religion and good order, which is the band to hold fa fr ^^dtc^h^ft^ 
 the doHrine.l hartily pray and kefecch for Gods fake, Hold f aft thoje retinete^t uv.o amifi . 
 two together, fo that ye may remember , that if the one be lott , the "'* diufermtnerc nip fpt . 
 ether can not long remaincM B,shops brought forth poperie , fi %fZ£gS*$ . ' 
 falfe bishops, the reheks of poperie, shall bring into the world Epicu- it*pfeudotpifc»fas.p*pat4} 
 reifme: Whofoever would haue the Kjrkjtife , let them beware of rcl >V" M ' e r :cnrci f»>» u ' u * 
 thispeft, and feeing- ye haue tymely difpatched it in Scotland, I be- *»™a™rM»cfentmt*. 
 Jcecbyou, never admitte it agawe, albeit it platter with shew of the cupiunt 3 & mmiiiinSei - 
 prcfervation of unit le, which hath deceived many of the beft of the *** *n tempore ptiflig* 
 ancients. ne 1 ux f^ '^ Hn quj- <>;'»» r- 
 
 txw,uantumv:i uniia>» re- 
 ttnencUjpede.tptsvet! 
 
 A third of the body ofConfeffions offayth : $^^jj* . 
 
 b It is the rare priviledge of the Kjr^ of Scotland before many , b £/? -^ Ecc!c ^ Mm4 . 
 in which rejpetl her name is famous euen among ftr 'angers , that a- n*. p'rivilegium varum m t 
 boute thejpace of four and fiftiey cares , without fchifme, let be he- m " ltli » in <?»» et i*z ' 
 refie , she hath 'kept and holdenfift umtie with puritie ofdottrinc. JJJJJ *r*f H '^J™ 
 The great eft helpe of this unitie^fthe mercie of God m was } that nos ph u mmL \\ fr's 
 with the doclrine the difcipline of Qhrisl and his Apoftles , <ts it is f< l »f'»we medium here/?, 
 refcribed in the Word of God , was by litle and title together refa- *£?*"? "«■ />««>*" <fe- 
 
 a , and according to that difciphne , jo neare as might be , the nucm. Hum u;:i:atuili. 
 
 whole government of the KJrl^ was dijpofed. By this meanes all the vinculum 'ex De: mifri- 
 
 fiedes ofSchifmes and errors, fo Coone as they be<rannc to budde, and " rdlAnA ^^rnfutt^uoi 
 
 / It r, -ill- j i* i r i ,P a «l*ttm cum dochina 
 
 sbewe themjelues , in the very breeding and byrth were f mothered Chrifii 6- ^ipoftjorum 
 
 and rooted out. The Lord God of his infinite goodncs grant un- d*fcipkn*m, /lent e* 
 
 ver- 
 
 to the Kjngs mo ft gracious Majeftie , to all the rulers of the KJrl^, io *?? e fi P^f^'p- 
 to the powers that arenurcers oftheKjrl^, that according to the 'p^roxiLT'jierl P \ tuilTZ 
 wordofGod, they may kcepe perpetually that unitie and purine of cundum eam totumn-i- 
 dcclrine. Amen. mcn EcclcfiaiHcum , /*»* 
 
 adminiJraritm. Hac ra- 
 tions omnia fcbifmstuM , 
 
 arcjuecrr.r: 
 
 primum pull til are , aut (c 
 
 exerere yifa funt , in ipfa quafi herb* & partu funt fi-f[>cata , & extirpata. 'Let Dom-mu Dem brt im- 
 
 menfa fita bonitate \egi.ii Majefiatt fcrenifsimx , omubufjue erclrjiarum <Tnl/erna!orib;i< , pottfta:. 
 
 clefts, nutr'ttiii , ur ex DeiverUoillamuni'.atem , & dotlrtn* puritatcm perpctno confrvtn;. lAtncn. Cor- 
 
 put Confef.fidei pag, <j. 
 
 F The 
 
^ The Fourth is of King James o:rlate Soveraine : 
 ° l^'*^*^ C ^ e re I*g* on p Y0 fefled in this countrey wherein I was brought up , . 
 ^wc^l*^ * *F an ^ ever made profefiion of, and wishes myfonne ever to continew in the 
 ^S?. | >Ji> f ame > <i* the only trew forme of Gods worship &c. I doe equally hue and 
 JN^t.t 1§* honour the learned andgraue men ofeyther ofthefe opinions y that like bet- 
 <J S?"^ ^5^ ier °f the jingle forme ofpolicie in our Kjrf{, then of the many ceremonies 
 g^i^^Hi * n *h e Kirkof England i$c, I exhort my Sonne to be beneficiall to the 
 V $ ^l^i^i g 00 ^ m en of the minijlerie, prayfing God, that there is prefently afuffici- 
 u* '^z ^<^^ent number of good memofthem in this kingdome,& yet are they all kpowe 
 ! ! ^ v ; ^5^1 ^1^1^ be againsl the forme of the English Kjrk.. 
 
 sfc^l3^5i Baiilic.Doron to the Reader: H«prayiedGod,for that he 
 
 was borne to be a King in the finceareft Kirk in the world, 
 |£^^^jj|^ c » AfTemblieanno 1590. The Prelates themfelues and the 
 JA^^I^niamteyners of conformitie dare not for shame open their 
 ^| N 5 , §X|^^lji-iouthes againftthe workeof God in the Reformation , and 
 I ^J Jvt^i^againft: the puritie of their mother Kirk, & therefore \rould 
 
 ^ ;A^Q^againit tnepi 
 
 fe^C^* * v°|^|haue her to open her mouth in the^r defence ofther Hierar- 
 S^J^l^jIchie and ceremonies, and do \rreil her authoritie and pro- 
 L § |v|^ ^sjfeeedings to that fenfe. Let us then aske ofherfelfe , \srhe- 
 i^'iJMi^thershee liketh better of the Paftor or of the Prelate. 
 
 ^2 1 f Hi * ■■ m ^ H E P A S T O R5 and men of God at the acceptable 
 The difcipline. 8c time Q f Reformation, as they were moved by the fpi- 
 
 T 
 
 ^k'arSe'ficftf i rit of God; laboured to reform,not onely the do&rine 
 
 late to be caft out. 
 
 d Booths ofdifcipl-t 
 
 «57l- 
 
 b^n to be refor- H facraments,and whole worship of God , but alfo the 
 
 ES^u! ;?<* pr ," difcipline and-whole government of the houfe of God 
 
 by abolishing the jurifdiAion of prelates , and all that Roman 
 Hierarchie: as is manifeftd by their acknowledging no other or- 
 dinarie and perpetuall officebearers in the Kirk, but Paftors, do- 
 tun. iy<tf. clors, Elders, and Deacons : by their petitioning,that the rents of 
 fi^fxan. t i ie Prelates, & of their trairie should be converted to other ufes. 
 e By their fubferibing theHelvetick Confeifion, which cenfureth 
 prclacic for the invention of man, /and by the letters which they 
 received from forrainc Kirks,gratulating , that they had tinjely 
 purged the Kirk of this proude prelacie , that they had received 
 with the do&rine,the difcipline of Chrift & his Apoftles, 6c wil- 
 ling and obtefting them to beware of the peft of prelacie, as they 
 loved the wcale of the Kirk. 
 
 The P I^E LA T.£ not onely in rejpctl of his popish Religion , but aU 
 
 Join 
 
 — — 
 
fio in refpeFt of his papaK and epificopall jurifdiclion , was one of the treats 
 evils , that cryedfor reformation of the Kjrkj an ^ therefore, albeit be kepi 
 fiillthe title, the rent and civill place of the prelate ( which the Kjrl^could 
 not take from him,and which tnaketh many to mijlakc his dcfccnt)lns eccle- 
 fiafticall authority was fio far abolished , that neither were their Succefiors 
 defigned to fiuch prelates as cotinued obfiinatePapifts,nor wasKpifcopal an- 
 thoritie continued in their per fans that were converted, nor were Superin- 
 tendents ordeyned to be new prelates -.onelyfome of the converted prelates , ■ 
 for want ofmeancs to furnish others, were defigned to be commifiioners of 
 the Kjrkjds other or dinar ie Pafiors were, but with badfiuccejfe. For never 
 one of them did good to the Kii\ 
 
 2. The PASTOR and men of God proceeding in the work " . 
 
 df reformation, acknowledged no government oftheKirk by the ceedSt 1 ^? 1 m 
 Lordly domination of Prelates , but by the common content and point of reform* 
 authoritie of affemblies, which were of four forts, Nationall,Pro- tfon.«dtheprd. 
 vinciall, ParishionaII,and Presbyteriall. g The lineaments of the JSJUfaJ " 
 laft were drawen at the firft , when the weekely aitemblies were gT*tbefttbe Su. 
 appointed for exercite of difcipline, and interpretation of Scrip- perinnwkntr^ri 
 tures, but were not, nor could not be accomplished,and perfect- ^ eC i'' y nl^ it 
 ly eitablished, till the light was lpreade , and particular Kints l5 t z . 
 were planted in the teverall quarters and corners of the Land , 
 that they might make a number , and conveniently aflemble in 
 presbyteriall meetings. 
 
 The P i^£ LA T E is refilefle , proceedes whither his avarice anct 
 ambition carrie him , find willing in thofie times rather to be a Titular 
 or a h Tulchan ( as he was then named ) then to be no bodie abotie his hLeitb if ytm 
 brethren. He taketh upon him the Title Bisbop, with a fin all parte of the 
 rent , permitting the greater parte to my Lord , who fie bishop he was , 
 and proudly a^aine arrogates anthoritie over the Kirl^. 
 
 3. The PASTOR and men of God learning , not from At laft prefccie h 
 Geneva , but from Scripture and dayly experience, that the go- JJJJ^ ^ *jhc 
 vernment of Prelates was full of ufurpation , and of all forts of v hoIeKirk. 
 corruption, whereof many did complaine, i that it had no war- 
 rant , and was never like to haue any hlefling from God , refolue i Edeniurgh *»>,* 
 at laft to ftrike at the roote, &. therefore after many difputations l *73* 
 in private and publick , confutations with the gteateit divines 
 of other reformed Kirks , and after long and mature delibe- 
 ration , the tecond Booke of Difcipline, pronuoncing the ju- 
 rifdiction and office of the Prelate to be unlawfull , was re- 
 lated by content of the whole Kirk , an ordinance made 
 that Bishops betake them to the charge of one Congrega- 
 tion , that they exercite no civill Iunfdiction . The Contbf. 
 fion of Fayth fworne and fubferibed , wherein they oblige 
 iliemtelues to continew in the doctrine & difcipline of this Kirk. 
 
 F 2 The 
 
!: 
 
 tion make a nev\ 
 division againe 
 
 k-Dundie.tn.irfo The fame yeere k, ft was declared in the generall afTembIie,that 
 the office of the Prelate was unlawfull in it felfe,and had no war- 
 rant in the Word of God, thereafter renued in covenant. 
 
 The P RELATE and men of that diftofuion , having in the ende 
 nothing to oppone, profeffed that they agreed in their confiiences ,confented 
 to the Atls of the Kji\ , fwore andfubjeribed the Confefion offayth , re- 
 newed the covenant with the Kjrl^, and helped to put on the coap-slone of 
 l2r mt ' Am} ° ^ oe Ki r kofGod with their owne hands, YLike as the fame Confefion of 
 4 " fayth was fubferibed by thofe that are now in the proudeft places ofprelacie, 
 
 and who haue proved fince the chief est inflruments of all the alterations in. 
 the Difcipline and external! worship of God, and ring-leaders in she defe- 
 ction of the Kj^ki with what confeiene may befeene by their unhoneft ex- 
 cufes, their poor e shifts, and shamelcffe ray lings , againft that which they 
 did oncefo much reverence, all to befeene, as wey are published in print. 
 TheKirknowre- 4« ^ ne PASTOR and men of God defyring to teltifie 
 formed in doctrine their thankfuInefTe , for fo lingular favour vouchfafed upon this 
 5c difcipline ufeth Kirk and nation , & to employ the benerite of the difcipline now 
 Snftail ito? of eftablished for the libertieof the kingdome of Chrift,and againfl: 
 Mnne, till men of the tyrannic of finne and Sathan , addrcffedthemfelues all as one 
 3S co iS! dif P ofi " man with greate fidelitie & courage for the work of God, urged 
 "" residence and diligence in minifters,kept withfucceffe from hea- 
 ven their publike and folemne humiliations , made the pulpits to 
 founde againft papiftrie and profaneneffe, & fet all men on work, 
 as they had grace or place, for purging the countrie of all corru- 
 ptions, and defending the Kirk againft her profeft enemies, who 
 never ceafed by negociating with the Pope 6c Spanish King un- 
 naturally to labour for their owne and her ruyne, whereof the di- 
 vine providence had difappointed them in 88. 
 
 The PPJL LAT ES author itie at this time lay deade,and men of that 
 difpofition made no greate Dime'. But the Kfrl^then ( unlike that which 
 she is now) comely as Iernf ilem, terrible ,as an armie with banners, againft 
 all her enemies didftand whole and found in unitic and concord of her mi- 
 nifters, authoritie of her aflcmblies, divine order of her minislerie , & pu- 
 rine of externall worship, with greate power andprcfence of the Spirit of 
 Cod in many congregations of the land, till at laft .for unitic divijion eh- 
 tred into the %jr\ 3 prelacie that hadflcpte before, as wakened againe, and 
 this myfterie beginneth to worke of new, neyther by any caufe offered by the 
 paslors of the Kjr\at the 17 of December (as the enemic calumniates) for 
 after long try all they were founde faultlcffe, and fay thf till by his Maj cities 
 owne tcslimonie. Noryet upon that occafion , m for the meeting of the 
 .l\i'i\for making that charge was inditlcd before that 1 7 day. But the 
 caufe was a plot contryved before, for procuring peace to the popish Lords, 
 to make warre amongst the minifterie, andlo divide them amongst them- 
 f clues. For this effect j j Problcmiwere framed, to call the eftablished 
 
 difcipline 
 
 iV rcrtb.1596- 
 
difciplinc of the f^irl^in queftion , and at one and the fame time way wai 
 wade for reconciliation of the Popish Lords , and for restitution of the po- 
 pish prelates. And the Schifme of our F\irk.fi we!/ compatied before, began 
 at that time, not upon their parte who ftandefor the difcip line, but byfome 
 of the Prelates dijpofuion, that is, of flattering and worldly myndedMini- 
 fters, who gaue other anfwers to thirtecne of the fiftie fine articles concer- 
 ning th : government of the KJrK> *ben their worthy brethren deft red : So 
 that,ifthecaufe or occafton maketh the Schifmaticl^, the Prelate is the 
 Schifmaticl^and not the P aft or. 
 
 5\ The PASTOR and men of God as they had been dili- The paftor ftadetH 
 gent to eftablish the government of the Kirk, according to the 223SSpS 
 will of Chrift, and after it was by the bleiling of God eltablished which the Prelate 
 were faythfull in ufing it for the honour of God, and good of the attaineth unro at 
 Kirk : io now, when it bei>anne craftily to be called in queftion, lalt by ma , ny L H' 
 
 rit i- b t v ■ m J i i ,11 » grees , and mix h 
 
 were careful! , according to their office and oath , to ltand to the working, 
 defence thereof, both againft profefled enemies, and againft the 
 Schifme begunne by their ovvne brethren : albeit they could nor 
 at the firft haue bcene perftvaded, that their brethren would ever 
 fo foully forget themfelues , as againft their greate oath in the 
 fight of God and the world , to take upon them the dominion of 
 Prelates, and for their owne back and belly to trouble the Kirk , 
 and marre all the worship of God as they haue done. 
 
 The P B^E LA T E through the Schifme at that time begunne by him- 
 felfe,favouri?ig the fweetnefie of wealth and honour, forgetteth his oathj.m 
 office and all, follow eth greedily upon the Sent, and clymbeth craftily by de- 
 grees , and betime to the heigth that he could not advance himfelfe to at tiDtmdH An » 9 
 once, n Firsl with much adoe, and many proteftations , that he meaned 1597. May, and 
 nothingagainft the difcipline cftablishcd, but defires to vindicate the Mi- £?* ch / r "' o; '"s- 
 niftericf'om povcrtie and contempt, gets liber tie for to vote in parliament ^1 ^ikmK^ 
 for the Kirl^, but with Jitch caveats, as would haue kept him from his pre- m \^ 99 .„\iomro- 
 fent prelacie, if he had kept them as he was obliged, o Secondly, fiueyercs f en a - ,no 1600. 
 thereafter he was made conftant moderator, & that of the presbyterie onely ° t^l'^oF^r. 
 where he was refident, and not of the Synods , upon as f aire pretexts , and 
 With the like protcftations and cautions, p Thirdly , being Lord of Par- 
 liament, Lord ofCouncell, patrone ofb:neficens , Modifier ofMinifters 
 ftipends , he was armed affo with the power of the High commifion , and 
 having two fvords bright doe againft the fQr^what he pleafid. c\Therc- ^ Glaf ^ v l6l0> 
 after incontinent he ufurped the power of 'ordination and iurif'iciion. iw;e.' 
 r And at lift, albeit without con fent or knowledge of the Kjr\of Scotland r ^„. ,^ I0 , Ne .. 
 wente and rejpbcd confecration in England, and face that time hath ta- ^cmb.r. 
 ken upon hint, and hath exercifed the plenarie power and office of a bishop 
 in the Kj>\> n ° hff:, then if the aftembUe of this K^rk, had chofen him to 
 the name and office of a Bishop, which as yet they haue nevex done, the moft 
 corrupt of their mvne aft emblics granting onely t)k negatiue power ofordi- 
 
 F ? nation 
 
The way of the 
 Paftors reformati- 
 on and the prelates 
 defe&ion very cd- 
 trary. 
 
 The paft. bearerh 
 witnes againft the 
 feverall degrees of 
 defe&ion.andfea- 
 
 reth a change in 
 the worship of 
 God , which the 
 prel . entereth up5 
 lb fooneasthego 
 vcrnment is alter- 
 ed ,and he come to 
 his power. 
 
 •f ^4!>erdeinl5i6- 
 Santtandr- anno 
 l6lj. 
 
 t Perth i6"l8. 
 
 v Edenburgh anno 
 
 1611. 
 
 nation and IurifliHion to them , who were never called Bishops by any* 
 warrant from the Kjrk., but onely in the vulgar Jpeach , fro the titles they 
 had to benefices , in which rejpeel civill pcrjbns beneficed were called Bi- 
 shops m former times. 
 
 6. The PASTOR and men of God feeking neither profit 
 nor preferment to themfelues, expelled the Prelate & all his Ce- 
 remonies out of the Kirk of Chrift by no other meanes , but fuch 
 as became the faythfull Minifters of Iefus Chrift , as preaching, 
 praying, penning, advifing with the beft reformed Kirks, reafo- 
 ning in aflemblies , and after libertie granted to all to oppone , 
 the confente, oath and fubfeription of the Adverfaries. 
 
 The P B^E LA T E feeking nothing but his owne profit aud prefer- 
 ment, is r£slored againe by fuch meanes , as better befeeme his Minifters , 
 who hath beene a murtherer and lyarfrom the beginning , then thejincere 
 Minifters of Iefus Chrift: For crafte and crueltie hathheen their wayes, 
 Their craft was to remoue their ftrongeft opponents out of the Countrie , 
 that they might not beprefent in aflemblies, to efpye their proceedings, and 
 toreafon againfl them, to abolish the true libertie and authoritie ofajfem- 
 blies, toprotefl that they were feeking noprelacie , neyther of the Popish 
 nor English kinde, and that they had no purpofe tofubverte the Discipline 
 received, but to deliver the Kjrk^from disgrace, and to be the more mightie 
 to oppofe her enemies, Iefuites and Papifts„to falfifie the afts of the JKjrk. , 
 to promife to keepe all the cautions and conditions , made to hold them in 
 order, which now they prof effe, they never minded to doe,&c. Their cruel- 
 ty hath beene to boaft,to banish, imprifon, depriuc, confine , filence,&c. 
 
 7. The PASTOR and men of God all this time of defe- 
 ction gaue teftimonie to the trueth , oppofed againft the feverall 
 fteppes of the prelates ambition , by all the meanes that became 
 him to ufe, as publick preaching , fupplicating, reafoning , pro- 
 tefting;, and fuffring , and when the prelate was triumphing in 
 the heigth of his dignitie , they could not , comparing the rlrft 
 temple with the fecond, but declare the griefe of their hearts for 
 the change,and their greate feare of alteration to be made in the 
 worship of God, when now the hedge of the Kirk was broken 
 do\vne,and an open way made for all corruption. 
 
 The P i^E LA T E is of the Clergie , thatfeldome isfecne penitent , 
 and therefore as againft all the meanes ufed by the Paft or , he had altered 
 the government of the Kjrl^, fo he enters next upon the worship & Ser- 
 vice of God . f and willhaue a new confeffion ofFayth, new Catechifme, 
 new formes of prayer, new obfirvation ofdayes, new Formes of miniftra- 
 tion of the Sacraments, which he firs! practised himftlfe , againft the acls 
 And order of the Kirk, t And Jince convened an affembly of his owne 
 making to drawe on the praclisc of others, v And thirdly he hath invol- 
 ved the honorable eftatcs of the Kingdom c into his greate guiltinefte by 
 
 their 
 
their ratification in parliament, which hath brought an inundation of evils 
 into this Kjrk^andcountrcy. 
 
 8. The PASTOR and men of God confidering , what the The paft. refui- ! 
 Kirk was before, and what it is now, what the reformation was , veth to be conftit 
 and what conformitie is , what the proceedings of the one and ^^refic a'rU coi> t 
 of the otherhaue beene, feeth Religion wearing away , pityeth raption , which & | 
 the young ones , that never haue feene better times , laments entering every day 
 ever the multitude , that can not fee the evils of the prcfent, and ll X f lh f n prel ^ res 
 refolveth for himfelfe to hold conftant to the ende againftPapifts, rai ' gcn 
 prelates, Arminians, and whatfoever can arife , to waite with 
 patience , what the Lord will doe for his people , and when he 
 is gone to Ieaue a teftimonie behinde him of the twofold miferio intf ^zle 
 of 4*»pietie and iniquitie, that he hath feene in this land. 
 
 The P RELATE hath forgotten what himfelfe and the 
 kjrl^ was once , he hath wrought a greater defection -in this kjrl^ in the 
 shorte tyme of his Episcopacie , then was in the primitiue kjrkjbrfome 
 hundreths of yeares , and is fofarre yet blinded with the louc of his place 
 in the world, that he maketh his worldly credite the Canon , and his prela- 
 cie the touchflone of the try all of all Religion. The Pope shall no more be 
 Antichrifl, Papiftrie may be borne with , Arminianisme may be brought 
 in , becaufe they can keepe company with Prelacie. The Reformation is 
 Puritanisme , preciseneffe , Separation and intollerable , becaufe it can . 
 not cohabitate with prelacie. The Gods of the Nations werefociall , and 
 could Hue togither , but the God of Ifrael is a jealous God. 
 
 The Prelates obje&ion. 
 
 THE, P RELATE will obj 'est, that albeit he can neither juttifie ^^ x $* ti ?' 
 all his owne proceedings of late, nor yours ofold,as all men haue their Sntagiwpie-. 
 owne infirmities , yet that ye doe him wronge by your deduction, in con- i ates> 
 founding times that would be distinguished : Because from the Reforma- 
 tion to the comnw'g of fme Scollars froyn Geneva with presbyterall disci- 
 pline , this kirk.was ruled by prelates , and the Superintendents in the be- 
 ginning were the fame in f/tbslance, that the prelates are now* ■ 
 
 The Paftors anfwer. 
 
 ALL men haue their owne infirmities, but good men are 
 not prcfumptcoufly bold for the louc of the world , to hold 
 on in acourfc of dcfe&ion againft fo many obligations fro them- 
 felues,and fo many warnings fro good men. Infirmitie one thing 
 and preemption another. *" The paitors of the Kirk of Scotland 
 
 had 
 
Anfw. 
 particularly , that 
 the Superinten- 
 dents were net 
 prelates. 
 
 
 hadbegunnc to roote out bishoprie , and to condemne it in then 
 affemblies , before thefe Scollers came from Geneve : but never 
 condemned but allowed the charge of Superintendents , appoin- 
 ted for a time in the beginnings of the Kirk , the one and the o- 
 Shewing ther being different in fubftance : For 
 
 i. The Superintendent according to the Canon of the Kirk was 
 admitted as an other Minifter,without confecration af any 
 bishop. 
 The Prelate is chosen for fashion by Dearie and Chapter, without any 
 Canon of the Kj)\, & with solemne consecration of the Metropo- 
 litane and their bishop. 
 ,Z. The Superintendent appropriated not the power of ordina- 
 tion and jurifdicl:ion,but both remayned common to other 
 ministers. 
 P The Prelate hath taken to himselfe the power , to ordeyne and depose 
 
 «c t&WigJ Miniflers,a)td to decree excommunication. 
 
 3. The Superintendents made not a Hierarchie of Archfuperin- 
 
 tendents and others inferior, fome general!, and fome pro- 
 vincial!, fome Primates and fome Suffraganes, fome Arch- 
 deanes,and fome Deanes &c. 
 The Prelates haucfet up a Hierarchie of all thefe. 
 
 4. The Superintendent was fubjed: to the cenfure not onely of 
 
 the nationall, but of the provinciall Kirk,where he fuperin- 
 tended 
 The Prelate isfubjetl to no cenfure, hut may doe what , and may go e 
 whither he will, and no man aske him,why he hath donefo. 
 £, The Superintendents charge wasmeerely ecclefiafticall, and 
 more in preaching then in government. 
 The Prelate is more in ruling then inpreaching,& more in the world 
 then in the Kjrl{. 
 
 6, The Sup. acknowledged his charge to be but temporarie , 6c 
 oftc defired to lay it downe before the general alTembly. 
 
 The Prel.thinketh his office to be perpetuall, by reafon & vertue of his 
 confecration. 
 
 7. The Sup. had no greater power the the commifTioners of pro- 
 vinces, &. in refpecl of his fuperintedencie was rather a co- 
 miiTioncr of the Kirk, then an officebearer eflentially diffe- 
 rent from the paftor. 
 
 The pre I. neyther hath received commif ion from the Kjr!{, nor mea- 
 neth to render a reckoning to them, nor account ofhimfelfe , at of a 
 commijfi oner, but thinketh his office efiential'y diverse from the office 
 of the paf or, as the paflors office is from the deacons. The pope may 
 as well fay that the Euangelijls were popes, as the prelate, that the 
 Superintendents 'were prelates. 
 
 THE 
 
MmMMmmmm 
 
 THE FIFTH PART. 
 
 The Paftor & Prelate compared 
 
 by the weale of the Kirk, and the 
 peoples foul es. 
 
 H E faeftie and good of the State was the 
 maine ende of Roman policie, and thefun- 
 damentall law , by which that people fqua- 
 red all their other lavves, according to their 
 owneMaxime: 4 Let the fafety of the people be 
 the fouveraigne law. The Kirk of Jefus 
 Chrift hath better reafon to think, that the fafety of the Kirk 
 should be the rule and end of all Eccleflafticall policie , al- 
 though the forme of externall 'Worship and of the govern- 
 ment of the houfeof God were not prefcribed by the Lord 
 himfelfe in his 'Word , but left arbitrarie to men to be fra- 
 med by their Canons andConftitutions,yet this muft behol- 
 den as infallible , That it is the beft forme of government 
 which by reafon and experience is found to be beft for the 
 weale and fafety of the Kirk. Unto this general I both Pre- 
 late and Paftor will without queftioncondefcend: but they 
 differ in the particular, -what this is, wherein the good and 
 weale of the Kirk doeth confift : For the Prelate places the 
 "Weale of the Kirk in her outward peace and profperitie, 6c 
 thinketh the Kirk well conftituted, and in good cafe , 
 when she florisheth in 'wealth and worldly dignities. 
 
 G&irdori But 
 
 The good'efote 
 oftheKirkthecr.J 
 of Kirk policie. 
 
 a Salut poptitifi- 
 premalex. everji 
 domo % inter dum re, 
 public* ft/tttu mx- 
 nerepotefi : urbt 
 ruina.pertatet cm- 
 nts f cum trahai 
 neceffe eft. Vaicr, 
 max.L5.c6* 
 
f The prelate aba- But herein he abufeth the chriftian 'World three "Waves, 
 
 feth the people , - - . , . , / . 
 
 fcreewaies in de- Firit, that he mealures and determines the good eftate of the 
 fe^e^of Kirkb Y her outward face, and not by her inward grace , by 
 eKirk. the health of her bodye rather then of her foulc, by that 
 
 which is accidentail to the Kirk , and which she may ey- 
 ther haue or wante, and yet continue a true Kirk , and not 
 by that vvhi - h is eilentiall and proper to the very nature and 
 being of a Kirk. Secondly , that he judgeth that to be the 
 vvealc of the Kirk, which hath many times proved her 
 wrack, beingabufed, as commonly it hath happened : He 
 taketh poyfon foraprefervatiucandfurfettofpeaceandpro- 
 fperity, exceiTe of wealth and worldly honours , which are 
 her deadly difeafe, to be her health &beftconftitution. Too 
 large beftowing of riches and preferments upon the mini- 
 flersofthe Kirk, bred that contagion withii her bowels, 
 which turnedalnioft to her death in the ende : for thereby 
 defection grew by degrees, till ar 1 ft under the Man of (inn 
 it came to the hcigth. Thirdly, that he meafures the good 
 eftate of the Kirk by himfelte , and the reft of the members 
 of that Hierarchicall bodye, as though it went well with 
 the whole Kirk, when Bishops ftand and reigne , like the 
 Kings of the nations, arid as though the miniftery werefuf- 
 ncientiy vindicated from poverty and contempt, when 
 twelueorthirteeneofthe numberare clymcdup likeapesto 
 the higheft places, that with their evill favoured mwtgeonis 
 they niay moue laughter to all that beholde then from be- 
 low, orlikefoulesflowenupto thehighcftroofes, shoot- 
 ingdowne their filthy excrements upon the reft, that fitt in 
 the lowerroomes. But the Paftor efteemes the good and 
 weale of the Kirk by her fpirituall eftate, that is , by a found 
 fayth , a pure worship , and a holy converfation , as she 
 ftands or decayesin thefe, fois sheecyrherinagood confti- 
 tution or languishing , and as she is furnished with all the 
 meanesthat may prelerue andincreafe thefe , Co she eyther 
 profpcrs ordecayes. This judgment of the Paftoris groun- 
 ded upon vericgoodreafons. For upon this eftate of the 
 JCirkneccflarily depends the glory ofGod, andfalvation of 
 
 foules, 
 
ioules, "which arc the two things that make the difference 
 betvvi: tthc Kirk of God, and all other Co ieties of men in 
 theworld, and therefore the Paftor hathrcafon tothinke, 
 that all the riches of the earth, & all the glorie of all the king- 
 <lomes ofthe world arc not to be put in ballance with the 
 glory of God,and the falvationoffoules, that which God 
 with his o wne bloud hath purchafed and redeemed. No\r 
 vvhetherthegood of the Kirk in thefe things be better pro- 
 cured and preferved by the Prelate or by the Paftor, let them 
 be tjped by comparing them in the particulars following. 
 
 r. 
 
 THE PASTOR his principall care is ro preierue The paftor careful 
 the puritie of doctrine in the Kirk , that drifts Hock ^FJ^cirhK " 
 may be fedde with the wholefome word of life, and to ^he gooT o : " 
 oppofe all contrarie and unprofitable doctrine, as poy- the Kirk :thepro 
 fonable and pernitious to the peoples foules , and for '^"^j!™^ for 
 that purpofe interteynerh in weekely meetings the exercife of ,swn ' iin ^' 
 the word, where the doctrine delivered by one , is judged by all 
 the reft, whether it be found and profitable , and taketh fuch or- 
 der with the Papifts, the greate corrupters of doctrine, and ene- 
 mies to the peoples ioules , thateyther he converteth them, or 
 cutteth them off from the communion ofthe Kirk with thefpiri- 
 tuall fword, and exhorteth the Magiftrate , to execute the lawes 
 made againftthem : whereby it came to palTe that contrarie do- 
 ctrine, and vayn and curious teaching eitner entred not into our 
 Kirk, or w r as luddainly repreiTed and put to the doore, and Papi- 
 ftrie that had place before, was well nigh put out ofthe land. 
 
 The P l^E LA T E hath neytber leafure nor liking to looks to fuch ex- 
 ercife, and accounts no hcrefiefo worthy his animadverfion , as the alleaged 
 herefie o/Aerius and his followers. It is manifeji in hiflorie from the be- 
 
 finningjhat the herefies that haue moft endangered the Kjrl^, bout either 
 eene forged by the ingincs,or favoured and borne out by the authoritie and .* .- n » 
 credit of Prelates -.hand this day, diver fe falfe and dangerous doclrines are defcon into txll, 
 partly 'vented, and partly wincked at by them : neyther thinketh he papijrs m*my Luther*** . 
 greate enemies to the Kjrl^ : but ai the lewish priefls entertayned the Sad- ^ rmtmdn *"* re- 
 duces, albeit enemies to true religion , and hated Chriflians as their deadly \ 
 focs^ndasthe Papifi can agree with the formal! Protefiant y but thinks the 
 
 G 2 uncon- 
 
The pallor in the 
 llraattei- of ceremo- 
 I nies lookes to the 
 
 edification of the 
 I Kirk , which the 
 
 prelate mifregard- 
 
 leth, 
 
 The paft. in the 
 vhole courfe of 
 lihis rninifterie in- 
 tends the feeding 
 'the flock : the 
 rel.to feede him 
 :lfc. 
 
 unconformable Cahenift his irreconcilable enemie,fo the Prelate could a- 
 gree with the common Papiftfor all his bUJpheamous dotlrine andprofejji- 
 on, becaufe he is a friend to his Hierarchic But the Reformed Chriftian , 
 whom he calleth the CalvinisJ , and Puritdne he can by no meanes beare , 
 becaufe he is profefled unfriend to his Hierarchic A Prelate as a Prelate 
 is not oppofite to the PapisJ, but to the Proteftant. 
 
 2. The PASTOR knowing that a litle Jeaven Ieaveneth 
 the whole Iumpe , thinketh it dangerous for the peoples 
 foules to borrowe eyther fubftance or ceremonie ofreligion 
 from Antichriftian corruption, and therefore warneth the 
 people to beware of the leaft beginnings and appearances of 
 evill , and while he deliberates aboute ceremonies , fitted for 
 ordor and decencie, he intends nothing of his owne, but the edi- 
 fication of the kirk, and in the practife of ceremonies & circum- 
 ftances orderly appointed , he looketh to the peace of the Kirk, 
 that it be not broken, and to the confciences of the weake , that 
 they be not offended. 
 
 The P i^£ LATE Hketh toftmboli^e with Antichrist his Ceremo- 
 nies , putting the Papifts in hope , that the bodie and fubftance oftheiy 
 fuperftition may be refumedby time , where the shadow es and ceremonies 
 arcfo highly regarded. He intends nothing in appointing tbem , but the 
 maintenance efhis owne eslateand dignitie, becaufe hefeeth andfiyth,*No 
 Ceremonie no Bishop , and inpratlife is more earneft in urging of Ce- 
 remonies, then of obedience to the greatest things of the Law ,& by the Ca- 
 nons aboute matters, which they themfelues call indifferent , doeth violence 
 eyther to the bodies or confciences of the people ,that thinke other way es, (9> 
 ?naketh them to feme as roddes tofcourge and whippe out of the Kjrl^, and 
 rninifterie, whom and when they thinke good. 
 
 3. The PASTOR confidering , that he is called to feede 
 the flock of Chrift, and to care for the peoples foules , in his en- 
 trie to the minifterie,will be loath to undertake a greater charge 
 then he can in fome meafure overtake , and the leffe his charge 
 is the greater is his contentment, not that he defireth to be idle , 
 but to be faythfull , when he is entered he hath the work of the 
 rninifterie in lingular regarde , as the molt honourable and la- 
 borious worke that he can be employed aboute, whereof the belt 
 man is not worthy, and unto which the wjole man is not fufficient, 
 and therefore is refident among the people, ferveth not by de- 
 puties and Suffraganes , but in his owne perfon , and is alto- 
 gether taken up with the Paftors dueties, of preaching, pray- 
 ing, catechiling, vifiting, exhorting, rebuking, comforting, &c. 
 but labours moft diligently in the word and do&rine , becaufe 
 fayth commeth by the Word preached. 
 
 The PRJi LAT E intending nothing, but to feede himftlfe , at 
 
bis entrie to his pelade , he regards not ft much the nnmbcr offoules be 
 should feede , as the number ofchalders, the large revenues, and the great 
 dignities he is to feede upon , and the larger his Diocie, the better for him : 
 Hence is it , that he aftendsfrom a Diocefin to an Archbishop , and a 
 Vrimate. After he is entred hedisdayneth the worke of the Minisleric, as 
 baft, and unworthy of bis grace and great Lordship ^ he ferveth by his de- 
 puties and Suffraganes,and thinks it a more honourable and neceflarie im- 
 floyment to attend and re fide at Court, or at the places of chill judgment, 
 as Counccll, Seffion, Exchcquor , and howfocver he appropriates to him- 
 felfe the reward of double honour due to them tvho labour in the word & 
 doclirnc,yct he thinkes , that he is not bounde to take the pain es of that 
 ivorke , unto which the double hone ur is annexed. So the P aft or muft 
 labour in the worke, and the Prelate muft reape the reward , and which is 
 more prejudicial to the peoples foulesjje maintayneth that learned & qua- 
 lified preachers arc not ft neceffarie in congregations, as Curat s and I{ea- 
 ders, that there is too much preaching , and too litle reading and praying, 
 meaning nothing els but their confuftd Leitourgie. 
 
 4. The P A S T O R dare not do harme to the peoples foules, to ^ e ,|f^[-^ 
 becaufe he is fubjedt. both in calling- and converfation to the di- S^KirkSmfeife. 
 fcipline of the Kirk, which ftryketh upon the Pallor, as well as Scexercifahirfot 
 upon the people , and to bring the tranfgreflers to repentance, he jj* 8°°^ *£** 
 fitteth with his brethren in feifion,prcsbyterie &airembly,admi- nehhcrVubjI^to 
 niltring the holy difcipline holily,that is, in firiceritie & faythful- the difcipline him 
 nefle, without prejudice or partialitv, and never ceafin^-, till the fetf^norexertifcrh 
 fcandallbe removed,the Kirk be purged, and the offender ( if it ^^&£* 
 bepoiTible)be wonne unto God , and all this, as being Chrifts the pa'dors toe* 
 owne worke, he doeth with Chrifts owne weapons, that is with erciiek. 
 the lpirituali fword of the word , which is mighrie through God 
 to fubdue every thing exalting it felfe againft God, and to bring 
 finners to repentance. & 
 
 The P I^E LA T E may doe what harme he will fofins owne tyran- 
 nical! enftome and prastift , but not by any law eythcr of Kjr^orft.ite, 
 he exempteth himftlfe in rejpeci ofhisEpiftopalladnumftration, and 
 as he is a Prelate from all cenfure , and fcorneth to fubmitte him- 
 ftlfe to any Eccleftaslicall judicature , albeit the chiefe Apoftles fub- 
 mitted themftlues unto the Kjrl^, and albeit there be no Jubjetl in a 
 I\ingdome of whatfiever qualitie or condition, but in every rc/peel he is 
 under the controulement of fimc judicature in the Land where he liveth. 
 And as he is thai ftngularly lawleffe of himftlfe , ft pretending the file 
 power of proceeding to belong to him by vert ue of his place and office , he 
 fweyeth the com ft of difcipline, at belt pleaftth his Lordship , proceftes be- 
 guune for trying of '• (landers, if the partie never ft wicked hai/e 
 ***-Argument of weight for my Lord or his J^cceavcr , arc inconti- 
 nent^ by the Word of his Monarcbicatl authentic Jhicken dead. 
 
 G 3 Hoy/' 
 
 
■Hereby it commetb to pafe,that where prelates rule ,Jimte reigneth , an& 
 the nearer the Bishops wings, the greater libertie for Jinne , as isfeene in 
 their owne houfes and traynes. And for this reafon is it, that both Atheifts 
 and Papists like the Epifcop all difcipline, better then the paftorall y which 
 they call slraytelaced, becaufe it troubleth their corruption , whereas the o- 
 ther layeth the reynes upon their neck. And if*h e Prelate-happen to pn- 
 ceede againft offenders , his difcipline confifts not fo much in JptrituaH cen- 
 fure , as in worldly power and civill punishment, as fining, confining, im- 
 prifoning &c. which haue yio power to works u P on *h e confciences of Jin- 
 nets to bring them to repentance, which is mofl proper for the preachers of 
 the Gojpcll, and the chief e ende ofKjrk.difiipline. 
 I he - TiuhinTbe y . The P A S T O R for the good of the Kirk , h defirous , 
 done for°hegood that the affemblies of the Kirk,provinciall and national!, be often 
 of theKirk, by the holden and well kept , knowing how neceflarie they are for re- 
 l ee ^^h^nff -dreflirig things amiffe, for fulfilling things omitted, and for pre- 
 win wieafib/him venting evils that are like to enfue : and when the aflemblie is 
 le'ife , whether in convened he carrieth himfelfe toward his brethren,as toward the 
 aflembly.oroutof fervants of Chrift, and collegues of equall authoritie,none prefu- 
 nflem y. ming to any place or preheminence , though of order onely , and 
 
 not of power, without the calling and content of his fellow bre- 
 thren. There every one hath libertie to utter his minde,8c every 
 one is ready with the gift thatGod hath giuen him, as the diverfe 
 members of one body , for the good of the whole Kirk : meeke 
 Mofes and burning Elias, Efay with his trumpet,and Aaron with 
 his belles, Bonaerges and Barionah,the fonne of thunder,and the 
 fonne of the doue, all moved by onefpirit, with mutuall refpecl:, 
 reverence, and brotherly loue, joyne together in one conclulion , 
 and if at any time they be of different judgements , they are not 
 fuddaine and fummar in concluding things of importance , that 
 concerne the whole, but that all may be done with uniformecon- 
 fent , after the example of the Apoflles Acls i $ , the conclufion 
 is delayed, till all objections be fatisfyed , and God giue greater 
 light to fuch as are otherwife minded, and fo to the greate good 
 of the Kirk, both peace and truethare preferved. 
 
 The P RJl LATE is as aver fe from a free afiembly , as • the Pope is 
 from a free Genernll councall , and therefore will eyther haue none at all , 
 or will haue them fo /lavish, as if they were but his ecchfiafticall courts con- 
 vened under him, and in his name. When this Afiemblie is convened , at 
 his owne hand, without calling or elet~iion,he takgth upon him to prejide & 
 moderate. There no man hath libertie to utter his mynd before him , who 
 hath power to raife up and cafl downe, toinlar^c and reUreyne, to preferre 
 andpoftponc, or put in and put out at his pleafure , and therefore no mans 
 gift in fuch meetings doeth good to the Kirk; And if it happen that his 
 •courfes be crojfedjnd the beflfirt oppofejhen he ragetlh and ly his proude 
 
 boajlings 
 
ireafonable tayUngs, he piiyeth the Prelate indeede , ujmg 
 Christ s minifters ($ the Kjrk* ComiJJioners no better, then if they were his 
 flaues or lackeys , convened tofiy Amen to nil his intentions, and to waite 
 upon Oracles falling from his mouth. In ende the pluralitie ofvoyces of 
 the weaker forte, and for the moft part either emendicate or extorted , «r- 
 ryeth away the fentence which muft oblige all , and therefore bejides the ty- 
 rannies and unjufl proceedings, proveth afterward to the grcate hurtc of 
 the Kjrl^, to be the caufe of many evils and great diviftons. 
 
 6. The PASTOR in planting of Kirks , and placing of Thc Paftor plant- 
 minifters without refpect to any mans private judgment or affe- ^cbdimen rich 
 clion with common confent, maketh choyfe of the bed qualified coniem ofthe peo 
 for graces and manners, and moil fitte for the people he is to be P Ic . anJ without 
 let over, and that with theire owne fpeciall advife and defire , fo fo™"f f h r e h C °n" 
 that he giveth not the Kirk to the Minifter , but the Minifter to tranc .• the prelate 
 the Kirk, and in the adr. of ordination at the place where he shall with fuch as pieaie 
 feme, and in prefence of the whole Congregation , he requireth |» m ' without con- 
 of the Intrant neither oath nor promife , but what is appointed Tprabytene?and 
 by the aflemblies of the whole Kirk , as conftancie in the fayth , with hurting ofthe 
 obedience to thc King, and ridclitie in his calling, and after he is con(cienc e of the 
 admitted , he refpe&eth him as the conjunct EmbaflTadour of m:rani 
 Chrift,equall in power and authoritie with himfelfe,with no dif- 
 ference but of age and gifts. 
 
 The P I^E LA T E excluding both theflocf^, whom the Paftor is to 
 
 f cede, and the fellow -minifters with whom he is to labour in the worke,ex- 
 
 cept it be fuperficially and for the fashion , when now the Prelate and his 
 
 domefticks (who haue rreater hand in the planting of Kirks then both c ^'l m f v ■ 
 
 presbyterie and people) haue brought the matter to the point of ordination, gnit»tts,hwmmbm 
 
 c he giveth the Kjrk to the Minister, rather the the Minifter to the Kjrl^, dicer e foh 
 
 whereof there flo we fo innumerable evils , that the Kirk hath as Jufl caufe n ™ 
 
 i ■ r i j • >»V >/i lit i J- i i j J r M/tftilrAtm alios 
 
 to complaine now of the placing of Minifters by bishops, as the \ii\h.tdof m . rcr ,, & mm Mb. 
 
 old of the planting of bishops through the corruption of Archbishops and fore: slit habere, 
 
 Mctropolitaneo, * d The ordination must be at the place ofthe Prelates re. c " "*" m£riTlib - 
 
 fidencie, and not at the Kjrl^ , where he shall ferue nor in prefence ofthe d frxfidentia non 
 
 congregation ; then is the intrant forced without any pretext of warrant JJ^J^^lj"^ 
 
 from the kjrl^, to giuehis oarh and Subfcription to Articles ofthe Prelates d\gu*TUM 
 
 deviftng, for maintenance of his Epifcopall authoritie , euen as the Pope thmmfimt thr*ni, 
 
 doeth in covfxratinv Bishops and Archbishops, for cftablishin* of his urn- ca:he ' :rd f ,n .\ uIh 
 
 versall Supremacy. Hl?en be is admittcd,albcit for gifts and all other rs- c . f r .:_ i:t 
 
 Jpetts he be worthy of double honour farre aboue the Prelate bimfetfe , yet nihil sd grsd+prs 
 
 the prelate contemneth him and his brethren, as poore presbyters , with *" ■« i >»y i ' l <M- 
 
 Sipcrcuilari vcl~ 
 lescjuueos prxfeccrit, Sater doles refpondent m x, & dicunt,ab .Archiep':fc*pi n;ip:r [urn Efifc^pm ordmavus , 
 tentum^eifolidtj dcdi,ut Epifcopalemgradum ajfenui merwjjim, quos J: minimi dtiijfem , kldie epifi 
 ejfem. ^4mvrof.ci:a*ite Bulling, decai. ?. ftrm 4. Curritur ad cum iccltj-.. lu parittr & 
 
 **aji qui fa fine curn zi:lur& fir,CMn ad curv pervenerit, BeTn,epi(i.^z . 
 
 d 3 able 
 
double contempt. Whereupon weJe^UanhePrelate^ncKfheYS^^^^^ 
 example ($ doing efteeme not ofMinifters for their worth (3 their works 
 fake , but as they are in places of preferment , and as they are clothed with 
 offices and titles of dignitie aboue their fellow es : and this againe. makes 
 worldly mytided Minijhrs to feeke estimation by greatnefle rather then by 
 goodnefie. 
 Thepaftor by all 7. The PASTOR procure th theTpeace of the Kirk, by 
 means feeketh the following after things which make for peace, Rom. 14. for by 
 gS^SfiSS th . e difcipline arrd aflemblies of the Kirk he preferyeth veritie , 
 his owne peace 8c without which there is eyther no unitie,or fuch unitie, as is but a 
 profperitie. confpiracie,and refifteth herefie the mother of the greater!: divi- 
 
 fionsifo long as our aflemblies had their libertie,there could arife 
 no herefie among us, if it had broken up in a parish , a confifto- 
 rie or presbyterie would haue borne it downe : or if it had pro- 
 ceeded further, the theSynodall,or if it had not been able,the na- 
 tional! afsembly would haue fupprefled it: for the fame reafon the 
 Kirk of France, which was neareft-to ours, hath ben free of here- 
 fie: In the Low Countreysif the Kirks had enjoyed the libertie of 
 theyr aflem blies, which they wanted for a longtime, Arminia- 
 nifme had neyther troubled them, nor their neighbours. He ne- 
 ver can find in his heart to urge or inforce unprofitable and un- 
 timely Ceremonies upon the Kirk, if it were For no other caufe > 
 but that they haue beene the apples of contention, and the caufe 
 of many Schifmes,and will choofe rather with Ionah to redeeme 
 the quietnes and fafetie of the Kirk with the lofle of himfelf,then 
 for his owne particular to raife the fmalleft tempeft , that may 
 perill her peace. He carryeth himfelfe no otherwayes in his mi- 
 nifterie, then becommeth the humble fervant of the Kirk, & fea- 
 reth to be affected with Diotrephes his ambitious humour , of a- 
 Jpyring aboue his brethren , which is a fpeciall prefervatiue of 
 
 Eeace. He fhidieth to preferue holynes,without which there can 
 e no founde nor wholefome peace, he is ever at warre with that 
 which is contrarie to holynes,and fendeth away all fcandalous li- 
 vers with the workers of iniquitie , that peace may be upon the 
 IfraellofGodPfal.zy. 
 
 The PRELATE is accounted a peaceeble man, and pretends alwaies 
 the peace of the Kjrf^, but indeede feeketh his owne peace and projperitie, 
 andopposeth the things that makg for peace : for if it ferue for his owne 
 particular, he can oversee Papifls aud Hereticks , and buffer herefie to rife 
 andjpreade itfelfe, that the Kjrkjnay haue fome other thing to thinly up- 
 on, then his Episcopacie, andmay haue himfelfe to runne unto infteade of 
 tfiemblies, he careth not to make Schisme, and will fight with tooth and 
 nayle for unlaw full and unprofitable ceremonies , which haue ever proved 
 the cause «f Schisme , and ere he redeeme the f^irks peace, by casting out 
 
 thefe 
 
' cumber feme wares , he will rather cafl over horde m.iny worthy mu- 
 mpers ,fuffer numbers of foules , for whom Chrifl hath dyed , to perish , 
 and the Kjrl^ofChrift to fed with troubles , by occafwn of that noyfome t Stem •Urn ft 
 baggage , to jinke at loft under the burden. Contention alfo commeth f eTam '^^> *#*** 
 by Ins -pride and ambition : forfirft, great places mak^ great emulation^ X* kinfetitk ex- 
 hoate competition , as may befeene in Chrisls otvnc Apoftles y e and hiflo- tulerat caput,cupi- 
 rie maketh know en in many others, what debate and contention, what war dtt " tpifap*w 
 and bloodshed prelacie hath brought forth in the Chrifltan world, between Zumblrefin(nim^ 
 Kjrl^ and K* r k. contending for primacie , prelate and prelate for rum pomifitu i(?- 
 prefidencie , Pope and Pope for papacie betweene Kings and Bi- mAm primatum ) 
 
 r , r e, r . . . * J l [' j n r- . pracipuc nutnu.u. 
 
 shops for Souveraigmtie : as betweene the t{gr?ian Empercurs , quos . a mmc»dica- 
 and Rgman Bishoppes : the Kjngs of England and the Primates of refippudet t v£ncxi 
 England. s J l - 
 
 8. The PASTOR contents himfelfe with fuch a compe- 
 tent ftipend , as is afTigned to him for his fervice , whereby he tenrs ^ie? JjJ 
 hath neyther meanes tofwell in pride and wealth, nor matter of his competent fti- 
 excefle and fuperrluitie. ASu^he hath but one body , fo he un- pend, the prelate is 
 dertaketh but one Cure, where he muft be refident,and one Kirk KirkfpTtamoni^ 
 living, which for feare of the cenfures of the Kirk , albeit he 
 would, he dares not delapidate , but muft leaue the Kirk patri- 
 monie in as good or better cafe,then he found it at his entry. 
 
 The PRELATE hath a Lords rent outoftherevenewesofthe 
 Kjt'k., which at the fir ft was deftinate , and should be employed for better 
 ufes y and this he hath not for the fervice of the F\irf^ , but partly for his 
 unlawful! attending civill affaires , and partly , for bearing out a Lordly 
 porte in himfelfe , his Ladie , their children and followers. He uniteth 
 Kjrksfarre diftant, to maki the morfell the greater for his wide gorge : he 
 alloweth and defendeth pluralities , and Nonrefidencies , by fetting long 
 tahj without knowledge or confent of the KJr^ and by fetting off ewe 
 formes and taxwardes he raketh up all , and ftinteth the Minifter to a 
 pooreftipendiarie portion of fine hundreth marks. So that the moft Sacri- 
 legious perfons in the Land are the Bishops themjelue's , eating the meate 
 out of the mouthes of many worthy paftors , that labour painfully in the 
 Lords worke. 
 
 The Prelates obje&ion. 
 
 THE PRELATE will obi'ecl , that there shall never be __ . , . 
 r r tj-- i in- r i ■ i I • .r Object, ratine \% 
 
 any forme of .Kjrl^ government or difciplme , which bnngeth Anarch i ean j C oa- 
 
 not tvith it feme dangers and difcommodities , and that must be the tufion, 
 
 besl, which ha th the feweft. It cannot be denyed , but the Epifcopall 
 
 gouvernment hath alfo the owne inconvenients , whether we confider the 
 
 Salvation of Soules , or the outward conslitution of the Kfr\, and 
 
 ivorship of God , or the patrimome of the Kjrk^ 
 
 H But 
 
yrr 
 
 £&$ 
 
 Anf. Shewing by 
 many particulars , 
 that the order of 
 the minifterie ap- 
 pointed byChrift 
 is far frornconfu- 
 <:on. 
 
 i 1)iflinguendum 
 j/itir autoritatem 
 merit i,& potefin- 
 
 But the Anarchic and confufion , tvhich ever attendeth the pmitie mayti- 
 teyned by the Paftor is an inconvenience greater then a!/,& shetveth plain- 
 ly, that the pnritie of Paftor s is neyther of God , nor canfervefor the good 
 of the Kirk, for God u not the God ofconfufion but of peace , and moft of 
 all in the Kj'rkj of the Saintls. 
 
 The Pafcors anfwer. 
 
 TH E gouvernment and order appoynted by Chrifb can haue 
 no danger, difcommoditie nor inconvenience , but fuch as 
 men bring upon it, and which through the neglect or contempte 
 thereof they bring upon themfelues. That therefore muft be the 
 beft, which is beft warranted by Chiift, and approacheth neareft" 
 to the fimplicitie of theApoftles and the difcipline of their times. 
 Malignant wits haue ever beene readie to lay imputations upon 
 Gods ordinances , as that his inward worship according to the 
 Gofpell of Chrift hath no wifedome, that the outward hath no 
 majeftie, that his order of the Kirk is but Anarchie, becaufe it is 
 not a monarchic : but as the naturall philofopher &yth, the order 
 of nature to be full of beautie , and the wife Statefman feeth the 
 beautie of the order of a wife policie: fo the Chriftian , when he 
 leeth the order of die houfe ofGod, shall with the Apoftle Col. 2. 
 rejoyce to fee it, and will preferre the beautie thereof to the wife 
 government of the houfe & Court of Salomon , as being appoin- 
 ted by a wifer then hee ; euen Balaam , albeit difpofed to curfe , 
 when his eyes are opened to behold this wife order and marve- 
 lous beautie , shall be forced to open his lips , and to fay , How 
 goodly are tlyy tents Iacob, and thy tabernacles Ifiaell : for a houfe full 
 offilvcr and gold I would not curfe , for how shall I curfe whom the Lord 
 hath not cur fed ? . or how shall I dejyc, whom the Lord hath not defy ed? 
 Numb. 23. and 24. And that there is no confufion in the paritie 
 mainteyned by the Paftor , it is manifeft to him that defireth to 
 fee, for : 
 
 1 . Confufion hath no fubordination for dijpofing of things, andfetting 
 
 every thing in it owne place. 
 The parietie mainteyned by the Paftor hath a Iawfull fub- 
 ordination of Elders to Paftors, of Deacons to Elders, of 
 a Kirk Seffion to apresbyterie, of a presbyterie to a Sy- 
 node, and of a Synode to a National! AfTembly. 
 
 2. Confufion hath noprioritie ofrejpcci of preccdencie nor of order. 
 Parietie of paftors fo shunneth ambitio,that itmainteyneth 
 
 aprioritie of precedencie/and refpedfc, for age,for zeale, 
 for gifts &.c. and aprioritie of order, whereby one is mo- 
 derator of others in all their Synods,and meetings , fuch 
 
 as was 
 
as was amongft the Apoftles thcmfclucs , but without prio- 
 ritie of power or jurifdietion abouc the reft. 
 
 Confufion admitteth no commandement norfubjeftion: 
 
 Paritie of Paftor, admitteth both: for every Paftor conducleth 
 his owne flock, &. every paftor is fubject to a joynt fellow- 
 ship of paftors in Presbyteries and Synods. 
 
 Confufion n abhorred, both by nature and all Societies, as their grcatefl 
 enemie t wbich overturned a//,wbere it hath place. 
 
 Paritie of Paftors hath the like paritie both in nature, and all 
 forts of focietie: for in nature one eye hath not power over 
 another, nor one hand over another, nor one foote over ano- 
 ther, onely the head hath power over all. In the common- 
 wealth and kingdome there is a paritie without a prioritie 
 of power or jurifdiction betwixt one Baron and another, 6c 
 betwixt one Nobleman and another , and in all the CoIIe- 
 giaffjurifdiclions in the Land under the King hzmfelfe. In 
 the worlde paritie betwixt one King and another, In the 
 Roman Kirk equalitie betwixt one Lord Bishop and ano- 
 ther, and betwixt two Archbishops , Patriarks &x. and in 
 the Kirk of Chrift betwixt Apoftle and Apoftle , &c. why 
 then shall the divine paritie of Paftors be accounted a con- 
 fufion. 
 
 ®mm®$m 
 
 Hz THE 
 
' 
 
 THE SIXTH PART. 
 
 The Faftor & Prelate compared 
 
 by the good of the Common wealth, 
 and of our outward eftate. 
 
 It is beft both for 
 Kirk andState whe 
 civill and ecclefia- 
 fticall aurhoritie 
 joyne together. 
 
 Civill authorise 
 ttoeth good to reli- 
 gion. 
 
 aE/rf.4,0.23. 
 bPfkl. %.ii. 
 
 £(uama(to ergo re- 
 ges Domino fir- 
 viunt in ximorcni- 
 ji cAqu&cotrajuf- 
 
 Lbeir that fometimes the power Ecclefiafti- 
 call be without the fecular, and the members 
 of the Kirk make not any civill corporation, as 
 in the Apoftles times, & long after. And fome 
 times the fecular power be without the ec- 
 clefiaffcicall , and the members of kingdomes 
 and corporations make not a Kirk,asamonglt 
 theHeathen of old, and many nations and focieties this day} 
 yet is it farre beft, both for Religion and Juftice, both for 
 truethand peace,both for Kirk and Common wealth, when 
 both are joyned in one : when the Magiilrate hath both 
 fvvords,the life of the temporall fword, andthebenefite of 
 the fpirituall fword, and when the Kirkhath both fvvords, 
 the ufe of the fpirituall fword, and the benefite of the tem- 
 porall : When the two adminiftrations civill and ecclefia- 
 flicalljike Mofcs and Aaron,help one another mutually, &: 
 neyther Aaron and Miriam murmur againft Mofcs , nor Jero- 
 boam ftretcheth out his handag in A: the man of God. Upon 
 the one part, civill authoritie mainteyneth and defendeth re- 
 ligion, where it is reformed, and reformeth religion where 
 it is corrupted. Kings shall be thy fofter- fathers, and Queenes thy 
 nurfe mothers*, Kings feme the Lord infear b :And then feme they the Lord 
 (Tayrh Auguftine) when they feme him not onely fajthfully as men> 
 but as Kings, and doefuch things in ferving him , as none can doe but 
 
 Kings, 
 
, wslhattf, while they reft not till 'Jfelhion be eftahlished.and ~ l r 
 God ferved in their dominions , according to hu ovvne Word. It pleUend,} mHtaehmfik 
 hath ever been the created: commendation of Princes , "'*"?/**? /' al T 
 
 o -11 quiacttarex cfl:qutaho> 
 
 that they hauebegnnne their government with the Re- m»efieifinntfdei$tn^ 
 formation of Religion, as many worthy Princes hauc ]^fir^^ r Z 
 done both before, and after the commine ofChrift, cifwues,& chrmi* pro- 
 
 r _, 1 / 1 Tr • 11 l ii bibentes, conveniens rivo 
 
 for God prererreth Kings unto all others , and there-* refinciend* jfc*rferviii 
 fore Kin^s shouldhafte to honour G od aboueallo- ^R^f^f* & "*ti 
 
 , ° - . . i i -1 i tdbloru t &iU/t excel/a am 
 
 thers r Or that they haue exceeded ail who went contra prsccpta Drifm 
 before them in this religious and Royall Chaire. Aza ^"^f- ; ^» 
 
 O / i do. Sicut (irvivit IofiJs 
 
 tooke away Idolatrie : but Je h oshaphat remo- taiiao ipftfociend».sic> 
 ved the high-places alfo. Ezekuh went further , JgSSjSStaS 
 
 and bra .e the Brazen Serpent, albeit a monument of ad piacandi Dcmmid 
 
 -~. i • r, i. 1 lr /?L-r»r peilendo. Sicut firvivi 
 
 Gods mercie : But this was the linne or his Rcror- ■j jarmii idoiumfran£cnd l 
 mation , that he razed not the Idoll Temples , inpotejtatemuanieiite 
 
 ... . T 1 i r do ,& tmmtcoi ejiwleem 
 
 which was kept to good Josiah, who therefore bmtngereniu.siau(itvk 
 hath this teftimonie to the ende of the World , that vhN r 9buch / d ^!lZ 
 
 ' gnofuopofltos , ablajpht 
 
 like unto him there was no King before him , that mando, DeiiegetemM 
 turned to the L o r d with ail his heart, with all £*£&J5£2| 
 hisfoule, and with all his mi^ht. Upon the other nuui&fi*t reps, cum* 
 
 Ri- • ii • . r \ feci nut ad CirvtenduiUi 
 
 cligion, although it propone for the prin- J ^ mn r jj nn: 
 
 cipall ends , the Glorie of G o d , and the Saferieofthe Hg«« Mun.efifi.jai 
 
 T ~ l r i c i /^>- -il ad Bonifacmm, 
 
 Kirk, yet it lerveth many waves for the Civill Region ddetb good! 
 good , and vvorld'y beneflte of ICings and Kingdomes. *e^k commonweal 
 Becaufe the true Religion , and no other, maketh 
 Kings and Kingdomes to ferue that God that giu- 
 cth both Heauenly and Earthly Kingdomes. c 'Who c Hafiu Herodes myk 
 loofeth the Bands of Kings, and girdeth their loynes ^^"^'Jl^ 
 with a qirdJc : Who is the onely Tudge, that put- <?"' "&»* da: 
 teth downe one , and iettcth up an other. And 
 therefore godlynelTe hath the promife, and true Re- 
 ligion hath many b'eflinges attending. It is ablcfled 
 thing, vH'henaKing, or a Kingdome* ferveth that 
 God by whom kings reigne, and who givethand ta- 
 kcth away kingdomes at his pleafure : Next becaufe it 
 qualifieth and difpofeth every man for his ovvne place. 
 
 H 3 Jt ma - 
 
It maketh rulers to know, that every Kingdomc 'is under 
 hmne pibrc^o greater A'inedome, ^and as they are advanced aboue all o- 
 •mec.Traged. thers , that they haue io mu Ji the greater account to make. 
 It maketh the fubjectsto obey for confidence fake,andfub- 
 dueth the people under theyr Prince: \rhich made Thco- 
 dofius to acknowledge , that his empire confided more by 
 'Chriftian religion , then by all other meanes. It keepeth 
 truepeace,both publick and private, and "when peace can 
 be no longer kept, it folio weth after it to find it againe. 
 Jt maketh men juft and temperate in time of peace, nbtby 
 reltraint,vvhich pofitiuelavves doe, but by mortification. 
 "With Chriflians to think *&* wickednes ? is finnc, ^Whether 
 cf thet^vo commandeth more fully (fay th Tertullian) he vvho faytb, 
 Thou shalt not kill, or heVi>hofayth y thou shah not be angry: vvfych of 
 the two is more perfect to forbid adult erie> or to reflrame the eyes from 
 toncup'tjeencs &c. It maketh every man topractife Chriftiani- 
 tie in the particular duties of his calling. In the time of war 
 it maketh men couragious, Sc to feare none but him that can 
 kill the foule, In perfecution it maketh invincible patience. 
 Without confufion itgiveth at all times unto God , that 
 which is Godsend unto Caefar that which is Caefars , and 
 without nfurpation orinjurietoany, it giveth unto Noble- 
 men, Statefmen, Barons, BurgefTes, and all from thehigheft 
 to the lowed in theJungdome,theirovvnplaceSjpreferments 
 and priviledges,according to the foveraigne law of juftice, 
 t heft religion ^11 eftates haue needeof this divine influence,and ofallthefe 
 teft for the Sate comfortable effects, and every religion promifeth them all , 
 but onely Chriftian Religion is able to performe them , and 
 the more Chriftian it is, thatis, the more neare that h cometh 
 to thepuritie&fimplicitieofChriftand his Apoftlesbothin 
 doctrine anddifcipline, and them ore chriitianly,thatis,the 
 more powerfully it be urged upon the confeiencesofmen , 
 the more crTcctuaUjsjt proveth for thefe happy j^ni. Let us 
 then upon this ground proceede to ourtryall, whether the 
 Paftor or Prelate be more profitable for the Countrey and 
 Common wealth. 
 
 The 
 
THE PASTOR prcferveth the proiperous c- The r^> ?■■ fenreih 
 ftate of the Kingdom* and commonwealth , by %££?£&** 
 labouring to preieruc pictic, righteoulncuc , and >eth. 
 temperance in the Land , and by oppfing with al 
 his might againft Idolatrie and all forts of impie- 
 tie, againft unrightcoufhefTe and all forts of injurie, whether 
 by craft or violence, and againit intempcrancic,incontinen- e ^« tamnumerorumji. 
 cie, unlawfall manages, divorces , and whatfpever kinde of T 1 *"* •»*>»*-*»< 
 impurities : e for thefe three where they reigne he knoweth ratio urbes 6- regnaptr- 
 tobe more neare and ccrtaine cauies, hrft of the many cala- &*nti autmimpietttpri- 1 
 mities and judgements of God , and then of the alterations m ™M*d*in«&iti* t & 
 and penodes of ftates and Kingdomes , then eyther the in- r ia. iom.de la Tioncdif- 
 tricate numbers of Plato , or the unchanged courfe of the cur'ffolit.i. 
 heauens , or what other caufe is pretended by philofophers Cai, f as everjfalk uipm* 
 or politicks, becaufe thefe where theyraigne , they threat- Mtic^Sria. pith"*'. 
 ten a mine from the true fatalitie of Gods providence &. ju- BpdUn. dt reipub. Ubr.^, 
 ftice, &c doe shake the pillars of all humane focietie,as Ido- Dane ^poiiti.cap j. 
 latrie the pillars of the Kirk, unrighteoufnes of the Comon- Zz^^J^L'^ 
 wealth, and intemperance gtf the family, £c one of the thiee tyxwrips-veAUs** 
 falling, the other two cannot long endure. "Hk*^ 9** * ****r™ 
 
 The PRELATE upon the contraric , by takmzinbk oivnc tlTt/^f"' * 
 
 it r i n n l i i • i -Aenopb. p.ta Lyr.6. 
 
 hands the ■power of the gencrall ajScmbly, which was a great terror to Fcetixrejpublic* ejfe n*n 
 finne, by depriving fome worthy paftors of their places , and others of pvteft&antibw m < mbiu t 
 their authoritie in cenfurine of fume , by deftroynw the difciplhie of "eriib* moribn.Chokiet 
 the Kjrl^, and by his owne many unlawfullpradijcs anapermijjions, ecntuplex murus rebusfir* 
 hath giucn way to Idolatrie, blajpbcmie , and the prophanation of the vtndu parum eft. plant, 
 Sabboth , to all forts of Scandalous and notorious Swnes ofimrigh~ 
 teousnefle, uncleanncs, and of the abufe of Gods creatures, for which 
 the wrath of God commeth upon the world. But mqft of all by bring- 
 ing a great part of the kingdome under the ruibines of the violation 
 of the covenant of God, and of doing againft their oath and Subfcrip- 
 tion hatb drawne on many vifitations from the hand of God , doeth 
 day ly provoke the Lord to further wrath , ftipketh at the pillars of all 
 Societies ,andpofteth on the periods of State and KJu^dome. 
 
 2. The PASTOR accountcth vertue, trueth, righte- '^SSmS^Sul 
 oufnetTe, Chriftian fimplicitie , and prudence to be the bell Machivek poHde .- the 
 policie , not onely for his owne praCtifc,but for all that are prelate liketh policie 
 in authoring, and for all fociettes : and therefore pro- f" ore thcn thacfi o mp ^^ 
 nounceth anathema upon the chiefeft axiomes ofMachia- JJ*JJ!; *™llw vidZLt «r. 
 velsarte, /whom he judgeth to be as pernicious a matter non tsmenut jit. 0\ 
 of policie, as Antichrift is for matters of Religion: and thefe printiptm ftmpcr advtr- 
 two to be the principaUfuproftsof Sathan,the diredfc enimy ^Jg&gEi 
 of Chriftian fayth and obedience, and the craftic fubverters T^Ugu *um* tummam 
 
 of 
 
tprit*it,fervhi*fuhdiros of Kirks and Commonwealths, unfitte for all. 
 
 f officio continn. Tuta fitte f or us wno m grace hath favoured with the lipbt of the 
 
 h uvitaA qua dihidia & , , P i r 1 ■ j 1 j i • 
 
 Machiv. trueth, and nature hath fashioned to be open and plaine, 
 
 (times nutrtt. 
 
 \defnnc. & comment, in The P B^E LAT E S pratiifes doe proclaime whatpolicieplea- 
 jLtvtum. j^ffj jji m y e ft^ Simulation , diffimulation , falfehoode and Flattery 
 
 are k?ioiven to be the way es of his promotion. He ftandeth in his 
 grandeur andpofteffeth his peace , by promifinggoodfervice in par- 
 liament to the Kjng , againft the Nobititie, and blowing the bellow es 
 ofdijfention betwixt them: he warmeth himfelfe at the fire he hath 
 ray fed betwixt the King and the KJrl{. He beareth with men of 
 every religion, providing they be not Antiepifcopall. He urgeth Ce- 
 remonies, which he himfelfe otherwife careth nothing for , that they 
 may be a band of obedience to the /lavish, and a buckler of Epifcopacie 
 o .Alter w'uhiAtem, alter againft the oppofites, he fuffereth papiftrie to prevaile, and new here- 
 iMediolanenfim Ducatum P tQ •£ an dcri v eth connivence to the Teachers of them , that 
 vdftc,&ad temp™ tenu.it, there may bejome other matter of deputation amongst learned men , 
 uter% MachiavcUicApoli- then about hts myter. If all would follow his arte and example >An- 
 tU Trft'/r'tiVMe tichri ft & Machiavel would be our chief eft Maifters,and every Scot- 
 7d?t^ljht P . enit ' a>ie ' tish man offpirit would proue another Ccefar Borgia , or Ludovicus 
 
 Sfortia g. 
 ThePaftoidiftinguisheth 3. The PASTOR according to the nature of things 
 betwixt .things civill and diftinguisheth betwixt the things of God and the things of 
 
 ecclenafticalLand holdeth /-» r ° 1 - \ r • • rp, -n j l r 
 
 bim at his owne calling : ^aelar, betwixt the loveraigntie or Cnnft , and the louve- 
 the prelate eonfoundeth raigntie of man, betwixt the dignitieof the Statefman and 
 alUnd will rale all. honour of the Elder, that labours in the word and do&rine, 
 
 betwixt the palace of the Prince , and the Minifters manfe , 
 the revenues of the Noble-man, and the Minifters ftipend ; 
 l*£*». ~4r,ftct,pe- and according tQ the groun ds ofpolicie h holdeth, that ma- 
 
 T^cb— ny offices shouIcLbe conferred upon one man, except rarely, 
 by the fpeciall favour of Princes , upon fome that are emi- 
 nent, as miracles for engine, for wiledome, and dexteritie , 
 by reafon of mans infirmitie, the weight of authcritie , the 
 order ofpolicie, and the peace of the people : that as everie 
 fay^ls+Yx thing in nature doeth the owne part, the funne shyneth, and 
 
 i Nemo/Lpt-* exijiimat the wind bloweth , the water moyfteneth , fo every man 
 fc pojjcfimtii <s£ne<*m & should be ret to his owne taske, i that one man cannot both 
 
 HeCtoum . Caton e m & be jg ^, { Hc £ or Cato and Sdpio forre ] eff can QnC 
 
 Atipioncmin ihca:ro ci- 11/- n 1 r rr- ■ c 1 n rr • 
 
 vitatit agcre. Caf.folit* anc * the lamc perion be lufncient for the greateft affaires , 
 
 Khr, z. both of Kirk and policie. And therefore the Paftor keepeth 
 
 himfelfe within the bounds of his owne place and calling , 
 
 and neyther medleth with civill caufes, nor taketh upon him 
 
 civill offices, nor fceketh after civill honour. 
 
 The P I{E LA T E maketh no diftinftion, but eonfoundeth all, 
 as compatible jnough , if he be the agent. And albeit for any good 
 
 parts 
 
■■■^ ^ 
 
 farts t\be no tniracle,but neighbour like, kyct bcjindetb himfclf fufficient 
 
 for every thing in Kirk, and Common-wealth , and tellcth all for fish k %gms*i t M*c*~ 
 
 that commeth in his nette , whether Chill offices , Chill Honours , &»">L*«d**—i 
 
 chill caufes , or chill punishments : Like a Prince he hath M ca- „ ;".. 
 
 Ble , his Lordship , his I^egalitie, Vajfalry, &c. He hath power to fu^atm ■ 
 
 t*n - 
 
 confyne , imprifon &c. and taketh it hardly , when he is not pre- ***<»•'*« 
 f erred to Offices of estate , as to be Chancellor , Prefident (£c. /i>/;;'c/j [J£| JJSiMf* j£ 
 &w predeceftors had of old. And thus againft all grounds of good tittiw furinitr** 
 folicie he stands in pompe , as a mightie Gyant , with oncFootetn &* t *j*? ,i0t, *? t *~ 
 the KJ r k up on f ^ e nec k s °f *he Minifters , and with another in the \"*^ "XmaZpl*** 
 fiate y upon the heads of the Nobilitie and Gentrie. Hi. Plutarch. 
 
 4, The P A S t O R affifteth the Civill Magiftrate in The Paftor *£& 
 planting of virtue , and rooting out of vice , partly by power- Ste,S!«!£ 
 lull preaching home to the Confciences of finners , /partly hindrethhim. 
 by cenfuring leffer offences , which the Magiftrate punish- 1 H£C "trt$$ a& 
 eth not, as'lying , uncomelie jelling, rash and common fwea- r^fm^la^ftn 
 ring, rotten talking , brauling, drunckennefle &c. Where- ^mam'&JSSi 
 through the paffages to murther , adulterie , and other great <W«fc pml$ ««* 
 offences are flopped , the people prevented in many mif- ¥"•*"■? "'Afp 
 
 , . r , rr * . . * r r / . h quit *rinttT.uti 1 
 
 chiefs , and great enormities , and the Magiftrate many waies /Mrorumgravu 6 
 eafed , and partly in cenfuring of greater finnes , and pur- efficax,interdiftio 
 ging the Kingdome of foule offences : for he joyneth the ^i^aT^ita^ 
 Cenfures and the fpirituall fword of the Kirk with the fword tito'iJu&bJnuf 
 of the Magiftrate , fb impartially , that none are fpared , <jtuvindu*»t*rjl 
 with fuch expedition and diligence, that finne is cenfurcd, «*&*•*&**! 
 and not forgotten , with fuch authoritie , that the molt ob- tur "uuTmlnth 
 ftinate haue confefled , that the Kirk had power to binde cm, mtlUelniet* 
 and loofe , with fuch sharpnefle and feveritie that Malefa- tes > "jfe^^*: 
 (Slors haue beene affraide , and fo univerfally , that,as there Xlltioti\fiintTci 
 is no crime cerifurable by the Kirk, but the fame is punish- vit4*ereferinmtd 
 able by temporall Iurifdiciion , fo he holdeth no finne pu- B * d i»-de rep. Gt 
 nishable by Civill Authoritie, but the fame is alio cen- ^[^hM 
 furable by Spirituall power , the one punishing the 
 offender in his bodye or goods , the other draw- 
 ing him unto repentance , and to remoue the fcan- 
 dall. 
 
 The PB^ELATEis unprofitable to the Chill Ma- 
 gistrate in planting of virtue , and rooting out of vice : for where 
 7ns government hath place , preaching hath more demonstration of 
 Arte for the praife of the Jpeaker , then of the Spirit for the cen-* 
 furing of fume , andconverfionofthefinner: He paffethfm all offences 
 without any cenfure,& thereby openeth the way to the greateft fins of mur- 
 ther, adulterie &c. and gheth the Magiftrate his hands full. He ven- 
 dicMes to his court andjurifdiftionjome crimes , as proper for his cenfure , 
 
 I which 
 
which yet he papeth lightly. The cenfufei of the Kji\ andfword of 
 excommunication in his hand ferue for fmall ufe againsl greater fins. 
 For eyther they are not ufed at all,orfo partially, that the great eft fin- 
 ners efcape uncenfured, or fo fup erf daily, that they arc rather a mat- 
 ter of mocking and boldnefe infinne , then of repentance to the fin- 
 ner, or of removing the offence. 
 The paftor profitable to ^. The PASTOR is chargeable to no man befide his 
 the commonwealth , but f b er anc j neceflarie maintenance allotted unto him for his 
 
 not cnareeable : the pre- _ . - . . . , . , 
 
 late chargeable but not neceilarie iervice, which the people can no more want, then 
 profitable. they may want religion it felfe, or their owne temporall and 
 
 eternall happines. 
 m Non eft Sludendum ut T y p RELATE contrarie to the rules ofpolicie m ajrainft the ' 
 
 plunmi fint mrepub.ma- , ■ t ■ » • • ruirt i i r /■* 
 
 iiftratui, (Id ut ouam ci- multiplying and mainteyning of idle officebearers , hath for one of- 
 modifime & optime ge- fee, jewing for no good ufe neither to King , nor Kirl^, nor Coun- 
 rantrempjj qui timt ne- tre y } allowance ofa large rent, is a great burthen , and is many waies 
 chargeable to the Commonwealth, and to particular perfons ; by his 
 great lands and Lordship, by atlions of improbation , reduHions of 
 feiffes, declarator ofesheits , entrefes noncntrefies ($c. by felling of 
 commiffariats cjfc. by rayfing and rigormify exaBing the Quots of 
 T eft anient s, by fommes of 'money giuen unto them , their fonnes or 
 theyr fervants, for prefentations, collations , teftimonials of ordina- 
 tion, or admijfwn, fometimes by people who would be at agoodMi- 
 nifter, and ordinarily by the cannie friends of the intrant , who can 
 finde no entrie but by a golden port. 
 Thepaftor a maintcyner 6\ The PASTOR would haue learning to growe, & 
 ^e^ S of^iS r ^ , confidering that wSchooles and CoUedees are both the fe- 
 n Quale* fchoia exiibet minarie of the Commonwealth , 6c the Lebanon of God for 
 homines .tales habitat* eft building the Temple, defyreth earneftly , that there might 
 V rC u M r C l' <T>an -P ol rl . be a Schoole in every congregation , that the people might 
 
 \ Htnc major pars ptlutts . . .„ , ' . , & «-> I. . r , r *\ 
 
 h -omtptionu reip, pen- be more civill,* and maght more ealilylearne the groundes 
 / iUt, & cxfchoiammfon- of Religion, he would haue the beft ingynes chofen 6c pro- 
 ri urt \*pt'um & JiTx an u vicled to the ftu(ients places in univerlities , the worthyeft 6c 
 SSm^iU^aiuS- ^ e ^ mcn to ^ ie Peaces of Teachers , who might faythfully 
 fcuntur puma Uterarum keepe the Arts and Sciences from corruption, and elpecially 
 ™ n ™ tn W.'V in l em * the trueth of Religion,as the holy fire that came down from 
 ZT n a[^omnla^eTm h lxi heauen was kept by the Levites. He defireth the rewards of 
 mt interest ir.contamirta- learning to be giuen to the worthyeft , and after they haue 
 TJaT" ° C ' ( J Te &' Tho ~ received them, that they be faythfull in their places, leaft by 
 M$£Jl$*Mikm loytering and lazinefTe, they become both unprofitable and 
 
 Suti, prinnpibuf gemma- Unlearned. 
 
 nan hco Urtr* ejji dtbe. ifo p ȣ LATE is not Co defiroui of learning in himfelfe,as of 
 
 re. ,,±r,csu Syl.Platina. ■ r lit l S l .7 • V I J 
 
 indo£t w Epifcop,* a/no KV manc ^ in othe >' s > that he one b ™ty ™ eminent both in Kjrl^and 
 
 z*mparajidni. idt m . Commonwealth , and all others may render him blinde obedience and 
 
 njpett. He devoumh that bimfclfe which should cntertaine parti* 
 
 cular 
 
cular fchooles : he fiJletb the places of fludents without try alt of their m 
 gines to pleafurc his friends andfuyters,contrarie to the will of the maificrs 
 and the Acls of the foundations ; he fillet h the places of learning not tvitb 
 the learned]}-, but the tvelthieft fort , ivho for any viplancie of bis might 
 both corrupt the humane fciences and bring ftrange fire into the houfe of 
 God. If a learned man happen to attaine to one of their higbeft places , 
 which they call the rewards of learning , incontinent their learning begin- 
 neth to decay, and their former gifts to wither away. So that their greats 
 places and prelacies eytberfinde them or make them unlearned. 
 
 7. The PASTOR by the gouvernment of the Kirk pre- Thej^ftors gr>- 
 fcribed in the word, isftron^ to refill or reprcfle Schifmes, he- ^ rnmLC b >' il } cl 
 
 ■ J. . ' 1 tv t & r • • 11 r m 10 bites mccrer for a 
 
 relies, corruptions , and all the lpintuall power oflinne and Sa- Monarchic the- the 
 than, but hath no ftrength to withftand the temporal! power and epifcopalgouvem- 
 authoritie of Princes. The fame gouvernment forts with monar- m ^ nt - . 
 chie no Ieffe , then with Ariftocrafie through the wifdomeof the ° no n p ^jln t prl^i 
 Sonne of God, who fitteth the fame for all nations, and diverie duare, hAbcntvim 
 formes of civill policie. The Paftor acknowledgeth his Prince to *?*?**** ' nonl " t ' 
 be his onely Bishop,and overfeer fuperinteiident over the whole £*. Hn*t de s. 
 Kirk in his dominions , as being the preferver of the liberties of viciore de%cram. 
 the Kirk and keeper of both tables. To whom alfo the generall p ar t'*> 
 alfembly of the Kirk,or fome few commifTioners chofen by them 
 and convened, when it is thought expedient by the Kings Com- 
 millioner, may giue his Majeftie better and moreipeedy fatisfa- 
 d:ion in Kirk affaires, and with greater loue and contentment of 
 the whole Kirk, and of all his Majefties loving fubjecls, then can 
 be giuen by the thirteene Prelates. All which may be done upon 
 a fmall parte of the prelates rent , for bearing the charges or his 
 Majefties Commifiioner , who alfo may be changed at his Ma- 
 jefties pleafure. 
 
 The P B^E LAT E and Ins gouvernment ts weake to withsland the 
 Jpirituall forces offinne and Sathan , but is ftrong to oppofe the temporal! 
 power of princes, and hath beetle of all enemies the most dangerous to mo- 
 narchic ifor howfoevernow, while oppofition is made , he flatter (3 fawn e 
 upon the Prince for his owne Handing , yet if all Minifters and the whole p gjtodftChritli*. 
 t^ingdome did acknowledge bis Supcrioritie to binde the confidence , the ni ohm non dt T o- 
 Primate of theKirk would be more power full then oily Subieti in the kin*, f^rtmt j^romm 
 dome, p and might proue as terrible to Kings , wbatfocver their Religion & ftdiMtm a po - 
 were, as Popes haue beeneto Emperors , and Prelates banc beene to Kings tiaram ac vaten- 
 in former times. He hath no power for all his credite and Lordly authority tem^rianum & 
 to get any thing done to his Majeslies fatisfatlion , and with contentment ^Inr vir^um- 
 ofthe Kjrk> f or dlthe craft and violence , that hath beenfo long bended , poralcs Chrifli**m, 
 never one whole famous congregatioyi within the KJngdomc is eytber con- Bellarm. de fym. 
 quesJed, or like to be fubdued to bis Conformitie , but eytber the better or *"*/$£ 
 .greater part, or both haue refifted. Andyetfor bis Lordly maintenance he *2u£m Ivcm;. 
 
 I 2 hath 
 
hdtb (mpayYe<Tthe rent of the crotvne , in J^arr?di!^SfaidecUy 
 the colleHorie, he pullethfrom the King the rents of great benefices, 
 the homage ofVafiales with their commodities, Regalities , & other 
 priviledges more proper for the Scepter then the Shepheards ftaffe. 
 Thc'Paftor taketh no 8. The PASTOR defyreth no other title , but to be 
 mans tide , nor dignitie ca \\ c ^ z he minifter of the towne or parish , he ftryveth with 
 
 nor place: the Prelate ta- c , • i /- i L r t ■ l /-> 
 
 keth all thefefrom the no man for precedencie,he leeketh no place in the Common 
 Nobles and Peeres of the wealth, neyther in Counfell, Seffion , nor Exchequor , but 
 Iand ' ftirreth up, and foundeth the Trumpet in the eare of the ge- 
 
 nerous fpirits of the Kingdome , to shewe themfelues wor- 
 thy of their ovvne places , and whether he be Minifter in. 
 brough or Iand , he is a Common fervant to all , from the 
 higheft to the loweft, to parents and children, to Mailers 6c 
 n fervants in all paftorall dueties : while he livethhe harmeth 
 e^K none , but helping all, procuring honour to the greater , 6c 
 maintenance to the poorer forte, 6c when his life is brought 
 to a comfortable end , every foule blefleth.him , z and all. 
 irmte decrement ecu- mourne for him, as for a common parent, 
 fat vaniw, & titulorum The P ' i^ E LATE according to the potiricall axiome 
 Anogamia proverbmm de q When vertue waineth , Vanity waxeth, and many titles 
 i$'*uZlVlt$> muchvanitie, difdayning to be called any more the Minifter of 
 piicitcr,tuncfn6ia eft rejp. Chrift , hath taken upon him the Titles of the Nobilitie , My Lord 
 <umrDcmine(labilita-ert: ofOrkriay, My Lordofcathnes , My Lord of Murray , My Lord 
 tefylfs}.' 1 ' 6 ™" 6 mK ofArgyl,($c. tvithtloe title he taketh the place before them, and 
 PUbcios ex bumili ge- filleth their place s in Councell and Sejjion , and when rifen up from 
 ?>ere natosrfaddignitates his dunghUl, he is fet on high places , and fs drunken with Ins new ho- 
 
 Z—^%: n r S ,' he Hfm t h Z ear " llks If ', S ^ e . '^"handmatics, when 
 
 rum^ambitionc infblenter they become miftrefies , he waxeth Jo injojent , that he can riot be 
 
 fe effi cere alii ffydeprime- borne. In his owne citie he will'haue yiomage of all, ovcrtruleth 
 
 reconaricojUr.^demul- the election of their Magiftrates , harmeth both parents andchil- 
 
 to m(olcnt teres & ptope- , , . • , _ *> J , \ . r r n • in 
 
 modum intelhrabiUores dren through the Countrey , by giving warrant forjuddame andje- 
 magna c!i ;aclurareip.ejfe cret mariage s without proclamation , which the verye Counfell of 
 *llr&ve H me*{rn? U n C ~- Trent cannot but allow e , he taketh the honour of the greater to 
 Eftf, itaut veteliuierl himfelfc, and fiends that upon his pride , which should ferue for the 
 cie dixtnt.Batuli imperat poorer forte. And when after many wishes, his life at laft is brought 
 & man funt fuperieres t0 m enc [ e t } je xv \ d0 [ e Di oc j e i$ fiUfd with joy , andhis ownefamilie 
 oppnmxr. c*mei.cl»t. z. and friends are filled with centempt , anddijgrace. 
 m^oti *«m u c«c« y^y. w- o. The PASTOR maketh the Kingdome fitte for 
 s * "* '/»*'"-zpi&gr*c. W arre , againft the time that nece/Titief giue alarme: for, by 
 nMnJeVtiteboS^nde- labouring to make the people truly religious, he maketh 
 ftaas of rhe people fit for them refolute for both parts of Chriftian fortitude , acliue 
 A'arre:theprel.difableth and pafliue , for doing valiantly, and fuffering conftantly. 
 TFmiteriiieficit<itiim t - In the time ofpeace , he ftirreth them up againft foftnefle 
 fr tjjepotefi. and intemperancie , to diligence and labour, whereby their 
 
 todies 
 
odic^r^neftT5?eabIe and durable: He ftrengtheheth alio the 
 nerues of warre , by contenting himfelfe with a meane eftate,S{; 
 by his doctrine and example teaching people to fpare in peace > 
 for the* time of warre. 
 
 The P f^£ LA T E maketh the Kjngdome unfttcfor warre : f»r by 
 hisgovernment the people loofe true fortitude , with the hue of Religion , 
 that if they haue any kinde of Courage for battayle,it u not fo much the in- 
 vincible courage ofChrijlian Religion ,as the car nail and baftard Fortitude 
 of Paganifme , which in companfon of the former hath ever been but pu- 
 fillanimitie. By his overfight ofryoting and idlenes , their bodies become 
 wcake and effeminate, and by his owne large rents , and his example of 
 prodigalitie , which to them is a law , he enervates the eslate , and cut ts 
 afunder the fine wes of warre. 
 
 The Prelates objection. 
 
 THE Prelate will object, that if you that are Paftor sunder sloode obje&.The eftates 
 eytherthe manners of the people, or the grounds ofpolicie , ye would of parliament can- 
 
 fee that neyther can Noblemen , and others viuen to their plea fur e beare n ?} be /^ t J e feve " 
 J r i j r • r- r r» * n. r j ritie of Paftors.nor 
 
 yourjimple and cenjorious forme of preaching, nor your aujteere , and pre- want t ^ s p re lares 
 
 cife forme ofdifcipline, and life , nor yet can the High Court of Parlia- to be the third e- 
 
 ment wante the Prelates, which make up one of the three eftates : that ye tote* 
 
 are but shallowe, and confiders not what depth this drawes. 
 
 The Paftors anfwer. 
 
 WE knowe, that of all rancks , there be fome who Ioue their Anf, - s !)fT,? 8 1 1 at 
 pleafures more then God, and thefe , according to the firft Sj « toe m3 
 flattering parte of the objection, will fay with the old verfc ; be found comfor- 
 
 Non mi hi fit Servus, Median, Prophet a, Sacerdos^ table to all eftates j 
 
 He is no fervant fit for me , ^^! 
 
 Who Philitian, Prophet, Pried will be. && wUhoot th- 
 
 For fuch may neyther abide to be cured of their fpirituall evils relates. 
 by the Counfell of God, nor to heare of the evils that will come, 
 ir they refufe to be cured , nor to be exhorted to repentance , 
 when the calamities are surnod upon them, that they may be tur- (<~^$- 
 ned away: but all are not fuch, and from which , while they are /vJrfj?— 
 in their pleafures, we make appellation to themfelues, while they ^ 
 are in the paines or terrors of death, &to be preferred before the 
 judge,whether the the paftor or prelate pleafeth the better ? The 
 other part of the objection, the wifdome of the King and of the 
 honourable Eftates of Parliament can anfwer , who know how a 
 Parliament may be perfect without cyther Paftor or Prelate. 
 If, by the name of a parliament , we underftand a general] &. na- 
 tionall meeting ofthe whole Kjngdome and Kirk by their Com- 
 
 I 3 miflioners 
 
I 
 
 *k>nclufion. 
 
 ItmmoneTS, with their fupreameMagiftratc,and King, every one 
 to giue his advife and judgment refpecftiue, according to the na- 
 ture of the focietie civiI,or ecclefiafticall, which he prcfents:ccm- 
 mifiioners of the Kirk, to giue refolution from the word oTGod", 
 if neede be,concerning matters civill, but not to meddle with ci- 
 \ ill caufes civilly, and to propone petitions to the King & eftates 
 for the good of the Kirk, to require their civill fanclion, & to fee 
 that nothing be concluded in things civill , that may be a hinde- 
 rance to the worship of God. The Nobilitie with the Comirlio- 
 ners of Barons, and Burrowes for civill matters, & to add the ci- 
 vill fancftionin the matters of Gods worship , Kirkmen chofen 6c 
 inftructed by the Kirk, may lit in Parliament after this fenfe,and 
 are bound to cotribute their belt help for the honour oFtne'King 
 3l good both of Kirk and Countrey. But if by a Parliament we 
 underftand the higheft Court &. fupreame judicature civill, med- 
 ling onely with civill matters,or with matters of religion civilly, 
 as to adde the civill fanclion , and to ratitie by civill authoritie , 
 what hath been put in Cannon by the Kirk before, the the affem- 
 bly of the Kirk or their Commi/fioners may, or should attend the 
 High Court of parliament, as the Convocation houfe doth in our 
 neighbour Kingdome , but can haue no place nor vote in parlia- 
 ment, neither in making Iawes aboute things civill,nor in the ci- 
 vill authorifing in matters of Religion : for Minifters should not 
 judge of the right of inheritance, nor pronounce fentence aboute 
 forfeyture, nor make lawes about weights, and meafures &c. but 
 should exhort die people to obey the civill powers. Without bi- 
 shops or minilters lawes haue been made by Parliament , & may 
 be made now nolefTe then without Abbots, Priors &c. who had 
 once vote in Parliament no IefTe then they. Their benefices are 
 Baronies, in refpeel: whereof they claime vote in parlfament ; but 
 they are not Barons or proprietars,6cheretabIe poifefTors thereof 
 to tranfmit them to their heirs, or to alienate them, but onely are 
 ufufrudluaries to haue the ufe of the fruits of them for their time. 
 Neither doth it fuite with the minifters calling, to haue fuch Ba- 
 ronies, nor are they to be reckoned for ecclefiafticall pcrfons,but 
 for civill, when they haue place in parliament in refpecT of thefc 
 Baronies,and therefore cannot vote there in name of the Kirk. 
 
 'T* O conclude then, whether we Iooke to the word of God , or 
 to the more pure and primitiue times of the Kirk , or to the 
 nature & ufe of things indifferent , or to the Reformation and 
 proceeding of our ovvnc Kirk, or the good of the Kirk , and of 
 the peoples foules , or to the happinefle of the Commonwealth, 
 and the good of every one, from the King that litteth upon the 
 
 Throne , 
 
tcr , we may fee, whether the Paftor , or the Prelate , whether ^ 
 
 Reformation or Conformitie is to be followed by the true Chri- 
 ftian anc\ Countrcyman. And that there is as greatc difference 
 betwixt the Bishops of our times, and the faythfull Paftors of 
 the Reformed Kirks , as is 6row the light that commeth from ^shvl*c\l 
 the ftarres of heauen , and the thick darkenefle that arifeth from 
 the bottomlelfe pitte. And it may be made manifeft , that fince 
 Bishops were caft in the mouldc of the man of finne , w herefoe- 
 ver they haue ruled, whether amongft the Papifticall and the Re- 
 formed (fome fewe excepted , who when they ventured upon 
 thefe places , wente out of their owne element ) they haue been 
 the greateft plagues both to Kirks,and Kingdomes,that ever had 
 authoritie in the Chriftian world. Neither needcth any man to 
 objecl: , that the Comparifon that we haue made, runneth Agenerallobjedtti 
 all the way betwixt the good Paftor, and the evill Prelate, and on anfwered ' 
 therefore may be anfwered by the like unequall comparifon, be- 
 twixt the good Prelate and the evill Paftor, as if the moft part of 
 the epifcopall evils aboue mentioned were onely the perfonall 
 faults of the men, &. not the corruptions neceffarijy accopanying 
 the eftate and order of Prelates , and that if good men rill thefe 
 places, there is no danger but the Kirk may be afvvell , or better 
 governed by prelates , then by Paftors ; for the comparifon is 
 not fo much betwixt the Paftor and Prelate , as betwixt the of- .,. . * 
 fice of a Paftor and the office of a Prelate or Bishop. • s It is one poteftate.u 
 thing (as Auguftine fayth) to ufe an unlawful! power lawfully , and an uti t &alimdeSl /«- 
 other thin? to ufe a lawfull power unri?hreoufly and tmjufih. Paftors ft a P»* c ft* re >Mf 
 may haue their owne perfonall infirmities, and never lo many debomu 
 as under the Prelates gouvernment : and Prelates may haue their 14. 
 owne good parts , and never fo many as by the occafion of the 
 Paftors oppofition : but neythcr the one nor the other arc to be 
 afcribed to their offices , nor is the lawfulneffe and unlawfulneiTe 
 of their offices to be judged by their perfons* It is true , when 
 an unlawful power and a lawlefTe man meete together the cafe of 
 thofe that are under his authoritie muft be the worfe , as we may 
 fee in the Papacie , which being alvvaies evill for the Kirk , yet 
 haue proved worfe, when monfters in fteade of men haue iirte in 
 that feate. But it is evident , that the evil's which Prelates and 
 their Loidly government bring upon the Kirk , doe flowe from 
 their fole junfdidlion , exorbitant power , medling in civill go- 
 vernment , and the curfe of God upon that unlawfull eftate , all 
 which are common to the whole order , and not peculiar to fome 
 perfons. And the corruptions which are common to all in thefe 
 places , although greater in fome then in others , of neceffitie 
 
 muft 
 

 
 It is fo farre , that good men put in the places of Prelacie , can 
 make the government good, that the places of prelacie haue ever 
 corrupted the men, and made them worfe. So it was with ./E- 
 neas Sylvius , who before his Popedome feemed found and ho- 
 neft, mainteyning many points againft the tyrannie of that feate, 
 but being made Pope Pius the 1 1, retreated all , and proved as 
 impious and Antichriftian as the reft : So many that haue beene 
 of good account in the Minifterie, and giuen hope of great good 
 by them to the Kirk , when they entred to be Bishops,yet whol- 
 ly degenerated from their firft works , and learned betime ulu- 
 late cum lupis, to houle with the wolues : the experience whereof 
 made Queene Elizabeth to fay , When she made a Bishop , that she 
 marred a good Minifter. 
 
 E 17^1 S. 
 
 £JEntle Reader be intreated favourable to paffe by fome flips in printing: as when one let- 
 ^ter is put for another, as n for r Scacariun* pag.28.Hn. a fine 6. or one letter is wanting 
 aspag. 70 in margine sAerianum : or a letter abounds, as pag.63.in margine Bodin. rep. or 
 when a tillable is wanting pag.26. lin.ult. became, pag.41 .in marg. Scotican*. or altered 
 pag.64.in marg. fxvitia. or a word is raifplaced, pag.2f.med. & the daughter had devou- 
 red the mother, and fome other the like. 
 
M -* f 
 
 
 f* 1 
 
 ) I 
 
 i h 
 
 i 
 
 i ; 
 
 1 1- 
 
 i ' 
 
 ' c ft o c c c e c c ** — ~" " 
 
 1 1 1 m 
 
 i i 1 
 
 h - 
 
-== 
 
 -"----'=- 
 
 WM'-W'i. * .JUiijbjb.i. u 
 
 
 Iv« a.i - --*> ,J- ^i ii J i 
 
 d i 
 
 f I 1 ■ ° 
 -> ,5 j 3 
 
 H ^ a 
 
 
 
 4 » 
 1 
 a * 
 
 ;• 
 
 a i 
 
 #?: \ 
 
 
 a i * 
 
 r» »±* 
 
 i 1 i u ;.i 1 it. 1 
 
 $ 3 *- ^ 
 
 n ^ |J j 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 l 
 
 o 3 
 
 to a 
 
 i» 0.^. f ?^ ; J 0^ ) •/ D^ 
 
 fc 3 a 5 & .*} S & 5 ^ a 
 
 * V) 
 
 3 * 
 
 I I I 
 
 i I 
 
 >* * V- ~* &' :d '0 & d }*aO0** 
 
 & a o 
 
 & a 
 
 
 
 * s * 
 
 I'M 111 
 
 ,0 5 } * * o 
 
 r o 
 
 . : * 
 
 o 
 
 Mill I [ * 
 

 *\j 
 
 o ^ ^ 
 
 
 V 
 
 9 
 
 -W 
 
 I* 
 
 5 
 
 ^oo Ut- 
 
» 2 
 
 fT 
 
 
 V>J «» 
 
 V 
 
 ' I 
 
 \ \ 
 
 \ , 
 
 v,i n 
 
 
 VO 
 
 e c c * c c c < « -* c *■* 
 
 
 
 
bi 
 
 I 
 
 I ■ ■ *■ 
 
m m 
 
 t 
 
 -