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<DATE>2014-08-25</DATE>
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<NAME>Kate Allen</NAME>
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*Correct excusable and inexcusable errors x*If appropriate, check for yoghs. x*If appropriate, check for Latin problems, e.g. oe and ae digraphs x*If appropriate, check for abbreviation and brevigraph problems. x*If appropriate, check for units of measure, symbols (alchemical, astronomical, etc.) and the like. x*Correct illegibles from proofsheet x*Check illegible page, para, line, span, word, dollar signs
*Final validate Corrected [ ] illegible groups out of [ ]. Converted [ ] illegible groups to GAP DESC="illegible". DONE</ITEM>
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<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1">
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<P>A LETTER From A FRIEND <HI>In The</HI> COUNTREY: To a MEMBER In the HONOVRABLE HOVSE Of COMMONS.</P>
<P>Printed 1643.</P>
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<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="letter">
<PB REF="2">
<PB N="1" REF="2">
<HEAD>A Letter from a Friend in the Country, to a Member of the Honourable Hou&s;e of COMMONS.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>SIR,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_I Have had a great conflict within my &s;elfe, whe|ther as the times &s;tand, I might make bold to write unto you, or no; not well knowing, how you may take it, or what di&s;ta&s;te I may draw upon my &s;elfe. The &s;incere charity, which I beare to your Family, urgeth me to &s;peake, but the care of mine owne quietne&s;&s;e per&s;wadeth &s;ilence. Yet con&s;idering, that <HI>Abigail,</HI> a weake woman, gave that coun&s;ell to <HI>David,</HI> which was plea&s;ing to God, and profitable to man; and that it was not one of <HI>Davids</HI> lea&s;t honours, that he followed her advice, I have adventured to &s;peake; and I hope, with <HI>Abigail</HI> in a good &s;ea&s;on.</P>
<P>I know, the dayes are evill, and judgement is like to begin at the hou&s;e of God; blame me not then, if I proffer you &s;ome few Ob&s;ervations, in the mid&s;t of your greate&s;t Con|&s;ultations; e&s;pecially if I goe not beyond my Line. God knowes, my intent is, to withhold you from <HI>Uzza's &s;inne,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>2 Sam. 6 6.7</HI> E<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">endens <HI>Vz+za</HI> manum &s;u|am, &amp; volens arcum retiner<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> cum Sacerdos non e&s;&s;et, quo|niam cam con+tingere prae|&s;ump&s;it, extin<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+ctuse&s;t. Jo&s;ep<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> Antiq: l. <HI>7.</HI> c,<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> <HI>Ma. 24.9. Ioh, 16.2. Ib. v. 3.</HI></NOTE> le&s;t perchance you fall into <HI>Uzza's puni&s;hment.</HI></P>
<P>I have heard it &s;poken, and lamented even by Citizens, and &s;uch as are &s;trangers to my blood, that the Clergy were never in the memory of man, in &s;uch di&s;re&s;pect, as they are at this pre&s;ent. Indeed if the care had not heard it, the eye cannot choo&s;e but &s;ee it; in &s;o much that I plainly perceive, that the time is drawing on, whereof our Saviour foretells, that <HI>men &s;hall hate us for his name &s;ake,</HI> and per&s;ecute us; and <HI>who&s;oever killeth us, will thinke, that he doth God good &s;ervice.</HI> But this &s;hall
<PB N="2" REF="3"> be done by tho&s;e, who want the true knowledge of God and his Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>I que&s;tion not, but you hold it not onely dangerous, but odious,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">o. 23.2. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ov. 11.21.</NOTE> to <HI>follow a multitude to doe evill.</HI> I &s;hall therefore en|treat you to peru&s;e, and weigh well the&s;e few con&s;iderations.</P>
<P N="1">I. The fir&s;t, that I &s;hall pre&s;ent you with, is that of the Lord, <HI>Deut.</HI> 17.12. <HI>The man, that will doe</HI> PRESUMTU|OUSLY,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ar the Lord, <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> honour the <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">rie&s;ts. Ecc. 7. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">.</NOTE> and <HI>will not hearken unto the Prie&s;t (that standeth there to minister before the Lord thy God) or unto the Iudge, that man &s;hall dye.</HI></P>
<P N="2">II. Of the Apo&s;tles and their &s;ucce&s;&s;ors, our Saviour &s;aith,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">eron. ad <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">arcel. adver&s;. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ontan. Chri|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">s honoratur <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> &s;ervis &s;uis. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">i Apo&s;tolis promittit di|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">us, qui vos re|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it, me recipit, <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">c. Hieron. in <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">pitaph. Luci. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ieron. ad Fu|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">am. Cypr. ep. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> n. <HI>7.</HI> Salvia~. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Gubern. Dei <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> <HI>8.</HI> Ib&punc;</NOTE> <HI>He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that de&s;pi&s;eth you, de&s;pi&s;eth me. Luk.</HI> 10.16. <HI>Et apud nos Apostolorum locum Epi&s;co|pitenent,</HI> &s;o <HI>S. Hierome,</HI> In all Orthodoxe Churches, Bi&s;hops hold the place of the Apo&s;tles. This then is &s;poken of Bi|&s;hops, &s;o long as they be Orthodox. Hence is that of the &s;ame Father; <HI>Illius vita laudanda est, qui</HI> VENERATIONI HA|BET SASERDOTES CHRISI, <HI>&amp; non detrahit gradui,</HI> PER QUEM FACTUS EST CHRISIANUS. And that of S. <HI>Cyprian;</HI> Sacerdotes Dei AB EO QUI SACERDOTES FACIT, <HI>vindicantur.</HI> And that of <HI>Salvian, &s;acrilegii genus e&s;t, Dei odi&s;&s;e cultores.</HI> And againe, <HI>Benigni&s;&s;imus ac pii&s;&s;omus Domi|nus</HI> COMMUNEM SIBI CUM SERVIS SUIS <HI>&amp; honorem &s;imul, &amp; contumelian facit; nequis cum Laederet Dei &s;ervum, ho|minem tantum a &s;e Laedi arbitraretur.</HI></P>
<P N="3"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">eut. 33.11.</NOTE>III. Con&s;ider, that of the Tribe of <HI>Levi</HI> it is &s;aid, <HI>Ble&s;se Lord his &s;ub&s;tance, and accept the worke of his hands. Smite thorow the loynes of them, that ri&s;e again&s;t him, and of them that</HI> HATE <HI>him, that they ri&s;e not againe.</HI> And this is a true Rule, <HI>Plus diligit Deus figuratum, quam figuram:</HI> God takes more care of his Church, then he did of the Synagogue.</P>
<P N="4">IV. Con&s;ider, that both in the Clergy and Laitie there is a two-fold condition or &s;tate. We are members of the Church and State; and &s;o are yee, As we are <HI>Members of the
<PB N="3" REF="3"> State,</HI> we are &s;ubject to the Lawes of the Land; and as yee are <HI>Members of the Church,</HI> yee are &s;ubject to the Lawes of the Church. As the Lawes of the Land bind us, &s;o long as they affront not the Law of God: &s;o the Laws of the Church bind you, as long as they cro&s;&s;e not the Word of God, or the Fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome, <HI>Dic Eccle&s;iae,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 18.17</NOTE> com|plaine to the Church, will reach over all Chri&s;tians in diver&s;e ca&s;es. For there are certaine cau&s;es, that belong to the cog|ni&s;ance of the Church <HI>jure Apostolico,</HI> by Apo&s;tolicall right,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cod. Afric. Can. <HI>59.</HI></NOTE> that &s;o they may there in the Church courts receive determi|nation. And he that will not heare the Church, that is, the Governours of the Church (by whom &s;he &s;peakes&punc; <HI>Sit tibi velut Ethnicus &amp; Publicanus,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 18.17.</NOTE> let him be unto thee as an Hea|then, or Publican.</P>
<P N="5">V. Con&s;ider, that matters of faith were, even from the be|ginning of chri&s;tianity, decided and &s;etled by Church-men. At the fir&s;t councell, the que&s;tion of Circumci&s;ion was ref<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">r'd <HI>ad Apo&s;tolos &amp; Presbyteros,</HI> to the <HI>Apo&s;tles and Priests,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 15.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> or El|ders. They are the onely men, that debate and decide the que&s;tion. And what they re&s;olve on, the Brethren &s;ub&s;cribe to.</P>
<P>The Canons al&s;o of the Church, were alwayes made by Bi|&s;hops.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><P><HI>Apo&s;tolos, ide<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Epi&s;copos, D<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+minus elegit. Cypr. ep.</HI> 65.13.</P>
<P>For this cau<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> left I thee at Cret, that thou &s;hould &s;et in order the things th<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> are wanting Ti<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">. 1.5. I&s;a. 49.23.</P></NOTE> There are none made after our Saviours A&s;cen&s;ion (in the new Te&s;tament) but <HI>onely by the Apo&s;tles,</HI> who in the judgement of all Antiquity <HI>were Bi&s;hops:</HI> and no power given to any, by the Apo&s;tles, to make Canons, but onely to tho&s;e, who were Bi&s;hops truely and properly &s;o called, namely to <HI>Timothy,</HI> and <HI>Titus,</HI> the one being Bi&s;hop of <HI>Ephe&s;us,</HI> and the other of <HI>Creete.</HI> And thus it continued cleane thorow the be&s;t and anciente&s;t times.</P>
<P>But after it had plea&s;ed God to give <HI>Kings</HI> to be <HI>nur&s;ing Fathers, and Queenes to be nur&s;ing Mothers</HI> to the Church, coun|cels were called by Kings or Empero<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">s; or at le&s;t by their Li|cence: and the conclu&s;ions or Canons of tho&s;e councels were
<PB N="4" REF="4"> by them confirmed made (I &s;ay) by Bps. confirmed by Kings. And when &s;pirituall cen&s;ures would not &s;erve the turne, pe|nall and coercive &s;tatutes were made by Kings, to compell their &s;ubjects to the ob&s;ervation of the&s;e Canons.</P>
<P>That matters of Faith were ever refer'd to Councells of Bi&s;hops, is a truth &s;o cleare, that no man that hath the lea&s;t acquaintance with the foure fir&s;t Generall Councells can make any que&s;tion hereof. And is it not as plaine by the &s;ame Councells, that Bi&s;hops made Canons al&s;o, for the well ordering and governing of the Church?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">n. Concil. tom p. <HI>362.</HI></NOTE>Yea the Emperour <HI>Marcian,</HI> attributed &s;o much to the wi&s;dome and piety of the Bi&s;hops in his time, that when he under&s;tood of &s;ome di&s;orders that were crept in among&s;t the Clergie, and tho&s;e that profe&s;&s;ed a mona&s;ticall life, he would not u&s;e his Royall power, in making lawes for the redre&s;&s;e of &s;uch di&s;orders: but he complaines thereof to the Bi&s;hops, gathered together in that great <HI>Councell of Chalcedon,</HI> and de|&s;ires them to provide a remedy for tho&s;e abu&s;es which was accordingly done by tho&s;e Fathers, in the third, and in the twentieth Canons of that Councell.</P>
<P>Thus al&s;o when <HI>Dio&s;corus,</HI> and &s;ome other factious Pre|lates joyning with him, had not onely deprived, but degra|ded two Orthodox Bi&s;hops, viz. <HI>Flavianus Bi&s;hop of Con&s;tanti|nople,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">agr. l. <HI>2.</HI> c <HI>18</HI></NOTE> and <HI>Eu&s;ebius of Dorylaea;</HI> the Emperour <HI>Marcian</HI> received their complaints, but put them over to the Councell, to re|ceive reliefe, or &s;entence according to the Canons of the Church.</P>
<P N="6"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">h. 4.11, 12.</NOTE>VI. Con&s;ider that our Saviour gave to the Church <HI>&s;ome Apo&s;tles, and &s;ome Prophets, and &s;ome Evangeli&s;ts, and &s;ome Pa&s;tours and Teachers for the</HI> PERFECTING <HI>of the Saints, for the work of the Mini&s;tery, for the</HI> EDIFYING <HI>of the body of Chri&s;t, That we may not be to&s;sed to and fro like children,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span">. v. 14.</NOTE> <HI>and carried about with every winde of Doctrine, by the &s;leight and cunning of &s;uch men as lie in waite to deceive</HI> the &s;imple, and credulous, and &s;uch as are
<PB N="5" REF="4"> over-bu&s;ie, like our Mother <HI>Eve.</HI> But there will be this <HI>to&s;se|ing</HI> and <HI>deceiving,</HI> for all our preaching and writing, if &s;ome of the&s;e named here by the Apo&s;tle, have not power to make lawes again&s;t &s;uch dangerous per&s;ons, and authority to put &s;uch lawes in execution, when they are made.</P>
<P N="7">VII. Adde hereunto that command of S. <HI>Paul,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.17.</NOTE> <HI>Obedite prae|po&s;itis ve&s;tris, obey them, that have the rule over you, and &s;ubmit your &s;elves unto them, for they watch for your &s;oules,</HI> and in tho&s;e dayes they had no other <HI>Governours that watch<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">d for their &s;oules</HI> health, but only Apo&s;tles or Bi&s;hops, And if we <HI>obey</HI> not our Bi&s;hops, we &s;hal give an account for our &s;oules, owne &amp; not they, if &s;o our &s;oules peri&s;h for want of being wel <HI>governed.</HI></P>
<P N="8">VIII. Con&s;ider that the very <HI>murmuring</HI> of the children of <HI>I&s;rael again&s;t Mo&s;es &amp; Aaron,</HI> is called <HI>rebelling again&s;t the Lord.</HI> Numb. 14.2.9. becau&s;e they were the Lords ordinance. Yea, their <HI>chiding</HI> (or wrangling) <HI>with Mo&s;es,</HI> is termed <HI>Rebellion</HI> Nu~b. 20.3.10. And <HI>Mo&s;es &amp; Aaron were among&s;t his Prie&s;ts, P&s;.</HI> 99.6.</P>
<P N="9">IX. <HI>Con&s;ider that he which ju&s;tifieth the wicked,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Pro. 17.15.</NOTE> <HI>and he that con|demneth the ju&s;t, even they both are an</HI> ABOMINATION to the Lord: God therefore hath given us two eares, that we might have one at lea&s;t open for the defendant.</P>
<Q><L>Qui iudicat aliquid, parte ina<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">dita altera,</L>
<L>Aequum licet &s;tatuerit, haud aequus fuit.</L></Q>
<P N="10">X. Be&s;ides the quality of the accu&s;ed, as al&s;o of the accu&s;er is to be con&s;idered,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.19.</NOTE> <HI>again&s;t a Priest</HI> (or Elder) <HI>an accu&s;ation is not to be received without two or three witne&s;&s;es.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Calvin in</HI> 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 5.1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> And rea&s;on good (&s;aith <HI>Calvine</HI>) for none lie more open to calumnie and de|traction, then godly teachers; yea, though they be mo&s;t <HI>exact in their office, and free from blemi&s;h,</HI> yet &s;hall they hardly e&s;cape a thou&s;and &s;landers, &s;uch is the &s;ubtiltie of Satan, to alienate the minds of men from Gods Mini&s;ters, that &s;o the doctrine it &s;elfe may fall into contempt, yea (&s;aith he) looke how much the more &s;incerely every pa&s;tour &s;tudies to promote the Kingdome of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> &s;o much the more is he envied and
<PB N="6" REF="5"> hated, and &s;o much the more is he a&s;&s;aulted, and per&s;ecuted. If a &s;lander be once rai&s;ed upon him, it is pre&s;ently taken for true; and he &s;tands convicted in the opinion of the mul|titude: thus it u&s;ually falls out, becau&s;e the Divell &s;tirreth up almo&s;t in every man, too too ea&s;ie a credulity again&s;t Mini|&s;ters; in&s;omuch, that no inqui&s;ition at all being made, the people greedily condemne their pa&s;tours, who&s;e credit they ought in duty to uphold. S. <HI>Paul,</HI> therefore hath ju&s;t cau&s;e to oppo&s;e him&s;elfe again&s;t this <HI>&s;trange iniu&s;tice,</HI> and wil not have Prie&s;ts &s;ubjected to the malicious tongues of wicked per|&s;ors, untill they be convicted in a legall cour&s;e. For, what wonder if they be pe&s;ter'd with enemies who&s;e office it is to reprehend the vices of the time, to oppo&s;e them&s;elves to the greedy rapine of all men, and to <HI>repre&s;se with &s;everity,</HI> al tho&s;e whom they know faulty or offen&s;ive. Thus far <HI>Calvin,</HI> and it is worthy the con&s;ideration to ob&s;erve, whether he be not ra|ther a Prophet, then a Commentator in this place.</P>
<P N="11"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">oncil in Con|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">antinop. Can. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">. Cod. Affric. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">an <HI>19.128.</HI></NOTE>XI. Con&s;ider that it was never held fit, that every man &s;hould be admit<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">ed indifferently to accu&s;e an Orthodox Bi&s;hop, indeed if it were a civill or private &s;uite betweene party and party, &s;uch as concerned debt, or fraud, or tre&s;|pa&s;&s;e, or he like, it was lawfull for any man without excep|tion, to prefer his Bil again&s;t a Bi&s;hop. But if it were a cau&s;e of Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall cogni&s;ance, then was it not lawfull for any heriticke to accu&s;e a Bi&s;hop,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">mnes &s;ervi, &amp; <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">roprii liberti <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">d accu&s;ationem <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">n admittan|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">r, nec infa|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ae maculis <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">per&s;i, id e&s;t, <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">&s;triones, ac <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">rpitudinibus <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ubjectae per&s;o|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ae, haeretics <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">iam, &s;ive pa|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ani, &s;eu Iudaei <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">od. Affric. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">. <HI>129.</HI></NOTE> neither was it lawfull for &s;uch as profe&s;&s;e the true faith, and yet &s;eparate them&s;elves from the <HI>Canonicall Bi&s;hops,</HI> and a&s;&s;emble in private Conventicles, neither was it thought meet, that any &s;uch &s;hould be admit|ted, that had beene either cen&s;ured, or deprived, or excom|municated by the Church (whether they were of the Clergie or Laitie) before they had &s;atisfied for their owne crimes. In like manner they that were accu&s;ed of any foule &s;inne, might not be permitted to accu&s;e a Bi&s;hop or any other of the Clergie, till they had cleared them&s;elves of tho&s;e ob|jections,
<PB N="7" REF="5"> wherewith they were charged. But if they were liable to no &s;uch ju&s;t exception, then might they freely prefer their complaints, either again&s;t Bi&s;hops, or other of the Clergie, but after this manner onely. Fir&s;t, they were to exhibite their libel before all the Bi&s;hops of that Province, and be|fore them to make their proofe: and if it were &s;o, that the Bi&s;hops of that Province were not of &s;ufficient power to correct tho&s;e enormities, then were they to appeale to a greater Synod of that Dioce&s;e (as it were now to all the Bi&s;hops of the Kings &s;everall Dominions) gathered toge|ther in a councell for that very purpo&s;e: neither was their li|bel or bill to be admitted before they had by bond made them&s;elves liable to the &s;ame penalty, or danger,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Calumniator tenetur ad pae<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+nam talionis.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> in c. &s;i quam p<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+nituerit. &s;ect<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> notandum, <HI>2&punc; 3.</HI></NOTE> which was to fall upon the per&s;on accu&s;ed, if &s;o the promoters were found to have dealt iniuriou&s;ly, and to faile in their proofe. But if &s;o any man &s;hall &s;corne this cour&s;e, and &s;hall mole&s;t the Emperour with clamors, or trouble the tribunals of &s;e|cular Judges, or a generall councell, with complaints, his accu&s;ation is not to be admitted, becau&s;e he &s;leights all the Bi&s;hops of that Dioce&s;e wherein he lives, becau&s;e he di&s;gra|ceth the Canons, and <HI>overthrowes all good order</HI> in the Church.</P>
<P>This Canon was made by the Fathers of the <HI>Councell of Con&s;tantinople,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Sozonen. l. <HI>7<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></HI> c. <HI>9.</HI></NOTE> An. Dom. 383. confirmed it was by <HI>Theodo&s;ius the great,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Concil. Const<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+tinop. Can. <HI>6</HI><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"></NOTE> and received by the whole Church of God with full con&s;ent, made it was at &s;uch a time, when many endeavoured to &s;ubvert and confound all Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall order, odiou&s;ly and &s;landerou&s;ly traducing the Orthodox Bi&s;hops, that go|verned the Church, faining &s;trange accu&s;ations again&s;t them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cod. Affric. Can <HI>131.</HI> Te&s;tes eos, q<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> accu&s;ator de mo &s;u&acirc; prod<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> erit, interro<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> non placuit, Paulus l. <HI>5.</HI><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> &amp; l. <HI>24.</HI> D.</NOTE> intending thereby to blemi&s;h the reputation of the Clergie and to rai&s;e tumults among the people, that lived in peace. For this very cau&s;e was this Canon made, and this is worth the ob&s;ervation too.</P>
<P>And as none of the&s;e may be accu&s;ers, neither may they
<PB N="6" REF="6" MS="y">
<GAP DESC="duplicate" EXTENT="1 page">
<PB N="7" REF="6">
<GAP DESC="duplicate" EXTENT="1 page">
<PB N="8" REF="7"> be produced for witne&s;&s;es again&s;t the Clergie, nor any that are of the accu&s;ers family.</P>
<P N="12"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">aucorum cul|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> non praejudi|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">t religioni. A|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">&s;tolorum fi|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">m Judae pro|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">tio non de|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">u<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">it. Hieron. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ver&s;. Vigilant <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Gen <HI>18.23.</HI></NOTE>XII. Con&s;ider that a whole &s;ociety, corporation or pro|fe&s;&s;ion, is not to be condemned, becau&s;e &s;ome few of them be bad. If &s;o, what &s;ociety or profe&s;&s;ion can &s;tand? It is Gods owne rule, <HI>Onus &s;uum unu&s;qui&s;que portabit.</HI> Deut. 24.26. Gal. 6.5. Every man mu&s;t &s;tand upon his owne leggs, and an&s;wer for his owne faults. And <HI>far be it from the Lord to &s;lay the righte|ous with the wicked, and that the righteous &s;hould be as the wicked, be that far from the Lord, &s;hall not the Iudge of all the earth doe right?</HI> And we mu&s;t indeavour to be iu&s;t, as our Father in Heaven is iu&s;t.</P>
<P N="13"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">h. 6.70.</NOTE>X<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">II. Con&s;ider that if Gods choice be not alwaies good, man may ea&s;ily mi&s;take:<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">iphan. haer. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Nos affectus <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> perturbatio|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">s, qu&agrave;m diu <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> tabernaculo <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">poris hujus <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">bitamus, &amp; <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">gili carne cir|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ndamur, mo|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">rari &amp; regere <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">&s;&s;umus, ampu|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">re non po&s;&s;u|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">us Hieron. ad <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">metriad. <HI>Tim. 3.2. Tim. 2.2. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it. 1.9.</HI></NOTE> God elected <HI>Saul</HI> to be King over <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> 1. Sam. 15.1. And yet it repented the Lord, that he had &s;et up <HI>Saul</HI> to be King, <HI>Ib.</HI> 5. <HI>v.</HI> 12. Our Saviour made choice of t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">elve Apo&s;tles, and one of them was a Divell. The Apo&s;tles picked out &s;even Deacons from among the faith|full, and one of tho&s;e &s;even was author of the <HI>Nicolaitan here|&s;ie,</HI> we mu&s;t needs therefore confe&s;&s;e that <HI>we al&s;o are men of like pa&s;&s;ions with</HI> you, And yet, <HI>let men &s;o account of us, as of the Mi|ni&s;ters of Chri&s;t, and Stewards of the my&s;teries of God,</HI> 1. <HI>Cor.</HI> 4.1.</P>
<P N="14">XIV. Con&s;ider, that S. <HI>Paul</HI> will have Bi&s;hops and Prie&s;ts <HI>apt,</HI> and <HI>able to teach:</HI> and not onely &s;o, but <HI>able to convince the gaine-&s;ayers,</HI> and adver&s;aries of the truth. <HI>Apt</HI> we are many of us (ble&s;&s;ed be God) <HI>to teach,</HI> by tho&s;e excellent gifts of na|ture,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">dia Scriptu|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">um &amp; liboru~ <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ltitudine, &amp; <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">entio, ac libra|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">um &s;edulita|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">uodq, propri|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> e&s;t, &s;ecurita|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> &amp; <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">odicta~|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">m indigent, <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">cron. Marcel. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Anap&s;ychiae. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ceph. l. o c, <HI>5.</HI></NOTE> which God be&s;towes upon us from the cradle; but <HI>able</HI> we &s;hall not be <HI>to teach,</HI> as we &s;hould doe, or to <HI>convince</HI> and confound the adver&s;aries of the truth, unle&s;&s;e we prove in|du&s;trious and learned. Learned we &s;hall not be, without Bookes, and Bookes are not to be had without mony. When <HI>I<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">lian</HI> therefore tooke away the meanes of the Church, he was &s;aid, <HI>non tam &s;acerdotes, quam &s;acerdotium occidere,</HI> not &s;o much to &s;lay the Prie&s;ts, as the Prie&s;thood it &s;elfe.</P>
<PB N="9" REF="7">
<P>In truth, it is the ready way to bani&s;h learning,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ea e&s;t <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 span"> ingratitudo,<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> de fovendis ve<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+bi mini&s;tris n<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> multum &s;it &s;o<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+citus; &amp; Sat<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> hac arte, tentat<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> doctrin &acirc; priv<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+re Eccle&s;iam,<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+inopiae &amp; fami<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+metu plurimos ab&s;terret, ne id oneris &s;u&s;cipian<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Calvin. in <HI>1</HI> Tim. <HI>5.17.</HI> Ep<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Latymer Ser <HI>5</HI> before K. Edw<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> <HI>6. Luck. 11.52. Mat. 23.13.</HI></NOTE> to unpeo|ple the Univer&s;ities, to expo&s;e us, and the whole Kingdome, to contempt, and &s;corne; what Nation under the Sunne (to Gods glory be it &s;poken) hath more learned men of our pro|fe&s;&s;ion, then this Church of <HI>England?</HI> But, by heare-&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">y, if &s;ome may have their wills, we &s;h<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">ll not long be guilty of too much learning. For, if &s;uch cour&s;es be taken, we &s;hall as Bp. <HI>Latimer</HI> complaines, <HI>Have nothing but a little</HI> ENGLISH DIVINITY, <HI>that will bring the Realme into very barbarou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and utter decay of Learning. It is not that I wis</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>that will keepe out the Supremacie of the Bi&s;hop of</HI> Rome. Thus <HI>the key of knowledge &s;hall be taken away;</HI> and <HI>the Kingdome of Heaven &s;hall be &s;hut up again&s;t men;</HI> that &s;o we may <HI>neither goe in our &s;elves, nor &s;uffer others to enter in.</HI> God of his mercy pre&s;erve us from this dangerous &s;inne.</P>
<P>It was the glory of former times, that Senatours and great States-men became Prie&s;ts; witne&s;&s;e S. <HI>Ambro&s;e, Paulinus, Pammachius, Nectarius,</HI> and divers other. And it will be the infamy of the&s;e later dayes, that none but the refu&s;e of the people will &s;toope to our contemptible calling. <HI>Sublato honore, tollitur virtus.</HI> It was <HI>Ieroboams &s;inne,</HI> to make Prie&s;ts of the meane&s;t of the people; and this &s;inne was the ruine of his Family, even to de&s;troy it from the face of the earth. 1 <HI>King.</HI> 13.33.34.</P>
<P>Neither is this to &s;peake like a worldling; but with <HI>S. Paul</HI> to enquire, <HI>Who goes a warfare at his owne charges?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 9.7. Ib. v. 9.</NOTE> <HI>or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke? Is it law|full to muzzle the mouth of the Oxe, that treadeth out the corne? Is it lawfull to &s;tint him? If we have &s;owen unto you &s;pirituall things,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ib. v. 11.</NOTE> <HI>is it a great matter, if we &s;hall reape your worldly things?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim, 5.18.</NOTE> <HI>Is not the labourer worthy of his reward?</HI> Will any man of worth labour, where no reward, or but a poore one, is propo&s;ed? Their in|gratitude therefore (&s;aith <HI>Calvine</HI>) is not to be indured, who deny &s;u&s;tenance to their Pa&s;tors,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Calvin. in</HI> 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 5.18.</NOTE> <HI>quibus nullam &s;atis dignam
<PB N="10" REF="8"> mercedem po&s;&s;unt rependere,</HI> to whom they are never able to re|turne a reward an&s;werable to their paines.</P>
<P N="15"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it. 27.28.</NOTE>XV. Con&s;ider, that <HI>no</HI> DEVOTED THING, <HI>that a man devotes</HI> (or dedicates) <HI>unto the Lord, of all that he hath, both of man, and bea&s;t, or of the</HI> (Land, or FIELD) <HI>of his po&s;&s;e&s;sion, &s;hall be &s;old, or redee|med: every devoted thing is</HI> MOST HOLY UNTO THE LORD. The Prie&s;t may not make it away; neither may the Donor revoke,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">m 16.37 38</NOTE> or redeeme it. The cen&s;ers of tho&s;e &s;inners, <HI>Corah, Dathan,</HI> and <HI>Abiram,</HI> being offered before the Lord, were hallowed. And though they were offered by bad men, and for a bad end; yet might they not be put to any com|mon, or prophane u&s;e; no certainly, unle&s;&s;e it be in ca&s;e of nece&s;&s;ity&punc; And, ble&s;&s;ed be God, we cannot pretend nece&s;&s;ity, in &s;o great plenty.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><P><HI><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span">. 5.4:</HI></P>
<P><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">o condemna|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> quia po&s;t vo|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> obtulerunt <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">&s;i &s;ua, &amp; <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ejus, cui &s;e|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ea vovera~t: <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">temque jam <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> alienae &s;ub|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ntiae re&s;erva|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">a~t. Metuen|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> famem, quam <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ra fides non <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">et, prae&s;en|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> meruere <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">dictam, non <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">delitate &s;en|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">tiae, &s;ed cor|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">tionis exem|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ut paenadu|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">m hominum <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> doctrina <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ltorum Hie|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ad Demetri|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Bezain Act <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">. <HI>c. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">&s;h. 6.19. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">&s;h. 7.24. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> v. 5.7.8.25.</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">odoret in <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ua. q. <HI>9.</HI></P></NOTE>From hence, from this Law before recited, it aro&s;e, that it was unlawfull for <HI>Ananias</HI> and <HI>Saphira,</HI> to &s;ubtract any part of that, which they had given to God. <HI>Beza</HI> &s;aith, that it was <HI>Sacrilege</HI> even in them, to detaine that from the Church de|ceitfully, which them&s;elves had lately given. What is it then in us, to take that from God and the Church, which we ne|ver gave them? Nay, which is more; <HI>Achan</HI> &s;tole that, which was <HI>neither con&s;ecrated, nor given,</HI> but <HI>onely promi&s;ed</HI> to the Lord: and yet it co&s;t him full dearely, even all his &s;ub&s;tance, and his life, and the lives of all his children, to the utter rooting up of his po&s;terity. Yea, though <HI>Achan</HI> onely had offended, all I&s;rael &s;uffered for his trangre&s;&s;ion. For their enemies &s;mote them, and cha&s;ed them &s;o, that they turned their backs, and fled before their enemies. The rea&s;on is given by <HI>Theodoret;</HI> and this it is. Gods purpo&s;e was, both to correct this man for his &s;inne; and to &s;trike a terror into all; that &s;o even they, who are diligent in their owne particular to keepe Gods commandements, may be carefull to reprove others, who tran&s;gre&s;&s;e the &s;ame; otherwi&s;e they &s;hall be &s;ure to have a &s;hare, in the &s;ame puni&s;hments, with the offenders. And this
<PB N="11" REF="8"> is one rea&s;on, that hath &s;purred me on, to write thus much unto you.</P>
<P N="16">XVI. Con&s;ider, what cur&s;es are layd upon tho&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Id e&s;t, Omn<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> con&s;iliorum<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+lorum authore qui dixerunt, Haereditate p<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+&s;ideamus &amp;<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> Ca&s;&s;iod. in L<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></NOTE> that doe but <HI>&s;ay, Let us take to our &s;elves the hou&s;es of God into po&s;&s;e&s;|&s;ion. P&s;.</HI> 88.12.13. <HI>&amp;c.</HI> He that advi&s;eth any man to doe this, doth but attempt the ruine of that mans family.</P>
<P>I wi&s;h heartily, that you would take the paines, to read Sir <HI>Henry Spelman, De non temerandis Eccle&s;iis,</HI> that you may fore&s;ee, and avoyd that danger, the wi&s;e man &s;peakes of;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 20.25</NOTE> <HI>It is a &s;nare to a man, to devoure that which is holy; and after vowes to make inquiry.</HI></P>
<P N="17">XVII. Con&s;ider that wonderfull ob&s;ervation of Sir <HI>Henry Spelman; Ne&s;cio, quo fato fit,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">S. Hen. Spel<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> non temeran<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Eccle&s;. &s;ect.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> in margine.</NOTE> <HI>ut eadem temporis periodo (viz Anno</HI> 68.) <HI>po&s;t ereptas per Nabuc. &amp; Hen.</HI> 8. <HI>res Templorum, &s;tirps utri|u&s;que regia extincta &s;it, imperium &s;ublatum, &amp; ad aliam gentem de|volutum.</HI></P>
<P>This Nation hath beene &s;hrewdly taxed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Reginald. P<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Eccle&s;. Unit. fen&s;. l. <HI>3.</HI> fol.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> Bellar. Apo<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> <HI>6.</HI> &s;ect. Tra<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+deinde.</NOTE> and our very Re|ligion branded, for that havocke of Church-lands, which was made in K. <HI>Hen.</HI> VIII. time. And tho&s;e, that are accounted <HI>unfortunate families</HI> among&s;t us, &s;hould doe well to con&s;ider, whether &s;ome of their Ance&s;tours had not an hand in this &s;poile.</P>
<P>That truely religious, and admirably Learned Prelate Bp. <HI>Andrewes</HI> profe&s;&s;eth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Populari op<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> &s;acras, bon<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> omnibus, R<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+ante omnes<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+plicet. Re&s;p<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ad Bellar. A<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> c. <HI>6.</HI> &s;ect. ad<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></NOTE> that this havocke was <HI>unplea&s;ing to all good men,</HI> but e&s;pecially to K. <HI>Iames.</HI> And, that the King was heartily di&s;plea&s;ed therewith, he manife&s;ted to the world, by tho&s;e his lawes made in the beginning of his raigne, and in his fir&s;t Parliament, as <HI>I</HI> take it: wherein he provided, that the lands of the Church from that time forward, &s;hould not be alienated, or pa&s;&s;ed away, to any Peers, or other of this Realme; no, not to his owne Sacred Per&s;on, or Progenie.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Reges in eo imitatus. I<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Ad aeterna<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+nimae &s;uae<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+tem, nomini<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> gloria~, &amp; po<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+tatis mem<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></NOTE> Herein (&s;aith Bp. <HI>Andrewes</HI>) he imitated the godly Kings, to the eternal &s;alvation of his &s;oul, &amp; to the endle&s;&s;e glory of his name. And &s;hall we fall backe to our loath&s;ome vomit? God forbid.</P>
<P N="18"><PB N="12" REF="9">XVIII. <HI>Magna charta</HI> is that, which hath ever beene &s;tood upon, for the generall good of the Subjects of this Realme. We are freeborne Subjects, and not the wor&s;t members (I hope) of this Kingdome: and we are the fir&s;t, that are provi|ded for in that <HI>great charter, Eccle&s;ia habeat libertates &amp; privi|legia &s;ua.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> Hen. Spel|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">n. de non te|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">rand. Eccle&s;. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">t. <HI>5.</HI></NOTE> The&s;e have beene confirmed to the Church, by Par|liament lawes, and by the <HI>charters of Kings,</HI> with many &s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">lemn vowes and imprecations, again&s;t all tho&s;e, that &s;hould at a|ny time attempt to violate the &s;ame. As is to be &s;eene in <HI>Ra&s;tals abridgement. tit. confirmat</HI> 3. And, <HI>Sententia lata &s;uper chartas.</HI></P>
<P N="19"><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">angelii fra|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> jam &amp; ja|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">s videbitur <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> maje&s;tas, &s;i <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">uit alterius <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">reti novitate <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">erari. Cypr. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> <HI>30.</HI> n. <HI>6.</HI></NOTE>XIX. Con&s;ider, that every Law, that is made again&s;t the Law of God, is voyd <HI>ip&s;o facto,</HI> as &s;oone as it is made; and ve|ry dangerous to tho&s;e that make &s;uch Lawes.</P>
<P N="20">XX. It is al&s;o worthy the con&s;ideration, to behold, how tender that religious Emperor <HI>Constantine the Great</HI> was of the repu|tation of all Bi&s;hops. For in his time, by rea&s;on of tho&s;e con|trover&s;ies, which were rai&s;ed by <HI>Arius,</HI> and maintained by a faction, there aro&s;e &s;uch a deadly feaud among&s;t Chri&s;tians, that not onely Bi&s;hop again&s;t Bi&s;hop,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">odoret. hist. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">c. <HI>11</HI> Socrat. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">c <HI>5.</HI> Gela&s;. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ic. l. <HI>2.</HI> c. <HI>8.</HI></NOTE> but Lay-men al&s;o pre|ferd accu&s;ations again&s;t Bi&s;hops, and gave them into the Emperours hands. The Emperour received them, and pre|&s;ently &s;ealed them up with his owne Signet. And when he had laboured a reconciliation, and in part effected it, he tooke all the accu&s;ations, and ca&s;t them into the fire, in the pre&s;ence of the Bi&s;hops, prote&s;ting deepely, that he had not read one &s;yllable in them. Adding withall, that if he &s;hould find a <HI>Bi&s;hop</HI> committing folly with another mans wife, he would cover them with his owne purple robe, that no mans eyes might be offended with that &s;ight. He profe&s;&s;ed al&s;o, that it was not fit, that the faults of <HI>Priests</HI> &s;hould be made publike; le&s;t taking occa&s;ion by this open &s;candall, they might grow impudent in their &s;innes.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">a&s;. Cyzic, Ib.</NOTE> Yea (&s;aith <HI>Gela&s;ius Cy|zicenus</HI>) &s;uch, &s;o great was the reverence, that good Emperour
<PB N="13" REF="9"> &s;hewed towards <HI>Bi&s;hops,</HI> that it may induce all tho&s;e, who are truly wi&s;e, to &s;tand in admiration thereof.</P>
<P>This great and religious Emperour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">S<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">z<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="4 letters">. l. <HI>1</HI> c. <HI>16.</HI></NOTE> thought him&s;elfe an unmeet per&s;on, to judge of <HI>Prie&s;ts,</HI> and their actions: But, &s;ee how the world is alter'd; that is become almo&s;t every mans profe&s;&s;ion in the&s;e dayes, which that <HI>Great Con&s;tantine</HI> thought unlawfull for him to meddle with.</P>
<P>I might adde hereunto,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Theodoret. hi<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> l. <HI>1.</HI> c. <HI>2.</HI></NOTE> what a charge he layd upon all tho&s;e Chri&s;tians, to whom he had committed the government of his &s;everall Provinces, to <HI>u&s;e all Priests honourably, threatning death to any man, that &s;hould abu&s;e them,</HI></P>
<P>The ble&s;&s;ings,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eu&s;eb hi&s;t. l <HI>1<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></HI> c. <HI>1. 2.</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE> that were &s;howred downe upon this good Emperour, were infinite; he conquered all his enemies, he enlarged the Empire beyond all, that were before him; he &s;upre&s;&s;ed all his competitors to the Crowne;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eu&s;eb. de vit<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Con&s;tant. Mag<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> l. <HI>4.</HI> c. <HI>53.</HI></NOTE> he &s;etled the Empire upon his own i&s;&s;ue, and he ended his dayes in peace, in a good old age, full of glory, and good workes.</P>
<P>This al&s;o is memorable,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><P>Eu&s;eb. Ib. l. <HI>1.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> 35.</HI> Sozom. l.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> c <HI>8.</HI></P>
<P>Theodoret hi&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> l. <HI>1.</HI> c. <HI>11.</HI></P></NOTE> that <HI>Con&s;tantine the Great</HI> was the fir&s;t Emperour, that gave revenues to the Church, <HI>Eo&s;que non tam egentium nece&s;&s;itate, quam &s;ua ip&s;ius magnificentia men&s;us e&s;t,</HI> wherein he rather con&s;idered his owne magnificence, then their wants. And <HI>Julian the Apo&s;tata</HI> was the fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Theodoret. Ib.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"></NOTE> that robbed the Church of her revenues.</P>
<P N="21">XXI. Con&s;ider, that in all the Church Hi&s;tory we never read, that the <HI>Orthodox</HI> were per&s;ecuted by Catholike Chri|&s;tians. But that great Lawyer, my Lord <HI>Coke</HI> tells us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">The L. Coke R<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+ports. part <HI>2.</HI> fo. <HI>44.</HI> b. Leve&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> de Winche&s;ter<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ca&s;e.</NOTE> that it is a more grievous &amp; <HI>dangerous per&s;ecution,</HI> to rob the Church, and <HI>&s;poyle &s;pirituall per&s;ons</HI> of their revenues, whereof they &s;hould live; then it is to put &s;pirituall per&s;ons to death. The rea&s;on. Becau&s;e (&s;aith he) upon this, in a &s;hort time, in&s;u<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">s <HI>great ignorance of true religion,</HI> and of the &s;ervice of God, and thereby great decay of C<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="2 letters">i&s;tian profe&s;&s;ion. For none will apply them&s;elves, or their &s;ons, or any other, that they have
<PB N="14" REF="10"> in charge, to the &s;tudy of Divinity; when after long and painfull &s;tudy, they &s;hall have nothing, whereupon to live. So my Lord <HI>Coke.</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Latymer. &s;er. before K. Ed.<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> March <HI>8. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> 49.</HI></NOTE>Bi&s;hop <HI>Latymer</HI> &s;aw the Church &s;hrewdly &s;haved, and he complains to King <HI>Edward</HI> the &s;ixt, that there was a plaine in|tent, to <HI>make the Clergy &s;lavery. We the Clergy</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>had too much; but that is taken away, and now we have too little.</HI> And yet we have beene &s;trangely polled, and pulled, &s;ince that time.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it. 1.8. Tim. 3, 2.</NOTE><HI>S. Paul</HI> would have a Bi&s;hop to <HI>love ho&s;pitality,</HI> and to be <HI>given to it.</HI> But how &s;hall they be able to doe this, if their meanes be taken from them? If a Bi&s;hop be not <HI>given to ho&s;|pitality,</HI> he &s;inneth, by breaking this command. What then doe they, that make him unable to keepe ho&s;pitality? that enforce him to this &s;inne?</P>
<P N="22">XXII. Con&s;ider, that no law can be made to the di&s;parage|ment of Churchmen, but it is again&s;t your own kindred, your owne fle&s;h and blood, and, perchance, again&s;t the &s;eed of your owne loynes. For who knowes, what profe&s;&s;ion God hath allotted your children unto? be&s;ides, it is again&s;t the rules of policy to barre your owne children, from any one faire and hone&s;t cour&s;e of preferment.</P>
<P N="23">XXIII. And is it not worthy our be&s;t con&s;ideration, to examine &s;incerely, whether any power in the world can deve&s;t, or unca&s;e an Orthodoxe Bi&s;hop of that power, which God hath endowed him with? But a Bi&s;hop hath power given him by God him&s;elfe,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it. 1.5.</NOTE> to <HI>&s;et in order</HI> all things in the Church. He hath power given him, over all the Presbyters within his Dioces,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> Tim. 1.3.</NOTE> to <HI>charge them, that they teach</HI> no heterodox, no fal&s;e, <HI>no other doctrine.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> Tim. 5.19. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">. v. 20. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it. 1.13. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">it. 2.15.</NOTE> If there be any complaint again&s;t a Prie&s;t, or Elder, the Bi&s;hop hath power to <HI>receive the accu&s;ation</HI> again&s;t him. The Bi&s;hop hath power to <HI>rebuke that Prie&s;t,</HI> to <HI>rebuke him &s;harpely,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">pud D. Hie|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">. l. <HI>1.</HI> ep. <HI>48.</HI></NOTE> and <HI>with all authority,</HI> if he de&s;erve it. That is, as <HI>Theophilus Archbi&s;hop of Alexandria</HI> interprets it, <HI>Prophetica falce
<PB N="15" REF="10"> &s;uccidat;</HI> which ari&s;eth to no le&s;&s;e then <HI>Excommunication.</HI></P>
<P>If the Preachers teach any undutifull Office,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><P><HI>1 Tim. 6.3. Ib. ver&s;e 5.</HI> Gravi&s;&s;im&egrave; damnatos <HI>ex|tra Ec<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">le&s;ia<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ejicit,</HI> ut &s;u|perbos. Beza in loc.</P>
<P>Vbi verbi Dei gladio prostrat<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> ac vi veritat<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> confu&s;i fuerint po&s;&s;e illis ab E<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+cle&s;ia imperari &s;ilentium, et &s;i pergant, &s;alte<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> a fidelium com<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+munione arcer<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+po&s;&s;e. Calvin. in Tit. <HI>1.11.</HI></P>
<P>Calvin in Tit. <HI>3.10.</HI></P></NOTE> the Bi&s;hop mu&s;t <HI>withdraw him&s;elfe from them,</HI> that is, ca&s;t them out of the Communion of the Church. He mu&s;t <HI>stop the Mouthes</HI> of Schi&s;matickes and Hereticks, <HI>Tit.</HI> 1.1. And <HI>after the first and &s;econd Admonition reject them, Tit.</HI> 3.10. that is, <HI>Graviter qua&s;i cen&s;oria correctione reprimendi &s;unt,</HI> they are &s;evere|ly to be &s;uppre&s;&s;ed with a cen&s;orious Correction, not onely by <HI>Excommunication,</HI> but otherwi&s;e, if nece&s;&s;ity require; &s;o <HI>Calvin</HI> upon the place.</P>
<P>If any Que&s;tion be made who this Heretick is, that St. <HI>Paul</HI> &s;peakes of, <HI>Calvin</HI> re&s;olves us, that not onely hee is ai|med at, that brings in perver&s;e and erroneous Doctrine, but all Ambitious, refractary, and contentious Per&s;ons are al&s;o intended, who out of a cro&s;&s;e, perver&s;e &s;pirit, <HI>trouble the peace of the Church, or rend a&s;under the unity thereof.</HI></P>
<P>Now to what purpo&s;e is it, for a Bi&s;hop to <HI>receive an ac|cu&s;ation,</HI> again&s;t any of the&s;e trouble&s;ome and &s;chi&s;maticall per&s;ons? to what purpo&s;e is it to reprove and rebuke them? Yea, to what purpo&s;e is it to <HI>&s;ilence,</HI> to <HI>excommunicate</HI> and <HI>ca&s;t forth of the Church,</HI> &s;uch refractarie and incorrigible per|&s;ons, if &s;o be they &s;hall &s;till hold their Benefices, becau&s;e they are made a <HI>Freehold</HI> by the Law?<NOTE PLACE="marg">It was Iulian the Apo&s;tata ma&s;ter-piece t<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> maintaine all factious in R<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+ligion, that &s;o b<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> might under|mine and over+throw the Ca+tholike Faith. Sozomen l <HI>5.</HI> c. <HI>5.</HI> &amp;c. <HI>2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter"></HI></NOTE> Is not this to nullifie the cen&s;ures of the Church? Is not this to maintaine faction in Church and State? Is not this to make void all Acts of Parliament what&s;oever, that have beene made again&s;t Simo|niacall Per&s;ons, Recu&s;ants, and again&s;t all &s;uch as after &s;ub|&s;cription &s;hall fall backe and preach, or write, again&s;t any of <HI>the</HI> 39 <HI>Articles,</HI> or the <HI>Booke of Common Prayer,</HI> or the book of <HI>Ordination,</HI> or any poynt of Doctrine e&s;tabli&s;hed by any of the foure fir&s;t General Councels. The&s;e things are worthy to be con&s;idered of.</P>
<P><HI>Calvin</HI> affirmes that in tho&s;e two <HI>Epi&s;tles to Timothy,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">In duabus ad Timotheum E+pi&s;tolis, qua&s;i<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">+<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">n&acirc; tabul&agrave;, de|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ctum habe|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">us verum <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ccle&s;iae Regi|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">n. Calvin. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">p. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> Edvard. So|<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">er&s;eti Ducem.</NOTE> the A|po&s;tle hath &s;et down, as in a Table, the right, <HI>the true Govern|ment
<PB N="6" REF="11"> of the Church.</HI> But this Governement of the Church is by Bi&s;hops truly and properly &s;o cal'd, as the&s;e <HI>Epi&s;tles,</HI> and the <HI>Epi&s;tle</HI> to <HI>Titus,</HI> manife&s;t. They then that cro&s;&s;e this kind of Governement by Bi&s;hops, endeavour to cro&s;&s;e the &s;pirit of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and to &s;ubvert the true Church governement.</P>
<P N="24">XXIV. Finally con&s;ider, that though the name of <HI>Deane</HI> and <HI>Chapter</HI> was not knowne in the primitive Church, yet the thing it &s;elfe was. We read of <HI>Collegium Sacerdotum,</HI> a Col|ledge of Prie&s;ts,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">pr Ep. <HI>52. 67</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">ncil Antioch. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">n. <HI>24.</HI></NOTE> and this is evident, that <HI>circa Epi&s;copum,</HI> about or with the Bi&s;hop of every Dioce&s;&s;e, there alwayes lived certaine Prie&s;ts and Deacons: The&s;e Prie&s;ts and Deacons were to bee &s;o throughly acquainted with the particular goods, lands, and revenues of that Church, that when&s;oe|ver the Bi&s;hop dyed, or were otherwi&s;e removed, none of tho&s;e goods, lands, or revenues might be imbezelled, lo&s;t, or alienated. For it is ju&s;t (&s;aith the Canon) that the goods a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">d po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions of the Church &s;hould bee pre&s;erved for the Church, with all diligence, as al&s;o with a good Con&s;cience, and faith towards God, who hath the over&s;ight of all, and judgeth all.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">o&s;t Can. <HI>40.</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters">d Afric. Can. <GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"> <HI>33.</HI></NOTE> For the&s;e goods are <GAP DESC="foreign">, the Lords po&s;|&s;e&s;&s;ions, and it is not in the power of man (the ca&s;e of nece&s;|&s;ity onely excepted) to &s;ell or wa&s;te, or give them away, or to di&s;po&s;e of them to any common u&s;e.</P>
<P>When I had with no &s;mall griefe ob&s;erved the manifold di&s;tempers of the&s;e times, and layd them to heart, I was much di&s;tempered therewith, wondering whither all the&s;e tended: but when I called to mind that of S. <HI>Paul,</HI> that wee mu&s;t <HI>know,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="left margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 span"> Tim 3.1.</NOTE> <HI>that in the la&s;t dayes perillous times &s;hall come:</HI> I re&s;olved, that this Prophe&s;ie was now fulfilled: For a man that hath but halfe an eye may &s;ee the whole Rabble, that the Apo&s;tle reckons up in the &s;even next ver&s;es, even in the mid&s;t of us: but my comfort is, that there bee many living, that &s;hall &s;ee al&s;o the conclu&s;ion of this Prophe&s;ie, and the con|fu&s;ion of this rabble: for the Apo&s;tle a&s;&s;ures us, that <HI>they
<PB N="17" REF="11"> &s;hall proceed no further, for their</HI> <GAP DESC="foreign"> <HI>their folly, their madne&s;se,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ib. Ver&s;e <HI>9.</HI> Amentia. Bez<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></NOTE> <HI>their &s;encele&s;&s;ene&s;se, &s;hall be manife&s;t unto all men,</HI> and then will all men dete&s;t them and ca&s;t them off.</P>
<P>The&s;e con&s;iderations one after another comming &s;o hap|pily to my mind, I could not but impart them unto you, as a te&s;timony of that true affection which I beare to you and yours: <HI>God</HI> of his mercy grant, that they may worke that effect, which they were intended for; that &s;o both you and I may one day heare with comfort, that <HI>Euge bone &s;erve,</HI> come my good &s;ervant, that delivered'&s;t this good word in due &s;ea|&s;on: come al&s;o my good &s;ervant, thou that did&s;t hearken to this good word, and made&s;t the right u&s;e of it, enter, enter both of you into your Ma&s;ters Joy. This is the Prayer of</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Your truly affectionate Friend and Kin&s;man &amp;c.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
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<DIV1 TYPE="errata">
<HEAD>Errata.</HEAD>
<P>Page 2 in marg. l. 3, for <HI>Prie&s;ts</HI> read <HI>Prie&s;t.</HI> Ib. l. 18. for <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> read <HI>Chri&s;ti.</HI> Ib. l. 24. for <HI>cont<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="2 letters">eli<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="2 letters"></HI> r. <HI><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="2 letters">nt<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="3 letters">liam.</HI> page 3. in marg. l. 7. for <HI>Cret</HI> r. <HI>Crete.</HI> p. 4. l. 1. for <HI>&s;ay.</HI> r. <HI>J &s;ay.</HI> p. 5. l. 11. for <HI>&s;oules owne,</HI> r. <HI>owne &s;oules.</HI> Ib. l. 16. for <HI>N<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">b.</HI> r. <HI>Numb.</HI> Ib. l. 22. for <HI>ina dita,</HI> r. <HI>inaudita.</HI> p. 6. in marg. l. 1. dele <HI>in.</HI> Ib. l. 2. for <HI>he.</HI> r. <HI>the.</HI></P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
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