A fresh suit against human ceremonies in God's vvorship. Or a triplication unto. D. Burgesse his rejoinder for D. Morton The first part

Pompo••s Bishops with sole power of Ordination and Excommunication.

4. The quaestion is if any suche were in the Primi∣tive Churche? The Rejoynder 1. answereth concer∣ning Pompe, that Peace and beneficencie of Princes brought in this difference of outward state. But all difference of outward estate was not meant by Pompe. For so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ministers, that have convenient meanes for a libe•••••• kinde of life, with hospitalitie, should be pompous. W•• are not so simple, as to account the Pastor of Sutton Col••••¦feild, (as such) pompous. Ther is certainly a pomp•••••• that doeth not agree to a Minister of the Gospel: as th•• pompous state of a Baron, or Earl (which the Defende•• himself, at his third flight, unto Durrham, is risen to that requireth many idle attendants, for no other us•• but onely for Comportment, & Luster of state; that whic•• must have so much time spent in brideling of the Bi∣shops horses, as the ancient B b. tooke to preache dive•••• sermons in, as M. Hooper speaketh; that which make•• a poor man afraid to speak unto his Minister, withou•• such trembling, as Majestie breedeth; that which woul•• make it ridiculous, for a meane man to desire a visitatio•• of him, for himself, his wife, or children, in sickness•• or other perplexitie; that which requireth a Chaplain•• not onely to doe other duties of religion for him, bu•• even to give thankes at his table, and that standing, whi••••

he sitteth; that (to omit other characters) which ma∣keth all his doeings Lord-like, by way of Commande∣ment: I will not heer speak of, draw an excommunication against him; take him Pursiva••t; Iailour, see to your pri∣son••r; as being notorious in divers of them: but onely note one example, out of mine owne experience, which many others can parallel by ••heirs: I w••s once, & but once (I thank God) before a Bishop: and being prae∣sented unto him, by the cheif Magistrates of ••n Incor∣poration, for to be preacher in their towne; the lowly man first asked them, how they durst choose a preacher, without his consent? You (sayd he) are to receyve the preacher that I appoint you. For I am your Pastor, though he never fed them. And then, turning to me, how durst you (sayd he) preache in my Diocesse, with∣out my leave? So that without any other reason, but meer Lordship, the wholle Incorporation, and I, were di∣missed, to wayt his pleasure: which I (for my part) have now doen this twenty year, and more. If this kinde of Pompe were in the Primitive Churche, or if it be not in ours, the Replier may be blamed for mention∣ing Pompe in his Quaere.

2. Concerning Ordination, the Rej. his answer is, that the Bishop do••th it not (regularly) all alone. What is this to sole power of doing it? If an Irish or Welch Bishop, ordei∣neth one at London in his chamber, or in some Chap∣pell, and admitteth him that commended the person to him, for to joyne with him, for fashion sake, in the ge∣sture of hands-imposing, be he of what place or Dio∣cesse soever, in whom is the po••er o•• Ordination? If the

Bishop of London, ordeyneth a minister at large, and biddeth his Chaplaine, or Chaplaines, doe so much as adde their hands to the businesse, isthere power in the Chaplaine, more then in any other, that by chance may be present? Power of Ordination is not given (by our Lawes) to individua vaga, that is to say, Vagrant men, of whom the Law taketh no notice, such as were wonte to be called Hedge-Priests, but to authorized Prelats. These are toyes, to mocke the Churche (if not God) with. Such doeings were never heard of in that Church which deserveth the title of Primitive. Of Excommu∣nication, the same answer is given; and so the same an∣swer may serve.* 1.1 Let this onely be added, that therin, the Bishop hath such absolute power, that he may derive the same to his Chancelours, Commiss••ries, Officials, & such like Vnderlings, to be dispensed by them, even unto the commanding of Gods Ministers for to denounce their Censures, without any discerning what aequitie ther is in the cause, and what assistance of Ministers is required, appeareth by this style: Iohn Hone, D^r. of Law official &c. to al Rectors, &c. For as much as we (proceedi••g rightly and lawfully) have adjudg••d all and every one, whose names are under-written to be excommunicated; and since the discree••e M^r. Rouland Allen Preist, hath excommunicated them, by our meere office in writing; we do therefore committ to you &c. to denounce openly, &c. given under the Seale of our Officia∣lity, such a day, and such a yeare. If any footsteps of such an approved power could be shewed in the Primitive Bishops, all Christians might merveyl at so suddain and monstrous a defection. But both Defend. and Rejoynd.

know, that it is a relique of Popedome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iohannes Hone, Legum Doctor, Offi••ialu, &c omnibus & sin∣gulis Rectoribus &c. Cum nos rite & legitim•• procedentes, omnes & singu∣los, quor••m nominae subscri∣buntur, &c. excommunican∣do•• fore decre verimus; cum∣que discretus vir, M Rou∣landus Allen, Presbyter, eos d••m ex officio nostro mero ex∣communicave∣rit in scriptu: vobu igitur committimus, &c. ut palam denuncietis &c. Datum sub figillo Offi∣cialitatis no∣stra, die tali, anno tali.