A summarie view of the government both of the old and new testament whereby the episcopall government of Christs church is vindicated out of the rude draughts of Lancelot Andrewes, late Bishop of Winchester : whereunto is prefixed (as a preamble to the whole) a discovery of the causes of the continuance of these contentions touching church-government out of the fragments of Richard Hooker.

The causes of the continuance of these Contentions concerning Church-Government.

COntention ariseth, either through er∣rour in mens judgements, or else disor∣der in their affections.

1. When contention doth grow by errour in judgement; it ceaseth not till men by instruction come to see wherein they erre, and what it is that did deceive them. Without this, there is neither policy nor punishment that can e∣stablish peace in the Church.

The Moscovian Emperour, being weary of the in∣finite strifes and contentions amongst Preachers, and by their occasion amongst others, forbad preaching utterly throughout all his Dominions; and in stead thereof commanded certain Sermons of the Greeke and Latine Fathers to bee translated, and them to be read in publique assemblies, without adding a word

of their owne thereunto upon paine of death. Hee thought by this politique devise to bring them to a∣greement, or at least to cover their disagreement. But so bad a policy was no fit salve for so great a soare.

We may think perhaps, that punishment would have beene more effectuall to that purpose. For neither did Solomon speak without book in saying, that when folly is bound up in the heart of a child, the * 1.1 rod of correction must drive it out; and experience doth shew that when errour hath once disquieted the minds of men and made them restlesse, if they doe not feare they will terrify. Neither hath it re∣pented the Church at any time to have used the rod in moderate severity for the speedier reclaiming of men from error, and the reuni••ing such as by schisme have sundred themselves. But we find by triall, that as being taught and not terrified, they shut their eares against the word of truth and sooth themselves in that wherewith custome or sinister persuasion hath inured them: so contrariwise, if they be terrifyed and not taught, their punishment doth not commonly worke their amendment.

As Moses therefore, so likewise Aaron; as Zeruba∣bel, so Iehoshua; as the Prince which hath laboured by the Scepter of righteousnesse and sword of justice to end strife, so the Prophets which with the booke and doctrine of salvation have soundly and wisely endeavoured to instruct the ignorant in those litigi∣ous points wherewith the Church is now troubled: whether by preaching, as Apolloes among the Iewes;

or by disputing, as Paul at Athens; or by writing, as the learned in their severall times and ages hereto∣fore; or by conferring in Synods and Councells, as Peter, Iames, and others at Ierusalem; or by any the like allowable and laudable meanes; their praise is * 1.2 worthily in the Gospell, and their portion in that pro∣mise which God hath made by his Prophets, They * 1.3 that turne many unto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for ever and ever. I say, whosoever have soundly and wisely endeavoured by those meanes to reclaime the ignorant from their errour, and to make peace.

Want of sound proceeding in Church controver∣sies hath made many more stiffe in errour now then before.

Want of wise and discreet dealing, hath much hin∣dred the peace of the Church. It may bee thought, and is, that Arius had never raised those tempestu∣ous stormes which we read he did; if Alexander, the first that withstood the Arrians heresy, had born himselfe with greater moderation, and been lesse ea∣ger in so good a cause. Sulpitius Severus doth note as much in the dealings of Idacius against the favou∣rers of Priscillian, when that heresy was but green and new sprung up. For by overmuch vehemency a∣gainst Iactantius and his mates, a sparke was made a f••ame: insomuch that thereby the seditious wax∣ed rather more fierce then lesse troublesome. In mat∣ters of so great moment, whereupon the peace or disturbance of the Church is knowne to depend, if

there were in us that reverend care which should be; it is not possible wee should either speak at any time without feare, or ever write but with a trembling hand. Doe they consider whereabout they goe, or what it is they have in hand; who taking upon them the causes of God, deale only or chiefly against the persons of men?

We cannot altogether excuse our selves in this respect, whose home controversies and debates at this day, although I trust they be as the strife of Paul with Barnabas and not with Elymas; yet because there is a truth, which on the one side being unknown hath caused contention, I doe wish it had pleased Al∣mighty God, that in sifting it out, those offences had not grown, which I had rather bewaile with secret teares then publick speech.

Neverthelesse as some sort of people is reported to have bred a detestation of drunkennesse in their children by presenting the deformity thereof in ser∣vants: so it may come to passe (I wish it might) that we beholding more foule deformity in the face and countenance of a common adversary, shall be indu∣ced to correct some smaller blemishes in our owne. Yee are not ignorant of the Demaunds, Motives, Cen∣sures, Apologies, Defences, and other writings which our great enemies have published under colour of seeking peace; promising to bring nothing but reason and evident remonstrance of truth. But who seeth not how full gorged they are with virulent, sl••nde∣rous and immodest speeches, tending much to the

disgrace, to the disproofe nothing of that cause which they endeavour to overthrow? Will you speake * 1.4 wickedly for Gods defence? saith Iob. Will you dipp your tongues in gall and your pennes in blood, when yee write and speak in his cause? Is the truth confir∣med, are men convicted of their errour when they are upbrayded with the miseries of their condition and estate? When their understanding, wit and know∣ledge is depressed? When suspitions and rumours, without respect how true or how false, are objected to diminish their credit and estimation in the world? Is it likely that Invectives, Epigrammes, Dialogues, Epistles, Libells, loden with contumelies and crimi∣nations, should bee the meanes to procure peace? Surely they which doe take this course, the way of * 1.5 peace they have not knowne. If they did but once enter into a stayed consideration with themselves what they doe; no doubt they would give over and resolve with Iob. Behold I am vile, what shall I answer? I will * 1.6 lay my hand upon my mouth. If I have spoken once amisse, I will speak no more; or if twice, I will proceed no further.

II. But how sober and how sound soever our pro∣ceedings be in these causes; all is in vaine which wee doe to abate the errours of men, except their unruly affections be bridled. Selfe-love, vaine-glory, impa∣tience, pride, pertinacy, these are the bane of our peace. And these are not conquered or cast out, but by prayer. Pray for Ierusalem; and your prayer shall

cause the hills to bring forth peace: peace shall distill * 1.7 and come downe like the raine upon the mowen grasse, and as the showers that water the earth. We have used all other meanes, and behold wee are frustrate, wee have laboured in vaine. In disputations; whether it be because men are ashamed to acknowledge their er∣rours before many witnesses, or because extempo∣rality doth exclude mature and ripe advise without which the truth cannot soundly and throughly bee demonstrated, or because the fervor of contention doth so disturbe mens understanding, that they can∣not sincerely and effectually judge: in Books and Ser∣mons; whether it be because we doe speak and write with too little advise, or because you doe heare and read with too much prejudice: in all humane means w^ch have hitherto been used to procure peace; whe∣ther it be because our dealings have been too fee∣ble, or the minds of men with whom we have dealt too too implacable, or whatsoever the cause or cau∣ses have been: for as much as wee see that as yet wee faile in our desires, yea the wayes which we take to be most likely to make peace, doe but move strife; O that we would now hold our tongues, leave conten∣ding with men, and have our talke and treaty of peace with God. We have spoken and written enough of peace: there is no way left but this one; Pray for the * 1.8 peace of Ierusalem.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prov. 32. 15.
• * 1.2

  2. Cor. 8.18.
• * 1.3

  Dan. 12.3.
• * 1.4

  Iob. 13 7.
• * 1.5

  Rom 3.17.
• * 1.6

  Iob. 40.4, 5.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 72.3, 6.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 122.6.