Hiera dakrya, Ecclesiae anglicanae suspiria, The tears, sighs, complaints, and prayers of the Church of England setting forth her former constitution, compared with her present condition : also the visible causes and probable cures of her distempers : in IV books / by John Gauden ...

CHAP. XIV.

HAving done my duty to those that are of my own profession,* 1.1 as Ministers (how ever they differ at pre∣sent in the derivation of their orders and exercise of their Ministeriall Authority) my next addresse must be to those persons whose influence, sociall or solita∣ry, personall or Parlamentary, either is, or may be, most effectuall by their Counsels or Commands, by their proposals or power, to recover the Purity, Order, Unity and Stability of Re∣ligion in this Nation.

It is not fit for me to presume to suggest to persons so much a∣bove me in prudence and experience, as well as power and reputa∣tion, any thing that lookes like counsel or advise. I know Superi∣ours are prone to take those suggestions for affronts from inferiours, as if they thought themselves wiser than those that rule them.

But yet our humble petitions have acceptance with God•• himself, not as suggestions to his wisdome, but submissions to his will, and supplications of his goodnesse. No Christian Empire was ever so im∣perious as to disdaine the prayers of any that craved their favour and assistance in just and faire waies. And since I find few Ministers of any party will begin or joyne with me in such a request to those that are our Superiours, better I presume to supplicate alone, than that no man of any calling should importune the Soveraignty, Nobility and Gentry of this Nation, in a businesse of so great and publick con∣cern, before the mischief spread too farre, and the cure be despe∣rate; which will then be, when there shall be few sound minds, ho∣nest hearts, and whole parts left in the Land, all or most being infect∣ed with Ignorance, Irreligion, Atheisme, Profanenesse, Popery, or indifferency; the inevitable effects that will follow the divisions,

distractions and debasings of the Clergy, both among themselves and the common people.

To you therefore, that are the highest and greatest, the honorablest and richest, the wisest and strongest, the most noble and generous, the most knowing and ingenuous persons, do I with all humble importuni∣ty recommend this reall Cause of God and of Christ our Saviour, the cause of the Christian and Reformed Religion, the cause of this Church and Nation, the cause of your own and your posterities welfare.

Is it not high time, after so many tossings and Tragedies, in which this Church and its Ministers have had so great a share, at last to speak comfortably to Sion,* 1.2 to tell her that her warfare is accomplished, to take off the filthy garments wherewith her Ministers of all sorts have been clothed,* 1.3 to cover their shame, to bury their mutuall re∣proaches, to restore the honor and authority of their calling, to en∣courage and improve in waies of publick conspicuity and harmony those excellent abilities which are in many of them; which divi∣ded and at distance from each other, are either quite lost, or per∣verted to maintaine popular parties and factions against each other? Many Ministers have been and are silenced, being thereby driven to extreme poverty; most are dispersed and despised, not onely by vul∣gar insolencies, but by mutuall animosities, jealousies, distances and defiances. Few of us have that Christian courage and constancy, by which the Primitive Bishops and Presbyters, as an united Clergy, were still preserved entire among themselves, when most persecuted by enemies: we are so divided, that we are justly dejected and easily de∣stroyed. Many of us have by our follies forfeited the honor of our function; some of us by our secular policies and compliances have prostituted the sanctity of it to the fedities and insolencies of Lay∣men. We have digged those pits into which we are faln, and filled those dungeons with mire in which we now stick.

* 1.4It is a memoriall of everlasting honor to Ebedmelech the Ethiopi∣an, that he helped with great tendernesse and humanity to draw the Prophet Jeremy out of the dungeon, where he was ready to perish.

England hath now for many yeares had many Prophets in dunge∣ons of disgrace and darknesse, yea all are sunk into the dirt and mire of obloquy and contempt on one side or other. I beseech you, be not tediously or anxiously inquisitive, how we came there; but apply of your goodnesse and noblenesse fit meanes to draw us out. Let not the Christian and Reformed Ministry of this Church, which was the most renowned in all the world (without any doubt, offence or envy I speak it) let not this be (like Elisha) the scorne of fooles, the mocking-stock of children, the May-game of Papists, the laughter of Atheists, the object of fanatick petulancy and vulgar insolency, the wonder and gaze of all forrainers, the grief and astonishment of all sober men at home and abroad, who for some yeares have be∣held the factious and divided, the disputed and despised state of Mi∣nisters,

the poor and pittiful shifts they have made to keep their heads above the waters, not to be quite overwhelmed with Poverty, Anarchy and Contempt, while alone and solitary they signifie not much, and joyntly or socially they are now nothing at all; having no publick harmony or fraternall correspondency, no concurrent counsel, no Synodicall convention or Ecclesiasticall Authority, be∣ing never summoned by Authority to meet or consult together, never so farre countenanced as to have any thing of publick con∣cernment, to advise or execute in order to the generall good of Re∣ligion: their names, their persons, their calling, their ordination, their preaching, their praying, their consecrating and dispensing of holy Mysteries, their censures and reproofes, or whatever discipline any of them affect or dare to exercise, according to their own fancy and private Authority, all they do with the greatest Gravity, So∣lemnity and Sanctity, is vilified, slighted, abhorred, and as it were spit and spewed upon by some bold foreheads and foule mouthes, on one side or other, without any other remedy or redresse, than what their private discretion or their patience, either willingly or perforce, supplies them.

These, these (O noble Gentlemen and worthy Christians) are now your Divine Teachers, these are your ghostly Fathers, these the best and brightest of your Clergy at present; generally esteemed and treated as the filth and off-scouring of all things by vulgar minds: yea many of your modern intruders into the Ministry are no better than the very scum and refuse of all Trades and Occupations: if neces∣sity pincheth them, or pride provoketh them, or shame banisheth them from their first stations and mechanick imployments, presently they dare to preach, when they can do nothing well. The most illiterate and plebeian spirits, who are fitter to serve swine than the soules of Christians, (ad haras magis quàm anas apti) men that want all things befitting preachers of the Gospel, except onely Lungs and Tongues, such as are quite broken and despairing as to any other way of living, these aspire to be your preachers: how enabled, how examined, how ordained, by what authority they are sent I know not; but I am sure they run amaine, striving by all popular acts to out-run, yea and over-run, the Ancient, Grave and Sober sort of Ministers in England, whom they look upon as their sore enemies, eagerly persecuting them till they run themselves out of breath. Then being tired in one place, they ramble to some other, till use and confidence hath so completed them in boldnesse, that they dare own themselves in all companies, (but such as are grave, good and learned) to be Mini∣sters of the Gospel, after any new mode and fashion that they list to take up.

Nothing can be a work of more Christian piety, prudence and compassion to this Nation, than to redeeme the Ministry of it from that pittifull posture and sad condition whereto it is at present con∣demned by that divided, despised, and on all sides either doubted or denyed, authority, which Preachers challenge to themselves. All

are represented by some or other to the people as Falsarii, Cheates, Impostors, Seducers. Certainly it were worthy of the Wisdome and Honor of this Nation, to remove (as all others, so) in the first place this great grievance, scandall and stumbling-block out of the way of all Christians; to take away this reproach of our Reformed Religion, whose God, and Saviour, and Spirit, being but one, its Faith, Gospel and Sacraments the same, its Ministeriall power and Authority can be but one in the true Authority and Authentick Commission, both as to its Originall and Derivation. There is no speedier way nor easier to sow up the rents of Christs garment, to clense and close the wounds of his body in this Church, than to poure the Wine of hea∣ling and the Oyle of Union upon the Ministers of the Gospel, by per∣swading, yea commanding and conjuring them to be of one heart and one mind in the Lord.

Nothing is more worthy that Wisdome and Power, that Piety and Honor▪ (to which you, as Gentlemen, and Christians, and Reformed, do pretend) than to advance by your counsel, industry and autho∣rity, so Christian a work as the setling of Religious Order and Unity, an harmonious Government and Uniforme Authority among the Ministers of the Gospell. I know all the Gates of Hell will be against the designe, and oppose it with what ever power and policy can be found among the Devills: But the work (like that of building the second Temple) is Gods. Honest endeavours will be their own re∣wards; how much more the desired effect, if attained? which is so good and great, that no minds truly great and good but earnestly desire to see that day, when they may behold the uniforme face of a Nationall Church among us, such a Reformation as is without any re∣markable defect or deformity, specially so black and fundamentall as these are, the Divisions, Distractions, Confusions among the Cler∣gy, the vilifying and nullifying of all Ministeriall Order and Eccle∣siasticall Authority; that such an Honor and Respect may be restored to your Ministers, as may exempt them and all religious Ministra∣tions from profanenesse, scurrility, contempt; that your Ministers may be such men of Learning and Worth, of Wisdome and Meek∣nesse, of Fraternall Love and Kindnesse, that they may both deserve and rightly use the just favour, supports and respects given them; the benefit of all which will most redound to your honor and the happinesse of your posterity, when they shall behold such Religion, such Reformation and such Ministers, as they shall see cause to re∣verence, love and value in conscience.

Religion is nothing if it be not esteemed as sacred; sacred it can∣not be if it be once ridiculous; and ridiculous it will be, if once it ap∣peare either to have or make many strange and antick faces before the people, who have all this in-bred principle in them, that as true Religion can be but one, so it ought to be Uniform, and its Tea∣chers Unanimous, both in their Divinity and their Authority: for variety in Ministers breeds incertainty, inconstancy in holy duties, inconstancy breeds indifferency, indifferency breeds levity, levity

futility, futility folly, folly presumption, presumption atheisme and licenciousness among people, who from many Religions grow to a∣ny, and from any Religion to none at all; common people having nei∣ther capacity, ability or leisure to disintangle Religion, when it is of∣fered them all snarled with the factions, disputes and janglings of their Ministers. They cannot wind up any great bottom of piety, who all their lives are untying the knots and undoing the snarles of the scaine of Religion, which ought by the wisdome of Christian Magistrates be presented to them in the most easie, comely, order∣ly, authoritative and well-composed forme that can be, and all little enough.

If the Christian and Reformed Religion, which hath been so fa∣mous and flourishing in England, be left to the coldnesse and indiffe∣rency of some, the loosenesse and rudenesse of others, also to the inordinate fervors and contentions of a third sort, (which are the pre∣datorious flames and Gangrenes daily mortifying the native heate and moisture of Religion, which consist in truth and love;)

If all things of solemne Mysteries, sacred order and Divine Mini∣stry, be still left to dissolve, first into plebeian ignorance and inso∣lency, next into open profanenesse and atheisme, and at last to shift for shame into Popish Superstition and Roman Communion; must not the fate of your, either miscreant or miserable, posterity neces∣sarily be such, that their teeth will be so set on edge by the sowre grapes you have eaten and left for them, that they will not endure sound Doctrine, much lesse wholesome Discipline? Thus untaught and ungoverned, unbred and unfed in Religion, can you expect o∣ther from them than all debaucheries, immoralities, and such Atheisti∣call indifferences and impudencies as the heart of man easily runs into, if left to it self, as the Horse and Mule, without bit or bridle of Religion and conscience to restraine them? May they not have cause, in their sad reflections upon the Beauty, Order, Honor and Happinesse of Religion in England, which they may read of in former daies, (besides the many afflictions and civill dissentions which have and will inevitably follow divided Religion, to an irreligion in any Nation) may they not in their doubting, dying and despairing re∣treates, have cause to count you, yea and to curse you, as their care∣lesse and cruell parents? who are never quiet or content, till you settle your honors, estates and civill affaires in some safe posture, as you imagine; but are wholly negligent as to any religious establish∣ment, which many men feare, oppose and abhorre, lest in cleare waters their faces should appeare the fouler; varieties and uncertain∣ties of Religion being most fomented by those whose piety is wholly resolved into policy, who never tasted how gracious the Lord is in the waies, meanes and fruites of true Religion.

But for you (O my noble Countrimen) that have seen and rejoyced in that glorious light of Reformed Religion which shined so long and illustriously in the Church of England, how can you with any con∣science or comfort leave the world, and leave your posterity with

your Country exposed to such variety, uncertainties, distractions, de∣formities and confusions, as to the Reformed Religion and its Ministry? which makes them look like the Temple of God in Jerusalem, after Nebucadnezzar and Nebuzaradan had visited it with fire and sword, so defacing and deforming it, that it was the pitty of all good men, and the scorn of the wicked.

As Augustus Caesar was wont in his most impotent passion of grief and vexation to teare his haire, and cry out (Ridde, Vare, Legiones) O Varus,* 1.5 restore the Legions of brave and veterane souldiers, which thou hast so unadvisedly or unworthily lost, (when they were slaine by the Germane surprises) so may you heare the soberest Christians and truest-hearted English-men in their grief and shame cry out,

Reddite nobis Religionem Reformatam, Uniformem, Christianam, primaevam, Catholicam; Reddite Ecclesiae Anglicana priscam pietatem, pacem, ordinem, pulchritudinem, patrimonium, regimen, Majestatem debitam, & decus antiquum: Reddite nobis patres, fratres, filios spiri∣tales; Episcopos atate, virtute, authoritate venerandos; Presbyteros li∣teratura, industria, humilitate, unitate, ordine conspicuos; Plebem probe instructam, modestam, sobriam, mutua charitate amulam, non effr••nem, infrunitam, laceram, non erroribus lascivam, non novitatibus foedam, non scabie rigentem, non nimia petulantia deformem, non irreligiose Religiosam, &c.

This was the voice of the Church of England, while it dared to speake Latine, which being now scandalous and reprochfull to many, as the language of the Beast, not understood by them, She is forced to expresse her Prayer in English for mens better understanding. Restore, restore I beseech you to me, to your selves, to your country, to your posterity, the purity, the peace, the sanctity, the solemnity, the so∣briety, the order, the honor, the unity, the solidity, the stability, the power, the efficacy, the fruites and works of true Christian and Reformed Religion; Restore to us the happinesse of living, not onely united in one civill polity as men, but in one Ecclesiasticall Correspondency, Combination and Communion as Christians. It is more for our honor and peace to be Members of one Church, than of one Commonwealth; to have the same Religion and Devotion, than the same Lawes and Statutes.

Restore to us those prime veines and Catholick conduits of Eccle∣siasticall order, of Church-power and spirituall authority (under Christ) those paternall Pastors, those Primitive Bishops, those suc∣cessive Apostles: That so we may have such Presbyters as have the Catholick Character of due Ordination, and the most undoubted De∣rivation of Ministeriall Authority upon them, being at once able and willing, duly proved and empowered by Christs deputed Mini∣sters and the whole Church, to consecrate and dispense holy Myste∣ries to us; not in the new names of Presbyters, or people, or Parla∣ments, or Princes onely, but in the name of Christ and his Church, according to the commission he first gave to the Apostles, and they transmitted to their successors in a constant, undoubted, and uninter∣rupted succession to this day.

Redeeme this ancient Church and renowned Nation from those lice and flies, those locusts and frogs, whose importune malice and wantonnesse seeks to deface and devour whatever yet remaines of the Reformed Religion in England.

Redeeme all sober Christians, whose little life affords them no leisure to play with Religion; redeeme them from the Rents and Schismes, the raggs and tatters, the breaks and divisions, the frag∣ments and fractions, the chaines and fetters, the childish and ridicu∣lous janglings, the scandalous and pernicious liberties, with which pragmatick Spirits seek to poyson and to imprison their judgements and consciences.

Nothing is, at least ought to be, more pressive and urging upon your Honors and Consciences (who are persons sensible of these two great regards to God and man) than these concernments of true Re∣ligion; whose influence reacheth to the eternall interest of your own and your posterities soules. Nor is their lapsed estate to be hel∣ped by faire words and soft pretentions, by demure silences and ••a∣ry reserves, by State-stratagems and politick artifices, by vaporing of reformations, and conniving at popular insolencies, as if they were tendernesses and liberties due to conscience. No, the recovery of Re∣ligion is to be effected by potent convictions and impartiall sup∣pressions of all enormous opinions and actions, by serious trying of errors, and establishing of sound Doctrine, by just restraining all in∣ordinate liberties, by incouraging an able and uniform Ministry, by discountenancing all fanatick novelties, by composing al uncharitable divisions, and by punishing all pragmatick arrogancies, which evi∣dently vary from, or run counter against, that truth, order, ministry, authority and holy Discipline of Religion, which Scripture and all Catholick conformity to it have commended to all Christians as Christs will and appointment; which being accordingly setled in this Church and State, ought not to be contradicted or rudely contem∣ned by any new lights, by pretended inspirations, or the novel in∣ventions of any man or men whatsoever, seem they never so holy, so devout, so well-affected, so sincere, so saintly. This and other true Churches of Christ did know very well what belonged to the unity, sanctity, charity and constancy of Religion, as Christian and Reformed, long before the new fry of any Factionists or Enthusiasts were known in the English or Christian world.

Then will the honor of the Reformed Religion recover, take root, flourish and fructifie again in England, when it is by due authority and just severity cleared of all that rust and canker, that mossy and barren accretion which of later yeares it hath contracted, chiefly for want of those Ecclesiasticall Councils, sacred Synods and Religious Conven∣tions, which (being called and incouraged by civill authority) will best do this great work of God and the Church; freely and impar∣tially, solidly and sincerely, learnedly and honestly discussing all things of difference, disorder or deformity in Religion. These, these would (by Gods blessing, and your encouragement) remove in a

short time all that putid matter, from which the scandals, offences and factions do chiefly arise, and by which they are nourished in the licentious hearts and lives of some men, who dare do any thing that they safely may against Religion. These, as the ablest and meetest Judges of Religion, would soon discerne between the vile and the precious, and separate the wheat and the chaffe in Christs floore, wisely using the flaile and fan of his word and Spirit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Humbly ex∣horting Magi∣strates to as∣sist in so good a work.
• * 1.2

  Isa. 40.2.
• * 1.3

  Zech 3.3, 4.
• * 1.4

  Jer. 38.
• * 1.5

  Sueton. in vita Aug.