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. XXII.

* 1.1IN the last place, I do with the more courage and con∣fidence recommend the cause of Venerable Episcopacy to my honored Countrymen, because no Nation or Church under heaven ever had more ample and constant expe∣riences of that excellent worth which hath been in their Bishops, or of that excellent use which hath ever been made of a re∣gular Episcopacy, both in respect of true Piety and Orderly Po∣licy.

I know it will at first dash with full mouth be here replyed, how many Bishops have been superstitious, sottish, luxurious, tyrannous persecutors, and what not? especially before the Reformation, till their wings were so clipped that they could not be so bad as they would; yet some of them were bad enough.

My answer is, I do not undertake to justifie every thing that every Bishop hath done in any Age, late or long since: though I am charitably modest to palliate the shame or uncomliness of my Fathers, yet I am no Mercenary Orator or veneall Advocate to plead for their enormities, which are in no men lesse tolerable or expiable. There were (no doubt) among Bishops, as well as other men of all sorts, some weak, some wicked; as Ezekiels figs, some very good, some very bad: yet take them in the generall view and aspect, even in the darkest times, I am sure they were in England ever esteemed and employed both in Church and State, as Primores Regni, men of the greatest abilities and best repute for Learning, Wisdome, Counsel, Piety, Charity and Hospitality in all the Nation; nor were many of them in those times inferiour by birth and breeding to the grea∣test Noblemen in the Land. I do not censoriously rifle mens perso∣nall or private actions, but I consider their publick influence and aspect: It sufficeth to my designe, if I demonstrate by induction of many particulars, that Episcopacy is no enemy to Piety, no way prejudi∣ciall to Church or State, yea a maine pillar to support the welfare of both. Many Bishops may have been bad, yet is Episcopacy good; as many Priests of old were, like Elies Sons, vile men, yet was the Priest∣hood Honorable and Sacred: many Judges and Justices may be base and corrupt, yet is Judicature good; many Magistrates unworthy, yet is Magistracy an excellent and necessary Ordinance of God. He that should sift all the Presbyters or Ministers of any sort that have been, or now are, even the greatest zealots against Bishops and Episco∣pacy, I believe he would find among them drosse enough; yet must not the Office of Presbytery, or the Function of the Ministry, be cast off or abhorred. He that shall examine by right Reason, Reli∣gion, Conscience and Honor, what some Princes, yea some Par∣laments, have been, and done, as to the persons of men, will find they have been neither Gods, nor Angels, nor Saints, nor Saviours alwaies, but poor sinfull men, of common passions and infirmities;

yet, is the honor and use of Soveraigne power in Princes, and supreme Counsel in full and free Parlaments, of admirable concern to the pub∣lick good.

So is it in point of Episcopacy; notwithstanding that many Bishops were but men, yet some, yea many, nay I hope the most of them (especially since the Reformation) were as Mortall Angels, Faith∣full Pastors and Venerable Fathers. There are upon account reckoned up by Bishop Godwin and others 1479. Bishops in England and Wales, for above 1100. yeares; of which time some Histories remaine, though Bishops were long before; but of these there are some Re∣cords both before and since the Reformation. Who will wonder that in so great an harvest, in so large a field, there be found some light, some empty, some blasted eares?

This is certaine, that till these last tempestuous times, Bishops in England had given so ample and constant experiments of their Pru∣dence, Piety, Worth and Usefulness in all Ages and States, for Ec∣clesiasticall and Civil Affaires, that they did abundantly conciliate and conserve those great measures of Love, Respect, Honour and Estate, both publick and private, which their Persons and Function by Law enjoyed: Insomuch that as there were no where to be found better Bishops, so no where had they better entertainment, before and since the Reformation, while they enjoyed the favour of Princes and the love of Parlaments; who never heretofore listned to the plebeian envy or petulancy of those who sometime petitioned and prated against Bishops and Episcopacy, as Diotrephes did against St. John. The Wisdome, Gravity, Piety and Honor of this Nation never thought it worthy of them to overthrow so Venerable, so Usefull, so Ancient, so Catholick, so Honorable an Order, meerly to gratifie the peevishnesse, or passion, or revenge, or discontent, or ambition, or envy of inferiour people or inferiour Presbyters; who were at their best every way, when kept in compasse by wise Bishops.

No men heretofore, never so much fly-blown with faction, could so far prevaile by their insinuations and agitations, as to have any Vote passed in England against Episcopacy: all men of Learning, Gra∣vity and Prudence, for these thousand yeares and more, in England, (as in all Christian States) owned and highly reverenced, as Epis∣copacy in generall, so good Bishops, as the chief Conduits that had conveyed to them, their Fore-father and their Children, all Chri∣stian Ministry and Ministrations, all Christian Mysteries and Comforts, yea Christianity and Christ himself. Which Spirituall, Divine, Eternall and Inestimable blessings, this, as other Nations and Chur∣ches, ever owed, as chiefly to Gods mercy, so instrumentally to the hands of Bishops, by whose Ministry they were taught, by whose Authority they had many other Ministers duly ordained and sent into the harvest, when it was great, and required many Labourers. These in their order assisted, as Presbyters, their respective Bishops in Teach∣ing and Governing the Church; but without or against their Bishops they never acted, upon any account of Parochiall or Congregationall

pretentions of Ministers Equality, or peoples Immunity and Liberty. Alas, what ground was there for either of these pretenders in Eng∣land,* 1.2 when there were no Parishes divided (as now they are) till the yeare of Christ 634. when Honorius an Archbishop of Canter∣bury began that way, for the more easie and orderly carrying on of Re∣ligion among the Country-people, who had now generally received the Christian faith and Baptisme? Till then the Pagani or Country-people either repaired to their Bishops and his Clergy in the Cities and chief Townes where they resided, or they occasionally attended their Bishops in their visitations of them, or such Presbyters as were sent out by the Bishops to officiate among them. There was then no fancy, nor many hundred yeares after, of any petty Churches, either of Associated Presbyters or Independent people, without, yea against, the Episcopall Ordination, Inspection and Jurisdiction: still Bishops and Episcopacy were preserved and honored in England.

And this not onely by private persons of all ranks and qualities who were considerable for their honesty or Devotion, but by our most admired Princes, our noblest Peers, our wisest Parlaments, who did ever keep up the use and honor of Episcopacy in England: nor did they ever disdaine to have Bishops their Assessors and Assistants in Parla∣ments, esteeming it a rustick and plebeian temper, to admit men to publick Counsel and Honors for their Valour and Estates, and not for their Learning and Religion; by which all worthy Bishops did as much ennoble themselves in all wise mens esteem (if they wanted that of blood and descent, which many of them had) as those who most swelled in the conceit of their great Ancestors, who left them great noble Estates, but many times ignoble minds, little wits, and lesse hone∣sty or vertue: which hath been the fate of some who have most puffed against Episcopacy, and despised those Bishops who were in all Morall, Rationall, Religious and reall Excellencies not their equalls, but far their betters.

What Prince was ever more sage in her Counsel, or more solemn in her Government, more advised in her favours and frownes, than our Augusta, Queen Elizabeth? what Soveraigne ever more recon∣ciled Empire and Liberty, or held the balances of Justice more im∣partially and more prosperously between all interests and degrees of men, both in Church and State, between Clergy and Laity, No∣bility and Communalty, for neer half an hundred yeares? In all which time she had no greater blemish, than her yielding sometime too much to the sacrilegious importunities of begging Courtiers, who ter∣ribly fleeced, and sometimes flayed, the Estates of some Bishopricks in England and Wales; not so much out of her malice or covetousness, as out of her mistaken munificence. For never any Prince did more really, religiously and constantly honor her Bishops as Fathers in God: one of whom She had for her God-Father, namely Archbishop Cranmer; another (I think it was Archbishop Whitgift) she called her black Husband; most-what preferring such men to be Bishops as were worthiest of her favour, fittest for Gods, the Churches, and

her Majesties service. Did this wise Princesse ever listen to the in∣sinuations, pretentions, petitions and charmes of those men in her daies, who so much importuned and molested the publick peace and patience by their despite against Episcopacy, and their scurri∣lity against Bishops? Some of them (possibly) might be well-mea∣ning men; but I take the best of them to have been popular and superstitious in this point, others very pragmatick and juvenile: none of them were any great Polititians, while they would either have no Church-Government with any Eminency, or wholly reduce it to such a parity as they designed for their ambitions, which would have made themselves and all the Clergy (as at this day) more divided and despicable, than ever they could have been under Bishops, though Bishops had had no more power than an High-Constable, or a Coun∣try-Justice. Besides this, the simplicity of those zealous men in those daies who most maligned Episcopacy, and disparaged the Church of England, (having been terribly scared by some Popish Bishops in Queen Maries daies, whose sad pictures still frighted them in the Book of Martyrs,) did then by their needless Divisions, Distracti∣ons, Oppositions and Separations, greatly advance the Papall interests,* 1.3 as learned Mr. Cambden wisely observes, writing of the contests between Archbishop Whitgift and Mr. Cartwright with his Asso∣ciates; whose unhappy Successors could (we see) never carry on their designes now at last, but with the infinite troubles & miseries of this Church and State; by which they have advanced their Presbytery in England so little, so not at all, that never any men got so little, or lost so much, by so dear a bargaine, which cost not onely much money, but much blood, many lives, many soules and many sins.

After this renowned Queen had left Episcopacy not onely stand∣ing, but fixed and flourishing in England, to the content and happi∣ness of the most and best of her Subjects, in Court and Country, in Parlaments and out of them, King James succeeded as supreme Go∣vernour in Church and State.

What Christian King was ever crowned with more learning, and a larger heart in all Knowledge, Divine and Humane, Ecclesiastical and Civil? This Prince had been nursed with the milk of Presbytery, he had been long dipped and dyed in Presbytery; if any, sure this King might have seen, at least fancied, the beauty that Presbytery added either to the Reformed Religion, or the Imperial purple: His education by Buchanan, and his castigations by Mr. Knox and others, might in all probability have much devoted him to Presbytery, and prejudiced him against Episcopacy; of which I believe he seldomer heard one good word, than he did Faction, Treason and Rebellion, from those warmer Presbyters, who, as his swadling-clouts, so straitly wrapped him up in his minority, that he could hardly fetch his breath with free∣dom, yea, and in his majority too, when they made themselves as his chains and fetters, to bind Princes, as all men, to their good behavi∣our. Yet notwithstanding these Presbyterian Prepossessions for so many

years, did not this great Monarch heartily rejoyce, when he came to a Church handsomly and honourably governed by learned, grave, or∣derly and venerable Bishops? (the onely Catholick Government of all Churches, of which he had read so much, and so much good in the Ec∣clesiastical Histories, and nothing of any other) Was it not an infinite content to him, to see himself freed from the vexatious Thistles and provoking Thornes of some Presbyterians in Scotland, (for others were grave and modest men) that he might enjoy the fair and sweet Roses of Sharon, such Bishops as had ever been the chiefest flowers in the Garden of Christs Church? Was he ever satisfied, untill he had redu∣ced the Kirk of Scotland from some Presbyterian extravagancies, to such Episcopal Order and Constancy as was indeed very excellent, and neerest to the primitive pattern of paternall Presidency, fraternal Assi∣stance and filial Submission? (But few people are ever so happy as to know and value their own happiness.)

When this great work was done, of restoring Episcopacy to so an∣cient a Church as Scotland was, and confirming it in England, contrary to the vain hopes, childish presumptions, and self-flatteries of some popular men, who could never with reason expect that so learned and wise a Prince as K. James would exchange the Ark of God for Dagon, Episcopacy for Presbytery; did he not as seriously triumph in the blessed alteration of his Ecclesiastical Station, as he did to remove his habitation from, and extend his dominion beyond, that Hyperborean horrour of Scotland, to this Southern sweetnesse and amaenity of England?

These things thus well setled as to the Order and Honour of the Church of Christ in his Dominions, although this King were a Prince of most profuse,* 1.4 and indeed prodigious, munificence, (thinking no Epithet became a King lesse (as Tully sayes of Deiotarus) than that of homo frugi, thrifty or illiberall) yet did he never incline to de∣vour the Churches patrimony, to keep the Episcopall Seates va∣cant, that he might enjoy the Revenues. He once refused the offer of Cathedral Lands,* 1.5 which some had projected as very feisable, be∣cause (as a grave Bishop then suggested to him) God was twice eve∣ry day publickly and solemnly worshipped in every Cathedrall, and his Majesty there publickly prayed for in his greatest necessities: whatever hunger seised his royall appetite in the (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) sharpest famine of his Exchequer, yet he never, waking or sleeping, thought of Confisca∣ting Church-Lands, or making Bishops to be superstitious, or superfluous in the Church, because his condition was necessitious. No, whatever failings as a man that Prince had, yet, as a King and a Christian, he had this justice and generosity, to preserve the honor of Bishops, and the Rights of the Clergy. Indeed, as he was the greatest Scholar of a King in all the world, so he was as great a patron of good Scholars as the world had. Nor will those that have most quarrelled the Memory and Reigne of King James, easily mend the condition of Church or State; which he left in Peace, Plenty and Safety. Nor was it so much policy or reason of State, as strength of true Reason, and the prevalencies of true Religion, which so counterbiassed that

Kings judgement against Presbytery, as a partial popular novelty, or confirmed him in Episcopacy, as an Apostolick and Catholick Anti∣quity; between which he thought there was no more compare as to Church-Government, than there is between the Majesty of goodly Lions and the subtilty of little Foxes.

After this great pattern of King James, (whose learned arguments were more prevalent than his arms in Religion) followed his unfor∣tunate Son, the last King, who amidst all his reproches and improsperi∣ties cannot be denyed this Honour, than he seemed not inferiour to any King that ever lived in his regard to the Churches ancient Order, Estate and Honour: although few Princes ever sustained greater dif∣ficulties and necessities as to his Estate, yet never any had greater Antipathies against what he thought Sacriledge, nor a less longing to tast of the Priests portion; which he esteemed sacred, because it was Gods, dedicated to him, and so vested in him both by Law and Con∣science, by true Divinity and just Humanity, that he judged no power on earth could, without manifest sin and robbery, alienate it from God and his Church. This made him so zealous not onely to preserve Bishops, upon his Fathers principles, but their Rights and E∣states also, because he thought them to be Gods and his Churches; to maintaine whose right he remembred himself to have sworne in the first place at his Coronation, and so was no lesse bound to them than to the rest of the people, as to their civil Properties, Lawes and Priviledges. Certainly, however some have denyed this King the Title of Pater Patriae, yet he seemes to have deserved that of Filius Ecclesiae, both Alumnus and Patronus, of which he appeared more ambitious than of any earthly glory, or Kingdom, or Life.

For whence, I beseech you before God, Angels and Men, do you think arose that his Princely and Christian pertinacy, even to the death, in the point of Episcopacy and Church-Lands? Henry the Fourth of France could change the whole scene of his Religion from the Reformed to the Roman, meerly upon reasons of State, dispensing with conscience to preserve his Kingdom and his short-liv'd greatnesse; yet is he cryed up for Henry le Grand: how much greater is that King to be esteemed, whose consciencious constancy (which some counted obstinacy) lessened him to nothing, when to the very last he maintained those sharp Agonies, Contests and Dis∣putes he had as to the interests of the Church and Episcopacy, which he counted his greatest concerns as to Religion, Justice and Honor? How did he encounter Mr. Henderson, Mr. Marshall, and others, upon this point chiefly? how indeed did he confound them by Scripturall grounds, by Ecclesiasticall precedents, by Catholick consent, by the sacred, venerable and unanswerable custome of all Churches till his daies? What answers, what offers of moderation and concili∣ation did he make as to this point of Church-Government, to the admiration, yea astonishment of his Antagonists? Although as to Military successes and Civil concessions, he yeilded much to an over-powering power; yet as to this rock of Ecclesiasticall affaires,

like the Ark upon mountaines of Ararat, where he rested there he fixed, there he continued rooted, unmoveable, invincible, chusing rather to be dashed in pieces than to renounce his principles, or to move contrary to those conscientious perswasions, for which he thought he had such cleare and valid grounds, such ancient pre∣scriptions, such constant presumptions, that he thought nothing in Religion could be safe or certaine, if in this point of Church-Govern∣ment the Catholick Church were not to be believed or imitated in Episcopacy.

Good God! whence should it be that a Prince so knowing, so sen∣sible of his dangers, when he saw the Presbyterian proposalls, power and interests so pressing upon him, (for Independency, that little stone, was not then cut out of the Mountains) whence had so great a re∣stivenesse and obstinacy seised upon so great a Prince, in a posture of so great storms and danger? which would in all likelihood at first have been appeased, if he would have cast this Jonas, Episcopacy, over∣board, and swallowed the Church-Lands into the Sea of the Ex∣chequer. He that could, as to civil and Regall concernments, much deny himself, why should he chuse, upon the Churches account, to suffer so long a war, so many wounds, so tedious prisons, so sad Tragedies living and dying? For however differences at last were inflamed upon other accounts in the procedure of the war (which necessarily mul∣tiplies offences on the conquered party) yet certainly the maine pro∣pose and motion, first of the Scots, and then of the English Presby∣terians, was this, Destroy the Temples of Episcopacy, and set up the Synagogues of Presbytery. Which any politick Prince would speedily have done, at least when he saw so terrible a tempest in present pressing upon him, yea and prevailing against him. What Prince was ever so in love with any Bishops or any Church-men, as to love them bet∣ter then himself? which in Reason he could not, and in Religion he ought not to do, nor would certainly have done so far as he did, if he had not had such perswasions deeply rooted in his conscience, of a justice, gratitude and duty he owed to God, to his Saviour, and to the Church, more than to the persons of a few Clergy-men; which he solemnly avowed, as in Gods presence, to Mr. Marshall of Finchfield in Essex, after a long conference at Newcastle, as I take it, had with him touching Episcopacy, (as Mr. Marshall himself soon after told me) assuring him, and conjuring him to assure others, of his Majesties uprightnesse and resolvednesse in this point of Episcopacy, as to matter of Conscience, and not of State or Policy: else, in point of secular advantages, his own peace and preservation, the publick tranquillity, the increase of his revenue by the Confiscation of Bishops and Ca∣thedral-Lands, would have amounted to much more benefit than ever he or his could expect from a few Bishops, Deans and Prebends.

Thus riveted was the Kings Conscience to Episcopacy, unable, upon any terms, till convinced not by Arms but Arguments, to consent to the utter extirpation of it; although he offered & condescended to many moderations, which were from him as much in vain, (for nothing but

root and branch would serve) as all the Extirpators Allegations to his Majesty against Episcopacy, to prove it not to have been the Pri∣mitive, Catholick and Apostolick Government of the Church, were in vain: for indeed nothing was produced new; all were trivial and thred-bare arguments, which had been answered ten times by learned men in this Church, and had for ever silenced all sober and modest men, if they had had so great regard to the Churches Catholick and constant Testimony, or to the Scripture-rule and Apostolick pattern, as indeed they should have had.

Besides this insuperable difficulty, fortifying Episcopacy in his Conscience, his Majesty no doubt had prejudices enough against Pres∣bytery, as to its novelty, its first violent intrusion, his Fathers vexation, its now armed obtrusion upon himself, a Soveraign Prince and chief Governour of Church as well as State: to these were added all the former Troubles and Tragedies in Scotland, by the scufflings of Pres∣bytery against Episcopacy; besides, he saw the destroyers of Episcopacy already divided among themselves, neither Presbytery nor Indepen∣dency could agree whose the child should be; yea, he lived to see Pres∣bytery, when it had been set up in the House of God, faln, like Dagon, with its hands and head broken off, before the captive Ark of Episco∣pacy. Mean while His Majesty, and all the World at home and a∣broad, saw the miserable Distractions, Confusions, Luxations and Li∣centiousnesse which brake in daily upon this Church for want of that vigor and authority of Episcopacy, which had been the great defense, under God, the King and the Laws, against those foul and filthy inun∣dations.

A state of Church-religion and Reformation which his Majesty saw was at present, and was ever likely to be, far distant from that which was enjoyed in England under his Princely Predecessors, and in some part of his own reign, when England was filled and overflowed with good Christians, good Scholars, good Presbyters and good Bishops; of which order England ever afforded, and specially since the Refor∣mation, so many learned and commendable, yea some rare and ad∣mirable instances: Insomuch that this Church had cause to envie none in the World, ancient or modern, as for other things, so for this, the blessing of excellent Bishops, as well as orderly Presbyters and sincere Christians.

Indeed no Nation for many Ages (if we may feel the temper of any people by the pulse of their Parlaments) either had more cause, or seemed to have more disposition to value, and actually did venerate, its excellent Bishops, than England did: yea, I have known those Noblemen, Gentlemen, Ministers and other people, who were, as to some Ceremonies, less satisfied or more scrupulous than the Church and State was, yet these men how have they commended, how courted, how almost adored such Bishops as they thought godly and grave, good Preachers and good Livers, as well as good Gover∣nours? But as to the general sense and vote of the Nation, which was audible and legible in its Laws and Constitutions for above a

thousand years, it ever did it self this honour, and its Clergy this ju∣stice, that no where in any Christian or Reformed Church Bishops were more ample, more remarkable, more reverenced, more honou∣red, even to the highest honour of Peerage; yea the Archbishop of Canterbury had place next the Royal Blood, never diminished or de∣graded by any Prince, or by any Parlament in any Age.

Nor is it the least of the Riddles of Providence, how Bishops and Episcopacy, having so resolute a Prince, and so great a King to be their patron and protector, should now in England fall under so great diminution, dejection, yea utter destruction; considering that there never had been worthier Bishops in any time of the Church, than have been in England this last Century; nor in any part of that Century were there more excellent Bishops, than were to be found among them at that very time when all their Palaces, with Episcopacy, were pull'd down about their ears, and the best of them buried in the dust and rub∣bidge: by which some men hope that the Names, Merits and Memo∣ries of all Bishops, and the ancient honour of Episcopacy, shall be for ever smothered in obscurity or obloquie, in scorn or oblivion; whose Resurrection, Reputation and Eternity, as to their deserved ho∣nour▪ and to the publick honour of this Church and Nation ever since it was Christian, and ceased to be either barbarous or unbe∣lieving, I do here endeavour; which if I cannot recover to life, ••et I have brought these pounds of Spice and sweet Odours for the En∣terrement, and leave a fair Inscription or Epitaph upon the Grave∣stone or Monument of Episcopacy, if it must be ever buried in Eng∣land: an Office of Piety in a Son to his Fathers, being my self a Person every way as free from suspicion of flattery or partiality, as can well be found, never either injured or obliged by any Bishop, as to any publick advantages, further than my Ordination as a Minister; which I count a great and holy Obligation, because by no other hands, I conceive, I could have lawfully received Holy Orders in the Church of England.

Free therefore from all biassings either for against the Episcopal Order, which hath now no sinister temptations attending it, I do affirm that Episcopacy could never have fallen into its terrible Fits and Convulsions, into such excessive and mortal Agonies in a worse time, as to the undeserved ruine of so many worthy men; nor yet in a better time, as to the eminent worth of those Bishops, and other Church-men of their subordination, who might well have born up the Cause and Honour, as well as the weight of the Contest and Ru∣ine of Episcopacy. A wise man would wonder how in a full, free and fair hearing, before competent, complete and impartial Judges, it was possible for Episcopacy (which was founded and supported by so strong foundations and supports; to which all Churches, all People, all Presbyters, all Princes, all right Reason, all due Order, all poli∣tick Honour, all Scriptural Patterns and Divine Precedents gave concurrent ayds, besides the Laws and ancient Customs of this Church and State) how it should suffer such a rout and reprobation, (in¦stead

of due Reformation where ought was amiss,) when it was able to bring forth such Armies at that time in England of learned, grave, godly, venerable and incomparable Clergy-men, Bishops and others of their perswasion, which like so many Heroes and Atlasses were capable to have born up the falling Skie, if it had not been over-charged with the Sins of the Nation. Doubtless the whole world did not afford in any National Church more excellent Bishops, or more able Divines for any Ecclesiastical Convocation, Synod or Council: singly they were mighty men both of Stature, Vertue and Valour, higher by head and shoulders than most of the Presbyterian Champions; but socially they had been invincible, if they had not been encountred with the sword, which regarded not the greatness of their Learning, or the soundness of their Judgements, or the gravity of their Ages, or the sanctity of their Lives, but jealous of their firmness to Episcopacy, presently set up a new Assembly, no way representing, because not chosen by, the Clergy of England, according to the wonted custom, in which the Clergy of England had their priviledges as well as the Commons of England, to chuse their Deputies, according to Law and the Kings Commission: yet these were to do the Journey-work of Presbytery as well as they could in broken times, undertaking to Directorize, to Unliturgize, to Catechize, and to Disciplinize their Brethren, their Fathers, their Countrymen and their Soveraign without any contradiction; there being none among them that either would, or could, or dared to plead the cause of primitive Episcopacy, which had so resolute a patron, and so many able defenders at that time in England, as among the inferiour Clergy, so among those of the Episcopal Degree.

Among whom we have onely to excuse the indiscretions, frailties, defects or excesses of two or three later Bishops, (who possibly forgat the Counsel of Phoebus, to use lesse stimulations, and more restrictions.) Do but consider with compassion the great temptations of these Bi∣shops, by that favour, place and power they had, besides their native tempers, which might be too quick and passionate, also the Scholastick privacy and bluntness of their education, not having taught them so well to dissemble, at least not to moderate their passions; take all to∣gether, it may be their greatest enemies in their place, posture and pro∣vocations, would not have been much more moderate and calme than they were.

But let these Bishops passe, who, as the highest trees, have suffered first and most the battery of the storms raised against Bishops. These few were abundantly counterpoised by those many other Bishops, both in former and later dayes, whose worth and abilities every way were such, that it is hard to find any of their adversaries in all things equall to them, nor could they have stood before them in the combate, if no weapons but bookes and arguments had been used: certainly some one Bishop had been able to have chased an hundred Presbyters, these last being seconded by none of the ancients, the first having all antiquity on his side.

Tis true, I well know, that many of the Presbyterian party were men of very fleet pace, of voluble tongues, pregnant parts and plausible appearances, which did very well while they kept their ranks and stations, but yet (under favour) they did not any of them attaine to the first three. There were many pounds, yea talents difference, between a spruce Lecturer, or a popular Preacher, and a wel-studied Bi∣shop, whose great Learning and Experience had made him every way grave and complete: there was as great a distance between some Bishops sufficiencies, and the ablest Antiepiscopall Presbyterian that ever I knew, as there was between their honors and revenues. Take them in all latitudes, for writing, speaking and doing; that I say nothing of their prudentials in governing, wherein Bishops drove the Chariot tolerably well at all times, sometimes very well, during a thousand yeares and more in England and Wales. But the Presby∣terian wisdom and Policy hath not onely overthrown others, but themselves too in a few yeares, together with the unity, order and honor of this Nationall Church.

Yea, as to that part of a Clergy-man, which is not more popular and plausible than profitable and commendable, when well per∣formed, I meane preaching, no Presbyterians exceeded the Episco∣pall Clergy, or some Bishops, in this particular; if they preached oftner, yet not better; no nor oftner, considering the Age and infirmities of body which might attend some Bishops. Nothing was beyond the thunders and lightnings sometime, or the gentle raines and softer dewes otherwhile, which distilled from the Tongues of Learned, Godly and Eloquent Bishops. How oft have I heard them with e∣quall profit and pleasure? Such apples of Gold in pictures of silver, such wholesome fruit in faire dishes, were their sermons, many of which have been printed, and many hundred more never published. Doubt∣less none of the Primitive Bishops and Fathers went beyond ours in England, if we may judge of their Preaching by those short and most-what plaine Homilies or Sermons which we read: Few of which were preached before great Princes and their Courts, as ours oft••were, whose Court-sermons, since Queen Elizabeth began to Reigne, if they could be collected together, I doubt not but they would be one of the richest Mines or Magazines of Learning, Piety, Prudence and Eloquence in the world. For those Sermons, both for the present Majesty of the Prince, for the curiosity of the Auditory, and for the abilities of the Orator, were the Quintessence or Spirits of many sermons and much study, commonly as much beyond ordina∣ry preachments, as orientall pearles are beyond the Scotch Pallors of those Jewels. Not but that it is the commendation of ordinary Mini∣sters to preach plainly, yet powerfully, to ordinary hearers, so as may most profit them. For he is the best Archer, not who shootes highest or furthest, but neerest and surest as to that mark at which he is to aime, which in preaching must be the saving of soules, not pleasing mens eares. Nor did the others preach lesse honestly or usefully, because more elaborately, at Court, considering the (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) nauseous

wantonnesse, of most Courtiers, and their curious expectation, who needed as much as they expected, sermons that savoured, not onely of the Lips and Lungs, but of the heart and head too. For Court-hearers will never get profit unless the Preacher take paines. And Queen Elizabeth very smartly once said, when she heard a warme and earnest, but a very plaine and easie Country-preacher, who was brought to preach before her in her progresse by some of those Courtiers who then seemed to favour the Nonconformists, She that had been wonted to drink strong-waters rarely distilled and compounded of many excel∣lent spirits, which were very cordiall in lesser quantities, did not wel re∣lish any drink that was very smal, though it seemed scalding hot: which is rather a culinary than a celestiall heat in preaching, whose true warmth lies in the weight of the matter, not in the noise or heat of the speaker.

I am not ignorant that some of our later Bishops fell under great obloquy and odium among many people, specially the last Archbi∣shop of Canterbury, who being a man naturally active, quick, rough and cholerick enough, lesse benigne and obliging than was expected from him, had brought upon himself so great a weight of envy, jea∣lousie and disdain, that there was no standing before it: when once he was left to stand by himself, he was easily over-run by a multitude, being but low of stature, of no promising, winning or over-awing pre∣sence. As for his politick or civil Demeanours, upon which account he suffered death, I have nothing to do with them in this place, both he and his Judges are to be judged by the Lord.

As to his Religion, I shall afterward expresse my sense whether he were Popish or not.

But first I would a little consider that suddaine cloud which co∣vered the face of many of our brightest Bishops at once, confining them to prisons, who were esteemed persons of great Candor, Prudence and Moderation; yet was their discretion much called into question, when twelve of them were snared and twice committed, most of them to the Tower, for a Remonstrance or Protestation which they made in order to assert their ancient and undoubted priviledge, to sit as Peeres in the House of Lords, to which they had by writs been sum∣moned.

Some State-Criticks thought they forgat what became their yeares, their wisdome, their dependance, and the distempers of the times. My answer is, possibly those goodmen might, through discontent and in∣dignation at the vile and vulgar indignities they suffered, (even a Par∣lament now sitting, of which they were Members) pen the form of their intended plea lesse conveniently; passion being an ill Counsel∣lour or dictator to the wisest men: yet, I believe, few of their severest censurers would have been more cautious in their expressions, if they had been under the like tumultuary terrors and insolencies, which, re∣peated and unremedied, were capable to provoke men of very meek spirits and mortified passions to speak or write unadvisedly, as Moses himself did in a case of lesse personall provocation than at other times

he had given him from the petulancy of people. Nothing scares sober men more than to be destroyed by vermine,* 1.6 as that brave man Si∣mon of Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, was, whom the rabble at seven or eight blowes hacked in pieces. A valiant man will not cry out for assistance when he is to encounter with his match; but if many beasts of the people unprovoked run upon him, he may with∣out cowardise call for succour where he thinks it may be had. Such was the case of those Bishops at that time, when they not onely fan∣cied, but actually found, promiscuous and rude heapes of people, not onely threatning, but offering indignities to their persons as well as to their place and function; through whose sides they saw the malice and insolency of such Riotous Reformers sought to strike at the whole frame and constitution of the Church of England, which they, as all good men, had great cause to value more than their lives, if they might lay them down in an orderly & deliberate way, not in a tumul∣tuary and confused fashion. Whatever miscarriage those Bishops were guilty of in that particular, yet I am sure it was somewhat excusa∣ble by the greater Misdemeanor of those who gave them occasion so to complaine: Nor doth it any way blemish that excellency which in their more calme and composed actions they did discover, worthy of themselves and their Predecessors; to whom Erasmus long agoe,* 1.7 in Archbishop Warhams daies, gave this commendation, that England of all Churches had learned Bishops.

I will not go beyond the Reformation of Religion to find worthy Bishops in England; it may suffice (here) to register some of the well-known names of them, which possibly the vulgar never heard of, though men of reading and breeding cannot be ignorant of them. What was more gentle, ingenuous and honest-hearted than Archbi∣shop Cranmer, whose native facility made him in rough times lesse fixed, till he came to be tyed to the stake of Martyrdome? where he took a severe revenge on his inconstancy, by burning his right hand first, but his sincere, though fraile, heart was unburned amidst his ashes. What was more down-right good than Bishop Latimer, who joyed to sacrifice his now decrepit body upon so holy an account as the Truth of Christ? What was more holy than Bishop Hooper, or more resolute than Bishop Ridley? What more severely, yea morosely good than Bishop Farrar? All of them Martyrs for true Religion, by whose fires it was fully refined from the Romane Idolatry, drosse and superstition. This foundation laid by such gracious and glorious Mar∣tyr-Bishops in England, God was pleased to build a superstructure worthy of it in other most worthy Bishops, even to our daies.

Time would faile me to give every one of them their just Cha∣racter. It may suffice to place an Asterisk of honor to some of their names. What man had more Christian gravity than Archbishop Par∣ker? who had more humble piety than Archbishop Grindall? who more Christian Candor, Courage and Charity than Archbishop Whit∣gift? who overcame his enemies by wel-doing and patience, deser∣vedly using that triumphant Christian Motto, Vincit qui patitur. Who

had more of pious prudence and commendable policy than Arch∣bishop Bancroft, who did many Ministers good that never thanked him for it? Who had more of an honorable gravity and all vertues than Archbishop Abbot? to whom I may joyne his brother Bishop of Salisbury. All these were as chief of the Fathers, Metropolitanes of Can∣terbury, Primates of all England, as to Ecclesiasticall Order and Jurisdiction, according to the ancient pattern of the Church of Christ in all Ages and places. Nor were the Archbishops of York in∣feriour to them, such as Sandes, Hutton, Matthewes and others; men of great and good spirits, Learned, Industrious, Hospitable, Charita∣ble; good Preachers, good Livers, and good Governours.

After these came those other Bishops, who were equal to them in Gifts, Graces and Episcopal Power, but so far inferior to them in Pre∣cedency and some Jurisdiction, as the good Order and Polity of the Church required. No Age or History of the Church can shew in any one Century a more goodly company of Bishops, than here I could rec∣kon up. To omit many that were worthy of honourable remembrance, who had been some of them Confessors and Sufferers, others con∣stant professors of the true reformed Religion; these I may not smo∣ther in silence without sacriledge, robbing God of his glory, this Church of its honour, and these Bishops of their deserved praises; most of whose works do yet speak for them, and loudly upbraid the ingrati∣tude of those that cast dead flies of indignities upon such Bishops, whose names are as a pretious Oyntment poured out.

What was ever more pretious, more resplendent in any Church, than Bishop Jewel, for Learning, for Judgement, for Modesty, for Humi∣lity, for all Christian Gifts and Graces? What one or many Pres∣byters ever deserved so well of this Church and the Reformed Reli∣gion, as this one Bishop did, whom God used as a chosen arrow against the face of the enemies of this Church and the Reformed Religion? What man had more of the Majesty of goodnesse and Beauty of holi∣nesse than Bishop King? Who was more venerable than Bishop Coo∣per, though much molested by factious and unquiet spirits? Who had more ampleness and compleateness for a good Man, a good Chri∣stian, a good Scholar, a good Preacher, a good Bishop, than Bishop An∣drews, a man of an astonishing excellency both at home and abroad? How shall I sufficiently express the learned and holy Elegancie of Bi∣shop Lake, whose Sermons are so many rare Gems? or the holy Industry and modest Piety of Bishop Babington? Or the Nobleness, by Grace, by Gifts, by Birth and by Life, of Bishop Montacute? How acutely profound are the Disputes and Decisions of Bishop White? How full of equanimity & moderation was Bishop Overall? How clear, compendious and exact was Bishop Davenant? How fragrant and flo∣rid are the Writings, as ••••s the Life, of Bishop Field, whose Labours God did bless with the Dew of Heaven, he long agoe asserting the honour of this Church by an unanswerable Vindication? What can be more beautiful for Learning, Judgement and Integrity than Bishop Bil∣son, whose excellent works if some in England had more studied,

they had not so easily opposed the perpetual Government of the Church, which he proves to be Episcopacy? Was there any man more Saintly than Bishop Felton, who had been a good Patron to some Ministers that since have helped to destroy his Order? What could be more devout and thankful to God than Bishop Carleton, who hath erected a fair pillar of Gratitude for the remembrance of Gods mercies to this Church and State? How commendable for ever will the learned Industry of Bishop Godwin appear to impartial Poste∣rity, who hath with equal fidelity, diligence and eloquence preser∣ved the History of our English Bishops for above a thousand yeares from oblivion? Nothing was beyond the couragious and conscien∣cious freedom of Bishop Sinhouse, whose eloquent tongue and honest heart were capable to over-awe a Court, and to make Courtiers modest. Adde to all these the famous Bishop Hall, who had in him all that was desirable in an excellent Bishop, for Learning, Meekness, Patience, Peaceableness: his eloquence both in speaking and writing was tran∣scendent, yet the least of his excellencies. Lest any rust or soyl should grow upon so great graces and abilities, he was (among other Bi∣shops) polished by the Grindstones and roughnesse of these times; yea, there wanted not to his dying day some men, who gave him a great∣er lustre by their insolencies. Who had ever more of the Dove and lesse of the Serpent then Bishop Potter, a man severely good, and con∣scienciously, not factiously, scrupulous in some things, but not as to Episcopacy? What shall I speak of the Meekness and Tender-heart∣edness of Bishop West field, who frequently softned his auditors hearts, not onely with his excellent Sermons, but his unaffected tears? yet was he forc'd among other Bishops to lye down in sorrow, though no doubt he now reaps in joy. Nothing was more mild, modest and humble, yet learned, eloquent and honest, than Bishop Winniffe. I conclude this goodly Regiment of Church-colonels, of Ecclesiastical Rulers, of venerable Bishops, with Bishop Prideaux, who was a Miscellany or Encyclopaedy of all Learning: after he had by many years diligence honoured the Divinity-professors Chair, and the University of Ox∣ford, together with the Nation, by his vast pains, and was deservedly made a Bishop, (though somewhat too late) he was at last so squee∣zed to nothing by the iron hand of our times, that he had nothing left to maintain himself and his children,* 1.8 but dying bequeathed them Pi∣ety and Poverty as their Legacy.

May we not cry out, as he did of old, Bone Deus, &c. Blessed God, to what times hast thou reserved us? what terrors hast thou shew∣ed us? If it be thus done in the fruitful, sound and green trees, what will be done with those that are hollow, barren and rotten, dry, twice dead, and pulled up by the rootes?

All these Heroes of Learning and Religion, these renowned Bi∣shops, the honor of Episcopacy, the glory of this Church, the just boast∣ing of this Nation, (together with many others) have, some long since, some of late, dyed in the Lord, and are at rest from the sore La∣bour and travells they in the evening of their lives met with un∣der

the Sun. Many of them were exhausted, distressed, despised, destroyed, as to all worldly enjoyments; yet not miserable, not so afflicted as to be forsaken of God, or despairing of Gods mercies, though they found little from man.

Nor is the English world, heretofore so full, so famous, so flou∣rishing with rare Bishops, as yet so drained, but there are some such left as are worthy to bring on the Reare, and close up this gallant Troop of gowned Generals and mitred Commanders. If I might with∣out offence to the Modesty and Gravity of such Bishops as are yet living and best known to me, I would tell the erring and ingratefull Age, that, as it was said of Gonsalvo, whom Guicciardine calls the great Captaine, an Age is scarce able to breed or match such a Scholar, such a Writer, such a Bishop as Bishop Morton is. A most illu∣strious and invaluable Jewell, yet shut up now in a little box; a great and rich Vessel driven in his old Age to a small harbour, where his safety is tenuity and obscurity. Nor may I give a lesse tender touch of Dr. Juxon, whose modesty, fidelity and exactness was such, that when he bare the great envy of being at once a Lord Bishop of London and Lord Treasurer of England, yet he never had blame for either of them: his Government as a Bishop was gentle, benigne, paternal; his managing of the Treasury was such, that he served his Prince faithfully, satisfied all his friends, and silenced all his enemies, of which he had enough as a Bishop, though as a man he was so meek and in∣offensive, that I think he could contract no enmities with any. Some men wished they might have oftner heard him preach, and truly I was one of those; not onely because preaching was so much in fashion at London, but because that City needed good preaching, and was to be much taken by it. Nor could any preacher in my judgement exceed the Bishop of London. I confesse I never heard any man with more pleasure and profit, so much he had of Paul and Apollos, of a Learned plainenesse and a usefull elaboratenesse: when he preached of Mortification, of Repentance, and other Christian practicks, he did it with such a stroke of unaffected eloquence, of potent demonstration and irresistible conviction, that few Agrippa's, or Festus's, or Felixe's that heard, but must needs for the time and fit be almost perswaded to be penitent and mortified Christians.

I will yet be so modestly and honestly impudent, as to mention two or three Bishops yet living, not because I know them, but be∣cause they are worthy to be known, loved and honored by all good men. Such as Dr. Duppa the Bishop of Salisbury, a person of sin∣gular Prudence and Piety, equally Grave and Good, Learned and Religious, so eminent in many things, that he is worthy to be not onely a Tutor to a Prince, but a Counsellour to a King, and no lesse to be a Bishop in the Church of Christ. Next I crave leave to mention Bishop King, of whom I need say no more, but that I think him a Son worthy of such a Father. I cannot forbeare to conclude all with a mighty man, Dr. Brownrig Bishop of Excester, whose name and presence was once very Venerable to many Ministers, while they

were orderly Presbyters; now he is a dread and terror to them, since they are become Presbyterians or Independents, such Grassehoppers they seem in their own eyes in comparison of his puissance, who so filled the Doctors Chaire in Cambridge, and the Pulpit in place where he lived, and had filled his Diocese, had he been permitted to do the office of a Bishop, that it would have been hard to have routed Episco∣pacy, if he had sooner stood in the gap, being justly esteemed among the Giantly or Chiefest Worthies of this Age for a Scholar, an Orator, a Preacher, a Divine, and a prudent Governour; so much mildnesse there is mixed with Majesty, and so much generosity with gen∣tleness. But I earnestly beg his Lordships and the others pardon, since the iniquity of the times have compelled me thus far to transgresse, as to commend such persons yet living, who though most commen∣dable, yet are in nothing more than this, that they are more pleased to deserve, than to heare their just commendation; the best con∣sciences being alwaies attended with the most tender, modest and blushing foreheads. But I will trespasse no further.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A fourth plea for Episcopa∣cy, from their true Piety and orderly Po∣licy.
• * 1.2

  Vid. Godwin. Epis. Ang in Honorio.
• * 1.3

  Cambdens Elizabeth on Dr. Whitgift: Dum Praesidum conniventiâ & Novatorum pertinaciâ Schismata orie∣bantur; plauden∣tibus interim Pontificiis, multosque in suas partes per∣trahentibus, quasi nulla esset Ecclesiae Angli∣canae unitas, nulla uniformi∣tas.
• * 1.4

  Orat. pro D••iot. Rege.
• * 1.5

  Bishop An∣drewes.
• * 1.6

  About the year 1375.
• * 1.7

  Sola Anglia doctos habet Episcopos. Erasm.
• * 1.8

  See Bishop Prideaux his last Legacy.