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. IV.

THirdly,* 1.1 to these I may further adde that great spur of generous industry, which we call Sense of Honor, or an impatience that worthy persons have to come short in any thing of that which doth best become them, or is by God and good men expected from them. I know how touchy even small minds and petty-spirited men are in point of reputation there where no true honor lies: But meer shadowes and imaginary punctilio's deceive them under the notions of honor, after that vulgar rate and esteem which gives many Gentlemen quicker resentments of any affronts, neglects, indignities, or injuries done to themselves, than of blasphemy to their God and Saviour; more sensible for the honor of their mistresses of pleasure than for their Mother or Fathers; I mean not so much naturall and politicall, as Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall, the Church and the Pastors of it, such by whose care they have been bred and born to Christ, baptised in the Name of the blessed Trinity, brought up in the true Christian

Faith, nourished, confirmed and sealed by the body, the blood, and Spirit of Christ, directed in the waies of Holinesse and Eternall Happinesse. Certainly the Command binds all Christians to Ho∣nour these parents as much as any.

No sense of Honor should be more quick and sensible, than that which reflects upon our highest concernments, in which not onely our private, but our publick, not onely our temporall, but our eternall welfare is wrapped up, and so confined, that if in this we faile or mis∣carry, all is lost that a great and gracious soul can consider.

If you were a Nation pinched with poverty, over-awed with sla∣very, despicable for your weaknesse, base for your cowardise, bru∣tish for your ignorance, dull with stupidity, dejected by tenuity, or barbarous through want of learning and civility; if you were now to begin the principles of Christianity, and knew not what belonged to true Religion, (which is the highest honor and happinesse of any Nation;) if that were the present State of the Nobility, Gentry, and Commonalty of England, that they were now beginning to be Ci∣vilized and Catechized, I should think my labour lost, my oratory vaine, and my importunity improper, thus to conjure you by the highest sense of Honor, to study the settlement of true Religion, be∣fore you were acquainted with the sense of Civility, Religion, or Honor: Or if I thought you had not so much pregnant light of Reli∣gion, as might make you sensible of the truest and highest points of honor, or not so much apprehension of honor, as might make you most zealously tender in the behalfe of true Religion; I would not be so impertinent as to think to move you beyond your inward principles.

But when I consider you as a people pampered with plenty, exal∣ted with liberty, renowned for strength, dreaded for valour, en∣lightned with knowledge in all kinds, accurately vigorous, actively industrious, as the chief of the Nations, as the princesse of all Islands, heightned to all magnificence, polished with all good literature and civility, old Disciples of Jesus Christ, many hundred yeares agoe converted to Christianity, and never wholly either perverted by Hereticks, or subverted by the many barbarous invasions and warlike confusions which you have endured; when I contemplate the gran∣deur, the power, the wisdome, the majesty, the publick piety (here∣tofore) of this Nation, the antiquity of this Church, and the prosperi∣ty of its reformed condition heretofore; I cannot but with all hum∣ble and faithfull respects tell you, That it is not worthy the name and honor of the English Nation, so famous for Learning and Religion, for Scholars and Souldiers, for Magistrates and Ministers, for Chri∣stian Princes and Christian people, (scarce to be parallel'd in all the world) It is not for the Honor of such a Nation, to halt between, not two, but twenty opinions; to variate thus between the true God and the many new Baalims, between Christ and the many Belials, who will endure no publick yoak of Religion or Church-government, but what themselves fancy and frame, though never so different from

that which this and the Catholick Church in all ages, not onely used and submitted to, but highly rejoyced in, as the onely order that Jesus Christ and his Apostles had setled in all parts of his Church.

It is a shamefull posture for wise and sober men, for ancient and renowned Christians, to be thus inconsistent, as divided between a doting upon former superstitions, (which some impute to us) and indulging moderne innovations (which others reproch us for.) 'Tis ri∣diculous to be alwaies dancing the rounds of Religion, and giddily moving in the mazes of endlesse Innovations, which are but private, and for the most part Childish inventions, the effects either of proud and imperious, or of peevish, popular and plebeian Spirits, who aime not at the publick Peace, Piety and Honor of the Na∣tion, so much as at the gratifying their own little Fancies, Humors, Opinions and interests; whose Novelties (never so specious and plau∣sible at first, yet) soon appeare pernicious to the publick, so farre from mending and reforming the State of Religion, that they threa∣ten to marre all, if the goodnesse of God and the moderation of wise men do not prevent. Private formes and inventions, never duly examined or solemnly allowed by the publick Representatives of any Church in Nationall Synods or Councills, nor from thence recommended to, and approved by, the Representatives of the civill States in full and free Parliaments, but surreptitiously broched at first, afterward Magisterially obtruded, by some pragmatick Prea∣chers, upon any Church or Christian people, these prove no other in the end, than like the ashes scattered over Egypt, productive of sores and boyles swelling to great paine and insolency.

Especially in such a Church and Nation as this, which was of the highest forme both for Christianity and reformation; where God had (to our admiration, and his eternall praise) blessed the former setled State of Religion, and the Churches excellent constitution, under those reverend and renowned Bishops, assisted by Learned, Orderly, and Worthy Presbyters, whose pious and profitable endeavours had long agoe advanced this Churches honor and happinesse to as high a pitch in point of Doctrine and Devotion, and all spirituall experiences, as any Church ever attained; and further had impro∣ved its welfare in point of Discipline, if they had not been ever cur∣bed and hindered by the jealousies and impatiences of some Princes or people, who would by no meanes endure the ancient, just, and holy Severities of Christian Discipline should be exercised by the Clergy against their Haughty and Licentious manners, no not when the Ecclesiastick State of England was in its highest elevation and lustre for Learning, Honor, Order, Estate and Unity: How much lesse are they now to be exercised by poore pusillanimous and pet∣ty Preachers, with their pittifull Lay-Elders?

Yet amidst all the obstructions (either in Doctrine or Discipline) which either the pride and policies of men, or the subtilties of devils have hitherto put, amidst the peevishnesse of Schismaticks, and the

spite of Romanists, amidst all the damps and dispiritings that this Church of England and the worthy Clergy thereof have long found and felt from all sides that were factious and had evill eyes, or evill wills against them; yet even then did the Lord of his Church so high∣ly exalt them and this Nation in the eyes of all the world, to such degrees of Piety, Learning, Peace, Plenty, Honor, Love, and all prosperity that could blesse any Christian Church or Nation, that in good earnest there was no need any of these new patches should be put as deformities to that old garment, which was so goodly and grace∣full for true Christian Religion and due reformation, that no novel∣ty from private heads or hands could mend it; especially when ob∣truded as a rent, or forcibly pinned upon it as rags and hangby's of Religion, by every petty Master, whose fingers itch to be medling and innovating in Church affaires, without any publick and impar∣tiall counsell and authority.

Such preposterous endeavours, no way worthy of the honor of this Nation, nor contributive to its happinesse, God hath already soon all sides blasted, that they have been not onely unprosperous, but many waies pernicious, dishonourable, & ridiculous, divine vengeance at once discovering their follies and confuting their confidences, which instead of further setling or better Reforming Religion, (as was on all sides vapored and pretended) have, as much as in them lyes, reduced a famous and flourishing, a well-reformed and united Church, almost to ruinous heaps and sordid confusions, to the great shame and dishonour of this Nation; both reproching your pious progenitors, and you their posterity, as if for this last hundred yeares, none of them or you had served God as they and you should have done, with holy and acceptable service, because neither they nor you did permit every man or Minister to choose what Religion he would broach, what Opinions he liked, or to use what Discipline he pleased, or beget what Churches and Pastors he fancied best: and this after every free-man had either in Person or by his Proxy con∣sented to that religious establishment, which bound all men either actively to obey, or passively to submit with silence and patience, because it was of his own appointing, being the result of all Estates in this Nation, who without doubt were much more able to consi∣der and conclude what was best for the publick Piety, Peace and Honour of this Church and State, than any private man could do, whose self-overvaluing and overweening is generally the first step of their own and other mens undoing; yea many times from these practises, which at first are not much regarded, much mischief ac∣crews to the publick, as the plague is thought to begin first in pri∣vate alleys and by-lanes, or from some one man or woman that hath a foul body or a very stinking breath, which easily poysons the ambient ayre in which they walk, especially when disposed to putre∣faction, and so diffusive of the Infection to others. The stop and cure of which Epidemick pestilence, (which beginning from some mens ill lungs or lives hath now seised upon Religion it self and this whole

Nation) by your applying seasonable Antidotes and safe defensatives, is a work most worthy of the Wisdome and Honor of this Nation, which can be in no point more concerned or conspicuous, than in this of true Religion, so setled and maintained as best becomes both the Majesty of Religion, and the renowne of the Nation.

Fourthly, to which great and good work, you stand obliged not onely in duty to God, in love to your Saviour,* 1.2 in charity to poste∣rity, and in just respects to your selves, (all which are great ingredi∣ents in true Honor) but further, give me leave to tell you, some∣thing of Gratitude and just retribution lyes upon you, as to the ancient Clergy or Ministry of this Nation, who have faithfully served God and his Church, you and your forefathers, for many yeares, in all Ec∣clesiasticall duties and religious offices.

If you and your Forefathers (most honored Gentlemen, and belo∣ved Countrymen) did well and worthily in a grave and orderly way of publick consent, and by due Authority, purge this Church and redeeme this Nation, in its Doctrine and Duties, its Ministry and Worship, its Discipline and Government, its just Liberties and im∣munities, from the drosse and druggery of Romish errors and super∣stitions, of Papall Tyrannies and Usurpations, reserving or restoring that Purity, Decency, Authority, Order & Uniformity of Christian Religion, which became the wisdome and honor of this Church and Nation, by the exactest conformity with the Catholick Church, in its purest and primitive constitution;

If you have effected and enjoyed this happinesse, by Gods bles∣sing chiefly upon the pious Counsells, devout Prayers, potent Preachings, and learned Writings, as of the first reformed and refor∣ming Bishops, and Presbyters subordinate to them, so of their worthy Successors in the same Orders, Offices and Functions, who have (many thousands of them) confirmed their Doctrine, sealed their labours, asserted and authorised their Ministry, by their holy lives and comfortable deaths, yea some of them with their patient suf∣ferings and Martyrdomes; If the Clergy of this Reformed Church in their severall stations and degrees, have by the Divine assistance ever since preserved this holy depositum of the true Christian Re∣ligion, duly Reformed, according to the Primitive gravity and Scrip∣turall verity, for above one hundred years, to your and your fore∣fathers inestimable honor and happinesse; and this, as with great Learning and all sorts of holy abilities, so with no lesse industry and fidelity, (though not wholly without humane frailties and perso∣nall infirmities, which God in mercy will pardon, and man in cha∣rity ought to passe by, where there was so much integrity and pro∣ficiency, so much of commendable worth and constant excellency, as to the maine;)

If you cannot deny the many signall testimonies which God hath given of his being well-pleased with this Churches Reformation, with the Ministry, Worship and publick Profession of Religion in this Na∣tion; not so much by that long peace, plenty and prosperity, which

you and your pious predecessors have (to a wonder) enjoyed at home, be∣sides the great Honor and renowne abroad; nor yet by those nationall and signall deliverances from deep designes and imminent dangers, which threatned the utter subversion of Church and State; (these preservations and lengthnings of our tranquillity being then surest signes of Gods favour, and approbation of our waies, when they are honestly obtained, thankfully received, and modestly enjoyed) but (beyond these conjecturall fruits of common providence) we have those speciall tokens and testimonies wherein the Lord hath, as I conceive, evidenced most clearly his good pleasure and liking to this Church of England, its Religion, Reformation, and Ministry, namely by those eminent gifts, and undeniable graces of his Spirit, which in great and various measures he hath plentifully poured forth upon the Godly Bishops, and other good Ministers of this Church who were subject to them, to the edification of his faithfull people among you in all spirituall blessings, even to the admiration of our neighbours, the joy of our friends, and regret of our enemies:

If the excellently Learned and Godly Bishops (whose names and me∣mories are blessed) assisted by other able, orderly, and painefull Mi∣nisters of this Church, (who being duly sent and ordained by them, were humbly obedient to them as to spirituall Fathers,) if they have carefully and happily steered for many yeares the sometimes faire and rich Ship of the Church of England, (in which so many thousand precious soules have been imbarked for heaven and eternity,) between these two dangerous gulphs (the Scylla and Charybdis) of Pa∣pall Superstitions and uncharitable Separations, steering it by the com∣passe of Gods word, with such Christian prudence, order and decency as is therein commanded or allowed; in which happy conduct they and their successors were still very able, willing, and worthy to have proceeded, if the wrath of God (highly offended for the wantonness, wickednesse and unthankfulnesse of the generality of people under so great meanes and mercies,) had not justly suffered so rude stormes, of both religious factions and civil dissensions, to arise, which having torne the tackling, rent the sailes, loosened the junctures, un∣hinged the rudder, broke the maine mast, cast the chiefest Pilots and skilfullest Marriners over-board, quite defaced the lesser card or compasse of Ecclesiasticall Canons and civill lawes, have (at last) driven her within the reach and danger of both these dreadfull extremes which she most declined, leaving this poor weather beaten Church, af∣ter infinite tossings, like a founder'd ship, in a troubled Sea of confusi∣on, attending one of these two sad fates, either a Schismaticall dissolu∣tion, or a Papall absorption; either to be utterly shattered in pieces by endlesse factions, or to be swallowed up at last in the greater gulph of Romane power and Policy, which cannot but have alwaies a very vi∣gilant and intentive eye what becomes of the Church of England:

If the Ministry of the Church of England, (whilest it was yet flou∣rishing and entire, as a City united in it self, as an orderly family or ho∣ly

corporation, consisting of Fathers and Brethren, of Bishops and Presbyters, might justly challenge before God and all good men, this merit and acknowledgement from you and your fore-fathers, that for Learning and Eloquence, both in preaching and writing, for acute∣nesse and dexterity in disputing, for solidity and plainnesse in teaching, for prudent and pathetick fervency in praying, for just terror in moving hard hearts to softnesse, and feared consciences to repentance, for judicious tendernesse in comforting the afflicted, and healing the wounded Spirit, lastly, for exemplary living in all holy and good waies; in all which particulars becoming a Christian Church, nei∣ther you nor they have had any cause to envy the most Christian and best Reformed Churches in the world, as to that honour and happinesse, which consists in the excellent abilities, honest industry, due authority, regular order of Ministers, also in the decency, useful∣nesse and power of holy Ministrations; all which blessings experience sufficiently tells you, were formerly enjoyed by many gracious and judicious Christians, farre beyond what hath been, or ever can be hoped under these moderne divisions, deformities, distractions and dissolutions, which do (indeed) threaten in time utter desolation to this Church and the true Reformed Religion, if Gods mercy and wise mens care do not prevent:

If nothing but ignorance or malice, blindnesse, or uncharitablenesse, barrennesse or bitternesse of Spirit in any men, can deny this great truth, this honest, humble, just and modest boasting, to which the injuries, indignities, and ingratitudes of these last and worst times have compelled sober Ministers, as they did St. Paul, who ought to have been better valued and commended by them:

If you (O Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Yeomen of England) are so knowing, that you cannot be ignorant of this truth, and so ingenu∣ous, that you cannot but acknowledge it in behalfe of the Church of England and its worthy Clergy, while you and they enjoyed Piety, Peace and Prosperity; if beyond all cavill or contradiction, this right ought to be done to Gods glory, this Churches honour, the an∣cient Clergies merit, and your own with your fore-fathers renowne, (that after-ages may not suspect them for Hereticks or Schisma∣ticks, nor you for Separates or Apostates, as forsaking that good way, in which they were reformed and established in the purity, power and polity of true Religion:)

If all these suppositions be true (as I know you think they are) how (I beseech you,) can it be in the sight of your most just God and mercifull Saviour, (who so abundantly blest this Church and his servants the Ministers of it, in teaching, comforting, and guiding you and your pious predecessors soules to heaven) to change and cast off such a Ministry and such Ministers? Yea, how can it be in the censure of pious and impartiall men, other than a most degenerous negligence, a Mechanick meannesse, a most unholy unthankfulness for you, or any Christians, to passe by with silence and senselesnesse, with carelesnesse and indifferency, all those sad spectacles of

Church-divisions and distractions, of Church-mens diminutions, de∣basements and discouragements, lately befaln them (by a divine fa∣tality and justice) partly through the imprudence of some Clergy-men, severely revenged by the malice or mistake of some Lay-men, whose heavy and immoderate pressures have faln chiefly upon those Eccle∣siasticks who were Christs principall Vicegerents, Messengers, Ministers and Embassadors, his faithfull Stewards, his diligent Overseers, his vigilant watchmen, his wife dispensers of heavenly Mysteries to your Soules.

From whom so many Apostasies have been commenced and carried on, by infinite calumnies, indignities and injuries against them and their orderly authority and function, as if you and your Children had lately found more grace and virtue, better Ministeriall sufficiencies and proficiencies, in some Tradesmen & Troopers, in Mechanick ignorance & illiterate impudence, in the glib tongues, the giddy heads, & empty hearts of such fellowes as are scarce fit to be your servants in the meanest civill offices; as if these were now fit to be your Pastors and Teachers, your Spirituall inspectors, and rulers of your Soules, be∣yond any of those Reverend Bishops, and Learned Doctors, and other Grave Divines, who heretofore (through the grace of God) dispen∣sed to you, by their incomparable gifts and reall abilities, those ine∣stimable treasures of all sound knowledge and saving wisdome, of grace and truth, which were carried on with comely order, and bound up with Christian unity.

Doubtlesse, the forgetting of those Josephs, who have been so wise storer••s and so liberall distributers of the food of eternall life to our hungry soules, who have brought forth, as good Scribes instructed for the Kingdom of Heaven, out of the good treasuries of their hearts, things both new & old, (the Learning of the ancient Fathers, Councills and Historians, set off with later Experiments and Improvements of all spirituall operations and gracious comforts,) the forgetting, I say, of these Ministers cannot be worthy of that pious gratitude which becomes noble-minded Christian. How meane, uncomely, and much below you, must it needs appeare to all wise and sober Christians in the present age and all posterity, if you suffer their holy orders to be despised, their spirituall offices to be neglected, their divine autho∣rity to be usurped, their primitive orders and constant succession to be interrupted, their persons to be abused and shamefully treated, their support, as to double honour, to be so abuted, that their mainte∣tenance shall be very small, sharking and uncertaine; also their respect and esteem none at all, especially among the common people, whose civil and religious regards are much measured either by the bag and bushell, or by the examples of their betters, their Landlords and Governours?

The wilfull dividing, debasing, discrediting, disordering, and dis∣carding of the ancient Clergy, as to their Ordination, Government, Mi∣nistry, Authority, and succession in England, (which was most Christi∣an, Catholick and reformed,) must needs be, as the sin and shame, so the

great injury and misery of you and your posterity, being the ready way to bring in, First, a scrupulous unsatisfiednesse and unsetlednesse, as to our former Religion, as if either not true or not reformed; Secondly, next it raiseth a jealousie and suspicion of any Religion, un∣der the name of Reformation, as if it would not long hold, and had no bottom or bounds; Thirdly, after this followes a lukewarmenesse, coldnesse, and indifferency as to all Religion whatsoever, as Re∣formed and as Christian; Fourthly, then will there creep in by secret steps a generall Apostasie at least from our pristine wise Reformation, and happy constitution of Religion, to the Roman errors, superstiti∣ons and usurpations, which wait for such a time and temper in Eng∣land, whereby to make their advance upon peoples mindes, wildred and confounded, when they shall see the shamefull retreates, recoilings and variations made in England by the Reformed Religion upon it self; whose disorders, disgraces and deformities necessarily follow∣ing the contempt of their Ministers, or the change and rupture of their Ministeriall descent and succession, will make most, if not all men, in time to recede from it, and rather adhere to its grand Ro∣man rival, & its implacable enemie, Popery, whose policies will bring you and your posterity, by the contempt and want of true Bishops, to have no Pastors or Ministers of any uniforme validity, of Catholick, com∣plete, and most undoubted authority. If any man may be a preacher that listeth to pirk up into a Pulpit, certainly in a few yeares you shall have no Preachers worth your hearing, no Ministers of any re∣putation and authority, either among the Idiots and vulgar, or a∣mong the more ingenious and wiser sort of people, who are not na∣turally either very solicitous or industrious in the concernments of Religion, or the choise of their Ministers.

If neither God nor good men have any further pleasure in their ser∣vants, the ancient Clergy of England, if they really are as uselesse and worthlesse as they have been made vile and reproched by some mens tongues and pens, if they have deserved to be thus tossed in an eter∣nall tempest of factious divisions, vulgar depressions, and endlesse confusions, beyond any other order or rank of men; if this be their evill fate and merit, after all their studies and paines, after all their Praying, Preaching, Writing and Living, to the honor of this Nati∣on, and the great advantages of the Reformed Religion; if to have e∣qualled at least, if not exceeded the Clergy of any Church in any age since the Apostles departure, be the unpardonable fault of the Reformed Bishops and their Clergy in England; if their very sufferings, as the vipers seizing on St. Pauls hand, make them appear to barba∣rous and vulgar minds as sinners, therefore despicable, because they are so much despised, and so thought fit to be destroyed; if this lin∣gring and shamefull death of being thus Crucified, is that by which the Clergy of England must glorifie God, if this bitter cup must not passe from them; truly it will be a mercifull severity to hold them no longer in ambiguous calamities; but rather wholly to expose them to the last outrages of Fanatick, Popular, and Schismatick fury, the

Lions that hunger and roare to have these Daniels wholly cast into their dens and jawes; that so your eyes may no longer see your poor, despised, distressed, and miserable Clergy, many of whom (both Bi∣shops and Presbyters) are forced (as you know) to embrace the dung∣hil, being destitute of order, honour and estate, some of them having neither food convenient, nor any abiding place, nor any fit∣ting employment; that so that Episcopall Clergy (now rendred so odious) who (under God) formerly redeemed you and your fore-fathers out of the bondage and darknesse of Egyptian superstition, may by an Egyptian Magick and fate, be drowned in the Red-Sea of vul∣gar contempt, popular confusion and inordinate oppressions; that thus the new Jannes and Jambres may not onely resist, but wholly pre∣vaile by their inchantments against your Moses and Aarons.

But if your Consciences (O worthy Gentlemen, who are the Beauty, Strength, and Honour of this Nation,) do on the other side tell you (not with faint and dubious whispers, but by loud and manifest experi∣ences, proclaiming to all the world) that the ancient Clergy of Eng∣land have (generally) deserved better of you, by their Learning, Preaching, Praying, Writing and Living; what (I beseech you) can be more worthy of the Wisdome, Justice, Piety, Honour and Gra∣titude of this Nation, than to assert with their publick love and fa∣vour, the dignity of their worthy Divines, the honour of their Cler∣gy, the Sanctity of their Religion and Reformation, against that plebeian petulancy and insolency which hath so pressed upon them, and daily depresseth all their Authority? not onely by reason of some Lay-mens folly and insolency, but even by their variations and inconstancy who presumed to be Preachers, and challenge upon what score they please a share or lot in the Evangelicall Ministry.

Truly it is high time to redeeme the Sacred Orders, the Divine Authority, the Catholick succession, the ancient and authentick digni∣ty of the Evangelicall Ministry in the Church of England, from the obloquies, contempts and oppressions of ignorant and unreasona∣ble men, who are great enemies to the piety and prosperity of this Nation, and but back friends to the Reformed Religion, being at so deadly a fewd against the ancient Clergy and Catholick Ministry of this Church; whose totall extirpation, both root and branch, Bishops and Presbyters, they have so resolutely designed and restlessely endea∣voured, that they long for nothing more than the natural death of all the reverend Bishops, and all Episcopall Ministers, who yet survive, being civilly dead and buried in obscurity. O how infinite jealous are all Novellers lest the English world should (at last) see the dan∣gerous mistake of exchanging gold for copper, Learned, Grave, Or∣derly, duly-ordained, and authoritative Bishops and Presbyters, (of a primitive stamp, and Catholick Edition) for a scattered and tattered company of new-coyned Pastors and Teachers, who have either not the metal, or to be sure not the mint and Character of such a Mi∣nistry as was ever current in England, (and in all the Christian world?) whose care was not to broach every day new fountaines (as Sampson

did with his Asses jaw-bone) of Ministeriall office and authority, when ever factious Presbyters or fanatick people thirsted after the novel∣ties of parity or popularity; but they ever kept to that cisterne, those conduits or pipes which were first laid by the Apostles, and derived from Christs grand Commission, as the source and fountain of ho∣ly orders, which was deduced by orderly Bishops and Presbyters to all parts and places where any Christians owned themselves to live in any Church-order, fellowship and communion: which was never known in the Christian world for 1500. yeares to be any where se∣parated from the Episcopall over-sight, regulation, presidency and ju∣risdiction; if all Scripturall and Ecclesiasticall records do not de∣ceive us, which never shew us any Church, of greater or lesser di∣mensions, without some greater or lesser Apostles, as Bishops, presi∣ding and ruling over Presbyters, Deacons and people; which nei∣ther Aerius nor St. Jerome himself of old, nor the disguised Wallo Messalinus, or Blondel of later dayes, did ever so much as endeavour to disprove by any one credible instance, of any Church in any age.

Upon so deep and large a foundation did the Clergy, Ministry and Church of England formerly stand, till the Scotch Pioneers and other Engineers undertook with their pickaxes to undermine and over∣throw the Catholick antiquity of Episcopall authority; which work some novelizing Presbyters beginning to transgresse, gave occasion to puny Independents to go beyond them.

Neither of which parties have yet, (nor are ever like, for ought I see) so to mend the State of Christian or Reformed Religion in England, beyond what it enjoyed in former dayes, as to make any learned or wise man so much in love with their various novelties, that they should abhorre that uniforme antiquity, to which the Epi∣scopall Clergy of England did conforme.

The enjoyment of whose renowned worth, learned labours, and everlasting Monuments of true piety, this nation hath so little cause to be ashamed of or repent, that there is no Jewell in the Diademe of English glory, which it ever had or will in any age have so much cause to boast of and glory in, as the excellency of its Clergy or Mi∣nistry, both Bishops and Presbyters, for the last Century; whose pri∣vate failings and personall infirmities (the crambe oft alledged to an impudent hoarsenesse by some detractors, whose uncharitable Synecdoches impute the faults of every part to the whole) will ne∣ver be sufficient to justifie this nations generall unthankfullnesse to the memory and merit of its former Ministry and Ministers, taken in the completion of their harmony and orders, as made up of Bi∣shops, Presbyters and Deacons, that threefold cord of Ecclesiasticall po∣lity and unity, which is not easily, and ought not rashly, much lesse rudely & ingratefully, be broken by any Nation pro••essing Christian and reformed Religion; but rather it should be carefully twisted and wisely recomposed, where either prelatick extravagancie, or Pres∣byterian arrogancy, or popular petulancy, have ravelled, unloosned, or dissolved the intirenesse of its meet subordination and its ancient con∣stitution.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sense of true Honour calls for the esta∣blishment of Religion.
• * 1.2

  Sense of gra∣titude invites to restore and establish Re∣ligion.