A whole load of such ignominious titles you may finde in a little Pam∣phlet
of one * Collyer, a very dangerous Sectary.
Answ. Lo this is the Livery we must look for from the ungrateful
world •• 'Tis no new thing: Mat. 5. 11, 12. Thus did they persecute
and revile the Prophets which were before us: let us not fret, but re∣joyce, and with those Apostles, esteem it our honour to be dishonoured
for Christ. Had they been enemies, we could the better have born it; but
these are the wounds with which we are wounded in the house of our
friends; those that not many years ago were ready to pull out their own
eyes for our good, now forsake us, and are ready to pull out ours.
God is beholding to us for the kindness which we shew to his Em∣bassadours.
If David were so displeased with Hanun, for abusing his
servants, 2 Sam. 10. 45. surely then the Righteous Lord will not al∣wayes
••ndure the indignities which are done to himself; for he that de∣spiseth
you, despiseth me. But he will arise, and smite thorow the loyns
of them that rise against him, and of them that hate his Embassadors,
that they rise not up again. Though Moses bear the reviling of Miriam,
yet the Lord will not; while he is dumb, God speaks; while he is deaf,
God hears and stirs. The more silent the patient is, the more shrill will
the wrong be.
And whereas they say our Ministery is Antichristian, because we
were ordained by Antichristian Bishops: We answer; This is easily said,
but not so easily proved; for, 1. we have our Ordination from Christ by
Bishops and Presbyters; we receive it not so much from them▪ as from
Christ our Lord and theirs. His sevants we are, and in his Name do
we execute our Ministerial Functions, and not in the Bishops. The Au∣thority
of the Presbytery is onely Ministerial service▪ whereby it restifies,
declares, and approves of those whom God approves and calls.
2. Neither were the Bishops which ordained us, Antichristian; which I
prove thus: Those who by their life and doctrine have witnessed a∣gainst
Antichrist, could not be Antichristian. But our Bishops (since
the Reformation) have witnessed against Antichrist: Ergo. Witness our
Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper Latimer, Farrar, Iewel▪ Pilkington,
Sands, Babington, A••bot, Davenant, Hall, Morton Vsher &c.
3. Consider they were Ministers, and did ordain us not quâ Lord Bi∣shops▪
but qudâ Presbyters, and had other Presbyters to joyn with them;
so that our Ordination from them is valid, and may in no wise be dis∣claimed.
4. Many of them were able Ministers, and painful Preachers; no
man can truly a••firm, that all our Bishops were wicked and Antichri∣stian,
many of them were men fearing God.