Smectymnuus redivivus Being an answer to a book, entituled, An humble remonstrance. In which, the original of liturgy episcopacy is discussed, and quæries propounded concerning both. The parity of bishops and presbyters in scripture demonstrated. The occasion of the imparity in antiquity discovered. The disparity of the ancient and our moderne bishops manifested. The antiquity of ruling elders in the church vindicated. The prelaticall church bounded.

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TO THE READER.

Good Reader,

SOlomon told us long since, that there is no end of many books, Eccles. 12.12. Scripturiency (it seemeth) is no novell hu∣mour, but abounded then, even when the means of transmitting knowledge was more diffi∣cult; if there were cause for the complaint then, there is much more now; since the Presse hath helped the Penne, every one will be scribling, and so better bookes are neglected, and lie like a few grains of Corn under an heap of Chaffe and dust: usually books are received as fashions; the new∣est, not the best and most profitable, are most in esteem; in so much that really learned and sober men have been afraid to publish their labours, lest they should divert the world from reading the usefull works of others that wrote before them. * 1.1I remember Dr. Altingius a terse and neat spirit, stood out the battery of twenty years im∣portunity, and would not yield to divulge any thing upon this fear. Certainly (Reader) 'tis for thy profit sometimes to look back and consult with them that first laboured in the mines of knowledge, and not alwaies to take up with what

commeth next to hand. In this controversie of Discipline many have written, but not all with a like judgement and strength, which I believe hath been no small rock of offence, and stone of stum∣bling to the adversaries, who are hardned with nothing so much as a weak defence of the truth, as* 1.2 Austin complaineth, that when he was a Ma∣nichee he had had too too often the victory put into his hands by the defences of weak and un∣skilfull Christians. This work which the Statio∣ner hath now revived (that it may not be forgot∣ten, and like a Jewel after once shewing shut up in the Cabinet of private studies only) was pen∣ned by * 1.3 severall worthy Divines of great note and fame in the Churches of Christ, under the borrowed and covert name of SMECTYM∣NUUS, which was some matter of scorn and ex∣ception to the adversaries, as the Papists obje∣cted to Calvin his printing his Institutions under the name of Alcuinus, and to Bucer his naming himself Aretius Felinus, though all this without ground and reason, the affixion of the name to any work being a thing indifferent; for there we should not consider so much the Author, as the matter, and not who said it, but what; and the assumption of another name not being infamous but where: it is done out of deceit, and to anothers prejudice, or out of shame because of guilt, or feare to own the truths which they

should establish: I suppose the reverend Authours were willing to lie hid under this ONOMA∣STICK, partly that their work might not be received with prejudice, the faction against which they dealt, arrogating to themselves a Mo∣nopoly of Learning, and condemning all others as ignorants and novices not worthy to be heard; and partly that they might not burden their Frontis∣piece with a voluminous nomenclature, it not being usuall to affix so many names at length to one Treatise.

For the work it self, it speaketh its own praise, and is now once more subjected to thy censure and judgement: This second publication of it was occasioned by another book for vindication of the Ministery by the Provinciall Assembly of London, wherein there are frequent appeals to Smectymnuus; though otherwise I should have judged the reprinting seasonable; for the Lord hath now returned us to such a juncture of time, wherein there is greater freedom of debate with∣out noyse and vulgar prejudice; and certainly if the quarrell of Episcopacy were once cleared, and brought to an issue, we should not be so much in the dark in other parts of Discipline, the conviction of an errour by solid grounds being the best way to finde out the truth; reformations carried on with popular tumult, rather then rationall con∣viction,

seldom end well; though the judgement of God be to be observed in powring contempt upon those which are partiall in his law, yet the im∣provident leapes which a people are wont to make upon such occasions, lay the foundation of a lasting mischiefe. I hope that by the review of these matters we shall come to know more of the Lords counsell for the ordering of his house, or at least that by weighing what may be said on all sides, we shall learn more to * 1.4 truth it in love, which is the unfeined desire of him who is

Thine in the Lord, THO. MANTON.

Newington, June 23. 1653.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Videbat enin•• passim laborari mole & copiâ variorum in hoc genere commen∣••••tiorum; novis editionibus an∣cipitem reddi corum delectū; sed meliores eti∣am, id est veteres illos et probatos Authores è stu∣diosorum mani∣bus excuti &c▪ Praefat. Scripto∣rum Theolog. Hen∣ric. Alting.
• * 1.2

  Quaedam noxia victoria paenè mihi semper in disputationibus proveniebat cum Christianis im∣peritis: August. contra Manich. cap. 19.
• * 1.3

  Mr. Stephen Marshall. Mr. Edm. Calamy. Dr. Th. Young. Mr. Matthew Newcomen. Dr. William Spur∣stowe.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Eph. 4.15.