The antipathie of the English lordly prelacie, both to regall monarchy, and civill unity: or, An historicall collection of the severall execrable treasons, conspiracies, rebellions, seditions, state-schismes, contumacies, oppressions, & anti-monarchicall practices, of our English, Brittish, French, Scottish, & Irish lordly prelates, against our kings, kingdomes, laws, liberties; and of the severall warres, and civill dissentions occasioned by them in, or against our realm, in former and latter ages Together with the judgement of our owne ancient writers, & most judicious authors, touching the pretended divine jurisdiction, the calling, lordlinesse, temporalities, wealth, secular imployments, trayterous practises, unprofitablenesse, and mischievousnesse of lordly prelates, both to King, state, Church; with an answer to the chiefe objections made for the divinity, or continuance of their lordly function. The first part. By William Prynne, late (and now againe) an utter-barester of Lincolnes Inne.

Borthwicke.

The Lord in the eighteenth Chapter of the Booke of Numbers said thus unto Aaron, Thou shalt possesse nothing in their Land, neither shalt thou have any por∣tion amongst them, I am thy portion and inheritance a∣mongst the Children of Israel: for unto the sonnes of Le∣vi I have given all the Tithes of Israel, that they should possesse them for their Ministry which they doe execute in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Albeit I doe not doubt, but that the Order of the Levites and of the Clergy is farre different and variable. For the admi∣nistration of their sacred and holy things, after their death, passed unto their posterity, as it were by right of inheritance, which happeneth not unto the posterity of our Clergy in these dayes.

Furthermore, if any heritage be provided or gotten for them, I doe not gain••-say, but that they shall pos∣sesse it, but still I doe affirme, That all temporall ju∣risdiction should be taken from them: For when as twice there arose a contention amongst the Disciples, which of them should be thought the greatest, Christ answered, The kings of Nations have dominion over them,* 1.1 and such which have power over them are cal∣led

beneficiall; you shall not doe so, for hee which is greatest amongst you, shall be made equall unto the youngest or least, and hee which is the Prince, or Ruler amongst you, shall be made equall unto him that doth minister; minding thereby, and willing ut∣terly to debarre the Ministers of his Word from all terrene and civill dominion and Empire: For by these points he doth not onely declare, that the office of a Pastor is distinct, and divided from the office of a Prince and Ruler; but they are in effect, so much different and separate, that they cannot agree or ioyne together in one man. Neither is it to be thought that Christ did set or ordaine an harder Law then hee himselfe did take upon him: For so much as in the twelfth of Luke, certaine of the company said un∣to him, Master, command my brother that he divide his inheritance with mee. Hee answered, Man, who made me a Judge, or a divider amongst you? Wee see therefore, that Christ even simply did reiect and refuse the office of a Judge,* 1.2 the which thing hee would not have done, if it had beene agreeable un∣to his office or duty. The like thing also hee did in the eighth Chapter of Iohn, when as hee refused to give iudgement upon the woman taken in adultery, which was brought before him•• Whereas they doe al∣leage ••hat Moses did supply both offices at once.* 1.3 I an∣swer, that it was done by a rare miracle. Further∣more, that it continued but for a time, untill things were brought unto a better state; besides that, there was a certaine forme and rule prescribed him of the Lord, then tooke hee upon him the civill governance, and the Priesthood, he was commanded to resigne un∣to his b••other; and that not without good cause, for it is against nature, that one man should suffice both charges, wherefore it was diligently fore-seene and pro∣vided for in all ages. Neither was there any Bishop so long as any true face or shew of the Church did con∣tinue, who once thought to usurpe the right and title of the sword: whereupon in the time of Saint Ambrose, this proverbe tooke his originall, That Emperours did

rather wish or desire the office of Priesthood, then Priests any Empire. For it was all mens opinions at that time, that sumptuous palaces did pertaine unto Empe∣rours, and Churches unto Priests. Saint Bernard also writeth many things which are agreeable unto this our opinion, as is this his saying, Peter could not give that which hee had not,* 1.4 but hee gave unto his succes••ours that which hee had, that is to say, carefulnesse over the Congregation; for when as the Lord and Master saith, That he is not constituted or ordained Judge be∣tweene two, the servant or Disciple ought not to take it scornfully, if that he may not judge all men. And lest that hee might seeme in that place to speake of the spirituall judgement, hee straightway annexeth, there∣fore, saith hee, your power and authority shall be in offence and transgression, not in possessions. For this purpose, and not for the other, have you received the keyes of the kingdome of Heaven, why then doe you invade other mens bounds or borders? The rest I will passe over for brevities cause.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Civill domion differing f••om Ecclesiasticall.
• * 1.2

  Christ refuseth the office of a Civill Iudge.
• * 1.3

  An objection made by the ex∣ample of Mo••es supplying both the offices an∣swered unto.
• * 1.4

  Palaces to Prin∣ces, Churches pertaine to priests; Peter could not give that he had not, Peter had no Lordly domini∣on. Ergo Peter could not give Lordly domini∣on to his suc∣cessors.