Three treatises concerning the Scotish discipline 1. A fair warning to take heed of the same, by the Right Reverend Dr. Bramhall, Bishop of Derris : 2. A review of Dr. Bramble, late Bishop of London-Derry, his fair warning, &c. by R.B.G. : 3. A second fair warning, in vindication of the first, against the seditious reviewer, by Ri. Watson, chaplain to the Right Honorable the Lord Hopton : to which is prefixed, a letter written by the Reverend Dean of St. Burien, Dr. Creyghton.

CHAP. VIII. (Book 8)

That the Disciplinarians challenge this exorbitant Power by Di∣vine Right.

BEhold both Swords spirituall and temporall in the hands of the Presbytery, the one ordinarily by common right, the other extra∣ordinarily; the one belonging directly to the Church, the other indi∣rectly; the one of the Kingdome of Christ, the other for his King∣dom, in order to the propagation of Religion. See how these hocas p•…•…cases with stripping up their sleeves and professions of plain-dealing, with declaiming against the tyranny of Prelates, under the pretense of humility and Ministeriall duty, have wrested the Scepter out of the hand of Majesty, and jugled themselves into as absolute a Papacy, as ever was within the walls of Rome. O Saviour, behold thy Vicars, and see whither the pride of the servants of thy servants is ascended. Now their Consistories are become the Tribunalls of Christ. That were strange indeed! Christ hath but one Tribunall, his Kingdome is not of this world. Their determinations passe for the Sentences of Christ. Alas there is too much faction, and passion, and ignorance in their Presbyteries. Their Synodall Acts go for the Lawes of Christ. His Lawes are immutable, mortall man may not presume to alter them,

or to adde to them; but these men are chopping and changing their constitutions every day. Their Elders must be looked upon as the Com∣missioners of Christ. It is impossible! Geneva was the first City where this discipline was hatched, though since it hath lighted into hucksters hands. In those dayes they magnified the platform of Geneva, for the pattern sbewed in the mount. But there, the Presbyters at their ad∣mission take an oath, to observe the Ecclesiasticall Ordinances of the small, great, and generall Councels of that City. Can any man be so stupid, as to think, that the high Commissioners of Christ swear fealty to the Burgers of Geneva? Now forsooth their Discipline is become the Scepter of Christ, the Eternall Gospel. (See how successe exalts mens desires and demands.) In good time, where did this Scepter lye hid for 1500. yeers, that we cannot finde the least footsteps of it in the meanest village of Christendome? This world drawes towards an end; was this discipline fitted and contrived for the world to come? Or how should it be the Eternal Gospel? When every man sees how different it is from it self, in all Presbyterian Churches, adapted and accommodated to the civill policy of each particular place where it is admitted, except onely Scotland, where it comes in like a Conqueror, and makes the Civill Power stoop and strike topsaile to it. Certain∣ly, if it be the Gospel, it is the fifth Gospel, for it hath no kindred with the other foure. There is not a Text which they wrest against Epis∣copacy, but the Independants may with as much colour of reason, and truth, urge it against their Presbyteries. Where doth the Gospel distinguish between temporary and perpetuall Rulers? Between the Government of a person, and of a corporation? There is not a Text which they produce for their Presbytery, but may with much more reason be alledged for Episcopacy, and more agreeable to the analogie of faith, to the perpetuall practice and belief of the Catholick Church, to the concurrent Expositions of all Interpreters, and to the other Texts of holy Scripture; for untill this new modell was yesterday devised none of those Texts were ever so understood. When the pra∣ctise ushers in the doctrine, it is very suspicious, or rather evident, that the Scripture was not the rule of their reformation, but their subse∣quent excuse. This (jure divine) is that which makes their sore in∣curable, themselves incorrigible, that they father their own brat upon God Almighty, and make this Mushrome which sprung but up the other night, to be of heavenly descent. It is just like the doctrine of the Popet infallibility, which shuts the door against all hope of reme∣dy. How should they be brought to reform their errors, who beleeve they cannot erre, or they be brought to renounce their drowsy dreams, who take it for granted, that they are divine revelations!

And yet when that wise Prince, King Iames, a little before the * 1.1 Nationall Assembly at Perth, published in print 55. Articles or Que∣stions, concerning the uncertainty of this Discipline, and the vanity of their pretended plea of divine right, and concerning the errours and abuses crept into it, for the better preparation of all men to the ensu∣ing Synod, that Ministers might study the point beforehand, and speak to the purpose; they who stood affected to that way were extremely perplexed. To give a particular account, they knew well it was im∣possible; but their chiefest trouble was, that their foundation of di∣vine right, which they had given out all this while to be a solid rock, should come now to be questioned for a shaking quagmire. And so without any opposition they yeelded the bucklers. Thus it continued untill these unhappy troubles, when they started aside again like bro∣ken bowes. This plant thrives better in the midst of tumults, then in the times of peace and tranquillity. The Elme which supports it, is a factious multitude, but a prudent and couragious Magistrate nips it in the bud.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. 1596.