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. IX. (Book 9)

That this Discipline makes a monster of the Commonwealth.

VVE have seen how pernicious this Discipline (as it is main∣tained in Scotland, and endeavoured to be introduced into England by the Covenant,) is to the supreme Magistrate, how it rob•…•… him of his Supremacy in Ecclesiasticall affaires, and of the last appeals of his own Subjects, that it exempts the Presbyters from the power of the Magistrate, and subjects the Magistrate to the Presbyters, that it restraines his dispensative power of pardoning, deprives him of the dependance of his Subjects, that it doth challenge and usurp a power paramount both of the Word and of the Sword, both of Peace and War, over all Courts and Estates, over all Laws Civill and Ecclesi∣asticall, in order to the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ, wher∣of the Presbyters alone are constituted rulers by God, and all this by a pretended divine right, which takes away all hope of remedy, untill it be hissed out of the world; in a word, that it is the top-branch of Popery, a greater tyranny, then ever Rome was guilty of. It remains to show how disadvantagious it is also to the Subject.

First, to the Common-wealth in generall, which it makes a Mon∣ster, like an Amphis•…•…baina, or a Serpent with two heads, one at either end. It makes a coordination of Soveraignty in the same Society, two supremes in the same Kingdom or State, the one Civill, the other Ecclesiasticall, then which nothing can be more pernicious, either to

the consciences, or the estates of Subjects, when it falls out (as it often doth) that from these two heads issue contrary commands, If the Trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battel? * 1.1 Much more when there are two Trumpets, and the one sounds an Al∣arm, the other a Retreat. What should the poor Souldier do in such a case? or the poor Subject in the other case? If he obey the Civill Magistrate, he is sure to be excommunicated by the Church; if he o∣bey the Church, he is sure to be imprisoned by the Civill Magistrate; What shall become of him? I know no remedy, but according to Solomons sentence, the living Subject must be divided into two, and * 1.2 the one half given to the one, and the other half to the other. For the Oracle of Truth hath said, that one man cannot serve two Masters. But in Scotland every man must serve two Masters, and (which is worse) many times disagreeing Masters. At the same time the Civill Magi∣strate hath commanded the Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour to be observed, and the Church hath forbidden it. At the same time the King hath summoned the Bishops to sit and Vote in Parliament, and the Church hath forbidden them.

In the year 1582. Monsieur-le-mot, a Knight of the Order of the * 1.3 Holy Ghost, with an associate, were sent Ambassadours from France into Scotland: The Ministers of Edenburgh approving not his Mes∣sage, (though meerly Civill,) inveigh in their Pulpits bitterly against him, calling his White Crosse the badge of Antichrist, and himself the Ambassadour of a Murtherer. The King was ashamed, but did not know how to help it; The Ambassadours were discontented and desired to be gone: The King willing to preserve the ancient Amity between the two Crownes, and to dismisse the Ambassadours with content, requires the Magistrates of Edenburgh to feast them at their departure; so they did; But to hinder this feast, upon the Sunday * 1.4 preceding, the Ministers proclame a Fast to be kept the same day the Feast was appointed; and to deteine the people all day at Church; the * 1.5 three Preachers make three Sermons, one after another without in∣termission, thundring out curses against the Magistrates and Noble∣men which waited upon the Ambassadors by the Kings appointment. Neither stayed they here, but pursued the Magistrates with the censures of the Church, for not observing the Fast by them proclaimed; and with much difficulty were wrought to abstaine from Excom∣municating of them; which censure, how heavy it falls in Scotland, you shall see by and by. To come yet neerer, the late Parliament in Scotland injoyned men to take up Armes for delivery of their King out of prison; The Commissioners for the Assembly disallowed it; and at this present how many are chased out of their Country? How

many are put to publike repentance in sackeloth? how many are ex∣communicated, for being obedient to the Supreme Ludicatory of the Kingdom, that is, King and Parliament? Miserable is the condition of that people where there is such clashing and interfereing of Suprem Judicatories and Authorities. If they shall pretend that this was no free Parliament: First, they affirm that which is not true; either that Parliament was free, or what will become of the rest? Secondly, this plea will advantage them nothing; for (which is all one with the former) thus they make themselves Judges of the validity or invali∣dity of Parliaments.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Cor. 1•…•…. 1.
• * 1.2

  1 Kin. 3. 25.
• * 1.3

  1582.
• * 1.4

  Febr. 16.
• * 1.5

  At Saint Giles Church.