The second and last part of Reasons for refusall of subscription to the Booke of common prayer vnder the hands of certaine ministers of Deuon. and Cornwall, as they were exhibited by them to the right Reuerend Father in God William Cotton Doctor of Diuinitie, and Lord Bishop of Exceter. As also an appendix, or compendious briefe of all other exceptions taken by others against the bookes of communion, homilies, and ordination, word for word, as it came to the hands of an honorable personage. VVith an ansvvere to both at seuerall times returned them in publike conference, and in diuerse sermons vpon occasion preached in the cathedrall church of Exceter by Thomas Hutton Bachiler of Diuinitie, and fellow of S. Iohns Colledge in Oxon.

Our Sauiour might giue what the Bishop cannot.

True if Christ had not sent them as the Father sent him: True if in ordination men did take vpon them to giue,* 1.1 as im∣mediately from themselues in their owne persons, as Christ did in his: True if they prayed not that God would giue what they thinke necessarie to speake of: True if the Bishop did meane the person of the holy Ghost: True, if that God did neuer take of the spirit of his seruant, and giue of it vnto another, as in Moses when the Lord tooke of the spirit which was vpon him, and gaue vnto the 70. Num. 11.17. yea sometimes doubling it vpon one from another,* 1.2 as 2. King. 2.9. that of Elia vpon Elizeus.* 1.3 Sure∣ly, surely were a caueller but modestly affected in handling this point, he would no more repine at these words. Receiue the holy Ghost, then at those, which euery Minister vseth the Lord be with you,* 1.4 or at that which the people returne as in S. Chry∣sostome his time the manner was, and yet is (and with thy spi∣rit). Besides at such times what imply these words but autho∣ritie in him that consecrateth? And they that are consecrated are giuen to vnderstand they haue power being thus ordained to intermeddle in spirituall, Ghostly, and holy occasions, so as they are in the words remembred warranted by their publike functi∣on, that they are rightly and lawfully called, and are no intru∣ders, hereby giuing vs and others to vnderstand, what reue∣rence is to be yeelded them for their sacred function, which they now discharge. So as retaine they sinnes, or remit sinnes, ex∣communicate, or pronounce absolution, Preach, pray, admonish, exhort, counsell, reproue, baptize, or administer the holy Supper of the Lord, in all these they are to be estéemed as the disposers of the mysteries of God, and their words sentence, iudgements, cen∣sures, acts, or déedes are not hence foorth theirs, as of a priuate man, or of man at all, but the words, counsels, and déedes of the holy Ghost, and men disobeying or resisting disobey not, nor resist them,* 1.5 for who are they in the view of a carnall eye, but they disobey and resist the holy Ghost,* 1.6 in whose name their commission hath so great power, as that it is not from earth

earthly, but from heauen heauenly. For when it is (thus saith the Lord) it must be thought that the Prophets also did then speake. So little reason had any to trouble himselfe, or the Church with these occurrences, which are no sooner mooued, but assoone answere for themselues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioh. 20, 2••••
• * 1.2

  Num. 11.17.
• * 1.3

  2 King, 2.9.
• * 1.4

  Chrisost. homil. 33. in cap 9 Math. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  1. Sam 8.7.
• * 1.6

  N••m. 16.11.