A discourse of the forbearance or the penalties which a due reformation requires by H. Thorndike ...

CHAP. IX. That it cannot be done without the Synods of this Church.

ANd therefore, it being granted on both sides, that the Soveraign Pow∣er of Christian Kingdoms and States, pro∣ceeding duely, obligeth the Subjects, to submit to the Reformation of the Church; and cannot exact Legal Penalties of them which refuse, upon any other Terms; I do except, in the second place, that it ought to proceed in all Reformation, by and upon the Authority of this Church; That is, of the Synods. For what doth the whole Church agree in so Visibly, as in this; That the Authority which God hath instituted in his Church should give Laws

to his Church? And how can a Christian Kingdom promise themselves Gods bles∣sing, upon such Acts, as they have no Pow∣er nor Right from God to do? For, granting there is such a thing as a Catho∣lick Church; it is not possible, that any Christian Kingdom, which must be a part of it, should have Power to inact any thing Prejudicial, much less destructive to the Whole; to the Visible Being, which is, the Visible Communion of it. And there∣fore, the Faith and the Laws of the whole being the Condition, under which the parts are to communicate; no Christian Kingdom can have Power from God, to give New Laws in Religion, to the Subjects thereof, which the Church of the King∣dom warranteth not, to be according to the Laws of the whole Church. If any thing may appear to have been in force, in the Primitive Church, and, by the abuse of succeeding times, to have become void; I do not deny, that the Secular Power may Reform the Church, by re∣storing it, though the Church should re∣fuse their Consent to it. The reason is, be∣cause the Church would be without help, if there were no Lawful way to restore the decays of it; Which, we agree, have

come to pass; without the consent of them that are chargeable for the decay of it. Now, the Faith and the Laws of the Catholick Church are the Birth-right of all Christians; Purchased, by underta∣king to Profess one Catholick Church, at their Baptism: And Christian Powers are to protect their Christian Subjects in their Birth-right. And, the Authority of the present Church is not seen, in the Faith and the Laws of the Whole Church. For, it is meer matter of Fact, what they are; The evidence whereof (praeexi∣stent to the Authority of the present Church) cannot be understood to require, or to presuppose it. And therefore, the Authority of the Church cannot be vio∣lated, by reducing the Faith and the Laws of the Primitive Church into force. Nevertheless, in regard, that which is decayed can seldom be restored, without determining new Bounds, which the pre∣sent state of the Church requires; It is manifestly the Office of the Church, to determine the same: Nor can it be done by Christian Powers of this World, without assuming to themselves that Authority, in which they are to maintain the Church. For, though Soveraign Power hath Sove∣raign

Right, in all Causes and over all Persons Ecclesiastical, yet is it capable of no Ecclesiastical Power, or Right; But is to maintain those that have it, by the Laws of the Church, in the use of it. If any thing were done at the Reformation, setting aside the Synods of this Church; which, I am here neither to deny, nor to acknowledge; it must be justified upon this Account, that they refused the Au∣thority of the Whole Church, in autho∣rizing the Reformation of this Church. If any thing now may appear to be de∣manded upon the same Account; let the Authority of the Synods be passed by, for their punishment, if they hinder the Reformation of the Church, by refusing it. But that cannot appear, till it may appear; First, that the matter demanded ought to have the force of Law in the Church; having been of force, and since decayed, by the injury of time, or cor∣ruption of men: Secondly, that it is of such weight, that Religion is like to have more advantage, by restoring it, then the Ʋnity of the Church shall suffer, by viola∣ting the Regular Authority of the Church. What thanks I shall have of my LL. the Bishops for this, I know not; For I deny,

that they themselves can have any Autho∣rity in the Case, that shall not be confined within the same bounds. But it is not possible, for him that is the most jealous of the Rights of the Crown, in Church-mat∣ters, to say, what danger there can be to this Crown, in securing the Conscience of the Kingdom, by the Authority of the Church. For, the acknowledging of those Bounds, which the Authority of the Church is confined to, as well in respect of Soveraign Power, in the Dominions whereof it subsisteth, as of the rest of the Church; leaveth no Plea for it to Ʋsurp, either upon the Crown, or upon the Chri∣stian Subjects of it. And all this I claim by S. Paul, where he commandeth all Christians, to abide in that state in which they are called to be Christians. Which cannot otherwise oblige all Clergie-men, to be Subjects, upon the same terms, as they should be, if their Soveraigns were not Christians; but, that it must oblige all Publick Powers, to maintain the Clergy in the same Rights, which they had, and must have had over Christian People, did not the Publick Powers profess the Faith. And therefore, though I do claim, that the Synods of the two Provinces, and

their Decrees, ought to be confined within the bounds so oft said; yet I do demand of All, (especially of those that may have made the Oath of Canonical Obe∣dience, to their Bishops) how they can profess to owne Episcopacy; especially according to their Oath; that pass over this Right of the Synods. For, that which is done without, or against their Consent, shall make them no Bishops; That must receive Law from their Clergy, if the Se∣cular Power make their sense of the Scripture Law to the Kingdom. Where∣as I, that take the liberty to prove all this, without their Authority, can clearly Pro∣fess, that I think it a point not subject to Canonical Authority, which I plead for; And that otherwise, I should think it in∣consistent with the Oath of Canonical Obedience which I have made.