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G. B. pag. 66. I advance to the opposition made to the Regall office of Christ, & first how far is it from his Glory in Heaven, to beleive that five words muttred by a Preist should put him under the Elements. This is a new kind of humiliation.
ANSWER. You are very much mistaken,
if you think Humiliations in consistent with the the Regall office of Christ.(a) 1.1 When God brought his first begotten into the world, he sayd: And let all the Angels of God worship him. Yet he was then humbled to the condition, of a man, a private obscure man, and even below it, (Ps. 21.7.) Opprobrium hominum & abjectio plebis. Cer∣tainly there is more shew of Majesty, as he is placed on our Altars, envitoned with lyghts, adored by the People, Prelates, & Princes, the greatest Monarks laying their crownes, & the greatest Bishops, their Croziers & Miters at his feete, then as he was in the little cottage of his reputed father a Carpenter, picking Chips at his mothers command, or following his fa∣thers trade to get a subsistāce, knowne to none, regarded by none, slyghted by all, as is ordinary to men of that humble calling. And what shall I say of the death of the crosse, when his very disciples disowned him?
G. B. p, 67. What low thoughts of his per∣son must it breade in such minds, as are capble of beleiving this contrivance.
ANS. You speake like a Pagan, to whome the Crosse of Christ is folly, (1. Cor. 1.23.) ra∣ther then like a Christian, to whome Christ crucifyed (that is, under the greatest Humilia∣tion) is the vertu & wisdome of God. We who have learnt to looke or him as God Blessed for evermore, even when on the Crosse, & dying
we can take out of all his Humiliations occasion to admire his love, & adore his goodnesse to us: but not to disesteeme his person, or dimi∣nish our thoughts of his Majesty. And let me tell you, you are the first Christian, I know of, who ever made such unchristian reflections on the Humiliations of the son of God.
G. B. p. 67.68.69. & 70. In these you charge us, with three crimes. 1. With adding to the laws of Christ. 2. Dispensing with the laws of God. & 3. Commanding things indifferent contrary to Christian liberty. I Answer to the first, & third: the Apostles did the same (a) forbidding strangled meate, & Blood, which were things indifferent, & not forbidden by the law of Christ, And as to your objection, that this entrenches uppon Christian liberty, I answer out a person very deare to you, even your selfe, in your vindication, confer. 2. p. 172. Christian liberty is stated in an exemption from the laws of Moyses. Shew that we impose the law of Moyses, & you will say something to the purpose, fo our entrenching uppon Christian liberty.
As for Dispensing in Divine laws, when you prove what you object, I will consider what to answer. Your instances are not sufficient. For first as for dispensing of vows, there is an Epirkia in them, as in laws, which is an interpretation of some circumstances, in which they doe not oblidge: for example. A man vows to fast, next, lent with breade & water: & before that time
falls sicke & continues soe: why may not the Church declare his vow not to oblidge, or change it into something else? Item he vows a Pilgrimage: & his wife, family & affayres re∣quire his presence at home? If this doth not sa∣tisfy you, call to mind the procedings of your first Reformers, who opened all Cloisters, & dispensed with soe many vows, at one time. Is it not strange, that you should charge us with dispensing with some vows, when you an∣null all?
Secondly disolving wedlock bond. I know no∣ne who practice dissolving consummated mar∣riages. If you doe, accuse them: if you doe not, aske pardon for this false accusation.
Thirdly allowing marriages in for fidden degrees. The degrees hindring marriage were contained in the ceremoniall law, which expired with Christ, the end of that law. Those which now bind, are establisht by canon law, which was made, & doth depend on the Church.
Fourthly the communion under one kind, or the Chalice taken from the people contrary to the command of Christ. You can never prove that command to all, to drink of the Cup.
G. B. pag. 71. Another invasion of the Re∣gall Power, is the Popes pretence to be universall Bishop, which is termed by S. Gregory the greate to be Antichristian.
ANS. I know no Pope, who pretends to it; I know none, who give it them. If there
be any such, let them answer for them∣selves.
Now I desire you, to make good sense of something, you say: first p. 67. Christ hath deli∣vered us from the bondage of corruption, How is this done already, when the Apostle, (whose words those are, Rom. 8.21.) promises it only after the Resurrection.
Secondly pag. 68. Anathema is the mildest of the spirituall censures, we thunder against such as comply not with our tyranny. What spirituall cen∣sure Is more severe? I think that the severest of all, as we beleive after Tertul. Apolog. cap. 39. p. 68.
Thirdly pag. 69. No authority besides Christ can reach the conscience. S. Paul was of a diffe∣rent opinion, when he enjoines obedience to the commands of Princes, not only, for wrath, but for Conscience.
Heb. 1.7.