The judgement of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. Of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome. (With a sermon of Bishop Bedels upon the same words.) Of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministery. Of the old form of words in ordination. Of a set form of prayer. / Published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard D.D. and preacher to the Honourable Society of Grayes-Inne, London. Unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late primate.

To the Reader.

HOw Popery and(a) 1.1 Prelacy came first to be contracted, is not my en∣quiry; but sure I am, they are here very far asunder, such as do apply that of Babylon (Rev. 17.) and the Man of sin (2 Thes. 2.) to the Pope can hardly be ac∣counted Popish, which you find af∣firmed by the late Archbishop of Armagh, and Bishop Bedell, in their discussing of the same words, And who are supported in it by the most Eminent Bishops of Eng∣land and Ireland, since the Refor∣mation.

Archbishop Whitgift, Bi∣shop Jewell; Abbot, Bilson, An∣drews, Downham, Morton, Hall, Davenant, Prideaux, with others, who have unanimously given their votes the same way, as is hereaf∣ter shewn, And indeed it could not be otherwise expected from some of them who had been taught to put him into their(b) 1.2 Letany, From the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enor∣mities, Good Lord deliver us. So that if any of later years pro∣fessing themselves to be the sons of those old Prophets, have so far favoured the See of Rome, as to divert the stream of that applica∣tion some other way, it appears they have in it degenerated from their Ancestors.

The first Treatise, being the Pri∣mates three positions concerning

Babylon, was wrot above 40 years agone, (which appears by the pla∣ces of Scripture, rendred accord∣ing to the old Translation) and sent to an Irish Jesuit in Dublin, (as I take it(c) 1.3 Christophorus à sacro bosco, there called F. Haly∣wood, the summe of which having been delivered by the Primate in a Sermon which he preached at Grays-Inne, Nov. 5. 1654. and be∣ing much desired by some of the Au∣ditours to be published, he did con∣descend, to permit this, with that other Letter following, in their satisfaction.

The learned Sermon of Bishop Bedels (being of the same subject) I heard him preach it in Christ-Church, Dublin, 1634. before the Lord Deputy and Parliament. The occasion of his giving a copy of it, was at the request of a Papist, to

have shewen it to some learned men of his own Religion, and my opportunity to have it, was the near relation I had to him for divers years in that See; which after these 22 yeares lying latent with me) I have taken this fit occasion to publish it.

That which I have added, is by way of confirmation from some grounds out of Ancient Fathers, the successive votes both of the learned Writers in those ages, who lived under the Tyranny of the See of Rome, as of our eminent Bishops and Writers, since that yoke was cast off in England; with the concurrence of our book of Homilies, severall Synods of our own, and other reformed Chur∣ches, the determination of the* 1.4 Dutch and French Divines. It being very observable, that what∣soever

differences there are in the reformed Churches in other mat∣ters, yet there is a marvellous uni∣ty in this. To which is added the like judgement of Arminius, and some of the Church of Rome, (continuing at least in that com∣munion) who professe it out-right; others by way of consequence: Their chief Writers, who meet us halfe way, granting the place, on∣ly disputing the time, contending as much as we, that Babylon (Rev. 17.) must be meant Rome, the dif∣ference between us, whether Eth∣nick, or Papall.

For that of the Primates judge∣ment (seconded by some eminent Writers) what is meant, Heb, 6.2. by laying on of hands, and of the sense of the old form of words in Ordination; viz. Receive the holy Ghost, whose sins thou for∣givest,

&c. and the use of them to be continued. I had leave from himself for the manifesting and enlarging of it. And I suppose the last subject concerning a Set Form of Prayer, will passe with the lesse opposition, by the con∣curring of divers eminent and worthy Persons, whom the con∣trary-minded cannot but highly esteem of. Having both in the for∣mer and this, taken up Saint Pauls manner of arguing with the Athenians, as certain also of your own have said, &c. or as elsewhere, one of themselves, e∣ven a Prophet of their own, &c. And surely, the Primates appear∣ing so much against the See of Rome in the first, cannot but be a preparative to the hearkning unto him the rather, in the two later.

For my self, I have no other de∣sign in the whole, but the peace and unity of the Church, which we are all bound to seek, (and with∣out which end and aim, all gifts whatsoever coveted by us, are of no value) and I hope to have that interpretation from such as are so affected.

Two things which have been enlarged by way of Vindication of the Eminent Primate, from the injuries of Doctor Heylene, came so in my way, that I could not passe them, which else (by his being in the esteem of men so far above his reach) there had been no need of. He having in those and divers other aspersions which he hath cast upon him in his late book (which may hereafter be fully cleared) done himselfe the chiefest wrong.

I commend the whole to the Readers charitable and impar∣tiall censure, that no prejudicate opinion doe obstruct his right ap∣prehension.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Though of late it hath had that lati∣tude as to comprehend Episcopacy, yet, in Ancient Re∣cords (which I have seen) it was limited to the Deans and Chapters; For this was then the form of the Arch-Bi∣shops Provin∣ciall visitation, declaring that he would visit, Episcopum, Praelatos, cle∣rum & populum.
• (b) 1.2

  Common Prayer in Edw. 6.
• (c) 1.3

  The first that broach∣ed that fig∣ment of the Nagges head consecration in England, af∣ter 45 yeares silence of any other Author, which in Bi∣shop Bedells Letters to Wadesworth, p. 142. is con∣futed.
• * 1.4

  Synops. Theol. disp. 4••. de Christo & An∣tichristo conclus. Ex quibus ap∣paret Pontifi∣cem & Papam Romanum, re∣vera Antichri∣stum & filium perditionis esse, &c.