f.* ' -ffl/. 1 ' -^ /6r*J*A, &J />■*> 'K ¥ \'*7¥ *t f K % * AfrJ>~+* fc*f*s \> V mrr- r ■rXQ&ii'St ZZ '?*£ >T ^M ..<"».•*•; To the Reader. His vnhappy Controucrfie, about the receiued Cere- monies & Difciphne of the Church of £ngland,which hath Co long time with- drawne fo many of her Mf- nifters from their principall worke, and imployed their Studies in contentious Op pofitionsrhath by the vnnaturali growth and dange- rous fruits therof, made fcnowne to the World, that it neuer receiued blefsing from the Father of Peace. For whofe experience doth not find, what confufi- on of Qrder,and breach of the {acred Bond of Loue hath fprung from this Diflention; how it hath rent the body of the Church into dmers parts , and diui. ded her people into dmers Sedls; how it hath taught the Sheepe to delpife their Paftors, and alienated the Paftors from the loue of their Flockes: how it hath ftrengthened the Irreligious in their Impieties, and A z hath • To The Reader. hath railed the hopes of the iacnlegious deuourers of the remaines of Chrifts Patrimonie; and giuen way to the common Aduei fane of Gods Truth, and our prolpentie,to grow great in our Land without reflft- ancej who feeth not ho w it hath diftrafted the minds of the multitude, and {hafcen their faith, andfeanda- lized their weakenefle, and hath generally killed the very heart of true Pietie, and religious Deuotion, by changing our zeale towards Chrifts glorie * into the fire of Enuie and Malice, and Heart-burning , and zeale to euery mans pnuate caufe /This is the fumme ofall the games which the tedious contentions of Co many yeers haue brought in, by the ruine of Chrifts Kingdome, the encreafe of Satans,partly in Superfti- tion, and partly in Impietie • So much better were it in thefe our dwellings of Peace to endure any mcon- uenience whatfbeuer in the ontward frame , then in defire of alteration^hus to let thewhole houfe on fire. Which mooued the Religious heart of this learned VVriteiyn zeale of Gods truth,and in companion to his Church,the mother of vs all, which gaue vs both the firft breath of Spiritnall Life,and from her Brefts hath fed vs vnto this whatfbeuer meafure of growth we haue in Chrift , to ftand vp and take vpon him a gcnerall defence both of her felfe, and of her eftabli- fhed La wes; and by force of demonflxation, fo farre as the nature of the prefent matter could beare , to make knowne to the World , and thefe Oppugners of her, that all thofe bitter accufations laide to her charge, are not the faults of her Lawes and Orders, but To The Reads r. but either their owne miftakes in the mifvnderftan- ding,or the abufes of men in the ll execution of them, A Work fubiedt to manifold reprehenfions and op* pofitions, and not futable to his foft and mild difpofi- tion,defirous of a quiet pnuate life, wherein he might bring forth the fruits of Peace in Peace, But the loue ofGodandofhisCountne, whofe greateft danger grew from this Diuifion , made his heart hot within him,and at length the firekindled,andamongftma- nie other moft Reuerend and Learned men^hee alfo prefumed to fpeake with his Pen. And the rather>be- caufehec faw that none of thefe ordinarie obiedlions of partialities could eleuate the authontie of his wri- ting,who alwaies afft<5led a priuaceState^and neither cnioyed, nor expected any the leaftDigmtie in oar Church. What admirable height of Learning^nd depth of Iudgement dwelled within the lowly mind of this true humble Man,great in al wife mens eyes, except hisowne • with what Grauitie and Maieftie of (peech his tongue and Pen vttered heauenlyMyfte- nes, whofe eyes in the humilitie of his heart were aU wayes caft downe to the ground; howall things that proceeded from him were brcathed,as from thefpirit of Loue,as if He like the Bird of the Holy Ghoft,the Doue, had wanted Gall Jet them that knew him not inhisperfon, mdge by thefe liuing Images of his Soule, his writings- For out of thefe,euen thofe who othei wife a^ree not with him in Opinion, doe at foord him the teftimonie of a milde and alomng Spi- rit : and of his Learning, what greater proofe can we haue To The Reader. haue then this, that his wntingsare moft admired by thofewhothemfeluiesdoemoft excell in ludicious Learning, and by tlhem the more often they are read, the more highly the?y are extolled <3c defired.? which v is the caufe of this fhxth Edition of his former bookes, and that without amy addition or diminution whatfb- euer. For who will put a Pencile to fuch a Worke, from which fiich a 'workman hath taken his ( There is a purpofe of fettimg forth the three laft Books alio, their Fathers Tojlhmmu For as i n the great declining of his body {pent ouit with ftudie, it was his ordtnane Petition to Almighttie God, that if hee might hue to fee the finifhingoftlhefe bookes,then Lord let thy fer* uant depart inpeaceQto vfe his own words,}fb it plea- fed God to grant hiim his dffire : For he liued till he law them perfedted;«5c though like Ttycbelhe died as it were in die trauell of them,and haftned death vpon himfelfe, by hafteniing to giue them life : yethe held out to behold with his eyes, thcCc partus ingenij, thefe c Beniamins y Sonnes « of his right hand, though to him they were TSenonies , Sonnes of Paine and Sorrow. But fbme euil difpolfed minds, whether of Malice or couetoufnefle, or wncked blind Zeale,it is vncertain, as if they had beene iEgiptian Mid*wiues,as {bone as they were borne , amd their Father dead, (mothered them, & by conueyiing away the perfect Copies left vntovs nothing but i certain old vnperfedlandmang- led Draughts, difmtembred into pieces,and Scattered like Medeas Ab(irtms:no fauor* no grace,not the Ala** dowesofthemfeluess almofl: remaining in them. Had the To The Reader. the Father liued to fee them brought foorth thus defa- ced, he might rightfully haue named them Genomes 9 the Sonnes of Sorrow, But feeing the importunities of many great and worthy perfbns,will no t fuflfer them quietly to die and to be buried, it is intended that they fhall fee them as they are. The Learned and Iudicious eye, will yet perhaps delight it felfe in beholdling the goodly Line- aments of their well fet Bodies , and in finding out fbme fhadowes andrefemblance:s of their Fathers face. God graunt that as they were wnth their Brethren de- dicated to the Church for Meflengers of Peace : fo in the ftrength of that little breath of life that remaineth in them, they may profper in their worke; and by fa- tisfymg the doubts of filch as are willing to learne, may helpe to giue an end to the ca- lamities of thefe ou;r Ciuill VV arres. f. S. » A PREFACE, To them that fceke ( as they terme it ) the "J^eformation of La^es and Orders Ecclefiafticall, in the Church of England. Hough for no other caufe , yet for this, that pojleritie may know 9 we haue not loojely through filence permitted things to paffe away as in a dreame 9 there frail be for mens information ex- tant thus much concerning the prefent ft ate of the Church of God eftabltfl>ed amongU ys 9 and their carefuU endea- uour which would haue upheld tht~> fame. M your hands 9 bckuedin our Lord and Sauiour Iefus Chrifl (for in him the lone ^ohich we beare l?nto all that would but feeme to be borne of i him 9 it in not the fea of your gall and bittemeffe that jh all euer drowne) I haue no great caufe to looh for other then the felfe fame portion andlot 9 - which your manner hath beene hitherto to lay on them that concur re not ■Jn Opinion and Sentence •tyitb you. But our hope is 9 that the God of t peace fiat! (nottvithftanding mans nature , too impatient of contumelious j malediction) enable Its quietly 9 and eutn gladly to fuffer all things , for ithat morkefake lohich we touet to performe. The wonderful! %eale and jferuour wherewith yee haue with flood the receiued orders of this Churchy T60J The caufe and occafi- on of hand- ling thefe things : and what might be wifhed in them, for whofe fakes lb much paines is taken. The Preface, 'Was the firft thing "Which caufed me to enter into confederation, "Whether (as all your publifhed Bookes and Writings peremptorily maintaine)euery Qhriflian man fearing God , Jiand hound to ioyne "With you for the furthe- rance of that "Which yee terme the Lords Discipline. Wherein I muft plainly cmfeffe Itntoyou, that before I examine dy our fundrie declarations in that behalf e , it could not fettle in my head to thinke , but that Undoub- tedly fuch numbers of other wife right "Well ajfetled and mojt religioujly enclined minds 9 had fame maruelous reafonable inducements which led them "With fo great earne(ine(je that "Way, But "When once, as neere as my /lender abilitie "Would ferue 3 1 had -with trauell tsr care performed that part of the Apoflles aduice and conn fell in fuch cafes, "Whereby he "Willeth to trie all things; and "W4* come at the length fo fane, that there remained one- ly the other clauje to be fatis fed, "Wherein he concludeth, that what good is muft be held .* there "Was in my poore ynderftanding no remedy but to fetdowne this as my finall refolute perfoafioni Surely the prefent forme of Church gouernment which the Lawes o/*this Land V haue eftabliihed, is fuch, as no Law of God, norreafon of man hach hithei to beene alleadged, of force fufficient to prooue they doe ill, who to the vttermoft of their power withltand the alte- ration thereof : Contrariwife : The other which infteadeotit wee are required to accept, is only by errour and mifconceipt named the ordinance of lefus Chrift , no one proofe as yet brought forth , whereby it may cieercly appeare to bee fo in very deede. The explication of "Which two things I haue here thought good to offer in-* U y our owne hands : heartily befeechingyou euen by the metkneffe of lefus: Chrift, "Whom I trufiye loue } that, as ye tender the peace and auietneffer of this Church, if there bee in you that gracious humilitie "Which hath euer beene the Crowne and glory of a Chrifiianly diffofed minde j if your owner foules, hearts and confeiences, (the found integritie "whereof can but hardly i Jiand -with the refuf all of truth in per fonallrefpeBs) be, as I doubt not but' they are, things mofideare and precious Ipntoyou, Let not the faiths which ye haue in our Lord lefus Chrift, be blemifhed with par- tialities, regard not "who it is "Which ffeaketh, but -weigh only "What isjpo- ken. Thinke not that yereade the coords of one, "Who bendeth himfelfe as; an Aduerfary avainft the Truth, -which ye haue alreadie imbraced ; bur. the "Words of one "who deftreth euen to imbrace together "With you the J elf & fame truth, if it bee the truth; and for that caufe^form other Godhees kno"weth )hath Undertaken the burthenfome labour of thu painfull kind o)f conference. For the flayner accede "Wbereunto, let it bee law full for me tv> AtMM.l. I HE I R E £ A C E, rip Top to the *bery bottome how and by 'Whom your fDifcipline ypcu plan- ted, atfuch time as this age feline in began to makejirfl triall thereof, 2. J founder it bad, "whom, for mine owncpart , lthinke incom- The firft cfta* par ably the mfeft man that euer the French Church did enioy , fine e~, newDifcipHne the hour e it enioyed him. His bringing lap "Was in the Jludie, of the byM caiumes CiuiULaw. (Diuine knowledge he gathered not by hearing or reading the church of femucb,as by teaching otkrs. For though thousands ypere debtersto Seginnfng him,as touchinge knowledge in that kind-jet he to none but only to God, ? f ftnfc abouc the author of that mofi blejfed Fount aine the 'Booke of Life, and of the fciucT 8 admirable dexterit'ie of'Wit , togeather "With the helps of other learning "Which ypere his giudesitiQ being occasioned to leaue France,hefellatthe length ypon Geneua : Which Citie, the 'Bijhop and Clergie thereof had a little before (asfome doe affirme)forfaken,being of likely hood fright ted 'With the peoples judden attempt for aboltp?ment ofPopifl? Religion; the euent ofyphich enterprise they thought it not fafe for themfelues to "to ait for in that place. Atthecomming of Calumet hither, the forme , ^Affott of their cinill Regiment yeoj popular, as itcontinnueth at this day : nei- ther King , nor fDuke 3 nor Nobleman of any authoritie or power ouer them, but officers chojen by the people yeerely out of themfelues, to order all things "%>ith publique confent, ForJpirituaO Gonernement 9 they had no hawes at aH agreed ypon, but did yfhat the Pajlors of their foules by perfwafion could -winne them 1>nto m Caluine being admitted one of their ^Preachers and a in obedience lontofuch orders concerning the exercife of their Religion, and the forme of their EcclefiafiicaUGouememeut , as tbofe their true and faith full Minijlers of Gods Word had agreeably to Scripture fet downepr that end and purpofe. When thefe things began to be put in l)re , the people alfo {"What caufes mouing them thereunto , themjelues befl know) began to repent them of that they had done, and irefully to champe Ttpon the bit they had taken into their mouthes , the rather for that they grew by meanes of this innouation into diflike "With fome B Churches The Preface* C hutches neere about them , the benefit ofwhofegoodfriendjhip their ft ate could not welllache : It was the manner ofthofi times (whether through mens dejire to enioy alone the glory of their owne enterprifes, or elfe becaufe the quickneffe of their occafions required pre fent difpatch,) fo it Was, that euery particular Church did that within it felfe , which fame few of their owne tlmghtgood , by whom the reft Were all dire- tiled. Such number of Churches then being ,* though free within them- felues ^yetfmall, common conference before-hand might haue eafedthem of much after-trouble. But a greater inconuenience it bred, that euery later endeuoured to be certayne degrees more remouedfrom conformitie With the Qhurch of d{ome, then the refl before had beene : whereupon grew maruellous great difimilitudes, and by re af on thereof^ iealou/ies, heart-burnings, iarres , and difcords amongH them. Which not with- fiandmg might haue eafily beene preuented 9 iftlye orders which each Church did thinkefit and convenient for it felfe , had not fo perempto- rily beene ejlablijhed Tender that high commanding feme , which tende- red them lento the people, as things euerlaflingly required by the Law of that Lord of Lords , againft whofeftatutes there is no exception to be~> taken. For by this meane it came to paffe , that one Church could not hut accufe and condemne another of difobedience to the will ofChrifl, in thofe things where manif eft difference Was betweene them : whereas thefelfe-fdme or den allowed, but yet eftahlifbed in more Wane andfu* ffence manner, as being to Jlandin force till God fhouldgiue the opor- tunity offome generall conference what might bee^> heft for euery of them afterwards to doe, this, I fay, had both preuented all occ a fion of iuft dtflih which others might take, andreferued a greater liber tie len- to the Authors them felues of entring into farther confutation after- Wards. Which tfougb neuerfo necefjarte, they could not eafily now ad- mit, without feme feat e of derogation frm their credit: and therefore that which once they had done, they became for euer after reft lute to maintaync. Caluine therefore and the other two his J§ociates, flijffe- ly refuftng to administer the holy Communion tofuch as Would not quiet* ly Without contradiction and murmur efubmit them felues lento the or* ders which their folemne Oath had bound them to obey, were in that quarrel! bamfhed the Towne. A fewyeeres after (fucb was the leiu- ty of that people) the places of one or two of there Minifters being fallen yoyd , they were not before fo willing to be rid of there learned Paftor, 04 now importunate to obtayne him againe from them who hadgiuen him The Preface. him entrwnment, and which Here loth to pan "frith him, had not yn- rejiftable earnejlnejje bene Itfed. One of the Towne-Miniflers that Jaw in what manner the people mere bent for the reuocation of Caluine, gaue bim notice of their affection in this fort. The Senate of to hun- Epift.Cal.24. dred being afTembled , they all craue Caluine. The next day a generall Conuocation. They crie in like fort againe all: Wee r will haue Caluiue that good and learned man ChriftsMinifter. This, faith /;bo hadfo rafhly and child fhly eietied bim. Be fides, it was not Unlikely but that bis credit in the World, might m any W ayes Jland thepoore Towne in great flead : as the truth is , their Minijlers fort elm efiimation hitherto bath beene the befl flake in their hedge. 'But Whatfoeuerfecret re/pe&s were likely to mouethem , for contenting of their minds 3 Cz\u'mc returned (as it had beene another TuWy) to his old whom. He ripely confidered bowgroffe a thing it Were for men of his qualitie, wife andgraue men, to hue witbfuch a multitude , and to be Tenants at witi Trader 'them, as their Mini! ers % both himfelfe and others, had beene. For the remedy of which inconuenienc^,hegaue them plainly to Itnderftand, that if he did become their Teacher againe, they + s Js.Jhfc'tft mu/l be content to admit a complete forme of Vifciplin^hich both they \* and alfo their f a flors fhould now be folemnly fwome to obferuefor euer after. Of which difcipline the maine and principall parts Here the fe: A /landing Scclejiajlicall Court to be efablifhed: perpetuail ludges in that Court to be their Minifters , others of the people annually cUfen (twice Jo many in number as they^to be ludges togeatherVith them m the fame !B 2 Court : The Preface Court : theft two forts to haue the care of aUmens manners , power of determining ofaU kinde ofEcclefiafticall caufes , and authorise to con- vent, to control!, topunifh, as farre as with Excommunication, whom- foeuerthey Jhouldthinke Worthy 3 none either fmall or great excepted. Thu deuice, I fee not ? how the Hifeji at that time liuing could haue bet- tered , if we duly conjider nbat the prefent eUate o/Gcneua did then require ; For tbeir'Bijhp and his Clergie being (as it isfaid) departed from them by Moone-light,or howfoeuer, being departed; to cboofetn his roome any other T>iJhop,bad beene a thing altogeather impofiible^t Jndfor their Minijlers tofeeke, that themfelues alone might haue co- er due power ouer the whole Church , would perhaps haue beene hardly conftrued at that time. $ut Hhen fofranke an offer Has made, that for euery one Minifter there fhould be two of the People to Jit and giue~> yoke in tbeEccleftaflicallQonftJlorie , what inconuenience could they eaftlyjinde Hhich themfelues might not be able alwayes to remedies . ? Howbeit (as euermore the fimfler fort are , euen when they fee no ap- farant caufe , iealout notwithfianding ouer the fecret intents and pur- pofes ofnifer men) this Proportion of his did fomewhat trouble them. Of the Minijlers themfelues Hhich had flayed behind in the Cine Hhen Caluinc Has gone, Jome , 1>pon knowledge of the peoples earnefl intent to recall him to his place againe, had before-hand Written their Letters offnbmifiion , And ajfured him of their aileageancefor euer after , if it Jbouldlike him to harkenJ>nto that publike fuite. !But yet mifdoub- ting Hhat might happen, if thu (Difcipline didgoeforward j they obie- Bedavainftit the example of other reformed Churches, liuing quietly and orderly without it. Some of the chief eji place and countenance a^ mongsl the Lay tie pro fe(fed with greater Jlomacke their iudgments,that fuch a Difcipline Has little better then Topijh tyrannie , difguifed and tenderedlmto them Vnder a new forme. This fort > it may be, had Jome feare that the filling yp of the feates in the Qnjiflorie, Hithfo great as togouerne^ but in effeSlone only maufhould as the Spirit and Soule of the refidue 3 doe all in all . But what did thefelmine furmifes boot ? 'Brought they -tyere now to fo flraight an iffue , that of two things they mufi choofe one ,• Namely , whether they loould to their endlejje difgr ace , "frith ridiculous lightneffe 9 difmiffc^, him "frhofere/litution they had in fo impotent manner defired y orelfe condefcend 1?nto that demand , therein he ypas refolute either to haue it, or to leauetbem. They thought it better to be fomewhat hardly yoked at home , then for euer abroad discredited . Wherefore in the end J f„ t t J?& thofe orders "frere one ail fide $ affented ^nto , yp'tth no leffe alacritie of An,Dom.i?4i minde , then Cities Enable to hold out longer are wont to fhew 9 'frhen they take conditions fuch aj it liketh him to offer them -which hath them in the narrow freights of aduantage • Not many yeeres before oner- paffed y before theje twice fworne men aduentured togiue their lafi and hotteft affault to the Fonreffe of the fame Difcipline , childifhly gran- ting by common conjent of their 'frhole Senate , and that lender their Towne-Seale, arelexationtoone Bertelier lohomthe Elder/hip had Excommunicated ; further alfo decreeing , yeith flrange abfurditie^^ that to the fame Senate it jhould belong togiue finall indgement in matter of Excommunication , and to abfolne 'frhom it plea fed them ; cleane contrarie to their owne former Deedes and Oathes. The report of -which (Decree being forthwith brought Iwto Caluine$ Before (faith hee) this Decree take place , either my bloud or banifh- ment fhall figne it. Jgaine, two dayes before the Communion Jhould be celebrated , this ffieech Iom publiquely to like effect 9 Kill me , if e- uer this hand doe reach forth the things that are Holy, to them whom The Chvrch hath iudgcd Defpifers. Where- upon , for fe are of tumult , the forenamedBcvtclicv -fras by his friends aduifed for that time not to Jtfe the tter tie granted him by the Senate^ nor toprcfent himfelfein the Qhurch , till they faw fomewhat further 'frhat wild enfue . After the Communion quietly miriifired, and fome likely hood of peaceable ending of thefe troubles "Without any more a- doe^thatyery dayinthe after-noone^bt fides all mens expectation ^con- cluding his ordinary Sermon , he telleth them , That becaufe he neither had learned nor taught toflriue "frith fuch as are in authorise Jtheref ore {faith he) the cafe fo (landing as now it doth , let me vfe thefe words of the Apoftlevnto you, I commend you vnto God B 3 ?wd 1HE 1REFACE* and the Word of his grace, and fo bad them heartily Adieu. It fometimestommeth to paffe , that the readiejl 'Way 'Which a yvife man hath to conquests toflie. This 1>oluntarie andlonexftecled mention of fudden departure , caufed prefently the Senate ( for according to their Wonted manner they ftiil continued only conflantin Ttnconflancie) toga- ther themfelues togeather, and for a time tofuftend their owne (Decree, leaning things to proceede as beforejill they had heard the iudgement of foure Heluetian Cities concerning the matter yohich "Was in ftrife~» This to haue done at thefirji before theygaue affent J?nto any ordered fhewed feme "Wit and discretion in them : but now to doe it, 'Was as much as to fay in effetl,that they "Would play their parts on a Stage > Caluine therefore dijfatcheth 'With all expedition his tetters Iwtofcmeprincipall P aft or in euery ofthofe Cities , crauing earnejlly at their hands , to re- Jpetfthu caufe as a thing thereupon the Tthole ft ate of Religion and Pietie in that Church did fo much depend , that God and all good men leere now ineuitably certame to be trampled Ttnder foote , ynleffe thofe fiureCities by their good meanes might be brought to giue fentence 'With the Minifters of Geneua , yphenthe caufe fhould be brought before them : yea, fo to giue it , that two things it might effecluaUy container the one an abfolute approbation of the tDifcip line oj Geneua, asconfo- nantTontotheWordofGod, "Without any cautions , qualifications, ifs, or ands j the o+fcr an earncfl admonition not to innouate or change the fame. His Vehement requefi herein as touching both points yv&s fati$~ fied. For albeit the f aid Heluetian Churches did neuer asyetob- ferue that !Difcip!ine , neuerthele(je the Senate of Gcncua hauing re- Epift.i<#. quired their iudgement concerning thefe three queftious: Fir ft, After what manner, by Gods commandement , according to the Scripture and vnfpotted Religion , Excommunication is to be exercifed: Secondly, Whether it may not be exercifed fome o- therway then by the Confiftorie: Thirdly, What the vfe of their Churches was to doe in this cafe: Anfwere loos returned from the faid Chnrchcs,Th.2i\. they had heard alrcadie ofthofe Confiftoriall Lawes,& did acknowledge them to be godly Ordinances, dra w- i;^^oir^xtheprefcriptofthe Word of God, for which caufe that they did not thinke it good for the Church of Geneua by in- nouation to change the fame, but rather to keepe them as they were. Which anfwere , although not anfwerin? J>nto the former de- mands , butreJpeclwg'WkapMafler Caluine had judged requifite for them V The Presage. ___^ ■— ~— — — — — — — — — — — — — — «— . ^— . _ __ ^ __ ?/;ew to anfwere, "VpOJ notwithflanding accepted without any further re- plie: in as much as they plainly faw , that ivbenfiomacke dothfiriue ^ith ypit, the match is not equal!. Andfo the heat of their former contentions bepan to flake. The prefent Inhabitants of Geneua, I hope, ypitlnot take it in euiUpart , that the faultinejfe of their people heretofore , is by Vs fo far forth laid open 9 as their owne learned Guides and Paftors haue thought necejfarie to difcomr it Vnto the Toorld. For out of their Bookes and Writings his that I haue collected this lohole narration , to the end it might thereby appear e in what fort amongfl them that difcipline ^>as planted, for Itbichfo much contention is raifed amongji ourfelues. The reafons tohich moued Caluine herein to befo earnefl, leaf, as Beza him- * felfe tejlifeth , For that he faw how necdfull thefe bridles were, Q| od eam to be put in the iawes of that Gitie. That Tthich by yoifedome hee omnbo his faw to be reauifite for that people, ypas by as great wfedomecompajjed. g"c. ls,ndl " Sut vife men are men , and the truth is truth. That "tobicb Caluine did for ejlablifhment of his (Difcipline, feemeth more comendable, then that , yphich he taught for the countenancing of it eftablifbcd. Nature loorketh v -£ ? A &**& in T?s a lla hue to our owne counfelsi The contradiction of others is a fan to inflame that hue. Our hue fet on fire to maintaine that *tobicb once ype haue done 7 fbarpneth the W to difpute, to argue, and by aU meanes to rea fan fork. Wherefore a maruaile it Toeretfaman of fo great ca- pacitic , hauingfuch incitements to make him defrous of all kindeof furtherances Tonto his caufe, could effie in the «tohole Scripture of God no- thing "fthich might breed at the leaji a probable opinion of likely hood, that diuine authorise it felfe ^as the fame "toay fomewhat inclinable. And all T&bicb the "Wit euen of Caluine loos able from thence to draw, byfifting the Very Tptmofi fentence and jiUable,is no more then that cer- taine Jpeeches there are which to him didfeeme to intimate,that all ChrU fl'tan Churches ought to haue their 6lderfJ?ips indued with power ofSx- comunication,and that apart ofthoje Elder jhips euery cohere fhould be chofen out from amongU the Lay tie after that forme lohich himfelfe had framed Geneualw.S/tf -tyhat argument areye able to fhew, thereby it teas euer proued by Caluine, that any one fentence of Scripture doth neceffarily enforce thefe things, or the refl ^hereinyour opinion concur- red) ^oith his againft the orders of your owne Church ? Wefbould be in- inrious Vnto Venue it felfe > if Tve did derogate from them lohom their induflrie hath madegreat* Twq things ofprincipall moment there are ^/ lnhich haue defer uedly procured him honour throughout the World: the The Preface* which he cither alloweth or doth. Some things are/6 familiar andplaine, that Truth from falflmd , and good from eitill is moji eafily dijcemedm them 9 euen by men of no deep capacities And of that nature, for the mofl part , are things abfolutelyynto all mens Saluation ne.cef- farie, either to be held or denied, either to be done or auoided, For which caufe S Auguftine acknowledgeth that they are not onely fet downe 9 but aljo plainely fet downe in Scripture : Jo that he which heareth or readeth, may without any great di/fcultie bonder fiand. Other things al/o there are belonging {though in a lower degree of importance) *bnto the offices ofCbriflian men : which becaufe they are more obfcure, more intricate and hard to be iudged of therefore God hath appointed Jome^» to f/> end their whole time principally in thejludie ofthingidiuimjo the end that in thefe more doubt full cafes, their l)nderflanding might be tu Caiefl.diopt. Ught to diretl others. Jf the vnderftanding power or facukie of cn * the foule be ( faith the grand ^hyfim) like vnto bodily fight, not of equal! fharpnefTe in all - y what can be more conuenienr, then that,euen as the dark-fighted man is directed by the cleere about things vifible , fo likewife in matters of deeper difcourfc the wife in heart doth fhew the fimple where his way lyeth. - ^J In our doubtful! cafes of haw , what man is tl;ere whofeeth not how requifte it is, that Profefforsof skill in thatfacuhie be our Diretlors ? So it is in all other kinds of knowledge. And eum in this Kind like* Mai.2.7. wife the Lord bath himfelfe* appointed , that the Priefts lips fhould prefeme knowledge,and that other men fhould feeke the truth at his mouth , becaufe he is the meflenger of the Lord of Hofts. Gregorie Nazianzen offended at the peoples too great prejumption in controlling the iudgement of them to whom in fuch cafes they flnuld haue rather fubmitted their owne % feeketh byearnefl intreatie to flay grcg.Nazian. them within their bounds: Prefume not, yee that are fheepe, to excuse, , make your felues guides ofthem that fhould guide you,neither feeke yee to ouer skip the fold which they about you haue pitched. It fufficeth for your part , if yee can well frame your felues to be ordered. Take not vpon you to iudge your felues, nor to make them fubieel: to your la wes who fhouU be a law to Matd1.10.14. y ou f° r s God is not a God of fedition and confufion, but of or- der & of peace.S«Otf wil fay, that if the guides of the people be blind, the common fort of men muft not clo^e ^>p their owne eyes and be led by the conUufl of fuch ' 9 if the Trieft be partial in the Law ? tbe flock mufl not therefore The Prefac E. therefore depart from the Sxiayes offincere truth > and 'in fimpUcitieyeeld m»i. *.* to be followers oj him for bis place fake (^office oner them which things though m itfelfe mo ft true , it myour defence notwithstanding wake : hecaufe the matter, therein ye thinke that ye fee and imagine that your ypayesarefincert* it of farre deeper conftderation then anyone amongst fine hundred of you conceiueth. Let the Vulgar fort amomgfi you know, that there is not the leaft branch of the cauje wherein they are fo refo- lute, buttotbetriailofitagreatdeale more appertaimeth then their conceit doth reach Wo. I sprite not this in dijgrace oftbeftmplefl that "toaygiuen j but I loould gladly they knew the nature of that caufe therein they thinke themfelnes throughly intruded and are not: by meanes "thereof they doyly r untie themfelnes, fit bout feeling their owne bazjzjxrd, l>pon the dint of the Jpoflksfentence againft euilljpea- ^ v « r - *+ kers,as touching things therein they are ignorant. If it be granted a^ thing ynlawfull for priuatemen , not called Tpnto publike confutation , Caiuin.inftit. to dtjfute thick is the bejlftate ofciuill Tolicie (with a defire of bring- l ^ i? ' 1Qt ingin f.ome other kind then that Ttnder "tybicbtbey already Hue, for of fuck dilutes I take it bis meaning was) if it be a thing confefl, that of fuch quejlions they cannot determine without raflnejje, in as much as a gr tat part of them confifteth in fpeciall circumjhmes , andforone~> kind as many red fons may be brought as for another jis there any rea~ fon in the World, why tbeyfhould better iudge V bat fcnde* of Regiment Ecclefafticall it theftteft? For in the eiuiH State more infght , and in thofe affaires more experience a great dealemufl needs bet^ granted them, then in this they can pofiibly haue. When they which write in defence of your Difcipltne , and c$mmend it J>nto tbcHigbefl, not in The Author the leaft cunning manner, ar e f orcednotw it hfiandwg to acknowledge, Sf/wlS that with whom the Truth is they know not, they are not cer- Maiefiic,pa g .3 taine; what certaintie or knowledge can the multitude haue thereof* Waigh what doth mooue the common fort fo much to fauour this inno- •>/ nation , and it Jhallfoone appear e yntoyou, that the force of particular reafons *v>bicb for jour feueraQ opinions are aUeaged,is a thing thereof the multitude neuer did , nor could fo confider as to be therewith wholly carted g but certaine generall inducements are yfed to make faleabte your Cau/e in groffe : and w1>en once men haue cafi afancie towards it, any flight declaration of fpecialties villferue to leade forward mens inclinable and prepared mindes. The method of vinnang the peoples affeBionlonto 0-> generall likmg ofthe~> Caufe (firfoyeetermeit) hath The Preface* hath beene this.Firfi,in the hearing of the multitude ,the faults efheciaU b °f higher callings are ripped 1?p with maruettous exceeding feueritie and fharpneffe of reproof e i "which being oftentimes done, begetitxha^ great good opinion ofintegritie&eale and holinejfe, tofuch conftant Re- pnouers offinne , as byhkelyhood would nener befo much offended at that which is euill, 'tinleffe themf dues Were fingularly good. The next thing hereunto is to impute all faults and corruptions therewith the~* World aboundeth, yntothe hind of EcclefiaflicaU Gouemement e/la- hlijhed. Wherein , as before by reprouing faults , they pur chafed ^nto themfelues with the multitude a name to be Tpertucus $Jq by finding out this kind ofcaufe, they obtain e to be iudgedwife aboue others : whereas in truth Tpmo the forme euen ofjewifl? Gouemement , whkhtheLord himfelfe (they all confefe) did ejiablijh 9 With like fhewofreafon they might impute thofe faults which the ^Prophets condemne in the Gouer- nours of that Common-wealthy to theEnglifh kind of Regiment Seek- faflicall (whereof alfo God himfelfe though mother fort is Juthour) the flames and blemifhes found in our State j which Jf ringing from the roote ofhumanefrailtie and corruption, not only are, but haue heme al- Wayes mor^or leffe,yea, and (forany thing We know to the contrarie) WiU be till the Worlds end complained off ', what forme of Gouernment foeuer take place. Hauing gotten thus muchfway in the hearts ofmen,a third flep if to propefe their owns forme ofCkurck-Gouernment, as the cnlyfcueraigne remedie ofalleuilsmdto adorne it with all the glorious titles that may be. And the nature , as of men that haue fake bodies, fo likewije of the people in the cra^ednejfe of their minds pojfcfl with dif like and difcOntentvxent at things prefent, is to imagin e "that any thinv (the ^ertue whereof they heare commended) would helpe them] but that moU, which they leafi haue tried. The fourth degree of induce- ments, is by fafhioning the Taery notions and conceit es of mens minds, in fetch fort that when they read the Scripture , they may thinke that eue* rie thing foundeth towards the advancement of that fDifcipline , and to theater di [grace of the contrarie. Pythagoras, by bringing T>p his Schollers inffeculattue knowledge of numbers, made their conceits ther- infojlrong, that when they came to the contemplation of things natu- ral! , they imagined that in euery particular thing they euen beheld as it Were with their eyes, how the Elements of number gaue effence and he- ingto the workes of Nature. J thingin reafon impofible : which not- Wtthflanding through their misfafhioned preconceite , appeared two them The Preface. them no leffe certaine , then tf Nature had Written it m the Toery fore- heads of all the creatures of God. When they of the Family of Louc haue it once in their heads , that Chrifl doth notfgnifie any one Perfon^ hut a cjualitie whereofmany are partakers ± that to he rayfed is nothing elfebnt to be regenerated or indued leith the fayd qualities and that when federation of them which haue it from them "which haue it not 9 is here made , thisuiudgementi how plamelydoe they imagine that the Scripture euery-Tcbere Jpeaketh in the fauour oft hat Sett? And off u- rediy , the ^ery caufe which maketbtbe fimpleand ignorant to thinke they euen fee how the Word of God runneth currently onyour fide, u, that their minds are foreflalled and their conceits peruerted before- hand 3 by being taught that an Elder doth fignifie a Lay-man, admitted only to the office of%ule or Gousrnment in the Church} a Dotlor , one which may only teach , and neither Preach nor adminifter the Sacra- ment s$ a Deacon, one which hath charge of the Mmes-boxe , and of nothing el fe: that the Scepter, theO{od, the Throne and Kjngdome of Chrift^ are a forme of Regiment, only by Fa/tors, Slders, Doctors and Deacons : that bymyflicall refemblance Mount Sion and Ierufalem are the Churches "Which admit, Sama ia and Babylon the Churches which oppugne the [aid forme of Regiment. And in like fort they art~> taught to apply all things fpoken of repaying the walls and decayed parts of the (jtie and Temple of God by Efdras, Nehemias, andtbe^, reft: as ifpurpojely the holy Ghofihad therein meant to fore- fignifie 7 What the Authors of admonitions to the Parliament , of [up plications to the Councell, of petitions to her Maieflie , and uf fuck other like Writs, fhould either doe orfujfer in behalf e of this their caufe From hence they proceed to an higher point, which is the perfwading of men credulous and outr-capable of fuch pleafing errors, that it is the ffedall illumination of the holy Ghoft , whereby they difcernethoje things in the Word, which others reading yet difcerne them not. Dcarely beloued, faith S, Iobn 9 IfIo h n 4 . 1# Giue not credit vnto euery fpiiit. There are but two wayes whereby / the ffnrit leadeth men into all truth: the one extraordinary , the other comon; the one belonging but Imto feme few, the other extending it felfe l)nto all that are qfGudj the one that which We call by a fpeciall diuine excellency , Reuclationj the other, Reafon. If the Spirit byjuch reve- lation haue difcoiteredlpnto them the fecrets of that Difcipline out of Scriptwejhey mufi profeffe themfelues to be all (euen men, women, and children ) Prophets. Or if reafon be the hand which the Spirit hath led C t ^ cm The Preface* them by , for as much as perfwafions grounded l?pon reafon , are either Weaker or fir onger , according to the force of tbofe reafons thereupon the fame are grounded 3 they mufi euery of them from thegreatejl to the least , be a hit for euery fewer all Article to/hew Jome ffeciall reafon as firong as their per fw a/ion therein is earnefl. Otherwife how can it bejbut that jome other finewes there are from which that ouerplus of flrength in per fv a fori dotbfarife ? Mofi jure it is , that when mens affeclions doe frame their opinions 5 they are in defence of err our more earnefl a vreat deale , then (for the moflpart ) found 'Beleeuers in the maintenance of Truth apprehended according to the nature of that euidence which Scriptureyeelleth : which being infome tbiugs plaine , as in the princi- ples ofChr'ijlian (Doclrine in fome things , as in theft matters offDifci- pline, more darke and doubtfull yframeth correffondcntly that inward afftnt which Gods mofi gracious Spirit Worketh by it as by his effecluaS infirument. It is not therefore the feruent earneflnejfe of their per fwafi- on,but thejoundnes ofthoje reafons whereupon the fame is built ; which mufl declare their opinions in thefe things to haue beene Wrought by the i.Thcf,:.". Holy Gboft 3 andnot by the fraud of that euiQ Spirit Which euen in hit iUufons ftrong, After that thephancie of the common fort hath oucz~> thorowly apprehended the Spirit to be author o f their pefwaf oris concer- ning (Difcipline , then is inflilled into their hearts j that the fame Spirit leading men into this opinion , doth thereby fealethem io be Gods Chil- dren- and that as the fiat e of the times now flandetbjhe mofljfeciall to- hen to know them that are Gods ownefrom others, is an earnefi affeclion that way. This hath bred high termes offeperation betweene fuel? and therefiofthe World; whereby the one fort are named the Brethren, The Godly , and jo forth; the other , Worldlings , Timeferuers , Plea- fers offnenjioi o f God, with fucb like: From hence they are eafily drawn onto thinkeit exceeding nee effary > for fear e of quenching that good Spirit , to T?Je all meanes whereby the fame may bee both fir engthne din themfelues , and made mantfefl T?nto others. This maketh them diligent hearers offuch as are knowne that way to incline; this maketh them ea- ger to take and tofeeke all occafions offecret conference with fucb; this maketh them glad to l?fe fuel? as Counfellors and IDireflors in all their dealings which are ofwaight , as Contrails, Tefiaments , and the likes this maketh them ? through an Ttnweariable defire ofreceiuing inftrucli- onfrom the Mafiers of that companie 5 to cajl off the care ofthofe Tterie affaires which doe mofi concerne their efiate, and" to thinke that then they are V The PrefacEo are like T>nto Marie, commendable for making choyce of the better part* Finally 9 this is it "tohich maketh them "frilling to charge , yea oftentimes euen to overcharge themfelues , for fuel? mens fuftenance and relief r e, left their ^eale to the caufe Jhould any -fray be Imwitneffed. Foryphat is it "Which poore beguiled foules toill not doe through fo powerful! in- citements? In lohich reftctl it is alfo noted , that tnofi labour bath beene bestowed to "Wmne and ret aim towards this caufe them "frhofe ludgements are commonly "weakeft by reason of their fexe. Jnd al- though not 'tyemenlo&zn with fins, cuthe ApoftleS. Pm\/f>eaketb, urim^A but (cu H>ee Eerily efteeme of them for them oft part) loom en propenfe and inclinable to holinefje , bee otherwife edified mgood things, rather then carried away as captiues into any kind offinne and euiU, byfuch as enter into their houfes 'frith purpoje to plant there a z^eale and a hue towards this kind of tDifapline : yet fome occajion is hereby miniftred for men to thinke 9 that if the caufe "frhich is this furthered , did game by the foundmjfc of proof e "thereupon it doth build it f elf e , it "Would not moft bufily endeuour to preuaile, Cohere leafl abilttie ofiud^ement is: and therefore that thisfo eminent indufiry in making Fr of elites, more of that fexe then of the other , groweth for that they are deemed apter to feme as inftruments and helpes in the caufe. Apter they are through the eagerneffe of their ajfetlion , that maketh them -which -frayfoeuer they tdk^ diligent in drawing their husbands, children, feruants, friends and allies the fame "fray, apter through that natur all inclination "tint o pit ie, ^ohich breedeth in them a greater readineffe then in men, to be bonntifuU towards their Preachers Tphofuffer "frant; apter through fundrie oppor- tunities "which they ejfecially haue, to procure encouragements for their brethren i finally, apter through afingular delight "frhicb they take ingi- uing yery large and particular intelligence , how all neere about them ft and affecled as concerning the fame caufe, 'But be they -women or be they men, if once they haue tajied of that cup , let any ofcontrarie opini- on open his mouth to perfwade them, they clofe lop their eares his rea- fons they 'fraigh not , all is anfwered "frith rehear fall of the Coords of fohn,WG are of God, he that knoweth Godjheareth \s-, as for the i. lebn^j* reft , ye are of the *frorld , for this Worlds pomp andyanitie it is thaiyee fteak,& the -worlds hofe ye are,hearethyou. Which clokejitteth no /effe fit on the back of their caufe, then of the Anabaptifts, "whethe dignity 9 autboritie and honor of Gods Magifirates is upheld againft them. Shem thefe eagerly-affected men their inabilitie to iudge offucb matters ->t heir C % anfwer HE r R E F A C e. ,co,,, 7 . anjwere is God hath chofenthe fimple. CmsiHce tbm&Uh sap , + *»rf fA^ foplamely , that Very children "upbraid them yoith it ith/v ta*u. haue their buckkrs of like defence. Chrifb owne Apoftlewasac £--£6, counted mad ; The bcft men euermore by the fcntence of « am*,, the world haue beene Judged ro bee out of their right mindes M^l Whm ^ufiion doth them no good, let them feele but the leafide- n»A «>.- f a Xf^ We ''" f tm P md f™™' , they fafim en the head of the «.„, ; ? j, Lords Vicegerents here on earth , Telmfoeuer they any sphere Endt t,t A*„ «J * **» ** thefemnces jbtch Scripture hath in the fauour ofinnocencie *T *£ , Weeded for the truth :jea they are of their due and defemed Me ESiZZ na&nolefi fraud, then thofeancient difturbers, to^hom S- At." 2#$* eWwwK'U*™-. Martyrs rightly fo named are they, not which fuffer for their d.forder, and tor the vngodly breach they haue made of Chriflianvnitie; butwhich forrihteout nefTe fake are perfect. ted. For Agar alfo fufTered persecution at the hands oiSara-, wherein, fhee which did impcfe was holy and fhee rnnghteous which did beare the burthen. In like fort with the diecuw was the Lord himfelfe crucified, butthev who were match™ the paine which they fufTered, were in the caufe of their fuffenngs difioyned. If thatmuft needs bee the true Church wh.ch doth endure perfecution , and not that which perfecuteth, let then askeofthe Apoftle what Church isara did reprefcnt , when (he held her Maide in afflidion For men our Mother which is free, thcheauenly Iemlalem , that is to fay the trueChurch of God, was, asheedothaffirme, pre- figured in that verie Woman by who.ne the Bondmaidc was fo fharply handled. Although , if all things- bee throuehly skanncd, fhee did in truth more perfecute Sara by proud re- fiitance, then^wher, byfeueritieof punifhment. Theft are the pathes therein ye haue talked that are of the ordinariefort of men- theje are the Verjftepsye haue troden,and the manifefl degrees Teberehi jeeare of your guides anddirettors trained ty in that Schoole-.a cuftom* ofmtmngyour eareswth reproofe of faults Serially in your Couer- nours, and, Vfe tv attribute thofe faults to the Kind of fhirituaB renment tnder Uichye liu^oldneffe in warranting the force of their discipline for the cure ofaHlfuch ends ; a fright of framing jour conceits to ima- gine that Scripture euery yhere fauour eth that dijcipline ; perfwafion HE fREPACE. that the caufe , thy ye find it in Scripture is the illumination of the S pi rit } that the fame Spirit is a Seale Tmtoyou of your neerenejfe Ipnto God thatyee are by all meanes to nourijh andwiwejje it inyour felues , and toftwigthen on euery fide your minds againfl wbatfoeuer might bee of force to withdraw you from it. 4.. Whet fore to come Imtoyou wbvfe judgement is a lantern ofdirecli- what hath on for all the refi,you that frame thus the peoples hearts, not altogether ny"of the icar- (m I Willingly per foade my felfi) of d politique intent or purpofe, but ^^ Kour felues being fir ft ouer borne with t be weight of greater mens iudge- famcdifcipiin* merits: onyour fhouldersis laid the burthen of upholding thee aufe by argument For which purpofe fentences out of the word of God ye aileage dtuers: but fo, that when thejame are difcujl,thus it alwaies in a manner falleth out, that what things by Ipertue thereof ye trge ypon Ips as altoge- ther necejfarie , are found to be thence collected onely bypoore and mar- velous flight conietlures. J need not giue inflame in any one fentencefo alleaged ^for that Ithinke the inflame in any alleaged otherwife a thing not ea/ie to begiuen. Jyeriefirange thing fur e it were,thatfuch aDi~ fcipline asyeffeake offhould be taught by (bnfl and his A ponies in the Word of God, and no Church euer haue found it out , nor receiuedit till thisprefent time-, cmtrar'wife, the Gouernment agamft whichyee bend your felues ,be obferued euerywbere throughout all generations and ages of the Chrijiian world, no Qburch cner p enduing the Word of God to be againfi it We require you to find out but one Church tpon the face of the Whole earth, that hath beene ordered by your Difcipline,or hath not bin ordered by ours, that is to fay, by Bpifc op all regiment, fit hence the time that the blefled Jpofiles Were here conuerfant. Many things out of an- tiquitie ye bring, asif the pur efl times of the Church had obferued the felfefame orders which you require pandas though your defire Were,that the Churches ofoldfrould bepatternes for T>s to follow, and euen glaffes Wherein we might fee the praclice of that wbicb by yon is gathered out of Scripture, But the truth is,yee meane nothing lejfe. Ml this is done y c ^ ^ for fafhhn fake onely if or ye complaine ofitasofan iniurie , that men jhould be WiBedtofeeke for examples (jr patterns of government in any ofthofe times that haue beene before, Je plainly hold, that from the J?ery Jpoftles times till thisprefent age wherein your felues imagine ye haue found out a right paterne of found difcipline , there neuer was any time fafe to be followed. Which thing ye thus endeuour to proue. Out 0/Ege- ^ Jf ^ fippus yee fay that Eufebius writeth, how although as long as the r f C ? Apoflles The Preface. lib. Strom. Somewhac af Apoflles lined , the Church didremainea pure Virgin, yet after the^, death of the Apoftles, and after they Here once gone Hhom God ^ouch- fafed to make Hearers of the diuine Wtfedome Hith their own? eares, the placing of "kicked errors began to come into the Church. Clement tcnhc bc^in- a [r m a ctY tain eplace-jo confirme that there Has corruption ofdallrinc 2£<*.ifc immediately after the Apoflles times, alleageth theprouerb, that there are tewfonnes like their fathers. Socrates faith of the Church of Rome ami Alexandria, the moft famous Qhurches in the Jpojlles times, that about theyeere 430. the Roman and Alexandrian 'Bifhops leauiw the Jacred function , Here degenerate to a /ecular rule or domi- nion* * Hereupon ye conclude, that itunotffe to fetch our Gouernment from any other then the Jpojlles times. Wherein by the 'way it may be noted that in propoflng the Apoflles times as apmernefor the Church to follow, though the defire of yon all be one, the drift andpurpofe of you call is not one .The ch'ufefl thingHbich Lay-re former syawne for, is, that the Clergie may through confrmitie in jlate and condition be Jpofloli- all,poore as the Apoflles ofChrifl were poor e. In Hhich one circumflance if they imagine Jo great perfection , they mufl thinke that Church Hhch hathfuchflore of mendicant ¥r'ters,a(Jburch in tbatrefieclmofl happy. Were it for theglorie of God , and the good of his Church indeed , that the Clergie jhould be left euen as bare as the Apoflles Hhen they had neither ft^jfe nor flrip y that God, Hhich Jhould lay ypon them the~> condition of'hu Apoflles, touldlhope, endue them Hith the felf fame ajfeB'ton "which Has in that holy Apojlle, HhofeHords concerning his ?bii 4. 12. owne right-yertuous contentment of heart, As well how to want , as how to abound j area mofl fit Epijcopall emprefe m The Church of Chrijl is abodie myflicall. A bodie cannot fland, Iftileffe the parts thereof be proportionable. Let it therefore be required on both parts , at the hands of the Clergie, to be in meanenefo of jlate like the Apoflles; at the hands of the Lay tie } to be as they Here ypho lined Ttnder the Apo- flles: and in this reformation there Hill be , though little -voifedome , yet fome indifferencie. But jour reformation Hhich are of the ( lergie (if yet it difileafeyou not that I Jhould fayyee are of the Clergir)jeemetb to aime at a broader marke. tee thinke that hee Hhch Hill pofeclly re- forme , mufl bring the forme of Church-di flip line Tvnto the Jlate Hhich then it Has at. A thing neither poflible, nor certatne , nor abfolmely conuenient. Concerning the firft, Hhat H>as ^ fed in the Apoflles thnes 9 the Scripture fully declareth not ifo that making their times the %ule~, and The Preface. Zfuh home, is as imfofiible to be Kept. Againe,fub the later euencf J t J TZMesownetmesYhadtbatvbicbintbe former^ L^intbisgenerallpropofing of the Jpfestirnes , tbereunocer- „ ^ tLtevhicbflmli be followed, equally feeing that yeegiu ^ great [ Zfe to doubt howfarreyee allowtbofe times. For albeit t he louerof >j~.,<£ jJtichnfiian building Here not,yeefay,as then Jet ***£*; ^^ tions thereof -were fecretly and ynder the ground laid n the Jpojtles „, J. 2es-.ro tbatallotber timesyee plainly reie£l, and the Jpojlles ovn^ «£»*» times ye approuesoith marnellcus great -.faction , leaning « intnutc, ™^ and doubtfuli therein ve are to keepe our JeluesWo the pattrne of their times. Thirdly, vhmai it is the error of the common multitude, •*£* , i confider only that hath beene of old, and if the fame ™<*W« **£~ Whether it continue ; if not, to condemnethat presently thichu, ForwWcb *° ^euertofearcbvponvhatgrcnndorconfiderationtbe^ nmr J md.ementhath enabled much morefoundly to djcerne how far fc nui&y & *„A tU, nrAert thereof may alter Wtbout of- c u^.iud. thettmes of the Church, anatbe oiaers w»r»/ i rm ..■■ ' »»/.>.. con- fpnee True it is, » the ancknter, the better ceremonies of Religion at e, in ^ & no tabolutelytrue, and without exception but true onelyfo *+*££ finS&JU kere,U ages doe agree in the fiate of cboje things jj-gj* for-Jhich at the M life rites, orders, arid ceremonies, vere mjlituted „ « „. fQrTWtCVatirjejirjt k ")*' > , (f a *»Uirh heme twwreuiued ***ip»ft fecra- Itt tbt Abotlles times tbatiecu harmelejje, vbtcb btmgnowmiuea mntorumcg ^ in™* "FJ ", \ . . b^f^.ufantfa Tbofe 'Feafts of chart- mmioncmmi- -would be (can JalotUi as their b otculaiancia. i jo j / bll » tconuiuimi Zvhichbemi infiitnted by the Apofiles, vere returned m the Church d tlb d , low after, are not now thought any there need full, w ha man it there J longajter,u a i e ■&£**- «.*«««<'«f» obferuedinthe Jpoflles times , are not to betrged as a'Rulelonmer ; wG „„, rf! , objtrueamiw ny\ ',,•,„ If tbev bee. neuertbeleffe on urn,. Sgmif. fafa, ether fuffictent ornece ary. if tney pec, ™ jj {umtiim jauy, e»« j j H , , trotued, that the former c „^ tM , Slft your part it fiill remameth to bee uet ™ T r", u r . , j^gh, ,\Lknmmi of ®ilcipU»e thichyee intitle Jpojioltcall , yt m the Jp^% ac[umfKtH Le Urcifed. For tf thU^ery thingyee fide euen touching tb« Ap o,o,c,,. The Preface.. whichyee makemofl account of ', at being matter of fubfiancein T>if- eipline , / meane the power of your Lay-eiders , and the difference of jour (Dotlors from the Tafiors in all Churches. S o that injumme, Wee may he bold to conclude, that befides theft lafl times, Vthicb for infolen- cie, pride, and egregious contempt of all good order are the Wotji , there are none whereinyee can truly affirme , that the corn pleat forme of your (Difcipline, or the fubflance thereof was pracli^/d. The euidence^ therefore of Antiquitit failivgyou , yee fixe to the ludgements of fuch Learned men, cisfeeme by their Writings 3 to bee of opinion that all Chri- stian Churches fhould receiueyour (Difcipline t and abandon ours. Where- in, asyee heape yp the names of a number of men not Unworthy to bez~> had in honour; fo there are a number -whom whenyee mention, although itferueyee topurpofe with the ignorant andlpulgar fort , who meajure by tale and not by Waight, yet Jure ly they who know what qualiue and J>alue the men are of, will thmkeyee draw Tterie neere the dregs, ftut Were they all of as great account as the befi and chiefefi amongfi them, with J>s notwithfianding neither are, they , neither ought they to bee of fuch reckoning , that their opinion or conietlure fiouldcaufe the Lawes of the Church of England togiue place. Much leffewhen they neither doe all agree in that opinion , and of them which are at agreement , the moflpart through a curteous inducement, hauefoUowe done man as their Guide , finally , that one thetein not Unlikely to hauefwarued. If any chance to fay it is probable that in the Jpcftles times there Were Lay- elders, or not to miflike the continuance cfthem in the Church', or to af- firme that (Bifhops at the firfl Were a name , but not a power diftinft from Presbyters j or to ffeake any thing in praife of thoje Churches which are without Epij ( cop all Regiment j or to reprooue the fault of fuch as abufe that CaUingiallthefeyee regijlerfor men } pcrj waded as you are , that euerie Qhriflian Church flandeth bound by the Law of God to put downt %fhops , and in their roomes to eretlan Elder fhipfo autho- rise das you would baue it for the Gouernment of edch Tartf}?. (Decei- ntd greatly they art therefore ? who thinkethat all they yphofe names are cited amo>gsl the Fauourers of this caufe , are on any fuch 1>er die? agreed. Yet touching fome materiall points of your Difcipline, a kind of agreement We grant there is amongfi many (Diuines of Reformed Chur- ches abroad m Forfirfi,to do as the Church of Geneua did, the Learned in fome other Churches mufi needs be the more willing,who hatting y fed in like maner not the flow & tedious help of proceeding by publike authori- ties IHE 1REFACE. tie, but the peoples more quick? endeuourfor alteration , infuch an exi- gent I fee not Well how they could haue flaued to deliberate about atiy o~ ther Regiment then that Schick aire adie was deuifedto thteir hands, that which in like cafe had beene taken , that which was eafiefi to be eftabli- fhed Without delay, that which was likeliefl to content the people by rea- fon of fome Kind of '/way which itgiueth them. When therefore the ex- ample of one Church was this at the firjl almofl through a kind of con- fir aine or necefiitie followed by many, their concurrence im perfwafion a- boutfome material! points belonging to the fame folitie is not Jlrange. For we are not to maruell greatly , if they which haue all done the fame thing , doe eajily imbrace the fame opinion ds concerning their omie do- ings. 'Befides, marke , Ibefeechycu, that which Galen in matter (f G*u a .cu im Phtlofophienotethi for the like fallethcut euenin quelhons of fwber hb ; Dee " i "Jk'* 1 1 J T C I • i - • -/ O anun.peccat. Knowledge. Itfareth many times Will? mens opinions , as with rumours Mfoiaatque and reports. That which a credible perfon telleth, iseafly thought pro- y^p"^/, & &wvt bable byfuch as are Well perfwaded of him. But iftwo,or three,orfoure 9 agree aU in the fame tale , they iudge it then to be out ofControuerfie^, andfo are many times ouertakenjor Want ofduecon/idtratiom either fome common caufe leading them all into err our > or one mans ouer fight decerning many through their too much credulitie and eafmeffe of be- lief e. Though ten per fons bee brought to giue teftimonie in any caufe \ yet if the knowledge they haue of the thing whereunto they come as wit- f neffes , appear e to haue growne from fome one amongfl them, and to hauefpred itfelfe from hand to hand , they all are in force but as one~j tefiimonie. Nor is it otherwife here,where the Daughter Churches doe Jpeake their Mothers (Dialeff ; here where fo many jing one Song , by reafon that he is the Guide of the Quire, concerning whofe defer ued au- thorities amongfl euen the grauefl Diuines , wee haue air eadie Jfoken at large* TVillyee aske whatflmdd rnooue thofe many Learned to bee~> followers of one mans iudgement , no necejsicie of Argument forcing them thereunto ?Tour demand is an f were d by your fe lues. Lothyeeare Petk.totbe to thinke that they whom ye iudge to haue attained as found knowledge ^ M ' ***** in all points of Doctrine, as any fmce the Jpoflles time, jhould mi flake in (Difciplwe. Such is naturally our affeclion,tbat whom in great things We mightily admire ; in them We are not perfwaded willingly that any thing jhuld be amijfe. The reafon whereof is y for that as dead Ffes Ecdcf.io.i, putrifie the ointment of the Apothecarie , jo a little FoUy) him that is in eflimationfor Wifdome. This in euery profeflion hath too much authors The Preface. Zfd the iudgement of a few. This with Germans hath can fed Luthe f 5 and with many other Qhurches Caluin , to preuaile in all things. Yet are We not able to define , whether the Wtjdome oftbatGod(whofet- teth before l>s in Holy Scripture fo many admirable patternes of Ver~ tue, and no one of them without fomewhat noted wherein they Were^ culpable, to the end that to him alone it might alwaies be acknowledged, Thou onely arc Holy, thou onely arc luft) might not permit thofe Wort hie Veffels of bis Glorie to b e in fome things blemifhed with the ftaine of humane frailtie , euen for this cauje , left Wefwuld efteeme of any man aboue that which behoueth. fomu" b ing ^ • Notwithstanding , as though yee were able to fay a great deale Difptuation. more then hitherto jour Bookes baue reuealed to the World, came ft Challengers ye arc of triaU by fome publike !Di(putation a Wherein if the tbmgye craue be no more then onely lean? to dfpme openly about thofe matters that are in queftion, theSchooles in V finer fines (for any thing I know) are open iwoyou : they baue their yeerely Atts and Com- mencements , be fides other Dijputations both ordtnarieand J)pen occa- fion, wherein the feuerall parts of our owne Ecclejiaslicall Difcipline are oftentimes offered lento that hnd of Examination i the Leamedejl of you haue beene of late yeeres noted jeldomeor neuer abfent from thence at the time of thofe greater Jlffemblies j and the fauour ofpro- pofing therein comenient^fort whatfocuer ye can obiecl (which thing my felfe haue knowne them to grant of ScholafticaU courtefe ynto Strangers) neither hath (as I thinke) nor euerwill (I prefume) bee~> deniedyou. If your Suit bee to haue feme great extraordinaric con- fluence, in expectation whereof the Lawes that alreadie are fhould flee pe and haue no power oueryou , till in the hearing ofthoufandsyee all did acknowledge your error, and renounce the further prof cution of your Caufe; haply , they whofe authorities required Ttnto the fatis- fying of your demand, doe thinke it both dangerous to admit fuch con- tour fe of deuided minds , and Unmeet e that Lawes which being once folemnely eUablifhed are to exatl obedience of all men, and to conftraine thereunto , fhould fo farre (loope , as to hold them flues in fufyence fnm taking any effetl Ttponyou , till fome Diffuter can perfwadeyou to be obedient, J Law is the deed of the whole bodie Tolitike, where- of if yee iudge your Jelues to be any part , then is the Law euen your deed hlfo. And were it reafon in things of this qualitie, togiue men audience ', pleading for the ouerihrow of that whteb their own Very deed bath rati- fied? \j,\^ r vWtsV The Preface, cr-HH fed ? hatves that haue btene approoutd, may heL->(no man doubted)a- oaine repealed, mid to that endalfo diluted against , by thejinthors Thereof tbemfelues. But this if ~%>ben the ^ob&le doth deliberate lohat Jf^ff £ Lanes each part Jh all obfertic , and not -ft ben a. part refufeth the Lawes \ ^ ^ yfIE& > ffiich the "Whole hath orderly agreed ^pon. Notmtb /landing, for as much as the caufe t>e maimaine is (God bee thanked) fucbasneedeth not tofhunne any trial!, might itpleafe them on Tohoje approbation the matter dependeth,to- conde fiend fofdrre yntoyou in this behalf e, I Ttifh heartily that proofe.Jeremade euen by folemne conference in orderly and quiet fort , whether youWould your felues bee fatisfied , or elfe~> could by fatisfying others 9 draw them to your peace. Prouided alwajes, J fir ft, in a/much cuyeegoe about to deflroy a thing -which is in force-, and to draw in that H>hich hath not as yet beene received; to impofe onJ>s that "tohkh "toe thinke not ourfelues bound l?nto, and to ouerthrovp thofe things whereof lee are pofjejfed ; that therefore yee are not to claime in a ny conference, other then the Tlaintifes ox opponents part Tohich mujl ^C ^ & ^ *^~" conffl altogether inproofe and confirmation of two things : tbe-j one, that our Orders by you condemned ine ought to abolijh ; the other, that yours we are bound to accept in the fie ad thereof Secondly, becaufe the quefiions in Controuerfe betweene l)s are many, if once <$>e dejcendlon- to particulars ; that for the eafier and more orderly proceeding there* in,themoft general! be firfl dif cuffed, nor any quefi ion left off, nor in each queflion the prof ecuiion of any one Argument giuen ouer and ano- ther taken m hand, till theiffue thereunto by replyesand anfweres both parts are come, be collecled , read and acknowledged afwell on the one~> fide as on the other , to be theplaine conclufion vbicb they are growne ynto , Thirdly, for auoiding sfthe manifold inconueniences whereuntB ordinarie and extemporall Dijputes are fubieSi, as alfo becaufe if yee fhouldfingly difpute one by oneaseuery mans owne *%it did beflferue, it might be concerned by the refi , that haply fome other would ham done more, thechiefeft of you doe all agree in this aclion , that lebom yejhallthen choofeyour (peaker, by him that lohich ispublikely brought into diffatation be acknowledged by all your confents not to bee his alle- gation but yours, fuch asyee all are agreed ypon, and haue required him to deliuer m ally our names: the true copie thereof being taken by a No- tarie,that a reafonable time be allowed for retnrne of an fiver Tmtoyouin the like forme. Fourthly, whereas a number of conferences haue bin had in other caufes yoith the leffeeffeffuallfuccejfe, by reafon of partial! and Untrue HE f R E F A C E< yntrue reports , publified afterwards Imto the World 9 that topreuent thi* euitt , there be at the fir ft afotemne declaration made on both parts of their agreement to bane that yery 'Booh and no other Jet abroad, wherein their pre fent authorised Notaries doe Vnre thoje things fully and only, Tehich being Written and their readme by their owne open te- Jlimony acknowledged to be their owne. Other circumftances hereunto belonging whether for the choice of time, place, and language , or for preuention of impertinent and needlejjefteech, or to any endaltdpurpofe elfe,tbey may be thought onevhen occafionferuf, Jn this Jon to broach myprtuate conceit for the ordering of a (ublique atlion, Iftjould be loth, ( albeit I doe it not otherwife then Tmder correction of them Ttbofegra- uitie andVtfedome ought in fuch cafes to ouer-rule ) but thatfo t>entu- row boldnejfe I fee is a thing now general!, and am thereby of good hope that cohere all men are licenced to offend, no man villfkew himfelfe n, f 6 whai 'f^ceffeGod may giue^nto any fuchkinde oj "Conference or V JoC of f $*t*tton, Je cannot tell. 'But of this We are right jure, that Nature, bochpam vn. scripture, and Experience nfelfe,haue all taught the World to fee ke for iTucTmencT ^ ending of contentions , by fitting it felfeT>ntofomeiudiaall and ^ehr^nun\L^/ e ^ mtim f mence ' ^ heremt ° either part that contendeth may ynder (l no any pretence or colour refufe to (land. This mufi needs beeffeBuall and prong. Jsfor other me anes without t his, they feldome prenatle.J Would therefore how whether for the ending ofthe/e irkfomeftnfes, therein you and your followers doe ft and thus formally diuided again ft the mho- rt^edgmdes of this Qhurch, and the reft of the people fubiecltntc* heir charge, whether, I Jay , yee be contenVto referreyour caufe to any other higher judgement then your owne; or elf e intend to per/ft and proceed cuyeehaue begun, t illy our felues can be perfwaded to condemn* your /elues. If your determination be this , we can be butjorry that ye fhould dejerue to be reckoned ioith fuch , of Whom God himfelfe pronounce th W3.X7. The way of peace they hauenot knowne. Wayes of peaceable! r^uu^Wid\conclufion there are but thefe twecertaine: theone, afentenceofiudi- £*wr rCAmcl palldecifongiuen by authorise thereto appointed within our feluessthe other the like kind of fentence giuen by a more T>niuer fall authority. rhe former of which two Wayes God himfelfe in the Law prefcribeth, andhtsSpmtttwaj which direEieth theory fir fChnftian Churches Dcur , 7 8 \ r x? r° ^ e the laUr * The ordina ™ ofGod in the Law wo* this. It there anfe a matter too hard for thee in iudgement betweene bloud The Preface. bloud and bloud, betweenc plea, &c. then (halt thou arife,and goe vp vntothe place which the Lord thy God fliall choofe, and thou {halt come vnto the Priefts of the Leuites ; and vnto the ludge that fliall be in thofe daies , and aske , and they (hall (hew thee the fentence of iudgement, and thou (halt doe ac- cording to that thing which they of that place which the Lord hath chofen (hew thee ; and thou {halt obferue to doe accor- ding to all that they enforme thee,acccrding to the.Law which they fhall teach thee, and according to the iudgement which they fliall tell thee (halt thou doe , thou (halt not decline from the thing which they (hall (hew thee, to the right hand , nor to the left. And that man that will doe prefumptuoufly, not harke- ning vnto the Prieft (that ftandeth before the Lord thy God to minifter therejor vnto the ludge , that man (hall die, and thou (halt take away en ill from Ifrael. When their grew in the Church cfChn[iaqueftion 9 Whether the Gentiles beleeuing might bee Aa,^. faued, although they were not circumcifed after the manner of Mofes 9 nor did obferue the reft of thofe legall Rites and Cere- monies whereuntD the Je wes were bound : Jfter great dijjen- tion and difyutation about it 9 their conclufion in the end Was 9 to haue it determined by fentence at Ierufalem: which W04 accordingly done-, bid Counfell there affembledfir the fame purpofe. Are yee able to alleage any iufl and Jufficient caufe therefore abfolutely yee fhould not condejeend in this Controuerfiejo haueyour iudgements ouer-ruled by fome fuch defimtiue fentence , whether it fall out to begiuen with or againjl ycu 9 that fo the/e tedious contentions may ceaje'i Yee Will perhaps make anfwere 9 That being per f waded already as touching the truth of your caufe , yee are not to barken Ivnto any fentence , no not though jingels fiwuld define otherwife, as the bleffed Apofiles owne ex- ample teacheth: againe 9 that Men 9 yea Councels^may erre\ and that T*n- lejjethe iudgement giuen doe f axis fie your mindes , Jjnleffeit be fuch as yee can by no further argument oppugn e , in a word , Imlejfeyouper- ceiue c^ acknowledge it your felues confonant with Gods Wordjofland Tinto it not •<< (lowing it, were to Jinn e againfiyour owne confidences . (But confide?, I bcfeecbyoUifirjl, as touching the ^poflle 9 hoxp that wherein he Was Jo re jolute and peremptory y our Lord lefius Chriflmademani- fieft Imio him 9 euen by intuitiue rmelation 9 wherein there Wets mpofii- bilitie of err our : That which you are perf waded of 9 yee bane it no D other- HE IREFACE. otherwife then by your owneonely probable coUeSHion; and therefore fuch bold affeuerations as in him Here admirable fiould in your mouthes but argue rafl?neffe~>. God Has not ignorant that the Priefls and ludges , Tchofe j entente in matters of (jntromrfie he or daynedfhould jiand 9 both might and oftentimes yoonld be deceiuedin their mdgemenu Howbeit, better it Has m the eye of his Undemanding , thatfometime an err onions fentence definitiue fhould preuaile , till the fame authority per ceiuing fuch ouer-fight, might afterwards correcl or reuerfe it, thai that firifes fhould haue re (fit to grow , and not comejpeedily ^ntofome end. Neither Hijb H>ee that men Jhould doe any thing Hhicb in their hearts they are per [waded they ought not to doe, but this per fwafion ought (lee [ay)to be fully jet tied in their hearts 9 tloat in liudious and controuerfedcaufes of fuch quality , the Hill of God it to haue them to doe Hhatfoeuer the fentence ofiudiciali and finaU decifion /hall deter- mine^ ea , though it feeme in their priuate opinion to Jwarue utterly from that Hhicb is right : as no doubt many times the fentence amongjl the Iewes did fecme *)>nto one part or other contending ; and jet in this cafe God did then allow them to doe that ~%hicb in their priu at eiudge~ merit it feemed(yea and perhaps truly feemed)that the Law did difal- low. For if God be not the author of confufion , but of peace; then can he not be the author ofourrefufall, but of our contentment, to ft and T)n- tofome definitiue fentence; without Hbich almofl impofiible it is , that either He fhould a uoid confufion , oreuer hope to attaine peace. To fmall purpofe had the CounceH 0/lerufalem beene ajfembled , if one e^, their determination being fet downe, men might afterwards haue defen- ded their former opinions. When therefore they had giuen their defi- nitiue fentence , all controuerfie Has at an end. Things Here diluted before they came to be determined; men afterwards Here not to diffute any longer, but to obey. The fentence of judgement finiflied their fir ife, yphich their dijfutes before iudgement could not doe. This loos ground fufficient for any reafonable mans confeience to build the duety of obe- dience ypon, Hhatfoeuer his owne opinion Here as touching the matter le fore in quejlion. S ofull ofHilfulneffeand felfe4iking is our nature, that without fome definitiue fentence, Hbich being giuen may (iand, and a neceflity of ftlence on both fides afterward impofed ; fmall hope - . there is thatjlrifes thus farre projecuted, Hillinfhort time quietly end. Now? it Here in Ipaine to askeyou whether yee could be content that the fentence of any Court already ere tie d , fhould be fo farre authorised, as that Tee Preface. that among the Iewes eflablijhed by God himfelfe , for the determining of all Controuerjies '. That man which will doe prefumptuoufly, nothearkning vntothePridtthat flandcth before the Lord to miiufter there, nor vnto the Iudge, let him die , Ye hauegiuen Jjs already to J>nder[iand , "^hatyour opinion is in part concerning her fa- cred Maiejiies Court of high Commifton , the nature "thereof is thz~, fame Tvitb tbatamongji the lewes, albeit the power be not fo great. The other To ay haply may likeyou better, becaufe Mafler Btza in his lafl Pr*f craft do (Booke jaue one Written about theje matters , profeffeth htm [el fe to bee p^Tbyt. now dearie offuch combats and encounters , whether by word or "Wri- ting 9 tn as much as he findeth that Contr otter pes thereby are made but (Brawles; and therefore Tvijhetb that in fome common la wfullaf- fembly of Churches , all thefe ftrifes may at once bee decided. Shall there be then in the meant H>hih no doinps ? Yes. There are the "toaigbtier milters of the Law, wdgemcM and mercieand fidelitie. ttat.1i.z3. Thsfe things *fte ou^ht to doe; and thefe things jtohile we contend about lefft, Tee kaue Undone. Happier are they, "whom the Lord , Tohen hee commeth,fhall find doing in theje things, then dtffuting about Dotlors, Elders and Deacons. Or if there be no remedy butfomt what needs yee mujl doe which may tend to the fetiing forward of your Difcipline; doe that Which Wifemen , who thinke fome Statute of the %ealme mote fit to be repealed then to flaud in force , are accuflomedto doe before they eome to Parliament "Sphere the place ofenat~iing is; that is to fay , [fend the time in reexamining more duly your caufe , and in more throughly confidering of that "which yee labonr to ouer throw. As for the Orders whiclyre eflablfhed, fith equitie and reufon , the Law of nature , God V and man, doeallfauour that which is in being, till orderly iudgement of deafion legmen again fl it; it is but Inflict to exatl of you, andperuerf- ntfje in you it fhould be to denie t hereunto your W tiling obedience. Not that I tudge it a thing a Uowxble for men to obferue thofeLawes , which in their hearts they are fiedfaflly per f waded to bet againfi the Law of God: but your perfwafion in this cafe ye are all bound for the timetofuf- pend, and in other wife doing , yee offend againfl God , by troubling his Church without any iuji or neceffanc cauje % ( Be it that there are fome reajons inducingyou to thinke hardly of our la wes. Are thoje reafons de- monflmtiue, are they neceffirie, or but me ere probabilities onely I An* v. -hy^ni* , 1 c The matter contained in thefe eight. Bookcs. ny one fuch reafon difchargeth I grant the confeience , and Jittetb it a t full libertie. For the publike approbation giuen by the body of thu whole Church ampo thofe things which are eflablifhed , doth make it but probable that they are good, jind therefore Tmto a neceffarie proof e tba t they are not good 9 it mufigiue place. 'But if the skilfuUefl amongflyou canffmv, that all the Bookes yee haue hitherto written be able to afford any one argument of this nature, let the inflancc begiuen. As for pro - babilitie:, what thing was there euerjet downefo agreeable With found reafon , but fome probable fiew a^ainfl it might be made *. Is it meets that when pub likely things are receiued and haue taken place , genera 11 obedience thereunto (l)ouldceafe to be exacled, in cafe this or that pri- uate per fon led withfome probable conceit 9 fhould make open protecti- on , Peter or Iobn difallow them, and pronounce them naught? In "Which cafe your anfwere will bee , that concerning the Laives of our Churchy they are not only condemned in the opinion of a priuate man, but of thoufands , yea andeuen of thofe amongfl: which diucrs are in publike charge and authorities though when publike ton- Jent of the whole hath eflablifhed any thing, euery mans iudgement be- ing thereunto compared were not priuate , howjoeuer his calling bee to fome kind efpubUAe charge. So that of peace and quietneffe there is not anyway pofiible •, *)»ileffe the probable J>oice of euery intire focietieor body politique, out) -rule ad priuate of like nature in the fame bodie. Which thing c$e > that manjbould euer prefiume in any wife to change and alter the fame; and therefore ,That in Scripture there muft ofneceffity be found fome particular forme of Ecclefiafticall Politic , the Lawes whereof admit not any kind of alteration* The firfl three Bookes being thus en ded , the fourth proceedeth from the gen era H grounds and foundations of jour can/ e, lento jour general! accu fat ions againflvs , 04 hauing in the Orders of our Church (for foyou pretend) corrupted the right forme of Church-politie with manifold Popifh Rites and Ceremonies, which certaine reformed Churches haueba- nifhed from amongft them,and haue therby giuen vs fuch ex- ample as(you think)\vQ ought to follow. This your affertion hath herein drawne 'tis to makefiearch , whether theje beeiujl exceptions a- gainft the cuflomes of our Church , whenyee pleade that they are the^ fame which the Church ofi^ome hath , or that they are not the fame which fiome other Reformed Churches haue deutfed. Ofithofe foure fiookes which remaine , and are beflowed about the Jpecialties of that oaufie which lyeth in Controuerjie y the firfl examineth the caufies by youallcdged, wherefore the publike dueties of Chrijiian Religion , at our Prayers, our Sacraments and the rcftffbould not be order edin fuch © 3 fort The Preface, fort as With Ids they are-, nor that power whereby theperfons of men are confecrated ynto the M'mijlerie , bee difpofed of in fuch maner as tht_, Lawes of this Church doe allow. The Jecond and third are concerning the power of Iurifdiclion: the one whether Lay-men ,fuch as your vouer- ning Elders are, ought in all Congregations for euer to be inuefted with that power; the other whether r Btft)ops may haue that power otter other Pajlors , and therewithal! that honour which -frith 1>$ they haue. And becaufe befides the power of Order which all confecrated pet fans ban?'' and the power oflurifdiftion which neither they alienor they only haue there is a third power, a power of Ecclefiajlicall (Dominion ^communica- ble, as we thinke, lontoperfons not Ecclejiafticall , and moflft to be re* (trained J?nto the Prince our Soueraigne Commander otter the whole* body Politike: The eight r Booke we haue allotted Tint o this queftion,and haue fifted therein your Obieclions againft thofe preeminences %oyaU Which thereunto appertaine. Thus haue I laide before you the br'tefh ofthefe my Trauailes , andprefented lender your T?iew the hmmes of that caufe litigious betweene T)s : the whole intire bodie whereof be* ing this compact , it [hall bee no trouble/ ome thing for any man to find each particular Controuerfies refting place , and the coherence it hath With thofe things , either on which itdependeth , or which de- pend on it. Bow iuft caufe 8, The cafe foftanding therefore my brethren, as it doth, the Wife* W the L- dom ofOouernoursyee mufi not blame , in that they further alfofore- nifoid dan S c- cafting the manifold flrange & dangerous innouations, which are more likely coTn" then likely to follow, if your (Difcipline,frould take place, haue for that [nte ndcTe" 8 cau f e ^ oU ^ H lt W™$* a P art of their duetie to wit hfiand your ende-* formation, if uours that Way i The rather ,fvr that they haue feene already fome pia«. ta c fa 1 *" 1 beginnings of the fruites thereof, in them , who concurring witb you in iudgement about the necefihie of that !Difcipline, haue aduenttt- red without more adoe , to Jeperate themfelues from the reft of the Church, and to put your (peculations in execution . Thefe mens haftmes the warier fort of you doth not commend, yee wijl) they had held them* felues longer in , and not fo danger oufly fiowne abroad before the fed* thers of the caufe had beenegrowne; their err our with mercifull termes yee reprooue, naming them in great commtferation ofmind,your poore brethren. They on the con trarie fide more bitterly accufe yon as their falfe brethren, and againft you they pleade , faying : From your brefo it is, that We haue fucked thofe things 7 which when yee deliuered T>nto t.Tet.iA. The Preface, ys 9 yee termed that beauenly 9 fincere 9 and 'Whole fome rnilke of Gods p/«z.5 j.ij. -word 9 howfoeuer yee now abhorre as poyfou that "which the yerttte thereof hath -wrought and brought foortb in ys. lie fometime our com- panions 9 guides and familiars 9 "with "whom "We haue had mofl fweete confultaions 5 are now becomt our profeffed aduerfaries , becaufe iset thinkethe Statute-Congregations in England to be no true Cbriflian Churches j becaufe "We haue fettered our feluesfrom them 3 and becaufe without their leaueor licence that are in CiuiU Authorities Tee hauefe- cretly framed our owne Churches according to the plat forme of the "Word of God. For of that point betweene you and ys their is no con* trouerfie. jilas 9 -what "Would yee haue Its to doe ? At fuch time as yee ypere content to accept ys in the number of your owne 9 your teachings *We beard, -wee readyour Writings: and though "Wee %wuld,yet able 'We are not to forget 'With -what z£ ale yee haue euer profefl, that in the Engh/b Congregations (for fo many of them as be ordered according T*nto their owne Lawes, )theyerie publique Seruice of God is fraught , as touching matter 9 frith beapes of intolerable pollutions, andascon- cerning forme 9 borrowed from the Shoppe of Antichrist ; hatefuU both 'Wayesmthe eyes of the mofl Holy : the kind of their Gouernmentby %fhops and Archbifhops 9 Antichriflian 9 thap fDifcipfwe 'Which Chrijl bath ajfentially tied y that is tofay,fo United lento his Church , that -wee connot account it really to bee his Church 9 -which hath not in it the \^?^ 0t fame !Difcipline 9 tbatyerie (Difcipline no lejfe there dejpifed 9 then in the highefl throne of Antichrifl 9 all fuch partes of the Word of God as doe anyway concern e that Dtjcipline 9 no leffe ynfoundly taught and interpreted by all Authorised Englifl) Paflors 9 then by Jntichrifis fatlors themfelues ,• at Saptifme Crofting, at the Supper of the Lord kneeling^ at both d~> number of other the mofl notorious badges ofAnti- cbriflian recognifance yfuall. 'Being moued -with thefe and the like your effecluall difcourfes , thereunto -weegaue mojl attentiue eare 9 till they entred euen into our foules 9 and "Were as fire whin our bofomes ; "Wee thought me might hereof bee bold to conclude , that fithno fuch Anti- chrijlian Synagogue may be accompted a trueChurch of Chrijl ,yee by accufing all Congregations ordered according to theLawes o/England as Anttchhflian, didmeaneto condemne thofe Congregations , as not being any of them "Worthy the name oftu true Cbriflian Church. Yee tell Tos now it is not your meaning. *But -what meant your often threat* nin^s of them , -who profefiing themfelues the Inhabitants of mount Sion^ HE lREFACE. Sion, Were to loth to depart wholly as they jhould out of 'Babylon? Whereat our hearts being feare fully troubled 9 we dttrfl not, we durft not continue longer Jo neere her confines 3 IsH her plagues might fuddenly ouertake t>s, before lee did ceafe to be partakers with herjinnes : forfi We could not chufe but acknowledge With griefe that We were , when they doing euill } Wee by our prefence in their affemblies feemed to like~j thereof^ or at leaji wife notfo earnestly to diflike, as became men hearti- ly zjealoits of Godsglorie. For aduenturing to erecl the Difcipline of Chnfl without the leaue of the Chriflian Magiflrate , haply yee may condemne 1)S asfoolesjn that we hazard therby our eflates and per fins, further then you which are that Way more wfe tbinke necejfarie: but of any offence or finne therein committed again fl God , with what conjci- ence canyou accufe 1?s, when your owne pofitions are, that the things we ob feme Jhould enery of them be dearer Ipnto Ids then ten thoufand Hues; that they are theperemptorie commandements of God ; that no mortall man can dijpence with them,and that the Magiflrate grieuoufly finneth in not conjlraining thereunto? IVillyee blame any man for doing that of his owne accord , which all men fhould bee compelled to doe that are not billing ofthemfeluesllVhen Godcommandeth^fhall We anfwere that Toe Will obey, iffo be Cadar .will grant Tps leaue? Is Difcipline an Ecclefia- Jiicall matter or a Guill} If an Ecclefiaflicall, it mufl ofnecefiitie belong to the dutie of the Minifier. And the Minifier(yee fay) holdeth all his authorise of doing whatfoeuer belongeth T>nto the S pint uall charge of the houfe of God , euen immediatly from Godhimfelfe, without depen- dencie^pon any Magtjlrate, Whereupon it follow eth, as We fuppofe, that the hearts of the people being willing to bee "louder the Scepter of Chrifl, the Mini fler of God, into wkoje bands the Lord bimfelfe bath put that Scepter, is without all excu/e, if therby he guide them not.Nor doe we find that hitherto greatly ye hane dijliked thofe Churches abroad where the people with direclion of their godly Minifters , haueeuena- gainft the will of the Magistrate brought in either the dotlrine or(Dif- cipline oflejus Chrifl. For which caufe we mufl mw think the Tteryfame thing of you, which our Sauiour didfomtime litter concerning falfebear- Mattb. H . s . tedScribes and P bar ifes, They fay & doe not. Thus thefoolijl) Bar- ro wift deriu'eth hisfchifme by way ofconclufion ; as to him it feemetby direflly and plainly out of your principles m Him therefore we leaue to befatisfied by you from whome he katbjprung. Jndiffuch by your own aekuowledgemembeeperfons dangerous, although as yet the alterations Which The Preface* ^ohich they haue made are of [mall and tender growth ; the changes like- ly to enjue throughout all fl ate s and locations Within this Land, in cafe your defrefhould take place, mujl he thought T)pon. Firjl , concerning tbefupremepo wer of the highejl, they are no jmall prerogatiues, which now thereunto belonging the forme of your IDifcipline loill conftraine it to refigne, as in the laft 'Booke of this Treati/e loe baue /hewed at large. Jgaine it may iuftly be feared, whether our Engli/h Nobilitie^hen the matter came in trtall, would contentedly Jujfer themjelues to be alwaies at the call , and to Jiand to the fentence of a number of meanepcrjons, afttfted frith the pre fence of their poore Treacher , a man(as Jometimes it happeneth)tbough better able to fpeake , yet little or no whit after to iudgethen the reft; fromiohom, be their dealings neuer fo abfurd(lm- lejjeit beby Tray of complaint to a Synod) no appeale may be madeTvn- to any one of higher power , in a/much as the or da of your (Difci pline~j admitteth no (landing inequalitie of Courts , nofftrituall ludgeto baue any ordinarie fuperionr on earth 9 hut as many Supi emacies as there are Varices and fcuerall Congregations. Neither is it altogether without caufe that fo many doe fear e the ouerthroxv of all learning , as a threat- nedfequele ofthu your intended (Difcipline. For if the worlds prefer- uation depend T>pon the multitude of the wife ; and of that fort the s^. 24a number hereafter be not likely to waxe ouer -great, when (V to *tohere- laithtbc finne of Syrach prefeffetb bimfelfe at the heart gricucd) Ecci.iJ$ 9 < men of vnderftanding are already fo little fet by : how fhould their minds, lohom the hue ojffo precious a IeweO fillet h leitb fecret iealoufte euen in regard of the leafl things , which may any way hinder thefloifi- rifhing effate thereof, cbufc but mifdoubt left this (Difcipline, "which al- waies you match With diuine doffrine as her natural! and true ffttr, bee found T>nto all kinds of knowledge a fiepmother feeing that the great eft worldly hopes, which arepropofed 1?nto the cbiefejl hnd of learning, ye feeke Utterly to extirpate as weedes; and baue grounded your plat forme on fuch proportions, as doe after ajort Undermine tbofe moft renowned habitations, inhere, through thegoodnes of Mmightie God, all commen- dable jirts dr Sciences are With exec edinggr eat induftry hitherto(and Jo may they for euer continue) flu died, proceeded 'in , (j profefli To charge you as purpofely bent to the onertbrow of that therein fo many of you bane attained no jmall perfection , wereiniuriow. Only therefore I *%>ijb that your felues did Well conjider how oppofite certaineyour pofitions are Tmto the flats of (jollegiate focieties , thereon the two Vriimrfties confifi Th REFACE, confifl.Thoje degrees *&>bicb their flat utes bind them to take, a*e by your L*Tves taken a^oay , your feints Tobo haue (ought themyee } o excufe, as thatyee "Would bane men to tbinkeyee iudge them nnt allowable, but to- lerable onely ^ and to be borne "with j for fome help? "Which ye jind %n them Tvnto the furtherance of your purpojes , till the corrupt e/lateoftbe^, Church may be better reformed^ Tour Lawes forbidding Ecckfiafliaill ptrfons Utterly the exercife of Cimll power 9 mujineedes depriuethe^ Heads and Maflers in the fame Colledges ofcll fuch authentic as now they exercife ^either at homely pmifh'wg * he faults of thtf^obo not en children to their parents by the law of Mature , but altogether by CiuiU anthoritie arefubiect Tmtothem, or abroad, by keeping Courts amongft their tenants. Your lawes making permanent inequality amongft Mini- sters, a thing repugnant to the 'word of God, enforce thefe Colledges jbe Stniors 'Wherofare all or any part of them Minijltrs ynder thegouern- ment of a Mafter in the fame location, to choofe, as oft as they mttte to- gttber 9 a new tPrefident* For iffoye iudge it necefjarit to do in Synods, for the auoiding of permanent tnequalitie amongfl Miniflers 9 the fame caufe muft needs euen in theft Collegiate affemblies enforce the like* Ex- cept peraduentur eye e meane to anoid alljuch abfurdities , by diffoluing thoft Corporations , and by bringing the Vniutrftits lonto the forms of the Schoole of Geneua. Which thing mtn the rather are tnclined to & lookefor, in afmnch as the minifterie , "wherttnto their founders ipith Humb.Motion Rngnlar prouidtnee bane by the fame Statutes appointed tbem necejfari- to the l.l. ^ tQ ent ^ at a certaine timely our Lawes bind them much more neceffa- rilyto forbeare, till fome Part [h abroad caU for them. Your opinion concerning the Law Ciuill is , that the knowledge thereof might bet (pa- red 9 as a thing -which this Land doth not need. Profeffors in that kind being few, yet are the bolder to ffurne at tbem,and not to diffemble your minds as concerning their remoouall: in -wbofefludies although myfelfe haue not much beene corner fant , neuertbelefje exceeding great caufe I fee there is to 'wifh that thereunto more encouragement loeregiuen , a* "well for thefingular treajures ofwifedome therein conteined, as alfofor the great l?fe t>e haue thereof both in decifion of certaine kinds of caufe $ anfing daily within our feints , and efpecially for commerce 'with Nati- ons abroad, "W hereunto that knowledge is moft requtfite. The reafons 'wherewith yee *Kouldperfwade that Scripture is the onely rule to frame all our aclions by y are in entry reffecl as effecluall for proofs that tht^ fame i* the onely Law -whereby to determine all our Cmill controuerfies. And The Preface, And then what doth let, but that as tbofe men may haue their de fire, who frankly broach it already that the Worke of Reformation wiQneuer beperfeB^ till the Law of Jefus Cbrijl be receiued alone j fo Pleaders and Councellors may bring their Bookes of the Common-Law , and be- flow them as the Students of curious and needleffe arts did theirs in the jtpoflles time . ? / leane them to [can how farre thofe Words of yours may A & t9m 19t • reach, "wherein jee declare that whereas now many houfes lye wafte through inordinate juites of Law, This one thing will [hew the ex- Humb. M05, cellencie of Difcipline for the wealth of the Realme , and quiet Pa§l 74, of Subiedh , that the Church is to cenfure fuch a partie who is apparantly troublefome and contentious , and without Rea- sonable Cayse vpon a meere will and ftomack doth vexe and moleft his Brother,and trouble the Country. For mine owne part I doe not jee but that it might l?ery Well agree with your principles , if your dtjcipline were fully planted , euen to fend out jour Writs of Surceafe Tmto all Courts of England befides , for the mojl things bandied in them. A great deale further 1 might proceede and defend lower, l But for as much as againfl all t hefe and the like difficult counter^ ties^your an/were is, That we ought tofearch what things are confonant pa &» loU to Cods will , not which be moji fir our owne eafe j and therefore that your difcipline , being (for fuch is jour errour) the abfolute commanded ment ofAJmigbtie God> it mufl be receiued, although the World bj re- ceiving it JJ?onld be cleane turned Ippfide-downe ; herein lieth tbegrea- tefl danger of all. For whereas the name ofdiuins Authoritie is Jfed to countenance thefe things , which are not the Commandements ofGod i but jour owne erroneous colieclions j on him jee mufl father whatfieuer jee /ball afterwards be led , cither to doe in witbflanding the A duer fi- nes of your caufe, or to thinke in maintenance of jour doings. And what this may be> God doth know. In fuch kinds of error 9 t he mind once ima- gining itfelfe tofeeke the execution of Gods WiU 9 labour eth forthwith to remoue both things and per fins , which any way hinder it from taking places and in fuch cafes ifanjjirange or new thing feeme reauijite to be done ,a fir ange cjt new opinion concerning the lawfullnes thereof is with- all receiued and broached lender countenance of diuine authoritie. One example herein may ferue for many, tofhew thatfalfe opinions touching the will of God to haue things done, are Wont to bring forth mighty and violent practices againfl the hinderances of them ; and thofe praclices new opinions 'more pernicious then the fir ft , yea 9 moft extreamely Jome- 1 HE IREFACE. fometimes oppofite to that "ttbich the firfi did feeme to intend. Where the people tooke Ttpontbem the reformation of the Church bycajling out Popifhfuperflinon, they haning receiuedfrom their Paftors agene- Mrf.iy. 13- rail injlrutlion that -%hatfoeuer the heauenly Father hath not planted, muft be rooted out 3 proceeded in fome forrein places fofarre, that downe ypent oratories and the laery Temples of God themfelues. For as they chanced to take tve compare of their Commlfiion fritter or larger , fo their dealings loere accordingly more or leffe moderate. Jmongfl others there ff rang ^pprefently one kind of men , tith ^obofe ^eale and for- •wardnefje the refi being compared, loere thought to be maruellous cold and dull. The je grounding themfelues on ^ules more generally that ^hatfoeuzr the law of Chrifl commandeth not, thereof \Antichrifl is the authority that lobatfoeuer Jntichrifi or his adherents did in the "World, the true profeffors Chrifl are to Ttndoe j found out many things more then others bad done, the exportation thereof ^oas in their conceit as GuydeBrcs neceffary as of any thing before remooued. Hereupon they fecretly desAnabap- made their dolefull complaints euerie inhere as they went, that albeit PagX the world did begin to profeffe fome diflike of that iphicb -^as euili ] in the Kjngdome of darkneffe. yet fruits Worthy of a true repentance "fyere not feene± and that if men did repent as they oughts they mufl endeuour to pur dies in trouble , that fuch to did quietly lead their lines , they iudged of all other men to be in mofl dangerous cafe. They fo much of- Pa feci ed to crojjethe ordinarie cufiomein euery thing , that"^ hen other mens Jfe "toas to put on better attire, they mould be fur e tojbei* them- felues openly abroad in "toorfe : the ordinarie names of the dates in the-* Weeke they thought it a kind of prophanefle totfe , and therefore accu- jlomed them felues to make no other difiinclion then by numbers, The-, fir ft, Second, Third day . From this they proceeded Ijnto publique ( I(e- frmation,fir(i, FcdefiaflicaU , and then C mil. Touching the firmer, p ag . 4( ,. they boldly auouched, that theaijelues only had the Truth, "Svhich thing ypon peril! of their Hues they "Would at all times defend - 3 and that Jince the Apofiles lined , the fame leas neuer be fire in all points fincerely taught. Wherefore that things might agamebee brought to that an- ient integritie yphich Icfus Chrift by his leord required , they began to controute the Miniflers of the Gojpell for attributing fi much force-, and Vertue lento the Scriptures of God read , whereas the Truth "Was that "token the Word is j aid to engender Faith in the heart , and to con- uertthe Souleofman , orto^orkeany fuch d>iritua\l Dittineejfeel, thefe fyeeckes are not thereunto appliable cu it is read cr preached , but as it is ingrafted in J>s by the power of the Holy Ghofi opening thc-» eyes of our Undemanding, and foreuealmgthemyfteriesof God , ac- cording to that thick Jcremie promi^ibe) 'ore fbould bee, faying, I will put my Law in there inward parts, and I will write it in 7 ««.3*-34. their hearts. The Booke of God they notwithftanding for the mofl pan fo admired , that other diffutation againfi there opinions then only by Pag.^i allegation of Scripture they mould not hea>e ; befdes it, they thought Pag , i7 , no other Writings in the World fhould bsfludied; in fo much as one of their gt^at Prophets exhorting them to caftawayaH re/J>eclsT>nto hu- mane Writings, fofarre to his motion they condefcended, that as many as had any ftookes faue the Holy Bible in their cuflodie , t hey brought and fet them publikely on fire. When they and their Bibles mere alone together, mhat firange phamaflicall opinion foeuer at any time entred into their heads, their J>fe mas to thinke the Spirit taught it them. Their phrenfies concerning our Sauiours incarnation , the ftate of foults de- parted^andfuchhke, are things needleftejo bee rebearfed. Jndforas E much The Preface* mucbastihiey we of the fame Suite "pith thofe of *tohom the Apoflle z.TM.3.7. Jpeaketh, flying, They are ftill learning , but neuer attaine to the knowlecd jge oftruth, it -was no maruaile to fee them euery day broach fome new thing* not heard of before, Which reftleffe leuiiiethcy did in- terpret ten bee their growing to JpirituaU perfection , and a proceeding Pag- 6s* from faitth to faith. The differences among(i them grew by this meane p3 3' 66, in a manner infinite , fo that jcarcely ypas there found any one oft hem, the forge of t>hofe braine "ftvw not p^fjefl with fome ffeciall myflerie. Pag- 1 3*- Whereupon although their mutual contentions Irere mofl fiercely pro- fecuted amongjl themfelues: yet Token tkey came to defend the can ft common to them all again [I the Aduerfaries of their Faclion , they had waxes to licke one another whole* the founder in his owne perfwafion, ex- Pag. i'. cufng The Dear, e Brethren, lohich "Were not fo fane Pa* 1. enlightned , and proffsing a charitable hope of the mercy of Cod to- wards them, notiv it branding their [warning from him in fome things. Their owne Minifters they highly magnified, as men whofe Vocation Pag.iM- 'tote from God: the refl their manner Teas to terme difdahifully Scribes and Fharifes, to account their Calling an humane Creature, and to de- Pag. 7*4. fame the people as much as might bee from hearing them. As touching Sacraments , Tiaptipne adminiflred tn the Church c/Rome, They ludged to bee but an execrable Mockerie and no (Baptifme j both be- cause the Minifiers thereof tn the 9 apacie are wicked Idolaters , lewd Perfonsflheeues and Murderers , cur fed Creatures , ignorant Beafts; and alfo for that to baptise u a proper action belonging Ipnto none but Pag- 743. the Church of Chrifly thereto fymeis Antichrifis Synagogue. The Pag ri- cuftome oflfng Cod- fat hers and God-mothers at Chritlnings they Pag. 513. fcorned, Baptising of Infants , although confejl by them/elues to haue beene continued euen fithence the Tterie jipoflles owne times % jet they altogether condemned: partly, becaufe Jundry errours are Pag. 7". of no lejje Jn!iquitie; and partly, for that there is no (jmmande- Pag. -?zf. ment m the Gofye'd ofQmft , lebich faith 9 Baptiz e Infants > but hee contrariwifein faying , Goe Preach and Baptife , doth appoint that the Minipr of r Bapufme fiallin that aclionfirjl admin ifter !Doftrine 9 p a g.m. and then fiaptifme, as alfo in faying, Whofoeuer doth beleeue & is baptifed 5 he appointed that the [>artie to Tvkom (Baptifine is admini- Jiredfjjallfirjl beleeue , and then be baptised; to the end that beleeuing may go before this Sacramct in the receiuer, no otherwife then preaching inthe Guaer, Jitb equally in both , the Law ofChri/i declaretb not onejy vbdt The Preface. ypbat things are required , but alfo in Tvbat order they are required. The p. lg . 3 8. Eucbarttt they receitied (pretending our Lord and Sauiours example) after Supper", and for auoy ding all thofe impieties which haue keener wounded ypon the myflicall words o/ChriJl , This is my body , This is my bloud , they thought it notfafe to mention either 'Body or ftloud in that Sacrament , hut rather to abrogate both , and to Jfe no coords but thefe, Take , eate , declare the death o£ our Lord : Drinke , fhew Pag.i«. forth our Lords death. In Rites and Ceremonies their profeftion Teas hatred ofaH conformitie Tilth the Church of^me : for Tohich caufe they would rather indure any torment then objerue the folemne fefttuals yphich others did , in as much as Jntichrift ( they [aid ) Toot the firjl in- uenter of them. The pretended end of their CiutU reformation 3 Ttas that Chrift' might haue dominion ouer all , that all Crownes and Scepters might bee throwne downe at his feete , that no other might raigne ouer Chriftian men but he y no Regiment keepe them in awe but his (Difcipline 5 amonvft them no Sword at all be carried beftdes his ,the Sword of /piri- tuaU Excommunication. For this caufe they laboured yvith all their .mieht in ouer -turning the feat es of Magiflracie , becaufe Chrift hath faid , Kings of Nations j in abolijhing the execution of Iuftice, p ag>841 . becaufe Chrifl hath faid , Refill not euill; in forbidding Oathes the Pa g .8, 3 . necefjarie meanes of tudiciall try all , becaufe Chrift bath faid, Swcare p**.^. not at all ; finally , in bringing in communitie of goods , becaufe Chrift by his A pojlles hath giuen the World fuch example to the end that men might excell one another , not in "health the Pillar offecular authoritie, but in ^ertue. Thefe men at the fir [I Tsere onelyphtied in their errour, pa g . 4 o. and not much withflood by anyi the great Humilitie ,Zeale ,and De- notion , Tohich appeared to be in them, Teas in all mens opinion a pledge of their barmelejfe meaning. The hardeji that men of found Ipnderftan- ding concerned of them, was but this, O cjuam honefta voluntate uzunt. ddu. miferi erant? With how good a meaning thefe poore foules ftit - Ub -f.c«.i* doe euill j Luther made reauejl Tpnto Fredericke IDuke of Saxo- p ag .*. nie , that within bis Dominion they might be fauourably dealt Tpith and /pared, for that {their errour exempted) they feemed otherwife right good men. Ty meanes of Tohich mercifull toleration they gathered ftrength , much more then Toasfafe for the State of the Common-Toe altb Toberem they liued. They had their fecret corner-meetings and affem- blies in the night , the people flocked Tonto them by thoufands. The v*z-v°- meanes yphereby they both allured and retayned fo great multitudes, E 2 Toere p.lg.f The Preface. fere mojl ejfecluaH; first , a -wonderful! jhew of \eak towards God, therewith they jeemed to bee euenrapt in euery thing they Jpake: fe- ,5 j. condly, an hatred of finne , and afingular lone of integritie , fhich men didthmketo be much more then ordinarie in them ,by reafon of the cu- jlome fhich they had to fill the eares of the people wi Inuetliues a~ gainfl their authorised Guides as fell Spiritual! as Ciuill : thirdly , the bounti full relief e therewith they eafed the broken ejiatecf fuch needier Creatures , as "Were in that reffzti the more apt to beedrafne away: fourthly , a tender companion fhich they ftre thought to take Tvpon the mijeries of the common fort , oner fhofe heads their manner fas euen to powre downe p?owres of teares in complayning that no rejpecl fas had Pag.7. tyito them , that their goods "were deuoured by ficked Cormorants , their perfons had in contempt , all libertie both Temporal! and Spirituall ta- ken from them ; that it loos high time for God now to heare their grones 9 and to fend them deliuerance : laftly , a cunning fight fhich they had to (Iroke andfmooth *tip l ^ e niindes of their Followers 3 as fell by appro- priating Tmto them all the fauourable Titles , the good words , and the~> gracious promt fcs in Scripture $ as alfo by cafiing the contrarie alwaies an the heads of fttch as fere feuered from that retinue. Whereupon, Pag-7. the peoples common acclamation T?nto fuch deceiuers fas : Thefe are~> Eerily the men of God y thefe are his true and Jincere Trophets. If any fuch Prophet or man of God did fuffer by order of Law condigne and deferuedpmifl?ment _; fere it for Fellonie , Rebellion , Murder , or -what elfe : the people (fojirangely fere their hearts inchanted ) as though blef- Pag.x7. fed Saint Stephen had beene againe martyred, did lament that God t&okeaway his mofl deare Seruants from them. In all thefe things being fully perfwaded, that yvbat they did , it was obedience to the fill of God, md that all ri en jlwidddoe the like; there remayned after peculation, practice, f hereby the whole World thereunto ( if it ferepoflible) might pj°.*. be framed. This they jaw could not bee done , but fifh mtghtie oppo- fition and rcf fiance : againfl ftich to jlrengthen them f elms , they fe- cretly entred into a League of \Affeciation, .And peraduenture confide- ring , thai although they w>ere many , yet long Wanes fould in time~> ffjie them out; they beganne to thinke fhether it might not bee that God fould haue them doe for their Jpeedy and mighty increafe , the fame fhich fometime Gods owne cho fen people, the people of 1 frael did. Glad and f aim they fere to haue itfo : fhich Itery defire fas it felfe apt to breed both an opinion of pofliinlitie , and a fillingneffe to gather Argu- ments The^ Preface. ments of likelihood, thatfo God himfdfe would haue it* Nothing more cleere Ttnto their fuming , then that a new Ierufalem being often /po- ken of in Scripture , they Undoubtedly ^oere tbemfelues that new Ieru- falem, and the old did by Ipayofa certayne figuratiuerefemblanct^ fignijie what they fbould both be and doe. Here they drew in a Sea of matter , by applying all things ^nto their owne tympany , which are-j my where Jfroken concerning diume fauours and benefits beflowed T)pon the old Commonwealth of Ifrael^ concluding, that as Ifrael w*nto Sinne and Superflition ; as Ifrael was to roote out the Idolatrous Nations , and to plant in fle ad of them People which feared God , fo the fame Lords good will and pleafure was mw, that thefe new Ifraelites fhould , lender the conduft of other Iofuaes, Sampfons, and Gedeons , performe cu worke no lefje miraculous incafiing out Violently the picked from the Earth 3 and eflabli/bing the Kingdom e ofChrifl With per feci liber tie: and therefore as the caufi why the children of Ifrael tooke y?Uo one man many wines? might be , left the cafualties of Wane fhould any way hinder the pro- mi fe of God concerning their multitude from taking effect in them ; fo it Teas not Unlike that for the neceftary propagation of Qhrifts Kjng- dome Jjnder the GoJfieB , the Lord was content to allow as much. Now whdtfoeuer they did in fuch fort collet! out of Scripture , when they came to iufiifie orperfwade it T>nto others, all was the heauenly Fathers appointment, his commandement , his "Kill and charge. Which thing is the Very point,in regard thereof lhaue gathered this declaration, For my purpofe herein is to fhew that when the mindes of men are once er- ronioujly perfwaded , that it is the will of God to haue thofe things done which theyphancy ; their opinions are as T homes in their fides , neuer Offering them to take reft till they haue brought their peculations into pmclice: the lets and impediments of which practice their rejlleffe de fire andfludy toremoue, leadeth them euery day forth by the hand mto o- t her more dangerous opinions , fometimes quite and cleane contrary t& their firfl pretended meaningsfb as what wiUgrow out ofjuch errors as goe masked J>nder the cloke ofdiuine authorise, impefiible it is, that euer the T»it of man fhould imagine, till time haue brought forth the fruits of them : for which caufe it behoueth Wifedome to fear e tbefequels there- of, euen beyond all appamnt caufe of fear e. Thefe men,in whofe mouthes at thefirfl , founded nothing but onely mortification oftheflefh 9 Were E 3 come The Preface. , — . — — ' ■ — ~ ' — •"• » come at the ilength to tbinke they might lawfully haue their fixe or fern n JVtues apiece : they -which at the jirfl thought Judgement andlufiice it felfetobe mercilejfe cruelty j accomptedatthe length their owne hards fwttifiedlritb being imbrued in Chriftianbloud' they "who at the frji Were "Wont to beate downe all Dominion,and to trge againji poore Ccn- flables. Kings of Nations; had at the length both Confults and lyings of their owne ereclion amongfl them/elues , finally , they nohich could not broote at the Jirfl that any manfhouldfeehe, no not by Law, the re- touery of goods iniurioufly taken or vitfj-beld from him j were gr owne at the lafl to tbinke they could not offer T>nto God more acceptable fa* Pa i crifice , then by turning their Jduerfaries cleane out ofhoufe and bome % and by inriching tbenijelues with all kind of Jpoile and pillage ^ which thing being laid to their charge , they had in a readineffe their anfwere 9 that now the time was come, -when according to our Sauiours promifeL^ 9 uat.i.i. The meeke ones mud inherit the earth , and that their title here* ynto was the fame which the righteous Ifraelites badTtnto the goods txoa.i i.v of the Tricked Egyptians., Wherefore fith the World hath had in theft menfefrefb experience , how dangerous fuch aSfme errors are , it muft not offendyon though touching theJequeOofyoHrprefentmiJperfwafi* qhs much more be doubt ed,then your owne intents andpurpofes doe bap* ly ayme at. jindyetyour words already are fomewhat , whenyee af- firme that your Paflors, (Doclors, Elders, and Deacons, ought to bee in this Church o/England, Whether her Maieftie and our State will ub«MPa MS xi % or no,wben for the animating ofyour C m federates, y e publi ft? themu- flers which yee haue made of your owne Sands , andproclaime tbem to amount I know not to how many tboufands\ when yee threaten, t hat Jith neither your fuits to the Parliament, nor fupplications to our Conuocati- on-houfe, neither your defences by Writing,nor challenges offDiJputati- on in behalf e of that cauje are able to preuaile,We muft blame ourfelues, if to bring in difctpline/omefuch meanes hereafter be yfedasfiallcaufe Demonftcin all our hearts to d^.That things doubtfull are to be conftrued in the better part, is a principle notfafe to be followed in matters concer- ning the publike State of a Common-Weale. 'But howfoeuer thefe and the likejpeeches be accountedas arrowes idelyfhot at random , "Without either eye had to any marke , or regard to their lighting place: hath not your longing de fire for thepratlice of your (Difcipline, brought the mat* ter already ^nto this demurrer amongflyou, whether the People and their godly Taftors that Day ajfetted,ougbt not to make feparation from the thaPref. The Preface. the reft, and to beginnethe exercifeof fDifcipline without Licence of Cimll Powers, which Licence tbey haw fought for , and are not heard ? Vpon which quejlion , as ye haue now deuidedyour Jellies , the warier fort of you taking the one part , and the forwarder m %eale the other; Join cafe thefe earneft Ones froitld pre uaile , what other fequell can any wifeman imagine but this , that hauing firjl revalued that attempts for fDifapline without Superiors are lawfull , it will follow in the next place to bee diluted what may bee attempted againjl Superiors , which will not haue the Scepter of that IDifcipline to rule ouer them ? Tea euen by you which haue fayed your felues from running head-long with'the other fort , fomewhat notwith flanding there hath beene done without the leaue or liking of your lawfull Superiors , for the exercife of apart ofyour Difcipline amongU theClergie thereunto addicted, dndlejl ex- amination of primi pall parties therein fljould bring thofe things to tight, which might hinder and let your proceedings^ behold far a barre againfi that impediment , one Opinion ye haue newly added 'bnto the reft euen Jfpon thu occafon,an Opinion to exempt you from taking Oatbs 9 which may turne to the moleflation ofyour brethren in that caufe. The next neighbour Opinion whereunto, when occafion requireth, may follow for (Difpenfation with Oaths aire a die taken , if they afterwards bee found to import anecefitie of dete cling ought which may bring fuch good men into trouble or damage, whatfoeuer the caufe be. O mercy full God, What mans wit is there able to found the depth of thofe dangerous and fear e full euds, whereintoour We ake and impotent nature is inclinable to finkeit felfe , rather then to (hew an acknowledgement of err our in that which once ^>e haue lonaduifedly taken tpon T?s to defend , againfi the ftr eame as it Were of a contrarie publike resolution ^ Wherefore , if We any thing refpeel their err our, who being perfwaded euen as ye are, haue gone further T>pon that per fw a fan then ye allow 9 if Wee regard theprefent State of the highcfl Gouernour placed ouer Th 3 i f the qua- litie and diff option of our Nobles , if the Orders and Lowes of our fanujus Vniuerfities , if the profefiionofthe Ciuill, or the pratlice of the Common Law amongftvs, if the mifchiefes whereinto euen before our eyesfo many others hauefalne head-long from no lejfeplaufible and faire beginnings then yours are : there is in euery of thefe confederations rnoft iufl.cauje to feare , left our haflinejfe to embrace a thing of fo peri- lous confequence y fhould caufe Pofterity tofeele thofe euils, which asyet are more eafiefir Ids topreuentjthen they Would be for them to remedie. 9. The The Preface. fcn of ai? u * 9- ^foe be ft andfafefl way fory ou therefore my deare Brethren is, to all your deeds pafl a new reckoning , to re- examine the caufeye haue taken in band, and to try it euen point by point, argument by argument , "frith all the diligent exatlneffe ye can ; to lay afide the gall of that bit- ternejfe lohmin your minds haue hitherto oner-abounded, andloith meekeneffe to fear ch the Truth. Tbinte yee art men, deeme it not impofiible for you to erre : fift lonpartially your owne hearts , whether it be force ofreafon y or Ttekemencie ofaffeclion , *tohich hath bred , and Jlill dothfeede thefe opinions in yon. If Truth doe anywhere manu feft it felfe ,feeke not to fmother it "frith globing Delufton , acknow- ledge the greatneffe thereof, andthinke it your beft ViRorie Token the fame doth preuaile oueryou. That yee haue beene earne[l in Jpeaking or writing , againe anda- gainethe contrarie way , fhould be no blemifh or dif credit at all lento you. Jm:ngfl Jo many fo huge Volumes 9 as the infinite paines of Saint Auguftine haue brought forth, Ttbat one hath gotten him grea- ter hue, commendation and honour, then the Booh wherein he carefuL ly coBecled his owne ouerfights , and fincerely condemneth them? Many fpeeches there are of lobs , whereby his Wifdome and other Ver* tues may appeare ': but theglorie of an Ingenuous minde he bathpurcha- fcft.39.3r* JM yy thefe y, or J s one \y 9 Behold , I will lay mine hand on my mouth j i haue ipoken once, yet will I not therefore maintaine Argument- yea twice, howbeit for that caufe further I will not proceed, bane more comfort it Here for ys(foJmalluthe ioytyec take in thefe flnfes)to labour lender the fame yoke, 04 men that looke for the fame eternal! reward of their Labours , tobeenioynedTsitbyou in bands ofindiffoluable hue and amitie, to Hue as ifourperfons being many 3 our b oules Here but one , rather infuch difmenbredfort tofyend our few and Wretched dayes in a tedious projecting of soearifome Con- tentions : the end whereof, if they haue notfomejpeedie end , Hill bee heauie euen on both fides. Brought alreadie Hee are euen to that ejiate Hhich Grcgoric Nazianzene mournefully defenbeth Joying, Greg.xai.in ft/[y minde leadcth me(ftth there is no other remedy) to flie and to conuey my felfe into fome corner out of fight , where I may fcape from this cloudie tempeft of malicioufnefle , whereby all parts are entred into a deadly warre amongft themfelues, and that little remnant of loue which was, is now confumed to nothing,, The onely godlineflTe wee glorie in , is to finde out Af«t, The Preface. outfomewhat whereby wee may iudge others to beevngodly. Each others faults we obferue ^ as matter of exprobrarion , and not of grief e. Bythefe meancs wee are grownc hatefull in the eyes of the Heathens themfelues j and ( which wound eth vs the more deeply) able wee are not to denie bur that wee haue defer- ued their hatred. With the better fort of our owne 3 our fame and credit is cleane loft* The lefle wee are to marucll if they iudge vilely of vs , who although wee did well , would hardly al- low thereof. On our backes they alfo build that are lewd , and what wee obiectone againft another, the fame they vfe to the vtter fcorne and difgrace of vs all, This wee haue gained by our mutuall home diffentions. This wee are worthily rewarded with , which ? re more forward to ftriue , then becommeth men oi" vertuous and mild difpofition. %it our trufl in the Almightie u , that with l>s contentions are now at their high efl flote , and that the day "Will come (for lob at caufe of defy aire is there ?) ls>hen the paftions of former enmitie being allayed , Toe (hall loith ten times redoubted tokens of cur ^nfainedly reconciled lone , [hen? our felues each towards other the^ fame ^ Inch lofephdw^ the brethren of Iofeph 19 ere at the time of their enter-leiew in Egypt. Our comfortable expectation andmefi thir- flie defire thereof "ftbat manfoeuer amongst you Jhall any leay helpe to fltisfie 9 (asipe truely hope there is no one amongH you butfome may er other Tvill ) the bkftings of the Gcd of Peace both in this World and in the World to come, be ypon him more then the ftars of the Firma- ment in number. THINGS ARE HANDLED I THE BOO K E S pollomng. Gift f I^H^ fir II Booke, concerning Lawes in gene- bo: rail. Thcjecond, Of the vfeof diume Law contained in Scripture, whether that bee the onely Law which Qught to ferue for our direction in all things without exception. The third, Of Lawes concerning Ecclefiafticall Pohcie- whether the forme thereof bee in Scrip- ture fo 'let downe , that no addition or change is lawfull. The fourth, Of generall exceptions taken againft the Lawes of our Politie, as being Popifhand banilhedoutofcertame Reformed Churches. Ih? fifth , Ofour L awes that concerne the publikc religious duties of the Church } and the manner of bellowing thatpower of order,which inableth D men The Contents* men in fundne degrees and callings to execute the fame. The/xtf, Of the power of Iunf3i<5hon, which the reformed platforme claymeth vnto Lay-Elders, with others. The feuenth , Ofthe power of Iurifdiclion , and the honor which is annexed thereunto in Bifhops. The eighth , Ofthe power of Ecclefiafticall Domi- nion or fuprcme Authentic , which with vs the higheft Gouernour or Prince hath, as well in re- gard of domefticall IurilHidtions, as of that other forrainly claimed by the Bifhop of T^pmc^- ■ OFTHE LAVVES OF EC C L ESIA S TIC ALL POLITIE: The jirfl Booke. Concerning Lawes, and their feuerall foindes in generally The matter contained in this firft Bookc. 1 > '■ *Hc caufe of writing this gener all di fie our fe concerning lames. 2 Of that law which God from before the beginning hath fet for himfelft -*- to doe all things by . 3 The law which natur all agents obferue,ejr their necejfary manner of keeping it. a. The law which the Angels of God obey. 5 The law whereby man is in his actions directed to the imitation of God. 6 XJMens first beginning to vnder stand that law. 7 Of mans will, which is the firft thing that lawes of action are made to guide. S Of the na^ur all' finding out of lawes by the light of reafon to guide the mil vnt* that which is food. 9 Of the benefit of keeping that law which reafon teacheth. i o How reafon doth leade men vnto the making of humane lawes whereby politike focieties arc governed, and to agreement about lawes whereby the fellotvfhip or communion of independent focieties ftandeth. J i Wherefore God hath by Scripture further made knowne [uch fupcrmtur all laws as doe ferue for mens direction. 12 The caufe why fo many natural! or rational! lawes are fet downe in holy Scrip- tures. 1 3 The benefit ofhauing diuine lawes written. 14 Thefufficiencie of Scripture vnto the end for which it wm inftituted. 1 5 Of lawes pofitiue conteinedin Scripture , the mutabilitie ofcertaine of them, and thegeneraH vfe of Scriptures. ' 1 6 A conclufion, fiewivg how all this belongeth to the caufe in que f ion. P HE The firtt ! Boo{e of Thccaufcof writing this gensraU dii- coinfe. E that goeth about to perfwade a multitude , that they arc not fo well goucrned as they ought tev are corrupt and vicious ; for better examination ofthrir qualitie, it bchoucth the very foundation & root, the higheft wclfpring and fountaine of them to be difcouered. Which becaufc wc are nor oftentimes accuftomed to doe, when we doe it , the payncs wee take arc more needful! a great Ecclejiajlkall ToUtie^. 5 great deale then acceptable, and the matters which wee handle feeme by reafon of"newneffe,(till the rainde grow better acquainted with thcm)darke, intricate^ and vnfamiliar. For as much helpe whereof as may be in this cafe, I haueende- uoured throughout the bodie of this whole Difcourfe 3 [that euery former part might giueftrength vnto all that follow 3 and cuery later bring Tome light vnto all before.So that ifthe iudgemencs of men doe but hold themfelues in iufpehce astouchingthefe firft more generall Meditations, till in order they haue per- ufed the reft that enfue : what may feeme darke at the firft will afterwards bee found more plaine, euen as the later particular idecifions will appeareldoubc not more ftrong, whentheother haue beene read before. The Lawes of the Church,whereby for fo many Ages together we haue beene guided in the exer- cife of Chriftian Religion, and the feruice of the true God, our Rites, Cuftomes, and Orders of Ecclefiafticall Gouernment, are called in queft ion j we are acu- fed as men that will not haue Chriftlefus to rule ouer them, but haue wilfully can his Statutes behinde their backes, hating to be reformed and made fubiecl vntothefcepterofhis Difcipline. Behold therefore we offer the Lawes whereby we Hue, vnto thegenerall triall and iudgement of the whole World jheartily be- feeching Almightie God, whom wee defire to ferue according to his o wne will, that both wee and others (all kinde of partial! affection being cleane laid a fide) may haue eyes to fee,and hearts to embrace, the things that in his fight are moft acceptable. And becaufe the point about which wee ftriue is the qualitie of our Lawes, our firft entrance hereinto cannot better be made,tben with confedera- tion of the nature of Law in generall,and of that Law which giueth life vnto all the reft which are commendable, iuft, and good, namely the Law whereby the Etcroall himfelfe doth worke. Proceeding from hence to the Law,firft of Na- ture, then of Scripture, we fhall haue the eaficr accefle vnto thole things which come after to be debated, concerning the particular caufe and queftion which we haue in hand. 2 All things that are, haue fbrae operation not violent or cafiiall. Neither of that Law doth any thing euer beginne to exercife the fame, without fome fore- concerned fromb^bri end for which it worketh. And the end which it workcth for is not obtayned, the beginning vnlefletheworkebealfbfittoobtayneitby. For vnto euery end euery opera- J)^ ™ tfor ^ tion will not ferue. That which doth affigne vnto each thing the kinde, that a ii things ky. which doth moderate the force and power, that which doth appoint the forme and meafure of working , the fame wee tearme a Law. So that nocertaineend could euer bee attained, vnlcfTe the actions whereby itis attained were regular, thatistofay,madefuteable, fit, and correfpondent vnto their end, by fome Canon, Rule or Law. Which thing doth firft take place in the workes euen of God himfelfe. All things therefore doe worke after a fort according to Law: all other things according to a Law, whereof fome Superiours vnto whom they are fiibiect is Author; onely the workes and operations of God, haue him both their worker, and for the Law whereby they are wrought. The being of God, is a kinde of Law to his working: for that perfection which God is, giueth perfection to that hee doth. Thofe naturall,neceffary,andiaternall ope- rations of God, the generation of the Sonne , the proceeding of the Spirit , are without the compaflc of ray prefent intent: which is to touch onely fuch opera- F 2 tion? The fir (l c Bo'oke of tions as haue their beginning and being by a volunrary purpofe, wherewith God hath eternally decreed when and how they fhould be. Which eternal] de- cree is that we tearme an eternall.Law. Dangerous it were for the feeble braine of man to wadefarreinto the doings of the raoft High; whom although to know be life,and ioy to make mention of his namejyet our foundeft knowledge is, to know that wee know him notas indeedehee is, neither can know him - and our fafeft eloquence concerning him is our filence when wee confefTe with- out confefiion, that his glory is inexplicable,his grcatnefle aboue our capacitie and reach. He is aboue, and we vpon earth; therefore it behooueth our words to be warieand few. Our God is one, or rather very OnenefJ'e, and meere vnitie, hauing nothing but it felfe in it felfe, and not confifting (as all things doe be- fides God) of many things. In which eflfentiall vnitie of God, a Trimtie perfb- nallneuerthelefTefubfifteth , after a manner farre exceeding the poffibilitie of mans conceit. The works which out wardly are of God, they are in fuch fore of him being one, that each perfbn hath in them fbmewhat peculiar and proper. For being three, and they all fubfifting in the eflence of one deitie, from the iobm6. 13. 14. Father,by the Sonne, through the Spirit, all things are. That which the Sonne IJ ~ dothheare of the Father, and which the Spirit doth receiue of the Father and the Sonne, the fame we haue at the hands of the Spirit, as being the laft , and therefore the neareft vnto vs in order , although in power the fame with the fe- cond and the firft. The wife and learned amongft the very Heathens themfelues haue all acknowledged fome firft caufe , whereupon originally the being of all things dependeth . Neither haue they othcrwife fpoken of that caufe,then as an Agent, which knowing what and why it worketh , obferueth in working a moft ezzft Order or Law. Thus much is fi^nified by that which #*' Ul ° l ° &rued, toat l$ t0 &y> conftant Order and Law is kept, whereof it klfe muft needs c Proceed by beauthor vnto it felfe. Otherwife it fhould haue fome worthier 6c higher to 6i~ a certains and rc ft j tj & f CO uld not it felfe be the firft.Bcing the firft,ie can haue no other then thrmakuTgoi lt && to be the author of that Law which it willingly worketh by. God there- ihc world. fore is a Law both tohimfelfe, & to all other things befides.To himfelfe he is 3 Law in all thofe things whereof our Sauiour fpeaketh,faying , My Father wor- keth asyet,fo /.God worketh nothing without caufe. All thofc things which are done by him,haue fome end for which they are done: & the end for which they are done , is a reafbn of his will to doe them. His will had not inclined to cre- Geft.i.\S. ate woman, but that he faw it could not be well if (he were not created, Non eft bonwnjt is not good man fhould be alone. Therefore lctvs make an helper for him. That & nothing elfe is done by God, which to leaue vndone were not fo good. If therefore it bee demanded , why God hauing power and habilitie infinite, the effects notwithstanding of that power are all To limited as wee fee they are : the reafbn hereof is, the end which hee hathpropofed, and the Law where- by Ecclefiafticall ToHtie^. by his wifdome hath {tinted the effectsof his power in fuch fort, that it doth not worke infinitely, but correfpondently vnto that end for which it worketh, euen all things, x?*^ p * m mo ^ decent and comely fort, all things in meafure, number,^ sapiz.x. jvaigftt. The gcnerall end of Gods external 1 working, is thccxcrcifcofhismoft Sa f MU1 t t glorious and moft abundant vertue: Which abundance dothfhewitfclfe inva- rietie, and for that caufe this varietie is oftentimes in Scripture cxpreft by the name oi'riches. The Lord hath made all things for his own fake. Not that any thing Ephff.i.7, is made to be bencficiall vnto him,but all things for him to (hew beneficence and W«M.**. grace in thcm.T he particular drift of cucry aft proceeding externally from God, p^.'?i. 4< wecarcnorabletodifcernc,and therefore cannot alwayes giuc the proper and certaine rcafon of his Workcs. Howbeit vndoubredly, a proper and certaine reafon there is of eucry finite work of God , in as much as there is a Law impofed vpon ir$ which if there were not,it (hould be infinite cucn as the Worker himfclf is. T bey crrc therefore who thinkc that of the will of God to doe this or that, there is no rcafon befides his will. Many times no reafon knownc to vs ; but that there is no reafon therof,I iudge it moft vnreafonable to imagin^n as much as he worketh all things,^ ffaxlw 7? 0;A»f**T@- «7S,not oncly according to his own will, but thecounfcll of his owne will. And whatfocucrisdone withcounfell orwifere- *f^A«"» fofution, hath of neceflitie fomc rcafon why it (hould be done,albcit that reafon betovs in fomc things fofecret, that it forccth thewitofmantoftand, as the blelTed Apoftlchimfclfdothjamnzed thcrear,<9 the depth of the riches, both of the ^ m ' ll -si' wifdome and knowledge ofGodltlow vnfearchable arehisiudgements 1 ejrc> That Lawctcrnall which God himfclfe hath made to himfclfe, and thereby worketh all things whereof heis the caufe and Author; that Law in theadmirable frame whereof (hincth with moft perfect bcautic the countenance of that wifedome which hath teftificd concerning her feifc, The Lordpojfejfedme in the beginning prM.8.13* of his way, euen before his workes of 'old I was Jet vp ; that Law which hath beene the Patterne to make, and is the Card to guide the World by ; that L3w which hath beene of God, and with God cucrlattingly ; that Law the Author and Ob- feruer whereof is oneonclyGodtobcblefTcdforeuer; how {hould cither Men or Angels be able perfectly to behold? The Bookc of this Law we arc neither able nor worthy to open and looke into. That little thereof which wc darkly ap- prehend we admire; the reft with religious ignorance we humbly and meekly a- dore. Seeing therefore that according to this Law he worketh, of whom, through whom, and for whom are all things, although there fceme vnto vs confufion and diforderin the affaires of this prefent World , Tamen quoniam bonus mundum Km,x *'} 6 ' d rector temper at ,refte fcri cunctanc dubitcs , Let no man doubt but thateuery conftl.?hi»f* thing is well done, becaufc the World is ruled by fo good a Guide, as tranfgrcf- fcth not his own Law, then which nothing can be more abfolute, perfecl.cx iuft. The Law whereby he worketh, isetcrnall, and therefore canhaue no (hew or colour ofmutabilitic: for which caufe a part of that Law being opened in the promifes which God hath made, (becaufe his promifes are nothing elfe but De- clarations what God will doc for the good of men) touching tho/e promifes the Apoftlc hath witnc(Ted,that God may as poflibly denie himfelfc ex not be God, asfailetoperfbrmethcm. And concerning thecounfellof God, hee termcth it iTim.t.t$, likewife a thlngvnchangeabki thecounfell of God,and that Law ofGod where- Htbr ' 6A i* F 3 of Tbejhft Thclaw which 3 * am not ignorant thac by Law etcrnall the learned for the moft part doe naturalagcms vnderftand the order, not which God bath eternally purpofed himfelfe in all his di"m5i U ob- workcs t0 obrerue » buc rather that which with himfelfc he hath fetdowneas ex- ferue, and pcdient to be kept by all his creatures.according to the feucrall condition wherc- SSSrf* 7 With hchathintjucclthcm - Thc y who thus areaccuftomed to fpeake 3 apply the E^ngft. name of Z vnto chat oncly rule of working which Superior Authorise irnpo- fcth ; whereas wee fome what more enlarging the fenfe thereof, rerme any kind of rule or Canon whereby anions arc framed, a Law. Now that Law which as it is laid vp in the bofomcofGod, thcy call eternall, rccciucth according vnto the different kind of things which are fubicft vntoit, different and fundry kindes of names. That partofit which ordreth naturall Agents, wecall vfually Natures La w:that which Angels doe clccrly behold, and without any fwaruing obferue isa Law celefttall and heauenly : the Law ofXcafon^hat which bindeth creatures reafonablcinthis World,and with which by rca font hey may moft plainely pcr- ceiue themfelues bound ; that which bindeth them, and is not knowne but by fpeciall reuelation fro Goldmine La w 5 humane La w,that which out of the Law cither ofrcafon or of God, men probably gathering to be expedient, they make it a Law. All things therefore, which are as they ought to be, arc conformed vn- to this fecond Law eternalftnd euen thofc things which to this etemalLaw arc noc conformable, arc notwithft anding in fome fort ordered by the firft eternall Law. For what good or euill is there vndcr the Sunne, what action correfponden tor repugnant vnto the Law which God hath impofed vpon his creatures, but in or vpon it God doth worke according to the Law which himfelfc hath eternally purpofed to keepc, that is to f^y t the firft Law etcrnall? So that a two-fold Law * id omne eternall being thus made, it is not hard to concciuc how thcy both take place quod in rebus in * all things. Wherefore to come to the Law of nature,albeit thereby we fome- ^"erhkgu times mcane thac manncr of working which God hath fct for each created thing xtemz. to keeper yet for as much as thofe things are termed moft properly naturall r/u.* q . 9i .m <><;,*. Nuiio modo aliquid kgibus A gcn ts, which kcepe the Law of their kind vnwit- lurami creators ordinationiqu£-fubtrahitur,a quo • , l tt i t-i ff l paxvniaerfitacis adminiftratui.^.^ci«ir.D«,/i. t,n g'y> as tnc Heauens and Elements of the World, i9* it- immo&peccatum ,qnatenusdDe<> iujieper- which can doe no other wife then they doe* and for yciturtcccttum j ^ttnmvolununaleiuUanf^o 35 mUCli aS WCe 8 IUe Vnf0 mtellecluall natures the pxnAiequoddam'tncommodiimanmxinferitjuxtiiiiud name or voluntary Agents, that fo wee may diftin- ^«/2i«i,iufnftiDomioe&ficeft,vtpanafuafibi guifhthem from the other, expedient it will be that fit omnis animus inotdint!itu$.Confef.li.f.ca.iz.Nec r i T rvT ' r , r ' V " J ■-•M «■"««- KM&A*oAf/2;« l Qucmadmoduminquium videmus Wee ICUCT ^C JL3W Ot Nature obferued by theOUC, rcsnaturales contingents, hocipfo quod a fine from that which the other is tyed vnto Touching panicularifuo atq-.adeoalegeaeternaexorbitSt, the former, their ftrift keeping ofonc Tenure Sta- jn candem lege itenum mcidere, quarenus con- jt r ^ r u, 6 Ul ulJt a enure, OC4- fequuntur nliumfincm a lege etiamarterna ipfis tUteand Law IS fpokcn of by all, but hath in It more in can. particular; conftitutum: rlc vcrifimile eft then men hauc as yet attained to know or oerhanc homines etiaui cum peccant & defciicunt a lege .„.,. n » „„„ • r • i n * > ^ r w / Jt Y* Xterr4«t piscipientc, rcinciderc inordincm*- f UC / I,1 . a,, attainc » ^Cing the traueil ofwadlUg here- terns legis vt punicnus. in is giuen of God to the fonnes of Men, that per- ceiuing Ecclejiaflicall Tolitie^. ceiuing how much the Icaft thing in the World hath in it more then thewifeft are able to reach vnt§, they roaybythismcaneslcarnehumilitie. CMofes, indc- fcribing the workc of Creation, attributeth fpeech vnto Gcd, God fed, Let there be light : Let there be a firmament : Let the Waters vnder the Heauen be gathered together into one f lace : Let the Earth bring forth : Let there be Lights in the Fir- mament of Heauen. Was this^nely the intent ofAffl/tt" to fignitie the infinite grcatncfle of Gods power, by the eafincfle of hisaccompliihing fuch cfTcftsj without traucll,painc,or labour? Surely it feemcth that-Af*?/^ had bcrcin,bcfidcs this,a further purpofe, namely, fir ft, to teach that God did not workc as a necc£ fary, but a voluntary Agent, intending beforehand and decreeing with himfclfe that which did outwardly proceed from him : Secondly, to (hew that God did then inditute a Law naturall to be obfcrtied by creatures,and therforc according to the manner of Lawes,the Inftitution thereof is defcribed, as being eftablifhed by folcmne injunction. His commanding thofe things to be which arc,and to be in fuch fort as they are, to keepe that tenure and courfe which they doc, impor- ted! the eftablifhment of Natures Law. This Worlds iirft Creation, and the prefcruation fincc of things created, what is it,but only fo far forth a manifefta- cion by execution, what the Etci nail Law of God is concerning things naturall X AndasiccommethtopafTe in akingdome rightly ordered, that after a Law is oncepublifhcd, itprefently takes effect far and wide, all States framing them- felucs thereunto; euen Co let vs thinke it farcth in the naturall courfe of the World : fince the time that God did firft proclaime the Edicts of his Law vpon it, Heauen and earth haue harkned vnto his voyce, and their labour hath bin to doe his will : Be made a Law for the Rame 3 He gauc his Decree vnto the Sea, that the Waters fhould not pajfe his commandement. Now,if nature mould intermit her courfe, and leaue altogether, though it were but for a while, the obferuation of her own La wes; ifthofe principall and Mother Elements of the Wor)d,whercof all things in this lower World arc made,(hould lofc the qualities which now they haue -, if the frame of that Heauenly Arch erected oucr our heads fhould loofen and diflblue it felfe ; if Ccleftiall Spheres fhould forget their wonted Motions, and by irregular volubilitie turnc tbcmfclues any way as it might happen ; if the Prince of the Lights of Heauen, which now as a Gyant doth run his vn wearied PfiLW* courfe, fhould as it were through a languifhing faintncfle begin to (land and to reft himfelfc ; if the Moone fhould wander from her beaten way, the times and fcafonsofthcycere blend themfelucsby difbrdercd and confuted mixture, the Winds breathe out their laft gafpc, the Clouds yecld no Raine, the Earth be de- feated of Heauenly Influence, the Fruits of the Earth pine a way as Children at the withered brefts of their Mother, no longer able toyeeld them reliefe ; what would become of Man himfclfe, whom thefe things now doe all ferue? Sec wee not plainly that obedience of Creatures vnto the Law of Nature is the flay of the whole World I Notwithstanding, with Nature itcommeth fometimes to pafTe as with ArtvLet Phidias haue rude and obftinatc (ruffe to carue,though his Art doe that it fhould, his Workewilllackcthatbeautic which othcrwife in fit- ter matter it might haue had. Hee that ftriketh an Infrrumcnt with Skill, may caufe notwithstanding a very vnpleafant found, if the String whereon hee ftri- keth chance to be vncapeable of Harmonic In the matter whereof things na- tural! 8 Tbe/irfi c Boo{e of Theephrafljn turall confift, that ofrheophratfus taketh place, iW T * i x w«*ff w M j^,™ rl •*, MiUfh. Much vfit is oftentimes fuch, J hcn creatures vnreafonablc by their fenfe Ecdejiajlicall Politic. fenfc arc able to apprehend afcer what manner we difpofe and order the courfe of our affaires. Onely thus much is difcerned, that the natural! generation and procefleofall things receiueth order of proceeding from the fetlcd fiabilitieof diuinevndcrftanding. Thisappointeth vnto them their kinds of working , chc difpofition whereof in the puntieof Gods ownc knowledge and will is rightly rearmed by the name or Prouidence. The fame being referred vnto the things themfclues here difpofed by it, was woont by the Ancient to be called naturall dcttime. That law the performance whereof we behold in things natural!, is as it were an authenticall , or an original! draught written in the bofome of God him felfc; whole fpirit being to execute the lame, vfetheuery particular nature, * cucry mecrc natural! agenr.onely as an inft rument created at the bcginning,and euer (ince the beginning vfed to workc his owne v/ill and pleasure withall. Nature there fore is nothing elle but Gods inftrument: in the courfe whereof D/^r^perceiuingfomcluddainedifturbance, isfaid tohauecricdout, t^Aut ^ lderh °. m ' 1 *. Dew ftdturdtpatituryautmuyidi machim diJfolu?tur t Eithcr God doth fuffer impe- cap. 3. diment,arjd is by a greater then himfelfehindred; or if that beimpoffiblc,thcn omnt quodmo- hath he determined to make a prcfcntdiilblution of the World, the execution ^ZasfJllrZ of that law beginning now toitand lhll,without which the world cannot ftand. mentumquod- This workman whofefcruitor nature is.beins in truth but onely one, the Hea- dam P nml , . , 1 • • 1 1 • 1 r • - t mouentis. thens imagining to bemoe,gauebiminthcskietnenameor Iupter, intheayre Kidkuium eft thenarneofto3, Hcb.iz. 22. lUC,z.l$. Matth.6.10. Mattb.i2.io. Tfal 91. n.iz. Xw.IJ.7. Heb.i. 14. Mattb.S- 10. Dan. 4.10. 4f*£?\a. 7$ - AriftMetapb. xr.cap.7« Ja&. 3 8,7- ?/<& 248.x. lim'ti'ismms- ccdvdbcccfoc* ticrwclEacSc cbc£h*ne£of God tailzie 6.4*4 38. 7. Bf.lud zicrf.6. ffal 148.x. Xjm 1.13. P/W. I48. 2. He*. 12. 12. *4fQS.2Z.?. and peace, cucn for eucr and cucr doc dwell; as in number and order they are huge, mightie, and royall armies; fo likewife in perfection of obedience vnto that Law, which the Highc(r,whom they adore,loue,andirriitate,hathirnpofcd vpon chem; fuch obferuants they are thereof, that our Sauiour himfelfe beem<* to fee down the perfect /j/ozof that which wcarcto pray and with for on earth, did not teach to pray or wifn for more,thcn oncly that heerc it might bee with vs,as with them it is in heauen. God which moueth meere naturall agents as an efficient onely, doth otherwifc moouc intellectual! creacures 3 and especially his holy Angels. For beholding the face of God, in admiration of fo great exccl- lencie chcy all adore him; and beeing rapt with thcloueofhis bcautie, they deaue infeparably for eucr vnto him. Dcfire to refcmble him in good ncfle,ma- keth them vnweariable, and eucn vnfatiable in their longing to do by all means all mancr good vnto all the creatures of God, but efpecially vnto the children of men; in the countenance of whofe nature looking downcward they behold themfelues beneath thcmfelucs,euen as vpwardin God, beneath whom them- feluesare, they fee that character which in no where but in themfelues and va refcmbled. Thus farrceuen the Painimsbaueapproched; thus farrc they haue fcene into the doings of the Angels of God; 0r^/^confeffing, that the fierie throne of God is attended on by thofe moft induftrious Angels , carcfull how ail things are performed amongft men ; and the mirror of humane wifedome plainciy teaching, that Godmooueth Angels, euen as that thing doth ftirre mans heart, which is thereunto prefented amiable. Angelicall actions may therefore be reduced vnto thefe three general 1 kinds; firft, moft delectable loue, arifing from the vifiblc apprehenfion of the puritic, gloric,and beautieof God, inuifibleiauing oncly vnto Spirits that are pure ;fecondly adoration, grounded vpoatheeuidence of thegreatncfleofGod, on whom they fee how all things depend; thirdly,imitation, bred by the prcfence ofhis exemplary goodnes,who ccafeth not before them daily to fill heauen and earth with the rich treafures of moft free and vndeferued grace. Of Angels we arc not to con fider oncly what they arc,anddoe,in regard oftheirowne being $ but that alfb which conccrncth them as they arc lincked into a kind of corporation amongft themfelues , and of focictie or fellow (hip with men. Confidcr Angels each of them feuerally in himfclfe,and their Law is that which the Prophet Dauid memioncth^// ye bis u40gtls pratjebzm. Gonfidcr the Angels of God afTociated, and their Law is that which difpofeth them as an t^Army , one in order and degree aboue an other. Confidcr finally the Angels as hauing with vs that communion which the A- poftle to the Hebre wes notet h, and in regard whereof Angels haue not di/dai- ned to profefTe themfelues our fellow-feruants ; from hence there fpringath vp a third Law, which bindeth them to works of minifteriallimploymcnt. Eucrieof which their feBerall functions arc by them performed with ioy. A part of the Angels of God notwithstanding (we know) haue fallen,and that their fall hath beene through the voluntaric breach of that Law, which did require at their handscontinuanceinthe excrcife of their high and admirable vertue. Impo£ fiblcitwasthatcuer their will fhould change or enclinc to remit any part of their dutie,withoutfbmeobiect hauing force to auert their conceit from God, and to draw it another way ; and that before they attained that high perfection of tcclefiafticall To/itie^. n of bli (Te.whcrein now the elecT: Angels are without poffibilitie oi falling.Of any thing more then or God they could not by any me3nes like, as Jong as what- foeuer they km w befides God,they appreheded it not in it felfc without depen- dencie vpon God \ becaufe fp long God muft needs feeme infinitely better then anything which they (ocotlld apprehend. Things beneath them could not in fuch fort be prcfented vnto their eyes , but that therein they muft needes fee al- wayes how thofe things did depend on God. It fecmeth therefore that there was no other way for Angels to finne,but by reflex of their vndcrftanding vpon themtclucs ^ when being held with admiration of their owne fublimity and ho- nour, the memorie of their fubordination vnto God, and their depcndcncic on him was drowned in this conceipt; whereupon their adoration, loue, and imi- tation of God, could not choofe but be al to interrupted. The fall of Angels therefore was pride. Since their fall, their pra&ifcs hauc beene the cleane con- trary vnto thofe before mentioned. For being difper fed fome in the ay re, (ome M»8. 44e on the earth j fome in the watcr.fomeamongft the minerals, dennes, and caucs, uPet ^ 8 « thatarevndcrthe earth: they haue by all mcanes laboured to effect an vniuer- 6$***"* fall rebellion againftthelawcs,andas farreasin them lycth,vtterdeOruc}jon of i.dw.*wu theworkesof God. Thefe wicked (pints the Heathens honoured in ftead of l ^ 1 ' & ^ % Gods, both generally vnder the name of Dij infer i Gods infernally 3ndparticu- l".i*)T larly, fome in Oracles, fome in Idolles, fome as houfhold Gods, fome as -#«•">•*• Nymphes; in a word,nofoulcand wicked fpirit which was not one way or o- ther honoured of men as God, till fuch tiraeas lighr appeared in rhe world, and diflbluedthe workesofthediucl.Tbus much cherefoieinay fufficefor Angels, the next vnto whom in degree are men 5. God alone excepted, who actually and euerlaOingly is whatfocucr hee Thdawwher- may b?i and which cannot hereafter bee that which now hee is not; all other h ym A Bis "V things befides are foroewhat in poffibilitic, which as yet they arc not inatt.And rcftcd'tTcW for this caufc there is in all things an appetite ordetire, whereby they incline to ""'""onof fomcching which they may bee: and when they are it, they (hall be perfe&er God * then now they are. All which perfections are contained vndcr the gcnerall name otGoodneffe.hnd becaufe there is not in the world any thing where by an- other may not fome way be made the perfe&er, therefore ail things that are,arc good. Againe , ftth rherecan be nogoodneffe defired which proccedeth not from God hnnMfe, as from the fupreme caufe of all things : and eucne effect doth after a (ortconteine, at leatfwifc referable thecaufe from which it procce- deth: all things in the world arc (aid in fome fort tofeeke the highcft,and to co- n «W«« W, net more or lefTe the participation of God himfclfe. Yet this doth no where fo **.w«opfa*u much appeare as it doth in man. becaufe there arc fomany kinds of perfections f' i(udean - which mm feekerh. ThenXf degree of goodncflc is that generali perfection ' ' z ' c *t'*' which all things do frekejn defiring the continuance of their being. All things therefore coueting,asmuchasmay br, to be like vnto God in being euer, that which cannot hereunto attayqc perfonally,doth fcekc to continue it felfeano- therway^thatis^yoff-fpringand propagarion.The next degree of goodnes,js that which each thing couereth by affecting refemblance with Godjnthecon- ftancie and excellencie of thofe operations which belong vnto their kind. The immucabilitieofGodtheyftriue vnto, by working cycher alwayes or for the mod U The firft "Boo^e of molt pare after one and the fame manner; his abfoiuce exactnes they imitatCjby tending vnto that which is molt exejuifite in cuery particular. Hence hauc rifen Erw« juVti a number of axiomesin Philofophie, (hewing, how The workes of nature doe al- \L '*ivsl" 7 »- V watcs atme at tb at which cannot be bettered. T hefc two kinds of goodncs rchcar- vaiwapyw - fed, are foncerely vnitcd to the things themfclues which defire them, that wee P&wjrif" fcarccly perceiuc the appetite to ftirrein reaching foorth her hand towards \ v Hw\Av*v them. But the dcfire ohhofc perfections which grow externally is more appa- rl&iHrirw. rent ; efpecialiy of fuch asare not cxpreflfcly defircd vnleflc they be firft known, *a^~ Ji Cal ' or * ucn as arc not for any other caufethen for knowledge it fclfc defircd. Con- M*ttk.%,&. ccrning perfections in this kind , that by proceeding in the knowledge of truth, s*p.7.*7' and by growing in thccxercifeofvcrtue,man amongft the creatures of this in- feriour world, afpireth to the grcateft conformitie with God ; this is not onely »^7oWt» knowne vnto vs, whom heehimfelfc hath foinftuctcd, but euen they doe ac- tvfil*?^ £/ k now l CQ, ge>who amongft menarcnotiudgedtheneereft vnto him. With Plato vptfo* fv*K- * what one thing more vfuall,thcn to excite men vnto the loueof wifedome, by pZ pleafant cjualitie annexed to it \ in refpecl whereof the will may fhrinkeand decline it : contrariwife (for fo things are blended) there is no particular euill E/ f* T /* **• which hath not fome appearance of goodnefTe whereby toioiinuateitielrc. ^Stov^v $x For euill as euill cannot be defircdiif that be defired which is euill, thecaufeis ■&<**««{&» the goodnefTe which is or feemeth to bee ioyned with it. GoodncfTe doth not *!J^, JJ^ U rooouc by being,but by being apparant ; and therefore many things are negle- dyatop. clcd which arc moft precious, onelybecaufethe value of them lycth hid. Sen- ff u J° t ^ m . nt . * rr - n J \ r • • i rii • ' AJvvatqp yap fiblc goodnefie is molt apparant, necrc,and prelent; which caufeth the appetite jp^^ix***' to bee therewith ftrongly prouoked. Now purfuit and refufall in the will doc fc^w \yfy follow,the one the affirmation,thc other the negation of goodnefTe; which the ^ ^vS?** »T« vndcrftanding apprehendeth,groundingit fclfevpon fenfc,vnlefTe fome higher ^ ^i^m reafon doe chance to teach the contrary. And if reafon haue taught it rightly ****- to be good, yet not fb apparantly that the minde recciueth it with vtter im- m ^ t .rut. poffibilitie of being othcrwife; ftili there is place left for the will to take or leaue. Whereas therefore amongft fo many things as are to bee done , there are fb few , the goodnefTe whereof reafon in fuch fort doth or eafily can difcoucr; wee are not to maruaile at the choice of euill , eucn then when G * the 16 The fir/i < Boo{e of the contrarie is probably knovvne. Hereby it commeth to paiTe, that cuftomc inuring the minde by long practice, and fo leauing there a fcnfiblc imprcffion, preuailethmore then reafonablc perfwalion what way io cuer.Reafon therfbrc may rightly difecrne the thing which is good,ck yet the will of man not incline it fclfe thcrcunto,as oft as the preiudice of fenfible experience doth oucriway* Nor let any man thinke that this doth make any thing for the iuit excufe of ini- quitie. For there was neuer finnc committed, wherein a IcfTc good was not pre- ferred before a greater,and that wilfully ; which cannot bee done without the ringulardifgraceofnature,andthevtterdifturbanceofthatdiuincOrder,wher- by the preeminence of chiefeft acceptation is by the belt things worthily chal- lenged. There is not that good which cocerneth vs,but it hath euidecc enough a t .co/Mi.3. for kfelfc,if rcafon were diligent to fearch it out. Through neglect thereof, b vA* 951- abufed we are with the (hew ofthat which is notjfometirrcsthe fubtiltie of Sa- il 'sap*. ih tan inueagling vs,as it did a Bm\ fometimes the haftines of our wils preuenting a corruptible the more coniidcratc aduice of found reafon,as in »> the Apoules,when they no b °ro C thcrouic f° oncr ^ aw w ^ iac tnc y ^ed not, but they forrh with were defirous of fire from andthecarthly Heauen;fometimcs the very cuftome of euil, making the heart obdurate againft Manfunkee- whatfocuer inftructions to thecontraric, asin tbem ouer whom our Sauiour the tuind^hac fpake wecping, c <9 lern[alem,how often>and thou wouldjl not?Su\\ therefore that istuii of cares, where with we itand blamcable^nd can no way excufe it,is, In doing euill, wee And ha ^fcem P rcr * errc a ^ C ^ Q S 00 ^ before a greater,thc greatnes whereof is by rcafon inucfti- the things thac gable and may be knowne. The fearch of knowledge is a thing painfull ; and arcv t >on t he painfulnefTeof knowledge is that which roakcth the will fo hardly inclina- ^reat fabou" blethereunto. The roote hereof, diuinc malediction; whereby the d inftru- Hndweoucthc ments being weakened wherewithall thefoulc (efpecially in reasoning) doth h reft in ignorance, before wearifome labour to know. *"?* fo worke,it preferrcr h reft in ignorance, before wearifome labour to know. For a Who can then fpurreof diligence therefore wehaue a naturall thirff after knowledge ingrafted fcekcoutche j n V s. But by rcafon ofthat originall weaknefle in the inflruments, withouc i»Heiu«n* rC which the vnderftanding part is not able in this World bydifcourfe to workc, Ephefa.14. the very conceit of painfulnefTcisasa bridle to ftayvs.For which caufe the A- "cV^ ,1 * P^ftle who knew right well, that the wearincfTcofthefkfhisan hcauieclog to vro.i\. the willjftriketh mightily vpon this Key, ^Awake, thou that fleef g now by rcafon of common imbecility the fitter and likelier to be brookt. Signes and tokens to know good by,are of fundry kindes:fome more certainc,and fome lefle.Thc raoft ccrtainc token of cuident goodnefle is,if the general] perfwafiori of all men do fo account it. And therefore a common rcceiucd error is ncuer vt- terly ouerthro wne, till fuch times as we goc from fignes vnto caufes, and- (hew fome manifeftroote or fbuntaync thereof common vnto all , whereby it may clcerly appcare how it hath come to paffc that fo many haue bcenc ouer-fcene. In which cafe furmifes and Height probabilities will not feruc $ becaufe the vni- uerfall confent ofmen is the perfected and ftrongeft in this kind which comprc- hendeth onely the fignes and tokens of goodneffe. Things cafuall do varic,and that which a man doth but chance to thinkc well of, cannot ftill haue the like hap. Wherefore although wee know not thecaufe, yet thus much wee may know,that fome neceflarycaufc there is, when foeuer the iudgements of all men generally or for the mod part runne one and the fame wayjcfpecially in matters of naturall difcourfe. For of things neceflarily and naturally done there is no a ««y » »V more affirmed but this , a They keep cither alwaies or for the moflpart one tenure. **™*°**> *■ The general! and perpetual! voyce ofmen is as the fentence of God him* g^ru*** G 3 fclfe. i8 Ihefirjl $oo{e of a Nonpnefi fiflh- a For that which all mcnhaueatall times learned, Nature her f cite rouft erroicmiagert, needes hauc taught; and God being the Author of Nature, her voyce is but his t?lZ™. ldm Jn ft rument.By her from him wercceiue whatfocucr in fuch fort we Icarnc.lnfi- Monticat. nitcduties thereare,the goodncs whereof is by thisrulc fiifficicntly manitclted, % l / 0t,t di a ^hough wee had no other warrant befides to approouc them. The Apoftle Tmmbu! indiui- S-ZWhauing Speech concerning the Heathen innhohhcm^Tbeyarealawvn' duisvHinjpcci. to tbemfelues. His meaning is, that by force of the light of reafon , wherewith ZepMaTfZ Gocii!,urr - inatcthca cryoncw!Mchcommethintothcworid,mcn being inablcd communmbi- to know Truth from ra!fhood,andgood from cuill,doc thereby lcarne in many bcatopmctqu* things what the will of God is, which will himlclfc not reucalins by any cxtra- inornm (pedes ordlnaric means vnto them.but they by natural! difcourfcattayning the know- &mtura idem ledge thereof, fecmethe makers of thofe La wes which indeed archis,and they waftikfit"!!'- but ° nc]y thc findcrs of thcm out ' A Law therfore B cncrall y takcn,is a dircftiue wmrfdu parti- rule vntogoodnefleof operation.The ruleof diuinc operationscutward,is the n'titMrtte definitiuea PP ointmcntof Gods ownc Wifcdomcfctdownc within himfelfc, YiciLfaclrift. ^hc ru ^ c ofnaturall agents that worke by firoplc neccffity,is the determination Kciig. of the Wifcdome of God, knowne to God himfelfc thc principal! director of faprim'fime thcm > Dutnoc vn[ o them thataredirededto execute the fame.Thcrulc ofnatu- idvenmputa rail agents which workeafter a fort of their ownc accofd,as the bcaftsdoe,is thc quod fana mem iudgementof common fenfe or fancie concerning the fenfiblc goodncfleof mmTuefhtur. thofeobiccis wherwith they are moued.Thc rule ofghoftlyor immaterial! na- Cufa.;»cfl«- tures,as Spirits and Angcls,is their intuitiue intellectual! judgement concerning N*nii?e?'»at*- f hcamiaW f beauty and high goodnes of that obicd, which wirhvnfpiakeable rale vmuerfaK* \°y and delight doth fet them on workc.The rule of voluntary agents on earth, w* h °wMj is the fentence that reafon giueth concerning the goodnefle of thofc things vJumque ex™ w kich tRe y are to doe. And the (ententes whic h reafon giueth,arc fomc more, iflmtare.TtXcQ fome lefTe general!, before it come to define in particular actions what is good, foZi!™™h- T ! 1C main P rmci P^ cs of reafon are in thcm/eluesapparcnt.For to make nothing vu'fiuw. o jil euidene of it felfe vnto mans vnderitandirtg, were to take away all poffibilitie of rfw/p^M* knowing any thing. A nd herein that ofTbeophraftw is truc,T% that fee k a tea. VavTl'il'oKpct f on °f*ttthings doe vtterly ouerthrow reafon. In cucry kind of knowledge fome iptf.Arift.irfr. fuch grounds there are,as that being propofed,thc mind doth prefently imbrace V'Znhii^ thcm as f rce *™ m aJI P ofl * bmtic of error cleere and manifeft without proofe, In which kind,axiomes or principles more gencrall arc fuch as this ? Tbattbe greater good is to be chofen before the lejfe.lt therefore it fhould be demanded,what rea- fon there is why the will of man, which doth ncceftarily (bun harmc,and couct kthmtp whatfoeuer is pleafant and fwcetc,(bould bee commaunded to count the piea- a°mfll dyZ'. ^ ures °f ^ nne > S a ^» anc * notwithftanding thc bitter accidents wherewith vcrtu- Theoph j« ous a&ions are compaft,yet flill to reioyce and delight in them purely this could Metapb. neuer ft an< j wi t h reafon : but that Wifdome thus prefcribing , groundcth her Lawcsvpon an infallible rule of comparifon, which is, that fmall difficulties, when exceeding great good isfure toenfue; and on the other fide momentaoic benefites, when the hurt which they draw after them is vnfpeakeable, are not at all to be refpc&cd. This rule is the ground whereupon the Wifdome of thc A- *.#>M.i7. poftle buildcth a Law,inioyning patience vnto himfclfeiT^ prefect lightmfjeof our afflict ion rv or ketb vntovs eucnwitb aboundance vpen ah oundance meter nail tvaiq-bt Ecc/e/iafticall Tolitie^. i? ivaight of glory, while we looke not on the things which are feenc y bnt on the things which are not feen. For the things which are jecn are temporal, but the things which arenot fecneetemalL Therefore Chriltianitic robe embraced, whatfocuer cala- mities m tbofe times it was accompany cd witliall. Vpon the fame ground o,ur Sauiour proucth the Law moft reasonable, that doth forbid thofc crimes which men for gaines fake fall into. Fora man to win the WorId,if it be with the loffc Matik%6,%k of his foule, what benefit or good is it \ Axiornes leffe general), yet fo manifeft thft they need noTurthcr proofe, are fuch as thekfiodto be worfiipped, Parents to be honored, Others to be 'ufed by vs as we our felues would by them, buch things, as foonc as they are allcagcd,all men acknowledge to be good ; they require no proofe or further difcourfc to bee aflured of their good ncfle. Not withitanding whatfocuer fuch principle there is, it was at the firit found out by difcourfe,and drawnc from out of the very bowels of Heaucn and Earth. For we arc to note, that things in the World are to vsdifcernabIc,notoqclyfofarrc forth as fcrucch for our vitall prcfcruation,but further alfo in a two-fold higher re fpect. For firft if all other vfes wcrcJvtterly taken away ; yet tEic mind of man being by nature fpeculatiuc and delighted with contemplation in it felfe , they were ro bee knowne cucn for meere knowledge and vnderftandings fake. Yea further befidcs this,thc knowledge ofcucry the leaft thing in the World, bath initafecond peculiar benefit vnto vs, in as much as it fcructh to mini fter Rules, Canons,and Lawcs for men to direct tbofe actions by, which wee properly tcrme humane. This did the very Heathens themfcluesobfcurely infinuate,by making Themis which we call Ins or Rieht,to be the Daughter of Hcaucn and Earth. Weknow thingscithcr as they are in themfelucs, or as they are in mutuall relation one to another.Thc knowledge of that which man is in reference vn to himfelfc , and Other things in relation vnto man, I may iuftlyterme the Mother of all thofe principles, which are as it were edicts, ftatutes,,and decrees in that law of nature, whereby humane actions arc framed. Firft therfore hauing obferucd that the beft things,where they arc not hindered, doe ftill produce the beft operations ; . ' (for which caufc where many things are to co ncurrc vnto one effect, the beft is inallcongruitieof rcafon toguidethcrefidue,ithatitprcuailingmoft,theworkc principally done by it may haucgrcatcft perfection:) when hereupon weeome to obferue in our fc!ucs,of what excel Iencieou.r foulcs arc in comparifon of our bodies,and the diuincr part in relation vnto the bafcr of our foulesjfceing that aUthefeconcurre in producing humane actions, it cannot bee well vnlcffe the chicrcft doe command and direct the reft.T he foule then ought to conduct the Ari(t.To\it.u bodie, 6c the fpirit of our mindes the fouIe.Tbis is therfore the firft La w,wher- e *M\ by the higheft power ofthemindcrequirethgenerall obedience at the hands of all the reft concurring with it vnto action. Torching the feucrall graund Man- dates, which being impofed by the vnderffandlingfacultic of the mind, muff be obeyed by the will of man, they arc by the fiamc method found our, whether they import our dutie towatds God or towards man.Touching the one, I may not hcere ftand to open, by what degrees of d ifcourfc the minds cucn of meere naturallmcn,haueattaynedtoknow, not ondy thgt there isaGod, butalfo what power, force, wifedome and other prop-crties that God hath,and how all things depend on him. This being therefore prefuppofed, from that knowne relation zo Thejirjl 2W^ of a Ovfuibik relation which God hach vnto vs a as vmochildrcn } and vntoall good things as bhm &»&?«»• vnt0 effects, whereof himfelfc is the b principal] caufc, thefe axiomes and La wes rhlet. natural! concerning our dutic ha uc anfcnfT/jat in all things we goe about, his aid b O re yj&p ^ is fry Praier to be craued\ a That he cannot haucfufficient honor done vnto him, but \ ij„, the vttermvft of that we can do to honor him we ?nu(l ; which is in cfrctt the fame Urn XjAfx/wt that wc rQad, c ThoHjf:alt lone the Lord thy God 'with all thy heart, with allthyfoule, jrifi.Met.ip. and with all thy mind. Which Law our Sauiourdoth tcrmethe * Tirft'andthe^> c AK?/£kn' great Commandemcnt. Touching the next , which as our Sauiour addeth is like *f * T3< 7«T3 vnto this(hc meancth in amplitude and Jargencs,in as much as kistherootouc ytMvtLvn* of which all La wes of duty to m en- ward hauc gro wne , as out of the former all %*%v eoopo. offices of Religion to waids God ) the like natural! inducement huh brought vttmjHTty*- men to know, that it is their duty no lefTc to loue others then thernfelucr. For 22s 7'^HSIa teeing thofe things which are equal,muft needs all hauc one mcafurcrif I cannor 'lAiy&to vpzy- but Willi to recciuc all good,eucn as much at cuci y mans hand as any man can paw feh*'&i wifa vnto his own fonle. how mould I look to hauc any part ofmydehVe herein VhunTim. Hicibficd , vnlefle my fclfc beccarcfull to fatisfie the like defire, which is vn- d urin.Eth'.c, doubtedlyinothermen,weall bcingofonc and the fame nature? Tohaueany ^veuttt thing offered tDcm repugnant to this defire , muft nccdes in ail refpccls grieue f Mat.'iuiZ. them as much as mec : fo that if I doc harmc, I muit looke tofuffer; there being no reafon that others mould flic w greater mcafurc of louc to mec, then they haue by mec (hewed vnto them. My defire therefore to be loucd of my equals in nature as muchas poffible may be, impofeth vpon me a naturall dutic of bearing to them- ward fully th c like afTeclion. From which relation ofequa- litie bet wcene our fclues and thern that are as our fclues, what fcucrall rules and Canons naturall reafon hath drawne for direction of life , no man is ignorant^ g gtuiqml* as namely, s That becaufe we would take no harme,we mujl therefore do none^That fe approbate Jjth wc wouldnot be in any thing extremely dealt with, we mufi our fclues auoidall Vo°nSl\» cxtremitie in our dealings-, That from all violence and wrong wcare vttcrly to ab- arenm c. dt , jlaine, with fuch like ; which further to wade in would bee tedious , and to our '"utflfwiit P rc ^ cnt P u rpofe not altogether fo neceffarie, feeing that on thefe two gcncrall Ilium fiatuerit, heads alreadic mentioned, all other fpccialties are dependent. Wherefore the ipfum quoque naturall meafure whereby to iudge our doings,is the fentence of reafon, deter- Z d J m qMd\l!ifq\. miningand letting downe what is: good to bee done. Which fentence is either Ab mni penitui maiidatorie,fhcwing what muff bee done; orelfe pcrmiffiuc, declaring onely "Swi!**!** ^ hat ma y k e done; or thirdly ad monitorie.openinc what is the moft conuc- §.uquodvi ? aut mc.nt tor vs to doe. Thcfirfttakcth place, where the companion doth ltand ai- tUm. together bet wcene doing & not doing of one thing which in it felfeisabfolute- On thefe wo 1 y 8 ooc * or cui ^ as it na ^ becne for Iofeph to yecld or not to yccld to the impo- *• Commandc- tent defire of his lewd Miftris, the one cuill, the other good fimply. The fecond Scheie Faw i s > w k cn °fdiuers things euil I, all being not cuitablc, wee are permitted to take Cen.^.9, ' one; which one fading only in cafe of fo great vrgency were not othrrwife to Marheio.4. bee taken; asin the matter ofdiuorccamongft the Iewes. The laft,whrn of di- ACistl 7 -' ucrs tn * n § 5 8 00c ^» onc ' s principal] and moft eminent ; as in their acl who fold their pofTcffions and layd the price at the Apoftles fcetc,which pofllfllons they might haue retained vnto themfelues withont finne; againe in the Apoftlc Saint i,Tbefo$. Pauls ownechoyce to maintaync hirofelfe by his ownc labour , whereas in liuing EcckfiajlicaU ^olitic^. 21 luring by the Churches maintenance , as others; did, there had beene no offence committed. In goodnes therefore there is a latitude or cxtent,whcreby it conv meth to parte that eucn of good actions fome are better then other fomej wher- as otherwifc one man could not excell anothe r , but all (hould bee either abfo- 1 utcly goodjas hitting iumpe that indiuifible point or center wherein goodneiTo confift eth • or elfc miffing it,they mould be exc luded out of the number of wel- docrs.Dcgrecs of wel-doing there could be nonic,exccpt perhaps in the fcldon> nefTeandoftcnnefle of doing well. But the mature of goodncfTc being thus ample, a Law is properly that which rcafon in fuch fort defincth to bee good that it mnft be done. And the Law of Rcafon or Humane Nature is that,which men by difcourfe of naturall reafon hauc rightly found out themfelues to be all for euer bound vnto in their actions. La wes of Reafon haue thefc marks to be knownc by. Such as keepe them , refemblc m So fi' propofed , no man can reiecl: it as vnreafonable and vniuft. Againe, there is no- thinginit , but any man (hauing naturall perfection of wit, and ripeneffc of iudgemen t) may by labour and trauaile find out. And to conclude,the gcnerall principles thereof arc fuch, as it is not eafic to Ifind men ignorant of them. Law Rationall therefore, which men commonly vfie to call the Law of Nature,mca- ning thereby the Law which humane Nature knowcth it felfe in reafon vniuer- fally bound vnto, which alfo for that caufc ma y be termed moft fitly the law of Reafon:this Law,! fay,comprehendeth al thoife things which men by the light of their naturall vnderftandingcuidcntlyknovw,oratlcaitwife may know,to be befecming or vnbefceming, vertuous or vicious, good or euill for them to doe, Now,alth ough it be truc.which fome haue faitd,that whatfoeucr is done amide, the La w of Nature and Rcafon therby is tranfrgrcu\bccaufe euen thofe offences "which are by their fpcciall qualities breaches haue thought that there is ntit at all 5^*j^f-P s any thing iujl and righteous in it felfe ; but I owke wherewith Nations are inured, iib.$.'cap.i4.* the 2z *The firfl 'Boofy of the fame they take to be right and iuH. V/hercupon their Conclufionis, that feci n* each fort of people hath a different kinde of right from other , and that which is right of it owne nature, mufl be emery where one and t he fame , therefore in it felfe there is nothing right. Thefegoodfolke (faith he, that I may not trouble their wits with rehear fall of too many things) ham not looked fofirre into the world as toperceine, that, Doe as thou wouldett be done vnco, is afentence which all Na- tions vnder heauen arc agreed vpiOn. Refer thufentence to the hue of God, and it extingnijheth all hay nous crimes : refer it to the hue of thy Neighbour , and all grieuous wrongs it banifheth out of the world. Wherefore, as touching the Law ofReafon,this was (it fecmeth) Saint Auguflinc s iudgement,namely, that there are in it fome things which ftand as Principles vniuerfal \y agreed vponrand that out of thofe Principles, which are in themfcluescuident, the greoteft morall duties we owe towards God or Man, may without any great difficultie be con- cluded. Ifthcn it be here demanded, by whatmeanes itfhouldcometopaiTe (the grcateft part of the Law morall being fo eafie for all men to know) that fo many thoufands of men notwithftand ing haue bcenc ignorant euen of princi- pall morall duties, not imagining the breach of them to be finne : I denie nor, but lewd and wicked cuftome, beginning perhaps at the fir ft amongftfew, af- terwards fpreading into greater multitudes, and fo continuing from time to time, may be of force euen in plaiine things to fmother the light of naturall vn- derftanding, becaufc men will not bend their wits to examine, whether things wherewith they haue beene accuiftomed, be good or euill. For examples fake, that grofTer kinde of Heathenifh Idolacrie, whereby they worfhipped the very works of their owne hands, wasanabfurditietoreafonfo palpable, thatthc Prophet JDauid comparing Idols and Idolaters together, makcth almoft no oddes betweene them , but the one in a manner as much without wit and fenfc P/S/.iif.i8. as the other, They that make them are like vnto them, and fo areallthat truft in them. That wherein an Idolater doth fecme fo abfurd and foolifb , is by the fffd,i j.17. Wifeman thus cxprcft , He is not afhamed to fbeake vnto that which hath no life\ Be calleth on him that is weake,for healt h ; Heprayeth for life vnto him, which is dead 5 Of him, which hath no experience, he requireth helpe 5 For his tourney he fueth to him, which is not able to goe \ F or gayne, and worke , and fucceffe in his affaires, he feeketh furtherance of Mm thdt hath no manner of power. T he caufe *r^.i4j»i of which fenfclefle ftupiditie is afterwards imputed tocuftome: when a father mourned grieuoufy for hisfonne that was taken awayfuddenly,he made an Image for him that was once dead, whona now he worfhipped as a God , ordayning to his feruants ceremonies and facrifices. Thus by proceffe of time this wicked cuflome preuailed , and was kept as a Law 5 the authoriticof Rulers, the ambition of Crafts-men, and fuch like meanes thruft ing forward the ignorant, & increafing their fuperftition. Vnto this which the WiTcman hath fpoken, fomewhatbe- fides may be added. For whatfoeuier we haue hitherto taught,or dial hereafter, concerning the force of mans natuirall vn«derftanding, this wee alwayes defire withall to be vnderftood, that there is no kinde of facultie or power in man or . any other creature, which can rightdy perform the functions allotted to it, with- out perpetuall aydeand concurrence of that fupreme caufe of all things. The benefit whereof as oft as wee cau f~e God in his iuftice to with-dra w , there can no other thing follow then that which the Apoftlenoteth, euen men indued with Ecclejiafticdl Tolitie^. Z3 with the light ofReafon to walkc notwithfand'mginthe'vanitie of their minde, *f*»A.»7. haning their cogitations darkened,and being fir angers from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them,bccaufe of the hardne(fe of their hearts. And this caufe is mentioned by the Prophet £fay, fpcaking ot the ignorance of Idolaters, who fee not how the manifctt Law of Reafbn condemneth their grofle iniquitic cxilnne. They hauenotinthem,niithhe,fomuch witastothinke,^/;^///^^^ efiy 44.18,1*. the Stockeofa tree? All Knowledge and Vnderflanding is taken from them. For God hathjhut their eyes that they cannot fee. T hat which we fay in this caufe of Idolatry, fcrueth for all other things,whercin the like kind ofgenerallbiindnefle hath preuailcd againft the manifclt Lawcs of Rcafon. Within thecompaffe of which La wes we doc not onely comprehend wbatfoeuer may be eafily knowne to belong to the duty of all men^buteucn whatfocucr may poffibly be knowne to be ot that quaIitic,fo that the fame be by necefjarie coniequencc deduced out of clccre and manifelt principles.For if once weedefend vn to probable collecti- ons what is conuenicnt for men, wc arc then in the Tcrritorie where free and ar- bitraric determinations, the Tcrritorie where humane Lawcs take placc,which Lawcs are after to bcconfidered. o Nowthcduccbferuationof th's Law which Rcafon tcacheth vs,cannot Thebcncfitof but be cfrecluall vnto their great good thatobferuc the fame. For wee fee the lawwhfchrw- wholeVVorld and each parr thereof fo compacted, that as long as each thing fontcachcth. pcrformcth onely that workc which is naturall vntoit, it thereby prcferueth both other things,and alfb it felfe. Contrariwife, let any principall thing, as the Sunne, the Moonc,any one of the Hcaucns or Elements, but onccceafe or faile, or fwarue j and who doth not eafily concciucthat thefequell thereof would be ruineboth to it felfe, and whatfocucr dependeth on it r* And is it poffible that man ? being not onely the noblclt Creature in the World,but cucn a very World inhimfclfe, histranfgtrffmgtheLaw of his Nature fhould draw no manner of harme after \t? Yes, tribulation andangmjh vnto eueriefoule that doth euill.Good doth folio wvnto all things by obferuing the courfe of their nature, and on the contraric fidccuill by not obferuing it : but not vnto narurall Agents that good which wee call Reward, not that euill which wc properly tcrmc Punijhment. The reafbn whereof isjbecaufe amongft creatures in this World, only mans ob- feruationofchcLaw of his nature is Right eoufne/fc, onely mans tranfgreffion Sinne. And the reafbn ofthis i c ,the difference in his manner of obferuing or tranfgreffing the Law of his nature. Hce doth not othcrwifc then voluntarily the one or the other. What wee doc againft our wils, orconftrainedly, wee are not properly faid to doe it ;becaufe the motiuc caufe of doing it is not in our felucs, but carrieth vs, as ifthc wind fhould driue a Feather in the Aire, wee no whitfurthcringthat whereby wee are driucn. In fuch cafes therefore the cuill which is done, mooucth compaffion ; men are pitticd for it, as being rather mi- fcrable in fuch rcfpecT: then culpable. Some things arc likewife done by man, though not through outward force and impuliion, though not againff, yet without their wils 5 as in alienation of mind, or an y the like ineuitablc vtter a fa- ience of wit and Judgement. For which c^ufe, no man did eucr thinkc the hurt- full actions of furious Men and Innocents to bee punifhable. Againc, fome things weedoe neitheragainft nor without, and yec not fimply and rneerely with %^ 2 he fir ft "Bool^e of with our wills^buc with our wills in fuch fore moucd,that2lbeit cbcre benoirrr pouibilitic but chat wee might, neucrthclcffe wee are not fo eafily able to doe other wife. In this confideration one cuill deedc is made more pardonable then another. Finally, that which wc doc being cuill, is notwithstanding by fo much more pa«ionabIc,by how much the exigence or fo doing, or the difficultie of doing otherwifc is greater 5 vnleflc this neceffitie or difficultie haue originally rifen from our felues. It is no excufe therefore vnto him, who being drunke committeth ince(t,and allcageth that his wits were not hisownc^inas much as himfelfc might haue chofen whether his wits fhouldby that mcane haue becne taken fromhim.Novv rewards and punilhmcnts docalwayesprefuppofe fomc thing willingly done well or ill j without which rcfpecl though wee may fornetimes rcceiue good or barme,yct then the one is oncly a bcncfite,and not a reward $ the other fimply an hurt, not a puniihrncnt. From the fundrie difpo- fitions or mans will, which is the rootc of all his actions, thcrcgrowcth varictie in the fccjuclcof re wards and puni{hmcnts ) wt>ich arc by thefeand the like rules Vohintatc fub- mcafurc d : Take away the will , and all acts are equal I : That which roe doe not and aim parernlfTe. wou ^" d° e > /s commonly accepted as done. By thefc and the 1 ike Rules mens acli- l.fadtjjimam ons arc determined of and iudged, whether they be in their owne nature rc- cJcsduif. wardablcorpunifhablc. Rcwardsandpunifhmcntsarcnotrccciucd,butatthe tatem pfemnd hands of fiich as being abouevs, haue power to examine andiudgc our deeded profaforepu. How men come to haue this authoritie one oucr another in external! aclions, T4ament! m wcc ^11 more diligently cxaminein that which followeth . But for this pre- sent, fo much all doc acknowledge, that fith euery mans heart and conference doth in good or cuill, cuen fecretly committed and knownc to none butic tuMo[p\ewem fclfc, either like ordifallow it felfe,and accordingly cither reioyce, very nature adbibento. Qui exulting as it were in ccrtaine hope of reward, orelfcgrieucasir were in afcnfe ipft'vhdtferit. oftoture puniihrncnt ; neither of which can in this cafe bee looked for from HowReafoa any othcr,(auing oncly from him, who difcerncth and iudgcth the very fecrets dothicade f a n hearts : therefbrehc is thconcly Rcwardcrand Rcucngcrofall fucha&i- makingofhu- ons,although not of fuch actions oncly, but ofall whereby the Law of nature is man- Lawcs, broken, whereof himfelfc is Author.For which caufc.thc Romanc Lawes,called riqucfocietics *^ e ^ a wesofthetwelue Tables, requiring offices of in ward affection, which the arc gouerncd, eye of man cannot reach vnto, threaten the Ncglc&crs of them with none but and co agree- diuinc pur.iflhmcnt. Lawes,whcre- I0 That which hitherto wehaue fetdowne, is ( I hope ) fufficient to fhew by the Fellow- their bruci{liiies,which imagine that Religion &Vcrtucarconly as men will ac- miTnion^f ill" count of them ; that wc rai^ht make as much account, if wc would, of the con- depeodent fo- trarie, without any harmc vnto our felues, and that in nature they are as indifTe- ciene ftadcth. rcntonc as the other. We fee then how nature it fclfc tcachcth Lawcs and Sta- Ttvovjlnt turcs t0 »u* by.The lawes which haue bin hitherto mcntioned,do bind men ab- *&v%vi9i folutclvjcucn as they arc men,although they haue ncucrany fettled fellowfhip, ^SZawnS ncilcran y folernne agreement amongft thcmfclues whattodoornottodo.But [xhAzuUkwo- forafmuchas wc arc not by our felues fufficienttofurnifh our felues with com- w'*>pk*'AAii- pctcntftore of things needfull for fuch a life as our nature doth defire, a life fit wlvMxx,. forthedignitic of man .-therefore to fupply thofe defects and imperfections AriUMt.i. which are in vs liuing flnglc and folcly by our felues , we are naturally induced CO Ecclefiafticall Tolitie. 25 - ' '■.<■■ — - *~ tofeekecommunionandfcllowfhip with others. This wasthecau/cof mensv- niting themfelucs at the rirtt in politique focicties, which focieties could not bee without gouernment, nor gouernment without a diftinft kind of law from that which hath beene already declared. Two foundations thereare which bcarc vp pub!iquefocicties}theone,anaturall inclKnatio^whcrbyallmendefirefociable life and fellow fhipitheothcr,an order exprefly or fecrctly agreed vpon.touching the manner of their vnion in liuing together. The later is that which we call the law of a common- wcale, the very fbule of a politique body.the parts wherofare by lawanimated,held together, and fet on worke in fuch actions as the common goodrequircth.Lawes politique, ordained for extcrnall order and regiment a- mongft men, arc neucr framed as they mould be, vnlcfle prc/uming the will of man to be inwardly obftinatc,rebellious,and aucrfe from all obedience vnto the facred Law'es of his nature 5 in a word, vnlcfle prefuming man to be in regard of his depraucd minde,little better then a wild bea(r,they doe accordingly prouide 1 nocwithftandingfo to frame his outward actions, that they beenohinderance vnto the common good for which focieticsarc inftituted : vnlefTe they do this, they are not perfecl.Itrcfteththerrore that weconfider how nature fincktbouc fuch laws of gouernment, as feme to direct euen nature depraucd to a right end, Allmendcfiretolcadcinthis world an happy life. The life is led moft happily, wherin all vcrtue isexercifed without impediment or let.The Apoftle inexhor- x.fin**.8. ting men to contcntmcnt,talthough they haue in this world no more then vcrie bare food and raiment, giucth vs thereby to vnderftand, that thofe are euen the lowcft ofthingsneceffary,that if wc mould be (tripped of all thole things with- out which we might poffibly bc,,yct thefe^muft be left ; thatdcftitution in thefe is fuch an impediments till it be rcmoued,fufTcretb not the mind of man to ad- mil: 9fly Other care.Forthiscaufe firft God affigned Adam maintenance of life, & then appointed him a law to obferue. For this caufe after men began to grow Gam,»9. to a number,the firft thing we readc they gaue thefelucs vnto, was the tilling of ^"•*- 1 7. the earthy and the feeding of cattle. Hauing by this mcane whereon to liue, the GtnXxL principal! actions of their life afterward are noted by the exercife of their rcligi- on.Trueitis,thattbeKingdomeof God muftbethe firft thing in our purpofes m*m.&. and defircs. But in as much as righteous life prefuppofcth life, in as much as to liue vcrtuouily it is impofliblc except wcliucj therefore the firft impediment, which naturally we enckuour to remoue, is penury and want of things without which wecannot liue. Vnto life many im plcments are neceffary; motncedesbecychervfurped,andthcn vnlawfull; orif Jawfull, then eyther granted or confenccdvnto by them ouer whom they exercifethe fame, or elfc giuen extraordinarily from God, vnto whom all the World is fubiccl:. It is no improbable opinion therefore which the Arch-Philofopher was of, that as the jrULpdajLti chiefeit pcrfonincuery houlhold wasalwaycsasit wcrea King; fowhen num- cap^.^Ue& bcrsofhoufhoidsioynedthcmfelucsin Ciuil Societies together, Kings were the ^7/w'* 3 ' firft kind of Goucrnorsamongft them .Which is alfo (asitfecmcth)thcreafon, why the name ot Father continued ftill inthcm,whoof Fathers were made Ru- lers : as al(o the ancient cultome ofGoucrnors to doe zsMelchifedev, and being Kings to exercifethe office of Pricfts, which Fathers did at the firft, grew per- haps by the fjmeoccaiion. Howbcit not this the onely kind of Regiment thac hath bin rcceiued m the World. The inconuenienccs of one kind, haue caufed fundry other to be dcuifed.So that in a word all publike Regiment, of what kind foeuer, fecmeth cuidcntly to haue rifen from deliberate ad uict\con(ul ration and * Cf ) mpreme ^ composition betwcencmcn,iudging it conucnient and behoofefullj there being returimthmd- no impoffibiliticm nature considered by it felfc, but that menmieht haueliued tttudoabijsqiu • j lil o TTi-j- c « L- minora oj shs* withoucany pub:ikc Regiment. Howbcit the corruption of our nature being beb^t.ad^mm prefuppofed, we may notdenie but that the Law of Nature doth now require aitqiumtmf*- of neceffity fome kind ofRegiment^fo that to bring things vnto the firft courfe ^Zljtm'^il they wereirt,and vtterly to take away all kind of pubiikc Government in the c&protiberetim World, were apparantly to ouerturn the whole World. The cafe of mans nature "ff^fi Handing therefore as it doth, fomckind of Regiment the Law ofnaturc doth re- *utnd/ fummei quirc,yet the kinds thereof being many,naturetycthnottoany one, butleaucth cummfimupm the choice as a thing arbitrary.At the firft when fomecertainckind of Regiment ^^Ztms" was once approued, it may be that nothing was then further thought vpon for cmixgmtjk- the manner ofgouerning,but all permitted vnto their wifdome and difcretion £«/*«»»*««« which were to rule;* till by experience they found this for all parts venc incon- 7 - y u / isti 7h ucnicnt, Co as the thing which they had deuifed for a remcdic,did indeed but in- ^^?jaw h crcafe the fore which it fhould haue cured. They faw that to liuebyone mans ?"* /f /** T * l V, willjbecamc the caufeofall mens mifcrie. This con (trained them to come vnto p/y*v ?*t* P* cuerbeinginitlelfe naturally good or cum, is notwithstanding more iecret then *•**•«,$«'**- thatitcanbedifcerned by cuery mansprcfent conceit, without fame deeper f^^MivS difcourfeand iudgement.In which Difcourfc,becaufc there is difficulticand po£ ^mMaM fibility many waies to errc, vnlcfTe fuch things were fct downc by Lawes, many Altx. would bee ignorant of their duties which now arc not; and many that know *?J"Jj^ mm what they fhould do, would neuerthelcfTc difrcmblcit,and tocxcufethcmfclues vt ^Joran.* pretend ignorance and fimplicitic, which now they cannot. And becaufc the **w» prottUt in greateft part of men are fuch as preferre their owne priuate good before all °clnfZn\lm things, euen that good which is fen fuall, before whatfbeuer is moftDiuine;and mrumpati* forthat the labour of doing good, together with the plcafurearifing from the xf^UibT' contrary,. doth make men for themoft part flower to the one, and proncr to the spc&acui. H % other, 28 Tbefir/fBookeof other then that duty prefcribed the by Law can prcuaile fufficiently with them : therefore vnto Lawes that men doe make for the benefit of men Jt hath fcemed al wayes needfull toadde Rewards,which may more allure vnto good then any bardneffe deterreth from it jand punifhments, which may more dcterre From e- uill then any fweetneflfe thereto allurcth. Wherein as the generalise isnaturall, Vertue rewardable,& Vkefimtflmble : fo the particular determination of the re- ward or puni(hment,belongeth vnto them by whom Lawes are made. Thefc is naturally punifhablc, but t he kind of punifhment is Pofitiue, and fuch lawful, as men lh;illthinkc with discretion conuenicntby Law to appoint. In Lawes that which is naturall bindeth vniucrfally, that which is pcfitiue not fo. To Jec goethofe kindofPofiriuc Lawes, which men impofe vpon themfelucs,as by vow vnto God, contract with men, or fuch like ^ fomewhatit will make vnto our purpofe,a little more fully to confider,what things are incidentinto the ma- king of the Pofitiue Lawes for the Gouernment of them that liue vnited in pub- like Socictie. Lawes doe not oncly teach what is good, but they inioyne it,they haueinthema certaine conftraining force. And toconftraine men vnto any thing inconuenicnt, doth fecme vnrcafonablc. Mcft rcquifne therefore it is, that to dcuife Lawes which all men mall be forced to obey, none but Wifemen be admitted. Lawes are matters of prinopall confequence ; men of common ca- pacitie,and butordinaryiudgerocnt, arenot able (for how mould they?) to di£ cerne what things are fittcft for each kind and flatc of Regiment. Wee cannot beignorant how much our obedience vnto Lawes dependeth vpon this point. Let a man, though neuer fo iuftly, oppofe himfelfe vnto them that are difbrde- rcd in their wayes 9 and what oneamongft them commonly doth not ftomakc ac fuch contradiction, ftorme at repoofe, and hate fuch 2s would rcforme them? Notwithstanding eucn they which brooke it worfl that men fhculd tell them of their duties, when they arc told the fame by a Law, thinke very well and reafo- nablyofit. For whyf They prefumc that the Law doth fpeake with all indiffc- rency, that the Law hath no fide- re fpecl to their perfons, that the Law is as ic were an Oracle proceeded from wifdome & vnderftanding. Howbcir, Lawes do not take their conftraining force from the qualitic of fuch as dcuife them, but from that power which doth giuc them the Strength of Lawcs.That which wee fpake before concerning the power ofGouernmcnt,muft here be applyed vnto the power of making Lawes whereby to gouerne; which power God hath ouer alljand by the natural Law wheruntohe hath madeall fubiecl,the lawful! power of making Lawes, to command whole Politikc Societies of men, bclongeth fo properly vnto the fame i ntirc Socicties,that for any Prince orPotentate,of what kind foeuer vpon carthjtoexercife the fame of himfelfe, and noteythcrby ex- prefle Commiffion immediatly & perfonally receiued from God, or elfe by au- thoritie dcriucd at thefirft from their confent vpon whofe perfons they impofe Lawes, it is ne better then mccre tyrannic Lawes they are not therefore which publike Approbation hath not made fo. But Approbation not onely they giue who perfonally declare their aflcnt by voyce,(igne,oracl:, but alio when others doe it in their names,by right originally at the lcaft dcriucd from them. As in Parliaments, Councels, and the like AfTemblies, although we be not perfonally our felues prefent,not withftanding our a (Tent is by reafon of others agents there in EcclefiafticaU Tolitit^. 29 - — — ' , -, „ . !■ > 1 in our behalf c. And what wee doc by others, no reafon but that ic mould ftand 35 our decd,no leiTc effectually to bind vs then ifour fdues had done it in perfon* In many things aiient isgiucn,tbey that giue it not imagining chey doe fo, be. caufc the maner of their alTentingis not apparent. As for example, when an ab- foiucc Monarkecommandetb his fubiccts that which feemethgood in his owne difcretion,hath not his edict the force or a law, whether they approue or dillike it I Againe,tbat which hath been recciued long fithence, and is by cuftome now elhblilhedjWekeepe as a Law which wc may not tranfgrelTc $ yet wbatc^nfent was cucr thereunto fought or required at our hands ? Of this point therefore we arc to note, that fith men naturally haue no full and perfect power to command whole politique multitudes of men j therefore vttcrly without our confenr, we could in fuch fort be at no mans commandement liuing. And ro be commaun- ded we doe confcnr,whcn that fociety whereof weare part,hath at any time be- fore confented, without reuoking the fame after by the like vniucrfall agreement. Wherefore as any mans deed part isgood as longas himfclfe conrinueth : fo the a&e of a publiquc focicty of men done fiue hundred ycares fitbencc,ftandcth as theirs, who prefently are of the fame focictieSjbecaufc corporations are immor- tall : we were then aliue in our Prcdcccflors, and they in their Succeflors do lius ftill. La wes therefore humane, of what kinde focucr, are auaileablc by confent. If here it be demanded how it commcth to paffc , that this being common vnto all La wes which are made, there mould be found eucn in good Lawcs fo great variety as there is : wc muft note the reafon hereof to be, the fundrie particular ends, whereunto thcdifTerent difpofition of that fubiedt or matrer for which Lawes are prouided,caufeth them to haueefpcciall refpedt in making Lawes. A Law there is mentioned amongft the Grecians, whereof Pittacus is reported to Arifl. petit, lib, haue becne Authour : and by that Law it was agreed, that he which being ouer- ltCa P' vlt * come with drinke did then ftrike any man, mould fufTer punimment double as much as if he had done die fame being fober. No man could euer haue thought thisreaionable, that had intended thereby oncly topunifluheiniurycommit- ted,according to the grauity of the faet.For who knowcth not, that harm adui- fcdly done is naturally IciTc pardonable,and therefore worthy of (harper punifh- ment?But for as much as none did fo vfually this way offend as men in that cafe, which they wittingly fell into, eucn becauic they would be fo much the more freely outragious : it was for their publique good where fuch diforder was grownc, to frame a pofitiue law for remedy thereof accordingly. To this apper- tainethofeknownc lawcs of making lawes; as that Law-makers muft hauean eye to the place where, and to the men amongft whom ; that one kind of lawes cannot ferue for all kinds of regimenr: that where the multitude bearethfway, lawes that (hall tend vnto the prefcruationof that ftatc, muft make common fmal ler offices to goc by lor, for fcare of ftrifeand diuifion likely to arife, by rea- fon that ordinary qualities fufficing for difcharge of fuch offices, they could not but by many be defired,and fo with danger contended for,& nor milled without grudge and discontentment, whereas at an vncertainc lot none can finde tbem- felues gricucd on whomiocueritJigbtcth ; contrariwife the greatcft, whereof feut few are capable, to palTe by popular election , that neither the people may enuie fuch as haue thofe honours, in as much as thcmfelues bellow them, and H 3 that jo The firB Hoofy of that the chiefeft may bee kindled with defire to exercifc ail parts of rare and beneficiall vertue; knowing they (hall not lofe their labour by grow- ing in fame and eftimation amongft the people : if the helme of chiefc goucrncment bee in the handes of a few of the. wealthiest , that then Lawes prouiding for continuance thereof rauft make the punifbment of contumely and wrong offered vnto any of the common fort , fharpe and grieuous , that fo the cuill may bee preuentcd , whereby the rich are mod likely to bring thcmfelues into hatred with the people, who are not wont totakefo great offence when they are excluded from honours and offices, as when their perfons arecontumelioufly troden vpon. In other kindes of regi- ment the likeisobferucd concerning the difference of pofitiue Lawes, which staundf.pref. to bee euerie where the fame is impoffible and againft their nature. Now as ti^c Ple n asof the learned in the Lawes of this Land obferue, that our Statutes fbmetitaes are onely the affirmation ox ratification of that which by common Law was held before ; fo heerc it is not to be omitted, that generally all Lawes humane which are made for the orderiug of politique* Societies, be cither fuch as cfta- blifh fomc duticwhereunto all men by the Law of Reafon did before hand bound ; or elfe fuch as make that a dutie now which before was none.The one fort wee may ford iff in&ion fake call mixeMy, and the other meerely humane. That which playneornecefTaric reafon bindcth men vnto,may beeinfundrie confiderations expedient to be ratified by human law. For example, if confu- fion of bloud in marriage, the libcrtie of hauing many wiues at once , or any o- tfaer the like corrupt and vnreafonablecuftome doth happen to haue preuayled farre,and to haue gotten the vpper hand of right reafon with the greatcft part; fb that no way is left to rc&ifie fuch foule diforder, without prefcribing by law the fame things which reafon necefTarily doth enforce, but is not perceiued that fo it doth ; or if many be gro wne vnto that which the Apoftle did lament in Eptpiud.v.xo. fomc,concernine whom he writeth, faying, that Euen what thinrs they naturally km uakkov « •- mrv > in t ' J0 j e verie things as Be aft s void of reajon, they corrupted themfelues ; or tiytpvi&Ai- ifthere be no fuch fpeciall accident, yet for as much as the common fort are led X& *5jV/\ by the fway of their fenfuall defires, and therefore doe more fhun finne for the Arifi.Ethtiib. ' fenfible euils which follow it amongft men, then for any kind of fentencc which 19.eap.10. reafon doth pronounce againft it : this verie thing is caufe fufficient why duties belonging vnto each kinde of vertue,albcit the law of reafon teach them,fhould notwithstanding bee prefcribed euen by humane Law. Which Law in this cafe we terme mixt , becaufc the matter whereuntoitbindeth, is the fame which reafon necefTarily doth require at our hands , and from the Law of Reafon it differeth in the manner of binding onely. For whereas men before flood bound in confciencetodocas the Law of Reafon tcacheth ; they are now by vertue of humane Law become conftrainable, & if they outwardly tranfgreflc, punifhable. As for Lawes which arc meerely humane, the matter of them is any thing which Reafon doth but probably teach to be fit and conucnienc ; fo thattill fuch time as Law hath pafTed amongft men about it, of it felfe it bindeth no man. One example whereof may bee this : Landesareby humane Law in fome places after the owners deccafe, diuided vnto all his children ; in fbme, all defcendeth to the eldcft fonne. If the Law of Reafon did necefTarily require but Ecclejiafticall Tolitie^. but the one of thefetwo to be done , they which by Law haue receiued the other, (hould be fubieft to that heauy fentence, which denounceth againft all that decree wicked, vniuft, and vnreafbnable things, woe. Whereas now which £ #7 IO,, « foeuer be receiued,there is no law of reafon tranfgrctt}becaufe there is probable reafon why either of them may be expedient , and for eyther of them more then probable reafon there is not to be found. Lawes whether mixtly or meerly humane are made by politique focieties : fbnae, onely as thole focieties are ci- nilly vnited ;fome,astheyarefpirituallyioyncdand makefiicha body as wee ^all the Church. Of Lawes humane in this latter kind wee are to fpeake in the third Booke following. Let ic therefore fuffice thus farre to haue touched the force wherewith Almighty God hath gracioufly endued our nature, and there- by inablcd the fame to rind out both thofc Lawes which all men ge nerally are foreuerboundtoobferue,andalfofuchasare mod fit for their behoofe who leadc their liues in any ordered State of Gouernment. Now befides that Law which firnply concernerh men as men, and that which belongeth vnto them as they are men linked with others in fome forme of politique focietie; there is a third kinde of Law which toucheth all fuch feuerall bodies Politicke , fo farre forth as one of them hath publike commerce with another. And this third is the Law of Nat ions. Bet weene men and beafts there is no poffibilitie of fbciablc communion ; becaufe the wel-fpring of that communion is a naturall delight which man hath to transfufc from himfelfe into others , and to receiue from o- thers into him felfe^efpecially thofe things wherein the excellency of this kinde doth m oft con fiit. The chiefeftinftrument of humane communion therefore is 4rifl.poU.cj, fpeech, becaufe thereby we impart mutually one to another the conceits of our reafbnablevndcrftanding. And for that caufe feeing beafts are not hereof ca- pable j for as much as with them wee can vfe no fuch conference, they being in degree although aboue other creatures on Earth to whom Nature hath de- nyed fenfe, yet lower then to be fociable companions of man towhom Nature hath giuen reafon ; it is Q&^Ada.m faid that amongft the beafts He found not for g w . 2 . 10 himfelfe any meetc companion. Ciuill fbciety doch more content the nature of man, then any priuarekindof folitary liuing; becaufe in fbciety this good of mutual! participation is fo much larger then otherwife. Herewith notwith- ftanding we are not fatisfied, but we couet (if it might be) to haue a kinde of fb- ciety and fellowship euen with all Mankinde. Which thing Socrttes inten- ding to fignirie, profefTed himfelfe a Citizen, not of this or that Common- cicTbufa. & weaith,butofthe World. And an efTed of that very naturall defire in vs,(a ma- iMugb, nifeft token that wee wifli after a fort an vniuerfall fellowlhip with all men) appeareth by the wonderfull delight men haue,fome to vifit forreine Countries, ibme to difcouer Nations not heard of in former Ages ; wee all to know the af- faires and dealings of other people,yea to be in league of amity with them rand this not only for trafficks fake, or to the end that when many are confederated each may make other the more ftrongj but for fuch caufe alfb as moouedthe QueeneofSabatoviilt.sWflwflfl; and in a word becaufe Nature doth prefume i.^. I0 .r. that howmanymentherearein the World, fb many Gods as it were there are, ^cbron. 9 ,u or at leaft wife fuch they mould be towards men. Touching Lawes which are to ££' J j'?" krue men in this behalf e^cuen asthofe Laws of reafon, which(man retaining his onu n The firtt Tloofy of originall integrity) had bin fufficient to direct each particular perfon in al his af- faires and dutics,are not fufficient but require the acccfle of other laws,now that man and his of fpring are growne thus corrupt and iinfu!l;againe as thofe lawes of Polity & Regiment, which would haue ferued men liuing in publike fociety together with that harmleile difpofition which then they fhould haue had, are not able now to ferue when mens iniquity is fo hardly reftrained within any tol- lerable bounds-.in like manner the nationall lawes of naturall comerce between focieties of that former & better quality might haue bin other then now, when nations are fo prone to offer violence,iniury and wrong.Hereupon hath growne in euery oftbefe three kindes, that diliinction bet weene Primary and Secmdary Lawes; the one grounded vpon fmcere , the other built vpon depraued nature. Primary lawes of nations are fuch as concerne embaffage, fuch as belong to the courteous entertainment of Forreiners & Strangers, fuch as ierue for commo- dious trafficked the like.Secundary lawes in the fame kind,arc fuch as this pre- fent vnquiet world is moft familiarly acquainred with, I meane ia wes of Armes; which yet are much better known then kept. But what matter the lawofnations doth containe I omit to fearch.The ftrength & vertue of that law is fucb,that no particular nation can lawfully preiudice the lame by any their feuerall lawes and Ordinances, more then a man byhispriuaterefolutions the Law of the whole Common-wealth or State wherein he liueth. For as ciuill Law being the acl: ofa whole body Politique , doth therefore ouer-ruleeach feuerall part of the fame bodyrfo there is no reafon that any one Commonwealth of it felfe,(hould to the preiudice of another annihilate that whereupon the whole world hath agreed. For which caufe the Lacedemonians forbidding al accefleof ftrangers into their i*fe.B.i t contra c oa ft Sj are j n that refpccT: both by lofephus & Theodoret deferuedly blamed , as T P b P eodMb. 9 Je being enemies to that hofpitality which for common humanities fake all the na- famnd.Grae. tions on earth (houldembrace.Now as there :is great caufe of communion, and 4f elL confequently of lawes for the maintenance of communion amongfl Nations: fo among Nations Cbriftian the like in regard euen of Chriftianity hath beenc al- waies iudged needfull. And in this kind ©fcorrefpondence amongft nations, the force of general Councels doth ft and. For as one and the fame law diuine 3 where- of in the next place we are to fpeake,is vnro all Chriftian Churches a rule for the chiefeft things, by meanes whereof they all in that refpe& make one Church, as Btbef+1- hauing all but one Lord y one Faith,& one Baptifme.-fo the vrgent neceffitie of mu- tuall communion for preferuation of our vnity in thefe things , as alfo for order in fome other things conuenient to be euery where vniformly kept, maketh ic requifite that the Church of God here on earth haue her Lawes of (pi ritual com- merce betweene Chriftian Nations,La wes by vertue whereof all Churches may enioy freely the vfe of thofe reuerend religious and facred confultations, which are termed Councels generall. A thing whereof Gods own blefTed Spirit was the A&t tf.28. Author ; a thing praftifed by the holy Apoftlcs themfelues; a thing al wayes af- terwards kept and obferued throughout the World ; a thing neuer otherwife then moft highly eftecmed of,till pride,ambition and tyranny began by factious and vile endeuors,toabufe that diuincinuention vnto the furtherance of wicked purpofes.But as the iuft authority of ciuill Courts and Parliaments is not there- fore to be abolifhed, becaufe fometime there is cunning vfed to frame them ac- cor^ Ecclefiafticall Tolitie^,. % cording to the priuate intents ofmenoucr-potent in the Common-wealth: So the gncuousabufc which hath beeneofCouncels,fhould rather caufe men to ftudic how fo gracious a thing may againc bee reduced to that firft perfection, then in regard of (hines and blcmiflicsfithencegrowing,be held for cuer in ex- treme difgracc.To fpcakcofthis matter as the caufe rcquireth, would require very longdifcourfe. All I will pretently fay, is this : Whether it be for the find ingoutofany thing whercuntodiuine Law bindeth vs,butyetinfuchfort, that men are not thereof on all (ides refolucd ; or for the fetting downe of fome vniiormc judgement to Hand touching fuch things, as being neither way mat- ters of neceffitie, are notwithftandingoffcnfiueandfcandalous when there is o- pen opposition about them; bee it for the ending offtrifes touching matters of Cnriltian bclecfe,whcrein the one part may feemc to haue probable caufe of dif- fering from the other ; or bee it concerning matters ofPolitie, order and regi- ment in the Church ; I nothing doubt but that Chriftian men mould much bet- ter frame thcmfelucs to thofe heaucnly precepts, which our Lord and Sauiour with (o great inftancie gauc as concerning peace and vnitie,if we did all concurre Z ^ #I4>17# indcfirctohauethcvle of ancient Counccls againe rcnued> rather then thefe proceedings continued, which cither make all contentions cndleflc, or bring them to one onely determination, and that of all other the worn\which is by fword.lt folio wcth therefore that a new foundation being laid.wc now adioync hereunto that which commcth in the next place to be fpoken of,namely, where- fore God hath himfelfe by Scripture made knowne fuchlawesasferue for dire- ction ofmen. ii All things (God onely excepted )bcfidcs the nature which chey haue in whcrfbrcGod themfclues, rcceiuc externally fomc perfection from other things,ashath bcenc J r t c f u y rt her P * fhewed. In fo much as there is in the whole world no one thing great or fmall, made knowne but either in refpect of knowledge or of vfe,it may vnto our pcrfecto adde fom- k'aii7aw«,a$ what.Andwhatfocuerfuch perfection there is which our nature may acquire, doeferucfor the fame wee properly terme our good; our foucraigne^Wor blcjfcdnes, chat mens dircfti- wherin the higheft degree ofal our perfection confifteth, that which bcingonce on * attained vnto,thcre can reft nothing further to be dcfircd,& therfore with it our foulcsare fully content & fatisfied,in that they haue they reioyce&t thirft for no more: wherfore of good things defired,fome arc fuch that for themfel ues we co- uet them not,but only becaufc they feruc as instruments vnto that for which we are to feeke; of this fort arc riches:another kindc there is, which although we dc- firc for it fclfc,as hcalth,& vcrtue,& kno wledgc,neucrtheles they are not the laft marke w hereat we aimc, but haue their further end whercunto they are referred; fo as in them we are not fatisfled as hauing attained the vtmoft we may, but our defircsdoeftillproceede. Thefe things are linked, and as it were chained one to another: we labour to care, and wee care to Hue, and weeliucto doe good, and the good which we doe, is as fcedefowne a with reference vnto a future har- ^GdtJ.z.He ucft. But we muft come at the length to fomc pawfe. For if euery thing were that fowcthto to bcedefircd for fome other without any ftint, there could be no certaine end ^P 1 ™^* 11 propofedvntoouractionsjwefhouldgoeon we know not whither, yea what- reaphfe cucr- foeuer wee doc,wcre in vaine, or rather nothing at all wercpoffibleto bcedone. laftmg. For as to take away the firft efficient ofour being, were to annihilate vtterly our perfons ; 34 The fir/t Hookf of perfons; fo we cannot remoucthc lalt finallcaufcof our working, but wee (hall caufe whatfoeuer we wor'ke to ceafe.Thercforefomcthing there mult bedefired for it fclfc (imply and for no other.That is (imply for it fclfe delircable,vnto the nature whereof it is oppoficc and repugnant to be dcfired with relation vnto any other. The Oxc and the Afle defire their food,neit her propofc they vnto them- feluesanyend whereforcifothatofthemthisisdeliredforitfelfcj butwhyjBy reafon of their imperfection, which cannot othcrwife defire it : whereas that which is defircd fimply for it felfe,thc excellency thereof isfuch as permitreth ic not in any fort to be referred vnto a further end. Now that which man doth de- fire with reference to a further cnd,thc fame hedefircth infuch meafureasis vn- to that end conuenient : but what he coucteth as good in it fclfe, towards that his defire is cuer infinite . So that vnledc the lad good of all which is defiredal- COgct her fork fclfe,bcalfo infinite 5 wee doccuill in making it our end.-eucnas ride Ari(t.r.ib. fay w ho placed their felicitic in wcalth,orhonour,orplcafurc,oranv thine here io.cap.io. & ' j ; r • a r • i • f u i *■ «. . J . & " Metapb.u.cap. attayncd, becauleindehringany thingasourhnall perfection, which is not fo, 6.&cap.^& wc doc amide. Nothing may be infinitly de(ircd,butthatgood which indeed is up -*°' infinitc.For the better,the more dclireablejthattherrorcmoftdcfireablcjwheriri there is infinitic ofgoodncflc; fo that if any rhingdcfirable may be infinite, that mud necdes be the higheft ofall things that are defircd. No good is infinite buc only God:thcrefore he our felicitic and blilfe.Morcouer defire tendcth vnto vni- * mW • a- on withthatitdcfireth.Tfthcninhim we be bieffed^t is by force of participation t&mtijl wo- and conjunction withhim.Againe,itisnotthepoiTe(fion of any good thing can 2*9%**? lV mak . c chcm ha ^Py which h ^ ucic . v nlelTe they inioy the thing wherewith they arc ipyoK ovfAfiy poilerTed.Thcn arc we happy thcrcforc,whcn fully we enioy God, as an obiedfc to^\wka : wherein the powers ofourfoules arc fatisfiedcuen with eucrlaftingdclighr: fo 7y*L£ri! 70 that although we be men, yet by being vnto God vnited, weliuc as it were the TVifr&tti life ofGod.Happir.es therefore is that eftate whereby weattaine, fo faras poffi- dy*tof ,yo P i- bly may be attayned the full pofTcffion of that which (imply for it fclfe is to be i\d X Kov. dchrcd,andcontainethinit after an eminent (ort the cotcntationofour dcfires, A f , r Z *\ f ^ e higheft degree of all our pcrfcclion.Offiich perfection capable wc arc not in tcU'^Ltd- l ^ ls n T c -F or while we are in the world, we arefubiccl vnto fundrie *imprrfccTi- mrwu.tvd*; i ons,gricfcof body,dcfccls of mindc^yea, the beft things we doe arc painful I, and ^T^/lS 15 " thecxercifeofthem gricuous, being continued without intcrmiffion; foas in i3?«ifj&fwl thofe very anions whereby we are cfpccially perfected in this life, we arc not ga&nt rin able to pcrfift,forced we are with very wcarincfte, and that often, to interrupt Z7i%J}A- them; which tcdioufneffe cannot fall into thofe operations that arc in the ftate yalov'ktpdvTo of blifle, when our vnion with God is complete. Complete vnion with him hT?Kt