Section 3

Thus their cavils concerning the Liturgy are vanished, we descend to the longer quarrel of Episcopacy: where it is their ill hap to stumble again at the entering into these lists: beginning their answer (pardon good reader) with a manifest lie; while they dare say, that whatever has been either spoken, or written by any, either learned divines, or well reformed churches, is taxed by me, as no other than the unjust clamors of weak, or factious persons. Certainly, had I done so, I had been no less worthy to be spit upon, for my saucy uncharitableness, than they are now for their uncharitable falsehood. After my complaints of the many railing invectives, and scandalous libels published of late, I came now to bemoan myself to that high court of justice, in these words: As for that form of Episcopal government which has hitherto obtained in the church of God, I confess I am confounded in myself to hear with what unjust clamors it is cried down abroad, by either weak or factious persons — abroad (I say) in relation to both houses, lest any malicious person should have traduced my words, as reflecting upon any free speech, made in either of them, against some of that calling; alluding to that impious licentiousness of our frequent libelers, both in the city and country, which shamefully revile Episcopacy, as wicked and Antichristian. Now come these brotherly slanderers (sure the terms can be no better) and would needs wire-draw my words as far as France, Germany, or Geneva itself; and cry out of my arrogance; as condemning all divines, all churches; which the God of heaven knows never came within the verge of my thoughts. Indeed, if I could have been so abominably presumptuous as to enlarge my [abroad] to other nations; yet I beseech you, readers, see how well this follows: Episcopal government is with unjust clamors cried down abroad, by either weak or factious persons, therefore, whoever speaks or writes against Episcopacy, is either weak or factious. Brethren, if you have any remainders of modesty, or truth, left in you, cry God mercy for this egregious and palpable calumny.

Of the same strain is their witty descant upon my confoundedness; I made use of the phrase, as that which is taken up by the most elegant Greek and Latin authors, to express extreme sorrow, these deep philologers, (as not seeming to know other sense) take it of a confoundedness, through distraction; sure the man is not in his right wits [illegible]. And how so, I wonder? Hear how he raves: he talks of all peaceable and right affected sons of the church, and craves an admittance in all their names, whereas all could not take notice of his book; doubtless a deep frenzy. Brethren, I am still, and shall ever be thus self-confounded, as confidently to say, that he is no peaceable, and right affected son of the Church of England, that does not both hate libels, and wish well to liturgy and Episcopacy; both which sum up my humble remonstrance.

But this slip, they confess, is small, that other is worthy of a large dose of hellebore; that I say, Episcopal government, that is, government by diocesan bishops, derives itself from the Apostles' times; this (they say) they cannot but rank among my notorious — speak out, masters; I would not have that word stick in your teeth, or in your throat. And why is this truth so notorious? Because there were no diocesans of above a hundred years after Christ. Now readers, I beseech you, cast back your eyes upon those lines of mine, and see, whether I make any mention at all of diocesans, but only of the sacred government by Episcopacy; wanton wits must have leave to play with their own stern. Brethren, what needs this importunity? Even self-confounded men do not always speak false; what the joint confession of all reformed divines is concerning the derivation of Episcopacy from the Apostolic times, I have elsewhere showed from some, in the name of all; and shall do again in the due place; to what purpose were this unseasonable anticipation? Indeed no true divine did ever hold otherwise: the question never was, whether bishops were derived from the Apostles, but what kind of bishops they were: for us, if we not deduce ours from them in respect of all the essentials of our calling, let the shame be ours. Whereas I say the government has continued without any interruption, they ask jeeringly, What at Rome? And tell me of some places of the world, as Scotland for example, wherein this government was never known for many years together. Brethren, what means this, whether simplicity, or scorn? Could you imagine me to mean, that every place through the whole world has had a continued line of bishops ever since the Apostles? Sure you cannot so wrong your own judgments; alas, we could tell you of China, Japan, Peru, Brazil, New England, Virginia, and a thousand others, that never had any bishops to this day. Yet it is never the less safe to say, that the form of government by bishops in the Christian world, derives itself (without interruption) from the Apostles' times; for as much as there has been no time or age since them, wherein there has not been this form of Episcopal government continued. You tell me, that in ancient times the Scots were instructed by priests, and monks, and were without bishops two hundred and ninety years. I acknowledge the words of Johannes Major, I wish they had not been without, either before, or since; but what is this to my assertion? There could be no interruption of that, which had as yet no being; neither did I ever say that bishops were every where.

You come to England, there you think to have me sure; you desire to know of the Remonstrant, Whether God had a Church in England in Queen Mary's days or no? And if so, who were then Bishops? Sure, brethren, you cannot be so ignorant as you make yourselves; Have you not seen Mr. Fox's Acts and Monuments? Have you not seen Mr. Fr. Mason's Vindication of our succession? Or do you make no difference between an intermission and an interruption? Do you not know that even the See of Rome, (which would gladly boast of a known succession) has yet been without a Bishop longer than the whole reign of Queen Mary; if we may believe Damasus himself, after Marcellinus, for 7 years, 6 months, and 25 days? And if after the Martyrdom of our Orthodox Bishops, revolted, or Popish governors held those Sees, they were corrupt in their places, judgment, and practice; there was not an utter abolition of their calling, which their repentance restored to its first vigor. Where I justly aver this continuance to have been without the contradiction of any one congregation in the Christian world, you vainly think to choke me with a story from our own darling, Heylin, which tells us of the furious violence of the people of Biscay against the Bishop of Pampelona, reported also by the Spanish history: to which you refer us; concealing yet, that which the same history relates, that this was done upon some attempts and wrong conceived to be offered them by the Clergy.

A goodly instance, and fit for the gall of your ink, and as good a consequence. The Biscainers upon a private quarrel are enraged against the person of their Bishop, and for his sake (for the time) against his fellows; therefore some Christian Congregation denies the succession of Episcopal Government, from the times of the Apostles. Of the like validity and judgment is your instance of French, Scottish, and Belgic Churches: Who doubts of either their Christianity, or their contradiction to Episcopacy? But if you did not willfully both shut your own eyes, and endeavor to blind the eyes of your Reader, you could not but see, that I limit the time until this present age. Good brethren, while you object bold falsehood to me, learn to make some conscience of truths. To let pass your untrue suggestions concerning my assertion, of one and the same form of Prayer continued from Moses to the Apostles, and by the Apostles, etc. I cannot but wonder with what face you can reckon it among my untruths, that Episcopal Government has continued in this Island, ever since the first plantation of the Gospel. I challenge you before that awful Bar, to which you have appealed, name but one year ever since Christianity had footing in England, (which was under the British [reconstructed: or] Roman Government) wherein there were no Bishops in this Land; If you can name neither year nor Author, be ashamed to say this truth has had any contradiction, or else I hope the Readers will be ashamed of you. What a poor shift is it to tell me of the contradiction that Episcopacy has had since the Reformation? I can tell the world that yourselves oppose it; what of that? You mislike the Government, you cannot deny that it has so long continued; so as my assertion continues inviolable, that the form of this government has, without contradiction, continued here ever since the first plantation of the Gospel.

The man runs on still, you say, and as thinking to get credit to his untruths by their multiplication, dares boldly say, that except all Histories, all Authors, fail them, nothing can be more certain than this truth: and here you cry out, Os durum! and aggravate the matter enviously, by the instance of Divine truths, concerning the main points of our holy Creed: But, good sirs, do you bethink whom you speak to? Could you suppose to meet with so mean readers, as should not know that no phrase is more ordinary in our hourly discourse, than this; when we would confidently affirm any truth, to say, It is so true as nothing can be truer? Not to enter into any metaphysical discourse concerning the being, or degrees of truth, (wherein some that would be wise, may perhaps have lost themselves) would any man think it reasonable, that upon such an ordinary and familiar assertion he should be called to account for the articles of his Creed, and be urged to compare his truth with God's? Away with this witless and malicious intimation: Pardon me Readers, that I have spent so much time and paper, in following these triflers so close; their uncharitable suggestions drew me on, Judge you now whether of us have more just cause of indignation.