Section 4

Hitherto they have flourished, now I hope they will strike; against the Libellers' importune projects of innovations, I urged that were this Ordinance merely human, or Ecclesiastical, if there could be no more said for it, but that it is exceeding ancient, of more than 1500 years standing, and in this Island of the same age with the Gospel itself, this might be a just reason to make men tender of admitting a change; an argument which I seconded with so rational enforcement, as will I doubt not prevail with all impartial judgments. Now my witty answerers tell me this is an argumentum Galeatum (and that the Reader may know they have seen a Father, cite Jerome, who gave that title to a Prologue, but never to an argument) and as if arguments were Almanacks, tell us, it was calculated for the meridian of Episcopacy, and may indifferently serve for all Religions. Truly brothers, you have not well taken the height of the Pole, nor observed a just zenith; for could you say so much for the Presbyterial government, had it continued here so long, I should never yield my vote to alter it; an uninterrupted course of so many years should settle it still. So as you are plainly deceived, the argument is not calculated for the meridian of Episcopacy; but for whatever government; if so long time have given it peaceable possession, there had need to be strong reasons of Law, for an ejection. But that it may serve for all Religions, it is but an envious suggestion; unless you add this as well, save where the ground of the change is fully convictive, and irrefragable; in which case both the mouths of Jews, and Heathens, and Papists, and your own may be justly stopped.

As for that overworn observation of Cyprian, that our Saviour says, I am the way, the truth, and the life; but does not say, I am custom, it is no less plausible than useful, but if we regard soundness of ratiocination, it is an illustration merely negative. So we may say, he says not, I am reason, I am experience, I am authority; and yet authority, experience, reason are worthy to sway with us, in all matters of question. And withal, he that said, I am the way, said, that the old way was the good way. And if custom without truth (as that Father said well) be nothing but a gray-haired error; or, as Sir Francis Bacon wittily, antiquity without truth is a cipher without a figure; yet where custom and antiquity are backed with truth, there they are figures multiplied with many ciphers.

As for the time wherein their learned Ancients affirm, the Church not to have been governed by Bishops, but by Presbyters, and for the difference pretended to be between the Primitive Bishops and ours, we shall meet with it in such due time and place, as shall be justly occasioned. What needs this frivolous waste of unseasonable words? Wherewith unless these men desired to swell up this their windy bulk, why do they tell us yet again, of that already answered, and groundless exception; against both their own eyes, and conscience; where I say, that this government has continued in this Island; ever since the plantation of the Gospel without contradiction; when as they cannot name any man in this Nation that ever contradicted Episcopacy, till this present age, or that ever contradicted this truth, that Episcopacy has so long continued in this Island; which is the only drift of my words. For alas, could I be so simple as not to know that this age has bred opposition enough to the present government? Could I doubt whether these very men oppose it? Yet, let the boldest forehead of them all deny that it has continued thus long in this our Island, or say that any till this age contradicted it; so as that my assertion is just, their exception false; and vain. As for that supply of accessory strength, which I did not beg, but raise and evince from the light of nature and rules of just policy, for the continuance of those things, which long use and many laws have firmly established, as necessary, and beneficial; it will stand long enough, against the battery of their Paper-pellets. If some statute Laws, which seemed once necessary, and beneficial, proving afterwards, in process of time, noxious and burdensome, have been justly, and wisely repealed; let them tell me, whether the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, upon any man's abuse, may be subject to alteration, or whether rather their wisdoms would not think fit to determine that the Laws must stand, and the abuses be removed. Such is the case we have now in hand, and if we shall go less: I speak not against an impossibility, but an easiness of change, the question being so stated (which their guiltiness would willingly overlook) that things indifferent, or good, having been by continuance and general approbation well rooted in Church and State, may not upon light grounds be pulled up.