I Remember a difference they Hieron . make of the three bookes of Salomon according to their subiectes , three severall sciences or disciplines , that lead man to his blisse ; the first wherof is Morall , the second Naturall , the third Theoricall and Supernaturall .

1 In his Proverbs , because of the precepts and institutes of good life , they obserue Ethickes .

2 In Ecclesiastes , because of the search and knowledge of causes , and distinction of substances from shaddowes and vanities , Physickes .

3 ▪ Lastly in his booke of the Canticles , they consider Metaphysickes ; wherin is a sacred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hymen , or marriage songue ( Voluntatum , non voc●m consonantia , 〈◊〉 not so much in words , as in wil● ) containing an indissoluble coniunction betwixt Christ and his Church .

Wherfore J make no quaestion , but as the rest of the body , so this part of the songue also is spirituall & diuine ▪ & that Salomon , like M●yses elsewhere , hath a vaile vpon his face , and leauing the least and lowest roume to the literall sense , aimeth for the most part at mysteries . For that Salomon in his proper person the first and best knowne by the name of Salomon , had a vineyard in proper tearmes without any metaphor , or translation ; and seated in Baal-hamon , whither you make it a proper name as Heshbon , and Engaddi , and other vineyards in the booke of God , or whether common and appellatiue , because of the plenty and store that was in it ; and that he set out his vineyard to Keeppers at a price ▪ alowing a competency to them for their labour and culture bestowed , and reserving a rent to himselfe ; is either true in the storie , it was so indeed , or incongruity the● is none , but it might be . A part of his Ro●al demaines is in vineyards , and Orchards , and paradises , in the 2. of Ecclesiastes .

All this ( notwithstanding ) is but the outward shell to an inward kernell . the foot of the ladder next to the ground , as in the vision of Iacob , wherin there is yet no climbing vp . wherfore the counsail of Bernard is from the 23. of the proverbs , when we are called to the table of a rich man , to consider diligently what is set before vs ▪ fratres ad men sam Salomo●●● s●demus , superni● Ser. 30 , in . Cant. 〈◊〉 . 63. est refert● delitii●● Brethren , saith he we sit at the table of Salomon , the meate that is set before vs is heavenly and divine . The Apostle saide , hath God care of oxen ? Num quid de vine is & vitibus & virg●lt is cu●a est Deò ? in like manner ; hath God care of vineyardes ? Homines , non arbores amat homo-deus : he that is God & man louethmen , not trees . His conclusion for all is , opera hic & impensa mentibus d●nda , non fructibus : the cost & care wee bestowe must bee spirituall vpon our soules , not corporal vpon the fruits of vineyards .

Who then is this Salomon ? or what this vineyarde ? what this Baal-hamon ? These Keepers ? this fruit ? this rent ? who and what are they ?

Salomon is not Salomon the King of Israell ▪ but the King of Kinges : not Salomon from the earth earthlie , but Salomon from heauen heauenly , he that in the Bernar. ser. 27 , in . Cantic . Gospell is more then Salomon , vsque adeo meus Salomon , Salomon est , vt non modo pacificus , ●ed pax ipsa vo●etur . The Salomon whom I meane is so rightly a Salomon , that he is not only a peacemaker , but very peace it selfe . Salomon is Christ .

The vineyard is his Church , a metaphor wel known in the scriptures , were it a stranger vnto you , I would lead you into acquaintance with it throughout the whole booke of God . But it is not so , vinea intelligibilis , an intellectual , mystical vineyard is his Church : planted by Gods right hand , grounded in faith , rooted in charity , watered by the word of the preachers , digged and manured by the discipline of Magistrates , the wine whereof hath the sauour and tast of a good conscience within , the colour and cute of an holy conversation without , and the winepresse by which it runneth abroad , is the tongue of open and thankeful confession to the praise of God .

Baal-hamon is the site of it , vallis , or planities , or domius multitudinis , soilicet vini , a vally or plaine or lord of store , to wee● , of wine . The Greekes say , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , where the comprehension of people , that is of plenty was . It is Corn● filius olei by an other allegory in the 5. of Esay a fertill and fat hill . J●deed so populous is the Church of Christ , that she meruaileth at her increase of children , & asketh in the prophet , Quis genuit mihi ist●s ? who hath begotten me 49. Esa. these ? and the children themselues cry , the place is to strait for vs . Hir beginning was at Ierusalem , but being thence abandoned , migrauit , non perijt , she travailed , Bern. perished not : pulsa de ciuitate , ab vniuersitate excipitur , being expelled the citty , she is receaued of the whole world . Howbeit , we must euer remember there is also a choice made . For this vineyard is planted in Baal-hamon , not in the open field , whose portion is the Genes. 3. curse of brambles , & briars ; but in a seueral , peculiar , enclosed peece of ground , it is hortus conclusus , as the Cant. 4. garden of Eden , and lieth within a hedge or fense , as a mount within railes . And whatsoeuer groweth without it , is labrusca , not v●● , some sower or hedge Esa. 5. Deut. 32. grape , not good to eat , or rather the grape of Sodome or cluster of Gomorrhe , which groweth but to the fire ▪ My meaning is , extra ecclesiam nulla salus , without the Church no salvation : which made the good Emperour Theodosius resolue with himselfe , Malo esse membrum ecclesiae quàm caput imperii , I h●d rather be a member of the Church , then head of the whole empire .

The keepers of this vinyard are both the magistrate , & minister , for that the former also is , cannot be doubted : he is nutritius ecclesiae , the nursing father of the Church , & perregnum terrenum c●leste regnum ●●i dor. proficit , Kingdomes of the earth are good helps and furtherances to the kingdome of heauen . Ego communis Euseb. de vi● Const. quidam sum episcepus &c. I am a certaine common Bishop among you ▪ and as it were at large , said the worthy Constantine ( as you hard not long since . ) But this field hath bene reapt already to my hands . The later is a keeper also , but with no little oddes . The difference must euer be held betwene the Diademe , & Ephod , the kingdome and priesthood , betwene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 1. Pe● . 2. the soueraigne , & any other subordinate magistrate . Every superiority is not impery , nor euery supervision & inspection , dominion . The power that the one hath , is regall ▪ & imperiall , that the other pastorall and paternall ; The one in things appertaineing to God alone ; the other longè l●tèque with a farther extent both to God & man without limitation ; the one as lord and master , the other as a father ; the one by mandatory & coactiue authority inforcing , the other rather exhorting & perswaiding : or if ever he command , wheras the one vpon paine of loosing liberty , or limme , or life ; the other doth it in the name of God , and before the Lord , and Rom. 13. his holy angels , & vpon denunciation of Gods iudgments , The one beareth the sword : the other hath a sword too ; but it is the sword of the spirit ; or m●cro ecclesiasticus , the sword of the Church , wherewith he smiteth not the body , but the conscience ; or rather not a sword , but the Keyes of the church , the one hath Psal. 2. a rod of iron to crush in peeces , the other hath not more then the rod of his lips . Jn a word , to the one belongeth tribute , to the other rather tithes & offerings : Rom. 13. to the one feare , to the other rather reverence , to the one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , necessarie compulsory subiection ( you must needs obey ) to the other rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a necessary too , but more inclining to a voluntary , a better tempered , and rather perswaded kinde of submission .

But more accommodate to the minde of my text , next and most immediatly knit to the custodie & care of this vineyard ( according to the Apostles phrase , ye 1. Cor. 3. are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods husbandrie ) are the pastours of the Church : of whom God speaketh by his Propher , sili hominis posuite speculatorem , sonne of man I haue 3. Ezech. ● . ler. made thee a watchman : and I haue set thee over nations & kingdoms , vt evellas , & destruas , & plantes , to plucke vp , and destroy ; & plant , &c. rusticani sudoris schemate quodam ( Bernard to Engenius ) figuring the paines of De Consid. the past our by the toile of an husbandman . For all these haue sarculum linguae , a cultre in their tongues : ( sarculum , non sceptrum , saith Bernard to the same Eugenius Ser. 58. super . Cant. againe , a cultre , not a sceptre ) & gladium verbi , non ferri , a ●word of the word of God , not of ●ron . And their office is , 2. Tim. 4. Argue , increpa improue , rebuke , there is putatio , pruning of the vine ; but withall obsecra intreat , there is plantatio planting . To be short , Paul is a planter , Apollos is a waterer ; and al the rest are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , some way or other labourers with God in husbanding this vineyard .

The fruit of a vineyard is the bloud of the grape . This is fructus nativitatis , Psal. 107. The true natiue fruit of it . The vine shal speake for her selfe from that parable , Iud. 9. & tell you what her fruit is : Vinum laetificans Deum & homines , wine that gladdeth both God and men . ( Vinum laetitiae , not luxuriae : nor libidinis , wine Bern. of comfort , and gladnes , not of excesse . ) It may be Vinum moestificans some times , wine of sorrow . Mark the parable . The Oliue hath her fatnes , the figtree her sweetnes alone , those be their qualities : but est vineae quaedam acrimonia & seueritas , wine must be somewhat tart , as well as pleasant : Coniungi debent suavitas Ser. 60. in . Cantic . & seueritas : Sweetnes and sharpnes must be ioined togither . As necessarie it is at times to heare the voice of the Church condemnantem , condemning , as consolā tem , comforting , and reposcentem , requiring , exacting the duties of christianity , as ignoscentem , pardoning faults & defaults , which she shalespie : at some times to feele her hand , plectentem , smiting , as wel as amplectētem , embracing at some others . Ther must be both manna , and vtrga in the arke , bread for refection , and a rod for correction , osculum and fraenum , a kisse for freinds , a bridle for refractary and stubburne persons . I named it planting and pruning before : there must be both doctrine and discipline , else is ' there wanting one of the two principall pillers , that the Church should stand vpon .

Shall I say in a word what this fruit of the vineyard is ? Go to the parable once more . Vinum quod l●tificat Deum & homines : whatsoeuer are the duties of ether table of the law , towards God in the former , in the later towards man the image of God , are the fruits of this vineyard that is the Church of Christ : and fruct us natiuitatis , the naturall and kindly fruits . For to what other end werewe made , redeemed , regenerate , begotten a new by the immortal seed of Gods word , sanctified and seasoned by his holy spirit , but that we should keepe his lawes , and walke before him in holynes , and righteousnes to our liues end ?

Lastly the rent that is giuen for the fruit of this vineyard . Luk. 16. is that redderationem at the comming of Salomon : the issue wherof wil be on the one side , gaudium & corona , our ioy and our crowne ; and Euge serue Phil. 4. Math. 25. Ezech. 3. & 33. bone , well done good servant : on the other , sanguinem requiro , Irequire that bloud at thy handes , which hath beene spilt through thy negligence . Let Keepers well weigh with themselues the rent they must then bring . 1. The reckoning riseth very high , as appeareth by the summe in my text mille argentei , a thousand peeces of silver . 2. The singularity of accomptants aggravateth the danger , vir afferet , that is , quisque , singuli afferent , every one shal accompt by the pole : and therfore folly for any one keeper to say non agnoscar in populo magno , ther Eccle. 16. are so many keepers of vs , that what is my one soule amongst so many thousands ? posuerunt me custodem in vineis ( went before in the Canticle ) vineam meam non Cap. 1. custodiui . They made me a keeper of the vineyards , and I haue not kept mine owne vineyard : wherevpon saith St Bernard , Ego huius loci occasione meipsum reprehendere soleo , quòd animarum curam suscep●rim : By occasion of this place I am wont to bee displeased with my selfe ( sith the chardge of my private selfe was so difficulte ) that ever I tooke vpon me the cure of soules . To recapirulate all that hath bin spoken , Salomon is Christ ; the vineyard is his Church ; Baal hamon the increase ; the keepers are pastours ; the fruit is the loue both of God & man ; the rent , is the reckoning that must bee yeelded vp at the comming of Salomon .

What care the Lorde hath ever imbraced & tendered his Church with ( to omit his quid vltra ? in the 5. of Esay , what should I more haue done ? If we looke but in at the next dores to my text , wil presently appeare , vinea mea , quae m●hi , coram me : my vineyard , which is mine or belongeth tomee , is before me . His constant , redoubled asseveration , in so many possessiue , respectiue , relatiue tearmes , of so neare appropriation , alliance , and amity , that we cannot imagine a girdle about the reines of a man to bee nearer , no nor the apple within his ey , nor bowels within his belly dearer vnto him . My vineyard , which is mine , is before me alwaies vnder the light of his countenance , vnder the eye of his prouidence , and the everlasting obiect both of his lookes , and of his loue also .

A part of which his loue , and not the least is , as he delt with the wounded man in the Gospell , whom by reason of his many infirmities he commended to the goodman of the Inne , and deliuered him two pence ●uk. 10. ( say they were the two testaments ) in stocke , & whatsoever he should more expend in counsaile and comfort and his owne pains-taking , hee would repay all at his back returne : so be holding from the height of his sanctuary the condition of his vinyard , in so much danger of miscariage by foxes within , and wildbores without , serpentibus and apparentibus saith Bernard , latentèr & patentèr , openly and secretly oppugning the weale thereof , himselfe the principall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 husbandman Ioh. 15. after the daies of his flesh , hath commended it to other keepers , non efficaciam quaerens , sed congruentiam , not out of want to himselfe , but for convenience to it , man vnto man beeing the meetest instrument to lead him to salvation , ( speake thou vnto vs , 20. Exod. & we wil heare thee , but let not the Lord speak , least we die . ) To these he hath perpetuated life & continuance not in their singular persons , but in their line and succession , Ego vobiscum vsque ad finem saeculi , I am with you ( ô ye keepers ) to the worlds end . So the Apostle witnesseth , Eph. 4. 11. He hath giuen some to be Apostles , some prophets , some Evangelists , some pastours & teachers , for the gathering togither of his saints , for the worke of the ministerie , for the building of the bodie of Christ donec occurramus omnes , till we all meete , &c.

Now what difference there is betweene keepers , & keepers themselues , I stand not to declare vnto you . Stabo super custodiam meam , but distributing the whole Church of Christ into two ranckes and companies , ordinem , & plebem as Tertullian sorteth them , Exhort . ad cast . Desug . in . perseq . duces or pastores , & gregem ; clerum , and populum ; priest , & people . I may truely affirme that the custodie of this vineyard hath ever past through the hands of those ordered persons , whom Ecclesiasticall writers call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , consecrated men , the spirit of God Act. 13. and Rom. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men separated & put a part , the fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , clericos , ecclesiasticos , spirituall , cleargie and churchmen . And these by vndoubted commission from Christ , succession from Apostles and Apostolique persons , confirmation of the primitiue and purer Church , and prescription of all ages downe to our owne times , haue beene ever invested with dispensation of the mysteries of Christ , administration of the word and sacraments , power of the keies , remission & retention of offences , exclusion from , or admission into the Church of Christ , imposition of hands , for the raising vp of new seed to the brethren deceased , with other the like prouinces and chardges belonging to them alone . Answerable to which their offices , & not disagreeing to the name of Custodes in my text , are those vsual titls of theirs throughout the booke of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stewards , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , pastours , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and in the writings of the learned , Antistites , praesules , praepositi , rectores , &c. all names of superioritie and gouernement ; albeit in regard of their daiely seruice to God and his Church , because Episcopatus is opus , a bishopricke is a worke , and not honos , honour alone , but onus , a burthen , & they are bound by their callings prodesse , to do good , as well as praesse , to sit in place of gouernement ( as the kingdome it selfe also is tearmed splendida seruitus , an honourable kind of service ) they are stiled by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to betoken and put them in mind of their ministery .

Endlesse were my talke to vndergoe the proofe of all the particulars before mentioned : but I am freed from the weight therof . My seruice at the present is rather in the negatiue & destructiue part ; not so much to declare vnto you what the authority of those keepers hath bin , and now far it reacht , as to shew there are others in the Church of Christ , to whom these chardges neuer appertained .

I cannot deny but the keepers of this vineyard abused the vineyard , none more . They became such keepers of it , as wolues are ouer sheepe , Tradidit eam custodibus , saith my text ; I may as truely say , Custodes tradiderunt eam , in an other sense her keepers betraied her . Jndeed they proued traditores traitours against her . Dicimini pastores , cum situ raptores ▪ you are called Bern. pastours you are devourers . And againe , not Cultores dressers , nor custodes guardians , but L●trones , & fures , theeues and robbets . They succeeded in the Apostles roumes , but without imitation , in sede not in fide , in their seat not their faith . They had ministerij locum not zelum , the place but not the zeale of their ministration . They ran ad cathedram , not ad curam , to the chaires , not the cures of their predecessours . They followed those holy men as a tempest followeth a calme , or sicknes health ( saith Gregorv Naz. ) that is , they came after them . And what with their idlenes , ignorance , avarice , ambition , tyranny pride , hauing at length turned famulatum in fastu● , their ministery of the gospel into a Luciferian pride , to overtop the Emperor himselfe , they so infected & afflicted the Church of God , and waxed so intollerable , that they could neither endure their own sores , nor abide other mens remedies ; multitudo reprehēd●ntium ▪ did but indurare impatientiam , they grew much the worse if any reproued them . By reason of which their obdurance it came to passe , that as Kings were expelled out of Rome , for Tarquinius Superbus his offence , and the Anabaptistes in Sleydan . Germany must needes create a new world of magistrates , because those in present authoritie did not please them ▪ so for the wrongs and abuses that some keepers offered to the vinevard ▪ all must be turned out ; at least of those that were chiefe of them , not their superfluous lop , ( as one called it ) taken a way , but the very substantial roote hewen quite downe Aedibus , sedibus effugari ( which is B●inards word ) to be driuen out of house and home , might not suffice , vnlesse out of diocesse and iurisdiction , out of life and being : & not the presbyteri , the persons peccant themselues done away ( which was Dio●●etians persequution ) but ( that which was Iulians , and for worse ) i● sum presbyterium , their whole race and revenew , liuely hood and mainetenance vtterly extinguished : Their patrimonies and inheritances ( a● by a lex Agraria ) dissipated into so many hands , as that without a miracle they might never returne to the right owners againe : As if they had yowed to themselues to sow the land of the church with salt , that it might ever remain̄e barren , & never thenceforth beare fruit more to prophets and prophets children . What ? must al●e remoued & an vtter desolation made because some had delinquished ? Can they cal to minde neuer a Cyprian , nor Chrysostom , nor Basil , nor Na●ianzen , nor Austin , ●o one of those ancient Bishops of Rome , which wel neare 40. in a row witnessed their good confessions vnder those bloudy persecuting Pilats of the Empire , which may stand in the gap , and plead for the seruice that Bishops had done to the Church of Christ ; but all must downe ? Esto , Athanasium culpauerint aliqui say that Athanasius ( said Athanasius him Epist. ad . solit. vit. agent . selfe of himselfe ) were to blame , & might iustly be taxed quid alij fecere episcopi ? aut quis ab illis Arsenius interfectus est ? what haue the rest of the Bishops done ? what Arsenius hath bin murt bexed by them ? A strange kinde of reformation ; the whole body destroyed , because some parts are disordered and diseased , Our Sauiour dealt not thus in that other institution of marriage : but when he perceiued ( saith ●e●ome ) that things were come ad ● to their last and worst condition , hee brought them back ad ● to their first an● best againe ; Ab initio non erat sic , f●om the beginning it was not so . The E●arr . in . Psal. 71 Merchant in St. Austin doth better plead for himselfe and his calling , Si mentior , ego mentior , non negotium , when they chardged his profession with lying & fraud ; if I lie , it is I that lie , not my profession . So shall you haue husbandmen , that for a storme of wether destroying their come , wil bl●sph●me the name of God ; At ho● non faciunt agri●olaboni , those that are good wil neuer doe it . The like perhaps is in other courses & trades of life . At hominū●sta , non rerum peccata sunt , these are personalorim●s , not reall imp●tations . All this is not ma●kt in the ●ase of these keepers : but against them , their callings , & their liuings is the voice of Edom heard , Downe with them , down with them , even vnto the ground . And when they are downe , let them n●uer rise vp againe .

In steede of these are erected a new sort of keepers , of a strange composition & concretion , part of cleargy , part of Laity , as of old & new cloth peeced togither : the assembly , sessions , Senate , Synedryon , Consistorie , Court of which persons ( call it as you list ) they name the Presbyterie ▪ and that presbyterie they call the Church , at least an epitome of the Church , a liuely representation and portr●icture of the vniversall Church , the perfit body of Christ , the tribunall of Christ , yea coel●m in terr●● fitum , a ver●e he●ve● seated vpon the earth : the administration in these mens handes they tea●me d●uine and apostolique institution ▪ an individuall companion of the Gospel , the holy discipline , the discipline of Christ , halfe the kingdome of Christ , an vndoubted note of the Church , the eternall coun●a●●e of God , the sceptre of Iudah , yea the sceptre of the sonne of God , without which he ruleth not : lastly they intitle the governors themselues , ●en●ors of manners , guardians of discipline , presidents over the ●●we of God , Vicars of Christ ▪ set over the people in things appertaining to God , and such as watch ouer their soules ; and rather then faile , they make them Ecclesi●sticall , Ministers ▪ Bishops prophets , to whom the spirits of prophets are subiect , yea they s●icke not to say , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , bodily the Angell of the Church of Ephesus , &c. to whom our Saviour writeth , may bee vnderstoode of their pr●●byters ; with other the like innumerable attributes , wherwith they labor to aray the nakednes & novelty of this late formed discipline , which neuer to this houre saw the age of a man , threes●ore & ten years . What needed al this ? licet sapere sine pomp● men may be wise without gl●rying too much of their wis●●● . But it fared herein , as at the dedication of Nabu● hodo ●o●o●s id●ll with cornet , trumpet , sackbut , p●●lt●r●● , dul●ime● , and all manner of instruments of musicke ; so the whole booke of God must be vnbow●lled , and all the wi● of man ransa●kt , to findeou● a stile honourable enough for their new erected presbytery .

And because ●om●n sine act● nihil est , name without power availeth not , they haue assigned them offices no● inferiour to their titles . You woulde wonder to heare , that those of the laity should haue ought to doe in administration of sacraments : yet haue I heard that even these doe deliuer the Cup in some places . But what of the preaching of the word ? you shall bee tolde , that there is no difference betweene them and pastours , saue publike & priuate ; for what the one doe in pulpits , the other doe in their consistories . It were incredible to be spoken , but that he that runneth may read it in their published and divulged bookes , that those whole descriptions appropriated by the holy Ghost , to Bishops ▪ presbyters , and deacons , 1. Tim. 3. & Tit. 1. should be applied to their vnpreaching presbyters . They may consult , admonish , comfort , correct , examine , alow , refuse , suspend , excommunicate , absolue , & finally order all things belonging to the Church , that is to say in effect , directly , or indirectly and collaterally , at first or at second hand , all things ; some of these dutie● seuerally & apart , each elder in his tribe ; others iointly , & in communion with colleagues . As namely , when they meete togither . 1. Theirs are elections & reiections of all church officers . 2. Excommunications , absolutions , and the power of the k●ies , theirs . 3. Theirs the disceptation and decision of all matters whatsoever concerning either corrupt manners , or peruerse doctrine . Adde vnto these imposition of handes , common and prophane vpon consecrate persons , and ordination of the ministers of Christ by those that are without orders .

After such harde and burthensome provinces , perhaps you will aske mee what the persons themselues ●r● ( these Areopagites and Amphictiones , iudge● of s●weightie affaires ) to whom it is giuen thus to expatiate and revell through everie corner of the house of God . No doubt they are all Bez●l●●ls at least and Aholiabs , or Zorobbabels , men of excellent both spirits , and giftes , furnished for such businesses . I distinguished formerly in the Christian common-wealth two severall sorts , to w●●t , Cleargy , and Laity . One a●d ( it may be ) the better part of this Court are pastours and Doctors : the other , and far the more , such for the most part ,

Such as the satyre noteth , to day D●m● ,

Marcus Dama , — to day a tradesman , tomorrow a churchman , to day an artificer , tomorrow an elder ▪ & so likewise backe againe .

Alternar● vices mirab●re : — wee may iustlie wonder at their changes . Hesterni Quirites , our yesterdaies Luk. 10. rulers and gouernours of the Church , the next day return back to their wonted callings ; like him that professed , Zach. 13. I am no prophet , I am an husbandman : Husbandry was my trade from my youth vp . ● knowe not well what to make of them , but as St. Bernard wrote of himselfe , Epist. 245. Ego quaedam Chimaera mei saeculi nec clericum gero , nec laicum : I am a kind of mo●ster of my time , for I am neither cleark , nor lay ▪ man In a word such they are , of whom I will not speake so cursedly , as the Scribes and Pharises did , This people that knowe not the law , are accursed , Ioh. 7. neither ▪ so ba●barously and vnchristianly , as the papistes doe , when by wrongfull misapplication they abuse scripture : Giue not holy things to dogges ; Cast not pearle before swine : meaning in both these , the people must be debarred from reading of scriptures , who therfore , they say , are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , indeed no better in sense and vnderstanding , then very stones . But this I am sure of , wise men never thought it fit to ioine with them in consultations of learning & iudgement . Their protestations are to the contrary , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , wise men please not the people , neither doth the people please them . Vnus mihi pro populo , populus pro vno . Cato pro centum millibus , and Plato instar omnium . One man of sorte worth all the rest . Hi in manibus suis speraverunt , Al Eccle. 38. these hope in their hands , and every one is skilful in his owne worke : without these cannot Citties be maintained , &c. Sed in ecclesiam non transiliunt , super sellam iudicij non sedent , neque palam faciunt disciplin●m & iudicium , They are not asked their counsaile in the congregation of the people , neither sit they vpon iudgment seates , neither are they meet for hard matters .

I haue shewed you in part what they haue assumed vnto themselues , but haue not declared as yet , what adventures they made to bring thinges to passe . The beginnings at first were smale , the proceedings wonderful , as of agraine of mustardseed , that becommeth a great tree . I appeale to the truth of my storie . That discipline , which at the first begged hir allowance from some neighbour Churches , was ready in the end to set her foote in the neck of hir friendes , and not much lesse then founders .

Witnes the Pope towards the Emperour ,

You shall often haue a land-floud , engendred but of raine water , that wil be more violent for the time then a liuing and ever flowing riuer . Did they continue their begging ? nothing lesse . Molestum est hoc verbum rogo : it is a greife to craue . They quickly turned rogare into vim irrogare ( as Bernards word is ) crauing into compelling . They call for reformation , and reformation is granted them in doctrine and sacraments , to the vttermost . That will not serue : but reformation after this forme ( the Dagon of popish hierarchy , episcopall preheminence must fall before the arke ( I take it ) of the presbytery ) or they will neuer be subiect ▪ to any mortall man . Do you sticke to yeeld vs this ? J now call to minde what praise St. Ambrose gaue of the people of Millan , when there was hote persecution in the City , for the voice they then all vsed , Rogamus Auguste , non pugnamus , We entreat O Emperor , wee Lib. 5. epist. 33 fight not : perhaps they durst not : yes , Non timemus , sed rogamus , we feare not , yet we intreat . He affirmeth it to be the voice of the holy Ghost speaking in them . Hee red at that time vpon Iob : & he went vp into his pulpitt , he said , vnum Iob miraturus , to wonder at one Iob , but he found them al Iobs worthy to be wondred at for their singular patience . The like St. Bernard in an Epistle to Lewes the french king : profecto stabimus & pugnabimus vsque ad mortem ( si ita oportuerit ) pro Epist. 221. matre nostra , armis quibus licet ; non scutis et gladijs ▪ sed precibus fletibusque ad Deum , Assuredly we wel stand & fight for our mother , if neede be , vnto death , with such armes as we may , not with sword and target , but with praiers and teares to God . But with these we haue to deal with , it fared quite otherwise , pugnamus Auguste or Augusta , non rogamus , King or Queene whosoeuer , we entreat not , we must and will haue it . I deny not but motions there were some , & admonitions , petitions , supplications ; but as physicke raught vpon a daggers point ; either you must take it , or they will driue it downe your throate . For see the sequele . They breake forth to assemblies , confederacies , associations , subscriptions , sacraments , oaths , menacings , thundrings and lightnings from the Church , excommunications denounced , yea banners displaid in open field : Quis sensus armorum , &c. did the Orator aske ? I may aske with St. Bernard , vbi timor mentis , rubo● frontis ? wher was either conscience towards God , or reuerence towards his anointed ? yet on they must . This dissipline must be aduanced , and Princs submit themselues vnto it . And that Prince , King , or Emperor that shal annulle it , is to be held for an enemy to God , & himselfe vnworthy to be are rule ouer any of Gods people . What doe [ heare against the anointed of the Lorde , his Lieuetenants on earth , Gods of the earth , solo Deo minores , Tertul. Bern. subiect to none saue God ? Christus aliter & iussit , & gessit , Christ bade , Christ did otherwise . Conditor Caesaris Caesari tributum dedit , He that made Caesar , paid tribute to Caesar. Peter and Paule did otherwise ; alter amisso , alter submisso in cruce capite , both sealed their obedience to the Emperor with sundry their deaths . And their writings haue an other language : Let euery Rom. 13. soule be subiect to the higher powers . They wil say that 1. Tim. 2. was in the churches infancie . And let praiers and supplications be made for al , especially for kings . So theeues must be praied for , & yet punished for their theevery . And Princes must be obeyed , whether good or bad . No it is blasphemy to say so , I am sure it is blasphemy to say , as they say , Quis credidit auditui nostro ? Who will beleue our report ? An non iustiùs os loquens talia fustibus Berrn . tunderetur , quàm rationibus refelleretur ? I could lead you along into aforrest of the most vnpriestly positions , and vnchristian , vnsubiect ▪ like practises , that ever were heard of . Nudè nuda loquor , I speake truthes truely . They are now become mundi fabul● , & can no more lie hid , then the sunne in the firmament . J am sorie it should be so . With a tender and trembling hand , I confesse , do I touch the sores of friendes . Wheras , were J to deale against a professed enemie to the Gospel of Christ , I would sharpen my stile against him to the vttermost of my power , and cut , as with the point of a Diamond . But the Apostle hath taught me , Non possumus aliquid contraveritatem sed 2. Cor. 13. pro veritare : wee can doe nothing against the truth but for the truth . Amicus-Socrates , amicus Plato , sed magis amica veritas . Although , why should I cal them friends , whose violent and tumultuary spirits haue wrought so much trouble to Christian states ? And therfore , non verenda retego , sed inverecunda confuto , I vncover not the shame of father , nor brother , nor friend , but rather discover & confute things that were past all shame .