PIety and Policy , Church and State , Prince and Priest are so nearly and naturally conjoyned in a mutual Interest , that like to Hippocrates his Twins , they rejoyce and mourn , flourish and perish , live and dye together . Sound Reformed Catholick Protestants deny justly such a Subordination of the Prince to the Priest , as by any direct or indirect over-ruling Power , the Crown and Scepter are under any coactive ( directive we acknowledge ) over-ruling Power of the Mitre , and that Kings by any Church-man or men whatsoever , Pope or Presbytery , are censurable , dethronable , deposable . Notwithstanding it is certain , Religion hath a mighty Influence upon State , Governour , and Government , that from the happiness and quiet of Religion issueth forth necessarily the happiness and quiet of the Civil State . The Heathen did see this , that Religion rightly ordered is the Base and Bottom , upon which King and State are founded ; Religion is the cement of all Societies , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; it bindeth Families together , Eurypides in Bacch . and Cities too , and is their greatest splendour and ornament ; Idem ibidem . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . That one saith Religion is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : and a Christian to the same purpose , Religio & timor Dei , Plutarch . Lactant. de ira Dei . cap. 1. solus est qui custodit hominum inter se Societatem ; Religion and the Fear of God , and nothing else preserveth all Societies amongst men ; Religion teacheth Kings how to rule , and Subjects how to obey , maketh Obedience complete , universal , entire in all things , not partial in some things onely ; it teacheth our Reverence , Service , and Obedience , not to be outward with Eye-service , but sincere , Rom. 13. for Conscience sake , as in the sight of the Lord. Plutarch . Religion hath a powerful influence upon Laws ; the Heathen who termed Religion the Cement of all Society , calleth it too , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the Cement , the Strength , the Vigour , the Life of all Laws . This made Zoroaster authorise the Laws by Horomasis , Zamolxis by Vesta , Trismegistus by Mercurius , Minos by Jupiter , Charondus by Saturnus , Draco and Solon by Minerva and Apollo , and Numa Pompilius by Aegeria . Religion is the Nurse of the Quiet of State and Common-wealth ; Xenophon . in Cyropoedia , lib. 8. l. 16. in qualibet . de Episc. & Cleric . C. Theod. Iustinian . Novel . 42. Trismegistus apud Lactantium , l. 2. Instit. c. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . If all living in one Society and Kingdom were pious and religious , none would wrong themselves or others . Take it more fully from a Christian Emperour , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . If Religion be preserved in Peace , it rights and facilitates all the rest of the Government . Religion is the Walls , Strength , and Safeguard of King and Kingdom ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Overthrow me Sion , Civitatem Veritatis & Sanctitatis , and you cannot but overthrow Ierusalem , Civitatem justitiae : all this is much more and solely verified of the Christian Religion : a strange Wonder then it is , that so many Achitophels and Achans in the World should promise to themselves , undertake to Christian Kings , by sacrificing the Church , undoing the Solemnity of the Service and Worship of God , destroying Christ his Ordinances , robbing him of his Patrimony and Right , to establish King and Kingdom , Peace and Quiet in the Land . How is it probable or possible , Religion being the Base and Bottom upon which all Happiness of King and Kingdom are grounded and founded , the Cement and Bond that tieth all together ; the Rule of Right ruling , the Mother of entire and hearty Obedience , the life of Laws , the use of Quiet , and Strength of all Defence , that it being disordered , King , Kingdom , and State can be well , and enjoy any kind of Happiness ?

If neither the Dictate of Nature , nor sacred Truth revealed in holy Word should confirm this Truth ; the sad and doleful Experience we find , we feel this day in the Acheldama of these Kingdoms , has laid it open to our Eyes in Letters of Blood , that he that runneth by may read it . Consider how since the Sacred Hierarchy , the Order instituted by Christ for the Government of his Church , constituted by the Apostles , and continued against any prevalent Opposition for fifteen Ages and upwards , without Interruption , hath been opposed , that in some places it is totally overthrown , in other places disgraced , weakened , and threatned with Abolition of Root and Branch , what is the Condition of Sovereignty and Subject ? You shall find that the Course against it hath been a preparatory Destructive to Royalty , to the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject . Many are deceived , and think it skilleth not what Government be in the Church ; it is enough if the Essentials and Fundamentals of Faith and Worship be preserved . They are infinitely deceived , no Society can subsist without Government , and if you destroy the Government , neither can the sound Faith , nor the true Worship be long maintained . The Apostle intimateth this , Col. 11. 5. that he joyed to behold their Order , and the stedfastness of their Faith in Christ . First , their Order ; then the stedfastness of their Faith in Christ , implying , where right Order is non maintained , stedfastness of Faith in Christ cannot continue : A Holy Father to this purpose saith well , Gr. Naz. Orat. de mod. in disp. servanda . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Order is the Mother and Security of the Being of all things that have Being . Do we not see that the Order and Government of the Roman Church doth this day preserve their Humane Inventions and unwarrantable Superstions , in such Safety , that , alas , Truth doth not prevail much upon them are within her Communion ? and on the other part , our Disorder , and not setled Government , maketh us lose too too much , and gain too too little .

Look a little upon the Parallel , and consider how since Episcopacy hath been infested , and way too much given to a prevalent Faction , what malign Influence this course hath had upon Sovereignty , and it will make it appear , that the Mitre cannot suffer , and the Diadem be secured . It was maintained , that Episcopacy was none of Christ's Institution , it was onely the positive constitution of man . Hath not Royalty been thus entertained ? Do not our Sectaries impudently maintain , that Kings are the onely Extract of the People , having their Being and Constitution by derivation from them ? Do they not hold , that howsoever Episcopacy is a tolerable government of the Church , yet it is mutable , at the pleasure of the Church ? And do they not answerably aver , that the collective or representative Body of the Community , may , upon any real or fancied Exigent , mould themselves into an Aristocracie or Democracie ? Others more desperately have reached higher , and give out , that the Sacred Hierarchy is Antichristian , against Christ and his Scepter , ( not being able because of their Ignorance to difference betwixt Christian Hierarchy , and Romish Hieromonarchy . ) Have not the Authors and Abettors of these Paradoxes in Divinity , invented and vented as blasphemous Principles against the Lord 's Anointed in Policy ? Do they not magisterially determine that Kings are not of God's creation , by authoritative commission , but onely by permission , extorted by importunity , and way given , that they may be a scourge to a sinful People ? Nor is this all ; these late distempers have produced Creatures not of Christ's making , Ruling Elders , who are adopted to be Ecclesiastical Persons , with equal Power with men in holy Orders , to decide and determine in matters of Faith , Worship , and in the exercise of the Power of the Keyes ; nothing kept from them but liberty to Preach publickly , to baptize , and to consecrate the blessed Eucharist . Answerable to this , find we not , that they have erected a coordinate , a coequal , a corrival Power with Sovereignty , and have made Regnum in regno , two Sovereigns , a thing incompatible with Supremacy and Monarchy ? the persecution of Episcopacy has been so hot and cruel , that I dare say , look upon all Persecutions recorded in Ecclesiastical Story , none can parallel this , if ye consider it as it is cloathed with all its circumstances , and attended with its consequents ; Episcopacy , after the most exact and sollicit Tryal , is onely the Crime , except you will add the Solemnity of the Publick Worship intended and attempted , to vindicate God's Service from prophaneness and contempt , and to restore it to its ancient true beauty , to the shame of the Roman Church . Men innocent , men well deserving of the Church and Kingdom , have been cast out , their Estates seized , their Houses rifled and plundered , their Blood thirsted after , their poor Wives forced to fly , some into mountains and wilderness , some by Sea , some one way , some another ; their poor Children forced to starve , or beg at best ; O barbarous and inhumane Cruelty , more beseeming Cannibals than Christians ! When the Lord's Prophets were hurt and wronged , was the Lord's Anointed not touched ? Tell it not in Gath , publish it not in the streets of Askalon , lest the Daughters of the Philistims rejoyce , lest the Daughters of the uncircumcised triumph . The best of Kings , in whom malice it self , how quick-sighted soever , cannot find any thing blame-worthy , ( except it be a Crime to be too good and transcendently clement ) hath been forced to flie from his Palaces , could not find Safety in that City , enlightened and enriched by his royal Presence , to the Admiration and Envy of the whole World . His royal Consort necessitated , for personal Security , and in a prudential way to provide for strengthening her Lord , the best of Husbands , to flie beyond Seas . That Royal Family , those Olive-branches , the Pledges and Hopes of our continuing Peace , divided one from another , and to this day remaining so . His Revenues , his Casualties seized by those have sent out Armies and Arms against him . His Forts , his strong Holds taken from him , his Royal Navy employed to destroy him , keep all Encouragement of Allies from him , and to divorce personally ( if they could ) those royal Personages in whom we are most happy , if we had Eyes to see it whom in Heart and Affection the Devil and his Malice cannot divide , notwithstanding it hath been shrewdly endeavoured . More of this kind might be added , but of purpose I forbear it .

If we will consider what private men have gained , since God and Religion have been wronged , we will find we have made an unhappy Choice , a miserable Change . No man hath Protection or Direction by Law , no known Law hath place , we are all oppressed and tyrannically over-ruled by an arbitrary Power , placed in a wrong hand ; all Religions ( if I may call Sects so ) are tolerated , except the true Catholick Reformed Religion ; and all Heresies buried long ago in Hell , are revived , in number like to be more , and in their nature more ugly than all recorded by Epiphanius and St. Austin ; our Sectaries agreeing only in the destructive part , to make away Truth and the true Government , to spoil Churches , rob Christ of his Patrimony , abrogate the Solemnity of the Worship , destroy ancient Christian Monuments : but in the positive not one agreeing with another ; Ephraim smiting Manasseh , and Manasseh , Ephraim , and both of them against Judah . Hath any now the Liberty of his Person ? are not the best of Subjects , the best of God's Servants kept in Prisons , like to Jeremie's Dungeon ? What Property is reserved ? Since Christ's Patrimony hath been despoiled , who can say , This I have ? They command what portion , what quota they will , and in the end he will be a Malignant at Pleasure , that hath any thing to maintain this Rebellion . If S. Austin were living now , he might well say , Quod non capit Christus , hoc rapit fiscus . What stately Houses have been spoiled ? What rich and princely Furniture hath been destroyed ? What Blood of Nobles and generous Gentry hath been shed ? More in this uncivil Rebellion , in this short time , than in many years in long continuing Wars in many Countries beyond Seas : this Loss cannot be valued , it infinitely surpasses all other Losses besides . And yet give me leave to say it , if we will look upon the Pressures and Sufferings of the Subject , the only Effects we feel of this glorious so much talked of Reformation , they will transcend highly all Grievances complained of in the successive Reigns of seven Sovereigns . And the greatest of all Iudgments have fallen , upon us , that some sort with the Prophet Hosea , We have no King , because we feared not the Lord , what then should a King do to us ? They have spoken words , swearing falsely in making a Covenant : thus Judgment springeth up as Hemlock in the Furrows of the Field . Hos. 10. 3. 4. A Redress of these Disorders , a Remedy of these Evils , we need not to expect , till we turn to God by Repentance , and Moses and Aaron be again rightly seated in their Power , their Place .

My Lord , I have put Pen to Paper to right our gracious Sovereign , to undeceive his Subjects , making it appear , that his Right is independent from man , solely dependent from God : that Monarchy is the most countenanced , the most authorised Spece of Government by Almighty God ; that the conveyance of this Right is not by Trust from the People ; and have cleared , what are Jura Majestatis , the Prerogatives inherent in the Crown , incommunicable to the Subject ; and how Sacred his Person and Charge is , that they cannot be opposed , are not to be resisted . A task it is above my strength . In the Imperial Law it is a crime mixt with Sacrilege , to argue the Right and Power of the King ; nor was it allowed to every vulgar and ordinary Pencil to draw the Picture of Alexander the Great : and we see what advantage the Seditious and Factious have made of the escapes of some Pens : Notwithstanding I am necessitated to meddle with it , with no less constraining and unavoidable necessity , than that made the young dumb Prince speak . All men are tied to the maintenance of Sovereign Right , none amongst men more than Church-men ; it is a necessary truth , as aptly , plentifully , and purposely set forth in Gods Word as any else , Prince and Priest were once joyned in one Person , and are so tied that Alterius Altera poscit opem res , & conspirat amicè . We find onely three Office-bearers anointed by God , King , Priest , and Prophet ; who then more tied to maintain the Lord 's Anointed and his Right than Priests and Prophets ? God hath honoured Kings to be the Nurse-fathers of his Church ; nor when we reflect upon by-gone Story , find 〈◊〉 that ever the Church had either Beauty , Plenty , or Progress , but under Monarchy ; and view this day the condition of the Christian Church under any other Government than Monarchy , and we will find her condition but sorry and poor . It is the onely Government which is most conntenanced and magnified in Holy Writ . And I dare to say , that none or all of them who ever writ purposely of Politicks , or in an Historical way laid down Political Maxims , whether it be Plato in his fancied Republick , or Aristotle in his Politicks , or Cicero , or Livie , or Dionysius Halicarnasseus , or Cornelius Tacitus , or who besides , either by Art or Story , is most renowned this way , have given us so fully , so apertly , the Right of Monarchy , the true prescript of Government , and perfect Rule of Obedience to the Subject . The Ancient Fathers and Martyrs , whilst Emperours were Heathenish and Persecutors , have delivered this Doctrine , pleaded the Sacred Royal Prerogative of Emperours , and with other Truths have sealed this with their Blood . Who can deny then , but it beseemeth a Divine most of all men to maintain or write of this subject ? A wonder then it is that some Smatterers in Divinity writing in this subject , do borrow Principles from old Poetical Fables and Toyes , make premises , and infer Conclusions , not onely destructive of Monarchy , but also contradictory to that Truth Scripture hath revealed . Like to them are our Pettifoggers in the Law , ( I reverence Learned Iureconsults , who deserved well in this subject ) who cry out , what have Church-men to do to dispute the King 's Right ? that belongeth to us , who are versed in the Laws of the Kingdom , and know what Power the Law alloweth the King , what not ; these Ignaroes , who are better versed in the Statutes and Acts of Parliament , than in the Acts of Christ and his Apostles , may even as well go about not to authorize the Book of God , except it be warranted by their Law , as to aver that the King hath nothing immediately from God , nor no Sacred Right but what He hath by Law . More learned Lawyers than they can be , as Bodin , Barclay , and others , have treated of this matter , and made as good Vse of Scripture and Holy Fathers writing , as any other Warrant besides .

It is more than evident then , that no men are more obliged , no men may be more fitted to maintain the Royal Prerogative of Kings than Divines . But Officiis quis idoneus istis ? I confess my weakness , my insufficiency , and am forced to have recourse to a Patron worthy of it , and able to maintain it . I could hit upon no subject more worthy of so great a Personage as you are , nor a Patron so worthy , so enabled to maintain it and its poor Author , as your Lordship . Nobles are amongst Subjects the first-born ; the ennobled amongst the Romans had a badge of a Moon or Crescent , Plutarch . in Probl. Prob. 72. in Plutarch's judgment not so much to signifie the instability or frailty of their Place and Honour , as to put them in mind to be obedient and loyal to their Prince , the Fountain of their high Dignity , as the Sun is to the Moon ; for your high Nobility by a long continued race transmitted to you from most noble Ancestours , to write or recite it , were as to light a candle to add light to the Sun in his strength , in his vertical point , and that transmitted so from them , and derived to you , that in that whole Stem , the Root and all Branches , who inherited the Honour , not any tainted with Disloyalty . Nay ; their Honour is higher , some of them have had the honour to dye in the highest Bed of Honour , to lose their Lives and great State and Honour for Loyalty to Royalty This is nothing yet but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the splendour of Birth , the glory due to those of whom you are descended .

True Nobility , besides these , requireth not onely the inheritance of Riches , ( for that is but Antiquae & inveteratae Divitiae , as Athlary writ to the Senate of Rome ) with the inheritance of Honour , Cassiod . l. 8. Var. c. 19. for that it is a Body empty of a living Soul ; but it is to inherit the Noble Honour of Noble and Generous Ancestours . Nobile ( saith Aristotle ) id est quod ex bono genere prodit , 1 de nat. anim . c. 1. generosum quod à sua natura non degeneravit . Herein you all meet , for Honour and Virtue do contest for the Excellency , but Virtue truly hath the Eminency . In you is verified that of the Lyrick Poet. Fortes creantur fortibus & bonis : Est in juvencis , est in equis Patrum Virtus ; nec imbellem feroces Progenerant aquilae columbam .

Malice it self , how ingeniously witty soever , cannot prejudice you in this , whose Piety is admirable , whose Wisdom and Prudence is above Age , above the ordinary and all your Equals , a master of your Passions , and so experienced in matters of State and Government , that it is a wonder to them who know you , and incredible to those that have not been eye and ear witnesses . Your Heroical magnanimity speaketh it self in your Heroick Martial Acts , admired not onely by excellent Commanders , not onely for Courage , but for Prudence and rare Government ; by which you gained so much , that the valiant Annibals and Scipioes there would rather sacrifice themselves , than expose You to Danger ; and yet you would not act the General , but by doing the valiant Acts , contemning Dangers and Death , beseeming inferiour Officers , but worthy of the greatest Caesar. Who can consider aright that more than admirable piece of Prudence in that Treaty of Cessation in such a time and such a case , where You were so assaulted with two of the worst extremes of Opinions , enraged both of them with the same degree of madness , but must say that is true Cicero said de nat. deor . Nullus unquam magnus vir fuit sine afflatu divino : The intelligent and better sort must confess , that without a great mercy to us and more than ordinary Favour from God , this could not have been effected : The better sort are confident , the happy Effects of that Work will make many Souls live , and Your Honour live for ever . These are the Load-stones of all the Honour , the Love and Zeal which have necessitated me to take recourse to Your Honour's Patrocine , that what is deficient in me , and this poor trifling Treatise , may be compensed by that eminent Worth and Perfection is in You. I do confess , I have so many ties by personal Favours received above my desert , that I were the ingratest of Christians if I did not acknowledge it ; yet give me leave to speak truth , notwithstanding all these Endowments , if I had not seen , and were not assured , that in none in this Age there can be seen more true discreet Zeal to Christ's Church , and Loyalty to Your Master , our most gracious King , I had never presumed to go this way . I see it , even there and then , where and when Satan had erected his Throne , and Antipas , God and the King 's faithful Servant did suffer .

My Lord , God hath sent You to us for a comfort in these worst of Christian times ; who knoweth but at this time You are set at the Helm to help the Lord , right his Anointed , and to save a poor Church threatned with ruine ? Go on in Your Piety and Devotion , with these Heroical Endowments God hath enabled You , and be assured God will heap Honour on you and your Noble Family for ever , and reward you with an uncorrupt , undefiled , and Eternal Crown of Glory : Which shall be the fervent and constant Prayers of