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whom? While I mention the Church of England, as thinking it your honour and my own to be the professed sons of such a mother, I am now taught a new divinity; and bidden to ask, which Church we mean. My simplicity never thought of any more Churches of England, but one. Now, this very day's wiser discovery tells us of more. There is a Prelatical Church, they say, for one and, which is the other? Surely it is so young, that, as yet, it hath no name: except we shall call it indefinitely, as the Jews were wont to style the creature they could not abide to mention, "That other thing." And what thing shall that be, think we? Let it be called, if you please, the Church Antiprelatical; but leave England out of the style. Let it take a larger denomination, and extend to our friends at Amsterdam and elsewhere, and not be confined to our England. Withal, let them be put in mind, that they must yet think of another subdivision of this division: some there are, they know, which can be content to admit of an orderly subordination of several parishes to Presbyteries, and those again to Synods: others are all for a Parochial absoluteness and independence. Yea, and, of these, there will be a division, in semper divisibilia; till they come to very atoms: for, to which of those scores of separated congregations, known to be within and about these walls, will they be joined and how long, without a further scissure? O God; where do men stay, when they are once past the true bounds?

But, if it be so, that the Prelatical part must needs make up one divident member of this English Church, tell me, Brethren, I beseech you, what are the bounders of this Church? what the distinction of the Professors and Religion? and, if the clients of the Prelacy and their adherents, whose several thousands are punctually calculated, be they, who make up this Prelatical Church, what grounds of faith, what new Creed do they hold, different from their neighbours? what Scriptures, what Baptism, what Eucharist, what Christ, what heaven, what means of salvation other than the rest?

Alas, my Brethren, while we do fully agree in all these, and all other doctrinal and practical points of religion, why will ye be so uncharitable, as, by these frivolous and causeless divisions, to rend the seamless coat of Christ? Is it a title, or a retinue, or a ceremony, a garment, or a colour, or an organ-pipe, that can make us a different Church, while we preach and profess the same saving truth? while we desire, as you profess to do, to walk conscionably with our God, according to that one rule of the royal law of our Maker? while we oppose one and the same common enemy? while we unfeignedly endeavour to hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? Oh, consider, I beseech you in the fear of God, consider, whether these be the thoughts of the sons of peace; and such, as are suitable to the charge and legacy of our Dear Saviour; and think seriously from what spirit they proceed.

For us, we make no difference at all, in the right and interest of the Church, betwixt Clergy and Laity; betwixt the Clergy and Laity of one part, and another. We are all your true brethren,

We are one with you, both in heart and brain; and hope to meet you in the same heaven: but, if ye will needs be otherwise minded, we can but bewail the Church's misery, and your sin; and shall beseech God to be merciful to your willing and uncharitable separa. tion. Howsoever, I have freed my soul before my God, in the conscience of this just expostulation and faithful advice.

What remains, but that I pour out my heart, in my fervent and daily prayers to the Father of all Mercies, that it would please him to inspire this Great Council, with all wisdom from above; and crown this great meeting, with the blessing of all happy success: so as it may produce much glory to his own name; much complacency and contentment to his dear anointed, comfort to all good hearts, terror to his enemies, seasonable restraint to all insolence and faction, prevention of all innovations; and, lastly, a firm peace and settlement to this Church and Commonwealth, and to all other his Majesty's Dominions? Which God grant, for the sake of the Son of his Love, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Amen. Amen.

A

DEFENCE

OF THE

HUMBLE REMONSTRANCE,

AGAINST THE FRIVOLOUS AND FALSE EXCEPTIONS

OF

SMECTYMNUUS.

WHEREIN THE

RIGHT OF LITURGY AND EPISCOPACY

IS CLEARLY VINDICATED FROM THE VAIN CAVILS AND CHALLENGES

OF THE ANSWERERS.

BY

THE AUTHOR OF THE SAID HUMBLE REMONSTRANCE.

SECONDED, IN WAY OF APPENDANCE, WITH THE JUDGMENT OF THE FAMOUS DIVINE OF THE PALATINATE,

D. ABRAHAMUS SCULTETUS,

LATE PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG:

CONCERNING THhe divine righT OF EPISCOPACY, AND THE NO-RIGHT OF LAY-ELDERSHIP.

FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED OUT OF HIS LATIN.

TO THE

KING'S MOST SACRED MAJESTY

MOST DREAD SOVEREIGN:

YOUR Majesty was pleased to cast a gracious eye upon a late "Humble Remonstrance, made to the High Court of Parliament; bemoaning the lawless frequence of scandalous libels, and modestly asserting the true right of Liturgy and Episcopacy.

I little thought, that so meek and gall-less a discourse could have irritated any, the least opposition: but now, I find, to my grief, that even to move for peace, is quarrel enough; and feel many fists about my ears, ere I could imagine to have offended.

Occasion is taken from those quiet lines, to combine forces against the cause I maintained. The quarrel is insolently managed, by many unknown hands*. Yet, the riot of these impotent assailants should not easily have drawn me forth, had I not perceived that their conf dent ostentation and proud carriage in this affray, hath won them some, how undeserved soever, opinion of skill, with their credulous abettors; and, thereby, some disadvantage to my just cause.

As one, therefore, that hates to betray the truth by an unfaithful silence, I do cheerfully enter these lists; rejoicing to hope, that Your Majesty's eye may be the judge and witness of my success.

Neither shall it be displeasing to Your Majesty, that Your most honourable Peers and most faithful Commons, now assembled, shall see the injustice and ungroundedness of that bold Appeal, which was made to them, by my daring Answerers: whose abilities I tax not;

* The Dissenting Ministers, who wrote against our Author under the assumed name of SMECTYMNVVS, were Stephen Marshall, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, and William Spurstow: the initials of their names forming the word SMECTYMNVvs. See Neal's Hist. of the Puritans. Vol. 1. 4to. p. 666. EDITOR.

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