<h3><SPAN name="link2HCH0047" id="link2HCH0047"></SPAN> CHAPTER XLVII.<br/>OF THE BENEFIT THAT PROCEEDETH FROM SUCH DARKNESSE, AND TO WHOM IT ACCREWETH </h3>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0708" id="link2H_4_0708"></SPAN> He That Receiveth Benefit By A Fact, Is Presumed To Be The Author </h3>
<p>Cicero maketh honorable mention of one of the Cassii, a severe Judge
amongst the Romans, for a custome he had, in Criminal causes, (when the
testimony of the witnesses was not sufficient,) to ask the Accusers, Cui
Bono; that is to say, what Profit, Honor, or other Contentment, the
accused obtained, or expected by the Fact. For amongst Praesumptions,
there is none that so evidently declareth the Author, as doth the BENEFIT
of the Action. By the same rule I intend in this place to examine, who
they may be, that have possessed the People so long in this part of
Christendome, with these Doctrines, contrary to the Peaceable Societies of
Mankind.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0709" id="link2H_4_0709"></SPAN> That The Church Militant Is The Kingdome Of God, Was First Taught By The Church Of Rome </h3>
<p>And first, to this Error, That The Present Church Now Militant On Earth,
Is The Kingdome Of God, (that is, the Kingdome of Glory, or the Land of
Promise; not the Kingdome of Grace, which is but a Promise of the Land,)
are annexed these worldly Benefits, First, that the Pastors, and Teachers
of the Church, are entitled thereby, as Gods Publique Ministers, to a
Right of Governing the Church; and consequently (because the Church, and
Common-wealth are the same Persons) to be Rectors, and Governours of the
Common-wealth. By this title it is, that the Pope prevailed with the
subjects of all Christian Princes, to beleeve, that to disobey him, was to
disobey Christ himselfe; and in all differences between him and other
Princes, (charmed with the word Power Spirituall,) to abandon their
lawfull Soveraigns; which is in effect an universall Monarchy over all
Christendome. For though they were first invested in the right of being
Supreme Teachers of Christian Doctrine, by, and under Christian Emperors,
within the limits of the Romane Empire (as is acknowledged by themselves)
by the title of Pontifex Maximus, who was an Officer subject to the Civill
State; yet after the Empire was divided, and dissolved, it was not hard to
obtrude upon the people already subject to them, another Title, namely,
the Right of St. Peter; not onely to save entire their pretended Power;
but also to extend the same over the same Christian Provinces, though no
more united in the Empire of Rome. This Benefit of an Universall Monarchy,
(considering the desire of men to bear Rule) is a sufficient Presumption,
that the popes that pretended to it, and for a long time enjoyed it, were
the Authors of the Doctrine, by which it was obtained; namely, that the
Church now on Earth, is the Kingdome of Christ. For that granted, it must
be understood, that Christ hath some Lieutenant amongst us, by whom we are
to be told what are his Commandements.</p>
<p>After that certain Churches had renounced this universall Power of the
Pope, one would expect in reason, that the Civill Soveraigns in all those
Churches, should have recovered so much of it, as (before they had
unadvisedly let it goe) was their own Right, and in their own hands. And
in England it was so in effect; saving that they, by whom the Kings
administred the Government of Religion, by maintaining their imployment to
be in Gods Right, seemed to usurp, if not a Supremacy, yet an Independency
on the Civill Power: and they but seemed to usurp it, in as much as they
acknowledged a Right in the King, to deprive them of the Exercise of their
Functions at his pleasure.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0710" id="link2H_4_0710"></SPAN> And Maintained Also By The Presbytery </h3>
<p>But in those places where the Presbytery took that Office, though many
other Doctrines of the Church of Rome were forbidden to be taught; yet
this Doctrine, that the Kingdome of Christ is already come, and that it
began at the Resurrection of our Saviour, was still retained. But Cui
Bono? What Profit did they expect from it? The same which the Popes
expected: to have a Soveraign Power over the People. For what is it for
men to excommunicate their lawful King, but to keep him from all places of
Gods publique Service in his own Kingdom? and with force to resist him,
when he with force endeavoureth to correct them? Or what is it, without
Authority from the Civill Soveraign, to excommunicate any person, but to
take from him his Lawfull Liberty, that is, to usurpe an unlawfull Power
over their Brethren? The Authors therefore of this Darknesse in Religion,
are the Romane, and the Presbyterian Clergy.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0711" id="link2H_4_0711"></SPAN> Infallibility </h3>
<p>To this head, I referre also all those Doctrines, that serve them to keep
the possession of this spirituall Soveraignty after it is gotten. As
first, that the Pope In His Publique Capacity Cannot Erre. For who is
there, that beleeving this to be true, will not readily obey him in
whatsoever he commands?</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0712" id="link2H_4_0712"></SPAN> Subjection Of Bishops </h3>
<p>Secondly, that all other Bishops, in what Common-wealth soever, have not
their Right, neither immediately from God, nor mediately from their Civill
Soveraigns, but from the Pope, is a Doctrine, by which there comes to be
in every Christian Common-wealth many potent men, (for so are Bishops,)
that have their dependance on the Pope, and owe obedience to him, though
he be a forraign Prince; by which means he is able, (as he hath done many
times) to raise a Civill War against the State that submits not it self to
be governed according to his pleasure and Interest.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0713" id="link2H_4_0713"></SPAN> Exemptions Of The Clergy </h3>
<p>Thirdly, the exemption of these, and of all other Priests, and of all
Monkes, and Fryers, from the Power of the Civill Laws. For by this means,
there is a great part of every Common-wealth, that enjoy the benefit of
the Laws, and are protected by the Power of the Civill State, which
neverthelesse pay no part of the Publique expence; nor are lyable to the
penalties, as other Subjects, due to their crimes; and consequently, stand
not in fear of any man, but the Pope; and adhere to him onely, to uphold
his universall Monarchy.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0714" id="link2H_4_0714"></SPAN> The Names Of Sacerdotes, And Sacrifices </h3>
<p>Fourthly, the giving to their Priests (which is no more in the New
Testament but Presbyters, that is, Elders) the name of Sacerdotes, that
is, Sacrificers, which was the title of the Civill Soveraign, and his
publique Ministers, amongst the Jews, whilest God was their King. Also,
the making the Lords Supper a Sacrifice, serveth to make the People
beleeve the Pope hath the same power over all Christian, that Moses and
Aaron had over the Jews; that is to say, all power, both Civill and
Ecclesiasticall, as the High Priest then had.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0715" id="link2H_4_0715"></SPAN> The Sacramentation Of Marriage </h3>
<p>Fiftly, the teaching that Matrimony is a Sacrament, giveth to the Clergy
the Judging of the lawfulnesse of Marriages; and thereby, of what Children
are Legitimate; and consequently, of the Right of Succession to
haereditary Kingdomes.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0716" id="link2H_4_0716"></SPAN> The Single Life Of Priests </h3>
<p>Sixtly, the Deniall of Marriage to Priests, serveth to assure this Power
of the pope over Kings. For if a King be a Priest, he cannot Marry, and
transmit his Kingdome to his Posterity; If he be not a Priest then the
Pope pretendeth this Authority Ecclesiasticall over him, and over his
people.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0717" id="link2H_4_0717"></SPAN> Auricular Confession </h3>
<p>Seventhly, from Auricular Confession, they obtain, for the assurance of
their Power, better intelligence of the designs of Princes, and great
persons in the Civill State, than these can have of the designs of the
State Ecclesiasticall.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0718" id="link2H_4_0718"></SPAN> Canonization Of Saints, And Declaring Of Martyrs </h3>
<p>Eighthly, by the Canonization of Saints, and declaring who are Martyrs,
they assure their Power, in that they induce simple men into an obstinacy
against the Laws and Commands of their Civill Soveraigns even to death, if
by the Popes excommunication, they be declared Heretiques or Enemies to
the Church; that is, (as they interpret it,) to the Pope.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0719" id="link2H_4_0719"></SPAN> Transubstantiation, Penance, Absolution </h3>
<p>Ninthly, they assure the same, by the Power they ascribe to every Priest,
of making Christ; and by the Power of ordaining Pennance; and of
Remitting, and Retaining of sins.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0720" id="link2H_4_0720"></SPAN> Purgatory, Indulgences, Externall Works </h3>
<p>Tenthly, by the Doctrine of Purgatory, of Justification by externall
works, and of Indulgences, the Clergy is enriched.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0721" id="link2H_4_0721"></SPAN> Daemonology And Exorcism </h3>
<p>Eleventhly, by their Daemonology, and the use of Exorcisme, and other
things appertaining thereto, they keep (or thinke they keep) the People
more in awe of their Power.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0722" id="link2H_4_0722"></SPAN> School-Divinity </h3>
<p>Lastly, the Metaphysiques, Ethiques, and Politiques of Aristotle, the
frivolous Distinctions, barbarous Terms, and obscure Language of the
Schoolmen, taught in the Universities, (which have been all erected and
regulated by the Popes Authority,) serve them to keep these Errors from
being detected, and to make men mistake the Ignis Fatuus of Vain
Philosophy, for the Light of the Gospell.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0723" id="link2H_4_0723"></SPAN> The Authors Of Spirituall Darknesse, Who They Be </h3>
<p>To these, if they sufficed not, might be added other of their dark
Doctrines, the profit whereof redoundeth manifestly, to the setting up of
an unlawfull Power over the lawfull Soveraigns of Christian People; or for
the sustaining of the same, when it is set up; or to the worldly Riches,
Honour, and Authority of those that sustain it. And therefore by the
aforesaid rule, of Cui Bono, we may justly pronounce for the Authors of
all this Spirituall Darknesse, the Pope, and Roman Clergy, and all those
besides that endeavour to settle in the mindes of men this erroneous
Doctrine, that the Church now on Earth, is that Kingdome of God mentioned
in the Old and New Testament.</p>
<p>But the Emperours, and other Christian Soveraigns, under whose Government
these Errours, and the like encroachments of Ecclesiastiques upon their
Office, at first crept in, to the disturbance of their possessions, and of
the tranquillity of their Subjects, though they suffered the same for want
of foresight of the Sequel, and of insight into the designs of their
Teachers, may neverthelesse bee esteemed accessories to their own, and the
Publique dammage; For without their Authority there could at first no
seditious Doctrine have been publiquely preached. I say they might have
hindred the same in the beginning: But when the people were once possessed
by those spirituall men, there was no humane remedy to be applyed, that
any man could invent: And for the remedies that God should provide, who
never faileth in his good time to destroy all the Machinations of men
against the Truth, wee are to attend his good pleasure, that suffereth
many times the prosperity of his enemies, together with their ambition, to
grow to such a height, as the violence thereof openeth the eyes, which the
warinesse of their predecessours had before sealed up, and makes men by
too much grasping let goe all, as Peters net was broken, by the struggling
of too great a multitude of Fishes; whereas the Impatience of those, that
strive to resist such encroachment, before their Subjects eyes were
opened, did but encrease the power they resisted. I doe not therefore
blame the Emperour Frederick for holding the stirrop to our countryman
Pope Adrian; for such was the disposition of his subjects then, as if hee
had not doe it, hee was not likely to have succeeded in the Empire: But I
blame those, that in the beginning, when their power was entire, by
suffering such Doctrines to be forged in the Universities of their own
Dominions, have holden the Stirrop to all the succeeding Popes, whilest
they mounted into the Thrones of all Christian Soveraigns, to ride, and
tire, both them, and their people, at their pleasure.</p>
<p>But as the Inventions of men are woven, so also are they ravelled out; the
way is the same, but the order is inverted: The web begins at the first
Elements of Power, which are Wisdom, Humility, Sincerity, and other
vertues of the Apostles, whom the people converted, obeyed, out of
Reverence, not by Obligation: Their Consciences were free, and their Words
and Actions subject to none but the Civill Power. Afterwards the
Presbyters (as the Flocks of Christ encreased) assembling to consider what
they should teach, and thereby obliging themselves to teach nothing
against the Decrees of their Assemblies, made it to be thought the people
were thereby obliged to follow their Doctrine, and when they refused,
refused to keep them company, (that was then called Excommunication,) not
as being Infidels, but as being disobedient: And this was the first knot
upon their Liberty. And the number of Presbyters encreasing, the
Presbyters of the chief City or Province, got themselves an authority over
the parochiall Presbyters, and appropriated to themselves the names of
Bishops: And this was a second knot on Christian Liberty. Lastly, the
Bishop of Rome, in regard of the Imperiall City, took upon him an
Authority (partly by the wills of the Emperours themselves, and by the
title of Pontifex Maximus, and at last when the Emperours were grown weak,
by the priviledges of St. Peter) over all other Bishops of the Empire:
Which was the third and last knot, and the whole Synthesis and
Construction of the Pontificall Power.</p>
<p>And therefore the Analysis, or Resolution is by the same way; but
beginning with the knot that was last tyed; as wee may see in the
dissolution of the praeterpoliticall Church Government in England.</p>
<p>First, the Power of the Popes was dissolved totally by Queen Elizabeth;
and the Bishops, who before exercised their Functions in Right of the
Pope, did afterwards exercise the same in Right of the Queen and her
Successours; though by retaining the phrase of Jure Divino, they were
thought to demand it by immediate Right from God: And so was untyed the
first knot. After this, the Presbyterians lately in England obtained the
putting down of Episcopacy: And so was the second knot dissolved: And
almost at the same time, the Power was taken also from the Presbyterians:
And so we are reduced to the Independency of the Primitive Christians to
follow Paul, or Cephas, or Apollos, every man as he liketh best: Which, if
it be without contention, and without measuring the Doctrine of Christ, by
our affection to the Person of his Minister, (the fault which the Apostle
reprehended in the Corinthians,) is perhaps the best: First, because there
ought to be no Power over the Consciences of men, but of the Word it
selfe, working Faith in every one, not alwayes according to the purpose of
them that Plant and Water, but of God himself, that giveth the Increase:
and secondly, because it is unreasonable in them, who teach there is such
danger in every little Errour, to require of a man endued with Reason of
his own, to follow the Reason of any other man, or of the most voices of
many other men; Which is little better, then to venture his Salvation at
crosse and pile. Nor ought those Teachers to be displeased with this losse
of their antient Authority: For there is none should know better then
they, that power is preserved by the same Vertues by which it is acquired;
that is to say, by Wisdome, Humility, Clearnesse of Doctrine, and
sincerity of Conversation; and not by suppression of the Naturall
Sciences, and of the Morality of Naturall Reason; nor by obscure Language;
nor by Arrogating to themselves more Knowledge than they make appear; nor
by Pious Frauds; nor by such other faults, as in the Pastors of Gods
Church are not only Faults, but also scandalls, apt to make men stumble
one time or other upon the suppression of their Authority.</p>
<h3><SPAN name="link2H_4_0724" id="link2H_4_0724"></SPAN> Comparison Of The Papacy With The Kingdome Of Fayries </h3>
<p>But after this Doctrine, “that the Church now Militant, is the Kingdome of
God spoken of in the Old and New Testament,” was received in the World;
the ambition, and canvasing for the Offices that belong thereunto, and
especially for that great Office of being Christs Lieutenant, and the
Pompe of them that obtained therein the principal Publique Charges, became
by degrees so evident, that they lost the inward Reverence due to the
Pastorall Function: in so much as the Wisest men, of them that had any
power in the Civill State, needed nothing but the authority of their
Princes, to deny them any further Obedience. For, from the time that the
Bishop of Rome had gotten to be acknowledged for Bishop Universall, by
pretence of Succession to St. Peter, their whole Hierarchy, or Kingdome of
Darknesse, may be compared not unfitly to the Kingdome of Fairies; that
is, to the old wives Fables in England, concerning Ghosts and Spirits, and
the feats they play in the night. And if a man consider the originall of
this great Ecclesiasticall Dominion, he will easily perceive, that the
Papacy, is no other, than the Ghost of the deceased Romane Empire, sitting
crowned upon the grave thereof: For so did the Papacy start up on a Sudden
out of the Ruines of that Heathen Power.</p>
<p>The Language also, which they use, both in the Churches, and in their
Publique Acts, being Latine, which is not commonly used by any Nation now
in the world, what is it but the Ghost of the Old Romane Language.</p>
<p>The Fairies in what Nation soever they converse, have but one Universall
King, which some Poets of ours call King Oberon; but the Scripture calls
Beelzebub, Prince of Daemons. The Ecclesiastiques likewise, in whose
Dominions soever they be found, acknowledge but one Universall King, the
Pope.</p>
<p>The Ecclesiastiques are Spirituall men, and Ghostly Fathers. The Fairies
are Spirits, and Ghosts. Fairies and Ghosts inhabite Darknesse, Solitudes,
and Graves. The Ecclesiastiques walke in Obscurity of Doctrine, in
Monasteries, Churches, and Churchyards.</p>
<p>The Ecclesiastiques have their Cathedral Churches; which, in what Towne
soever they be erected, by vertue of Holy Water, and certain Charmes
called Exorcismes, have the power to make those Townes, cities, that is to
say, Seats of Empire. The Fairies also have their enchanted Castles, and
certain Gigantique Ghosts, that domineer over the Regions round about
them.</p>
<p>The fairies are not to be seized on; and brought to answer for the hurt
they do. So also the Ecclesiastiques vanish away from the Tribunals of
Civill Justice.</p>
<p>The Ecclesiastiques take from young men, the use of Reason, by certain
Charms compounded of Metaphysiques, and Miracles, and Traditions, and
Abused Scripture, whereby they are good for nothing else, but to execute
what they command them. The Fairies likewise are said to take young
Children out of their Cradles, and to change them into Naturall Fools,
which Common people do therefore call Elves, and are apt to mischief.</p>
<p>In what Shop, or Operatory the Fairies make their Enchantment, the old
Wives have not determined. But the Operatories of the Clergy, are well
enough known to be the Universities, that received their Discipline from
Authority Pontificall.</p>
<p>When the Fairies are displeased with any body, they are said to send their
Elves, to pinch them. The Ecclesiastiques, when they are displeased with
any Civill State, make also their Elves, that is, Superstitious, Enchanted
Subjects, to pinch their Princes, by preaching Sedition; or one Prince
enchanted with promises, to pinch another.</p>
<p>The Fairies marry not; but there be amongst them Incubi, that have
copulation with flesh and bloud. The Priests also marry not.</p>
<p>The Ecclesiastiques take the Cream of the Land, by Donations of ignorant
men, that stand in aw of them, and by Tythes: So also it is in the Fable
of Fairies, that they enter into the Dairies, and Feast upon the Cream,
which they skim from the Milk.</p>
<p>What kind of Money is currant in the Kingdome of Fairies, is not recorded
in the Story. But the Ecclesiastiques in their Receipts accept of the same
Money that we doe; though when they are to make any Payment, it is in
Canonizations, Indulgences, and Masses.</p>
<p>To this, and such like resemblances between the Papacy, and the Kingdome
of Fairies, may be added this, that as the Fairies have no existence, but
in the Fancies of ignorant people, rising from the Traditions of old
Wives, or old Poets: so the Spirituall Power of the Pope (without the
bounds of his own Civill Dominion) consisteth onely in the Fear that
Seduced people stand in, of their Excommunication; upon hearing of false
Miracles, false Traditions, and false Interpretations of the Scripture.</p>
<p>It was not therefore a very difficult matter, for Henry 8. by his
Exorcisme; nor for Qu. Elizabeth by hers, to cast them out. But who knows
that this Spirit of Rome, now gone out, and walking by Missions through
the dry places of China, Japan, and the Indies, that yeeld him little
fruit, may not return, or rather an Assembly of Spirits worse than he,
enter, and inhabite this clean swept house, and make the End thereof worse
than the beginning? For it is not the Romane Clergy onely, that pretends
the Kingdome of God to be of this World, and thereby to have a Power
therein, distinct from that of the Civill State. And this is all I had a
designe to say, concerning the Doctrine of the POLITIQUES. Which when I
have reviewed, I shall willingly expose it to the censure of my Countrey.</p>
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