Moreover, Satan ever wise in his own principles, finding the Church of Scotland, like an invincible Sampson, by reason of such a constitution and government, as being preserved in integrity, could neither admit heresy, nor schism, did make use of the Prelacy as his traitorous Delilah, to betray that Sampson, into the hands of the now adverse Philistines the Papists, by stealing away both their ruling Elders, and the authority of their Presbyteries, and Synods: for he had well observed, that in these two things did their great strength lye, and that without these two, the Ministers of the Word being like so many scopae dissolute, both sparsed, and by themselves alone might easily be brought under the yoke. When thus the Romish-affected Delilah had taken away their strength from them, she was bold to u•t•r her insulting voice in the Service-book, and book of Canons, The Philistines be upon ⟨image 5⟩thee Sampson, The Papists be upon thee Scotland. In this case they did not (as Sampson then) presume that the Lord was with them as at other times; they knew he was departed from them:1 They cried out, Return we beseech thee O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven, behold and visit this Vine, and the Vineyard which thine own right hand hath planted. 2They did again ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying come, and let us join our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten. And now (glory be to the great Name of God, in the Church throughout all generations) they have by his healing hand quickly recovered their strength.3 Strength I may well call it, for saith a learned Divine, as in things which are done by bodily strength, so in things which are managed by counsels, vis unita fortior, power being put together is the stronger: and in this he doth agree with Bellarm.; that though God by his absolute power can preserve his Church without Synods; yet according to ordinary providence, they are necessary for the right government of the Church. The interweaving and combining of strength, by joining the ruling Elders of every Congregation, with the Pastor, or Pastors thereof into a particular Eldership, by joining also Commissioners, Pastors, and E•ders, from many particular Elderships, ordinarily into a classical Presbytery, and more solemnly provincial Synod.4
Moreover, Satan ever wise in his own principles, finding the Church of Scotland, like an invincible Sampson, by reason of such a constitution and gove•nment, as being preserved in integritie, could neither admit heresie, nor schisme, did make use of the Prelacie as his traiterous Dalilah, to betray that Sampson, into the hands of the now adverse P•ilistines the Papists, by stealing away both their ruling Elders, and the authority of their Presbyteries, and Synods: for he had well observed, that in these two things did their great strength lye, and that without these two, the Ministers of the Word being like so many scopae dissolut•, both sparsed, and by themselves alone might easily be brought under the yoke. When thus the Romish-affected Dalilah had taken away their strength from them, she was bold to u•t•r her insulting voice in the Service-book, and book of Canons, The Philistines be upon ⟨image 5⟩thee Sampson, The Papists be upon thee Scotland. In this case they did not (as Sampson then) presume that the Lord was with them as at other times; they knew he was departed from them:1 They cried out, Return we beseech thee O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven, behold and visit this Vine, and the Vineyeard which thine own right hand hath planted. 2They did again ask the way to Sion with their faces thitherward, saying come, and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten. And now (glory be to the great Name of God, in the Church throughout all generations) they have by his healing hand quickly recovered their strength.3 Strength I may well call it, for sayth a learned Divine, as in things which are done by bodily strength, so in things which are managed by counsells, vis unita fortior, power being put together is the stronger: and in this he doth agree with Bellarm.; that though God by his absolute power can preserve his Church without Synods; yet according to ordinary providence, they are necessary for the right government of the Church. The interweaving and combining of strength, by joyning the ruling Elders of every Congregation, with the Pastor, or Pastors thereof into a particular Eldership, by joyning also Commissioners, Pastors, and E•ders, from many particular Elderships, ordinarily into a classicall Presbytery, and more solemnly provinciall Synod.
- 1Psal. 80 14 15.
- 2•er. 50.5.
- 3Whittak contr. 3. de concil. quaest 1.
- 4Cant. 6.4▪
