The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

14. BUT now if they might do all these things, tho they were only Civil Princes, and governed their several States? Wherein have our Princes offended, who tho they are in the same Authority, may (it seems) not do the same things? Or wherein consists the wonderful force of their Learning, Wisdom, and Holiness, that contrary to the Custom of all the Ancient and Catholic Bishops, who have heretofore deliberated with Princes concerning Religion; they should now reject and exclude Christian Princes from the cognizance of the Cause now depending, and from all Participation and Congress with them in their Councils? But yet it cannot be denied they have taken a prudent care for themselves and the upholding their Kingdom, which they foresaw otherwise would soon have perished. For if they who are placed by God in the highest Station, had once seen and understood these Mens Arts, that the Commands of Christ are contemned by them, ⟨p. 124⟩that the light of the Gospel is obscured and extinguished by them; that they play tricks with, and delude them, and shut up against them the entrance into the Kingdom of God: They would never so patiently have suffered themselves to be so proudly despised, and injuriously scorned and abused. But now on the other hand, they have rendered all Princes obnoxious and subject to them by their blindness and Ignorance.

14. BUT now if they might do all these things, tho they were only Civil Princes, and governed their several States? Wherein have our Princes offended, who tho they are in the same Authority, may (it seems) not do the same things? Or wherein consists the wonderful force of their Learning, Wisdom, and Holiness, that contrary to the Custom of all the Ancient and Catholick Bishops, who have heretofore deliberated with Princes concerning Religion; they should now reject and exclude Christian Princes from the cognizance of the Cause now depending, and from all Participation and Congress with them in their Councils? But yet it cannot be denied they have taken a prudent care for themselves and the upholding their Kingdom, which they foresaw otherwise would soon have perished. For if they who are placed by God in the highest Station, had once seen and understood these Mens Arts, that the Commands of Christ are contemned by them, ⟨p. 124⟩that the light of the Gospel is obscured and extinguished by them; that they play tricks with, and delude them, and shut up against them the entrance into the Kingdom of God: They would never so patiently have suffered themselves to be so proudly despised, and injuriously scorned and abused. But now on the other hand, they have rendred all Princes obnoxious and subject to them by their blindness and Ignorance.