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

The safety of the Church is in danger, the Devil like a ramping and a roaring Lyon goes about seeking whom he may devour; simple men are easily drawn into the snare, and ⟨p. 187⟩tho they are very often touched with a Zeal for God, yet out of Ignorance and Mispersuasion, they persecute the Son of God: And as Nazianzen (saith, When they think they are in Arms for Christ, they do really fight against him. And the Bishops who ought in the first place to take care of these things, either like vain Night-Spirits throw every things into Disorder and Confusion; or (that I may tell the truth without disguise) increase the Errors, and double the darkness. Now Sir, after all this should we have sit still and expected the determination of these Fathers with our Arms folded together, and doing nothing? No, St. Cyprian (saith, There is but one Episcopacy (in the whole Church) a solid and entire part of which, is enjoyed by every Bishop: and every one shall surely give an account to the Lord for his own part. Their blood will I require at thy hand, saith the Lord. And if any man puts his hand to the Plough, and looketh back, and is solicitous what others may think of him, and expects the Authority of a General Council; and in the mean time hides his Lords Treasure he shall hear, thou slothful and wicked Servant: Take him and cast him into outer darkness. Suffer (saith Christ) the dead to bury their dead, but come thou and follow me. The truth of God depends not upon men. In Humane Counsels it is the part of a wise man to stay for the judgment and consent of men; but in the Affairs of ⟨p. 188⟩Religion, the voice of God ought to supersede the need of all others; which as soon as a devout Soul has heard, he yields presently, submits, and neither stands off, nor expects any other; for he knows that then he ought neither to believe the Pope nor Council, but the Will of God thus revealed. And this voice is to be obeyed, tho opposed by all men. The Prophet Elijah immediately obeyed God, tho he did believe that he was alone. Abraham upon the Admonition of God went out of Chaldea, Lot went out of Sodom, and the three Children made a public Confession of their Religion, and openly detested Idolatry, without expecting a General Council. Go out of her (saith the Angel) and be not partakers of her sins, that ye partake not of her Plagues; he doth not say stay for a Synod of the Bishops.