A47584:160
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Next, The Prince is too near them, and so it is best for them to be so free of the Prince his Jurisdiction, that they may be able not only to neglect him, but also to oppose him.1 For all, let that example of the Canterbury-prelate serve; who made the King for the time to hold the Stirrup when he gat up upon his horse. The Story is known.
Next, The Prince is too neer them, and so it is best for them to be so free of the Prince his Jurisdiction, that they may be able not onely to neglect him, but also to oppose him.1 For all, let that example of the Canterbury-prelat serve; who made the King for the time to hold the Stirrup when he gat up upon his horse. The Story is known.
- 1Read Matthew Paris in Henry the third.
I called a little before the Title of Head of the Church, used by the Pope, and then given to Henry, blasphemous. To lay aside all other things that may be alleged against this Title, I shall only say this; The Church is the Spouse of Christ: No Spouse can be said to have any other Head, but him whose Spouse she is. Now if the Church should acknowledge her self to be the Spouse of any other but of ⟨image 36⟩Christ, she were a professed Whore and Adulteress. By no means then a Prince is to be called, The Head of the Church: For although the civill Magistrate is obliged, according to his rank and place, to see the Ministers of the Church do the work of the Lord, truly, diligently, and carefully, and to make them do it according to the Will of God declared in his Word; yet for all this, he is nothing but a servant, overseer, or grass, and not the Head, which is a Title belonging only to Christ; wherefore, Princes or Magistrates, that by slavish flatterers had this Title given unto them at the first, had done well to reject it, as their Successors, who have followed, had done well likewise, (according to God his Will) if they had not suffered this Title to have been continued unto them, namely, in the public prayers, where the time-serving inconsiderate Minister prayeth, in the name of the Church, for her Head; if the Head of the Church needs to be prayed for, then the influences of the Head, upon the Church, will be but poor and weak, &c. But of this enough for this place.