6. There is a threefold form of such a church at present contended for. The first is Papal, the second Episcopal, and the third Presby- terian.
7. The first form of an authoritative national church-state amongst us, as in other places, was papal ; and the sole use of it here in Eng- land was, to embroil our kings in their government; to oppress the people in their souls, bodies, and estates; and to sell us all, as branded slaves, unto Rome. These things have been sufficiently ma- nifested. But in other places, especially in Germany, whilst othermse they were all of one religion, in doctrine and worship, all conform to the church of Rome, yet, in bloody contests, merely about this autho- ritative church-state, many emperors were ruined, and a hundred set battles fought in the field.
8. At the Reformation, this church- state was accommodated (as was supposed) unto the interest of the nation, to obviate the evils suffered from it under the other form, and render it of use unto the religion established. Yet experience manifests that, partly from its constitution, partly from the inclinations of them by whom it is ma- naged, other evils have accompanied or followed it ; which, until they are removed, the weakness of the protestant interest, through mu- tual divisions, will remain among us. And, among others, they are these: —
(1.) An encroachment on the civil rights and government of the nation, in the courts and jurisdictions pretended to belong or to bo
UNION AMONG TROTESTANTS. 521
annexed unto this church-state, over the persons, goods, and hberties of the subjects (yea, in some cases, their Hves). It is the undoubted right and Hberty of the people of this nation, that no actual jurisdic- tion should be exercised over their persons, estates, or liberties, in a way collateral unto, and independent on, the public administration of justice unto all, derived from the sovereign power, and executed by known officers, rules, and orders, according unto the laws of the realm. If this be taken from them, all other pretences of securing the liberty and property of the subjects are of no advantage unto them : for whilst they have justice, in legal public courts, duly ad- ministered unto them, they may be oppressed and ruined (as many are so every day) by this pretended collateral irregular power and jurisdiction over their persons, goods, and liberties; from which it seems to be the duty of the parliament to deliver them. And it is the right of the kings of this nation that no external power over the subjects be exercised but in their name, by virtue of their commis- sion, to be granted and executed according unto the laws of the land. This right of kings, and this liberty of subjects also, are so sacred as that they ought not to be intrenched on by any pretence of church or religion ; for what is of God's own appointment will touch neither of them. But the administration of this jurisdiction, as it is exer- cised with a side-wind power, distinct, different from, and in some things contrary unto, the public justice of the nation (wherein all the subjects have an equal interest), and by the rules of a law fo- reign unto that of the kingdom, is a great cause of the continuation of divisions among Protestants, unto the weakening of the interest of religion itself
(2.) It is accompanied with the prosecution and troubling of peace- able subjects in their liberties and estates, — not for any error in the Christian faith, not for any declension from the protestant religion or compliance with Popery, not for any immoralities, but merely and solely for their non-compliance with and submission' unto those things which are supposed necessary for the preservation of their church-state, which is of itself altogether unnecessary ; for the whole complex of the imposed conformity in canonical obedience, ceremo- nies, rites, and modes of worship, hath no other end but the susteu- tation and preservation thereof, being things otherwise that belong not to Christian religion. This began, this will perpetuate, our divi- sions ; which will not be healed whilst it is contmued. And whilst the two parties of Papists and Protestants are at this day contending, as it were, for life, soul, and being (the long-continued design of the former, under various pretences, and by great variety of attempts, being come unto its fatal trial, as unto its issue), it will not be thought meet by wise men, whose entire interest in religion and the liberties
522 SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT
of the nation are concerned in this contest, to continue the body of Protestants in divisions, with mutual animosities and the distrust of multitudes, on such unnecessary occasions.
(8.) Whereas, by virtue of this state and constitution, sundry per- sons are interested in honours, dignities, power, and wealth, in all which they have an immediate (and not merely legal) dependence on the king since their separation from the pope, they have con- stantly made it their business to promote absolute monarchical power, without respect unto the true constitution of the government of this nation ; which in sundry instances hath been disadvantageous to kings themselves, as well as an encumbrance to the people in parliament : for although their constitution doth really intrench upon the king's legal power in the administration of their jurisdiction, yet, to secure their own interests, and to make a seemmg compensation for that encroachment, many of them have contended for that absolute power in the king which he never owned nor assumed unto himself.