192 LIVES OF THE PURITANg. that man of sin plucked him from his throne, and placed himself upon it having on his head the mitre'of death, and in his hand the sword of cruelty and blood. These thing* I hope you know. 44 We find in the scriptures of truth, that when Christ ruled and reigned in his church, his officers were bishops or pastors, and elders and deacons. But when' the pope set aside this government, he appointed new governors in the church, as cardinals, archbishops, lord-bishops, deans, chancellors, commissioners, and many others. The doc- trine and government of the church being thus thrown down, it pleased the Lord in his time to shew us favour, By means of our good prince, he hath purged the doctrines of our church from the errors of popery; and was ready to have restored unto us true discipline, if it had not been prevented by our own slackness and unthankfulness. But you prelates turn the edge of the sword against us, and stand in the way to keep us from the tree of life. The government of the church is much the same as it was under popery. The pope's officers, you know, still bear rule ; and, therefore, the reins of government are not in the hands of Christ, but in the hands of antichrist. And though you hide yourselves under the shadowof the prince, saying, that she created you and your authority ; you per- verselyattempt to deceive theworld, andyou miserablyabuse the name and goodness of our prince. For how longwere your names and offices in full force before our prince was born ? Howthen will you make her authority the origin of your jurisdiction ? Moreover, as iesus Christ is the only lawgiver in his church, and as be alone has power and authority to appoint its officers, if -any king or prince in the world appoint any other officers in the church, than those which Christ hath already allowed and appointed, we will lay down our necks -upon the block, rather than consent to them. Wherefore, do not so often object to us the name of our prince; for you use, it as a cloak to cover your cursed enterprizes. Have you not thrust out those who preached the word of God sincerely and faithfully ? Have you not plucked out those preachers whom God fixed in his church ? , And do you think that this plea, 1 did but execute the law, will excuse you before the High Judge.". It does not appear what effect this bold address had on the mind of the reverend Parte of a Register, p. 365-37O.
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