382 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VIII. wen « nifters and feffion, they have power and jurifdiltion in their own con- Elizabeth, gÇegation in matters ecciefiaftical." J594. This alt, for the greater folemnity, was confirmed again in the year 1593, and again this prefent year 1594. fo that from this time, to the year 1612. prefbytery was undoubtedly the legal eftablifhment of the kirk of Scotland, as it had been infat/ ever fince the reformation. To return to England; feveral champions appeared about this time for the caufe of epifcopacy, as Dr. Bifan, Bancroft, Bridges, Colins, Seam, and Dr. Adrian Sararia, a Spaniard, but beneficed in the church of England : This Taft was anfwered by Beza ; Bridges was anfwered by Fenner, Coons by Morrice, and Bilfon byBradfaaw, though the preis was (hut againft the puritans. Hooker's f But the molt celebrated performance, and of great ft note, was Mr. wed. pól;ry. Hooker's Ecelefiáfical Polity, in eight books; the four firft of which were . of Whit- publifhed this year; the fifth in the year 1597, and the three latt not till Vt> P. 421. many years after his death, for which reafon Tome have fufpefted them to be interpolated, though they were depofited in the hands of archbifhop Abbot, from whofe copy they were printed, about the beginning of the civil wars. This is efteemed the molt learned defence of the church of England, wherein all that would be acquainted with its conftitution (fay; a learned ,prelate) may fee upon what foundation it is built. Mr. Hooker begun his work whilemafier of the Temple, but meeting with Come.trouble,' and many interruptions in that place, the archbifhop at his requeft, re- moved him to Bolcom in the diocefe of Salifbury, and gave him a minor prebend in that church; here he finned his four firft books; from thence he was removed to the parfonage of Bifhopfborn in Kent, about threemiles fromCanterbury, where he finifhed his work and his life in the year s600. and 47th year of his age. The chief principles upon which this learned author proceeds, are, General i. " That though the holy fcriptures are a perfeft ftandard of do&rine, .anaximr con- " they are not a rule of dif i line or government. rained in ìt. Y p 2. " Nor is the praaice of the apoftles an invariable rule or law to the church in fucceeding ages, becaufe they alted according to the cir- " cumftances of the church in its infant and perfecuted fiate. 3. Neither are the fcriptures a rule of human allions fo far, as that " whatfoever we do in matters of religion without their exprefs direftion " or warrant is fin, but many things are left indifferent. ' 4. " The church is a foçiety like others, inverted with powers to make what laws the apprehends reafonable, decent, or neceffary for her well- " being and government, provided they do not interfere with, or contra- " dill the laws and commandments of holy fcripture. 5. " Where
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