"IT IS VERY TRUE that the new modelling Ecclefiaftical Government was the principal point debated in that famous dif"pute (which gave rife to the following work): "but then the Puritans contended for that "Reformation on principles that equally con"cluded for a Reformation in the Civil like"wife and this Mr. Hooker well understood, "when he took fo much pains to overthrow "their fundamental maxim, the Head Theorem, "as he calls it, of their fcheme-That the 66 Scripture of God is in fuch fort the rule of "human actions, that fimply whatsoever we do, "and are not by it directed thereunto, the fame is fin. Now who fees not that this principle 66 purfued, brings on, directly and neceffarily, a. "Reformation of the Civil Government upon Jewish ideas? the very error of the reformed "Minifters of that time. This, as we fay, was "not hid from the penetration of this great 66 man-The reafons, (fays he, in his Preface,) "wherewith "wherewith you would perfuade that Scripture is "the only rule to frame all our actions by, are in every respect as effectual for proof, that the fame "is the only Law whereby to determine all our "Civil Controverfies :-And therefore to root it "out for ever was the main reafon, I fuppofe, 66 why, in a particular difpute; he goes fo far "back as to give a long account of the original "of Laws in general, their feveral kinds, and "their diftinct and contrary natures." Bp. WARBURTON on The Alliance between ΤΟ TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY CHARLES II. By the Grace of God, KING OF GREAT-BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c. MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, ALTHOUGH I know how little leisure great Kings have to read large books, or indeed any, fave only God's, (the study, belief, and obedience of which is precisely commanded, even to Kings, Deut. xvii. 18, 19. and from which, whatever wholly diverts them, will hazard to damn them; there being no affairs of fo great importance, as their ferving God, and faving their own fouls; nor any precepts fo wife, juft, holy, and fafe, as thofe of the divine oracles; nor any empire fo glorious, as that by which Kings, being subject to God's Law, have dominion over themselves, and VOL. I. B fo |