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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	answer_n	church_n	scripture_n	2,228	5	6.2350	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69915	A plea for the Non-Conformists giving the true state of the dissenters case, and how far the Conformists separation from the Church of Rome, for their Popish superstitions and traditions introduced into the service of God, justifies the Non-Conformists separation from them for the same : in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Calamy, upon his sermon, called, Scrupulous conscience, inviting hereto : to which is added, A parallel scheme of the pagan, papal and Christian rites and ceremonies : with a narrative of the sufferings underwent for writing, printing and publishing hereof / by Thomas De Laune.	De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.; Danson, Thomas, d. 1694.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Eikōn tou thēriou.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Narrative of the sufferings of Thomas Delaune.	1684 (1684)	Wing D893; Wing D891; Wing D892; ESTC R12757	93,215	122

for the of Peace and Order And the late most terrible Thunder-clap from the Bench giving the Dissenters in charge to the Grand Jury as such Despisers of Authority who had sin'd the unpardonable sin not to be forgiven them To which we say That it is most certain that Obedience is due from Inferiors to Superiors for Conscience sake and for the Lord's sake But then that is limited to be only in the Lord for if they who are his Ministers command any thing not agreeable to his Word and plainly Sinful though they may call them Indifferent things State Policy Order and Decency we are justifi'd with the Midwives in disobeying the King's command Exod. 1. 17. and Saul's Guard in refusing Obedience to the King 1 Sam 22. 17. and Daniel and the three Children in disobeying the King Dan. 3. 6. and with Peter and John who refused to forbear preaching Christ at the Rulers command telling them It was beete to obey God than Man Though this absolute obedience to Superiors as you 'l find is an Argument principally urged by men who have the Magistrate on their side and their own Profit and Advantage concern'd then Obedience to them is cryed up to be better than Sacrifice and fall foul upon the Conscientious as Disobedient Seditious and Rebellious So Celsus the Heathen reproaches the Christians for their forsaking their publick Assemblies getting into Corners disobeying Authority So all the time of Popery were the Waldenses Wicklivists Lollards and Protestants branded with Seditions Disobedience to Authority impugning the King and Queen's proceedings And how doth Bonner lay the 13 Romans to the Martyrs to require their Obedience and Subjection to all their Mumsimus's and Sumsimus's But if the Tide be turn'd and the Magistrate on the other side then the same men cry out against Imposition and Persecution as it was with the Arians and Orthodox under the several Emperors of different minds the 13 Romans was in those days used as the Dutch-man's Breeches to serve all occasions and always improved to establish and inforce the present Impositions by the Power and Religion which was uppermost This reproves all our worthy Witnesses the Waldenses Wicklivists Lollards c. who bore up for Christ against all their Sanguinary Laws Prohibitions and Commands and those who opposed Jeroboam's Calf-Worship This would establish the Religion of the present Power be it either Judaism Turcism Popery c. and a conformity to it But 't is said you intend this subjection to Superiors only in lawful things things not plainly sinful Then if the Inferior be to judge what is Unlawful and plainly Sinful the Controversie is at an end If they command lawful things they command no other than God has commanded which makes it lawful then Obedience as due is given to God If they command in the things of God any other than lawful or what he has required they have no Authority so to do and we Sin not in Disobedience by your own Rule if they command sinful or unlawful things As to those things of an Indifferent Nature or things not possitively forbidden under which is included all the Rites and Ceremonies injoy'd by man whereof no Word of God for We know of no such things all the Rites Services and Ceremonies to be observed and enjoyned in Gods Worship being necessary things and no negative Articles of Faith as before Object But is it not manifest that Persons who presume to seperate from the Religion established by Law are usually of turbulent seditious factious Spirits otherwise what means those sensible Impressions that have lately been made upon Authority expressed by the publick Declaration manifold Addresses and Pulpit Alarms reflecting upon them as to the PLOT and the Severity used by putting the Penal Laws in execution against this sort of People in City and Country It s very true that Press and Pulpit late Declaration Weekly Addresses and severe Usage both in City and Country speaks this Language But 't is not therefore true that the Dissenters are guilty of Sedition Treason and Rebellion because the Truth and Innocency of Gods Church and People as traduced to Authority have been so falsly and maliciously branded and handled all along which may be some Relief to them under their present Tryals and Sufferings Suggestions Calumnies and Outcrys being no Proofs Did not the Church of old pathetically complain of the very same Usage The Mouth of the Wicked and Deceitful are opened against me they have spoken against me with a Lying Tongue they compassed me about with words of Hatred and fought against me without a cause Psal 109. 2 3. So no new thing And again They that hate me without a cause are more than the Nairs of my Head they that would destroy me being my Enemies wronfully are mighty for lo they lie in wait for my Soul the mighty are gathered against me not for my Transgression not for my Sin they run and prepare themselves without my fault Psal 69. 4. 59. 34. And further Mine Enemies saith the Church reproach me all the day and they that are mad against me are sworn a-against me it seems they wanted not perjured Informers in those days Therefore prays Let not them who are my Enemies wrongfully rejoyee over me neither let them wink with the Eye that hate me without a cause for they speak not Peace but devise deceitful Matters against them that are quiet in the Land Was not the Slander wherewith the Adversaries of the Church reproacht them in Ezra's and Nehemiah's time viz. that for their peaceable attending upon the Lord they were esteem'd A Rebellious and Factious People and hurtful to Kings moving Sedition Ezra 4. 15. Neh. 6. 6. And was not this the Accusation of wicked Haman against Gods People that because they dissented from the Religion established by Law having Laws contrary to the Kings Laws therefore as Seditious and Rebellious they ought to be cut off and not suffered to live Esth 3. 8 c. Were not the three eminent Dissenters in Nebuchadnezar's time so treated for their Non-conformity to the Religion established Law and as Turbulent Stubborn Factious Disobedient and Rebellious cast into the Fiery Furnace Dan. 3. And afterwards Daniel upon the same score slung to the Lyons though his God and his Innocency pleaded his Cause against his malicious Treppaning Adversaries that could only in the matter of his God get the Advantage against him My God saith he hath sent his Angels and shut the Lyons Mouthes forasmuch as before him Innocency was found in me also before thee O King have I done no hurt Dan. 3. 21 c. And what became of their malicious Accusers afterwards you there understand Neither did our Saviour himself who was so meek gentle and innocent so harmless and inoffensive meet with other measure being directly so dealt with Did not the Treppanners assault him For is it not said They watched him and sent forth Spyes which should feign themselves just Men

ordinary in the Greek Church because not only Constantine the Great the Son of Helena a zealous Christian but also Gregory Nazianzen who was the Son of a Christian Bishop and brought up long by him was not baptized till he came to years as is saith he related in his Life Daille the learned French-man tell us That in ancient times they often deferred the Baptism of Infants as appeareth saith he by the History of Constantine Theodos●us Valentinian Gratian and in St. Ambrose and also by the Orations of Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil on this subject And some of the Fathers have been of opinion that it is ●it it should be deferr'd But whence is it saith he that the very mentioning hereof is scarce to be endured at this day Vse of the Fathers l. 2. p. 149. Dr. Field saith That very many that were born of Christian Parents besides those that were converted from Paganism put off their Baptism for a long time insomuch that many were made Bishops before they were baptized On the Church p. 729. Mr. Baxter a great Asserter and Defender of Infant-Baptism doth ingenuously own after his long search into Antiquity thus much I will confess that the words of Tertullian and Nazianzen shew that it was long before all were agreed of the very time or of the necessity of baptizing of Infants before any use of Reason in case they were like to live to Maturity More Proofs p. 279. As for Baptizing Infants with Sureties Fidejussors or Gossips as the Liturgy enjoyns and such an Essential part of the Ordinance owning that the baptized Persons are required to repent and believe and that Infants are capable 〈◊〉 do neither but that they do both by their Sureties appears also if the learned are to be credited to be no less a Novelty as the Centurists declare Magd. Cent. 4. cap. 6 p. 419. De susceptoribus certi nihil Invenias that is you can find nothing certain of Godfathers in that Age. But that it came in the 5th Century Cen. 5. c. 4. p. 656. Adhibitos interdum susceptores sou Patrinos ex Autoribus hujus temporis liquet that is the Authors of the 5th Century mention Sureties or Godfathers Upon which Dr. Taylor saith I know God might if he would have appointed Godfathers to give Answer in the behalf of Children and to be Fidejussors for them but we cannot find any authority or ground that he hath and if he had that it is to be supposed he would have given them Commission to have transacted the solemnity with better Cir●umstances and have given Answers with more Truth for the Question is ask'd of Believing in the present and if the Godfather answers in the Name of the Child I DO BELIEVE it is Notorious they speak false and ridiculous for the Infant is not capable of Believing and if he were he were also capable of dissenting and how then do they know his mind And thefore saith he Tertullian and Nazianzen gave advice that the baptizing of Infants should be deferr'd till they could give an account of their own Faith Walafridus Strabo who lived about the year 840. saith De rebus eccl c. 26. That in the first times the grace of Baptism was wont to be given to them only who were come to that Integrity of mind and body that they could know and understand what profit was to be gotten by Baptism what was to be confessed and believed what lastly was to be observed by them that are new-born in Christ and confirms it by Austin's own Confession of himself continuing a Catechumen long before he was baptized But afterwards saith he Christians understanding Original Sin and least their Children should perish without any means of Grace had them he saith baptized by the decree of the Council of Africa and then adds how Godfathers and Godmothers were invented Johannis Bohemius lib. 2. de Gent. Moribus saith It was in times past the Custom to administer Baptism only to those that were instructed in the Faith and seven times in the week before Easter and Penticost catechiz'd but afterwards when it was thought and adjudged needful to eternal Life to be baptized it was ordained that New-born Children should be baptized and Godfathers were appointed who should make Confession and Renounce the Devil on their behalf As for the Liturgy it is another thing than can be found among the Antients Is it not clear that in the 3d Century they had no Directory or Book to pray by as Tertullian in his Apology mentions We look up to Heaven with our hands stretched forth as being innocent and bear-headed as not ashamed to make our Prayers sine Monitore without a Directory as coming from the free motion of our own hearts Platina tells us that in Celestine's time there was no other parts of the Mass but the Reading of the Epistles and ●ospels which was Anno 435. Platina in Celest 1. Justin Martyr in the second Century fully sheweth the manner of Christian Service in his time The Ancient Christians saith he had their Meetings on the Sunday they began with Prayers for the Church especially for the Inlightend which were baptized then the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles are read as time permits then a Sermon unto the People and exhorts them all unto the Imitation of the best things then all do rise up and pour forth their prayers again when their prayers are ended Bread and Wine mixed with Water are brought forth which being taken he who hath the Charge goeth before the People with an earnest voice in praising God and thanksgiving and the People do answer with a loud voice Amen Then the Deacons divide the holy Signs unto them all which are present and carry the same unto the absent this saith he we call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thanksgiving whereof none may partake unless he believe the true Doctrine and be washed in the laver unto Regeneration and Remission of sins and live so as Christ hath directed After this is a gathering of Alms. And p. 7. He who instructed the People prayed according to his ability Here was no Liturgy or Common Prayers mentioned Walafrid Strabo who wrote in the 9th Century saith in his Book de Rebus Ecclesiae All which is done now with a multitude of Prayers Lessons Songs and Cons●●rations which the Apostles and those who next followed them did with prayers and remembrance of the Lords sufferings even as he commanded Socrates saith That among all the Christians in that Age scarce two were to be found that used the same words in Prayer Pope Gregory the first made a new form of Service which they call the Mass and did add many Ceremonies that were not in use before So that Platina saith The whole Institution of the Mass was Invented by him we in England had ours from Gregory who by his Minister Austin first founded the Church and introduced most

and People with Musick without the least divine Authority for such Song-Praying The Resolver goes oh p. 43. Our Brethron surely will allow of reading the Scriptures as they do viz. Epistles Gospels Psalms To which we say We do surely allow of reading the Scriptures but not as they do especially in those Epistles Gospels and Psalms which are given us in the Liturgy for the following Reasons First Because the Epistles Gospels and Psalms in the Service-Book are mis-translated being taken from the corrupt vulgar Latine-Bible which is so extream faulty and so much complained of by the learned both Protestants and others Secondly Because what they call Epistles and Gospels are so curtal'd and mangled that they become quite another thing than the Evangelists intended in the Gospels or the Apostles in their Epistles altogether ruining the scope and connexions in divers places as may be instanced in numerous particulars if need were Thirdly Because they have been the Inventions of the Popes who have so adulterated Christs pure Worship and Service to patch up their Idolatrous Mass-Service which Gregory called the Great compleated as before fixing and appropriating the Epistles Gospels and Psalms to the Mattins and Even-Songs throughout the Year as the Romish Calendar whose Copy 't is suspected we imitate writes after Fourthly That whilst it is supposed we may be instructed in the Lessons ordered to be read upon the so called Sundays and Holy-Days through the whole Bible they have omitted so much of the Canonical Scriptures as the greatest part of Leviticus Ruth Chronicles Nehemiah Esther Canticles Lamentations Amos Obadiah Jonah Nahum Zephaniah Haggai The second Epistle to the Thessalonians the second and third of John and most part of the Revelation instead of which several parts of Apocryphal Writings are read which are esteemed by the Learned to be fabulous and savouring of the too much adored Vanities of Gentilism Fifthly Because they have omitted all the Original Titles or Inscriptions of the Psalms which are part of the holy Scriptures which have so great a tendency to unfold the mysteries in the Psalms and instead of them retain the Popish Latino Titles printed over our English Psalms Sixthly because of those additions which are made to the Scriptures therein as to the 14 Psalm 3 whole verses which are not in any of the Original Copies and Gloria patri to the Conclusion of several Psalms ordering it to be said at the reading of every Psalm contrary to Deut 4. 2. Prov. 30. 6. Rev. 22. 18. Seventhly because the Epistles and Gospels are ordered to be sung as well as said without the least warrant or direction from the Scriptures Eightly because it is ordered in the Rubrick to sit at the reading of the Epistles and to stand up to bow and scrape and Respond at the Gospel without any warrant or direction from the Scriptures Ninthly because of the disorderly chopping interchanging of Scriptures by way of Colloquy betwixt the Priest and People viz. The Lord be with thee must the Priest say And with thy Spirit must the People say Open our Lips must the Priest say And let our Mouths shew forth thy praise must the People say And bandying so often the Kyrieeleison and Christeeleison Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us betwixt Priest and People for which no Rule of direction from Gods Word but expresly found in the Mass-book How faulty the Liturgy appeared in many of these things to many learned Episcopal Divines is manifest by that Paper which was drawn up Anno 1641. Touching Innovations in Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England together with Considerations upon the Common Prayer and subscribed by Arch-Bishop Vsher Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Prideaux after B. of Worcester Dr. Browning after B. of Exeter Dr. Hacket afterwards Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield Dr. Ward Dr. Featly c. and presented to the then Parliament wherein they gave 35 Exceptions against several things in the Liturgy And amongst others against the corrupt Translation of the Epistles and Gospels and Psalms against the Apocryphy enjoyned to be read in the Lessons against singing of Service against adding Gloria Patri to the Psalms against the Hymns taken out of the Mass-Book viz. Benedicite omnia opera c. against Priests Vestments enjoyn'd as were used 2d E. 6. against the sign of the Cross in Baptism which they say might as well be omitted as the Oyl which was heretofore its concomitant afore they went always together against prohibiting times of Marriage c. Another Objection which should have been spoken to before and which we he 〈◊〉 add is this viz. That it may well be supposed that the Nonconformists are very humerous in their groundless and unnecessary scruples whilst they are offended with the Church for that her Ancient and Reverend Practice of Bowing at the Name of Jesus enjoyn'd in the 18 th Canon and for which they have that positive direction and Command Phil. 2. 10. to warrant it It is very true they are indeed offended at that piece they conceive of voluntary Humility and Will-Worship because there is no more ground for Bowing at the mentioning of that Name either from that or any other Scripture than for Crossing our selves when that Name is named For first if it be a Command as supposed universally to bow at the mentioning those Syllables and that Name Jesus then are all both in Heaven Earth and under the Earth Mer Angels and Devils obliged thereto whenever that Name is mentioned be it either by a Wicked mans blasphemously swearing by it or a drunken Priests prophanely muttering it or the mentioning Jesus the Son of Syrach or Bar Jesus the Conjurer And secondly if the supposed Command must be understood to relate to the naming the Name of our Blessed Redeemer it must then be considered which of his Names must be meant because he hath many Names in Scripture as Christ Immanuel Jehovah Wonderful the Everlasting Father Saviour Redeemer Son of God Prince of Peace King of Kings Lord of Lords c. Any of which being much more properly to be understood here than this of Jesus because it is at the name of Jesus viz. some Name of his and not the Name Jesus that is to be bowed to Thirdly Neither can that Name be supposed to be meant here because it relates to a name the Father gave him after his Death Suffering and Exaltation as the words make manifest and therefore not that name Jesus which was given him at his Circumcision before his said Suffering and Exaltation Neither fourthly can this sense be admitted as a literal Command that all must bow the Knee at that Name because at the same time all and every one which make that reverence with the knee are enjoyn'd with their mouths to declare that he is the Lord to the glory of God the Father for they are joyn'd together and why is not one perfor●●d ●s well as the

other Therefore fifthly It doth necessarily respect another thing than Reverencing the syllables of a Name viz. that Power Authority and Soveraignity which the Father gave him in Glory as a Reward of his Suffering which he himself declared after his Resurrection Mat. 28. That all Power was given him in Heaven Earth Ephes 28. This bowing in the Name of Christ in this place being by the Prophet Isa 45. 23 24. explained a Subjection of all to the universal Authority that he shall exercise Name often signifying Power in Scripture Deut. 26. 19. Gen. 6. 4. Psal 44. 5. 20. 1. 7. And therefore is this very Subjection mentioned in the Text of a universal bowing the Knee to his Authority referred to the Judgment day when all both Men Angels and Devils must be subject to him Rom. 14. 11. And it is observable that the words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Name not at the Name of Jesus viz. In his Power and Authority being not a Command but a Prophesie when it shall be fulfilled and accomplished when there shall be that universal subjection to the Soveraignity of Christ That every Tongue shall confess that he is Lord to the Glory of God the Father as the after words mention And which shall be when he shall exert that Power that is inherent in him to subject all Nations to his Authority when he takes to himself his great Power and reigns when the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord when upon his Vesture and his Thigh shall a Name be written KING of Kings and LORD of Lords and when all shall be gathered before him in the Judgment Day Which I conceive is the true genuine sense and meaning of these words and no such thing as a superstitious bowing at the Syllables of that Name intended which has been so universally practised and enjoyned to the just Offence of the Conscientious who have not an implicit Faith to believe as the Church believes Fifthly Their symbolizing with Popery in Impositions and Persecutions of Dissenters Have and ●o the Papists violently impose their Rites Services and Ceremonies and cruelly prosecute and persecure the Dissenters by Confiscations Imprisonments and Death it self Do not we by our Sanguinary Laws and Executions of them do the very same and whereof not one word of warrant in all the New Testament And how agreeable such a practice is to the Lamb-like Nature of Christs and his Disciples and Followers as also the Doctrines and Sentiments of many of your own Worthies as well as the Suffrage of several of our Kings and Parliaments judge you And whereof I beg leave to give you the following Instances viz. we shall begin with the famous Jewell who notes it out of Chrysostom Homil. on Mat. 19. Doth the Sheep ever persecute the Wolf no but the Wolf the Sheep so Cain persecuted Abel not Abel Cain so Ishmael persecuted Isaac not Isaac Ishmael so the Jews Christ not Christ the Jews so Hereticks the Christians not Christians Hereticks Whereby saith Jewell he plainly implyes That Persecution for Conscience sake is a very Unchristian or ANTICHRISTIAN Sympton And smartly again in the same Homily He that is a Persecutor is no Sheep of Christ's but a Wolf which saith he a Man should make any man afraid to feel any persecutive motion arise in his breast as being Indications of a Cainish Imaelitish and Wolfish Nature and a certain sign that he is none of the Sheep of Christ The learned Dr. Moore in his Preface to the Mystery of Godliness hath many plain and pertinent passages to this point asserting That it is an Antichristian use of Church-Government to direct it to the upholding of useless or mischievous Opinions scandalous Ceremonies and ensnaring Inventions of men And what is it saith he but a Notorious Specimen of Pride thus to force others to acknowledge by making them profess to be of their Opinion And what but Injustice and barbarous Cruelty to afflict men for what they cannot help and in what they do not sin And what but plain Rebellion against God to wrest his Scepter out of his hand by which he ruleth in the Consciences of men and to usurp this Empire to themselves And again lastly saith he A mutual Agreement in bearing with one anothers Dissents in the Non-fundamentals of Religion is really a greater Ornament of Christianity than the most exact Uniformity imaginable it being an eminent Exercise of Charity the flower of all Christian Graces and the best way I think at the long-run to make the Church as uniform as can justly be desired Thus far the Dr. To this purpose also the great Chillingworth in his 4th Chapter Sect. 16. speaks thus This presumptuous Imposing of the senses of man upon the words of God and the special senses of men upon the general words of God and laying them upon mens Consciences together under the equal penalty of Death and Damnation This vain conceit that we can speak of the things of God better than in the words of God This Deifying our own Interpretations and tyrannous Inforcing them upon others This restraining of the Word of God from that latitude and generality and the Understandings of men from that liberty wherein Christ and his Apostles left them is and hath been the only foundation of all the Schisms of the Church and that which makes them Immortal the common Incendiary of Christendom and that which tears in pieces not the Coat but the Bowels and Members of Christ Ridents Turta nec dolente Judaeo Take away these walls of separation and all will quickly be one take away this persecuting burning cursing damning of men for not subscribing to the words of them as the words of God let those leave claiming Infallibility who have no title to it and let them who in words disclaim it disclaim it also in their Actions In a word take away Tyranny which is the Devils Instrument to support Errors and Superstitions and Impieties in the several parts of the world which could not otherwise long withstand the power of Truth I say take away Tyranny and restore Christians to their just and full liberty of Captivating their understandings to Scripture only and as Rivers when they have a free passage run all to the Ocean so it may well be hoped by Gods blessing that Universal liberty thus Moderated may quickly reduce Christendom to Peace and Unity These thoughts of Peace saith he I am perswaded come from the God of Peace and to his blessing I commend them This Book of Mr. Chillingworths was Licensed by R. Bayly Vicechancellor of Oxford Dr. Purideaux Reg. Profess Dr. Fell and Dr. Stradling And Dr. Stillingfleet most excellently in his Irenicum to the same purpose tells us in the Preface That Christ who came to take away the Insupportable Yoke of the Jewish Ceremonies certainly did never intend to gall the Necks of Disciples with an other instead of it

and to reduce them in unity Whitgift propounded three Articles to the Ministers by them to be Subscribed but adds Cambden 'T is ●●credible what Controversies and Disputations arose upon this what Troubles Whitgift suffered of certain Noble Men c. How the said Whitgift vexed the poor Dissenters what Letters were writ to him from the Counsel and Treasurer Cicil upon their complaints and his Answers you have at large in a late piece called the Harmony between the old and present Nonconformists some small abridgment thereof take as followeth not unworthy of your notice viz. in a Letter sent unto the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London from her Majesties Council September 20. 1584. We have heard of late times sundry complaints against a great number of Preachers whereby some were de●rived of their Livings some suspended from their Ministry and Preaching especially such who instruct the people against your Spiritual Courts advancing their profits by such kind of proceedings and particularly the lamentable estate of the Church in the County of Essex Where there is a great number of Zealous and Learned Preachers suspended from their Cures the vacancy of their place for the most part without any Ministry or Preaching Prayers and Saments and in some places of Certain appointed to those void Rooms being persons neither of Learning nor of good Names and in other places of the Country a great number notoriously unfit Chargable with Ignorance and with great enormous faults as Drunkenness filthiness of Life Gamsters at Cards hunting of Ale Houses and such like against whom we hear not of ●ny Proceedig but that they are quietly suffered to the Slander of the Church to the offence of good people yea to the famishing them for want of good teaching and thereby dangerous to the subverting of many Weaklings from their duties to God and Her Majesty by secret Jesuits and Counterfiet Papists c. And in a Letter to the Arch-Bishop by the Lord Treasurer Burleigh Dated July 5. 1584. it is said It may please your Grace I am sorry to Trouble you so often as I do But I am more Troubled my self not only with many private Petitions of Sundary Ministers Recommended from Persons of Credit for peaceable persons yet greatly Troubled but also am I dayly now Charged by Counsellers and Publick Persons to neglect my duty in not staying these your Graces Proceedings so vehement and so general against Ministers and Preachers as the Papists thereby are greatly Encouraged and evil dsposed persons animated and thereby the Queens Majesties Safety Endangered With these kind of Arguments I am dayly Assaulted and now my Lord I am come to the sight of an Instrument of 24 Articles of great length and Curiosity formed in a Romish Stile to Examine all manner of Ministers in this time without Distinction of persons Which Articles are Intituted A pud Lambeth May 1581. To be Executed ex officio mero c. Which Articles I find so Curiously Penned so full of Branches and Circumstances and I think the Inquisitors of Spain use not so many questions to Comprehend and to Trap their Preys I know the Canonists can defend these with all their Particles but surely under your Graces Correction This Judicial and Canonical Sifting of poor Ministers is not to Edify and Reform and in Charity I think they ought not to answer to all these Nice Points except they were very Notorious Offenders in Papistry or Heresy I write with the Testimony of a Good Conscience c. This kind of Proceeding is too much Savouring the Romish Inquisition and is rather a Device to seek for Offenders then to Reform any and in another Letter adds seeking rather by Excommunication to urge 〈◊〉 to Accuse themselves and then punish them The Arch-Bishop makes a large reply In it Saith thus I have taken upon me the defence of the Religion and Rites of this Church of England to appease the Sects of Schisms therein to Reduce all the Ministry thereof to Uniformity and due Obedience Herein I intend to be constant and not to Waver with every Wind The which also my place my person my duty the Law Her Majesty and the Goodness of the Cause doth Require of me and wherein your Lordship and Others all things considered ought in duty to Assist and Countenance me It is strange that a man in my place dealing with so good Warranties as I do should be so encountred and for not yielding should be accounted wilful but I must be Contented Vincit qui patitur And if my friends herein forsake me I trust God will not neither the Law her Majesty who hath laid the Charge on me and are able to protect me Many were the Severe Laws made against the Nonconformists which were put in Execution with Great Cruelty To the Suspending Imprisoning and Executing many of the Faithful Servants of Christ in this Queens Reign whereof Fuller in his Ecclesiastical History gives a particular Account The High Commision Court that grand Grievance Set up also by her In the next place I shall give you some Confirmation of the Truth of the prevalency of Popery under a Protestant Mask in the Rites and Ceremonies imposed in these and succeeding times by the witness Bourn by several Eminent Dissenters which we find upon Record in several Books viz. A Book called the Register another the Abridgment which was a Book Delivered to King James by the Ministers of Lincoln Diocess Anno 1605. In the Register page 3. We have the 24 Articles agreed in the Synod and Confirmed by the Queen Exhibited to Mr. Edward Dering and his Answers thereto Anno 1573. whereof Receive his Answer to the first Article The Article was whether the Book Intituled the Book of Common Service allowed by publick Authority in this Realm is to be allowed in the Church of God by Gods Word or no To which he replyed That The Similitude that this Book hath with the Form of Prayer which the Papists used I think declineth from the Equity of those Laws Deut. 7. 25 12 30 18 4. Which Thing our Fathers so much Regarded in the Primitive Church that their Books are full of great Complaints against all Similitude to be had with the Gentles yea the Second Council of Bracca made a Decree that no Christian should have either Bay-leaves or Green Boughs in their houses because the Gentles so Accustomed and at this day all Reformed Churches in France Polonia Helvetia Scotland and other places have changed that Form of Prayers which Prudency of all Ages if we shall Condemn the Rebuke of the Apostle I think will Teach us 1 Cor. 14. 36. Came the Word of God out from you or came it unto you only Secondly We have the Psalms Venite Benedictus Magnificat nunc Demittis usual in our Ministry of which we can give no good reason nor I see no cause why we should more leave out Ave Maria and because of parting the Scriptures again

and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen But you 'l say as to the Doxology it is expressed by Christ at the end of the same prayer in his Sermon on the Mount Mat. 6. It is very True it is so where he delivers this prayer not as a set form but a pattern of prayer After this manner Pray ye hovto's to this purpose and which is an Explication of what he says Luke 11. 2. when you pray say Our Father c. That is after this manner and which can only be a warrant to the Church of England or any other to make such alterations Christ no more intending to tye the Disciple who desired to be instructed how to pray to this form of words nor any other Disciple then he did the twelve Disciples when he sent them out to Preach with thisword of Command Math. 10. 7. Preach saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand that they should thereby be tyed to those very words in their Preaching and Preach nothing else but as this was given as a Text or Theme to Preach by so the other to pray by The Disciple who proposes the question Vers 1. Desires that they may be taught to pray as John taught his Disciples but such a set form of Prayer we find not that John in his Teachings gave to his Disciples neither do we find that any of Christ's Disciples or Apostles did pray this very prayer to which our Expositors do agree Grotivs saith on Luke the 11. 2. That Christ herein Teacheth us a Compendium of those things we are to pray for at that time saith he they were not bound to the use of so may Words and Syllables As also Tertullian Cyprian Musculus Cornelius Alapide and Austin himself upon the place who saith Liberum est it is free for us to ask the same thing in the Lords Prayer Aliis atque aliis verbis sometime one way and sometimes another Doth not Paul tell us expresly he knew not what to pray for but as the Spirit gave him utterance Rom. 8. But he did know what to pray for if this was to be his prescript form Tertullian saith they prayed Sine Monitore without a Monitor or Common-Prayer-book and Socrates tells us that among all the Christians of that age scarce two were to befound that used the same words in Prayer Chrysostom on Rom. 8. Homil. 14. saith With other gifts they had the gift of Prayer which was also called the Spirit but he who had the gift did pray for the whole multitude for that was Expedient unto the Church also did instruct others to Pray And though we find neither Christ nor his Apostles impose this or any other form of Prayer to be used by us but that we Pray in the Spirit and Praise in the Spirits and that God being a Spirit seeketh and accepteth such worshipers yet we find the Popes and their Councils imposing this and other Lyturgical forms The Councell of Toledo Anno. 618. Decreed in the Ninth Canon that every day both in publick and private worship none of the Clergy omit the Lords Prayer under payn of Deposition since say they Christ hath prescribed this saying When you pray say Our Father c. And how formally and carnally has the Pater-noster been muttered over by the superstitious Papists ever since And may we not enquire whether in the following particulars we do not Symbolize with the Romish worship herein which the Indictment injuriously words thus And may we not say that in these following particulars for may we not enquire whether in the following particulars we do Symbolize with Idolatrous Rome herein For we do not Symbolize with the Romish herein meaning saith the indictment with an Innuendo the Book of Common Prayer whereas it only relates to the Lords prayer First By enjoyning and imposing this as a set form without the Sanction of any sacred Text to warant it which the Indictment words contrary to the Scriptures Secondly By an often repetition of the same form in the same exercise three or four times at least insomuch that in Cathedral Services it is said or sung ten or twelve times in a day contrary to Christs express words that when we pray we should not make vain repetitions as the Heathens do for they think they shall he heard for their much speaking Mat. 6. 7. Thirdly By enjoyning the whole Congregation both men and women to repeat the same after the Priest tho no such direction by Christ nay he forbids women to pray or Prophesie in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34. c. Fourthly In singing this prayer in Cathedralls by Responses of Priests and People with musick without the least Divine Authority for such Song-Praying Which the indictment saith are fictions seditious and scandalous sentences but shew not wherein Thus have you the whole paragraph and what is picked out of it to make good the charge whereby you will easely discern Whether I have done otherwise therein then given you at your Call a true and modest account of the Nonconformists Arguments why the Lords Prayer is not a stinted set form of Prayer as supposed but a pattern to pray by which is done by several Arguments viz. 1. From the practices of both Churches Rome and England who have both altered and added to it which they ought not to have done no not so much as one Syllable if so intended by Christ 2ly From the practises of the Antients and Opinions of many Learned Commentators upon the place 3ly Because neither Christ nor his Apostles have so injoyned and practised it as a stinted form 4ly Because the Church of Rome without Scripture Authority have so impose and practised it and therefore are those Queries Whether for us so to impose it with penaltys and to make often Repetitions of it with Responses of Priest and People and to sing it with Musick is not without Scripture warrant and a Symbolizing with Rome therein and where 's the Sedition Rebellion breaking the Publick peace by force and Arms in all this 2ly Whether the picking out part and leaving out the greater part changing of words and inverting of sence is not most Injurious dealing for what is it not which may not be made of any mans sayings and writings if such a liberty may be taken For may it not with such a latitude be proved by Scripture that there is no God or any such Blasphemy or Immorallity 3ly Whether the Grand Jury in honesty and good Conscience could find this Bill upon their Oaths and the Petty Jury cast me upon it and the Court past Sentence upon me thereupon without admitting the whole Paragraph to be Read and Considered as so was earnestly desired by me 4ly If this writing of mine was only occasioned and drawn forth at you Call as your Book evidenceth and as declared to the Court then doth not that hainous Charge of a Malicious and Seditious contriving intending and Machinating