in the legall dispensation when he was a little child and bound about with a linnen Ephod and so not have been admitted to minister to the Lord or in his behalf in that ministration because a child or not 23. years of age might he not either by such a Law have been bound from the work of the ministry though the Lord had called him to it and by his word both established and fitted him for it according to the Scripture 1. Sam. 2.18.19.1 Sam. 31.19 20 21. or else by that Law have suffered and been by men condemned or not approved because not called to the ministry according to their Law if so was not such a Law viz. 13. of Eliz. 12. as the parish-priests preachers and Ministers were called ordained and tolerated by or according unto their ministry a Law directly contrary to the Scriptures and in opposition to God and his word or way of calling to the ministry as aforesaid yea or nay Query XVI And might not Christ Jesus himself by such a Law have been bound and not admitted to have done his Fathers will at twelve years of age when at such an age he waxed strong in spirit being filled with wisdome and the grace of God was upon him so that he was fit to dispute and did at twelve years of age doe his Fathers business as may be read Luke 2.40 41 42. to the 50. But if it had been of late years when the Common prayer book and that way of calling to the work of the Ministry according to the Statute of the 13. of Eliz. 12. were in force if not yet might not Christ himself if he had then been personally present in England have by that Law been disallowed of and not admitted to the work of the Lord at twelve years of age nor afterward no more then by the Jews and chief priests he was who questioned his authority and said have any of the rulers or Pharisees beleeved on him if so was not that Law directly opposite to the Scriptures and contrary to the way of God as aforesaid and if he had pleaded his inward spirituall call and said his Father had sent him would not the rulers and chief priests in England have opposed and said â—n inward call without an outward according to the Law of man before mentioned would not have been sufficient yea or nay Query VII And if none might have been admitted to Minister in the behalf of the Lord but such as subscribed to the Articles agreed of in the Convocation holden at London in the year 1562. and also such as did assent to the same and read their subscription to the said Articles with a Declaration of their unfeigned assent thereunto in the parish Church where they were to serve in the time of Common prayer at or soon after their Induction being 23. years of age and before their admission brought the Bishop of the Diocess from men known to him a testimoniall of their professing the doctrine expressed in the said Articles that they might receive a testimoniall under his Seal authentick and be tolerated c according to the 13. of Eliz. 12. which was the Parish-Priests way of ordination and toleration it seems till of late that there was no Bishops to give them orders or a testimoniall under their seal authentick c. might not by the same rule or Law all the Ministers of God as true Prophets and Apostles that was sent by the Lord God and his Spirit according to the Scriptures have been disallowed of and neither admitted nor tolerated because they had not the Common prayer book nor the Articles that was but agreed of in the Convocation holden at London as they were agreed of in the time of apostacy therefore they could not subscribe to them nor read any Declaration of their unfeigned assent thereunto in the Parish Church because they had no such Parish Church nor Popish stuffe among the true Gospel-Ministers before the apostacy spoken of in the Scriptures and if the Lord should have sent any by his Spirit according to the order of the true Prophets and Apostles might they not have been disallowed of and not admitted into the work of the Ministry in England c. if they could not submit to that Popish stuffe and inventions of the false Christs and false Prophets or errour of the parish priestâ—â— c. that came in since the apostacy and must not such as the Lord sends now and hereafter by his Spirit and according to his word be disallowed and denyed by the parish-priests c. if they can not submit to their other inventions or former Popish traditions yea or nay Query XVIII Was it not declared in the Statute of the 13. of Eliz 12. that none should be admitted to administer the Sacraments when the Common prayer book and that Service was in force untill he were 24. years of age and was not the Sacraments and Sacramentalls formerly whilst the Mass book was in force commonly called the Mass see the Statute of the 2. 3. of Ed. 6. Chap. 1. And if the Sacraments and Sacramentals were called the Mass whilst the mass-Mass-book was in force was they not the same in the time of the Common prayer book and are they not the same that they were seeing the Scripture speaks nothing of either Sacraments or Mass yea or nay Query XIX Did not the Pope after the apostacy when he caused Tithes Oblations Obventions c. to be paid to the Parish-Priests Parsons and Rectors c. cause the same to be paid to them and such like onely as were of the Popish order and preached up his interest and observed the Mass book and that service and worship onely which was then set up and by him allowed of yea or nay Query XX. If so then whether ought not those Tithes Oblations Obventions c. to have ceased and returned back to the people againe when he and that worship and service was denyed for which they were payed or is the worship and service in the ground of Superstition and Popery made void where and by whom Tithes Oblations Obventions c. are received which the Pope at first since the apostacy created or caused to be paid yea or nay Query XXI Did King Henry the 8. when he denyed the Pope to be head of the Church of England called the holy Church then deny the Tithes and make them void which the Pope had created or caused before to be paid and did he put down Tithes to cause them to returne to the people againe whose right they were before the Pope caused the people to pay to them to his Priests Parsons and Rectors c. or did not King Henry and his Parliament when the Pope was denyed to be head of the Church confer and state the Popes former Creation or gift as Tithes Oblations Obventions c. upon the Prelates or the Kings Parish-Priests Parsons and Rectors c. and were they not then to observe to
c. to receive a marke in their right hand and in their foreheads Rev. 13.16 and was not Cathedralls and Parish Churches so called with the rest of the superstition their attendants and sprinkling infants with the marke in the forehead set up in the time of Apostacy and did not the Pope by his decretall Epistle cause Tithes to be paid to the Parsons and Rectors of Parishes and did they not so become Lex terrae and so into parochiall rights so called thâ—â—e from See Cookes 2. part Institutes fol. 641.642 was not that the ground and rise of Tithes in England to the Parish Priests Parsons and Rectors c. Did not the Pope create those names of Parsons and Rectors c. in the time of Apostacy with a great number more of them and was not those names that he created of the number of the Beast which is said to be the number of a man c. Rev. 13.18 and is not many of those names which the Pope created yet upheld and stood in as Parsons and Rectors c. And doe they not hold Tithes under such denominations if so is not that an evident demonstration that they are yet in the Popes creation and of his succession and as Iohn in the Revelation speaketh of the Beast and his worship that took place in the Apostacy doth he not speak of the Image of the Beast that had life given to it in severall appearances was not those Images of the Beast severall inventions and set formes of worship which had life given to them by nationall Laws or else by force of the said Laws people were bound to the Image and worship of the Beast or for their refusall they suffered deeply and was not the Mass Book an invention of the Beast and one of his images or forme of worship set up in England as well as other place And was not people in England a long time bound to the Mass Book or that image and worship of the Beast and when that was discovered or denyed by Ed. 6. was not the Common Prayer book set up in the stead thereof See the Statute of the 1. and 2. Edw. 6.1 and was not that another invention or image of the Beast and set forme of worship which had life given to it by a Law though not much differing from the former viz. the Mass book and was not the life of that image or worship viz. the Common Prayer book taken away againe by a Law of Queen Maries and did not she by the same Law give life againe to the former image of the Beast that is to say the Mass book or that forme of worship which was in the time of Hen. the 8. See Sessio secunda Anno Mariae primo Cap. 2. and 3. And did not Elizabeth who the next after succeeded Mary repeale those Laws that gave life to the Mass book and did she not set up the Common Prayer book againe and give life to the same by a Law or thereby compell and binde people to the performance and worship of that image and uniforme worship set up by Eâ— 6. viz. the Common Prayer book See the Statute of the 1 Eliz. 2. And was not the same worship cried up as the true Christian Protestant Religion and confirmed by severall Parliaments or stood in force during the times of James and Charles late Kings of England untill it was discovered and the life of it viz. the Common Prayer book was taken away in the time of the late war or the said Common Prayer book was by Act of Parliament disanulled And what was the next unto that but a Directory and was it not fetcht out of Scotland and set up to be observed and what must be next the Common Prayer book againe or something of the like nature drawn up into an uniforme or would not the Patish Priests Parsons and Rectors c. have it to be so else what meaneth the pleading of some of them for the Common Prayer book or the like uniforme worship may it not be well said that people and nations are as waters tossed to and fro that have been and are so unsetled about their Religion since the coming of the false Christs and false Prophets in the time of Apostacy hath not the Beast which Iohn in the Revelations speaks of made war with the Saints ever since the time of the coming of the false Prophets spoken of by Christ Mat. 24. or since the time that Apostacy took place and hath he not to wit the Beast overcome the Saints by persecuting and putting them to death but is not the promise that the Lamb shall overcome and them that are with him who are called and chosen and faithfull and must not the everlasting Gospel be preached againe to all Nations and Kindreds and Peoples hath not the Beast long reigned in Apostacy and did not Iohn before his decease foresee it and declared that the Beast had power given over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations and hath not all that dwell upon the earth worshipped the Beast but them that is to say the elect whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world and is not the prophecy of Iohn in the Revelations since the Apostacy and coming of the aforesaid false Prophets largely fulfilled Rev. 13.7.8 And hath not the Beast according to that prophecy long had power over Tongues and to have power over Tongues hath it not been to order them by Masters of Art Batchelors of Art Vice-Chancelors over Colledges and others such as are of the number of the names of the Beast who are expert in the deceit or Magick Art c. and is not those Tongues that are so ordered which the Beast hath power over as aforesaid learned at Colledges c. and are not those Colledges called by names given in the time of Popery and was they not then erected c. and is not the Beast yet worshipped and must they not drink of the wine of the wrath of God poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and be tormented night and day who worship the Beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name as saith Iohn in the Revelations Chap. 14.9,10 11. What is the whores Cup of fornication and the great whore that hath long sitten upon the waters with which whore the Kings of the earth have committed fornication in which the blood of the Martyrs is found See Reve. 17. and read with understanding are not the waters where the whore sitteth there spoken of declared to be peoples and multitudes and Nations and Tongues ver 15. doth the whore sit upon Tongues what upon Greek Latine and Hebrew Schollers at Universities or Colledges now and ever since they were erected or set up in the time of Apostacy after the coming of the false Christs and false Prophets that Christ said should come and Iohn saw were come and have they
estate of Popery and Prelacy and did not the Kings and Nobles of the land and their Ancestors at that time to the end that they and the people might be informed and for other works where the Churches were founded and for the souls of the Founders their Heirs c. give certain possessions as well in Fees Lands Rents as in advousons which did extend to a great value and were they not assigned by the said Founders to the Prelates c. to sustaine the same charge and especially of the possessions which were assigned to Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors c. by the Kings of England Earls Barons and other great men of the same c. And did they not think to merit by their works in so doing and had not the Pope of Rome then a great hand amongst them when the Church was so founded and the possessions by the founders to the Prelates c. were so assigned yea or nay See the Statute of the 25. of Edw. 3. in the year 1350. Query III. Was not Tithes free for any man to give after the Apostles times till the time of Pope Innocent the third and did not he decree by his decretall Epistle at his Councel held at Lateran that Tithes should be paid to the Parsons and Rectors of Parishes and did they not so become lexterrae and into parrochiall rights so called there from See Cooks 2. part Instit fol 641 642. was not here the rise of Tithes in the time of apostacy to the Parish-Priests Parsons and Rectors c. And was they not established by an earthly Law and so not jure divino yea or nay Query IV. Had not the Pope a covetous end to himself in causing Tithes to be paid as aforesaid and was not his end to have the tenth part of the tenths in imitation of the Jewish high Priests or as may be seen in Cooks 2. part Institut And whether is the Popes part as yet cast out from amongst the Parish-Priests Parsons and Rectors c. yea or nay Query V. Had not the Pope of Rome the order and rule amongst Tithes and the Priesthood and gifter of the Arch Bishopricks and Bishopricks when they fell void here in England c. until the time of King Henry the eight See Cooks 2. part Instit fol. 652 653. and Stat. the 24. of Hen. 8.12 and Stat. 28. of Hent the 8.10.16 Stat. 25. Hen. 8.20 11. And was not the Arch-Bishops and Bishops c. till Hen. 8. before they were elected consecrated and invested into their offices and dignities c. first to be nominated and presented by the King c. to the Pope of Rome and did they not from him viz. the Pope or by his order and appointment till then receive Bulls Pales Briefs Rescripts Delegacies Instruments Benedictions and Ceremonies and all things as it is said requisite thereunto belonging yea or nay See the Stat of the 25. of Hen. 8 Chap. 20. Query VI. And after the Pope was denied to be supreame head on earth of the Church of England was not Henry the eight and his successort as Kings and Queens of England c. declared to be head on earth of the Church of England aforesaid and was not the Priesthood after the Pope was denyed to be head to hold their places and Benefices which they received before in the Popes reign c. by the Orders Rescripts Delegacies Bulls Pales c. as they had been tollerated and set therein by the Pope and his Bulls c. yea or nay See the Stat. of the 24. of Hen 8,12 and 25. of Hen. 8.20 21. Chap. Query VII And when the Pope was cast out and denyed to be head of the Church and Henry the eight set up to be head did they not enact and declare how to ordaine and consecrate Arch-Bishops and Bishops in England after that and was not the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury set up partly like a little Pope and were not they of the order of the Priesthood to receive under his seal authentick together with the broad Seal of England Orders Grants Rescripts Build Pales Briefs Faculties Dispenfations Benedictions and Ceremonies and such things as used to be had arid obtained of the Pope at the See of Rome before that time if so wherein did the Priesthood of England succeed the Apostlés of Christ but rather the Popes of Rome and whether did they differ much at that time from the Popish Priests yea or nay See the Statutes afore mentioned Query VIII Was not the Mass book in force till the time of Edward the sixth and did not he deny the Mass book to set up the Common Prayer book in its stead 1. 2. of Edw. 6. Chap. 1. and was not that cryed up as the true Christian Protestant Religion and accounted the publick profession of the Nation c. and was not that mightily cryed up whilst an outward Law gave it life and did not Queen Mary deny the Common Prayer book to set up the Mass book in England againe and was not that cryed up for its time and while an outward Law gave life to it was it not both by priests and people had in great esteeme and they by Law bound to the same yea or nay Sessio secunda Anno Mariae primo Chap. 2.3 Query IX Did not Queen Elizabeth deny the Mass book and set up the Common Prayer book againe and by a Law binde people to the same thereby denying all Laws that was for the upholding any other worship c. 1. of Eliz. Chap. 2. and did not that stand in force till of lace that it was made void by act of Parliament and if all that Religion and worship was false and not true hath not the priests been the greater deceivers and manifested themselves to be the false Prophets and have they not shewed themselves and their rise to be from the Pope and are they not on the top of Popery and ground of superstition yea or nay Query X. Had not the Pope his pensions and Peter pence and other things in England till Henry the eight and when Henry the eight put the Pope out of them did he not let the Bishops and priests into the worlds honours or endow them with the Popes ornaments as pensions Easter reckonings smoke pence c. or Tithes Oblasations Obventions c. to keep them from corruption and sinister affection and if corruption and sinister affection be sin and priests plead for the same terme of life doe not they that so pleade both plead against the Law and one end for which Tithes were given and so plead against Tithes terme of life and impleading against the intent of the Law and one of the chief ends for which Tithes were given doe they not plead thereby that they have no right to them and so make them void by that plea yea or nay also see the Statute of the 24. of Hen. 8. Chap. 12.25 of Hen. 8.21 27. Hen. 8.20.21 Query XI And
England by the Kings Prelates or parish-priests Parsons Rectors Curates and Clerks and was not that way and Baptism afore mentioned cryed up as the onely way and Baptism whilst the nationall Law favoured it or tolerated the parish-priests Parsons Rectors Curates and Clerks in and about the same viz. the aforesaid pretended way to the new-birth and Infants-Baptism And if you say it was true and not false why have you lest it or doth the Ordinances and ministry of Christ according to the Scriptures alter and change at every change of a nationall Government if not then whether are you the Ministers of Christs according to the spirit of truth and agreeable to the Scriptures or nationall Ministers onely like unto your fore-fathers yea or nay Query XXV And have you not engaged people by promise and vow to be perfect and free from sin upon which account were they not declared to be Christians and Member of Christ c. when you pretended to enter them into the Covenant of Baptism and make them children of God and inheritourâ— of the kingdome of Heaven c. by causing Suerties as Peoffies in trust c. in the Childs Infancy to promise and vow in the behalf of the Child That it should for sake the Devil and all his works the pompes and vanities of the wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh and carnall desires of the same and that they should neither follow them nor be led by them but that they should keep Gods holy will and Commandements all the days of their life and was not the Children by their own confession and promise bound to the same when they were formerly Catechised after they came as it was said to years of discretion and to forsake the Devil and all his works is not that to forsake the worker of iniquity aswell as to forsake all sin and unrighteousness whatsoever because all sin is the works of the Devill who is the chief worker of iniquity and for people to keep Gods holy will and Commaâ—dements all the days of their life Is not that to refuse to serve the Devill all the days of their life and not to commit sin or obey his commands any of the dayes of their life How comes it to pass then that now you labour to absolve peop1e from their former engagement caused by you and your fore-fathers to be made against the Devill and all his works Bâ— preaching and perswading them yea and the same people that you engaged to the contrary now and telling them they must now sinterme of life what is that but a Popish trick and to teach them viz. the people that you engaged against the Devill and all his works c. At the enarance into the Covenant of Baptism upon such a condition which now you labour to absolve and teach to break the condition of their Covenant of Baptism so called and to break the condition of the Covenant is not that to violate the Covenant and make it void c. if so whether are not you and the people that willingly doe see the false Prophets Ring-leaders of Sects since the apostacy and truce-breakers or Anti-Christians yea or nay Query XXVI And if you the parish-ministers c. say these things was in the dayes of the late Kings and Bishops and are past and not to be heeded now for the Government is changed and the Ministry being nationall and not Apostolicall or spirituall and according to the Scriptures but is alterable and changeth as the nationall Government changeth and therefore couclude that you are not now accounted the Ministers of Christ but publick preachers for a nationall maintenance c. if so I aske then if you have not the more to answer for and all such and were you not sworne to the Common prayer book and that order of worship that was in the time of the late Bishops if so how can you clear your selves in the sight of God who have builded people up in those things if the former be granted that are accounted by you to be of no use and cryed them up then as the Ordinances of God and way to the new birth and Covenant of Baptism c. concluding formerly that without such things people could not be saved Is it not time for people to look about them and to beware of the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ And whether can you truly plead antiquity and succession from the Apostles about your worship Churches and Ordinances or Ministry in manner and matter according to the Scriptures and the Apostolicall order and not lie before the Lord and in the sight of the Son And whether is your Ministry Ordination and Toleration without Alteration c. of any long standing at a certainty or but within these few years or under the number of twelve yea or nay Query XXVII Are you not offended that the Lord doth discover your deeds of darkness and bring people off from your deceits and Popish traditions c. to the true spiritual teachings and worship of God againe and to the Church of which Christ Jesus is head according to the Scriptures as was before the apostacy and would you not rather have the Saints whipt and scourged or sent to the house of correction c. and have the truth supprest if you could and the Church of God persecuted and scattered if you might have your wills rather than have unrighteousness and wickedness false Ministers and the false Ministry discovered reproved and denied that truth in its pure appearances may be â—alted yea or nay let that of God in you answer and flesh or deceit be kept silent and under the Cross POSTSCRIPT ANd let all honest people and true Christians who reads this minde to reade with a right understanding to the end that they may be rightly informed and see if they can yet know who are the false Prophets and if they search the old Laws and Records of the Nation may they not see the rise ground ordination and succession of them in the time of Apostacy to spring out of and from the root of Popery And may they not see the path that the Parish-Priests c. and the people formerly deceived by them have walked in viz. First to the Mass book and the like Popish Worship And from the Mass book they ascended to the Common prayer book and going backward they went from the Common prayer book to the Mass book againe and from the Mass book they ascended to the Common prayer book again and stood still in it for a time then the Common prayer book was left and the Directory took place and is not some thing else preparing instead thereof But now is the Lord teaching by his Spirit and seeking people to the true Spiritual worship againe Joh. 4.23 24. for ever praised be his name FINIS