A SHORT VIEVV of the Praelaticall Church of ENGLAND Wherein is set forth the horrible abuses in Discipline and Government layd open in tenne SECTIONS by way of Quare and Petition the severall heads whereof are set downe in the next Page Whereunto is added a short draught of Church-government EZEK. 34. 3 4 10. Woe bee to the Shepheards of Israell that feed themselves Yee eate the Fat and cloath you with the Wooll yee kill them that are fed but yee feed not the flocke but with force and with cruelty have yee ruled them Behold I am against the Shepheards and I will require my flocke at their hands and cause them to cease from feeding the flocke neither shall they feed themselves any more Printed in the yeare MDCXLI SECTION I. OF the title of the Church and why it is called Prelaticall SECTION II. Of the principall persons in this Prelaticall Church and their Dependents SECTION III. Of the meanes to support their Prelaticall greatnesse SECTION IV. Of the Prelaticall rule and government and the ends they aime at SECTION V. Of the Prelaticall visitations SECTION VI Of the Prelaticall Churches and the dependents on them SECTION VII Of the Prelaticall Service SECTION VIII Of the Prelaticall Ministerie SECTION IX Of the Prelaticall Convocation SECTION X. Of the great and manifold evils of these Prelaticall governments A SHORT VIEVV OF THE Prelaticall Church of ENGLAND SECTION I. Of the title Church and why it 's called Prelaticall THe Church of England now so called is the Church of our Prelates and may be rightly tearmed the Prelaticall or Hierarchicall Church of England received from Rome the seat of Antichrist and set up here after he Protestants fell off from that Papall Church for it 's framed of Prelates and also of a Prelaticall Clergie and onely ruled by them QVAERE Whither any such Church was ever in the Apostles dayes or any time shortly after within 2 or 300. yeares Whither any such Church be among any of the reformed Churches or anywhere else but under the Pope the Beast which hath two hornes like a Lambe but speaketh like a Dragon Rev. 13 Whither therefore it be guided by the Spirit of Christ or by the Spirit of Antichrist Whither God hath ever permitted any mortall men frame a Church after their wisedome For when hee gave 1 The Paterne for his Tabernacle to Moses Exo. 25.9 and 26.30 Heb. 8.5 2 The Paterne of his Temple to David 1 Chr. 28.19 verse 11 12 13. 1 K. 6.38 3 The Paterne of the rebuilding of it to the Prophet Ezek. 43 10 11. He did not suffer MOSES nor DAVID nor SALOMON nor the Prophet nor any of them to attempt such a thing Was he so carefull for the type and shadow and not for the Antitype and substance Whither therefore a frame of a Church after an humaine devise may not be altered vpon good reasons by lawfull power The humble Petition That it may be considered of HOw according to the Romish fashion by the name of Church 1 The Prelates vnderstand onely themselves and as they call them their Clergie 2 Than they seclude the Nobles and Gentry the whole House of Parliament the Vpper and Lower from being of the Church and so debarre them from having any right to meddle in Church matters When the title of Church monopolized to themselves is taken in Scripture of the New Testament Either for the Ministers and people together Mat. 16. 18. Act. 12.1 13.1 9.31 15.22 14.27 and so usually Or for the people distinct from Ministers Act. 14.23 where the people are called the Church before they had Pastours set over them Where Pastours and people are distinguished there the people are called the Church and not the Ministers the Ministers are said to bee of the Church and not the Church Rev. 18.2.1.8 The Churches denomination is from the people who also are the Lords Clergie 1 Pet. 5.3 The word in English is Heritage the Latin Cleri and in the Greeke {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} There is much complaint touching Monopolies in another nature but this is taken no notice of and yet this Monoply is a Mystery of mischiefes for by this name of the Church assumed to themselves 1 They dignifie very greatly their power as may appeare by the 20. Article of Religion which they have corrupted from that it was at first set out in Anno 1561. 1571. 2. They decree what they please without controle as is evident by their former and late Canons 3. They strike an awefulnesse in all sorts vnder the sacred name of Church When the Church representative ought to be gathered of both sorts as they be now distinguished of the Learned and Godly Laity as well as of the Clergie Why should therefore the whole Lords and Christian Spirits of the Gentry lose the right into which the holy Ghost by calling them and the rest his Church hath invested them In former times Parliaments have confirmed Injunctions Ecclesiasticall and our Service Booke containing Gods worship matters of an high nature and why not still so And if the Nobles and Commons can claim so much as to ratifie ye matters Ecclesiastical being concluded vpon I hope it is by perusall therof before els how can they in judgement confirme them And if they have wisedome from God to confirme them made why may not some chosen men bee appointed to consult with the Convocation House about the framing of those things which are to bee set forth seeing they very much concerne all The Brethren at the great Councill at Ierusalem were not shut out while the Apostles and Elders came together to consider of a great controversie in Divinity and in making their decrees but when they were sent forth they passed vnder their owne name with the name of the brethren also Act. 15.6.22 23. David consulted with the Laity as well as with the Priests and Levits to bring vp the Ark of God 1 Chr. 13.1 2.3 Hezekiah concerning the keeping of the Passeover tooke counsell thereabout not with the Priests onely but with his Princes and all the Congregation in Jerusalem 2 Chro. 30.1 2. This Monopoly was not then learned among Gods ancient people nor among the holy Apostles in their dayes SECTION II. Of the principall persons in this Prelaticall Church and of their Dependents vpon them 1 There are two Provinciall Archbishops The one of the Province of Yorke Metropolitan of England the other of Canterbury Metropolitan of all England Dependents on Canterbury 1 His Princelike Retinue 2 His Domesticke Chapleines and the rest 3 Houshold Servants 4 All his Officers for temporalities and the Revenues thereof which are very great 5 All his Spirituall Officers under him which are these 1 His Vicar Generall 2 His Guardians of Spiritualities 3 The Deane of the Arches with all the number depending upon them 4 His many Courts The Court of Faculties The Court of Audience The Prerogative Court The Delegates
to be divine but humane from the King as hath heretofore beene fully acknowledged That the power of the high Commission in ministring the Oath ex Officio be taken away as also in all other inferiour Courts and that it may be a limited power vnder Law in all the proceedings in citing examining judgeing fining and imprisoning that so the complaints of Gods Ministers and others may not still cry alowd in the Lords eares to bring downe wrath Who can but pity with teares of bloud the insufferable misery of Mr. Peter Smart of Durham for preaching against setting up of Images and Altars the severe bandling of Mr. George Huntley Mr. Crowder ministers and many others That by their high authority they may not be suffred to hinder such as be troubled from taking the benefit of Regall courses to helpe themselves and neither Judges nor Lawyers be made so to feare at the one sort dare not freely plead for them nor the other judge but with feare as they ought not That seeing they are otherwise sufficiently provided for they make not such wicked gaine in making and instituting Ministers in giving Lycenses in imposing penance in absolving all the rest before named to the great grievance of his Maiesties Subiects robbing them of a treasurie of mony and making sale of Gods holy Ordinances Is there Symonie in buying a benefice and none in giving money for the vse of Spirituall gifts That they make no encroachments vpon the Subiects liberties as they doe proved fully by the Author of the Breviate SECTION V. Of their Prelaticall Visitations These are pecuniary meerely for money I. Are Bishops Visitations and in these I. CHurchwardens of every Parish and Chappell are called who receive a booke of Articles to present by if any are wanting they are warned to appeare at their Court with Cost These Churchwardens pay for their booke of Articles every yeare though the very same and for other things and for writing their presentments by a Clarke which they themselves could doe 2s 4d which in 9285 Parishes commeth to 1058l xis viijd besides Chappels which be here and there many II. Ministers beneficed These pay for Lycenses to preach if they have none Then they pay for shewing their Letters of Orders their License to preach unto the Register at every Bishops Visitation though seene and allowed of before xxd or thereabouts After for procurations to the Bishop 4 s a piece to the Gentleman Apparitour 8d but the abler sort xijd Lastly sometimes the Bishops crave Benevolence as the occasion is but the summe they will set downe Besides all these they pay Paschal tents or Synodals to the Archd. in the Bishops visiting III. Curats If they want Licenses to read preach or teach a Schoole then they pay for them Then for shewing their Letters of orders so that in 9285 Parishes the summe will arise to some thousands of pounds Thus they doe at Archbishops Visitations but when an Archbishop comes newly to Yorke the Parsons and Vicars though never so poore under him give him a tenth of their living for a benevolence to helpe the Archbishop to settle himselfe in 5 or 6 thousand pounds a yeare which extorted benevolence if not paid him of the poorest Vicar the Reverend Father out of his mercifulnesse will pittifully afflict him in his Court II. Archdeacons Visitations These be twise a yeare here the Churchwardens doe as before The Ministers pay At Easter Visitation their Paschal Rents or Synodals which summes are not alike to all some pay 5 s. some lesse At Michalmas they pay procurations some 7 s. some 10 s. some lesse but it 's judged that Ministers pay yearely at Visitations throughout the Land 4 or 5 thousand pounds some reckon more And what is all this for 1 To call every Minister by name and to pay as is aforesaid 2 To call Churchwardens Questmen Sidemen or Posts as some name them to take their Oathes to make presentments that men may be brought into their Courts to get money QVAERE WHither these Visitations be after God or man Whither any can be hereby bettered by them either for life or doctrine Whither any reformed Churches keepe such kind of Visitations and such a manner of visiting Whither these be worthy of so many thousand pounds for calling such visitations Whither such meetings bee worthy the assembling together of so great a number of the Clergie and Laity The number out of 9285 Parishes to wit one Minister besides Curates and 4 men Churchwardens and Sidemen or Posts besides 2 in every Chappelry are above 45 thousand at one visitation and both the number double is 90000 where if they expend alike xijd a man for dinner and horsemeate as usually they doe the summe doth arise in both the visitations throughout the Land to 4000. and 500. pounds yearely Why should men cast away so much money yearly yeare by yeare for upholding them in such vaine Visitations injurious to others and onely gainefull to themselves The humble Petition THat some way may be taken to make more vsefull these Visitations in calling together so many thousands than thus onely to fill their purses That neither the Bishops nor Archdeacons be permitted to frame Articles so vnlawfully out of the Canons with sundry of their owne additions as may appeare by comparing some of their Articles with the Canons which every Parish is bound to have and so need none of their Articles That threescore and fourteene thousand men be not constrained to sweare threescore and fourteen thousand oaths yearely as they doe to their soules damnation without repentance For I. Not any doe nor can keepe the oath in presenting all offences faults defaults and crimes as they call them mentioned in so numerous Articles and so doe forsweare themselves which breach of oath goeth through the whole Land and with every oath goeth a Curse II. If men should present for offences faults and crimes every thing according to every Article then they cursedly sweare to present for sinnes offences faults and crimes which before the Almighty God are none as for instance A Minister to preach in his owne charge without a Lycense or in a Cloake A Father at Baptisme to offer to the Minister his owne Child and vndertake for the Infants education and so prevent an high presumption of others who may be witnesses but not vndertakers promising for the Child that which they neither can nor ever intend to doe Some going to another Parish to heare Sermons which at Baptisme they are exhorted vnto when they have none at home Some meeting together to read the Scripture and good Bookes allowed to bee printed to sing Psalmes and pray together A poore man and in need to worke vpon an holy day for reliefe of his poore family A Minister or a Deacon having vnworthily taken those callings vpon them to leave the same upon trouble of conscience because they find themselves to be utterly vnfit and to betake themselves to some more fit course
freed from corruption and in such a forme as may have no resemblance to the Romish service for by this Papists are but hardened and other fall away That no Ceremonies be ordained but what may be found to agree with all the Apostles rules made for the vse of things indifferent That the vse of them be free and not rigorously imposed nor the failing otherwise of painefull and peaceable men to conforme in some things be more severely looked after and punished more sharpely than the grosse enormities of their conformitant Priests SECTION VIII Of the Prelaticall Ministerie THe conformitant Priests so they now are called which properly belong to this Prelaticall Church and come from cursed Rome are these 1 All dumbe Ministers of which there be yet in the Land two or three thousand if not many more 2 All Pluralists of which there be very many in some Diocesses 30 in some 40. why should some have two other tot quotes when worthy men have not one 3 All Nonresidents such are commonly these Bishops which have Commendams Deanes Archdeacons Canon Residents in Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches Prebendaries some Heads of some Colledges Domesticke Chaplaines 4 All Curates which are Vnder Pluralists Vnder Nonresidents Vnder some idle Doctors and some other Parsons and Vicars Vnder Lay and impropriate Parsons the number of which are 3800 and odde in this Kingdome 5 All idle Droanes monethly and quarterly Preachers or which preach perhaps once a yeare or not at all at home though it may be now and then abroad 6 All lewd and base ministers as also the meere Worldlings and Mammonists of which sort there be no fewer than some thousands 7 All Popishly affected and all Arminians may be added to these to make vp these Locusts vnder their King Abbaddon and Apollyon QVAERE Whether these be sufferable in any reformed Church of Christ What care hath beene taken hitherto to reforme this so great wickednesse and mischiefe to Gods people How many thousands perish vnder these for lacke of knowledge are their bloud of no price with men whom Christ hath purchased with his owne blood The humble Petition THat there might be a speedy redresse concerning these so much spoken against and written against from time to time disallowed of God and all Christian Churches separated from the Church of Rome and not tollerable in Christ his Church where he raigneth by his owne word in his owne ordinances as hee hath appointed SECTION IX Of their Prelaticall Convocation I. This is a Provinciall assembly for the Province of Canterbury which consists of the Archbishop the President of all the other Bishops vnder him Deanes Archdeacons with others and of the two Ministers chosen out of every Dyocesse called the Clarkes of the Convocation to the number of 40 and odde These Clarkes should be chosen freely by the publicke consent and voice of all the Ministers in every Diocesses but the Prelates propound whom they list or like best for their purpose and to aske voyces which are given to them of many through feare so as the choise is not free as it ought to be II. That which is intended to be done there is contrived and hammered in the head of the Archbishop and some few with him to which the rest of the fearefull Bishops doe consent III. In the lower house the Priests Parsons Vicars those Clarkes sit there to gaze one on another and to tell the Clock waiting for their Lessons from their Lords the Prelates There is no freedome of voyces they dare not consult among themselves to promote the cause of Christ and to reforme abuses The better sort are the fewest and are Either overawed by the greatest Or borne downe by the worst So as they bee made to consent to the making of such Canons as they would not and these are thrust vpon us as the Constitutions of the Church of England When it s nothing so but of a strong faction of Prelates and their adherents who set them forth and obtrude them vpon us vnjustly IV. The Canons they make are many not a few of them to vphold their Prelaticall authority and vnapprovable courses many of them without warrant from holy Scripture Some of them against Scripture Some of them Superstitiously Ceremonious Some of them blind Canons as these 1. Against Popery and Superstition but they tell us not what Popery is what Superstition is 2 Against Socinianisme but without declaring what that damnable heresie is almost every one of them needeth examination and to be rectified for the peace of Gods people and the Churches edification Note moreover that in setting forth their so many Canons there be none charged against Armianisme that Semipelagian heresie None against the Prelates themselves for their innovations and exorbitancies as if they could not erre nor ever doe amisse Lastly before they breake vp they looke not to have their Canons ratified by Parliament as they ought but doe make themselves as Clergie men onely to bee the Church and not any else in the Land with them to be the Church wch should not by godly wise men be digested V. To the dissolving of this their Convocation they presume 1 To make it a Synod without a new call and Summons 2 To give great summes out of all Parsons and Vicars purses vnder the name of a benevolence and yet rate every one at a certaine summe as a subsidy and that vnder the penalty of deprivation and vtter ruine of them that doe not pay setting forth a Booke to this purpose which they will that Lay men should not see VI After some space of time 1 They collect Articles every Bishop in his Diocesse and every Archdeacon in his Archdeaconry out of those Canons which Articles they impose vpon all Church-wardens and Sidemen and by them to present vpon oath Then if any thing happen to become questionable touching the Canons or other things for and about their Church their Service and Ceremonies every Bishop in his Dyocesse doth take vpon him to give a sense and interpretation as he pleaseth on which we must rest though they be never so absurd and not take the words as they be in the Letter till there be an other Convocation to decide the question and doubt arising as they ought to doe and if men be not satisfied they labour to gaine the helpe of Royall authority by some publicke Declaration to make good what they say and doe and so lappe vp all vnder the authority of the Church QVAERE Whether such a Convocation can justly be approved Whether such Canons comming forth are to bee held the Canons of the Church of England Whether they be of all to be submitted vnto before they be confirmed by act of Parliament Why more Canons are added and not rather the other reformed Why they establish and countenance all their decrees so as if they were of an vnchangeable nature ordained without errour and necessarily vsefull ever and every where The humble Petition THat his Majestie