which he themselves have subscribed Such undoubted Sons disciples and followers are they of our Saviour in this particular 11. Our Saviour Christ when he preached read only his Text and then closed the Booke and gave it againe to the minister sate down preached without book Luke 4. 17. to 22. Our Prelates when ever they chance to preach commonly read not onely their Texts but their who◅e Sermons too if not their very prayers being so dull of memory that whereas our stage-players can get their parts by heart though they act every day of the weeke yet their stupid block-headed Lordships cannot conne one Sermon by heart in a yeare or two their doctrine being so far from sinking into their owne hearts that it never so much as enters into their heads when they preach it but onely into their books where they leave shut it up close prisoner into their lips which presently vent it out againe Are they not then very deuout Preachers very much in ◅oue with Gods word with which they will neither trouble their braines nor hearts sweet followers of our Sauiours steps in this particular 12. Our Sauior Christ with fasting praying weeping preaching was so leane that he might tel al his bones Psal. 22. 17. Our Lord Prelates with feasting Lording laughing sleeping loytering are so fat plumpe for the most part that they or others can neither tell nor feele their bones 13. Our Sauiour Christ was full of grace goodnes and truth Iohn 1. 14. Lord Prelates are cōmonly ◅ul of gracelesnes profanenesse malice enuy pride ambition couetousnes idlenes di◅imulation and hypocrisy hauing little reall but only meere titular grace to adorne them 14. Our Sauior Christ made both the deafe to heare the blind to see and the dumbe to speake Math. 9. 33. c. 12. 22. c. 15. 30. 31. Our Lord Prelates make the hearers of Gods Word deafe for want of preaching the seing blinde through ignorance and our preaching Ministers dumbe by silencing and suspending them 16. Christ sent forth his disciples not to read Homilies or divine service which every clowne or schoole boy can doe as well as the learnedst Minister but to preach the Gospell Math. 10. 7. 10. 14. Luke 9. 2 3 4 5 6. c. 10. 2. to 15. and that as well in mens private houses as the publicke Synagogues Ibid. and Acts 5. 42. c. 20. 20. which now for sooth our Lordly Prelates condemne and censure for a conventicle yea hee bid and commanded his disciples goe into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature teaching them to observe all things that hee had commanded them Math. 28. 19. 20. M◅rke 16. 15. yea he enjoyned them earnestly to seed his flocke and Lambes Iohn 21. 15 16 17. Our Lord Prelates silence and suspend Christs faithfull Ministers prohibiting them not only in private houses but in Churches to to preach the Gospell to their people send them about only to read divine service and homilies and command them to observe and subscribe to whatsoever Canons Orders Articles Ceremonies and Injunctions they shall prescribe them though con◅rary to Christs charging them not to feed but fleece their Lambes and Sheepe And are they not then good Pastors 16. Our Saviour Christ was the goo◅ Sheopard that laid downe his life for his Sheep◅ hee knew his Sheepe and was knowne againe of them and they heard and knewe his voyce Iohn 10. 6. 11. to 16. Lord Prelates are rather Wolves then Sheopards reddier to take away theire Sheepes lives then to lay downe their lives for their Sheepe many of them being so farre from knowing their Sheepe by name that they never so much as saw them the most of their Sheepe never so much as seeing or knowing their faces much l◅sse hearing or knowing their voyces in the Pulpit many of them though they have thousands by the yeare of purpose to preach to their Sheepe not so much as bestowing on Sermon on them in 3. or 4. yeares space receiving above 3. or 4000. pounds for every Sermon they preach too greate a rate sor so little w◅rke Yt thesemen were Tankard-bearers and should sell their watter at that rare they take for their Sermons our water certainely would be far◅e dearer then the richest wine Yet many of their Sermons for which they take so much are scarce so good as ditch watter 17. Our Saviour Christ though he were equall with God the Father yet he made himselfe of no reputation but tooke upon him the forme of a Servant was made in the likenesse of men ◅ubling himselfe for farre that he became obedient to death even to the dreath of the Crosse Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Our Lord Prelats though equal comonly in birth to the meanest Peasants yet in doubt in imitation of our Sauiour make themselves of so greate reputation that they take upon them not only the forme and title but the pompe and state of Lords and Petty Princes not servants and as if they were not made in the likenesse of men but borne Princes Angels or demy Gods they become disobedient to all lawes of God and man and insteede of humbling themselves to death and the Crosse for Christs sake they tyrannically humble their brother Ministers and other Christians to the Prison the Pillary the Crosse Stocks for Christ. Witnesse our Bookes of Martires and late experience 18. Our Saviour Christ though he were rich yet for our sakes he became poore that we through his poverty might be made rich 2. Cor. 8. 9. Our Lord Prelates though poore and beggarly at first yet for Christs sake they are content to become greate and rich that so others through their power riches avarice tyranny and extortion may be made poore to enrigh themselves the more 19. Our Saviour when Peter drew his sword to cut of Malchas eare therewith immediately healed it againe commanding him to put up his sword into the Scabbard Iohn 18. 10 11. Luke 22. 50 51. Math. 26. 51 22. Our Lord Prelates now ingrosse both swords into their sacred hands and insteede of putting them into the Scabbard draw them out like valiant men smiting off some mens eares and noses with it and now threaten to maine and mangle more in like manner insteede of curing those allready maymed by them Such swashbucklers and gladiaters are they growne Yf we have warres with Spayne we hope his Majestie will send these hacksters packing to those warres to mangle and hackle off the Spainards eares and noses insteede of his loyall Subjects 20. Our Saviour Christ after he began to preach refused to inter meddle with secular affaires or to devide the inheritance betweene the too Brethren refused the kingdomes Pomde and glory of this world affirming openly that he and his kingdome were not of his world Math. 4. 8 9 10. Luke 12. 13 14. Ioan. 6. 15. c. 17 16. c. 18. 36. Our Lord Prelates after they become Lords forgetting their primitive base originall and pedigree with
Lordly Prelates aunciently yea lately done or endeavoured at least to doe the like in Germany France that I say not in England too Their chiefe practise 〈◊〉 allwayes beeâ—…e to aliâ—…nate subjects affectiens from their Kings by putting them upon unjust Taxes 〈◊〉 Projects Monopolies oppressions Inâ—…ations by giving them evill counsell by â—…opping the course of lawes of common Right and Iustice of the preaching power and progresse of the Cospell by advancing Idolatry popery 〈◊〉 with their owne intollerable 〈◊〉 and Lordly iurisdiction by fathering all their unjust 〈◊〉 uâ—…on Kings c. and on the contrary to estrange the Kiâ—…gs hearts â—…om their Subjects by false Calumnies by sedicious Court-Sermons and by infusing jealousies and discontâ—…nts into their heads and hearts against their best and loyallest Subjects without a cause A divellish practise never more used then in these our dayes 29. Satan will not bee devided against Satan for feare his Kingdoâ—…e should not stand Math. 12. 10. So these Lordly Prelates wil never be devided one against another in point of their Antichristian Iurisdiction Pompe and Hierarchie which they all concurre iâ—… though they have oft many deadly personall and particular fendes one with another nor yet against the Pope or Devells Kingdoâ—…s for then their oâ—…ne kingdome a branch and meâ—…ber of the Pâ—…pes and divells as many of our godly Mâ—…rtyrs and Writers have resoâ—…ved should soone fall to ruine 30. The divell that Red-Dragon had seven crownes upon his head Revel 12. 3. to shew his royall power So have the Popes and other Prelates Crownes and Miters oâ—… their pates to testify their royalty and Lordly doâ—…inion over Kings and others as they vaunted in D. Baâ—…twicks Censure 31. The Divell had a seate and Throne in the Church of Pergamus wherein hee sate in state Revel 2. 13. So have the Prelates in their Cathedralls and Chappell 's as they then also boasted yea their great Cathedralls are but châ—…ires for these great two legged Foxes Lordly tayles to sit in 〈◊〉 a lesser meaner Chayre did then câ—…ntent the divell who now sits in greater state and is farre better served and attended in our Cathedrals then ever hee was in the Church of Pergaâ—…us 32. The divell that Red-Drogon with his tayle drew the third part of the Starres from heaven and cast them to the earth Revel 12. 4. So have Lordly Prelates the tayle of that fell Dragon anciently and of late times swept downe the third part or more of our starres to wit of all our faithfull powerful painâ—…full zealous Ministers fâ—…om heaven to wit from their Pulpits and â—…hurches and by their suspensions excommunications imprisonments deprivations suppressing of Lectures persecutions c. have cast them to the ground nay trampled them under their dragon-like pawes depriving them of their office and Benefices thereby robbing God and Christ of the glory the poore peoples soules of the fruit and comfort of their Ministry to their greatest griefe 33. This greate Red Dragon the divell stoode before the Woman the Church which was reddy to be delivered of a man-childe for to devoure her Childe her spirituall regenerate Children as soone as it was borne Rev. 12. 4 5. Thus those Lordly Prelates doe No sooner can the Church be reddy to be delivered of a man-childe of a godly faithfull Pastor new Minister or zealous Christian but these great redd scarlet Dragons wâ—…o can suffer dumbe Dogges deboist licentious dissolute drunken scandalous Ministers and supersticious Popelings to sit still and doe what they list without danger or countroll are at hand like Pâ—…aroah and the divell to devoure silence suppresse persâ—…cute and destroy thâ—…m as sâ—…one as they are borne or â—…ginne but once publiquely to appeare in the world as experience too well â—…ifieth in most places where a godly Minister or Christian can no sooner shew his head or beginne to doe God faithfull service but they presently lay trappes and snares to hamper or send Apparitors Pursevants with such other Hellish Furies to seize upon them that so their Lordships may swallow them all up at a bit Yea if any good Booke shall beginne to peepe out against their tyranny Prelacy and Innovations Howses Shipps Studdies Trunks and Cabinets must be broken up and ransacked for them Such ravenous redâ—… Furious Dragons are they and such open wide Sepulchers are their devoâ—…ring throates to swallow 〈◊〉 all things that any way make against them 34. This Dragon and his Angells make ware in heaven fiâ—…hting with Michaell to wit our Saviour Christ and his Angells Rev. 12. 7. Soe the Lordly Prelates and their Angells To wit their Deanes Arch-deacons Officialls Chauncellors Commissaries Surragates Advocates Proctors Registers Pursevanst Sumâ—…ers Apparitors Howshold Chaplaynes too for the most part have in al ages to this very moment made warre in heaven Gods Church militant with Christ and his Angells To wit his faithfull poâ—…erfull godly Ministers Preachers Saints and Servants as all Histories ages witnesse And now this Battaile seemes to be at the hottest here amongst us More godly Ministers hâ—…ving been silenced suspended deprived driven from their Ministry chased out of the Realme within these 5. yeares though conformable to the established doctrine and discipline of our Church then in many ages before 35. When the divell coâ—…es downe among the inhabitants of the earth and of the Sea then woe be to them Rev. 12. 12. Soe woe be to the kingdomes Churches and people where Lord Prelates come and beare most sway amongst them witnesse our Booke of Martyrs and Chronicles of England to these Diocesse wherein they domineere Witnesse Norwich Diocesse and others at this present 36. When this Dragon and the Divell was cast out to the earth he persecuted the Woman the true Church of God Rev. 12. 13. So have these Lord Prelates in all ages as the Bookes of Martyres record at large since they were cast out of heaven Christs true spirituall Church for their Lordly pride 37. When the Dragon saw the Woman had such swift winges given her that Shee escaped his hands and fledd into the wildernesse out of his reach and danger where Shee was nourished for a time then he cast out of his mouth a floud of water after her to devoure drowne her Rev. 12. 14 15 16. So these Lord Prelates when any godly Ministers or Christians have escaped their Lordships their Apparitors Pursevants or other Cathpoles hands by flight or otherwise power out of their mouthes a floud of Execrations Excommunications Intimations Suspensions Maledictions reproaches obloquies and outragious Censures against them to devoure and over whelme them Yea Excommunications with agravations that no man shall buy sell trade eate drinke or have any conversation with them An Hellish Antichristian tyranny lately practised and revived against all lawes and Statutes of the Realme against 4. men in Norwich Only for not bowing at the name of Iesus and against Mr. Samuell Burrowes of Colchester for Indicting Parson Newman for enforcing the
people up to his new rayle to receive 38. The divell if stoutly and manfully resisted will flie from us ever raging like a coward over those with greatest extremity that make the least resistance 1 Pet. 5. 9. Iames 4. 7. Thus doe these Lordly Prelates where they are stoutly and manfully withstood in their tyrannicall exorbitant procedings vsurpations and incroachments by men of courage there they for the most part flie giue over these ever fareing best that most manfully oppugne them Where they are crowched bowed and basely submitted to or faintly resisted or not opposed as late experience too well manifesteth there they rage tyrannize triumph most and make strange havock in the Church Yf Ministers or people then will ever be free from the tvranny bondage insolency rage or desperate oppressions the unjust illegall Excommunications Suspentions exacted Fees Visitation Oathes Articles Ceremonies Innouations Citations Procedings of these outragious divells made in their owne names and rights alone under their propper Seales without any Patent or Commission from his Majesties authorizing them Contrary to the expresse Statutes of 25. H. 8. c. 19 20 21. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 31. H. 8. c. 9 10. 32. H. 8. c. 26. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1 El. c. 1. 2. 5. El. c. 1. 8. El. c. 1. 13. El. c. 12. or from their high Cō nission ex officio Oathes Pursevants imprisonments and Fines contrary to Magna Carta c. 29. the Petition of Right 1 Eliz c. 1. on which their commission is grounded 3 ◅oli and the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme as their very last High Commission it selfe expressely resolves and therefore add a non obstante these their ex officio oathes imprisonments fines and censures bee contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme Such is the Prelates Iustice conscience piety fatherly charity and obedience to his Majesties Lawes to foist such a desperate Papall non obstante into their High Commission Let then them manfully couragiously unanimously resist and withstand them to the uttermost of their power by all just warrantable lawfull meanes that may bee as loyalty to their King Countrey Charity to themselves and their posterity and Conscience towards God enioyne them and then these base-borne ignoble cowardly mushrom Lords and divells animated flushed enraged only by mens former cowardise faint-hartednesse and strange unchristian sordid basenesse will flee away shortly from them and never assault or oppresse them more in such a tyrannicall uniust illegall manner as they have lately done as Phil 1. 27. Iam. 4. 7. resolve and certifie us for comfort and encouragement 39. There is and hath been from the fall of Adam to this present a bitter perpetuall implacable enmity and warre betweene the old Serpent the divell and his feed and Christ the seede of the Woman his Church and her seed the elect and regenerate Saints of God Genes 3. 15. So hath there beene betweene the Lordly Prelates their officers spawne and generation and Christ and his true spirituall seede and faithfull members even from their first originall till this present witnesse the desperate enmity the implacable malice and horrid cruelty of the ancient Lordly Arrian Court-Bishops towards the orthodox Christians of old Of the Popes and popish Prelates to the true Ministers Professors of the Gospell and Protestants and of the ceremonious pompous Lordly English Lord Prelates towardes the Puritans and Precisians as they nickname them the powerfull painefull zealous godly Preachers Ministers and Christians since Of all which our Bookes of Martyrs with other Ecclesiasticall Histories and late Treatises give ample testimony which present experience cannot but subscribe to 40. The divell is a malicious malignant spirit whose malice is never satisfied ended mittigated or appeased but with the ruine of the parties maligned as appeares in Iob. 1. 13. to 22. c. 2. 1. to 8 Where he could not be satisfied with the destruction of Iobs Children Oxen Asses Sheepe Camells Servants and estate but he would have had his life too and when that could not be obtayned Yet he would torment his body with sore painefull boiles from the Crowne of his head to the sole of his foote So Lordly Prelates malice and rankor against Gods faithfull Ministers is endlesse boundlesse implacable they cannot be content to vex molest and trouble them with causelesse suites vnlesse they silence stop their mouthes when that is done they are never quiet till they have quite deprived them of their livings and Ministry stripped them of all their lively-hood cast them into some nasty Prison or bannished them the Realme When this is acco◅plished Yet is not their rage abated nor their malice extinguished euen in Prison they will keep an hard hand against them use them with all de◅pit and rigor depriue them as much as may be of all releife resort and comfort seeke out new occasions to vex and persecute them But if perchance they escape beyond the Seas and get out of their clutches then they persecute them as the high Preists did the primitive Christians euen into strange Cities and Countries Acts 26. 11. raising up fresh troubles and stormes against them by their Catholike agents even there to destroy them as they did against Mr. Tindall and other Martyres of olde and against some of our godly Ministers of late being never at rest or peace till they have either sucked their bloud or seene them dead in their graves A truth too apparant by many present Examples fresh before our eyes 41. The divill hath his Angells his Ministring spirits and spirituall Sonnes to doe his service advance his kingdome and execute his Commandements Math. 25. 41. Iohn 6. 70. c. 8. 44. 1. Iohn 3. 8. 10. Yea to perswade men to worship the divill and Idolls of gold and silver and brasse and stone and of wood which neither can se nor heare nor walke Rev. 9. 20. Math. 4. 8. 9 10. Luke 4. 5 6 7. 1. Kings 22. 28 29 30. So have Lordly Prelates their Angells their spirituall Sonnes and Ministring spirits to execute their severall Injunctions Commandments Their Angells To wit their howshold Chaplaines now knowne Apostate Angells from their first faith love and workes and their spirituall Sonnes To wit their Preists serving at their ◅ew erected Altars as themselves now pray write and preach who now call themselves the Sonnes of the Church to wit of the Bishops who like an Oven heated by the Baker send out nothing but black fiery Coales from the Altar with which their owne tongues and others lips being touched by these greate Seraphins Commandments according to their usuall formes of prayer before their Sermons insteed of crying out against the Idolatrous Altlas of Bethell as the man of God once did by Gods speciall Commandment in the very presence of K. Ieroboam 1. King 13. 2 3 4. they doe nothing else but preach and cry out for Altars setting up of Altars Images
authority warrant and Commission from their Lordships have done and yet doe the like breaking up mens dores and houses with open violence as if they were traytors or felons by their High-Commission warrants in which case if they be slaine they have no remedy neither is it any felony or murther as all the Iudges of England resolved in one Simpsons case 42. Eliz. 11. The Iewish chiefe Preists came to Festus to Ierusalem informing him against Paule and desiring to have Iudgment against him without more adoe To whom 〈◊〉 gave this answere It is not the manâ—…er of the Romans to deliver any man to die before he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have license to answere for himselfe concerning the crime laid against him Acts 25. 15. 16. The same doe Lord Prelates at this day they informe Princes and temporall Majestrates and Iudges against godly Ministers and people desiring to have present Iudgment against them O that they would give them such an answere as this Heathen Gouernour Festus did the Iewes high Preists and not condemne them but by lawfull witnesses ever bringing both them and their accusers face to face which would discouer many a false brother and slie informing knaue who noâ—… by meanes of ex Officio Oathes procedings neuer appeares face to face to make good his accusation and passeth vndiscouered 12. Christ foretold his disciples that he must suffer many things of the chiefe Preists Math. 16. 21. And our goâ—…ly Martirs and writers in all times have foretold all godly Ministers and people that they must and shal suffer many things of Lordly Prelates for Christs sake as they haue done for many ages in al places where they haue borne any sway yea Christ predicted to his Disciples that he should be betrayed to the chiefe Preists and that they should condemne him to death Math. 20. 18. The like hath beene predicted to his faithfull Ministers and seruants concerning Lordly Prelates 13. The Iewes chiefe Preists sent officers to apprehend Christ because many of the people beleeued on him and harkened to his Doctrine and were exceeding angry with the Officers because they did not bring him Iohn 7. 30 31. 32 35. Lord Prelates in former times and now adayes have also vsually sent out Officers and Pursevants to apprehend Christs faithfull Ministers because the people beleeue and harken to their Doctrine and are exceeding angry with them yf they â—…scape their hands and bring them not before them as appeares by many late examples 14. The Iewes chiefe Priests consulted how to put Lazarus to death because that by reason of him many of the Iewes went away and beleeved on Iesus Iohn 12. 10 11. So Lordly Prelates heretofore have consulted how to put Gods faithfull Ministers to death and now how to sâ—…lence suspend deprive imprison and thrust them from their Ministry because by reason of them many of the people goe away from them and their traditions and beleeve on Iesus as hundred particular examples testify 15. The chiefe Priests of the Iewes hired Iudas for 30. peeces of siluer to betray Christ his Master deliver him into their hands sent a greate multitude with swords Staves along with him to apprehend him which they did Math. 26. 14 15 47 48 49 50. Mark 14. 10. 43. to 47. Luke 22. 4. 5 6 47. to 52. Iohn 18. 1. to 14. The same haue Lordly Prelates done in all ages hiring and corrupting godly Ministers and Christians false disciples friends seruants yea sometimes their very Kings wives and Children to betray them into their hands and sending Persevants and a great company of Sherifes Constables and other Officers with them to apprehend breake open their houses doores like theeves and bring them before them as the Bookes of Martirs and present experience plentifully evidence to their shame 16. The high Preist sought for false witnesses against Iesus our Saviour to put him to death Math. 26. 59. to 64. Mark 14. 52. to 62. and by their falfe testimonies seeke to contemne him Ibidem The same have done yet doe Lord Prelates as Hiâ—…ories and experience manifest against Christs faithfull Ministers and servants 17. When these false witnesses would not steed them they endeavour to inforce him to accuse himselfe by captious questions First they examined him concerning his disciples and doctrine To which he gave them this answere I spake openly to the world I ever taught in the Synagogues and in the Temple wheither the Iewes allway resort and in secret have I said nothing why askest thou me aske them that heard me what I have said unto them behold they know what I said refuting to accuse himselfe or his Disciples Iohn 18. 19 20 21 22. 23. After this the high Preist said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us wheither thou be he Christ the Sonne of God Iesus saith unto him Thou hast said c. Thou the high Preist rent his â—…lothes saying hee hath spoken blasphemy what farther need have wee of witnesses behold now yee have heard his blasphemy What thinke yee They answered and said he is guilty of death Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him others smote him with the palme of their hand saying Prophecy unto us thou Christ who it is that smote thee c. Math. 26. 63. to 69. After which they tooke counsell together to put him to death and deliver him bound to Pilate the Governour before whom they accuse him And when Pilate would have released him to the people they perswaded them that they should aske Barrabas and destroy Iesus and to cry out let him bee crucified And when Pilate yet pronounced him innocent and would have discharged him the chiefe Priests replied If thou let this man goe thou art not Caesars friend for hee speaketh against Caesar Never leaving him till they had crucified and sealed him up fast in his Sepulcher Math. 27. 28. Iohn 18. 19. Thus have Lord Prelates formerly dealt with the godly ministers and Saints of Christ and now deale with his faithfull Ministers and Servants when they have no true or sufficient witnesses against them they enforce them against Scriptures Councells Fathers Decretals Canon Civill Canon law the practise of the primitive Church for above 1300. yeares after Christ all which time there is not one precedent extant or story of any such Oathes or proceeding among Christians by ex officio Oathes and Articles to accuse and entrap themselves of purpose to catch matter of censure and condemnation out of their owne mouthes which when they have gotten then they insult over them spit in their faces buffet reuile deride and jeare them take counsell against them to silence suspend deprive fine imprison or destroy them never ending their malicious prosecutions till they see them close prisoners in their grauâ—…s and if any temporall Majestrates pronunce them innocent or are willing to discharge them at any tiâ—…e then they accuse
converted Yea some of them as Bishop Wren contrary to the practise of all former ages begin to prohibit Ministers under paine of suspension and excommunication to make any conceived prayers before or after their Sermons suspending and excommunicating them if they doe it ounparalleld impiety o atheisticall Novelty Wee know that Moses David Salomon Ezra Ieremiah Daniell with the Saints and Prophets in the old Testament used conceived but no set formes of prayer that we read of the like did Christ and his Apostles in the New Tâ—…stament prayer being a speciall gift of Gods Spirit given to all his children upon all their severall necessities and occasiâ—…ns 1 Kings 8. 38. 45. 49. 54. Neh. 1. 6. 11. Ps. 102. 7. Ps. 141. 2 Ezeh 12. 10 11. Acts 1. 14. c. 6. 4. c. 10. 31. c. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 5 Phil. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 11. Col. 4. 2 Iam. 5. 15. 16. Ephes. 6. 18. Rom. 8. 15. 26 27. Iude 20. Thus did the Ministers Preachers of Gods Word in Iustin Martyrs and Tertullians dayes as appeares by both their 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 and after their Sermons love-feastes Thus did the Faâ—…ers as appeares bâ—… thâ—…ir works the Primitive Christians and Martyrs vpon all occâ—…sions as Ecclesiasticall Historians 〈◊〉 Thus did our Martyrs of old witnes M. Fox his Acts and Mâ—…uments Yea Archbishop Sandes of Yorke beâ—…ore after his Sermons B. Pilkington of Durham before and after his Sermons on Nehemiah Obadiah c. with other of our Bishops used conceived Prayâ—…rs oâ—… different forâ—…es according to the variety of their Texts the 〈◊〉 occasions whâ—…ch theâ—… published in print for others imitation Thus have all our Ministers generally done in all ages and places especially from the beginning of reformation to this present till a geâ—…eration of upstart unpraying Lordly Preâ—…ates and lasy Doctoâ—…s who know not how to pray or mak a conceived prayer out of their owne heades and hearts upon any occasion no more then a child that is newly borne have cryed downe all extemporary conceived Prayers as well as studied Sermons and frequent preaching endevoring utterly to extinguish this most heavenly gift of Prayer not only in all private Christians but also in all those godly Ministers whom God hath endowed with this eminent faculty by confining them only to the very words of the Canon which are no more a prayet then the Creed or ten Commandements which many ignorant people mumble over as good prayers and hath made many great Doctors unable for to pray without the helpe of a Common-prayer booke upon any urgent occasion For proofe whereof I shall instance only in two late examples When the Earle of Castle haven was to bee beheaded there came two great learned Deanes Doctors of Divinity to his lodging to pray with him before his death Where calling for A Common-Prayer Booke they read over the Letanie to him which was all the Prayers they could make and so concluded their deuotions The Earle much grieved and discontented therewith brake forth into these speeches Alas what doe these Doctors meane to trouble themselves or mee in praying to God to deliver me from lightning and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battle and murther and from sudden death who am now presently to die and lose my head Or what doth their praying to preserve all that travell by land or by water all women laboring with child all sicke persons and young children c. concerne either me or my present condition who am now ready to perish and bee destroyed Miserable comforters are they This hee spake with teares in his eyes and there upon desired the company there present with him to goe with him from these Deanes into another roome where hee made such an heavenly fervent extemporary Prayer pertinent to his present dying condition as ravished all the Auditours and drew rivers of teares both from their eyes and hearts which these non-praying Doctors Letany could not doe When the honorable religious Lord Veere some two yeares since was sodainely strucke with death arrow at Sr. Henry Vâ—…ne his table at White-hall as he sate at dinner and caried from thence into a with-drawing chamber adioyning where he dyed a grand Dr. of Diuinity one of his Majesties Chapplaines being there present was upon this unexpected occasion desired to kneele and pray with the company The Dr. Hereupon calls for a Common-prayer-booke and answer being madde that there was none present he replied that he could not pray without a Booke Whereupon a Knight there present tooke him by the gowne and forced him to kneele downe telling him that my Lord was dying and he must needes say some prayer or other vpon this he begins Pater noster for other prayer could he none Which the Knight hearing bads him hold his peace for my Lord was dead and he was but a dead Divine Who knew not how to pray Such woodden Doctors Prelates have we now adayes that know not how to pray upon any sodaine occasion because like little children they ever confine themselves to a set forme of prayer proceeding neither from their heads nor hearts but their lips only which every Schoole-boy can read with as much devotion as they So vnlike are they to our Saviour Christ and his Apostles who who were able to pray ex tempore with all mannâ—…r of supplications and prayers upon all occasions and would have all Ministers and priuate Christians to be thus able too Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Tim. 2. 1 28. Phil 4. 6. 1. Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 14. 24. Finally our Saviour Christ whiles he was on earth suspended silenced deprived censured imprisoned and close imprisoned no Ministers or Christians whiles he was on earth yea he was so farre from this that he was anoynted and sent by the spirit of the Lord God to binde up the broken-hearted to proclaime liberty to the captiues and the opening of the prison to them that are bound Isay. 61. But Lord Prelates silence suspend deprive censure imprison and close imprison both Ministers and good Christians at their pleasures but never binde up the broken-hearted or proclaime liberty to the Captiues or the opening of the prison to them that are bound Take him Iaylor Catch him Pursuiuant Away with him to the Fleet the Clinke or Gate-house I set a thousand pounde fins upon his head c. bring their vsuall mercy language Lordly tone Christ had no Prisons Counters Gate-houses Cole houses to imprison and mue up Christians or Ministers in for discharging a good consciences or obeying God rather then men or refusing to take an vnlawfull ex officio Oath No consistory or High-commission to conuent men in no visitation or ex officio Oaths Articles Procurations Dispensations Tot-quots Licenses to preach or keepe schoole No Deanes Archdeacons Vicars generall Chancellours Commissaries Surrogates Officials Registers Pursuiuants Apparitors Informers but only 12. preaching Disciples attending on him Lord Prelates have all and