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
of life One for having his Hat on Another for not standing vp at the Creed others for not bowing or not putting the Hat off which they may not have on more at the name of JESUS than at Lord and Saviour Christ These and other such like who dare to present vpon oath for sinnes offences faults and crimes before God And yet Churchwardens and Sidemen doe so to the grievous wronging of their owne soules Oh take pitty take pity of this their perjury and sinfull swearing bringing a curse vpon them That a Bishop in his Visitations doe goe abroad to visit and not force all Ministers and many old men to come to him many miles when he is but one and they very many for this is a making of them to visit him and not he them But all is to spare his owne paines and his owne purse that what he gets at such Visitations may be his without any expences Provident Prelates SECTION VI Of the Prelaticall Churches THe Prelaticall Churches besides their private Chappels are the great and vast Cathedrals or other Collegiate Churches Dependents on these are 26 great Deanes next unto Bishops with their attendants and Servants 5 44 Canon Residents and Prebendaries The rest also are many hundreds As Their Vicars As Peticanons As Singing men and boyes Choristers As Organists As Gospellers and Epistelers As Virgers and who else appertaine to this idle and fat fraternity An 100. or 200. thousand pounds yearely in Lands rents Leases and other revenues and profits doe belong thereto QVAERE WHither such idle Droanes are worthy of so much for their service such as it is Whither Iesus Christ cannot be better served with farre lesse cost and better pleased Whither all these thousands might not be better employed to greater good in the training up of thousands in divine and humaine learning As thus I. That never a Deane have any Pastorall charge but be continuall resident at the Cathedrall Church being a godly and learned Doctour there to read twise or thrice a weeke a Divinity Lecture and interpret the Scriptures II. That all the Canon residents be also without Pastorall Charges and that they be learned grave and godly Divines or else others in their stead chosen out of the Universities to assist the Doctour Deane in and about Spirituall and divine exercises dayly to study controversies cases of conscience and some speciall tracts of divinity c. that other Ministers in the Country may come thither for helpe and for better information of judgment as need shall require III. That the greater part of the rest of the Prebendaries be turned into speciall selected Schollers Graduats out of either Vniversitie such as for naturall gifts their learning in tongues and Arts and pious disposition by grace doe give very good hopes to become good Divines and here trayned vp vnder the Deane and the other Divines for the Ministery IV. That 7 of the best Prebendes be alotted to 7 learned men to become Schoolemasters to teach Schollers Every Schoolemaster to be accurately skilfull in one Art and secondly to have ability withall to teach the said art to his Schollers with some speed The 1 To teach to write very faire The 2 To teach Musicke The 3 To teach Grammar onely The 4 To teach Rhetoricke The 5 To teach Poetry The 6 To teach the Greeke tongue The 7 To teach the Hebrew That their Schollers may come thus furnished to the Vniversities there to learne Logick and other Arts and to take the degrees of Schooles Every Master must make knowne the aptnesse and untowardnesse of every Scholler that the Master may not be troubled with uncapable Boyes V. That the Vicars Peticanons singing men and boyes with the rest bee turned into Schollers ingenious Laddes pickt out here and there from among meane mens Children to bee brought up under the aforenamed Schoolemasters to be after sent to the Vniversities and maintained there by some of the Revenues belonging to the Cathedrals that so they may be taken thence if they prove not unworthy and brought backe againe as places be void to be trained vp for the Ministery By all these in the Cathedrall Churches Gods publicke worshiship Morning and Evening might be performed better than now it is And by this pious and profitable transformation of these Cathedrals 1 When any Benefice falls void hither may the Patrones come for a learned and godly Minister taking his choise 2. Jf any Pastour happen to be sicke or have just occasion to be absent hither may he send for one to supply his place for preaching and prayers till he be well or return home Ware this so happily done who could but approve thereof if godly and wise hearted The humble Petition THat the goodly revenues belonging to these Cathedrals be employed to some such good and godly vse as the wisedome of the State shall thinke fit for better advancement of Gods glory Learning and Religion than now they be that the so many needlesse Probendaries might not be allowed nor to take vp so great summes as some doe for preaching 2 or 3 Sermone a yeare either by themselves or by some other whom they can hire for a noble or an angell a time That the so many gifts of Livings in the hands of Bishops Deanes Archdeans and the rest be looked into for better bestowing thereof then they commonly be SECTION VII Of the Prelaticall Service THe Prelaticall service is the Cathedrall service consisting in these things 1 In a long wearisome Liturgie read after a singing manner syllables and words drawne out unto a tedious length which Liturgie is formed out of three Romish bookes the Purtuys the Breviarie and the Masse booke so as King JAMES said of it That its an evill said Masse from which it needeth purging and from some vaine repetitions some Romish superstitions some absurdities and from a corrupt translation of holy Scriptures and other abuses thereof 2 In an unedifying singing and piping on Organs 3 In superstitious cringing to the name JESVS towards the Altar towards the East 4 In a formall observation of habites Surplesses Hoods Copes variety of gestures and ceremonies devotions devised by men QVAERE Whether such a Service booke as the Papist Bristow called it an apish imitation of the Masse be well pleasing unto God Why we should vphold such Service which nourisheth a bare reading Ministery nusles people in ignorance and which no reformed Churches have received to vse Why is it not suffered to be reformed in such things as have beene witnessed against from the beginning of reformation and for the reformations whereof thousands have petitioned many hundreds have beene suspended deprived and imprisoned Why is it that no end will be put to the misery of such who are men of tender conscience and doe desire God knowes to live in peace seeing now a whole Kingdome refuseth it and that with the danger of their vtter vndoing The humble Petition THat such a Liturgie might bee framed as may bee