ministerie there doth presuppose and necessarily preâ—…ume of a Church alwaies in that pariâ—…h where as the Prophet saith â—…hey that were my people yesterday are risen vp on the other side as â—…gainst an enemie c. How many famous Churches see we remoâ—…ed and fallen how mâ—…ny godly Fathers haue had wicked children â—…odly ages wicked successors Many other reasons might be brought â—…gainst these gleabes for which these belly priestes so crie out As conâ—…erning their idolatrous originall and abuse being giuen to the mainâ—…enance of a popish ministerie and therfore ought rather to be put to â—…iuill vses and not to the maintenance of the ministerie of CHRIST But to returne to thâ—…ir tythes againe wherin as yet I could neuer â—…ee any difference betwixt the Iewes and them saue that these swineâ—…eardes tythe piggs geese c. and al such vncleane beastes and fowles â—…or gaine which were an abhomination vnto the Iewes But some of â—…hem would hide this by the Princes commandement We haue in many places shewed that the Prince hath no power to breake Godeâ—…â—…awes or innouate or alâ—…er CHRISTS Testament Heere I would know of them whither the due paiment of tithes c. was not often commanded by the godly Kinges of â—…da also Let them reade the stories of EZECHIAH IOZIAH NEHEMIAH c. let them reade the prophecies of IOEL HAGGAI ZACHARIE MALACHIE Why then we see the commandement of the Prince makes no difference betweene them and the â—…ewes herein the commandement of the Prince cannot alter the proâ—…ertie of Gods lawes the coÌ„mandement of the Prince can be no warâ—…ant or â—…xcuse for the altering of CHRISTS Testament But what excuse can they now forge for their offringes at the baptisme of children at â—…heir purifying of women Is not this also manifest Iudaisme I wil not heere speake of the superstition of the action but of the oblation only what difference is there betwixt them and the Iewes herein They will say the Iewes offred Pigeons c. not money But they must vnderstand the Iewes had a law also of redeeming their sacrifices for mony so offrâ—…d mony also when the sacrifice could not be had in sundry other cases This then wilbe no sufficient difference I doubt therfore they must be driuen to Doctor ROBERT SOME his catholike vniuersal distruction abouenamed They retaine them not as any part of the ceremoâ—…l law but as the ministers stipend Wel let this distinction be authenticall because yt goes with priuiledge yet let a poore Christian aske them this question where they find in the new Testament that Christians may make such offringes or the minister of CHRIST liue of sâ—…ch offrings I suppose they will take day to answerâ—… and I because I will not too far ouerchardge them at once wil forbeare here to call them to â—…ccompt for their mortuaries or portion which they take of the goodes of the dead for their oblations at their Easter Sacrament at the marijng and at the burijng of any in their parish This I think would proue a combersome peece of work for them to approue and iustifie by CHRISTES Testament to belong to the maintenance or office of his ministerie And sure I take no great pleasure to raue more theÌ„ needes I must in this their doung which is so grosse as euen with the reciting yt is refuâ—…ed So that I hope by this litle which hath beene said concerning their Leuiticall tythinges their Iewish oblations their heathenish and popish customes c yt euidently may apeare to all men in whome is any light that neither this their ministerie or these their ministers which are thus maintained are of CHRIST or belong to his Church Yf this yet be not plaine inough let such as doubt giue eare to their Administration which now followeth to be examined WHICH ADMINISTRATION of theirs because it is so ample for the help of my memorie that the matter may be the better vnderstood I will for this time diuide yt into necessarie and voluntarie By necessarie I meane that publike administration whervnto by law office and othe they are bound by voluntarie I meane their extraordinarie paines taking in preaching reading lectures on the weeke daies catechising families c. And first as order requireth I wil deale with the more general with that of necessity which law requireth of all priestes whervnto both they their Church-wardens and Side-men are bound by othe the one to obserue the other to see yt obserued to present the defaltes And this because yt is so infiâ—…ite extendeth so largely almost to the practise execution of all the Iniunctions and orders of theiâ—… Church c. I will only or chiefly at the least here meddle with their publike administration in their Church in their worship of God c. and that but with some few I will not say chief thinges for yet the Subiect is too large for my capacitie Vnto this ministration for their better instruction and direction in all thinges as also that there might be found one vniforme ordeâ—… amongst them in all places they haue one SERVICE BOOK commonly called THE BOOK of common praier vnto this are all the priestes of the land sworne to vse yt in maner and forme prescribed Now in this Book is included the whole forme and substance of their ministrie Heere are their praiers made to their hand and prescribed what praiers to say in the morning and likewise what at Euensong as also what Psalmes Chapters pistles Gospels to read in their due seasons what in the winter what in the Sommer what in the Leâ—…t what in the Aduent Heere are set downe their praiers chapters c. for their fastes their solemne feastes and Saintes daies yea and for euerie other day of the yeare â—…or the Sonday is a gouerning day and is written in their Calender â—…ith red letters and ruleth all the daies of the week saue certaine vnâ—…uly daies and their Eaâ—…es which will not be gouerned by yt but chaâ—…enge to themselues a peculiar worship also they hauing their daies 〈◊〉 the same Calender writteÌ„ with great letters too that which moâ—…e 〈◊〉 their Eaues written with red letters And because they are but stranâ—…ers and come but once in the yeare they looke for the more solemne â—…tertainment that the priest should diligently watch and the people â—…ait for their coÌ„ming make preparation accordingly if they come â—…n a cluster or at some solemne and double feast thâ—…n to inâ—…ertaine â—…eÌ„ with new clothes cleane houses garnished with greene bowghes 〈◊〉 holly and Iuye with good cheare much pastime al work on these 〈◊〉 idol daies laid aside Yea though they come but one alone and 〈◊〉 on the week day â—…et that week is not S â— Sonday Lord of the Asâ—…ndent yt is a part of his seruice to giue vvarning vnto the people of â—…e others comming that they keep his or her Eaue with fasting and â—…aier that vpon their day
as also to call such of the people as belong to the kingdom of Christ from their apostatical antichristian throne What hath beene said of the names offices of these magnificenâ—… Prelates these great Lords the same for auoiding tedious repetition is to be iudged of al the crue of their associates assistantes attendants inferior priestes officers of whose names or offices we find no mâ—…tioÌ„ in Châ—…ists TestameÌ„t no vse or place in Christs church yet because some of them make a fairer shew in the flesh vnder counterfaiâ—… shew of holines deceaue the simple leade captiue many a stule I wil leaue for a while these great peeres mightie estates with all their collegues followers in their grosse wickednes which is apparant and odious vnto all men in whome is any sparck of light or grace and wil now addresse my self to pul of the visardes of these disguised hypochrites these rauening wolues which come to vs in sheepes clothing vnder glorious and swelling titles of Pastors Teachers Preachers and Ministers of the gospâ—…l men of great learning of very holy life and of great sinceriâ—…ie seâ—…kers â—…ighers foâ—… reformation snch as abhor and cry out against the Bishops theiâ—… proceedinges c. These Phariseis these Sectaries are they which mislead the people in â—…heir crooked and bye pathes os death wil neither lead theâ—… nor suffer them to enter into the peaceable strait waies of the Lord buâ—… keep them alwaies learning neuer bring `them to the sight oâ—… acknowledging of the truth c. as when we come to examine theiâ—… manner of theaching shal appeare In the meane while let vs a litlâ—… goe back againe as yt were that we may the more orderly proceed and consider in a word or two of these Rabbines persons education learning training wherby they are made fit to these great offices then of the offices themselues of their calling entrance therunto last of al of their administration how they behaue themselues therin And this but by way of a summarie and most brief recital ffor if â—… should stand to lay open their dealing at large though yt were without either prouing or disprouing for this in matters so maniâ—…est need not yt would make in yt self a most large discourse and were a subiect too great for any mâ—…ns capacitie to handle to set downe theâ—… monstrous transgreâ—…siones disorders in particular much more in â—…heir heinousnes indignity which do euen fil the great flyng bokâ—… of Gods cuâ—…se the Prophet speaketh of But to giue you a blush of some of them and to open you a way the better at your further leasure by your further and more diligoâ—…t â—…earch to looke into theiâ—… dealings I wil God so willing of many set you downe a few FIRST FOR their persons we find them all generally the seed and â—…fspring of the vnbeleeuers of men without the faith without the â—…hurch of these confuse idolatrous multitudes aboue spoken of â—…s the vnchristian education of these ympes maketh manifâ—…st who â—…uen from their cradles aâ—…e nourished in al maner of prophanenes eathenisme vaine vngodly sciences literature osteÌ„tation pride â—…ore then monkish that I say not Sodomitish idlenes superstiâ—…oÌ„ idolatrie c. This their vngodly nurture in their coÌ„mon scholes where they must learne the latine or greeke tongue from lasciuius Poets heathenish philosophers sheweth euidently With this quor are their pitchers at the first seasoned when they haue beene â—…ell nouseled in these aud haue orderly passed to the highest forme â—…en are they fit for one of the Vniuersities where they being placed 〈◊〉 some one Colledg as they tearme them or other after they haue â—…eene solemnely Matriculate and sworne vpon the Proctors Booke to â—…eir mother the Vniuersatie to coÌ„ceale and keepe close her secretes 〈◊〉 mysteries as also to be obedient to her statutes and orders theâ—… are they trained vp in Logick Rhetorick Philosophy which lear â—…ings they draw from Aristotle Ciceâ—…o and such like There they â—…arne to reason and speake by art by Sylogismes and Tropes which â—…tes when they haue gotteÌ„ or at the least spent some apointed time 〈◊〉 the Vniuersites then they commence Bachelors or Maisters of â—… Now if they continue still with their mother and giue their â—…inde to the studie of diuinitie as they cal yt which is as much to â—…y as the rearding of mens writinges such as are best esteemed of in â—…ese times with those feathers they flie aud with those eies they see â—…hich bookes being taken from them they are as mute as fishes as â—…ind as moles But when once they are growen skilful in this traditional diuiniâ—…e that they dare vndertake vpoÌ„ some moneths warning to speake â—…n howre vpon some tâ—…xt and that they dare trust their memories 〈◊〉 deliuer no worse stuffe then they haue read in the commentaries â—…nd common places of thâ—…se Authors then vpon a litle practise they row bould to set vp their bylles of chalenge vpon the schole dores â—…at they purpose to dispute for their degree and to maintaine â—…taine hard pointes of diuinitie generally consented vnto and reeaâ—…ed of all men which questions as also the whole scriptures â—…ust in these their schooles disputations be vnsufferably corrupâ—…d abused wrested peruerted blasphemed according to the lusteâ—…â—…f these Philosophical heathen disputers which heâ—…r must haâ—…le diuide vtter and discusse according â—…o their vaine affected 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Logick Rhetorick Wel when they haue thus performed their artes either in Luce or 〈◊〉 and that their solemne day of their commencement drawâ—…h neeâ—…e there some worthy Chaplen or other to winne the spurres 〈◊〉 a Deanry at the least when yt fâ—…lleth vndertaketh to dâ—…fend Non râ—…sidencie or Pluralitie of beâ—…efices or some other to confirme the faith of the Church of England vndertaketh to defend THAT the apostolicall discipline as they tearme yt or gouernmeÌ„t order which is set downe in CHRISTES Testâ—…ment for his Church vnto the worldes end is noâ—… perpetuall or of necessite but may be altered according to the will of Princes estates c. also that CHRIST descended into hell during that time his body laye in the graue These such like damnable heresies and blasphemies are confirmed in the eies of the whole land who resort thiâ—…her to see this stage play where the fencers fight bootie the persons that shall dispute being purposely apointed the time set how long they shall dispute the dogs being to be puld off either by masse vicechancellor or M r. PROCTOR as the arguments by any thing strong or the disputers distressed Now here must also be considered that al these prizes are plaied in latine that the learning may the more and their folly the lesse appeare least euen the common people should hisse them of the stage if they spake english But why doe I thus reueale their mother OSYRIS secretes some of them will say I am an vnnatural
they keep an holy feast abstaine from laâ—…our c. Moreouer by this Book are the priestes to administer their â—…cramentes by this Book to Church their women by this Book to â—…arry by this Book to visit housle the sick by this Book to burie the â—…ead by this Book to keâ—…p their Rogation to â—…ay certaine Psalmes and â—…raiers ouer the corne and grasse certayne gospels at croâ—…sewaies c. â—…his Booke is good at al assaies yt is the only Book of the world He 〈◊〉 can but orderly distinctly reade this Booke may get a liuing by 〈◊〉 It is no maruaile though they be sworne to and by this Booke â—…any great thinges might be said of this Book how yt was made by â—…ertayne learned Bishops afterward godly Martyres and how some â—…f the Martyres vsed part of yt as the Letany the night before 〈◊〉 suffered c. Well vvho translated yt vve vvill not contend For â—…e thing yt self yt is euident to be abstracted out of the Popes blasâ—…hemous masse-MASSE-BOOK and how consonant yt is vnto the word of â—…od remaineth to be examined and shall through Gods grace by the â—…iscussing of some particular pointes though not of euerie singular erâ—…or for that were an endles labour apeare so shall neither the marâ—…yres vse coÌ„mend nor our dislike condemne but Gods word be Iudge â—…f all To let passe therfore what in times past this Book hath beene and â—…ow yt hath beene vsed either by the Pope or those Bishops vve find â—…t now to be the very ground worcke of their faith Church and miâ—…isterie in place to them of the vvord of God as from whence they â—…etch all their direction for all thinges yea herein aboue the word of â—…od in that from hence they fetch not only their rules wherby to doe â—…hinges but eueÌ„ the verie things themselues that they do as their Leiâ—…ourgies c. So far is this Book froÌ„ being subiect to the word of God as â—…t in al things ouerrulâ—…th the word of God dismeÌ„breth rendeth corâ—…upteth peruerteth abuseth yt to their stinted Mâ—…tteÌ„s Euensong to theiâ—… dayes fastes feastes c. yea the word of God mâ—…y not be taught buâ—… where this book hath first beene read and hath had the preeminence This booke in their Churches must haue the soueraintie yt may not be gainsaâ—…ed or controld or if yt be the word of God must giue plaâ—…e that priest called corâ—…m nobis lessoned and scholed if he wil not be conformable depriued of his priestdome if he be found stout or conâ—…macious theÌ„ is he cast into prison to coole him vnâ—…il his stomake comâ—… downe that he make sute vnto his Grace or some other L. Bishop hiâ—… Ordinarie and enter bonde to be conformable or silent Moreouer this booke in that yt standeth a publike prescript continued Leiturgy not as yet to come to the particulars or meddle with the blasphemous contentes therof but to speake generally of yt as if 〈◊〉 were the best that euer was deuised by mortal man yet in this place vse being brought into the Church yea or into any priâ—…ate house 〈◊〉 becometh a detestable idol standing for that yt is not in the Church oâ—… God consciences of men namely foâ—… holy spirituall and faithfuâ—… prayer yt being nothing lesse but rather abhominable and loth somâ—… sacrifice in the sight of God euen as a dead dogg Now vndâ—…r the law might neither any corrupt or any vnlawful sacrifice with any seene blemish be offred at the Altar nether any part of any beast â—…hough whilâ—… yt liued neuer so sufficient being slayne before yt be brought vnto 〈◊〉 Altar yt was abhomination vnto the Lord. Euerie sacrifice must be brought quick new vnto the Altar there be sâ—…ayne everie morning and euening how much more in this spiritual Temple of God wheâ—… the offringes are spiritual and God hath made al his seruantes Kings priestes to offer vp acceptable sacrifices vnto him through 〈◊〉 CHRIT who hath thervnto giueÌ„ them his holy spirit into their hearts to helpe their infirmitâ—…es and â—…each them to crie ABBA Father Hoâ—… much more hath he which ascended giueÌ„ graces to thoâ—…e his seruanâ—… whome he vseth in such high seruices to the repairing of the Sainâ—… the worke of the ministerie and the edification of the Church vnto whome God vseth theÌ„ as his mouth the Church againe on the othâ—… side vseth them as their mouth vnto the Lord. Shall we think thâ—… God hath any time left these his seruantes so singly furnished destitute of his grace that they cannot find words according to their necessities faith to expresse their wantes and desires but need thus to be taught line vnto line as children new weaned from the brestes what when to say how much to say and when to make an end to say thâ—… collect at at the beginning that at the end that before the tother afteâ—… this in the morning that at after noone c. How like children or raâ—…her like mas king fooles are these great clarkes dressed shew they nâ—… hereby that either they haue no faith or elâ—… are such infantes as 〈◊〉 haue more need to be fed theÌ„ to diuide the portioÌ„ vnto others Knoâ—… they trow we what praâ—…er or the spirit of God meaneth Praier I take 〈◊〉 be a confident demanding which faith maâ—…eth thoâ—…ow the holy 〈◊〉 â—…ccording to the wil oâ—… God for their present wantes estate c. How now can any read prescript stinted Leitouâ—…gie which was penned many yeares or daies before be said a powring forth of the heart vnto the Lord or those faithful requestes whâ—…ch are stirred vp in them by the holy Ghost according to their present waÌ„tes estate of their heartes or church vnlesse they can say that their heartes church stand in â—…he same estate now so still to their liues end shal continue without â—…ither further increase or decrease change or alteration as they did â—…hen yea that their childers children shal also so continue to whome â—…hey leaue and incommend this Leitourgie vnto the worldes end What 〈◊〉 strange estate is this that alwaies thus standeth at a stay The way of â—…he righteous Solomon saith shineth as the light that shineth more â—…nd more vnto the perfect day as on the contrarie the way of the â—…icked is as the darknes they know not wherin they shall fall Our Sauiour Christ saith that if we gather not we scatter The Apostle 〈◊〉 willeth the new borne babes to desire the sincere milke of the â—…ord that they may grow therby vntil they come to the measure of â—…he age of the fulnes of Christ saith the Apostle Paul Now then if â—…hey their church increase not in the measure of knowledg grace â—…olines c. yt is an infallible signe that they haue not the Spirit of God If thâ—…y do increase why
rest of their grosse trash as their christing their Synagogues and Belles into the names of sundrie Saintes both men and women Saintes euen all in the Popes Calender their solemne visiting their speciall Saintes toÌ„bes monumeÌ„tes as their S t. Edwine his tombe in S t. Paul his church in London by the Maior verie solemnely vpon Candlemasse night kneeling downe thereat saying a Pater noster Likewise the yerely coÌ„memoration of the Founders benefactors of Colledges in the vniversities with their solemne praiers purposely as also their other idol feastes vnto S t. Michael al Angels which they adore and celebrate in like maner with their eaue their fast their holy day worship feast What wil this learned Doctor say to this is this also to immtate their religion vertue where learned he this immtacioÌ„ this religioÌ„ if not in the massebooke where they fetch the rest this is deepe diuinitye in deed far passing all humane capacitie No maruaile though he to whome such misteries be reuealed chaleng to himself to be a Doctor of diuinitie aduancing himself in the thinges he neuer sawe being rashly puffed vp with his fleshly mind And now hauing taken a view of their solemne idol feaâ—…es yt remaineth that in a word or two we consider of their hypocritish pharisaicall 〈◊〉 which are in diuers sortes as their Saintes and festiuall eaues their embers or Quatuor tempora their lent fast and their ordinarie fridaies Of all which curiously to inquire by whome and vpon what occasioÌ„s their fastes were first instituted or inuented how they grew into this abuse would but minister matter to iangle and were nothing to the purpose yt is ynough that we find them vaine ful of hipocrisie superstition idolatrie without ground and from the â—…ules of the scriptures Hauing shewed the feastes to which these eâ—…ue fastes leade are a preparatioÌ„ to be heathenish popish idolatrous yt sufficeth to proue these faâ—…tes which haue the same beginning vse end and are of the same conspiracie to be alike guiltie yet I must say they haue more colour shew of probatilitie then any of the other insomuch as in outward pretence they might seeme to humble and prepare the peoples heartes to the hearing of Gods word to withdraw them froÌ„ worldly encombrances by attending both to publike priuate earnest pâ—…aier c. But as is shewed the very feast vvorship to vvhich they lead being so blasphemous idolatrous as also kept and spent in al maner â—…ewdnes ryote excesse voluptuousnes idlenes and sinne this fast must needes be alike superstitious abusiue abhominable For their Emâ—…ers they are so grosly popish as there can nothing be said for theÌ„ vnâ—…es yt be Doctor Roberts popeholy excuse w ch he maketh for the lent â—…ast al the fasting daies eaues that are kept in England at once This great clearke saith they are inioined not for religion but for â—…ollicie vz. yâ—… maintenance of the nauigatioÌ„ so referreth vnto a Staâ—…ute made in that behalf I perceaue now the greatest clarkes are not alwaies the vvisest men I vvil be iudged euen by any that neuer commenced Doctor vvhether this be a sufficient reason or not The Prince â—…y act commandeth al these popish fasting daies to be kept therfore al â—…hese fasting daies â—…ent all are ciuil actions The Prince coÌ„mandeth â—…ll the Bishops ceremonies gouernment iniunctions seruicebook c â—…o be obserued therfore they are all ciuill actions and not to be kept or â—…efused as in conscience towardes God but as in regard of the outward court by M r. SOME his reasons Yf he vvere not better seene in â—…he Statute of nonresidencie then in the Statute of Nauigation vvel might he â—…e his GRACELES ChapleÌ„ but neuer shal he be a true Pastor whilest he â—…akes this course It should seeme this popish Doctor either cannot â—…ut difference betwixt the first and second Table or els suppoâ—…eth that no lay men as he termeth them may medle with the first Table els vvould he neuer be so grosse as to conclude because the Prince commandeth yt therfore yt is a ciuil action yea and an other more blasâ—…heamous conclusion thervpon The prince commandeth yt therfore yt is no matter of conâ—…cience but ought without scruple to be done for saith this Doctor he is a simple Diuiâ—…e that cannot distinguish â—…etwixt the external Court and the Court of conscience Might he not thâ—…s bring in â—…l maner idolatrie humane traditioÌ„s being coÌ„manded by the Princeâ—… and no man ought to refuse the same and stand for the maintenance of the faith because now the action concerneth not the conscience but the outward obedience to the magistrate But of that point hereafter First let me shew that publike fasting is an action belonging to the Church to be vsed vpon â—…pecial occasions as in time of some publike calamitie great transgression c. with great reuerence preparation of the heart soule praier and other holy exercises That publike fastes â—…aue alwaies beloÌ„ged to the Church beene exercised therin plentifully apeareth in the old new Testament as Leuit. 16. 29. 23. 7. Numb 29 7. 1 Sam. 7. 6. Ester 4. 16. 17. Neâ—…em 9. Ezra 8. 21. Mat. 9. 15. Act. 13. 2. 3. 14. 23. Besides these examples vve haue many doctrines rules set vs downe in the word how to vse what thinges to eschew both in publike and priuate fastes Isa. 58. Ioel 1. 2 Chap. Zach. 7. Dâ—…n 9. Math. 6. 16. Lâ—…k 5. 35. Math. 17. 21. 1 Cor. 7. 5. So that he is a very young Christian in my iudgmeÌ„t not worthy to be a teacher in the Church of God that taketh the publike fastes of the Church to be ciuil actions not to concerne the coÌ„science But let me yet come neerer vnto this Doctor vse more familiar reasons vnto him wherwith he is better acquainted then with the vvord of God Are not al his fasting daies fasting eaues as they arise in their Calender solemnely biddeÌ„ in their Church by the Priest after his second lesson on the sonday are not the people commanded there to fast vpon such holy tydes to resort to Church to pray heare their diuine serâ—…ice what thinkes he are these ciuil actions Well and now to his lent fast which he would put away with abstinence from flesh and that not for religion but for maintenance of the Nauie c. I would first know of Mr. Doctor whither he findeth in his bookes that the Lent vvas hrst found out for the maintenance of nauigation and whither yt was brought receaued in England for that purpose He vvill say that although yt hath beene popiâ—…hly superstitiously vsed heretofore in the Church of England yet now yt is vsed for the maintenâ—…nce of nauigation this is a thing not denied So was yt also in the most popish and blind time of all and that much more then yt is now
children of death hel c. These thinges ought not to be forgotten or as the budget at our back to be cast behind vs but both with griefe to be remembred y t we vile wretches should so highly haue profaned Gods name with them of the false Church also with ioy that God hath shewed this mercie vnto vs to redeeme deliuer vs out of these snares of SathaÌ„ but especially to coÌ„sider wheÌ„ we come to y e supper of the Lord both what y e thing is we do receiue how with whome in what manner we ought to receaue yt Now if we be ignorant of the doctrines of baptisme but much more if we haue not receaued baptisme how should we be held worthy receiuers of those high misteries of y e body blood of our Lord Iesus Christ The watch rules of the word are ill kept in that Church which admitteth any much more many into their coÌ„munioÌ„ w t out ful assuraÌ„ce of their baptisme But what kind of Church is that which consisteth wholy of a people vnbaptised for so by his argument are al they that were baptised in the popish churches And then al the land being such at the first receiuing of the Gâ—…spel as they imagine to themselues how should an vnbaptised people chuse from amoÌ„g themselues able ministers to baptise Is yt not likely that this famous scholler knew ful litle what belonged either to the Church ministerie or sacramentes of Christ that wrote this learned discourse hath not the Church of EnglaÌ„d gotteÌ„ a worthy champioÌ„ that thus learnedly defendeth her her proceedings with one word of his mouth pronounceth al such Brownists as denie this their Câ—…rch of England euen the eldest daughter of the Church of Rome together with her mother to be the true spouse of Christ and therfore both reprooue by the word of God refraine according to the same word al their abhominations suffring in al patieÌ„t maner whatsoeuer may be done or said against vs for the same by the handes of these Cainites mouthes of these Balaamites rather theÌ„ defiling our soules with their abhominations Which as yt were a wearines for any man but to recite and bring to light these hellish mistes and fogs these secret mysteries of their ministerie and worship which they exercise in their Temples so is yt an impossibilitie for this learned clerke with al his cunning or the greatest priest of them to defeÌ„d the same when the light of the word is but once brought vnto them so sodainly are they therby discouered of what sort they are Let theÌ„ therfore that thus contend for their whorish Church approue and iustifie hereby the word of God and theÌ„ surely I wil yeild them to deserue the garland of a bishoprick or els let them assure themselues y â— yt is neither their tyraÌ„nie railing or sophistrie can either couer or excuse their shame from his fierie eies with whome they haue to do or lay that blame reproch vpon others which they indeuour To returne therfore againe to that from which we haue beene somwhat with drawen by these occurrentes yt remaineth that we proceed in the examination of the publike ministration of this famous Church of England Of their sacrameÌ„tes we haue heard but they haue besides these certayne half sacrameÌ„tes or high misteries vnto which belong set prescript communions which to performe execute are no small part of the priestes office Not to speake of their orders or iniunctions which are fower times in the yeare to be solemnely read not to repeat their sacrament of Peonance with their bitter curses and comminations going before their Lent fast They haue yet the holy sacrament of marriage solemnly kept in the holy church for the most part vpoÌ„ the Lordes day an especial Leitoâ—…rgie or coÌ„munioÌ„ framed to the same This action is to be done by the priest c. who instructing the parties to be ioined in wedlock whaâ—… to say when to pray c. teacheth the man to wed his wife with a ring In the name of the Faâ—…her the Sonne and of 〈◊〉 â—…oly Ghost which ring must before by the man be layd vpon the seruice booke together with his offring vnto the priest Clarke The booke serueth in stead of holy water to hallow the ring The ring thus hallowed serueth in stead of an element to this sacrament being ioined to these wordes In the name of the Father of the Sonne of the holy Ghost especialy when al the collectes special psalme blessinges are said by the priest the maried couple deuoutly kneeling in the meane while at the communioÌ„ table c. But here wil be answered that the reformed better sort of priestes wil not marry with the ring here must then be noted that they breake their other of their Cannonical obedience which they tooke before the Bishop when they receiued their priesthood Moreouer y â— for their default herein they are to be censured and reproued by their Church namly their CoÌ„missarie his Court before whome such defaultes are to be presented by the Churchwardens questmen vnles they also will be forsworne for company Moreouer these reformed well conscienced priestes though they reiect this ring as an idolatrous relique yet dare they not by the word pronouÌ„ce the vnlawfulnes therof that others also might leaue detest the same That would cost blowes the Bishop would not suffâ—…r that therfore they for the peace of their Church ioine to them in the coÌ„munion c. that vse this execrable idolatrie But well let me not discourage them in well doing least vve take them not ofteÌ„ in that fault leaft if the Bishop once heare of yt yt then become but a matter indifferent theÌ„ they for the peace of the Church the sauing their benefice their skinnes whole vse yt againe for companie But heere in the meane time I would know of y e learnedest of them where they find in the old or new Testament that marriage is an ecclesiastical action belonging to the worship of God in his Church to be done by the minister as part of his office function that in the Church but especially vpoÌ„ the Lordes day with such a set Leitourgie of Collectes exhortations psalmes anthemes blessings framed to the purpose I hope they found not this in the 4 Chapter of the booke of Ruth yet I doubt not but both Booz and Ruth were godly persons and very lawfully famously maried They vsed no priest in this busines nor yet made yt a matter belonging to the tabernacle or worship of God I haue alwaies found yt the parentes office to prouide mariages for their children whiles they remaine in their charge gouernmeÌ„t and that the parties themselues affianced betrothed ech other in the feare of God the pâ—…esence of such witnesses as were present and that in their parentes or other priuate houses without running to
him with ioy in the resurrectiō c. who after he hath cast on th◅ first shouel full of earth in his due time with his due wordes committing earth to earth ashes to ashes c. then may they bouldly proceed to couer him whiles the priest also proceedeth to reade ouer his holy geare say his Pater noster which fi◅teth al assaies his other praiers ouer the Corps That being done there is for that time no more but to pay the priest clarke their hyre As for the mortuarie the priest wil come home to the house of the dead for that wel inough But now if he be a man of welth that he make his graue with the rich in the Church he shall then pay accordingly for that ground is much more precious holy then the Churchyard hauing beene consecrate al to be sprinkled with holy water there he shal be sure to lie drie his graue being cut east and west and he so layed that he may rise with his face into the east Likewise if he haue beene any hearer of sermons in his life time haue loued them well he will be at cost to get some learned priest or other to preach ouer him at his bu◅al and that shalbe much more wholsome for him then a paltrie masse But if he be of any great degree or but stept into the gentrie then he hath accordingly his mourners yea his heraldes peraduenture carijng his cote amour streamers before him with solemne adoe and pitching them ouer his tombe as if Duke Hector or Aiax or S r. Launcelot were buried Then is the corps brought in with singing many solemne circumstances that I know not of then is masse preacher su◅e of a mourning gowne a good reward for his paines Besides all the superstition idolatrie in their Leitourgie the popish ceremonies and heathenish pompe and customes I would here faine know of our learned priestes where in all the Bible they learned to say praiers or preach ouer I wil not though I truly might say for y e dead As I take yt they haue neither president nor cōmandement for yt in the word of God yet there we read of sundrie christian burials as of our Sauiour CHRIST STEPHEN others where we reade neither of dirgies nor sermons ouer them though there were Apostles sundrie other able men to haue done yt And I think yt cannot be denied if any had deserued such cōmemoration these did But as they deriued this stuffe frō the heathens whether Persiās Athenians or Romaines I will not contend which vsed these pulpit orations for the dead so to the heathens I leaue them The next question is where I may find in the booke of God that yt belonged to the ministers office to burie the dead It was a pollution to the Leuiticall priesthood to touch a carcase or any thing about yt I neuer read in all the practise or epistles of the Apostles that yt belonged to any minister of the Church as by office to burie the dead The next question is why of all other places men must be buried in the Church or Churchyard els they haue not Christen mens burial but if they be not buried there and that by the priest with his booke then are they buried like doggs say the common people Me thinkes those of all other should not be the conuenientest places It was a thing neuer vsed vntill popery began yt is neither comly conuenient nor wholsome Well now the last question is concerning these solemne mourners araid in black many of them with hoodes caps crosses and other knackes where they learned thus to bemourne lament their dead by I know not how many moneths They will tell me tis lawfull to mourne sorrow for the dead God beareth so far with our infirmities True but yet with this Interim as Christians not as heathens with a black attire outwardly by set and stinted seasons vntill so many moneths be past Christians vse not to make such outward shew of mourning and to haue yt so far from the heart as for the most part the chief mourners the wife and the heire haue Neither do Christians vse to mourne after such a superstitious and prophane maner or to haue their mourning only in their garmentes as numbers of seruing men re◅einers mourning boies and poore men put in mourning weedes which neuer got so much by the glutton in all his life time which are so far from mourning as they are glad with al their heartes Againe how mourne Sr. Priests either the parish priest that hath his mortuarie and his fee for burijng him or the preacher that hath his mourning liuerie and his hire also Could they not let them speake of their conscience find in their heartes to be so set a worke euerie da◅ in the weeke Besides who be more curious and nicely picked to haue their mourneries fitted at an haire breadth then these mourning women you shall not haue them more choice of any garment ◅hat euer they ware then for the most part they are of this these are ◅ignes of a verie sorrowfull heart To conclude after al their praiers preachment vvhere I trow the priest bestoweth some figures in his commendations though he be with the glutton in the gulfe of hell to make him by his thetorick a better Christian in his graue then he was euer in his life or els he yerneth his money ill After al is done in Church then are they all gathered together to a costly sumptuous banquet Is not this iolly Christiā mourning who would not mourne thus euerie day in the yeare I wil not here cumber our priestes with ouer many questions least they answere me none of these As how they can proue yt now lawful to disbowel and embalme euerie rich glutton where his burijng place is hard by and there is no cause either to keep or remoue him especially seing all figures are long since in CHRIST performed and now ceased Neither wil I trouble them to shew warrant by the word for the exquisite sculpture garnishing of their toombes with ingrauing their armes and Atehea◅ements moulding their images pictures and to set these vp as monumentes in their Church vvhich Church must also vpon the day of such burials be solemnely arrayed and hanged with blacke that euen the verie stones may mourne also for companie Is not this Christian mourning thinke you els report me to the Church of England All this while we haue said nothing of the excellent vertues of the partie deceased for the priest I trow hath said inough for him in the pulpet though he were the veriest prophane atheist profuse glutton greedy extortor co◅tous scraper in all the parish where he dwelt though he neuer had any knowledg loue or feare of God in his life but liued died like a wrethched worldling yet if he be rich inough his frendes wil be at the cost with
their orders and decrees and this not only to the obseruation of the thinges that are or shalbe by these their Lordes Superintendent◅ cōmanded them but likewise by the same to be disciplined censured chasticed for anie thing offensiue vnto them which in their ministerie they shal do or say whither by Mulct Suspension deposition or prison Furthermore from them they fetch their licence to preach with their lawes of stint limitation and praescription when to preach what to preach where and how long to preach but especially by publike doctrine not to speake against any thing by publike authoritie inioined or by the same authoritie hereafter to be inioyned as also to exhort their parishioners vnto the due obedience obseruation of such iniunctions And that this be faithfully performed their Lords the BBs haue not only the othes of the priestes to obserue c. and of the Churchwardens and sidemen to present the defaltes therof but their seuerall deputies officers as Archdeacons Chancelors Commissaries to keep their courts scenes to see these things obserued punish y e offending to which substitutes courts they are al attendant accomptable Their ordinarie offices which they execute are parsons or vickars not heere to speake of the collegiate priest◅s who may do exercise al the offices of their Church in their owne person for one man may be a person or pastor a Doctor a Deane or Deacon take D.R.S. for example As for such as terme themselues ministers or preachers they are but mercenarie men to helpe an other in his office as the no◅ residents plurified parsons or dumb ministers they haue a rouing ministerie without either certaine office or place As for their name of teacher which they coūterfait vsurpe vnto themselues to hide their wretchednes and to purchase estimatiō with the people yt is knowne their Church of England nor yet her mother of ROME hath no such office other then their popish vniuersitie Doctors who haue yt as an addition of honour not of office which name you see they hold together with far aboue their office of a Parson But euen these rouing ministers mercenarie preachers fetch their ministerie and licence to preach from the chaire of their Lord Bishop vpon the same conditions and couenant that the other yea and execute their charges when they are hired after y e same maner both in saing their ◅eruice inioyned thē c. in making their apparāce accōpt at y ◠scenes courts abo◅e said Yf some of them heere take exceptiō vnto this alledg particular instances to the contrarie who neither read the seruice booke nor yet come at the BBs courtes let these men be more neerly obserued and you shall find these but meere delusions and iugglings to bleare the eies of the simple For mark these men and I warrant you this booke must go before or after their sermon and be read either by some reading priest or els by the roring bulles of their cathedral Church for there is no Church or publike Chappell in England but is bound vnto this booke and these well conscienced how learned soeuer make no scruple to second this booke with their sermons by 30 yeres together if they haue beene priestes so long stand ministers to this people in this idolatrie idolatrous places sodomitish monkish colledges c. Is not this all one as if themselues vsed or read the booke sung withthem for companie seing they both ioine with them in praier stand a minister vnto them in these places estate yea and by their leaues the wisest of them doe both administer receaue the sacramētes after the order of this booke together with these people c. And in that they make not continual apparance vnto their Scenes courts yt is by some peculiar priuiledge grāted by the a◅ch-Bish vnto some great man or other or els by some especial prerogatiue from the Prince both with this intendement alwaies that they do nothing cōtrarie or preiudi◅iall vnto the publike course and proceedinges of the land for if they doe there is no priuiledge or prerogatiue can defend them from their arch L. Bishop his letters missi◅e messengers will soone be with them they must answere y e matter before his Highnes and that with due homage submission or els they know the price of yt c. And is not this all one in effect as if they made their monethly apparance vnto their ordinaries substitutes when we see they haue the opē marke of the Beast in their licence priuiledg c. and must preach after the same prescriptiō that other priestes do c. And when we see they do their homage in open court vnto the archbeast vpon his summons may I not then iustly conclude that all the Priestes of England haue a false antichristian ministerie vpon them exerc◅se yt in idolatrie vnto idolators haue the markes of and stand in subiectiō vnto the beast preach by his licence limitatiō c. and so ioine as the false Prophet ◅nto his throne And who now can say that these mē preach the Gospell truly sincerely whiles they remaine in this antichristian ministerie idolatrie confusion subiection But that this their preaching may more manifestly appeare vnto all men let the indifferent readers but consider with themselues of the truth of these matters whiles I but by way of a briefe repetition discouer some of their deceites shiftes and errors First therfore I must desire them duly to consider of these former circumstances as of their ministerie maner of receauing the same of their office maner of cōming by yt and of their administring in the same and vnto these to ioyne that which should haue beene first remembred their academicall education schoole learning wherof they so boast wherby they are made fit for the high worke of the ministerie and gouernement of the Church yea that most high office of Gods Dispensor or Steward These being duly considered and compared vnto the rules in CHRISTS Testament concerning the ministerie ministers of the Gospel see if they find them not perēptory lets why in this estate they cānot preach the Gospell of CHRIST sincerely which they haue not as yet truly knowne or embraced Yea let them examine them neerly by this light see if they find them not those noi◅ome egiptiā botches grieuous plague sores which by the iust iudgment of God are fallen vpon the men that haue the mark of the Beast and vpon them which worship his image and are neuer found vpon any of the children of God much lesse vpon the ministers of CHRIST Next let them consider whether these learned best reformed preachers for vnto them stil as the most pernitious deceauers I bend my speach y ◠other being so grosse as of thēselues they fal to the ground whether these learned preachers I say doe
passed ouer or punished by some lighter trifling chasticement wilfull murther ofteÌ„ pardoned theft if yt be aboue 13 peÌ„ce punished by death yea this sin is punished not only in the persoÌ„ of the theefe who that wise King saied if he should steale seuen times may yet liue satisfie with his body or goodes but in the persoÌ„s of al such as this their vniust law iudgeth anie way accessarie which extendeth so far as manie honest meÌ„ may for this trifle for buynig or receauing part of these stollen goodes be also put to death forfait al the lands goodes they haue wherby their wiues children families are punished also vtterlie vndone And thus by this their pollicie are manie theeues made for one not to speake of al this guiltles blood that is vpon the head of the magistrate Iudg officers Iurie and the whole land by this meanes what should â—… stand to particulate their infinite transgressioÌ„s of Gods lawes eueÌ„ in their ciuil estate which is in much worse case then manie heatheÌ„ nations which neuer knew God or his Christ. Al this ariseth of this immunitie from the order gouernment censure of Christ in his Church froÌ„ the inordinate authoritie the apostaticall church giueth vnto Princes magistrates they assume vnto themselues so that the saying of the prophet concerning the proude Kings of Babel is now rightly verified in them Thow didst say with thy heart I wll ascend into heauen aboue the starâ—… of GOD almightie I wil exalt my throne wil sit in the mountaine of the congregation in the sides of the north I wiâ—…l ascend aboue the heigth of the clowdes I wil make my self equall vnto the most high For see whiles they take power to reiect that holie gouernmeÌ„t order officers lawes that Christ our King hath ordeined and apointed to his Church they stretch their hand also presume further to eâ—…ect a new gouernmeÌ„t new orders lawes officers ministry ministratioÌ„ c. And what is this but both to reprooue Christs lawes and to reiect his yoke from them also to take Christs offices throne Sâ—…epter from him whome the Lord hath set vpoÌ„ the throne of Dauid to order stabliâ—…h yt with iudgment iustice lâ—…id the key of gouernment vpon his shoulder that what he openeth no man should â—…hut and whâ—…t he shutteth no man should open How gâ—…eat theÌ„ is their pride presumptioÌ„ y t are so far â—…roÌ„ obeijng seing Chriâ—…s lawes executed as they vtterly abrogate them tâ—…ke thâ—…m out of the way set vp their owne idol diuisâ—…s in the stead of theÌ„ So far are they froÌ„ taking lawes at him as their King Lord as they giue lawes of him as King Lord. Is not this to denie nay to put an end to his ministerie kingdome to his ministery by taking away y t which he established bringing in a new into the church to his kingdome by abrogating his lawes offices ordinances by bringing in establishing their owne In so much as through y e odious flâ—…tery of these their priests some of them haue suffered themselues to be called the supreme head of 〈◊〉 Church in earth as though Christs Church had one head in earth an other in heaueÌ„ or that Christ were not the head of his Church here in earth also But the wretched Priests would excuse this iâ—…audible blasphemie with this interpretatioÌ„ which yet they expresse not 1. vnder Christ as though Christs Church might haue two heades an vpper an vnder head one aboue an other were not this to make her a monster like their Church which hath mâ—…nie heads vpoÌ„ them writteÌ„ names of blasphemy as supreme head of the Church primate Bishop metropolitane Bishop Lord Archbishops grace Lord Bish. Archdeacon c. Al which heads but especially that their supreme head of the church may they say make lawes for the church And al this execrable blasphemy they hide vnder the title office of the ciuil magistrate who in deed is Gods blessed ordinance Neither wil these lymmes of y e Deuill be satisfied with any humble acknowledgmeÌ„t of y e ciuil poweâ—… or with anie christiaÌ„ submissioÌ„ vnto thâ—…â—…ame but wil extort by othe an allowance subscriptioÌ„ vnto this their vngodly power blasphemous titles antichristian decrees proceedings c. It wil not suffice to confesse that God hath made the ciuil magistrate the keeper of the booke of the law to see both y e tables therof obserued by al persons both in the Church coÌ„mon welth so hath power ouer both church coÌ„mon welth but they must haue this indefinite pâ—…oposition granted them That a Priâ—…ce hath power to make lawes for the Church By which word making is implied or rather as y e general estate both of church coÌ„moÌ„ welth shew expressed plainly that they meane that y e Prince may deuise make new lawes for the Church such as are notheard of in that booke of God By lawes they meane any traditions ordinances customes c. which are not prescribed in CHRISTS TestameÌ„t otherwise why should they vse these words or vâ—…ge that power of making lawes A godly Prince is bound â—…o Gods lawe made the keeper therof not the controler the seruant not the Lord. God hath in that booke made most perfect necessary lawes both for Church coÌ„mon welth he requireth of the King magistrate to see these lawes executed and not to make new He that makâ—…th any new lawes taketh vnâ—…o him the office of God who is the onlie law maker al men of what estate soeuer arâ—… but Gods creatures sâ—…uaÌ„tes subiectes to his law Moses â—…oshua Samuel Dauâ—…d 〈◊〉 made no new lawes but reuâ—…ued executed the olde lawes which God had made These examplâ—…s that miserable man high traâ—…tor to God his Prince ROBERT SOME citeth to prooue y â— Pâ—…nces may make laweâ—… for the church coÌ„â—…on welth tâ—…erby indâ—…uoring to 〈◊〉 hold her Ma â— and the honorable Magistrates of this land in this presumptuous breach of al Gods lâ—…wes in this church coÌ„mon welth by causing theÌ„ to ratiâ—…ie publish y e vngodlie decrees which that blasphemous high CommissioÌ„ hath made or shal heerafter make vnder this pretext that Christian Princes haue power to make lawes for the Church Whiâ—…h CommissioÌ„ al their proceedings because they caÌ„ no way be iustified by the law of God TestimeÌ„t of Christ but are directly coÌ„trarie vnto the same as shal straight way be prooued therfore y â— old lymme of Antichrist that crowned horne of the Beast that T. C. breatheth out of the mouth of the dragoÌ„ most hâ—…llish blasphemie against Christs 〈◊〉 theÌ„ that dwel in the heauen accusing Christs blessed order maÌ„ner of gouernmeÌ„t of sedition tumults disobedience vnto the ciuil estate as giuing the raines to the pâ—…oples vnbrideled inordinate appetites which can not be restâ—…eined subuerting