thinke it fit to trouble your Ladiships eares with any tedious canuasses to and fro but rather to recommend it to your Ladiship in one briefe view to peruse the same at your best leasure And here it is in writing praying your Ladiships honour to pardon my rudenesse and plainnesse therein according to your honours promise to my Lady here Cur. Sir I thanke you very kindly wishing I could as easily requite your paines and courtesie as I can hardly otherwise deserue it Ioh. Madam your noble acceptance shall be to me as a most ample recompence Cur. I promise to bestow the reading of it thorowly Ioh. Madam God grant you may reape much fruit thereby The Lady CVRIA reades the Writing of M. Iohannes here set downe concerning the Booke intituled A Collection of Priuate Deuotions OR The Howres of Prayer And hereupon as it seemeth such is â—he affection of the Authour or Authours and Abbetters of this Booke of Deuotion that rather then they will be scrupulous to auow themselues affectionate well-willers at least of the Church of Rome if not rather symbolizers and intercommuners with her yea and to be Authours of reducing this Church of England backe againe to that spirituall Aegypt while all along without difference they shuffle all together in one Church as more particularly will appeare in the sequell They sticke not to prefix the Iesuits vsuall Marke IHS vpon the Frontispiece of their Deuotion and vnderneath it a votarie or two with a Crosse deuoutly erected As if they would with the Name of IESVS Inchanter-like coniure downe the Spirit of Truth and coniure vp the spirit of Pontifician errour and sedition againe in this our Church So that this Booke of Deuotion bearing and wearing the Iesuits badge vpon the Forehead we cannot better parallell then to that egregious dissimulation and counterfeit Deuotion which HENRY the Third of France tooke vpon him when he found that he could not by downe-right force suppresse the Truth with the Professors of it Therefore he attempts what force there is in framing and conforming himselfe to be a patterne of Deuotion to others Hereupon he builds Monasteries vndertakes Prilgrimages confirmes the Brotherhood of Penitents erects the Order of Hieronymites is daily and familiarly conuersant with the Capuchins and Fueillans called Iesuites carries a Crucifix and Beads in Procession with a whip at his girdle causeth many Bookes of Deuotion to be printed and to conclude he institutes the Order of the Knights of the Holy Ghost founded vpon such conditions as tye them by a strict and sacred bond to the Church of Rome And wherefore all this Saith the Storie to omit other complementarie ends For the entertainment of a number of Minions and Horse-leeches to whom they must rather weigh then tell money but chiefly to pull downe the Protestants to vndermine them by this lure of worldly greatnesse withdrawing the chiefe Heads who could not attaine to this high and stately degree of Knighthood but by renouncing of their Religion But see the mischiefe of it this dissembled Deuotion not so well suiting with his other hâ—mours of Feasts Maskes sumptuous pastimes drawing on new impositions to maintaine them led the first dance of rebellion While saith the Storie the Queene-Mother and those of Guise seeing the King drowned in these delights of Court did willingly entertaine him in that humor that either busying himselfe in numbring his Beads or treading the measures of a dance themselues might hold the Raines of Gouernment and dispose of affaires of State without controule What way also this made for the Spanish-faction working by his Indian-Gold the Storie sufficiently toucheth But this by the way The parallell I confesse is vneuen in regard of the persons compared the one a Prince the other meane Parsons But the things compared are not so vnequall as Popish deuotion on both sides that adorned with the Badge of the Holy Ghost this of Iesus in both those two Diuine Persons in the Trinitie most hellishly and impiously prophaned being made the Badges of those who are professed Vassalls of Antichrist that Man of Sinne and being worne by such as would still be reputed Protestants they are the verie Ensignes of Apostacie from CHRIST to Antichrist and therefore how true Seruants and Subiects such can be to Protestant Princes who by their Order of Knighthood are sworn Liegemen to the Pope I leaue to others to iudge Onely that King caused to be published sundry Bookes of Deuotion yet all of one meale But this Booke hath no fellow must alone be published for a singular and vniuersall Platforme of all Deuotion silencing and suppressing all other Bookes of the like nâ—ture So that what entertainment in time is this deuout Booke like to find in the world when none else shall be permitted to be printed yea when as not onely Bookes of religious Deuotion but also of sound Doctrine may not be allowed to see the light As therefore Popish Deuotion is the Daughter of blind Ignorance So on the contrarie this Deuotion is like to proue the Mother of Ignorance verifying that Riddle of the Water and Ice mutually bred of each other Mater me genuit eadem mox gignitur ex me And so plausible is this Booke of Deuotion to all Papists as they begin to triumph not sticking to say that they hope ere long these faire and towardly beginnings will grow on apace to the full and vniuersall reestablishment of their Roman-Catholicke Religion here in England telling their seduced Disciples as one of them now reformed blessed be GOD told me that we had now already at London a Booke of Seuen Sacraments publickly allowed In summe therefore let not the Authours of that Booke disdaine to be vulgarly reputed and reported for the Seruants of the Church of Rome whose Badge specially that of the Iesuites they sticke not to put vpon the Front of their Deuotion And so much for the first Frontispeice of the Booke Now to the next Page wherein they father this Septenary horary forme of deuotion vpon the practise of the ancient Church And these houres of prayer are compiled much saith the Booke after the manneâ— published by authoritie of Quéene ELIZABETH 1560 c. First for the ancient Church of CHRIST No Church did anciently obserue or precisely prescribe these Seuen houres of prayer duely and daily to be vsed as the Authour or Athours would beare vs in hand How ancient I pray you is this Canonicall obseruation Forsooth Pope PELAGIVS the Second was the first instituter of the Seuen houres and that was towards 600 yeeres after CHRIST This somewhat ancient But what authoritie haue we for it PAMELIVS vpon CYPRIAN saith They say so that this PELAGIVS was the first instituter Onely They say so Though POLYDOR VIRGIL speake a little more confidently Satis constat It is apparant enough but tells vs not whence Nor doe I find this Septenary to be more ancient then Pope GREGORY the Ninth who composed the Decretals about 400
saith S. Iames verse 21. Moses of old time hath in euery City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues euery Sabboth day so that for offending the Iewes the Gentiles among whom they liued must for a time forbearâ— to eate blood and that which is strangled So in the beginning of Reformation in England vnder that blessed Queene there were many Papists of whom there was a tender respect to offend them as little as might bee vntill the clearer light of the Gospell like the Sunne mounting should of it selfe dispell and chase away all â—hose mists And in our Communion booke in the Admonition to the Commination against sinners haue we not these words In stead of which godly discipline it is thought good c. By which examples wise men may learne not to tak◠〈◊〉 all former precedents as currant for present times Maâ—y things might be winked at in the infancy of the Church which are not tolerable in her riper age In that Horaryâ—et â—et forth 1560. there was a tender regard had of the weakenesse of the time to allow of such things which in these times of the cleare light of the Gospell and full growth of the Church would be ridiculous When I was a child saith the Apostle I did as a child I imagined 〈◊〉 a child but being a man J put away childish things Were it not absurd and ridiculous for a man growne to fall to his old childish sports and toyes againe And we know that suddain changes from one extreme to another euen from euill to good in a State are difficult if not dangerous being not discretly carried Nor could it be expected that the Church hauing beene long pent vp as it were in a dungeon and comming suddenly forth into the broad light but it should at first bee tender-sighted till after a while her eyes were better inured to looke vpon the light Or being but newly pulled out of the puddle of Popery that by and by she should bee washed cleane from all spots As Luther intreats his Readers if they finde in his writings any thing smelling of the old Caske of Popery that they would remember he was once a poore Monke And for any in these dayes of a long and well setled Church to plot the bringing in againe of Popeâ—y they know it well enough their way is not to doe it forthright but by many insinuations and winding wayes as to suppresse all printing of bookes against Papists to print and publish such bookes as doe in part maintaine our Church and in part comply and symbolize with Popery and by seeming to slight Popery slily to bring it into credite to restraine preaching as much as may be by laying burthens vpon the Ministry to suffer none to come to any place of eminency in the Church but through Simony gate or ambition and such by-wayes to make sure if possible a corrupt Clergy if any bee sincere and bold in lashing of sinne especially raigning sinnes to snap him vp and muzzle him for barking and such like But to conclude the former point of the Authors allegation of that Horary set forth 1560. and for the further making good of the answer thereunto it will not be impertinent here to insert what he addeth in his Preface pag. 7. quoting in the margent together with that 1560. another set forth by the same authority 1573. Ouer against which words his text hath these words These prayers which for the most part after the same manner and diuision of houres as here they are hauing heretofore béene published among vs by high and sacred authority are now also renewed and more fully set forth againe c. Where he confesseth againe that he followeth these former precedents but for the most part No nor that neither for examining the copies well we finde great difference For besides many other good things he hath left out the himne wherein is Pellitâ— falsam insere veram Religionem Consceleratum perdâ— Papismum c. And ex psalmo 2 Hoc tempore sentimus Deus Opt. Max. non solum Antichristum c. But what he leaues out against the Church of Rome hee puts in for it as a faire Iesuiticall frontis-peece Seuen Sacraments of the Church and the like It would fill a whole booke to note all the differences But herein lyes the maine matter that he couples the booke of Deuotion set forth 1573. with the other 1560. as if they were all one For he quotes in the Margent The Horary set forth with the Queenes authority 1560. and renewed 1573. imprinted with priuiledge at London by William Seers It is well that the copies of those Moth eaten bookes are yet extant at least to be an evidence how farre forth the Author herein speakes truth Yet if he had inquired a little more diligently hee might haue found another set forth by the same sacred authority imprinted by the same foresaid William Seers in the yeere 1564. being the 7. of that blessed raigne Now comparing these three Copies together I find the two last very different from the first not onely in their forme and matter but in their Title For the first in 1560. is intiâ—uled Horarium but the two succeeding the one 1564 the other in 1573. are intituled Prâ—ces priuata c. The Horarium indeed setteth downe the houres of prayer but the two latter bookes recommend onely Morning and Euening prayer with their matter and forme together with a short forme of prayer at rising and going to bed but without prescribing at what houres Obserue then in the first place a notable difference The first booke of Deuotion as comming neerest to the time of Popery the Gospell being yet but as it were in the dawning bore some resemblance to those Canonicall formes of prayer formerly vsed in time of Popery and so was called Horarium Yet this was in Latine seruing chiefly for the vse of all Clerkes or old Cloysterers to content them for the time till better prouision might be had and till their stomakes could digest stronger meat and their eyes indure the cleaâ—er light So that within 4. yeeres the Horarium disclaiming further affinity or Cosen-head so much as in name with the Popish Horaria in the next Edition and so forward put on the name of Prâ—ces priuatâ— and that in studio sorum gratiam collectae c. Priuate prayers collected for Schollers or Students such as vnderstood the Latin tongue to the end such especially being informed in the right forme and matter of praying might the better instruct others in the same duty that so by degrees all Popish superstition and erronious deuotion might get them hence into their darke Cels. Note againe that the third Edition of those prayers 1573. was yet more exact then the former in 1564. and much more different as the more distant still from the Horarium Veâ—â—râ— transieruâ—â— c. Old things are passed away and all things now become new the Gospell now promouing all things towards their
perfection And now when all is done would the author with his bring vs backe at least to the brinke borders of Popery againe by his Canonicall houres and the like Being now men of ripe yeeres would he haue vs to become children againe And after we haue begun and gone on so farâ—e in the spirit now to be made perfect in the flesh by turning back to beggerly rudiments After the cleare meridian Sun-shine of the Gospell would he reduce vs to those duskish dawning shadowes out of which that first Horarium was but newly peeped but to last no longer then till time might more fairely shake hands with all Popish shadowes As the Iewish Ceremonies had a time euen after the establishing of the Gospell for their solemne obsequies But to conclude the plaine truth is to such a passe is Popery now come in these our dayes that if euer the Church of England ought henceforth to haue the least correspondence and conformity with it yea to be so farre from renewing any old acquaintance with it as vtterly to shake hands and if any ragges or reliques of that Whore haue beene patched to our Mothers Robe we ought to rip it off and strip our selues of it Rome is now fully reuealed to be the Whore of Babylon the Pope the head thereof to be that man of sinne that grand Antichrist which for any learned man not to see in these dayes of the Gospell is to stumble at Noone-day yea to be strucke blinde at the cleare light It followeth in the Title Taken out of the holy Scriptures the ancient Fathers and the diuine Seruice of our owne Church Here be three authorities the least whereof not to be contemned The first is that he saith his houres are taken from the holy Scriptures His quotations are strowed all along the booke but so as if we amasse all the generall precepts and particular practises of prayer in Scripture into one Canon or rule there should not be one houre or minute throughout the day and night which we should not spend altogether in prayer So that the abusiue vnderstanding of Scripture in this kinde was that which brought the Euchetâ— to do nothing else but pray The Scriptures commend to vs specially two times of publicke prayer for the day the Morning and the Euening prayer the one about our nine in the forenoâ—ne the other about three in the afternoone which our Church followeth these two were called the Morning and the Euening Sacrifice Hence it is that Christ began to bee offered from the Morning Sacrifice to the Euening Sacrifice as sanctifying all our Sacrifices of Prayer and Prayse Morning and Euening in that Sacrifice of himselfe But he speakes here of Priuate houres of Prayer And where will he find in Scripture any such practise as the obseruation of his Seuen Canonicall houres DANIEL prayed three times a day Yes DAVID saith Seuen times a day will I prayse thee But that 's of Prayse And though it may be meant also of Prayer it signifieth onely his frequent praying farre from a superstitious obseruation of Canonicall houres in those dayes not hatched or heard of But of Prayer he saith Euening and morning and at noone day will I pray c. But for all this mans colouring the matter with Holy Scripture he hath no other Scripture for his Canonicall houres but the Popes Scripture in his Decretalls where the Pope takes all his Canonicall houres from the actions about CHRIST in his death As in the Glosse Haec sunt septenis propter quae psallimus heris Matutina lâ—gat Christum qui crimina purgat Prima replet sputis causam dat Tertia mortis Sexta cruci nectit latus eius Nona bipaertit Vespera deponit tumulo Completa reponit Indeed the Scripture doth so command this excellent dutie of Prayer to vs as that no time should exempt vs from it but that we should be diligent in the practise of it vpon all occasions and especially keepe constantly ouâ— morning and euening sacrifice priuate and publike also as the day requireth Yea to let no oportunitie slip wherein we are not breathing out some eiaculations out of a sense and feeling of our manifold infirmities and necessities But nowhere doth the Scripture prescribe a set septenarie forme of Deuotion as the Authour would impose vpon vs. In the second place he nameth the Ancient Fathers But these faile him as much for his purpose as the Scriptures doe Indeed the Fathers doe euerie where following the Scriptures inculcate and prâ—sse the incessant practise of Prayer Hora nulla a Christianis excipitur quò minùs frequenter ac semper Deus debeat adorari c. saith CYPRIAN No houre is exempted from Christians that God might not frequently and alwayes be adored And he saith indeed that in his time the times and exercises of Prayer were much encreased Yet hee no where setteth downe seuen Canonicall houres Yea CLEMENS ROMANVS a great Authour with him though misquoted in his Constitutions which euen Pontificians themselues haue confessed to bee counterfeit yet fayle him at least in two of his houres as Câ—mplene and the last Onely GREGORY the Ninth fayles him not being as I said his first complete Authour of his seuen Canonicalls But after the Ancient Fathers in the third place hee nameth the Diuine Seruice of our owne Church out of which his Houres are taken Now surely for ought that euer I could learne out of our Seruice Booke I can find but two set Houres of Prayer besides certaines priuate Prayers recommended to priuate Families for Morning and Euening with a godly Prayer to bee said at all times in the latter end of the Booke Vnlesse out of this Prayer to bee said at all times hee would picke out his seuen Canonicall houres But whereas hee seemeth to ground the forme of his Deuotion vpon the Diuinâ— Seruice of our owne Church On the contrarie hee offereth foule violence to that more exact and profitable forme prescribed in our Liturgy For whereas the forme of Prayer in our Communion Booke is so compiled as that by a daily practise thereof the whole or most part of the OLD TESTAMENT is read ouer once in the yeere and the NEVV TESTAMENT three times and the whole Booke of PSALMES once euerie moneth The Authour or Authours of this Booke intruding a new forme of Deuotion hereby coozen GODS People of their allowance in the SCRIPTVRES while in stead of the whole hee cutteth out here a peece and there a peece here a quarter of a Chapter and there a quarter Herein crossing the Communion Booke which in the Preface fâ—atly reproueth this verie practise of the Authour in these words Now of late time a few of the Psalmes haue been daily said and oft repeated and the rest vtterly omitted And is it not so in this Booke of Deuotion Doth he not confine vs to a narrow circle of so many Psalmes so many peeces of Chapters so many Lawâ—eâ— as he calls them
into this state and Church from which Antichristian religion and Tyranny we haue bin through Gods incomparable mercy to this Land now so many yeares deliuered hauing thus long inioyed the light of the Gospell attended with all outward blessings of a peaceable and happy Gouernment till now of late a generation of vipers eating to themselues away out of their spirituall Mothers bowels that they may turne tayles and joyne with the great Beast of Babylon against the Lambe and those of his side the called and chosen and faithfull haue made a fearefull breach in this beautifull Body like to be vtterly wracked if it be not all the sooner made vp againe Whether to goe about with a high hand to frustrate and make void to violate and breake in sunder all those sacred and religious lawes which haue bin made for the firme establishment of the Gospell the truth whereof hath beene sealed with the blood of so many Martyrs and is and will be witnessed by Millions of faithfull Confesâ—ours of his Maiesties Crowne and Scepter and religious gouernment of vs his people and the rest of his Dominions whether I say to go about to bring in a new forme of Papall religion and dominion in this Church and state of England be not more then matter of periury to cost a mans eares but of high Treason and that in a high degree against God and thâ— King the Church and State Who would euer haue thought that in this shining of the Gospell any Romish owles hoodwinckt with the vaile of superstitious Deuotion durst attempt sâ—ch things as the bringing backe of the Church of England to the captiuity of Babylon What Achitophel duâ—st counsell all-daring young Absolon thus to offer to goe lye with his fathers Concubines on the toppe of the house in the sight of the Sunne and all Israel And wherefore But in Policy thereby to fasten the fickle false hearts of those traiterous Israelites to the Crowne aspiring Absolon when they should see him become an open abomination to the King and be at an vnreconcilable defiance with him And what made Achitophel so confident and Absolon to take such wicked counsell but the great strength wherein they presumed But is the Popish faction growne so great and strong as already to aduance their crest and colours in defiance of Religion and Lawes and with strong hand to suppresse and beare downe Dauids Kingdome It should seeme their confidence is arriued at a high pitch But God bring it downe as he did that subtil-headed and shag-haired conspiracie against the King and state He can send Achitophel to his halter and Absolon to his fatall Tree He can Nay assuredly he will For as Dauid saith The wicked and blood thirsty men shall not liue out halfe their dayes but my trust shall be in thee O Lord. And againe God shall wound the haiâ—ie scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his wickednesse O consider this yee that forget God least I plucke you away suddainly and their be none to deliuer you Proceede we to other particulars· In his later and corrected edition Pag. 17 he bewrais a peece of old superstition as formerly about his Houres so here about the place of Prayer where he hath one special saying of Scripture for a man to vse at his entrance into the Church and another for the Chancell Thus by his Jgnis fatuus Deuotion he will leade simple mâ—n through a maze of superstition that they shall noâ— know where they are if they will but follow him He quoteth the decrees of the Church for his third houre Those are the Decretals of the Church of Rome for with our Author no other Church but the Church of Rome is The Church as he often in this booke giues vs occasion to remember that we may not easily forget a matter of such importance But of the Decrees of that Church of Rome concerning the seuen Canonicall houres we spake in the second Title-page So that here remaines no more for vs to reioyne but to oppose and preferre the formes of priuate prayer prescribed in the end of our Communion booke against and before the Decrees of the Church which he expresly meaneth or before those cuâ—ious formes which the Author hath deuised for all his 7. houres Our Church hath set downe very good formes in the Communion booke both for morning and euening and some of them such as I dare say our Author could wish were cancelled As that for the whole estate of Christs Church in the end of the singing Psalms wherin is this prayer Roote out from hence O Lord all rauening wolues which to fill their bellies seeke to destroy thy flocke c. What would then become of our Author and a great many of his Consorts if all such rauening wolues were rooted out of this land And that morning prayer for priuate houses a little before wherin are these words And forasmuch as they cannot belieue except they heare nor cannot heare but by preaching and none can preach except he be sent therfore O Lord raise up faithfull Distributers of thy Mysteries who setting apart all worldly respects may both in their life and doctrine only seeke thy glory Contrarily confound Satan Antichrist with all Hierlings whom thou hast cast oft in a reprobate sense that they may not by sects schismes heresies errors disquiet thy litle â—â—ocke And because O Lord we be fallen into the later daies and dangerous times wherein ignorance hath gotten the vpper hand and Satan by his Ministers seeketh by all means to quench the light of the Gospell we beseech thee to maintaine thy Cause against these rauening wolues and strengthen all thy seruants c. I dare say this praâ—er doth not relish well in the palate of our Authors Deuotion He could wâ—sh it either expunged or at leâ—st excused to be vsed by interposing his owne priuate forâ—â—â— For this prayer was not fitter for those 〈…〉 was first composed then for these of ours 〈…〉 sâ—ands vp for Preaching of the 〈…〉 who in these times would cry 〈…〉 with their long prayers shoulder it out of the Church This prayer is against all worldly respects in Ministers against the shamelesse ambition of this age It prayes against Antichrist contrary to those that would raise vp againe the throne of that Beast in this our Church It prayes against all hirelings such as in these dayes for preferments will sell soule and body to the Diuell turne time-seruers and mens seruants It prayes against men possest with a reprobate sense who are Authors of sects and schismes heresies and errors whereof this present age is full Although the ring-leaders of sects and schismes who make a pitifull and rufull Rent in the Church of England by Siding with Popery Arminianisme yet forsooth cry out vpon the true Ministers and Professours of the Gospell as the onely sectaries and schismatickes And if this were true then no lesse now when Ignorance if not hath
A TRYALL OF PRIVATE DEVOTIONS OR A DIALL FOR THE Houres of Prayer By H. B. Rector of St. MATHEVVâ—S Friday-street MATH 6.7 When yee pray vse not vaine repetitions as the â—â—athen or hypocrites doe for they thinke that they shall bee heard for theyr much Babbeling Gloss. Ordinar in Math. 6. vers 6. In fide interiori dilectione oratur Deus non strepitu verborum sed deuotione virtutum LONDON Printed for M. S. 1628. TO THE MOST BLESSED AND BELOVED SPOVSE of IESVS CHRIST the Church of England my deare Mother DEare Mother SOPHOCLES the Tragedian when being intent vpon his Studies in his Old age hee was of his Sonnes called before the Iudges and accused by them as one vnfit to gouerne his Family and so worthy to bee remoued and dismissed from that charge then the good old man in defence of himselfe produced and recited before the Iudges the Tragedie of Oedipus Colâ—neus which he then had in his hands newly written asking of the Iudges whether that verse seemed to be written by a foole which when hee had recited hee was by the sentence of the Iudges â—reed The like plea seemeth to bee commenced against you deare Mother and that by some who call themselues your Sonnes Your reuerend old Age joyned with a too motherly indulgence as is too vsuall towards your younger Sonnes they requite no better then to sue out such a Writ For proofe hereof may it please you but with your maturest judgement to 〈…〉 so called lately published 〈…〉 â—ou may see how one of your sonnes at 〈…〉 about to reduce you to an vnion with the Church of Rome as your only Mother to entertaine againe a conformitie and communion with her in her superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Wherein â—ow nearely it concerneth you to vindicate and acquit your honour reputation your selfe can best judge Nor need you as Sophocles to produce some new proofes of your old and venerable wisedome in the gouernment of your so noble a Family it being not onely established vpon the pure doctrines of â—he word of God but sealed with the bloud of so mâ—ny Martyrs and witnessed by the â—estimonies and writings of so many of your ancient learned and reuerend sonnes both Bishops Doctors and others Nor onely so but the same Religion anciently and for so many yeares continuance avowed and maintained by such a cloud of Witnesses hath beene withall backed hitherto from the first Reformation and your just separation from Babylon by so many Parliaments all along So that neyther doth your Motâ—erhood need to solicite Gods Vicegerent your royall Gouernour and Protector next vnder Christ to call a nâ—w Synod for the discussing and determining of those Tenents which for so many yeares you haue holden and maintained It was the serpentine Craft of the Arrians to procure a Councell at Ariminum wherein they might if not by number of voyces wherein they exceeded the Orthodox there present cry downe the Conclusions of that famous Councel of Nice touching 〈…〉 with the Father in pugned by 〈◊〉 yet at least so shake waue them by calling them into question as thereby to disable their validity and authority Which fraud the Orthodox part smelling out did openly protest against them avouching that they there assembled not now to dispute or discusse the Decrees of Nice but altogether to ratifie subscribe vnto them by common assent May it please you therfore in your wisedome to resolue whether it were not expedient to petition his gracious and excellent Matieâ—ogether with the Hon Court of Parliament now assembled that an Act of ratification may be decreed for the Religion hitherto maintained and an Act of Prohibition for the suppressing of all Popish Arminian bookes henceforth sith the Arminian section â—ath abused the Kings Proclamation so dishonoured the King as if it gaue liberty to Popish Arminian bookes to be published and restraint to their opposites which maintaine your Orthodox doctrines quite contrary to the intent of the Proclamation and an Act of qualification that in case any Orthodox booke such as tendeth to found edification in piety as in Eltons booke of the Commandements if it be in some one particular or other found faultie may not presently all at a clap be coÌ„mitted to the mercilâ—sse fire as his was but purged rather wheras on the contrary such books as here is answered the whole frame body whereof is Popish and worthy the fire yet vpon the pâ—iring onely of a naile as if now thoroughly purged is suffered to passe without controule to be prinâ—ed and reprinted As if the Truth now were brought to such nice termes so weake an estate as the least straw is enough to stumble it and cause it to fall and wholly to suppresse and bury it in the ashes and contrarily Popery and Heresiâ— so highly aduanced as it can easily leape ouer all blocks Bulwarks of opposition Againe be pleased to take notice of one great inconuenience if not rather mischiefe which is like speedily to incroch vpoÌ„ your indulgence if not preuented Some of your sonnes haue already dared to add to the CoÌ„munion booke as the whole forme of the consecration of Archbishops Bishops Priests Deacons being now inserted in the said book I wot not by what authority Yea and if such may be suffered to goe on they will correct Magnificat For if it please you but to make search you shall find in the great printing house at London a Communion Booke wherin the Author of the booke of private Deuotions and I saw it with mine eyes hath in sundry places noted with his owne hand as they say how he would haue the CoÌ„munion booke altered as in the Rubrick or Calendar he tels where and how he would haue such a Saints day called and where he would haue red letters put for the blacke and so to canonize more Holidayes for you to obserue Also throughout the Book where he finds the word Minister he would haue Priest put in stead thereof such an enemy is he to the very name of Minister as if he would haue the world belieue he had rather be a popish Priest then a Minister of the better Testament as Christ himselfe is called or a Minister of Christ as the Apostles were called I haue ordayned thee a Minister saith Christ to Paul And in Conclusion for those private godly prayers in the end of the reading Psalmes he thinkes them fitter to be omitted then added I doe but briefly touch them leauing them to your fuller inquirie more particular examination But if such liberty may be indulged to such like Sonnes it will shortly come to passe that as neither you can owne them for your sonnes so nor they you for their Mother such a new face of Religion are they like to induce if they bee not the better looked vnto Yea what a Metamorphosis haue wee seene already in these our daâ—es How vnlike is the present time to the
sinceerest meaning expressed in clearest and most nâ—ked words yet as J vttered with a cleere voice in the carâ—â— of the Lord Bishop of London at my first examination about Israels Fast I haue done nothing but with a true intent and desire for Gods glory the good of my King and Country and the Church of England whereof we are members and for which I am ready if need were to lay down my life So little doe I esteeme the Serpents hissing or the dogs barking Not to stay thee too long in the threshold here take a full view of my answere to a Popish booke bearing in the Front A collection of priuate Deuotions or The houres of Prayer If I haue not fully vnfolded the mystery of iniquity wrapped therein let thy charity pardon my imperfections and thy sharper judgement supply my defects Onely J confesse J haue purposely omitted many things for breuity sake wherein the Author rather expresseth his popish if not apish affection in symbolizing with Iesuiticall catechismes Officium B. Mariae c. then giueth occasion of solid confutation as being partly ridiculous though mostly superstitious and some erroneous for example The lawes of nature the Precepts of the Church the three theologicall vertues three kinds of good workes seuen gifts of the Holy Ghost the twelue fruits of the Holy Ghost the spirituall workes of mercy the corporall workes of mercy the eight beatitudes seuen deadly sinnes the contrary vertues Quatuor nouissima c. To which he might haue added The fiue senses c. The foure Cardinall vertues as they are set downe in Officium B. Mariae whence he hath the rest and in Las horas del nuestra senora The houres of our Lady As also the 15. mysteries of the office of our Lord Iesus Christ for to meditate and say the Rosary of our Lady whereof fiue joyfull fiue sorrowfull fiue glorious which with the rest are numbred vp by Ledesmâ— the Iesuite in his Catechisme of Iesus Maria. But he would first try how these would relish Yet his seuen deadly sinnes at least deserued to come vâ—der the ferula or censure Wherein wee might haue shewed the absurdity of Popish distinctions of sinnes mortall and veniall yea how it verifies and cryes downe the inestimable price of Christs death and extenuates or annihilates the rigor of Gods law and eleuates or sleights the nature of sinne the least deseruing eternall death Againe we might haue shewed how by Christ al sins are veni-that pardonable but without Christ mortal and vnpardois nable seeme they neuer so small Thirdly we might haue shewed the absurdity of his number of those seuen deadly sins of the of which ye shall not find the breaches of many of the Commandements of the second table ranked nor of any of the first Table as if Athiesme infidelity idolatry blasphemy periury profanation of the Sabboth and the rest were not deadly sins but to be reckoned if the Author account them any sins at all onely among his venials But J hope some other will supply what I haue omitted Jn the meane time take this in good part and so Farewell Thine in Christ HEN BVRTON A TRIALL OF Priuate Deuotions OR A DIALL FOR THE houres of PRAYER Charis GOD saue you Madam Curia Lady Charis My loue salutes you much ioying to see you Madam it is newes to see you at Court Some good winde no doubt hath blowne you hither Cha. Madam no other wind but of duety and affection to visit your Ladiship Onely I must confesse that the late Booke of Deuotion which your Ladiship sent mee hath occasioned mee to come sooner then otherwise I should or well could Cur. Madam you are the more welcome And I pray you how doe you like that Booke Ch. Madam it were good manners I should first howsoeuer giue your Ladiship thankes for I dare say whatsoeuer the Booke is your Ladiship out of good Deuotion sent it me as a token of your loue vnto mee Otherwise for the Booke it selfe I must confesse that so soone as I looked but vpon the Frontispeece of it and seeing it to weare the vsuall Badge of Iesuiticall Bookes I had certainly without any more adoe flung it away but for the due respect I bore to the sender your Ladiship And yet I thought with my selfe that haply your Ladiship had mistaken one Booke for another Otherwise I knew not what to thinke whither some might haue gone about if not to seduce yet at leastwise to induce your Ladiship to a friendly opinion of the Popish Religion or I wot not what Cur. But Madam though I haue but little Latine yet I haue learned by rote one Prouerbe Fronti nulla fides The outward front or face of things is not to be belieued But haue you looked within the Booke and read it ouer Then you will be of another mind and conceiue a better opinion of it Ch. Surely Madam to the front or face of it I confesse I gaue but small credit But looking further into the Booke and according to the scantling of my slender capacitie and shallow iudgement taking a view of the whole frame and mould of it it seemed to me to hold sutable enough to the Front and to be much what the same in substance that the Title made shew of Cur. But Madam I hope you are none of those that censure the Booke for Papisticall as Puritans haue slandered it Cha. Madam I dare not take vpon me to passe my censure vpon Bookes Yet I confesse seeing your Ladiship vrgeth me that it smelleth strongly of Poperie Yet not relying vpon mine own conceit I desired some learned Ministers to tell me their iudgement of it and none of them could approue of the Booke Cur. I pray you what Ministers were those Cha. Madam I dare be most bold to name mine own Chaplaine for the rest Cur. But doth your Chaplaine hold the Booke to be Papisticall Ch. Madam I had rather I had some good occasion to be a suiter to your Ladiship for some good preferment for my Chaplein and no better then he deserueth 〈…〉 present occasion which I feare may perhaps preiudice his preferment We poore Countrey-people cannâ—â—â—â—cannâ—â—â—â—use sometimes when our leasure serueth but as 〈…〉 discerne which way the game goeth 〈…〉 to hazzard our stake where we see such infinite odds of Court-wit to Countrey-simplicitie Cur. Madam you speake merily But in good sadnesse I desire for mine owne satisfaction to heare what your Chaplaine can say to this Booke either in whole or in part I promise you of mine honour it shall be no manner of preiudice vnto him but I will rather doe him all the good I can Ch. Madam vpon these conditions my Chaplaine shall attend you when you please to appoint the time Cur. Madam I thanke you Then if it may stand with your conueniencie I shall entreat your Ladiship to bring him with you on Friday morning by eight of the clocke I will set all other businesse apart for
first and second Impressions Now reading ouer diligently both the Bookes I find no difference at all betweene them but only about Prayer for the Dead which we last touched And there we caÌ„not come to discerne your escapes better then by setting downe so much of both the Copies one against the other as is requisite at least for the more full satisfaction of all well disposed Christians The first Impression Lord Iesus receiue my spirit And these to bée repeated vntill the soule be departed Then O thou Lamb of God c. The second Impression Lord Iesus receiue my spirit And these with the prayers following to be repeated vntill the soule be departed O thou Lamb of God c. Here wee obserue a huge difference betweene your Impressions And is this but an Escape or ouersight Certainly it is a very monstrous one and such as a man in his right wits could not easily commit vnlesse in some sit eyther of drunkennesse or madnesse But I spare you Let vs compare the rest With this Prayer O Lord with whom doe liue the Spirits of them that dye c. O Lord with whom dâ—e liue the Spirits of them that dye c. And a little after towards the end And that when the dreadfull day of the generall Iudgement shall come he may rise againe with the just and receiue THIS DEAD BODY which must now be buryed in the earth to bée joyned with his soule and â—e made pure and incorruptible for euer after in thy glorious Kingdome c. And that when the dread-day of the generall judgement shall come he may rise againe with the iust his body being reunited to his soule pure and incorruptible and be receiued into thy gâ—orious Kingdome c. Now Mr. Printer I will not alone take vpon me to judge of these your escapes but rather I referre you to the whole Bench of the most judicious and learned yea and those graue and honourable Sages of the Councell-board Onely this I dare say peremptorily that in the first impression there is an expresse and formall prayer for the Dead but in the second it is qualified and corrected and the case quite altered And yet is all this but an escape of the Printer or ouersight of the Corrector But was not the Author himselfe the Corrector was not his naturall affection earnestly busied in licking his young Beere while it past the Presse and receiued the perfect forme Or being an escape of the Printer how came not the Author himselfe or some of those his neere and deare friends for him first to espy the faults and so to haue them corrected before they came to be found out by others For surely he and his had reason first to read ouer that priuate first impression before it should come to open view it being a booke not of an ordinary stampe and which for the admirable ouerdaring of it was like to runne a most desperate hazzard But it seemeth they would put it to a hazzard They imagined that haply it might passe vnespied and then all would haue beene well enough and you might haue spared your labour of printing your Epistle Apologeticall before the second Impression But yet Mr. Printer you should haue done well which would the more haue cleered the credit of your excuse taking all the blame from the Author to haue cancelled all that Paper beginning O Lord with whom do liue c. Vnto these words Wee most meekely c. Putting all those first six lines among your Errata or Escapes For so much is a part of a gratulatory Collect vsed in the Communion Booke at the Buriall of the dead So that vnlesse this prayer stand still in force for a prayer for the Dead as it was in the first Impression it is very improper for your second and corrected Booke For euen your owne reason Mr. Printer may induce you to thinke that it is improper to vse a Collect for a mans buriall for him that is yet aliue vnlesse you would bury the man quicke And therefore me thinkes you were very ill aduised and seeme to haue for hast committed another fowle escape in that you did not thorowly aduise with your Author about a more exact correction of your escapes that so the booke vpon second and more mature cogitations might haue passed currant aboue all exception to the better satisfaction of all well disposed Christians But did you consult with your Author before you set vpon your correction It may be feared noe Otherwise it is hoped that the Author and his learned friends would haue thought better of the matter then to haue suffered such an absurdity to stand still in the Booke and that vpon a solemne correction And therefore what if they come vpon you and disauoning it themselues lay a further blame vpon you then hitherto you haue taken to your selfe For besides that such an improprietie brings their judgement in question they may seeme to take vpon them to be Innouators turning the Collects which the Church of England hath appointed for the publike buriall of the dead to the priuate visitation of the liuing sicke So that Mr. Printer for all your Apologies and Protestations it is to be feared that your Author will disclaime this your correction as not done by his direction but of your owne head it being left so full of Non sensâ—s and Non sequiturs And what if he shall call in this your corrected Booke and either put out those six lines or else bring his Authoritie for the first to stand in full force and then all will hold a due â—immetry and proportion It will then be the more tollerable to borrow a peece of the Church Collect being a thankesgiuing at the buriall of the Dead turne it into a prayer priuate at least for the dead then to vse it for the liuing But how it was shuffled vp among you you can best tell But tell me in good sadnesse Mr. Printer are you perswaded that any man but of common sense giues any credit to your Epistle Or do you thinke your selfe euer a whit the wittier or learneder that like a Parrot you haue powred it out being infused into you But Dignum patellâ Operculum Will any trow you take these grosse alterations and cobled breakes for Escapes of the Printer Neuer so befoole your selfe Notwithstanding one thing remaines vnaltered that in the same prayer he placeth the soules of Abraham Jsaac and Jacob in a certaine place which he calls the region of light but at the resurrection he allowes them Gods glorious Kingdome This Region of light in his prayer for the dead vnaltered may well be taken for some Limbus patrum different from Gods glorious Kingdome in the resurrection And Limbus and prayer for the Dead will well sort together But to returne to the rest of your Epistle I pray you goe on where we left You see what a trouble your Escapes haue put vs too Onely the Collector hereof and
rate no doubt much sweat much oyle hath beene spent in this laborious Collection of priuate Deuotions Such a worke as this may be a rich price for such a purchase But Mr. Printer are you sure the Author accounts it a reproachfull imputation to be a way-maker to Popish Deuotion Is not that your bare imagination as perhaps not discerning the Serpent lurking vnder the greene leaues of Deuotion or perhaps hauing some sparke of loue to your Mother Church left as to judge your Author in tâ—is case by your selfe if it were your owne Nay doth not your Author account it an honour to him to be a deuout instrument among others to bring in again and re-eâ—ect the Religion of Rome in England Onely it may be two or three words doe not well relish with him to wit Popish Apish Romish superstition and perhaps imitation too All these put together in this forme the Author may account it a reprochfull imputation as to be a way maker to Popish Deuotion and Apish imitation of Romish superstition But let Popish be turned into Catholicke and apish imitation into absolute refoundation and Romish superstition into Religion of the see Apostolicke Then set the sentence in more handsome tearmes thus and for a reproachfull imputation will he not trow you account it an honourable commendation of way-making to Catholicke Deuotion and an absolute refoundation of the Religion of the Apostâ—licke see You goe on And howsoeuer he may be requited for his paines herein he shall neuer depart from his good intention of wishing that the Reader may at all times and for all occasions be assisted with diuine grace obtained by continuall prayer It seemes you are very intimously priuie to your Authors good intentions and no lesse solicitous of his rich requitall for his paines herein And pitty but he should be requiâ—ed to the full as he hath deserued and if not in this world he may looke for it in the world to come But hath he but a good intention of wishing c. But this good intention it seemeth bath relation to his worke wherein his intention was good to occasion vnto the reader at all times and for all occasions assistance of Diuine grace obtained by continuall prayer namely by continuall prayer out of this booke of priuate Deuotions in obseruing his 7. Canonicall houres Neuer will he depart from thâ—s his good intention of well-wishing And as for the misdeeming censures and detractions of any say you he feareth them not but rather hopeth that his prayers to God for them will be more beneficiall to them then any their censures or detractions can be preiudiciall to him He that durst publish such a popish booke as this was armed before hand from top to toe not to feare any mans censure or detraction when not euen the armed lawes of the Land could deterre him from aduenturing vpon such a bold attempt as to go about to bring England backe againe to Popery But yet he hopeth that his prayers to God for his Censures wil be more beneficiall to them then any their Censures or detractions can be preiudiciall to him You know that the Fox the more he is cursed the more he thriâ—eth Their Censures and detractions cannot preiudice the Authors rising higher and higher to preferments for his good demerits to the Church But yet he hopeth his prayers will be beneficiall to his Censurers No doubt but the Author hath learned the Art of Deuotion to a haire But what prayers hath he in that kind He must not pray of his owne head but what the Church puts in his mouth And surely I find but one prayeâ— in all his booke except the repetition of it in sundry Letanies a prayer borrowed from the Church too and not from his owne bowells for such as he calles his censurers and detracters as That it may please thee to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their hearts But sâ—ing his hope of doing tâ—em good by his pâ—ayâ—rs stands rather vpon comparatiue then positiue tearmes for he rather hopes good to them by his prayers then feares euill from them by their Censures therefore we leaue his prayers as doubtfull of their successe it being rather to be hoped for by his Censurers that his prayers shall doe them as little harme as good In the meane time let him looke that he wrong not his Censurers in miscalling their Censures Misdéeming Censures For Conclusion Hee doth in this and in all things else humbly submit himselfe to the judgement of the Church of England whereof he is a member though inferior vnto most yet a faithfull Minisâ—er I like your conclusion well yet that your Author doth in this and in all things else humbly submit himselfe to the Church of England· But I hope that he doth not meane that the Church of England is pend vp in a corner or ingrossed by Monopoly to this or that man or that any one man hath a Papall definitiue voyce to determine the doctrines of the Church of England for I remember your former apology That he will defend the faith of the present Church of England by law established 〈◊〉 oppose Popery and Romish superstition Well I hope then that the Church of England whose body representatiue is now happily assembled â—n Parliament I meane not onely the representatiue body Ecclesiasâ—iâ—k but ciuill both together ioyntly representing the Church of England will take such order with this booke of Deuoâ—ion as he shall haue no just occasion to complaine he and his booke are vniustly dealt withall censured or iudged but that he will be as good as his word himselfe· Onely two things I heartily pray for as fruits and effects of his humble submision that he may henceforth approue himselfe a better member of the Church of England and a more faithfull Minister and that hee may striue as much to excell others in the best indowments as he is not inferiour to most in temporall preferments Which that he may be and doe a more ingenuous and humble confession is requisite then is made vnder your name of a slip or misprision of a word or two Now to conclude all in a word with his owne Conclusion pag. 417. The blessing there he is not content with the peace of God c. The blessing of God Almightie the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost but he addes the vertue of Christs blessed Crosse c. This forme of Blessing he hath no where learned out of the Communion booke The vertue of Christs blessed Crosse is of his owne addition But the Crosseâ—uâ—ts â—uâ—ts well with his Deuotion He both begins and ends it with a Crosse. And seeing you Mr. Printer haue so well appologised for your Author there is one Crosse for you and another for him whereon you may crucifie at least your slâ—p and misprision But pray rather that laying aside all disimulation and daubing ouer of your rotten booke and that dealing ingenuously with God and Man in the humble confession of your grosse faults and true repentance of the same you may find that Mercy of God which followeth vpon all true belieuers through the only soueraine vertue of Christ Crucified Now the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with all them that loue the Truth in sincerity Amen FINIS Cicero de Senectute 2. Cor. 11.23 Acts 26.16 Reuel 2. Reuel 3. Prou. 23.34 Iohn de Serreâ— in his History in Henry 3. Decret de Celebratione Missar C. Praesbiter tit 41 Concil Agath Niceph. l. 15 c. 23. Euagrius l. 1. c. 21. See Centuria 5. c 6. de Ceremoniâ—s Compare this with pag. 86. in his later edition where he mentioneth the Decrees of the Church Cypr. de Orat. Dom. Clem. Constit. l. 8. c. 40. for 34. Preface to the Communion booke Ciâ— deseâ—ectute The Authors owne words in is Preface * In the end of the Preface before the booke of CoÌ„mon prayer 1. Tim. 4. 1. Cor. 7.5 a Iudei seruillter obseruant diem Sabbati ad luxurâ—am ad ebrâ—etatem guanto meliùâ—â—emina eorum â—â—nam facerent quà m eo die in Neomeâ—iis Saâ—tarenâ— Al siâ—â—raties vt illos dicamus oâ—seruaâ—e SabbatuÌ„ c. Agu. Tract 3. â—n Iohan. b Sermo 95. de Tâ—mp tom 10. Aug. Epist. 86. Casiâ—lano Prasbytero Sermo super salue Regina Domini Resurrectio promisit nobis â—ternum diem et consecrauiâ— nobis Dominicum diem De â—erbis Apost ser. 15 Math 13 Esa. 55 1 2.3 Esa. 42.23 * As I told my reuerend Ordinary wheÌ„ I was called before him the second time of my Examination about Isâ—aels Fast. Attic. â—â— Cathol Tradition q. 20. P. 119. In his Preface in the 2. reason The Oath of the Kings supremacie in the booke of Ordering of Deacons Psal. 50. Pag. 86. * And i◠〈…〉 see 〈…〉 of it 〈…〉 lately to â—ee at a 〈◊〉 Printing house an old Communion booke â—cored and noâ—ed all along with this Authors owne 〈◊〉 where â—mong other â—hâ—nâ—s which he â—ould haue 〈◊〉 hee 〈…〉 that 〈◊〉 pâ—iuâ—tâ—â—â—aâ—ers 〈◊〉 â—ettâ—r 〈◊〉 â—hen there 〈◊〉 iâ— the CoÌ„munion 〈◊〉 * * Homâ—â—â—7 â—7 〈…〉 Ierom. ad Neâ—otâ—an Epist. 7 Gal. 4.10 As the Pharisee who will neither enter into Heauen himselfe nor suffer those that would to enter in Cent. 1. lib. 2. c. 10. De vitis Doctorum Socratis Hist. Eccl. lib. 5. cap. 21. Also Zorom Hist. Eccl. lib. 7. cap. 19. Eusebu Eccl Hist. lib. cap. 23. Pag. 104. see his first impression * To wit that the old lâ—aues may yet be had for money See the CoÌ„munioÌ„ booke at the Buriall of the Dead * The words of the Printers Epistle * The Prinâ—â—r goes on For 〈◊〉 fundo parsimâ— niapunc * For the Pontificians say that Purgatory is in the suburbs of Hell and that must needs be close to the gates of Hell and that the paines of Purgatory are for the time no whit inferiour to the paines of eternall darknes Nor let any man think the Author would be so grosse to name Purgatory here in plaine termes no more then he doth Limbus Patrum when he sayth the Region of â—ight distiâ—ct from Gods glorious kingdome