and surely I wil gladly confesse mine ignorance sinne in caling these studies and artes prophane curious vnfit for a christian much more for a Minister of the Church Otherwise let not any through mine vnskilfulnes who peraduenture repeate not aright or in due place the tearmes of these artes as hauing either forgotten them through longe discontynuance or may be neuer learned them aright take occasion either to carpe at me therfore or especially to thincke the better of these vaine and curious yea vnlawfull and vnchristian artes and studies which haue not only no warrant in Gods worde but are directly contrarie vnto and expresly forbidden in the same as were not harde to shewe and prooue if the subiect were not to lardge and should not make to wide a Parenthesis in this treatise and drawe it out to a greater length then I would I will not therfore stand here to discusse their philosophicall probleames paradoxes axiomes or seuerall sentences and opinions which are authenticall and currant amongst them how euill they agree to the worde of God Or to shewe how far these curious inquisitors these starr-gazers astrologians calcars wisardes deuines exceede the boundes of faith and sobrietie and passe the limites of Gods reueiled will Or whether they maie wander by these heathenish or diuelish opinions of the heauens starres and their reuolutions influence c. Motors Demones or Spirits and howe neare this approcheth to coniuration Or to shewe howe far they are suffred to procede yea professe and practise in these diuelish artes Let the bookes that I chardge no persons which are commonlie bought and studied in the Vniuersities and in all other partes of the realme without controlement shewe Neither will I here proceede to repeate their other vaine curious fonde triffling and vile artes and studies which were endlesse Onlie in this place I must here add vnto those publicke professed artes aboue recited the studie of all heathen and prophane histories of all ages nations persons wherein they must of necessitie be prompt and expert as from those fountaines to drawe their examples and platformes of maners and the gouernement of staâ—es as from whence to fetch the chiefe ornamentes of their stile orations sermons Bookes to exemplifie illustrate prooue or improue yea as whereby to open and expounde the Scriptures both of the old and newe Testament chieflie the old Prophets without which they cannot be vnderstoode but especialy Esai and Daniel As to Rethorcik and Logiâ—ue they are so necessarie as without which it is impossible to vnderstand or diuide anie part of the scripture aright as without which they cannot vnderstand or declare to the people by what trope or figure by what forme of argument or Syllogisme the holie Ghoste speaketh In these artes and studies are these Academical diuines or rather Peripateticke Philosophers trayned and exercised In these they must needs spend 7. of their first yeeres at the least els should they be vnfit to take those degrees of Bachelour and Mr. of Arte or to make that publick professioÌ„ they doe of the artes at their Commencements In these artes and studies when they are once a litle exercised and instructed that they beginne to perceiue the groundes and methode therof then are they trayned both publicklie and priuatlie to defend or oppose against some of these axiomes or positions both by waye of oration argumeÌ„t in their Sophismes and disputations and therin being approued or at the least allowed they then take the first degree of the scholes and commence Bachelours of Arte and haue as ensignes of their degree knowledge special attire and furniture assigned them to be knowen from other common schollers as the square Cap the tronke gowne the hoode of one shoulder the habite c which they must weare Afterward hauing spent more then thee yeeres in studie on these artes and hauing donne their publicke actes progradu theÌ„ they commeÌ„ce Masters of the said Artes and are againe solemnly sworne and made Regents and Lectorers of their scholes and sit reade and dispute of the same artes publickly in a solemne high seate pulpit or chaire for orations as also reade priuate lectures therof in their Colleges Now I would here by the way know of Mr. Giff. what tyme and leisure a Bachelour of arte that contynueth in the Vniuersitie and procedeth in those orders and degrees can haue to studie Diuiâ—itie or to growe so prompt in the knowledge iudgment and exercise therof as he dare ingage his credite he shalbe fownde far to passe therin such as in their Vniuersity haue bene allowed publickly to preach and of the Bishops bene made ful Ministers But to our purpose when these clarkes are thus instituted and furnished with these liberal sciences and this ground worâ—k throughly laid theÌ„ maie they in good tyme proceede to the studie of Diuinity as they cal it which is set out vnto them in great volumes infinite bookes of mens writinges both old and newe where they haue such varietie of Paraphrases CommeÌ„taries Common places Catachises c. Not to trouble them at the first with the primatiue histories Doctors Councels as they may in shorte space if they studie harde become pretie diuines and be able to shewe their aucthors iudgment yea through the helpe of rethoricke and a good memorie to make a Sermon an howre longe Alwaies carefully prouided that they vtter no more then that they haue read in some allowed aucthor hauing the priuiledge of the Church of England and presume not either to vnderstand the text otherwise then their aucthors interpret yt or to add one note of their owne obseruation for that how consonant soeuer to the truth were great presumption and rashâ—es Neither may they ouer far applie or inforce the iudgment of their Aucthors against anie present enormitie established by aucthoritie in the Church of England for that were intollerable against the peace of the Church yea seditious against the Magistrates aucthoritie c. Thus whilest these Diuines are helde within these limites of modestie and sobrietie and contynue with their Mother the Vniuersity they maâ—e in due time set vp their bills of chalenge vpon the schole doores that they meane to dispute vpon such and such questions of Diuinity and to doe their Actes progradu Which being dispatched either in taenebris or in Luce then are they fit for the Commencement to be made Bachelours of Diuinity In like maner against that daye must such of them as haue before passed all these degrees and nowe are fit to proceede Doctors of Diuinity do their actes in the publick scholes accordinglie in these Diuinitie disputations sâ—rmons ad clarum c. And against this sollemne Commencement must especial choice be made of those that are to commence Bachelours and Doctors of Diuinitie to keepe the publicke actes that daie And these for their furder credites oâ—ten tymes wil vndertake to defend against all commeâ—s such Propositions as are most â—dious to all men in whom is anie light
conscience knowledge or feare of God As that it is lawfull for one man to haue more benefices and flockes to attend then one at one time That it is lawfull to be a non resident to hue from his flocke wherof he taketh chardge That the vnpreaching Ministers are true and lawfull Pastors and the Sacraments by them deliuered true and holie Sacraments That Christes outwarde gouernment in his Church practized and set downe by his Apostles is not of necessitie or perpetuall but variable and arbitrable at the wil of men according to times estates c. These and suche like these Graduates publish and defende the Vice-Chancelour and whole senate of the Vniuersitie conclude and confirme as catholicke orthodoxe and most sounde reiecting whatsoeuer Scriptures or reasons shall by these comical disputers either Vniuersitie Doctors and Diuines be brought against them Wel vnto this famous Act are these Commencers solemnelie brought in their seueral attyres and arrayes in their skalâ—t gownes hoodes habites caps tippitts c with the Bedells proclayminge and carying staues and maces before them with a greate troupe of Graduaâ—es and Clarkes following them And thus they martch thorowe the streates to the place appoincted and prepared for these prizes where they haue their sticklers and moderators readie to rescue when they are in anie distresse and where their aduersaries fight booâ—ie beeing of their owne confederacie Where it is not lawefull for anie that will to oppose or to speake for the truth of God Neither are these questions discussed in the english tongue before those multitudes of people and strangers but in the latine tongue after their syllogistical and romish maner lest the follie of these Prophets should be laied open vnto all men and these gamsters be hissed off the Stage by the people Thus though with manie other triffling ceremonies and circumstances then I either can or care to recite are these academical diuines aduanced to their degrees Which Degrees 〈◊〉 ceremonies orders oathes voâ—â—s maner of disputations c how consonant they are to the ministrie of Christ by the Apostles rules let Mr. Giffard or those learned Diuines approue by Christes Testament as it standeth them vpon that bring them in and exercise them in the Church For our selues wee protest we neuer there read or heard of anie such and therfore cannot but thincke them fond strange and antichristian such as no waye belonge to or beseeme the Ministrie of CHRIST neither are necessarie or tollerable in Christes Churche Thus euen by this verie brief and insufficient recital of but some of their artes studies orders degâ—ees c. I hope this assertioÌ„ wil not proue so false or incredible That the learned ministrie of the Church of England is nourished euen from their cradles with the milke of superstition instructed in the sâ—holes of heathen vanitie brought vp in the colleges of more then monckish idlenes and disorder For of such kinde of societies and Colleges of Ministers clarks to liue together after this monastical maner wee neuer read in the whole Booke of God Howe like they are to the scholes of the Prophets at Naioth Rama Iericho let their artes studies vowes customes orders ceremonies degrees disputations exercises c declare And as to the holie exercise of prophecie spoken of in the new Testament yt belonged vnto and alwaies was exercised in some christian Congregation in a more holy reuerent and free maner and not after those heathenish popiâ—h customes abouesaid Wee in CHRISTES Testament neuer read of such a monacticall ministrie so withdrawen and sequestred from anie perticular Congregation office chardge and function as these Vniuersitie diuines and Ministers are in their Colleges Halles Ceâ—les Where they must needes liue in idlenes and disorder that are thus licentiate and dissolute that wilbe held within no christian bondes or order Wee neuer read in CHRISTES Testament of anie such societies or Ministers that liued in no perticular Congregation that were caled to no perticular office or flocke that liue idlelie professing to be Misters and yet execute no certaine ministrie or function When Mr. Giff. shall directlie proue by the scriptures these thinges to be lawful then so farre foorth wee shall allowe of these Vniuersitie Diuines these Collegiat Ministers And the rather if he also approue by Gods worde their worship in their Seruice-booke And last of all not to comber him with their manifold other superstitious customes Commemorations c if he can shewe it to be lawfull for anie Minister or christian to ioyne vnto and liue in anie such College societie or fellowship where Gods holie ordinance of honest mariage is by expresse lawe forbidden all the fellowes and schollers of these Colleges they being no longer to remaine in that societie theÌ„ they liue vnmaried I say not now chastely For howe possible or likelie that is for so manie younge men in the flower of their youth and prime of their strength especialy being noseled in such heathen vanitie prophannes vaine-glorie curiositie superstition disorder dissolutenes and as is said contempt of Gods ordinances let anie iudge yea let the scripture yt self iudge where God sheweth the reward of these sinnes how he therfore giueth them vp to the lustes of their owne heartes vnto vncleannes to shamefull lustes contrarie to nature to worke filthines and to dishonor their own bodies amongst themselues c. And so vntil some of them caÌ„ iustifie this their life orders customes vowes and procedings of these Academical diuines in their scholes and Colleges wee must nomber leaue them with their bretheren and sisters the Monkes Friars Nunnes c vnder Gods feareful iudgments vtterly in this estate vnfit for the ministrie or Church of Christ. Yet would I not here that anie should deeme or suppose that wee condemne anie lawful artes or necessarie sciences anie holie exercises or scholes of institution And so doe labour to bring in barbarisme as Mr. Giffard Mr. Some and others haue giuen out No wee are so far from it as we blame these Vniuersities Colleges and Scholes for their heathen prophane superstitious vnchristian societies disorders customes ceremonies for their vaine curious vnlawful artes studies and their maner of teaching exercising them c. We desire with our whole hearts that the tongues and other godlie artes were taught not in the Vniuersities or a fewe places onlie but in all places where an established Church is at the least in euerie Citie of the land Yet this indeede wee hold That euerie christian man ought to haue his abiding dwelling and to bring vp his children in some such place where a christian Congregation is and that all scholes of learning ought to be kept in such places where both teachers and schollers may be vnder the holie gouernment and censures of Christ in his Church and may liue and be kept in holie order Then that the artes and sciences which are thus taught or studied be not vayne curious or vnlawful but necessarie godlie Thirdlie
administration gouernment cannot be said the right and true established Churches of Christ. Neither may anie faithfull man ioyne vnto them in this administration gouernment without heynous impietie and denying the faith The more perticular proofe aswell of these Arguments as of these transgressions insue hereafter in this treatise These reasons all men may see proue directly these Parish assemblies not to be the true established Churches of Christ to which anie faithfull christian may ioyne himself in this estate especially when all reformation vnto the rules of Christs Testament is not only denied but resisted blasphemed persecuted How then are M. Giffardes eies bound and couered with the spirit of slumber that still dreameth of a true Church ministrie sacraments worship gouernment in this estate and will not be wakened by these reasons or anie thing that can be said or aledged against their vngodly doings though he can neither approue these his strong coÌ„ceiued imaginations by the rules of Gods word nor disproue these euident charges in the fower principall transgressioÌ„s by vs aledged against their parish assemblies Which yet he indeuoreth to put away shift off by shameles sclanders opeÌ„ vntruthes gyuing out That we condempne a Church for that wicked men come with the godly to the publique exercises of religion For that there are some vngodly men of the church For that there are some wantes in the calling of the Ministers and in the outward discipline As also some imperfections or corruptions in the worship which are not fundamentall The vntruth wherof our verie Propositions though we should no furder answere sheweth to his face Where we charge and the word of God condempneth their assemblies for that they consist of prophane multitudes neuer orderly gathered vnto or walking in the faith There shall whilest the Church consisteth of mortall men alwayes be wicked in the Church But Christ hath his fanne in his hand to make cleane his barne flore And hath gyuen power commandement to his Church to cast out the wicked from amongest them We acknowledge that the Prince ought to compell al her subiects to the hearing Gods word in the publique exercises of the Church yet cannot the Prince compell anie to be a member of the Church or the Church to receiue anie without assurance by the publique profession of their owne faith or to retaine anie longer then they continue walke orderly in the faith Againe we condempne not their assemblies for some faltes in the calling of the ministrie but for hauing reteining a false antichristian ministrie imposed vpon them Such we here proue their whole ministrie to be in Office Entrance Administration In like maner we forsake not their assemblies for some faltes in their gouernment or Discipline but for standing subiect to a popish and antichristian gouernment And such we here proue theirs to be in the officers Courtes proceadings Neither refreigne we their worship for some light imperfections as he saith but because their worship is superstitious deuised by men idolatrous according to that patched popish portesse their seruice booke according vnto which their sacraments and whole administration is performed not by the rules of Christs Testament Such we here proue their booke worship and ministration to be We also before set downe vnto him sondry popish idolatrous blasphemous abuses in their worship ministration As their Idoll Lent Ember Eaue Fastes their Idoll Feastes popish Iewish Easter Pentecost Christmasse their Idoll Ladie dayes Sainctes dayes Innocentes dayes Angells dayes Soule dayes Their false maner of administâ—ing their Sacramentes with such idolatrous Popish ceremonies trinckets the Font signe of the Crosse Gossips c Their midwiues baptisme ConfirmatioÌ„ Their housâ—ing the sick with the other sacrameÌ„t Their Iuish Popish ceremonies vestures c Their PurificatioÌ„ Offertories Crismes c Their marijng burijng limiting or coniuring the fieldes made a parte of the publique worship and of y e Pastors office c. These abhominatioÌ„s M. Giff. will at no haÌ„d haue called popish idolatrous or blasphemous We impudently lye vnsufferably sclander in so faijng He therfore indeuoreth to pourge them of all popish superstitious opinions abuses shewing how cleare the Church of England is of the same Yet will not M. Giff. be thought to plead for or iustifie anie publique abuse of the Church but only to plead against the Brownists that speake worse of these things then they are For these are no fundamental errors such as polute the worship but only light imperfections c. Well we will refer the discussing of the nature of them how heinous they are vnto their due place Only here we would know of M. Giff. what foundation these things themselues haue in the word of God and what warrant he can there shew for them If he can iustifie them by the word of God then verely our offences are no lesse then he hath said that blame them to be idolatrous popish blasphemous But if these trumperies haue no foundation or commandemeÌ„t in Gods word but are the deuises of men then we would know whither God requireth or accepteth such worship at their haÌ„des And whither being made the publique worship of God and administration of their Church they be not idolatrie And then how they may offer or the faithfull be constrayned to such idolatrie to such worship as God neither requireth non accepteth And with what conscience he can or how he dare stand a minister of that Leitourgie and worship which the cannot approue by the word of God and which he would not be thought to allowe of the abuses therof being so manifest odious in his owne eies Especially now with what conscience he can thus blaspheme condempne vs for refreining that worship which he cannot approue and doth not alowe Or how he can so earnesâ—ly inueigh against those most forward and zealous hearers who though they will heare their sermons yet withdraw from the booke seruice for the errors and euills they see therin This M. Giff. in the Epistle to his second booke saith is a more grieuous sinne then they suppose In deed if the poore soules knew what they did or ought to doo in refreining the publique false worship of the Church they would and could haue no spirituall communion with those ministers or people that still exercise and will not be withdrawen from the same false worship which they condempne forsake nor yet would or might they heare their learned sermons that are ioyned conformed to the same idolatries and abuses But to the matter vntill M. Giff. can proue by the word of God this publique worship and administration according to their seruice booke in those poinctes wherin we blame them there is no cause he should exercise it himself allure others thervnto or condempne vs for refreigning the same as we are commanded of God in as manie places as true worship is inioyned and false worship forbidden In all this then
therfore complained of all yt was but an error But wheras Gods word is imbraced and multitudes abhorr idolatrie and labour with sorowfull teares to be purged from their sinnes it is intollerable pride presumption of men to set themselues in Gods iudgment seate and to condempne all of wilfulnes and obstiâ—acie Let it be shewed that anie led by Gods Spirit haue dealt in this sort and especially in chardging them whom they condempne most falslie as shall appeare HERE you verie vehemently chardge vs with intollerable pride presumption intrusion into Gods iudgment seate to be voide of Gods Spirit to chardge and condempne you most falslie as you say shall appeare How iustly you chardge vs with these crimes and dischardge your self and these assemblies of these present transgressions vpon the scanne of your answere shall appeare In the meane time the holy Ghost sheweth vs what spirit you are led by at the writing therof and hath foretold how vvell you shall endure and reforme at the manifestation of your sinnes and at the powring out of the cuppe of the Lords indignation where he saith They shall drinke and be moued and be madd because of the sword that shaâ—l come vpon them And in another place And the fift Angel powred forth his viall vpon the Throne of the Beast and his kingdome waxed darke and they gnawed their tongues for sorowe and blasphemed the God of heauen for their paines and their sores but repented them not of their workes It suffised you not to cauill and spurne against the manifest truth of our former Articles but you must in this not only leaue out our words at your pleasure but abuse them that remaine after your owne lust Our Article speaketh of the assemblies as they generally stand in England You retort our words to Gods secret election which we acknowledg and daily see and praise Gods name for it Yet no multitudes but a litle poore remnant as the beries of a beaten Oliue tree the grapes after the grape-gathering one of a Citie two of a Tribe in respect And it is to be doubted those multitudes you speake of will shrink when they come to his assâ—ye whose furnace is in Sion and fire in Hierusalem But if it should be so as you say the heauie wrath of God haÌ„geth ouer your heades that haue a people so redie and fit for the kingdome of CHRIST and suffer them to continue in this confusion false worship antichristian bondage euen the snare of the Deuil and not only not leade them out of it but not suffer theÌ„ that would to depart and thus slay them that should not dye Yea you smite the PhisitiaÌ„ that seeketh to heale you and are enimies to them that shew you your traÌ„sgressioÌ„s iudging them voide of the spirit of God But if you had but considered that Prophets zeale as you remembred his error you should haue found him zealous â—eruent against Baalls Priests in Gods quarrell It were long to recite the number of Gods faithfull seruaÌ„ts which are euerie where coÌ„mended in the scriptures for their zeale diligeÌ„ce herein Or againe the Lords iudgments not onlie vpon perticular men but whole Contries nations for the contempt neglect therof So then if it fall out that the lawe and word of God condempne you of these transgressions what are we that we should iustifie you in your iniquities nay rather proude hawtie and scornfull is his name that worketh in his arrogancie wrath c. To blazon your transgressions as they deserue requireth rather a quire then a shead of paper And to say the truth it is an yrksomnes vnto anie godly conscience either to heare or recite them Yet because ther is no cause so bad which shal not finde as bad a patrone we will only examine your answeres and brieflie shew their insufficiencie THE first fault is That we worship the Lord after a false maner because our worship is said to be made of the invention of man yea of the man of sinne erronious imposed vpon vs. I answere that our worship is the imbracing of the holy Bible by the doctrine therof we seeke to belieue in God to call vpon him and to doo all good workes Manie Ministers ther be in England which haue not approued the booke of common praier further then they are perswaded it is consonant to Gods word hor vsed anie thing therin which they iudge corrupt But you say all read prayer is idolatrie But you must bring better stuffe to proue yt then your spirituall fantasies so directly ouerthrowne by the holy scriptures howsoeuer they may be cauilled against with fond distinctions as the hereticks haue done in other matters THE first Transgression we chardge your assemblies with is That you worship God after a false maner your worship being made of the invention of man euen of the man of sinne erronious and imposed vppon you You answere your worship is the imbracing the holy Bible Thus begging the question you neither proue your worship by the Bible nor answere one of these 4 apparant reasons which we bring in our Articles whie yt is false contrarie to the Bible For the furder manifestation of your worship in perticular let that great Idoll the booke of your coÌ„mon prayer which is so full of errors blasphemies and abhominations be examined by the word of God See if you can finde in the new Testament your Romish Fastes your Ember dayes Sainctes Eaues Lent or your Idoll Feastes your Alhallowes Candlemasse your seuerall Lady dayes Saincts dayes the dedicating of your Churches to Saincts your Comminations Rogations Purifications Titheâ— Offrings Mortuaries your maner of visiting the sick housling them with the Sacrament your Absolution your blasphemous Diriges and funerall sermons ouer and for the dead your corrupt maner of administring the Sacraments your Font crossing in baptisme your Baptising by women Gossippings the blasphemous Collects you vse in this Sacrament your Bishoppings with all your hereticall Collects in that Booke which is a wearines to vs to repeate though not in you to vse tollerate and defend But all this geare must be swallowed vp This candle may not be lighted lest the people looke into the abhominable ingredients which you their antichristian Ministers giue them or rather sell them in the whore of Babilons Cupp to the destruction of their soules But you know some Ministers in the land which neither vse nor approue the Booke further then they are perswaded in conscience it is consonaut to Gods word But you know none that vse not the Booke You know neuer a Minister in this land which either is authorized by the state or standeth in puplique place which standeth nor vnder this Idoll or that hath throwne yt out by the power of the word or withdrawne the people from yt with al their preaching these 29 yeares but ioyne their Gospel to yt minister to that people that vse yt c. Neither can the conningest
of you make the best parte of yt other then a piece of swynes flesh an abhomination to the Lord. Neiâ—her can the perswasion of your coÌ„science either iustifie your worship cleare you or satisfie others especiallie when we see your confciences to tollerat and submit vnto the whole to vse part in respect of your homage and to refuse part for shame of the world Hitherto appeareth no sclander in our Article your vvorship being altogither as yll and worse then we speake of and such indeed as you neither can nor dare abide by And therfore to get ridd of this Article which presseth you so â—ore you chardge vs with matter which you finde not in our Article That we say all read prayer is idolatrie terming it our stuffe spirituall fantasies directly ouerthrowne by the holy scriptures howsoeuer vve may cauil with fond distinctions as the hereticks haue done in other matters From what spirit procedeth al this found you this in our Article If not all these blasphemous reproches must returne to you againe with shame You want a couert when you flie into this bush to hide you When you shall be better instructed of the holy Ghost and haue learned what prayer is you vvill not call spirituall prayers spirituall fantasies neither thrust your Apochripha prayers to be read in the church of God where only Gods word ought to be read But this being beside our Article in nothing disprouing it not iustifying your idolatrous worship vsed in your assemblies we leaue the further clearing of this to him to vvhome it more perticularly belongeth And we for euerie thing you haue as yet brought must remaine cleared of all the sclanders and reproches you haue cast out against vs your assemblies still charged and obstinatly guyltie of a popish erronious and idolatrous worship thrust vppon them according to our Article and you not a Minister but a defendor of this trumperie resisting the truth and blaspheming vs for defending the truth THE 2 fault is That all the prophane multitude without exception of anie person are admitted reteined into the bozome of the Church The most Churches in England want godly Pasoors and there all are admitted it may be he that admitteth is the worst in the companie But ther be manie greater smaler Congregations where the Pastor doth keepe back some for ignorance and some for spotted life vntil they ameÌ„d as I my â—elf haue knowne 〈…〉 repelled from the Sacrament in one stocke and not admitted at all But you will say by what right doth the 〈◊〉 this I say that the Book of common prayer doth expreslie command that all such as lyue vngodly shal not be admitted But then you will say they be admitted to come vnto prayers with the rest Not if they be excoÌ„municated iustly as sondrie are Againe this will hardly be reteined of all that know the truth that the prayer or worship of the faithfull is poluted if ther be prophane men in companie especially we that caÌ„not remedie the matter There were but a few true worshippers frequented the Temple emong multitudes of prophane vngodly men But what can you aledge more thÌ„ the Anabaptists did at the first whie they seperated themselues would you haue priuate men reforme the Temple or not come there HERE you confesse that the most Churches in England want godly Pastors and that there all are admitted and that he that admitteth them is the worst of the companie Thus you make the most Churches in England in a verie bad estate and so far forth you affirme our Article But yet you know some Churches where the Pastor hath repelled for ignorance spotted life to the number of 20. or 30. from the Sacrament c. This verie rare thing being graunted you what insueth therof Doth this disproue that eueÌ„ there and in the best of your Churches the prophane multitudes are not receiued into reteined in the bozome bodie of your Churches Were there no more prophane â—ow yee but these 20. or 30. you speake of in Ye Parish or were not they elsewhere receiued to the Sacrament But to take a more direct course with you and to proue our Article at once Know you anie in those Parishes you speake of or in the Realme of England vnbaptised And is not Baptisme a SacrameÌ„t belonging to the church wherby all the faithful their â—eede enter into yt Then all being baptised it followeth that all are receiued into the bodie of your Church Now being once receiued in they can no way be cast out but by excommunication And it is manifest that the Parson with al his Parish haue not the powre which Christ hath left vnto his Church to excommunicate anie offendor be he neuer so obstinate or notorious no nor to redresse anie enormitie that is laide vpon them by the times And thus the other part of our Article is confirmed That all are reteined in the bozome of your Church And now to your suspension or prohibition from the Sacrament You wil haue vs aske you by what right the Minister doth this In deed this would be knowne for if it be in the nature of excoÌ„munication it were no small presumption in the Minister to arrogate such absolute authoritie to himself But all this your answere cleareth The Booke of coÌ„mon prayer you say doth command c. Here may not be let passe that euen your owne mouth confesseth that eueÌ„ the best of your Churches Ministers stand vnder obserue vphold this Idoll Whie is y e Bookâ— of coÌ„mon prayer Christs new Testament that you must fetch your warâ—ant directioÌ„ from that Idoll In deed yt is a fitt Portesse for such a Priest and the suspension you vaunt of a fitt toole for such workmen euen the instrument of that foolish Sheepheard If the iudgment of God were not vpon your right eie your right arme you might see how your Lordes the Bishopps dresse you and perceiue how this weapon they allow you wanteth both edge poinct yt is so rebuted by them that neuer a one in the Parish setteth a flie by yt Againe one word of M. CoÌ„missaries mouth can heale the greatest wound you caÌ„ make with yt The next thing that you wil haue vs to say is That they be admitted to come to prayer with the rest For this you haue a cunning solution redie Not you say if they be iustly excoÌ„mâ—nicat as sondrie are See how God ensnareth you in your owne words and how hard a bad cause is to defend though you make both our Questions your owne Answers as it pleaseth you First here is to be obserued That you subscribe not in secret but openly iustifie the Comissaries excoÌ„municatioÌ„ for other meanes haue your Sinagogs none the Parson Church-wardens Side-men Quest-men being sworne seruants and the whole Parish standing in subiectioÌ„ to his Antichristian Court. The is to be obserued what good Sheepherds you be that yield your sheepe to this rauening wolfe
conscience botchers these Preachers of the Gospell to winne and keepe credite with the world How zealous in some place tyme auditorie where they may be wel backed they wil seeme against some triffles as though they were of most precise and vnstayned conscience And againe how luke-warme colde and backward they wilbe in the same poyntes at an other tyme place and auditorie How strange to the poore that shal desire their iudgmeÌ„t of some poynctes especially of these But cheiflie if any haue espied more light then they would they should and doe but make question of their ministrie worship Church c with what exquisite sleights they will seeke to drawe them backe as ruÌ„ning too farre too fast before their guides with what poysoned cauills to quench their zeale and spirite to pleade for and defend their sinne and apostasie These thinges to dicusse or but to shew in perticular with their due circumstances would require a longe and lardge discourse yea no booke were able to containe all their diuelish deuises and delusions which euen fill that flying volume the Prophet speaketh of Sathan hauing his fordge of all mischeife continually going amongst them Al which their dealings euidently shew what kinde of ministers and preachers of the Gospel they are Which drawe the people vnto and with their preaching keepe them in this defection apostasie from the Gospell which keep the people from and will not leade them to the sinceare practize of the Gospell but with their schole learning drawe a veale before CHRISTS face that the people might not see to the end of his ministrie neither discerne what CHRISTES will is for any action of the Church or to examine by the rules of CHRISTES Testament any thing by publick auâ—thoritie established Yea we see and haue shewed how they drawe the people vnto and themselues administer by an other Leiâ—ourgie then Christâ— Testament which prescribeth an other kinde of administration both to themselues and to the whole Church in all thinges then CHRIST hath prescribed We see haue shewed how they hold all the people vnder this more then Babilonish yoke of these antichristian Prelates their Courtes c and stand themselues the marcked Ministers sworne subiects and bond seruantes of these their Lordes haue fetched their ministrie licence to preach and their whole administratioÌ„ from them how they are prescribed stinted limited censured silenced deposed by them how they haue submitted and betrayed themselues Church Gospell Christ to these enemies Also what merchandize they make of their prayers Gospel preaching sacramentes selling all and themselues to for money What trafique they make of their benefices how they come by them and part from them how they haue in all thinges gonne astray forsaking the right waye hauing followed the waye of Balaam of Bâ—sor that loued the hire of vnrighteousnes and are in all thinges so throughly corrupted as they are the most bitter pestilent enemies of the kingdome of CHRIST and of the sinceare practize of the Gospel Deuising to themselues their miserable followers daily new errors bye pathes as faste as the old wherin they haue walked are discouered as any that will take the paynes to examine by the rules of the Scriptures their bookes of discipline and new formes of reformation or rather those antient primatiue defections which they seeke againe to reuiue shall perceiue For mie part I am euen irâ—ked to raue in this bottomlesse abysme of their iniquities which the more they are looked into still offer more matter of reproofe euen without end Wherfore I eueÌ„ with wearines here cease furder to speake of their corrupt administration hoping that by this alreadie said at the least vpon due examination therof it may appeare to al men that this their whole administration and preaching of the worde is altogether as corrupt and in all poynctes rightly fitteth vnto their antichâ—istian office entrance It now remayneth that we hast to and ouer their maintenance THE maintenance of the ministri of the Church of ENGLAND is of these fower sortes 1. Either by lordly reuenues with their royal rightes ciuill iurisdiction Courtes baron tenancies c belonging thervnto 2. Or by fees and pollages taysed rauened in their spiritual Courtes for iudging pleading solliciting writing fetching vp sommoning 3. Or by gleabes and tithes 4. Or ells by annual set stipendes The first forte of these we haue alreadie shewed to belong to Princes to ciuile Lordes and persons and to be vtterly vnlawful and forbidden to the ministrie of CHRIST Mr. Gâ—F his liberall maintenance or the ordinance of the Church cannot mainteine them Neither will that worde Philoxenos which they so lardgly stretch interpreat carrie half this pompe To the second sort we affirme these Courtes Officers Iudges Aduocates Proctors Registers Purseuantes Sommoners together with all their functions the orders of their Courtes maner of iurisdictioÌ„ pleading c where all thinges are pleadable if not vendible for money where al causes euen the most foule finde their aduocates colours defence delayes for mony c Al these spiritual Courtes officers iudgments pleadings customes we finde diuelish antichristian and not to appertaine to the Church kingdome of CHRIST but to belong to the kingdome throne of Antichrist and of the Beaste And therfore may conclude that they are the reuenues of sinne not to belong to the ministrie of CHRIST The third kinde these tithes we finde merely ceremoniall to haue bene ordayned for and belonged vnto the Leuiticall ministerie vnder the lawe We finde them an inheritance of the Leuites An offering of the people Therfore they cannot in this maner by lawe by tyed to the ministrie of CHRIST be made an inheritance vnto them an offring of the people vnto them For if there be a chandge of the Priest-hoode theâ— of necessitie must there be a chandge of the Lawe No part of the ceremoniall lawe or of those shadowes can be ioyned vnto the Gospell ministrie of CHRIST they or any part of them caÌ„not now be reuiued or retayned without the denial losse of CHRIST And how is the ceremoniall lawe abrogate whilest these tithes are in this maner allotted by lawe vnto the ministrie of the Gospell as an inheritance to them as an oblation of the people eueÌ„ as in former tyme vnto the Leuites The Princes coÌ„mandement or the Churches decree cannot alter the nature of these tithes to make them either ciuile or lawfull God was the aucthor of this law he made it ecclesiastical Man can neither chandge the propertie or y e end therof to make that ciuile that God hath make ecclesiastical Kinge EZECHIA coÌ„manded reuiued this lawe it became not therbie ciuile A godly Prince coÌ„mandeth al the lawes of the first Table all the ordinances of Christs Testament shall they therbie be made ciuile and no longer ecclesiastical or Gods lawes The decree of the Church also alleadged by Mr. G. sheweth it ecclesiastical for the Church
ioyned together with y e actioÌ„ by the same aucthoritie neither may by any mortal man be changed or separate from the same So y â— M r. G. his owne coÌ„fession in that their gouernmeÌ„t wanteth the true forme for here we reason not of faultes in a true forme but of a diuers false forme is reason enough to shew that it is not that true gouernment which Christ hath instituted And then must yt needes followe to be a false and antichristian gouernment And consequently all that stand vnder yt to stand vnder the yoke of Antichrist and not to haue Christ their kinge gouernour Moreouer the Brownist with whom he hath to doe hath learned doth fully belieue That CHRIST ruleth in his Church by his owne officers and lawes and not by any such popish Officers Courtes and CaÌ„nons as these BBs doe in the Church of England All which he hopeth M r. G. will not say to be of the forme of discipline For sure he holdeth a true ministrie and the rules of the Bible to be of such necessitie as the true Church may neuer receiue anie other Ministers or lawes for their administration and gouernment We haue likewise lardglie alreadie proued this whole ministrie administration ordinance and maner of gouernmeÌ„t not to be according to the rules of Gods worde but forged popish and false Only in this place we would knowe of M r. G. if the Bishopps and their false Hierarchie Courtes iurisdiction gouernment were of God how theÌ„ these learned Reformist Preachers may sue seeke to haue them vtterly remoued out of the church I would not here be vnderstood of their persons wherof might be some colour reason enough but of their offices Courtes iurisdiction gouernment Al which they would haue vtterly abolished taken away which if they were of Christ could not be donne without most heynouse impietie sacriledge without a most grievous wouÌ„de mayme in the body of Christ by cutting off such pretious and principal members and officers of Christ and that for euer If those BB s their accomplices Courtes and gouernment were of Christ then are these Reformistes which sue and labour to haue them remoued and abolished most dangerous and pestilent seducers that perswade the Prince and realme to doe this violence to the bodie of Christ his Church to reiect the holy gouernmeÌ„t and ministrie of Christ which who so despiceth or putteth away despiceth putteth away Christ himself and so perswad and drawe they their Prince and the whole land into the assuted wrath and vengeance of God â—ut nowe on the contrarie if these Bishops officers courtes gouernmeÌ„t be not of Christ then belong they not vnto neither haue anie thing to doe or to intermeddle with the ministrie or gouernmeÌ„t or anie action of the Church of Christ. How great then on the other side is the perfidie apostasie of these Reformistes that knewe and pronounced in open Parliament that they were not of God and sought to haue them vtterlie remoued Yet now for filthie lucre for feare of persecution subscribe sweare and submit to their antichristian Hierarchie power courtes iurisdiction to al the detestable enormities that flowe from their throne That diriue their ministrie from exercise yt vnder them yea that exercise their ministrie keep the whole land vnder their yoke and so in the knoweÌ„ wrath of God How odious is the hypocrisie apostasie of this graceles maâ— that somtymes knewe stood against these enormities yet now as a withered fruictlesse tree twice deade plucked vp by the rootes is falleÌ„ apostatat from al faith light sauoure conscieÌ„ce feeling as that starre wormewood that poysoneth maketh bitter deadly al the waters he faleth into now pleading fighting for that apostatical throne of iniquitie terming that nowe the gouernment power of Christ in matter and effect which he himself Page 56. 58. of his booke coÌ„fesseth not to binde in heaueÌ„ not to be iust as in respect of them that doe excoÌ„municate c colouring al the abominations that flowe from this throne and al the controuersies about their gouernment with a diuers outward forme I hope he wil admit the TestameÌ„t ministrie of Christ to be of the matter substaÌ„ce And theÌ„ shall his halting on both sides double dissimulatioÌ„ appeare to al meÌ„ that durst not set downe so much as the coÌ„trouersie amongst theÌ„selues trulie which yet T. C. his Lord of VVinchester dealt more rowndly in flatlie denijng the Apostolick discipline to be either perpetual or necessarie but especially elections excoÌ„munication c by the people to be either expedient or tollerable bringing sondrie fleshly reasons politicke incoÌ„ueniences impedimeÌ„ts to the contrarie the refutation of whose blasphemies beloÌ„geth to an other place But this maÌ„ thincking to keepe in with both sides setteth downe the controuersie to be onlie about the forme not about the matter of discipline although the Bishops abash not in playne wordes to the veiwe of the world to the face of Christ to denie the verie matter yt self As both sides also doe in deedes effect whilest they acknowledg that Christ hath giuen vnto his Church the power of elections censures yet both of them withdraw this whole power froÌ„ the Church The one into their sequestred Synodes the other into their popish Courtes If so be this power wilbe grauÌ„ted to be of the matter of discipline But this questioÌ„ is soone put to an end whilest the Bishops denie the Apostolick discipline yt self as tollerable in the common wealth and flatlie denie Christ to reigne ouer them or ouer this Church by his owne officers lawes And therfore except he wil giue their persons accoÌ„plices and trayne an immunitie from al ecclesiastical censures not to be subiect for anie transgressioÌ„ or error to the reproof or power of the Church yea except he wil resigne his right into their handes and giue them leaue to reigne rule ouer al the Churches in this laÌ„d and that by their owne officers courtes caÌ„nons constitutions iniunctions c he is no Kinge or Christ for them Nay if he wil not bowe downe to al these and take their yoke vpoÌ„ him he is no subiect for them he may not buy and sell nor liue in this market in this Church Which Officers Courtes Cannons c if Mr. G. had proued to haue bene of the matter of Christes discipline for of the forme we wil al graunt him they are not and had approued iustified them by the worde of God then had he some colour to aske this question whether some faultes in their discipline should make yt antichristian But seing these Bishopps their Courtes Officers Cannons c were by vs affirmed vnto him to haue no foundatioÌ„ or mention in Gods worde no place nor vse in Christs Church but to be contrarie to the one most preiudicial daÌ„gerous to the other And