Church of such hipocriticall wolves It is a principle of Gods covenant of grace that he will give us Pastors according to his owne hart that shall feed us with knowledge Iur. 3.15 and understanding knowing that is a curse to bee led by blind guides left in ignorance they yet presume that Pastors may be hindered and knowledge forbidden in these things so people be but incited to building and repairing of temples praier c. As if God would heare such as will not heare him nor suffer others to heare him in such points but punish terrifie such as produce any proofes in such cases either in print or pulpit which is not to prevent schisme and presumptuous curiositie as they pretend but to make way for Arminianisme and poperie and against all opposers to say with them in the Psalme Let us breake their bonds Psal 2. and cast away their cords from us and should therefore be answered with that of the Apostles Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye we reade of some that devoured widdowes houses under colour of long praiers I pray God these doe not devoure Churches states yea the faith it self under colour of long praiers Math. 23.14 and standing soe much for the use of the common praier booke as the Papists did for theirs For are not ours men as well as they And hath not England also an Hierarchie and many places of honor and profit in it Are they not oft bestowed on such as set the fairest colours on the Hierarchie and ceremonies and oft on such as have flattered the Duke and such other masqued Agents for Arminianisme and Poperie And so they serve as baites to corrupt and make the ambitious forme and mold Religion to the opinion and pleasure of such as can advance and make them double beneficed men The Cardinall of Monte Prince Legate in the Counsell of Trent under Paul the 3 Historie of the Councel of Trent pag. 191. and after created Pope by name of Iulius the 3 hearing the complaints against nonresidents said That the absence of the Prelates and other Curates from their Churches is the cause all the mischeifes of the Church For the Church may be compared to a ship the sinking whereof is ascribed to the absent Pilot that should governe it if he were prefent It shewed to them that heresies ignorance and dissolution doe raigne in the peolple and bad manners and vices in the Clergie because the Pastors being absent from the flock no man hath care to instruct those or correct these whence ignorante and unlearned Ministers have beene promoted to Cures and Bishopwricks for in regard they neede not execute their dutie in person no fitnes is necessarie Divers Prelates following him But the Bishop of Vesone said that the residing of Bishops is notable to make the Clergie live holy for that besides the general exemption of all Regulars everie Chapter hath one and there be few particular Preists that want it The most followed his opinion that it was necessarie to command residence And to take away exemptious pluralities and dispensations that hindred it But it was after seene that if this were don the authoritie of the Pope and Cardinals would be overthrowne therefore it was ever hindered though the Bishops laboured to regaine their power to superintend and shake of the Popes yoake by offering to prove that Residence and jurisduction of Bishops are de jure divino for the Regulars were still protected as champious of the papacie and the Popes authoritie and dispensations were cunningly reserved Indeed much was restored to the Bishops in doubtfull tearmes to superintēd as Delegates of the Apostolick sea but they could not regaine all because it was perceived that would shake the greatnes of the Pope and Cardinals reforme them make them reside and the Bishops would be made so many Popes in their owne Diocesses Ibid. p. 170 219.496 497.501 502. For if it were once decided that they had the Charge from Christ to governe the Church it would be decided also that they have from him authoritie necessarie for it which the Pope could not restraine They tooke this to bee proved by that Acts. 20.17 Take heede therefore unto your selves Acts 20.17.20 and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops Which indeed is against the Pope and all diocessan Bishops as being spoken to the presbiters this and other places abovementioned being their letters patents to governe the Church to the worlds end Therefore when the Bishops had almost gained their cause by pluralitie of voices the Pope and Cardinals cryed out against it Every one thinking he did already see Rome emptie of Prelates and deprived of all prerogatives and eminence that the Cardinals should be excluded from haveing Bishopwricks and all from pluralities that no Bishop or Curate might have an office in Rome nor the Pope dispence in such things which are most principle in his power so his authoritie should be much diminished and that of the Bishops enlarged therefore they thought these novelties aymed to make many Popes And afterward they would neither have that point of residence nor that whether Bishops be instituted by Christ and superiour to Preists to be disputed and concluded though many Bishops oft laboured therein But the Bishops of England takeing the later for granted have what those others could not attaine they have no Pope over them to take away their power unles peradventure sometime such a one as the Duke of Buck was who after his way increaseth but doe themselves dispence with pluralities and uphold nonresidents and Arminians as the surest champions of their hierarchic such as doe not so much make ready a Clergie for Christ as Antichrist They superintend over all preachers in their Diocesses with such unlimited power as the Trent-Bishops could never attaine that all must subscribe to them and their constitutions and none may preach dispute or write for the Eldership and against the hierarchie and Arminians nor scarce against other poperie which makes men say they are Popes within themselves and this power cannot rest heere it wil be more Antichristian if it be not taken away The French Churches though oft troubled with wars and hurliburlies are yet in better case herein seeing they may write print and preach any divine truth though most repugnant to the Popish Bishops that live among them and cannot hinder them Indeed he that considers it well shall find that though the Conncel of Nice made the Bishops of Rome Patriarchs yet they did not for 300 yeares after raigne so much over Presbiters in such cases as the English Bishops doe Let us not wonder then when wee see that many great Schollars som that have beene good preachers when they have attained these great places and double benefices or are in possiblitie of comming to them or haveing living under them should bee
was Christ that as it feedes and saves our bodies from perishing so doth Christ our soules that as his promise is to save all that beleeve in him receive and feed on those promises so he ordained this Sacrament as a signe and seale of the same to every true beleever to whom in particular it is given and applied His new covenant is to * Iet 31.33 write his law in our hearts that wee may by vertue of that covenant in his blood walke in his waies and for what is past to remember our sins no more and each man takes the Sacrament as an assurance thereof to his owne soule that groanes under the burthen of them The Sacrament is best received when wee mind and beleeve these and the like things and hunger and thirst for them therefore there is no more need of kneeling in the act of receiving then in hearing the same offered in the word preached nor indeed so much Praier on our knees is necessarie before receiving that wee may bee prepared and receive accordinglie and after receiving to shew all humble thankfulnes but in giveing us this Sacrament at his table the Lord would shew us a great favour as a great Lord or Prince doth to a poore mā when he calls him to his table he requires him not to come eate kneeling for that is not an action fitting the intended favour nor the act of eating a supper It is the best part of manners to be ordered by him as the guests were that were first set In standing or sitting he may behave himself reverently as they doe that so receive in the reformed Churches If any do yet replie it is better for men to command kneeling in receiving the Sacrament though the Apostles and others in their time received it sitting that is to infer that the like may be commanded that the witnesses shall kneele while a child is baptised or sprinckled that the Kings Preists of Israel might have commanded the like as most necessary in circumcision and in eating the Paschal-lambe that is that all should eate it kneeling for the eating of the Lambe before Christs death was in place of this Sacrament but this they could not doe for God saith of the Passeover according to all the rites of it and according to all the ceremonies thereof Num 9.3 shall yee keepe it Not with others much lesse with contrarie It may be that the striking of the doore posts with blood was not after so necessary nor perhaps the eating of it in hast and with staves in their hands because the Angel had then past their houses and the journey into Canaan was past but the rest of the ceremonies mentioned vers 12. were to remaine Vers 12. No man might presume to change them No more indeed may any do these save in such as doe not necessarily belong to the receiving of the Sacrament as that there should be a Paschal-lambe eaten at the same time that it should be at a supper time when men make a meale and not rather before dinner the Apostle changed one that it should not be eaten when men eate a meale or for hunger and the other was changed upon the same or like reason But this of the gesture cannot so well be changed much lesse to one so contrary as that of kneeling The example of Christ and his Apostles have the force of a precept that it should be eaten afer the manner of a supper and the greatest difference and contrarietie of gesture that can be in such an action is that betweene sitting and kneeling which of all others is farthest from that used in the institution and time of the Apostles and therefore must needes be displeasing to God the rather because it hath beene invented imposed and practised by idolatrous Papists It is the necessitie of conformitie imposed upon Ministers that furnisheth them with arguments to the contrarie You will say many in the primitive Church received it standing This cannot properly be called a change because men do oft eate standing and it is likely that when Christ after his ascension the Apostles gave the bread some might receive it standing Besides the conveniencie pleades for the gesture For when as in Diepe and Paris and some other Churches of France there be about 4000 to communicate at a time thirtie or fortie of them come one behind an other toward the side of the table where the first three or fower standing still receive and then passing forward give way to the next three till all bee served whereas if all should sit and rise by companies it would aske a far longer time Besides this is a reverent gesture and a lawfull and an indifferent meane betweene sitting and kneeling Object Some answer there cannot bee too much reverence in such an action therefore kneeling is best Answ The same reason holds as well for the Sacrament of baptisme and the word preached that witnesses who answer for a child should kneele when it is sprinkled that men of age baptised in the primative ages should have kneeled while they were sprinckled or dipped that all should kneele al the while the word is preached because therein God speakes unto us and plainely manifests his eternall wisdome power and grace whereas in the Sacraments those things are only taught us by signe and seales Object It is objected that they are commonly prentises and people of the least knowledge who refuse to kneele Answ Answ Many that had as little knowledge and could as ill give a reason of their faith were Martyrs in Queene Maries daies Howsoever they have lesse knowledge in this point though they be Bishops and Doctors who mayntaine that kneeling may be imposed as most fitting in this action Plessis mysterie of iniquitie progress 50.51 For it was Pope Honorius the third that first ordained kneeling at the Sacrament about the yeare 1220 when a little before the doctrine of transubstantiatiō determined in the Councell of Lateran in the time of his predecessor Innocent the third and then in the yeare 1264 that feast was ordained by Vrban the fourth Platin in vit Honor. 3. Annot. which Papists call Gods daie or Corpus Christi with them the greatest in the yeare when withall pompe and ceremonie the bread is caried in procession and adored of all Thence it followed that men ought to kneele before it And that this ceremonie was held necessarie as also bowing to the Altar both which might bee used by some in an ignorant and officious devotion before the time of Honorius but ratified and received by all the Westerne Churches it could not bee till the Pope had power and champions to maintaine it These were the locusts the Regulars Innocent the third confirmed the order of Friars whose head was Francis so famous for lying wonders and Honorius the third that of the preachers whose head was Dominick canonized for a saint by the following Pope Gregorie the 9 these stouly maintained the cause
please the papists yet they satisfie them not but only imbolden them to get greater advantages for their Religion to encroach demand practise and by degrees prevaile by corrupting such luke-warme newters that all these things are the fruits of the English hierarchie and traditions the Achans and Babylonish garments that trouble Israel an hierarchie and traditions which taking their greatest authoritie from Romish usurpation and superstition bring forth such Protestants and which therefore is a Church planted accordingly For say they in England it hath beene and is taken for a sufficient conversion from poperie to come to the Church to the service and Sacrament whereas in France and other reformed Churches before any papist is received and counted a protestant he is presented in the congregation before the preacher who asketh him question to this purpose First whether he hold the doctrine taught in the old new Testament to be Gods and sufficient to salvation 2ly whether he hold that the reformed Churches teach and hold the same doctrine in theire Religion and he desire to bee of it 3 whether he hold the Pope to bee Antichrist and the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon And so he consenting to all this is received with joy and there is no danger that he should be false or popish who makes this profession whereas in England where allare admitted without any such profession they may be true or false as they list If they doe but come to the Church to the service sacrament though they secretly favour the Romish religion it appeare to many in their practise they may nevertheles be chosen parliament men if they doe but take the oath of allegiance as verie many papists have donne who dares question them which is the reason there hath beene so much disturbance in all the late assemblies of Parliament and so little fruit by them Some say they not only in private parishes but ever in the court have come to church like Hēry Earle of Northāpton he Duke of Buck others and have favoured the hierarchie service spake well of them of some mēs bookes sermons as little or nothing repugnant to poperie and for it were content to bee reckoned protestants that so they might get offices honours trust and power in great affaires make some pretences for the good of our Religion or the state but secretly carrie them for the advancement of the Romish cause To effect it the better and withall to save themselves from danger these say they beeing great and able to helpe others to offices and honour plant such about Kings as themselves are and have had enow to applaude second and justifie them in their proceeding for as the Apostle saith A little leaven leaveth the whole lumpe Gal. 5. ◠how soever these getting to be the Major and predominant part will in time worke that there shal be no other but such unles perhaps some that are neither hot nor cold in religion or being poore or lesse potent are forced for their owne private interests to be silent in time to depend on them or beswaied by them and then they all thus ingaged in any cause are prone to justifie theire owne acts for good policies and there is so little hope of getting sounder men into their places that it must needes bee as hard and dangerous to convince them as for an inhabitant of Rome to convince that Church of any errour a Parliament of wise men sufficeth not to doe it which hath beene the losse of the Palatinate and the cause of all the evill our Religion hath suffered in Bohemia Germanie Frāce at home Eor say the forraigne protestants if the house of Austria the French had not beene sure they had such freinds in England they durst never have attemtped that they did that they that are such or flatter such as are much infected with avarice ambition lust must needes be blinde in spirituall things especially in the matter of the hierarchies wherein the devill labours to keepe them more blind then others that so they may be unfit judges in the cause and he may thereby set up traditions to make the word of none effect eftablish the tyrannie of the Bishops in the Church against the Eldership and all the friends thereof keepe men lukewarme and newters if not thus false betweene Christ and Antichrist and so make way to bring England againe to Romish errour or somwhat as bad that such Lords were ever in grace with the Bishops and the Bishops with them because it troubles them not to have fellowship with Church papists so unlike are they to Saint Iohn that would not come in the bath where Cerinthus was that divers chaplaines preachers also set up fitted for their turnes seeing them able to advance whom they would have for their favour broached maintained Arminian and popish tenets wresting the Articles and the very Scriptures to confirme them and thus say they the English hierarchie and service bring forth such counsellors and protestants and such counsellours bring forth such Bishops and Chaplaines For if Princes or their favourites be but corrupted in religion they cannot want flatterers both of the Clergie and others to corrupt and be corrupted to conforme and be conformed to them For one that is against them they shall have hundreds with them as in Ahabs time so miserable a thing it is when they will not conforme their opinions to Gods word but it to their policies and opinions as one said to Micajah 1 Kings 22 13. The words of the Prophete declare good unto the King with one mouth let thy word I pray thee be like the word of one of them Constantius fell into Arianisme the Rivers and fountaines the Bishop and teachers were corrupted To omit other instances this desire of authoritie honour and precedence was the bane of the Church of Rome who being drunke with that poison and thereby swolme with a monstrous greatnes gave the cup to others a cup that all nations are but to prove to drinke of And indeed so much doe the favour of Princes and honours more then all other gifts blind the eyes of the wise and bring them to temporising and spirituall ignorance that it may be counted a worke of Gods speciall grace that any that seeke or attaine wealth honour and authoritie should have the true knowledge and feare of God seeing as Paul saith of them that wil be rich 1. Tim. 9.6 so it may be said of them that wil be honourable and great they fall into temptations and snares and many foolish and noysome lusts that drowne men in perdition And indeed such doe commonly so abound in sensualitie that it may be said of the most part of them Psal 49.20 Man being in honour hath no understanding but is compared to the beasts that perish For nothing makes a man more like a beast then spirituall ignorance and sensualitie Nothing makes a
against the Waldenses and Albigenses whilest these popes were busie in sending Kings to conquer Ierusalem and persecuting the Emperours King Iohn of England and other Princes Such was the religion of those times the ages next before for as one observes If the Bishops of Rome sent into any countrie it was not principally to preath the Gospel Plessis mysterie iniquitie prog 24. but to broach their owne ceremonies their singings their service in latine howres organs Altars tapers c. stirring up Princes to enforce their subjects to use and practise them who would faine have kept themselves to the first institution of the Church in the puritie of the Gospel And as he observeth the worser sort of men are most zealous in such things to shadow and obscure their evill acts and indeed to serve them in steade of the Religion which Christ ordained therefore though they neglected and contemned found doctrine true faith knowledge zeale and the like graces yet they would build stately Temples bow to the Altar and to the bread which is called the body of Christ and thinke they did God the better service I will not say that those English Bishops and Doctors who had hand in the reformation and ordained kneeling at the receiving of the bread and wine did beleeve transubstantiation or consubstantiatiō or teach men to doe honour to those elemēts because they are called the body and blood sacramentally it may be it was rather to draw Papists the sooner to Church that this and other Romish rites were retained as also because this had beene so long used in all the world they thought it too much as once to fall from kneeling to sitting thinking that if they should ignorant Papists of which the land was then peopled would never bee drawen to Church or to hearken to thē in other things when having once laid these things for Rules like the Lutherans in their tenets they can heare nothing to the contrarie but above all because they knew the office of a Diocessan Bishop could not subsist in these daies of reformation without maintaining them against all opposers of traditions and humane inventions I know that as yet there is no publick constitution teaching plainly that reverence ought to be done to the Elements because they are called the body and blood of Christ but if they that stand so much for kneeling at the Sacrament have not some such superstition in it why doe they bow toward the Altar or table rather then toward the pulpit or some other side of the Church seeing God is every where and on all sides of us And why else doe they begin to erect Altars at the east end of the quier in Churches where there have beene none since poperie was abolished These Popish ceremonies should also have beene abandoned to shew plainly that they doe not favour superstition and the worship of bread They vainly say it argues too much boldnes to sit or stand at the table of the Lord for it is a far greater presumption to use and ordaine a ceremonie so contrarie to the institution and practise of the Church in the Apostles time The greatest reverence wee can doe to God is to stick close to his ordinances to obey and love them and the greatest presumption to thinke any thing can be better devised performed and practised then it was in his institution with the Papists they doe but mock God with a name of greater reverence whilest they withstand that of the institution and command another gesture that is farthest from it God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth In beleeving and following his word and ordinances as Paul worshipped the God of his fathers Ioh. 4. Act. 24.14 1. Cor. 11. who delivered this ordinance so as he received it of the Lord and not as they did whose feare toward God was taught by the precepts of mē they worshipped him in vaine he regards not their kneeling It is not enough for preachers to say wee preach and urge them because our Princes and Bishops have commaunded them for he will answer Who required these things at your hands Isa ◠1◠which doe but open a gap for Kings and Prelates to commaund what they list Hence came that * Besides that about the Saboath order of King Iames that men should not in pulpits confute poperie in things controverted but leave that to the Bishops and Deanes and that which succeded that Ministers should not in the Vniversities pulpits and print dispute preach or write against Arminianisme they that perswade a King that he may doe this strive in effect to make a Pope of him And lastly thence comes the great domineering and strange injunctions of prelates in their visitations that none must dare to speake against any of their orders or ceremonies whatsoever unles he long to be silenced reckoned a mad fellow Dr. Clewit at the Bishop of London visit An. 1631. thence comes the extreame flatterie of their Agents and Chaplaines who begin to preach thus Auctoritàs praecipientis est ratio praecepti and no man considers that thus the Church of Rome grew to an unlimited and licentious power that such are the naturall fruits of the hierarchie and they must needes grow worse and worse In those reformed Churches where men sit they come to the table more prepared with more knowledge feare Rev. 2.20 reverence and circumspection then such men they dare not admit a notorious drunkard Adulterer Arminian or the like nor any person utterly unknowne because it tendeth to corruption 1. Cor. 5.6 For a litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe Whereas in England all that will may come bodly even in the Cathedrall Church in London They that receive are utterly unknowne to them that administer no man examines them nor testifieth for them they may be Arminians excommunicate prophane or Church-papists for ought that any man there knowes they looke after no religion but this that he kneele at the Sacrament which if he doe but observe be his life or religion what it will he may come boldly Notwithstanding all these things many say so long as the Gospel may be and is freely preached why should wee trouble a Church or leave it our places and meanes for such faults and ordinances Marke how God hath suffered these men to be punished and deceived the Gospel is there freely preached by them that will needs preach so but not by the care of the Bishops nor yet in all points much lesse in all places Ministers are called upon to urge these ordinances of men yet in the meane they are not suffered to preach Gods ordinance the Eldership nor yet against Arminianisme It is true that after the prohibition the Parliament immediately succeeding many couragiously preached against Arminianisme and so doe some to this day but not in the Court nor in the Vniversitie much lesse before the Bishops who are still against such and
Episcopall power and if they were there is as was shewed no reasoning from the consent or connivance of the Fathers if the institution bee not warrantable by Gods word There were then divers things which had got beginnings in those times against which the Fathers did not much inveigh because they were then held indifferent and not established as since for matters of faith and necessitie as the primacy of the Pope single life of Priests set fasts deferring baptisme till death the use of salt holy water and divers other things in their rites the antiquity whereof makes them never a whit the more lawfull Ioh 8.44 The devill was a seducer and a lyar from the beginning Whether it were in a vaine policie of some Bishops of those times the sooner to draw Iewes and Heathen to Christianity as some of ours pretend the indifferencie and wisedome of using some Romish rites the better to draw Papists to Church or for other like reasons Sure it is that many institutions of religion began in those daies to be taken from the Iewes and ancient heathen as divers have proved to the Papists out of their owne authors Among others Mr. Derlingcourt Minister of the Reformed Church of Paris in his booke of the Iubilee shewes in it many things to omit other particulars Iubile of the reform Chur. part 2. c. 11. The whole Papall Hierarchie saith he is founded on the example of the Iewes who had their soveraigne Pontife their sacrificers and their Levites and among them divers orders and functions And that the Church of Rome hath founded her Hierarchie and the diversity of her orders on the example of the Iewes besides that the thing is cleere enough the Author of the Canon Decretis acknowledgeth it And Polidor Virg. de invent rerum lib. 4. cap. 5. 7. where he also confesseth Decree of Gratian part 12. dift. 21. that the Romish Priests have borrowed of the Iewish Priests the most part of their habits that it is most evident that the institution is rather Hebraicall then Apostolicall And indeed the Apostles were never cloathed in the habits of Bishops nor Popes Reade on this subject Pope Innocent the 3. Mysteriorum Missae lib. 1. and the Bishop of Manda Ration divin officior lib. 3. And a little after We have seene that the Church of Rome authorizeth her hierarchie on the example of the Iewes but shee also avoucheth that it is a pagan invention for the decrees of Gratian after hee had represented the diversitie of the Romane Clergie composed of simple Priests Archpriests Bishops Archbishops Primates Metropolitanes Patriarches Popes addeth that this diversitie proceedeth principally from the ancient Pagans who had their Priests their Archpriests c. a confession which is drawne from the Master of the Sentences lib. 4. dist 24. lit M. The Bishop of Manda doth also acknowledge the same truth Ration divin offic lib. 2. c. 1. n. 22. But there is none more formall in this subject then G. du Chol. who saith G. du Choul discours of the Religion of the ancient Romans pag. 337. 335. That Romanes had another fashion of making their priestly dignities as the great Pontifes the little Pontifes Flamins Archflamins just so as we have the Pope Cardinals Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs c. And if we here observe it curiously we know that many institutions of our religion are taken and translated from the ceremonies of the Egyptians and Gentiles as are the copes and surplesse the Priests shaven crownes the bowing of the head to the Altar the sacrificall pompe the musicke of the Temples adorations prayers and supplications processions and Letanies and many other things which our Priests usurpe in our mysteries Of which indeed many are anciently assumed of Christians but that makes them never a whit the more lawfull How little then doe they helpe themselves who say the Church of England in her hierarchie and ceremonies is most like to the Church which was soone after the death of the Apostles that is if it were so as it is not for they had not such dominion over Presbyters nor such Courts Chancellors Deanes Officials power in probates of Testaments to governe and command give licences and dispensations nor such rulcs and canons to suspend and silence about surplesses ceremonies c. nor yet such service and ceremonies and if they had yet that were nothing being thus invented and received by the Papists and after retained in the English reformation either for policie or for the profit and honour that comes by them Many more zealously defend these then they doe the Gospell against Papists and Arminians Surely the Angell speakes not of such men but rather of such in the reformed Churches as have abandoned these inventions Rev. 19.10 Eph. 1.13 when he saith I am of thy brethren that have the testimony of Iesus which is to have the marke or seale of God in the forehead by professing they will receive no other doctrine and religion but what is rightly drawne from his testimony as on the contrary to professe the Romish faith and superstition is to have the beasts mark in the forehead by profession and any way to defend it is to have it in the right hand by operation and therefore though it seeme harsh to say that the champions of the hierarchie and ceremonies have the mark of the beast because in other things they are Protestants yet can it not be maintained but that they are guilty of having some part and print of that marke because they obstinately maintaine them against all proofes shewing them to be popish in favour Iewish and Heathenish against the word of God and to make the same of no effect in divers particulars The wisedome of God saith by the Apostle Tit. 1.13 Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith not giving heed to Iewish fables and commandements of men which turne from the truth So doe these in England in divers respects Because while some Prelates and Ministers make a noise and a blustring with crying out against Puritans and a great flourish with exalting the name and authority of the Church in such cases and the ancient use of the diocessan and provinciall Bishops ordinances and ceremonies Princes and people thinke they serve God in obeying her in them and therefore stop their eares to all proofes to the contrary and mocke at them like the Bishops that both scorne and suppresse them all even as others did in the Church of Rome in the same and other causes who otherwise had never attained that dominion she thereby got nor to have her traditions errours and superstitious rites received for lawes which were the terrible fruits of mens blind obedience to provinciall Bishops and their power and ordinances which ever increased more and more as they were more and more obeyed and defended to the great hinderance of the kingdome of God and the due preaching and obedience of his
tirannous dominion Beza in Act 1.23 or Lordship in the Church but left them free voices and free election and to be an Apostle is to be sent of God with an immediate embassage to laie the foundation in practise and ordinances as Paul did but the Embassage of Bishops is mediate they have theirs from the Apostles neither can they lay another foundation nor ordaine new things though they oft assume it in some decrees canons and ceremonies as they did who established diocessan Bishops to say they might doe it or that their act was of the holy Ghost it will follow that others might with like reason ordaine Archbishops and Patriachs and in the end a Pope over all and that all these their acts were of the holy Ghost but Bishops and Councells are not Masterbuilders as the Apostles were for every one is willed to take heed how he buildeth for other foundation can no man lay 1 Cor. 3.10.11 then that is laid which is Iesus Christ. In this sense each Apostle was a generall officer in all Churches as Paul saith 2 Cor. 11.28 He had the care of all Churches But herein no Bishop will call himselfe his successour unles it be the Pope who exalts himself above all that is called God 1 Pet. 5. Peter would not have any Elder to be a Lord ouer Gods heritage much lesse ouer other Elders It shall not be so amongst you Mat. 20.25 Chap. 23.8 saith Christ One is your Maister even Christ and all ye are brethren There is no other Bishop over these Bishops the Presbyters or Elders He is the King of his Church and the only chiefe Bishop 1 Pet. 2.25 Chap. 5.4 It is a poore answer to all this to say this opinion was condemned for an heresie in Aerius seeing Chemnitius hath so well cleared him Chemnit examen concil Trid. Bellarm. de Clericis lib 1. cap. 14. and Medina alleadged by Bellarmine confesseth that saint Hierom was herein wholy of opinion with the Aerians and not only S. Hierom but likewise Ambrose Augustin Sedulius Primasius Chrysostome Theoderet Oecumenius and Theophilact If these or other Fathers did yet hold diocessan Episcopacie to be lawfull and necessarie it may be answered that otherwise the mysterie of iniquitie could not have proceeded as it did they lived not to see such fruits of it as wee have seene it was not then come to the height of tyrannie they therefore were more excusable then wee can be and therefore the cause is not bettered by this that English Prelates hold with Bellarmin and Rome in this point seeing other reformed Churches finde it safer in this case with Calvin Chemnitius Beza and others to cleave unto the Scriptures and be reformed by them In the Revelation Rev. 4.1.2 3.4 Cap. 5.6 saint Iohn seeing the Church that was to be after him saith Behold a Throne was set in heaven and round about the throne were foure and twentie Elders And in the midst of the throne and in the midst of the Elders stood Christ to shew they belong to his government as Diocessan Bishops to that of Antichrist for note he saith not Bishops but Elders or Presbiters lest after it should have bin taken for diocessan Bishops And whē Babylon is destroied the Elders give thankes Rev. 19.4 All this sheweth that Christs Church ought to be governed by Elders that so it was and so it shal be this is the government of Christ who is the king and annointed to it Now Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops hinder this government and are therein Antichrists therefore that is true which Iohn said in his time 1 Iohn 2.18 Even now are many Antichrists There is a veile upon some Protestants hearts a curtaine of Church power before their eyes that they cannot see this and the infectious sores and maladies that their power and ceremonies bring in and cover I hope this curtaine is now so drawne that Princes will for Christs sake lay it to heart and take away their dominion and riches which make them thus blinde and corrupt For that is the end of this worke Secondly Because it is cleare to all the wisemen in the Christian world that as many great troubles have risen in former times about Prelates as in England about Thomas of Becket Stephen Langthon and others so of late all the warres and stirres in Germany and other parts have risen from Bishops Iesuits and other Clergie men they have made the Emperour and other Princes to kill and drive the Protestants out of their Countries and livings All the doe and hurliburly is raised to restore them to their Antichristian power in Bishopricks Deanaries Cloisters and their revenues Howsoever the fire began these are the bellowes that blow it and such as minister the oyle and sulphure that have nourished and increased the flame This ambitiousnesse of the Clergy that doth so much mischiefe in the Church Common wealth is a hellish flame that cannot begin to go out til Rome be burned the Clergy reformed by the Scriptures True peace unity there can be none till their dominion riches authority be taken away and they reduced to the truth of the Gospel Looke into England and see if these vices and pride in the Clergy have not beene cause of all the dissentions and disgraces of that Country The late Duke knew well that he could not stand practise and prevaile without their countenance and authority to maintaine their greatnesse save their honour and power entire keepe their practices and corruptions in matter of religion from being questioned and reformed Parliaments must bee disturbed yea crushed and dissolved and as men say the most sincere lovers of justice and piety in that high Court must be disgraced accused and imprisoned for discovering the practices of the Arminian Popish or Spanish factions and such flatteries and errours of the Clergy as appeare in Pulpit print and practice The Bishops see all this and know that by all these meanes their power and authority is encreased as that of the Church of Rome and other popish Bishops was by the like But they that by these meanes cherish such factions countenance or suffer Arminian Bookes and practices to passe and doe little against the Popish are not so cold in defending that tradition of theirs or rather of the Papists that Diocessan Bishops and their authority in things called indifferent are of God but to shew that like the Papists they are more jealous sensible and zealous of any thing done against these then against those that are done against the kingdome word and ordinances of God they are ever watchfull carefull and zealous to hinder all bookes and discoveries that are against any of their traditions and ceremonies not one must be suffered to be seene that hath any proofe for the Eldership or against the Hierarchy pretending still they are hereticall and dangerous which is but a Popish tricke and a mockery while in the meane those
freely preached in all other things and no Minister hindred in them but now it is come to another evill the bondage and limitations are more increased For the Clergy and especially the Bishops have not onely temporised with the Duke and other hispaniolized and popish agents and practisers but even for their favour let in Arminianisme neither opposing it themselves nor suffering others that would but because light remedies alwayes cherish an evil they got the King to prohibite disputes on both sides not to hinder Arminianisme for the bookes of Doctor Iackson and others were suffered to come out after that but others from confuting it in their disputations books and sermons and in stead of the Scriptures to make the Articles the Rule and them the interpreters of them who have not onely protected the Appealer Doctor Iackson Doctor Cousens and some others that savour of Arminianisme and Popery hindred the Parliament and others from convincing them of errour and so emboldned others to broach worse errours in flattery of mighty favourites helped to get Parliaments dissolved wherein men had some hope of remedy but have themselves preached some passages savouring of Romish and Trent corruption seeming to approve the vulgar edition that the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato and to tye the understanding of the Scriptures to the interpretation of the Fathers to make the best of moderne Divines little regarded In these and the like they being powerfull in Court cannot want followers and flatterers and therefore men of understanding say they are not so well read in the Rules of piety as in those of policy used against the desired reformation in the time of Luther which being set forth in the history of the Councell of Trent though it anger the Papists in regard it discovereth a world of their various dissimulations cunning shifts and devices yet it pleaseth them in this that they serve to teach the Bishops and Arminians how to frustrate and delude all the fairest proofes and attempts of their adversaries And because some have written to discover the errours practices and dangers they have not onely put all they could catch in the high Commission but lest such should get out and themselves be any way hindred or discovered in such proceedings they have obtained authority that if any writer Printer or Book-seller come with a prohibition he shall be presently censured Some will say this is but reason I anwser true if their hierarchie and practices were according to Gods word and they seditious and hereticall that they trouble but being as it is and this power seldome or never extended against any but such as stand for Gods truth against Arminians popish practisers and defenders of the hierarchy they abuse the King and Councell in getting them to be their protectors and are themselves blinde and Antichristian tyrants Such as in stead of following the rules of the Gospell seeme rather to encline to that of Paul 4. who set on foot the Inquisition Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 405. 409. which he said was the principall secret and mystery of the Papacy the true Ramme to beat down heresie and defend the Apostolike sea by advancing another which like it shall prevaile by power and terrour in stead of good reason namely the high Commission Court The Councellors of the Parliament of Paris seeing the Articles of reformation published in the Councell of Trent opposed saying the Ecclesiasticall authority was enlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giving power to Bishops to proceed to pecuniary mulcts and imprisonment against the laity whereas no authority was given by Christ to his Ministers but meere and pure spirituall that when the Clergy was made a member of the policy the Princes did by favour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergy men with temporall punishments that discipline might be observed amongst them but to use such kinde of punishment against the laickes they had neither from the law of God nor of man but by usurpation onely All which sheweth that diocessan Bishops are great impostors though the Pope bee indeed the grand impostor And let men be sure that as they and their hierarchy are more and more defended so will their power encrease and grow more popish blinde erroneous and Antichristian as that of the Church of Rome did their feare towards God being in these things taught by the precepts of men the wisedome of them and their supporters must needs decay and perish to the extreame danger of the Church and Commonwealth By all which may bee seene that the kingdome of God in the true free and full power of the word preached is incompatible with the hierarchy they cannot stand together but the maintenance of the one is the breaking of the bands of the other and of the true peace and happinesse of the Church and State and that therefore there is necessity of a reformation in the Church and restoring the ordinances of God to that forme which not any humane but his divine wisdome ordained Some have pretended that it is good policy to uphold the Hierarchy for say they no Bishop no King there must be order in the Church and Bishops are they that preserve it This is that bulwark which they used to beat off all just complaints and save themselves their cause their friends and followers such as the Duke the Appealer and Cousens from the parliamentary power Crushed and dissolved it must be rather then such a one or his trechery be brought to triall though they thereby make such the more bold to attempt the like or worse evills overthrow the power and use of Parliaments that confirmed their hierarchy a requitall not so strange in them as just with God and so alienate the heart of the King from his subjects and the subjects from the King though they know a kingdome divided in it felfe cannot stand that having their hearts hee is strong and a King indeed that otherwise hee cannot well subsist as a King should nor be supplied with money and men but must bee forced to make peace with the enemies of religion on the harder conditions and home-bred Papists and Arminians would thereby grow the bolder to encrease their religions and parties the Palatinate could not well be recovered but the enemy must needs be made the more absolute and resolute to root out our religion and brethren in forraigne parts and at last seeing division in England to venture thither to endanger the Church and Commonweale the Kingdome and all Wherein what have the Prelates shewed lesse then that they had rather all these should be shaken and endangered then their hierarchy or then one proud Appealer one popish Cousens should be questioned in disparagement thereof For these evils could not have beene effected against so many endeavours of Parliaments without the helpe of their religious pretences nor passed without the cloake of their Episcopall gravity And lest things should bee
ornaments of the Ministers and Altars it appeareth not by bookes onely but by statues and pictures that they are so changed that if the Ancients should returne into the world they could not know them Therefore he concluded that to bind all to approve the Rites which the Church of Rome used might be reprehended as a condemnation of antiquity and of the use of other Churches His discourse displeased but the Bishop of the five Churches justified him If English Bishops would but with the Friar consider the consequences that follow their inforcing of their Rites they would not bee so extreame in them And indeed in those wherein they differ from the Reformed Churches they doe but mocke the Christian world while with the Papists they hold that they ought to be so strictly received and reverenced and yet abrogate others more necessary Pag. 163. seeing as one saith of the Papists they grant not to the people the election of the Minister which certainly was an Apostolicall institution continued more then eight hundred yeares but deny it to them with as good right as the Papists doe both that and the use of the cup which had beene continued as long It is a seemly thing to see the Temples where Christians use to meet in good repaire frequented with grave devout humble and religious behaviour in the worship of God the table covered with cleane linnen when the Sacrament is administred the cup decent and not of the basest metall But these and the like things are the more acceptable to God when the Church is not spoiled of her better ornaments diligent preaching and hearing soundnesse in the faith knowledge zeale and holinesse of life For if the Temples be never so glorious in structure the table of the finest wood and workmanship the cup of gold the Ministers in glorious vestments the service full of grave and devout ceremonies and all things else in the most plausible manner for outward ornament God is but mocked for all these if those better ornaments be neglected and despised When the Church of Rome began to abound in wealth and authority to have pluralities to maintaine their dignities to leaue poore hirelings in their cures to neglect soundnesse in doctrine knowledge and the like graces that they might seeme no lesse religious they began in stead thereof to be exercised in new manners of devotion See Plessis myst of iniquity pregress 24. looking out of relickes traditions and ceremonies to erect stately Temples Organs and Altars to guild and adorne them with images of Saints to have golden Chalices and wooden Priests to multiply feasts and holidayes to invent new orders and formes of will-worship to use all severity in bodily worship devout posture and demure cariage and to make all men conformable in those things to ordaine a world of superfluous constitutions But how was God mocked in all these while they did eate out religion For people being taken up in those his ordinances were the lesse regarded and while the stately Temples were erected in Cities Rev. 12. the Church was faine to flee into the wildernesse while the beauty of the outward stones were maintained 1 Pet. 2.5 the living stones were trodden under feet and despised while lights were set up in Churches people sate in darknesse and ignorance while traditions were observed Gods word was the lesse respected and in time could neither bee obeyed nor heard while the tables and Priests were adorned men of knowledge and other the best gifts were least esteemed while dead images of Saints were set up in the Church beautified and worshipped the true and living Saints such as the Waldenses Hussites and Calvenists were persecuted and martyred and the very faith it selfe called heresie Looke now a little upon the Church of England see how they abandon the cause of religion abroad and at home despise and persecute such as seeke that the ordinances of God may be restored Elders received Popery Arminianisme pluralities and non-residency excluded the true faith preached and maintained in Sermons and Lectures knowledge faith zeale and other graces nourished and increased and in the meane seem no lesse religious fall to building Temples Organs Tables Altars to satiate if it were possible the Clergy with titles of honour jurisdictions vestments revenues and riches and because a Bishop precedes a Baron to thinke that nothing is too much to maintaine his state that is not too much for a Baron and so for Deanes and Doctors according to their degrees and places which are the nurseries of pluralities and non-residency To call for observation of ceremonies canons fasts holidayes externall gesture and devotion and whatsoever else is commanded or practised in their constitutions and customes wherein though they doe not yet abound so much as the Papists yet it is the only religion in credit and fashion and as if Christ had ordained Bishops to looke to nothing else it doth and will eate out true religion and sincerity Howsoever while Prelates and others having pluralities to maintaine their dignities and leaving poore hirelings to serve their cures those better ornaments are neglected and persecuted are not these tokens that God is mocked by them I know well it is most irksome to Prelates to heare of these things they thinke no man should dare to manifest them and especially that the Eldership ought to be restored according to Gods ordinance They live as if they shunned no other plague nor feared any other purgatory then a reformation This fils their soules with Fiery indignation and makes them to be redeemed from it breake out into threats inquisitions and persecutions that they may overcome their tormentors by censures imprisonments exemplary punishments fines and torments Howsoever if they can but by flatteries invectives whisperings and other shifts keep the King and Councell so ignorant and blinde in those things that they may remaine firme on their side they care for no more But may not a man protest as plainly for God and his Church as the French Ambassador did for the priviledges of France and the French Churches in the Councell of Trent that protestation angred the Prelates but he defended it saying That those were ignorants Hist of the. Councel Pag. 771. 774. who having seene nothing but the Decretals lawes of 400. yeares did thinke that there were no Ecclesiasticall lawes before them that if any would reforme the King by the Decretals he would reforme them by the decrees and leade them also to more ancient times not onely of S. Austen but of the Apostles also Wherein the King justified him Now as the hierarchy and ceremonies make not for the true service of God but serve to eate it out by degrees as the Romish did so neither doe they make for the service of the King and State but are against it and very pernicious for every Nobleman and Ruler as appeareth 1. Because while they are by them kept from the knowledge of Gods truth in matter of the
Eldership against Arminian errours or any thing else the Bishops would not have them know that must needs be true in them which our Saviour saith He that walketh in darknesse Ioh. 12.35 knoweth not whither he goeth and therefore their deliberations in matters of preserving the Church and State which in these times are so intermixed by reason of popish practices that commonly the cause and good of the one belongeth to the other must needs bee accordingly canried that is with much blindnesse and danger 2. Because if any King or great Favourite like the Duke be in this error of the Hierarchy Arminianisme or any other the having of these great places in the Hierarchy in his gift makes almost all the Clergy and especially the Prelates and Vniversities to bee at his devotion to temporize temper forme and keepe bad divinity to their minde by such power and policy that all the most skilfull Divines in the kingdome shall not dare or at least not be able to helpe it but whatsoever become of the truth or reforming errours and abuses the honour of the Prelates and their abettors must bee saved as in the Court of Rome and by these things they are prepared to rule a Synod if occasion serve as the Court of Rome did that of Trent and in the mean so to keepe divers errours and abuses from the knowledge of their King and to guard his eares from all just counsailes and complaints made against them or their confederates or to pervert their drift by pretending his prerogative and government are taxed or questioned and the Episcopall government established by his authority is sleighted and contemned that nothing can bee heard fearfull divisions are made Parliaments are for their sakes dissolved the best counsels rejected reformation hindred notorious delinquents Papists and Arminians emboldned men in the greatest trust may daily be in the fellowship of Iesuited Papists what ever they practise it is found in vaine to accuse them and by this meanes the King is either the last that knowes the truth and right in divers causes or one that never comes to understand it nor indeed to be willing to heare of it Which is far from the wisedome and diligence of the Pope and popish Princes that seeke to supplant him and all true religion Histor of the Councel of Trent pag. 693. Pius the 4. doubting that some Prelates and other great ones favoured the Protestants resolved to discover them and was wont to say that he was more wronged by the masqued heretickes then by the bare faced Men that love theire King and Religion say as much of the masqued Papists in England and that therefore the Prelates and others vainly brag of the long peace and prosperitie England hath enjoyed while other Countries have smarted when it hath beene procured by such meanes and more vainely thinke that God is well pleased with them seing they haue no changes but he hath suffered them to prevaile against such as sought the redresse when they should rather know that the long suffering of God leadeth to repentance that all these things as they doe more and more disable the king and his people from defending themselues in the time of war because the Popish and Arminian factions are by them increased and God provoked so without amendment they will cause God to send a sword amongst them to auenge the quarrell of his covenant when thus weakned they shal be lesse able to withstand it Some foiles they haue had and their present securitie is an ill omen of worse 3. Because by these meanes Courtiers being nourished in spirituall ignorance Popist Princes that either labour to bring all to one Monarchie or neerer neerer to Romish Religion finde fit instruments in court and Councell to negotiate withall to get leauges treaties and articles of peace or war to theire best advantage to make divisions factions to corrupt and be corrupted that is either for reward or conscience to helpe Romish Religion vnder pretences of State policie or being against the puritans wherein they could never make things seeme to stand with religion without the consent and confederacie of the Prelates For if there were no hierarchie no Prelates to countenance them but the land were indeed of the reformed Religion all would be ashamed of such counsailes as stand not with the good thereof and Iesuits could not find the meanes they doe to be stickling by theire disguised freinds to trouble the state and by degrees and colourable pretences to alter Religion wherein if Princes and favourits come to be corrupted none so likely or potēt to get things decreed to theire mindes in Sinods as Bishops that are thosen by them and depend on them as others on the Pope the Trent fathers shewed it in many particulars All which is as ill for the soules of those Princes and statesmen as for the Church and State what a miserable case is it that Kings and Princes who of all should loue Christe and tender the good of his Church and people as being nursing fathers will not take these things into consideration nor suffer the words of exhortation and that such as are neere them will not vse the meanes that they may know them Ministers dare not touch vpon it seing the Prelates flatter and are able to vndoe them wherein Romish Princes and Religion haue infinite aduantages against them The meanest Iesuits and Capuchins are admitted into the closets of Kings and Sates men and permitted to convince or reprove in the cause of theire Religion to exhort and animate them to constancie vigilancie and courage to vnmasque and destroy the secret and open enemies thereof When the Queene Regent of France had suffered Beza to speake in Colloquie a bold Iesuit reproched the Protestants and openly reprehended the Queene for medling in matters that he said belonged not to her Pag. 454. but to the Pope c. yet was he not molested for it They honour others punish zealous spirits Papists and other children of this world are wiser in their generation then the children of light more zealous more diligent as is daily seene in France Spaine and all popish countries which is ill for the State and Church of England This therefore may be sufficient to excuse me for making this manifestation 4. Because if there be not a reformation God for all these evils is forced to plague such a Church and State in many things especially in those spirituall plagues Isa 29.14 and 2 Thess 2.11 It is pretended that they that seeke reformation of the Church make schisme The Church of Rome said as much for her selfe against them that sought to reforme her in the time of Luther And indeed the schism is rather made by the Bishops and their supporters from the reformed Churches and such as hold Gods truth with them which hath made the enemies attempt so much against them and prevaile therein while they saw the English to divided from them and oposite to them
85. consider of the errours for redresse The Prelates made the Collection in writing the Pope proposed it in the Consistorie But Nicholas Scomberg a Dominican and a Cardinal opposed the reformation saying It would give occasion to the Lutherans to brag they had inforced the Pope to make that reformation and above all it would be a beginning to take away not only the abuses but the good uses also and to endanger the whole state of religion For by the reformation it would be confessed that the things provided against were deservedly reprehended by the Lutherans which would be a great abetting to theire whole Doctrine In the councell after celebrated divers things were found amisse Sess 22. Can. 9. The Bishops and Fathers of the CouÌ„cell made a decree for a reformatioÌ„ but little could be obtained much was shufled of because it could not be effected but the authoritie and practise of the Pope and Cardinals must be questioned and reformed if not overthrowen The like may be said of the Reformation of the Church of England many things have beene propounded in Bookes and Parliaments but little or nothing can be heard or reformed least a gap should be opened whereby the authoritie practise of the Bishops should be questioned and overthrowen and if any Bishops be better inclined to reformation then others they shal be sure to be hindred by the rest as these Popes were by the Cardinals and with like reasons For English Bishops in like wisdom will not be knowen of any errour in the hierarchie canons traditions ceremonies and government but maintaine all least confessing somewhat amisse they should loose all and be reduced to the government of other reformed churches There was a fault that hindred the Church of Rome from yeilding to reformation Cassander consult 56. and 57. And the fault saith Cassander a learned Papist is to be laid upon those which being puft up with vaine insolent conceits of theire Ecclesiasticall power proudely and scornfully contemned and rejected them which did rightly and modestly admonish the reformation That the Church can never hope for any firme peace unles they begin to make it which have given cause of that distraction That this cannot be effected vnlesse those that are in place of Ecclesiastical government would be content to remit somthing of their too much rigour and yeild somwhat to the peace of the Church and hearken to the earnest prayers and admonitions of godly men will set themselves to correct manifest abuses according to the rule of the divine Scriptures and the primitive Church from which they have swerved He might have said till the Kings hate the whore make her desolate naked and burne her with fire Shall I say this may also be said of English Bishops in case of theire hierarchie and traditions I may add this to it that God can never be pleased nor the Church and State of great Britaine enjoy true happines till the Prelates cast their crownes at the feet of the Lord Iesus or rather because men dispaire of that till they be taken from them and they subjected to the ordinances of God Rev. 5.6 least otherwise Christ that hath the Elders about his throne and is in the midst of them say in his wrath Luk. 19.27 Those mine enemies that would not that I should raigne over them bring hither c. When reformation is desired some flattering preachers Canti 8.4 Chap. 1. to make men desist put it off with preaching on those passages and the like I charge you o daughters of IerusaleÌ„ that ye stir not up nor awake my love vntill he please I am black but comly c. The church hath spots but they should not be mentioned Pray for the peace for Ierusalem they shall prosper that love it which if they of the Church of Rome had not in like manner a bused they could not have proceeded so far in errour as they did and yet they might as well alleadge these plates and the like to prove that prelates ought to procede Earles and Barons to have pallaces and coaches as to hinder and reprove men that seeke a due reformation Others would have the people beleeve in this point as the Church beleeveth to relie on the understanding and judgment of the preists and prelates like the papists Mal. 2.7 alleadging that place The preists lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the law at his mouth which doth as well serve the papists Buckler of faith as them in this point For as maister Moulin observeth this is not a promisse but a commaundement shewing preists their dutie which they had not observed as the following words manifest But ye are departed out of the way ye have caused men to stumble which is as true in this point of the Prelates and others in England as of the Papists in the same point and in others We are therefore to remeÌ„ber that rule 1 Ioh. 4.1 Beleeve not every Spirit but trie the Spirits God gives such knowledge to whom he pleaseth the wind bloweth where it listeth Iohn 3. They may perhaps find some other arguments to prove that the hierarchie traditions and ceremonies should be upheld but none fairely deducted from the holy Scriptures but rather grounded on humane policie which therefore are not worth the answering For wee know likewise the papists presse many faire-seeming reasons for the Popes supremacie and succession in Peters chaire merits praying to Saints forbidding mariage to Preists and other points of poperie To which it is answer enough to prove that those reasons fight against the word and ordinance of God and so doe theirs that pleade for the English hierarchie and traditions as is already proved Men therefore should not be caried away with them nor with an opinion of their learning and multitude that preach them but rather thinke Surely their kingdom is of this world It makes so many that fight for it because there are in it many places of profit honour and authoritie to reward them like as in the Romish Church that if Christs kingdome were of this world he should have as many for him that to bee well informed in these points it is no asking of them who are interessed and partiall in the cause but to remember what God saith Isa 8. Should not a people seeke unto theire God To the lâ—w and to the testimonie if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Which in these points may be said of 100 many to theire great shame because it so muth concerneth the faith and all the faithfull to have them well knowne as is proved above least by the power and great names of the Bishops the faith come to be corrupted the name of the Church and the holy Ghost usurped and abused as they have beene in divers Synods of Bishops to the destruction of many soules Let us therefore pray earnestly and uncessantly to Almighty God the giver of all grace to purge the Church of England and the members thereof that they with the reformed Churches may be like minded in seeking the kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof And seeing questionles that God hath many of his deare and elect people there that are only blind in some few things let us beg of God that they may now see the things that belong to their peace 1 Cor. 1 9. Heb. 10.23 1 Thes 5.24 Isa 25.6 least after they should be hid from theire eyes And let us aske with confidence that he is faithfull that hath promised who will also doe it For it is said In this mountaine shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wine on the lees well refined Seeing therefore his ordinances are corrupted with mens inventions wee may presse him with this promise that he will give us wine fined and purified even his purest ordinances as also with that which followeth vers 7. And he will destroy in this mountayne the face of the covering cast over all people and the vaile that is spread over all nations Chap. 30.21 And thine eare shall heare a word behind thee sayinge This is the way walke yein it when ye turne to the right hand and when ye turne to the left And though wee feare Satan will hinder it what he can Rom. 16.20 let us beleeve that promise The God of peace shall shortly bruise Satan under your feet Neither thinke this impossible because yet not only the Prelates but divers religious Ministers have neglected this knowledge and reasoned against it so that there is great difference about these things for God hath said I will give them one hart and one way Ier. 32 39. I will give you pastors according to mine hart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Cha. 3.15 Neither be dismaied because as yet those that have laboured most in this behalfe have beene forced into corners and to live like Banished men in murh sorrow for wee have this promise Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Sion with songs and everlasting ioy shal be upon their heads Neither say how shall this be seing as yet so many greedie and corrupt shepheards are over us For thus faith the Lord God Behold I am against the shepheards and will require my flock at theire hand and cause them to ceasse from feeding the flock neither shall the Shepheards feed themselvs any more For I will deliver my flock from their mouth that they may not be meate for them Acquaint thy self with these and the like promises and beleeve that he sits at the right hand of God to intercede for the performance who saith whatsoever ye shall aske in my name Ioh. 14.13 that will I doe that the Father may be glorified in the sonne And if wee beleeve not yet he abideth faithfull 2 Tim. 2.13 he cannot denie himself To him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be rendred as due is all power might majestie and dominion now and for ever Amen