of the Arminians are suffered to passe and the popish are not so severely suppressed though hereticall and very dangerous to the soule In the history of the Councell of Trent it is shewed that In the Church of Martyrs there was no ecclesiasticall prohibition Pag. 472. though some godly men made conscience of reading bad bookes for three reasons of Gods law to avoid the contagion of evill not to expose ones selfe to temptation without necessity or profit and not to spend time vainly About the yeare 400. a Councell in Carthage did forbid to reade the bookes of the Gentiles but allowed them to reade the bookes of the heretickes the decree whereof is among the Canons collected by Gratian. And this was the first prohibition by way of Canon The bookes of heretickes containing doctrine condemned by Councels were often forbid by the Emperours as by Constantine those of the Arrians by Arcadius those of Eunemius and Maniches by Theodosius those of Nestorius by Martianus those of the Euticheans It sufficed the Councels and Bishops to shew what bookes did containe damned or apocryphall doctrine So did Gelasius in the yeare 494. and went no further leaving it to the conscience of every one to avoid or reade them to a good end After the yeare 800. the Popes of Rome as they assumed a great part of the politicke government so they caused the bookes of those authors they did condemne to be burned and forbad the reading of them Notwithstanding one shall finde but few bookes forbid in that sort untill this age Martin the 5. doth in a Bull excommunicate all the sects of heretickes especially Wicleifists and Hussites not mentioning those who reade their bookes though many of them went about Leo 10. condemning Luther did withall forbid all his bookes upon paine of excommunication Afterward the following Popes and the Councell of Trent did the like for all the bookes of the Reformists In the yeare 1558. the King of Spaine made a law that the Catalogue of bookes prohibited by the Inquisition should be printed This discourse being larger in the Author sheweth that it is a shame for the English Bishops to follow their novell and popish course against them that prove the Eldership to be Gods ordinance and argues a bad cause in the Prelates which they dare not suffer to be disputed nor the bookes against it to bee seene though they hold the things to be indifferent and of a positive law and that while they suffer those of the Arminians and in the mean hinder those that confute them this argues plaine policy and Trent tyranny for all this is done at their instance It is pretended that neither this knowledge of the Eldership nor that which convinceth the Arminian tenets are needfull in a Christian which is but a mockery while they would that men should know that there ought to be Bishops and that they should bee obeyed though they prohibit teaching of the revealed truth of God touching his free grace in election conversion mans free will and the like and in the meane suffer the contrary doctrine to pass in Arminian books For while they say these things are too high for the people let them learne easier and bee taught to pray c. they are willingly ignorant that by such trickes the Papists at first put off the truth of God and in time established their owne errors in matter of justification transubstantiation merits and the like that if this be granted the like art may after be used in other matters and thence others may in time say Christ is given and eaten in the Sacrament Ministers doe binde and loose Christians are justified it is sufficient to beleeve these things and not to know how they are high matters therefore the meane knowledge is best and so by degrees in other points Which being granted after this second step to ignorance errour and poperie there would follow a third that the Prelates would bee corrupted in them set out corrupt glosses multiply Canons and then you must beleeve as the Church beleeves that is as they beleeve or bee accounted a schismaticke and in the end an hereticke I confesse that if Papists and Arminians did not strive to corrupt men in these points such exact confutations of them and knowledge of the truth in them might seem lesse necessary and in some sort to forbid it were not plain trechery as now it is counted in the Prelates That there ought to bee a good order in mens knowledge not to minde nothing else but these points nor to beginne with them and then come to learne the first principles of the Oracles of God but they being first learned which touch a mans particular salvation then to come to those which touch the salvation and freedome of the Church and consequently of every particular soule in it the knowledge of the like being commended in the Revelation Rev. 1.3 that we may pray to God for a reformation lest the Prelates reigning thus the faith come to be corrupted and disesteemed traditions errour and will-worship advanced as in the Church of Rome who by keeping Princes and people in ignorance in the matter of their Hierarchie and traditions and pretending divers points were too high for parish pulpits and laicks brought them to that height of impiety and errour wherein they are Whence we may see that lest the like evils come on us as they begin the knowledge of Gods ordinances in matters of the Eldership and things against the Hierarchie and traditions is more necessary in every understanding man then one would thinke at the first sight It concerneth the faith it selfe and the keeping of it uncorrupt because without it the Church is sure to be kept in bondage many points of faith lost or changed as in the Church of Rome and so many soules corrupted and perverted to perdition For they know that if Princes and people know it not the King and Parliament cannot come to know it much lesse to reforme it and by all this we see plainly that greater corruptions will inevitably follow and the Prelates will come to that power that men shall not dare to discover them When the light of the Gospell did but begin to bee restored and errours by it to be discovered the Emperours Ambassadors came in his name to the Legates in Trent desiring 20. points of reformation of which observe these That no scandalous dispensations may bee granted hereafter Histor of the Councell of Trent pag 513. That plurality of benefices may bee taken away and Schooles erected in Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches That every Ecclesiasticall ministerie be exercised freely and that rich benefices without cure may be incorporated to those that have cure and small revenue That the Canons against Simonie may be revived That the Ecclesiasticall constitutions be abridged the superfluity cut off and not made equall to the obligations of the law of God That excommunication be not used but for mortall sinne or notorious
unity of spirit by their doctrine They make men pray thus and yet are against the things praied for 2 Because they make every Bishop and every Minister at his ordinantion to promise * See the ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons to be readie with all diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrarie to Gods word Marke all without exception which cannot be better donne then by manifesting the revealed truth of God in these points and so striving earnestlie to joyne men together in the unitie of the spirit by the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets as is desired in prayer For what a mockerie is it first to make him thus to vow it and pray for it and then to hinder him from keeping that vow 3. Because they forbid the defence of Gods ordinances against the Hierachie and those traditions thereof which are erroneous of the world and causes of temporizing and ignorance making men ambitious that should rather with the Olive tree refuse to leave their fatnes for Dominion like their Lord who saieth Iudg. 9.8 Luc 12.14 Who made thee a judge or a divider And what a mockerie is it when Bishops that cause all to bee signed with the signe of the crosse in such a token have not beene as carefull to get our Princes people to send timely effectuall helpe to them that fought under Christs banner in the Palatinate and elsewhere but rather flattered such Courtiers and feigned freinds as underhand betraied them and the common cause in stead of an effectuall going out to the helpe of the Lord against the mightie How much better is God pleased when men are more in deeds and lesse in signe of humane invention and authoririe The article of traditions confesseth that all things ought to be done to edifying But how doth this ceremonie edifie Have Englishmen that stand so much for the Hierarchie for this signe beene made by them better souldiers of Christ then other Protestans or have they not rather proved worse and so shewed the fruits of the hierarchie and ceremonies So ordinarie is it with God that blesseth his owne ordinances to punish mens inventions and presumptions May it not be said to such maisters of ceremonies you can see the faith daily opposed religion corrupted poperye and Arminianisms increase and the poore members of Christ to fall by the sword practises yet in the meane be contented with the signe of the crosse the name of a souldier without the worke neither doing it themselves nor suffering those Ministers that would and might have prevailed by the word these things must be left to the only care and wisdom of the Prelates who are well experienced in flatterie and can best see that nothing be donne to any purpose and in the meane take it for granted that the Church might impose and adde to baptisme the signe of the crosse so superstitiously used and abused by the Papists that it is fit to uphold that and all other traditions and ceremonies of the Church though the Article confesse they may be changed according to the diversitie of countries times and mens manners and that it is authoritie enough for the use of the same now because it was ancientlie used so was salt and other Romish trash because soone after the death of the Apostles or at least soone after the victorie of Constantine Aug. confes lib. when divers Iewes and heathen mocked the Christians with a crucified God and Redeemer they signed themselves to shew they were not ashamed of him when who sees not that if their reason were then good not superstitious yet there is not the same now in England Seeing there men live not amongst such mocking Iewes heathen unles it bee among such as scorne and mock them with the name of Professors Disciples and factious Puritains who strive against Arminianisme or the hierachie and ceremonies Indeed these are so much scorned and persecuted that no men in England do more truly beare the crosse of Christ for his names sake then they whereas their adversaries strive by all meanes to divert all men from bearing the crosse in this manner and by allurements and threats to make them leave the cause and temporise as themselves doe who are therein enemies of the crosse of Christ Phil. 3.18 whose glorie is their shame For they in the meane while have only borne the crosse in a signe made with the hand like the Papists which is but a mockerie in respect of the other Besides no man ever as yet maintained that the Apostles or any in their time used the crosse in baptisme much lesse in signe only without the worke pretended to be signifed Object It will be saide In some cases the Bishops stand for the truth as against Anabaptists and other hereticks Answ So doe the Romish Bishops and Iesuites who likewise have many painfull writers and preachers and are not behind them in stirring up Princes to fortitude temperance holines justice and other vertues but they will suffer nothing against the tenets practises of their hierarchie no more will the English Bishops who therin are also stout souldiers but that is in their owne cause not in Gods Iohn seeth many in white Rev. 7. and is told Rev. 7.13.14 These are they which come out of great tribulation and have washed their roabes white in the blood of the Lambe Chap. 6. This is a garment of joy and triumph given by the merits of Christ to them that have had not the signe and name but the worke of a souldier in confessing and defending the faith and cause of Christ against all opposers If I should say there may bee amongst them some English Martyrs that have striven against Arminianisme or at least against the hierarchie and have suffered for it the Bishops could not prove the contrarie So that it is no wonder if men doe not now offer to dispute with them nor alwaies set their names to their bookes seeing the power of the Prelates to be great as that of the inquisition very dangerous and the Bishops themselves so obstinate and mightie in friends that they keepe their adversaries bookes and arguments from being seene or regarded and so plague them that all their opposers seeme to have lost their labour and doe litle other good then increase the number of those Martyrs in white Rev. 7. This is one of the places alleadged for the wearing of the surplesse but here still they dwell in the signe they will not doe the worke of those Martyrs but rather are against some of them and therefore because they can not looke to weare the white roabe hereafter they will weare and make others weare an unprofitable signe of it now though men prove it to be a rite taken from the Iewes and ancient heathen See the root of Romish Rites as other of their pontificall garments and ceremonies are It is a custome in England to
have troubled many in the universities and elsewhere Neither can they rest heere the fruite of the Hierarchie that is not a tree of Gods planting must needes grow worse Ioh. 15.2 and worse which shewes it concernes the faith it self to have the hierarchie abolished All which things considered doe manifest that their pretended devotion in commanding to kneele at the Sacrament is but like that of signing children with the signe of the Crosse wherein they straine at a gnat and swallow a Camel God must needes regard their kneeling verie litle as that of the Papists who exceede in that and all other humble and devout gestures because they are not better or more obedient Christians they doe not more feare God nor indeed so much as Protestants that kneele not when they receive For they ordaine that men should bow the knee so oft as they heare the name Iesus mentioned in the Church which they doe not at any other name of God nor when Ruffins sweare by it as also that all should kneele at the Sacrament But what a mockerie is this while in the meane with the Papists they themselves neither bow to the word and ordinances of God nor consequently to Christ Iesus who is the word nor suffer others that would in such proofes of Scripture as prove that there ought to be * Act. 14.23 Acts. 20.17.28 Tit. 1.5 1 Pet. 5. Elders in every flock to govern the same and no such Lords of Gods heritage as Diocessan Bishops no such edicts against confutation of Arminians nor no such traditions canons set fasts as make the word of none effect It is true that the Lent fast is very ancient but so is the mysterie of iniquitie the Popes usurped primacie dominion and many other parts of Romish superstition and errour that English Bishops doe not yet affirme plainly that it ought to be observed as an ordinance of God or pari pietatis affectu ac reverentiae because it is an ordinance of the Church but they so hover about it that men feare it will come to that if their dominion stand As to this reason that Christ fasted fortie dayes they might as well tel us because he walked on the water or suffered for sinners so therefore should wee And what a mockerie is it to make this time of the yeare the time of repentance and mortification when that is not to be put off till Lent but is due at all times of the yeare as mens soules by reason of daylie sins doe oft stand in need of bodily fasting and humiliation the better to fit them for praier Or if it were necessarie what a mockerie is it to ordaine abstinence from all flesh when men have libertie to eate the daintiest fish and other delicates used in fish dinners banquets and feasts and that as much and as oft as they lift And if the Prelates themselves did not use it they would not be so fat and lustie as they are * B. Bangor March 4. 1631. They make great feasts at their consecration in Lent But say they it makes much for the increase of cattel that the subject may have them in more plentie and better cheape I could say this might be much better effected by forbidding many great and superfluous feasts as was partly practised in that dearth 1630 but I answer They might as well tell us that the great feasts used in the twelve daies and at other festivall times cause plenty and cheapnes as Lent which costs men more in fish For who sees not that both the one and the other make all things the dearer That when they approach all men striving to store their houses with flesh and fish the markets are raised to that extremitie that mens purses find a dearth in the midst of plentie Butchers and Poulterers pay deere for their licences which makes all extreame deere to such poore and sick or weake persons as must needs eate some flesh and Lent ended people buy as if they had never eaten flesh before which makes it want for no price Besides how many thousands are there who are not sick and yet of such weake constitutions that they cannot live six weekes without eating some flesh all these must needes abstaine to their hurt or bee reckoned Rebels and vexed by promoters resembling them of the Inquisition But fishing and shipping would otherwise decay This were somewhat if they had beene or were like to be used in the defence of Religion or against the enimies thereof and not against such as the Rochellers but howsoever if men were free to eate fish when they list they would desire it more as experience shewes in other countries where such freedome is Or if there were but one or two daies in a weeke as wednesday saterday or both wherein it were prohibited to all under great penalties sick persons excepted and especiallie to Inholders Alehouses Vintners Cookes and Victuallers that none should dresse or sell dressed any flesh on that day on paine of having his house shut up and paying some great fine all thorow-fare and market townes would strive to be furnished with fish for those daies and there would be more fishing and fish spent in the land in one yeare then now there is in two and this being only a common law and but for a day or two in a weeke and not imposed as a fast would be no burthen But the lawes are alleadged for this Lent fast as for the dominion of the Prelates and observation of other their traditions and ceremonies I might answer that the way to have lawes observed is to commaund things reasonable and agreeable to Gods word such as may without hurt be observed things burthensome to little purpose are as little regarded That Ministers of the Gospel should rather alleadge the law of Christ that fasts and almes ought to be voluntarie or obtained by the word preached for private humiliation or publick being commanded by authoritie when there is a publick calamitie or some great enterprise in hand needing such humiliation to obtaine the assistance of God and thus only are they used in the reformed Churches but in this and the like cases there is an example noted in a hystorie worthy our observation Quarrels of Paul 5. lib. 1. p. 9. The state of Luca finding many Citizens had changed their Religion and retired into protestant countries published an Edict forbidding all their subjects to have commerce with such persons The Pope that could not dislike their intent saide The Republick had no authoritie to make such an ordinance which touched Religion for as much as the laicques have not any power to decree in matters of Religion although the law be in favour thereof therefore he commanded it to be raced out of their Records If the Pope said this of States and lawes helping and maintaining his Religion how much more may God say it of Diocessan Bishops Councels States and all such their lawes Canons and Edicts as helpe the
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
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