might if they would and yet scorne and reject them as follie and matters of reproach and worthy correction persecution it is a plaine treading vnder foote the Sonne of God who hath * Reu. 1.1.11.19 and Ioh. 16.13 reuealed the Father in theese things and counting the blood of the couenant an vnholy thing wherewith the new Testament was sanctified confirmed or dedicated as the first covenant was with the blood of beasts yea this is to doe despite vnto the Spirit of grace which first shewes vs Gods grace in ordaining these things and after in promises of restoring them And indeede seeing it is manifest Act. 14. chap. 20.28 1. Pet. 5.2 Tit. 1.9 that the Apostles ordained Elders in euery Church that theire office was to feede the flock ouer which the Holy Ghost made them Bishops that they were to take the oversight thereof by sound Doctrine to convince the gainsayers reproue correct and instruct in righteousnes and if this would not serue after the first and second admonition to excommunicate in and with the consent of the congregation who can denie but that all this is of the substance of religion necessarie to the salvation of the people and proper to euery Prosbyter Euery man will be readie to confesse that it is better there be a Pilot a Maister and a Maisters mate in euery ship to watch ouer the same and all that is in it as the Lord in Wisdom ordained Elders to be Bishops in euery Church or congregation to watch over it and all the Soules therin leaving them in his Testament a card and rules to steere and saile by the word of God beeing theire Rudder then that there should be but one in a whole fleete one Bishop in a diocesse and all the rest but shadowes or lesser wheeles to be led and moved by him as it came to passe by the wisdom and encroachments of men wherby Bishops neither leaving the brethren nor yet the presbyters any voice in censures or part in the government doe themselves bring in the inventions and evils Christ would keepe out get dominion over mens faith and by theire power and traditions make the word of none effect in divers perticulars A thing which is expresly forbidden in the new Testament My brethren be not many Maisters knowing that wee shall receive the greater condemnation Iam. 3.1 that is because in the causes and controversies of hereticks Psal 100. Schismatiks and other delinquents it is saide of the word Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies He shall judge amonge the nations the Presbyters and members of the church doe but rule and judge by him as steeres men by the Rudder judges and jurots by the law not by theire owne inventions or pretended authority And therfore our saviour who was against all such dominion in the church saith to his Disciples Mat. 20.25 Chap. 123.8 The Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them But ye shall not not be so Be not ye called Rabbi for one is your Maister even Christ and all ye are brethren Therfore when there is cause of accusing or censuring any he doth not say Tell the Bishops but Tell the church And accordingly in the times of the Apostles Chap. 18.17 and longe after as the epistles of Cyprian do manifest they were judged by the word in an assemblie of presbyters and brethren as the incestuous Corinthian which shewes us that neither one man nor the presbiters alone were judges in such cases but the church which by the Scriptures either cleered or censured any person accused as by the word of God he appeared either guiltie or not guiltie for so doth the word judge among the nations And therfore seeing God hath so ordained and it was in the primitive church so practised it is not a thing indifferent as some thinke whether Presbyters or diocessan Bishops hold the government but in effect a matter of salvation espetially to every church and by consequence to every Soule in it as the well or ill guiding of a ship concerneth the salvation of every passenger embarqued in it For though in a tempest some are saved without good Pilots and some in the shipwrack by a board yet others are not without skilfull sea men and soe in the church but for the most part not without helpes in government God hath in nothing given this to one in a diocesse and his officials but to the presbyters of every church elected according to his ordinance For though the provision of Bishops and Pastors have beene somtime in the hands of the Clergie and people somtimes in the hands of K ngs and Patrons then in the hands of Popes and then againe in the hands of Kings and patrons as now in England yâ—t as many have proved for the first seaven or eight hundred yeares after Christ the people in most places did choose them according to the practise of the primative church and the power given them in the new Testament For so saith Cyprian The people have principallie the power either to choose such priests as are worthy or to refuse such as are vnworthy Cypri 1. Epist 4. Act. 14.23 Beza Annot in Act. 14. Tit. 1. And so saith Luke They ordained them Elders in every church by election Where saith Beza the force of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be noted that wee may know that Paul and Barnabas caried nothing by private will nor exercised any tyranie in the church nor lastly did any such thing as at this day the Romish harlot or her pages doe whome they call ordinaries And by this place saith he must that be vnderstood I left thee in Creete to ordaine them Elders in everie citie as I had appointed thee that is by election as the Apostles left it to the church and people there assembled to choose one in the place of Iudas Beza Annot in Act. 1. And they appointed two Nothing saith Beza is here caried privately by Peter as by one endued with a more excellent dignitie but publickly and by the suffrages of the whole church So as he sheweth were the seaven Deacons chosen and so is that to be vnderstood Lay hands sodainly on no man that is to make him a presbyter amd so give him a part in this charge of the Eldership till he be tried the church or people have chosen him and praier be made for him as at the election of Mathias and the seaven Deacons It is ill for the Soules of Kings Bishops and patrons and indeede worse for the church that any one of these have the choice or confirmation of Pastors helpers Elders which are lawfull callings or of diocessan Bishops Deanes prebends and others which are vnlawfull For this makes divines flatter all such Princes Patrons and Prelates or theire favourites and so is cause of exceeding greate corruption and hipocrisie in church and common wealth For by this meanes Princes Prelates and theire favourites though they
doe what they list in religion shall be sure to be flattered in it as the popes were as soone as ever they grew greate and to have any power over the Clergie and this indeede made them attempt what they list and carrie or obtaine it while verie few durst call it incroaching or corruption such was and such is the fruite of this power in the church and therfore God would neither commit the election or confirmation of his ministers nor the government to one in a diocesse but to the presbyters and members of every church as abovesaide Men will not see these things but if wee tell them these all doe contrarie to the decrees of Christ to stop our mouthes with those Iewes and others of the baser sort they say These all doe contrarie to the decrees of Cesar Act. 17.5.7 saying that there is another King in these cases namely Christ making a verie heinous matter of it that wee are so bold as to affirme it But it were to be wished that they would so give vnto Cesar the things that are Cesars as not to take from God the things that are Gods to give them to Cesar These are things that have been manifested to be Gods Why then will they perswade Kings that they doe God service and shew love to his church his Ierusalem while they strengthen the Prelates that vsurpe these offices suppresse the verie name of the presbiterie and make Princes beleeve that as they doe more or lesse vphold theire hierarchie so God will more or lesse blesse them theirs Wherein they reason like Baronius Baron in an 452 who speaking of the law of Valentinian abovementioned which curtailed the power of Bishops saith That the making of it incensed the wrath of God and caused Attila with the Hunnes to come downe upon the Empire When that was rather because he left them so much power as he did and did not rather reduce them to that order and power wherein the Apostles left them taking away all that which made the word of God in divers particulars of none effect or is contrarie to his ordinances though it had been given them by Emperours or Synods They should have all knowne that it is the King eternall and immortall who is only wise 1. Tim. 1.17 Isa 30.22 Pro. 8. mark that word onelie wise especially in Spirituall things The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our lawgiver the Lord is our King Christ beeing the wisdom of God saith By me Kings raigne and Princes decree justice that is when what they can they governe according to Gods revealed wisdom Much more then in matters of religion they are not set in the throne to doe and require the doeing of theire owne will but Gods as David acknowledged and therefore saide Give thy judgments ô God thy judgments not mens not mine to the King and thy righteousnes to the Kings Sonne Psa 70.1 2. Chron. 29.23 2 Sam. 22.51 1 Chro. 29 11.12 So it is saide Solomon sate on the throne of the Lord insteade of David his father who is saide to be Gods King Every king therefore should acknowledge God King of his kingdom as David of his Thine o Lord is the greatnes the power the glorie the victorie and the majestie for all that is in the heaven in the earth is thine thine is the kingdom o Lord thou art exalted as head above all that is theÌ„ above Kings who beeing set on the throne of the 〈◊〉 that is to see his word his lawes Statutes observed to se◠〈…〉 the righteousnes thereof for then doe they bring theire glorie honour to the new Ierusalem Hos 2.19 then is he maried to them and theire pepole Ãn righteousnes in judgment in loveing kindnes in mercies as he promiseth that is when Kings make priests and people live and doe according to the order which he appointeth them in his word as both Hezechiah and David himselfe did when he saw Vzza slaine for breaking that order He sits on the throne of the Lord that gives his power strength to God and to his ordinances as the Kings which are the hornes of the Beast gave theire power and strength vnto the Beast to enforce his lawes rites and errours on theire people which was a war against the lambe But at last as is graciously promised The lambe shall overcome them Rev. 17. For he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings If therefore they will be saide to sit on his throne they must doe the like for Christ against Antichrist and all enemies of his truth seeing God hath set his King vpon his holy hill of Sion to rule all nations in matters of religion and therefore addeth Be wise now therefore o ye Kings Psa 2. Let it not be saide your subjects dwell where Sathan hath his throne for Antichrist or any other David knew the true wisdom when he saide 2. Sam. 22.22 J have kept the waies of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgments were before me c. And when in an assemblie of all his Princes Captaines 1. Chro. 28 1.8.9 and 〈…〉 to them Keepe and seeke for all the com◠〈…〉 â—th Solomon and 〈…〉 thâ—e but if 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—re did God 〈…〉 â—e a King among his Sonnes He wâ—s a King indeeâ—â—or God seeing he thus raigned psa 47.3 and in this â—ense had ever such sayiâ—gs in his mouth God is the King of all the Earth The shields of the eartâ— belong unto God For the Lord is a greate God and a greaâ— King above all Gods The holy one of Israel is our King The prelates and theire adherents say there must be order in the church diocessan Bishops to be over others Objection question and reje◠〈…〉 â—ers God hath not appoin◠〈…〉 therefore Kings and councels 〈…〉 I answer this is to say 〈◊〉 God hath not had a sufficient 〈…〉 â—rch and to accuse his Testament of insufficiencie as if th◠〈…〉 â—d not as well provided for his church in this case as in others when yet for these ends he ordained Elders to be Bishops 〈◊〉 every congregation Now all his ordinances are perfect His worke is perfect Deut 32.4 for all his waies are judgment He is God and changeth not therefore to say that this was only for the times of the Apostles and as the church increased and those times changed the wisdom of men might provide better is a greate presumption yet such hath beene the wisdom of the flesh Act. 15.18 and of the world to thinke so But knowne vnto God are all his works from the begining of the world Men cannot in time better them If the Eldership had not beene sufficient he would either never have ordained it to be so soone abolished or have foretold and given authority to his church to ordaine diocessans This he did not but for bad to adde
march 6. 1632. Yea a greate Bishop in a sermon before the King charged one that writ for the presbyterie with Arianisme whether truly or no I know not for he namd not the man nor the book for feare least his proofes of the presbiterie should be looked into So much do they bewray the rottennesse of theire cause that will not endure touching nor to be looked vpon and in the meane call vpon men to frequent common prayer be obedient and conformable to theire mother the Church c. Beeing willingly ignorant that when of old som began to finde fault with the increase of superstition and tyranie in Romish Prelates Canons they reckoned them Schismatikes willed men to seeke peace stirred them vp to love of common prayer conformitie in ceremonies and externall devotions building of Churches c. Whereby ignorance increased and the truth was daily more and more betrayed and sold till it was too late to reforme them Princes and noble men could not doe it because they beeing nourished in this ceremonious and superstitious part of religion fell themselves into ignorance and so into many quarrels and noisom lusts like the Prelates one growing dissolute another vsuâ—ping another circumventing killing warring as in France betweene the Kings and the Duks of Burgundie and other Princes In England betweene the howses of yorke and Lancaster the Kings and Rebels they had not a Gospell truly preached to order and aw them so they could not see that all these errours in the Clergie and indeede in themselves came from altering the presbyterall government and giveing such authority to Bishops who for theire owne ends were readie to side with any of them So Protestants in other countries have observed that when the Palatinate was loosing the churches in Germanie France and other parts in greate miserie yet the church of Prelates theire adherents in England did litle helpe them but rather hindred such as would siding with the Duke and others charged by the parliaments to practise secretly for the popish partie or a newtralitie vnder colour that they were conformable to the English discipline and therfore Protestants but at the best that is indeede such as the hierarchie bringeth forth either newters or men of a mixed religion partly popish in the hierarchie Canons and ceremonies most followed and maintained and partly protestant in som points of faith more coldly defended by the most who also seemed to thinke it dangerours to maintaine ancient and honest priveliedges as free elections free speaking and parliamentarie power in searching out and reforming corruptions in church and common wealth both the one and the other beeing by som factious cunningly accounted a puritanicall zeale and a trenching vpon the prerogative of Princes when indeede the prerogative themselves sought to maintaine was only that of corrupt Prelates and favourits who have abused our Kings with such incensings and whisperings as the protestations of the parliaments laboured to manifest It is no neede to tell how they were prevented or that thereupon greate divisions followed both at that time and since especially in religion The Prelates not enduring that the howse of Commons should medle with it nor with the most notorious delinquents that did but favour theire partie who thus strove to helpe and vphold one another what ever became of the cause of Christ at home or abroade Gal. 5.9 Not to mention what boldnes and corruption this hath since bred in other inferiour bodies and government A litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe The french and other Protestants say theese are the fruits of maintaining the hierarchie and ceremonies which are Popish and so serve many for a cloak of poperie or trecherie or Arminianisme or prevarication or persecution or newtralitie or what a man will whereby the English haue beene brought into greate contempt theire peace thus attained beeing scorned as savouring of corruption or Newtralite in Religion and as more helping to support then ruin Babylon and her chiefe fort and wall the howse of Austria and as thus haveing lost theire honour both abroade and at home The Bishops could cover all this and turne the fault vpon the puritans that would not flatter as themselves did And yet in all this like the Romanists they bluster with the name authority and wisdom of Christs Church whether they be truly of it or the world The name Church if the Greeke word be considered signifieth coetus evocatus a companie or people called out Coetus evocatus as Israel out of Egypt or men out of darknesse ignorance or worldlinesse How few are thus called out of poperie temporising and earthlinesse I know divers Ministers that have subscribed are in all other things of the reformed Religion and thorowly called out of poperie save onely that for feare of loosing theire liveings they dare not see one part of it in the case of the hierarchie things that are against the presbiterie But consider the Church of England as the Bishops that govern it account it in themselves and theire adherents in a Synod called the Church representative and maintaining theire power canons and ceremonies with the fruits and practises of them who can say it is coetus evocatus Much lesse if you vnderstand it of halfe a dozen of Prelates that are courtiers in a manner ruling all are followed and flattered by many temporising Clergie men and a world of ignorant gentlemen and people And what if one corrupt Bishop get into such favour as to rule all the rest shall he like the Pope account himselfe the Church Not onely all these ill fruits but all that are in the Church of Rome came from altering that order of Bishops which the Apostles left by setting one presbyter of a greate citie over the rest and giving him first a litle authority as President of theire councell and then a litle more till he came to be accounted the sole Bishop of a diocesse And therfore as cunning Clarks as they make themselves our saviour may in these cases say of them If you were blinde Ioh. 9.41 if ye did confesse your blindnesse if ye had not the light of Gods word to shew it to you ye should haue no sinne But now ye say wee see chap. 101. therfore your sinne remaineth He that entreth not by the doore into the sheepefold but climeth vp another way the same is a thiefe and a robber I am the doore As he is the word of the father that revealeth him so is he the doore If a man come with any other Doctrine then the word revealed or enter by any other way to be a Pastor or Governour of the Church then such lawfull election and mission as is ordained in the word if he enter by any other rule office authority or title then such as the word alloweth he is a theefe and a robber that commeth not but for to steale a hireling as the Pharises were They complaine of lecturers as vnlawfull yet none
into that her first errour yea though they should be at enmitie with her for her after errours or not know her there are none exempted that fall into the same errour only As many as have not this doctrine marke and so for the doctrine of the Nicolaitans of Babylon or any other therefore if a man forsake all Babylons errours save one if he hold but one of the first as this aboute Bishops which is the roote of all the rest he committeth adulterie with her in that he pertaketh of her sinnes and may receive of her plagues She hath many others It is true that all nations have drunk of them The reformed churches have therefore discovered and abandoned them Among which the church of England will not acknowledge that though she retaine diocessan Bishops theire courts power in imposing divers Romish customs canons and ceremonies that yet theese are any part of the Babylonian corruptions for which she is taxed in the holy Scriptures and at the last rewarded Some seeing Bishops beare such sway in the church of England do plainly affirme that they are of God and ordained in the new Testament knowing that otherwise so greate power and authority in the church cannot be lawfull Gal. 3.15 seeing the Apostle saith though it be a mans Testament yet if it be confirmed no man dissanulleth or addeth thereto much lesse to Gods Others there are that if you tell them it was an invention of the Romanists and other Clergie men after the death of the Apostles they so much reverence that church of Martyrs that they care not much whether it be of the Apostles or them which is a verie greate follie and vanitie seeing our Lord taxeth so many churches of those times with greate corruptions and it hath beene manifested that the church of Rome both in this case and many others did quickly grow worse then them all that many were the presumptions and burdens she laide on the church that the foundation of diocessan episcopacie was making the pastors of greate cities to be alwaies presidents of Sinods which so increased theire authority that in time the title of Bishops came to be restrained to them who beeing in such power were as readie to take it as others in flatterie to give it And why then should so much be ascribed to theire Synods seeing so many foolish and presumptious things were determined by them As abouts Temples Altars Masses vestments holy water orders Metropolitans all verie superstitious and so much for theire owne glorie that An ichrist rose out of them Our Lord saith he that speaketh of him selfe seeketh his owne glorie Ioh. 7.18 but he that seeketh his glorie that sent him by speaking his truth as in the two verses before the same is true and no vnrighteousnes is in him which argues Also chap. 8.38 that they who speake any thing besides his revealed will who speake any thing besides his truth or commaund what he hath not commaunded they are false and seeke theire owne glorie yea there is much vnrighteousnes in them they defile a church they speake that which they have seene with theire father and that therefore those prelates who ordained these things sought theire owne glorie defiled the church and were guided by other spirits then the Spirit of Christ who only taks of Christs and shewes vnto men Chap. 16.13.14 Which is also plaine by this that to theire owne glorie they are more observed then the commaundements of God as Lent and other things then devised So Telesphorus sought his owne glorie Platina in Telesphor when he ordained That in the night of Christs birth day three massos should be celebrated the first at midnight when Christ was borne in Bethelem the second at the breake of day when he was known to the Shepheards the third at the time of the day when he was nailed on the crosse for after that hower it was forbidden to celebrate it Because Paul saith As oft as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shew the Lords death therefore in the primative church they oft received the Sacrament commonly once every Lords day which was well But this was no warrant for them to devise to shew his death by a kinde of Sacrifice as Alexander first invented See Platiin Alex. and somtime twise or thrise in a morning in this superstitious manner which soone served hypocrits for a pretence of lesse preaching or hearinge the word growing ignorant and making the masse ordained in those times the chiefe part of their religion which must needes be much to theire glorie in an Antichristian sense that speaking of themselves devised it and were so followed in it Idem in Eleuther And so in ordaining diocessan Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs after the example of the flamins Archflamins and Protoflamins as Platina and others shew Indeede all ordinances did greatly increase theire glorie were they never so foolish because they beeing in honour had st ll flatterers to defend them and perswade obedience to them Therefore reade Damasus Platina and others that write theire lives and you shall finde there was then scarse any B. of Rome that did not invent som ordinaÌ„ce least he should be thought an ill husband in increasing the glorie of his Sea Idem in Zepherin an 198. Idem in Calist and in Steph. 1 Zepherinus ordained that the cup in the Sacrament should be of glasse and no more of wood as it was before This was after altered and commaunded to be of gold silver or pewter Calistus ordained that there should be a fast thrise a yeare on the saturday for corne wine and oyle which after was changed to the fast at fower times Stephen 1. ordained that Priests should not weare holy garments but in the church and in celebrating holy rites least if they did otherwise they should fall into the sinne of Balthasar who touched the holy vessels with prophane hands In the times of the Apostles before presbyters wore such garments bâ—fore Surplesses coapes and such vestments were taken from the hâ—athen there was litle neede of such an ordinance Howsoever the Scriptures do so forbid prophane cariage at all times and in all Christians that this needed not to keepe priests from beeing drunke in theire Surplesses What should I speak of hallowing grapes on the Altar and such like foolish ordinances The verie shame of those ages and of them that so much reverence theire inventions and canons for theire Antiquitie But it is rather because Vrbanus made one which enricheth the Prelates because Dionisius limited the confines of divers diocesses and Cajus distinguished the orders because though in all these things they spake of them selves yet they were confirmed in the councell of Nice who indeede sought Christs glorie and spake out of his Testament in her creede But whether she spake of her selfe or of theese Bishops of Rome and theire inventions and customs in her other Canons aboute Bishops the Reader
beeing suffered among the Isralites were a snare vnto them Iudg. 2.2 so must it needes be with these popish offices altars and ceremonies left among protestants The parliaments therefore should have struck at the rootes and stocks of the trees wh ch bring out such fruits in matters both of the church and common wealth and better they never did nor never can bringe foorth in any nation It is a just plague God hath sent on the Clergie because like the Angels they kept not theire first estate of presbyters nor receive the love of that ordinance For now since the death of the Apostles prophets and Evangelists by the Testament of God all degrees of Clergie men that since crope in are not branches of Christ the vine he gave some to be pastors Teachers and Elders but never any to be diocessan Bishops Such as are not content with the callings and offices that he hath given for his church but aspire to others that make them Lords of Gods heritage they abide not in him Ioh. 15. â— 5 6.7 1. and as he saith As the branch cannot beare fruite of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Euen as he is the word he is the vine and his ministers are the branches by which his fulnesse is spread abroade wherfore he saith If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered He saith abide in me and I in you and sheweth what that is If ye abide in me and my words abide in you and that as well in matter of office and ceremonies according to his ordinances as in other things Herein is my father glorified that ye beare much fruite soe shall ye be my Disciples as if he saide otherwise not Bishops therefore that have not theire callings of him of his Testament are branches of some other trees not of Christ Iesus the vine and that makes them bring out such fruite as they doe It will be saide if kings may not give Clergie men such honour and power as Constantin Iustinian and other Emperours gave them where is theire prerogative And if councels may not give them such authority as the councell of Nice and other Synods of those times gave them where is Christs promise of the Spirit To the first I answer wee are willed to give vnto Cesar the things that are Cesars Math. 12.21 but vnto God the things that are Gods This as wee have shewed is a thing that is Gods And who then would thinke that Christians if they may be so called would ever teach that Kings or Synods may gâ—ve a power to Prelates that shall make any of the ordinances of God of none effect most of those prelates Antichrists and one of them the grand Antichrist Kings indeede are nursing fathers to the church but that is then to see that theire people be fed with the sincere milke of the word of God and not with the traditions of men or leaven of the Pharises Isa 52.2 which beeing not the bread of heaven satisfieth not Yet Prelates are ever buzzing Princes in the eares with theire prerogative in what they have established They may as well reason thus 2. Chro. 12.11 Iehoram made high places and so caused men to commit fornication He compelled Iudah thereto therfore Kings may s t vp diocessan Bishops and Sees which are high places never ordained of God and so cause fornications and compell men to theire obedience 2. King 16 â—0 Ahaz saw an Altar at Damascus sent the fashion of it to Vâ—â—ah the Priest made him make such a one and offer on it therfore Kings may set vp Altars cause such things and divers others taken from the heathen Iewes or Papists to be vsed in theire churches Ieroboam set vp golden calves Nebuchadnezar a golden Image and caused all to worship it ergo Kings may set vp these golden Images the B shops and cause them in all theire power traditions and ceremonies to be obeied that is worshipped Christs Bishops would rather say Kings are commaunded to write them a booke of the law not to depart from it as God willeth Iosha but to mediate therein day and night that they may observe to doe according to all that is written therein Ios 1.2 therfore they may not make theire subjects worship the Beast and take his marke not though he pretend that they are the things of the Spirit either invented or confirmed in councels If Christ by whome Kings raigne be the King only wise the best and noblest King as he is the word and wisdom that ruleth his then it is the greatest and best prerogative to be renued into his image and seeke his kingdom seeing the father saith Psa 2. J have set my King vpon my holy hil of Sion to rule all nations in all matters of religion be wise now therfore o ye Kings c. Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Now his Image is renewed in knowledge righteosnesse and holinesse of the truth Marke not holinesse of mens inventions and traditions but holinesse of the truth The rudiments of the world as Paul sheweth bring men into bondage and ignorance Gal. 4. Ioh. 8. Chap. 17. Chap. 14. but the knowledge and obedience of the truth and continuance therein as Christ also saith maketh men free and Sonnes of God which is the greatest honour that can be He saith Thy word is Truth I am the Truth His name is called the word of God Such as yeeld to Gods word yeeld to this truth they truly bow at the name of Iesus and doe him homage as the King of Kings Princes are rightly called Gods Deputies and truly honourable when they labour to bring men to this true holinesse For there is no true holines but the holines of the Truth No man can serve two Maisters not God and Mammon much lesse Christ and Antichrist who commaund and teach contrarie things But Christ is the Truth And every one saith he that is of the Truth heareth my voice Ioh. 18.37 Chap. 10. To be of the Truth then is to be a true Christian My sheepe heare my voice and they follow me and a stranger they will not follow This stranger is one that bringeth false doctrines or for doctrines the traditions and inventions of men His servants ye are to whome ye obey He saith not to whome ye pray but to whome ye obey Rom. 6.16 Him ye serve worship whether Christ or Antichrist God or any other potentate The Papists and all that teach or observe for doctrines commaundements of men will say wee worship and follow Christ Indeede his is the kingdom the power and the glorie But as he is the eternal word and wisdom of God Ioh. 12.26 he saith If a man serve me let him follow me that is to heare beleeve and obey me and me only as I am God with the father and the holy Ghost or as I only am the
must complaine of them Men will not see theese things This peoples heart Mat. 13.15 saith he is waxed grosse and theire eares are dull of hearing and theire eyes haue they closed c. When Christ commeth he will distinguish the sheepe from the goates and know them by this mark as himselfe saith My sheepe heare my voice If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeede my sheepe indeede otherwise not This is as well true of them that are at Synods as at Sermons both the one and the other beeing but conventicles if they continue not in the word but teach or receive for doctrines precepts of men A diocessan Bishop would like a player seeme to be that which he is not namely a Bishop of the new Testament when yet he makes them of none effect and so is an hypocrit by his office one that saith not against him that would have presbyters restored this man is against Gods ordinance but against the Doctrine of our Church a custom or a canon of a councell and therfore an hipocrit but if Christ shall say to this vsurper depart I know you not I ordained no such offices no such canons who is then the hypocrit It is true indeede that among the many orders of the Popish Religion diocessan Bishops and theire officials are the most ancient and that secular Priests which anciently were presbyters did before the Nicene councell differ litle from the presbiters Christ ordained save that Bishops had wrunge most of the government out of they re hands but when loosing power in excommunication they also became subject to the Bishops and to be governed by theire Lawes Rules and canons as they all by the Pope they left and lost Christs marke tooke on them the marke of the Beast But then as they had made the presbiterie of none effect so the Regulars supplanted them There are many orders of these Regulars or Monles who haveing obtained of Boniface 4. and others after him to have the administation of the word and Sacraments got the hearing of mens confessions and by degrees stole from Bishops and Priests all that reputation which they had with the people and became the stoutest champions of the papacie in all the designes thereof as is at large proved in Plesses his Historie of the papacie progress 51. c. These were the Augustines Benedictines Iacobines Heremits Carthusians but especially the Dominicans and Franciscans Cordiliers and Capuchins and last of all the Iesuits and fathers of the Oratorie These and others have all theire severall Rules and so are severall Religions Yet they all have the marke of the Beast They all hold of him and for him not of Gods word nor for it And so ye have seene also that English Bishops and theire officials Deanes Prebends Subdeanes Archdeacons pettie canons and the like doe not hold theire authority and right in theire orders to execute theire offices from Gods word but from other rotten principles and have taken them from the custom and authority of the Pope Church of Rome or from a child or a woman Edward 6. or Queene Elizabeth that to hold them vpon any such humane authority or to say the word of God giveth leave so to hold them is to change the truth of God into a lie and to worship serve the creature more then the creator For of Christs Testament they doe not nor cannot hold them If they say from the Nicence councell wee have seene the weaknes of that hold in this perticular and indeede that as well many of the ancient as of the later councels have in many things beene carried by mens private interests and practises as appeareth among other Testimonies by an Epistle of Bishop Iewel annexed to the Historie of the councell of Trent and further that Bishops had not then theire courts and such power as afterwards and as they now have in England where in the Reformation it was set vp in the same power the Popish Bishops had enjoyed if not in greater because they were freed from the tyranie of the Pope and lastly that none of all these have the Testimonie of Iesus for theire orders offices and Rules They are not of that Temple or Church militant which Iohn saw but of the owter court though neerer the Temple and Altar then the Papists For all that are of that Temple have the Testimonie of Iesus as well for theire offices as Doctrines which you see none other have but presbiters Pastors helpers and Deacons Not excluding such Majestrates and people as are of the reformed Religion these church orders and no other have his marke who when he is ready to powre out his last plague on Babylon and other cities saith behold I come as a theife Rev. 16.15.16 Where I thinke he meaneth in that last plague against all Antichristian adversaries and in the voyces thunders the exceeding greate earthquake and haile and the fall of Babylon which are of it accompanie it or follow soone after it as Revel 2. Repent or else I will come vnto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth For then it is that the Angel crieth Babylon the greate is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of deuils c. Then Babylon comes in remembrance before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fircenesse of his wrath and therefore he addeth Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments least he walke naked and they see his shame that is in lusts and ignorance or worshipping the Beast or his Image or receiving his marke in part or in whole For they that would not doe this though they may come into trouble for the witnesse of Iesus and for the word of God yet these seaven plagues take not hold of them Luk. 21.36 they watch and are thought worthy to escape these things they raigne with Christ and have part in the first resurrection Rev. 13. God therefore sends vs to see when this vial is powred out or at least to heare that voyce It is donne or that Babylon is fallen is fallen c. Which seeme to follow close after the powring out of the seaventh vial that it may drive vs to repentance before such lamentable iudgments fall on vs at least on all them who pertaking with her in her sinnes are sure to receive of her plagues a thing that is not enough regarded by many in England Christ also comes as a thiefe in the last day And then when he shall looke on the soules of many who have had voices in Synods upon the soules of many a preacher of many an officer and many a hearer and shall see there is little in them but the Canons and ceremonies of the pretended church and a reverent opinion of them because of theire pretended antiquitie or if they have knowledge and zeale in many other things as the Papists have in some they withall have zeale and ignorance
in theese and theire feare towards him hath beene taught by the precepts of men doe you thinke he will ackowledge this for his marke or that it may stand together with his as some thinke it may in Papists who hold the Christian faith and truth in many things and that he will not rather say unto them who required these things at your hands And not rather to abide in the word and suffer your wayes to be reproved by it Ioh. 18.37 for every one that is of the truth heareth my voice he watcheth and keepeth his garments that ye would not doe in these things but persecuted them that haveing the marke and testimonie of Iesus would have drawne you to it but ye have mocked at theire arguments and rejoiced to see them prohibited and trodden vnder foote so wretched is the condition of many of the Prelates and theire defenders in England And indeede nothing doth more shew the Rottennesse of theire cause and that they are not of God then theire forbidding of bookes written in defense of Gods ordinances about the presbiterie and power he gave each church in election of presbyters excommunication c. wherein they have beene such cruel adversaries that they have by suppressing all bookes and preachers that doe but touch on these points left men no meanes of defending or knowing the truth in such cases like the Philistins who suffered not a Smith in the land of Israel saying 1 Sam. 13.19 least the Hebrewes make them swords or speares This thing alone sheweth that so great power as Bishops have in the church can not be of God and that it serveth chiefely to suppresse the truth and forbid the defense thereof in these things and in those others about Gods free-grace in election free will perseverance of the saints or any thing else that either they doe now or may hereafter prohibit in doctrine discipline or ceremonies as in like manner the church of Rome did in one thing or other till at last she became full of abhominations and filthines the first steps whereof were the establishing and increasing the power of Bishops against the presbiterie c. which gave them power to effect theire pleasures in these and all other things 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 Heretiks the Decree whereof is amongst the Canons collected by Gratian. Histor of the counc of Trent p. 472. This saith a learned Author was the first prohibition by way of Canon for in the church of Martyrs there was none The bookes of Hereticks containing doctrine condemned by Councels were often forbid by the Emperours for good government So Constantine forbad the bookes of Arrius Arcadius those of the Eunomians and Maniches Theodosius those of Nestorius Martinus those of the Euticheans and in Spaine King Ricardus those of the Arrians But this is no warrant for Kings or Prelates to forbid those which are written in defense of the presbiterie or any of Gods ordinances It sufficed the Councels and Bishops to shew what bookes contained damned or Apocryphal doctrine Idem So did Gelasius in the yeare 494. and went no further leaving it to the conscience to avoide them or reade them to a good end After the yeare 800. as the Popes of Rome assumed a greate part of the politik government so they caused the bookes whose Authors they did condemn to be burned and forbad the reading of them Notwithstanding one shall finde but few bookes forbid in this sort till this age Martin 5. doth in a Bull excommunicate all the Sects of Heretikes especially Wicklifists and Hussites not mentioning those who reade theire bookes though many of them went aboute Lev. 10. Condemning Luther did with all forbid his books upon paine of excommunication After Popes did the like The Inquisitors made Catalogues of those whome they knew Philip King of Spaine was the first that gave a more convenient forme in the yeare 1558. making a law that the Catologue of bookes prohibited by Inquisition should be printed After this example Paul 4 caused an Index composed by that office to be printed in the yeare 1559. At last all they pleased were fetched into this number to deprive men of all meanes of knowledge A better mysterie was never found then to vse religion to make men insensible So doe English Bishops who though they follow not the same forme yet they vse another as rigorous and prevalent They have the licencing and censuring of bookes in these cases and so are both Iudges and parties they can scoffe suspend fine imprison silence and degrade whom they please yea men in these cases goe in jeopardie of theire liveings and lives by which meanes as by the weapons of their warfare they must needes obtaine their cause as the Romanists have theires so like are they in som things to Babylon the mother of Harlots Ioh. 8.43.44 and to those Iewes to whom Christ saith Why doe ye not vnderstand my my speech even because ye cannot heare my word ye are of your father the devill and the lusts of your father ye will doe he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth he is a liar and the father of it And because I tell you the truth ye beleeve me not He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore heare them not because ye are not of God Iudge therefore whether it be not with good cause that som English who hold with the Geneva and french reformations have said that the English hierarchie dominion and practise of the Prelates and many of theire canons customes courts and ceremonies are popish and a parte of the marke of the Beast not so much in those who have of infirmitie subscribed yet doe not defend them as in them that maintaine these things scorne them that doe not and will not see the mischiefes that follow that in these cases men cannot without great trouble freely speake or write the truth to convince them that they bring forth popish fruits flatterie superstition ignorance non residencie ambition prophane mocking newtralitie Episcopal tyranie wicked policies Arminianisme and the like and that therefore they ought to be abolished That these evills doe so increase through theire power and practises that they may justly feare that Christ will one day shew them to theire cost that this maintaining of them against the reasons and proofes of them that in the reformed churches hold the ordinances of God is not to savour the things that are of God but those that are of men not to have the marke of God but rather that of the Beast that at least som of them are in divers respects Popish and tend to poperie and that therfore if to maintaine that they ought to be obeyed be neither directly nor indirectly to worship the beast and his Image or take a part of his marke yet they have theire
day of the Lord of hosts shal be upon every one that is proud and loftie that is lifted up and he shall be brought low In the meane while wee must know Chap. 5.1 he planted a vinyard in a very fruitfull hill and he fenced it he looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes therfore he tooke away the hedge thereof and it was not digged and pruned as it should be So was the hedge taken from the church in the time of the persecutions when she brought forth the wilde grapes of mens inventions Isa 24.5 Ezech. 5.6 Amos. 2.4 Men will confesse it was for some sinne as Israel was alwaies plagued Because they transgressed the lawes changed the ordinance marke changed the ordinance brake the everlasting covenant Though they kept it in fundamentall points of religion yet with Korah and Vzzah they brake and changed it in Ecclesiasticall order service and ceremonies which opened the gap to greater transgressions Had they continued in his ordinances doubtles they had never beene so afflicted he would have beene to them as he promised to Israel Exod. 34.24 I will cast out the nations before thee and enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt goe up to appeare before the Lord thrice in the yeare he would so have ruled theire enemies hearts but when men observe not his ordinances or like the Angels keepe not theire first estate then by his plagues he seekes to abate theire pride Now wee shall have seene that in the primative church the Clergie did soone decline from his waies in such things were plagued Isa 9.16 Chap. 52. Chap. 42.24 Chap. 8.16 both they and theire people For the Leaders of this people cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroied So they that rule over them make them to howle and my name continuallie every day is blasphemed Who gave Jacob for a spoile and Jsrael to the Robbers Did not the Lord he against whom wee have sinned for they would not walke in his waies e. And therfore he saith binde up the Testimonie Seale the law among my Disciples Certaine that lived despised in corners and persecuted even of some of theire owne brethren while he hid his face from the howse of Jacob. Ier. 2 30. Isa 57.17 For saith he in vaine have I smitten your children they received no correction your owne sword hath devoured your Prophets c. For the iniquitie of his coveteousnes was I wroth and smote him J hid me and he went on frowardly in the way of his owne heart So that Coveteousnes hath in all ages beene the roote of all evill Ier. 6.13 especially in church-men For every one is given to coveteousnes and what followeth thereupon from the Prophet to the Priest every one dealeth falsely And they bend theire tongue like theire bow for lies such as are for theire honour or proffit but they are not valiant for the truth Such was the fruite of coveteousnes and ambition in Elies Sonnes such in Gehezi in Ziba and others as well of the Priests as of the people and such hath it ever beene as well in the christian as in the Iewish churches There was doubtles a lust of the eies after the pride of life a seeking after preheminence and authority in the Bishops of Rome from the verie death of the Apostles Theire devises to superintend over neighbour churches or parishes and theire Decrees in theire Synods wherin they for the most part ruled all for theire owne glorie do sufficiently declare it this was the foundation of theire greatnes And som desire there might be of filthie lucre but the first open proofe recorded is that decree of Vrbanus Platina in Vrban 1. that the church might receive from the faithfull inheritance of lands This was aboute the yeare 224. For before times the preaching Bishop was maintained by that which the seaven Deacons gathered for the poore and church vses as both Damasus and Platina shew in the life of Evaristus who died for the Truth in the yeare 109. and was it seemes the last of the vncorrupt Pastors of that litle flock in Rome He presumed not to make ordinances And so as Hegesippus saith to the times of Trajan or thereabouts the church continued cleane and vndefiled as a virgin Euseb lib. 3. c. 26. lib. 4. c. 21. but since that sacred companie left the world the conspiracie of iniquitie began to worke with open face They tell vs indeede of an ordinance that his predecessor Annaclet made against Clergie mens nourishing of long haire in head or beard Platina in Anaclet 1. Cor. 11.14 which haveing respect to that of the Apostle seemed tollerable But the Apostles words were sufficient what neede such an ordinance yet if he made it that served for a pretence that they might make others The like may be saide of that commaund of his that the consecration beeing ended all the faithfull should communicate or they that would not should goe out of the church These theire best preceps were steps to intollerable presumptions in others as in Alexander who succeeding Euaristus ordained holy water the masse and other inventions which others increased So was this of Vrbanus a step to extreme coveteousnes and many other corruptions Cyprian yeeldeth this reason of the persecution of Decius Cyprian lib. de lapsis Because every man slept in the coveteous desires of his owne heart it was high time for God to awak them with his rod There was no longer any devotion left in the priests Anno 253 no sincere faith in ministers no mercie in theire works no government in their manners c. The Bishops them selves who should have served for a spurre and patterne of well doeing abandoning theire holy functions and forsaking theire flocks goe a gadding into other countries haunting marts and faires for filthie lucres sake litle caring to relieve theire hungrie and starving brethren so themselues might haue money at will getting lands by fraude and money by griping vsurie and what did wee not deserue for these ill doeings The Churches ye see were not the more purified but more defiled after diocessan Bishops were set vp Howsoeuer this shewes theire follie who ascribe so much to the wisedom and holines of those times Eusebius giues the like reasons of the persecution of Dioclesian Platina in Marcel as Platina observeth saying Eusebius imagineth that it was permitted of God for the corrupt manners with the too much libertie and indulgence of the Christians espetiallie of the Clergie to bridle whose perversnes the divine justice ordained this persecution while he saw dissembling in theire countenance fraud in their hearts and deceite in theire words For these striving among themselves with envie pride enmities hatreds seemed to sâ—â—iour more of a tyrannie then of the Priesthood alltogether forgâ—ttâ—ng the Christian pietie and rather profaning then celebrating the divine
misteries But what then saith he doe we think will becom of our age Wherein our vices are increased to that height that they haue scarce left for vs a place of mercie with God How litle Religion is there and that rather dissembled then true he might haue saide and that rather after mens inventions then Gods ordinances what corrupt manner c. Eusebius say more yet I haue chosen to allege him in Platinaes words to keepe malicious mindes from pretending deceite in alleadging it Men may well thinke that when with constantine there entred such a deale of peace and plentie there must needes be more corruption Theire owne Authors shew it for Baronius saith Baron in 324. art 78. 79. Constantine in the 24 yeare of his raigne ordained that the Bishops should from that time forward haue the same Priueliedges which the idolatrous Priests had enjoyed in times past They had saith he as chiefe among them Rex Sacrificulus who in solemne feasts was wont to watch and haue an eye ouer the rest They had also theire Soueraigne Pontife Pontifex Maximus Arbitrator of all questions arising among them and who can think saith he that Constantine could longe endure that these should exceede Christians in pompe and glorie He might haue saide that the Bishops of Rome could long endure it Howsoeuer this was the goodly reason of theire greatnes contrarie to that of Christ Luk. 22. the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship ouer them c. but ye shall not be so Yet Baronius sheweth the Pope and Cardinals to haue the honour in riding clothing and other things that these Pontifes had It appeares in Platina on the like of Eleutherus that the power of Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs was taken from the example of these pagans they were then onely held in titles of like nature but now in the power pompe and riches of them Polidor Virgil also acknowledgeth that many things haue com into the Church of Rome from the Hebrewes the ancient Romans De invent rerum l. 5. c. 1. Book of the Iubile see the Root of Romish Rites and other Pagans M. Derlincourt proueth this out of the Bishop of Mande Gratian and divers others of their owne Authors and among other things that the dignities and power of Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs were taken from the heathen And for theire wealth Cedrenus in his Historie saith that Constantine in the 26 and 27 yeares of his Empire laboured to pull downe the idols and to conuey theire rents and revenues to the Churches From this greatnes of dignitie and wealth there soone followed a greatnes of power and tyranie in imposing the Romish Lawes aboute supremacie worshipping of images praying to Saints single life of Priests purgatorie pardons and the like Was not Babylon fallen in all this Was not here a manifest change of Christs ordinances aboute Bishops and other things Excommunication was at first a punishment inflicted by many not of one But they haueing made one breach 2. Cor. 6. and 2. Thess 3 14. Histor of the counc of Trent l. 4. p. 331. to set vp a kinde of diocessan Bishops the mysterie of iniquitie could not rest there but as one saith the members of the Churches neglecting theire duties at last left all to the Bishops who out of ambition embraced it and the persecutions ceasing erected a tribunall which was much frequented That yet they judging honestly at the first Constantine made a Law that there should lie no appeale from the Sentences of the Bishops which authority they abusing that Law aboute 70 yeares after was revoked by Arcadius and Honorius and one made that they should not be thought to haue a court which was executed in Rome it selfe and after by Valentinian strengthened by another Law to that purpose This was not digging vp the roote of the mysterie of iniquitie by taking away this diocessan power and restoring the Eldership whereof not onely Princes but euen Clergie men were now growne ignorant but lopping the branches which after grew and spread more then euer for this power thus taken away was restored by Justinian who 500 yeares after Christ established vnto them a court and audience And after the power of Bishops greatly increased when they came to be Councellours to King and Princes and to beare offices vnder them as to be Chancellours Treasurors and the like Whereby theire Canons power traditions and Ceremonies came to be receiued with the greater authority and no man durst gainsay them were they never so superstitious popish and tyranicall All this came from theire first presumptions in not abiding in the ordinance and Wisdom of God touching the Edership as they were willed but giueâ—ng a kinde of authority and superintendencie to the Pastor or Bishop of greate cities ouer the lesser townes and all presbiters aboute them For thus Bishops by that meanes encroached from one step to another till at last the verie name of the presbiterie grew odious vnto them as it doth now to the Bishops and theire defenders in England where all proofes of it are prohibited and more carefully kept from Princes and people then any Popish Doctrine and as if they were as dangerous as the Blasphemies of Arrius and other monsters And thus blinded by ambition coueteousnes and flatterie they despise the Law of the Lord Amos. 2. and theire lies caused them to erre after which theire Fathers walked they would rather doe as theire Fathers had donne and taught then as God commaunded And thus wee see that the Lord may say vnto them Mal. 3.7 Euen from the dayes of your Fathers ye are gon away from mine ordinances and haue not kept them And which is a greater mischiefe the antiquitie of this wicked wandring is made an authority against the old and good way as against a foolerie and against all that seeke it as against Hypocrites fooles and Schismatikes By reason whereof Ier. 6.10 men talke in vaine that tell them of Gods ordinance or the new Ierusalem wherein they shall be restored they cannot hearken Behold the word of the Lord is vnto them a reproach Hos 6.12 they haue no delight in it God writeth to them the greate things of his Law but they are counted as a strange thing groundles and mad opinions worthy imprissonment banishment and what not It is a wonderfull thing that men should professe to liue in the light and obedience of the Gospel and yet like hypocrites despise it in any thing as they doe in matter of the presbiterie and those gracious promises of the new Ierusalem which are confirmed and sealed in the new Testament with the blood of the Sonne of God I confesse it is thus in many of the gentrie and commons because they are not suffred to see any proofes of it If any be not willing to see them that is worse But in the Prelates many Clergie men yea and som Princes who haue seene proofs of theese things or
to his word Mar. 13.34 because himselfe gave authority to his servants the Apostles and to every man his worke Ephes 4.11.12 And by them he hath set sufficient officers in the church for the perfecting of the saints for the worke of the ministrie c. And what can wee have more If men would but see it the Elders in the Reformed churches do better looke to the order God requireth then diocessan Bishops do or can For this order is shewed in his Testament That is perâ—â—â—â— and he saith Deut. 12.32 Gal. 3.15 Thou shalt not adde thereto nor dimâ—â—â—sh frâ—m it It 〈◊〉 true Bâ—◠〈◊〉 us like Vzzâ— doe more then Goâ— commaundeth â—â—ey look to diverâ— things that Elders doe not once look afteâ— but 〈◊〉 is then after mens traditions and commaundements which turne from the truth are popish tyranical and superfluous while by obstinate defending these they make divisions and contentions contrarie to the Apostolike doctrine and so â—â—â—ve not the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 16. but theire owne bellie and by good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple this is not to vphold the church of Christ but theire owne kingdom It will be saide some of them haâ—e both 〈…〉 â—d written well yea confirmed 〈◊〉 supâ—â—essed Heretâ—â—◠〈…〉 but theire numbe◠〈…〉 â—h as 〈◊〉 did in the churâ—h of Rome wherein ma◠〈◊〉 arâ—â—aâ—â— Bishops Monkes and Iesuits confute som heâ—â—â—â—â—ks and preach well in all things save for the maintenance of â—â—â—ire orders and superstition So doe English prelats How soeâ—â—â—â—â—at hath beene as well if not better performed by other miniâ—â—â—â— at home and in the reformed churches Histor of the coun of Trent p. 24. There have beene divers honest Popes who have confest som errours in the power and practise of the church as of late Adrian 6. who sending to the Diet of Noremberg confesseth many corruptions in the sea and Church of Rome and promiseth reformation But this makes the calling of Popes neuer a whit the more Lawfull or necessarie As it was with Popes so it is with Bishops the better som of them haue beene the worse for the Church for they doe but hold vp the reputation of the office and so hold way for worse successors theire traditions Neyther is it better for the suppressing of heritikes and leude liuers that one in a diocesse hath this power for he cannot looke to all the Clergie much lesse to all the people though he should minde nothing else How then can he doe it if he be a counsellour of Estate and a judge in the Starchamber and high commission Among the Clergie in England and much more among the people many are saide to be drunkards coueteous contentious hereticall Arminians non residents dumbe ministers zealous defenders of canons and ceremonies preaching litle else Popelings dunces drones persecutors of those that preach and heare the word diligently If the Bishop who cannot looke to all see not the most of them countenaÌ„ce others or be by any meanes made to connive they may keepe theire Churches and others from preaching in them and doe no good but much hurt in them which is not so in the Churches of France where there are few or rather none of this kinde that discipline hath easy meanes to remedie these things both in the Clergie and people or rather indeede it preventeth them so much better is that which God ordained then that which men after invented to mend it Againe because the Bishop might be hereticall or wicked to helpe that they ordained Archbishops and because some Archbishops might be such they ordained Patriarchs and because some of them might be corrupted as they were they admitted of Appeales and ordained a Pope and then because he might erre or be wicked as Liberius Honorius Iohn 13 and others they were forced to affirme the Pope cannot erre and in all these things men were still perswaded to contribute to theire honour wealth and power as necessarie to the kingdom of God and therfore still as this honour and power increased the Scriptures were by flatterers wrested to defend it therfore though in the invention of diocessan Bishops there was not so greate coueteousnes ambition and wickednes yet the prosecution of it to bring it to its grouth was onely to make themselves fat with the offerings of the people 1. Sam. 2.29 as God saith of the presumptious innovations and coveteous desires of Elies Sonnes Thus from the first step in ordaining diocessan Bishops the mysterie of iniquitie could not rest till it came to the height Some will say it hath not yet donne so in England But what remedie is there in the meane against the Appealer or any wicked Prelate non resident or other delinquent If as of late in the Star-chamber Bishops set themselves to defend the vse of Images in Churches yea those of the Trinitie what other Bishops or Ministers dare oppose them in pulpit or print They beeing greate and able to prefer others are sure to be flattered and followed and by this meanes theire honour and power beeing daily increased they may prevaile in these and many other cases as the Church of Rome did in theese and the like theire office therfore doth not make ready a people prepared for Christ Reu. 11. but rather for Antichrist If the witnesses will Prophesie against them it must also be in sackcloth bonds and imprisonment for they haue obtained or rather retained so much Romish power as to bring them to it and punish all that reproue them God telleth them of Babylon the greate the Mother of Harlots Chap. 17 to shew them she may haue daughters there may be Babylon the lesse yea many lesser Babylons Harlots in corruptions and fornications The counsellors of the Parliament of Paris opposed against the authority that the councell of Trent gaue to the Bishops in this kinde where the Ecclesiasticall authority they saide Histor of the councell of Trent lib. 8. p. 819. was enlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giueing power to Bishops to proceede to pecuniarie mulcts and imprisonment against the laitye whereas no authority was giuen by Christ to his ministers but meere and pure spirituall that when the Clergie was made a member and part of the policie the Princes did by fauour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergie men with temporall punishments but to vse such kinde of punishments against the laiques they had neither from the Law of God nor of man but by vsurpation onely Yet commonly the most grievous they inflict is for taking part with the Apostles in defense of the presbiterie taxing the Prelates of worldly policie and tyranie or for some disobedience or irregularity to theire power inventions and ceremonies wherein note theire hypocrisie who in the meane will not permit men to preach against images Altars bowing to them c. Much lesse any thing that sheweth the presbiterall gouernment
man hunger let him eate at home The holy Ghost giveth divers gifts of wisdom knowledge healing faâ—th prophecie tongues c. to divers members of the same body If the one of them should say of the other I have no neede of thee this were not to doe things decently and in order He wisheth them to covet the best gifts rather to prophecie then to speake with tongues that men praying or prophecying should be vncovered Chap. 14. that women should be covered and not speake in the church and above all he there speaketh of prophecying one by one of others holding theire peace and judging or trying the Spirits And so of these and the like things then in vse Rev. 2.24 he saith let all things be donne decently and in order As for these new inventions of Bishops and Synods Chr st himselfe saith I will put vpon you no other burden but that which ye have alreadie hold fast till J come And shall men thinke that they may doe it Are there any true Christians that will not see that the offices of dâ—ocessan Bishops who burden the church with sup rsti ious rites are not de jure divino not of God but of men That they w re raised to this height and power after the example of the Bishop and church of Rome who in those first ages was imitâ—tâ—d by the most So truly is she called the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth That they beeing armed with power serve chiefely to suppresse the truth in these other po nts to get and have dominion over mens faith bring in Arminianisme or other like errours forbid confutation of them exalt humane traditions Romish inventions and ceremonies and like Egiptian taskemaisters to burden the churches with them make ministors that they dare not see these evils least it should hinder theire preferment or they should be deprived of theire liveings or silenced for speaking against them whilest they see that others flatter or extoll them and they serve thousands for a religion and insteade of that which Christ ordained as also for a cloake of poperie mocking and persecution It will be saide the Canons ceremonies are not imposed as matters of faith but of order and are counted things indifferent and therfore innocent and not so hurtfull as you make them I answer 1. So were they at the first in the Roman church but they grew into greater authority and so do these among thousands in England as sleight a matter as some make of them If things indifferent and innocent why are they pressed with such power For they are more vrged and observed by many then the Gospel In whose mindes these imposers preachers of ceremonies only leave Christ a name while like vsurpers they carrie away the power of a King and kingdom and therfore an offence against them is more punished and more skorned by such popelings newters and temporisers then an offence against the Gospel who yet in all these things count themselves the better subjects the better Christians 2. That in the booke of Articles which is of matters of faith ministers are made to subscribe to this that the church hath authority to ordaine these things that must be by som power given them in Gods word and that is as much as to make them matters of faith and necessity For that is in effect implied If as they say God have given every national church this authority then his will is that these things should be religiously observed and obeiâ—d and to breake them is sinne Thus they are or ought to be of faith Rom. 14.23 for whatsoever is not of faith is sinne But as wee proved the Papists take many of these ceremonies and even the office of diocessan Bishops and Archbishops from the heathen and from the daily encroachings of prelates therefore how should the subscribing to them in this tyranie be of faith no sinne especially seeing they doe many waies turne from God I denie not but that som things that the Apostles vsed are indifferent and may be altered for time and place as preaching and administring the Sacraments in the night and in mens howses Act. 8.36 This may be donne in the day and in Temples Philip and the Eunuch went both downe into the water others neede not to doe soe But such things altered or added by Synods ought to be verie few and such onely as necessity and not pretended conveniencie require For so say the Apostles and Elders Act. 15.22 28. with the whole Church at Ierusalem It seemed good to the Holy Ghost to vs to lay vpon you no greater burden then theese necessarie things Marke they say necessarie things I grant that some things the Church hath altered are necessarie in some Churches as that the whole body should not be dipped in Baptisme nor men forced to stand vncouered in such cold countries as Russia and Sweden while Moses and the Apostles are read as they did of old and as now they doe in prayer and singing of Psalmes other order may be taken for a Reader to reade the Scriptures and begin the Psalmes also for the manner of collecting almes setting vp a pulpit with water for Baptisme and a table conveniently placed on the communion day for at other times there needes none But vnder pretext that the Church hath this power it is most absurd to say it may giue authority to diocessan Bishops and Archbishops theire courts power and proceedings the oath ex officio theire fining imprisoning suspending silencing and so many ceremonies Altars canons customes and traditions as are in England more then were in the Apostles time or then are in the reformed Churches of France Germanie Belgia and other countries and whereof there is no necessitie but much mischiefe as beeing many of them Popish and snares tending to poperie tyrannicall and causing grievous schismes Which if Queene Elizabeth did not abolish consider how she found the land what policies and tempers she vsed how she suffered as King Edward had donne Cand. lib. 1. p. 16.28 and 77. the same service in English which was before in Latin some vaine things omitted Popish Priests to hold theire liueings if they would but take the oath of supremacie that there wâ—re therfore but 80. in the whole land that refused it how the Iudges and many of the nobilitie Iudges in Parliament were still Papists for many yeares after her coronation as the Reader may finde in Camden withall that notwithstanding all theese tempers which she thought those times required she so loued the Gospell and was so far from beeing an enemie to the reformation of Geneva that she as a meanes vnder God established it in Scotland France and the Netherlands her forces did it Againe consider that the best acts that euer any King of Iudah did in the reformation of religion were no excuse for his or theire leauing the high places vntaken away that prouinciall and diocessan Bishops
theire seas pompe power and traditions are like those high places And lastly consider what way or wherein do theese things edifie and further the Kingdom of God the saueing knowledge of his truth and the true preaching of his Gospell whereby it is wroâ—ght for the same is the power of God to saluation and that by which he hath brought many nations and the verie thoughts of the heart to the obedience of Christ 2. Cor. 10.5 Haue the hierarchie ceremonies and ordinances likwise beene the ouerthrow of poperie and mightie weapons to cast downe the strong holds thereof to convince and ouercome Papists or other hereticks and wicked livers or doe they not rather strengthen the Papists in theire religion and make them say the Bishops know well enough that the Romish is the true religion for all or the most of theese things were taken from the Church of Rome And this was the reason that not onely diuers Priests kept theire liueings but for the first eleuen yeares of Queene Elizabeth most of the Papists came to Church L. Cooke de Iure Regis Ecclesiast fol. 34. knowing that conformitie to the service and ceremonies doe not make a Protestant that they and euen the hierarchie it selfe were of a Romish invention and custom All which sheweth that things were not rightly founded in the English reformation as in the reformed Churches of France and Germanie where if any would leaue the Church of Rome and become a protestant he commeth to the Elders of the Church is well instructed and informed by them after he commeth into the publike congregation all men looking vpon him with loue and ioy as vpon one that commeth to be maried he is asked questions to this purpose 1. Whether he hold the Doctrine of the old and new Testament to be of God and sufficient to salvation 2. That in the Sacraments the signes are called by the things signified 3. That the Pope of Rome is Antichrist and the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon the mother of fornications Theese and the like to which he haueing publikely assented there is no doubt of his sinceritie If they had a parliament of Protestants they neede not feare his fidelitie nor any mans else among them for all men make this profession vnles they be borne and bred in it and then they doe it by Catechisme which things Church Papists will neuer doe neither will the Pope dispence with them to doe soe whereas in England where neither at the first nor euer since there was euer any such profession if a man be but conformable to the Church in owtward ceremonies take the oath of allegeance and communicate he passeth for a Protestant he may be chosen into any office of the common wealth be a Parliament man and yet in his practise a Church Papist an Arminian lukewarne a semie-Papist or a temporiser no man dares account him such yea he thinks that he ought to be more regarded then the most sincere Christian whome he calleth a puritan Thus the hierarchie service and ceremonies are shelters and cloaks to divers Religions cause infinitie factions and divisions and are therfore very ill for the service of godly and just Princes And this is the reason Note that there hath come so litle good of late Parliaments yea so much hurt theire members beeing by this meanes of divers religions and some of them readie to side with the strongest as beeing themselves of a corrupt or none at all like many of them that beare sway and haue voyces in the election of knights and Burgesses euery one would haue them of his owne Religion and faction which was the reason that the Duke and his adherents found so many friends among them and had so many Prelates and Clergie men to cloake and defend his doeings It is strange that men will not see that an imperfect reformation in the Church of England is the vaile and shelter to couer and defend theese and many other corruptions which if the presbiterie had beene restored could neuer haue stood with the name of Protestants or good Subjects Sir Robert Cottens advise sheweth that the Land did greatly suspect the Duke and others of Popish practiset Ye see the hierarchie brings out such Protestants And is it not so in the greate parishes and corporations of London and indeede almost of all England wherein commonly such Protestants beare office and all the sway Yet they held with the Prelates and the Prelates with them which was thought enough to passe them for Protestants though they were suspected of trecherie to the Churches beyond the Seas where they say the English can neuer be at true vnitie among themselves much lesse with other Protestants while the hierarchie stands vnder which as vnder Daniels tree such and so many kindes of Beasts doe shelter themselves Dan. 4.21 and therfore the parliaments laboured in vaine against theese factions as also against the Appealer D. Iackson Cosen and his coosening deuotions the Bishops for theire owne ends taking part with them all would in theese cases haue all the power like the Pharises that shut vp the Kingdom of God not entring in themselves for the loue of it to worke a due reformation and yet hindring others that would This is the order they preserve and theese and the like are the fruits of maintaining theire hierarchie The most zealous members of the parliaments loth to be accounted puritans thought to vphold the hierarchie and canons and yet to reforme and prevent theese things and so to make the hierarchie canons and ceremonies which indeede are Popish bring forth fruite vnto Christ Divers greate divines beeing capable of Bishopwricks or other preferments are of the same hope never considering that not onely gifts but euen the expectation of them blinde the eyes of the wise that many in the ancient Church of Rome and some of the Fathers themselves had the like hope but were deceiued making theire account without Christ who telleth vs ye shall know them by theire fruits Do men gather grapes of thornes Mat. 7.26 or figges of thistles Christian fruits of Antichristian inventions The goodnes or corruptnes of the tree in knowne by the fruite In the English reformation divers of the Protestant tenets were ingrafted into theese Popish plants which is the reason that some Bishops haue brough out some fruits to the Protestant Religion or rather to both Religions For the Episcopall office it selfe that is the stocke and body of the tree and the branches of it court canons and ceremonies beeing Popish must needes bring forth Popish fruite The very Greeke Bishops though dissenting from the Romanists haue donne it in the like things in ambition superstition traditions factions and errours the greatest difference beeing aboute the supremacie which some of them have aimed at purgatorie and a few other things and yet at last they were brought to subscribe to those in the councell of Florence As heathen Altars idols and people
out of the Church millitant against Antichrist and his adherents And if he come thence he is certainly one of them that worship therein keepe his sayings and contend for the truth which things men doe He is a man for so he saith J am thy fellow Servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them that keepe the sayings of this booke that haue the Testimonie of Iesus As all those must needes haue that haue the marke of God they are such as continue in the word such as are the true Church because they continue in the word defend ma ntaine it and no other as the Church doth which is called the pillar of truth 1 Tim. 3 15 And not as some in England doe who serve for little else then to defend theire owne ambition canons and ceremonies and yet would be called the Church of Christ If one of theese through flatterie grow so greate in favour with his Prince as to rule all as he list to turne Religion into Popish complement and ceremonies to mould it after his owne humour If therefore many out of feare flatterie or hope of favour follow and justifie him is he the Church not he nor he and all his flatterers If he could bring fower or five or all the Bishops to his Religion are they the Church They might see that so the Church of Rome came to be corrupted That theese in the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie are onely the true Church because they continue in the word and will receive no other that the same must needes be the marke of the true Church which is here the marke of true Christians These as wee have seene are set out by the Iewes the first Testament who neither in doctrine nor ceremonies might receive any thing which God had not commaunded but were to hold in all things to his first ordinances and institutions Crowne of a Christian Martyr wherein when they failed they were plagued and that it would be so with Christians if they changed Christs ordinances or let in any innovations hath appeared by his constant comparison to the seaven Churches and others of Churches compared to a Ierusalem and an harlot to the Temple of God and the Synagogue of Satan to the inner Temple and the court without he will not yeald theese later to be Iewes that is Christians because of other Lords they hold other Lawes in Religion in order in ceremonies and other things they doe not hold fast the word and ordinances which he left without receiving innovations or inventions of men therefore they are not of that part of his Temple which he alloweth to be accounted his Church but of the court without which is giuen to the Gentiles Reu 11. that is to Antichrist and others who in Gods account are as Gentiles such as in divers things will not heare his word but make it of none effect with theire dominion and traditions They hold som Christian truths but not all Those in England that are defenders of the hierarchie or Arminians hold more then the Papists yet not all Christ will not yeald som to be Iewes who perhaps failed in fewer things Iudge therefore I pray you whether they be not of that sort or like them of whome Christ speaketh Chap 2 which say they are Iewes and are not of the true Temple are not viz. not of those secret parts of the Temple 1 King 8 8 As there was nothing in the Arke saue the two tables of Stone so there is nothing in the church of Christ in this Temple but the Testimonie of Iesus and his government the Eldership no Popish dominion nor traditions If there had Iohn who tooke exact measure of it saw it opened would haue reuealed it in his Revelation but there was nothing else seene save that and them that worship therein Who therefore must needes be those that from the heart receive and obey that word and no other for there is no other there This was then so greate an honour that Iohn was readie to worship him that was such a one as if that were the best nobilitie to be thus stamped sealed with the Image of God in all doctrines and Lawes of Religion Act. 17.11 to haue recourse to the Law and to the Testament like the men of Berea to see if the Teachers taught according to this word And yet in England he that is such a one is in contempt called a Puritan hated and scorned and that by the Prelates themselves who therefore despise all that are of this Temple Because indeede if diocessan Bishops theire power canons and ceremonies be not according to this word they that are of this Temple care not for them Ephes 6. Phil. 1.27 They have theire loines girt about with the Truth they stand fast in one Spirit with one minde striveing together for the faith of the Gospel they have the testimonie of Iesus as here one of them saith they continue in his word and so are Disciples indeede They confesse and professe this word and so have his name and marke on theire forheads to which the binding of the law to the hand and forhead did point in a figure Deut. 6.8 and both that and this doe shew that in matters of religion the Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our King the Lord is our lawgiver 1. Tim. 1.17 Phil. 3.16 He is the King only wise Every man had neede to beleeve and receive this and to say with Paul let vs walke by the same rule let vs minde the same thing for this ye see is the marke of a Christian And by the Rule of contraries the marke of Antichrist must needes be an impression of that his doctrine law and superstitious rites which is more then the word revealed or against the same the profession and observation thereof is the marke as the observation of the heathenish rites is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Mac. 4.20 the character or marke of the Grecians The Pope would that all men should receive defend and professe his doctrine and superstitious rites and so should receive his marke in theire right hand and forheads For in the forhead that is by profession and in the right hand that is by operation as the ordinarie glosse expoundeth Antonius also and Lyra teach that A character or marke is a certaine manner of liveing according to the law of any Agâ—tho in epist inter acta sextae Synodi constantinop Bonifac 8. in extran de maior obed Clement in lib. 5. ad nostruÌ„ in gloss D. 18. c. si qui sunt whereby men are distinguished from others So the Pope causeth all men to take his marke for he saith Everie soule that would be saved must confesse the forme of the Roman tradition Wee affirme define and pronounce that it is altogether necessarie to salvation for every humane creature to be subject to the Pope of Rome
Hereunto agreeth that glosse It is evident that the church is therefore one because in the vniversall church there is one supreame head to wit the Pope whome all that are of the Church are bound to obey He incurreth therefore the sinne of paganisme whosoever renounceth obedience to the see Apostolike Thus he causeth all to take his marke If a man would know a litle better what the marke is he may see the same in the Popes new creede of the Trent faith as it is propounded by the Bull of Pius 4. and that act of the councell of Trent wherin it was ordained That the Bishops shall in the first provinciall councell receive the decrees of the Synod of Trent promise obedience to the Pope Histor of the councell of Trent lib 8. p. 808. Anathematise the heresies condemned and every Bishop hereafter promoted shall doe the same in the first Synod and all beneficed men who are to assist in the diocessan Synod shall doe the same therein Those who have the care of vniversities and studies generall shall indeavour to make the Decrees to be received in them c. and shall take a solemne oath herein every yeare All both smal greate Priests and people take this maâ—ke in the forhead who professe the Romish or Trent faith To take it in the hand that is to maintaine it in part or in whole by wit sword power purse or otherwise whether openly as profest papists or more privately as disguised wolves in the sheepes cloathing of a protestant out side false brethren such as creeping in vnawares doe more or lesse practise the bringing in of poperie and division or flatter those that doe which is the roote of all other vngodlinesse presumptious sinning licentiousnesse and corruption and indeede of turning the grace of God into laciviousnesse prevarication and following the way of Balaam for reward as S. Iude observeth in a like case Iude 3. to 12 and therfore wisheth men to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints which shewes that the only way to preserve that good which remaineth and reforme all things that are amisse is to contend for that puritie and simplicitie in doctrine and discipline which God by his Apostles ordained in his Testament for therefore against all these innovators flatterers and mockers he saith Vers 17 but remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles c. building vp youre selves in youre most holy faith keepe your selves in the love of God And others save with feare pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh much more then the marke of the Beast and all appearance of it As for the number of the Beast which is the number of a man and his number 666. some finde it in the word Romanus written in Hebrew characters and that is the number of a man beeing the name of one of theire Popes But Iohn wrote in Greeke Irenae advers haerâ—s l. 5. and to the Greeke churches therfore the name Lateinos written in greeke letters which was the name of a King in Italie is more probable because the Beast is latin and so are his body and members and as Ireneus also noteth The most true kingdom hath this name for they are latines which now raigne And we know that the Dragon which then raigned was to give his throne to the beast The word ΛΑΤΕΙÎΟΣ as King Iames observeth sutes well with the Romish church praemon pag. 94. Romish faith and latin service The later as I take it beeing especially meant in this place as beeing brought into the church by Vitalian and so by the second Beast who also first set vp organs in churches and other ceremonies and that aboute the yeare 666. Now whereas he causeth that no man might buy or sell save he that had the marke or the name of the beast Platina in Vitalian or the number of his name This sheweth that if a man will live in peace among them he must professe the Trent faith Som Papists will not doe this For as som in England are content to seeme to be protestants yet are church papists popish or newters so are there ever were som in Spaine Italie Rome who are coÌ„tent to seeme to be Papists yet in theire hearts abhor the Trent faith yet are not profest perfect protestants though the Inquisitors when they finde in any point punish them for such as wanting libertie and meanes of knowledge Now if such will not take the marke helpe professe and defend the Trent faith yet must they have the name of the Beast be called latin or Roman Catholiks that is vniversals of him the vniversall Bishop Or catholik If one be loth to take his name yet if he will buy and sell he must at least have the number of the Beast come to the latin service and vse some latin ceremonies heare the singing men c. as church papists have this that they come to the English churches though they have no protestant religion in them only they like well of the hierachie traditions cathedral service and many canons knowing whence they came and whither they tend even to his kingdom service who obtained of the murtherer Phocas to be called vniversall Bishop For this beeing aboute the yeare 606. shortly after he got the power of that title and then from thenceforwards Romish customes though never so superstitious were observed for lawes Antonius of Valtelina a Dominican friar in the councel of Trent saide Histor of the counc of Trent l 6. p. 548. That it was plaine by all histories that anciently every church had her perticular Ritual of the Masse brought in by vse and vpon occasion rather then by deliberation and decree and that the small churches did follow the Metropolitan and greater which weere neere The Roman rite had beene to gratifie the Pope received in many provinces But as he proved by a booke called Ordo Romanus that of Rome had also had greate alterations both in ancient and later times within 300 yeares Insomuch that the vestments and other ornaments of the Ministers and Altars as appeareth by bookes Statues and pictures are so changed that if the ancients should returne into the world they would not know them Therefore he concludeth that to binde all to approve the Roman Rites might be reprehended as a condemnation of antiquitie and of the vses of other Churches Nevertheles the English Prelates haveing retained many of them and divers other Romish customs in theire canons and hierarchie doe binde all that are in theire Churches to approve and vse them and yet will not be perswaded that this is to worship the Beast or in part to haue his marke Because say they it is not donne on purpose to serve or flatter the Pope or Church of Rome Ioh. 16 2 Christ saith it shall come to passe that he that killeth you shall thinke he
doth God service yet that doth not let but that therein such a murtherer or persecutor doth serve the devil and his ministers I would they that are so zealous to maintaine humane authority in traditions and ceremonies would but lay theese things to heart And withall that it will not serve them to say Fullie they are fullie satisfied with those reasons which mayster Hooker hath given in his booke of Ecclesiasticall politie or D. Burgesse in his bookes against D. Ames or any the like Authors if the Testimonie of Iesus be against them All Fathers all Authors all councels all reasons in such cases are nothing to the Testimonie of Iesus On which argument I shall neede to say the lesse in this Treatise because of late divers works haue beene published that convince them of errour in such cases as the curtaine of Church power The Curtaine of Church power A fresh suite against humane ceremonies in Gods worship by that learned and godlie witnesse D. Ames a litle before his death Also the crowne of a Christian Martyr A worke which he that loveth the Lord Iesus and the safety of his owne Soule hath reason to examin because the will of God in theese cases is therein infalliblie proved 2. Pet. 1.2 and as the Apostle saith Grace and peace is multiplied to men through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Out of whose Testimonie it is there manifested that as the true Iewes the true Christians so the true Ierusalem the true Church consisteth of those that keepe the commaundements of God the faith of Iesus that hold fast or defend the Doctrine Discipline and ceremonies which he left Whence it must needes follow that by so much as men maintaine or approve the inventions and presumptions of men in Gods service by so much are they fallen into the sinnes and fornications of Babylon whereof one is still the roote seede or spring of another the lesser wedges and cracks make way for the biggar the smaler theeves thrust in at a window or hole open the doores to the greater Therefore though som say so long as the Gospell is well preached in som Parishes why should wee stumble at strawes or trouble our selves with trifles yet wee shall finde that in corrupt waters men that thinke to goe but vp to the ancles and no deâ—per do oft before they are aware of it step vp to the knees then to the loines and at last over head and eares and so in superstition ignorance and errour A few sparks neglected do oft kindle a greate fire and as the Apostle saith A litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe Gal. 5.9 How then dare men defend staines and corruptions to be smale matters And what are these smale matters and trifles which they say men doe soe vainly and foolishly stand vpon The Lord by his Apostles ordained Elders in every church by election Act. 14. made them Bishops overseers of the flock to feede the church to hold fast that which Christ left to govern according to his ordinances and keepe the church as a chast Ierusalem from the inventions and presumtions of men That men should yet set vp diocessan Bishops who by bringing in a world of superstition and tyrannie into the church should make these of none effect and the church to become a Babylon are trifles with them They are trifles with them that diocessan Bishops should have the power to admit into the ministrie and to places of cure whome and vpon what conditions they will to enforce a conformitie and subscription to theire hierarchie and ceremonies though it be proved that they take theire hierarchie surplesse coapes Altars and other things from the Romanists as they from the heathen that theire cathedrall service and many of theire canons are taken from Babylon as likewise theire power in theire offices and courts to impose the oath ex officio to silence suspend imprison and deprive of cure and ministrie for non-conformitie in these things to enforce all to vse a forme of praier which is nothing but the masse in English in som things refined but not in all the surplesse and other popish customs beeing still retained And though it be proved that the Papists doe much glorie in it that these things strengthen them in theire religion that D. Iackson and other Arminians have alleadged it with such authority as men vse to alleadge the Scriptures that som things in it seeme to approve such opinions that such things doe by such meanes get into the place of the Scriptures yet all must still be maintained and that though it be also proved that this forme of praier and ceremonies doe oft serve drunkards adulterers prophane mockers meere civill wordlings vsurers oppressors and a world of earthly men for a religion though they have no true love to the preaching of the word to knowledge faith and the like graces but scorne and persecute such as have yet if they can but pretend love to the common praier they are ready to count themselves the better Christians the better subjects they may the sooner be chosen parliament men or into any other office of the church or common wealth and so they may come to beare greatest sway in protestant churches who are church papists ignorant in the spirituall government of Christ other divine things or greate enemies of the reformed religion That non residents double benificed men and dumbe ministers make this theire colour and defense that they have in theire churches the common praier and all the ceremonies that Bishops and Princes whose example the greater part are subject to follow do more favour these then painfull and conscionable ministers knowing that theire canons allow many to have two liveings Because also they finde that such men will either defend theire hierarchie and all theire doeings or connive at them That what soever the word of God say yet if they can but get the authority aide of Princes in any matter they may silence all that withstand them therein that by this meanes they magnifying the power of Princes and Synods may get them into the place of the Pope to defend any thing and make it passe for lawfull in religion And lastly that all these things may serve church Papists and other persecutors for a colour that if they come but to the church speake well of the service and ceremonies who dare say they are not converts and protestants vnder colour of helping Bishops against puritans they may vndermine the protestant religion if not betray it abroade yet doe by it at home as Iehu did by the religion of Baal make men thinke they are for it when theire devise is by degrees to change and destroy it These and many such evils beeing the branches and fruits of the hierarchie and ceremonies are the trifles they talke off wherein men ever heape to themselves a multitude of teachers according to theire owne affections and grow so hardened by custom that
leaves and barke of the tree of life and all tree Religion would be lost if theese be not observed But a liar must haue a good memorie For when on the otherside wee tell them the Apostles ordained Elders to be Bishops in everie Church to rule by the word and that this ordinance was to be as the barke to the tree of life that betweene the same and the stock of the tree the sap might passe so as the fruite of righteousnesse might be brought forth and the propper leaues of the tree kept greene and in esteeme that this tree had its propper leaves the new Testament its proper ceremonies in the primitive age In Churches then established Christian Religion was compleate Col. 2.5 things were donne decently in such order and with such due ceremonies as was Pauls joy to behold they scoffe vs with noveltie and say they were never since the time of Christ or his Apostles But by theire leaves this scoffe proves them to be the old and good way that shortly after began to be changed to another framed and ratified by the depths of Satan as they spake That to the Bride is graunted to be araied in pure and fine linnen Reu. 19. white and cleane by beeing reduced to this old way to this old righteousnes of the Saints by walking in all the commaundements and ordinances of God Luke 1. as Zacharie and Elizabeth did and indeede as not onely the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia but divers in Sardis did who held fast that which Christ left Reu. 3. without receiving other seeing the best of mens inventions and presumptions are but stumbling blocks â—om 14. â—â— and occasions laide in mens wayes by the cunning of Sathan to make them fall to greater presumption and superstition as both hath appeared and will yet further appeare by those which are received in England and therefore indeede to draw the Bride and all others to the puritie and simplicitie of the first Christians it is added for the fine linnen is the righteousnes of the Saints Reu. 19. The first government the presbiterie the first ceremonies with the old order in choyce of ministers are then restored It is then graunted to the Church to come to this righteousnes of the Saints Whatsoever is spoken of them and theire Churches and ordinarie orders theese are all the true sayings of God to be observed Humane inventions will worship and presumptions in Gods service as lies devised by men are to be rejected Reu. 22. And therefore it is added Blessed are they that doe his commaundements he doth not say mens but his in opposition to theyres that they may haue right to the tree of life as if he saide otherwise they can haue no right to the tree of life nor to enter through the gates into the citie but doe remaine without among dogges sorcerers and others they are there so called because they neither are nor will wee be arayed in that white linnen which is the righteousnes of the Saints such as those in Smyrna Philadelphia and som in Sardis who held fast that which Christ left but are enemies to such righteousnes and yet do vainly beleeve that they are holy and as good Christians as the best because they loue common prayer and some other things If God had ordained that verie forme of prayer as he did the Iewish sacrifices yea if it were so greate a part of true religion that as these sacrifices it were oft put for the whole yet they in other things changing the ordinances and breaking the everlasting covenant must know that of such it is saide Pro. 15.8 The sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination to the Lord. But the prayer of the righteous in acceptable to him Theire prayer onely is his delight that of others is abhomination to him Much more if in this theire sacrifice theire fear towards God be taught after the inventions and precepts of men with sopperies and ceremonies which he commaunded not theese make theire sacrifice whereby they thinke to please God abhominable The Church of England speaking of ceremonies devised by man why som be abolished and som reteined Preface to the booke of common prayer in fol. Ephes 4.15.21.24 confesseth that Christs Gospel is not a ceremonial Law as much of Moses Law was but it is a Religion to serve God not in the bondags of the signe or shadow but in the freedom ef the Spirit They might haue added beeing content onely with the ceremonies of the Gospell and to grow vp vnto him in all things which is the head even Christ If so be ye haue heard him and haue beene taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus Fot so ye put on the new man which after God is cceated in righteousnes and holines of the truth But they adde beeing content onely with those ceremonies which doe serve to a decent order a godlie Discipline and such as be apt to stirre vp the dull minde of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by some notable and speciall signification whereby he might be edified And never considering that the church of Rome who invented or established and imposed them sayes the like of all other her ceremonies they wilfully take the crosse in baptisme to be of this nature and therefore say wee signe him with the signe of the crosse in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and manfullie fight vnder his banner against sinne the world and the devill and to continew Christs faithfull souldier and Servant vnto his lives ende In the times of Antichrist God indeede requireth theese excellent duties of all Christians but not this signing as if beeing thus signed he should be the lesse ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and more manfully sight vnder his banner then others that are not so signed and as if this were a ceremonie and signe which would make him doe that dutie of a Christian the better which Christ requireth when he saith Rev. 2. him that ouercommeth c. For neither the Bishops who make all to be thus signed nor the English in generall haue proved more constant confessors and souldiers of Christ then the presbiters and theire people in France and Germanie they haue not more denied themselves in sinnes and worldly lusts of covetousnes ambition vaine honour dominion and the like they haue not more striven against poperie Arminianisme ignorance and errour nor in theese late wars for the defense of Christs religion and members they haue not more stirred vp theire Princes to follow Christ for they haue not donne it themselves nor suffered others that would both in theese and in matters of the presbiterie So they make men take a pretended signe of such a confession and warfare yet will not suffer them to doe the thing preteÌ„ded to be signified but scorne and persecute them that doe They therefore whome for theese things they call
these his doings do not my words doe good to him that walketh vprightly Therefore trust ye not in lying words saying the Temple of the Lord Ier. 7.4 The Temple of the Lord are these as the English crie the church the church The church of the Lord are these Bishops and theire defenders Chap. 18.18 For the law shall not perish from the Priest nor counsell from the wise nor the word from the prophet The Lord answereth such proud men How doe ye say wee are wise and the Law of the Lord is with vs. Chap. 8 8.9 They have rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdom is there in them for from the least to the greatest every one is given to covetousnes from the prophet to the priest every one dealeth falsly For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people sleightlye saying peace peace when there is no peace They are wicked in these things Isa 57.21 and there is no peace to the wicked saith my God And therfore whereas som say there are still some good preachers yea som that are conformable I answer so were there in those first ages after Constantine But the zeale of these Canons and inventions did more and more take vp mens mindes and eate out the other It is true in this case as in that of riches The church hath brought forth riches dignities diocessan dominion Canons ceremonies cringes Altars masses c. The daughters have devoured the mother in Romish churches and so they will in England if God prevent it not And therefore whereas others say so long as wee may have the Gospel well preached in som parishes why should wee trouble our selves with these things I answer ought not such men to take care that the Gospell may be continued to them and theire children in that puritie simplicitie wherein it was left by the Apostles Which as ye see can not be Ier. 2.35 if those things be not reformed for they turne from the Truth yet thou saiest Because I am innocent surely his anger shall turne from me Constantius could never have spread the Arrian heresie so far as he did but by the helpe of Bishops For a Bishop beeing like a King or a Pope in his diocesse the most will out of feare or flatterie follow him as he doth the Prince or mightie favourite what ever his religion be because he can either raise him to more honour or trouble him And therfore it may be saide of the hierarchie ceremonies and ordinances and theire defenders If they be not with Christ and his kingdum in these cases they are against him Mat. 12.30 and if they gather not with him they scatter helpe the Adversaries For in these times those that are Christs seeke to get the victorie over the Beast and over his marke Some by preaching or writing Rev. 15.2 others by theire lawes and swords and others by theire professing and contending earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saincts others by theire praiers and other honest indeavours While on the other side Papists and popelings contend as earnestly for the observation and authority of tradâ—tions and ceremonies which is the marke of the Beast though they covering the matter call them the vnwritten word of God Bellarmin in his 4. booke of the vnwritten word of God Chap. 2 maketh three sorts of traditions 1. Divine which were spoken by Christ but not written 2 Apostolike spoken by the Apostles but not written 3. Ecclesiasticall which he saith are introduced from ancient customes by the Prelates or by the people and creepingly by the silent vnquestioning agreement of the people have gained strength of law And indeede have at one time or other beene confirmed by councels A man may here see what mischiefe followed the first vnquestioning agreement and consent of the people For of this sorte as the fountaine of all the rest is the authority of diocessan Bishops theire power in theire Courts and Canons excommunicating imprisoning c. and ruling both the ordinarie pastors and people with force and crueltie in divers things which as was shewed did creepingly by the silent and vnquestioning agreement of the people gaine the strength of law and supplanted the presbiterie ordained of God and the power of each congregation in choosing theire minister and excommunicating the refractarie and so made of none effect that law of Christ Tell the church the presbyters and people Ezech. 34.2 to 12. And then the diocessan office served not to feede the flock of God but themselves the flock became a prey to such Shepheards yea diocessan power beeing thus invented and established became a snare and net as the Prophet saide to the Priests and howse of the King For then followed theire traditions the distinction of meates Hos 5.1 the observation of holy daies feasts and fasts wearing the surplesse and more then sixe hundred yeares after Christ the latin service singing antemes by the sound of the organs setting vp of Altars bowing to them and at the name of Iesus building guilding adorning and consecrating of cathedrall churches endowing them with greate revenues signing themselves with the signe of the crosse setting vp Images in churches to a religions vse and likwise candles invocation of Saints and praying vpon beades the Popes succession in Peters chaire single life of Priests purgatorie and persecution to those that would not beleeve these the like things All which were introduced froÌ„ ancient customes by the Prelates or people and creepingly gained strength of law one after another and in short time served men for a religion the defence of the first making way for all the rest as men do now begin to perceive in England where as the hierarchie it selfe so divers of these things beeing popish are preached by Bishops and others and begin to get the strength of law and naturally to make way for the rest and indeede to serve men for a religion if God prevent it not 2. Cor. 11.3 So soone doth the Serpent through his subtiltie beguile men and corrupt theire mindes from the simplicitie that is in Christ for as wee shewed they doe not tend to edification as is pretended but to destruction seeing Bishops by them doe rule men with force and crueltie Ezech. 34.4 The word of God such observations as rightly arise from it doe truly edifie so doe the Sacraments to men that know the truth the inventions and ordinances of men haveing but a shew of godlinesse and Wisdom are but beggarly rudiments yea turne from the Truth Col. 1.23 Gal. 4.8 Tit. 1.14 And yet so things goe as if the authority of the Prelates which puts all men to silence or makes them flatter might give them the strength of Law and make men beleeve that Gods will is that they should be obeyed which is in effect to make them his vnwritten word For his will is his word But this is as the vnwritten
word the Papists talke of and ye see they doe but talke of it For they confesse theese things were introduced from ancient customes and creepingly by the silence of the people who were vrged to conformitie by the flattering and menacing clergie and loth to be counted Schismatikes Refractarie Puritans they gained the strength of Law some sooner some later but all in a like manner as beeing the inventions of ambition will worship superstition and tyranie to which God gaue them over because like the Angels they kept not theire first Estate Rom. 1.20 they did not like to retaine God in theire knowledge they did not abide in the truth nor in theese cases received the love thereof but as the flattering defenders of the English hierarchie and traditions they scorned and mocked all that opposed them and sought puritie in Religion as fooles Schismatikes and hypocrits that strained as they say at gnats and made schismes aboute trifles this mocking was that which gaue all manner of corruption strength and in crease as it doth in England Where he is reckoned a wise able divine that knows how to scoffe such men out Gal. 5.9 as Papists did A litle leauen leaveneth the whole lumpe They thus corrupted were given ouer to beleeue lies This aversion from the creators word was a conversion to the word of creatures to the decrees of men in Synods and councels Ier. 2 13. It was a forsaking of the Lord the fountaine of liveing waters and hewing them out broken cisterns that can hold no water And because they did not take the marke of God to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints and seeke to get the victorie over the Beast and his Image and marke as all Christians should God gaue them over to take the marke of the Beast to worship him and his Image and to drinke of the golden cup which the greate whore holdeth full of abhominations Reu. 17. and filthinesse of her fornication Such honour offices dominion power worship ceremonies and Religion as God never ordained But what cared they so they could but by theire flatterie and false glosses get the consent and helpe of Princes and make them beleeve this was to defend the Church which either as they did or omitted God would prosper or punish them For thus they made Emperours Kings take pleasure to assist them and so as the Prophet saith Hos 7.3 They make the King glad with theire wickednesse and the Princes with theire lies And so indeede did the false Prophets in Ieremies time and likewise in the time of Ahab and other Kings And therfore the Angel seeing the greate wickednesse of the whore of Babylon in theese things and the destruction that was ready to fall on her for them saith Reu. 18.2.3 Babylon the greate is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of deuls and the hold of euerie foule Spirit and a cage of everie vncleane and hatefull bird for all nations haue drunke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication viz. to which God in his wrath gaue her and them over And the Kings of the earth haue committed fornication with her enforcing her Lawes and errours on thâ—ire subjects and the Marchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies that is which she had neede of for the maintaining of the pompe of her Prelates ceremonies and Tempels The merchandise of gold and silver and precious stones and of pearles ver 12 and fine linnen and purple and silke odours and frankencense c. Now observe this committing of fornication with her is of two sorts 1. When Kings and States give theire power and strength to the Beast and Church of Rome fighting his battailes and enforcing her Lawes customs and errours on theire people 2. When they commit some of the same evils or the like though not all as she doth Kings commit fornication with her who doe it in som things though not in all Yea though they doe them not in obedience to her or to please or serve her Henrie 8. denied the Popes supremacie yea was at difference with the Church of Rome in som things yet still committed fornication with her in other things by houlding and maintaining divers other of the Romish Lawes errours and customes Any man holdeth the Doctrine of Balaam that layeth a stumbling block before the people though it be not the verie same kinde of stumbling block which Balaam taught but som other To be guiltie of Ierobams sinne was not alwayes to set vp calves but he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam who by any other invention or presumption made Israel to sinne Som follow the way of Kaine Iude 11. some perish in the gainsaying of Corah and some are cast away by the deceitfulnes of Balams wages though not in the same particulars nor in the same manner but in a like So do some Kings commit fornication with Babylon who maintaine any of her presumptions or any like them The Greeke Churches from the yeare 607. that the Pope had obtained to be called vniversall Bishop haue seperated from the Church of Rome denying not onely the supremacie but euen worshipping of Images and som other Romish errours Yet in retaining the hierarchie of diocessan Provinciall and Patriarchall Bishops the masse divers other Romish customs errours and ceremonies both before the yeare 607. and since they haue committed fornication with her While in theese things theire feare toward God is also taught by the traditions and precepts of men they haue cause to feare Christ will not finde them to be of his Ierusalem but of Babylon the greate not of his true Church but of the Synagogue of Sathan For he reckoneth all to be of the one or the other The second councell of Nice taught and commaunded worshipping of Images And then the Greek Emperour with his mother Irene and many Greekes committed fornication in that particular with Babylon M. Moulin observeth how absurd and weake the reasons of thar councell were Buckler of the faith in preface Yet if Kings and councels once maintaine such errours how weake and foolish soever theire reasons be many are soone ready to follow and flatter theire pernicious wayes So likewise in matter of the Lords day or any other commaundement of God if they giue allowance to Prophane or breake it you doe in vaine tell theire flatterers of Gods Law they will stop your mouth or crie you downe with vrging the Lawes of men the Kings injunctions or the like shifts the common refuges of the most superstitious and Prophane men How absurdly doe such in theire much magnified common prayer say Lord haue mercie vpon us and encline our hearts to keepe this Law when they thus allow and defend the breach of it It is a verie poore honour to maintaine a power and Prerogative in such cases against the Lord and his ordinances and Servants Kings doe at last