for sports on Sundays and giving disdainful words toward Power the Apparitor and Officer of the Court. RESP. I said unto the Apparitor remember you to keep Holy the Sabbaoth day and added no more words I refused to read the Book mentioned not out of any contempt of any Authority but as being commanded by no Law for the Kings Majesty doth not in the Book command or appoint the Minister to read it nor it to be read but published neither came it with nor know I of any Seal to confirm it so that I dared not take notice of it to be the Kings Book for as I understand all his Majesties Writs Proclamations and Mandats use to come with a Seal and his Majesty intended as I conceive not to trouble any that refused to read it seeing there is no penalty threatned nor authority given that I know of to any to question them that refuse to read it my refusal to read it was upon sufficient grounds of Law and Conscience which for satisfaction to his High Court and to clear me from contempt I shall here by way of Answer briefly and fully express thus His Majesties express Pleasure is that the Laws of the Kingdom and Cannons of the Church be observed in all places of the Kingdom Book Pag. 8. and therefore in Kent and in Otham now this Book as I conceive is contrary to both 1. It is against the Law as the Statute Edward VI. Anno 5. Cap. 3. Christians on all Holy days and times appointed should apply themselves only and wholly unto holy works properly appertaining to true Religion and such times be dedicated onely to God and his true Worship and be separated from all prophane uses but say I no civil recreation is any part of Gods true Worship the Stature Caroli Anno 1. Cap. 1. the Holy keeping of the Lords day is a principal of the true service of God and it is now prophaned by a disorderly sort of people by interludes and other unlawful exercises and pastimes the 13. Cannon all manner of persons shall keep the Lords Day according to Gods Holy will and pleasure 2. Our Church is against it First In Homilyes which contain Godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times We keep now the first day of the week which is our Sunday and make that our Sabbaoth by the fourth Commandment God Commands one standing day in the Week and all Men and Women and Children and Servants be to keep it in a holy rest and use it Holily and give themselves wholely to Heavenly exercise of Gods true Religion and Service but I say Archery May-poles May-games Dancings Morrice-dancing and the like be not exercises of Gods true Religion and Service Secondly In the Liturgy a Minister in enjoyned to read the fourth Commandment Remember thou keep Holy the Sabbaoth Day and all are to intreat Gods Mercy to incline their hearts to keep this Law Ps. 118. 24. is appointed to be read on Easter day as proper to it it shews V. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it so that the Lord instituted it Bishop Andrews on Easter-day 1611. Preaching on that Psalm 118. Psal. 22. c. Thirdly In the Exhortation fit for the time upon the Fast-days 1625. declaring the apparent cause of the Plague saith the Lords Day is not kept holy but polluted and the Ministry of the Word despised and in the end of that Book mention is made of Playes Pastimes Idleness Drunkenness the proper sins of our Nation which pulled Gods wrath upon us and I dare not by reading seem to allow what did bring the Plague of God on the Land that year 3. It is against Scriptures Exod. 20. 8. Remember the Sabbaoth-Day to keep it Holy where we are commanded to keep holy the Lords Day as I learn out of Authors Zanchy on the fourth Commandment we keep holy the Lords Day and Sanctifie it Iunius in Animadvers in Bellar. Controv. Lib. 7. Cap. 10. The Lords Day answereth to the Sabaoth and its proportionable to it and is commanded in Exod. 20. 8. again in Gen. 2. 82. This Law is established by the fourth Commandment of the Decologue to be observed of all Alexander Alensis Tom. 3. Q. 32. Memb. 4. Art 4. In the observation of the Sabboath is commanded the observation of the Lords Day chiefly according to intermination Isa. 58. 13. If thou turn thy foot from the Sabboath from doing thy pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbaoth a delight the Holy of the Lord honorable and shalt honor him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasures nor speaking thine own words and Cultetus in locum saith they took away the Sabbaoth by scandalous deeds that hinder Gods worship as drinking sports and idle wandring Isa. 56. 2. The man is blest that keepeth the Sabbaoth from polluting it Vers. 4. God rewards such abundantly Vers. 67. Such a one shall be made joyful in Gods House which is true in the day of the Gospel when Gods House is a House for Prayers for all people 4. It is against Councels Concil Toletan 4. cited by Zanchy on the fourth Commandment Let there be no dancing on Holy Festivals nor filthy Songs but let all be at leisure for Godly duties and Divine Worship Concil Laodice Cannon 59. In the Church there ought not to be sung any common Service nor Books be Read besides the Connonical Scripture but only the Sacred Volums of the Old and New Testament 5. It is against Divines Ancient Augustine on the Ps. 32. concio It s better to Delve then to Dance on the Sabbaoth and on Iohn 1. Tract 3. It s better to Spin then to Dance on the Sabbaoth Chrysost. on Gen. Hom. 10. God intimateth from the beginning that in the circle of the Week one whole entire day should be seperated and set by for Spiritual works Ireneus Lib. 4. Cap. 30. The Sabbaoth requires and Teaches the continuance of the whole day in the service of God Ignatius in Epistol ad magnes Let every one keep the Sabbaoth Spiritually rejoycing in the Meditation of the Law not in the recreation of body let every one that loveth Christ now keep holy the Lords Day 2. Modern and late Divines Rabington Bishop of Worcester on the fourth Commandment saith to keep Holy the Sabbaoth day is to separate and consecrate it to all Godly exercise wherein our Faith and Obedience to God is shewen Zanchy on the fourth Commandment All the day is to be consecrated to the Worship of God by day understanding the true natural day the true observing of the Sabbaoth is that we do not what we please but what Gods will is the rest on Holy days is not to be set a part for our lusts and pleasure plays and sins but for Gods worship onely They do not keep holy a day which instead of Gods worship give themselves to pleasure Iunius on Numbers 15. He who
the Apostle trembling and crying out Sir what shall I do to be saved To whom he was a Barnabas a son of sweet consolation and could so display the exceeding abundant riches of Divine grace in the Lord Jesus Christ as to draw and attract their hearts to a cheerful compliance with it and hearty acceptation of it He as a faithful Steward gave every one his portion terrour to whom terrour belonged and comfort to whom comfort whereby the Holy Ghost setting in with the Word a numerous issu of new born children were begotton to Christ. He preached there according to the command in season and out of season not only twice every Lords day but also every holy day and at Funerals though the persons interr'd were poor and nothing could be expected for his pains Whilst he was Minister of Otham many of Maidstone and others several miles about to my knowledge some seven or eight miles from Otham did ordinarily attend on his Ministry and joyn in Communion with him at the Lords Supper but the number that flockt after him which was so great that his Church would not hold them was a great eye sore to the prophane world and caused several of the Ministers about him to envy and maligne him CHAP. VIII His care to Sanctifie the Sabbath There was at Otham before his coming an ill custom for the Fulling Mills there abouts to work every Lords day but he convinced the owners so throughly of the unlawfulness thereof that they forbore presently and suffered their Mills to lie still on that day many years after he left them But the only wise God who governeth the world saw fit for some time to lay this usefull person aside for he had not been many years at Otham before the Book commonly called the Book of Sports on the Lords day came forth and was presented to him with a Command that he should publish it the next Lords day in his Church which he refused to do of which refusal he giveth the reasons which you may see in his answer to several Articles objected against him annexed to this Narrative and upon his refusal was suspended ab Officio Beneficio Upon his suspension his Cure was committed to such persons as he could not comfortably own or joyn with which caused him to remove his Habitation to Maidstone To the Christians there he was a great help whilst his suspension lasted and from them he received some support and supply for himself and his Family Whilst he was at Maidstone he still was solicitous for the good of his people at Otham and therefore to encourage them to unity and a Gospel conversation as also to convince his adversaries who had causelesly traduced him to be a savourer and a better of Schisms and Divisions he wrot a Letter to his Parish wherein the exhorted them to fear the Lord and the King and to walk in love c. and not to nourish in themselves any dislike of Government or contempt of those whom God had set over them c. Which Letter was read on a Lords Day in his Congregation by Dr. Tucke that all his Parishoners might know his judgement and the advice he judged necessary to give them without the appointment of Mr. Wilson The tidings of this Letter and the publick reading of it was soon carried to London and gave such a distast that both Mr. Wilson and Dr. Tucke were cited to appear before the High Commission Court and answer what they had done Both of them appeared several times to their great trouble and cost and were notwithstanding all they could alledge in their own defence forced to continue their attendance on the Court for the space of three years In this business Dr. Tucks trouble was the greater because his body unable to bear riding he was necessitated to make these long journeys of thirty miles and better on foot During Mr. Wilsons suspension a Neighbour Minister greedy of his Living commenced a Sute against him to eject him wholly out of Otham but his Patron Mr. Swinnoche made good his Title and so disappointed his Adversary CHAP. IX His appearance at a Visitation about the Prayer against the Scots HIs suspension continued till the year 1639. about which time the Scots entering England a Parliament was called and Archbishop Lawd took off his suspension But his sufferings were not at an end for in the year 1640. September 30. he and other Ministers were cited to appear at a Visitation of the Archbishops at Feversham in Kent to answer their not reading the Prayer against the Scots and also as they there heard to take the new devised Oath ex Officiam but when he and others of his Brethren presented themselves at the place they understood that the Oath should be wholly declined and the onely question should be why they did not read the forementioned Prayer Upon which they consulted together whether it were beâ—â— to appear before the Vicar General or no. â— was urged by some that the Parliament whom they apprehended would be some relief and shelter to them being to sit down on the 3 〈…〉 of November following it was but prudential for them to hold off at present and in case they were cited afterwards to Canterbury to appear only by a Proctour and protract time as much as might be But upon a serious weighing the reasons for and against their appearing it was concluded that they would appear and submit to the will of God however he should please to dispose of them Mr. Edward Bright of Gondburst and Mr. Wilson immediately repaired to the Inne where Sir Nathaniel Brent the Arch-Deacon and some inferiour Officers sat They no sooner appeared but Mr. Bright was pointed out by one present to the Arch-Deacon that knew him who presently asked him his name and whether he had read the Prayer against the Scots or no Mr. Bright answered No Whereupon the Arch-Deacon suspended him ab Officio Beneficio without admonishing him or giving him any time to consider of it which sudden act was deemed even by the Favourites of that Court to be neither prudential nor Canonical Though Mr. Wilson stood by when his Brother was suspended and perceived the service much hotter then he expected yet he did not flye from his colours or retreat in the least But being called answered to his Name and being asked whether he had read the Prayer gave a Negative answer with this reason Because in the Rubrick before the Common Prayer it was enjoyned that no Prayer should be publickly read except those that were in the Book of Common-Prayer but this Prayer against the Scots was not there This unexpected answer puzzled the Arch-Deacon being none of the readiest or accuted to reply and caused him to apply himself to Sir Nathan Brent who upon information of Mr. Wilsons reasons very ingeniously left the Arch-Deacon to himself and refused to meddle in it Upon which the Arch-Deacon the edge of his fury being
neglected the Sabbaoth in the least observation was guilty of casting off the whole worship of God Alsted Catech. on the fourth Commandment after Sermon the Sabbaoth is profaned by being spent in given to Plays Dancing Idleness c. 6. It s against Schoolmen Alexander Alensis Tom. 3. Q. 32. Memb. 4. Art 4. morrally in the fourth Commandment is forbid any work that hinders ones leisure to wait upon God Thomas Aquinas Sum. Theol. 22. Quest. 122. Art 1. in observing the Sabbaoth the end is that a man may be at leisure for Heavenly things 7. Reasons be against it I. Reason If any civil work be forbid on the Lords Day then civil recreations for honest pleasure calls a man away from things Spiritual Zanchy on the fourth Commandment as well as honest labour recreation breaks the rest as much as civil work II. Reason If recreations civil be not fit for consecrated places then not fit for consecrated times fo 〈…〉 me that is holy is the measure of holy Actions for divers be called holy not from the formal cause but final as ordained to holy things Zanchy on the fourth Commandment A day applyed to civil works is no more holy but common and a thing consecrated is profaned by a civil use and is not the Lords Day profaned by sports though civil now Recreations Archery May-games Dancing Morris-dancing may not be in consecrated places Cannon 88. no Plays and to play and dance is all one as Exod. 32. 6 19. And therefore not sit for consecrated times as the Lords Day is for greater is he that Sanctified the Day then he that Sanctified the place whether it were by the Lord or the Apostle or the Church Now I know not why they may not be fittest in consecrated places if they be most sit for consecrated times and I cannot in conscience read that which I take to be against mans Law and our Church the Scriptures Councils Divines Ancient and Modern Schoolmen and Reasons but think my self bound for conscience towards God to maintain the Truth and Holiness of the two Testaments and to keep the Commands of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ as a Preacher of Christs everlasting Gospel least people should think Preaching to be yea and nay VII ARTICLE 1633. When Commission came for reparation of St. Pauls in work to build sumptuous Temples is to justifie Anti-christ Writings Hos. 8. 14. RESP. I know not the time of the Commission for St. Pauls reparation I deny such words for I handled that Text Luke 7. 35. Wisdom is justified of all her Children Shewing that all the Children of God justifie Christ which doth reprove them that justifie Antichrist in erecting Altars to sin and in building Temples for Idols alledging for this Hos. 8. 11. 14. Ephraim hath made many Altars to sin Israel hath forgotten his Maker and Buildeth Temples according to the mind of the Prophet as I learned out of Authors Learned Zanchy Pareus Ribera who all understand it of Temples wherein they placed honoured and adorned Idols by forgetting God and out of contempt of God brought in a different worship VIII ART About the end of April 1634. he bid take heed of dealing with High Priests servants in great scorn and derision REPS. I deny both time and words but in May handling 2 Tim. 2. 12. If we deny him he will deny us perswading people not to deny Christ I admonished them to avoid as pernitious unnecessary company with the enemies of Christ producing Peters example who being brought into the High Priest Hall amongst the Servants denyed his Master affirming it was dangerous company naming the very words of the Text as is usually done by Writers Preachers Iohn 18. 16. Peter is brought in standing with the Servants and Officers is questioned by one of the High Priest Servants Vers. 26. denyed Christ upon it Vers. 27. which I spake in the fear and sight of God IX ART At Boxley-Inn 29. 1632. no man can have a broken heart that hath two Steeples moaning two Benifices alledging Acts 20 20. RESP. I never spake such words but at the funeral of a grave ancient and learned Minister I did not exhort but intreat Ministers to prepare to give an account of their Life and Livings shewing the vanity of Men that plead for pluralities saying That were a mans heart broken it would not bear the weight of three Churches and I followed in this no private opinions but the general Tenet of Divines 1. Ancients Chrysostom Tom. 5. Pag 104. Edit Paris 1536. When that the Pastor is away great danger is at hand seeing there is none which can defend and keep the Flock Damasus cited by Dr. Willet saith men that put people over to others seem like Strumpets which put their Infants as soon as they be born to other Nurses to be brought up that they may sooner fill themselves with filth 2. Moderne Bishops Bishop Iewel on 1 Thes. 2. 17 18. and on Iohn 6. Non residents and plurality men that hunt after many livings serve their Belly seek to be rich destroy the souls of many bring confusion and shame into Gods House be blind Guides and the darkness of this World be the remnant of the wicked Inhabitants of Iericho and the overthrow of Ierusalem resist the passage of Gods people towards the Land of Promise the curse of God will fall on them the blood of Gods People shall be required at their hands they bring the Abomination of desolation in the Holy place they suffer the flock of Christ to perish for lack of knowledge Pilkington Bp. of Durham 1585. saith there is remaining among us a sort not Popish as they pretend but earnest builders of Gods cause in their own opinion where indeed they be overthrowers of it which are in effect as ill Pharisees as the Papists be They will take a Benefice and Cure of souls promising solemnly to feed the Flock but when they have turned their back they have a Dispensation in a Box to lye from it and flock and flout whosoever would have them continue there and do their duty contending by Law they may do it and stand on their defence Domine nos exempri sumus God in mercy grant such unprofitable Caterpillers some remorse of conscience that they may become Pillers to uphold Gods Church and not poulers of his people the great God will take a strict account of them at the last day when their dispensation may not be pleaded nor will be allowed nor the dispensor can justly excuse himself nor them but both like Wolves and Hirelings shall be changed Vae Pastor Idolum Zach. 11. Wo to the Idol Shephard that leaveth the Flock Vers. 17. and Ezek. 3. Their blood will I require at thine hand on Nehem. 3. Pag. 45. 46. Bishop Downam on the fourth Commandment calleth non residenss alin against the fourth Commandment and on the fifth Commandment saith it ariseth of coveteousness Bishop Carleton in vita Gilpini a most
holy and famous man writeth that Cutbert Tunstall Bishop of Durnham would have given Gilpin a Living and a Dispensation to hold it but he answered The Devil would not be held from destroying the people with a Dispensation and adds I fear it will be a vain answer when God calls me to an account to say I was dispensed with all I cannot in conscience reap profit and another take the pains when another was promised him to feed the people 2. Doctors Doctor Challener Math. 29. 6. saith If we budge from our station Sathan will immediately find entrance pronouncing a wo to the idle Shephard that leaveth the Flock adding before Gods Tribunal men must be proceeded against not by common Law Dr. Willet on 1 Sam. 17. 28. saith non residency and pluralities be the scandal of Gods Church hinders the due service of the Churches 't is Robbery worse then of goods excludes many sufficient men and so any step in that the Blind and the Lame keep sick as 2 Sam. 5.8 Saying to have many Cures is unlawful producing Iodocus Gallus They shall go to Heaven by their Vicar and to Hell in their Parsons Cannons Anno 1571. shew the absence of the Shephard from the Lords Flock and that careless negligence which we do see in many and forsaking the Ministry is a thing in it self to be abhorred and odious to the people and pernicious to the Church of God 4. Reasons against pluralities 1. Plurality men cannot do their duties which be mentioned in Ezek. 34. 4. Therefore may not hold the place 2. They that have pluralities feed themselves and not their Flock therefore they be base Shephards Ezek. 34. 1. 8. 3. A good Minister is to feed by example which requires residence and presence I Pet. 5. 8. Take heed to the Flock in your own person as Zyra Acts 20.28 And so I understand that place 4. They that love Christ themselves must feed the Flock of Christ themselves for loving Christ and feeding his Sheep be spoken both to one person Iohn 21. 15. Now a personal duty may not be put of to another as praying hearing reading receiving Sacraments and doing good works and I cannot see how feeding the Flock of Christ in a mans own person can be put off with the manifesting his love to Christ. 5. If our Church or Flock may need many Pastors then one Pastor is hardly sufficient for three Churches or Flocks twenty miles distant but one Church or Flock may need many Pastors Phil. 1. 1. Bishops plural musculus Calvin in locum Ergo one Pastor is hardly sufficient X. ART Scandalising Governours and Government of the Church of England as Persecutors of Gods faithful Ministers and people disgressing from the Text. RESP. 'T is not true in the whole nor any part thereof XI ART April 1633. Delivered a dangerous Doctrine that if a Magistrate make a penal Law if the Subject that transgresseth it suffer he is quit from sin RESP. I deny Time Month Year and Words for such a Doctrine I never taught nor read nor heard till I heard this Article and I abhor it and disclaim it as a dangerous Doctrine but May the 10 th 1632. handling those words Eph. 4. 6. There is one God and Father of all observing the Godly be all children of one Father I exhorted them not to censure rashly their Brethren for indifferent things XII ART April 22. 1634. Lecturing and expounding after Inhibition by the Vicar General REPS. 'T is not so I did not Preach but upon the Lords Days and Holy days neither did I expound yet I had a Licence to expound and was not forbid expounding but only Preaching for I heard not a word of the prohibition of it yet upon prayer days appointed by the Church viz. Wenesdays Frydays all the Eves constantly I did instruct by Question and Answer in the Catechism such as came to Prayers for which I had my Institution and Licence from which I never had prohibition nor is it any sin against God or Man so far as I can understand XIII ART Deemed and accounted a man against the Church of England and for Schism draw aside after me RESP. I deny the whole and every part XIV ART The promises be true by Voice and Fame RESP. I believe what is in the Answer confessed and deny what is in the Answer denied in any part Additional Answers I. ART BEing upon occasion absent I procured one to Read Prayers and Preach on Palm Sunday RESP. I was suspended ab Officio and so by the leave of Sir Nathaniel Brent who left it to me I procured one to supply the place II. ART A Letter scandalous and offensive was sent to Otham to nourish Schism and tending to confirm people in the dislike of Government RESP. A Letter was writ and sent to the Parishoners of Otham which I know not who hath nor did I keep any Copy of it but I know belief and remember the sum of it was to exhort them to fear God and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change to walk by Faith and in Love and to call upon God but I utterly deny all occasion of derogating from the Church of England or confirmation of any in the dislike of Government and protest against all such Aspertions and Imputations of Schism or scandal neither did I direct it to any to read it nor intended or desired it should be read at Church III. ART I or Dr. Tuck for reading the Letter in the Church against Orthodoxal Ministers and Cannons and Governours RESP. This Article appertaineth not to me at all further then is above answered IV. ART The premises be true by Voice and Fame RESP. 'T is contrary to truth in every part but as is above confessed Credo Credita nego negata Th. WILSON Rector de Otham in Kent On the much lamented Death of my sincerely honoured and beloved Friend Mr. Thomas Wilson Pastor of Maidstone in Kent and to many more reverend Minister IF grief can help to versify And passion Poets make I 'l try Though long diceased to sigh a Verse To offer at a Kingdoms Hearse And not sit mute in discontent Sorrow will kill that hath no vent I could my soul in sadness sleep I could whole Floods of Waters weep I could as Niobe bomoan My self till turn'd into a stone I could become an Heraclite And spend in tears each day and night Or Hermit like to some close Cell Retire and say Vain mirth Farewell Alas t'th World what can I view But what bid me bid joy Adien I see Monsters of vice abound Ev'n Hell appearing above ground And Devils of the humane race Daring the Almighty to his Fate Such as can teach Nero to sin To whom no past Age hath equal bin I see the Shephards laid to sleep Who tender were of th'harmless Sheep Whilst ravenous Wolfs and Bears survive Who onely to devour them strive I see to set the greatest lights