that wee maye not alwayes vse our libertie to the extremitie but muste doe some thinges for feare to offende other mens consciences which seemeth good policie Mil. It is true the holy Apostle Paule sayth in this maner Whatsoeuer is set before you eate asking no question for conscience sake But if any man say vnto you this is offered to idols eate it not because of him that shewed it and for the conscieÌ„ce sake the conscience I say not thine but of the other These words make cleane against you for first he telleth not as you aleadge what we must doe but what we must leaue vndone for other mens conscience For he teacheth that we may not vse these Idolothites that is thinges belonging to the Idols to offend any mans conscience but rather abstaine from such libertie and neither eate flesh nor do any thing that may offend our brother Now marke this matter that we haue in hand These popish geare were Idolothites thinges belonging to Idols in the wearing whereof many good mens consciences are offended and they openly tell you that they were thinges wherein the Idols were serued and that they are greeued to see you weare such liueries of Antichriste so they are offended in charitie and can not vse you as Brethren as they were wonte to doe Again the papistes and the weaker sort that haue not bin fullie taught doe still thinke and say and teache others that these are the things that belonged to their Masse and to other popish idolatrie and therefore al their poperie was not euill seeing Christes Ministers and Sacraments cannot be without them Thus their weake consciences are offended in fayth and thinke their olde idolatrie good and therefore cannot repent of it Wherefore for the consciences of others if there were no cause else you should abstain froÌ„ this libertie that you chalendge to your selues in these idolatrous garments like as Paule affirmeth that he woulde neuer eate flesh rather than he should be thoughte willingly and wittingly being once warned to eate any meate dedicate to Idols Bern. But hereby thou doest to much restraine our christian liberty seeing our conscience is free Mil. Although I might answere thee w t the saying of Ambrose It is lawful for thee with safe coÌ„scieÌ„ce thou mayst haue a wife yet if she play y e harlot she is to be reiected and cast away from thee Euen so the meate saith he if it be offered to an Idoll must be spit out This sentence of Ambrose agreeth with the decree of the Apostles commaunding to abstain from idolothites But Paul declareth that in coÌ„mon vsage where no maÌ„ is offended we haue a libertie to vse things that are offered vnto vs by the course and necessitie of this life as the creatures of GOD without doubtfulnesse Therefore I do graunt that the Surplesse or such like may be vsed in coÌ„moÌ„ businesses as to make it a Porters weede or to lappe some course thing therein as did Epiphanius with the vayle at Anablata or to giue to some poore man or woman that wante clouthes for their children But to vse it in the Sacramentes in Gods businesse is to make all the worlde to thinke that wee which would seeme reformers of Religion doo but trifle in Gods matters and that wee neyther doo abhorre Antichriste nor his hypocrisie Therefore as Iehu did well in turning the Idolatrous Temples into iakes and in polluting the garmentes with the bloud of the Priestes So should we procede in true reformations and all the faithfull Ministers of God should be Trumpets to stirre vs forwarde not clogges to drawe vs backwarde Bern. What you are to whote and to hastie you thinke that Rome may be builded vpon one day There bee many yet infirme and weake in Englande with whome the Gouernors must beare for a season vntill they bee stronger and that is very good police seeing they cannot reforme all thinges at once And because such thinges haue bin creeping in by little and little haue nowe bin long vsed they cannot be taken awaye but by a long continuaunce Mil. Nowe I doe aske thee in Gods name if thou doe thinke that they go about to builde Rome againe or to destroye it A thing is muche sooner destroyed then builded or canste thou tell mee this howe long they will bee weake or when all will bee strong It is almost fortie yeares since the Pope and poperie hath bin so long written and spoken against and about thirty yeres that his name as a thing most odious was commaunded by law of parliament to bee razed out of all Bookes and places in Englande and the Testament of Iesus Christ hath bin so long restored and published a-amongst vs. Now if men be not yet confirmed in the knowledge of Christe agaynste that Romane Antichrist the Pope and his blasphemous Priesthoode when will they be confirmed when they are fiftie or threescore yeares old peraduenture and haue bin taught so many yeares But you know that the most part die before fortie and who shal aunswere for them Either howe knowest thou that Gods word shall continue in Englande tenne or twentie yeares longer vntill men be no more weake Either wil you tarry till men learne it in another worlde Either is God so bounde to England that he will not forsake Englande as hee hath done his owne people and many other Nations for the greatnesse of their sins Nay thou murthering Englande that hast slaine so many of the seruauntes of God whiche called for the fruites of the Lordes Vineyarde and haste yet shewed no true fruites of repentaunce but sworne and forsworne thy selfe in sundrie Parliamentes and delightest stil in thy dregges and hatest them to this day that faithfully doe their office thou â—ust heare feele this terrible iudgement that the Lorde will let out his Vineyarde to others that will deliuer him the fruites in due season and that also which he spake to a people of greater holinesse than thou art The Kingdome of God shall bee taken away from you and giuen to a nation that shall bring forth the fruites thereof And O ye time takers time waiters which can finde no time to doe well alleadging the weakenesse of others beware that it be not your own weakenesse which wold fayne please both God and the worlde and therefore swim betwixt two waters Is it not yet time to build and purge Gods house when you haue alreadie builded ceeled and trimmed your own houses Beholde you may see in very short time where zeale and care of religioÌ„ is without halting al things are easily reformed after the word of God reuerently receaued Beware therefore that it be not of your own weakenesse that haue not yet learned rightly to hate those vayne traditions and superstitious shewes of the popish priesthoode but are content to be in such flauery your selues and so woulde haue all others rather then you will suffer any thing for the furtheraunce of the
many of vs cannot prophecie nor instructe the people nay many will not take muche paines that way and some dare stop the mouthes of the true Prophets and Preachers because they labour to roote forth the remnaunts and reliques of the false prophets Peter crieth to his fellow Elders to be examples of the flock not following filthie lucre nor shewing themselues as Lordes ouer Gods heritage What filthie gaine seeke you and how many wayes How are you Lords in names in commaundementes in spoyling and robbing true preachers and casting of them into prison Our Maister Christ saith you shall not be such Runne not headlong with the popishe Prelates and sworne enemies from Christ and your Brethren Are those papisticall Garmentes so poisonfull that of persecuted Paules they can make persecuting Saules if they be once cast ouer your shoulders Abhorre such poyson all you that be of God Diuers of the Bishops that now bee did once loue and cherish their Brethren and bare the crosse of Christ with them whome now they molest persecute ioyning hands with the wicked worldlinges What is the cause of this chaunge In whome is this mutabilitie The one sorte remaineth the same men in Apparaile not altered nor in harts chaunged but in worde and deede as they are wont to doe detesting sinne and wickednesse preaching the Gospell with al faythfull diligence Let them take heede which forsake the fellowship of such to ioyn themselues with the contemners of the gospell the fornicators and the couetous with Papistes or with others that walke not with straight steppes but by their halting are turned out of the way and whiche shewing themselues neither hote nor colde must be vomited out These Godly Ministers call vppon the high Prelates for eccleasistical Discipline and to haue the Churche reformed as our Maister Christ appoynteth Your proctors and maintainers will haue none other Discipline than the Pope had which was gainfull to the purse and so groweth the corruption of maners worse and worse These crie for the election of Ministers by their learning and maners according to Pauls rule and that the drunkards and filthy couetous the periured the blasphemers and such like be not suffred in the Ministerie your side will not be so rigorous for then they coulde not haue such chopping Chapleins neither could they themselues keepe in their hands so many Benefices To make an ende of a matter that is infinite and endlesse these Ministers of Christ as they themselues are faythfull Laborers so teache they that hee that laboureth not should not eate of the fatte of the flock your proctors approue and maintain you that be loiterers to deuoure the churche goods the sweat of poore mens labors and doe allowe proprietaries improprietaries drones to sucke the Hony combe yea they maynteyne hogs dogs Wolues Foxes Symoniaks Vsurers men women boyes to spoile the poore lambes of Christ of al foode both spirituall and corporal and vnder the cloake of a few popish ceremonies they couer all carnall filthines as though god could or would be satisfied with ceremonies trifles This is the wisedome wherein your side agaynst Christes Ministers haue to glorie and if this be wisedome that you follow than are the other in greate follie But I doe feare that M. Examinator his side must heare Apage Satan ea quae sunt hominū nō Dei sapit Your humane wisedome that you boaste of is not of god therefore it is diuelish Bern. Did not I tell thee before y t thou couldest be welcome to no good companie neither that thou canst get any substanciall liuing vnlesse thou leaue this rayling Mil. I knowe the olde Prouerbe that flatterie getteth friendes and truth getteth hatred and that the greatest part call good euill and euill good But I care not for such good companie with whom whosoeuer are partakers to cōmunicate with thē in their sinnes they shall haue their portion also of their plagues Thou I haue bin wretched sinners in our youth God hath spared vs long and many times and now hath set his marks vpon vs to call vs euery houre to repentaunce and shall we prouoke him with new and straunge sinnes that where strēgth of body fayleth that wee can no longer follow the lustes of the fleshe we shoulde ioyne our selues with the Papistes the spirituall Sodomites to tempt God worse ten times then before Bern. I pray thee Miles hold thy peace thou makest mee tremble with thy terrible words and by calling old things to remembraunce And I tell thee that though the Papists were Theeues and Robbers and Sodomites and soule quellers and what thou wilt yet are we none such for we do all for policie Mil. Nay all your doinges are not policie Haue you no religion your church seruice is not policie and in the Archebishops aduertisements you haue lawes temporal meere ecclesiasticall your fasting dayes are not mere policie for your Archbishop graūteth dispensations for fortie shillinges that men may eate flesh in the dayes forbidden Sana conscientia as though he had authoritie ouer mens consciences vnlesse they haue his license And vnlesse hypocrisie may be counted policie there bee many thinges in your reformation that will be founde fonde policie for what is this that both the phisition of body and soule must bee consulted withall before you may eate flesh was not this once playne poperie And what is the common babling of the Priestes that cannot read to edification and therefore make all the English seruice like the old Mattins and Masse Is it not that whiche Esaiah speaketh Because this people come neare me with their mouthes and honour mee with their lips but haue remooued their hartes from me and their feare towardes me was taught by the preceptes of men therefore will I worke a wonder amongst this people for the wisedome of their wise men shall perish and the vnderstanding of their prudent shalbe hid And let vs consider to whome God speaketh by his Prophe tthese wordes Is it not to a people that had no open Idolatrie at that present neither yet mumbled their prayers in a tongue not vnderstoode as did the papistes But to y e Iewes that read song the psalmes scriptures in their own mother tongue howbeit they babled onely with the tongue like hypocrits the words were as it were of a booke fast sealed Such trifling is nowe amongest you Englishe Chaplains For when you haue reade ouer one place of the Scripture fortie times yet you and your hearers are neuer the wiser You say you haue done your seruice as sayd the papistes Now if you keepe this hypocriticall shew onely for policie and make it to serue you politikely to win your liuings or for to keepe the people in some feare as Machiuel that Italian dogge doth teache you may perceaue by this Texte of Isaiah that Gods wrath will be the reward of your policie Likewise you keepe Bona ecclesiae by policie and do
to bring Christian men into bondage that they may not refuse such thinges as are against their conscience Fourthlie if they giue any offence In the which foure things against these garmentes we may take exceptions And for these and such like causes the Apostles forbadde both Iewes and Gentiles euen all the Christians things offered vnto Idolles in their firste Decrees to teach by theyr factes and deedes the same that they had spoken in wordes that the Idolles and al that to them belonged ought to be abhorred of all true Christians And therefore in the same place it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the filthines of Idolles Bern. Paule giueth leaue to eate y e meate offered vnto Idolles afterwarde Mil. Yea after this there arose a doubte amongest the brethren whether they might eate such fleshe as was solde in the market and so eaten at the tables amongest other meates vnknowne to haue come from anie Idole Which was a farre other thing than the vsing of these thinges about the Sacramentes To this the Apostle aunswereth that as the earth and all that therein is belongeth to the Lord so may man vse al meates creatures receiuing them w t thankes giuing at the Lordes hande to his glorie without anie further care whēce they come so that none be thereby offended But if any man do tell thee that it is a thing once dedicate to the Idolles thou mayest not vse it And hereby it appeareth that the creatures though they haue bin abused that beare no name nor forme of any abuse neither giue offence by the vsing of thē may be reteined But if they haue the forme shewe or name of things Idolatrous they are to be abhorred for two causes The one least we should seeme to haue any part or communion with the Idolaters which were against the glorie of our God The other least the weake brother be boldened to vse the thinges sacrificed to Idolles And so thy weake Brother perishe thorowe thy knowledge for whome Christ died Thus may we note two sortes of Idolothites or things belōging to Idolls Some haue their names and formes chaunged frō common vsage and so by forme name do retaine the memoriall of the idolles whose names and memorie God will haue to be abolished Such are properlie called the monumēts of Idolatrie These ought by Gods lawe and mans lawe here in Englande to be done awaye or with dishonor at te least to be defaced The seconde are such as neither are altered in forme nor name the whiche may still be vsed as the flesh solde in the market and eaten at the table these maye be called indifferent so that in the vse of thē no brother be offended nor against his conscience vrged But the creatures that are called gods are accursed and maye not be vsed All the Idolles were creatures yet by Moyses Paule they are called Diuels Therefore the partaking with them is the partaking with Deuilles and the verie places where the Idolles were worshipped were detestable and are called hell afterwarde Their great Idoll wherevnto King Ahaziah sent in honor called Baalzebub by his worshippers was by the godlie Iewes that hated Idolatrie called the chiefe of the Deuilles and so his name continued Such hatred did they beare to all thinges apperteyning to the Idolles Therefore biddeth Moses to destroye all those Idolatrous monumentes And Isaiah biddeth vs to counte their idolatrous Ephod which was y e chief garment of their Priest as a menstruous cloute and vtterlie defie it Therefore this geare that beareth the names formes still of their Idolothites can not bee named amongest the things indifferent though we graunt the substaunce and matter of them of it selfe indifferent neyther can they bee commaunded to be vsed in the ministerie or Sacramentes which are matters of Religion in any wise Bern. Yes If the Prince commaund it Mil. Gideon was a Prince who made and commaunded an Ephod a riche robe or garment for a Prieste and appoynted it for his citie Ophra But this was the cause of the destruction of him and his house For as we reade Abimelech the sonne of his Concubine did vsurpe the Kingdome and did slaye seuentie and niene of his brethren the sonnes of his Father Gideon vpon one stone Then this Abimelech after hee had thus cruellie slayne his brethren his Mothers kinred that had set him vppe and destroyed the Citie Shechem that had made him King he had his deathes wounde by a Woman yet woulde hee haue his Page to runne him thorowe with his sworde moste desperately so the whole familie perished moste miserablie And no man can alledge any other cause against Gideon but onelie that which the holy Ghoste giueth that hee made this Priestes garment and appoynted it for his Citie without any warraunte of Gods worde of a good intent onely So sore and perillous a thing it is to deale in Gods matters by mans fantasie Nadab and Abihu for the taking of fire which God had not commaunded were sodenlie burned with fire from heauen Vzza was sodainlie slaine because he would helpe forwarde Gods worke by his good intent without Gods warraunte King Saul dealeth in sacrifice a matter of religion without Gods commaundement but by y e same wise policie that is alleadged for the garmentes to reteyne the people together yet for this cause loseth he his kingdome Also King Vzziah is striken with Leprosie and cast out with shame because he dealeth in sacrifices matters of Religion without gods worde by his Princelie authoritie Thus God will haue the Princes to knowe that they are but men therefore that they may not medle in his matters without his word and commaundement For as Samuel said to Saul so saieth he still vnto all Hath the Lorde as great pleasure in Sacrifices as when his voyce is harkened vnto and obeyed Beholde to obeye is better than sacrifice and to hearken is better than the fatte of Rammes For transgression and rebellion against Gods worde is as witchcrafte and idolatrie Wherefore thus saieth God by his seruaunt Moses to Kings to al others That whiche I do commaunde thee that onelie shalt thou do thou shalt put nothing too it nor take nothing from it Loe this is the grounde of true Religion And in matters of policie also ther must be some discretion For the Prince commaunded the two Captaines and their hundred souldiours to fetch Eliiah vnto him a thinge that may seeme indifferent but the fire of God deuoured them So Kings haue their law howe farre they shall commaund And the subiectes by the same may knowe howe to obey For God when he setteth vp Princes hath not giuē ouer his owne right and authoritie They are but his stewardes and Bayliues to see his will executed in al things not their owne lustes and pleasures In euill commaundements therefore to disobey them is none iniurie vnto them Bern. Me thinke I smell a ratte in
this geare All is not golde that glittereth But I pray thee tell mee howe thou doest proue them preceptes of men as thou waste about to doo Mil. I say they haue no ground of gods worde therefore they are preceptes of men God neuer limited anie seuerall garment for his Ministers to bee knowne by in the newe Testament therefore they are playne preceptes of men and plantes by the heauenlie Father not planted The papistes them selues wil graunt them to be precepts of men Me thinke therefore the gospellers should not denie it Bern. They denie that they are such preceptes of men as Christ speaketh of to be brought in for Gods seruice in religion Mil. Amongest the papistes they were brought in and are vsed for his seruice in religion as their owne bookes and doinges do testifie Nowe the papistes are men who according to y e diuersitie of their sectes Regulare and irregulare appointed the diuersitie of garmentes some for the church some for holy water as the Surplesse Stole or Tippet some for censing the Idolls as the Copes black for the dead redde for y e Martyrs white for the Virgins Nowe all these superstitious trifles are preceptes of euill men therefore of men Bern. But not in Gods seruice religioÌ„ Mil. I do graunt For God will not be serued by such thinges neither will Christe allowe them in his Religion And therefore are they preceptes of men hauing no allowaunce of Gods worde nor of Christes Gospell who neither careth for these garments nor any other popishe shewes in the ministration of his holie Sacramentes or anie action of his Religion Neyther doe they sette forth the glorie of GOD nor his worde nor profitte but hinder the soules of men from the true seruice of God in Spirite and trueth And as alwayes wicked men haue most vrged their owne preceptes so at this daye these preceptes are more vrged than Gods holie commaundementes Would to god there were not to manie exaÌ„ples both in the Cities in the Countries to proue this matter true To weare a vestiment is a precepte of men And why not a Cope An Albe is a precepte of men and why not a Surplesse A Stole is a precept of men and why not a Tippet c. Al patches of Poperie are preceptes of menne Therefore the priesthoode being taken away as the Authour to the Hebrewes sayeth it is of necessitie that the lawes pertaining to the Priesthoode shoulde be taken awaye So that if this were a lawe pertayning to the popishe priesthoode to weare a Surplesse at the ministration of the Sacramentes and at the saying of their Mattins or their Euensonge in their religion nowe should it cease from amongest them which haue renouÌ„ced that popish blasphemous priesthoode and that false religion whose body and substaunce if they wholie hate they muste needes abhorre all the patcheries that appertaigne to y e same religioÌ„ For the popishe priesthoode is like the lowsie and patched cloake of a filthie begger Nowe what a fondnes were this for two wise men or for thee and mee that pytying a poore begger had pulled off his patched cloake from him to giue him a better and afterwarde we twayne should fall together by the eares and the one caste the other in prison for the refusing to weare those lowsie ragges Bern. Surelie I would be loth to bee in thy companie if thou shouldest weare anie patches of that lowsie geare therefore I would be loth to coÌ„pel thee to it by prisons Mil. Loe here is the strife betwixt our Gospellers They haue put downe that patched popishe Masse yet will they haue lowsie patches of it For the Surplesse is a Massing garment by the Papistes owne bookes They haue put down that Antichristian priesthoode and they will fight for his coates They are farre more foolishe than our fellowes the souldiours that when they had killed Christ caste lottes for his coate And I tell thee Bernarde thou sayest that thou shouldest loth my companie if I dyd weare the lowsie patches of some begger and so I tell thee playnelie that I doo lothe thee and all thy companie when I doo see you in the lowsie ragges of poperie Yet do I not hate you for theÌ„ would I let you alone But I tell you my minde plainely because I loue you and seeke to do you good Bern. Fellow Miles I thanke thee hartilie for I truste thou haste done me good I haue marked some things that I shal neuer forgett which I neuer heard nor vnderstoode before But how doest thou proue the thirde Minor that these garmentes giue offence Mil. Diddest thou not heare me say that they cause me to loth thy companie and so be sure they do offende many others who so soone as they see you in these garmentes their bloud is vpp remembring howe they burned the booke of God and that such thei were that burned their brethren of late and murthered y e soules of their fathers before Bern. Tushe this is but your heate and the offence is taken by you not giuen by vs. Mil. Yes yes You giue offences in faith and offences in charitie also Bern. Howe proue you that Mil. You drawe men from the stabilitie in Christe and froÌ„ the synceritie of the Gospell whylest you cause the ignoraunt to beleeue that Christes appoyntement of his Ministerie Sacramentes are not decent ynoughe without some of the Antichristian leaueÌ„ Agayne thou boldenest others to occupie other patches of poperie while it thou vsest these and buyldest them vpp to superstition agayne And ye giue them to thinke that you do not abhorre that blasphemous Idolatrous priesthoode whose garmentes ye weare Yea the Bishoppes comâ—el men to weare these thinges against their consciences and therefore sinning thus against their brethren and wounding their weake consciences they sinne against Christe as Paule sayeth to the Corinthians and giue great offences Again your offences in charitie are manifest For besides the men that you spoyle of their liuings howe many women and children haue cause to be offended with your cruell coÌ„maundement about this geare And all that be growen to ful streÌ„gth in the gospel haue their senses exercised to y e discretion of good euil are grieuously offended when they see them that haue so long a tyme bin teachers and preachers agaynst Antichriste not onelie weare suche superstitious apparell but compell others by tyrannie to come into the same boÌ„dage Moreouer you giue offences both of faith and charitie when as you stablishe the Papistes in their olde erroures and cause them to saye That the Gospellers can not minister their Sacramentes nor haue anie ministerie at all but of their leauinges And as Hardinge testifieth to the Queenes Maiestie It hardeneth their hartes and causeth them to looke for more at our handes Euen as it is reported that Butcher Boner saide They beginne to taste of our Pottage they will shortelie fall to the flesh Thus they are moste offended with this Popishe ware
that beste doe like it For they are confirmed in theyr malice and superstitions and are boldened to doe that whiche is without fayth and therefore is sinne and whiche is without the warraunt of Gods worde and therefore must needes be done with a doubtfull conscience Thus Papiste and Gospeller weake and stronge are offended some in fayth some in charitie by these patches of poperie and lowsie Romishe ragges Bernarde Thou vsest thy tearmes to spitefullie yet thus to call them For if they were lowsie I woulde not weare them I promise thee Mil. They are worse than lowsie for they are sybbe the sarcke of Hercules that made him teare his owne bowels a sunder Bern. Let goe these wordes and come to the fourth poynte howe these thinges are against the Scriptures or beside the Scriptures Mil. They are beside the scriptures because that no manner of appoynted apparel for Christes Ministers nor anie sacramentall garmentes are once named in the newe Testament which is a booke all sufficient to instructe vs to all well doinges By the which we may learne what Christ required of his Apostles and what simplicitie they vsed in their garmentes and ceremonies vsage of their sacraments And this is most playne that they borowed no garmentes of the Idolaters that they had conuerted vnto Christe which is the scope of our Disputation For this is the question as it is nowe in controuersie Whether it be against or besides the scripture for them to weare the garmentes of idolatrous priestes that haue bin the meanes to beate downe their Idols and to banishe their Idolatries The question also may runne further Whether anie true Bishoppe of Christe may compell his fellowe Bishoppe and fellowe Minister by prison so to do But this declareth Rome to be come home to our gates and Christian libertie in this point to be vtterlie banished Therefore I will not nowe medle with it Howe beit I do aunswere to y t former that if Paule called all the carnall and outwarde holines and all that he might truste in concerning the flesh vnder Moses lawe donge losse and drosse for Christes sake then must all y t Idolaters be they papistes or others counte all their hypocriticall shewe of holinesse dunge drosse And that they shoulde do so GOD by his Prophete Isaiah doeth teache thē to deteste and destroye into powder those things that were about the Idols most precious And sayeth that this shalbe the token and fruite of the taking awaye of their former sinnes when they shall make al the stones of the Altars as chalke stones broken in peeces that the Groaues Idols may not stande Againe sayeth he Pollute the couering of the Images of siluer the Ephod of the image of golde and cast them away as a menstruous cloute and say vnto it Gette thee hence Wherefore I aske thee if thou thinke of cōscience that Isarah could suppose that the little ragges of the Idolles should be kept in reuerence for comelinesse and to beautifie the ministerie sacramentes when he had giuen such terrible charge against the greatest Nowe furthermore because these priestlie garmentes were carnall shewes of the papistes they are dunge and drosse and so beside the scriptures But as they are Reliques and ragges belonging to the moste blasphemons Altars and Idolls so are they against all the scriptures that commaunde the vtter abolishinge of Idolatrous remnauntes whereof I coulde alleadge manie places Therfore as the wearing of the garmentes of the Chemarims of the Priestes of Baal or of Mahomet in the ministerie and in the sacraments were besides or contrarie to the scriptures if anie of these shuld be commaunded for decencie and order So these popishe garmentes are besides and contrarie to the scriptures because the Idolatrie of the papistes hath bin as wicked and abhominable before God as anie of these God also sayeth by his Prophete Zephanaiah that he will cut out the remnaunt of Baal and the names of the Chemarims and the priestes and all those that are clothed with straunge apparell Therefore it is besides or agaynste the scriptures to mainteyne such remnauntes of such priests and such shewes of straunge apparell borowed from the Idolaters The Prophete Hosea teacheth That the people of God may not mixe their religion with other people Therefore it is besides or agaynst the scripture to mixe our true religion and sacramentes with the doings of the papistes Zachariah sayeth also That the false prophetes shalbe ashamed of their visions and garmentes wherein they haue deceaued Therefore it is beside or againste the scriptures to compell Christes Ministers to weare them And though some libertie bee permitted by the scriptures for the Church to appointe some orders yet are the boundes so limited that all must be to the glorie of God and to edification nothing superfluous or triflinge nothing superstitious nor idolatrous For such thinges are againste Gods glorie against the scriptures of God and contrarie to edification as thou hast hearde Bern. If thou be able to proue the commaundement of these thinges so playnelie to bee agaynste Christian libertie also whiche is the fifte poynte thou wilt almoste perswade me to speake no more against the London Ministers Mil. That is a thing moste euident and therein I doubt not but that we shall agree For to binde a man to doe agaynst his conscience is against Christian libertie but thereto are manie driuen by this commaūdement therefore it is against christian libertie The conscience muste haue Goddes worde to warraunt the actions But Gods worde doth not warraunte vs to vse these idolatrous geare but playnlie forbiddeth the same Therefore man can not haue his conscience perswaded that this standeth with christian libertie Agayne to commaunde men to absteine from such thinges as were knowne to belonge vnto Idosles which are called Idolothita was the advouchinge of Christian libertie and the declaration that they were no longer vnder that Idolatricall slauerie wherefore the Apostles commaunded it at the beginning Therefore to bee bounde to vse these thinges is against christian libertie As for the vse of the matter or substaūce of such things either vnknown or of some necessitie I haue tolde thee before that so the creature is indifferent And to knowe this is one pointe of Christian libertie like as to flie from Idolatrous bondage and to teache others to do the same is the practise of true christian libertie Furthermore to binde men vpon the perill of liuinge and libertie to weare those garments wherein their heauenlie Father hath bin blasphemed Christes death derided his Sacramentes polluted theyr Brethren deceiued and murthered in soules and in bodies declareth a verie small semblance of Christian libertie The holy Apostles commaunde men to absteyne from the filthinesse of Idolies meaning by that worde Filthines that they coulde haue nothinge to doe with anie thing belonging to the Idolles but that they shoulde be defiled So doth Paule call the Idolles Deuilles and sayth that they that eate of their tables are
suche as are well instructed in Christ Iesus alreadie And the Lorde our GOD without them and their trashe can furnish his Churche whiche is his owne house and familie if wee coulde turne to him vnfeignedlie by Godlie prayer as oure Sauiour Christe teacheth That we should praye the Lorde of the Vyneyearde to thrust forth labourers into his Vineyeard Whiche hee graunte of his great mercies and turne their hartes or staye theyr enterprises that striue agaynst Gods businesse eyther of malice or of ignoraunce AMEN AMEN But nowe fellowe Bernarde that thou mayest know that the London Ministers and other their Brethren in the Countrie haue iuste cause to speake and preache as they doe againste the Popishe trashe that yet remayneth here mayest thou reade in this Table following moe than an hundred poyntes of Poperie vnreformed in Englande So that poperie hauinge yet so manie sprowtes and braunches amongst vs will surelie spreade agayne if these and such like faythefull Ministers bee put to silence They were godlie men and are so coūted nowe after their deathe that heawed downe the great trees of Poperie And shall these bee iudged euill men that would digge vp the rootes and sprowtes of Poperie to cause it neuer to growe agayne if it be possible It is not onelie for the Cappe the Surplesse that they contend but agaynste all these poyntes of Poperie wherevnto they are vrged to subscribe by generall tearmes So that the Gospell shoulde bee tyed by their Subscriptions to spreade no further neyther for the reformation of the Ministerie nor for the recouering of true Discipline nor for the abolishing of such wicked superstitions as these be which do followe ¶ An hundred pointes of Poperie yet remayning which deforme the Englishe reformation 1 FIrste the Popishe names and offices The Archebishop or Primate of Englande whose office stādeth not so much in preaching as in graunting of Licenses and Dispensations according to the common lawe c. 2 Secōdlie that he is called Lords grace or Gratious Lorde contrarie to the commaūdement of Christ Luc. 22. 25. 3 Thirdlie that the other Bishoppes are called Lords haue dominatiō and exercise authoritie ouer their Brethren contrarie to the commaundement of our Sauiour Christ Mat. 20. 25. 1. Pet. 5. vers 4. 4 That they haue the honours of Countie Palatines c. contrarie to the example of the Apostles and the Aposto like preachers both of olde times and of our times in al reformed churches 5 The glorious Chauncelor his craftie courtes 6 The proude Deane and his office 7 The Subdeane with his 8 The Chaunter 9 The Cannon 10 The pettie Canon 11 The Virgerer 12 Rector Chori 13 The Epistler that doeth reade some patche of the Epistle 14 The Gospellar that doth read some peece of the Gospell 15 The Querister 16 The Quier or Cage wherein they do separate them selues from the Congregation and cause the worde not to be vnderstood of the people 17 The singing Clearkes 18 The Organiste 19 The Organ Blower 20 The Commissarie and his court 21 The Summoner or Apparitor 22 The Parson 23 The Vicar 24 The Chapleyne 25 The idle Reader 26 The Parish Priest 27 The Prebendarie stipendaries Pencioners that sell benefices 28 The Beadmen at burialles and afterwarde 29 The hired Mourners in their mourning garments c. So that here is nothing taken of Christe nor his Apostles neyther concerning names nor office but onlie of the Pope that Romane Antichriste The Court of Faculties 1 LIcenses to marie in tymes forbidden as in Lent 2 In Aduent 3 In Gange weeke 4 In Imbring dayes 5 Item Licences for mariage to persons forbiddē which cōteineth many points 6 Licenses to marie in places exempt 7 Popish diuorcements licensed 8 Dispensations to eate fleshe 9 And those writinges haue this poynte of Poperie Sana conscientia as though they had authoritie ouer mennes consciences 10 And all this for money and suche a summe of money as the poore men cā not reache vnto 11 Dispensations for boyes and doltes to haue benefices 12 Dispensation for non Residentes 13 Dispensations with them that doe not preache 14 Dualities 15 Trialities 16 Tollerations 17 Pluralities 18 Tot quots 19 A Lordshippe ouer the whole Cleargie and all their Courtes 20 Excōmunication for fees not paide 21 A sale of Absolutions for money 22 Both the Phisitions spirituall corporall must be consulted withall before you may haue license to eate flesh Which high poynte of Diuinitie was learned forth of Boston pardon 23 Buying and selling of aduowsons 24 The absolution of one man for another 25 Full power to dispense with all causes that the Bishoppe of Rome coulde dispēse with the Prince excepted whiche cōprehendeth manifolde poyntes of poysonfull Poperie 26 Brieflie the popishe enormities and deformities of this Courte are innumerable Wherefore we will labor no longer to account them The Commissarie his Courte 1 THis robbeth the Church of hir gouernement vsed both in the olde and newe Testament 2 Secondlie this is contrarie to Christes commaundement Dic Ecclesiae and to the example and doctrine of Paule to excommunicate alone 3 Thirdlie to absolue alone 4 To sitt in iudgement alone 5 To retract the sentence that with the inuocatiō of the name of God he hath pronounced 6 And to do this for money 7 To excommunicate for money matters and for trifles 8 To absolue without manifest repentaunce 9 To pole somethinge of euerie parishe 10 The poling of the Priestes 11 The light punishement of adulterie 12 The open knowne and continuall periurie of the Churchwardens committed in that Court 13 The committing of penaunce the Congregation not being satisfied 14 Dispensations for the tymes of Mariage forbidden and for not as king in the church 15 The poling of the Proctors 16 Of the Registers 17 Of the Apparitors 18 Of the Clearkes for writinge of Billes 19 Of the briberie in selling of bookes 20 The Prieste muste be sworne to his Ordinarie 21 The newe come Prieste muste paye tenne shillings for the sight of his letters of orders 22 All sentences for the moste parte are to be giuen by popishe Canon lawes whiche are intricate and infinite So that he that will wade further herein shall enter into a sea of poperie and shall see the decaye of Religion godlinesse creepe in by this Courte and that this is nothinge but a packe of poperie and a pudle of corruption Grosse pointes of poperie euident to all men 1 OLde Monkes and Friars and olde popishe priestes notorious idolatrers openlie periured persones haltinge hypocrites manifest Apostates are allowed in place of true and faithfull Pastors 2 An other sorte of vagabounde ministers of no place 3 Thirdlie the running and ridinge to be made Priestes and to prole for benefices 4 The common Symonie of the priestes many wayes 5 The spoyle of benefices by Patrones 6 Impropriations 7 The Parson robbeth the Parish the poore Vicar muste serue the cure and do the duetie 8 The Parson may