hath some peculiar greatnâ—sse The greatest of all is the most holy Eucharist yet touching the necessitie the most necessary of all are Baptisme and Penance Compare these two together and you shall finde but little difference See pag. 21. The three Theologicall Vertues Faith Hope Charitie Three kindes of good Workes Prayer Fasting and Almesdeeds See pag. 22. Seuen Gifts or Fruites of the holy Ghost 1 The gift of Wisdome 2 of Vnderstanding 3 Of Counsell 4 of Fortitude 5 Of Knowledge 6 of Pietie 7 And the feare of God or godly Feare The twelue Fruites of the holy Ghost Loue Ioy Peace Patience Bâ—nignitie Goodnâ—sse Longanimitie Meeknesse Faith Modestiâ— Continency â—hastiâ—ie The spirituall workes of Mercy 1 To instruâ—t the Ignorant 2 To correâ—t â—r admonish those that Sinne 3 Tâ— asâ—ist by Counâ—eâ— him that needeth it 4 To comfort the afâ—â—ictâ—d 5 â—aâ—iently to suffer iniâ—ries 6 To pardon offences and iniuries receiued 7 To pray for the liuing and the dead and thy persecuters The corporall workes of Mercy 1 To feed the Hungry 2 To giue drinke to the Thirstie 3 To harbour the Stranger 4 To clothe the Naked 5 To visit the Sicke 6 To visit Prisoners and redeeme the Captiue 7 To bury the Dead The eight Beatitudes 1 Blessed are the poore in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen 2 Blessed are they that Mourne for they shall receiue comfort 3 Blessed are the Meeke for they shall receiue the inheritance of the Earth 4 Blessed are they that hunger anâ— thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be satisfied 5 Blâ—ssed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy 6 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shal see God 7 Blessed are the peace makers for they shall bee called the children of God 8 Blessed are they that suffer for Righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kingdome of Heauen Seuen deadly sins Or the seuen capitall sinnes which are commonly called deadly 1 Pride 2 Couetousnesse 3 Lechery 4 Enuie 5 Gluttonie 6 Anger 7 Sloth The contrary vertues 1 Humility 2 Contempt of the world 3 Chastitie 4 Charitie 5 Abstinence 6 Patience 7 Alacritie or spirituall cheerefulnesse or Deuotion Quatuor Nouissima or the foure last things to bee remembred Death the last Iudgement Hell and the Kingdome of Heauen Mr. Cozens A Collection of Priuate Deuotions or the houres of Prayer Printed at London 1627. These Bookes are welnigh Paralâ—lls in the Title wee will nâ—xt examine how they suite in substance with these or other Popish Records The Fasting Dayes of the Church or dayes of speciall Abstinence and Deuotion The fortie dayes of Lent The Ember weekes at the 4. seaâ—ons being the Wenesday Fryday and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent after the feast of Pentecost after holy Crosse September 14. Saint Lâ—cies dayâ— December 13. The three Rogation dayes which bee the Munday Tewsday and Wednesday before holy Thursday or the Ascention of our Lord The Eues or Vigils befâ—re the Natiuitie of Christ The Purification and Annunciation of the blessed Virgine The Natiuitie of Saint Iohn Baptist Saint Matthias Saint Peter Saint Iames Saint Bartholomew Saint Mathew Saint Simon and â—ude Saint Andrew Saint Thomas and all Saints day It hath also beene an ancient Religious custome to fast all the Fridayes of the yeere except those that fâ—ll within the twelue dayes of Christmas The times wherein Marriages are not solemnized From Aduent Sunday vntill 8. dayes after the Epiphany From Septuagessima Sunday vntill 8 dayes after Easter From Rogation Sunday vntill Trinity Sunday Some of these being times of Fasting and abstinence and others holy Festiuals and times of ioy fit onely to bee spent in these holy exercises without other auâ—cations The Apostles Creed diuided into 12 Articles 1 I beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of heauen and earth 2 And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord 3 Who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgine Mary 4 He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried 5 He descended into Hell the third day hee rose againe from the Dead 6 He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty 7 From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 8 I beleeue in the Holy Ghost 9 The holy Catholike Church the communion of Saints leâ—t our in the first but added in the last Impression 10 The foâ—giuenesse of sinnes 11 The Resurrection of the body 12 And the Life euer lasting The Lords Prayer dâ—uided into 7. Petitions Our Father which art in Heauen 1 Hallowed be thy Name 2 Thy kingdome come 3 Thy will bee done on earth as it is in Heauen 4 Giue vs this dâ—y our dayly bread 5 And forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. 6 And lead vs not into temptation 7 But deliuer vs from euâ—ll The two Precepts of Charitie 1 To loue God aboue all for his owne sake 2 To loue all men as our selues for Gods sake and to doe vnto others as we would they should doe vnto vs. The Precepts of the Church 1 To obserue the Festiualls and Holy dayes appointed 2 To keepe the Fasting dayes with Deuotion and abstinence 3 To obserue the Ecclesiasticall customes and Ceremonies established and that without frowardnesse or contradiction 4 To repaire to the publike Seruice of the Church for Mattens and Euening Song with other holy Offices at times appointed vnlesse there be a iust and vnfeined cause to the contrary 5 To receiue the blessed Sacrament of the blessed Body and Blood of Christ with frequent Deuotion and three times of the yeere at least whereof Easter to bee alwayes one and for better preparing thereunto as occasion is to disburthen and quit our Consciences of these sins that may grieue vs or scruples that may trouble vs to a learned and discreâ—te â—riest and from him to receiue aduice and the benefit of Absolution The Sacraments of the Church The principall and truely so called as generally necessary to Saluation are Baptisme and the Lords Supper The other fiue that is to say Confirmation Penitence Order Matrimony and Visitation of the sicke or Extreme Vnction though they bee some times called and haue the name of Sacraments yet they haue not the like nature that the two principall and true Sacraments haue The three Theologicall Vertues Faith Hope Charitie Three kindes of good Workes Fasting Prayer and Almesdeedes Seuen gifts of the holy Ghost 1 The Spirit of Wisedome 2 and Vnderstanding 3 The Spirit of Councell 4 and Ghostly strength 5 The Spirit of Knowledge 6 and Pietie 7 The Spirit of a Holy and godly Feare The twelue Fruites of the holy Ghost Loue Ioy Peace Patience Mercy Goodnesse â—onâ— suffering Meekenesse Faith Shamefastnesse Modesâ—â—e Sâ—brieâ—ie The spirituall workes of Mercy 1 To instruct the Ignorant 2 To correct Offenders 3 To Counsell the doubtfull 4 To comfort the aâ—flicted 5
and matter Lastly they are discrepant in all those points of Popery which are broached and couched in these late Deuotions there being no prints nor footesteps of them in these ancient Prayers but onely in the mentioning of the first the third the sixt the ninth Hower and the Câ—mpline which slipped into the first Edition through forgery â—r ouersight and were afterwards exploded in the â—ubsequent â—mpressions Therefore these new Deuotions and Hâ—wers of Prayer are â—arre different from the priuate Prayers Authorized by Queene Elizabeth in all these respects What penalty then and censure is our Author worthy of who by this Title and Preface would make the World beleeue they were either altogether or almost Paralells in forme in matter end and all respects of purpose to conceale aduance diffuse and vâ—nt his Popery and to delude mescate and insâ—are men with it For the second that these new Deuotions are not warranted by nor yet extraâ—ted from these priuate prayers of Queene Elizabeth nor from our Common Prayer Booke it is cleare and euident by the former differences There is not in these priuate Prayers nor in our Common Prayer Booke any such trash as his seuerall Prologues and Prefaces as the first part of his Booke which is not paged or as his Prayer for the Dead his Prayer to God for the Mediation of Angels and all the fore-râ—cited Popish passages doe containe there is nothing in all these priuate Prayers to iustifie or approoue either the Method Forme or Matter of these new Deuotions as the premises dâ—e suâ—ficiently euidâ—nce Thâ—refore this second Conclusion likewise must be granted For the third and maine Proposition That both the Forme and Matter of these Deuotions and Howers of Prayer are taken and Transcribed out of Popish Authors Primers Breuiaries Chatechismes and Horaries though the Author in his Title page and Preface and the supposed Printer in his Epistle to the Reader aâ—firme That they were but the Howers and priuate Prayers published by the Authoritie of Queene Elizabeth now renewed and more fully set out againe as they were after this manner published heretofore 1560. and 1573. Collected and taken out of holy Scriptures the Ancient Fathers and the Diuine Seruice of our owne Church and compiled out of sundry warrantable Bookes Whence the Forme and Patterne of these Deuotions hath bene taken to wit from our Ladies Primer the Howers of our Lady the Breuiary of Pius quintus and Clemens the eight and such like Popish Deuotions I haue already suâ—ficiently demonstrated and therefore will not here examine it I will therefore now confine my selfe to the Matter and Substance of these Deuotions which I will now Paralell and Sampler with those Popish Authors Prayer-Bookes Chatechismes Horaries and Deuotions from whence they were extracted To passe by the Crosse and IHS in the Fore-front the Badge and Charaâ—ter of the Romish Whore which is stamped on the Frontispiece and Couer of â—esuiticall and Popish Prayer and pocket Bookes I will begin my Paralell with the Title Papists HOras de Neustra Sennora Printed at Paris 1556. Horae beatissimae Virginis Mariae secundum vsum SaruÌ„ which I haue seene and which you shall finde cited in Mr. Rogers his Articles pag 124. Our Ladyes Primer and Breuiarium Pij quinti Clemens the 8. haue the forme the vse and practise of these Howers not the Title The Fasting dayes iâ— all the yeare In all the Church these Fasting dayes are obserued All the Lent except Sunday The Ember dayes which are the Wednesday Friday and Saturday next after Saint Lucies day after the first Sunday in Lent after Whitsonday and after the exaltation of the holy Crosse. The Eues of Christmas of Whitsonday of the Assumption of our Lady of all Saints of most of the Apostles Saint Iohn Baptist and Saint Laurence Besides this it is the custome in England to fast all Fridayes except within the twelue dayes and Easter weeke also other three Eues of our Lady to wit of the Purification the Natiuitie and Conception The Annunciation Eue is not Fasted if it fal on Easter weeke Saint Marks day not falling in Easter weeke and the three Rogation dayes that is Monday Tewsday and Wenesday we abstaine from flesh at least Of the time of Marriage so Kellam Or Of the time wherein Matrimoâ—y mâ—y not be solemâ—ized so the Councell of Treâ—t and the Breuiâ—rie oâ— Pius 5. and Clem. 8. and Bellarmine The solemnizing of Marriages is forbidden from the first Sunday of Aduent vntill after Twelfeday and from the beginning of Lent vntill Low Sunday all other dayes they may be solemnized The Apostles Creed 1 I beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of heauen and earth 2 And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. 3 Who was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgine Mary 4 Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried 5 He descended into hel the third day hee rose againe from the dead 6 He ascended into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty 7 From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 8 I beleeue in the holy Ghost 9 The holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints 10 The forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 The Resurrection of the flesh 12 And the Life euerlasting The Lords Prayer Our Father which art in Heauen 1 Hallowed be thy name 2 Thy kingdome come 3 Thy will bee done on earth as it is in Heauen 4 Giue vs this day our dayly bread 5 And for giue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. 6 And lead vs not into temptation 7 But deliuer vs from euiâ—â— The two Pecepts of Charitie 1 Thou shalt loue the Lord thâ— God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy minde 2 Thou shalt loue thy neighbor as thy selfe which is more sâ—â—tâ—ble to the Scripture then the other The Precepts of the Church 1 To celebrate the appointed Feast dayes of the Church in abstaining from seruile workes 2 Reuerently to heare the sacred Oâ—lice of the Masse on the Holy dayes 3 To fast the Lent the foure Imber tides and the Euâ—s according to the custome of the Church and the Friday and Saturday to abstaine from flesh 4 To confesse thy sinnes to a Priest allowed to receiue the holy Eucharist or blessed Sacrament at the least at Easter as some or about Easter as others render it and to doe these things at the least once in the yeere which some of them diuide into two seuerall Precepts 5 Not to solemnize Marriage on the dayes forbidden by the Church as some Or to pay Tithes as others doe record it Loe here a Concordance in number if not in matter The Sacraments or 7. Sacraments of the holy Catholique Church Baptisme Confirmation the Eucharist Penance Extreame Vnction Order and Matrimony These Sacrameâ—ts are all great and so euery one of them
GRATIAN COLLECTAE in these Editions which were the last best there is not so much as any touch or mentiâ—n of these Canonicall Howers of Prayer or first sixt or ninth howers Neuer could I heare as yet of any Deuotions or Prayer Bookes intituled the HOVVERS OF PRAYER but onely one in Spanish Printed at Paris by William Merlin 1556. Stiled HORAS DE NVESTRA SENIORA The Howers of our Lady Fraught with the very dregs of Popery and Idolatrie The very Phrase and Emphasis therefore of this Title which is neuer mentioned by way of approbation in any Protestant writers nor yet in the Articles Common Prayer Booke the Bookes of Homilies or Canons of our Church nor yet in any Orthodoxe English writer doeth stampe a kinde of Brand and Impresse of Poperie and Superstition on the Booke it selfe and euidence it to be meerely Popish Thirdly the whole Fabricke Frame and Method of these Deuotions doe prooue them to be Popish For they are directly moulded formed and contriued according to our Ladies Primer or Office Printed in Lattaine at Antwerpe 1593. and in Lattaine and English for the vtilitie of such of the English Nation as vnderstand not the English tongue 1604. According to the Breuiary of Pius the fift and Clemens the eight Printed at Antwerpe 1621. and the Howers of our Lady Printed at Paris 1556. For first you haue here a Frontispice with I H S. in a Sunne held vp by two Angels and two deuoute Females one of them holding a Crosse in here hand Supplicating vnto it Then you haue for the Title A Collection of priuate Deuotions or the Howers of Prayer together with a Preface Iustifying Canonicall Howers condemning all conceiued Prayers and confining men to the vnerring Deuotions of the Church and to the Ceremonies Formes and Sacraments of the ancient Church which can bee no other but the Church of Rome as I shall prooue anon Then you haue a Calender with a Preface to it Containing the Festiuall and Fasting dayes of the Church and the Memories forsooth of none but holy Martyres and Saints though many of them were neuer found in rerum natura and others of them were neuer Sainted but at Rome Next you haue a Table of moueable Feasts and rules for them Then you haue the Fasting dayes of the Church or dayes of speciall Abstinence and Deuotion whereof our Ember weekes and Rogation dayes Ash-wedensday the Fridayes after Whitsontide and holy Crosse the Saturday after Saint Lucies day and all the Fridayes and Saturdayes of the yeere must bee the chiefe though our Church enioynes them not Next you haue the times wherein Marriages are not to be Solemnized which times the Calenders Articles and Canons of our Church doe neither mention nor prescribe Then succeedes the Apostles Creed in twelue Articles the Lords Prayer in seuen Petitions the tenne Commandements with the dueties enioyned and the Sinnes prohibited by them together with the Precepts of Charitie the Precepts of the Church the Sacraments of the Church and these forsooth must bee seuen the three Theologicall Virtues the three kindes of good Workes The seuen gifts of the holy Ghost the twelue fruites of the holy Ghost the Spirituall and Corporall workes of Mercy the eight Beatitudes Seuen deadly Sinnes and their contrary Vertues then Quatuor nouissima all Popish trash and trumpery stolen out of Popish Primers and Chatechismes as I shall prooue anon and neuer mentioned in any Protestant writers Then comes in His collections for priuate Deuotions with his Plees both from Scriptures Fathers and Popish Authors for the practise and obseruation of Canonicall Howers both in generall and speciall all taken out of Bellarmine Azorius and the Rhemish Testament And first you haue his preparatiue Prayers before Mattins and among them one at our entrance into the Church and another when we come into the Quire then you haue a preparatiue Hymne Then comes in a Iustification of the antiquitie of Mattins AND THAT AT THE FIRST HOVVER then followes His Mattins for the first the third the sixt and ninth Hower beginning with the Lords Prayer seconded with an Hymne continued with Psalmes and gloria Patri c. with a piece or fragment of a Chapter or Lesson and Consummated with some Prayers and a Thankesgiuing Then succeed his VESPERS then his COMPLINE all of them exactly framed after the Popish Offices Primers and Horaries and not according to our Common Prayer Booke or any Protestants Method Now follow some other Prayers with the seuen Penitentiall Psalmes Next the Collects of our Church with seuerall Aduertisments and Prefaces them then Prayers and Meditations both before and after the Sacrament and among them one WHEN WEE ARE PROSTRATE BEFORE THE ALTER a Prayer worth the obseruing another desiring the MEDIATION OF ANGELS Then follow seuerall formes of Confessions to bee vsed according to the directions of the Church especially before the receiuing of the Sacrament then a deuout manner of preparing our selues TO RECEIVE ABSOLVTION with a Thankesgiuing after ABSOLVTION then followes some speciall PRAYERS FOR EMBER-WEEKES not mentioned in our Common Prayer Booke Then Prayers for the Sicke Prayers at the Hower of Death yea and A PRAYER FOR THE DEAD then other Prayers and Thankesgiuings And as he beginnes with the SIGNE OF THE CROSSE so hee concludes with the VIRTVE OF CHRISTS BLESSED CROSSE yea and with the INTERCESSION OF ALL SAINTS as I haue heard before the leafe was altered and torne out vpon some exceptions taken to it So that if you Suruay the whole frame and modell of these Deuotions and Howers of Prayers either in the whole intire structure or in the forme and order of its seuerall parts you shall finde that it tooke its patterne and sample from our Ladies Primer and the forequoted Deuotions which runne in the selfe same method forme yea matter too not from the priuate Prayers of Queene Elizabeth nor yet from our Booke of Common Prayers as I shall prooue more fully anon Fourthly the very Stile and Phrases of it doe euidence and conuince it to be meerely Popish Take these for all the rest that might bee mentioned The Howers of Prayer which is eighteene seuerall times mentioned and some twelue of them by way of Preface or Title The ancient Church in the second Title page the Ancient Lawes and godly Canons of the Church in the first Preface The Festiualls and Fasting dayes of the Church the Title before the Calender The Fasting dayes of the Church The precepts of the Church The Sacraments of the Church which being all compared together with their subiect matter will plainely testifie that he meanes the Church of Rome and no other since the Ancient Lawes and Canons of the Church for the obseruation of Canonicall Howers the Precepts of the Church there mentioned and the Sacraments of the Church which hee makes seuen can bee appropriated to no Church but that alone and not vnto our own or other Churches which approoue of no such
Sacraments and knowe of no such Canons Lawes and Precepts as are here recorded To these I may adde his first his third his sixt and his ninth Howers of Prayer His Vespers Suffrages and Compleine his Priests and Priests of Gods Church oft repeated and the word Ministers neuer vsed though we affirme the name of Priests to bee an incongruous word not proper to the Ministers of the Gospel His Times wherein Marriages are not Solemnized The two Precepts of Charitie The three Theologicall Virtues Three kindes of good Workes Seuen Gifts and twelue Fruits of the holy Ghost The 7. Spirituall and Corporall workes of Mercy The eight Beatitudes Seuen deadly Sinnes Quatuor nouissima A Prayer when we come into the Quire The seuen Penitentiall Psalmes to bee vsed in times of Penance c. Septuagessima Sunday was but to prepare the people for their solemne Fasting and Penance and to forewarne them of Lent that when it came they might more strictly and Religiously obserue it Christs holy Sacrament his blessed Body and Blood When we are prostrate before the Altar That the remembrance which we now offer vp to thee may by the Ministrie of thy holy Angels be brought into thy Heauenly Tabernacle At the receiuing of the Body Adding with the Priest A deuout manner of preparing our selues to Absolution A thankesgiuing after Absolution compared with the fift Precept of the Church The vertue of Christs blessed Crosse c these seueral Phrases Passages which are seldome or nowhere found but in Popish Authors and beare a tange and smell of Poperie alwayes with them are a strong and pregnant euidence that these Deuotions are patched vp of shreds of Poperie Fiftly the very Subiect matter of this Booke is meerely Popish therefore the Booke it selfe must needes be such If we branch the matter of this Booke into points of Doctrine and substance Of Ceremonie Forme and Circumstance and consider these either absolutely in themselues or Relatiuely with reference to the Authors whence they were taken we shall discouer much hidden and concealed yea some euident and apparant Poperie euen twined and inuolued in it For Doctrinall and Positiue Poperie you haue these seuerall Limbes and Branches couched and by necessary implication affirmed in it which I shall enumerate and muster vp in order as I finde them scattered by the Author 1. That the Church of Rome is the true and Ancient Mother Church and that her holy Canons Lawes Precepts Ceremonies Constitutions Canonicall Howers and Sacraments are duely and Religiously to bee obserued by vs. 2. That the visible Church of Christ yea the very Church of Rome can neuer Erre in matters of Faith 3. That the Lent-fast is an Apostolicall Constitution that it comes from Diuine Authoritie And that we are to obserue and keepe both it and Ember weekes Rogation dayes together with Wednesdayes Fridayes Saturdayes and Holy day Eues with Deuotion and Abstinence not in politicall respects as prescribed and enioyned by the State but by vertue of the precepts and iniunctions of the Church 4. That the Pictures and Images of God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost may be lawfully made 5. That men may worship them in these Images 6. That men may adore the Persons and Images of Saints and Angels though not with that Solemne worship of Latria which is due tâ— God alone 7. That Auricular Confession to a Priest and Absolution from him are necessary 8. That there are seuen Sacrâ—ments of the Church 9. That there are but three kindes of good Workes 10. That there are Sinnes Veniall in their owne Nature 11. That Christ is corporally present in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 12. That the Sacrament is a reaâ—l Sacrifice and that we are for to adore it 13. That Angeâ—s are our Mediators to present our Prayers and seruices vnto God as well as Christ. 14. That Prayer for the Dead is lawfull 15. That there is a Diuine blessing and efficacy in the bare Crosse of Christ. These fifteene Points of Fundamentall ranke and Doctrinall Poperie are shrowded and cherished vnder the protection and countenance of these Pious Deuotions For the first of these I collect it from the Title page The practise of the Ancient Church called The Howers of Prayer From the Preface to the Booke Those who accuse vs here in England to haue despised all the old Cermonies and cast behind vs the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholique Church doe but betray their owne infirmities The Fasting dayes of the Church or dayes of speciall Abstinence and Deuotion Whereof Lent Ember weekes some Holy day Eues and all the Fridayes of the yeere except those that fall within the Twelue dayes of Christmas The Precepts of the Church First to obserue the Festiualls and Holy dayes appointed Secondly to keepe the Fasting dayes with Deuotion and Abstinence Thirdly to obserue the Ecclesiasticall customes and Ceremonies established that without frowardnesse or contradiction Fourthly to repaire vnto the publike Seruice of the Church for Mattins and Euening song with other Holy offices at times appointed vnlesse there bee a iust and vnfained cause to the contrary Fiftly to receiue the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ with frequent Deuotion and three times a yeere at least of which times Easter to be alwayes one And for better preparation thereunto as occasion is to disburthen and quit our Consciences of those sinnes that may grieue vs or scruples that may trouble vs to a Learned and discreet Priest and from him to receiue aduice and benefit of Absolution The Sacraments of the Church The principall and truely so called as generally necessary to Saluation are Baptisme and the Lords Supper The other fiue that is to say Confirmation Penitence Orders Matrimonie and Visitation of the Sicke or extreame Vnction though they be sometimes called and haue the name of Sacraments yet haue they not the like nature that the two principall and true Sacraments haue From all these seuerall passages stolen out of Popish Authors and not so much as mentioned in the Prayers of Queene Elizabeth or in our Common Prayer Booke Homellies or Articles I argue thus If there bee no Ancient Church which enioynes the practise of Canonicall Howers and strict obseruation of the recorded Fasting dayes with Abstinence and Deuotion If there bee no Church which admits or allowes of seuen Sacraments or giues such Precepts as are here recited but onely the Church of Rome then it is certaine that the Author affirmes the Church of Rome to be the True and Ancient Mother Church and that her holy Canons Precepts Ceremonies Canonicall Howers and Sacraments are duely and Rerigiously to bee obserued by vs But there is no Ancient Church which enioynes the Practicall obseruation of Canonicall Howers and the strict obseruation of the Recorded Fasting dayes there is no Church which approoues of seuen Sacraments or which giues such Precepts as are
here recited but onely the Church of Rome Therefore it is certaine that our Author affirmes the Church of Rome to be the True and Ancient Mother Church and that her Canons Ceremonies Precepts Canonicall Howers and Sacraments are duely and Religiously to bee obserued by vs. The sequell cannot bee denied because the Author doth presse these Canonicall Howers Precepts Ceremonies and Sacraments vpon vs from the Authoritie and practise of the Church in which they alwayes haue bene and yet are in vse The Minor is already euident because no Church by its owne Authoritie alone without a relation to the Policie of State doeth vrge any set Fasting dayes nor yet enioynes Canonicall Howers or Auricular Confession to a Priest nor allowes of seuen Sacraments as I shall prooue more largely in its place but onely the Church of Rome whose secret Factor questionlesse our Author was Therefore our Author is vndoubtedly guiltie of this first Popish Tenent For the second that the visible Church of Christ yea the very Church of Rome can neuer Erre in matters of Faith and Doctrine is vnfalliblie collected from this ensuing passage in his Preface That wee might bee sure to speake in the Grane and Pious language of Christs Church which hath euer more beene guided by the Spirit of God and the holy Ghost From which I argue thus That CHVRCH which is euermore guided by the Spirit of God and the holy Ghost can neuer Erre in matters of Faith this all Protestants and Papists testifie But the Church of Christ saith our Author speaking of that particular Church out of which these scattered Deuotions were collected which is no other but the Church of Rome is euermore guided by the Spirit of God and the holy Ghost and that in matters of Faith and Doctrine according to the Tenent of the Papists who affirme that the Pope the Church and Generall Councells cannot Erre because they are alwayes guided by the Spirit of God and the holy Ghost And contrary to the expresse Doctrine and Tenent of all Protestant Diuines who affirme that any visible Church or Generall Councells yea that the Church and Pope of Rome may Erre because they are not all euermore guided by the Spirit of God with which the 19. and 21. Articles of our Church concurre Therefore the Church of Christ to wit particular Churches or Generall Councells which are the representatiue Church in our Authors iudgement cannot Erre in matters of Faith and Doctrine which is a Branded Error Now marke what good vse our Antagonist makes of this Conclusion euen the same that the Pope Church of Rome doe to Countenance and Iustifie all those Erronious and Popish Ceremonies Trumperies and Positions which are couched and set abroach in his Deuotions and to make them passe for currant Trueth because these Deuotions are nothing else but the approoued and accustomed Deuotions of the Ancient Church of Christ videsicet the Church of Rome which was euermore guided by the Spirit of God and the holy Ghost and not the Deuotions of priuate ghosts and spirits as hee there stiles them which are subiect vnto Error Therefore there can bee no hurt no Error no False nor Popish Doctrine couched in them So that hee doeth not onely iustifie and approoue but likewise apply this Popish Position in a Subdolous and Popish manner euen to iustifie the vnerrabilitie of these his Deuotions and in them the infallibilitie of the Church of Rome from whose weedie Garden this Garland of Deuotions hath beene gathered Come we now vnto his third Position collected from these seuerall passages The fasting dayes of the Church Or dayes of speciall Abstinence and Deuotion The holy dayes of Lent The Ember weekes at the foure seasons The three Rogation dayes The Eues and Vigils before some thirteene Holy dayes It hath beene also an Ancient Custome to fast all the Frydayes in the yeare except those that fall within the 12 dayes of Christmas To this ende speaking of Septuagesima Sunday and the Lent Fast there was a godly Ordinance in the Ancient Church made by the Councell of Anxerre more then a thousand yeares since that in the ende of the Epiphany there should be certaine daies appointed such as this and the two Sundayes following are Wherein to prepare the people for their solemne Fasting and Penance to giue them warning of their Lent before hand that when it came it might bee the more strictly and religiously obserued And afterwards through the variety of Fasting in diuers places it came to passe that these three Sundayes were made to be the beginnings of the Lent-Fast Some extending their humiliation to a larger time then Ordinary and others excepting from it those dayes of the Weeke whereupon many Christians had either no custome or no leaue to fast All agreeing in this that whether we begin at Septuagesima or any of the Sundayes following the Lent-Fast is duly to be kept at one solemne time of the yeare and Religiously to bee continued vnto the great Feast of Easter By the Ancient Lawes and Customes of the Church of Christ we still obserue an yearely solemne time of fasting and prayer which we call our Lent-Fast The Lent Fast which wee now keepe is and euer hath beene an Apostolicall Constitution It is no humane Inuention as they call it but it comes from Diuine Authoritie that we Fast our Forty Dayes in Lent The last weeke of Lent is an holy weeke and Christians haue vsed to call it The holy and great weeke or the passion weeke and more solemnly to obserue it then any of the rest before c. This is the reason why all the Wednesdayes of the yeare haue bin heeretofore and why the Frydaies and Saturdayes of euery weeke besides are now continued and made common dayes of Abstinence and Prayer From the words and scope of all which passages the Author doth palpably and infallibly teach That the Lent-Fast is an Apostolical Constitution comming from Diuine Authority which binds vs accordingly to obserue it And that Ember weekes Rogation dayes together with Wednesdayes Frydayes Saturdayes and the last weeke of Lent especially and some certaine Holy-day Eues are to be kept with Deuotion and Abstinence Not in any Politicall respect as prescribed and enioyned by the State for Politique endes As the increase of Cattell the maintaining of Ships and Marriners and the incouragement of Fishermen in which respect our Church doth principally obserue these dayes not as Fasting dayes or dayes of Deuotion to be spent in Prayer and Fasting but rather yea chiefly as Fish-dayes for the aduancement of Fishing and sparing of young Cattle not as dayes enioyned by the Churches but designed by the States Authority As our Homely of Fasting Part. 2. 2 Ed 6. cap. 19. 5. Ed 6. cap. 3. 5. Eliz cap 5. 27. Eliz. cap. 11. 29. Eliz cap. 5. The Kings Maiesties Proclamations for the obseruing of Lent and most of our Protestant Diuines affirme but as