or Bishops Tables and Eucharists In the after times the Fathers presumed to take a greater liberty of speech but they never meant to defend such popish sacriledge as is the having of Priests Sacrifices and Altars And because ages more degenerating did set as it were a Byas upon the phrases Priests Sacrifices Altar which had been used by the Fathers improperly to draw them to a proper signification flat contrary to their first Institution therefore did Protestants wish That those ancient Fathers had rather contained themselves within their more ancient bounds than that their liberty of speech should have occasioned in Romanists that prodigall error in Doctrine Thus much saith Doctor Morton 9. They notoriously offended in removing the Font so often from the ancient usuall place where heretofore it stood contrary to the advertisement The Font shall not be removed and the 81 Canon The Font shall stand in the ancient usuall place 10. They offended highly in adoring the Altar falsly so called for when it is gorgeously adorned with brave and rich Furniture and set up on high at top of the Quire or Chancell removed from the base and prophane multitude as they account them and carrying a greater Majesty than it had being a plain Communion Table standing in the Body of the Church then they bowed down to it and worshipped it more than ever the papists did making it thereby an execrable Idoll they bow down I say their bodies before the same Altar and towards no other thing or place in the Church as if it were the most holy thing the Church of God hath as Doctor Duncomb blasphemously writeth in his Determination holyer than the Bible it self to which none make legs or bow their bodies 11. They have offended in contradicting the Church of England and endamaging our reformed Religion in not defacing nor abolishing monuments of Idolatry but repairing adorning beautifying and multiplying them more than ever they were in time of popery contrary to the 23 Injunction in which charge is given for the abolishing of things superstitious That Candlesticks Pictures Paintings and all manner of Monuments of Idolatry be taken away utterly extinct and destroyed So that there remain no memory of the same in Walls Windows or elsewhere Item In the Articles of the first yeer of the Queens visitation 1559. The second Article enquireth whether Candlesticks Images Pictures and other Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition be abolished Hereby it appeareth that the intention of the Church of England was at the reformation thereof from Popish Superstition and Idolatry that Massing Copes and other Altar Cloaths embroydered with Images That Candlesticks Tapers Crosses Crucifixes c. being once ejected must not be brought in again and set upon the Communion Table or in Windows above the Table as is done in Durham and other Churches adjoyning 12. They offended in rejecting the Homilies and Injunctions and consequently the doctrine of the Church of England because they condemn Images Altars and other superfluous ornaments The Homily of the place and time of prayer hath these words of a woman saying to her neighbour at the first reformation of Churches in England Alas alas what shall we now do at Church since all the Saints are taken away seeing all the goodly fights we were wont to have are gone seeing we cannot have the like piping and chanting and playing on the Organs that we had before But dearly beloved saith the Homily we ought greatly to rejoyce and give God thanks that our Churches are delivered from all these things which displeased God so sore but now those abominations which were taken away at Durham are restored again with great advantage 13. They offended in calling their superstitious Trinkets Ornaments of the Church which our Church disalloweth and condemneth as being disgracements of Religion and abominations in the Church of God Thus saith the Homily against the perill of Idolatry and Superstitious decking of Churches The Lords holy Name ought to be called upon by publike prayer and thanksgiving his holy Sacraments ought duly and reverently to be administred not gaudily flauntingly theatrically histriorically due reverence is stirred up in the hearts of the godly by the confideration of those true ornaments of the house of God and not by any outward Ceremonies or costly and glorious deckings of the said House or Temple of the Lord as Saint Bernard saith Orantium in se retorquent aspectum impediunt affectum Such glorious spectacles draw away from God the minde of them that pray and they hinder holy affections or meditations Praetendunt ornatum saith Hemingâ—us in his Enchiridion speaking of Images Si illi ornatâ—â— adjunctum sit ulluâ— periculum sit maledictus They pretend that they are set up for Ornaments but cuâ—sed be such Ornaments to which the perill of Idolatry is joyned And again Spiritus Sanctus saith Ezekiel Chr. 20. Vocat Idola abominationes oculorum sed puluis ciuis ea vocat ornamenta oculorum The holy Ghost calls Images the abhomination of the eyes but man that is but dust and ashes calls them the ornaments of the eyes and then he concludeth Verus ornatus Templorum utilis Deo gratus est concio cantio oratio communio non haec quae vel impediunt vol vitiant The true Ornaments of the Church profitable to men and acceptable to God is the preaching of Gods Word the singing of Psalms the administration of the Sacraments and Prayer and not such things as do hinder and defile the same 14. They have offended against their Mother the Church of England in taking away the ten Commandments where they placed their Altar for having cast out the decent Communion Table at the same time they sent away into the Countrey the Decalogue fairly written in golden Letters contrary to the expresse words of the 82. Canon and practise of all our Churches The ten Commandments shall be set upon the East end of every Church or Chapell where the people may best see and read the same So they were placed in Durham Cathedrall very fairly written and hanging upon the Wall till the Lords Table was taken away and a brave sumptuous Altar daily adored by all sorts of people specially Priests and Clerks with bowing down their bodies before it Till I say a glorious high Altar was erected with Crucifixes and other Images of Saints and Angels even of the Trinity it self Which Idols as the Church of England calls them in her Homilies could not endure the presence of Gods second Commandment which forbids Images and Idolatry and much more reason had they to remove the Decalogue out of their sight since the fourth Commandment also was by them abrogated which commandeth the observation of the Sabbath Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work At the end of the fourth Commandment our Church enjoyneth the people to kneel down and say Lord
walls windowes copes c. 12. They reject the Homilies because they disallow Images Altars and other Superstitious Ornaments with Organs and chanting without understanding I defend the Homilies and the Doctrine of the Church of England taught in them 13 They terme their Images and other Superstitious trinkets Ornaments of the Church but I with the Homilies St. Bernard and Hemingius say they are disgracements of religion and impediments of pietie they are abominations in the sight of God and godly men 14 They taking libertie to themselves to set up Altars and Images and to abolish the Sabbath day the name whereof they cannot endure to heare have taken away the ten Commandements quite out of Durham Cathedrall because the 2. forbiddeth Images the 4. enjoyneth the observation of a Sabbath this they have done contrarie to the expresse words of 84. Cannon 15 They have used Copes and other superstitious Vestments falsly called Copes at their Altar when there was no Communion and after every Sermon to say Prayers in Copes contrary to the expresse words of the Advertisement and the 24 25. Can. 16. They have Preached and justified him that Preached in the Pulpit and sate in his stall wearing a Cope and not a Hood contrary to the Advertisement and the 25 Cannon and they did Article against me and censured me at Yorke for blaming in Mr. Burgain of Durham this notorious irregularitie but him they excused they never call'd him in question 17 They used in Durham and still they use not decent but sumptuous Copes embroidered with Images and they have used py-bald curtaild ridiculous VestmeÌ„ts even at the administration of the holy Communion contrary to the 24. and the latine Canon de officio Decani which command decent Copes to be used never but at the Communion they forbid all Vestments superstitione contaminatas defiled with Superstition that is such as have Images on them or have bin used at Masse In these 7. points concerning the abolishing of the Monuments â—f Idolatry defacing of Images rejecting the Doctrine of the Church of England in the Book of Homilies against excessive cost upon Organs Altars Idols which falsly they call Ornaments of the Church being indeed pollutions of Religion and abominations In taking out of the Church the Decalogue because the 2. Commandement forbids the bowing down to Images and the 4. commandeth the keeping holy the Sabbath In using Copes at the Altar when there is no Communion and those not decent but either rascall Robeâ— very fooles coats or exceeding sumptuous glittering with Images in preaching in a Cope sitting in a Stall in a Cope to heare Service when Copes are forbidden and Hoods injoyned In all these 7. judge O Bishop or High Commissioner who is faulty who transgresseth the Laws and Orders of the Church which of us is conformable to the Church of England who deserves punishment and who should be rewarded I have observed all these Laws and Canons yet I have been punished with all rigour and extremitie my persecutors of Durham and York having broken all Laws of the Church have never been call'd in question some of them have been advanced to high dignities and preferments Is this Prelaticall Iustice is this Episcepall government surely the judges of hell Minos and Radamanthus would never pronounce so injust sentences 18 The 49 Injunction commandeth that Musicke be not abused in the Church that the Common Prayer should be worse understood That there should be modest and distinct singing to the intent all may be understood plainly and the sense perceived But Durhamers have used excessive Musicke both Instrumentall and vocall even at 6 a clock Prayer in the morning used to be read plainly and the administration of Sacraments wherby those holy actions have been greatly disturbed 19 The preface to the Communion Book commandeth Anthems to be cut off and Psalmes are allowed to be sung before and after Sermons But our Innovators of Durham have forbidden all singing of Psalmes till this last yeare 1641. from 1629. all which time no Psalme hath bin sung in Durham Church 20 The Nicene Creed hath been sung not after the manner of distinct reading that the people might understand and the people have bin compelled with fighting and brawling to stand on their feet though they could not repeat the same Creed in an audible voice as the 18. Canon appoints 21. They tooke for Assistants at the Communion the whole quire men and Children which communicated not contrarie to the custome and practise of all Cathedrall Churches 22 They chaunted or approved him that did sit in his stall to sing prick song which both custom and Law forbids Preachers and Praebends to doe but they would not suffer Psalmes to be sung that all the Congregation might sing with them 23 24 They took the Morning Prayer at 6 of the clocke quite away for two years together a most impudent Innovation contrary to all the Cathedralls of England and in this they violated many Lawes and Injunctions especially the Injunction made by Commissioners under the great Seale of England prime Eliz. for the Church of Durham and in so doing they incurd the terrible crime of perjury because that morning-prayer was established by Law and custome which all took their othes that they would observe 25. They confounded and turned all forenoone services upside downe by saying the whole ordinary service with Psalmes and Chapters read at six of the clocke in the morning and saying a new found second service without either Chapters or Psalmes betweene ten and eleven the usuall time in all Churches for the ordinary service to be said 26. They removed the ordinary service a whole twelve Moâ—eth together from Ten of clocke to eight and all that time they had three forenoon services afterwards they placed the ordinary and most solemne service both Sundayes and working dayes in the roome of morning prayer at six a clocke and they called the people thereunto by the ringing of six bells to which not three persons usually resorted in Winter time especially 27. They did not observe the time place order and fashion of rights and ceremonies as the 14. Canon prescribes without adding or diminishing any thing in matter or forme 28. They said evening prayer in the accustomed place alwayes but the Altar at the East end of the Quire where they said their second service is no accustome d place for any service but it is an Innovation in Durham begun by Bishop Neals Chaplains 29 They made Chancels within Chancels contrary to the Rubrick which saith chancels shall remaine as they were in times past a strange Innovation 30 The Act of Parliament commands all Churches to be Vniforme but Durham Cathedrall was agreeable to none in their forenoone Services 31 No rite order forme or manner of saying Mattens may be used in Cathedrall or Parish Churches then what is appointed in the Booke of Common Prayer and if any Person compell by deeds or threatnings to say Prayers in any other manner let him be Indicted Mr. Cosin and his Associates have transgressed against this claus of the act for uniformity oftentimes notoriously 32 They suffer not the Preacher to dismisse the Congregation but the Sermon being done he comes downe from the Pulpit and another goeth to the Communion Table and having said 2 or 3 Prayers he saith the Peace of God and the People depart which is grounded upon a Rubricke misunderstood 33 They have spoken and Preached against the Religion established terming the Reformation of our Church a deformation and the Reformers ignorant Calvinisticall Bishops 34 They tooke upon them to make new Orders for the observation of unlawfull Services and Ceremonies for which they are Excommunicated And they have given to the Bishops transcendent Authoritie in ordering Church matters which notwithstanding is limited by the locall Statutes of Durham Church and by the Cannons his Office is to Preach and not to hinder Preaching c. 35 They make Gloria Patri a fourth Creed and therefore they injoyn the Ceremonie of standing which is a Prayer and a part of the Letany at which all must kneele 36 They lighted on Candlemas Day more then 200 waxe Candles when none were needfull the day being lengthened 2 houres the 2 of February being equall to the 18. of October St. Lukes on which Day no Church lighted Candles 37 They constantly observe that unlawfull Ceremonie of turning faces to the East not allowed by the Church and some when they officiate at the Communion Table looke toward the East turning their backs to the People after the manner of Masse Priests In these 20. from 17 to 37. mine Adversaries of Durham have offended they have violated above 40. Orders Cannons Injunctions Rubrickes not onely in Ceremonies but in the most substantiall parts of Gods Service and Sacraments yet which of them was ever punished convented or Questioned before a Bishop or other Ecclesiasticall judge for so great and so many presumptuous irregularities and Innovations which have â—â—â—â—throwne the whole frame of our Church Discipline and Gouernment I that to my knowledge have Transgressed in nothing I that oftentimes offered the Comissioners Bishop Harsnet and his Colleagues which censured me so cruelly that if they would shew me my error and in what I offended against the Church of ENGLAND in Doctrine or Ceremonie I would amend and make satisfaction But it is great Tyranny and Divâ—llish oppression to kill a true Man unlesse he will betray Truth and renounce his Religion O ye Bishops and other Spirituall Iudges how terrible have you been in destroying painfull Preachers for not observing the Crosse in Baptisme and other trifling Ceremonies But these monstrous Hell hounds of Durham and Yorke those Popish Hereticall â—â—rminian Schismaticall Innovators and most pernitious corruptors of Religion amongst us you let them scape nay some of you have abetted and assisted them unpersecuting me and others living peaceably amongst you you help these Enemies of God to afflict and vexe me you honour and reward Wolves and make them strong to worry Christs Sheepe and Lambs Psal 94. O Lord God to whom Vengeance belongeth thon GOD to whom Vengeance belongeth shew thy selfe Arise thou Iudge of the World and reward the proud after their deservings and so forth to the 6 Verse FINIS
A CATALOGVE OF SUPERSTITIOUS INNOVATIONS IN The change of Services and Ceremonies of presumptuous irregularities and transgressions against the Articles of Religion Act of Parliament for uniformity Canons Advertisements Injunctions and Homilies And Lastly Of sundry perjurious Violations of the locall Statutes of Durham Cathedrall Church which the Dean and Prebendaries and all other Members of the said Church took their corporall Oaths to observe and obey at their admittance and installation according to that in the 13. Chap. Deadmissione Canonicorum Omnes cujuscunque nominis conditionis fuerit jurabunt Brought into Durham Cathedrall by Bishop Neal and the Dean and Prebendaries of the said Church Opposed by Peter Smart Prebendary of Durham lately restored to his said Prebend All censures and sentences of the Commissioners and other Judges being Reversed and Cancelled by the High Court of Parliament after his eleven yeers imprisonment and fourteen yeers persecution in the severall High Commissions of Durham London and York for Preaching against the Superstitious Innovations in Durham aforesaid London Printed for Joseph Hunscott 1642 A Catalogue of Superstitious Innovations in the change of Services and Ceremonies Of presumptuous irregularities and transgressions against the Articles of Religion Act of Parliament for uniformity Canons Advertisements Iujunctions and Homilies c. INnovators in Durbam offended against the Church of England in taking away the Communion-Table and in place thereof erecting an Altar contrary to the Injunction for Tables in Churches which commandeth Altars to be removed and Communion-Tables brought into all Churches and Chappels both Cathedrall and others that uniformity might be observed 2. They likewise offended against the Church of England in all her Church-Books in which the word Altar for Communion-Table is never put I mean the new Testament the Book of Common-prayer the Injunctions Canons Articles of Religion and Homilies they offended I say in that they give to the holy Table the name of an Altar it being no true Altar not so much as the Image of an Altar or having any likenesse or resemblance of an Altar 3. They offended in making it a brave and sumptuous Altar with much gay and gaudy superstitious and unlawfull furniture whereas according to the advertisements and eighty two Canon it ought to be a Table not an Altar a decent Table not curiously carved not gorgeously beautified painted and guilded to move admiration nor vile filthy and rotten to make it base and contemptible in the sight of the people 4. They offended in making it of stone whereas it should be of Wood and setting it upon stone Pillars or upon a Wall whereas it should stand upon a frame according to the Injunctions Can. de Aeâ—ituis Ecclesiarum And the Latine Canon which saith Curabunt Mensam ex asseribus compositè junctâ—m quae administrationi sacro-sancte communionis inseruiat and practise of Durham and other Cathedrall and Parish Churches since the reformation 1. Eliz. when stone Altars were demolished because they were unmoveable fastned to the ground and so heavy that twenty men could not bear one stone Altar but they should be light and portable for it is the Deacons Office to carry or remoue the Table and how can it be portable if it be like to Durham Altar on stone columes or Wormeth Altar on a stone Wall and how can the Deacons do their Office in removing the Table from place to place as occasion serveth and our Church enjoyneth which is unpossible if it be of Marble stoneâ— and a double Table as Durham is so heavy as a Wain-load of stones and fastned to the ground also 5. They impudently transgressed especially in some Parish Churches in not placing the holy Table where morning Prayer and evening Prayer are appointed to be said but at the East end of the Church or Chancell whereno part of evening Prayer is ever said in any Church at an Altar or Table but in Parish Churches where there are long and narrow Chancels the people in the Body of the Church neither hear nor see the Priest at his Altar in the East and consequently cannot be edified Also in Cathedrall Churches where the Table is placed so far from the Congregation the Minister officiating thereat cannot so well be heard nor the people so well be edified as when the Table standeth in the Body of the Church or Quire neer amongst the people 6. Innovators in Durbam and York have notoriously transgressed against the Book of common Prayer both in Cathedrall and Parish Churches and Chappell 's in setting the Communion Table with neither side toward the North so that the Minister cannot stand at the North side as the Rubrick enjoyns him to do and as the custome is of all Ministers officiating 7. Innovators in Durham and York have grievously offended in teaching falsly and maintaining That Priests Sacrifices and Altars are indifferently used for Ministers Sacraments and Communion Tables in the Liturgy of the Church of England for those things are indifferently used which are used prâ—miscuè as Synonimous words of the same signification are used commonly But our Church Liturgy useth not the words Priest Sacrifice and Altar indifferently and so commonly as the words Minister Sacrament and Communion Table For Altar is never mentioned in our Liturgie but the Lords Table and Lords Boord nor Sacrament is ever tearmed a Sacrifice in the Liturgy for at the Communion all that receive are appointed to say Accept O Lord this our Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving And again not the Minister alone but all the Communicants must say We offer and present unto thee O Lord our souls and Bodies to be an holy and lively Sacrifice neither is the word Priest ever so much as once mentioned in the Text of our Liturgy save onely in the Rubrick which are rules and directions how to use the Liturgy As for example In the Absolution God hath given power and commandment to his Ministers not Priests to declare and pronounce to his people being penitent the Absolution and Remission of their sinnes And in the Letany That it will please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church c. And another place Endues by Ministers with righteousnesse not Priests because the word Priest implyes a Sacrifice as saith Bishop Latimer and it is never used in the Word of God for a Minister of the Gospel so that by using the words Altar Priest Sacrifice they speak not the language of their Mother the Church of England 8. They offended in opposing the Fathers and the primitive Church against the Church of England and the grave and learned Bishops which reformed the same in defence of Altars Priests Sacrifices c. which they preferre before Communion Tables Ministers and Sacraments Doctor Morton now Bishop of Durham in his Apologie pag. 165. saith Primitive antiquity as hath been confessed by Papists themselves did abstain from the names of Priest Altar and Sacrifices tearming them according to the tenor of the new Testament Elders
prescribed in the book of Common Prayer but they have added diminished and altred the whole form of Divine Service and two yeers together they have had no ordinary Morning Service according to the Rubricks 28 For 2 yeers together from 1627. till 1629. our Durham Innovators Mr. Cosin and his Associates would not suffer any ordinary Morning Prayer to be said at the due and usuall time between 9 and 11 in the place where Evening Prayer was duely said but every day working dayes and holy dayes they went to the Altar as they termed it to say a second Service so they call the Communion Service which is no part of the ordinary Morning Prayer as appeareth by the last Rubrick before the Letanie and before that which they call the second Service Thus endeth the order of Morning and Evening Prayer throughout the yeer Neither is the place where their Altar stands the accustomed place for saying any Divine Service being at the East end of the Quire or Chancell so farre in some Churches from the Congregation that they can neither see the Minister nor hear what he saith nor understand so well as they do the Evening Prayer said in the usuall place among them 29 The first Rubrick in the book of Common Prayer is this The order where Morning and Evening Prayer shall be used and said The Morning and Evening Prayer shall be used in the accustomed place of the Church Chappell or Chancell And the Chancels shall remain as they have done in times past This Rubrick our Durham Innovators have violated sundry waies for here we see one place is appointed for Morning and Evening Prayer not two places one for Morning and another for Evening Prayer Evening Prayer hath been used in the accustomed place in which it is alwayes said in the midst of the Quire This alteration our irregular Durhamers made themselves without the determination of the Ordinarie who by the 14 Cannon is limited that he may do nothing whereby edification may be hindred and how can the people be edified when they cannot hear the Minister as is done in Mr. Burgoyns Church at Warmoth c Again whereas the Rubrick saith Chancels shall remain as they have done in times past our new fangled Durhamers and other countrey Priests following their example have made Cancellos inter Cancellos Chancels within Chancels that is an Inclosure to divide their Altar Eastward from the Quire as the Sanctum Sanctorum was separated with curtains from the rest of the Temple who ever heard of 2 Chancels in one Church till Durhamers invented it contrary to this Rubrick and the example of all Churches in England in former times So that they have a holy Church a more holy Chancell and at the East end thereof a most holy inclosure where the Altar must stand unto which no man or woman may have accesse but Priests onely 30 Another Rubrick saith Then shall follow certain Psalms in order as they be appointed in the Table made for that purpose And another Rubrick saith Then shall be read 2 Lessons distinctly with a loud voice that the people may hear the first of the Old Testament the second of the New like as they be appointed in the Kalender The Minister that readeth the Lessons standing and turning him so as he may be best heard of all that be present No Psalms nor Chapters were read either of the old or new Testament which is a principall part of Divine Service by our Durham Innovators for the space of two yeers and consequently they had no ordinary Morning Service in their Cathedrall in the usuall place time and form as is prescribed in the book of Common Prayer Cannons Injunctions and Act of Parliament for Uniformity which commands all Churches to be uniform unto none of which Durham Cathedrall was agreeable in their Morning Services 31 The Act of Parliament for Uniformity hath these words If any person or Minister in any Cathedrall or parish Church shall by open fact or deed or by threatning compell any to sing or say any common or open prayer otherwise or in any other manner or form then is mentioned in the book of Common Prayer let him be indicted Again in the same Act no rite order form or manner at Mattens or Even song may be used in Cathedrall or Parish Churches but that which is appointed in the book of Common Prayer The form of Morning prayer was altred in Durham Cathedrall by dividing it into 2 parts to be said at two distinct times Most of the Rubricks with sundry Cannons and Injunctions have been violated and broken by means of that division Many rites and ceremonies have been changed unlawfully used Men have been injoyned at forbidden times to weare unlawfull vestments condemned by our Church some have been compelled with threatning and penalties to obey their unlawfull commands As was evidently seen in the morning Prayer which by the Injunction and custome of 60 yeers continuance was said in a place appointed thereunto by one petty Cannon alone plainly distinctly and briefly to be ended at seven a clock But new fangled Durhamers would have their new devised morning prayer to be said and sung solemnly in the Quire with all the voices of men and children and musicall instruments whom they forced to be present at that unlawfull Service and there to abide till all was done at 8 a clock whereby they have deserved many wayes to be indicted and for their contumacy deprived of all their livings according to the Statute In that being often admonished they would not amend for the space of two yeers 32 But the most notorious Innovation and most contrary to the foresaid Act of Uniformitie was that which Mr. Cosin and his Associates took up at Durham about the yeer 1626. to go in a Cope to the Altar to say 2. or 3. prayers after every Sermon which is a strange ceremony not mentioned in the book of Common Prayer or Cannons and consequently forbidden They would not suffer the Preacher to dismisse the Congregation with the blessing of Gods peace as was wont to be done in Durham and all other Churches of England They alledge for themselves the Rubrick after the Nicene Creed After the Creed if there be no Sermon shall follow one of the Homilies set forth by common Authority And after such Sermon Homily or exhortation the Curate shall declare unto the people whether there be any holidayes or fasting dayes in the weeke following And earnestly exhort them to remember the poore This Rubrick makes nothing for this fond Innovation for it saith After the Creed if there be no Sermon shall follow one of the Homilies And then it saith after such Sermon Homily or Exhortation the Curate shall declare whether therebe any holidayes or fasting dayes Here is a contradiction or rather a nonsence if the words be noâ— rightly understood If there be no Sermon and then After such Sermon Homily or Exhortation what meaneth this After such Sermon
have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this Law What Law The Law for observing the Christian Sabbath which word Doctor Linsell said My stomack riseth when I hear Sabbath call it no more Sabbath And Bishop Neal said at his visitation in Durham I see no reason but that the Festivall day of a Saint may be preferred before Sunday what is Sunday 15. They have ridiculously and superstitiously offended in the use of Copes and other superstitious Vestments falsely called Copes at unlawfull times and places And they continued even till this time 1642. in the same abuse being admonished and taught the truth they will not amend nor acknowledge their errour The 24. Canon saith thus in all Cathedrall and Colligiat Churches the holy Communion shall be administred by the Bishop or a Prebendary the principall Minister using a decent Cope and being assisted by the Epistoler and Gospeller agreeably according to the advertisements published Anno 7. Eliz. The advertisements made by Commissioners authorized under the great Seal of England saith thus At the administration of the holy Communion in Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches the principall Minister shall use a Cope with the Epistoler and Gospeller agreeably and at all other prayers at the Communion Table to use no Copes but Surplesses The 45. Canon saith the same When there is no Communion it shall be sufficient to wear Surplesses By this it is manifest That the Copes must be decent and they must never be used save only at the administration of the holy Communion But Durham Innovators did say their second Service daily when there was no Communion at their Altar and after every Sermon one of the Priests did put on a Cope to say two or three Prayers at the Altar not suffering the Minister to dismisse the Congregation with blessing of Gods peace as was wont to be done in Durham and all other Cathedralls of England till very lately some new fangled Deans and ignorant Canons absurdly have imitated Durhams fooleries 16. They offended in using and justifying him that used a Cope in the Pulpit a Hood being appointed and sitting in his Stall in a Cope at time of divine Service and Sermon at which times Hoods are alwayes commanded to be worn by Graduates which are never put on with Copes and Copes are alwayes forbidden save only at the administration of the holy Communion This was done in Durham contrary to the example of all Churches either popish or Reformed contrary also to the expresse words of the Canon and Injunctions In the 25 Canon thus we reade In the time of Divine Service in all Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches Deans and Prebendaries being Graduates shall dayly at the times of Prayers and Preachings wear with their Surplices such hoods as are agreeable to their Degrees The Advertisement saith the same Item That the Dean and Prebendaries wear a Surplice with a Silk Hood in the Quire and when they preach in the Cathedrall or Collegiate Church to wear their Hoods Master Burgâ—yn the first setter up of Altars and introducer of other popish Ceremonies in that Countrey having taken three Degrees in Cambridge offended thrice in wearing a Cope without his Hood without which Hood he preached twice and once sate in his stall in a Cope when he preached not as if he had been some Sir John lack-latine or simple petty-Canon 17. They offended both in using sumptuous Copes glittering with Images and among the rest of the blessed Trinity God the Father in the likenesse of an old man God the Son in the likenesse of a younger man the holy Ghost in the similitude of a Dove wrought upon red Velvet with Gold Silver and Pearl one of which was taken from a Masse-priest As also in using scurvie py-bald curtal'd and ridiculous Vestments falsly called Copes being indeed very fools coats at the Communion Table and that dayly at the Administration of the holy Communion whereas by the aforesaid 24 Canon a decent Cope is onely commanded and by the Latine Canon all Vestments defiled with superstition are forbidden in the latine Canon de officio Decani thus we are taught Nullus ex ordine Ecclesiastico quocunque nomine censeatur utetur ulla veste superstitione contaminata No Ecclesiasticall person by what name soever he be called shall use the gray Amice as they call it or any other Vesture defiled with like superstition 18 They have wickedly transgressed against the 49. Injunction in abusing the laudible Science of Musicke every day and every Service without understanding of the people and edification The 49. Injunction willeth and commandeth the laudible Science of Musick be so preserved that the same in any part of Service he not so abused in the Church that thereby the Common Prayer should be the worse understood of the hearers That there be a modest and distinct song so used in all parts of the Common Praiers in the Church that the same may be as plainly understood as if it were read without singing And although one Hymne of more exquisite Musick in the beginning or end of Common Prayers may be sung yet respect must be had that the sentence of the Hymne may be understood and perceived Notwithstanding this Injunction our Durhamers have been so eager upon piping and singing that in stead of the Morning Prayer at 6. of the clock which was wont to be read distinctly and plainly for Schollers and Artificers before they begin their work they brought in a solemne Service with singing and Organs Sackbuts and Cornets little whereof could be understood of the people neither would they suffer the Sacrament to be administred without a continuall noise of Musick both instrumentall and vocal to the great disturbance of those holy actions 19 They offended in multiplying unlawfull Anthemes and disallowing lawfull Psalms-singing by the whole Congregation before and after Sermons according to the custome of all Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches and of Durham it self before Doctor Cosins and other of Bishop Neals Chaplains became Cannons of that Church which unlawfull forbidding of Psalms to be sung in a vulgar tune according to the custome of all other Churches they have continued to this present yeer 1642. 20 They offended in singing the Nicene Creed not after the manner of distinct reading as the aforesaid Injunction commands and as that which is called the Apostles Creed is sung yet forcing the people with brawling in the time of Divine Service to stand up upon their feet all the time that it is sung though they understand nothing neither can they perceive whether it be a prayer or a Creed contrary to the Rubrick and Injunction and 18 Cannon which injoyneth the people to stand up when the Apostles Creed is said saying with the Minister in an audible voice which none can do when the Nicene Creed is sung by the whole Quire with all their musical instruments 21 They offended in taking pipers and singers for assistants at the Administration of the holy
Communion which are disturbers rather which is an Innovation in Durham begun there when Doctor Cosins was made Prebendary of that Church for both in England and all other reformed Churches all are commanded to depart which do not communicate 22. They offended in chanting in the Quire amongst singing men and children which is a base employment for Maior Cannons Prebendaries and Preachers amongst whom it is a thing unaccustomed and unlawfull when they sit in their Prebendall stals disallowed by Bishop Howson their Diocesan in his Visitation and forbidden by Gregory the great who saith Prohibitum est ne quis in Ecclesia cantet nisi inferiores ordines ut pote subdiaconi Diaconi vero lectioni praedicationi incumbant It is forbidden saith he that any chant in the Churches but men of meane degree none above Subdeacons but Ministers or Deacons must apply themselves to reading and preaching for that makes most for the peoples edification to which all must be done In old time Omnes simul psallebant in Ecclesia all Christians did sing together in the Church yet now Soli Clerici canunt the Clerks onely sing as Bellarmine confesseth li. 2o. de verbi Dei cap. 16. lib. 1. de bonis operibus cap. 16. Yea though the Papists confesse that it was given in commandment by St. Paul saith Bineus that the faithfull in their Assemblies should praise God together with heart and voyce by singing Psalmes yet they tell us saith Bellarmine that Ecclesiasticae institutione optime provisum est ne praeter certos ad hoc inscriptos alii in Ecclâ—sia canerent It is excellently well provided for by the Orders of the Church that none should sing but a set number appointed for that purpose viz. Priests Clerks Singingmen and Quiristers 23 The most impudent and most unlawfull Innovation that ever was seen in any Cathedrall Church of England was that of taking away the Morning Prayer at 6. of the clock which had continued above sixty yeers and putting in the place thereof the ordinary Morning Service appointed to be said at ten of the clock which continued about two yeers Injunctions were given Sâ—ptember 25 1o. Eliâ— by William Lord Eures Doctor Sands and others Commissioners authorised under the great Seal of England to the Dean and Chapter of Durham and to all other Ministers of that Church to be observed by every of them in their offices and degrees for the advancement of Gods glory The 10. Injunction is this consisting of 5 clauses the first that you shall have your Divine Service at due or convenient houres in your Church 2 And that you shall besides your ordinary Morning Prayer and Service have every working day at 6. of the clock in the morning the Common Prayer with the English Letany and Suffrages instead and in place of the morrow Masse 3 To the intent that the Schollers of the Grammer Schoole and other well disposed persons may daily resort thereto 4 And that some be appointed weekly as it shall come to their course either such as were appointed for the morrow Masse or else some of the petty Cannons 5 And that to be done in some convenient place of the Church 24 The foresaid Morning Prayer at six of the clock our Innovators of Durham might not alter or disanull 1 Because it was ordained and established by lawfull Authority of the Soveraigne Prince and Parliament under the great Seal of England in the generall reformation of the Church which private men without authoritie might not take away nor change without the danger of excommunication and deprivation for their impudent sawcinesse in rebelliously withstanding the Kings Laws 2 Because it was contrary to the custome of Durham Cathedrall which had continued ever since the first yeer of Queen Eliz. 1559. till the second yeer of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles to the observation of which custome all Durham Prebends take expresly their corporall oath when they are installed 3 Because it is contrary to all Cathedrall Churches in England as Bishop Howson said which Cathedrals still retain their Morning Prayers plainly read by one Minister with a Psalm in the end in a vulgar tune which all the Congregation may sing together 4 Because these Injunctions being made for the advancement of Gods glory the taking away of this Morning Prayer distinctly said is the hindrance of Gods glory with the devotion and edification of Scholers and other people for whom it was ordained without which edifying knowledge no service can be acceptable to God either in Cathedrall or Parish Churches 25 In the foresaid Injunction for 6 a clock Prayer 5 clauses are conteined against every one of which our new fangled Durhamers have notoriously offended they have overthrown and turned upside down the whole frame and form of all forenoon Services confounding the ordinary Service at 10 a clock with the 6 a clock Prayer and bringing in a new found second Service to be said alone without a first at the ordinarie accustomed houres of the day by which they have depraved the whole book of Common Prayer and the Rubricks thereof 26 Concerning the first of which five in Durham Cathedrall the Divine Service called in this Injunction the ordinary Morning Praier hath not been kept at convenient and due houres the usuall time whereof was all the time of Queen Eliz. and King James between the houres of nine and eleven but our brainsick Innovators of Durham removed the ordinary Service to 8 a clock and so it continued about a yeer and all that time they had 3 forenoon Services one at 6. another at 8. and a third at 10. of the clock afterwards upon better advice because three Services in one forenoon were tedious they took quite away the plain and best Morning Prayer appointed by this Injunction and put in place thereof the ordinary Divine Service and called the people thereunto by the ringing of three Bels to which not 3 persons usually resorted especially in Winter time and dark mornings 27 The ordinary Morning Prayer called the Mattens and Divine Service in the foresaid Injunction which appoints it to be said at due and convenient houres that is between the houres of nine and eleven according to the custome and practise of all Churches is that which is ordained in the book of Common Prayer the Rubricks prescribing the manner of saying the same for time place order and fashion of rights and Ceremonies without alteration according to the Cannon of our Church Observabunt ordines ritus desoriptos in libro publicarâ—m precum tam in legendis sacris Scripturis precibus dicendis quam etiam in administrations Sacramentorum ut novâ— detrahant aliquid neve addant neve de materia neve de forma Again the 14. Cannon saith all Ministers shall observe the orders and Ceremonies prescribed in the book of Common Prayer without either adding or diminishing any thing in matter or form Our seditious Innovators of Durham have not observed the orders and rights
if there be no Sermon the meaning of the Rubrick is plain and the practise of all our Churches expound it when there is no Communion if there be no Sermon preached in the pulpit the Curate being no preaching Minister shall read an Homily or Exhortation which Homily is termed a Sermon not preached in the pulpit on any text of Scripture but read as the rest of the Service by the Curate with no conceived prayer or Psalms sung before or after the Homily and then the Curate when the Homily is done must proceed as the Rubrick directs him to declare to the people whether there be any holidayes the week following and he must exhort them to remember the poore saying one or more of these sentences Now in what Cathedrall Church doth any Curate after Sermon warne holidayes or fasting dayes or read any sentence to exhort the people to make any collection for the poore But every Preacher in a Cathedrall Church goeth up to the pulpit taketh a text of Scripture hath a Psalme sung and maketh a prayer before the Sermon Which Sermon being done concludeth with a prayer he sitteth down in the pulpit till the Psalme be ended and then standing up he dismisseth the congregation with the blessing of Gods peace Thus the Reformers of the Church understood their own Rubrick and this hath been the practise of all Churches of England till lately fantasticall Innovators in Durham changed and corrupted the whole form and fashion of our Church Service and other Churches ignorantly and superstitiously have lately begun to imitate Durham in the same ridiculous Innovations 33 They have offended in preaching and defending them that did preach against the religion established impudently traducing vilifying and disgracing the grave and learned reformers of our Church as Doctor Cosin did in his Sermon of the Parable of the Tares That the Reformers of our Church when they took away the Mâ—sse they marr'd all religion and the service of God they called it a reformation but it was indeed a deformation and Doctor Linsell said that the Reformers of our Church were ignorant Calvinisticall Bishops contrary to the advertisement no person shall preach any matter tending to dissention or to the derogation of the religion and doctrine received 34. They offended in altering orders established and ceremonies prescribed and taking upon them to make new orders for the observation of unlawfull sermons ceremonies without the Kings authority under the Great Seale of England for which presumption they are excommunicated though they pretend the Bishops authority to whom they give transcendent authority which is notwithstanding limited by the locall statutes of Durham Church and by the Cannons both old and new his office is assigned to preach and to see that the Church Service and Sacraments be rightly administred as is prescribed in the Common Prayer he may not hinder preaching by preferring petty ceremonies and solemne services with piping and singing before Sermons nor corrupt with unlawfull orders and new rites both Service and Sacraments according to the first Latin Canon 1571. 35 They offended in making Gloria Patri a Creed and making the people to stand when it is said it being no Creed but a prayer At which they are enjoyned to kneele as likewise forcing the people to stand when the Nicene Creed was sung and to kneele when some prayer is sung Though the people could not understand whether they were prayers or Creed The seventh Article of religion Dâ— tribus Symbolis acknowledgeth but three Creeds to be said in Churches viz. the Nicene Creed the Creed of Athanasius and the Apostles Creed Innovators in Durham have added a fourth Creed Glory be to the Father to the Sonne c. and they enjoyned the Ceremonie of standing as if it were as good a Creed as the Apostles Creed being indeed no Creed but a prayer for it is part of the Letany which is nothing but prayers at which all are enjoyned to kneele Therefore they are excemmunicated ipso facto by the 5. Canon as depravers of the booke of Common prayer and the Articles of religion 36. They offended in burning of Wax-candels in excessive number two or three hundred at a time when and where there was no use of lights as namely on Candlemas day 1627. when the daies were lengthned two houres and Service might be done an houre before day light was gonâ— as it was in Westminster-Abbey this yeere 1641. no Candles being lighted there at Evening prayer 37. They offended likwise in turning their f ces to the East and orcing the people so to doe which is a Ceremony not allowed in our Church in this Doctor Cosins offended not onely in turning the readers Deske at morning prayer and the Deanes Pue that they could not sit with their backs towards the East but also when he administ ed the Communion he stood on the West side of the Table with his face towards the East and backe towards the people which is a Ceremony the Popes Priests are enjoyned to use at Masse and the care of the reformers of our Church was that Ministers of the Gospell should not be like Masse-priests in superstitious Ceremonies or that our holy Câ—munion should be like their Idolatrous Masse Again the turning of faces alwaies Eastward in the Service of God is a Ceremony not appointed by the Church of England nor mentioned in the Booke of Common prayer as Bishop Harsnet confessed openly upon the Bench at Yorke and consequently it is forbidden by the Act of uniformity under great penalty The Prebendaries of Durham incurred the horrible sinne of perjury in not conventing me before the Chapter there to be examined and matters debated if they had any thing to lay to my charge according to the Statutes in that behalf and their oath The words in the second Chapter are these 38. In excessibus corrigendis decani Canonicorum eaest prerogativa qued ratione Prabendarum non convenieutur extra capitulum quia cause huiusâ—â—â—di queratione Prabendarum emergunt in capitulo decani capituli judicio terminari debent Such is the prerogative of the Deane and Prebends that all faults among them must be judged by the Deane and Chapter they must not be convented by any out of the Chapter-house And againe in the third Chapter Si quaevis quaestio aut controversia inter aliques de Capitule â—riatur per Decanum Capitulum debet terminari And the conclusion is Forensia enim judicia fratres subire non decet All these they have violated in casting me into the whirlepoole of the High Commission Court at Durham London and Yorke and therefore I humbly desire the Right Honourable House of Peeres to finish and conclude my cause according to the impechment transferred unto their Lordships by the honourable House of Commons whereby satisfaction may be made unto me for the excessive wrongs and losses which I have sustained By this it appeareth that all controversies betweens Prebendaries must be ended
Church of England Articles of Religion Injunctions Rubricks Cannons c. Now let us take a view and see of which amongst the 50. I or my accusers and persecuters of Durham London and Yorke are most guilty and deserve more to be punished 1 Innovators in Durham contrarie to the Injunction commanding Altars to be removed and Communion Tables set up have done quite otherwise they have cast out of the Church lawfull Tables and brought in unlawfull Altars 2 They have left the language of their Mother the Church of England in using the word Altar and leaving Table 3 Instead of a decent Table they have set up a brave and sumptuous Altar with much Superstitious and unlawfull Furniture 4 Instead of a Wooden Table standing on a Frame they made a Stone Altar on a Wall or St one Pillars and consequently heavie and unmovable wheras it should be light and portable that it might be removed as occasion requireth 5 The Rubricke commands the Communion Table be placed where Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are appointed to be said that is in the body of the Church or Chancell but they place their Altars at the East end of their Chancells or Quires where Evening Prayer is never said nor all Morning Prayer so that the People cannot well heare nor be so well edified 6 Our Church commands that the Minister Officiating shall stand at the North-side of the Table but they set up Altars or Tables Altar-wise along by the Wall with neither side toward the North. 7 Our Lyturgie and all our Church Books use constantly the words Minister Sacraments Communion Table but our Durhamors and Yorkers say falsly that the words Altar Sacrifice Priest are indifferently used in our Lyturgie where indeed they are never used only in the Rubricks Priest is used somtimes never in the Text Minister is used alwayes in the Text and somtimes in the Rubricks 8 They preferre Altars Priests Sacrifices before Communion Tables Ministers Sacraments alleadging falsly that the Fathers of the Primitive Church did so I say the learned Divines that reformed the church of England rejected many things which some of the Fathers erroneously maintained as namely this of Altar Priest Sacrifice and our learned Bishop Morton saith the same That their libertie of Speech occasioned in Romanists that prodigall error in Doctrine 9 They removed the Font from place to place from the East end of the Church to the West end from the North to the South where lately it stood I say with the Injunction the Font must not be removed and 81 Cannon the Font shall stand in the ancient usuall place 10 They adored their brave Altar making legges to it and bowing down their bodies oftentimes and profoundly before it more then ever the Papists use to doe I say the Table is as holy as the Altar yet none make legges to the Communion Table when it stands as the Church appoints in the body of the Church In these 10. points concerning Altars judge rightly ô Bishop and High Commissioner who maintains the truth who obeyes the Laws and orders of the Church of England they that did all things wrong or I that opposed my selfe lawfully against their unlawfull Innovations yet you have condemned me only for doing my duty But did you ever punish the wrong doers mine adversaries did you ever call them in question did you amend any thing that was done amisse in the Church No verily but you have assisted cherished and rewarded them with great preferments you have joyned with them in persecuting me with all rigour and extremitie As for example Doctor Duncon one of my spightfullest persecutors hath written a Treatise call'd A Determination in defence of Altars and bowing down before Altars which is a Ceremonie not allow'd by the Church of England but forbidden by the Act of Parliament for uniformitie yet he proveth it by many foolish reasons amongst which this is a principallone the Altar is the most holything the Church of God hath therfore it must devoutly be bowed unto His words are these or to this effect Sanctitas excellentia Altaris prae reliquis omnibus in Ecclesia and againe Altare est optima praecipua sanctissima pars universae supellectilis Ecclesiasticae The sanctitie the excellencie of the Altar above all other things in the Church The Altar is the best the noblest the holyest part of all Ecclesiasticall stuffe or implements And againe thus he writeth The Latine Worthies Heroes terme it Sacrum Sanctum Venerandum Altare sacred holy venerable Altar and they make comparison saith he Inter Altare apud Christianos et Sanctum Sanctorum apud Judaeos illudq multis nominibus praeferunt Hinc etiam est quod Altaria septis et cancellis undiquaque munire et vallare consueverunt ne laicorum aliquis propius quam par est ad Altare ccederet Heroes scilicet rather Blasphemous wretches which dare compare their false Imaginary Idolized Altar set up in Churches by Antichristian Priests in the place of Gods holy Table compare it I say and in many respects preferre it also before the sanctum sanctorum of the Iewes the inward most holy Sanctuary into which the High-Priest alone might goe and that no more then once in a whole yeare read what Saint Paul writes Heb. 9. 2 3. to the 11. And as the most holy inward Sanctuary where the Arke of the Covenant the Tables of the Law the 10 Commandements c. were placed was divided from the outward Sanctuary by a second Vaile so must our Priests have a holy Chancell parted from the Church with Railes and within that Holy Holy Holy Sanctuary or Chancell where the Altar that glorious Sâ—at must stand enclosed with Rails to keep our laiks from aproaching to neer the Sacred Altar Thus much and twenty times more writeth Bishop Neales Chaplaine Duncon in justification of Altars and Altar cringings I wonder that none of you Bishops Deanes and arch-Deacons have taken this Duncon with his determination unto examination that it might be purged with fire as many better Bookes have bin I know some of you have seene it and perused it The learned Bishop of Lincolne in his Holy Table Name and thing writes that lately there came to his hands a certaine Determination concerning Altars a Treatise well Languaged but of poore stuffe poorâ— God knowes hungry and ragged nasty and scab'd and swarming with loathsome vermine as by Gods helpe I shall make manifest to the world hereafter if no man else will take it in hand 11. The Church of England commands that all Monuments of Idolâ—try and Superstition Images pictures paintings crosses Crucifixes Candlesticks c. be defaced and abolished that no memory of them remaine in walls windowes or elsewhere These I preached against and for preaching this truth I have bin persecuted by them who instead of defacing Images they have given them new faces bravely painted and guilded instead of abolishing them they have multiplied them and renewed their memory in