dissolute ignorant and erroneous men in the Ministry which swarme like the Locusts of Egypt over the whole Kingdome and will they but weare a Cononical Coate a Surplisse a Hood bow at the Name of Jesus and be zealous of Superstitious Ceremonies they may live as they list confront whom they please preach and vent what errours they will and neglect preaching at their pleasures without controule VII The discouragement of many from bringing up their Children in Learning the many schismes errours and strange opinions which are in the Church great corruptions which are in the Universities the grosse and lamentable ignorance almost every where among the people the want of preaching Ministers in very many places both of England and Wales the loathing of the Ministry and the general defection to all manner of profaneness VIII The swarming of lascivious idle and unprofitable Books and Pamphlets Play-books and Ballads as namely Ovids fits of Love the Parliament of Women came out at the dissolving of the last Parliament Barnes Poems Parkers Ballads in disgrace of Religion to the increase of all vice and withdrawing of people from reading studying and hearing the Word of God and other good Books IX The hindring of godly Books to be printed the blotting out or perverting those which they suffer all or most of that which strikes either at Popery or Arminianisme the adding of what or where pleaseth them and the restraints of reprinting Books formerly licensed without relicensing X The punishing and venting of Popish Arminian and other dangerous Books and Tenets as namely that the Church of Rome is a true Church and in the worst times never erred in Fundamentals that the Subjects have no propriety in their Estates but that the King may take from them what he pleaseth that all is the Kings and that he is bound by no Law and many other from the former whereof hath sprung XI The growth of Popery and increase of Papists Priests and Jesuites in sundry places but especially about London since the Reformation the frequent venting of Crucifixes and Popish pictures both engraven and painted and the placing of such in Bibles The multitude of Monopolies and Pattents drawing with them innumerable Perjuries the large increase of Customes and Impositions upon Commodities the Ship-monys and many other great burthens upon the Common wealth under which all groan XIII Moreover the Offices and Jurisdictions of Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Deanes Arch-Deacons being the same way of church-Church-Government which is in the Romish Church and which was in England in the time of Poâ—ery little change thereof being made except only the head from whence it was derived the same Arguments supporting the Pope which do uphold the Prelates and overthrowing the Prelates which do pull down the Pope and other reformed Churches having upon their rejection of the Pope cast the Prelates out also as Members of the Beast Hence it is that the Prelates here in England by themselves or their Disciples plead and maintain that the Pope is not Antichrist and that the Church of Rome is a true Church hath not erred in Fundamental points and that Salvation is attainable in that Religion and therefore have restrained to pray for the Conversion of our Soveraign Lady the Queen Hence also hath come XIV The great Conformity and likeness both continued and increased of our Church to the Church of Rome in vestures Postures Ceremonies and Administrations namely as the Bishops Rotchets and Lawn-sleeves the four corner'd Cap the Cope and Surplisse the Tippit the Hood and the Canonical Coat the Pulpit clothed especially now of late with the Jesuites badge upon them every way XV. The standing up at Gloria Patri at the reading the Gospel praying towards the East bowing at the Name of JESUS the bowing to the Altar towards the East Cross in Baptisme kneeling at the Communion XVI The turning of the Communion Tables Altar-wise setting Images Crucifixes and conceits over them and Tapers and Books upon them and bowing and adoring to or before them the reading of the second Service at the Altar and forcing people to come up thither to receive or else denying the Sacrament to them terming the Altar to be the Mercy-seat or the place of God Almighty in the Church which is a plain device to usher in the Masse XVII The Christening and Consecrating of Churches and Chappels the Consecrating Fonts Pulpits Tables Chalices Church yards and many other things and putting holiness in them yea reconsecrating upon pretended pretended pollution as though every thing were unclean without their Consecrating and for want of this sundry Churches have been interdicted and kept from use as polluted XVIII The Liturgy for the most parts framed out of the Romish Breviarie Retualium Masse-book also the Book of Ordination for Archbishops and Ministers framed out of the Roman Pontifical XIX The Multitude of Canons formerly made wherein among other things Excommunication ipso facto is denounced for speaking of a word against the devices abovesaid or subscription thereunto though no Law enjoyned a restraint from the ministry without such subscription and Appeal is denyed to any that should refuse subscription or unlawful conformity though be never so much wronged by the inferiour Judge also the Canons made in the late Sacred Synod as they call it wherein are many strange and dangerous devices to undermine the Gospel and the Subjects liberties to propagate Popery to spoyl Gods people insnare Ministers and other Students and so to draw all into an absolute subjection and thraldome to them and their government spoiling both the King and the Parliamant of their power XX. The countenancing pluriality of Benefices prohibiting of Marriages without their license at certain times almost half the year and licensing of Marriages without Banes asking XXI Prophanation of the Lords day pleading for it and enjoyning Ministers to read a Declaration set forth as it is thought by their procurement for tolerating of sports upon that day suspending and depriving many Godly Ministers for not reading the same only out of Conscience it was against the Law of God so to do and no Law of the land to enjoyn it XXII The pressing of the strict observation of Saints Dayes whereby great summes of Moneys are drawn out of Vens purses for working on them a very high burthen on most people who getting their living by their dayly imployments must either omit them and be idle or part with their money whereby many poor families are undone or brought behind hand yea mâ—ny Church-wardens are sued or threatned to be sued by their troublesome Minâ—sters perjured persons for not presenting their Parishioners who fayled in observing Holy dayes XXIII The great increase and frequencie of whoredomes and Adâ—lterers occasioned by the Prelates Corrupt administration of justice in such cases who taking upon them the punishment of it do turn all into monies for the filling of their purses and least their Officers should defraud them of their gain they have in their late
A SHORT VIEW OF THE Prelatical Church OF ENGLAND Laid open in Ten Sections by way of Quere and Petition to the High and Honourable Court of Parliament the several Heads whereof are set down in the next two pages Written a little before the fall of that Hierarchie about the year 1641. by Iohn Barnard sometimes Minister of Batcomb in Somerset shire Whereunto is added THE ANATOMY OF THE COMMON-PRAYER Printed in the year 1661. TO THE HONORABLE AND High Court of Parliament HIgh and Mighty Power under Soveraigne Authority Assembled for God for your King and Countrey We distressed throughout the Land do earnestly begge commiseration and pitie at your helpfull hands behold see and consider how it is with us and receive graciously our humble Petitions The wisdom of our God guide you make you also valiant for Truth and Right and give you Magnanimitie of Heart Unanimity of spirit to finish the Lords Work for Gods glory for the Churches peace the Kings safety the welfare of our Kingdom and Countrey SECTION I. OF the title of the Church and why it is called Prelatical SECTION II. Of the Principal persons in this Prelatical Church and their Dependents SECTION III. Of the meanes to support their Prelatical greatness SECTION IV. Of the Prelatical rule and Government and the ends thâ—y aiâ—e at SECTION V. Of the Prelatical visitations SECTION VI. Of the Prelatical Churches and the dependents on them SECTION VII Of the Prelatical Service SECTION VIII Of the Prelatical Ministry SECTION IX Of the Prelatical Convocation SECTION X. Of the great and manifold evils of these Prelatical governments A SHORT VIEW Of the Prelatical Church OF ENGLAND SECTION I. Of the title Church and why it is called Prelatical THe Church of England now so called is the Church of our Prelates and may be rightly termed the Prelatical or Hierarchical Church of England received from Rome the seat of Antichrist and set up here after the Protestants fell off from that Papal Church for it is framed of Prelates and also of a Prelatical Clergy and onely ruled by them Quaere Whether any such Church was in the Apostles dayes or any time shortly within 2 or 300. years after Whether any such Church be among any of the reformed Churches or any where else but under the Pope the Beast which hath two Horns like a Lamb but speaketh like the Dragon Rev. 12. Whether therefore it be guided by the Spirit of Christ or by the Spirit of Antichrist Whether God ever permitted any mortal men to frame a Church after their wisdom For when he gave 1. The Pattern for his Tabernacle to Moses Exod. 25.9 and 26.30 Heb. 8.5 2. The Pattern of his Temple unto David 1 Chron. 28.19 and vers 11 12 13. 1 King 6.38 3. The Pattern of the rebuilding of it to the Prophet Ezek. 43.10 11. He did not suffer Moses nor David nor Solomon nor the Prophet nor any after them to attempt such a thing Was he so carefull for the Type and shadow and not for the Antitype and substance Whether therefore a frame of a Church after an humane device may not be altered upon good reasons by lawfull power The humble Petition That it may be considered of HOw according to the Romish fashion by the name of Church 1 The Prelates understand onâ—ly themselves and as they call them their Clergy 2. That they seclude the Nobles and Gentry the whole house of Parliament the Vpper and Lower from being of their Church and so debar them from having any right to meddle in Church matters When the title of Church monopolized now to themselves is taken in Scripture of the new Testament either for the Ministers and people together Math. 16.18 Act 12.1 and 13.1 and 9.31 and 15 22. and 14.27 and so usually Or for the people distinct from Ministers Act. 14 23. where the people are called the Church before they had Pastors set over them when Paâ—ors and people are distinguished there the people are called the Church and not the Ministers the Ministers are said to be of the Church Rev. 18.2.1.8 The Churches dâ—nomination is from the people who also are the Lords clâ—rgy Pet. 5.3 the word in English is heritage in Latine cleri and in the Greek cleros There is much complaint touching Monopolies in another nature and justly but this is taken no notice of and yet this Monopolie is a mystery of mischiefs for by this name of the Church assumed to themselves They dâ—gnifie very greatly their Prelatical power as may appear by the â—o Article of Religion which they have corrupted from that it was at first set out in Anno 1561. and 1571. 2 They decree what they please without controle as is evident by their former and late Canons 3. They strike an awefulnesse in all sorts under the sacred name of Church When the Church representative ought to be gathered of both sorts as they be now distinguished of the learned and godly Laity as well as of he clergy Why should therefore the noble Lords and the christian Spirits of the Gentry lose the right into which the Holy Ghost by calling them and the rest of his Churâ—h hath invested you In former times Parliaments have confirmed Injunctions Ecclesiastical and our Service Book containing Gods worship matters of an high nature and wâ—y not will so And if the Nobles and Commons can claim so much as to ratisie the matters Ecclesiastical being concluded upon I hope it is by pernsal thereof before else how can they in judgement confirm them And if they have wisdom from God to confirm them made why may not some chosen men be appointed to consult with the convocation house about the framing of those things which are to be sâ—â—â—orth seeing they very much â—oncern all The Brethren in the great council at Jerusalem were not shut out while the Apostles and Elders came together to consider of a great controversie in Divinity and in making their decrees but when they were sent forth they passed under their own name and the name of the brethren also Act. 15.6.22 23. David consulted with the Laity as well as with the Priests and Levites to bring up the Ark of God 1 Chron. 1â— 1 2 â— Hezekiah concerning the keeping of the Passeover took counsell thereabout not with the Priests onely but with his Princes and all the congregation in Jerusalem 2 Chron. 30.1 2. This Monopoly was not then learned among Gods people nor among the holy Apostles in their dayes SECT II. Of the principal persons in this Prelatical Church and of their Dependents upon them I. Their two Provincials Archbishops THe one of the Province of York Metropolitan of England the other of Canterbury Metropolitan of all England Dependents of Canterbury 1. His Prince-like retinue 2. His Domestick Chaplains and the rest 3. Houshold Servants 4. All his Officers for temporalities and the Revenues thereof which are very great 5. All his Spiritual Officers under him which are these
Service Book as the Papists called it an Apish imitation of the Masse be well pleasing unto God Why we should uphold such a service which nourisheth a bare reading Ministry nusles people in ignorance and which no reformed Church have received to use Why is it not suffered to be reformed in such things as have been witnessed against from the beginning of reformation and for the reformation whereof many thousands have petâ—â—ioned many hundreds have been suspended deprived and imprisoned Why is it that no end will be put to the misery of such who are men of tender Conscience and do desire God knows to live in peace seeing now a whole Kingdom refuseth it and that with the danger of their utter undoing The humble Petition That such a Liturgy might be framed by godly and learned men thereto appointed as may be freed from corruption and cast into such a form as may have no resemblance to the Romish Service for by this Papists are but hardned and others offended fall away That nothing be allowed to be in Gods service which cannot be proved by some warrant out of Gods word for the Scriptures are a perfect Rule for any thing necessary either in substance or circumstances in and about the holy word of God If any doubt of this it shall be proved punctually to him That no Ceremony be ordained but what may be found to agree with all the Apostles Rules made for the use of things indifferent That the use of them be free and not rigorously imposed nor the failing otherwise of painful and peaceable men to conform in some things be more severely looked after and punished more sharply than the grosse enormities of their conformitant Priests SECT VIII Of the Prelatical Ministery THe conformitant Priests so they now are called which properly belong to this Prelatical Church and come from cursed Rome are these 1. All dumb Ministers of which there be yet in the Land â— or 3000. if not many more 2. All Pluralists of which there be very many in some Diocesse 30. in some 40 why should some have two other tot quotes when worthy men have not one 3. All Non-residents in Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches Prebendaries some Heads of some Colledges Domestick Chaplains 4. All Curates which are Vnder Pluralists Vnder Non-residents Vnder sâ—me idle Doctors and some other Parsons and Vicars Vnder Lay and impropriate Parsons the number of which are 3800. and odde in this Kingdom 5. Most of them idle Drones monthly and quarterly preachers or which preach perhaps once a year or not at all at home though it may be now and then abroad 6. All lewd and base Ministers as also the meer worldlings and Mammonists of which sort there be no fewer then some thousands 7. All Popishly affected and all Arminians may be added to these to make up these locusts under their King Abaddon and Apollyon Quaere Whether these be sufferable in any Reformed Church of Christ What care hath been taken hitherto to reform this so great wickednesse and mischief to Gods people How many thousands perish under these for lack of knowledge are their bloud of no price with men whom Christ hath purchased with his own bloud The humble Petition That there might be a speedy redresse concerning these so much spoken against and written against from time to time disallowed of God and all Christian Churches separated from the Church of Rome and not tollerable in Christ his Church where he is to reign by his own Word in his own Ordinances as he hath appointed SECT IX Of their Prelatical Convocation THis is a Provincial Assembly for the Province of Canterbury which consists of the Archbishop the President of all the other Bishops under him Deans Archdeacons with others and of the two Ministers chosen out of every Diocesse called the Clerks of the Convocation to the number of fourty and odde These Clerks should be chosen freely by the free publique consent and voice of all the Ministers in every Diocesse but the Prelates propound whom they list or like best for their purpose and do ask voices which are given to them of many through fear so as the choice is not free as it ought to be II. That which is intended to be done there is contrived and hammered in the head of the Archbishop and some few with him to which the rest of the Bishops do consent III. In the lower House the Priests Parsons and Vicars those Clerks sit there to gaze one on another and to tell the clock waiting for their Lessons from their Lords the Prelates There is no freedom of voices they dare not consult among themselves to promote the cause of Christ and to reform abuses The better sort are the fewest and are Either over-awed by the greatest Or born down by the worst So as they be made to consent unto the making of such Canons as they would not and these are thrust upon us as the constitutions of the Church of England when it s nothing so but of a stong faction of Prelates and their Adherents who set them forth and obtrude them upon us unjustly IV. The canons they make are many not a few of them to uphold their Praelatical authority and unapproveable courses many of them without warrant from holy Scripture Some of them against Scripture Some of them superstitiously Oeremonious Some of them blind Canons as these 1. Against Popery and superstition but they tell us not what Popery is what superstition is 2. Against Socinianisme but without declaring what that damnable heresie is almost every one of them needeth examination and to be rectified for the peace of Gods people and the Churches Edification Note moreover that in setting forth their so many canons there be none charged against Arminianisme that Semipelagian Heresie None against the Prelates themselves for their innovations and exorbitancies as if they could not erre nor ever do amiss Lastly before they break up they look not to have their canons ratified by Parliament as they ought but do make themselves as Clergy men only to be the Church and not any else in the Land with them to be Church which should not by godly wise men be digested V. After the dissolving of this their Convocation they presume 1. To make it a Synod without a new call and Summons 2. To give great summes out of all Parsons and Vicars purses under the name of a benevolence and yet rate every one at a certain summe as a subsidy and that under the penalty of deprivation and utter ruine of them that do not pay setting forth a book to this purpose which 〈◊〉 will that Lay men should not see VI. After some space of time 1. They collect Articles every Bishop in his Diocesse and every Archdeacon in his Archdeaconry out of those Canons which Articles they impose upon all Churchwardens and Side-men and by them to present upon oath Then if any thing happen to become questionable touching the Canons or other
things for and about their Church their Service and Ceremonies every Bishop in his Diocesse doth take upon him to give a sense and an interpretation as he pleaseth on which we must rest though it be never so absurd and not take the words as they be in the letter till there be another Convocation to decide the question and doubt arising as they ought to do And if men be not satisfied they labour to gain the help of Royal authority by some publique declaration to make good what they say and do and so lap up all under the authority of the Church Quaere Whether such a Convocation can justly be approved Whether such Canons coming forth are to be held the Canons of the Church of England Whether they be of all to be submitted unto before they be confirmed by Act of Parliament Why more Canons are added and not rather the other reformed Why they establish and countenance all their decrees so as if they were of an unchangeable nature ordained without errour and necessarily usefull ever and every where The humble Petition That his Majesty the noble Lords the worthy Commons of the house of Parliament would carefully see that the Convocation be gathered lawfully that voices be free therein without an over-awing power that nothing be there decreed but with a serioâ—s examination and full consent of the House and not be permitted to passe without an Act of Parliament for if this kind of Convocation and their such proceeding as have been be suffered to passe they will Lord it over us still and so the people of God then will never be in peace Oh consider how in the Parliament they have been prevalent over their equals and betters in the Convocation then they must needs domineer over all heir underlings on whom they can avenge themselves afterwards if they find any wisely and with courage to have affronted and cressed any of their intents and purposes SECT X. Of the great and manifold evils of these Prelatical Governours THey bear up themselves mightily by their Revenues and Baronries strengthning themselves in their pomp and in their pride to overtop whom they list They become as great Peers of the Land and sit in Parliament with them cheek by jole to affront all the Nobles of the Kingdom to bear down the House of Commons and perhaps to procure the dissolving of Parliaments to the great disturbance of the whole Kingdom and State They have raised up a bellum Episcopale to dash two Kingdoms one against another to the shedding of much bloud if God in mercy prevent it not They keep up a Romish Hierarchy among us full of corruption which they suffer not to be reformed They uphold the fore-named sinful Prelatical and Priestly Clergy so as those their Priests be conformable to all their Rites and Ceremonies they may in a manner live as they list and be supported against all those that shall attempt their reformation They are pleased with the peoples ignorance and their contentednesse resting in a long read Service without better instruction holding reading to be preaching and preaching no part of divine Service that so such silly people might be misled in grosse blindnesse perishing for lack of knowledge They suppresse Lectures and also Sermons in the afternoon and allow no questions in catechising but onely such as be in the very common Catechism much hindering increase of knowledge They will permit no Minister to preach nor to expound in his own Parish without paying for a License for which when he hath paid they never care whether he preach or no. They will allow none of the people to seek for instruction when they want it at home nor yet presse the Minister to the discharge of his duty but trouble others They never trouble any Minister for neglect of his duty in preaching But diligent preachers they have a jealous eye over and are ready to take an occasion to vex them as not for their turn They sinfully trouble thousands of Church-wardens and Side men making them swear to their Articles which cannot be observed They hinder prohibitions stop the courses of Law and terrifie both Lawyers and Judges They dare to fine and imprison without Law going beyond as Spiritual power yea and the Laws of our Land They have ever been plotting to ensnare Christs painful Ministers that they might root them out I. They have pressed upon them Subscription and Ceremonies and so cast out very many II. They have urged the oath ex officio and by this they have undone not a few III. They procured the reading of the declaration for prophaning the Lords day and hereby many were suspended excommunicated and some deprived IV When they saw that all these things would not bring to pass their intended mischief they lately framed a wicked oath to be tendred to all Gods Ministers which whosoever would not take should be suspended first after deprived Lastly to make up the measure of their evils they have illegally given a Subsidy to be extorted from under the name of a benevolence which who so shall refuse to pay is utterly undone according to their mercilesse decree in a Book published which now they are loath should see the light and be read of any judicious and religious Lay-men They are the cause of the division and separation among us by their Lordly rule by their rigorous exacting conformity and by their cruel dealing with such as do not obey their Lordly wills They suffer Papists and nourish Arminians in the bosom of their Church to the disturbance and danger of the true Church of Christ and this whole State They allow to vain people Revels heathenish vanities unchristian meetings and that on the Lords day to prophane it and have procured a Declaration for the reading of this licencious liberty in every Church in time of Divine service and such Ministers as refused they did suspend excommunicate and some they deprived the like never heard of in any Church of Christ They will have bowing to Altars and yet permit notorious offenders yea Theeves and Murt herers condemned if they have gotten pardons to come to the holy Sacrament before satisfaction be given to the congregation yea drunkards blasphemous Swearers infamous Adulterers and other vile persons may receive and not be debarred if they can satisfie their Courts and free themselves from thence though they do not manifest their repentance to the Congregation eating and drinking the holy Sacrament unworthily to their own damnation a prophaneness much to be lamented They hunt after Greatness and not for goodness but for gain and do withstand all good meanes of reformation and all the waies of redressing their corrupt courses much to the hindrance of the growth in Religion and walking with God Quaere Whether these evils are not such as may force all pious men to lay them to heart and to seek that they may be removed as farr as they are able to the utmost that we may be freed from
Book to inform thee of the Truth and as the Scripture saith if the Truth make us free we shall be free indeed THE ANATOMY OF THE COMMON-PRAYER-BOOK CHAP. I. The Preface AS Loyalty to King and Country is the very fortress and wall of Polity being Commanded and commended both by the Laws of God and nature so Pure and undefiled Religion James 1.27 is the Fountain and Rock of approved Loyalty yea equity charity sobriety and loyalty are the Virgin daughters of unspotted Piety as the foresaid place witnesseth we could be large in this Theme but wee hasten to the Particular the subject whereof is one of the weightiest Peeces that yet hath been presented namely The Service-book which notwithstanding the present surfeit of Books yet we hope it shall finde a place in the most serious and judicious thoughts we may well call it with the Comick Fundi nostri calamitas The overwhelming storm of the Purity of worship for as it is true No Ceremony no Bishop because the Ceremonies are the pitchy wings whereon they fly so it is as true that no Service-book no Ceremony for that is the Magazine of nimble Ceremonies Doctor Boyes in his Epistle Dedicatory to Richard Canterbury upon his Exposition of the Lyturgy complains heavily yet causelesly that the Lyturgy is crucified between two Malefactors on the left hand Papists on the right hand Schismaticks meaning Puritans both of these hee calls Foxes but by a just retortion wee shall set the saddle on the right Horse and shall make it appear that the Purity of Christ his worship in this Land hath long been crucified between two Theeves namley that Superstitious and Popish Liturgy and rank Atheism varnished with Superstition to whom wee may well apply that saying of Luther Praefat. in Com. in Gal. They are tied together by their tayls to do mischief though by their heads they seem to bee contrary and though wee have no time to run over the Common Places of Atheism and Superstition and to shew how like Pilate and the Superstitious Jews they concur to the crucifying of Christ in his Worship yet thus much the Scripture witnesseth and experience proveth and we humbly desire your Honours to mind it That all Superstition and the Purity of Gods Worship ever have been and shall be at continual wars and can no more dwell under one roof than a chaste Spouse and a Proud inveigling Strumpet or no more in one Temple than Dagon and the Ark. Geneca Superstitio est res insana Superstition saith one is a mad thing and so indeed it is for it is contrary to the wisdome of the Word and of the Spirit which are the ground and life of the Worship of God Superstitio est vitium contrarium Religioni Superstition is a sin opposite to Religion saith Aquinas which is very clear from the nature and rise of it Sere secund q. 92. Art 19 for as Religion is a worshiping of God according to his will Quisquis praeceptis Coelestibus obtemperavit is culior est Whosoever follows the Divine Precepts hee is a worshipper of God saith Lactant. but superstition carrying the very nature in the name of it Lib 6. c. 2 tels us that it is Supra statutum over and above the Statutes of God the word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if it should signifie the sear of the Devil and the signification suits very well with the nature of the thing for when a Man coyneth a Worship to himself he recedeth so far from the fear of God and whereas the Devil is the Author of all Superstitious worship whether it be of another God or of the true God after a way of self-device or will-worship then it may be truly called the fear of the Devil as the true Worship of the true God is notioned under the name of his fear this Superstition shutteth up the way to the Jews conversion and openeth the mouths of Atheisticall Gentiles against the Profession of all Religion in derision whereof Averroes speaks tauningly thus In Metaphys 12 Sit anima mea cum Philosophis quia Christiani adorant quod edunt Let my soul be with the Philosophers because the Christians adore that which they eat So may the Jews take occasion to say Let our souls be with the Old Ceremonies sith the Christians New Ceremonies are so foppish and ridiculous having no footing from the Word of God But to bring the charge to the Particular in hand if our Lyturgy be not a Mass of Superstition and Superstitious Ceremonies we profess we know not what Superstition is to instance it in one Particular namely in the grand Ceremony of Adoration or kneeling at the Sacrament hath it not been the staff and strentgh of that abominable Idol the breaden God and if the Masters of the Ceremonies disavow that opinion yet the Sermons and Writings of divers of them do testifie to their face how they go as far yea and farther than many Papists in that particular Lib. 36.12 De missa li. 2 c. 23.48 p. 242. As it is true that the current of Popish Champions do maintain the bodily Presence as Innocentius the Father of that Monster Bellarmine and Haiga the Expositor of the English Mass by changing and choping that Fiat corpus so divers of the Canterburian faction as himself Mountague Pocklington Lawrence agree with the Papists and Lutherans in this point namely concerning the Matter leaving the Manner as a Cabalistical Mystery devocibus dixi ne de missa quidem Antid P. 10. imo nec transubstantiationis certamen moverimus for words saith Mountague as the Mass yea or Transubstantiation it self Serm. P. 17 18. we will not contend I like not those saith Doctor Lawrence that say his body is not there and to explain himself he addeth Substantially Essentially not by way of Commemoration or Representation but should not this be their opinion since they act what they hold by a material Altar Priest and Sacrifice had not that Hydra of the Scottish Lyturgy made a greater Monster by the addition of some more heads and that very cunningly by the English Authors and sent out to take in the Church of Scotland had not that we say lost all the heads and had the brains dashed against the stones the aforesaid Authors made no question but that all the power of both Head and Tayl should have had room enough to domineer here in England the Pope having such a large Army both of Legionary and Auxiliary Forces to maintain it But blessed be God who brake the head of that young Dragon in our Neighbour Nation and wee hope will by you crush out all the blood of the old one here who was the Mother of that and the Masse-book the Mother of both There is a Proverb amongst the Naturalists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Except a Serpent eat a Serpent it cannot become a Dragon so except our Lyturgy had been full of Serpents it
Lord for so the word is in the number of multitudes to speak impartially we see no colour of way to evade this Proposition but by undertaking the defence of the Mass-book for as Mountague and others produced that their Service is the same in most things with the Church of Rome the differences are not great nor should they make any separation then a necessity is laid upon the Prelates and the rest Recusancy p. 1. either to defend the Mass so far to be the true worship of God against the truth and all Orthodox Writers or else to give up the Service-book to fall with the Original and though the Treatise will not give us leave to limne out the Mass in every piece patch'd up by divers Popes having given a specification of some parts of it most concerning our Liturgie yet will it not be amiss to lay down from the learned the first entrance of it into England and then to take off briefly the silly defence that the Papists seem to make for it To the former Augustine the Monk sent from Gregory called the Great for what we know not except for his grand devises of Will-worship his man Austin finding not all things for his tooth in France put over into England and there finding an ignorant King and a superstitious Queen there like the envious man he sows his corrupt seed of all Popish trumpery as Masses Letanies Processions Copes Vestments Altars Candlesticks Holy-Waters Consecrations c. Having like a Serpent deceived the People and as the Apostle saith corrupted their minds 2 Cor. 11.3 from that simplicity that is in Christ sore against the minds of the godly Lib. 1 and learned Preachers of the times yet to make them as Beda witnesseth add this condition which he never ment to keep that no man should be forced or constrained thereunto but having plaid the Wyly Fox in his entry to finish the work he had begun he took on the Lyons skin and being opposed by one Dinoth a great Divine who withstood him to his face in a publick Synode avouching that he ought not to change the ancient form of Religion neither would he acknowledge him for Arch-Bishop but the bloudy Prelate to be revenged on him incensed Etheldred King of Northumberland against him who murdered the Servant and Minister of God and twelve hundred Monks with him afterward about the Year 637. Pope John the fourth sends over Malitus Honortus Justus his Bandogs one after another to hold out and confirm the continuance of this dismal alteration as they might easily do once having got footing for Pompous superstition suits too well with corrupt nature then came in keeping of Easter after the Romish manner Lib. 18. cap. 14. de gest Ang. Ministers called Priests chanting and playing upon Organs with all which godly Beda his soul was grieved who vented his grief in this sad complaint heretofore instead of these things the principal Service of God consisted in Preaching Morney of the Masse Lib. 1.6.8 and Hearing of Gods Word Here we may observe for matter of Humiliation how easily Superstition finds entrance into England and how hardly it is rooted out that former Maledict Monk Banedict as they call him found so little entertainment in France that he made little stay there only stomacking that the Worship was not after the Romish Order he certified his Master by a grievous complaint who being more moderate than the Monk bid him take that which was good in every Church but England found that that would not serve him of whose Mass and Mischief it could never yet be rid It is also worthy your observing how he laid the Foundation of the Mass and established it in blood yea that See of Canterbury in him and his Successors hath been a See of Blood yea it is too well known that that cursed Mass whether Latine or English hath lived in blood and bathed in the blood of bodies souls and states as shall be more particularly manifested hereafter Sect Now for any thing that can be said in defence of this Idol the Masse-book it is not worth the citing and hath been more than abundantly refuted yet one touch for a taste and that upon Prayers because it is the Subject of our discourse we will shew you one place out of the Old Testament and another out of the New such as they make choice of to defend their Masse or Liturgy as they call it the place of the Old Testament is in Genis chap. 4. vers 26. the words are these Then Men began to call upon the Name of the Lord as there be diversity of thoughts upon the meaning of the words so Pertertus a Popish Fryer will have this the meaning that then they found out some set form or order of Prayer to gain footing forsooth to the Popish Liturgy but say it were so what would it make for them The Doctors of Doway are of the same opinion and fuller also in their words It is meant say they of Publick Prayer with observing some Rites and set form in a particular place dedicated to Divine Service Grant that that were the meaning as indeed it is not yet what would this make for them Would the faithful Prayers of the godly Patriarcks consirm or would they not rather confute the abominable Prayers of the Popish Masse The word Invocat in the first Language signifieth also to prophane though not so in this place for it suiteth not with the sense but if this were the sense then the Papists might well take a hint to parallel their unhallowed Masse which is nothing but an high prophanation of the Name of God The other place which I touch upon and which they do egregiously abuse as they do many more is from the New Testament 1 Tim. 2. vers 1. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanks-givings be made for all men out of which words of the Apostle the Rhemists make this deduction that the Prayers and Petitions of the Masse are deduced out of the Apostle his words producing or rather traducing the Fathers making them speak that for the Masse which they never meant the transcription of all the passages would be too tedious but let Master Cartwrights answer suffice First by way of Concession grant the Mass-book to have in it the same prayers that the Apostle commands will it therefore follow saith he that their prayers is the true service of God no more than the using or rather abusing of the words of Institution This is my body makes for the Justifying of Transubstantiation Inchanters and Charmers use many holy words in their Charms as they do with a piece of the first Chap. of S. Johns Gospel but it agravateth their sin This plea from good words is or hath been too frequent in the mouths of some Professors whom we desire to satisfie with this answer Again if their whole Liturgy or Service be here as they say where are