member of Christ a Saint or admit him as a brother amongst them in their praiers ministery contribution This is very strange diuinity to shut him out and yet to hold him in to cut him o◅f from the body yet to hold him of the body this may by logick be proued but yt neuer can be proued by Christs Testament Yet is there an other as strange a mysterie in the matter which I neuer learned in Christs Testament and that is ho◅ a member that is publikly cōuicted of and remaineth obstinate in opē sin should be shut out from the Table of y e Lord yet be receaued admitted as a member vnto the other ministe◅ie of the Church as to praiers contribution c. belike the other ministery praiers of the Church are not so holy as this supper y t such an offendor is held vnworthy to cōmunicate in therfore is shut out from the one but he is worthy inough for therfore is admitted vnto the other this is a strange censure a strange case as euer I heard of I had thought y t after the sin grew once publike being knowne dealt with by the Church if then such offenders remaine obstinate they had beene forthwith to be cut off cast out as dead withered branches not to be thus halfe shut out halfe kept in halfe cut off halfe remaine seperate frō the supper admitted to the ministery of the word praiers This is to make him halfe a brother halfe no brother halfe a christian halfe no christian But yet further seing this suspension is a publike censure of the Church for publike sin a seperation from publike exercises actions c. how chance yt is thus put in one mās power who by his absolute authoritie may keep back any one of the ◅locke from the Table of the Lord without the cōmandemēt yea the ◅riuitie of the whole church yet this me thinkes is the strāgest of al neuer heard of in y e church Testament of Christ. Christ hath giuen and committed his power to censure fault◅s persons as also the interest possession and gouernment of all officers actions to the whole Chur◅h I meane to euery such particular congregation and not vnto one particular special man aboue the rest or more then the rest Euery particular member of the Church hath like interest in the publike actions and ministery of the Church like power to censure the offences of the whole Church o◅ the greatest minister therof in due order and time as hath already in this treatise beene often plentifully proued and therfore cannot in this maner be kept backe by any one man as of his sole authority any more then they may keep back that man whatsoeuer he be I ◅peake not this to raise contentiō betwixt these where there ought to be loue and reuerence so much as to note out the popish pride of these pharisaicall Reformers that take vpon them to be Lords ouer the Church and this feast wherof if they were as good as they would be taken to be they were but seruants and guests at the best The Church yt self can neither receaue nor cast out a member as of themselues they doe yt by the power and commandement of Christ they must see faith profession therof before they receaue they must see sin obstinacie before they cut off vntil these be seene the whole Church nor all the men of the world haue not power to receaue or put by any one yf they doe the actiō is voide and the iudgment wrath of God resteth vpon them for that sin vntil they repent therof Likewise also when this profession of faith or this obstinacie in sinn is found in any then cannot the whole Church or all the men of the world keep out or keep in such without incurring the iudgment wrath abouesaid How great then is the sin iudgment of these popish Priests that not only pluck away the power of the Church from them but euen the power office of Christ from him and assume yt into their owne hands who thus dare innouate and abrogate Christs Testament reiect his wholsome excommunication as too rough bring in their deadly suspēsion in place therof and with that idol toole of that foolish shepheard smite keep out whome yt pleaseth them and as long as they list Their olde popish reason y t they bring from the power of the keies hath beene aboue refuted in y e discouery of their absolutiō proue◅ to be tied neither to the person or office of any man more thē to euery faithfull member seruant of Christ by the power of Gods word c. Yet haue I also sometimes read in some of their bookes of Church discipline as they tearme yt some other reasons for yt namely from y e law of seperation for vncleannes such as were defiled by y e dead by creeping vncleane things by issues c. were to absta◅e frō the Tabernacle for a season yea the Priest also vpon suspicion of leprie or other fowle disease might seclude such a one for certayne daies as we read in the bookes of the law plentifully frō whence they deriue both this power of the Pastor the censure of suspension I haue there read also or els my memorie greatly faileth me drawē frō Mat. 5. 23. 24. verses because he that had iniuried or offēded his brother was taught by our Sauiour Christ first to make satisfaction be reconciled thē to offer his gift c. that therfore such as had done wrong vnto or were not in charity with their neighbours are by the Priests to be kept from the Altar whervpon they inchanted offred their breaden God and now they popishly apply to the cōmunion table from hence draw their suspēsion But because I haue not their bookes with me would be loth any way to iniurie them or charge them falsly I will briefly shew the insufficiencie of these reasons and so proceed ◅asting to an end From those Leuitical lawes wherby the Priests secluded such as they suspected of vncleane diseases vntill proofe were made one way or other may no conclusion be drawen that therfore the Pastor now may suspend such as he suspecteth or rather knoweth to be infected with incurable deadly ◅bstinate sin from the communion board c. In the Leuiticall tabernacle y e priest◅ did nothing without prescript lawes there was nothing left to his discretion he had his certaine signes set him downe whervpon to seclude whervp on to pronounce cleane as also whervpon to pronounce vncleane But now vnder the Gospell where that priesthood and those lawes are quite taken away we haue now no such cōmandements of suspecting or suspending The causes heere of seperation are not bodily but spirituall not diseases of the bodie but diseases of the soule sinne which sinne when yt publikely appeareth obstinacy be added to the
the filthie do filthilie yet and let the iust do iustice yet and let the holie be sanctified yet Behold I come shortlie and my revvard with me to render vnto euerie one according as his worke shalbe Apoc. 22. 11. 12. SEing we haue receaued a most sure word of the Lord our GOD It behoueth vs to geue heede thervnto as vnto a light that shineth in darke places whiles we trauell in the dangerous wildernes of this world In which word the whole wisdome and conncells of GOD for our direction and instruction in all thinges are fully reuealed vnto vs. So that now we are not to say in our heartes who shall goe vp for vs to heauen and bring yt vs or who shall goe ouer the sea bring yt vs cause vs to heare yt that we may obey yt For loe yt is neere vs euen in our mouth in our heart and set before our eies for to do yt the sound of the Gospell hauing beene long since caried forth through al the Regions of the whole earth So that no nation â—…halbe excused which will not serue obey vnto the Gospell of our Lord IESVS CHRIST which being proclaimed with his owne blessed mouth sealed with his owne heart blood writteÌ„ with the pen of the holy Ghost deliuered incommended by his holy Apostles Prophets vnto vs all posterities as his last wil Testament wherunto nothing may be added nothing diminished aâ—…tered or changed violate or wilfully neglected according to fleshly wisdome or vvorldly pollicie without most heinous transgression sacriledge and impietie For as all degrees of men without respect or exception of any person are bound vnto the same as vnto the Scepter of our soueraigne Lord IESVS CHRIST who is King ouer all blessed for euer Amen so shall all men in particular be iudged by the same of all things done in this mortall life Neither hath any Angel in heauen any mortall man no nor the whole Church power or prerogatiue to alter or neglect the least iote or title therof But GOD hath especially coÌ„mitted these holy oracles to the carefâ—…l custody of the Church there to be inuiolably preserued as in the side of the Arke purely taught expounded deliuered without corrupting mixing hiding obscuring peruerting wresting there to be precisely obserued with all reuerence and feare without any willing or knoweÌ„ transgression or swaruing either to the right hand or to the left of the whole Church or any member therof And heervnto is the whole Church and euerie particular member therof both iointly and seuerally bound both because they haue all of them interest in the tree and riuer of life all are bound to the maintenance of the faith which is giuen is coÌ„mon to al Sainctes and because they are all of them the members of CHRIST and togeather his bodie each others meÌ„bers in him Therfore are they so often by the Apostles charged stirred vp to exhort edifie and admoniâ—…h one an other to staÌ„d vpoÌ„ the watch-towre of their faith to scowte and obserue them diligently which cause diuisions offences coÌ„trarie to the doctrine which they haue learned to trie the spirites to examine the doctrine whether any man teach otherwise coÌ„sent not vnto the wholsome wordes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST to the doctrine which is according to godlines Many waightie and graue reasons are added to induce them to be the more vigilant 〈◊〉 the doctrine being likened to the light of the eies to the food yea to the life of the foule as also error corruptioÌ„ resembled to daâ—…knes leauen poison c. Moreouer such teachers to false and deceitful workmeÌ„ blind vnfaithful guides to greeuous rauening wolues to thieues murtherers c. what counterfeit titles â—…heepes clothing soeuer they take and get ynto them yet the holy Ghost speakes euidently euerie where warneth that these builders shal destroie the Temple of God vvhose howse and workâ—… vve are c. these guides shall seduce mislead vs in the waies of death destruction these thieues and vvolues shal spoile murther vs. Now by how much these goods are spiritual this death of the soule by so much are they more carefully to be auoided shuÌ„ned eschewed Therfore our sauiour CHRIST his Apostles as they were most vigilant faithful ministers did both preuent and foresee diuers dangers great euils to come so gaue they verie earnest and often warnings hereof vnto the disciples vnto the Churches coÌ„manding the porter yea euerie seruant of the house to watch to beware to take heed shewing them that manie false CHRISTES should arise many false prophets shewing great signes woÌ„ders wherby to deceaue if yt were possible the verie elect He fore told them of Antichristes original increase exaltation how he should be haue himself vvhat hauock he should keâ—…p in the Church of God as also of the general defection euen of the verie beginning therof How immediatly after the tribulation of those daies namely the destruction desosatioÌ„ of the earthly material 〈◊〉 the Sunne shoud be darkned the moone should not giue her light the starrs should fal from heauen the powers of heauen should be shaken and thâ—… beauâ—…ie therof wrapped vp as a scroule that the whole world should be drowned in sensualitie and securitie as in the daies of NOAH because iniquitie shalbe increased faith scarse found vpon the earth at his coming So that if those daies should not be shortned there shoud no flesh be saued Yâ—…t that al these things must should vndoubtedly come to pass he shewed yt by the nearer thinges namely the destructioÌ„ of Ierusalem the temple there c. as also confirmed yt by the truth stedfastnes of his word shewing how the heauen earth should passe away but his wordes should not passe away neither should this generatioÌ„ passe vntil al these thinges were fulfilled Of these things the Prophets spake before though more darkly as a far off by diuers types as Isa. 14. 13. 14. Naâ—…um 3. 4. 5 6 7. Daâ—… 9. 27 â—…lso Isa. 13. 10. â—…4 4. Ezek. 32. 7. Ioel 2. 31. 3 14. 15. But the Apostles gaue much more euident plaine warning of these things chiefly they that liued longest and came nearest to these times As the Apostle Paul to the Elders of Ephes ' Act. 20. 29. 30. 31. in al his Epistles pleâ—…tifully the Apostle Peter in his 2. Epistle 2. 3. Chapt. The Apostle Iude Ihon in al his Epistles but especially in that heauenly Book of the Reuelation vvherin he most liuely describeth these thinges euen from the original in seueral visions according to the seueral times y t should ensue vvherin he sheweth the happy estate of the Church whiles Gods glorious throne was in the midst
the daies of GIBBEA not one sownd part from the crowne of the head to the sole of the feet but all ful of woundes swellinges old putrified sores which cannot be bound vp or cured iniquitie hauing brokē in and ouerflowed the vvhole land and euerie place therof euen as the raging sea which cannot be stopped There is no faith no mercie no knowledg or feare of God in the land by swearing lying killing stealing whoring they breake out and blood toucheth blood they ◅bhor iudgment peruert all equitie they turne iustice into gall and the fruit of righteousnes into wormwood T◅uth falleth in the streetes equitie cannot enter the heades iudg for ◅ewardes the priestes teach for hire the Prophets prophecie for money the people are incorrigible such as cannot brooke nor endure vvholsom doctrine but get vnto them after their owne lustes an heap of teachers which may prophecie to them of vvine and strong drink c. They al hate persecute him that rebuketh in the gate they abhor him that speaketh vprightly They prosecute vvith mortal hatred him that runneth not to the same excesse and sinne with them and he that refraineth from euil maketh himself a pray and is spoiled of all men All the lawes of GOD are heere broken and reiected both of the first and second table both of the ecclesiasticall and ciuile estate and of euerie particular person in both both in the worship of GOD and in ciuile iustice and conuersation all things being innouate in both according to the lustes and pleasures of men the law and word of GOD being quite reiected and cast aside as may appeare if the estate either of the Church or common welth be examined or tried by the word of GOD. The particuler defaults wherof in their customes lawes trialls pleadings iurisdiction orders decrees c. are well nigh infinite And what then are the enormities that ensue therof to euerie estate degree and person This need no other demonstration then the general excesse pride superfluitie couetousnes rapine crueltie deceit malice debate inordinate affections vnbridled lustes dissolutnes disobedienc◅ c. which are found most rife euē in all estates degrees amongst them Neither hath all kind of sinne and wickednes more vniuersally raigned in any nation at any time then heere at this present in this land where all are receaued into the Church all made members of CHRIST All these sinnes and many more abhomina◅ions which a Christian heart abhorreth but to think or speak of are amongst them vvinked a◅ tollerated excused couered and cured with the Gospel preached and their holy sacramentes All this people with all these manners were in one daye with the blast of Q. Elizabeths trumpet of ignorant papistes and grosse idolaters made faithfull Christianes true professors vpon vvhome these hungrie priestes like rauening vvolues and greedy foxes flew to diuide the pray some getting them the roomthes of Arch-bishops others caught Bishoprickes others caught Deanries arch-Deaconries fat parsonages some more some fewer as their estimation and frendes were They being thus installed and their mouthes stopped with these fat morsels the world by this time was well amended with them There was no neede to gather a people to the faith by preaching of the Gospell neither to set the holy gouernment of CHRIST ouer such as were called to the faith All was now well enough ◅er the people had receaued this ministerie after their Portuise was translated from latine into english the supremacie from the Sea of Rome to the Sea of Canterburie And after these Pseudo martyres and runneaway professors had tasted the sweetnes of ◅his rost and pleasantnes of these roomths and were once warme ◅n their nestes then forgate they all their former peregrination ◅nd deuowred the vowes they then made seking now to fortifie ◅nd establish their owne and not CHRISTS kingdome And to this ◅nd they inuented obteined and erected their blasphemous high Commission in stead of the Spanish inquisition where they gate ◅ower ouer all causes and persons ecclesiasticall to make or abro◅ate what lawes they list and to impose them vpon the whole Church which is the whole land to molest cite fetch vp examine ◅mprison and fyne whome they list as long as they list as much as ◅hey list w◅hout controlement or any redresse though their pro◅eedings be expresly contrarie preiudicial and repugnant vnto the Crowne and prerogatiue royal vnto the great charter and lawes of ◅he land as were not hard to shew if any eare might be giuen ◅herunto Thus being enthronized they shew themselues playnly in their colours both in establishing most of the Popes cannons and in adding new as ill of their owne still re◅aine further power to make more at their pleasures which howsoeuer they cannot nor dare ◅ot iustifie by the word yet will they maintaine them by the sword vvhich sword they now draw forth against CHRISTES most faith◅ull seruantes that vvill no◅ bow downe nor vvorship their beastly ◅uthoritie but stand for the maintenance of the faith once giuen vnto the sai◅tes and for the free and sincere practise of CHRISTES holy Testament vvhich faith Testament and people of GOD these accursed Apostataes with most deadlie hatred and hostilitie persecute and seeke to suppresse by all exquisite tyrannie closing and mving vp the bodies of them in the most noisome places of the most vile prisons somtimes ◅ot wi◅hout yrons and blowes in stead of Argumentes and perswasions railing blaspheming and slandering both the holy truth and the witnesses therof vvith their poisoned heretical lying bookes pamphlets libells vvhich the Dragon like a flood casteth out of the mouth of his false Prophets after the Church yet dare they not once produce them to any triall or answere knowing in their bad consciences that their ill dealings may not endure the light and therfore seeke they by all subtill and forceible meanes to suppresse the same limiting and prohibiting their priestes not to meddle vvith the reproofe of anie thing by publike authoritye established c. And such as vvill not be thus nurt◅ed they inclose vp by their sole ◅ommandement in close and strait prisons neuer letting them to escape out of their handes vntill they be brought out vpon the beere Thus fulfil they the measure of their predecessors shed the blood of the righteous make opē war against CHRIST and his G◅spel cast the Sonne and heire out of his house and vvil not susfer him to reigne there by his owne officers and lawes but take his inheritance vnto them with his scepter and al his roial rites and prerogatiues into their handes shewing themselues in the temple of GOD as GOD erected newe lawes newe ordin◅ces a newe ministerie newe worship newe orders forme of gouernment as shalbe shewed hereafter Now vnto this their apostatical bloody throne antichristian power and vnto al the abhominations proceeding from the same standeth
al the land both great and small rich and poore priest and people in most seruile subiectioÌ„ therfore in this estate cannot be held or numbred among Christes faithful seruantes vvhich are fully redeemed by the price of his pretious blood from al these bondages and intanglementes vvhich they by a shew of volunâ—…arie religion and counterfeit holines vvould impose vpon mens consciences Neither may such be held the seruaÌ„tes of CHRIST vvhich stand subiect vnto his enimie Antichrist beare his yoke receaue his ministerie vvares c. or vvhich contend not for the maintenance of the true faith for the sincere practise of the Gospel with freedome in al patieÌ„t maner vnto the death suffring rather anie thing then themselues to be defiled with his abhominations How then should this people as they generally stand in the publique estate of this land in this subiection to Antichrist in this idolatry sacriledg al kind of excesse and sinne euen in al degrees without repentance faith obedience knowledg be receaued held or esteemed the redeemed called faithful free obedient louing subiects and people of the Lord or how may CHRISTES true faithful seruantes haue any spirituall communion or fellowship with them in thys estate vvithout open sacriledg most hainous impietie and high profanation of the holy things of God For if into the material temple no profane or polluted person might enter and osfer vntill he had imbraced the faith and beene clensed from his filthines how much more ought this profane ignorant vnholy wicked disobedient rowte be kept out of the Church of CHRIST froÌ„ al intermedling with the holy things of GOD which in this estate belong not vnto them But as these vngodly priestes of these times haue entred and do administer vnto this profane people for the lucre of their goodes tithes wages hire so waÌ„t not these Balaams sundrie diuelish shiftes and cauils for the maintenance of their doinges least by this doctrine their portion should be reprooued their vantage for diuining cease as also their sinne and shame be made manifest Amongst an heape of their forged excuses they set this for doctrine in the fore â—…ront THAT vvhere â—… Christian Prince is vvhich maiâ—…taineth the Gospel and â—…he whole land or estate not resisting this commandement reueâ—…enceth the word sacrameÌ„tes there the whole multitude of such â—… land or state are without doubt to be esteemed and iudged a true Church This reason they confirme not with any proofes of the â—…cripture but by M r. CALVINS authoritie who giueth these reasons â—…herof because saith he yâ—… is certaine the word and sacramentes â—…re not without fruit and that by this meanes vnitie is preserued to â—…he vniuersall Church Touching the person of the Author alledged I gladly acknowledg â—…im a painful and profitable instrument in the thinges he saw and â—…imes he serued in yet not without his manie errors ignorances â—…specially touching the planting gouernment and ordering of the Church of CHRIST And no meruaile for being so newly escaped out of the smoky fornace of poperie he could not so sodeinly see or attaine vnto the perfect beawtie of Sion But seeing my hope is GOD hath pardoned all his errors c. my purpose is not with these wicked men to reuiue and broach them a fresh or make them preâ—…identes and by them take boldnes to commit the like or worse ofâ—…ences nor yet to discouer NOAH his shame and nakednes So also concerning matters of faith would I be loth to build vpon or be â—…ressed by the doctrines and examples of men the best wherof we â—…ee to be subiect to their errors and faults For as faith only beleeueth and resteth vpon the holy word of God so are we by the same to examine al the doctrines and doinges of men yea of the vvhole Church and accordingly to approue or refuse the same Touching this doctrine then that a Christian Prince which publisheth and maintaineth the Gospell doth forthwith make all that realme which with open force resisteth not his proceedinges to be held a Church to whome an holy ministerie and sacramentes belong without further more particular and personal trial examination confession c. This doctrine we find by the word of God to be most false corrupt vncleane dangerous pernicious doctrine contrarie to the whole course practise and lawes both of the old newe Testament breaking at once al Christian order corrupting poisoning al Christian communion fellowship sacrilegiously profaning the holy thinges of God First we know that no Prince or mortal man caÌ„ make any a member of the Church they may by their godly gouernment greatly help further the Church greatly comfort the faithful aduance the gospel c. But to chuse or refuse to cal or hardeÌ„ that the eternal and almightie ruler of heauen and earth keepeth in his owne handes and giueth not this power vnto any other This also vve know that whome the Lord hath before al worldes chosen them â—…e wil in his due time and meanes cal by his word and whome he â—…alleth them he sealeth with this seale to depart from iniquitie to beleeue and lay hold of CHRIST IESVS as their alone sauiour to honour and obâ—…y him as their annointed King Priest Prophet to submit théselues vnto him in all thinges to be reformed corrected gouerned directed by his most holy vvord vowing their faithful obedience vnto the same as yt shalbe reuealed vnto them By this faith confession profession euerie member of CHRIST from the greatest vnto the least without respect of persons entereth into standeth in the Church In this faith haue all the faithfull congregations in the world and true members of the same bodie fellowship communion each with other and out of this faith haue the true seruantes of GOD no fellowship no communion with any congregation or member how florishing titles or faire shewes soeuer they make heere in the flesh None as hath beene prooued vncircumcised or polluted in flesh might enter into the temple or tast of the passouer or other sacrifices how neere soeuer they were in consanguinitie affinitie or subiection In King DAVIDS time the Edomites Moabites Ammonites Philistims were brought vnder obedience subiection yet were none of them admitted into the temple c. but such as imbraced the faith King HEZEKIAS and IOSIAH two famous godly Kings after they had rightly reformed the corrupt estate admitted none to the passouer but such as purified sanctified themselues according to the law The like we reade of the children of the captiuitie after they had finished the temple set the priests in their order thâ—… Leuites in their courses c. they keâ—…t the passouer together with all such as had seperated themselueâ—… vnto them from the fiilthines of the heathen of the land to seeke the Lord GOD of Israel These
hidden amongst the opeÌ„ wicked vngodly as 〈◊〉 few graines of wheate lie in a great heape of chaffe c. Then â—…hich doctrine nothing can be deuised more vncleane corrupt â—…r more vnworthy the Church of CHRIST as breaking all the orâ—…inances and lawes of GOD at once and vtterly subuerting defiâ—…ng all Christian communion c. vvhich doctrine as yt is directly â—…ontrarie vnto the whole course of scriptures both for the entrance â—…to the Church and for the order conuersation in the Church 〈◊〉 can no place of scripture be applied to the vpholding and confirâ—…ation therof without vnsufferable falsifying and violent wrasting â—…e same As for this place Maâ—…hew 3. 12. yt no more prooueth this docâ—…ine then the others out of Math. 13. for here Mathew rather recorâ—…eth the conclusion of Ihon the Baptistes sermon doctrine then â—…ny way describeth the estate of the established Church of CHRIST 〈◊〉 the 11. and 12. verses shewing the incomparable excellencie of CHRISTES person and ministerie in respect of his also in the same â—…ewing the diuers effectes of Christes coÌ„ming vnto such as looked â—…or him vvho as they vvere of two sortes so had they seuerall sucâ—…esse The one sort he baptised the other he consumed with fire â—…he one sort he fanned fifted purged fined and preserued as wheat â—…nd siluer the other with the same fanne and fornace he â—…scattered â—…nd burnt vp as chaffe drosse The humble poore of the flock â—…vhich gaue eare to the voice in the wildernes which confessed â—…epented their sinnes and made strait his pathes receaued Ihons â—…aptisme those he receaued fed kept c. but those proud Phaâ—…isies learned Scribes and carnal Saâ—…uceis which thought themâ—…elues in a perfect estate and despised the councel of God against â—…hemselues and would not be baptised of Ihon those when the â—…ESSIAH also came despised and contemned him and therfore he â—…ut them off in one day yea his day was vnto them darknes and not â—…ght c. But now which way should this fowle vncleane barn-floore thus pestered ouerspred with chaffe be likened almost without blaâ—…phemie vnto y e holy Church of Christ rightly planted established gouerned according to his holy will testameÌ„t where as hath beene said all the people that enter are receaued there are chosen redeemed called out of the world from amongst the heathen Saintes by calling partakers of the same pretious faith glorious hope humble obedient louing sheepe And therfore is y â— church likened to a sheepfold which is both watched and defended to keepe out the wild beastes the wolfe and litle foxes vnto a garden shut vp welspring inclosed an orchyeard vineyard walled where al the plantes are natural sweet incense trees pomgranate al sweet fruit trees Myrrhe Aloes cynnamon with trees of chief spices Heere entereth no Cananite or profane person but euerie vessel shalbe cleane holy as bowles before the Altar c Furthermore eueÌ„ in the material temple there were ash-pannes besoms to sweep carry out al dust filth And euen in euerie barn-flore the husbandman hath his flayle his fanne his syue to tresh his wheat out of the eare to purge yt from the chaffe to seuer yt from darnel tares c. which labour if he should slack he should haue no vse of his wheat he should haue no cleane nor wholsome bread And how much more shal our heauenlie husbandman purge his seed his wheat from such reprobate chaffe giddy darnel before he receaue them into one loafe set them at his heauenly table They canot be a newe lump vnto him except they be purged from the old leuen of maliciousnes wickednes The seruantes of God can neither build the Church nor ioine in any spiritual actioÌ„ with the profane nor with such counterfeit professors as the Samaritanes nor with such bastardy false seede as that of MOAB of ASHDOD c. There may be no misseline or seedes of diuers kinds soweÌ„ in the Lordes â—…ield The God of heauen and earth requireth vnto himself a holy seed he will be sanctified of all that draw neere vnto him for euen our God is a consuming fire How then dare any admit those the Lord shutteth out of his Church or how dare they mingle and ioyneth such reprobate knowen chaffe cockle tares darnel with the Lordes wheate wittingly and wittingly which the Lord with fanne syue purgeth seuereth casteth out of his barn-flore much lesse receaueth not into his granarie But how far is their ignorant rashâ—…es or rather presumptuous boldnes proceeded which not only receaue into retaine in their Church fellowship these heapes of the wicked opeÌ„ vnworâ—… euen all the profane multitude al sortes of people that are found within their territories and iurisdiction without respect of person but euen thrust them vpon Christ whether he will or no and make him an high Priest Prophet vnto them administring vnto them and their seed the holy thinges of God as baptisme the Lordes supper Is not this to mingle heauen and earth ligh darkâ—… or â—…hat higher sacriledge can be committed shal these places thus â—…rasted falsified hide diminish their sinns or rather not agraâ—…ate make manifest their error wickednes By what sober conâ—…truction or almost coÌ„mon sense can this place Math. 3. be vnderâ—…tood of the planted and rightly ordered Church of Christ or how â—…ay such a Church be compared to a flore where in a great heape â—…f chaffe a few graines of wheate lie hid and buried we read in the â—…criptures that the righteous shall shine as starrs in the Church of God yet I willingly acknowledge that there can in this life be no wheate so pure which hath not both chaffe branne c. but that â—…n an other sense only I would know of these men that thus grossly â—…iken the Church of God what difference we may put betwixt the â—…orld and their Church In the world in deed the children of God â—…hal for a season be mingled remayn amongst the profane wicked vntil the time of their visitation calling but after they haue once giuen obedience vnto the voice of Christ then forget they forsake their old conuersation companie haue no longer felâ—…owship with the vnfruitful workes of darknes but are renned in â—…ighteousnes holines and true knowledg after the image of him that called them out of darknes into his merueilous light c. But to couer cure al this confusion disorder al this sacrilegious profanatioÌ„ portsale of the holy thinges of God al other mischeifes enormities amongst theÌ„ as also to stop the mouthes to terrifie al such as find fault with reprooue these thinges or depart from amongst them where
they keep an holy feast abstaine from laâ—…our c. Moreouer by this Book are the priestes to administer their â—…cramentes by this Book to Church their women by this Book to â—…arry by this Book to visit housle the sick by this Book to burie the â—…ead by this Book to keâ—…p their Rogation to â—…ay certaine Psalmes and â—…raiers ouer the corne and grasse certayne gospels at croâ—…sewaies c. â—…his Booke is good at al assaies yt is the only Book of the world He 〈◊〉 can but orderly distinctly reade this Booke may get a liuing by 〈◊〉 It is no maruaile though they be sworne to and by this Booke â—…any great thinges might be said of this Book how yt was made by â—…ertayne learned Bishops afterward godly Martyres and how some â—…f the Martyres vsed part of yt as the Letany the night before 〈◊〉 suffered c. Well vvho translated yt vve vvill not contend For â—…e thing yt self yt is euident to be abstracted out of the Popes blasâ—…hemous MASSE-BOOK and how consonant yt is vnto the word of â—…od remaineth to be examined and shall through Gods grace by the â—…iscussing of some particular pointes though not of euerie singular erâ—…or for that were an endles labour apeare so shall neither the marâ—…yres vse coÌ„mend nor our dislike condemne but Gods word be Iudge â—…f all To let passe therfore what in times past this Book hath beene and â—…ow yt hath beene vsed either by the Pope or those Bishops vve find â—…t now to be the very ground worcke of their faith Church and miâ—…isterie in place to them of the vvord of God as from whence they â—…etch all their direction for all thinges yea herein aboue the word of â—…od in that from hence they fetch not only their rules wherby to doe â—…hinges but eueÌ„ the verie things themselues that they do as their Leiâ—…ourgies c. So far is this Book froÌ„ being subiect to the word of God as â—…t in al things ouerrulâ—…th the word of God dismeÌ„breth rendeth corâ—…upteth peruerteth abuseth yt to their stinted Mâ—…tteÌ„s Euensong to theiâ—… dayes fastes feastes c. yea the word of God mâ—…y not be taught buâ—… where this book hath first beene read and hath had the preeminence This booke in their Churches must haue the soueraintie yt may not be gainsaâ—…ed or controld or if yt be the word of God must giue plaâ—…e that priest called corâ—…m nobis lessoned and scholed if he wil not be conformable depriued of his priestdome if he be found stout or conâ—…macious theÌ„ is he cast into prison to coole him vnâ—…il his stomake comâ—… downe that he make sute vnto his Grace or some other L. Bishop hiâ—… Ordinarie and enter bonde to be conformable or silent Moreouer this booke in that yt standeth a publike prescript continued Leiturgy not as yet to come to the particulars or meddle with the blasphemous contentes therof but to speake generally of yt as if 〈◊〉 were the best that euer was deuised by mortal man yet in this place vse being brought into the Church yea or into any priâ—…ate house 〈◊〉 becometh a detestable idol standing for that yt is not in the Church oâ—… God consciences of men namely foâ—… holy spirituall and faithfuâ—… prayer yt being nothing lesse but rather abhominable and loth somâ—… sacrifice in the sight of God euen as a dead dogg Now vndâ—…r the law might neither any corrupt or any vnlawful sacrifice with any seene blemish be offred at the Altar nether any part of any beast â—…hough whilâ—… yt liued neuer so sufficient being slayne before yt be brought vnto 〈◊〉 Altar yt was abhomination vnto the Lord. Euerie sacrifice must be brought quick new vnto the Altar there be sâ—…ayne everie morning and euening how much more in this spiritual Temple of God wheâ—… the offringes are spiritual and God hath made al his seruantes Kings priestes to offer vp acceptable sacrifices vnto him through 〈◊〉 CHRIT who hath thervnto giueÌ„ them his holy spirit into their hearts to helpe their infirmitâ—…es and â—…each them to crie ABBA Father Hoâ—… much more hath he which ascended giueÌ„ graces to thoâ—…e his seruanâ—… whome he vseth in such high seruices to the repairing of the Sainâ—… the worke of the ministerie and the edification of the Church vnto whome God vseth theÌ„ as his mouth the Church againe on the othâ—… side vseth them as their mouth vnto the Lord. Shall we think thâ—… God hath any time left these his seruantes so singly furnished destitute of his grace that they cannot find words according to their necessities faith to expresse their wantes and desires but need thus to be taught line vnto line as children new weaned from the brestes what when to say how much to say and when to make an end to say thâ—… collect at at the beginning that at the end that before the tother afteâ—… this in the morning that at after noone c. How like children or raâ—…her like mas king fooles are these great clarkes dressed shew they nâ—… hereby that either they haue no faith or elâ—… are such infantes as 〈◊〉 haue more need to be fed theÌ„ to diuide the portioÌ„ vnto others Knoâ—… they trow we what praâ—…er or the spirit of God meaneth Praier I take 〈◊〉 be a confident demanding which faith maâ—…eth thoâ—…ow the holy 〈◊〉 â—…ccording to the wil oâ—… God for their present wantes estate c. How now can any read prescript stinted Leitouâ—…gie which was penned many yeares or daies before be said a powring forth of the heart vnto the Lord or those faithful requestes whâ—…ch are stirred vp in them by the holy Ghost according to their present waÌ„tes estate of their heartes or church vnlesse they can say that their heartes church stand in â—…he same estate now so still to their liues end shal continue without â—…ither further increase or decrease change or alteration as they did â—…hen yea that their childers children shal also so continue to whome â—…hey leaue and incommend this Leitourgie vnto the worldes end What 〈◊〉 strange estate is this that alwaies thus standeth at a stay The way of â—…he righteous Solomon saith shineth as the light that shineth more â—…nd more vnto the perfect day as on the contrarie the way of the â—…icked is as the darknes they know not wherin they shall fall Our Sauiour Christ saith that if we gather not we scatter The Apostle 〈◊〉 willeth the new borne babes to desire the sincere milke of the â—…ord that they may grow therby vntil they come to the measure of â—…he age of the fulnes of Christ saith the Apostle Paul Now then if â—…hey their church increase not in the measure of knowledg grace â—…olines c. yt is an infallible signe that they haue not the Spirit of God If thâ—…y do increase why
then is not God serued with his owne â—…est gifâ—…s Is not the iudgment of the Prophet then vpoÌ„ them which â—…aith Cursed be the deceiuer which hath in his flock a male yet voweth and â—…acrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing Is this old rotten Leitâ—…urgis their new songs they sing vnto the Lord with and for his graces May fuch old written rotten stuffe be called â—…ier the odours of the Saintes burnt with that heauenly fire of the â—…ltar the liuely graces of the spirit c. may reading be said praying â—…ay such apocrypha trumperie be brought into the church os God there be read reuerenced receaued as the sacred word of God â—…hrust vpon mens consciences yea vpon God himself whether he wil oâ—… no Is not this presumptuously to vndertake to teach the Spirit of God to take away his office which as hath beene said instructeth â—…l the children of God to pray eneÌ„ with inward sighes grones 〈◊〉 giueth both wordes vtteraÌ„ce yea as the Apostle 〈◊〉 â—…th we need no other teacher to these thinges then that annoinâ—…ing which we haue receaued and dwâ—…lleth in vs. Is not this if â—…hey wil haue their written stuffe to be held vsed as praier to bind â—…he holy Ghost to the froth leaueÌ„ of their lips as yt were to the holy â—…ord of God Is it not vtterly to quench extinguish the Spirit of God both in the ministerie people whiles they tye both theÌ„ God â—…o â—…heir stinted numbred praiers Is this the 〈◊〉 vnisormitie that ought to be in al Churches â—…s amongst al Christes seruantes to make them agree in a stinking 〈◊〉 diuisâ—…d apocrypha Leituâ—…gie good for nothing but for cushâ—… pillowes for the idle priestes profane carnal Atheistes to rock them a sleepe and keep them in securitieâ—… wherby the coÌ„science is no way either touched edified or bettered Truly I am ashamed to think much more to write of so grosse filthie abhominacion so generally receaued euen of al estates of these partes of the world who haue by a popish custom tradition receaued yt one of from an other without any warrant from the word For the Apostles I am sure these maister builders haue left no such president in or coÌ„mandement vnto the churches neither giueÌ„ theÌ„ any such power to bring in or set vp any such apocrypha Lyturgie in the church of God They alwaies vsed spiritual praiers according to their present wantes occasions so taught all churches to pray alwaies with all maner of praier supplication in the spirit therby to make knowen theiâ—… wantes shew their requestes in al thinges vnto God their heauenly father Our Sauiour Christ also he taught his disciples that God is a Spirit wil be worshipped in spirit truth He hath likewise set downe most excellent rules a most absolute forme for al praiers in that part of scripture Math. 6. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. commonly but falsly called the Lords praier wherin he hath most notably instructed directed and restrained our ignorant inordinate desires to those excellent heades In which whatsoeuer is needful for vs to desire or lawful foâ—… vs to pray is in some one or other of those branches included eueriâ—… one of them being a base foundatioÌ„ whervpoÌ„ wherby to frame many millions of seueral pâ—…ticions according to the seueral wantes occasions at such seueral times as the Saintes haue cause to pray They are all of them so many euerrunning fountaines from which Godes seruantes by the holy Ghost deriue draw continually fresh new graces are al together such an abisme vnmeasured sea of wisdome from which al Christes seruantes thorough the world haue alwaies fetched all their knowledg graces coÌ„fort assurance of and in their praiers according to the capatitie of the vessel of their faith some more some lesse al some yet haue not al of theÌ„ together much lesse any one of them is able in the litle dish of his shallow vnderstanding to comprise the vnmeasurable depth greatnes of this OceaÌ„ of al wisdome grace Wherby yt is euident as also by the circumstaÌ„ces maner of deliuering the same by our Sauiour CHRIST by his Apostles Disciples Churches spiritual vse of praier according to their present estate wantes that these prescript wordes were not giuen oâ—… inioyned as a prescript praiâ—…r so to be vsed by any euen the wiseâ—…t much lesse the simpler vnbroken vp vnexpounded c. so much as a coÌ„peÌ„dious summarie of all necessarie knowledg rules for al praier gathered by the Author of all wisdome into a brief for the directioÌ„ instruction of our weaknes ignorance Of which endes vses whiles some are ignorant or rather aâ—… their grosse idolatrie carnal dulnes superstitious presumption sheweth are ignorant either what faithful praier or the spirit of God is whiles they both popishly abuse this scripture as a principal collect in their publike leitourgiâ—… with their often idle repetition therof fiue times in their morrow masse c. also through this abuse they grow further bold to mould a new calfe a nâ—…w Leiâ—…ourgie of their owne set that vp also in the church of God as they count yt Yfyt were granted theÌ„ that this scripture sundry psalmes and other scriptures they alledg out of the prophetts were coÌ„manded â—…nioyned to be read vsed as for the very praiers of the church â—…f the Saintes then which nothing caÌ„ be more false or grosly fond to â—…onceaue yet which way if this were granted theÌ„ can they hereby â—…roue yt lawful for them to bring in their owne apocrypha diuises â—…et them yp in the church as with the holy canonical word of God May their sâ—…inking filth be compared or placed with the heauenly liâ—…ely word of God without vnsufferable blasphemie may the froth of â—…heir lips follie of their heartes be thrust vpon mens consciences â—…ea euen vpon the Spirit of God himself in this manâ—…r In the church â—…f God may nothing come or be heard but the canonical scriptures â—… liuely graces of Godes Spirit according to the same But these their â—…pocrypha Leitourgies can neither be said the word of God neither â—…e liuely graces oâ—… Gods Spirit according to the same word sâ—…ing â—…ey were made coÌ„ceiued loÌ„g before are wholy thus vsed withâ—…ut waâ—…ant example or coÌ„mandement in the word of God yea are â—…ontrary tâ—…l the rules of sor praier to the exercise vse of Gods â—…pirit directly set against al the lawes of the first Table by worshipâ—…ng God in vaine after their owne traditions preceptes diuises â—… not according to his holy Wil commandement Can these men think that because God commandeth his liuely â—…ord to be read or sung in the church promiseth a blessing therâ—…nto whiles
grace he shed vpon them Now then if they kept not that day as any feast either after the Iewish or this popish maner how should these meÌ„ from thence fetch warrant for their feast for after the Iewish maner they will at no hand be said to keep yt after their maner yt is cleare the Apostles then could not keep yt because the miracle was not as theÌ„ done neither had they as yet those giftes of tongues neither knew they at their assembling in what maner or what the Lord would worke that day For though yt pleased the Lord vpon that day to shew these wonderous workes yet did not he it that either we should keep a superstitious celebration of that day more theÌ„ of others after this idolaâ—…s maner or still reteine the Iewish feast c. so much as vpon that day in that great and solemne concurse of people to giue publike witnesse to the Gospel of our Lord â—…SVS CHRIST furnish vp his witnesses according to his promises c. For I am sure they cannot shew either coÌ„mandement or example in the new Testament that this or any such feastes haue beene kept or are to be kept in the Churches of Christ. It maketh nothing to their purpose that Paul Act 18. departed from Ephesus to keep the feast ensuing in Ierusalem for what he did no doubt he did by reuelation of the Spirit vnto the more easie winning of the Iewes to whome he for the time became and behaued himself as a Iew this both by the speciall reuelation of the Spirit and warrant of the word For vnto the Iewes a time was giuen of shaking and remouing these ceremonies from which they could not be so sodainly or easily remoued because they were giuen and deliuered vnto them by God himself vpon the mount Sinai c. yet seing they neuer were giuen nor belonged to the Gentiles the Apostles at no hand would haue them intangled vvith these ceremonies Neither did Paul here inioine the Church at Ephesuâ—… to keep this feast but how sharply he hath dealt vvith those Iewes or other false teachers that sought to trouble the Churches with them appeareâ—…h in all his Epistles and how roundly but for a litle halting herein he dealt with the Apostle Peter appeareth Galat. 2. 14. And if the Apostle then at the first planting of the Churches when many â—…wes were mingled amongst the Gentiles would not receaue the least ordinance vvith the ministerie of the Gospell by vvay of subiection not for an howre that the truth of the Gospell might continue amongst thâ—…m what would he now say to these false Apostles and counterfait wretches which not being Iewes but Gentiles by nature and hauing 〈◊〉 these examples and documentes before them yet dare without â—…y warrant thrust their Iewish and heathenish traditions vpon the â—…hurches with a strong hand which thus mingle the Iewish ceremoâ—…es with the Gospell which way should the truth of the Gospell reâ—…aine with them when the Apostle saith that but a litle of such leaueÌ„ â—…oth leauen the whole lump But see these Phariseis not only reteine the day the feast but ioine 〈◊〉 the celebration of the one day a principal article of our faith the reâ—…rection of Christ from the dead vvhere haue they learned trow â—…e to make such a set and especial memorial of Christes resurrection â—…e day aboue all the daies in the yeare But here their answere is reaâ—… because forfooth CHRIST rose as that day of the yeare Did he so â—…ow shall vve know that their holy Father the Pope hauing in a soâ—…mne generall councell corrected his Calender saith he rise ten daies â—…efore and keepeth his feast accordingly Is yt not doubtful they come 〈◊〉 the post and then all their deuotions are lost But be yt of their â—…de Be it that Christ rose iuâ—…t as that day yet would I faine know the â—…ysterie of the matter vvhy we should more specially remember â—…d celebrate Christes resurrection that Lordes day then the next â—…ordes day yea or then any day of the yeare or why they should keep â—…ch a solemne double feast thaâ—… Lordes day more then any other vnâ—…sse peraduenture yt be because the sunne daunceth that day vvhen 〈◊〉 riseth I could neuer as yet find in Christs Testament any such betâ—…rnes of one day then an other neither that Christs resurrection was 〈◊〉 be celebrate with such a stagelike fleâ—…hly pompe in superstion and â—…olatrie in flesly â—…ustes riote and gluttony that day making holy two â—…ther daies after yt and drawing the whole land both yonge and old 〈◊〉 these daies to intermit their lawful callings vvherin they are placed â—…f God vpon vvhat necessitie or occasion soeuer to giue atteÌ„dance to â—…eir propery and Idolatrie so spend the time in idlenes folliè vaniâ—…e Is this to celebrate the resurrection of CHRIST from dead workes â—… to be renewed in knowledg holines after the image of him that â—…reated them or is yt not amongst their holy Fathers superogatorie â—…orkes which God neuer required or coÌ„manded For I vvould â—…aine â—…earne of them where they can likewise shew any commandement or â—…varrant for their solemne WHITE SONDAY and their feast of PENTEâ—…OST other theÌ„ the Iewes double Sabaths feasts c. But I haue now â—…one with this feast I would therfore know vvhere in the new Testaâ—…ent they find any president or commandemeÌ„t to solemnise the verie â—…ay of the Apostles receauing those wonderful gifts of the holy Ghost â—…hat the Apostles did not then keep that day as a feast or gratulation â—…f this matter is alreadie shewed because they had not as theÌ„ receiued â—…hese giftes neither knew in vvhat maner God vvould work that euer â—…fter they kept or commanded to be kept any such set solemne memorial therof vpon any one day more then an other I supposâ—…â—…annot â—…e shewed in the new Testament Paul they may alledg Act. 20. 16. made haste out of Asia to be if yt were possible at Ierusalem at the feast of Pentecost yet this proueth nothing y t the Apostles or Christians kept the feast commemoration of the wonderfull apparition of the holy Ghost c. which vntil they can shew they must be guiltie as forgers coiners of a new religion so of adding vnto yea abrogating of the Testament of CHRIST We doubt not but the Iewes a long time kept that many other feastes but they may be no example for vs in this matter nor yet these with their auncient traditions wherin the papistes and they prescribe from which forgeries they deriue these and many other trumperies without some better warrant from the word of God then as yet they can shew Neither is yt my purpose heere to stand to recite their heathenish maner of keeping those feastes with idlenes riot gluttony with their maygames morrice dance sommer Lords c. I now make hast to their popish feastes WHICH BECAVSE
and burne incense to the Queene of heauen And that they might not faile at time of need see they make all the Sâ—…intes InnoceÌ„tes in heauen their frieÌ„des on their side celebrating to the Innocentes one day of their soleÌ„ne Christmas vnto all Saintes because none should be forgotteÌ„ they are many in nuÌ„ber they keep an especial principal feast day with a deuout fast vpoÌ„ the eaue c. yet least some of the chief Santes as â—…hon the Baptist and the twelue Apostles might be displeased in that they are numbred passed ouer with other common Saintes they severally remember them againe in their tourne with their peculiar eaues daies fastes feâ—…stes worship Heere is yet also an other Saint whome I had like to haue ouâ—…rskipped the Captaine of theÌ„ al S t. GEORGE their Borrowgh the patrone of the laÌ„d a worthy warriour our Ladies knight I wene This Saint hath heere no smal intertainemeÌ„t with his soleÌ„ne processioÌ„ that by no smal states but eueÌ„ the greatest of the laÌ„d with his cornets trumpets harpe shackbutes psalteâ—…ies dulcimer al instrumentes of Musick c. This Saint besides his noble order of knighthood hath also his famous peculiar Chaplain Palatine of the order who is to weare a goldring on his thomb what a famâ—…us feast they keep vnto this Saint there is none in Court or Countrie caÌ„ be ignorant Because I â—…m no good Heralt I wil not vndertake to blazon his armes the red Crosse in white field that he beareth in banner displaied nor yet his woâ—…hy 〈◊〉 For all those â—… refer you to his Lâ—…gend Aâ—…d heere me thinkes before we goe any further we had need enquire â—…ome learned Doctors opinion of this geare leaâ—…t we that be silly and â—…ooke no further then the word of God giueth vs to see take yt for â—…ost grosse idolatrie abhominatioÌ„ because in al the booke of God 〈◊〉 the beginning to the ending we find no such presideÌ„t or coÌ„manâ—…emeÌ„t therfore if yt please you because DO ROBERT SOME hath â—…ndertakeÌ„ the matter we wil heare his learned iudgmeÌ„t of this stuffe This learned Doctor who hath this wit for the most part with him â—…o take no more of a matter then he is able to deale with frameth an â—…rgument in the name of an other thus The church of England maketh meÌ„â—…ioÌ„ of Saintes deceased viz. Apost Martyres c. in some of their pubâ—…ike praiers therfore the church of England doth worship Saintes â—…eceased His answere is they are mentioned to stir vs vp not to worâ—…hip theÌ„ but to tread in the steps of their vertue religion so conâ—…ludeth the ArgumeÌ„t very weake sylly But how if this Argument â—…roue his owne what opinion shal we then hold of his Doctorhood â—…ot to speak of his euil coÌ„scieÌ„ce who to coullor that the cannot iusâ—…ifie to passe by that he caÌ„not gainesay or disproue is not ashamed â—…sually throughout his writinges to father the forgeries of his owne â—…dle head vpoÌ„ others thinking by deprauing the poore professors of â—…he truth to suppresse yt or at the least to get credite and promotion â—…nto himself But I would know of his euil conscience wich shal ere â—…ong be araigned for all these thinges before him that is greater then â—…is coÌ„science whether he neuer heard other reasons froÌ„ some of theÌ„ â—…o proue this their celebratioÌ„ coÌ„memoration of Angels deceasâ—…d â—…aintes to be idolatrous blaspheamous abhominable euen to the â—…hief Authors of this stuffe that in the presence of some verie hoâ—…orable namely because they dedicate to these Angels dead Saints 〈◊〉 peculiar Eaue Day caling theÌ„ after their names therby impropriâ—…ting giuing that to the creature which is only due reserued in â—…he hand possessioÌ„ of the Creator 2 because vpon their Eaues they â—…nioyne bid in their church vpon their sunday a publike fast and 〈◊〉 in thâ—…se Angels and Saintes names 3 bâ—…cause vpon their day which they cal an holy day they proclaime a soleÌ„ne feast to be kept â—…ith general cessatioÌ„ froÌ„ their labours in their trades as vpoÌ„ y e Lords day by the 4 commandement 4 this by a publike law not to menâ—…ion al the fleshly and lewd behauiour idlenes pride vanitie excesse â—…pely seene suffered vpon these their feastiuals holy daies 5 beâ—…ause vpon these daies they haue a peculiar prescript deuised worship â—…o each seueral Saint that they thus celebrate not heere to mention â—…heir vnsufferable shredding dismembâ—…ing rending peruerting of â—…criptures to clowte vp this idolatrie These reasons if either those two â—…reat BBs to whome they were propounded or this Doctor which theÌ„â—…eard them had soundly confuted iustified this their maner of ceâ—…ebrating worshipping dead Saintes Angels in their church then â—…ad the Antichristian tyranny of the one the repâ—…ochful blasphemie 〈◊〉 the other some colour which now are odious vnto God man But now seing these Argumentes still remaine with them vnanswered and that they are so loth to meddle with them I would now only learne of this Doctor where he in al the scripture hath found this idolatrous custome of theirs to celebrate the memorial of any one deceased Saint that vpon one set day yearly in this maner we reade not that the Fathers before the flood vsed yt neither yet after y e flood bâ—…fore the law yet were they verie godly men of great vertue such as instructed their children in the true worship waies of God such as their children honoured reuerenced whilest they liued did all filial duties vnto them being dead decently buried them but neuer after kept any aÌ„nual or set day in their remembrance The like vnder the law we reade of Moses Samuel Dauid c. men verie famous renowmed for their vertue godlines greatly honored of all whiles they liued no such matter done to theÌ„ after they were dead yet were they presidentes by their vertue euen vnto all ages vnto the worldes end The Apostles also whome they so especialy aboue al other Saintes prefer celebrate being dead yea taken away as famous martyres neuer in this maner vpon one special set day celebrated their constaÌ„cie in the faith vertue as we may see by the Apostle Iames and the Martyre 〈◊〉 Likewise the Apostles Paul Peter being ready to suffer for the Gospel left no such commandemeÌ„tes vnto the churches that any such praiers festiuals should be kept to them or their remembrance being dead but rather stirred vp admonished the churches whiles they liued disired the churches prayers for theÌ„ whiles they liued So that we seing no ground for this stuffe in the word of God see not otherwise but to hold them for detestable idolatries forgeries abhominations for the reasons aboue recited And now because I haue beene somwhat longer euen in the bare recital of these trumperies then I thought I wil passe ouer the
as the daies of their wecke stil are not only into y e names of Sainctes Angells but into y e names of these heathen Godds vvhich they still retaine hauing vtterly lost the name and order of their Creator as the First second third day of the vveeke of the first second third or such a moneth c. and are novv quite giueÌ„ away one day to the sunne Soli another to the Moone another to Merckrie another to Marâ—… another to Iupiter another to Venus and the last to Saturne which they haue now so long held by prescription in quiet possession as yt is bonbtfull when the right owner shall challenge them his plea wil not be heard in westminster hall In like maner I haue heard that these their temples haue been dedicate vnto these Gods who haue had their Flamins archflamins therin but vpon the conversion of Englâ—…nd to the faith of Rome they were al then new baptised into the names of holy saintâ—…s I know heere againe that our learned Antiqâ—…ries will hardly consent to this but then I must dâ—…sire them to shew me when these their auncient Cathedral churches were christened into y e saintes names they now beare I suppose they shall find some of them to haue caried the names they at this day do a great while We shal also haue much adoe with theÌ„ concerning the first faith which Englaâ—…d receaued which they wil coÌ„firme by the notable estate of the church y e first 500 yeres after the Apostles And here shal be brought vpon me a whole cartlode of writers Councels Doctors vnto al which I oppose that litle booke of Christs Testament from which they immediatly after the destruction of Ierusalem the decease of the Apostles fel away changing and innovating all thinges daily more and more vntil they had brought yt to this estate fashioning religion to the fansies and lustes of men as yt might best allure retayne and please the Princes multitudes of the world as is aboue in the beginning of this treatise more particularlie shewed and may by these ancient monumentes of their idolatrie which stil remayne as by so many argumentes be euidently convinced These Synagogues are built altogether to the forme of the old Téple of the Iewes in a long square East and west with their holy Court walled round about coÌ„monly called the Churchyeard which is holy ground and serueth for Christen burial being altogether exempt for ciuil vse yet is yt lawful for the yong men maides to play there together vpon their sundaies and holy daies But who so smiteth any in that holy ground by statute is to haue his hand cut off thersore These Synagoguâ—…s haue also their battlementes and their porch adioining to theâ—… Church not heer to speake of the solemne laying the foundation where the first stone must be laid by the handes of the Bishop or his suffragane with certaine magical praiers holy water and many other idolatrous rites They haue vnto yt their foulding dâ—…res and an especial leuite the parish clerke to keep the key They haue at the west end their hallowed belles which are also baptised sprinkled c. They haue their isles and their bodie of the Church they haue also their selles to the sides of the walles their vestery to keep the priestes ministerial garmentes where they are to attyre and dresse themselues before they goe to their seruice they haue their treasurie Al the cathedral oâ—… mother churches also haue their cloysters for their Deane prebendaries cannoÌ„s petty cannons singing meÌ„ and singing boies c. within their precinct and walles to abide and dwell that they may keepe the watch of the temple and their howers of Orizons Againe they haue in the bodie of their Church their hallowed fonte to keepe the holy water wherwith they baptise al other vessels and waters to the vse of baptisme being by expresse law forbidden They haue also their holiest of al or chauncel which peculiarly belongeth to the priest and quire which help the priest to say sing his seruice They haue their roodloft as a partition betweene their holie and holiest of all The priest also hath a peculiar dore into his chancel through which none might passe but himself Now this Church thus reared vp is also throughly hallowed vvith their sprinkling water dedicate baptised into the name of some especial Saint or Angel as to the patrone and defendor therof against al enemies spirites stormes tempestes c. Yet hath yt within also al the holy armie of saintes Angels in their windowes and walles to keep yt Thus I think can be no doubt made but that the verie erections of these synagogues whether they were by the heathens or papistes were idolatrous But heere I look to haue obiected these two reasons against me the one for the defence of the original the other for the present estate of them namly that many of these superstitions I speake of were inveÌ„ted long after England receaued the faith and therfore the original of these churches could not be so euil the other that now thankes be to God they are quite purged of all these idols in the walles and windowes vsed to the pure worship of God therfore I doe not wel so to write of them in this estate To the first reason but that I loue not to raue in the apocrypha writings as they do with the papistes therfore neuer bring their coÌ„troversies to end I could shew most of these idolatrous shapes and customes to haue been very ancient in deed by al likelihood eueÌ„ froÌ„ y e first building of these synagogues therfore yt skilleth not to inquire whether all these idolatries were invented at the first bringing of their faith into England seing yt is manifest that most of these churches were built many yeres after For as hath beene said they at the first contented themselues with such temples as they ere while worshipped their idols in so that they that wil obiect vnto me some few of their temples built in a round forme must both be sure that they were not built by heathens and that al these romish relikes of the Church-yard porch hallowed belles font images in the walles and windowes c. were added since the building therof And this I suppose wil be hard for them tâ—… doe The papistes can prescribe a long time for their images and manie other thinges yet all this if they could doe vvhat vvere these few vnto all the other so manie thowsandes as vve see to carrie these idolatrous shapes euen from the verie foundation vvhich vve know and vvith our eies haue seene thus defiled vvith idols and odolatrie so that yt shalbe needles for them to trouble themselues vvith things farther off vvhen these things stil remaine in this shape before our eies And this also may answere their second allegation where they alledg them now to be
his Commandements and those per◅etuall such as he will haue to continue and be obserued of all his seruantes vnto the worlds end We see them no◅ onlie commāded vnto his Apostles that they should practise and teach them in their time or in time of per◅ecution but he chargeth his Apostles to teach all churches all Christians to keepe and obserue them at all times vntill the consummation and end of the world giuing vnto al his seruantes and churches the same power to practise and obserue all these his comandementes that he gaue vnto his Apostles plighting vpon such their faith and obedience his presence protection vnto them in these wordes And loe I am with you all daies vntill the consummation of the world sealing the truth both of these his commandemetes and ordinances and also of this his couenant and protection vnto all ages with this his authentike seale with this word of all truth Amen So that me thinkes all the blasphemous reproches and cauils of al sortes of enemies vnto the sacred inviolable gouernment and order of our Sauiour CHRIST deliuered and practised by his Apostles in his churches are vtterlie by this one place of scripture if so be there were no more to the same effect taken out of the way both they that denie the continance or necessitie heerof in all ages and places they that would make these Apostolike ordinances but matters of forme not matters of faith or of substance as they speake they being heere confirmed commanded by that Lord of all truth of all power in heauē and in earth Peraduenture that old Saducee that ◅hus sophisticallie hath propounded these questiōs in that 74 leafe of his answere vnto MARTIN will stūble as he ordinarilie doth at the word of God at these wordes al things whatsoeuer I haue cōmanded you collecting that because the Apostles had not as yet receiued the exp◅esse rules commandments for al the things they afterward taught practised that therfore this commandement cannot be vnderstood or applied to such things as they afterward taught and so nothing or litle serueth to the outward forme of gouernment order of the Church Although yt were not hard from this verie place necessarilie to cōfirme the intendement commandement of all the ordinances and rules which the Apostles after taught prescribed vnto the churches euen by that which is heere expressed concerning the ministerie baptisme c. which heere are commanded al churches to be obserued in that manner as the Apostles taught them which ministers sacramēts ministerie could not in and by these churches be had or practised without the obseruation of these rules ordinances as the election probation of such ministers by the flockes where they are to administer c. which were not al that time set downe by the holy Ghost or practised by the Apostles as yet Although I could also shew that our Sauiour Christ had alreadie instructed his Apostles that he had chosen and set a part to that worke of all things belonging to his kingdome Act. 1. 2. and had giuen thē his holie spirit in abundāt measure to this their ministerie which should teach them al things b◅ing al things to their remembrance Ioh. 20. 22. which he had tould thē Yet mine awnswere heere is y t if our sauiour Christ in these wordes Al whatsoeuer ◅ haue commanded you had respect onlie vnto such precepts as he had then at that time giuē thē not vnto al other things which he should afterward reueale vnto thē by his holy spirit also yt were both cōtrarie to their commission charge they deliuered which as is saied vvas that they should win gather together build order instruct establish his Church according to the rules cōmandements of his wil Testament which could not at al be done by thē if al these lawes rules were not alike cōfirmed of cōmāded by him as also if these words Al whatsoeuer ◅ haue comanded c. should so be restrained yt were to make the other holie lawes ordināces which he afterward shewed to his Apostles they by the same spirit both shewed recorded vnto the churches of Christ of lesse valew and authoritie then those former to make some part of holie scripture more true holy authentical thē other yea yt were vtterlie to abrogate disfrāchize these latter scriptures Furthermore I suppose yt were a hard matter for anie man to dis◅sse set downe what things Christ had at that time taught these Apostles what he had as yet cōcealed So that this cauil can no way put off this most direct and expresse place let me therfore proceed to others The Apostle Paul 1. Tim. 5. 21. chargeth Timothy before God the Lord Iesus Christ the elect Angels that he k◅epe these things without preiudice doing nothing according to inclination c. Also Chap. 6. ver 13. he vseth these wordes vnto him ◅ cōmand thee before God that ◅uickneth al things Christ ◅esus that testified before Pontius Pilate that good confession to keepe the commandement without spot vnrebukeable vnt◅l the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ which in due time that blessed onlie mightie that King of Kings and Lord of Lords shal shew c. Likewise 1 Cor. 14. 37. he hath these wordes If anie mā seeme to be a prophet or spiritua◅ let him acknowledg the th◅ngs I write vnto you because they are the cōmādemētes of God but if anie man be ignorāt let him be ignorāt With what greater authoritie or waight of wordes could the Apostle either confirme or incōmend vnto the Church in all ages these cannons ordināces which he in these epistles hath set downe for the building order gouernment of all churches of al the officers people actions of the same to be religiously inviolably kept as the cōmandemēts of that great dreadfull God as the lawes of that our Lord and King vntill his appearing in glorie Who can anie longer doubt that vvil either rest in the manifest testimonies of the holie Ghost giue credite to the resolute affirmations and eare to the vehement charges of the Apostle or that will duly expend either the general scope of these epistles or dulie weigh the manifold rules in particular and the manner of deliuering them that these cannons and ordinances are the absolute lawes and holie commandements of CHRIST for the building and gouernment of his Church so necessarie inviolable perpetuall as without which or with anie other his Church can neither be built nor kept Are not all these p◅rticular rules for the seueral offi◅es persons qualities for their maner of election probation ordination administration c. set downe in way of cōmandement and law with as great authoritie credite reuerēce as anie other part of Christs Testament or Gods word So that the Apostles whole ministerie may with as much right or reason be called into doubt or question as
seruice of his Church But that vvere to handle the vvhole platforme and oâ—…der of Christs Testament the excellencie and perfection wherof but slightly to describe as yt far exceedeth my slender capacitie so not being to this present purpose I haue onlie indeuored to vse such general reasons as might prooue this generall PropositioÌ„ That the gouernment and ordinancâ—…s that Christ in his Testament hath set downe and apointed vnto his Church are necessare onlie fiâ—… and perpetuall and that the true Church of Christ can or may no more receaue anie other officeâ—…s gouernment and ordinances then the bodie of a man can receaue other members the members an other order or temperature then that which God hath assigned Which I hope by these places is so manifest as I need stand no longer to inforce the necessitie and onlie fit congrueÌ„ce therof vnto the bodie members of the church by shewing either the comelines beautie features of the Chucch when yt is thus furnished of these true members and the members thus placed built together ordered and vsed The necessitie of these let common sense and experience in the basâ—… patterne of our owne naturall bodie shew how ill we could either admit anie other then those members that God hath apointed thervnto or spare anie of those membersâ—… or haue them kept from their true vse and peculiar function or placed in anie other order or place or knit togetheâ—… with anie other iointes sinewes or vainâ—…s then God hath disposed for them But the heauenlie spirituall beautie order congruence and vse of these members thus commixt and contempered â—…et the 4 6. and 7 chapter of Solomons song declare From all which together â—… euerie member apart the vse administration and benefite therof as also from the disorder infinite inconueniences and mischeises that would ensue of the reiecting of this or receauing any other order gouernment administration might infinite and seuerall arguments be drawen to proue the absolute necessitie of the one the vâ—…ter inhibition vnfitnes of any other But heere now fitly commeth a certaine obiâ—…ction of the aforesaid D. R. S. â—…o be answered Saâ—…th he Yf that outward forme of discipline were of the essence of the Church then where that forme of discipline either was or is not there was and is no Church which is a grossâ—… absurditie My reasons are Samaria had not that forme of discipline but yt was a famous Church Actes 8. Antiochiâ—… had not that forme of discipline yet yt was a floorishing Church The greatest part of reformed Churches in Christendome haue not that forme of discipline yet they are accompted holie Churches of all but of the Papistes and 〈◊〉 What his Doctorhood meaneth by these disguised termes of the discipline essence of the Church I vnderstand noâ—… and therfore wil leaue them where I â—…ind them eschewing according to the Apostles rule such profane inanitie of words and oppositions of science falsly so called which somâ—… proâ—…essing haue erred about the faith But if he by these reasons suppose to haue impugned the necessitie and perpetuity of CHRISTS holie gouernment order wherinto the Apostles built all Churches and which they left vnto all Churches I shal then briefâ—…ly shew how far he faileth of that purpose and reasoneth quite to a new and diuers question and therfore can therby conclude nothing against this For our quâ—…stion heere is not whither the Church may not sometime vpon some necessities bâ—… without this order or some part therof for a season but whither the Church may receaue anie other forme of gouernment in stead of this So that if he had prooued that the Churches of Samaria and Antiochia had receaued anie other forme of gouernment and order then this Apostolick then had he in deed said somwhat although a particular instance or two may not take away or draw vs from a generall law and perpetuall rule But he trifling about the name of a Church quite forsaking the question would inser from the ambiguitie of the word that because a Church vpon some necessitieâ—… may for a season be without this 〈◊〉 ordâ—…r and gouernment therfore they may reiect this anâ—… take an other according to the pollicies of the time place How diuersly the church is read in the scriptures not heere to stand of the etymologie of the word ecclesia me thinkes this great diuine should not be ignorant how somâ—…times yt is read for all the Saints in heauen and in earth sometimes for all the Saints dispersed or gathered heere in the whole world somâ—…times for a companie of faithfull people ioined together in the 〈◊〉 coÌ„â—…union of the faith indeuoring to proceed into the order of CHRIST and in the same faithfully to walke together But coÌ„monly yt is taken for a companie of such faithful thus entered couenant established walking in due order according to the rules of Gods word of which kinde of Church we al this while reason For their church of England is not now vnestablished as Samaria and Antiochia were at these times he speaketh of but yt is established into an order ministerie and gouernment though according to the Popes cannons not according to the Testament of CHRIST So that he might as well haue reasoâ—…ed from anie of the othâ—…r readings of a Church and gained as much scilzt that becausè all the Saints in heaueÌ„ are called a Church yet they haue not Pastors Teachers c. therfore the Church of CHRIST may be established w tout these as also al the dispersed Saints are called a Church yet haue not this order gouernment therfore c. Samaria Antiochiâ—… at their first calling to the faith had not this established order and gouernment yet were held famous floorishing Churches therfore the Church may be established into an other forme of order and gouernment then that of CHRISTS Testament this if he conclude not he gaineth nothing this if he conclude I denie his Argument It followeth not because the Church is not alwaies thus established therfore yt ought not to be thus established The Churches of Samaria and Antiochia â—…either can be shewed to haue receiued anie other order or gouernment or to haue neglected this but the contrarie apeareth of Samâ—…ria Act. 9. 31. where Luke recordeth that the churches throughout al â—…udea Galile Samaria had peace being built proceeding in the feare of the Lord and were replenished with the comfort of the holy Ghost What thinketh D. S. now was not Samaria built established in this order vnles he can shew that the Apostles built the Churches in anie other order and then froÌ„ this place may he also conclude that the Churches in Iudea Galile were not thus built this scripture not secretly shewing that â—…oth they were all built alike that there was but one order of building amongst the Apostles in these wordes being edified or built Me thinks this place also sheweth some letts that sometime may hinder the Churches