Christ by his Apostles did ordaine and appoint to Preach the Gospell and not onely they but also all that were in the primitive Church lawfully called to preach the Gospell were Bishops de jure divino of divine institution How long I pray you did they continue to be de jure divino Min. They continued to be de jure divino till they came to be Antichrists that is adversaries to Christ then they fell from being Bishops de jure divino of divine institution and came to be Bishops de jure Pontificio of the Popes institution who is therefore called Pater Patrum the Father of the Fathers meaning the Bishops therefore to distinguish the Bishops that are de jure Pontificio of the Popes institution from the godly Bishops that were de jure divino of divine institution they commonly called Prelates or Lord Bishops Gent. Why are they called Prelates Min. The word Praelati Prelates commeth of praeferor to preferre therefore they are called Praelati Prelates because they are preferred and doe preferre themselves before and above their brethren and fellow Ministers Gent. Why are they called Lord Bishops Min. They are called Lord Bishops because they doe Lord it over their brethren and over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 and have been the chiefe supplanters and persecuters of the Christian Religion ever since the title of Prelates and Lord Bishops was given unto them In Queene Maries time blooddy Bonner Lord Bishop of London and Gardner Lord Bishop of Winchester were fierce and cruell like Dragons in shedding Christian blood and in supplanting the Christian Religion planted by King Edward the sixt till God in mercy did bring Queen Elizabeth to the Crowne then when in her first Parliament the House was about to establish the true Religion the Lord Bishops that were of the House being nine in number did stand up to cry it downe and to have the Romish Religion continued but thankes be to God they prevailed not When Queene Elizabeth came to the Crowne few or none did study Divinity in the Universities therefore Tradesmen such as were of honest life and conversation were made Ministers to read Service and in stead of Preaching to read Homilies till the Lord Jesus in his good time did thrust forth Labourers into his harvest out of the Universities who did discover the Popish errours wherewith the Service Booke was pestered and the unlawfulnesse of the Romish Ceremonies Then the Lord Bishops who till then were quiet did bestirre themselves to disturbe the peace of the Church and to bring in a cursed division according to the words of our Saviour Christ Luke 12.51 Thinke you that I came to give peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division which cursed division hath continued ever since and in every Parliament since that time till now when humble Petitions were made for Reformation the Lord Bishops onely and such as were seduced by them and made to beleeve that the Ceremonies were lawfull and that there was nothing in the Service Booke contrary to Gods Word did bend all their forces against Reformation In the latter end of Queene Elizabeths Reigne when shee began to be sickly and not like to live long then Doctor Bancroft Lord Bishop of London knowing that King Iames was to succeed her and fearing that his Majesty would reforme things amisse in the publick worship and service of God and in the government of the Church did License a Booke written by a Jesuite that he kept in his house wherein it was written that it was in the Popes power as a gift appropriate to Saint Peters chaire to depose the Kings of England and to give authoritie to the people to elect choose and set up another As then so now it is thought that the Archbishop of Canterbury fearing this Parliament hath devised an oath to stirre up so many as he can to resist the Reformation that many doe pray for and hope to see to the glory of God Gent. There was a little Booke written of late and dedicated to the House of Parliament that had most of those things in it that you have spoken of concerning the Service Booke and the Bishops Min. There was so but the Author whereof is much grieved every time that he doth thinke upon it because it was dispersed without his consent and printed false by putting in leaving out of words so as it was not fit to be presented to the House of Parliament Gent. It made mention of Judgements that God hath shewed upon the Church I pray you shew me what those Judgements were Min The most remarkable and fearefull Judgement was shewed on the Parish Church of Withcombe in Devonshire being a very faire Church newly trimmed having a very faire Tower with great and small Pinnacles one of the famousest Towers in the West part of England On the 21. of October 1638. in service time was heard a fearefull Thunder much like the noise or report of great Cannons and a most strange and fearefull darknesse and a strong loathsome smell of brimstone and a fearefull blast that strucke in at the North side of the Tower and tearing through a strong stone wall came into the Church through the highest Window and tooke with it a great part thereof and with a mighty power strucke against the North-side wall of the Church and did batter and shake it very much and went towards the Pulpit and in the way tooke with it the Lime and Sand from the wall and grated the wall and defaced it being newly whited and tore away the side Deske of the Pulpit and coloured the Pulpit blacke and left it moyst as if it had beene newly wiped over with Inke There was also a most fearefull Lightning which did affright the people and scalded them so as the most part of them fell downe some on their knees some on their faces and some one upon another crying The Ministers wife had her Ruffe and linnen next her body burnt off and her body grievously scorched One Mistris Ditford sitting in the Seat with her had her Gown two Wast-coats and her linnen next her body grievously scorched Another woman running out of the Church had her Cloaths set on fire her body scorched and her flesh torne on her backe in grievous manner One Master Hill a Gentleman had his head smit against the wall and dyed the next day Sir Richard Reinolds Warriner had his head cloven his skull rent in three pieces whereof two fell into the next Seat the other fell in the Seat where he sat his braines fell intire and whole into the next Seat behind him his Blood dasht against the wall some of the skin of his head flesh and haire to the quantitie of an handfull was carried into the Chancell and stucke fast upon one of the Posts betweene the Church and the Chancell his Body was left in the Seat as though he had been alive sitting asleepe and leaning upon his elbow resting on the Deske
CERTAINE GREEVANCES VVELL VVORTHY THE SERIOVS CONSIDERATION OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND HIGH COVRT OF PARLIAMENT Set forth by way of Dialogue or Conference betweene a Countrey Gentleman and a Minister of Gods word for the satisfying of those that doe clamour and maliciously revile them that labour to have the errors of the Booke of Common Prayer reformed By LEVVES HEVVES Minister of Gods Word Printed in the Yeare 1640. A DIALOGVE OR CONFERENCE BETWEENE A COVNTREY Gentleman and a Minister of Gods word about the Booke of Common Prayer Gentleman I Am very glad that I have met with you and did long to speake with you that you might satisfie me in some things concerning the booke of Common Prayer therefore I pray you tell me truely as I hope you will is there any thing in it contrary to Gods word Minister Yes verily it is full of Popish errours and doth appoint horrible blasphemies and lying fables to bee read to the people in stead of Gods holy word and hath caused the Church of England to groane under the abominations of the Church of Rome even from the infancie of it in Queene Elizabeths time untill this houre and now there is great hope that a time of refreshing and deliverance is at hand through the blessing of God on this Parliament Gent. I never heard any blasphemie or lying fable read in the Church Min. I thinke so because it may bee that you were never in the Church on those dayes wherein they are appointed to be read Gent. Upon what dayes are they appointed to be read Min. On the fourth of October in the forenoone it appointeth an horrible blasphemie to bee read for the first lesson out of the 12 of Tobie and the ninth verse where it is written that Almes doe save from death and purge away all sinne which is a maine ground of Popery and an horrible blasphemy against Christ and his blood that clenseth us from all sinne 1 Iohn 1.7 Also in the 15. verse of that chapter it is written that there are seven Angels that doe present our prayers which is an other horrible blasphemie against Christ who only doth present our prayers Rev. 8.3 4. Gent. These are horrible blasphemies indeede I pray you let me heare some of the fables that are in it Min. On the fourth of October in the afternoone it appointeth a lying fable to bee read out of the 11. of Tobie where it is written that Tobie going to the doore to meete his Son Tobias comming from Rages did stumble and that his sonne ran unto him and laid the gall of a fish to his eyes and that the whitenesse did scale off and hee restored to his sight On the 30. of September another lying fable is appointed to be read of an Angell that was sent to scale the whitenesse from his eyes and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel to his sonne Tobias in marriage and to bind Asmodeus an evill spirit that was in love with her and had killed seven men that had beene married unto her On the first of October an other lying fable is appointed to be read how Tobie being about to send his sonne Tobias to Rages in Media for a wife did bid him go and look for a man to goe with him that he went found an Angell brought him to his Father who promised to give the Angell wages and agreed with him what hee should have by the day and sent him with his sonne and his dog On the third of October another lying fable is appointed to bee read how Tobias being come from Rages did call the Angell unto him bad him take a servant and two Camells and goe to Rages for money and that the Angell went and carried writings which he delivered to Gabael who brought baggs of money sealed up which hee delivered to the Angell Gent. O horrible how have the Bishops deluded King Edward the sixt Queene Elizabeth King Iames and our gratious King Charles and the whole estate and made them beleeve that there was nothing in the Service Book contrary to Gods word God Almighty deliver us from them now that you have shewed me the blasphemies and lying fables shew also what are the Popish errours that are in it and first tell me whether the Service book doth command that all both Ministers and people shall bow their bodies when the name Jesus is read Min. The Bishops onely without any warrant from God but from the Pope Gent. I have heard that the Name Iesus was a common name among the Jewes was it so Min. Yes Syrach of Ierusalem had a son whose name was Iesus Eccles. 50.23 also Ioshua the son of Nun was called Iesus Acts 7.57 and one of Saint Pauls fellow labourers was called Iesus Col. 4.11 Gent. Why doe the Bishops make an Idoll of the name Iesus by causing men to bow their bodies and to put off their hat when it is read Min. Because they mistake the word of God where it is written that at the name of Iesus every knee shall bow both of things in heaven of things on earth and of things under the earth Phil. 2.10 Gent. What is the name of Jesus Min. As by the name of our gratious King Charles is meant not the name Charles which is a common name but the authority and power that God hath given him over all people within his owne dominions as when men are prest to the Kings service they are prest in the Kings name that is by vertue of authority and power from the King even so as by the name of King Charles is meant his authority and power c. so by the name of Jesus is meant the authority and power that God hath given him over all things in heaven and in earth and under the earth Gent. What is meant by things in heaven Min. By things in Heaven are meant the holy Angels and soules of the faithfull that have no knees Gent. What is meant by things on earth Min. By things on earth are meant all mankinde living on earth whether they be Elect or Reprobate Gent. What is meant by things under the earth Min. By things under the earth are meant the devills and damned soules in hell Gent. What is meant by bowing of the knee Min. By bowing of the knee is meant subjection Isa. 45.23 and not bowing of the body when the name Iesus is read as Pope Anastatius did command An. 404. Gent. What is meant by bowing of every knee of things in heaven of things on earth and of things under the earth Min. Thereby is meant that all the holy Angels and Saints in heaven and all mankind on earth and all the Devils and damned soules in hell shall submit themselves to Christ and acknowledge him to be Lord of all and to have power over all to save and to condemne whom he will Gent. What doe you thinke of them that kneele when they receive the Communion bread Min. The Papists say
as forgivenesse of sinnes is declared and pronounced by preaching to them that doe truly repent and beleeve in Christ so verily doth God of his free mercy forgive them their sinnes for Christ his sake and that as verily as the wrath and judgements of God are threatned to come on them that will not repent and beleeve in Christ so verily the wrath and judgements of God shall come upon them Gent. Goe on I pray you as you have begunne to shew the new orders Min. Another new order is that none at their Table shall talke of the holy Sccriptures nor of divine matters and that Churchwardens shall present such as at their Table shall talke of the holy Scriptures or of divine matters Wren Chap. 4. Art 31. Gent. Out upon t this is a most devillish order God Almighty deliver us from Lord Bishops this order doth make my heart to rise against them Min. It is indeed a most devillish order and sheweth plainly that if some of them might have their wills they would forbid men to read the holy Scriptures at home in their houses as in Churches they forbid the Genealogie of Christ the Booke of Canticles both the Bookes of Kings save the eight first Chapters of the first Booke of Kings and of Chronicles and the Booke of Revelation save some few pieces that are appointed to be read for Epistles after the Popish manner Gent. Why will they not suffer the Genealogie of Christ to be read to the people Min. They have no warrant for it from God but from the Pope who saith that ignorance is the mother of devotion therefore the Genealogy of Christ is forbidden to be read of purpose to keep the people in blindnesse not able to see the truth of God in fulfilling his promise to Abraham and to David that Christ should come of them and of their seede nor to see that Christ came not onely of Abraham and of David who were Jewes but also of Rahab and of Ruth who were Gentiles and that therefore Christ is not a Saviour of the Jewes onely but also of us Gentiles Gent. Why is the Booke of Canticles forbid to be read Min. It is also forbid of purpose to keepe the people in blindnesse not able to see the ardent love and affection of Christ towards them least thereby they should be stirred up to love Christ and to be zealous of his glory and to abhorre the Pope and his Antichristian Religion Gent. Why are the Books of Kings and of Chronicles forbid Min. Because they doe shew that godly Kings did ever love Gods true Prophets and did hearken unto them and were zealous in maintaining the true Religion and in suppressing Idolatry Gein Why is the Booke of Revelation forbid Min. Because it sheweth that Antichrist shall be destroyed and that Rome shall be set on fire and ruinated for ever and that all that doe live and die in the Romish Religion trusting to the Popes pardons and their owne merits shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Gent. I doe wonder that the godly Bishops who in King Edward the sixt his time did make the Service Booke that they being godly and so zealous of Gods glory as they did lay downe their lives for the truth in Queene Maries dayes that they did so pester the Book with such horrible blasphemies lying fables and popish errours Min. Wee are much bound to praise God for them and to judge charitably of them because they were but newly crept out of the pit of darknesse the Church of Rome and for want of a better were glad to take the Masse-booke for their patterne They were truly zealous of Gods glory according to the measue of knowledge that God did give unto them and did suffer martyrdome in Queene Maries time Gent. Wherefore did they suffer Min. They suffered for denying the Popes supremacy and for denying the bread and wine in the Lords Supper to be the body and blood of Christ Gent. I doe also wonder much more at our Bishops many of them being great learned men that they should suspend imprison and deprive so many godly Ministers for refusing to subscribe to the Service Booke Min. It is a signe that the true feare of God is not in them for if it were they would not dare to doe as they have done Gent. Bishops have beene ever since the Apostles time have they not Min. The name Bâ—shop was a common name given by the Apostles to every Preacher of the Gospell 1 Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.7 From the Apostles time to the yeare of our Lord 334. there were in Rome which is now the seat of Antichrist thirty-three godly Preachers commonly called Bishops who suffered Martyrdome for the truth under the Heathen Emperours onely one of them did flee and hide himselfe in the Hill Soracte till the time of Constantine the first Christian Emperour and then returned to Rome and was the first Roman Bishop that escaped Martyrdome and had a great living bestowed upon him by Constantine So also had diverse other Bishops whereupon many of them living in wealth did in short time after the death of Constantine grow idle and proud especially one of them on whom Constantine had bestowed great revenues which made him so proud and stout as he did overtop all the other Bishops not onely in Rome but also throughout the whole Empire and did alter chop and change and adde his owne devises to the publick worship and service of God and did make Canons for the establishing and putting of his devises in practice and through the power of Satan by false doctrines signes and lying wonders did seduce the Christian Emperours that succeeded Constantine and drew them to acknowledge him the head of the Church and vicar of Christ which made him so proud and potent as he did subdue and bring under the Emperours and tooke upon him to excommunicate diverse of them and to curse them with bell booke and candle Henricus the Emperour being excommunicated came in submissive manner to be absolved and in the cold winter in frost and snow did waite at the Bishops gate with his wife and childe barefoot and bareleg three dayes and three nights before he could have audience Fredericke the Emperour was made to hold his stirrop and to lie downe on the ground for him to tread on his necke and at length the Bishop of Rome came to be the great red Dragon Rev. 12.3 and with his long taile of false doctrine flattery promises and preferments did draw the third part of the starres of heaven that is so many of the other Bishops as were not sound in heart and did cast them to the earth that is drew them to be earthly minded like himselfe and to give over studying sound divinitie and to joyne with him in studying how to supplant the Christian Religion Gent. From this that you have said I doe gather that they whom