ENGLANDS COMPLAINT TO IESVS CHRIST AGAINST THE BISHOPS CANONS OF THE LATE SINFULL SYNOD A SEDITIOUS CONVENTICLE A PACKE OF HYpocriâ—ts a Sworne Confederacy a Traiterous Conspiracy against the true Religion of Christ and the Weale Publicke of the Land and consequently against the Kingdome and Crowne In this Complaint are Specified those impieties and insolencies which are most notorious Scaâ—tered through the Canons and Constitutions of the said Sinfull Synod And confuted by Arguments annexed hereunto Psal. 94. 20 21 c. O Lord shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischiefe by a Law They gather themselves together against the Soule of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood Esa. 3. 12 13. O my people they which lead thee cause thee to erre and destroy the way of thy paths The Lord standeth up to plead and standeth to judge the people Ezech. 22. 24 25 c. Thus saith the Lord Thou art the Land that is not cleansed nor rained upon in the day of indignation There is a Conspiracie of her Prophets in the midst thereof like a roaring Lion ravening the prâ—y they have devoured Soules Her Priests have violated my Law they have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths Her Princes in the midst thereof are like Wolves ravening the prey to shed blood and to destroy Soules to get dishonest gaine c. Printed Anno Dom. 1640. ENGLANDS COMPLAINT TO IESVS CHRIST AGAINST THE BISHOPS CANONS OTHE hope of * Israel the Saviour thereof in time of trouble why shouldest thou be as a Stranger in the Land and as a way-faring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied as a mighty man that cannot Save Yet thou ô Lord art in the midst of us and we are called by thy Name leave us not Yea ‡ ô Lord though our iniquities testifie against us yet doe thou it for thy Names sake for our backeslidings are many we have sinned against thee And ‡ we know not what to doe but our eyes are towards thee § O look down from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holines and of thy glory where is thy zeale and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me Are they restrained Doubtlesse thou art our Father thou ô Lord art our Redeemer thy Name is from everlasting †O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name And now ô Lord we thy People inhabitants of this sinfull Land out of the depth of our miseries and from under the burthen of our manifold afflictions and oppressions which we worthily suffer for our iniquities from thy righteous handâ— for Thou hast * tryed us and melted us in the Fornace even as silver Thou hast brought us into the net Thou hast layd affliction upon our loynes Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads So as to whom shall we goe for * healing but to thee who hast smitten us to whom for binding up but to thee who hast broken and torne us we doe therfore in this our humbled estate present our complaint before thee the ‡ Iudge of all the world yea before Thee who hast a ‡ feeling of our infirmities having been in all things tempted like as we are yet without sinne to that end that we might come boldly to the throne of Grace and obtaine mercy and find grace to helpe in time of need And although we thy People have had of long time and still have much matter of complaint unto thy Righteous Throne yet now above all other when the Throne of Iniquity frameth mischiefe as by a Law For a Synod hath been by Authority of late holden wherein such things have been concluded and confirmed as tend to the utter rooting out of all true Religion and that under the vaile of deep hypocrisie double iniquity And now ô Lord give thy People leave even to spread this whole Synod before thee as once King Ezechâ—â—â— spread the blasphemous letter of the Enemy before the Lâ—rd And forasmuch as the said Synod hath been both called authorized and confirmed in all the Canons and Constitutions therof by the King as himselfe declareth by his own Act both before and after the said Canons wherein he professeth himselfe to be thy Deputy ô King of Kings and Lord of Lords we therfore think it our duty first to purge our selves of that staine of disloyalty and disobedience which the King chargeth us withall For they lay it to the charge of some of us at the least that we suspect our King of being perverted in a Superstitious way of Gods worship as if he intended to bring in some alteration of Religion in our Land against his sundry publicke Declartions and Sacred professions before Him whose Deputy saith he we are against all and every intention of any Popish Innovation Now for our parts we doe appeale to thy righteous judgement O searcher of all hearts whether we have been apt causelessely to suspect or surmise the least evill of our King but on the contrary have been ready to interpret all his actions in such a sense as perswading our selvs whatever things were amisse in Church or Common-weale or whatever Innovations brought in yea although under the name of Royall Authority yet the King was ignorant of them and his name therin abused by some bad Officers about him Yea how unwilling are we to this very day notwithstanding the late Synod so called and confirmed by the King to conceive the least sinister thought of him So as we are apt to thinke that those Innovations brought in since and under his Raigne have either crept in by stealth and by degrees without his knowledge or been craftily suggested as being no Innovations at all but rather renovations of the decayes of the old Religion so â—ulgarly called being induced thereunto by the ancient use thereof retained in some places of the Land since the Reformation as especially in the Roâ—all Chappels and Cathedralls though not confirmed by any Law as the use of Altars Images and the like But now when we see with open eyes to our hearts grief those things to be concluded as by a Law Canons of Prelats now being made binding Laws and so confirmed by the Letterâ— Patents of the King for him his Heires and lawfull Successors O Lord what shall we think Nay when we see a strict Oath injoyned and imposed upon all Ministers of what style or ranke soever and upon all graduates in the Universities c. to approve and preserve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government as it stands now established in the Church of England and knowing that by publick Acts Edicts Decrâ—es Declarations Books c. set forth and published in the Kings Name and patronized by his speciall Authority Royall the Sanctification of thy Christian Sabbaths the Morality of thy holy Commandements
Sacred Ordinance who hath given a power and charge to Kings to suppresse all such Ecclesiasticall Tyranny over the soules of his people And whereas they say the Royall Office is the Sacred Ordinance of God we all acknowledge it and that this Ordinance of God comprehends in it not onely the institution of the Superiority of Kings over their people but their Speciall office of Government as it is limited and establishâ—d upon those Laws and Covenants and Conditions agreed upon between the Prince and People These are a Speciall part of thy Divine Ordinance that Kings should governe by a Law as Deut 17. 18 19 20. Pro. 31. 5. and that they should inviolably keep those Oathes and Covenants that they have solemnly made with their people And therefore they which perswade Kings that they are no way bounâ— but have liberty to rule as they list by an independent Prerogative these are they that are traytors both to God and to the King and to the Realme and to the peace and prosperity thereof For the Fourth For Subjects not to beare Armes against their King offensive or defensive upon any pretence whatsoever as being a resiâ—â—ing of the Powers Ordained of God First we hold that no private person ought to take up armes against his Prince but Secondly if a King maintaine a Faction about him which goe about to oppresse â—s whole Kingdome and People in their Lawâ— and Libertiâ—s and most of all in the true Religion so as he will not rule them by the good Laws of the Kindome but seeks to make all his Subjects Slavâ—s by bringing their soules Bodies estates 〈◊〉 a miserable bondage is it not now high time for the whole State either to labour to heale the breach or if necessity when there is no other remedy to stand up is one man to defend themselves and their Countrey untill the Faction shal be 〈◊〉 casheâ—ed and so the King reforme himselfe and renew 〈◊〉 Covenant and 〈◊〉 of the Kingdome to the good and just 〈◊〉 of the People And wheras â—i is point trencheth upon the Scots at this time what doe they stand upon but in the first place to free their Religion from Antichristan usurpaâ—on 〈…〉 * 〈…〉 which otherwise by 〈◊〉 and Tyranny would be brought to 〈◊〉 And for the Fâ—st and last that all Ministers doe declare this Consatution of the power of Kings to the people yearely Ought not Ministers to consider that they are also members of the Common-wealth and live under the Law thereof And being Subjects ought they not to teach the people that they love and hâ—nour the King and chearefully pay all such taxes as by Law are due unto him forasmuch as we all live under a Law And 〈◊〉 the other side ought not all Court-preachers to tell the 〈…〉 christian and Lawlesse Government And this ô Lord we conceive of this first Constitution so farre as we are able to apprehend committing the whole judgement thereof to thy unerâ—ing wisdome The Second is For the better keeping holy the day of his Majesties most happy Inauguration Ah Lord can this be to the honour of our King when the annuall memory of his Inauguration is saine to be forced What Canon or Constitution is for the continuation of the joyfull memory of Queen Elizabeth of ever blessed memory which yet to this day ceaseth not But o that our King would consider that word of thine * Those that honour me I will honour and they 〈…〉 and then they might have spared this Canon for the Kingâ—s day No no if these things be not reformed a ‡ blacke day is hastening on a pace as thou ô Lord hast threatned in thy word for such Sinnes And with thee there is no respect of persons ‡ King Iehâ—jachim lived without being desired and had the 〈◊〉 of an Asse and it was written upon him write this man childlesse A man that â—hâ—ll not presper in the Earth nor should be lamented being dead nor should any of iâ— Seed prosper after him O how terrible art thou ô Lord to proud and obstinate Sinners when not Kings Crowns and Scepters can secure of defend them from thy just hand And how fearefull a judgement is that when thou § powrest contempt upon Princes and weakenesâ— the power of the mighty The Third Canon is For suppressing of the growth of Popery O Lord dost thou not see in this whole long Canon the naked hypocrisie of this Synod clothing it selfe with many same figleaves of pious pretences forsooth for the suppressing of Popery Yea Lord their â—ypocrisie is so palpâ—ble herein that all the world sees that this Constitution was purposely made to blind the eyes of the simple in these stirring times wherin they see their Popish practises to grow into such hatred and detestation with all the Kings good Subjects What other but these practises have been the coâ—les that have kindled the fire in our neighbour to make the greater report but without shot in so hotly assaulting the Tower of Babel because in so doing it may make the world beleeve that contrary to the Doctrine of Canterbury there is no Salvâ—tion for Papists out of the Church of England and then let all Court Papists looke to it and withall the President must 〈◊〉 a great part of his Relation which he hath written in favour of Papists especially 〈◊〉 silly and ignorant to whom he grants Salvation in their Râ—â—igion he must also retract his Saying that the Church of England and of Rome are one and the same Church and hold one Faith and Religion undifferent he must also 〈◊〉 that wherein he assemeth with his Iesuite * that none â—â—ght to come to the English Church then and there in that manner to worship God that is resolved of the truth of the Roman Church or to the like effect and the Relator himself holds the truth of the Roman Church for he affirmeth it to be a true Church With many other new leaves which he must turne over upon this suddaine motion of suppressing the growth of Popery which if cordiall they should first have rid all Churches from Images Crucifixes 〈◊〉 Altars and the like least in bringing Papists to Church they should but change their Latine Popery into English Popery And now ô Lord we beseech thee to judge of the hypocrisie of this selfe-styled Sacred Synod which under a pretence of suppressing the growth of Popery doe indeed supplant the true Faith and Religion amongst us that so instead thereof they may at length as fast as they can set Idolatry up in her throne and full 〈◊〉 For besides all this that is said have they not set out many notorious Popish Books as that called the Femall Glory which makes the blessed Virgin to be a Goddesse to be adored and called upon or prayed unto the whole Booke being a very packe of Idolatry throughout and set out in English and allowed by one of the Prime Prelates Chapleins So
also a Booke of one Shelford Priest whose 5 Treatises are notorious grosse popery with many other of the same branne or meale which have been published by Authority and never any of them yet called in And some that have been called in as Cozens Orisons and Salis his Devotions and others yet go currant up and down and are in every Papists pocket Now if these holy men of this Sacred Synod had intended indeed to suppresse the growth of Popery they should have caused heaps of bonefires to be made of the Bookes in Smithfield But in all things touching this point how ridiculously and palpably they have discovered their hypocrisie especially the President and Father of the Synod doe thou ô Lord judge The Fourth Canon is Against Socinianisme Behold here Lord another devise to set simples a wondering what this Monster Sociâ—â—isine should be which most men in England never so much as once heard named before and which England I hopeâ— is free enough from unlesse a certaine neighbour to it which they call â—rminianisâ—ne doe not hale it in as it hath done many other Heresiâ—s For as for the Remonsirants or Aâ—minians they professe society and communion with the Socimans rather then with the Orthodox Protestants whom they call Caâ—vinists Yea and in sundry of their Heresies they border neare upon them as maintaining Iustification by works and that we are not bound to beleeve that we shall rise againe with these our bodies glorified and the like So as doth not the Synod mistake the name Should they not have said against Arminianisme Or perhaps they name the Damnable and Cursed Heresie of Socinianisme both because they would make the people beleeve it is that which hath so much been cryed downe by Preachers under the Name of Arminianisme and yet they will save Arminianisme harmelesse to which they have been so much beholden and also because Arminianisme doth in many things Symbolize with Sccinianisme under which it may the more easily lye hid But for Arminianisine sake the President hath in a Declaration in the Kings Name before the 39 Articles made the Articles touching Grace Election Predestination c. to speake aswell in favour of it as of the truth it selfe Or would they prevent the contagion of Socinianisme as also of Arminianisme Call in those Orders which restraine young students in the Vniversitie for reading our Protestant Authors The Fifth Canon Against Sectaries In this Canon they name Seperatists whom especially they meane as indeavouring as they say the subversion of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England on these they lay load in good earnest indeed and on all those that shall print or publish Bookes especially against the Discipline and Government of the Church of England This is indeed their faire Goddesse Diana of which these Craftsmen who get their great Incomes by her are so jealous and doe so furiously thunder against the opposites And surely ô Lord if thou dost not at this time helpe they poore people who cannot with a good Conscience if but rightly informed hold communion with these men in their Discipline and under their Government must needs goe to wracke and be utterly spoyled they and theirs The Sixt Canon An Oath injoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government Ah Lord here is the filling up of the measure of all iniquity 〈…〉 ol all cruelty and tyranny When they have brought their plots to passe when established and setled their Innovations both in Doctrine and Government then these hypocrites come with 〈…〉 for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government This for the Title of the Canon And that they may exalt their hypocrisie to the height that it may appeare to all men they further say This Present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and Constancâ— in the profession of the Doctrine and 〈…〉 in the Church of England and to secure all then against any suspicion of â—â—volt to Popery or any other Superstition Decrâ—es c. Now Lord can the hypocrisie of Rome it selfe in that Mystery of Iniquity packed up in the Councel of Trent surpasse this notorious hypocrisie of our English Prelates in this their Synod The vaile of their soule hypocriste is the pretence of Sincerity and Constancie in the profession of the Doctrine and Disâ—â—â—ine already established they have now already established a new Doctrine and Discipline in the Church of England and so they are desirous to declare their Sincerity and Constancie in the profession of the same O holy Lord who is able to deale with these impious hypocrites but thy selfe alone And now that they have â—â—tained their ends in a good measure for they do not meane to stay here till they have finished the Tower of Babel to its full height by degrees after a while they doe this to secure all men against any Suspicion of revolt to Popery or any other Superstition For when the Revolt to Popery and the Superstitions thereof is now in a good measure already made then would they have all men to be secure against any revolt to Popery But what need men to feare when the danger is already past and without remedie They have set up their Altars they gently intreat adoration thereunto and that by the same arguments that Papists use to colour over such Idolatry till they have learneâ— in fuller termes to expresse themselves with a We will and Command they have set up their Images and Crucifixes in Chappels and Cathedralls and that over the Altar for all other Churches to conforme thereunto they have published Bookes in English full of most grosse Romish Idolatry and Supersâ—tion they have cryed down the due Sanctification of the Christian sabbath-Sabbath-day and have layd open the sâ—â—dgâ—tes to all proâ—anesse to breake in by publike â—â—â—spensation of profane Sports and Pastimes that so they make the Lords day the 〈◊〉 day and to make way for such profane Sports they have universally forbid all preaching in the â—â—â—ernoones upon thy Holy Day they have made thy holy Commandment for the keeping and Sanctifying of thy Day of none effect and that not onely by their profane practises but professedly by their Book 's published by Authority they have by Edicts made the Articles of Râ—â—â—â—gion of the Church of England concerning Grace to be of none authority they have set forth * Books wherein they professe that the Church of England and of Rome the whore of Babylon are one and the Same Church professing one and the same Faith and Religion and goe about to Father the Antichristian Iurisdictâ—â—â—n and Government of Prelates upon the Divin â—â—â—ution and upon the practise of thy holy Apostles and doe cry down the Authority of thy Sacred word as an insufficient witnesse to prove it selfe the word of â—od and as a dead and dumbe judge and insufficient to determine doubt and Controversies in points of Faith and so doe set up 〈◊〉 Authority above the Scripture they have