ENGLANDS PVRGINGE FIRE Conteyninge two Petitions the one to the Kinges most excellent Majesty the other to the High Courte of Parliament held at this tyme in England Shewinge in diverse perticulers how the Church in England might be ordered yet more consormably to the will of God reveiled in his Worde then at this day it is Herewithall is declared the evell and lamentable effects of our vnable and negligent Ministers and the happy fruict of our learned and painefull Pastors A worke most needefull for theise tymes as servinge to turne away the wrath and Iudgements of God from this Lande through the removinge accordinge to the Advertisements herein given such disorders and evells as for which the wrath of God may be and is kindled against this Land and the Church therein IER 6 16. Thus faith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske of the ancient paths which is the good way and walke therein and ye shall finde rest for your Soules 16â—â— ENGLANDS PVRGINGE FIRE To the Right Honorable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of the upper Hovvse vvith the Knights and Burgesses of the lovver hovvse assembled in the high Courte of Parliament RIGHT HONORABLE IT pleased the Kinges most excellent Mastie very lately to confess among you that in the Civill affaires off this Kingdome he founde not things answerable to that face which our excellent Government would induce any man to have hope of Might it therefore please this Honorable Assembly to examine the State of this Lande in Spirituall affaires also we then the subjects of this happy Kingedome may well have comforteable hope of your happy successe in theise as in those It is truly a greate measure of Happiness to this Kingdome it is also to be acknowledged to our Kinge as a singular Grace off his unto us that the Ghospell of our Lord Redeemer is freely preached in this Kingdome Solemne Divine Service maintayned and people pressed to resorte on the Sabbaoth to both but because the prevailinge of the Ghospell in the lives and conversations of men is most acceptable to God and because our people are not answereable herein to the face of that excellent Government which our Church carryes I most humbly pray that I may petition this Courte for an entringe into an examination hereof also For my part I havinge here in this Land drawen my first breath of this mortall life thinke my selfe bounde to imploy whatsoeuer Grace my God hath given mee for the Good thereof therefore I have adventured to expose my selfe to danger in movinge you to vouchsafe your examination of the State also of the Church in this Kingedome This high and worthily Highe Courte hath here to fore taken care that God be both solemnely worshipped and also served in this Land by peoples obedience acknowledginge that this is the Meanes to put away punishments and plagues from this Lande As therefore the Ghospell is not sent by God to be hearde onely by our people but to be obeyed also by their ordering their life and conversation thereafter or otherwise serves vnto condemnation rather then to Salvation so surely it will turne from us punishments and plagues and insteade of them will bringe vpon us holy favours and Blessings if you take care of the peoples livinge as becommeth Saincts For the furtheringe whereof I by a writinge adventured many yeares since to petition his sacred Majestie declaringe therein the perticulers wherein I petitioned his Roy all Assistance If it shall please you Right Honorable that I for discharge of my Conscience may exhibit vnto you the copie well neere of the same that so both his sacred Majestie may be put in remembrance thereof in this so sit a tyme for this motion and also you may bee occasioned as you professedly tender so now also to further the good of this Church you shall shew to me a Christian favour and I shall pray for you that God will second with happy succrss all your pious indeavours Your Lo pps in all bounden Duty THOMAS PROCTOR TO THE KINGES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY TO my heartes ioye and to the ioye of all good Christians have you my most gratious Lord and Kinge made knovven to the vvorlde by vvritinge your knovvledge of the office of a Christian Kinge As vvhere you vvrite That Christian Kinges within their owne Dominions are to Governe the Church to commande obedience to be given to the vvorde of God yea and to Reforme Religion according to Gods prescribed vvill Which Office most mighty and dread Soveraigne vvell may you perfourme longe may you live vvell to perfourme the same vvithin theise your most flourishinge Kingedomes Imitatinge herein the good Kinges of Israell and Iudah vvhom and vvhose Actions in Governinge the Church your Majestly hath set before Christian Kinges and Princes as examples unto them for their rulinge over the Christian Church vvithin their seuerall Dominions Which excellent knovvledge and religious Care of your Majesties so made euident to the vvorlde put me in good hope that it vvould not be displeasinge vnto you if collectinge out of Scripture some of the speciall Acts of those good Kinges of Israell and Iudah I thereby tooke occasion to vvrite vnto your Majesty of some thinges of greate importaÌ„ce vvherein the Church of God in England needeth the redress of your povverfull hande Which thinge Dread Soueraigne I have not done either vvith any vaine conceipt thinking to better by instruction your excellent knovvledge or vvith any insufferable presumption in pressinge your executioÌ„ of Royall Dutyes vvith more hast then convenience but onely that I might discharge a Christian Duty by petitioninge your povverfull Assistance in some things vvherein your tymely helpe may greately further the good of the Church of God Neither truly is there any thinge better besittinge your Royall hande then is the yeildinge succour to the Church of God in those things vvherein shee greately needeth in theise tymes your aide For thus to doe is not onely the perfourmance of a very speciall duty of the kingely office but also it is an eterniznge of your fame in the eternal continuance of the Church Hovv pretious a Name hovv longe duringe a Fame have those good Kinges of Israell and Iudah obteined by vvhose blessed hands tymely assistaÌ„ce vvas yeilded to the Church of God VVhat marble Monument of theirs like this VVhat other Act of theirs is comparable to this Their marble monuments are mouldred and their other Acts hovv greate and famous so euer yet make they not their Name and Memoriall so blessed as doth the Recorde of those things done by them in ordeninge the Churches Gouerment according to Gods prescribed vvill Hopinge therefore both of your Majesties beinge like mynded vvith these good Kings and also of your gratious acceptance of this my poore vvritinge vvritten for the good of this Church of Englande I humbly pray that I may prooceede first to collect out of the Scriptures some of the speciall Acts of the good Kinges of
of Comparison in Teachinge Lastly seing Preachinge is a labour the Apostle might well say specially they that labour and yet without making use of any comparison betweene them and other Teachers neither indeede cann it be said that any one that Teacheth at all laboureth not in the worde and Doctryne Theise things considered we have good warrant from this Scripture to collect and affirme That in asmuch as none may deny but that by this speach some were to have double Honour though they Ruled well onely And in asmuch as no Teacher but deservs reproofe if he Rule well onely and Teach not Therefore here is an evidence That the Christian Church was to have in it Elders who were not to be Teachers but Rulers onely This evidence from sacred Scripture for such Governours considered how cann any safely oppose the worke of one of the speciall Angells of the Reformation even Calvin in his restoringe such to the Church of God Doubtless a speciall Act of a speciall Angell of the Reformation is no smale bond unto the rest of the Churches Reformed specially when it hath this Light from Scripture of the correspondence thereof to the Ordinance of God in the first and Apostolically planted Churches Thus having proved that Governours who were not Teachers were yet ordeined by God to be in the Church I now pray that I may proceede to answer certaine questions which may by some be moved coÌ„cerniâ—â— such Governours Some may say If theise were then in the Church yet is there any necessity that such should be now also in our Church I answere Though all Officers and Offices which we fynde by Scripture to have bene in the Church be not necessarily to be now also in our tymes in the Church for vve read of Apostles Prophets to foretell things also of vvorkers of Miracles Speakers of Tongues Interpreters of Tongues c all which being by extraordinary Guifts of the Spirit the Guift failinge the Office and Officer faileth also yet such Offices as might be executed vvithout such extradinary Gifts vvere to be continued in the Church And indeede vvhy have vve Arch-Bishops Bishops Preists and Deacons if not because such were ordeyned in the first plantation of the Church and might be continued by Ordination vvithout any Neede of any extraordinary Guifts of the Spirit As therefore vve are necessarily to follow the example of Gods Ordinance in the beginning for theise so the same example is a bond for the Churches havinge in it also such Governours as now I vvrite of To conclude as in the Reformation we retayne such Cleargy and Offices as which have some evidence in holy Scripture to be planted by Gods Ordinance in the Church in the first tymes so this evidence in Scripture for Governours who are not to be Teachers ought to be a bond to the Church to restore this Ordinance of God to the Church in the Reformation made For seinge vve followe not Tradition vvithout some evidence in Scripture for other Offices of our Cleargy vve ought not to followe the corruption and neglect of Tradition against the Scriptures light yeilded us for such Governours as now I vvrite Let us not therefore kick against Gods Ordinance Let us not despise it as a needeless thinge Let us not bringe downe visitations upon us for such neglect Let us not say all is already vvell Reformed vvhen yet such Governours are not in our Church but rather let us meekely beare the yoake of this Ordinance of God also that so our people and Congregations may hereby be the more Christianly Governed Cann vve thinke that the Neglect of such an Ordinance of God vvill not breede a defect in the vvell Governinge of the Church Doubtless as all the Ordinances of God rended to the furtherance of the Ghospells out spreadinge and well Governinge them converted by the Ghospell so where so speaciall an Ordinance is omitted as is this of plantinge Governours vvho are not Teachers there both the Ghospell vvill the less prevaile and the people also vvill be the more negligent to bringe fourth the fruicts thereof in their life and conversation Doe but looke upon the difference of people and effect of the Ghospell vvhere such Governours are and vvhere they are not restored and by the evidence vvhich experience yeilds be moved to acknowledge the Benefit of restoringe this Ordinance of the Lords Againe some may say How have theise failed all this tyme To this also I answere It is indeede uncertaine hovv but yet seinge vve fynde by the vvorde of God that by Gods Ordinance such vvere planted in the Church vve have good cause to Beleeve that by some corruption of Tradition they failed For my parte I conceave That soone after the Apostles tymes the Church converted all Church Officers into Cleargy and by makinge all Cleargy the use of Lay Governours falled Moreover the convertinge them into Cleargy might occasion that they were not founde in after tyme in every Church because of the insupportable burthen of every Church or Congregations maintayninge of its Charge many Persons Againe some may say Are they then to be Lay Men I answere yes for if God exempt not any as for his Cleargy from labouringe for their owne Meanes but such as Preach the Ghospell none who are not Preachers of the Ghospell are may be accoumpted Cleargy But these as before I have proved were not to be Teachers or Preachers of the Ghospell therefore they were not to be of the Cleargy but of the Laiety And that none but those who Preach the Ghospell exempted as Gods Cleargy from labour may appeare by that which the Apostle 1. Cor. 9 14 saith in theise wordes So also hath the Lord Ordeined that they which Preach the Ghospell should live of the Ghospell And verse 6 he saith Or I onely and Barnabas have not we power not to worke who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock Where we see that it is the Ministration of the Ghospell that conferrs upon any this Priviledge that he is not to worke for his livinge but is to be maintayned of the Charge of Gods People Now Cleargy is as much as Gods Lot set apart to be maintayned of the Charge of Gods people for the Service they do to God for others therefore none but such may be accoumpted Gods Cleargy Moreover if the Apostle argue for this Priviledge from any ones Preaching the Ghospell how shall we vvarrantably ease our selvs of that rabble of Popish Cleargy which by corruption of Tradition Popery would thrust upon us if we understande not the Apostle here that onely they who feede the flock by Preaching are to be accoumpted for Cleargy If it be now obiected that Deacons are Cleargy and yet Deacons Preach not untill they be licensed then I answer That Deacons may be restreyned not for that they may not Preach by right but for that they should first be tried and proved least being yonge Students they preach evell Doctryne through
accompany it will not be admitted For the avoidinge of Gods judgements therefore and for the betteringe of our people yea for the augmentation of the State and Majesty of our Church of Englande let theise Lay Elders be admitted into the Ecclesiasticall Rule and Goverment To this I may add that as common experience shews the puttinge Offices of Power and goverment into Mens hands maketh them growe in kuowledge of the Lawes and carefull of their Manners so surely the puttinge this Ecclesiasticall Power and goverment into the Elders of the Laiety would both occasion their search more diligently into the worde of God thereby to increase their knowledge of the Divine will and also their carefull taking heede unto their Manners that they give not offence to them whom they are to governe Yea the yonger Men also in every Parrish seinge the Credit honor of such place of government would study the Scriptures and take care of their Manners that so they may attaine a fame or good reporte for their honesty and Piety so to be the fitter to be imploied in such Office of goverment as their turnes may come Lastly some may say Must theise beinge once imployed in this Office ever remaine in this Office and not be imploied in other Offices of the Kingedome I answere first that there is greate difference betweene the Ministration of the worde and the Ministration of government onely the first is not to be left off the second may without offence For the vvorde of God hath laide no such bond on this as on that Secondly seinge it would be an insufferable mischeife unto Kingedomes if many of the Elders thereof in every Parrish should be wholy exempted from its imployment in Offices needefull thereunto therefore we may not conceave that the Lord would send such a Goverment ecclesiasticall into them as which should bringe with it such an inconvenience and mischeife I conclude therefore that theise Lay Governours are not bounde by the Lord to continue ever in their Office but now may serve in the goverment of the Church and another tyme not Thus have I Dread Soveraigne bene the more prolixe in my wrytinge of theise because this our Church of England doth hitherto rather oppose then admit of such but now havinge showen from the vvorde of God that of Gods Ordinance such a kynde of Governours or Rulers are to be in the Church I humbly petition your Majestie that you commande our Cleargy in whom is the Power to confert ecclesiasticall Powers and Offices that they exercise their Power herein ordeyninge some of the antient and godly of the Laiety to this Power and Authority in every of our Parrish Churches So shall you surely doe a vvorke acceptable to God beneficiall to the Church and worthy of that great Name which you have raised to your selfe in the Churches of God Suffer therefore patiently I humbly pray you this my petition for the admission of theise kynde of Ecclesiasticall Governours that so the Officers ecclesiasticall ordeyned by God may be wholy found in this our Church of Englande I grante that many other Offices may be ordeyned in the Church as the Change of tymes increase of Magnificence of Gods Divine Service and other like things may occasion but theise before written of are such as may not be omitted because they have evidence from the vvorde of God to by the Ordinance of God Apostolically delivered therefore also the Cleargy in whom is the power of Ordination are of duty bounde to renewe this Ordinance of the Lords in the Church But havinge written thus of theise ecclesiasticall governours I proceede to write of extentions also of ecclesiasticall jurisdictions 2. PETITION That Parishes Bishopdomes and Arch-Bishopdomes may be conveniently bounded SOme of our Parishes are so small and withall conteyne in them so few people that neither the Congregation beareth a State befittinge a Church nor yet cann a convenient Meanes or Revenewe be raised therefrom for a Pastor and Deacon his assistant And on the contrary some other Parishes retayninge their very antient boundes conteyne now by Gods multiplyinge the people in that place so many People that al cannot at one time conveniently assemble in the church I therefore petition that the smaller be made larger and those which are too large may be divided that so neither Gods Ministers be discouraged by the smaleness of Revenewe or Meanes of life nor Gods people dishartened from comminge to Church through want of convenient place when they come there Some Parishes also abounde with strangers who are but lodgers for a time yet in such places provision were good to be made that such may have convenient place in the church least else it occasion in them either a wandringe from the Parrish or a Neglect to resorte to any Church at all It hath in all ages bene seene that Change of condition of things hath caused change of former orderinge of thinges for it is no disorder to change the antiēt disposure of things vvhen to reteyne the same brings with it great disorder and detriment Moreover though Changes carry with them diffently of perfourmance yet experience hath declared that when the Magistrates authority concurreth with the occasion all difficultyes have readily bene overcome by the peoples voluntary tendinge their owne Benefit and the Benefit of other Populous Congregations are surely most meete both because a convenient Meanes may be better be raised for a Teacher or Pastor and a Deacon his assistant and also a plurality of grave and godly Men may be chosen by turnes to serve in that Parrish for Governours accordinge to that which I have written aboue if therefore such a multitude be appointed as which beinge close seated together disposed in galleries the voyce of a Preacher may well be hearde of them then judge I the Congregation to be duly proportioned And indeede want of disposinge the roome of the church as best may fit to conteyne a greate multitude and this also within hearinge the voice of a Teacher causeth that farr fewer assemble convenlently then vvere meete for it is but vaine there to resorte where though the church have roome enough yet use cannot be made of it for hearinge the Preacher True it is that Mens voices are diverse neither cann all volces answere to the serled disposure but yet if respect be had to the ordinary voice of Man and the Roome fitted accordinge thereto fitter it is that the defect of voice be supplied by some helpe then that the disposure of place for audience be changed Such Pastors therefore as have lowe voices may doe well to supply that defect with oftner Preachinge that so at one time some at another time others of the Parrish may conveniently heare them Theise things I write of our Parrishes in populous Cityes vvhere the neereness of dwellinge and multitude of strangers lodged causeth a very great Congregation in a smale quantity of grounde but in the Country where in a very large circuite
withholdeth that he might be reveiled in his tyme so indeede it fell out for the Emperors keepinge his Seate at Rome withheld the Bishopp of Romes Reveilinge but the Emperor removinge his Seate to Constantinople this Councill of Nice some few yeares after was assembled where theise huge extents of Iurisdiction beinge confirmed the Bishop of Rome beinge held as Cheife of them this caused his first measure of Reveilinge It is fit therefore that that Councils proceedings be examined whither in oughts God left it to dissent from his sacred Worde Papists usually alleadge that Councill as countenancinge the offeringe up of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Service of the Lords Supper but if this that Councill did then expressly erred it from the Scriptureis nstruction concerninge that Service And how neere it was to forbid Preists the copulation with their vvives vvhich Gods worde commandes 1. Cor 7 3 is well knowen to all that have read the Story of those tymes To this I may add the uncertainety of its Canons seinge they are with such uncertainety brought us by Tradition For all theise reasons I conclude that that Councill is not so to be maintayned in its Ordinances as that the instruction of sacred Scripture is not rather to be followed But who that looketh into the holy Scripture shall not see That Timothy and Titus such as were like them held the highest ordinary Offices in the Church next unto the Apostles themselvs for by the Epistles of Timothy and Titus it is evident that the Apostle set them in Office next himselfe over the Churches that were planted Churches were planted and they had their Officers and Governours but then the Apostle ordeyned theise over them againe and this is manifest in that Titus had Charge over diverse Cityes Whilst therefore there is this evidence for their Office and whilst there is that evidence before noted that our Arch-Bishops succeede them in that Office and vvhilst the Church ever held a cessation of Apostles and the Apostle 1. Cor. 4 9 saith I thinke that God hath set fourth us the last Apostles c We have good reason not to suffer other offices to usurpe Authority over Arch-Bishops or any Arch-Bishopps to be subiugated unto any other Ecclesiasticall Ministration But if we permit the continuance of those huge extents whereof we read then as necessarily many Arch-Bishopdomes yea Patriarchdomes must be comprised therein so the Bishop of that Seate must be advanced over and exercise a Ministration ovet Arch-Bishopps yea over Patriarchs which thinge what is it but both an evertion of the Politie ecclesiasticall which God by his Ordinance Apostles taken away sent the church withall under the Wings of Kinges and Princes and also a bringinge in Superiorityes Throanes and Powers never ordeyned by the Lord As therefore experience hath showen that when an Arch-Bishoprick hath necessarily bene divided then tvvo Arch-Bishops are placed therein without subiugating the one under the other so those antient extents of bounds ought with the increase of the Convertion of people to have bene divided into many Arch-Bishopdomes and this without subiugatinge every of them to the Arch-Bishopp of some one city who by this meanes as he is to take a New Title so also he entereth into a new Ministration never ordeyned by the Lord. If any say hath not every Snccessor right to retayne the bownds of his predecessors jurisdiction I answere yes where there is no prejudice thereby to the Church and to the Ordinances of God but when retayninge the same he must necessarily Rule over them whom God by his Ordinance set next unto Apostles he then subverts the Ordinance of God so longe as he cannot make himselfe an Apostle Neither cann any ones succeedinge in the Seate of an Apostle conferr upon him an Apostles Dignity and Office for this were to make such a one an Apostle but we have good cause to aske of such a one the signes of his Apostleship 2. Cor. 12 12. I conclude therefore that those extents of Iurisdiction which carry with them a bringinge into the Church Powers and Ministrations above that of Arch-Bishops are unlawfull as bringinge into the Church strange Ministrations which have no manner warrant from Gods Worde in Scripture but rather are contrary to the Politie which there God manifesteth to his Church And indeede because of the huge extent of the Pope of Romes jurisdiction we fynde that above Arch Bishopps are Patriarchs as also Cardinalls as now Cardinalls are Popes Legats and a rabble of other who all serve rather as Ministers of this Corruption of Ecclesiastical Politie warranted by God then of the church of the Ghospell For how many are the Officers which the Pope of Rome needeth for to serve him only in the executiō of so large a jurisdictiō as now he exerciseth even so proportionably is it with every Patriarch yea with every Arch-Bisshop when he hath a Iurisdiction so farr extended fourth as that neither he can personally visit conveniently the parts of his Charge nor they of his Charge cann conveniently make Accusatiōs unto him if the Parishional or Episcopal Goverments faile in executiō of Iustice But now seinge God hath given so blessed Testimony to the Reforminge of things by his worde in Scripture why should not such Offices be cut off as superfluous and justly Offensive which exercise any Authority over the Arch-Bishops of the Christian church Should we not thinke that the Lord expects a Reformation even herein aswell as in Doctryne Should not his vvords direction be of power with us aswell in Reforminge errors of Iurisdictions or Powers Offices as in reforminge of Doctrynes Therefore if the Scripture shew that the Offices of Timothy Titus was the highest ordinary Office in the Church after Apostles ceased as beinge in the life tyme of the Apostles next to the Apostles and if there be good evidence that those had under them at the most but Bishopps of Cityes then why should not Arch-Bishopps be acknowledged as Succeeders into their Office and consequently to be the highest ecclesiasticall Officer which God sent the Church with amonge the Nations after his taking away of Apostles If it be said that those who succeeded into the Seates of Timothy or Titus and others like them are Patriarchs not Arch-Bishopps then I demande what Manner Bishops cann any prove that either Timothy or Titus or the next Successors ruled over whither were they Arch-Bishos or onely Bishopps of Cityes Surely the greatest evidence of purest and most antient Tradition is that those of those Seates were first accoumpted but Arch-Bishops and though they seemed to have Charge of a greate circuit of grownde yet where any Arch-Bishop was ordeyned I fynde not any good evidence that they exercised Authority over them also as now Patriarchs doe over them and the Pope over Patriarches As for the extendinge out of Care or seeminge-Charge of the Churches in greate extent we fynde in antient tyme not
they appointe In this church of England then your Majestics famous Predecessors havinge ordeyned and your selfe gratiously confirmed that the Ministers Maintenance be gathered by Tythinge of your people I most humbly pray that the full Tythes of the Lande be given to the Lords Cleargy Doubtless dread Soveraigne the permission of Impropriations where not the Cleargy but Lay persons reape the Tythes causeth both a discouragement to Gods Cleargy through want of convenient Maintenance in such Parishes and also a scantery of able Ministers to serve the Lord in those places And truly it is lamentable to observe both how poorely some Cleargy are faine to live even there where they execute the Office of their Ministry and where a Lay Man gathers such a quantery of Tythes as would serve for a sufficient Maintenance for one or two of the Cleargy and also how many Ministers painefull in Preachinge the Ghospell after they have vvorne out their life in poverty leave their vvife and children well neere to beggery But seinge it is Gods Lawe that his Cleargy may marry 1. Tim. 1 2 and seinge it is likewise his Lawe that the married yeild due benevolence 1. Cor. 7 3 meete it is that the Cleargyes portions be such as that they may with thrift lay up also for their Wife and children Yea the Apostle in sayinge 2. Cor. 12 14 for the Children ought not to lay up for the fathers but the fathers for the Children implies a Necessity laid upon all fathers and amonge them such of the Cleargy as have children that they provide and lay up for their children therefore such Cleargy as keepe such Hospitality as spendes the Revenewe of their livings are rather to be blamed then commended whilst withall they lay not up for their vvife and children Moreover seinge it were most unbefittinge Christians to villify the Ministers of the Ghospell in maintenance whom they are to have in honor for the Ministration of the Ghospell most meete it is that every Paris hes allowance every Bishopdomes and Arch-Bishopdomes allowance be such as may serve for to maintayne each of the Cleargy in such ranck and fashion as best beseemeth therefore as our Bisshops and Arch-Bishops have place of eminency and dignity amonge our Nobles so the Pastors of Congregations are to have such Maintenance as may in able them to beare company rather with the better then with the meaner sorte in each Parrish As for our Bishops and Arch-Bishops their Maintenance is already commendably greate through the large Bounty of our fore-fathers and your Majesties confirmation of what they now injoy thereof but because I have in the former Chapter intreated for the multiplyinge of the number of Arch-Bishops and Bishops in this Church I now humbly petition your Majestie that I may move unto one thinge which would be needefull If it be necessary that there be more Bishopricks and Arch-Bishopricks in Englande then now there are and this I have proved before then it followes necessarily that Maintenance also be increased I therefore petition That unto that which already our Bishops have among them there may be added a taxe upon all the People of the Lande that every house-holder contribute a smale yearely Gift to his Bishop and an other smale Guift to the Arch-Bishop in whose Province he is for by the multitude of families in a Bishopdome a smale matter raised from every family would affoorde a very greate portion to the Bishop and by the multitude of families in an Arch-Bishopprick the like greate portion proportionably would arise to the Arch-Bishop Hereby the Bishop and the Arch-Bishop woulde be the more bounde to have care of and vvithout Charge often to visit privately the severall Parishes seinge to it that all things be therein accordinge as they ought to be for it cannot vvell be that they should neglect them when halfe yearely or quarterly they are put in mynde of them by their Benevolence unto them And verily better it is for Gods people accordinge to their severall conditions of quallity to parte vvith an easy payment of six pence or a shillinge quarterly or more or less to their Bishop and Arch-Bishop that here-through their Iurisdictions being the smaller they may proffitably execute in them their severall Ministrations accordinge to Gods Ordinance then for want hereof to suffer them to injoy so large and spatious Iurisdictions for Pontificality and Revenewe as that they doe not nor conveniently cann execute rightly their severall dutyes and Offices I grant that every Parishes Charge is already greate by the payinge of Tithes or other somes of mony towards the Maintenance of the Cleargy of their severall Parishes but yet for so good and proffitable an occasion as is this they shall doe Christianly to beare moreover a smale taxe for their Bishop and another for their Arch-Bishop Greate was the bounty of our Predecessors in this kynde and this also done even under Popery and shall we then injoyinge a most happy Reformation and a pure Doctryne be greived to parte with a little In the second of Chronicles chap. 31 8 we reade thus And when Hezekiah and the Princes came and sawe the heapes they blessed the Lord and his people Israell So likewise 2. Cor. 9 12 the Apostle saith thus The Ministration of this Service not onely supplieth the necessities of the Saincts but also is aboundant by the Thanksgivinge of many unto God And Phili pp. 4 17 he saith Not that I desire a Gift but I desire the fruict which may further your reckoninge Now I have received all and have plenty I was even filled after that I had received of Epaphroditus that which came from you an odour that smelleth sweete a sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God Here we see what Blessings what Thanksgivinge to God this liberality in Gods people towards the Lords Ministers stirred up in the Kinges and Apostles of the Church here we see also that this is to God as a Sacrifice acceptable and pleasinge unto him And our Lord himselfe Math. 10 42 saith thus Whosoever shall give unto one of theise little ones to drinke a Cup of cold Water onely in the Name of a Disciple verely I say unto you he shall not lose his rewarde It is a pretious thinge therefore in the sight of God when any one giveth to his Ministers because they are his Ministers and giveth not onely of Necessity or of Superfluity for we must not give onely because of our Superfluity we cann give but we ought to give in faith sayinge in our hearts Lord this is a Minister of thy Church I give therefore to him Beleevinge thy vvorde of Acceptance This is a holy Liberality this true Christian Liberality therefore thus mynded and not grudgingely or onely for the Lawes sake we should give to the Maintenance of the Lords Ministers For this cause as I have vvritten for our Bishopps and Arch-Bishopps so I write also for our Parrish Cleargy that the full Tythes be allovved and that
Peoples free will Offeringes may be admitted untill each Parrish throughout the Land have a competent Meanes for the Cleargy of the same How bounrifull were our Predecessors in givinge of Lands for a certainety of Revenewe to frieries and Nunneries if then they were so bountifull where God imposed no bond so to doe and this upon them who proved unproffitable Members of the Church should not we much more give some parte of our Lands for a certainety of maintenance to the needefull Cleargy of our Parishes If therefore any Parishes be so smale or poore that it yeildeth not a competent Meanes for the Cleargy thereof it would be a blessed thinge if those that are able give some parte of their Lande to yeild to the same a certainety of Revenewe besides the Tithes and other Benefits which the Parrish its selfe yeildeth The needefull Cleargy of a Parrish I accoumpt a Pastor or Teacher and a Deacon for an assistant unto him for truly it is not meete that we put him to read Divine Service alwayes and alwayes to doe other Cleargicall Dutyes who should give himselfe diligently to Reading that he may Preach the Ghospell often unto us and soundly If therefore in Parishes already sufficiently provided for there be any so Christianly mynded as that of the aboundance of their possessions they will set by a parte towards the Maintenance of the Cleargy of another Parrish which hath neede I humbly petition your Majestie that you gratiously permit this To theise I may add the Maintayninge of such Officers also as are necessary for the perfourmance of a Solemne and Divine Service in our Cathedralls and also such as necessarily neede in our Schooles and Universities for if God so gratiously accepted 1. Chron. 17 1 of the augmentation of the State and Magnificence of his vvorshipp which vve fynde after the Buildinge of the Temple then may we under the Christianity also Beleeve that our Princes caringe to increase in a tyme of the Churches prosperity the State Magnificence of the vvorshipp of God is most acceptable to God and consequently the Officers necessary in such Service may though not all as Cleargy be maintayned of the Charte of Gods people And so likewise because the churches supply with learned able Ministers is sight needful therfore as our Schooles or Universities are needefull for the trayning up of some hereunto so the Governours of them are also needefull as doinge for Gods Church a very speciall Service therefore also such are to be Maintayned at the Charge of Gods people that so they may be incouraged in the Service of the Lord. But one thing here I wish and petition for that such be the large Revenewe of every severall Ecclesiasticall Officer of our Cleargy as that the Meanes of the livinge being sufficient no one of them be suffered to ingross any more spirituall livings into his hande for it is the villifyinge and decayinge also the Ministration of the Ghospell when one Man havinge divers Charges executes one himselfe and leaves the rest either unto too seldome visitation or else to some readinge and insufficient Minister Thus having written for the Maintenance of our Ministers I wil proceede to write also of the Repairing of our churches If the Lord so gratiously accepted of the disposition of Kinge David concerninge increasinge the Magnificense of the vvorshipp of God 1. Chron. 17 3 by changinge the Tabernacle into a glorious and magnificent Temple why should we not thinke that under the Christianity also the Lord most gratiously regardeth our beautifyinge of the very Temples where he is vvorshipped how ill befitting thē is it that in this lands but specially in our country Parishes Gods Temples are most basely provided for lyinge so ruined and so dusty as that it cannot but abate the devotion of Gods people My humble petition is therefore unto your Majestie that you provinge an english Iosiah zealous of the glory and splendour of Gods Temples permit the free will Offeringes of your people untill there be sufficient for the Repayringe and Adorninge of the Churches of God It is truly an error in some under the Reformation that they so as they but vvorshipp God in his Temple make no conscience of Beautifyinge and Enrichinge also the place of Assemblinge but now from the Example of the Church under the Lawe we see how acceptable to God the Care and Bounty of Gods Kinges and People is even in this matter of Beautifyinge the very Churches wherein we vvorshipp God As for the manner of Adorninge of Churches though some like Pictures of holy Stories yet I rather wish a pain tinge guildinge as the Arches and fashion of pillars wil best agree with and a wrytinge of Divine Stories here and there For truly I fynde the Lord no where to commend to his people any former things done to be represented by Pictures but rather he commends unto them a writinge of his vvorde about their howses and in memoriall of things passed to set up either Stones or other like things which carry no resemblance of the thinge done This I take to be to the end that for matters of faith which vve must have faith of that once it vvas done he vvould not use us to any representation of the same to our eye And indeede what this Devise of picturinge Divine Stories in Churches came unto under Popery vve may mourningely perceave for the next to this was Images also and then Idolatry Men are too proane to delight to be put in mynde of things of faith by pictures of the same set before their eye but it is the next way to put faith out of the hearte and argues a falle in wardly of the sight of those things by faith of the vvorde reade and Preached For theise causes Dread Soveraigne I humbly petion that your people be not accoustomed againe as under Popery to Pictures of things of the Divine Story but rather that they may learne to have a sight through faith of the vvorde preached and reade so adorne the Churches rather with seemely paintinges and guildinges then with paintinge of Stories Moreover because in some places the Congregation is so greate and the Church either so scante or so ill provided of roome that the people cānot conveniently kneele at praier or sit the tyme of the Sermon meete it is that such Churches be either in larged or provided of Galleries and formes as neede requireth for it is no smale disorder when a Church is glorious by Adorninges and yet not fitted for the peoples worshipp Lastly whereas our Church in the ordinary Custome hath well ordered a settinge aparte one parte of the Church for Men another for Women so preventinge a dangerous intermixture of the Sexes in that place I humbly petition that the disorder hereof in some populous Congregations may be redressed If therefore at any populous Assembly it fall out that there be disorder herein meete it is that the Governours have power of the
Instruments of David Kinge of Israell And all the Congregation worshipped singinge a songe and they blew the Trumpcts All this continued untill the burnte offeringe was finished And when they had made an end of Offeringe the Kinge and all that were present with him bowed themselvs worshipped Then Hezekiah the Kinge and the Princes commanded the Levits to praise the Lord with the wordes of David and of Asaph the Seer And Hezekiah spake and said Now ye have consecrate your selvs come neere and bringe the sacrifices and offering of praise into the house of the Lord. Also Hezektah sent to all Israell and Indah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh that they should come to the house of the Lord in Hierusalem to keepe the Passeover unto the Lord God of Israell And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levits that had knowledge to singe unto the Lord. From theise Scriptures I gather specially theise fower thinges 1 That in tyme of peace and prosperity the Lords vvorship may be increased in Magnificense 2 That the King tooke care of the solemne Stately and right perfourmance of the same 3 That those vvho have the Arte in songe and in Musick vvere cheris hed by the Kinge 4 That the Kinge tooke care of and surthered the Peoples resorte unto the same It is truly vvorthy our observation that unto the Manner of Divine Service ordeyned in the vvilderness God approved of the Additions of Kinges and Prophets made in lymes vvhen the Church vvas in Peace and Prosperity For here vve reade of the vvords of David and Asaph the Secr also of the Instruments of David Kinge of Israell neither of which lived in the tyme when the Church was in the vvildernesse If therefore God approved of this Addition vvhich made in some measure a change of the former Manner of Divine Service why should we under the Christianity thinke that the increase of the Magnificence of the vvorship of God is not acceptable They are therefore to be reproved who contend against the Magnisicent Manner of Divine Service ordeyned by Gods Kinges and Preists and not dissonant from his former reveiled will vvhich we fynde established in the Christian Church after the Kinges and Princes embraced the Christian faith Neither ought any to thinke that Kinges being converted to God they have not a speciall prerogative in orderinge the set forme of Divine Service I graunte they are not left wholy at Liberty to doe what pleaserrh them for I noted before in the first chapter that the Comandement vvas by the hande of the Lord and by the hande of his Prophets but yet this I say that under the Christianity where we have not new Revelations for all things there the Kinge and Gods Preists have power to order the Manner of the Divine vvorshipp so as they doe nothinge in Substance against the vvill of God already reveiled They may indeede under the sheild of this liberty bringe in many vaine and nnseemely thinges but vve trust to Gods stronge hande over them And if they be so ill mynded yet vvee neede not doubt but that the Lorde vvill in due tyme discover their evell and raise up redress for his CHVRCH by the hands of more faithfull Servants In the meane tyme if they commande things which in themselvs are not against the vvorde of God reveiled we are safer in obeyinge then resistinge I approve not therefore of those who contemptuousely speake of the solemne Service of our Cathedrall Churches speakinge rather their owne singular conceipt then that which hath any sounde warrant from the vvorde of God Theise things considered I now for this matter conclude That God is to be blessed for your Majesties Iudgement and vvisedome in retayninge still under the Reformation the Magnificent Manner of Gods Divine vvorshipp used in our Cathedrall churches and in some few other places for seinge the same was ordered by former Princes and Bishops it was fit to be retayned save onely vvherein vve have direct vvarrant by the vvorde of God or by evidence of evell to alter Reforme the same for vve owe a Reverence to that vvhich former Ministers of God have ordered save in things which either are directly against Gods vvorde or which carry vvith them an evidence of evell But now as on the one hande I blesse God for your Majesties continuinge the Stately vvorship of God in our Cathedrall Churches so on the other hande I humbly pray that I may make two petitions the first That the peoples understandinges may be more yet tendered then hitherto it hà th bene the second That the singinge Men and others imploied in any Service may be taken care of that they be of an honest religious and holy life and Conversation For the better perfourmance of the first it vvere good and proffitable That vvhatsoever is sunge or plaide in that solemne Divine Service be printed in bookes that the same may be read by the people at the tyme of the singinge or playinge the same in the Quire Neither this onely but it vvere also good that the people were instructed both readily to knowe vvhat is sunge or plaide and also readily to turne to the same in the booke vvhere they may reade it yea children should be taught this in the Schooles that so beinge trained up hérein they may in their age resorte proffitably to this solemne Service also sometymes aswell as to their ovvne Parrish Church ordinarily For Dread Soveraigne though charitably and religiously your Predecessors have caused the Divine Service to be translated into the English tongue yet partly because al that assemble cannot conveniëtly assemble in the Quire neither cann the Quire be altered because of the fittinge the same to the voices of the Singers that they may heare one an other partly because Songe cannot be so distinct as that the hearers can farr off discerne what is sung partly because the Musick plaieth some tymes alone in the Honour of God vvhen yet some thinge is or ought to be intended the tune whereof is with Arte of Musick plaide alone and lastly because the common sorte are not skilfull in the Order what is now sunge what then plaide therefore your people are even in theise tymes little better then if the Service were perfourmed in a strange tongue Herethrough cheifely it is that your people doe not commonly so respect that solemne Service as they ought neither indeede care at all to resorte to the same at any tyme yea and most of those that doe sometymes come to the same come neere onely vvhen some thinge is read out of the Bible or when those Praiers are said which easily they cann discerne and understande but when any thinge is done in Songe or vvhen the Musick silently plaieth you shall then synde them to retire themselvs and to give themselvs to vvalkinge and talkinge Others of the yet simpler sorte of people are even as those under Popery pleased vvith the tune onely and delighted with the songe and
Musick and vvith the sight of the Stately ordetinge and perfourmance of things but this without caringe at any tyme to vvorshipp God in the Spirit and vvith the understandinge so that they onely stand gazinge thinkinge it a sufficient worshipp if they have but bene there seene Divine Service But as this evell in Gods people cannot but be displeasinge to God so surely if some good order be not taken for redress hereof it cannot but endanger the Lords acceptance of the very Service its selfe for it is not so much the Service vvherein a few vvorship as the vvorship of many in Spirit that he regards Thus havinge vvritten of my first petition I humbly pray that I may proceede to the second If onely Art be heeded in them admitted Ministers in the Divine Service as if so they be skillfull then it matters not what their lives and conversations be then vvhen any prophane or irreligiously disposed Persons are admitted we from experience cann hardly expect other then that their unsanctified Soules will bringe fourth as prophaness in their life and conversation abroade so irreverence and a measure of prophaness in the very execution of their parts in the Divine vvorshipp But when people see irreverence or any measure prophaness in the Ministers it abates their devotion and is no smale Scandall to the Service its selfe Therefore I humbly petition that our Bishops have not care that they reverently perfourme their parts in the Service onely but also that they or the Deanes doe inquire of their life and conversation abroade also out of the Church for if abroade in their howses or common company they be wanton lascivious or prophane no Awe will serve to restreine that in the Service also their disposition breake not fourth upon every little advantage or opportunity to shew the same If therefore our Bishopps and Deanes Inquire after the common life and conversation of such what it is abroade out of the Church if also they inquire whither in their familyes they use or neglect religious Dutyes such as are eveninge Praier at leastwise Grace before after meate readinge the Divine Scriptures Repeatinge of Sermons some tymes and some tymes Chatechisinge then this would Awe them to exercise themselvs to a Holiness of life and conversation Especially if as they shall be founde conformable or disorderly so they shall be admitted or put by the Service Yea it were good that an exhortation were given to all that if any of them knowe any amonge them to be loose and lascivious of Speach prophane in conversation or negligent of religious Dutyes in their familyes they should informe the Bishop or Deane of the same that so the party may be observed as occasion is given be proceeded against Verily it greately endangers the Service both towards God and towards Men when the Ministers of the same are knowen to be wicked Men in their life and conversation for it cannot be but that the Lord should turne his face even from a good Service executed by such if authority allowe such to be Ministers therein as who commonly are knowen to be wicked of life and conversation Neither cann it be but that the people also should take such offence at such as that even the very Service also shall well neere be sorsaken If theise things therefore Dread Soveraigne be carefully seene unto I nothinge doubt but that our Divine Servico now used in our Cathedrall Churches will both be more acceptable to God then heretofore and also more conscionably and religiously then heretosote srequented by your people I may here add the like petition against our Clearkes of Parishes who commonly beinge of the lewdest of the Partish for life and conversation doe also so irreverently unskilfully and unseemely perfourme their Office that the people of God cannot but take offence there at and this to the scandall of the Service its selfe of out Church To conclude my Collections together with my observatiōs upon theise collected Scriptures I now humbly petition that as here it is said That the Kinge and the Princes commanded c so as in your Presence your selfe see to theise things so likewise in places remote from your sacred Presence your Princes and Magistrats by commission from you may have power and Authority to see that Divine Service be celebrated orderly and reverently throughout the Kingedome So vvill our Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall Officers be the more carefull that just cause of reproofe be not given not just cause of your Princes and Magistrates proceeding against any for disorders and unseemely perfourmance of Dutyes THeise Collections most mighty and Dread Soveraigne I have made out of sacred Scripture thereby in some speciall perticulets to shew how Gods Kinges and Princes in that antient Church under the Lawe tooke care of and by their Authority ordered even Ecclesiasticall things also pertayninge to the Divine vvorship and service Hereupon I have adventured to note unto your Majestic diverse weighty perticulers wherein this our Church of Englande needeth the redress of your powerfull hande If therefore you vouchsafe to be assistant unto the Church of God in theise things you shall surely bynde the same unto you to hold your Memory blessed for ever for by orderinge these things you shall both restore the Ordinances of God to his church and dispose rightly the extents of our Cleargy Iurisdictions you shall further the Preachinge of the Ghospel in all places of this Lande and also be the Meanes not of a pompous Service onely but of a Stately Magnificent Holy Proffitable vvorshipp of God Which beinge done it will be no less your Glory that preventinge the abuse of your and your Peoples Bounty by our Cleargy the Cleargy have a large and rich Revenewe togeather with Dignityes and Honors among your Nobles Gentry I neede not here prove from evidence of holy Scripture that Kings and Princes under the Christianity are confirmed by God in the same Offices which the Kinges under the Lawe executed this I shall prove elsew here where I have occasion to write of this subiect to those who as yet are so deluded of Papall leasings that they acknowledge not the same but your Majestie professinge your knowledge hereof and practisinge in your Kingedomes accordinge to such know ledge I neede but to certify of some things only which even to this day neede redress in this our church of England If it be obiected that I move unto Changes that Changes are ever dangerous in Kingedomes I then humbly pray your Majestie to consider that I move to no Changes but such as which the evidence of the will of God in Seripture witnesseth unto And what the Glory of Changes made under the Reformation accordinge to the vvorde of the Lord in Scripture hath bene the whole worlde now seeth your Majestie enjoyeth and inheriteth the Glory and Power of the same Doubtless without a greate Change and the same very strange dangerous we had had
there is not usually holy exercises perfourmed But yet because the very Showe of Godliness is good not onely for an evidence to Pastors of the prevailinge of Gods Grace in their Parishioners but also for examples sake to others as servinge to provoake or incite one family by another in the use of such pious exercises and Showe of Godliness it is very behoovefull that families have their publick holy exercises at convenient seazons Indeede some of those who most use theise pious family exercises make Religion a weariness to their family by so continually drawinge them in every minute of tyme wherein they worke not to theise exercises that they leave no time for their familyes recreation and refreshment by sportinge dancinge usinge exercises of Activity or exercises of danger for animatinge them to valiancy and other like Thus by an extreame a vice growes and this both to the hurte of the family and also to the scandall of the Ghospell of Christe for some erroneously conceavinge that Religion cannot stande with such things they make their Children servants dull and slowe of motion and unsit for the defence of the Kingedome and of the Church and others thinkinge that the Ghospell admits not such things make the Ghospels yoake heavier then the Lord would have it and so make the people take offēce therat Yea som have raised a reproach caused themselvs to be a by-worde through their puttinge the bridle of their owne worde in peoples mouths restreyninge them in thinges which Gods vvorde restreynes them not in such Men doe both themselvs and also the Ghospell wronge The Scriptures declare the Lord not to dislike but rather to approve of sportinges Gen. 26 8 dancings Exod. 15 20 Iudges 11 34 37 and of exercises of Activity Iudges 20 16 1. Chron. 12 2 therefore none ought by a vvorde of their owne to restreyn Gods people in such things Such Men would make conscience to doe as David did who for the rescue of a sheepe would followe after a Beare and after a Lion but this exposinge a Mans selfe to such dangers even upon such causes the Scripture rather approves then condemnes Surely the Scripture commendinge as an Ornament and Honor of Kingedomes that there are Active valiant Men in the same 1. Chron. 12 1 it doth consequently allow of such hazardous exercises as incyte move Men to a valiant exposinge themselvs to dangers therefore the baitinge of Bulls of Beares and huntinge of vvilde Beasts and the like are not to be condemned to be used by Gods people If any evell be done or evell Speach hearde in the usinge of theise things let that indeede be reproved and punished but let not Gods people be debarred from the use of theise lawfull things under pretence that Religion and Holiness will not stande with such thinges Would God that they that use theise things would say and resolve and profess that seinge God is gratious to allowe them to sporte to dance to use exercises for Activity and even unto danger for animatinge of them to valiancy therefore he should not be dishonored by any in the use of them for surely if Gods people did this the Lord would delight in his peoples exercisinge themselvs in theise things True it is Mans corrupt nature is such as that hardly it cann use theise things without takinge Liberty with all both to forget God and also to put away his feare in the tyme of their makinge use of theise things but if Masters of families and publick Governours as also their Pastors would teach them frequently to minde the Lord and to have care in their hearts not to displease him in their usinge theise things as also would be ready to reprove and punish any that should dishonor God in the tyme of the use of theise things then the corruption of nature would be kept downe herein as in other things hereby for the Awe of Goverment changeth the Manners which a depraved Nature is apt to bringe fourth And why should not every one of every family thinke with themselvs that as to doe or say oughts in their sportinges one with another or family with family or neighbours vvith neighbours vvhich vvould displease their Masters and also their Magistrats knewe they thereof were the next way to be deprived of theise Solaces and Refreshments so to displease God is likewise the next way to make him also to deprive them of them and to plague the Land and them Therefore people should use theise things as by Gods permission havinge an Awe of God in their hearts not to permit or doe any thinge in the use of them which is truly a breach of any of Gods Commandements As for the Sabbaoth day vvhereas some use exercises of violence unto Blood such as are baiting of bulls or beares cudgell playinge other like theise though they be lawfull at other tymes yet not on the Sabbaoth more harmeless solaces delights befits the same both for conveniency also for that it is a rest aswell to Beasts as to Men the like I might say for hobby-horses and men in vvomens apparell but this indeede unlawfull vvhich our Maygaimes commonly use for even in indifferent things there may be a fitness not to use them on the Lords Sabbaoth day Theise things I thought good to touch at here because men are apt to erre by an erroneous restreinte aswell as by an erroneous liberty-takinge Againe I finde in those who most use holy and religious dutyes a custome of long prayinge as if they would make a custome or get a Name for great prayinge whereas the Lord doth in Scripture declare himselfe to delight in shorte praiers tendinge to the present occasions of praying vvhich also are fittest for the Spirits attendance thereto and to be made in faith of that praied for There is no truth in praier when the Spirit and faith accompany not the things praied for neither cann they conveniently accompany longe and tedions praiers In Congregations indeede there must be in the Pastor a sence of and praier for publick offences Benefits and the very rehearsing of many perticulers is there truly needefull but in the private family the occasion of the prayinge vvhither it be for the morninge or eveninge is especially to be tendered though som other perticulers for the common wealth may also breifely be remembred Thus have I noted some evells whereinto some the most devoute are apt to fall that so such evells may be prevented but yet if this Care be taken against theise evells it would be very proffitable that every family aparte use its selfe to such Religious Dutyes For for vvant of accoustominge a family hereto vve fynde that Men goinge to church and comminge from thence make that all their Religion for all the vveeke after never thinkinge any more of any thinge learned at the Church nor caringe to doe in the vveeke as they vvere at Church taught to doe vvhereas if at home the family
vvere used to theise pious exercises it would occasion a makinge conscience to resorte to Church and there to vvorshipp God vvith faith in the Spirit aswell as in the externall Gestures of the Body as also it would make them carefull of that taught to remember a parte and some speciall things either to Beleeve them heartily or to practise them in their Actions and Speach all the tyme of their life for some things are to be Beleeved onely other things are to be practised and in both every hearer ought to be carefull that he doe it as he is taught by the GHOSPELL of CHRISTE Thus havinge vvritten of some sorts of Ministers and observed unto your Majestie the effects of their defects in your People I now humbly pray that I may proceede to vvrite also of those other Ministers in vvhom I cannot but rejoice blessinge God also for them and for the rich and plentifull Fruicts of their zealous and painefull Ministration Other Ministers there are in this Church of Englande who beinge learned are also painefull Preachers of the word They preach once at the least but ordinarily twice on the Sabbaoth day if not once in the weeke dayes also Theise observe their Parishioners whither usually in their life and conversation they bringe fourth any Fruicts of their Preachinge Theise vvatch over any erroneous opinions in their Parishioners informinge them better and stayinge their outspreadinge Theise watch also over the Manners of their Parishioners aswell their conversation as their dealinge observinge vvhen they are either vitious or vertuous Theise apply themselvs to fit their Preaching also unto theise observations usinge Comminations or Consolations as the peoples vices or vertues neglect or observation of Doctryne gives occasion Which that they may the better doe they observe marke the common fame that goes of any in the Parrish and herewithall they have their eyes and eares abroade in the Parrish even faithfull and godly Men vvho observinge the common conversation and dealings of their Neighbours doe faithfully informe them how they fynde their Neighbours commonly disposed whither to observe religiously what is Taught them or to neglect to observe the same All this they doe before any of their Parishioners come to such height of iniquity as to be publickly accused and proceeded against in any courte of lustice Yea and hereby they so prevent peoples so offendinge that well neere rather they by their well directed Doctryne and grave or Pastorly Authority then the feare of the Punishment which is by your Law to be inflicted doe bridle and restreine your people from offendinge your Lawes Theise in their owne familyes use Morninge and Eveninge Praier Grace before and after Meate Readinge the Scriptures thorowe in time every one of the household their turne or parte Theise use their family to Repeatinge of Sermons and also Catechise them conveniently often If you talke with theise you shall fynde them religiously disposed affectinge also in all conference with Men to leave some Seedes and gratious impressions either confirminge Men in the faith of some speciall thinge of the Ghospell or dehortinge them from some wickedness to which they are by reporte inclyncable Theise are religiously courteous and affable lovinge their Parishioners not for their owne private gaine they have by them onely nor onely for neighbourhood and freindshipp but after the example of the Apostles for the evidence of their faith and for the evidence of their receavinge carefully and practisinge conscionably the worde of Life Theise shew themselvs by many apparant Signes that they love and seeke the Salvation of their People rejoycinge of the comforteable likelihood of many and assurance of some that they shall be partakers in the future Glorification Theise are grave in gesture sober and meeke in conversation they are devoute they are Holy yea a Man may by good Signes discerne that from a Springe of faith in themselvs they exhorte others unto faith and from a sence of the sweeteness of obedience in themselvs they incourage or animate others to obey the Ghospell In a worde theise goe before their Parishioners in those things vvhereunto by their Preaching they exhorte them This for the Ministers themselvs and their familyes now consider the people also under them You shall fynde here the common voice of the Parishioners to be to this effect We have God be blessed a learned and a good Man to our Teacher he taketh greate paines to teach us he loves us he is ready to instruct and teach us even in private conference upon any scruple of conscience he is courteous even to the meanest of us shewinge also by evident signes that he heartily desires the Salvation of our Soules In theise Parishes you shall fynde in the people in the meanest aswell as in the greatest more knowledge in Divine Mysteries then in the Parishes formerly written of Here more evidence of faith of those holy Mysteries and in God and in Christe accordinge to the direction of those Mysteries Here you shall fynde more store of Bibles in families more readinge in them more proffit by readinge in them then in the other Parishes Here eveninge if not morninge and eveninge Praier Here grace before and after Meate and the same done with Reverence also and an evidence of faith and feare of God Here you shall fynde repeatinge of the Sermons at convenient tymes Here catechisinge also conveniently often Here the Neighbours will conferr some tymes one with another aswell of heavenly things as of vvordly yea and this they vvill doe not to shew what they cann say of such things or to get a Mastery in conference but with a mutuall Hope for such things confirminge one another in the faith and esteeme of such things animatinge one another to preferr them in their love and desire before theise vvorldly things which all men have and enjoy When I sawe this in some I rejoyced as one who had founde some who are answerable to that exhortation of the Apostles where he describinge in some measure the future resurrection of our Bodyes 1. Thssal 4 17 saith Comforte your selvs one another vvith theise wordes Doubtless where people thus doe as fit opportunity and mutuall disposition of myndes vvill serve the Lord vvill drawe neere to heare their talke openinge also their understandinges yet better as we reade of him that he did Luke 24 13. Furthermore in theise Parishes vve fynde the People not onely to reverence their Pastor but heartily to love him beinge glad also to have occasion of doinge any thinge whereby they may manifest the Love they beare him Here there is an abstayninge from usuall and unlavvfull swearing Here you shall not fynde usually any excess in drinkinge Here no lasciviouss filthy or beastly talke no bold lustfull and filthy gestures but rather you shall fynde here the contrary vertues even an abstinence from evell and yet a freedome of Love and delight as youth requires but with a restreinte of such wicked excess Here in a
worde you shall fynde a comforteable shewe of Godliness Here a true evidence of Christian life and conversation Here therefore is indeede an evidence of the inseazoninge and habitation of the Spirit of God both in Pastor and People Here a plaine evidence both of the Kingedome of Heaven in Power and also of the weakeninge if not castinge out of the contrary Kingedome even the Kingedome of Satan Of theise Ministers and Parishes therefore I rejoice and for your gratious favour towards them for their better incouragement in well doing I humbly petition your sacred Majestie in this writing But some and too many of theise are in the number of those whose Ministers are silenced and whose people are reproached with the nick name of Puritanes My Lord and Kinge I petition not that their errors be suffered but this I petition that the Ministers leaving their errors and the people also forsakinge them both Ministers and People may fynde you gratious towards them by restoringe the Ministers to their former Ministration and by acceptinge the people as the Lights of our Lande for Religion There is no Garden where vveedes will not growe neither doe men destroy the Garden for the vveedes sake but rather vveede out the vveedes and preserve the Garden still We may not conceave that none that are true Christians and have the Spirit fal into any errors for Peter had his error Galat. 2 11 and the Churches of Corinth Galatia had their strayinges from the truth vvhen yet neither Peter was silenced but onely the error he fell into withstoode nor those Churches forsaken but onely the vveedes weeded out And it is truly a harde thinge that Mens Ministeryes are wholy suppressed for an error or two in Iudgement whereas rather first they should be but staied from Preachinge such errors and afterwardes upon obstinate persistinge silenced But seinge many of our learned and painefull Divines whose Ministry hath bene very proffitable in this Church of Englande are wholy for some few errors silenced I am now a petitioner that their Ministery may be restored so as they forsake those things which truly are errors in them And for the people I humbly pray that leaving to speake against Lawfull Powers and Offices in the Church and against our Divine Service leaving to condemne Gods people in lawfull things they may be relieved from those scandales which vvicked Men cast upon them Surely Dread Soveraigne theise Congregations vvhere silenced Ministers have bene doe manifestly declare themselvs to be Gods Saincts in your Kingdome yea I have observed that vvhere a Minister conformable to the Ordinances of our Church hath succeeded in the place of a silenced Minister Godliness hath more and more decayed in your People I vvill not say it is the fault of their Conformity God forbid but this I say it is the fault of their not exercisinge like Pastorall dutyes as the silenced Ministers exercised and it is the fault of our Bishops not pressinge them to exercise such but rather leavinge them to a prejudiciall Liberty in Life and Conversation Thus have I my most gratious Soveraigne adventured to set before your viewe the diverse dispositions of your People according to the diversely disposed Ministers set over them I neede not now doubt of your Majesties quick apprehention and discerninge where in your Kingedome the Kingedome of Heaven most prevaileth neither yet where are the best evidencyes of the Spirit of God You have given such Signes of your excellent judgement in theise things that I rather rejoice thereof then infourme you oughts at all True it is that it is not rigour of Punishment no nor Lawes that vvill bring people on to theise holy exercises in their familyes and to this blessed restreinte from ungodly conversation so well as the vvorde of God frequently preached wisely directed by a skilfull Minister Neither is there any expectation that a vvhole People should at an instant be brought to this measure of conformity to the Ghospell of Christe Yet if Parishionall Goverment might accompany Parishionall ministration of the vvorde the people would doubtless the sooner be brought hereunto Not that there should be any violent disgracinge or proceedinge against all that presently are not conformable for this were to provoake untymely the people before the Lords tyme for their conversion be come but that by little and little with Meekeness and Gentleness the Parishionall Governours drawe them on to conforme themselvs to the Rules of the Ghospell But where any family is too obstinate refusinge for longe tyme to exercise therein any religious dutyes there I humbly pray that your Majestie incourage the Parishional Governours to proceede on orderly against such for surely a family that within its self doth wholy neglect all pions exercises is neere unto Atheisme yea though they observe customarily their comminge to Church This if your Majestie vouchsafe to doe you shall surely make your Memoriall blessed for ever even as is the memory of theise good Kinges blessed of whom before I have vvritten If it be obiected that Tradition shews us no evidence that ever at all the Church had such a Goverment by Lay Elders also as which I now press for this is the difficultest Change I petition for then I answere If we receave the Office of Bishops Arch-Bishops because Tradition brings them to us when yet we have not any great vvarrant from Scripture both for Bishops and Arch-Bishopps though indeede for one set over Teachers and Churches we have great evidence shall we not much more receave a Goverment by Lay Elders vvhich hath evidence as I have before showen in Scriptures yea though corrupted Tradition affoorde us no Light for such The Lord hath not given such evidence to a Reformation which hath aymed at the purest Tradition onely as to that which hath aymed to Reforme things by his vvorde in Scripture therefore to Conforme the Offices and Goverment Ecclesiasticall to that vvhich the Scripture gives us Light for is surely most acceptable to God and shall receave the greatest blessinges Therefore I vvill conclude this my vvrytinge first vvith a petition to your Majestie for the admittinge of such a Parishionall Goverment having an eye rather at the Ordinance of God as we fynde it in holy Scripture then at corrupted Tradition and its testimony and authority and secondly with my Praier to God That he give you a hearte to execute his will and establish your Throane in the Church continuinge your flourishinge Kingedomes to your selfe and your posterity for ever For truly our Church prayeth well where it saith Almighty God whose Kingedome is everlastinge and power infinite have mercy upon the whole Congregation and so rule the hearte of thy chosen Servante Iames our Kinge and Governour that he knowinge whose Minister he is may above all things seeke thy honour and glory And that we his Subiects duly consideringe vvhose authority he hath may faithfully serve honour humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed vvorde and ordinance through IESUS CHRISTE our Lord. Your Majesties Loyall Subiect THOMAS PROCTOR Faults escaped in the Printinge IN the Tytle of the Booke for consormably reade conformably In the Petition to the Lords of the Parliament page 3. line 1 for Ma â—tie reade Matie And lyne 4â— for off reade of And line 12. for off reade of In the Petition to the Kiuge page 6 line 32 for ordeninge reade orderinge Page 7 line 9 for your Royall Povverfull reade your Royall and Povverfull Page 7. line 15 for burnts Offeringes reade burnte Offeringee Page 8 line 5 for ovet reade over Page 8 line 11 At conveyed conceave that a full point should be Page 9 line 7 for not reade not Line 31 for miply reade imply Page 10 line 7 for rhus reade thus Page 11 line 6 for frow reade from Line 8 at labour conceave a vvantinge Page 12 line 28 for I vvrite reade I vvrite of Page 14. line 3 for Preachers of the Ghospell are may c reade Preachers of the Ghospell may c Page 14 line 6 for vvho preach the Ghospell exempted reade Preach the Ghospell are exempted Page 16 line 35 for Talks reade Talke Page 17 line 29 at City conceave a full pointe vvantinge and in the same line for for reade For. Page 20 line 17 for the Elders Church reade the Elders of the Church Page 34 line 1 for Scripturies reade scriptures for nstruction reade instruction Page 36 line 14 for as superfluous reade as are superfluous Page 38 line 21 for Officet reade Oflicer Page 39 line 28 for Iudas reade Iudah Page 46 line 18 for Lands reade Lande Page 47 line 20 for petion reade petition Page 49 line 18 for of reade off Page 52 line 3 for and made reade have made Page 55 line 2 for but reade both and line 5 for uuto reade unto Page 5 line 17 for also and reade and also Page 60 line 2. for Offeringes reade Offeringe Page 63 line 3. for Childreu reade Children Page 67 line 7 for iu reade in Page 68. line 12 at idle conceave a full pointe vvantinge Page 69 line 3. for Kingedomes reade Kingedome Page 72 line 13 for commned reade commend