excusable that they doe not pretend Peters chaire or that their Church cannot erre All which I urge not to drive men to helplesse opposition now much lesse to separation but to perswade all to seeke and pray for an effectuall reformation For can these things become necessary pleasing to God being coÌ„manded by authority which thus make the word ordinances of God of none effect are an unnecessary and a popish yoak and only pretended to be done unto edifying 1 Cor. 14. â—6 Indeed the Apostle saith Let all things be done unto edifying But these things as you have seene doe not edifie but hinder the free preaching of the Gospell in divers particulars as also diligent hearing faith knowledge and other graces nourish ambition temporizing lukewarmnesse and ignorance and withall carie this mischiefe along with them that be they never so unnecessary and hurtfull yet God must not have one servant to manifest so much no nor to speake in his cause For if any doe presently to choake him they brand him with the name of a Puritan and a factious fellow and if that will not serve they can suppresse him with power he is troubled and silenced the Church must bee deprived of him for stumbling at a popish ceremony though he be otherwise never so peaceable sincere learned painfull and powerfull when Diocessan Bishops were first ordained they had not this power much lesse in such cases In the booke of the ordering of Priests and Deacons they say there were alwaies Priests that must needs bee Presbyters in the Church If so what a mockery is it to retaine the name Priest as an order of the New Testament and neither distinguish that name from the sacrificers of the Law nor let them exercise the office of the Presbyters which was as well to rule their owne flocks as to preach and administer the Sacraments what a mockery is it to stand so much on the surplesse the hood tippet and square cap worne with such glory and superstition by the Papists and in the meane by all these things to bring religion out of square and deprive the Church of her better ornaments good Preachers Elders hearers faith knowledge humility zeale and other graces what a mockery is it to ordaine Can. 48. that no Curate or Minister shall bee permitted to serve in any place without examination and admission of the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie in writing under hand and seale Can. 51. That no strangers shall preach in Cathedrall Churches but such as are allowed by the Archbishop or Bishop Can. 52. That the names of all Preachers strangers that shall preach in any Church shall bee taken by the Churchwardens c. when all this is extended against few or none but such as stumble at some rites or ceremonies to keepe them from preaching and have them silenced and in the meane while divers ignorant and idle drones non-residents yea Arminian and popish teachers such as Doctor Price of Westminster lately deceased are admitted to have and hold the cure of soules and the Bishops use this their power to hinder the people from choosing zealous Ministers that subscribe to be their Pastors or helping Lecturers they reckon such dangerous and if they have got admission they shall be watched yea made offendors for a word Isa 29.21 and turned aside for a thing of naught If in the meane they will needs bee diligent they may with much adoe preach the Gospell and apply it against Poperie but not the whole counsell of God not a word against growing Arminianisme much lesse for the Eldership or against the Hierarchie and traditions What a mockerie is it to appropriate unto themselves and their Officials all Ecclesiasticall discipline and especially that sacred and dreadfull power of excommunication when in the meane they exercise it against few but such as are against their hierarchie rites and ceremonies or men that have failed to appear to answer for the opening of a shop doore on a holy day or some such triviall offence If a man plead necessity and want constrained him to it or that God saith Six dayes shalt thou labour c. neither reason nor the holy Scripture can be heard against their government and traditions but they know how to geere him out like the proud pharises that said Thou wast altogether borne in sinnes Ioh. 9. and dost thou teach us And indeed an incorrigible swearer fornicator drunkard blasphemer or heretike may more easily escape their power then such a Puritan as they terme him And if he offer to prove that in this or any other thing belonging to their government or ordinances they are somewhat Antichristian Doctor Lambe or any like monster may live more peaceably amidst all his known abominations then such a wicked Puritan heretike as they call him And in the meane while they are ashamed to make the name of a reformation as odious to all as it is to themselves and even to glory in their Church as the most pure and Apostolike that ever was since the Apostles not counting it in those Pastors and people that zealously and religiously preach and heare the word to have it followed for the Prelates would not have such counted to be the Church of England nor scarce of it but themselves assembled in a Synod which they call the Church representative or as they are considered with all their traditions and all the most conformable observers and maintainers of them These make that Church that so glorifieth her selfe like Laodicea Rev. 3.17 that said I am rich and increased with goods have need of nothing and knew not that shee was wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked Wherein they that are so mighty in power and so able to reward men cannot want flatterers and learned champions and so the great places of the hierarchy serve to corrupt men and to make them mould religion after such mens pleasures as can advance them like as wofull experience hath also shewed in the Arminians Isa 29.13.14 Their feare towards God hath beene long taught by the precepts of men and so because they as the Papists received not the love of the truth in matter of the Eldership Hierarchie traditions ceremonies 2 Thess 2.10 therefore God gave them over to strong delusions to beleeve popish and Arminian lies and because they received not the love of the truth against those Arminian errours God that is ever just must needs give them over to greater blindesse and error Such are the fruits of the Hierarchie and the humane invention and defence thereof Reverend Hooker as they call him shall in those cases bee of more authority with these men then St. Paul so much are they wedded to the traditions and ceremonies of their Church All these traditions inventions officers Courts and superstitious rites were not invented much lesse proposed to be received as lawes in the time of the Fathers as now by the
discovered or reproved besides their diligence in suppressing of bookes they have got the Court and Crosse supplied with Preachers for their owne turne yea caused some mens sermons to be perused beforehand according to the policy used in the third convocation of the Councell of Trent Histor of the Councell of Trent pag. 468. where the Bishop of Modena was appointed to peruse every sermon and whatsoever else was to be delivered in publike By all which he that will may see that as it was ever in the hierarchy so hath it beene is and will be in this the more Bishop and hierarchy the lesse King the lesse good order in Church and Commonwealth For they have beene in effect the Kings nothing must bee preferred or heard against them or such friends of theirs as the Duke and others but still they pretend that these complaints are not so much against them as against the Kings government and prerogative which is a meere trick and colour to engage the King in their cause and so to save them their friends and practices from comming to triall and so in conclusion it comes to be their prerogative that must not bee touched by the Parliament nor indeed by the word of God Is not this to bring all out of order And which makes the evill seeme the more incurable no man dares manifest so much so able are they to undoe him Which is a power the devill hath purchased them that they and others may boldly proceed to propagate other errours and doe what evill they list without controule like the Church of Rome and that to maintaine them their pontificall greatnesse their Pallaces and Coaches religion may abide in their power be made a leaden rule for them to turne which way they list the truest lovers of Truth oppressed the kingdome of God invaded and usurped and the whole Christian world disturbed and afflicted Are not men ashamed that living in the light of the Gospel the love of Christ constraines them not to be against these men but that they should neverthelesse suffer themselves to be made the friends and protectors of them and their hierarchy and to thinke that therein they either serve God or the King and State as they ought For first that their hierarchy is against the service of God if enough hath not beene said this may be added that while the office of Diocessan Bishops is falsly held to be ex jure divino as we have proved Gods ordinances and officers being rejected the Church is governed by their greatest adversaries who also having gotten the ruling and descissive voices in Councels which should rather belong to those true Bishops and Pastors the Presbyters make their owne opinions and errours of Bishops and traditions to bee received for matters of faith as in the Councel of Trent For though some hold that it is no matter of faith but rather indifferent and at the pleasure of Kings whether they or Elders should governe the Church yet it is of no lesse consequence because even in England they make their Articles to bee received and in a wrested or doubtfull sense to be a sure Rule and so matters of faith as themselves interpret them yea this to be granted that themselves and their adherents assembled in Convocation as the Church representative which if it make other Articles more unsound or savouring of Arminianisme or other errour will thinke they should bee received especially in matters of their authority for who can hinder it or dare say they have not power to decide what is the faith when indeed seeing the institution of Diocessan Bishops is of a positive law and not de jure divino men should rather consider the consequences which were very aptly set forth in the Councell of Trent Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 608. where the Papalins maintaining that the institution and jurisdiction of Bishops were not de jure divino but that Bishops had their jurisdiction from the Pope and that hee onely had received institution and jurisdiction from Christ in the person of Peter the Bishop of Segna replyed That if they have it not from Christ neither can the Councell have any from him which consisteth of Bishops that if Bishops are not instituted by Christ the authority of them is altogether humane and he that heareth it spoken that Bishops are not instituted by Christ must needs thinke that this Synod is a congregation of prophane men in which Christ doth not preside but a power received precarily from men and it would be a great illusion generally of all Christendome to propose it not onely as the best but as the onely and necessary meanes to decide controversies That hee would never have come to the Councell if he had not beleeved that Christ had beene in the midst of it that if any Bishop should beleeve and thinke his authority to bee humane it had beene great boldnesse in him to denounce in the former difficulties anathematismes and not rather refer all to him who had greater authority Now howsoever the opinion of the Papalins that the Pope is the onely Bishop jure divino and that others ought to have institution from him is most erroneous yet seeing it is certaine that the institution and jurisdiction of diocessan Bishops are not from Christ but of a positive law all those consequences alledged by the Bishop of Segna doe follow thereupon and those also which the Bishop of Paris added against the tenet of Laynez Generall of the Iesuites who exceeded in maintaining the cause against the Bishops Pag. 614. That in stead of a celestiall kingdome for so the Church is called it maketh it not a kingdome but a temporall tyranny that it taketh from the Church the title of the Spouse of Christ and maketh it a servant prostituted to man whence it followes that the English Hierarchy having no authority from Christ is a temporall tyranny and the Spouse of Christ is made a servant and subjected to it It is true that where two or three are gathered together in Christs name there is he in the midst but to bee truly gathered together in his name requireth that their office be de jure divino and they hare power from him to assemble and handle such matters this he never gave to diocessan Bishops for he never ordained them they are but intruders usurping that which by Gods institution belonged to Pastors that are Presbyters With the Trent Fathers they pretend right by that place Take heed to your selves and to all the flocke over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feed the Church of God Act. 20.28 which is spoken to Presbyters and yet by usurping these letters patents of the Presbyters diocessan Bishops take the charge from them exclude the Presbyters to whom they were granted and what worse is reigne over them as over their subjects who must not preach any thing that dislikes them That election is of Gods free grace regeneration and
unity of spirit by their doctrine They make men pray thus and yet are against the things praied for 2 Because they make every Bishop and every Minister at his ordinantion to promise * See the ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons to be readie with all diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrarie to Gods word Marke all without exception which cannot be better donne then by manifesting the revealed truth of God in these points and so striving earnestlie to joyne men together in the unitie of the spirit by the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets as is desired in prayer For what a mockerie is it first to make him thus to vow it and pray for it and then to hinder him from keeping that vow 3. Because they forbid the defence of Gods ordinances against the Hierachie and those traditions thereof which are erroneous of the world and causes of temporizing and ignorance making men ambitious that should rather with the Olive tree refuse to leave their fatnes for Dominion like their Lord who saieth Iudg. 9.8 Luc 12.14 Who made thee a judge or a divider And what a mockerie is it when Bishops that cause all to bee signed with the signe of the crosse in such a token have not beene as carefull to get our Princes people to send timely effectuall helpe to them that fought under Christs banner in the Palatinate and elsewhere but rather flattered such Courtiers and feigned freinds as underhand betraied them and the common cause in stead of an effectuall going out to the helpe of the Lord against the mightie How much better is God pleased when men are more in deeds and lesse in signe of humane invention and authoririe The article of traditions confesseth that all things ought to be done to edifying But how doth this ceremonie edifie Have Englishmen that stand so much for the Hierarchie for this signe beene made by them better souldiers of Christ then other Protestans or have they not rather proved worse and so shewed the fruits of the hierarchie and ceremonies So ordinarie is it with God that blesseth his owne ordinances to punish mens inventions and presumptions May it not be said to such maisters of ceremonies you can see the faith daily opposed religion corrupted poperye and Arminianisms increase and the poore members of Christ to fall by the sword practises yet in the meane be contented with the signe of the crosse the name of a souldier without the worke neither doing it themselves nor suffering those Ministers that would and might have prevailed by the word these things must be left to the only care and wisdom of the Prelates who are well experienced in flatterie and can best see that nothing be donne to any purpose and in the meane take it for granted that the Church might impose and adde to baptisme the signe of the crosse so superstitiously used and abused by the Papists that it is fit to uphold that and all other traditions and ceremonies of the Church though the Article confesse they may be changed according to the diversitie of countries times and mens manners and that it is authoritie enough for the use of the same now because it was ancientlie used so was salt and other Romish trash because soone after the death of the Apostles or at least soone after the victorie of Constantine Aug. confes lib. when divers Iewes and heathen mocked the Christians with a crucified God and Redeemer they signed themselves to shew they were not ashamed of him when who sees not that if their reason were then good not superstitious yet there is not the same now in England Seeing there men live not amongst such mocking Iewes heathen unles it bee among such as scorne and mock them with the name of Professors Disciples and factious Puritains who strive against Arminianisme or the hierachie and ceremonies Indeed these are so much scorned and persecuted that no men in England do more truly beare the crosse of Christ for his names sake then they whereas their adversaries strive by all meanes to divert all men from bearing the crosse in this manner and by allurements and threats to make them leave the cause and temporise as themselves doe who are therein enemies of the crosse of Christ Phil. 3.18 whose glorie is their shame For they in the meane while have only borne the crosse in a signe made with the hand like the Papists which is but a mockerie in respect of the other Besides no man ever as yet maintained that the Apostles or any in their time used the crosse in baptisme much lesse in signe only without the worke pretended to be signifed Object It will be saide In some cases the Bishops stand for the truth as against Anabaptists and other hereticks Answ So doe the Romish Bishops and Iesuites who likewise have many painfull writers and preachers and are not behind them in stirring up Princes to fortitude temperance holines justice and other vertues but they will suffer nothing against the tenets practises of their hierarchie no more will the English Bishops who therin are also stout souldiers but that is in their owne cause not in Gods Iohn seeth many in white Rev. 7. and is told Rev. 7.13.14 These are they which come out of great tribulation and have washed their roabes white in the blood of the Lambe Chap. 6. This is a garment of joy and triumph given by the merits of Christ to them that have had not the signe and name but the worke of a souldier in confessing and defending the faith and cause of Christ against all opposers If I should say there may bee amongst them some English Martyrs that have striven against Arminianisme or at least against the hierarchie and have suffered for it the Bishops could not prove the contrarie So that it is no wonder if men doe not now offer to dispute with them nor alwaies set their names to their bookes seeing the power of the Prelates to be great as that of the inquisition very dangerous and the Bishops themselves so obstinate and mightie in friends that they keepe their adversaries bookes and arguments from being seene or regarded and so plague them that all their opposers seeme to have lost their labour and doe litle other good then increase the number of those Martyrs in white Rev. 7. This is one of the places alleadged for the wearing of the surplesse but here still they dwell in the signe they will not doe the worke of those Martyrs but rather are against some of them and therefore because they can not looke to weare the white roabe hereafter they will weare and make others weare an unprofitable signe of it now though men prove it to be a rite taken from the Iewes and ancient heathen See the root of Romish Rites as other of their pontificall garments and ceremonies are It is a custome in England to
against the Waldenses and Albigenses whilest these popes were busie in sending Kings to conquer Ierusalem and persecuting the Emperours King Iohn of England and other Princes Such was the religion of those times the ages next before for as one observes If the Bishops of Rome sent into any countrie it was not principally to preath the Gospel Plessis mysterie iniquitie prog 24. but to broach their owne ceremonies their singings their service in latine howres organs Altars tapers c. stirring up Princes to enforce their subjects to use and practise them who would faine have kept themselves to the first institution of the Church in the puritie of the Gospel And as he observeth the worser sort of men are most zealous in such things to shadow and obscure their evill acts and indeed to serve them in steade of the Religion which Christ ordained therefore though they neglected and contemned found doctrine true faith knowledge zeale and the like graces yet they would build stately Temples bow to the Altar and to the bread which is called the body of Christ and thinke they did God the better service I will not say that those English Bishops and Doctors who had hand in the reformation and ordained kneeling at the receiving of the bread and wine did beleeve transubstantiation or consubstantiatiō or teach men to doe honour to those elemēts because they are called the body and blood sacramentally it may be it was rather to draw Papists the sooner to Church that this and other Romish rites were retained as also because this had beene so long used in all the world they thought it too much as once to fall from kneeling to sitting thinking that if they should ignorant Papists of which the land was then peopled would never bee drawen to Church or to hearken to thē in other things when having once laid these things for Rules like the Lutherans in their tenets they can heare nothing to the contrarie but above all because they knew the office of a Diocessan Bishop could not subsist in these daies of reformation without maintaining them against all opposers of traditions and humane inventions I know that as yet there is no publick constitution teaching plainly that reverence ought to be done to the Elements because they are called the body and blood of Christ but if they that stand so much for kneeling at the Sacrament have not some such superstition in it why doe they bow toward the Altar or table rather then toward the pulpit or some other side of the Church seeing God is every where and on all sides of us And why else doe they begin to erect Altars at the east end of the quier in Churches where there have beene none since poperie was abolished These Popish ceremonies should also have beene abandoned to shew plainly that they doe not favour superstition and the worship of bread They vainly say it argues too much boldnes to sit or stand at the table of the Lord for it is a far greater presumption to use and ordaine a ceremonie so contrarie to the institution and practise of the Church in the Apostles time The greatest reverence wee can doe to God is to stick close to his ordinances to obey and love them and the greatest presumption to thinke any thing can be better devised performed and practised then it was in his institution with the Papists they doe but mock God with a name of greater reverence whilest they withstand that of the institution and command another gesture that is farthest from it God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth In beleeving and following his word and ordinances as Paul worshipped the God of his fathers Ioh. 4. Act. 24.14 1. Cor. 11. who delivered this ordinance so as he received it of the Lord and not as they did whose feare toward God was taught by the precepts of mē they worshipped him in vaine he regards not their kneeling It is not enough for preachers to say wee preach and urge them because our Princes and Bishops have commaunded them for he will answer Who required these things at your hands Isa ◠1◠which doe but open a gap for Kings and Prelates to commaund what they list Hence came that * Besides that about the Saboath order of King Iames that men should not in pulpits confute poperie in things controverted but leave that to the Bishops and Deanes and that which succeded that Ministers should not in the Vniversities pulpits and print dispute preach or write against Arminianisme they that perswade a King that he may doe this strive in effect to make a Pope of him And lastly thence comes the great domineering and strange injunctions of prelates in their visitations that none must dare to speake against any of their orders or ceremonies whatsoever unles he long to be silenced reckoned a mad fellow Dr. Clewit at the Bishop of London visit An. 1631. thence comes the extreame flatterie of their Agents and Chaplaines who begin to preach thus Auctoritàs praecipientis est ratio praecepti and no man considers that thus the Church of Rome grew to an unlimited and licentious power that such are the naturall fruits of the hierarchie and they must needes grow worse and worse In those reformed Churches where men sit they come to the table more prepared with more knowledge feare Rev. 2.20 reverence and circumspection then such men they dare not admit a notorious drunkard Adulterer Arminian or the like nor any person utterly unknowne because it tendeth to corruption 1. Cor. 5.6 For a litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe Whereas in England all that will may come bodly even in the Cathedrall Church in London They that receive are utterly unknowne to them that administer no man examines them nor testifieth for them they may be Arminians excommunicate prophane or Church-papists for ought that any man there knowes they looke after no religion but this that he kneele at the Sacrament which if he doe but observe be his life or religion what it will he may come boldly Notwithstanding all these things many say so long as the Gospel may be and is freely preached why should wee trouble a Church or leave it our places and meanes for such faults and ordinances Marke how God hath suffered these men to be punished and deceived the Gospel is there freely preached by them that will needs preach so but not by the care of the Bishops nor yet in all points much lesse in all places Ministers are called upon to urge these ordinances of men yet in the meane they are not suffered to preach Gods ordinance the Eldership nor yet against Arminianisme It is true that after the prohibition the Parliament immediately succeeding many couragiously preached against Arminianisme and so doe some to this day but not in the Court nor in the Vniversitie much lesse before the Bishops who are still against such and
dominion of Antichrist nourish superstition errour and ignorance are against Christs Kingdome and ordinances or in any particular make the word of none effect whence it must needes follow that because they like the Church of Rome 2. Thess 2.10 received not the love of the truth in these things therefore God must needes give them over to beleeve lies in other points and because in these things their feare toward God is taught by the traditions of men therefore the wisdome of their wisemen must needes decay Isa 29.13 Mat. 15.8 and perish A proofe whereof wee have seene in the Appealer now B. of Chichester Dr. Iackson and others justified in their errours by the reward they obtayned for them as also in their approved friend the Bishop of London who besides the erecting of Altars and Images hath not shamed to urge the Edict forbidding to write dispute or preach against the Arminians And to put Mr. Davis by the lecture at Christs Church because he would not subscribe to this that in baptisme orginall sin is wholie taken away in all Infants baptised Which is as much as to say that the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato to overthrow all that the Scriptures say of Gods eternall election of some and leaving of others It is true that when the parish besought the Bishop to admit Mr. Davis answer was made he had not satisfyed his poser in that point of baptisme where one may see that whereas some say there must bee Bishops to trie such as would be admitted to cures or lectures this is but a mockerie the Bishops stand like great Andirens in a chimney which only serve for pompe and shew all the burthen lies on the creepers their Chaplaines which worke might be better and more uncorruptly performed by three or fower learned Ministers dwelling neere the parish and being such as doe the worke of Christ in their owne charges For though the Bishops have not yet put that to every one which was put to Mr. Davis certainly if their Hierarchie stand the power therof must needes increase till they force all to subscribe to these or worse things or suffer themselves to bee silenced And how prone divines are to follow and flatter them is manifest in this B. of London who being in high favour mighty and able to reward whom he list is flattered and humoured like a Pope by the Bishops Prelates and Preachers And because he is in such honour and authoritie therefore it is held great presumption to taske or question any thing he doth the Prelates that are best affected dare not lest they should be counted captious envious and factious puritanes ordinary Ministers are over-awed by his power And yet because some have adventured it he shamed not openly to complaine of them to the King Feb. 15. 1631. Ier. 6.16 in his last sermon on that text of Ieremie Stand ye in the waies and see c. And first to infer that the Lent fast may be called the old and good way that yet manie are so bold as to say wee wil not walk in it That disobedience to God is commonly accompanied with disobedience to the King and disobedience to the King with disobedience to God which is true but not as he meant it that they that doe not obey the Prelates in such things are disobedient to God and the King For if Prelates bind heavie burthens on men and strive to make them subscribe to errour whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto them more then unto God judge ye Act. 4.19 Againe he inferred from his text that if Kings doe not defend the Church God justly suffers the people to disobey them which is true if you take it of such Church Governours and ordinances as Christ ordained but not as the Bishop meant it of English Bishops and their power constitutious Rites and ceremonies as if he and a few such Prelates as himself were the Church of Christ making it a great greivance that any suffered to write or preach against their practises which is the only hell they seeme to feare or to have the benefit of a prohibition when they are plagued for it in the High Commission where in though he did not plainely threaten the King yet his speech glanced that way It is true that he said much for the authoritie of Kings obedience to them and against the disobedience of subjects which doctrine he pressed not against the Papists whom he scarce named in his sermon so far is he from the old way of Protestant preaching but against such as he esteemes puritans and in such cases as were agitated the last Parliament also in prohibitions forbidding the convincing of the prelacie or their government traditions and ceremonies Arminianisme or any other points of revived Pelagianisme or poperie as an enemie of calling Parliaments of other proceedings in such cases That he said that this was a fit subject for the court for there never was disobedience abroad but there was a Court conventicle at home which was the head or cause of it striking at them Who as he said as well in State policie as in matter of Religion find out new waies and will not walke in the old and good pathes which was not so true of them against whom he intended it as of his bosome freind the late Duke of Buc or of himself and his faction as the sequell wil manifest and namely that they have traduced and wrested the most honest counsailes and indeavours of the most noble Counsellours and wisest Parliaments under pretences of maintaining the prerogative a trick that they have rather learned of Davus in the Comedie then of Christ in the Gospel or if of any in the Scriptures then of proud Haman who for his hate to Mordecai Esth 3.6.8 said unto the King touching the Iewes It is not for the Kings profit to suffer thē or of the high Preists Scribes and Pharises who with praevaricating devices would prove Christ and his Disciples that convinced them of errour and malice to bee enemies of Caesar and such as forbad tribute In the primitive Church when Christians talked of the Kingdom of Christ and the comming thereof in the free power and use of the Gospel and ordinances of Christ their enemies perswaded the Emperours that this doctrine endangered the Imperiall government the taking of the Empire from him and was against his prerogative So when any talke of the restoring of Christs Kingdome and ordinances in the government of Parochiall * Or Elders Bishops and of the abolishing of Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops and their unprofitable traditions and ceremonies the English Prelates say this endangers the Regall authority and is against the Kings prerogative and government yea that is to refuse the old paths the good way of God and their King and impudently say non ambulabimus in ea wee will not walke in it as the Bishop inferred on that text
Which indeed may rather be said of the Bishops themselves and their defenders for though one prove never so plainly that the government of Diocessan Bishops though as old as the pretended primacy and usurpations of Antichrist is but a new way and very pernicious to the kingdome and people of Christ and to the honour peace and happinesse of that King and kingdome that maintaines it and further that the government by the common counsell of the * Act. 6.5 Cha. 15.22 Cha. 20.17 28. 1 Cor. 5 4. Tit. 1.5 Iude 3. Presbyters and voices of the brethren members of the congregation is the old and good way of God best for his Church and service and likewise that the convincing of Pelagianisme and Popery defending of the truth contending earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints and walking in the light thereof are the old paths the good way bee they proved never so old never so good the Prelates and their pertakers doe but geere and scoffe at them and further are so impudent as to say non ambulabimus in ea we will not walk in it Their manifest hating persecuting such as shew them these old paths this good way doe sufficiently prove it Iudge then Christian Reader if the Bishop have not abused his * Ier. 6.16 text and that Princely and most honoured audience Is such a man fit to governe and order one of those two fountaines of learning and nurseries of Divines the Vniversity wherof he is Chancelour and most of the affaires of Religion in his Majesties dominions as a Pope of those Kingdomes or to be the spirituall guide of Princes and Councellors who onely besides the Bishops beare all the sway in matters of Religion How is it possible that they should be well informed by such Prelates or their partakers And yet God knowes and we see it plainly they will heare no others no not though it be manifestly proved that the Prelates are as deafe and obstinate in these points as the Pope Cardinals and Iesuites are in these points and in others Neither let any man thinke it strange that these shall be compared to them of the Church of Rome For the Bishop of Rome and his Clarkes that are now corrupt in the superlative degree were not so bad in the dayes of the first Christian Emperours but beginning then to make the word of God of none effect by their traditions power and ceremonies they grew worse and worse and so have our English Bishops who follow them apace See an instance in the worst sort of Papists The Iesuites being banished for their practices out of the State of Venice at Padua Quarrels of Paul 5. lib. 2. p. 94 were found many copies of a certaine writing of 18. Rules under this title Regulae aliquot servandae ut cum orthodoxa Ecclesia verè sentiamus Certaine rules to be observed that with the orthodoxall Church we may judge or hold aright In the third it is ordained that men should beleeve the Hierarchical Church although it tell us that that is blacke which our eye judgeth to bee white Would not the Bishops have us beleeve the Hierarchicall Church of England when it saith of the Presbyterall government that it is blacke which our eye judgeth to be white And of the other side of their owne dominion and traditions so contrary unto Christs that they are white which our eyes see to be black In the seventeenth there is a prescription to take heed how men press or inculcate too much the grace of God Doe not the Arminian Prelates teach us the same lesson Bishops were not so corrupt or blinde in Queene Elizabeths dayes they had not this art but seeing their office and authority hath no root in Christ the Truth it is not of God but of mē they cannot but grow worse and worse They that thinke it strange that English Bishops should be Iesuited must yet confesse that it hath beene affirmed of the late Duke of Buck and some others of their abettors supporters and confederates Howsoever we may see that these and the like are the fruits of maintaining their government ceremonies and traditions against the light of Gods truth All these and divers other corruptions in religion and mischiefes in the State are crept in and covered under the Curtaine of Church power in matter of order decency and things indifferent And if they be still maintained greater abominations must needs follow things cannot but grow worse and worse both in Clergy and people ignorance and errour must needs be thereby more and more ingendred and propagated For they see well enough that many are so observant of these traditions and ceremonies that they dwell in them they serve them for an entire Religion or a cloak of one and of mocking and persecuting of professors they have little or none besides no love to the preaching and hearing of Gods most holy word wherby faith knowledge repentance humility and other graces are wrought in the soule but like many simple and ignorant women that will needs weare kerchers at their churching and yet in the afternoone or soone after run to playes and alehouses they are very observant of such ordinances and yet seldome come to a Sermon and scarce once a yeare to the Communion And these and others are not ordinances and ceremonies so innocent indifferent and profitable as some would make them Yea therefore it is but a meere mockery and delusion to say that though they be in themselves indifferent yet being commanded by authority they become necessary and men ought to be conformable not onely that they may hold their Ministery and doe good in it but even for conscience sake For 1. the Article saith They may be changed according to times and mens manners but the times and mens manners who now make a religion of them and a cloake of persecution do require that they should be changed and abolished therefore they ought to bee changed and abolished 2. What a gappe doe they hereby open for authority to impose what it list and to have it received by the same argument though superstitious and hurtfull to the kingdome in the free power of the word preached which is to abuse Princes and Synods and to infer they may impose maintaine and increase ordinances and ceremonies that thus make the word of none effect For grant that they may impose these and it followes they may impose others as hurtfull Yet some are not ashamed to preach and write much in the defence of them Coloss 2.8 2 Cor. 4. but this is after the traditions of men after the rudiments of this world and not after Christ to corrupt the earth and preach themselves not the Gospell when they should rather put the higher powers in minde of that Why tempt ye God Act. 15.10 to put a yoake upon the necke of the Disciples which neither our fathers nor we are able to beare wherein they are the lesse
Episcopall power and if they were there is as was shewed no reasoning from the consent or connivance of the Fathers if the institution bee not warrantable by Gods word There were then divers things which had got beginnings in those times against which the Fathers did not much inveigh because they were then held indifferent and not established as since for matters of faith and necessitie as the primacy of the Pope single life of Priests set fasts deferring baptisme till death the use of salt holy water and divers other things in their rites the antiquity whereof makes them never a whit the more lawfull Ioh 8.44 The devill was a seducer and a lyar from the beginning Whether it were in a vaine policie of some Bishops of those times the sooner to draw Iewes and Heathen to Christianity as some of ours pretend the indifferencie and wisedome of using some Romish rites the better to draw Papists to Church or for other like reasons Sure it is that many institutions of religion began in those daies to be taken from the Iewes and ancient heathen as divers have proved to the Papists out of their owne authors Among others Mr. Derlingcourt Minister of the Reformed Church of Paris in his booke of the Iubilee shewes in it many things to omit other particulars Iubile of the reform Chur. part 2. c. 11. The whole Papall Hierarchie saith he is founded on the example of the Iewes who had their soveraigne Pontife their sacrificers and their Levites and among them divers orders and functions And that the Church of Rome hath founded her Hierarchie and the diversity of her orders on the example of the Iewes besides that the thing is cleere enough the Author of the Canon Decretis acknowledgeth it And Polidor Virg. de invent rerum lib. 4. cap. 5. 7. where he also confesseth Decree of Gratian part 12. dift. 21. that the Romish Priests have borrowed of the Iewish Priests the most part of their habits that it is most evident that the institution is rather Hebraicall then Apostolicall And indeed the Apostles were never cloathed in the habits of Bishops nor Popes Reade on this subject Pope Innocent the 3. Mysteriorum Missae lib. 1. and the Bishop of Manda Ration divin officior lib. 3. And a little after We have seene that the Church of Rome authorizeth her hierarchie on the example of the Iewes but shee also avoucheth that it is a pagan invention for the decrees of Gratian after hee had represented the diversitie of the Romane Clergie composed of simple Priests Archpriests Bishops Archbishops Primates Metropolitanes Patriarches Popes addeth that this diversitie proceedeth principally from the ancient Pagans who had their Priests their Archpriests c. a confession which is drawne from the Master of the Sentences lib. 4. dist 24. lit M. The Bishop of Manda doth also acknowledge the same truth Ration divin offic lib. 2. c. 1. n. 22. But there is none more formall in this subject then G. du Chol. who saith G. du Choul discours of the Religion of the ancient Romans pag. 337. 335. That Romanes had another fashion of making their priestly dignities as the great Pontifes the little Pontifes Flamins Archflamins just so as we have the Pope Cardinals Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs c. And if we here observe it curiously we know that many institutions of our religion are taken and translated from the ceremonies of the Egyptians and Gentiles as are the copes and surplesse the Priests shaven crownes the bowing of the head to the Altar the sacrificall pompe the musicke of the Temples adorations prayers and supplications processions and Letanies and many other things which our Priests usurpe in our mysteries Of which indeed many are anciently assumed of Christians but that makes them never a whit the more lawfull How little then doe they helpe themselves who say the Church of England in her hierarchie and ceremonies is most like to the Church which was soone after the death of the Apostles that is if it were so as it is not for they had not such dominion over Presbyters nor such Courts Chancellors Deanes Officials power in probates of Testaments to governe and command give licences and dispensations nor such rulcs and canons to suspend and silence about surplesses ceremonies c. nor yet such service and ceremonies and if they had yet that were nothing being thus invented and received by the Papists and after retained in the English reformation either for policie or for the profit and honour that comes by them Many more zealously defend these then they doe the Gospell against Papists and Arminians Surely the Angell speakes not of such men but rather of such in the reformed Churches as have abandoned these inventions Rev. 19.10 Eph. 1.13 when he saith I am of thy brethren that have the testimony of Iesus which is to have the marke or seale of God in the forehead by professing they will receive no other doctrine and religion but what is rightly drawne from his testimony as on the contrary to professe the Romish faith and superstition is to have the beasts mark in the forehead by profession and any way to defend it is to have it in the right hand by operation and therefore though it seeme harsh to say that the champions of the hierarchie and ceremonies have the mark of the beast because in other things they are Protestants yet can it not be maintained but that they are guilty of having some part and print of that marke because they obstinately maintaine them against all proofes shewing them to be popish in favour Iewish and Heathenish against the word of God and to make the same of no effect in divers particulars The wisedome of God saith by the Apostle Tit. 1.13 Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith not giving heed to Iewish fables and commandements of men which turne from the truth So doe these in England in divers respects Because while some Prelates and Ministers make a noise and a blustring with crying out against Puritans and a great flourish with exalting the name and authority of the Church in such cases and the ancient use of the diocessan and provinciall Bishops ordinances and ceremonies Princes and people thinke they serve God in obeying her in them and therefore stop their eares to all proofes to the contrary and mocke at them like the Bishops that both scorne and suppresse them all even as others did in the Church of Rome in the same and other causes who otherwise had never attained that dominion she thereby got nor to have her traditions errours and superstitious rites received for lawes which were the terrible fruits of mens blind obedience to provinciall Bishops and their power and ordinances which ever increased more and more as they were more and more obeyed and defended to the great hinderance of the kingdome of God and the due preaching and obedience of his
word And though in England the hierarchy and her traditions and injunctions have not had so many and so bad fruits because it hath not reigned so long yet as wee have seene for the time they have beene if not alike yet very injurious to Gods kingdome and the good of the Church It helpes them not to say that some great Divines in other Churches have approved them or counted them tollerable For strangers cannot so well see the fruits of them and bee sure that if they were brought into the Reformed Churches of Germany and France divers would bee found to receive them and give arguments of their necessarie use they are so full of honour and profit For we have lately seene it in Scotland and we know the Scriptures say Deut. 16.19 Gifts blinde the eyes of the wise This made them thinke it a sufficient authority that the ancient Church invented and used diocessan and provinciall Bishops though in a manner different from ours that not onely Councels but even Emperours and Kings confirmed and augmented their authority and that much good might bee done by the same When first King Edward and after Queene Elizabeth came in the Nobles and people were almost all Papists and it was thought they would bee the sooner drawne to Church if Bishops and their power and authority were retained having still their Courts Chancelours Officials Deanes Subdeanes Quiristers Organs Surplesses and other habits the crosse in baptisme kneeling at the receiving of the Sacrament bowing toward the Altar and divers other ceremonies For this end also the forme of Common Prayer Service was little altered but taken out of the Masse-booke and put into English which makes many Papists in Germany and France say sure the Romish is the true and right religion else the heretikes in England would never have received so much of it for some have avouched it to my face that the service there is nothing but the Masse in English others that it wants nothing but the consecration These things thus retained it was also thought that popish Kings and Princes would be the lesse offended what marvell seeing the Iesuites themselves are so well pleased with the ceremonies and service that I heard one of them God is my witnesse herein make it his hope that the maintenance of them against the Puritans Quovadis Sect. 4. would make England the sooner returne to Rome in the rest Mine eyes and eares saith Bishop Hall can witnesse with what approofe and applause divers of the Catholikes royall as they are termed entertained the new translated Lyturgie of our Church Which is the lesse wonder Cambden in an 1560 seeing Pope Pius the 4. sending Vincentio Parpatia Abbot of S. Saviours to Queene Elizabeth offered to confirme the English Liturgie by his authoritie if she would yeeld to him in some other things Indeed it pleased them so wel that for the first eleven yeares of Queene Elizabeth L. Cooke de Iure Regis Ecclesiastico Fol. 34. Papists came to the English Churches and service as the Lord Cooke sheweth All which things prove it to be a poore brag of some who thinke it a good justification in the common prayer booke that Papists have approved it and could never finde any fault in it As it is true that there are many godly and zealous men and some others also who thinking it a glory to be of their party are more of faction then well grounded knowledge and love to Christ against the forme and some other things in the book of Common praier So is it as true that there are many both of the Clergy and laity and some both learned and godly such as sincerely love the preaching and power of the Gospel that yet hold the booke of Common prayer both tolerable profitable and necessarie and are not willing to heare any thing to the contrary and therefore God may say of our times as of those wherein Ieremy lived Ier. 5.1 Run to and fro and see now if yee can finde a man that seeketh the truth I would desire such to take a few things into consideration Where first I must acknowledge that though divers faults are found in the book of common prayer which makes it so agreeable to the Papists for there is scarce a Church papist in England that doth not applaud and admire it yet doe I not finde it so corrupt as some would make it In it wee finde this prayer O God from whom all holy desires all just counsailes and all good workes doe proceed give c. this is certainly translated out of the Romish Liturgie yet is it in it selfe so faultlesse that I will not dispute against him that thinkes hee may daily say it either with a congregation or in private and so many other of the prayers that is if he doe not the lesse but rather the more hearken to Gods word in all points otherwise his prayer will certainly be abominable But if all the prayers be as uncorrupt why doth Dr. Iackson with the consent and approbation of the Bishops Pro. 28.9 Dr. Iackson 1. part alledge divers of them for points savouring of Arminianisme and Poperie and if they bee so necessary to salvation as some make them other reformed Churches are but in an ill case that have them not so was the primitive Church also especially for three hundred yeares Howsoever what need is there so much to flatter the Papists as to translate prayers out of their Masse book and do so many things in service after their forme when God saith 1. Sam. 15.22 Isa 1.12 Obedience is better then sacrifice Who hath required this at your hands which are now so far from making them come the sooner to Church unles it be to continue papists there and false brethren to us that they hence draw arguments to strengthen them in their religion saying sure theirs is the true religion or else these parts of it would not be so constantly defended against the puritans and in the meane that kept out which Queene Mary ordained should be razed out of all bookes of Rites used in the time of Henry 8 and Edward the 6 Hist of the Councel of Trent pap 385. wherein God is prayed To deliver the Kingdom from sedition conspiracie and the tyrannie of the Pope Can not other common praiers be made as good The french Churches have some that are used in the pulpit by him that preacheth and no other that so he may not make a sufficient Religion service of praier nor account the cure to be served without preaching In them they pray Deliver thy Churches from the mouthes of ravening wolves and all hirelings who seeke their owne ambition and profit and not the exaltation of thy holy name and the salvation of the whole flock This also is ordinary before sermon to pray that the word may be then preached in that puritie and sinceritie wherein it was left by the Apostles and Prophets So that
Church of such hipocriticall wolves It is a principle of Gods covenant of grace that he will give us Pastors according to his owne hart that shall feed us with knowledge Iur. 3.15 and understanding knowing that is a curse to bee led by blind guides left in ignorance they yet presume that Pastors may be hindered and knowledge forbidden in these things so people be but incited to building and repairing of temples praier c. As if God would heare such as will not heare him nor suffer others to heare him in such points but punish terrifie such as produce any proofes in such cases either in print or pulpit which is not to prevent schisme and presumptuous curiositie as they pretend but to make way for Arminianisme and poperie and against all opposers to say with them in the Psalme Let us breake their bonds Psal 2. and cast away their cords from us and should therefore be answered with that of the Apostles Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye we reade of some that devoured widdowes houses under colour of long praiers I pray God these doe not devoure Churches states yea the faith it self under colour of long praiers Math. 23.14 and standing soe much for the use of the common praier booke as the Papists did for theirs For are not ours men as well as they And hath not England also an Hierarchie and many places of honor and profit in it Are they not oft bestowed on such as set the fairest colours on the Hierarchie and ceremonies and oft on such as have flattered the Duke and such other masqued Agents for Arminianisme and Poperie And so they serve as baites to corrupt and make the ambitious forme and mold Religion to the opinion and pleasure of such as can advance and make them double beneficed men The Cardinall of Monte Prince Legate in the Counsell of Trent under Paul the 3 Historie of the Councel of Trent pag. 191. and after created Pope by name of Iulius the 3 hearing the complaints against nonresidents said That the absence of the Prelates and other Curates from their Churches is the cause all the mischeifes of the Church For the Church may be compared to a ship the sinking whereof is ascribed to the absent Pilot that should governe it if he were prefent It shewed to them that heresies ignorance and dissolution doe raigne in the peolple and bad manners and vices in the Clergie because the Pastors being absent from the flock no man hath care to instruct those or correct these whence ignorante and unlearned Ministers have beene promoted to Cures and Bishopwricks for in regard they neede not execute their dutie in person no fitnes is necessarie Divers Prelates following him But the Bishop of Vesone said that the residing of Bishops is notable to make the Clergie live holy for that besides the general exemption of all Regulars everie Chapter hath one and there be few particular Preists that want it The most followed his opinion that it was necessarie to command residence And to take away exemptious pluralities and dispensations that hindred it But it was after seene that if this were don the authoritie of the Pope and Cardinals would be overthrowne therefore it was ever hindered though the Bishops laboured to regaine their power to superintend and shake of the Popes yoake by offering to prove that Residence and jurisduction of Bishops are de jure divino for the Regulars were still protected as champious of the papacie and the Popes authoritie and dispensations were cunningly reserved Indeed much was restored to the Bishops in doubtfull tearmes to superintēd as Delegates of the Apostolick sea but they could not regaine all because it was perceived that would shake the greatnes of the Pope and Cardinals reforme them make them reside and the Bishops would be made so many Popes in their owne Diocesses Ibid. p. 170 219.496 497.501 502. For if it were once decided that they had the Charge from Christ to governe the Church it would be decided also that they have from him authoritie necessarie for it which the Pope could not restraine They tooke this to bee proved by that Acts. 20.17 Take heede therefore unto your selves Acts 20.17.20 and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops Which indeed is against the Pope and all diocessan Bishops as being spoken to the presbiters this and other places abovementioned being their letters patents to governe the Church to the worlds end Therefore when the Bishops had almost gained their cause by pluralitie of voices the Pope and Cardinals cryed out against it Every one thinking he did already see Rome emptie of Prelates and deprived of all prerogatives and eminence that the Cardinals should be excluded from haveing Bishopwricks and all from pluralities that no Bishop or Curate might have an office in Rome nor the Pope dispence in such things which are most principle in his power so his authoritie should be much diminished and that of the Bishops enlarged therefore they thought these novelties aymed to make many Popes And afterward they would neither have that point of residence nor that whether Bishops be instituted by Christ and superiour to Preists to be disputed and concluded though many Bishops oft laboured therein But the Bishops of England takeing the later for granted have what those others could not attaine they have no Pope over them to take away their power unles peradventure sometime such a one as the Duke of Buck was who after his way increaseth but doe themselves dispence with pluralities and uphold nonresidents and Arminians as the surest champions of their hierarchic such as doe not so much make ready a Clergie for Christ as Antichrist They superintend over all preachers in their Diocesses with such unlimited power as the trent-Trent-Bishops could never attaine that all must subscribe to them and their constitutions and none may preach dispute or write for the Eldership and against the hierarchie and Arminians nor scarce against other poperie which makes men say they are Popes within themselves and this power cannot rest heere it wil be more Antichristian if it be not taken away The French Churches though oft troubled with wars and hurliburlies are yet in better case herein seeing they may write print and preach any divine truth though most repugnant to the Popish Bishops that live among them and cannot hinder them Indeed he that considers it well shall find that though the Conncel of Nice made the Bishops of Rome Patriarchs yet they did not for 300 yeares after raigne so much over Presbiters in such cases as the English Bishops doe Let us not wonder then when wee see that many great Schollars som that have beene good preachers when they have attained these great places and double benefices or are in possiblitie of comming to them or haveing living under them should bee
so loth so see any thing against them For gifts blind the eyes of the wise and their ignorance in points of nonresidencie the hierarchie and traditions is a punishment on them for their frowardnes wilfull blindnes ambition and covetousnes at least for making tradition sufficient authoritie in such cases For indeed few men such is the weaknes of corrupt nature can be willing to see that which would hinder them from subscribing having a good living or make them sorrie they had subscribed or to be adverse to that against which they may not be suffered to speake much lesse to preach or write and least of all to reforme or amend as also because if they stir never so little in these cases they are sure to loose their liveings to bee by the Bishops and their champious silenced with scoffes power and terror in stead of good arguments and so to be in more danger then popish Preists and Iesuits Some therefore will have no knowledge at all in such points least it bring them to miserie others thinke it best to keepe their knowledge to themselves leave the amendement to God and in the meane doe the best good they can by their ministerie in other matters but the most know little of this argument Math. 13.11 because it is not given them of God to know it They therefore thinke all these things to bee lawfull necessary and the obedience an acceptable service to God because commanded by authoritie and in some sort ordained and used by the ancient Church This is as if they sayd Kings and Synods may command what they lift in the Church which is as good a warrant as they had of old that made a calfe in Horeb frequented the high places or Ieroboams Calves established by authoritie It is nothing that many of these men are learned and of great knowledge and good conscience in other matters For God saith For as much as this people Isa 29.15 draw nigh to me with their mouth and with their lips doe honour me but have removed their hart far from me and their feare towards me is taught by the precepts of men therefore behold I will proceede to doe a marveilous worke among this people even a marveilous worke and a wonder for the wisdom of their Wisemen shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Wisdom should decay in some and others should not dare to shew it God that is ever just must much rather doe it now to our learned and Wisemen seing he hath blotted out the handwriting of ordinances which was contrarie to us Col. 2.14 and tooke it out of the way nayling it to his crosse For hath he taken them away that himself ordained that men may loade us with others doth Christ say Rev. 2.24 I will put upon you none other burden but which ye have already hold fast till I come And shall men bee perswaded that they may impose such as he never ordained and as make the word of none effect The hierarchie is not only in it self a humane ordinance but the Bishops seeme to looke to nothing else but to uphold it and such canons traditions ceremonies and service as it hath invented or received from men Sometime hereticks as Anabaptists Arrians or the like and sometimes persons stained with notorious adulterie or Simonie are by them and their officials questioned and cast out as in the Church of Rome But these things to rare both may be and are much better performed by Elders in the congregations where such delinquents live as also against all notorious drunckards blasphemers swearers mockers and other profane persons of whom Bishops nor theire officials neither doe nor well can heare any thing and if they doe it is not amended and therefore Diocessan Bishops serve not to looke to them nor to nonresidents nor to hinder the growth of Arminianisme poperie c. they can see them increase and never stir against them yea religion to be corrupted more and never move to helpe it but hinder them that would If some others be better affected and would stir if they durst this is Gods mercie to his people who knowes that if all Bishops were as corrupt many would be ready to thinke sure they hold the popish or Arminian religion will serve to salvation and they are wiser then wee God therefore provides that some Bishops and conformists should a little distast their Romish practises though they doe little or no good against them but in the meane they can not bate a little of their hierarchie traditions and ceremonies ordained and commanded by men though they be proved to bee most injurious and repugnant to Gods Kingdome and the true peace of Christian Churches states and common-wealth making the word of God wherein their wel-beeing consists of none effect this is the order they preserve No proofes of holy Scripture can be heard against them either by the Bishops by the privie councell or by our Princes and Parliaments but their feare toward God is in these things taught by the commandements of men what marvaile then if not only in theire wisest councellors but even in their most learned Clergie wisdome bee hid and perished in divers points and they become the scorne of all nations and religions for upholding religion in ceremonie only letting it in the substance thereof fall dayly at home and abroade those of the papists and Arminians increase If they had not such a hierarchie such ceremonies and service to defend and serve them for an entire Religion or a cloake of one they could not for shame but defend the faith and religion it self and their brethren that professe it which seeing they do not what wonder if God plague them not only with pestilence famine and shamefull foiles in war but even with spirituall plagues that their governers both spirituall and Ecclesiasticall should not see the things that belong to their peace but have them hid from their eyes and turne religion into pollicie such poore policie as serves to cousen the land of her religion and her friends of true helpe when they have most need of it and most trust to her and to provoke the most high to bee their enemie while they seeke to please his enemies For the Spaniards and French have gotten aide of men munition and shipping against those of the reformed Religion The Protestants in other countries that thinke they may speake boldy because they have smarted for trusting to the English Say that all this shewes them to bee of a mixed or middle Religion part of the Romish in service and ceremonies which are most defended part of the Reformed in points of faith lesse regarded and part of the Arminians lately received or tollerated that as middle Counsailes and courses doe usually displease both parties and give satisfaction to neither so hath it beene in the Counsailes and courses of the English touching Religion and the defence thereof For though they somewhat
as rivers through many windings find way into the sea Nothing lieth so newtrally betweene the Romish and reformed Religions as the Hierarchie and the traditions thereof unles perhaps the Lutheran Religion which hath affinitie with it and that nothing doth more fortifie Rome and hinder the ruine thereof this whole worke doth manifest And as a river doth water the bancks townes castles and mannors that lie upon it so doe these water the noblitie and people who delight to dwell on these shores and drinke of these waters which coole or quench their zeale against misticall Babylon and so fill them with ignorance and neutralirie that they relish them better then the waters of the sanctuarie which are those of the Eldership and in requitall send into her those land waters which comming to them from heaven or springing out of their grounds fall into this river and make it swell with a terrible greatnes and these land waters are riches and authoritie which streames must bee exhausted or turned an other way before Babylon can be destroyed I am not so confident is to make this a full exposition of the sixt viall which yet is not the least probable seeing that things are rather to bee mistically then literally understood But sure it is that some have thought that as without England there is little hope that the Protestants should prevaile not rather be dayly consumed as heretofore they have beene So the Bishops with their traditions and practises are the greatest hinderances of true unitie and confederacie among all protestant Princes and States that England doth not effectually joyne with them against Antichrist and his champions Papists therefore nourish the English Hierarchie and all helpes thereof knowing that the Episcopall authoritie is at such emnitie with the Eldership that they can never be so true freinds of religion as to seeke unitie and confederacie with Churches governed by elders that all such Princes and States as Kings of the East and Citizens of the new Ierusalem may joyne to make the whore desolate Experience shewes that they have hindered it and so are like so long as the Hierarchie stands and the waters thereof run with so stronge a streame These therefore must be dried up by true light knowledge and zeale ere God can be well pleased or the Church have hope of victorie And sure they shal be taken away Ioh. 15. for Christ saith Every branch that beareth not fruite in me he taketh away they therefore that stand for them doe in effect shew themselves Romes freinds and the Churches enemies as the Arminians and popelings doe There are three things that breede all the stir in the world and hinder Romes ruine 1 The greatnes of the house of Austria which is nourished by the Romish Clergie and that Clergie by it and that hath made some think this house and the power and riches thereof to bee the misticall river Euphrates which must be exhausted or turned an other way before Rome can be burned which is well begun by the King of Sweden 2. Want of true unitie and confederacie amongst Protestant Princes and States against the common Adversaries of Religion for this hath emboldened the Pope the howse of Austria and others to attempt so much as they have to subvert all by power and policie 3. The pernicious power offices and greatnes of Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops and other Clergie men which hinder these good effects in the two former and makes bothe the Spaniard and Church of Rome to have stronge parties in all the greatest Kingdoms in Christendome and even in England it self though Protestants in profession And such Prelates indeed are a stronger fort to the great whore then the howse of Austria which if it be a fort these yet are the deepe ditch or more that goes about it the great river that strengthens both it the Church Cittie of Rome the bankes of this river must be cut the streame of theire power and riches let out and dried up ere any great good can be donne It is a thing that will serve to astonish the ages to come that any reformed Christian much lesse those that are reckoned and so should be of the wiser sort as Counsellours of estate Nobles Divines many others that seeme to have a greater share of preeminence wit and learning then of true knowledge honour and authoritie in such cases should stand so stedfastly in the maintenance of diocessan Bishops and traditions and other wordly dignities honours and revenues which the Clergie have obtained besides those that are given to the Ministers of Christ in the Gospel Wherein though it be true that all their defēders doe not willingly take the marke of the Beast because all that defend them doe it not on purpose to helpe the Pope and Church of Rome or with the more ease to bring-in poperie as some have said of the late Duke and his faction which indeed is to have the marke secret in the right hand nor wholly because some that stand for Diocessan Bishops and theire traditions which are popish and tend to poperie doe nevertheles hate other points of Poperie yet doe they take it partly in effect and by consequence and in a way which is a step helpe and introduction to all poperie which cannot but bee * Rev. 14.9 dangerous especially when like Papists they will not see it or seeing it will not desist First because Antichrist and they are of one and the same broode and ofspring of one and the same foundation his rising was their rising and their traditions and ceremonies are his they had them from him every Diocessan Bishop is now a pettie Pope in his Diocesse For at the first Plessis misterie of inquit prog 4 and 5. the Pope only grew great as a Diocessan Bishop in a great citty haveing this only priviledge that he was reckoned the Bishop of the first sea and an Arch-Bishop Rome being the seate of the Empire but there were then others that were reckoned Archbishops as well as hee and governed theire seas as freely as he did his and so did many Bishops also It is well manifested by Hierome on the first of Titus and by many other fathers Bellar. de clericis lib. 1. c. 14. and moderne writers cited by Bellarmine and Medina as also by Pietro Scave Polano in his historie of the councell of Trent that at first a presbiter and a Bishop was one Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 220.331.332.591 and the same thing that the Churches were governed by the common counsailes of the presbiters and how the jurisdiction and power of Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops crept into the church to withstand divisions namely together with the Popes and therefore to defend their office is to defend his which only differs in the excesse of power and evill and in supremacie and universalitie neither have they so much withstood divisions as increased them for Plessis and these other authors shew
tirannous dominion Beza in Act 1.23 or Lordship in the Church but left them free voices and free election and to be an Apostle is to be sent of God with an immediate embassage to laie the foundation in practise and ordinances as Paul did but the Embassage of Bishops is mediate they have theirs from the Apostles neither can they lay another foundation nor ordaine new things though they oft assume it in some decrees canons and ceremonies as they did who established diocessan Bishops to say they might doe it or that their act was of the holy Ghost it will follow that others might with like reason ordaine Archbishops and Patriachs and in the end a Pope over all and that all these their acts were of the holy Ghost but Bishops and Councells are not Masterbuilders as the Apostles were for every one is willed to take heed how he buildeth for other foundation can no man lay 1 Cor. 3.10.11 then that is laid which is Iesus Christ. In this sense each Apostle was a generall officer in all Churches as Paul saith 2 Cor. 11.28 He had the care of all Churches But herein no Bishop will call himselfe his successour unles it be the Pope who exalts himself above all that is called God 1 Pet. 5. Peter would not have any Elder to be a Lord ouer Gods heritage much lesse ouer other Elders It shall not be so amongst you Mat. 20.25 Chap. 23.8 saith Christ One is your Maister even Christ and all ye are brethren There is no other Bishop over these Bishops the Presbyters or Elders He is the King of his Church and the only chiefe Bishop 1 Pet. 2.25 Chap. 5.4 It is a poore answer to all this to say this opinion was condemned for an heresie in Aerius seeing Chemnitius hath so well cleared him Chemnit examen concil Trid. Bellarm. de Clericis lib 1. cap. 14. and Medina alleadged by Bellarmine confesseth that saint Hierom was herein wholy of opinion with the Aerians and not only S. Hierom but likewise Ambrose Augustin Sedulius Primasius Chrysostome Theoderet Oecumenius and Theophilact If these or other Fathers did yet hold diocessan Episcopacie to be lawfull and necessarie it may be answered that otherwise the mysterie of iniquitie could not have proceeded as it did they lived not to see such fruits of it as wee have seene it was not then come to the height of tyrannie they therefore were more excusable then wee can be and therefore the cause is not bettered by this that English Prelates hold with Bellarmin and Rome in this point seeing other reformed Churches finde it safer in this case with Calvin Chemnitius Beza and others to cleave unto the Scriptures and be reformed by them In the Revelation Rev. 4.1.2 3.4 Cap. 5.6 saint Iohn seeing the Church that was to be after him saith Behold a Throne was set in heaven and round about the throne were foure and twentie Elders And in the midst of the throne and in the midst of the Elders stood Christ to shew they belong to his government as Diocessan Bishops to that of Antichrist for note he saith not Bishops but Elders or Presbiters lest after it should have bin taken for diocessan Bishops And whē Babylon is destroied the Elders give thankes Rev. 19.4 All this sheweth that Christs Church ought to be governed by Elders that so it was and so it shal be this is the government of Christ who is the king and annointed to it Now Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops hinder this government and are therein Antichrists therefore that is true which Iohn said in his time 1 Iohn 2.18 Even now are many Antichrists There is a veile upon some Protestants hearts a curtaine of Church power before their eyes that they cannot see this and the infectious sores and maladies that their power and ceremonies bring in and cover I hope this curtaine is now so drawne that Princes will for Christs sake lay it to heart and take away their dominion and riches which make them thus blinde and corrupt For that is the end of this worke Secondly Because it is cleare to all the wisemen in the Christian world that as many great troubles have risen in former times about Prelates as in England about Thomas of Becket Stephen Langthon and others so of late all the warres and stirres in Germany and other parts have risen from Bishops Iesuits and other Clergie men they have made the Emperour and other Princes to kill and drive the Protestants out of their Countries and livings All the doe and hurliburly is raised to restore them to their Antichristian power in Bishopricks Deanaries Cloisters and their revenues Howsoever the fire began these are the bellowes that blow it and such as minister the oyle and sulphure that have nourished and increased the flame This ambitiousnesse of the Clergy that doth so much mischiefe in the Church Common wealth is a hellish flame that cannot begin to go out til Rome be burned the Clergy reformed by the Scriptures True peace unity there can be none till their dominion riches authority be taken away and they reduced to the truth of the Gospel Looke into England and see if these vices and pride in the Clergy have not beene cause of all the dissentions and disgraces of that Country The late Duke knew well that he could not stand practise and prevaile without their countenance and authority to maintaine their greatnesse save their honour and power entire keepe their practices and corruptions in matter of religion from being questioned and reformed Parliaments must bee disturbed yea crushed and dissolved and as men say the most sincere lovers of justice and piety in that high Court must be disgraced accused and imprisoned for discovering the practices of the Arminian Popish or Spanish factions and such flatteries and errours of the Clergy as appeare in Pulpit print and practice The Bishops see all this and know that by all these meanes their power and authority is encreased as that of the Church of Rome and other popish Bishops was by the like But they that by these meanes cherish such factions countenance or suffer Arminian Bookes and practices to passe and doe little against the Popish are not so cold in defending that tradition of theirs or rather of the Papists that Diocessan Bishops and their authority in things called indifferent are of God but to shew that like the Papists they are more jealous sensible and zealous of any thing done against these then against those that are done against the kingdome word and ordinances of God they are ever watchfull carefull and zealous to hinder all bookes and discoveries that are against any of their traditions and ceremonies not one must be suffered to be seene that hath any proofe for the Eldership or against the Hierarchy pretending still they are hereticall and dangerous which is but a Popish tricke and a mockery while in the meane those
irregularity That divine service be so said as that it may be understood by him that saith it and by him that heareth it That a way bee found not to chase away bad parish Priests because that is easie but to substitute better I omit others of allowing mariage to Priests and the cup to some nations Pag. 651. The French Ambassadours had the like The Priests should not be ordained before they were old and had a good testimony of the people that they had lived well That a Priest should not be ordained before hee had a benefice or ministery according to the Councell of Chalcedon at which time a presbyterall title without an office was not heard of That the due function should be restored to Deacons and other holy orders and they may not seeme to beare names and for ceremony onely That the Priests and other Ecclesiasticall Ministers should attend to their vocation not medling in any office but in the divine Ministery That Bishops Parish Priests and other Ecclesiastickes unable to performe their charge shall receive coadjutors or leave their benefices That no man shall have more then one benefice taking away the differences of the quality of the persons and of benefices compatible and incompatible a new division not heard of in the ancient decrees That he that hath two or more shall retaine that onely which hee shall choose within a short time or shall incurre the penalty of the ancient Canons That the mandates of provision expectations regressions resignations in confidence to be revoked and banished out of the Church as contrary to the decrees If either the people or Princes of England should make these or the like to the Parliament or Convocation of the Clergy they should presently be hissed out for Puritans as the Cardinals called those Vltramontan Bishops hypocritans that held residency to be ex jure divino Pa. 501. Some thinke if there were better Bishops all would be well enough Indeed it could not bee so bad but well it could never be because Diocessan Bishops are not ordained of God they are no branches of Gode engrafting their office hath no root in Christ Ioh. 15. the true Vine who is the Word such officers and offices as the Father hath planted in him bring forth fruit unto him He is the doore by which all true Shepheards enter he that climbeth up another way be it by a positive law Ioh. 10.1 or otherwise the same is a theefe and a robber and brings forth such fruits as diocessan Episcopacy hath Some Bishops there are indeed that have shewed themselves against the Arminians and Papists and to be lovers of preaching and sound doctrine even as Christ had some witnesses or friends among the Rulers and Pharises but these have beene soone quailed and kept out of grace in the Court howsoever they are great friends of the hierarchy and enemies of the Eldership and true reformation and so affected to those great places that they are blinde on that side and in that respect so against the kingdome of God that the devill and the Iesuits know well enough that they are herein more helpers to the Romish religion then hinderers because they uphold the reputation of diocessan Bishops and ceremonies with the most religious sort of conformists and so doe but hold way for worse successors It is strange that wise men and some both conscionable and well seene in Divinity should suffer themselves to be so seduced in this point as to thinke diocessan and provinciall Episcopacy lawfull and necessary 1. Because they see it was very anciently ordained and exercised by good men and that the received custome was confirmed by the Nicene Councell whereas they should rather consider that it was not in the Church of Martyrs as it is now the Bishops then differed little from Presbyters in pompe and authority and did not reigne over them as now that though those Fathers might thinke to doe good in ordaining it unlesse they had erred therein and namely in taking so much on them and yet had seemed to doe it as a thing necessary and profitable it had not beene possible that the mystery of iniquity should have wrought so soone and that Antichrist who was to be a Bishop and to sit in the Temple of God should have found meanes and step after step to rise to his greatnesse out of that ordinance as was shewed he did In an Epistle annexed to the history of the Counc of Trent That some evill things have beene ordained in Councels very ancient as Bishop Iewed manifesteth that this proved such in short time that therefore it is not good to thinke of reducing diocessan Bishops to their first estate but rather of taking them away because such trees must needs bring forth such fruit 2. Because many zealous and well affected men have beene and some now are diocessan Bishops I answer have they not read that some zealous Priests Bishops have come to be Pope as of old Gregory 1. and divers others and of late Adrian 6. reckoned holy men which makes their papall calling never a whit more tolerable or lawfull no more doth it in those English Bishops that otherwise are sound in religion For they standing so stoutly for hierarchy traditions and ceremonies which are Romish and have their strength from Romish ambition power and usurpation even in these best Bishops the tree is knowne by his fruit and in this respect they are all drunke with the wine of her fornication though some more some lesse For they that have otherwise beene good Preachers are the worse when they come to be Bishops or to affect such places they make them so ceremonious and zealous of the hierarchy canons service and ceremonies that they sticke not to preach them and so loth to displease Courtiers that they are the lesse against Popery and the more plaine enemies of such true Protestants as seeke the Eldership and right reformation whom they will not permit to write or speake much lesse to preach the truth of God in those points but scoffe mocke punish imprison and silence them keeping the Princes by these and all the shifts they can in ignorance in this point as the Papists doe theirs in this point and in others The ancient Fathers did not thus they were not such Bishops Thus the whole counsaile of God is not suffered to be preached in England shall I say in these points of the eldership hierarchy and service onely wherein a man is not so much as suffered to distinguish betweene a sacrificer and a Presbyter or Priest as all Ministers are called No a mystery of iniquity cannot rest in two or three evils but those obstinately defended by men God gives them over to greater blindnesse and errour So was it in the Church of Rome and so hath it beene in England where at first it was indeed said why should men stumble so much at Bishops and ceremonies so long as the Gospell may be
freely preached in all other things and no Minister hindred in them but now it is come to another evill the bondage and limitations are more increased For the Clergy and especially the Bishops have not onely temporised with the Duke and other hispaniolized and popish agents and practisers but even for their favour let in Arminianisme neither opposing it themselves nor suffering others that would but because light remedies alwayes cherish an evil they got the King to prohibite disputes on both sides not to hinder Arminianisme for the bookes of Doctor Iackson and others were suffered to come out after that but others from confuting it in their disputations books and sermons and in stead of the Scriptures to make the Articles the Rule and them the interpreters of them who have not onely protected the Appealer Doctor Iackson Doctor Cousens and some others that savour of Arminianisme and Popery hindred the Parliament and others from convincing them of errour and so emboldned others to broach worse errours in flattery of mighty favourites helped to get Parliaments dissolved wherein men had some hope of remedy but have themselves preached some passages savouring of Romish and Trent corruption seeming to approve the vulgar edition that the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato and to tye the understanding of the Scriptures to the interpretation of the Fathers to make the best of moderne Divines little regarded In these and the like they being powerfull in Court cannot want followers and flatterers and therefore men of understanding say they are not so well read in the Rules of piety as in those of policy used against the desired reformation in the time of Luther which being set forth in the history of the Councell of Trent though it anger the Papists in regard it discovereth a world of their various dissimulations cunning shifts and devices yet it pleaseth them in this that they serve to teach the Bishops and Arminians how to frustrate and delude all the fairest proofes and attempts of their adversaries And because some have written to discover the errours practices and dangers they have not onely put all they could catch in the high Commission but lest such should get out and themselves be any way hindred or discovered in such proceedings they have obtained authority that if any writer Printer or Book-seller come with a prohibition he shall be presently censured Some will say this is but reason I anwser true if their hierarchie and practices were according to Gods word and they seditious and hereticall that they trouble but being as it is and this power seldome or never extended against any but such as stand for Gods truth against Arminians popish practisers and defenders of the hierarchy they abuse the King and Councell in getting them to be their protectors and are themselves blinde and Antichristian tyrants Such as in stead of following the rules of the Gospell seeme rather to encline to that of Paul 4. who set on foot the Inquisition Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 405. 409. which he said was the principall secret and mystery of the Papacy the true Ramme to beat down heresie and defend the Apostolike sea by advancing another which like it shall prevaile by power and terrour in stead of good reason namely the high Commission Court The Councellors of the Parliament of Paris seeing the Articles of reformation published in the Councell of Trent opposed saying the Ecclesiasticall authority was enlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giving power to Bishops to proceed to pecuniary mulcts and imprisonment against the laity whereas no authority was given by Christ to his Ministers but meere and pure spirituall that when the Clergy was made a member of the policy the Princes did by favour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergy men with temporall punishments that discipline might be observed amongst them but to use such kinde of punishment against the laickes they had neither from the law of God nor of man but by usurpation onely All which sheweth that diocessan Bishops are great impostors though the Pope bee indeed the grand impostor And let men be sure that as they and their hierarchy are more and more defended so will their power encrease and grow more popish blinde erroneous and Antichristian as that of the Church of Rome did their feare towards God being in these things taught by the precepts of men the wisedome of them and their supporters must needs decay and perish to the extreame danger of the Church and Commonwealth By all which may bee seene that the kingdome of God in the true free and full power of the word preached is incompatible with the hierarchy they cannot stand together but the maintenance of the one is the breaking of the bands of the other and of the true peace and happinesse of the Church and State and that therefore there is necessity of a reformation in the Church and restoring the ordinances of God to that forme which not any humane but his divine wisdome ordained Some have pretended that it is good policy to uphold the Hierarchy for say they no Bishop no King there must be order in the Church and Bishops are they that preserve it This is that bulwark which they used to beat off all just complaints and save themselves their cause their friends and followers such as the Duke the Appealer and Cousens from the parliamentary power Crushed and dissolved it must be rather then such a one or his trechery be brought to triall though they thereby make such the more bold to attempt the like or worse evills overthrow the power and use of Parliaments that confirmed their hierarchy a requitall not so strange in them as just with God and so alienate the heart of the King from his subjects and the subjects from the King though they know a kingdome divided in it felfe cannot stand that having their hearts hee is strong and a King indeed that otherwise hee cannot well subsist as a King should nor be supplied with money and men but must bee forced to make peace with the enemies of religion on the harder conditions and home-bred Papists and Arminians would thereby grow the bolder to encrease their religions and parties the Palatinate could not well be recovered but the enemy must needs be made the more absolute and resolute to root out our religion and brethren in forraigne parts and at last seeing division in England to venture thither to endanger the Church and Commonweale the Kingdome and all Wherein what have the Prelates shewed lesse then that they had rather all these should be shaken and endangered then their hierarchy or then one proud Appealer one popish Cousens should be questioned in disparagement thereof For these evils could not have beene effected against so many endeavours of Parliaments without the helpe of their religious pretences nor passed without the cloake of their Episcopall gravity And lest things should bee
conversion of his power and not of mans free will that men doe beleeve and persevere because they were predestinated though they be plainly taught in the Scripture yet they will not have them nor the like points cleared by Preachers in Pulpit nor Print nor by Divines in the Vniversities no not in a time when Papists Arminians corrupt men in them but they must be left to them the Fathers and Rulers as if diocessan Bishops never ordained of God being many of them Courtiers swolne with ambition depending on the interests of favourites such as the Duke parties in such factions corrupted with flatteries contesting against the endeavours of Parliaments daily busied at the Councell table in the Star chamber or high Commission Court should better know how to cleere and determine these and other high points then Preachers that study nothing else but Divinity and are not led by such particular interests There is no man that hath but an indifferent judgement and any sparke of true love to Gods Kingdome but will say it is impossible that these men or their flatterers should bee fit Iudges or give just lawes to men in such cases yet they governe all in Synods and elsewhere and if they have but colourable pretences like the Papists who doe resist or question them These are they that ruling all and having many things in their gift are sure to be flattered and followed in Court Synods and Vniversities and if as the Appealer doth they can but alledge the opinion of Bishop Bancraft or any such politician Prelate like themselves they care for no better authority Onely strengthned by the secular arme they know how to prevaile by power All which considered it is no marvell that they have decreed so many things to so little profit yea to so great damage to the Church and kingdome of God And all true Christians are the rather to take heed of them and their decrees and not to say it is either necessary to have Bishops or a thing indifferent seeing they so much endanger the faith and that in these respects it greatly concernes the faith and all the faithfull to have their government abolished and the Eldership restored lest by them as by the Bishops in the Church of Rome religion come to be corrupted It will be objected the most ancient Councels were governed by Bishops I answer that otherwise Popish errours could not have beene established nor so long maintained against the truth that at first Presbyters had their voices in them that Bishops of old differed little from Presbyters had pastorall charges and were not like ours but onely began to decline and therefore I wonder not that Nazianzen so long since observed that there came little good yea much hurt of them and that contentions have alwayes beene encreased by the Episcopall assemblies as also Bishop Iewel proves in many particulars In an Epistle annexed to the history of the Counc of Trent I wonder not if in our dayes some Bishops are learned affect some good things make some good bookes and tollerable constitutions For some of them have beene great Divines Pastors and of a good conscience in many things but might not a man have found the like in some of the Sadduces Heredians Arrians 〈…〉 Pâ—pists and other heretikes that is take them out of their heresies in such things as they hold common with other Iewes or Christians yet many things determined by them were dangerous so must it needs be in the diocessan Bishops of England who are of a humane law and heretikes in matter of the Eldership if not Arminians Therefore in this cause that may be said of them which Paul 4. said of the Bishops of his time that it was a vanity to assemble 60. Pa. 339. Bishops of the least able and 40. Doctors of the most insufficient as was twice done already in Trent and to beleeve that by those things could bee well regulated All which considered who can thinke that the Hierarchy or any Synod of English Bishops can be for the service of God In the meane the Churches or at least many thousands in them in their practice receive the hierarchy ceremonies and traditions Pari pietatis affectu ac reverentiae with like affection of piety and reverence as the written word of God and many with greater There are foure pillars that uphold the Hierarchy 1. Traditions and ceremonies 2. Spirituall ignorance and blinde devotion in the Nobility and Laity For that makes them take it for granted that Bishops and obedience to their traditions are de jure divino hence proceedes a 3. Riches and authority and from these a 4. reciprocall resolution combination with such Statesmen as the Duke and his confederates so to maintaine each others cause against al accusers as if they were one and they each others Advocates And as a branch of this the severe suppression of all bookes and complaints that discover their errors or practices There is no need to prove further that the three last are against the service of God it will suffice to shew that they are against the service of the King and State But first of ceremonies and traditions received in the Church of England Histor of the Councell of Trent pag. 259. It is remarkable that when some German Protestants for feare received those appointed in the Interim saying after they were indifferent Others whom necessity had not compelled said it was true that indifferent things concerne not salvation yet by meanes of them pernicious things are brought in and going on they framed this generall conclusion That ceremonies and rites though by nature indifferent doe then become bad when he that useth them hath an opinion that they are good or necessary Which hath beene proved of them in England and that generally they are men popish neutrall or of least sincerity that stand most for them as for the best meanes to uphold the hierarchy because they know that rule to be true No ceremonie no Bishop which as it seemes is the reason that the Bishops looke to little else though that bee to confesse that they serve for nothing but to uphold their owne traditions and ceremonies wherein they are very zealous like the Trent Bishops that anathematized them that say that the ceremonies Pa. 574. vestments or externall signes used in the Masse are rather incitements to ungodlinesse Pa. 548. then offices of piety Where if by ungodlinesse you understand superstition and ignorance the Trent censure is extreame harsh the rather because Antonius of Veltelina a Dominican had proved unto them that the Rite of Rome had beene received to gratifie the Pope but not in all places and by a booke called Ordo Romanus that it hath had great alterations not onely in ancient times but even in the latter ages also that the Roman Rite observed within 300. yeares is not that which is now observed by the Priests in that City For the vestments vessels and other