they are so many we will keep their owne diuision of them in Double and Single Feastes Of their double feastes are their Christmasse day with the day of his circumsion and Epiphanie the Annunciation Puritication of their Ladie called Candlemasse day their day of all the Saintes together called Hallowmasse their Michaelmassâ—… all Angels besides their Easter whitsontide wherof we haue spokeÌ„ also their AssentioÌ„ day Trinitie sonday Now their single feastes and common Holidaies are the Saintes daies in order as they come in their beadrolle their coÌ„mon sundaies Of which sundaies though they haue coÌ„mandement both in the law by the fourth coÌ„mandemét in the new Testament by the coÌ„mandement practise of the Apostles to keep in the Church the first day of the weeke an holy conuocation vnto the Lord spending that day in praiers hearing the word and other holy exercises yet seing they so miserablie profane yt to idolatrie both after the maner of the heathen Papistes yt becommeth an idol feast no lesse accursed then the others After the maner of the heathen they abuse yt in dedicating yt vnto and naming yt after the chief idol of the Pagans the Sonne a creature and in feasting that day after their maner in pride gluttony riot idlenes sport play c. After the maner of y e papistes they abuse yt in their stinted superstitious idolatrous seruice their abuse of scriptures of praier at their meeting which is not to any edifiâ—…ng or leading forward in the waies of God their course direction being set downe both to priestes and people before hand what they shall doe say pray how much in the forenoone at Mattens how litle at afternoone at Euensong c. Further in that they dedicate one special Sunday aboue all the rest vnto the Holy Trinitye yet giue lesse honour vnto this Sunday feast then to their white sunday going next beforâ—… Their other solemne holy feastes seing they want warrant in the word of God haue nothing for their foundatioÌ„ groundworke are therby cast vtterly out of the Church of CHRIST which is not to be edified vpon the sandes of mens fansies neither to worship God after the deuises of their owne heartes but according to 〈◊〉 prescript rules of his holy word therfore I need spend no time 〈◊〉 the refutation of them the bare recital of these their trifling follies 〈◊〉 vanities is inough to scatter them into the wind for what warrant â—…ommandement or proofe haue these stage players in the word of â—…od in this maner to solemnize the birth circumcision epiphanie â—…surrection assention of Christ vpon their seueral daies with their 〈◊〉 fastes worship feastes why do not they celebrate as well his bapâ—…sme temptation and victorie ouer Sathan in the wildernes the calâ—…ng of the woman of Samaria the receauing the Syrophoenitian his faâ—…ous miracles casting out deuils raising the dead walking vpon the 〈◊〉 transfiguration vpon the mountaine giuing the holy Ghost vnto â—…is Apostles with his commission and message c. These are written 〈◊〉 the new Testament were done of him as wel as the other for our â—…arning and comfort as wel as the other Why then should not they 〈◊〉 wel haue their peculiar daies fastes worship feastes as the other â—…ut where haue they thus learned Christ to worship him by startes â—…nd stintes by daies and eaues by such idol fastes and feastes Is not â—…his to draw the worship of God which is perpetual and spiritual â—…nto carnal commandementes worldly ordinances and customes â—…gaine and that after so superstitious and profane a maner Superstiâ—…ious in that it is without coÌ„mandement or president in the TestameÌ„t â—…f Christ wil worship not required or accepted at their handes proâ—…hane in that they celebrate these feastes in al maner gluttonie exâ—…esse ryot prodigalitie pride luxurie vanitie idle games heathen â—…cortes Thus they celebrate the natiuitie circumcision epiphanie â—…esurrection of Christ with gay clothes cleane houses good cheare â—…he viole in the feast to stir vp lust in stead of deuotioÌ„ eating drinkâ—…ng rising vp to play and daunce after the maner of Bacchus in his â—…eastes with their Lords of misrule commonly called Christmas lordes â—…ames enterludes nummeries Sodomitish maskes wassal cuppes â—…ith thowsandes of abhominations which chast Christian heartes eares abhor to heare or thinke of This is the fruite of their idolaâ—…rie idlenes this they learned of their forefathers in the wildernes Whiles Moses was on the mount Exâ—…d 32. their priest cast them a calfe of gold made of their chiefe iewels that yt might be of the more estimation To this Calfe they made an Altar the priest deuoutly proclaimed a fast to al the people on the eaue a solemne feast and holy day vnto the Lord yea of the Lord IEHOVA as he said On the day where the people offred burnt offringes and brought peace offringes on the morning after sate downe to eate drink and rose vp to play This is the very mould and patterne of these their idol feastes fastes worship c. In Christes Testament they neuer learned to diuide Christes actions life into such a stageplay making one day a Pageant of his birth an other of his circumcision an other of his epiâ—…hanie resurrection c. though these were distinct things and done â—…t seueral times yet neuer read I that they ought in this maner vpon peculiar daies to be celebrate in the church more then at any other time or day of the yeare or that they ought to haue a set worship with select Psalmes Lessons Pistles Gospels Collects Anthemes or such a deuout fast on their eaues or feast on their daies with such revels as they keepe But that their deuotions may yet more appeare they worship him euen in his mothers belly or rather before she was conceaued with him they adore the wordes of salutation eueÌ„ in the Angel Gabrieâ—… his mouth giue a solemne fast worship and feast day therunto which they cal the AnnunciatioÌ„ of their Lady And least she might be offended they solemnize also with double feast her purification coÌ„monly called Candlemasse And heer in this feast I would know of these deep diuines what yt is they worship solemnize whether this action she did or the person of their Lady for needes yt must be the one or both oâ—… theÌ„ heere being nothing either in or ioyned with this action besides worthie of such special veneratioÌ„ high soleÌ„nitie Yf then yâ—… bâ—… the action of her Purificâ—…ion that was but a legal ceremonie and not now to be brought into the Church of Christ. Yf her person as yt iâ—… also like how theÌ„ wil they escape the breach of the first coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„â—… vnlesse peraduenture they hope through her mediatioÌ„ to be dispeÌ„sed withal y t she wil speak a good word vnto her SoÌ„ne for theÌ„ therfore they powre out vnto her their drinke offringes
as the daies of their wecke stil are not only into y e names of Sainctes Angells but into y e names of these heathen Godds vvhich they still retaine hauing vtterly lost the name and order of their Creator as the First second third day of the vveeke of the first second third or such a moneth c. and are novv quite giueÌ„ away one day to the sunne Soli another to the Moone another to Merckrie another to Marâ—… another to Iupiter another to Venus and the last to Saturne which they haue now so long held by prescription in quiet possession as yt is bonbtfull when the right owner shall challenge them his plea wil not be heard in westminster hall In like maner I haue heard that these their temples haue been dedicate vnto these Gods who haue had their Flamins archflamins therin but vpon the conversion of Englâ—…nd to the faith of Rome they were al then new baptised into the names of holy saintâ—…s I know heere againe that our learned Antiqâ—…ries will hardly consent to this but then I must dâ—…sire them to shew me when these their auncient Cathedral churches were christened into y e saintes names they now beare I suppose they shall find some of them to haue caried the names they at this day do a great while We shal also haue much adoe with theÌ„ concerning the first faith which Englaâ—…d receaued which they wil coÌ„firme by the notable estate of the church y e first 500 yeres after the Apostles And here shal be brought vpon me a whole cartlode of writers Councels Doctors vnto al which I oppose that litle booke of Christs Testament from which they immediatly after the destruction of Ierusalem the decease of the Apostles fel away changing and innovating all thinges daily more and more vntil they had brought yt to this estate fashioning religion to the fansies and lustes of men as yt might best allure retayne and please the Princes multitudes of the world as is aboue in the beginning of this treatise more particularlie shewed and may by these ancient monumentes of their idolatrie which stil remayne as by so many argumentes be euidently convinced These Synagogues are built altogether to the forme of the old Téple of the Iewes in a long square East and west with their holy Court walled round about coÌ„monly called the Churchyeard which is holy ground and serueth for Christen burial being altogether exempt for ciuil vse yet is yt lawful for the yong men maides to play there together vpon their sundaies and holy daies But who so smiteth any in that holy ground by statute is to haue his hand cut off thersore These Synagoguâ—…s haue also their battlementes and their porch adioining to theâ—… Church not heer to speake of the solemne laying the foundation where the first stone must be laid by the handes of the Bishop or his suffragane with certaine magical praiers holy water and many other idolatrous rites They haue vnto yt their foulding dâ—…res and an especial leuite the parish clerke to keep the key They haue at the west end their hallowed belles which are also baptised sprinkled c. They haue their isles and their bodie of the Church they haue also their selles to the sides of the walles their vestery to keep the priestes ministerial garmentes where they are to attyre and dresse themselues before they goe to their seruice they haue their treasurie Al the cathedral oâ—… mother churches also haue their cloysters for their Deane prebendaries cannoÌ„s petty cannons singing meÌ„ and singing boies c. within their precinct and walles to abide and dwell that they may keepe the watch of the temple and their howers of Orizons Againe they haue in the bodie of their Church their hallowed fonte to keepe the holy water wherwith they baptise al other vessels and waters to the vse of baptisme being by expresse law forbidden They haue also their holiest of al or chauncel which peculiarly belongeth to the priest and quire which help the priest to say sing his seruice They haue their roodloft as a partition betweene their holie and holiest of all The priest also hath a peculiar dore into his chancel through which none might passe but himself Now this Church thus reared vp is also throughly hallowed vvith their sprinkling water dedicate baptised into the name of some especial Saint or Angel as to the patrone and defendor therof against al enemies spirites stormes tempestes c. Yet hath yt within also al the holy armie of saintes Angels in their windowes and walles to keep yt Thus I think can be no doubt made but that the verie erections of these synagogues whether they were by the heathens or papistes were idolatrous But heere I look to haue obiected these two reasons against me the one for the defence of the original the other for the present estate of them namly that many of these superstitions I speake of were inveÌ„ted long after England receaued the faith and therfore the original of these churches could not be so euil the other that now thankes be to God they are quite purged of all these idols in the walles and windowes vsed to the pure worship of God therfore I doe not wel so to write of them in this estate To the first reason but that I loue not to raue in the apocrypha writings as they do with the papistes therfore neuer bring their coÌ„troversies to end I could shew most of these idolatrous shapes and customes to haue been very ancient in deed by al likelihood eueÌ„ froÌ„ y e first building of these synagogues therfore yt skilleth not to inquire whether all these idolatries were invented at the first bringing of their faith into England seing yt is manifest that most of these churches were built many yeres after For as hath beene said they at the first contented themselues with such temples as they ere while worshipped their idols in so that they that wil obiect vnto me some few of their temples built in a round forme must both be sure that they were not built by heathens and that al these romish relikes of the Church-yard porch hallowed belles font images in the walles and windowes c. were added since the building therof And this I suppose wil be hard for them tâ—… doe The papistes can prescribe a long time for their images and manie other thinges yet all this if they could doe vvhat vvere these few vnto all the other so manie thowsandes as vve see to carrie these idolatrous shapes euen from the verie foundation vvhich vve know and vvith our eies haue seene thus defiled vvith idols and odolatrie so that yt shalbe needles for them to trouble themselues vvith things farther off vvhen these things stil remaine in this shape before our eies And this also may answere their second allegation where they alledg them now to be
ministerie there doth presuppose and necessarily preâ—…ume of a Church alwaies in that pariâ—…h where as the Prophet saith â—…hey that were my people yesterday are risen vp on the other side as â—…gainst an enemie c. How many famous Churches see we remoâ—…ed and fallen how mâ—…ny godly Fathers haue had wicked children â—…odly ages wicked successors Many other reasons might be brought â—…gainst these gleabes for which these belly priestes so crie out As conâ—…erning their idolatrous originall and abuse being giuen to the mainâ—…enance of a popish ministerie and therfore ought rather to be put to â—…iuill vses and not to the maintenance of the ministerie of CHRIST But to returne to thâ—…ir tythes againe wherin as yet I could neuer â—…ee any difference betwixt the Iewes and them saue that these swineâ—…eardes tythe piggs geese c. and al such vncleane beastes and fowles â—…or gaine which were an abhomination vnto the Iewes But some of â—…hem would hide this by the Princes commandement We haue in many places shewed that the Prince hath no power to breake Godeâ—…â—…awes or innouate or alâ—…er CHRISTS Testament Heere I would know of them whither the due paiment of tithes c. was not often commanded by the godly Kinges of â—…da also Let them reade the stories of EZECHIAH IOZIAH NEHEMIAH c. let them reade the prophecies of IOEL HAGGAI ZACHARIE MALACHIE Why then we see the commandement of the Prince makes no difference betweene them and the â—…ewes herein the commandement of the Prince cannot alter the proâ—…ertie of Gods lawes the coÌ„mandement of the Prince can be no warâ—…ant or â—…xcuse for the altering of CHRISTS Testament But what excuse can they now forge for their offringes at the baptisme of children at â—…heir purifying of women Is not this also manifest Iudaisme I wil not heere speake of the superstition of the action but of the oblation only what difference is there betwixt them and the Iewes herein They will say the Iewes offred Pigeons c. not money But they must vnderstand the Iewes had a law also of redeeming their sacrifices for mony so offrâ—…d mony also when the sacrifice could not be had in sundry other cases This then wilbe no sufficient difference I doubt therfore they must be driuen to Doctor ROBERT SOME his catholike vniuersal distruction abouenamed They retaine them not as any part of the ceremoâ—…l law but as the ministers stipend Wel let this distinction be authenticall because yt goes with priuiledge yet let a poore Christian aske them this question where they find in the new Testament that Christians may make such offringes or the minister of CHRIST liue of sâ—…ch offrings I suppose they will take day to answerâ—… and I because I will not too far ouerchardge them at once wil forbeare here to call them to â—…ccompt for their mortuaries or portion which they take of the goodes of the dead for their oblations at their Easter Sacrament at the marijng and at the burijng of any in their parish This I think would proue a combersome peece of work for them to approue and iustifie by CHRISTES Testament to belong to the maintenance or office of his ministerie And sure I take no great pleasure to raue more theÌ„ needes I must in this their doung which is so grosse as euen with the reciting yt is refuâ—…ed So that I hope by this litle which hath beene said concerning their Leuiticall tythinges their Iewish oblations their heathenish and popish customes c yt euidently may apeare to all men in whome is any light that neither this their ministerie or these their ministers which are thus maintained are of CHRIST or belong to his Church Yf this yet be not plaine inough let such as doubt giue eare to their Administration which now followeth to be examined WHICH ADMINISTRATION of theirs because it is so ample for the help of my memorie that the matter may be the better vnderstood I will for this time diuide yt into necessarie and voluntarie By necessarie I meane that publike administration whervnto by law office and othe they are bound by voluntarie I meane their extraordinarie paines taking in preaching reading lectures on the weeke daies catechising families c. And first as order requireth I wil deale with the more general with that of necessity which law requireth of all priestes whervnto both they their Church-wardens and Side-men are bound by othe the one to obserue the other to see yt obserued to present the defaltes And this because yt is so infiâ—…ite extendeth so largely almost to the practise execution of all the Iniunctions and orders of theiâ—… Church c. I will only or chiefly at the least here meddle with their publike administration in their Church in their worship of God c. and that but with some few I will not say chief thinges for yet the Subiect is too large for my capacitie Vnto this ministration for their better instruction and direction in all thinges as also that there might be found one vniforme ordeâ—… amongst them in all places they haue one SERVICE BOOK commonly called THE BOOK of common praier vnto this are all the priestes of the land sworne to vse yt in maner and forme prescribed Now in this Book is included the whole forme and substance of their ministrie Heere are their praiers made to their hand and prescribed what praiers to say in the morning and likewise what at Euensong as also what Psalmes Chapters pistles Gospels to read in their due seasons what in the winter what in the Sommer what in the Leâ—…t what in the Aduent Heere are set downe their praiers chapters c. for their fastes their solemne feastes and Saintes daies yea and for euerie other day of the yeare â—…or the Sonday is a gouerning day and is written in their Calender â—…ith red letters and ruleth all the daies of the week saue certaine vnâ—…uly daies and their Eaâ—…es which will not be gouerned by yt but chaâ—…enge to themselues a peculiar worship also they hauing their daies 〈◊〉 the same Calender writteÌ„ with great letters too that which moâ—…e 〈◊〉 their Eaues written with red letters And because they are but stranâ—…ers and come but once in the yeare they looke for the more solemne â—…tertainment that the priest should diligently watch and the people â—…ait for their coÌ„ming make preparation accordingly if they come â—…n a cluster or at some solemne and double feast thâ—…n to inâ—…ertaine â—…eÌ„ with new clothes cleane houses garnished with greene bowghes 〈◊〉 holly and Iuye with good cheare much pastime al work on these 〈◊〉 idol daies laid aside Yea though they come but one alone and 〈◊〉 on the week day â—…et that week is not S â— Sonday Lord of the Asâ—…ndent yt is a part of his seruice to giue vvarning vnto the people of â—…e others comming that they keep his or her Eaue with fasting and â—…aier that vpon their day
and burne incense to the Queene of heauen And that they might not faile at time of need see they make all the Sâ—…intes InnoceÌ„tes in heauen their frieÌ„des on their side celebrating to the Innocentes one day of their soleÌ„ne Christmas vnto all Saintes because none should be forgotteÌ„ they are many in nuÌ„ber they keep an especial principal feast day with a deuout fast vpoÌ„ the eaue c. yet least some of the chief Santes as â—…hon the Baptist and the twelue Apostles might be displeased in that they are numbred passed ouer with other common Saintes they severally remember them againe in their tourne with their peculiar eaues daies fastes feâ—…stes worship Heere is yet also an other Saint whome I had like to haue ouâ—…rskipped the Captaine of theÌ„ al S t. GEORGE their Borrowgh the patrone of the laÌ„d a worthy warriour our Ladies knight I wene This Saint hath heere no smal intertainemeÌ„t with his soleÌ„ne processioÌ„ that by no smal states but eueÌ„ the greatest of the laÌ„d with his cornets trumpets harpe shackbutes psalteâ—…ies dulcimer al instrumentes of Musick c. This Saint besides his noble order of knighthood hath also his famous peculiar Chaplain Palatine of the order who is to weare a goldring on his thomb what a famâ—…us feast they keep vnto this Saint there is none in Court or Countrie caÌ„ be ignorant Because I â—…m no good Heralt I wil not vndertake to blazon his armes the red Crosse in white field that he beareth in banner displaied nor yet his woâ—…hy 〈◊〉 For all those â—… refer you to his Lâ—…gend Aâ—…d heere me thinkes before we goe any further we had need enquire â—…ome learned Doctors opinion of this geare leaâ—…t we that be silly and â—…ooke no further then the word of God giueth vs to see take yt for â—…ost grosse idolatrie abhominatioÌ„ because in al the booke of God 〈◊〉 the beginning to the ending we find no such presideÌ„t or coÌ„manâ—…emeÌ„t therfore if yt please you because DO ROBERT SOME hath â—…ndertakeÌ„ the matter we wil heare his learned iudgmeÌ„t of this stuffe This learned Doctor who hath this wit for the most part with him â—…o take no more of a matter then he is able to deale with frameth an â—…rgument in the name of an other thus The church of England maketh meÌ„â—…ioÌ„ of Saintes deceased viz. Apost Martyres c. in some of their pubâ—…ike praiers therfore the church of England doth worship Saintes â—…eceased His answere is they are mentioned to stir vs vp not to worâ—…hip theÌ„ but to tread in the steps of their vertue religion so conâ—…ludeth the ArgumeÌ„t very weake sylly But how if this Argument â—…roue his owne what opinion shal we then hold of his Doctorhood â—…ot to speak of his euil coÌ„scieÌ„ce who to coullor that the cannot iusâ—…ifie to passe by that he caÌ„not gainesay or disproue is not ashamed â—…sually throughout his writinges to father the forgeries of his owne â—…dle head vpoÌ„ others thinking by deprauing the poore professors of â—…he truth to suppresse yt or at the least to get credite and promotion â—…nto himself But I would know of his euil conscience wich shal ere â—…ong be araigned for all these thinges before him that is greater then â—…is coÌ„science whether he neuer heard other reasons froÌ„ some of theÌ„ â—…o proue this their celebratioÌ„ coÌ„memoration of Angels deceasâ—…d â—…aintes to be idolatrous blaspheamous abhominable euen to the â—…hief Authors of this stuffe that in the presence of some verie hoâ—…orable namely because they dedicate to these Angels dead Saints 〈◊〉 peculiar Eaue Day caling theÌ„ after their names therby impropriâ—…ting giuing that to the creature which is only due reserued in â—…he hand possessioÌ„ of the Creator 2 because vpon their Eaues they â—…nioyne bid in their church vpon their sunday a publike fast and 〈◊〉 in thâ—…se Angels and Saintes names 3 bâ—…cause vpon their day which they cal an holy day they proclaime a soleÌ„ne feast to be kept â—…ith general cessatioÌ„ froÌ„ their labours in their trades as vpoÌ„ y e Lords day by the 4 commandement 4 this by a publike law not to menâ—…ion al the fleshly and lewd behauiour idlenes pride vanitie excesse â—…pely seene suffered vpon these their feastiuals holy daies 5 beâ—…ause vpon these daies they haue a peculiar prescript deuised worship â—…o each seueral Saint that they thus celebrate not heere to mention â—…heir vnsufferable shredding dismembâ—…ing rending peruerting of â—…criptures to clowte vp this idolatrie These reasons if either those two â—…reat BBs to whome they were propounded or this Doctor which theÌ„â—…eard them had soundly confuted iustified this their maner of ceâ—…ebrating worshipping dead Saintes Angels in their church then â—…ad the Antichristian tyranny of the one the repâ—…ochful blasphemie 〈◊〉 the other some colour which now are odious vnto God man But now seing these Argumentes still remaine with them vnanswered and that they are so loth to meddle with them I would now only learne of this Doctor where he in al the scripture hath found this idolatrous custome of theirs to celebrate the memorial of any one deceased Saint that vpon one set day yearly in this maner we reade not that the Fathers before the flood vsed yt neither yet after y e flood bâ—…fore the law yet were they verie godly men of great vertue such as instructed their children in the true worship waies of God such as their children honoured reuerenced whilest they liued did all filial duties vnto them being dead decently buried them but neuer after kept any aÌ„nual or set day in their remembrance The like vnder the law we reade of Moses Samuel Dauid c. men verie famous renowmed for their vertue godlines greatly honored of all whiles they liued no such matter done to theÌ„ after they were dead yet were they presidentes by their vertue euen vnto all ages vnto the worldes end The Apostles also whome they so especialy aboue al other Saintes prefer celebrate being dead yea taken away as famous martyres neuer in this maner vpon one special set day celebrated their constaÌ„cie in the faith vertue as we may see by the Apostle Iames and the Martyre 〈◊〉 Likewise the Apostles Paul Peter being ready to suffer for the Gospel left no such commandemeÌ„tes vnto the churches that any such praiers festiuals should be kept to them or their remembrance being dead but rather stirred vp admonished the churches whiles they liued disired the churches prayers for theÌ„ whiles they liued So that we seing no ground for this stuffe in the word of God see not otherwise but to hold them for detestable idolatries forgeries abhominations for the reasons aboue recited And now because I haue beene somwhat longer euen in the bare recital of these trumperies then I thought I wil passe ouer the
him he ◅hal want none of this funeral furniture to help him to heauē He shal for his money want neither priest to pray for him to preach ouer him to praise him to tell the people that his soule is assuredly with God because in deed ere while vpon shrift he forgaue him al his sinnes in the name of the Father the sonne of the holy Ghost peradu◅ture housled him also with the Sacrament Al this with mourners enough both men womē boies shal he not want for his money in Church of England to be his beades men to say a paternoster for his soule desire God to haue mercie vpon yt for their liueries doles which is had at their death though in his life time the poore might goe naked or starue for anie help and releife they found of him He would not then giue least he might need himself ere he died yea at his death he shall want no ringers that vvill for money ring a soule-peale on all the hallowed belles for his soule drink a carrowse for yt also But this you must note neither rich nor poore neither young nor old can get burial vvithout money in the church of England no peny no paternoster there but please y e priest then he will burie his brother pray for and ouer him whatsoeuer he be so far as his booke wil goe There are all thinges vaenal venial for money The priest will for money pardon al his offences by the authoritie committed vnto him he will for money marrye and burie both which are become solemne actions of this Church especial partes of the worship of God as you may perceaue by their seueral Leitourgies solemnities apointed to the same YET REMAINETH also an especial part of the priestes trade againe namely the Purification or as they call yt the Churching of women who after they haue beene safely deliuered of childbirth haue lie◅ in beene shut vp their moneth of daies accomplet then are they to repaire to Church to kneele downe in some place ◅igh the Communiō Table not to speake how she cōmeth wympeled muffeled accompanied with her wiues dare not look vpon the sunne nor skie vntil the priest haue put her in possessiō againe of them vnto whome thus placed in the Church commeth Sr. Priest straight waies standeth by her readeth ouer her a certayne Psalme viz. 121. assureth her that the sunne shal not burne her by day nor the moone by night saieth his Pater◅oster with the prescribed versicles and response with his Collect. And thē she hauing offred her accustomed offringes vnto him for his labour God speed her wel she is a woman on foot againe as holy as euer she was she may now put off her vailing kerchife looke her husband neighbours in the face againe Is not this excellent stuffe to be brought into and practised in the Church What can be a more apish imitation or rather a more ful reuiuing of the Iewish purification then this both in respect of the occasion as Childbirth the time of her keeping in and seperation from the congregation namly a ful moneth the occasion maner of her comming abroade vailed accompanied with her womē neighbours repairing to the Church kneeling downe to the priest vntil he haue said his certaine ouer her then her oblation vnto the priest for the same Is not all this absolutely Iewish though in deed the priestes part sauor more of poperie Seing therfore they will not haue yt a Iewish purificatiō let yt be a mixt actiō of Iudaisme poperie This trumperie is so grosse as yt deserueth no refutation but a doung forke to c◅st yt out Yf they be ashamed of the action why doe they vse yt if she be not defiled by childbirth why doe they seperate her why doe they clense her why may she not returne vnto the Church hauing recouered strength before her moneth be expired why may she not come a◅ter ◅er accustomed maner and giue God thankes for all his benefites mercies together with others why is she inioined to come y e priest to receaue her in this prescript manner why are the women held in a superstitious opinion that this action is necessarie why is yt a statute ordinance of their Church an especial part of their worship which who so neglect either priest or people are for their such defaults punished by the Commissarie or Ordinarie To conclude why should such solemne yea publike thankes to take yt at the fairest they can make it be giuen openly in the Church more for the safe deliuerance of these women being though a singuler benefite of God y◅t a thing natural ordinarie and common more then for sundrie other strange and marueilous deliuerances from sicknes manie dangers of death and perilles both by sea and land shewed by the mighty hand of God towardes men and women daily if there lay not some high misterie and diepe point of diuinitie in the matter why should euerie priuate and ordinarie benefite be made a publike action and dutie of the Church or why should womē haue this prerogatiue if yt be but bare thancksgiuing as they whē they are called to account for this would beare vs in hand why should if that be so the women be more churched vpon that occasion then when they haue escaped some great danger of drowning burning sword enemies or when they are recouered of some extreme sicknes and disease yea why should this solemne publike peculiar thankes be more giuen for the escaping of euil then for the receauing many singuler great benefites at Gods hand which they are content be they as manie as he wil to swallow vp in obliuion and neuer to trouble him nor themselues with the matter Thus whiles they seeke to eschew the golph of Iudaisme and superstitiō they runne themselues vpō y◅ shelues of the Massaliā heresie THVS HAVING summarily runne ouer the publike worship of the Church of England prescribed in their seruice booke rather by way of discouerie then of discourse I wil now passing ouer their superstitious customes in their seueral churches some vpō this day some vpon that Eaue according as they stand affected and deuote to this peculiar Sainct or that Angel for some special wonders great miracles shewed in these seueral places as largly appeareth in their legēd addresse my self to speake a litle of these their holy Synagogues or places of assemblie commonly called their parish Church wherunto al this rabble of worshippers resort at their apointed seasons to heare this diuine booke together with their learned priestes sermons c. And in the first beginning I feare me we shal fal into such a cōtroversie as cannot easily be decided namely whether the Pagans or papistes where the first founders of them Some of thē vvhich for their fame deserued to be chronicled are recorded to haue beene deuote vnto the Godds of the heathens like