hands and turne in peeces with the teeth of the faithfull de Consecrat Dist 2. Ego Berengarius c. This service book craftilie includeth in it the same thing in the prayer at the coÌ„munion praying That God would so blesse the bread and wine that they may be the body bloud of Christ 36. Pope Innocent the 3. ordeined that the Sacrament of the altar should be keept and reserved in Churches continuallie under lock and key to be in readinesse at all times least the sick persones want spirituall confort in the time of death This book also hath a reservation of the Sacrament 37. Pope Vitalian is said to have brought the Organs into the Churches Platina Volateran This doth accompanie both the compleat and incompleat masse books Q 6. Are not the omitted Scriptures left out of the masse book and also not suffered to be read in the Church because they are obscure and hard for the people that understand them 〈◊〉 Ans 1. Then the Preachers should instruct them for it is the chief part of their callings to interpret the Scriptures as Philip did to the Eunuch Act. 9. and Christ to the two men going to Emmaus 2. By taking away or omitting any part of GODS word they professe the Spirit of GOD to be imprudent and rash in dyting such Scriptures as their Antichristian wisedome thinketh needlesse and have omitted Item they show their owne ignorance and presumption in taking the calling of the ministrie when they understand not these omitted Scriptures at the least in a generall sense and their own unfaithfulnesse if they can and will not interpret them 3. The people should read even obscure Scriptures and glorifie GOD 1. By confessing their ignorance 2. and that if they shall ever understand his word this knowledge commeth not of themselves but it is the gift of God 3. They shall also glorifie God by seeking the understanding of his word 4. By waiting upon God untill he reveale it which in his owne time Hee will do either in generals or particulars as is fittest for His glory and their well It is good service done unto God if they read these obscure Scriptures with such a disposition and God will be glorified all these wayes Christs sheep will hear his voice speak what he pleaseth John 10. John 5. They are bid Search the Scriptures This searching is also a service done unto GOD for it showeth a love of his word consequentlie a love of himself because he is found in his word Great searching showeth great love little or no searching little or no love But if no Scriptures were obscure there should be no â—â—ed of searching 5. The LORD alloweth his Apostles to heare many things of himself which they understood not untill after his resurrection neither understood they many things written by Moses and the Prophets untill after his resurrection see Luke 24 vers 25.27 and vers 6.44 45 46. Mark 9. vers 10. Act. 1. vers 16.20 and chap. 2. vers 25.30.34 Act. 3. vers 22 24 25. and sundry other places He willeth also that we should heare and read all his word albeit we understand not many things in it untill the resurection of his mysticall body at his second coming As GODS kirk in the Old Testament understood not many things in the Prophets before his first coming notwithstanding the Prophets were dayly read in the synagogues And when GODS people in due time shall understand these things clearly then they shall magnifie the LORD in that they see his Al-seing Majestie doeth nothing and speaketh nothing rashly and ignorantly but knoweth and foreseeth all things before the foundation of the world and this thing shall teach them humilitie in that neither learning nor long experience shall make them know the secret things of the LORD untill himself reveale them These things foresaid do also convince the Papists who forbid the people to read privatly the Scriptures they labour to perswade the people that the Pope can not erre that thereby all his doctrine and traditions may be received by all men and so they exalt the Pope above GOD whose holy word they spoile from the people importing no lesse then that GOD should bee in error and not the Pope Qu. 7. The book of Leviticus edifieth not containâ—â— but rites and ceremonies the Chapters of Genealogies containe names only the Canticles and sundrie prophesies are obscure should they then be read publictly Ans All should be read for all edifie 1. The book of Leviticus prophesieth of Christs suffrings and first coming in the flesh for as the audible word read and preached taught the same unto the ears of men so the ceremonies sacrifices and Sacraments as a visible word foretold the same unto their eyes When preachers now do read and interpret this book it edifieth us and serveth for the strengthning of our faith in that by this book we see that the doctrine of Christ is no new thing invented of men but GOD taught by his Prophets in the Old Testament Also it showeth that Christ is of great dignity and Majesty whose coming was foretold so many wayes and that his suffrings have great vertue and merite being prefigured by so many types 2. The chapters of Genealogies do also edifie showing what care GOD taketh of men and of their children and seeing that these are written for us it showeth that God taketh notise as well of all others whose names are not written in the Scriptures and that the names of his own are written in the book of life and that his care and providence reacheth unto every person in the world And also the chief scope of many Genealogies was to point forth Christs Genealogie that men might know Hee was 〈◊〉 a false Christ nor a false prophet coming into 〈◊〉 kirk without warrand of God but that God â—â—d chosen him only to be the Saviour of the world 3. The Canticles are most fit to be read for no scriptures do more edifie because none are fitter to set forth that most comfortable doctrine of the mutuall love between Christ and his Kirk Therefore the Holy Ghost calleth the song of Salomon the most excellent song 4. There are 19. chapters of the Revelation left out and not read neither in the Sabboth nor week dayes viz. from the 2. to the 18. and the 20.21 chapters because they are most dangerous for the false kirk discovering the antichrist and his persecution of true kirk and the fall of antichrist Some do alleadge that satan liketh not to hear tell of his first falling and ruine from God so the Kingdome of Babylon liketh not to hear tell of their last falling and ruine and they hide from the people the light of Gods word least it discover their filthinesse which if it were discovered men would abhor them and destroy their Kingdome The other Scriptures which they never read all the book of the Canticles Genesis chap. 10. Exod. chap. 2. 4 6 7 8. the 25. to 31.
chap. and 26 27 28 29. chap. Leviticus chap. 1. to 8. and 10.11.13.14.15.17.22.26 chap. Nombers chap. 1.2.3.4.18.19.26.33.34 chap. Deuteron chap. 14. Josua 11.12.14.15.16.17.18.19.21 2. Chronicl chap. inclusive 1. to 9. and 11.12.23.24.25.26.27.2 Chron. 3.4 Ezra 7. Nohem 3.7.11.12 Ezechiel 10. and 26. to 33. inclusive and 38. to 48. inclusive Amos 1. Nahum 3. in these the whole chapters are omitted 5. Prophesies and obscure Scriptures should bâ— read as reverently and attentively as the Apostles did heare obscure doctrine and parables out of Christs own mouth and they learned humilitie in that they would not bee wiser then Christ to make a glosse of their own upon his words but did patiently awaite untill that the Lord himself revealed the matter Gods Spirit by obscure Scriptures can also help our faith as Christ made the blinde to see with clay and spittle which otherwise maketh blinde This work of the Spirit is known when the Faithfull say in their hearts I know whatsoever you obscure words do meane it shall be foâ— my well The traditions of men whether they be obscure or plain have no such authoritie nor warrand nor power of Gods Spirit therefore they have neither title nor right in this ministration 6. If Gods Word be true which saith All Scripturs is given by divine inspiration and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of GOD may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Then all Scriptures should bee read to make the man of GOD perfect But humaine traditions doctrine of errors and wil-worship do make the man of sin even antichrist perfect and furnished for all evill works their most charitable and pious works whereof they glory much are but evill and full of Divine-laesmajestie because they derogate from the merits of Christ in attributing merits unto creatures who before GOD have no merit of themselves so their most charitable works are most uncharitable Qu. 8. But these omitted scriptures do lesse edifie then other scripturs Ans 1. How much or little they edifie it is only known to God who by the weakest meanes effecteth the greatest works Therefore thou should only have said they seeme to edifie little 2. I suppone that they alwayes edifie lesse then other Scriptures yet the omitting of them maketh them not to edifie more but rather nothing at all which is worse We should do all things for edification 3. Their little measure of edification should not be despised but rather receaved with thanksgiving as we receive other benefites will a man pull out his infirm eye because it is more tender then the other eye Will he cut of his little finger because the other fingers are stronger Will a covetous Prelat refuse his small teynds because they are lesse gainfull then the other teynds Casteth he all away his coyne that is not gold Therefore as God abolisheth not the smallest stars in the firmament because they give not so great light as the Sun or Moone or greater stars so we should not reject the smallest lights of Gods truth albeit their shyning be not so bright as the glansing of other principles of Divinity The obscurest scriptures have some light in them and some cleer doctrine mixed with them for which cause also they should be read Qu. 9. Is not the reading of the masse book Divine service because of the passages of Divine Scriptures in it Ans There are as good passages of Scriptures in the Turks Alcoran in the Iewish Talmud and in witches charmes In these books and charmes the holy Scriptures are written to cloak and cover the deformitie and filthinesse of idolatrous superstitious and â—â—mane traditions as good wine may hid deadly poison in the same cup. Qu. 10. You do choose on t particular Scriptures to be read as fittest for the purpose in time of plagues or extraordinary blissings and you confesse that to be Divine service so in this book wee have fitted the Scriptures for diverse occasions Therefore it is Divine service to read it Ans You have fixed the Scriptures unto set times but you have not fitted them for diverse occasions you are not Prophets you foreknow not the occasions we choose no Scriptures to be read at extraordinary times untill that God make the occasions sensible to our eyes and then his word inviteth us to choose such Scriptures saying Call upon me in the day of thy trouble and I will heare thee and thou shall glorifie me Psal 50. All our reading and preaching of such Scriptures are for expressing our desires in trouble and then God when he heareth us he blesseth us and then wee thank and glorifie Him extraordinarly in his worship but not in fixed dayes of the year Thou knowest not but thy fixed dayes of fasting and prayer for averting Gods judgements or delivering thee from plagues may be the very dayes of Gods greatest bountie in giving unto thee many spirituall and bodily blessings and then if thou keep thy humiliation foresaid thou art a mocker of God and lyest against him in pretending a plague when he blesseth thee and â—hus thou art unthankfull in not praising God solemnâ—y for these blessings The like mocking and lying against God are effected in thy fixed dayes of thanksgiving for his spirituall and bodily blessings when 〈◊〉 his anger God multiplieth his plagues Thus the antichristian Clergie are false prophets seeming to foretell by these fixed dayes of fasting and thanksgiving that God hath fixed His blessings and plagues unto the same dayes which God never intended 2. To read and hear divine service out of the canon of Scriptures which Gods Spirit hath authorized and sealed to be the rule of our faith and holy life and to be the register of Gods revealed will towards his kirk To read them I say out of this canon it is not divine service more then to read a witches charme which is full of Scriptures also But it is devilish service to obtrud the reading of them for divine service when they are incorporat into one treatise with humaine and devilish doctrine to beautifie and procure credit to the doctrine of devils The Scriptures are out of the authorized canon not when they are lying in louse sheets of paper or bound in severall books by themselves or when they are bound only with other books nor yet when they are made use of in sound doctrine of Divinitie for all these times they losse not their spirituall union and cohesion with the true canon But when they are incorporate into one treatise with humaine and profane doctrine with which they can have no spirituall union nor agreement of Divine veritie whereby they losse their dignitie more then if they were burnt in the fire for the burning of them procureth no credit to errors and lies as when they are incorporate into one treatise with errors and lies 3. The morall sentences of Philosophers containe many things which aâ—e in Gods word shall
Against the apple o◠〈…〉 of antichrist or the masse 〈…〉 lurking darknesse making way for the apple of the right eye of antichrist the compleat masse book of palpable darknesse This apple of the left eye commonly called the liturgie or service book is in great use both among the halting papists and compleat papists and the things written heere are also against the compleat masse book IOHN X. veâ—â—â— All that ever came before mee ar◠〈◊〉 and robbeâ—â— but the sheep did not heare them vers 9. I am the doore by 〈…〉 man 〈◊〉 in bee shall be saved and shall go in and 〈◊〉 and find◠〈◊〉 vers 10. The thief cometh not but fâ—◠〈◊〉 steale and to kill and to destroy I am come that 〈◊〉 â—ight have life and that they might have it more 〈…〉 Printed Annâ— 16â—â— The Contents of this Book IF superstitious rites be comely in Gods Kirk Quest 1. How many wayes doth this masse book restraine the libertie of Gods Spirit Of crossing confirmation how Gods worship bindereth other parts of Gods worship Qu. 2 By what clouds of darknesse is the light of the gospell obscured in the kingdome of antichrist Of governing the kirk by prelats the oath of intrains Quest 3. The evidencies of idolatrie in this book how all wil-worship is idolatrie The sorts of Idolatrie Qu. 4. What popes first ordeined the superstitions of this book Of feasts or holie dayes and fasting dayes Of reading Scriptures out of their owne canon their incorporation with witches charmes with the Alcoran c. Privat Sacraments the surplice crossing c. Q. 5. Should Scriptures bee left out for obscuritie Qu. 6. Wherefore omitted in reading Qu. 7. If they edifie lesse and yet should bee read Qu. 8. If the reading of this book be Divine service because of the Scriptures contained in it Qu. 9. 10. Of fixing the Scriptures vnto set dayes Set dayes of fasting and thanksgiving Qu. 10. Of set formes of prayer and conceived Q. 11 Conceived prayers are also set formes c. Qu. 12. We may use some set formes Q. 1â— The Scriptures are a set forme the Lords prayer the 10. Commands and Articles of belief Qu 14. Of catecheticall Doctrine Qu. 15. Of libertie in indifferent things Qu. 16. when lawfull ceremonies become vnlawfull Qu. 17. The patriarkâ— were taught without Scriptures Ergo wee may want some Scriptures Qu. 18. Are not traditions best when reading and preaching the Scriptures profite nothing Qu. 19. The pride and covetousnesse of the Clergie at Divine service Qu. 20. Pride at the communion Qu. 21. If this book may be used when it is corrected Qu. 21. The vse of a table taken away Q. 23. 24. Of giving the elements out of the Ministerâ— hands If Christ did so to all c. The meaning of the words I will not drink of the fruit of the vine The signification of the elements Qu. 25. The minister goeth about to distribute Qu 26. Of kneeling to the Sacrament for humilitie It is as lawfull to honour Christ by giving the inward as the outward worship to the elements Qu. 27. Of adoring the Sacrament because it is 〈◊〉 holy ordinance Qu. 28. We bow towards a king Ergo. Qu. 29. We should vse the Sacraments reverently Ergo c. Qu. 30. It is an excitative mids Ergo c. Qu. 31. If the sacrament bee worshiped when wee adore before it Qu. 32. Of vncovering the head c. Qu. 33. Of sitting Jackfellow like with Christ Q. 34. The midses and objects of indifferencie Oâ— necessitie Of a determinat religious adoration which is the mids of neceâ—â—â—tie that iâ— neerest unto God who is adored Salomon worshipped before the altar By what sorts of union was GOD united to the things wherein he appeared Qu. 35. If more learned men should bee obeyed Qu. 36. We can not cast away all rites c. Qu. 37. Nor worship God if we eschew all that idolaters doe Qu. 38. Why doe you who kneel not deâ—â—â— from our communions Qu. 39. Whether I preach or not mere is danger Qu. 40. Better to yeeld to some abuses then 〈◊〉 theefe or wolf should enter into my place Qu. 41. The profitable meanes to keepe men from apostasie Qu. 4â— QUESTION ALL the rites and ceremonies prescribed in this masse book are they not used in Gods kirk for comlinesse and decency Answere Thus you do calumniat Christ our Lord and his apostles as if they had worshipped God undecently because they used not these rites 2. Is it decent that a Queene shall be clad with the garments of a whore you do cloath Gods kirk with the garments of the whore of Babylon by idolatrous and superstitious rites 3. Is it decency in Gods kirk that either rulers or usurping prelats by their lawes shall burden mens consciences persecute them if they obey not such laws 4. If a servant binde his masters hands and feet that he may not stir nor walk nor move himselfe If the servant I say being accused for the same shall answer I did it for decency think you this a decent answere But the authors obtruders of this book do binde Gods spirit so far as lyeth in them by restraining the free passage of the gifts of Gods Spirit in their lawfull and right use among Gods people Quest How many wayes do the popish prelates by this book restraine the libertie of Gods spirit so far as their power may reach Ans They lay bands on Gods spirit by hindering the register of Gods truth viz. the Canonicall Scriptures to be read in publick divine service placing in stead thereof rent and clipped pieces of Scriptures with humaine traditions 2. They destroy the holy order wherein God◠〈◊〉 placed the Scriptures as if the most High had 〈…〉 them like a God of confusion They have turned this order into Babylonish confusion and Gods Spirit is restrained from the use of his own holy order among his people 3. By obtruding this book they hinder oftimes preaching and interpretation of scriptures which are the gifts of Gods Spirit 4. They hinder the indifferent use of time in reading his word by fixing the reading of the scriptures unto set dayes of the year 5. They hinder and restraine Gods spirit in not making known the whole extent of his word for there are a hundreth and twentie chapters of the scriptures unto the publick reading whereof they appoint no time of the yeer 6. They binde and restraine the gifts of Gods spirit in his Ministers at publick prayer so that whatsoever holy meditations God shall put in their hearts they may not expresse them if they be not in the forme of the words of this book This is a forbidding of Gods Spirit to give any meditations to his servants otherwise then this book prescribeth 7. They force the people to kneel when the priest rehearseth the law and giveth the sacramentall elements so that God is hindred of that honour that if himself were rehearseing the law he shall not
pleased with such voluntary service no more is God pleased with the wil-worship of men 4. We are not bound in our prayers to say the Lords Prayer at all times in the precise words of the Text for Matthew chap. 6. at the fift petition saith forgive us our debts Luke chap. 11. hath other words viz. forgive us our sins The LORD and his Apostles oftimes thereafter prayed in the New Testament not using the words of this form of prayer Wee may either say this prayer as a perfect rule of prayer or we may conceave our own prayers after this manner as Matthew saith that is we should seek both heavenly and earthly things only so far as is needfull for setting forth Gods glory and for our own well salvation and seing in scripture none are bound to use the precise forme of the Lords words far lesse are we bound to be thralled with humane formes As for the set formes that we use for the weak memories of the infirmer sort we have libertie to change them also and we should change them if we think it needfull for the weak ones The Lords Prayer and the x. Commands are short compends the one of prayer the other of the contents of Gods Law both were ordeined chiefly for weak memories as the primitive kirk ordeined the articles of the Apostles Creed that weak memories might have perqueer a short summe of the historie of our salvation which is also a plaine kinde of preaching unto the ignorant explicating the chief passages of Scripture that concerne our faith Neither is it needfull at all times to rehearse and confesse the precise words thereof for in Act. 8. the Eunuch said only I beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God And in John 20. Thomas said My Lord and my God Qu. 15. Is not the masse book as lawfull as catecheticall doctrine Ans 1. Catecheticall doctrine is for a memorandum to Preachers in catechising the people and for people to answere it hindereth not Preachers to propound and the people to answere other questions as GODS Spirit shall assist them 2. It is a preaching of the word by questions Preaching is commanded Matthew 28. vers 19 20. Luke 24.4 Act. 1.8 GODS word and the orthodox preaching thereof are both of Divine authoritie because God commanded both to be in his kirk but they are not of equall dignitie As by the same authoritie a man commandeth his treasure and the ark that containeth it to be keept in a strong house but the treasure is of greater dignitie So GODS word is of greater dignitie then the preaching of it The word is the light of a heavenly candle the Preacher is the candlestick preaching is a holding out of that light that men may see spiritually the masse book is a bushell under which the light of Gods word is hide and obscured Matthew 5. vers 6 7. Qu. 16. Did not God give liberty unto his Kirk to 〈◊〉 indifferent things as they please Ans Not as that thereby men shall obscure his glory pollute his worship corrupt his word or hurt the consciences of his people nor to persecute the professors of his truth nor to hinder his word to have free passage in reading printing preaching practising and professing it If indifferent things be thus abused they are no more indifferent but deadly unto Christian religion all these evils are effected by the masse book Civile magistrats have neither power nor authoritie to make indifferent things hurtfull unto Christian religion If any say that the royall authoritie is disobeyed when men obey not such hurtfull lawes I answer It is not disobeyed for there is not such a royall authority that may hurt Christian religion neither may the lawes of men be essentiall points of Christian religion GOD alone decreeth such lawes to be keept GOD giveth no power nor authoritie unto men but to defend Divine lawes and to make humane lawes conforme and subordinate unto the lawes of God and by the sword of justice to defend such lawes Hee will not give authoritie to men to command or do any thing against the law of God no more then a Prince will give power to a subject to spit upon his face If Magistrats ignorantly or by misinformation make lawes hurtfull to true religion if they repent amend God will forgive them albeit he approve not their sin Qu. 17. When then do lawfull rites and ceremonies become unlawfull Ans When opinion of necessitie or holinesse is known to be annexed to them either by such as impose them or by the people on whom they are imposed They then become unlawfull because they confirme and harden the people in their superstition Therefore Hezekiah rejected the brasan serpent which wont to be a divine ordinance much more should rites which never were ordeined of GOD be rejected in this case If thou say when Magistrats command indifferent things then they become necessare Ergo they should be obeyed I answer If they be hurtfull to true religion they are neither necessare not needfull to be obeyed but altogether to be rejected because they are contrary both to the commandment worship of GOD the supreme Magistrate 2. When the use of them is urged more or as much as the ordinances of GOD It is time to put the slave out of the house when he is obeyed as much or more then the Master of the house Absalon should not now live when he is more obeyed and respected then David the King 3. When the omission of them causeth men who otherwise agree with GODS kirk in matters of faith and manners to be esteemed shismaticks and sectaries and so are contemned as men of a contrary religion 4. When the omission of them is accounted and punished as a sin even out of the case of scandal 5. when they are hurtfull to true religion and to the professors thereof as was said in the preceeding question Qu. 18. Did not God without Scriptures teach the Patriarks as Adam and Abraham Sometimes with few Scriptures as in the dayes of the Judges May not God do the like now albeit we diminish the Scriptures Ans Who made thee wiser then GOD to diminâ—â—â—â—â— the Scriptures which he hath registrat for the good of his kirk He may give lawes unto thee thou may not do so unto him he may abrogat thy lawes thou may not altar nor diminish his lawes neither restraine nor hinder the free passage of them 2. May as little food and rayment susteene men of a perfect age as susteeneth infants GODS kirk in the Old Testament was in the infancie when they had no written word yet in substance they had the same word of life which we have they had it by the traditions of their fathers which they heard of GOD personallie appearing and revealing his will unto them Sometimes he sent his Angels and prophets working miracles for their edification Afterwards the manner of revealing his wiâ—â— was written and enlarged now wee want these
apparitions and visions we have need therefore of greater abundance of the evidency of his revealed will in the Old and New Testament Qu. 19. But now neither the reading nor the preaching of the Scriptures profiteth the people They loath the word as an unsavory thing They live without zeale without faith repentance Therefore they will make better use of humaine traditions Ans Thou should have said also that GODS word doth no good unto the preachers else they would not have beene so presumptuous as to have thralled GODS kirk with humaine traditions and carnall instructions 2. I confesse that wesps will make more use of poison then of hony The children of darknesse love rather the night then the day yea GODS people when 〈◊〉 spirituall graces decayed liked better of the flesh 〈◊〉 of Egypt then of the heavenlie Manna 3. Humaine traditions may work in men blinde zeale a temporarie faith a Pharisaicall repentance but no saving grace for God will rather blesse his own ordinances then humaine traditions If he do not so he will give no blessing of saving grace at all If GOD forsake Saul the Prophet Samuel can do him no good albeit he honour him before the people much lesse shall witches and devils help him in his distresse The waters of Damascus shall not cure Naaman of his leprosie if the waters of Jordan GODS ordinance do it not If God make not effectuall the ordinary meanes of his word it is time to fast and pray that GOD may turne back his spirituall iudgements least He plague us with finall desertion Qu. 20. Do not the prayers in this book witnesse that there is great humilitie in the Clergy and prelates Ans 1. The ambitious obtruders thereof upon GODS kirk for establishing their bastard orders have declared their greatest pride in the exercise of prayer wherein should be seene greatest humilitie for first because they dare not do otherwise in the Letany used on Sundayes Wedinsdayes and Fridayes they have a forme of prayer for the King the Queene and their children next for the prelats Bishops and elders of the clergy Thirdly for the Nobility then for the rulers and Magistrats lastly for the people So they must come before God as they ride in Parliament usurping place before the Nobility and magistrats They stand 〈◊〉 for off like the Publicane They who humble not themselves like little children shall not enter into the kingdom◠〈◊〉 heaven Also in the same Litany there are 3. particâ—â—â—â— prayers one for the King an other for the Queene their children the third for the Bishops and clergy but no prayer for the Nobility Magistrats and people 2. Neither can they hide their covetousnesse in their religious service wherein they should be most charitable for this book commandeth the halfe of the almes which the communicants give to the poore shall be given to the presbyter that celebrateth the coÌ„munion That which is given to the poore is given to God for they are the members of Christ If the clergy rob the sacred almes from Christs members they will not have it called sacriledge but if a superstitious portion be taking from them when they have more then sufficient that is called sacriledge when as the antichristian clergy and all that teach errors and idolatrie live only upon sacriledge for God as he alloweth neither false nor idolatrous doctrine so neither alloweth he meanes for sustaining false teachers though he permit the same This book appointeth them also to have an accustomed duety at mariages what will they do at baptisme at the kirking of women and at the making of testaments when they are so shamelesse at the Lords supper and at marriages Ambition covetousnesse idlenesse cause them praise this book highly in their pulpits Qu. 21. If wee correct this book and take away the faults of it may it not then be read for Divine service in Gods kirk Ans 1. That is Repugnantia in adjecto a speech contradictory to it self for if you take all the blemishes away this book can have no being for it is 〈◊〉 it blemish because it usurpeth the place of Gods word and it layeth bands on Gods Spirit in that if God would give as excellent gifts unto his servants as ever he did unto my Prophets or Apostles they may not exercise these gifts being hindered by the formes of this book and albeit the Scriptures contained in this book are in themselves good yet as they are placed in this book they are but a blemish as a gold chaine is an ornament about the neck a of queen but it is a blemish about the neck of a sow for how much so ever these Scriptures do procure credit and respect to this book and to the superstitions thereof so much they procure discredit and contempt to the rest of the Scriptures as when Dinah was defiled with Sechem it was a shame to the whole family of Jacob and if the son of a Prince become a theefe he shameth all his kinred If any wold glew the nose and lugs of a man to the face of an ox or the nose lugs of an ox to the face of a man both these wayes it is a disgrace unto man So the glorious banner of Gods word is disgraced whither it be incorporat and sewed together with the dishclouâ—s of humaine traditions and errors or whether they be incorporat with Gods sacred word 2. They make choose of some Scriptures to be insert in this book as if the rest of the Scriptures were but babling and not beseeming the wisdome of God and as if God unadvisedly had sent them unto his kirk 3. If nothing were in his book but these few Scriptures the clouting and clamping of them together is a despising of the order wherein God Spirit placed them as if he were not a God of order And it is a restraining of Gods Spirit by the continuall reading of them to hinder the free passage of the reâ—â— as an herald receiving many ordinances from his king by the oft repitition of one or two of them he leaveth no time to promulgat the rest In the Kalendar they ordeine the Psalmes to be read twelve times in the year They appoint not the rest of the Scriptures to be read six times in the year and 122. chapters of the scripture are never appointed to be read 4. They miscall some Scriptures is a historie in Act. 10. vers 34. which is read on Munday in Easter week and Act 7.55 c. read on S. Stevens day Joel 4.12 c. read on the first day of Lenâ— Revel 7.2 on all Saints day these and such other places are niknamed Epistles Qu. 22. In what order do they minister the communion Ans Their pride is seene also in this for all bishops presbyters and deacons must alwayes first receive the coÌ„munion before others they say it is done that the clergie may help to distribute the elements but they do it when there is no need of help