antichristian Hierarchie and more then bâ—…barous tyrannie neere at hand 49. When the great redd Dragon and his Angeâ—…ls were cast out of heauen Gods Church the heauens and those that dwelt therein by Gods commandments did reioyce Rev. 12. 12. So when those Lordly Prelates and their forenamed Angels shall bee caâ—… quite out of the Church of God Shee and all her faithfull members will exceedingly rejoyce they being now her greatest griefe and grievance of which shee is so weary and sicke at heart that shee groanes to bee delivered from unbâ—…thened of them being now intollerable for her to sustayne Such is their present divellish insolency pride and open tyrannie especially of that Arch-wolfe and madde red Dragon of Canterbury who now makes open havocke of Gods Church and Ministers like another furious power against all Lawes of God the Realme to the amazement of the people 50. Hell and everlasting torments are prepated for the divell and his Angels reserved now in chaines of darknesse â—…nto the Iudgment of the great day when they shall be all cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever Math. 25. 41. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Iude 6. Revel 20. 20. So are they prepared likewise for all proud Lordly persecuting unpreaching oppressing tyrannizing Prelates who suppresse the preaching and progresse of the Gospell with the Preachers Ministers and Professors of it and hate them to the death And if there be any place or torments in Hell hotter deeper greater or moâ—…e insupportable â—…orrid and loathsome then other certainly that shall bee reserved for these ungodly Lord Bishops and false Prophets who shall have the same condemnation and torments inâ—…icted on them as the divell himselfe shall vndergoe 1. Tim. 3. 6 7. Rev. 20. 10. O that our proud persecuting Lording Prelates would now at last consider this o that they would repent and amend in time before they fall downe headlong quick into Hell Some of them as their late actions manifest to all the world being growne as insolent as impudent as desperate professed publique enemies to purity piety holynes the syncere preaching and Preachers of Gods word and power of Religion as the very divell himselfe and some of them I â—…eare worse then any divells For first all the divells beleeve Gods threats word Iudgments and tremble at them Iames. 2. 19. but they as their atheisticall vnjust vnconscionable tyranicall lives and actions proclayme to all men doe neither beleeue nor tremble at them 2. The divell confessed Paule his fellow preachers to be the servants of the most high God which shew unto us the way of saluation Acts. 16. 16 17 18. Lordly Prelates will not confesse our godliest faithfullest Preaching Ministers to be such witnesse there expung of the Collect in the last fast-booke begining thus It had beene good for us c. Only because it magnifieth often preaching and call such preachers Gods servants 3. The divell is exceeding diligent night and day but Lordly Prelates very lasie negligent in following of their spirituall Plough as B. Latimer shewes at large in his Sermon of the Plough so in those three respects are worse then hee When as they are parallels and checkmates with him in all and every of these 50. Particulars From all which I shall frame this Argument discovering the office and calling of Lordly Bishops and Prelates not to be from God nor of divine institution but from the Divell and his invention which I challenge all great Lord Bishops to answer if they can Those who are altogether like the very Divell tread in his footsteps doe his workes and bring forth his propper fruits in all the forecited particulars and that principally by reason of their function those questionlesse are none of Gods institution but of their Fathers the Divell of and from whom they are Christ himselfe so expressely resolving Iohn 8. 44. 1 Iohn 3. 8. Math 7. 16. 20. Such have Lordly domineering Pontificiall Bishops and Prelates in all ages beene and that principally by reason of their Lordly functions as the premises all Stories and experience manifest Therefore they and their Lordly function are none of Gods institution but of their father the divells of and from whom they are Yet mistake me not I pray as if I concluded every Bishop to bee like the divell in all these particulars or to bee damned Such uncharitablenesse and impiety bee farre from me and all good Christians I know some Bishops have beene godly men and Gods deere Saints I doubt not but there are some few such now though their cowardise and silence in Gods cause in which they now dare not publikely appeare bee inexcusable 1. But yet this I say withall First that they were such before they were made Lord Bishops 2. That their Bishoprickes never made any of them better or more laborious or couragious sor the truth then before but many of them far worse fearefuller and lasier 3. That since Bishopricks were endowed with Lordly riches Iurisdiction power and pompe I never read of any one man that was ill before who grew a good and godly Christian by being made such a Bishop a thing remarkable nor of any good man before that ever grew better more painefull holâ—… zealous heavenly minded and laborious but most of them al much â—…orse more idle worldly covetous proud luxurious malicious oppressive petulant selfe-willed and unjust 4. That most Lordly Prelates especially those who have beene most pontificiall powerfull Lordly domineering active and stirring in the Church and state have in all ages since they were made Lords Peeres and Bâ—…rons beene like the divell in all or most of the forecited particulars and if any proved good or became not such it was only from the overruling sanctifying grace of Gods spirit in their hearts before and after they were made Lord Prelates not from this very Lordly office pompe power and function it selfe which otherwise would have made them such as it hath made most other Popes and Prelates as all stoâ—…ies evidence 5. Finally I affirme that if to bee a Lord Bishop bee such a thing onely as many now define and make it Namely to manage temporall offices and state-affaires to give over preaching except one Leuten Court-Sermon in a yeare or two not in their proper Dioc sse to their people to follow and hunt the Kings Court to get and dispose oâ—… Ecclesiasticall and so 〈◊〉 civil osfices and preferments to suppresse Lectures Lecturers and often preaching of Gods Word Suspend excommunicate persecute imprison deprive godly Ministers and Professors for toyes and trifles yea for their zeale and piety against all Lawes of God and man to consecrate Chappels Churches set up Crucifixes Altars Tapers Crosses Organs Images â—…oyle in Communion-tables Altaâ—…wise set up Superstition Popery and Idolatry License Popish and Armenian Bookes Corrupt and purge the Common-Prayer-Booke the Gunpowder treason Booke the Fast Booke yea the Articles of Religion ad normam Romanae fidei
these and all good motions else But likewise by their ill examples make divers other preaching Ministers dumbe and mute and by their illegall suspensions inhibitions Iniunctions or Excommunications close up the mouthes and muzzle up the tonguâ—…s of sundry other the most powerfull frequent constant preachers whom their examples cannot silence as late woefull experience every where manifests Especially in Norwich Diocesse By meanes whereof as also by suppressing most weeke-day Lectures with all afternone Sermons on the Lords Day in most Countries and prohibiting people that have no preaching at home to goe out of their Parishes to heare Gods word abroade they make thousands every where so deafe that they cannot heare the sweete vovce of the Gospell preached though they desire it Such dumbe yea deafe Devills are many Lord Prelates now become whom Christ himselfe no â—…oubt that by miracle will shortly cast out that so our dumbe silenced Ministers may once more speake and our dâ—…afe people heare his sâ—…cred word to the vnspeacable comfort and salvation of their soules Fourthly The devill is an evill spirit who doth nothing else but vex torment teare torture and disquiet men of purpose to destroy them Math. 15. 22. Mark 9. 18 20 22. Lucâ—…e 6. 18. And have not domineering Lord Prelates beene like the Divell in this respect in all ages heretofore as the Acts and Monuments of our Martyrs collected by Master Fox sufficiently demonstrate Yea What else doe many of them at this day but like so many tormenting Divells vex torment teare torture pill pole Pursevant tosse up and downe from Court to Court prison to prison and disquiet all kindes of people Especially godly Ministers and Christians whom they brand with the name of Puritans with their daily Citations Excommunications Suspensions Pursevants Apparitors Chancellors Officials Visitors Archdeacons Visitation-Oathes Articles Injunctions new minted Ceremonies Innovations Slauders false accusations fines Sequestrations Censures Exactions Procurations Extorted â—…es c. Of purpose to fleece Flay and destroy them So like are they in this particular also to their Father the diuell Fifthly The divell casteth same of Gods Saints and Ministers ofttimes into Prison Rev. 2. 10. Yea into the fire sometimes and sometimes into the water to destroy them Mark 9. 22. The Lordly Prelates have done the like in all ages Witnesse the French and English Acts and Monuments of Martirs Which record how many of Gods Saints and Ministers they have imprisoned cast into the fire water burned drowned This they still proceede to doe in forraigne partes And though they neither burne nor downe them as yet here at home not so much for want of will as Law to doe it Yet like so many Furies they now daily silence excommunicate deprive pursivant imprison fine bannish and ruine them as much as in any age whatsoever And if they cannot burne them at a Stake they will sure to crop of their â—…res shed their bloud on some Pillary and then mue them up in a Prison all their dayes A lingring laâ—…ing tyranny farre worse then present Marâ—…irdome Yea in this particular instance they farre outstrip the very Divell himselfe in two things For where as heâ—… cast but some only of Gods Saints and Ministers into prison and that but for ten dayes Revel 2. 10. They commonly cast not some but many of them into prison and that not onely for ten dayes weekes nay months and yeares and ofttimes during life And whereas Paul though imprisoned under that most bâ—…oody Divell and Tirant Nero in Pagan Rome had so much liberty as to dwell two yeares space together in his owne hired house and 〈◊〉 receive all that came in unto him Preaching the Kingdome of God and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Iesus Christ with all confidence NO MAN FORBIDDING them Act. 28. 30. 31. Neither the Divell nor Nero shutting him up close prisonner Yet these Lord Prelates to shew themselves more cruelly barbarous and Tyrannicall then either the Divell or Nero have anciently and yet daily doe shut up divers of Gods Ministers and people close prisonners restraining all free accesse of friends or company to them and are so far from permitting or not prohibiting them to preach in prison that they inhibit and forbid them to preach even when they are at large such is their fatherly piety pittie love and charity their very tender mercies just like the divils being nought else but cruelties Pro. 12. 10. Sixthly The divell iâ—… an exceeding feirce and furious spirit who desires to have nothing to doe with Christ whose sacred presence torments him before his time Math. 8. 28. 29. And when he leaveth his howse for a time and then returnes and findeth it swept and garnished he taketh with him 7. other spirits more wicket then himselfe and they enter in and dwell there and so the last estate of that man in whomâ—… they reside is worse â—…hen the first Math. 12. 23. 24. 25. Luke 11. 24 25. So most Lord Prelates are exceeding fiery fierce and furious spirits who will not be crossed or affronted in any thinge be it never so impious or vnjust Noe Kinges Lords Nobles being so violent vnreasonable outragious malepart feirce chollericke peremptorie or furious in their designes or pursuite of their ends as they moreover they desire to have little or nothing to doe with Iesus Christ or his sacred Ordinances which the sincere and diligent reading preaching discoursing and meditation of his word the due administration of his Sacrements the strict sanctification of his sacred Sabbaths which they count 〈◊〉 heavy Iewish yoake of bondage c. the â—…tation of his 〈◊〉 imprisoned or disconsolate afflictâ—…d mebers c. a thing from which they are so farre themselves that they make it a piacâ—…lum in others to visit godly prisoners These petty â—…riviall things and Christian duties are belowe their Pompe State it beseemes not their Lordships honour to stoope so lowe as our Saviours f Plough-tayle or to enter into a poore cottage or Prison to visite a poore meâ—…ne Christian. These things they put off to the meanest Curates as overmeane for their Lips who scorne to busâ—… themselves with lesser matrers then managing the greatest State Offices and affaires wayting at kings owne elbowes following the heeles of rheit Courts to gett more preferments Lording it over their whole Diocesse yea over whole Kingdomes at their pleasures and that over Lords and knights if not Kings themselves aswell as Ministers and the meanest Curateâ—… sitting as Iudges not only in their Consistories visitations and High commission Courts but at Assizes Sessions Yea in Star chamber and Exchequer-chamber to Mâ—…king of new Canons Iniunctions Oathes Articles and Printinâ—… enforcing them on the subjects with all violence in their oâ—…e names alone like absolute Monarkes Popes and Parliaments These and such like are the things that Lord Prelates busy themsâ—…lves with all and in advancing their Iurisdictions Revenues Wealth Pompe State But
Crucifixes Tapers with other Altar-trinkets even before our most gracious King himselfe and Bray like a wild Asse or rayle and scolde like Oyster women against those who preach for Lords Tables which they beginne now againe to terme Oysterboardes as that turne coate Dr. White with other Papists did in â—…u Maries dayes when they did set up Popery afresh or oppose their Popish Idoll-Altars and the turning of our Tables Altar-wise And not contented to set up Altars and Crucifixes against our Statutes Articles Homilies Canons Injunctions established Doctrine of our Church to which they have subscribed Yea against the very Booke of common prayer itselfe which prescribes only a Table not any Altar they crease not to preach continually at Court Paules-Crosse in both our Vniversities and else where that men 〈◊〉 and ought to bow downe and worship the golden Images the stately guilded Altars Cru cifixes Images which their greate Nabucadonozer the Lord Prelates have set up in their owne Chappell 's Cathedralls and other Churches as if one Stone Stock Image or dumbe Idoll might not fall downe and worship another alone but all else must imitate their example as the Rule of faith and worship and themselves bow downe and worship before them as the Idolatrous Isralites and Pagans did before their Idolls and Altars 1. Kings 12. 30. 2. Kingâ—… 18. 22. 2. Kings 5. 18. Besides these Angells and spirituall Sonnes who preach nothing now all most but their Lordships Commandementâ—…â—…de of Gods they have divers Ministring spirits as Arch-Deacons Commissaries Pursevants Apparitors â—…ilors Registers Informers Aduocates Proctors Spies and Notaries in all places to set up Alâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impose and prescribe nâ—…w Ceremonies Injunctions Oathes orders Articles to suspende silence excoÌ„municate imprison intrap wailay betray persecute fleece and ruine all godly Ministers and people and advance their Lordships Monarchie Honour Pompe State Raveuewes Kingdome and cause al men to fall downe and worship them like somâ—… petty Gods descended from heaven and their Antichristian fond Injunctions and Popish Innovations as Gods sacred Oracles So like are they to their Father the divell in this resemblance 42. The divell was a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahaâ—…s Prophets to perswade him to what they pleased against Gods word true Prophets c. to advance his owne designes 1. Kings 22. 22 23. So our Lord Prelates anciently were now are as much as ever lying spirits in the mouths of many false Prophets and I would wee could not say in most of his Majesties Chaplaines in ordinary and others that preach before his highnesse and in other publike places who preach nought else but their Lordships pleasures and those words those precepts they cunningly put into their mouthes as the Woman of Tekoah spake Ioabs words to David to accomplish their owne Antichristian designes advance their owne power and Hierarchie and cause all men to adore them as the only Gods Lords and Oracles on the earth Maximus Tirius records That one P. Sapho dwelling in the parts of Libia desirous to be canonized a God tooke a sort of prating Birds and secretly taught them to sing P. Sapho is a great God and having their lesson perfectly hee let them flie into thee Woods and Hills adioyning where continuing there long other Birds also by imitation learned the same till the hedges rang with nothing but P. Saphoes dittie Great is the God P. Sapho The Countrey-people hearing the Birds but ignorant of the â—…raud thought Sapho to be a God indeed and beganne to worship him This â—…ame not only hath beene but now is both the Popes and Lord Prelates practise Who desirous to effect their owne ambicious ends advance their owne pretended divine power Iurisdiction Hierarchie and to bee adored and obeyed in all their Antichristian Innovations Injunctions and designes as Gods with sweet promises of preferments which they have now for the most part monopolized into their owne hands they procure a company of bold audacious prating Birds or Bussards rather in our Vniversities and elsewhere with their owne domesticke Chaplaines to learne these notes by heart That the Calling of Lord Bishops is Iure Divino that the holy Fathers the Prelates are to order all Church-affayres and to bee obeyed in all their Injunctions and Commands without dispute that they have power to decree Rights and Ceremonies and authorities in Controversies of faith a clause lately foysted by them into the 20 Article of our Church being not in the Latine or English Articles of King Edward the fixt Queene Elizabeth Nor those of Ireland taken Verbatim out of the English that we must have Images Crucifixes Altars Preists Sacrifices that men ought to set their Altars and Tables Altarwise at the East end of the Church to bow downe vnto them and worship them that they ought to bow at the naming of Iesus Stand up at Gloria Patri the Gospell Athanasius and the Nicene Creede read the 2. service at the Altar pray with their faces to the East submit to the Lord Prelates in all matters of faith and discipline beleeving as they beleeve and doing as they doe that they must allwayes declayme and crie out thus against Puritans as they now doe in all their Sermons that they are sedicious factious persons enemies and rebells to the King and his lawes when as the Bishops themselves meere hildebrands â—…oth in Church and state are such meere Hipocrites and imposters men farre more dangerous and vnsufferable in the State then Preists or Iesuites that they must magnify auricular confession extreme vnction and absolution as things fitting to be received in the Church Maintayne a reall presence in the Sacrament Deny the Pope to be Antichrist or his Ceremonies to bee Antichristian Crie up the use of dancing sports and pastimes on the Lords day Crie downe the strickt â—…anctification of it as Iewdaisme superticious and puritanicall Preach against lectures lecturers often preaching and Sermons on the Lords day afternoone as meere babling pratling and foolishnes with a world of such like Songes all which these their prating Iayes having perfectly learned some two or three yeares since they sent them abroade not only into the Woods Hills and Dales in the Country but also vnto the Court Citie Vniversities and places of greatest refort to chaunt and â—…oare out these their Episcopall Ditties where these singing Birds or Decoyes rather have so well playd their parts of late by preaching printing and chanting out these their lessons in Citty Court Country that other Birds also by imitatioÌ„ ignorance or hopes of like preferments as some of these first Decoyes haâ—…h attayned to fall to â—…nge the self same ditties euery where as fast as they So that now our Cathedralls Chappell 's Churches Pulpits ringe of little else but these Episcopall tunes and songes which the people daylie hearing every where being ignorant of the Prelats fraud and practise herein who taught those Birds these tunes of
to make and impose new visitation Oathes Articles 〈◊〉 Orders Innovations to make Miniâ—…ers Churchwardâ—…ns 〈◊〉 to keepe visitations and Consistories without any Patent or Commission from his Majestie in their owne names and rights alone to graunt out Citations Proces Excommunications Probate of wills Commissions of administration c. in their owne names under their owne Seales not his Majesties to fine imprison censure and 〈◊〉 his Majesties good Subjects c. their fellow brethren at their pleasures to bee coached and barged up and downe from place to place I am sure seldome to the pulpit to bee courted capped attended cloathed like petty Kings and Princes to fare deliciously every day to have stately Pallaces great possessions Knights and brave Gentlemen to attend them Lords and Earles to crowch unto them all to feare them flatter them none to rebuke oppose or control them no not in their oppressing and unjust courses to bolster out their encroachments upon the Kings Prerogative and Lawes and on his Subjects Liberties with might threats and violence to trampâ—…e all Lawes of God and man under foot and doe all things by will power not Law or Canon to bee implacable unmercifull pittilesse proud stately cruell to shake up terrifie and bâ—…ow-beate imprison Excommunicate deprive degrade presents their fellow-brethren and eate them like their Curres to set forward all profanenesse disorders sports and Eâ—…hnicke pastimes even on Gods own day and make no conscience of it to doe all things like absolute Law-givers Lords Popes and Monarks or rather professed Atheists fearing neither God â—…or man and breaking all their lawes to bolster up base drinke idle scandalous clergie men exempting them froâ—… secular power jurisdiction to maintaine their Officers in 〈◊〉 open exortions oppressions abuses exhorbitant misdemeanor the like Which is now only to be and play the Bishop in point of Doctrine and practise Then thus to bee and act the Biâ—…hop is in truth to 〈◊〉 and play the very divell and to parallell him in all forecited respects let those who are such Lordly Prelates deny it if they can or dare The second Parallel BETWEENE THE IEWISH HIGH PRIESTS And Lordly Prelates AS Lordly Prelates resemble their Father the divell in all the forenamed particulars so doe they the Iewish high Priests in these ensuing Particulars 1. The high Priests of the Iewes were ordained of men to offer gifts and sacrifizes on the Altar Heb. 8 3. Exod. 40. Levit. 1. to 22. So our high Priests the Lord Prelates are and will bee ordayned and also ordaine others high Priests for this end to offer Sacrifices and gifts at their new erected Altars not to preach the end why they every where erect advance consecrate and bow downe to Altars which now want nothing but a Masse to grace them withall 2. The Iewish high Priests had their Miters and brave costly pontificall Robes ornaments and attires whereby they were differenced from other men Exod. 31. 1. to 32. c. 28 2. to 43. So have the Lordly Prelates and that in imitation of the Iewish high Priests from whence they derive them 3. The Iewish high Priests went but once a yeare into the second Tabernacle to offer for the people Heb. 9. 7. And our Lordly high Priests commonly goe but once a yeare and many of them scarce once in 3. or 4. yeares witnesse both our present Arch-prelates some other unpreaching Bishops examples into the Pulpit to preach unto the people or to offer sacrifice on the Altar 4. The Iewish high Priests commanded the Apostles not preach any more in the name of the Lord Iesus to the people that they might be saved and apprehended imprisoned and scourged them for doâ—…ng it Acts 4 5. 1 Thess. 2. 16. Our Lordly Prelates heretofore and at this very day silence and suspend our best our painfullest Ministers from preaching Gods Word unto their people that they may bee saved though God the King the Books of Ordination and Statutes of the Realme enjoyne them for to doe it and threaten to apprehend imprison and fine them if they preach contrary to their suspensions as the Apostles did Who in despite of all the high Priests threats inibitions imprisonments stripes three times one after another Daily in the Temple and in every howse which now would bee a Conventicle ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ Acts 5. 41 42. And so would and should our Ministers now silenced against Law and Canon too were they true successors of the Apostles and not intoxicâ—…ted with a base unworthy spirit of carnall feare and cowardize which makes them betray their liberties Religion Flocks Brethren to the will and rapine of these beastly ravening Lordly Wolves 5. The Iewish high Priest granted out warrants or letters missive to Saul breaâ—…hing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord that if hee found any of this way whether they were men or women hee might bring them bound to Ierusâ—…em Acts 〈◊〉 2. Lordly Prelates heretofore and now grant the like letters missiue warrants and Attachments to their Pursuivants and other malicious wicked Informers that breath out threatnings and slaughter against the Lords disciples against divers godly Ministers Christians and all such as they please to stile Puritans and Cowventicklers wheither men oâ—… women to breaks open and ransacks their houses take their bodies bring them up Prisonners to London Ye kâ—… or Durham before their Lordships holynesses to fine censure deprive imprison and undoe them though Christ his Apostles and the primitive Bishops never claymed or exercised any such Lordly secular tyranny or Iurisdiction but condemned it as unlawfull and unbeseeming Clergie-men 6. The Iewish high-Priest Ananias when Paul was convented before the Counsell and beganne to make his Apologie and plead his owne cause commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth and would not suffer him to speake in his owne defence Acts 33. 1 2. Thus doe our Lord Prelates deale with Gods Ministers when they come before them in the High Commission or elsewhere they will not suffer them to speake in their owne defence or pleade their owne causes to the full but when they offer to speake enjoyne them silence or else commaund the Pursevant or Iaylour to smite them on the mouth or take them away to the Prison So imperious are their Lordships growne Take but one fresh memorables instance insteed of many others One M. Snelling a graue Kentish Minister was suspended ab Officio Beneficio about a veare and halfe since by D. Wood commissary to the Bishop of Rochester and after that excommunicated pursuiuanted and articled against before the High Commissioners at Lambetâ—… only for not reading the Declaration for sports fathered falsely upon his Majesty by the Prelates To which Articles hee drawing up a full answer shewing the reasons both in point of law and conscience why hee conceived himselfe not bound to read it and so not culpable of any crime the
converted Yea some of them as Bishop Wren contrary to the practise of all former ages begin to prohibit Ministers under paine of suspension and excommunication to make any conceived prayers before or after their Sermons suspending and excommunicating them if they doe it ounparalleld impiety o atheisticall Novelty Wee know that Moses David Salomon Ezra Ieremiah Daniell with the Saints and Prophets in the old Testament used conceived but no set formes of prayer that we read of the like did Christ and his Apostles in the New Tâ—…stament prayer being a speciall gift of Gods Spirit given to all his children upon all their severall necessities and occasiâ—…ns 1 Kings 8. 38. 45. 49. 54. Neh. 1. 6. 11. Ps. 102. 7. Ps. 141. 2 Ezeh 12. 10 11. Acts 1. 14. c. 6. 4. c. 10. 31. c. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 5 Phil. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 11. Col. 4. 2 Iam. 5. 15. 16. Ephes. 6. 18. Rom. 8. 15. 26 27. Iude 20. Thus did the Ministers Preachers of Gods Word in Iustin Martyrs and Tertullians dayes as appeares by both their 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 and after their Sermons love-feastes Thus did the Faâ—…ers as appeares bâ—… thâ—…ir works the Primitive Christians and Martyrs vpon all occâ—…sions as Ecclesiasticall Historians 〈◊〉 Thus did our Martyrs of old witnes M. Fox his Acts and Mâ—…uments Yea Archbishop Sandes of Yorke beâ—…ore after his Sermons B. Pilkington of Durham before and after his Sermons on Nehemiah Obadiah c. with other of our Bishops used conceived Prayâ—…rs oâ—… different forâ—…es according to the variety of their Texts the 〈◊〉 occasions whâ—…ch theâ—… published in print for others imitation Thus have all our Ministers generally done in all ages and places especially from the beginning of reformation to this present till a geâ—…eration of upstart unpraying Lordly Preâ—…ates and lasy Doctoâ—…s who know not how to pray or mak a conceived prayer out of their owne heades and hearts upon any occasion no more then a child that is newly borne have cryed downe all extemporary conceived Prayers as well as studied Sermons and frequent preaching endevoring utterly to extinguish this most heavenly gift of Prayer not only in all private Christians but also in all those godly Ministers whom God hath endowed with this eminent faculty by confining them only to the very words of the Canon which are no more a prayet then the Creed or ten Commandements which many ignorant people mumble over as good prayers and hath made many great Doctors unable for to pray without the helpe of a Common-prayer booke upon any urgent occasion For proofe whereof I shall instance only in two late examples When the Earle of Castle haven was to bee beheaded there came two great learned Deanes Doctors of Divinity to his lodging to pray with him before his death Where calling for A Common-Prayer Booke they read over the Letanie to him which was all the Prayers they could make and so concluded their deuotions The Earle much grieved and discontented therewith brake forth into these speeches Alas what doe these Doctors meane to trouble themselves or mee in praying to God to deliver me from lightning and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battle and murther and from sudden death who am now presently to die and lose my head Or what doth their praying to preserve all that travell by land or by water all women laboring with child all sicke persons and young children c. concerne either me or my present condition who am now ready to perish and bee destroyed Miserable comforters are they This hee spake with teares in his eyes and there upon desired the company there present with him to goe with him from these Deanes into another roome where hee made such an heavenly fervent extemporary Prayer pertinent to his present dying condition as ravished all the Auditours and drew rivers of teares both from their eyes and hearts which these non-praying Doctors Letany could not doe When the honorable religious Lord Veere some two yeares since was sodainely strucke with death arrow at Sr. Henry Vâ—…ne his table at White-hall as he sate at dinner and caried from thence into a with-drawing chamber adioyning where he dyed a grand Dr. of Diuinity one of his Majesties Chapplaines being there present was upon this unexpected occasion desired to kneele and pray with the company The Dr. Hereupon calls for a Common-prayer-booke and answer being madde that there was none present he replied that he could not pray without a Booke Whereupon a Knight there present tooke him by the gowne and forced him to kneele downe telling him that my Lord was dying and he must needes say some prayer or other vpon this he begins Pater noster for other prayer could he none Which the Knight hearing bads him hold his peace for my Lord was dead and he was but a dead Divine Who knew not how to pray Such woodden Doctors Prelates have we now adayes that know not how to pray upon any sodaine occasion because like little children they ever confine themselves to a set forme of prayer proceeding neither from their heads nor hearts but their lips only which every Schoole-boy can read with as much devotion as they So vnlike are they to our Saviour Christ and his Apostles who who were able to pray ex tempore with all mannâ—…r of supplications and prayers upon all occasions and would have all Ministers and priuate Christians to be thus able too Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Tim. 2. 1 28. Phil 4. 6. 1. Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 14. 24. Finally our Saviour Christ whiles he was on earth suspended silenced deprived censured imprisoned and close imprisoned no Ministers or Christians whiles he was on earth yea he was so farre from this that he was anoynted and sent by the spirit of the Lord God to binde up the broken-hearted to proclaime liberty to the captiues and the opening of the prison to them that are bound Isay. 61. But Lord Prelates silence suspend deprive censure imprison and close imprison both Ministers and good Christians at their pleasures but never binde up the broken-hearted or proclaime liberty to the Captiues or the opening of the prison to them that are bound Take him Iaylor Catch him Pursuiuant Away with him to the Fleet the Clinke or Gate-house I set a thousand pounde fins upon his head c. bring their vsuall mercy language Lordly tone Christ had no Prisons Counters Gate-houses Cole houses to imprison and mue up Christians or Ministers in for discharging a good consciences or obeying God rather then men or refusing to take an vnlawfull ex officio Oath No consistory or High-commission to conuent men in no visitation or ex officio Oaths Articles Procurations Dispensations Tot-quots Licenses to preach or keepe schoole No Deanes Archdeacons Vicars generall Chancellours Commissaries Surrogates Officials Registers Pursuiuants Apparitors Informers but only 12. preaching Disciples attending on him Lord Prelates have all and