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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69915	A plea for the Non-Conformists giving the true state of the dissenters case, and how far the Conformists separation from the Church of Rome, for their Popish superstitions and traditions introduced into the service of God, justifies the Non-Conformists separation from them for the same : in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Calamy, upon his sermon, called, Scrupulous conscience, inviting hereto : to which is added, A parallel scheme of the pagan, papal and Christian rites and ceremonies : with a narrative of the sufferings underwent for writing, printing and publishing hereof / by Thomas De Laune.	De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.; Danson, Thomas, d. 1694.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Eikōn tou thēriou.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Narrative of the sufferings of Thomas Delaune.	1684 (1684)	Wing D893; Wing D891; Wing D892; ESTC R12757	93,215	122

into the Epistles and Gospels which was not heard of before the days of Popery I dare not Avow that this is that Reverend handling of the Scriptures and the right dividing of the Word of Truth which Saint Paul Requireth 2 Tim. 2. 15. Thirdly The great Inconveniency which hath followed this Book while it hath Maintained an Vnlearned Ministry and made it thought sufficient to have the Service Read wherein we have made the Spirit of God to speak in vain 1 Tim. 3. 12. which Requires the Ministers of the Gospel to be apt to Teach and to exhort and Reprove Tit. 1. 9. This is an other Cause why I cannot Subscribe unto the Book that it hath all things answerable to the Word of God But the Abridgment is much more full bringing Arguments from the Scripture The Fathers the Old Reformers and our own Old Protestant Doctors against it whereof I shall give this following Account First It is contrary to the Word of God to use such Ceremonies in the Worship of God as man has devised if they be notoriously known to have been of old and still to be abused unto Idolatry and Superstition by the Papists especially if the same be now of no necessary use in the Church where note that the Ceremonial part of the English Service that is like unto that of the Romish is what has been abused by the Papists to Idolatry or Superstition but yet are not so necessary to Divine Worship but that the Worship may be Compleat Devout and orderly without them which appears saith they First by the Second Commandment which forbids all provocation unto Spiritual Fornication as the 7th doth unto that which is Carnal Secondly By the Commandment and Direction God hath given us in his Word to Seperate our selves from Idolaters and be as unlike to them as may be especially in their Religions Observations and Ceremonies to abolish not only all Idols and that so as we may best shew our utmost Detestation to them and root out the very memory of them Thirdly By the Equity and Reasons of these Commandments which we find set down in Holy Scripture viz. 1. The detestation which the Lord our God being a Jealous God beareth unto Idolatry and all the Instruments and Tokens thereof as unto Spiritual Whoredom Secondly That it cannot be said sincerely we have Repented of the Idolatry of our Forefathers unless we be ashamed of and cast away with Detestation all the Instruments and Monuments of it Thirdly That we shall be in danger to be Corrupted in the Substance of Religion and Purity of Doctrine and even to fall back again to Idolatry if we Conform our selves to Idolaterous Ceremonies yea if we shew not all Detestation unto them Fourthly That our Conformity with Idolators in their Ceremonies wherein they Repose the greatest part of their Religion will be a special means to harden them in Superstition Fifthly That seeing the Pope is revealed to be that Great Antichrist and his Idolatry troubleth the Church at this day more than any other and our people Converse more with Papists then with any other Idolators there is more danger in the Retaining of the Ceremonies and Relicks of Popery then of any other Idolatry whatsoever By the Judgment of the Godly Learned of all Churches and Ages who have Constantly Taught and given Testimony of this Truth That Christians are Bound to cast off the Ceremonies and Religious Customs of Pagans Jews Idolators and Hereticks and Carefully to shun all Conformity with them therein In the Council of Nice it was Decreed That Christians might not keep the Feast of Easter at that Time nor in that manner the Jews did let us say they in nothing agree with that most detestable rout of the Jews And in another Councel That none should fast on the Lords Day because the Manachees had taken up that day to fast in That such Altars as were set up in the Country and High-ways in Memory of the Martyrs should be Abolished and that Solemn Requests should be made to the Emperor that all Reliques and Monuments of Idolatry might be utterly Destroyed and this Decree we find Cited by Dr. Fulk In another Councel That Christians should not Celebrate Feasts on the Birth days of Martyrs because that was the manner of the Heathens Tertullian is large and vehement in this point As saith he We may give nothing to the Service of an Idol so may you borrow nothing from the Service of an Idol if it be against Religion to sit at Table in any Idols Temple What is it to be seen in the Habit of an Idol Thou that art Christian must hate those things the Authors and Inventers whereof thou canst not choose but hate Austin himself Saith if you would win Pagans leave all their Solemnities for sake their Toyes The Judgment of the Church of Scotland in their Letter to the Bishops of England 1556. from a General Assembly at Edenborough thus writ if Surplice Corner Cap and Tipper have been Badges of Idolators in the very Act of Idolatry what have the Preachers of Christian Liberty and the open Rebukers of Superstition to do with the dress of the Romish Beast And in the Confession of their Faith sworn to by them and the Kings Majesty also We find these words and Detest all his Ceremonies and False Doctrines of the Roman Antichrist added to the Ministration of the True Sacraments We Detest all his vain Rites Signs and Traditions brought into the Church without the Word of God Mr. Rogers that Holy Martyr would not Consent to a Cannon that was to be made in K. Edwards Days for the Clergies Conformity in Cap Tippet and the rest of the Apparel unless it might be Decreed that the Papists for a Difference between them and others might be Constrained to wear upon their Sleves A Challice with a House upon it Bishop Pilkington misliked that in our Liturgy we are so like the Papists in Marriage and many other things this faith he is our fault generally that we differ not from them in all our Ministry Bishop Bilson Defending the Reformed Churches against a Slander of the Papists Approvingly Reporteth thus of them The Reformed Churches Saith he are so far from Admitting the full dost of your Heresies that by no means they can digest one Dram of your Ceremonies Dr. Humphrey Saith That we aught to Refuse to Conform our Selves to the Enemies of God in any of their Ceremonies Professing plainly his Desire and hope of the utter Abolishing of the Ceremhnies af all the Monuments of Popish Superstition that yet Remain in our Church Dr. Fulk Saith That if a man mislike our Form of Service as not differing sufficiently from yours he Sheweth his greatest Zeal in Detestation of your Idolatry and Blasphemy And again we abhor sath he whatsoever hath but a Shew of Popery Dr. Stu●liff maketh this one of his Principal Arguments against the Papists that they have derived most of their Ceremonies and Customs from the

our ONLY RULE of Faith As also of the Government of the Church of Christ by Lord Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons Parsons Vicars Curates Chancellors Officials c. Because not contained in our ONLY RULE of Faith In like manner do the Dissenters also Reject the Consecrating of Churches Chappels Cathedrals Priests Garments Altars Liturgies Singing Service Letanies Bowings Crossings Cringings Holy-dayes Fasts Feasts Vigils because not one word of any of them is contained in our only Rule of Faith So that the short Resolution of the Dissenters and the Doctor 's Faith in this great Point is this that they ought to believe nothing as an Article of Faith but what God hath revealed and that the Compleat Revelation of Gods Will to us is contained in the BIBLE Therefore Christ having in the Affirmative compleatly Revealed to us his mind and will in the Bible both as to the Doctrine and Discipline of his Church we need not go to Pope Council Tradition or any other for Additions to either nor trouble our selves to make Negative Articles of Faith and Practice which would be as Ridiculous as Endless And this we hope the Doctor and all his Party will take for good Pay and that you your self Sir amongst the rest will joyn Issue and acknowledge That this way of Arguing is very plain and convincing But this being so well performed by the Doctor what shall we say that so wise so learned and so great a man as Dr. Stillingfleet should forgot himself so far as to make head and run counter against his own Argument and to that degree as to pawn the whole Controversie upon that single point which he had so infallibly and indisputably resolved which indeed is very strange and wonderful but yet upon serious Thoughts we shall find it but a fulfilling of that Word of the Lord viz. I will do a marvellous Work amongst this People even a marvellous Work and a Wonder But what is that Why the Wisdom of their Wise men shall perish and the Vnderstanding of the Prudent men shall be hid But when shall that be viz. When they teach for Doctrines the Commands or the fear or Worship of God for the Precepts of men Our very case and whereof we have frequent and continual experience For with what Evidence and Demonstration of Truth will the Papists argue against and censure the Heathen for their Idolatries and yet at the same time be guilty of the same thing themselves and expose themselves to the Censure of the Heathen on the one side and the Protestants on the other How wisely how spiritually will Protestants dispute with handle and judge the Papists for leaving the Word of God for Fables for their Will-Worship False-Worship Idolatry c. and yet at the same time be guilty of Will Worship themselves exposing themselves to the Censure both of Papist and Non-Conformist Of which we might give you divers Instances both of the one and of the other and whereof take one or two This very Jesuite who disputes with the Doctor falls out in a most severe Censure of the Pagans for their most damnable Diabolical Idolatry in Worshipping their inferior Deities as Venus Mars Bacchus Vulcan and the like Rabble of Devils as he calls them who were their Damons Hero's or Intercessors to their superior Deity Jupiter not being aware which also the Doctor improves against him that they were guilty of the same Crime themselves in setting up their Inferior Deities the Virgin Mary St. Peter St Paul and a hundred more as Mediators and Intercessors to the Supream and to whom as the Doctor observes they pay divine Honour and Worship bowing and kneeling before them and their Images also which he proves against them to be no less Diabolical Idolatry The Jesuite being quick-sighted returns smartly upon the Doctor That whilst he judges their bowing and kneeling before their Images to be Idolatry how can he justifie their bowing and kneeling before the consecrated Elements bowing at the Altar East Name of Jesus Putting off their Hats c. which the Jesuite on the one hand and the Dissenters on the other hand improve against him And so whilst Dr. Pierce severely censures the Papists for varying from the primitive Pattern in their Superstitions and Abominations Because it was not so from the beginning Sergent the Jesuit returns his own Argument smartly upon him for doing the same thing in many particulars and which the Dissenter also doth for the same viz. for varying in so many things from the primitive Pattern whilst he judges others for the same To which we might add divers Instances both as to Papists and Protestants especially in those three Points Idolatry Imposition and Persecution So that as it hath been generally observ'd the Papists Arguments againsts the Heathen the Protestants Arguments against the Papists are most substantial Arguments against themselves when their practice gives their principle the Lye so rendring themselves altogether inexcusable as faith the Text Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest dost the same things But be sure that the Judgment of God is according to Truth against them which commit such things And thinkest thou this O man that judgest them which do such things and doest the same that thou shalt escape the Judgment of God c. Another Objection that is brought against the Dissenters is Because they separate from the Church of England for ●eer Nicities for little things which in their own Nature are indifferent To that purpose you are pleas'd to express your self viz. A scrupulous Conscience is conversant about things in their own nature Indifferent and it consists Either in strictly tying up our selves to some things which God hath no where commanded as the Pharisees made great Conscience of Washing before they did eat and abundance of other unnecessary Rights and Vsages they had of mens own inventing and devising which they as Religiously nay more Carefully observed than the indisputable Commands of God himself Or in a Conscientious abstaining from some things 〈…〉 not forbid nor any ways unlawful Touch not tas●● not 〈…〉 not doubting and fearing where no fear is thinking that 〈…〉 as much offend God by eating some kind of Meats 〈…〉 Garments as they should do were they guilty of 〈…〉 Adultery Which is the case of many amongst 〈…〉 Scrupulosity about little matters seem more 〈…〉 ●uster● than other good and honest Christians are or 〈◊〉 need or ought to be And a little further you add A 〈◊〉 Conscience therefore starts and boggles where there is no real 〈◊〉 or Mischief is afraid of omitting or doing what may be omitted or done without sin Which I know not how better to illustrate than by those unaccountable Antipathies or Prejudices that s●me men have against some sort of Meats or living Creatures which have not the least harm or

and to reduce them in unity Whitgift propounded three Articles to the Ministers by them to be Subscribed but adds Cambden 'T is ●●credible what Controversies and Disputations arose upon this what Troubles Whitgift suffered of certain Noble Men c. How the said Whitgift vexed the poor Dissenters what Letters were writ to him from the Counsel and Treasurer Cicil upon their complaints and his Answers you have at large in a late piece called the Harmony between the old and present Nonconformists some small abridgment thereof take as followeth not unworthy of your notice viz. in a Letter sent unto the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London from her Majesties Council September 20. 1584. We have heard of late times sundry complaints against a great number of Preachers whereby some were de●rived of their Livings some suspended from their Ministry and Preaching especially such who instruct the people against your Spiritual Courts advancing their profits by such kind of proceedings and particularly the lamentable estate of the Church in the County of Essex Where there is a great number of Zealous and Learned Preachers suspended from their Cures the vacancy of their place for the most part without any Ministry or Preaching Prayers and Saments and in some places of Certain appointed to those void Rooms being persons neither of Learning nor of good Names and in other places of the Country a great number notoriously unfit Chargable with Ignorance and with great enormous faults as Drunkenness filthiness of Life Gamsters at Cards hunting of Ale Houses and such like against whom we hear not of ●ny Proceedig but that they are quietly suffered to the Slander of the Church to the offence of good people yea to the famishing them for want of good teaching and thereby dangerous to the subverting of many Weaklings from their duties to God and Her Majesty by secret Jesuits and Counterfiet Papists c. And in a Letter to the Arch-Bishop by the Lord Treasurer Burleigh Dated July 5. 1584. it is said It may please your Grace I am sorry to Trouble you so often as I do But I am more Troubled my self not only with many private Petitions of Sundary Ministers Recommended from Persons of Credit for peaceable persons yet greatly Troubled but also am I dayly now Charged by Counsellers and Publick Persons to neglect my duty in not staying these your Graces Proceedings so vehement and so general against Ministers and Preachers as the Papists thereby are greatly Encouraged and evil dsposed persons animated and thereby the Queens Majesties Safety Endangered With these kind of Arguments I am dayly Assaulted and now my Lord I am come to the sight of an Instrument of 24 Articles of great length and Curiosity formed in a Romish Stile to Examine all manner of Ministers in this time without Distinction of persons Which Articles are Intituted A pud Lambeth May 1581. To be Executed ex officio mero c. Which Articles I find so Curiously Penned so full of Branches and Circumstances and I think the Inquisitors of Spain use not so many questions to Comprehend and to Trap their Preys I know the Canonists can defend these with all their Particles but surely under your Graces Correction This Judicial and Canonical Sifting of poor Ministers is not to Edify and Reform and in Charity I think they ought not to answer to all these Nice Points except they were very Notorious Offenders in Papistry or Heresy I write with the Testimony of a Good Conscience c. This kind of Proceeding is too much Savouring the Romish Inquisition and is rather a Device to seek for Offenders then to Reform any and in another Letter adds seeking rather by Excommunication to urge 〈◊〉 to Accuse themselves and then punish them The Arch-Bishop makes a large reply In it Saith thus I have taken upon me the defence of the Religion and Rites of this Church of England to appease the Sects of Schisms therein to Reduce all the Ministry thereof to Uniformity and due Obedience Herein I intend to be constant and not to Waver with every Wind The which also my place my person my duty the Law Her Majesty and the Goodness of the Cause doth Require of me and wherein your Lordship and Others all things considered ought in duty to Assist and Countenance me It is strange that a man in my place dealing with so good Warranties as I do should be so encountred and for not yielding should be accounted wilful but I must be Contented Vincit qui patitur And if my friends herein forsake me I trust God will not neither the Law her Majesty who hath laid the Charge on me and are able to protect me Many were the Severe Laws made against the Nonconformists which were put in Execution with Great Cruelty To the Suspending Imprisoning and Executing many of the Faithful Servants of Christ in this Queens Reign whereof Fuller in his Ecclesiastical History gives a particular Account The High Commision Court that grand Grievance Set up also by her In the next place I shall give you some Confirmation of the Truth of the prevalency of Popery under a Protestant Mask in the Rites and Ceremonies imposed in these and succeeding times by the witness Bourn by several Eminent Dissenters which we find upon Record in several Books viz. A Book called the Register another the Abridgment which was a Book Delivered to King James by the Ministers of Lincoln Diocess Anno 1605. In the Register page 3. We have the 24 Articles agreed in the Synod and Confirmed by the Queen Exhibited to Mr. Edward Dering and his Answers thereto Anno 1573. whereof Receive his Answer to the first Article The Article was whether the Book Intituled the Book of Common Service allowed by publick Authority in this Realm is to be allowed in the Church of God by Gods Word or no To which he replyed That The Similitude that this Book hath with the Form of Prayer which the Papists used I think declineth from the Equity of those Laws Deut. 7. 25 12 30 18 4. Which Thing our Fathers so much Regarded in the Primitive Church that their Books are full of great Complaints against all Similitude to be had with the Gentles yea the Second Council of Bracca made a Decree that no Christian should have either Bay-leaves or Green Boughs in their houses because the Gentles so Accustomed and at this day all Reformed Churches in France Polonia Helvetia Scotland and other places have changed that Form of Prayers which Prudency of all Ages if we shall Condemn the Rebuke of the Apostle I think will Teach us 1 Cor. 14. 36. Came the Word of God out from you or came it unto you only Secondly We have the Psalms Venite Benedictus Magnificat nunc Demittis usual in our Ministry of which we can give no good reason nor I see no cause why we should more leave out Ave Maria and because of parting the Scriptures again