soules But they vse to stop the mouthes of their auditorie that should so say or enter into such discourse with them that if they haue not gotteÌ„ knowledg and profited in sanctification by their preaching then are they all without faith so in a woeful case in no estate of saluation bidding them prooue and examine themselues if Christ be not in them then are they reprobates c. This argument so terrifieth the poore soules consciences that neither haue knowledg to examine their waies by Godes word whether they lead vnto life or vnto death neither haue euer seene or beene taught any better course then that they are in to which if you add that general verbal knowledg of Christ and some fâ—…w other doctrinâ—…s touching faith and manners somwhat more pure then the doctrine of the papistes vvherin they haue found comfort yea and finding their consciences pricked and convinced of some sinnes they haue 〈◊〉 in their sermons haue indeuored through the grace of God to leaue thâ—…m at length gorteÌ„ victorie ouer them c. This knowledg comforâ—… remorse so worketh with these poore soules that they hold the ministers of these things in such veneration as they are ready with the people of Lystra to sacrifice vnto them not knowing in deed the effectual working of Sathans delusions with what shew of light and truth with what power signes lying vvonders he shal deceaue such as haue not receaued â—…he loue of the truth They know not that the false Church shal haue her religion vvorship also her ministers preachers of the Gospel of Christ c. y t these ministers shall transforme themselues as though they were ministers of righteousnes shall deceaue many vvith their false Christes and Gospels that they preach in these latter daies vvherof our Sauiour Christ his Apostles haue warned vs vvhy the false Church could not haue these thinges vvithout some general knowledg vvhich general knowledg shall reprooue such thinges as are contrarie to the same and yt being spiritual yt shal also haue spiritual effectes as to moue ioy or sorowe This the preaching in the popish Church also effecteth vvho hath taught your preachers this argument and hath as good right to vse yt towardes them as they vnto you or vnto vs. But can this knowledg which you get by them iustifie your vvaies your Church ministerie vvorship c. if not seing they are so directly against y e word of God what booteth this knowledg to eternal life Balaam vvith all the false prophets had and the deuils haue this faith knowledg in as great measure as the learnedst of these ministers yet the one is damned the others tremble As for the comfort receaued by their preaching yt hauing no promise of blessing in the word of God your Church whole ministerie being accursed is rather a feareful signe of the effectual working of their delusions theÌ„ any reason wherby you may assure your sâ—…lues or iustifie theÌ„ in their vngodly proceedings whome the word of God in al their workes coÌ„demneth Looke not to gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles or any good fruites of such euil trees as are not of our heauenly fathers planting therfore shalbe plucked vp by the rootes You see they haue stood teaching you day vnto day line vpon line line vpon line heere a litle there a litle yet haue neuer brought you to a cleere sight acknowledging of the truth You see they lead you in the crooked pathes of death they teach and stand ministers in the false Church of whose ministerie in this estate is no comfort but assured destructioÌ„ to be looked for they being sent of God in his wrath to deceaue the children of death the reprobate You see they are like those inchanters that resisted Moses who doe all their miracles both in Egipt and Babilon c. to deteine the people in Egipâ—… and Babilon They haue all gone out of the way they haue beene made altogether vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one their throte is an open sepulchre they haue vsed their tongues to deceit the poison of aspes is vnder their lips whose mouth is full of cursing bitternes their feet are swift to shed blood destruction and calamitye is in their waies the way of peace they haue not knowen the feare of God is not before their eies How then should they profite this people or guide them right when they themselues know not the right way But heere they wil straight be vpon me with this question where I had my faith vnderstanding of the right course if not from them their preaching there being no other meanes left in the land to beget faith then their ordinarie preaching in this ministery this church which we now forsake The vanitie of this argument I haue euen now shewed and howe therby much rather the Church and ministerie of Rome with all the abhominations therin might be iustified seing they were much more catholike vniuersal then these But to their question I answere that God neuer leaueth himself without faithfull true witnesses which abhor iniquitie teach practise the truth so far as yt is reuealed vnto them which no doubt instruct manie and turne them from their euill waies Further we haue the holy word of God and the Lambe hath obteined to open the seales therof who hath giuen vs his Spirit to guide vs into all truth and bring all things to our remembrance that he hath taught vs. God is not tied to the lippes of these phariseis yea his glorie is to hide these things from the prowd and prudent and to reueale them to babes and sucklings The wind bloweth where yt listeth c. Faith is the only gift of God who neuer wanteth meanes to publish his truth and to saue his elect These popish priestes that stand ministers after a false and counterfait order euen after the order of Antichrist not of CHRIST and the order of his Testament that stand ministers of idolatrie vnto idolaters that hate to be reformed or reproued haue nought to doe to take God holy word in their mouthes But if they were as true famous ministers as euer spake vpon the earth yet if they should exercise such a ministerie as they do in those places after that idolatrous and corrupt maner to al the prophane and wicked Yf they had all the giftes of al men and Angels yet were they to be holden accursed to be left and not to be receaued to house c. we are to follow the Apostles no further then they walke with CHRIST no nor the whole church any further then they obserue the rules of the word vve are not to erre or be drawen into transgression with a multitude or by the mightie They breake the communion that breake the faith they breake the faith which transgresse the word But
Should our infirmitie sinne oâ—… default take away the stabilitie or truth of Gods ordinances This would as wel follow of this their reason as the other that because the Church of CHRIST may at sometimes be without this established order of CHRIST and yet be held the true Church therfore that prescribed order of CHRIST is not perpetuall alwaies necessarie or conuenient thus laijng the default vpon CHRISTS sacred ordinances as though they were notalwaies holy necessarie conuenient which in deed is due to vs anâ—… our infirmitie and inhabilitie to receaue or exercise such a gratious blessed ministerie or to walke in this heauenly order Nothing is more sure then this the true Church can be established into no other order yt can receaue none other officers or lawes then are in CHRISTS Testament prescribed This hath beene already manifestly proued yet further might be by as many places of scriptures as either the true or false Church is spoken of the true of false ministerie the true or false ministration as either CHRISTS kingdome or anie of his offices are spoken of or Antichrists presumption and forgerie as yt hath beene proued by the true patterne of the house wherby euery part therof ought to be â—…ramed and put together according to the will of the Lord of the house otherwise the house will neuer hang together or be to the owners liking or the builders praise Likewise yt hath by the necessitie congruence coherence of the true and natural partes and members of the bodie beene proued how that no other can be added without making yt a monstrous bodie neither the true members be otherwise knit together placed disposed vsed without the destruction of the whole bodie and this much more of that spiritual house and bodie of CHRISTS Church which being so perfect pretious comely excellent cannot admit to be shaped fashioned framed disposed after the faâ—…sies of earthly men who the best of them that euer was alwaies excepting the head of the Church in his best consideration was but a member of the Church Neither was there euer power giuen to anie of them whether Prince or Prophet whosoeuer or authoritie to alter neglect or bring in anâ—…e pinne or hooke eueÌ„ the least thing or so much as the place therof in the Tabernacle Temple or Church of God How often doth the Church in the song of Solomon say My beloâ—…ed is miâ—… I am his how often doth she charge all her freinds to stay w tout not to stir vp her welbeloued vntil he please how ofteÌ„ doth she vow to keepe her self wholy vnto him how often doth he againe repeate the amiablenes comlines beawty congruence feaâ—…ures frâ—…itefulnes pleaâ—…antnes of all her partes euen from top to toe how greatly he is delighted in her and how the Kings of the earth should be tyed in her raâ—…ters c. Doth not he say that Solomon earthly Princes may put or let out their vineyeards not being able themselues to till and dresse them to be dressed trimmed to their seruants reseruing to themselues a rent c. But his vineyard is alwaies before him he is able to til dresse and keepe yt euery whit himself he neither letteth yt out to hire nor suffreth anie to part or possesse the fruite therof with him How many Arguments then might be drawen either from the perfection diuine order c. of the partes of the Church from the faith loue chastitie obedience vnto CHRIST as to her husband Lord King Likewise how many from his absolute power authority possessioÌ„ ouer her wholly by the right of an husband Lord King How many reasons might be draweÌ„ from the absolutnes wisdome of his lawes the graciousnes peace of his heauenly gouernment order which cannot be willingly infringed or broken without rebellion nor changed altered without presumptuous treason to proue the perpetuity necessity and fit congrueÌ„ce of those officers ordinances that he 〈◊〉 his Testament hath prescribed for the building ministery and gouernmeÌ„t of his Church and of euery member therof whither Prince or minister ouer whome CHRIST reigneth by equal right and euen the â—…ame iurisdiction that he doth ouer the least There is no exception or acceptation of persons with God That nation that kingdome that will not serâ—…e him shall perish and those nations shalbe vtterly destroied He that obeieth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth vpon him Those that will not haue him to reigne ouer them he iudgeth and destroieth as enemies CHRIST reigneth by his owne officers which yt is lawfull at no hand for his true subiects either to disobey alter or reiect Subiects and seruants are not to giue but to take lawes at their King Lord God hath made his Sonne Lord and hâ—…ire of al things and hath giuen him a name aboue euery name that at the name of IESVS euery knee should bow both of hâ—…auenly things earthly things and things vnder the earth and euery tongue should confesse that IESVS CHRIST is the Lord vnto the glorie of God his Father because all men should honour the Sonne as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Father that sent him O how great then is their wickednes how pernitious their councell who for filthy lucre sake perswade Princes that they are not only not subiect themselues in person to the lawes spiritual censures of Christ in his Church but that they are not bownd to admit that order of gouernment prescribed in his Testament which they shuffle off with the terme of outward discipline in their landes May not yea doe not Princes by this meanes bouldly breake all Gods lawes and disanull anie of them at their pleasures breake that they may follow their owne hearts lusts fulfilling the inordinate appetites therof wallowing glutting themselues in all fleshlie pleasure vanitie exceâ—…e committing what wickednes they wil without admonition censure or reproofe I would heere still be vnderstood of the ecclesiastical spiritual censures by the word May they not yet proceed further and disanul which of Gods lawes they list either in common welth or Church In the common welth when they both abrogate all Gods iudicial lawes cut them off at one blow as made belonging to the coÌ„moÌ„ welth of the Iewes onlie as though God had no regard of the conversation of other Christians his seruantes also or els had left some other peculiar lawes for the manners of the Gentiles or had left them in greater libertie to be and to make lawes customes vnto themselues Heervpon yt commeth to passe that so manie wicked vngodlie lawes and customes are decreed that the whole order course of iudgment iustice is constuprate peruerted that so manie capital mischeifes as God punished by death as blaspheming the name of God open idolatrie disobedience to parents are not by law punished at al incest adulterie either
true natural members of Christs bodie these reuerēd Lord Bishops cut off and cast away I speake heere concerning their offices ministery iurisdiction and so forth which these men sue vnto the Court parliamēt to haue vtterly remoued yf they be of Christ then without the abrogation of his Testament how should they be taken away If he haue in his Testament set downe that he wil haue in and ouer his Church L. Archbishops Lord Bishops thus attendend waited on to rule reigne in his absence to make lawes to make ministers c. then what Prince in the world ca◅ pluck away these L. Archbb s. Lord Bi◅hops from the Church without they likewise cast CHRIST out of dores For CHRIST wil not be diuided nor halfed in this sort If we will haue him we must take him with all his members we cannot take one part of him refuse an other he will not abide with th◅m that thus dismember him What kind of councel then do these men giue vnto the Prince which thus draw her into battell against God his Christ in aduising her to cast out of the land the true ministerie of Christ how can the Church of Christ misse these precious members or stand without them how can she suffer them to be rent from her how can they rather offer this violence to their naturall mother so to wound dismember her yea vnto the body of Christ and vnto their owne members if they likewise belong to that bodie what outrage what vnnaturalnes what furie what madnes we◅e this what high impietie against God heauen Wil not heere be matter ynough for al the pulpets in the land stationers shoppes in London how will they now do with these vnmerciful DD. who now they haue them thus bound fettered wil lay on loade vpon them They wil now haue the popish baptisme and all ere they let them goe and that thus Those Archbish. L. BBs and all the rable of Priestes ministers which flow from their seate haue no ◅ther foundatiō or warrant for their offices ordinatiō then y ◠which they had in the Church of Rome but these Archb L. BB. and PP in these offices with that calling ordination they had in the Church of Rome administer true sacramentes heere so are by them approued for true ministers therfore there vvas a true ministery in the Church of Rome This cannot be denied for that Church which hath not a tru◅ but altogether a false ministery in yt cannot in deliuering their owne ministerie deliuer a true ministerie but the Church of Rome in deliuering their owne ministerie as Archbishops L. Bishops parish priestes and hireling preachers or curates Church wardens side men parish Clarkes c. ◅eliuered a true ministerie els could neither these offices remayne in the Church of Christ or these mē administer in these offices by vertue of that calling therfore yt may be conclud◅d there vvas a true ministerie in the Church of Rome To alledg that these men were called to the true faith will ◅ot help this for vve reason not heere of the men nor of their faith but of their offices and ordination ◅oth which they found in fetched from the Church of Rome and now they administer in the same offices and by vertue of the same ordination therfore if this ministerie of the Church of ENGLAND be ◅rue there must needes haue beene be a true ministery in y ◠Church of Rome seeing yt is the self fame in respect of the offices and ordination neither can any false minister ordeine a true minister Well then hauing obteined and conuinced a true ministerie to be in the Church of Rom◅ for els neither can these Bishops or their creatures be true ministers or the sacramentes by them or any of them administred to the Queene and the land be true sacramentes now let D. BRIDGES or D. ROBERT alone with you for all the rest for th◅y will haue both the Church sacramentes of Rome on foot agayne The true Church onlie can ordeine true ministers but y ◠Church of Rome ordeined true ministers as our L. Bishops and al their priestes and ministerie of this land therfore the Church of Rome is a true Church How shal these learned Doctors be answered Againe such sacrament◅ as are administred in the true Church are alwaies true sacraments sealing the fauor and blessing of God vnto them therfore the sacramentes but especially the baptisme there deliuered for to that aboue the other these Doctors haue an especiall liking is a true sacrament What a quandare haue you now brought your selues vnto you must either denie all the ministerie of the Church of England vvhich are not only ordeined by these Bishops but alike vvith them deriued from the Church of Rome or els you must affirme these L. Bishops to be the true mi◅isters of the Gosp◅ll I speake in respect of their office which then cannot be taken away and then are all they seditious persons disturbers of the peace of the Church and quiet of the common welth that seeke to disturbe or remoue these offices which Christ hath placed and planted in his Church For if thc parson of or any other learned minister that you think best of whither Doctor or other be to be held true ministers then haue they a lawful calling ordination to a lawful office c. If their calling ordination be approued then are the Bishops iustified for no false or vnlawfull minister can ordeine a true Minister as hath beene proued So then if the BB s. be allowed for true ministers needes must the Church of Rome the ministerie and sacramentes therof be ratified by necessarie consequence Vt supra No middle course as you affirme may heere be taken we must either make y e tree good or euill these ministers of the Church of England true or false yf false then deliuer they no true sacramentes then is all their administration sacramentes sermons accursed how holy soeuer or neere the truth in outward shew then are they the ministers of Sathan of Antichrist sent of God in his wrath to deceaue destroie such as are ordeined to death then ought al Christs true sheepe to flee and auoide them then ought not the Prince either to punish such as flee auoide them for that doing neither her self to repaire to their sermons or sacramentes for comfort then is all the comfort she there taketh but delusion euen the deceit of Sathan to the destructiō of all such as take comfort in vnrighteousnes and that which displeaseth the Lord Then are all they seducers which egge perswade the Queene through their hipocrisie and flatterie vnto them as wherby they draw her into the wrath of God eminent danger ineuitable destruction except she forsake them and this is the sound councell they giue her to betray her soule to these wolues these deceauers So long as she is
to vse their libertie to the edification not the confusion of the Church for God is not the author of disorder but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saintes They then that thus preâ—…mptuously either innouate or abuse this blessed ordinaÌ„ce of CHRIST find fault with controule the commandements of God and charge God with confusion who is the author of this exercise order libertie But D. SOME hath by the priuiledg of the Church of EnglaÌ„d published yt vtterly vnlawful for any that is not a minister to deale with the interpretation of scriptures what giftes soeuer God hath giueÌ„ him thervnto and saith these absurdities would ensue therof that woâ—… may then also preach in the Church that those men that thus speake in way of prophecie vsurpe the ministers office with Corath offer vzziahs incense may also by this meanes enter into the Councel chamber and intrude into the ciuil magistrates office for to giue councel also is euerie Christians dutie c. What can be more blasphemously reprochfullie repugnant to the word order of CHRIST who you see is the author of this exercise in this maner hath for euer left yt as a coÌ„mandemeÌ„t vnto al churches For saith the Apostle vers 37. If any man seeme to be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledg what I write vnto you because they are the commandements of God c. But if anie man be ignorant let him bâ—… ignorant Therfore my brethren couet ye to prophecie and to speake with tongues forbid not Let al things be done comely and according to order For D. SOMES first absurditie womeÌ„ are expresly forbidden to speake by way or in the exercise of this prophâ—… in the Church vers 34. 35. So then this is but a reproch of his owne absurd brayne to bring thâ—… truth into slaunder That such as speake in this exercise of prophecie doe not anie way vsurpe the ministers office hath beene largly shewed by the discourâ—… of this whole Chapter Neither hath he brought any peece of a reason to proue that only ministers ought to speake of the scriptures in â—…he Church For his third impiâ—…us odious calumniation that such as presume to speake in the Church not being ministers may as well intrude into the Councel chamber magistrats 〈◊〉 yt is in yt felf so false foolish absurd as yt deserâ—…eth none answere It is but the venome of his serpâ—…â—…ongue the Addâ—… poison that is vnder his lipps wherâ—…y he seeketh to draw the truth of CHRIST and the professors therof into hatred He might as wel say that because CHRIST hath made vs all Kings Priests vnto him therfore we will heere vsurpe the ciuill magistrats and ecclesiastical ministers office These are but the malicious collections vaine conclusions of his idle head graceles heart thus to blaspheme the holy ordinances of CHRIST to call yt Anabaptistical the deprauing of the holy scriptures abusing of the auditors disturbing both of Church common welth calling such Christian assemblies as practise this coÌ„mandement 〈◊〉 conuenticles although he neuer in his life was present at any of their exercises nor is able to charge any one of them with any one 〈◊〉 error as they by his owne mouth are able to charge him all this antichristian ministerie of England which exercise a ministerie without a lawfull calling thervnto by vertue of their inward calling which is their learning sufficiencie as though CHRIST did not know the end vse measure of the gifts he hath giuen them In the Church of CHRIST there are none suffered to speake by way of prophecie but such as haue the gift of prophecie and to forbid such to â—…peake were to stop vp the conductes springs of the Church or rather of Gods graces wherby the Church should be watered and refreshed so far is this exercise from dâ—…prauing the scriptures or abusing the auditorie The rest of his vituperie he hath layd vpon CHRIST the author of this exercise and to him shall answere for the same at that day of reckoning accompt Yf none but Ministers may speake publikly in the Church by way of prophecie how should the people haue trial of the gifts of any how should any ministers in this generall apostaciâ—… and departure be râ—…stored yea how should there euer be any other then now are For if the people may not heare their gifts how should they iudg them â—…f they may not vtter their gifts how should the people heare them Heere I shall by both sorts of our priestes aswell Pontifical as 〈◊〉 be answered that the law is not so generall but that there are exceptions vnto the same The Pontificall will alledg That their mother the Vniuersitie their father the Bishop haue authoritie to giue liceÌ„ce to preach in any Church whersoeuer they become before thâ—…y be either full ministers or haue any office as the engliâ—…h Deacon or half priestes the cathedral Prebends the commoÌ„ Curates or rouing Preachers AmoÌ„gst which you must note a double mysterie Some of them are full ministers without either certayne chaâ—…ge place or office Others haue a certayne yea a pastors charge and office and yet are not full ministers of which sect are the Prebendes ciuil Doctors who may haue parsonages and yet be no ministers The Reformists they wil likewise answere me that their mother the Vniuersitie she hath power to giue leaâ—…e to preach vniuersally through all Churches and also the Select Clâ—…ssis yea peraduenture this schoole of Prophets asâ—…embled haue power to admit some one pickâ—…d maÌ„ to their mysteries which is no priest to giue him leaue to speake amongst them yet hereof I doubt and therfore wil not stand and thus may the people by both sides haue triall of their gifts Great reason that they which maâ—…e the law should also make and take â—…xceptions at their pleasure But wel what booteth this trial that they allow the people when neither of them giue the pâ—…ople liberty to iudg or reproue their doctrine when both sides both Bishops and this new Classis take vpon them to make ministers without the people without any charge place or office certayne But let this matter rest I would know of both or any of them what this their mother they so much boast of is where she had this high authority aboue other women Hâ—… they wil with one voice answere that the Vniuersities are the seminaries of religion of the ministerie of the land the schooles and colledges of learning wherin the sonnes of the Prophets are trained vp as they were in Naiotâ—… in Bethâ—…l Iericho Ierusalem Coriâ—…th If the â—…ree be knowen by the fruite the Cockatriâ—…e by the poisoned egges the Viper by the spawne thâ—… nest by the birdes then let the religion and priestes of the land shew what kind of seminaries colledges these Vniuersities are If these be the bâ—…st fiuite and famousest men that are instructed in nothing but to
the Church as also to bayte the wolfe from the fould and not to suffer him to enter much lesse to teach or exercise anie office there come he neuer so disguised in sheepes clothing wrapped in Samuels mantel or in a rough hayrie garment to deceaue Yf their examples for their incomparable preeminence be not allowed me to follow yet their doctrines cannot be so taken from the least of Christs seruants For a pâ—…rticular instance I insiâ—…t among many other scriptures vpoÌ„ Zacar 13. 2. 3. Verses where they may see an expresse warrant for this my maner of dealing w t these maner of meÌ„ as also the â—…oueraigne vertue effect of this sharpe medecine olde corrupt sores must not be cured w t skinning plaisters or sweet ointmeÌ„ts If I should obey their ambitious appetite therin I should destroie both theÌ„ my self their seared consciences must be wounded their rough garment and counterfait ministerie which they for gaine vainglorie so corruptly execute must be plucked from them they shewed the heigth of their sinne the wrath of God due vnto the same for the high profâ—…nation of his holy name word the misleading murthering so many soules c. that so they may if they belong to Gods election to CHRISTS kingdome be humbled for their sinnes and betake them to some more godly trade of liuing vntill CHRIST thinke them worthy and call them to the worke of his ministerie This grace effect with my whole heart I wish them beseeching theÌ„ in the meane while not to fixe their eies vpon my basenes and ignorance which bring the message so much as vpon their owne miserable estate the message that God vouchsafeth euen by me to send them least they be offended at my basenes folly which is euetie way greater then they â—…aÌ„ imagine or I vtter so in the pride of their owne wisdome and presumption of their owne hearts in disdayning me they stumble at the words of God despise his grace against their owne soules The basenes of CHRISTS choice hath euer beene no small offence to the learned Phaâ—…seis their proselites that he should begin his glorious ministery kingdome in GALILE and that amongst a sort of the most despised simple artificers leauing reiecting the great learned Phariseis Scribes Priests who where the greatest enemies and persecutors of him his Gospel c. The scripture also speaketh euidently that in these latter daies when the viallâ—… of Gods iudgments shalbe powred vpon the false Church that the most part of the men that haue receaued the marke of the Beast and worshipped his image shall not repent of their works but breake out into noisome greeuous sores botches â—…nd shallbe so tormented with heaâ—…e that their tongues shalbe smitten with venemous bliâ—…ters that they shal blaspheme the God of heauen for their paine sores c. The truth of this prophecie and terror of these iudgmentes I behold with griefe executed euen vpoÌ„ the cheefest learnedest of your ministerie striken with such blindnes as they grope their way in the noone light and reele like drunken men in their pathes they are hardned with ambition and couetise as they can find no grace nor place to repentance yea that I euen trâ—…mble to thinke of possessed which such madnes as they that sometimes to our seeming sought reformation and the kingdome of CHRIST IESVS are now become of al others the most pernicious enâ—…mies therof daily studâ—…jng for new caâ—…illes and shiftes to hide their wretchednes and to keep back and misleade the people yea to weaken and discourage the hearts handes of such as in the loue feare truth of God haue begiâ—…ne to build the Lords Temple despising accusing slandering reproching them worse then euer the Amonites Samaritaâ—…es did the Iewes yea euen blaspheming the truth of the Lord when they see they can by no meanes preuaile against yt For all which their impious deeds hard sayings they shal shortly giue accompt to him that is coÌ„ming with thowsands of his saints THVS HAVING discored vnto you the true estate of the people ministerie worship ministration of the church of England yt remaineth now that we take a litle view of the 〈◊〉 gouernmeÌ„t ordinances of this their Church which though they may partly appeare by that which is already written concerning other pointes yet if they be brought a litle neerer the light and compared to these orders ordinances that our Sauiour CHRIST hath set downe in his last wil Testament and incommended to his Church for euer then shal they most eâ—…idétly easily be discerned of all men no labor learning or power can then any longer iustifie couller or vphold them Great hath beene their craft manifold their deuises to couer their antichristian practises and to vphold this their ruinous and tirannous kingdome I had need expresse my meâ—…ning to be of their false ecclesiasticall regiment the kingdome of the Beast least they be my interpretors draw me within dager of treason so like are they vnto their predecessors the Priests Phariseis so apt as the Prophet saith to lay a snare for him that rebuketh in the gate to coÌ„demne him as guilty for the word c. First they sought to darken the true light by terming this heauenly gouernment of CHRIâ—…T and holy ordâ—…rs ordinances of his Testament The outward discipline vsed in the primitiue Churches especially in the time of Lent c. then to keepe the Magistrates the people vtterlie from all sight knowledg hereof both by inhibiting all their priests to preach therof and not suffring any such places of scripture as make expresse mention therof to be so much as read in their Church as â—…om 12. 1 Cor. 15. 12. 2 Cor. 2. Eph. 4. 2 Thes. 3. 1 Tim. 3 5. Tiâ—… â—… much lesse to be sincerely expounded made knowen vnto the Church y t they can at no hand away with scilencing suspending emprizoning such of their forsworne priests as meddle with such matters Yea the wretches perswade the magistrates that yt would breed an innouation if not a subuersion of the whole state hinder the course of the common law cut off the ciuil quite extinguish the cannon law that yt would raise continual schismes contentions and vnapeaseable troubles and tumultes that yt would innouate and alter the regiment of the coÌ„mon welth and draw yt to an Aristocraâ—…ie or Democratiâ—… c. These things these vncleane deuilish spirits thâ—…t are come speake out of the mouth of the Dragon blow into the ciuil magistrates 〈◊〉 and breath into their hearâ—…es who being a great deale more pollitike then religious the Lord knoweth with what truth sorrow of hearâ—… I speake yt are not able to discerne this most impious high blasphemie against God and his CHRIST from sacred veritie but because yt is plausible to the flesh rightly agreeth to the present
fruites therof but take in all the common welth euen al the Queenes subiectes into this thâ—…ir Church vnder CHRISTS gouernment and protection for so would they beare them in hand that such this reformation which they seeke is Their false maner of exercising this their pretended discipline may 〈◊〉 appâ—…re by the weake and fearfull practise of some of their forward men who that they might make a faire â—…hew amongst their rude ignorant parishners in stead of CHRISTS gouernmeÌ„t set vp their counterfait Discipline in and ouer all the parish making the popish Churâ—…hwardens periured Questmen Elders And for M r. Parson himself he takes vnto him the instrumeÌ„t of that foolish shepeheard his pastoral staffe or woodden dagger of suspension wherwith he keepeth such a floorishing as the flies caÌ„ haue no rest yea by your leaue if any poore man in the parish offend him he may peraduenture goe without his bread wine for that day Their permanent Synods and councels also which they would erect not heere to speake of ther new duch Classâ—… for therin is a secret should only consist of Priests or Ministers as they terme them people of the Churches be shut out and neither be made acquainted with the matters debated there neither haue free voice in those Synods Councels but must receaue obey without contradiction whatsoeuer those learned Priests shall decree These Synods Councels shall haue absolute power ouer all Churches doctrines ministers to erect ratifie or abrogate to excommunicate or depose at their pleasures Their decrees are most holy without controulement vnlesse yt be by the Prince or the high Court of ParliameÌ„t Not â—…eere to speake of their solemne orders obserued in these councils and Synodes as their choice by suffrage amongst themselues of their Archisynagogoâ—… or Rector Chorj their president as they call him propownder or moderator of their councell about which their predecessors haue had no small stir vntil their holy Father the Pope put an end to the strife by getting the chaire This stusfe they would bring in againe vnder colour of reformatioÌ„ â—…hese many more their leauened corrupt writings of discipline and their supplications vnto the Parliament dâ—…clare With what pernicious forgeries what kind of sacrilegious profanation of Gods holy ordinances shal more playnly appearâ—… wheÌ„ we haue sâ—…t downe the truth of CHRISTS institutioÌ„ which is the only arch-type and true patterne of all true builders buildings which who so at any hand transgresseth either in matter or maner as they speake is to be reproued as an euill workeman and his work to burne seeme yt to haue neuer so great anâ—…iquitie holines vâ—…ilitie in pretence The auncient waies of the Lord are the only true waies whatsoeuer is second or diuers is new false This I say because both these factions of our pontifical and reforming Priests haue sought rather to the broken pitts drie cisternes of mens inuentions for their direction and groundworke then vnto the purâ—… fountaine of Gods word The first sort most groâ—…ly drawe al their water from that most 〈◊〉 drayne and poisoned sinke of the papistical corrupâ—…ion as is to be seene by their whole ministerie worship ministration gouernment c. because yt in all pointes accordeth â—…o their antichristian prelacie idolaâ—…rie pride c. and only beâ—…t agreeth to the corrupt estate of this realme vvhich hath so long beene made dronke with the vvhores cuppe that they can now taste or brooke no other liquor Tâ—…e other sort they fetch their reformation from the primitiue defectioÌ„ when the ministerie began to vsurpe grow into vnlawful superioritie and iurisdiction when they began to decline from the true patterne of CHRISTS Testament and grew bold to innouate as to set vp a new antichristiaÌ„ ministerie as their Prouincials Bishops Archbishops Archdeacons Metropolitanes Patriarchs to take the whole regiment of the Church into their hands to gather councils of Bishops to make new decrees c. All which proceedings as I find them defected from the rules of CHRISTS Testament so far dare I boldly pronownce them their proceedings I meane leauing their persons to the Lords iudgment wicked vngodly not looking vnto or respecting the learning or holines of the men how ancient how manie soeuer From these ancient defections haue these learned reforming Priests drawen their platforme of reformation as best suting to the estimation of their persons the admiration of their learning and holines and not greatly opposite to the sinfull estate of the land especially as they in theiâ—… wisdomes would vse the matter who I dare vndertake for them good men would not molest or offend anie of welth or authoritie liue as they list neither need they be so afraid of the thunderbolt of exâ—…munication they wil I warrant you proceed to yt with a leaden heele especially agâ—…inst such men And for the râ—…st which seemes so strange in their eares as their Pasâ—…ors and Elders for their Parson Questmen their Synodes in stead of their Commissaries courts their high councels in stead of the high coÌ„mission let them neuer be afraid for by that time they are acquâ—…inted with the new names they shall not finde the iurisdiction halfe so strange as yt seemes It wil be troublesome to none but to their Lords the BB. their courts attendants and the dombe ministers in deed their cake is dough if this geare this sweeping new reformation come in As for these new officers these Elders they shall be but of the welthiest honest simple men of the parish that shal sit for ciphers dombe by their Pastor meddle with nothing neither poore soules shal they know more then they say As for the ordering of all things y t shalbe in the Pastors hands only especially in some chiefe men who shall be these presidents rulers of Synodes councels and so the pâ—…ople be kept as far from the knowledg performance of their duties as euer they were for so long haue the Priests for so still I call all false and antichristian ministers vsurped and deteined the sole regiment of the Church in their hands as yt wilbe a verie hard matter for the people euer to recouer their libertie agâ—…ine You see how the one side the Pontificals I meane prescribe in their quiâ—… possessioÌ„ reiect al claime the people can make refuting them by Mâ—…hiauels coÌ„siderations 〈◊〉 his Politikes in stead of the new Tesâ—…ameÌ„t alledging I wore not how many pollitike incoÌ„uenieâ—…ces in way of Barre The other sect or factioÌ„ rather these Reformiâ—…s howsoeuer for fashioÌ„ sake they giue the people a litle libertie to sweeten their mouthes make theÌ„ beleeue that they should choose their owne ministers for further right in the censuring their ministers or in the ordering the affaires of their churches they allow not as hath beene sayd yet euen in this pretended choice doe they coozen beguile theÌ„ also leauing them nothing but the smoky windy title