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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

Principle it self being so much decryed by so many of your great men as well King 's as Parliaments as page 51 52. Then whether you doing the same thing viz. Imposing upon the Consciences of your Brethren and persecuting them with so much Cruelty to the ruining as much as lies in you both their Souls Bodies Liberties and Estates be not to be Self-judged with a Witness 2 dly Doth it not greatly justifie the former Popish Cruelties and make way for new ones over Protestants as well as contract their Guilt appearing thus in their Spirit and Practice as Christ told the persecuting Jews in that day that they thereby filled up the measure of their Fathers c. and brought the guilt of the former Blood upon themselves even from the Blood of Righteous Abel c. Thirdly Is it not wonderful Contradiction to abet succour and relieve the French Pres●yterian Dissenters under their cruel Persecutions for their Nonconformity and yet at the same time to exercise all that Cruelty Ruin and Destruction to the English Presbyterian Nonconformists like the Scribes and Pharisees who built the Tombs of the Prophets and at the same time killed the Prophets And Fourthly Whether you do not hereby raise a mighty cry of Christ's poor Lambs appointed by you to the Slaughter against you to their Lord and Master and who may thereupon say to you as to persecuting Saul of Old Why do you Persecute me it is hard for you to kick against the Pricks But 't is possible you may say That the Persecution is not from you but barely the prosecution of the Laws we transgress which if we break we must thank our selves and not complain of you So said Bonner of old to the Martyrs in Queen Mary's days and so said the Scribes and Pharisees of Christ They had a Law and by their Law he ought to dye But you know it is a Maxim in the English Law 28 H. 8. That if any Law Vsuage or Custom be contrary to God's Law they are null and void in themselves And how much such Laws so rigorously put in force against the Dissenters are against both the Law of God and Nature you have by your own Pens decided and do also know what the proper Interpreters of the Law have said of them viz. that Protestant Dissenters are not intended by them but the Popish only as pag. 47 48 49 50. And as for the severe Penalties inflicted upon Dissenters as Seditious and Riotous for their Assembling together to worship God as though they thereby infringed the Law and violated the publick Peace and for which they have in these three last Years suffered in their Estates and Trades at least two Millions as supposed contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of those Statutes if the Maxim of the Law be true that the Intention makes the legal Trespass both as to TREASON Fellony Murder and Riot Twenty Three Years Experience evidencing their quiet and peaceable Behaviour and that they have been as far from Sedition and Riot as the Law defines as any in the Nation Lambard our great English Lawyer defining a Riot tells us It is where three or more Persons be disorderly assembled in Armour with an intent to commit with Force Violence an unlawful act and that great Numbers being assembled together make no Riot till such a Riotous Intent be known quoting these following Statutes so defining it 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2 H. 5. c. 8. 4 H. 7. c. 13. 2 Ed. 3. c. 3. 2 R. 2. c. 6. But have you disowned and witnessed against the Cruelties exercised and done what you could to prevent them or rather with Edom stood on the other side Obed. v 11. and help'● forward your Brethren's Affliction and by your Presses Pulpits and Addresses and cruel Courts furthered it all that lies in you 5. Quaery If you declare that it is no sinful separation to separate from those who separate from Truth and true Chruch but a Duty to God and our selves to free us from Sin and Suffering as pag. 71. Then if you your selves have made a separation from the Truth and true Church you not only reproach your own Separation from Rome but justifie your Brethrens from you as warrantable by your own Principles Who art thou that judgest another and dost the same things c. 6. Quaery If by your own as well as Scripture Rules it is no Sedition nor Contempt to Authority not to obey the unlawful Commands of Magistrates in the things of God as pag. 64 65 66. Then whether your dissenting Brethren are not most injuriously dealt with by you for that great Out-cry gone out against them from your Pulpits and Presses for Sedition and Rebellion when it is only in the matter of their God you have to accuse them and for their saying with the Apostles It is better to obey God than Men there being in truth no more Sedition nor Rebellion to be found either in their Principles or Practice than your own 7. Quaery If all this be true then whether it doth not very much explain that usual saying That Popery is rather to be chosen than Presbytery and that it is better to be a Papist than a Presbyter Thus Sir you have something which the Dissenters have to say for themselves hoping i● shall not be ●udge● either Unreasonable or Unseasonable to present to you this their just Defence and give you thus the Merits of the Cause not only from your Call so to do and a Silence thereupon might either bespeak consenting Guilt or prevent a satisfying Reply to our Conscientious Scruples but also the many severe Pressures and Sufferings we ●le under from you for our Nonconformity which may plead some excuse for this modest Plea And Loosers being admitted the liberty of Speech as Sick men to groan and the Afflicted to cry Therefore may we not hope for a fair Admission of our Plaint for present as better Usage for the future since we have not to do with savage Indians not brutish Irish Massacring-Cut-Throats worse than Canibals to whom all Reason Right and Truth is unaccessable but with our own Country men Neighbours Fellow-Citizens Acquaintance Relations Gentlemen Scholars with men professing the same Protestant Religion with our selves and with so many who have offered Reasons and Arguments to us and may therefore hope they will receive it from us how else can they answer our Scruples ●nd not stop our Mouthes with Goals Pillories and Halters say what they please to render us and our Principles obnoxious and refuse and reject our just Defence it being below common Ingennity to challenge an Adversary to the Field and when he appears cause him to be disarm'd gagg'd and bound and then manfully cudgel him and boast of a Conquest far be it from us so to think and particularly since you your selves lie under the same Censure of Schism Heresie and Sedition from the Popish party as we from you and have given the same

justifie the Schism and Separation from Rome To have recourse to the Scriptures consulting those Oracles how things stood from the beginning and only separating from them we find Separatists from the Primitive Church and Truth we make Asec●●●ion that we may not partake of the English Roman Schism and answering the Lords express Command Come out from amongst them be ye sepanate c. 2 Cor. 6. Rev. 18. 4. be to be esteemed Sedition Schism and Separation we are Seditious Schismaticks and Separatists If to own the Soveraignity of Christ by whom all things were created and by whom all things consist who to this end dyed rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of quick and dead to whom the Father hath given all Power both in Heaven and Earth King of Kings and Lord of Lords and Powers and Potentates as under him in Conscience to him to whom you own every Knee must bow and the King is but next and immediately under him supream Head and Governour in all Causes Ecclesiastical and Civil it being also stampt upon our Coyn Christ● Auspice Regn● Christ the Kingdom 's happy Guide If the owning and asserting his Soveraignity in chief be Treason and Rebellion we own we are such Traytors and Rebels If in our Places and Stations to endeavour the Defence of the English Government Laws Liberties and Properties and to keep out the Popes forreign usurped Power who has heretofore so tyranniz'd over Prince and People both as to their Bodies and souls in these Nations and to which all who have taken the Oath of Allegeance are so solemnly engaged be to be esteem'd Plotting and Plotters we own our selves guilty of that Plot. The CONCLUSION THus Sir you have at your Friendly Call and Invitation a fair and impartial Examination of the Merits of the Cause giving you the different Sentiments of the Guides on both sides in the most material Objections made by the one and the candid Answers of the other and how far your own Principles and Practice in separating from Superstitious Idolatrous and Persecuting Bloody Rome justifies in many things their Principles as well as Practice in separation from you walking in their steps The substance whereof for a conclusion I shall briefly sum up with some Reflections thereon in the following Queries viz. 1. Quaery If your Answer to the Papists calling for your Negative Proof from the Scriptures against their Molatrous Foppish and unwritten Traditions be good against them viz. That there needs no Negative Proof to disprove them because they are not contain'd in OVR ONLY RVLE OF FAITH THE BIBLE as pag. 5. Then whether the same Answer is not good from the Dissenters when you ask them the very same Question which carries it in the whole of the Controversie ●s Dr. Stillingfleet observes p. 4 viz. That there needs no Negative Proofs to disprove all the Rites Services and Ceremonies inquestion because none of them are contained in our ONLY RULE OF FAITH where they say They no more ●●nd National Provincial Dioc●san Churches your Government by Lord Arch-Bishops and Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons Parsons Vicars Curats Chancellors Officials your Consecration of Churches and Priests your Priests Garments Altars Liturgies Singing-Service Letanies Bowing Crossing Kneeling at Sacrament Holy-dayes Fasts Feasts Vigils Then the Popish Holy Water Salt Oyl Spittle Baptizing of Bells Exorcisms Conjurations Bowing to Images and Altars and other such li●e Fopperies pag. 6 7 8. 2. Query If your own Pens do declare that to enjoyn unnecessary or indifferent things viz. things not contained in the Scripture in Gods Worship and Service as necessary ought to be reputed an adding to Gods Word a teaching for Doctrine the Commands of men Superstition Will-Worship or worshipping God in vein as pag. 12. then how can you avoid the same charge brought against you by the Dissenters when you as sel●-judged and condemned do the same things For are not your Rites and Ceremonies confessed by you to be Indifferent things as pag. 9 10. imposed upon Dissenters as absolutely necessary to the Excommunicating or as much as lies in you daming their Souls ruining their Bodies and Estates who conscientiously scruple and refuse them as page ●1 12 13. 3. Quaery If you do declare the Rites Services and Ceremonies in the Liturgy are of Primitive Antiquity and not of Popish Novelty as pag. 14 15. and that you have left or separated from the Church of Rome because they have left Primitive Antiquity and therefore the Dissenters have no cause to boggle at or scruple them as Popish But if it appear to be quite otherwise as the Examination of each particular seems to demonstrate as p. 16 17 18 19 20 c. viz That they are not of Primitive Antiquity but of Popish Novelty and all of them fe●ch't from the Institution of Popes and Popish Councils and Canons and not from Jesus Christ and his New-Testament Canons If so then first Whether you do not betray much Rashness and Weakness not to say with the Protestant Reconciler one of your own Falshood and Hypocrisie And Secondly Whether you do not thereby justifie the Dissenters Separation from you as warrantable because they separate from you for being in the practice of Popish Superstition and unwritten Tradition because they are expresly commanded by Christ To separate and come out from such unwarrantable Practices 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16 17 18. Rev. 18. 4. Lest partaking of such Sins they share of the threatned Judgments It being very dishonourable as well as dangerous to halt betwixt two If God be God he but if Baal he is to be served and followed To which purpose we find in that most remarkable Letter of Bishop Hall to Dr. Laud afterward Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that which is very instructive upon this account whereof therefore I shall presume to give you this following part of it viz. Resolve saith he one way and know at last what you do hold and what you should cast off either your Wings or your Teeth and lo●thing this Bate like Nature be either ● Bird or a Beast If you must begin why not now it is dangerous deferring that whose Want is deadly and whose Opportunity is doubtful God cryeth out with ●eh● Who is on my side Who Look at least out of your Window to him and in a resolute Courage cast down this Jezebel c. Thus far the good Bishop which is a good caution against Indifferency and Luke warmness in the service of Christ agreeable to our Saviour Rev. 3. to Laodicea I would thou wert either cold or hot c. 4. Quaery If your selves have judged Popish Imposition and Persecution for Conscience to be Antichristian Wolfish and Beastly wholly contrary to Christianity and the Lamb like Nature of Christ and that it is Injustice and barbarous Cruelty to afflict men for what they cannot help and a plain Rebellion against God by wresting his Scepter and usurping his Empire over Conscience out of his hand the

of the Rites Service and Ceremonies Their was another Mass which was called the Mass of Ambrose a ridiculous thing which they afterwards fathered upon him different from Gregory's whereof we read in after times and there was great contention which Mass should be received into the Churches Which when Pope Adrian who was Anno 796. saw he was put to his shifts and said he would refer it ●o the Will of God whether he would by any visible sign Approve the Mass of Gregory 〈◊〉 of Ambrose So these two Books ●ere 〈◊〉 together upon the A●●ar in St. Peter's Church and 〈◊〉 called upon God to shew which of the two be approved the Doers were shut all Night and the next Morning when they returned into the Church the Book of Ambrose was found lying as it was laid down and the other was all torn and dispersed through the Church The Pope maketh the Comment that the Mass of Ambrose should lye untouched and the Mass of Gregory should be used through the World And so ●e did Authorize and Command that it should be used in all Churches and Chappels which Charles the Great did second Commanding that only to be used and Ambroses to be Burnt Gregory the first Ordained the Letanies or Supplications saith Platina The Responses and Gradual was given by Pope Gregory saith Pol. Virgil. The Collects Ordinary as saith Durandus were Ordained by Pope Gregory the other Collects added by sundry Popes as Cassandar in Liturgia cap. 21. He made the Offices of the Church and disposed the Nights and Days Antiphones or Singing-Service he polished the Rites of the Mass and renewed its Canon he made the Introitus to the Mass with the Particles he Commanded the Kyrieeleison and Hallelujah to be Sung He ordered the singing of Psalms the Letanies and Processions Balaeus Cent. 1. p. 62. sect 32. The Prescript Number of Psalms and Lessons was brought into the Church by Gregory the 7 th Anno 1073. saith Durandus The Epistles and Gospels Platina gives to Pope Damasus Anno 384. Pope Anastasius brought in Standing at the Gospel Anno 400. as saith Platina and Pol. Virgil. Austin Confess lib. 9. shews that the Latine Church had no Singing-Service that was brought into our Ceremonies saith Polidore Virgil from the old Heathen de Invent. Rer. lib. 6. c. 2. who were wont to Sacrifice with Symphony witness Livies l. 9. The Primitive Church had no Altars Pope Sylvester was the first Author of their Consecration Bellar. de Verb. Dei l. 4. c. 3. Anno 334. Then consequently no Bowing to them nor Kneeling before them being all Novels As little can you find the English Festivals in Antiquity The Centurists tells us Observandum est Apostolos Apostolicos viros neque de Paschate neque de aliis quibuscunque festivitatibus legem aliquam constituisse It is to be observed that neither the Apostles nor any Apostolick men have given us any Law for the observation of Easter or any other Feast whatsoever Magd. Cent. 2. Chap 6. p. 119. They also tell us out of Origen That it was not lawful for Christians to observe the Feasts or Solemnities either of Jews or Gentiles Cent. 3. p. 137. The Council of Laodicea in the 37 Can. forbad the Heathenish or Jewish Feast Non oportet a Judaeis vel Hereticis Feriatica quae mittuntur accipere nec cum eis dies agere Feriatos The Canons of the Ancient Councils forbad to keep the Pagan Feasts and to deck their Houses with green Boughs and Bay leaves as they did in the Kalends of January Con. Affr. Can. 2. Tolet. 4. Can. 5. Brac. 2. c. 7. The Festivals observed by the Ancients were not accounted more holy than other days Jerome on Matth. 5. saith Non quod celebrior sit dies illa qua conv●nimus The Waldenses The Ancient Fathers of the Protestants held that they were to rest from labour upon no day but the Lord's day Aeneas Sylvius The Rites and Geremonies of Marriage as expressed in the Office of Marriage in the Liturgy do not appear to have been in use in those Primitive times It being decreed by Pope Julius and Ser●●ius about the middle of the 4 th Century That all Marriage should pass the Benediction of a Priest upon penalty of Sa●riledge The Office being taken from the Papists and those very Restraints laid upon Marriage at what seasons People may Marty and when not are taken out of the Romish Rubrick Pope Clement having ordained that from Septuage sima till Easter from Rogation till Whitsunday and from Advent to Epiphany Marriage should be prohibited and which Doctrine of Devils is translated from their Rubrick to ours As for Bowing to the Altar and to the East and at Entrance into Churches and Temples they are Reverences which seem to be fetch'd from an Elder date viz. from the Pagan Idolaters and from whom the superstitious Ancients and Papists had them and we from them Dr. Willer in his Synop. Papisi p. 492 493. saith That Bowing at the Altar and Name of Jesus are superstitious Idolatries As for Ecclesiastical Orders and Officers of the Lord Arch-Bishops Lord Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons 〈◊〉 and the Supremacy exercised one over another in the Church of England they are so far from having the stamp of Primitive Antiquity that they are not to be found therein at least for the three or four first Centuries Dr. Stillingfleet in his Irenicum p. 177. tells us after this manner viz. That whether any shall succed the Apostles in superiority of Power over Presbyters or all remain governing the Church in an equality of Power is no where determined by the Will of Christ in the Scripture which contains his ROYAL LAW and therefore we have no reason to look upon it as any thing flowing from the Power and Authority of Christ as Mediator and so not necessar●ly binding to Christians And further assures us That Episcopal men cannot shew by the word of God neither by the practice of the Apostles nor so much as by the PRIMITIVE CHURCH that a Minister of Jesus Christ hath had any superintendency over several private Churches or that a Bishop hath ordained Ministers by his sole and pure Authority as is now practised in England or that he who is not naturally Invested with any Authority should have the power to Delegate others and much more Secular persons And if any would be better satisfied herein there are two late pieces which may fully do it viz. one by Dr. Owen in a Book called The Order and Communion of Evangelical Churches and the other in a Book called No Evidence for Diocesan Churches and Bishops in the primitive times The Primitive Fathers were against dedicating of Churches to Saints and Angels Austin saith If we build a Church of Stones or Wood unto any most excellent Angel are we not accursed and anathematized from the Truth and from the

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

Jews and Pagans To the same Purpose Mr. Greenham and Mr. Marbury That Agreeing with us most of the Reformed Divines do hold 1. That those Laws that we have Alledged out of the Old Testement against the Monument of Idolatry do bind us as much as they did the Jews and from them they Conclude as we have done That all Reliques of Popish and heathenish Superstition are to be Banished out of the Church of Christ of this Judgment are Calvin Martyr Grineus Wolphins Vrsinus Machabeus Zanchius Simetrus Zepperus our own Book of Homilies Dr. Fulk and others 2. That Hezekiah Josiah and the rest of the Godly Kings of Juda which shewed most Zeal in Abolishing those things which had been abused by Idolatry did no more then they were bound by the Law of God to do And that from their Example the Argument holds strong against the Monuments of Idolatry now because all Christians are Bound to Imitate their Zeal therein Of this Judgment was Augustin Calvin Martyr Wolphins Eevator Zanchius Bishop Jewil Bilson Dr. Fulck Dr. Raynold Dr. Andrews Mr Perkins and Others 3. That the Retaining of Popish Ceremonies will certainly be a means to indanger the Doctrine that we profess and to bring the People back to Popery this was the judgment of the People of Saxony and them of Humburgh and of Luther 4. That the Retaining of the Ceremonies of Idolaters will Cause them to insult over our Religion as if it could not stand without help from them and to harden them in their likeing of their own Idolatry this Reason hath bee used against Conformity with the Jews by Constantine the Emperor and by all the Fathers in the first Counsel of Nice and against Conformity with the Papists Begentiis Musculus Bishop Jewel and Others 5. We are Confirmed in this our Perswasion that it is unlawful to Retain the Ceremonies of the Papists by Experience of the Great hurt they have done and do Dayly in the Church for we find that some of the Learnedest of the English Papists Namely Martial Bristow and he that penned the petition for the Papists which Dr. Stutliff and Mr. Powel have Answered have by this Argument Justifyed their Church and Religion that we have borrowed our Ceremonies from them yea some of them as Harding Martial and he that Writ the Astrological Epistle for our English Papists have professed that this was to them an Evident Argument that Q. Elizabeth did in her Conscience like well of their Religion because She liked and maintained their Ceremonies and the Superstitious Multitude do usually defend the Blessing of themselves with Crossing their Breasts and Foreheads by our Crossing our Children in Baptism So far the Abridgment And to which we may add this further Testimony following viz. Altas Damas p. 612 613. tells us That from three Romish Channels was the English Service raked together namely 1st The Breviary out of which the Common-Prayers are taken 2dly The R●tual or Book of Rites out of which the Administration of Sacraments Burial Matrimony Visitation of the Sick are taken 3dly The Mass-Book out of which the Cons●cration of the Lords Supper Collects Gospels and Epistles are taken Bishop Hall in his Quo Vadis saith That his Eyes and Ears can witness with what applause the Catholicks entertained the new translated Liturgy of our Church Mr. Thomas Gage in his English American chap. 22. p. 205 thus expresseth himself I conti●ued twelve Moneths at my Vnoles House at Gatton searching though unknown to my Vncle and Kindred into the Doctrine and Truth of the Gospel professed in England for which cause I made many Journies to London and then privately I resorted to some Churches and especially to Paul's Church to see the Service performed and to hear the Word of God preached but so that I might not be seen known or discovered by and Papist When in Pauls Church I heard the Organs and the Musick and the Prayers and the Collects and saw the Ceremonies at the Altar I remembred Rome again and perceived little difference betwixt the two Churches I searched further into the Common-Prayer and carried with me a Bible into the Country on purpose to compare the Prayers Epistles and Gospels with a Mass-Book which there I had at command and I found no difference but only English and Latine which made me wonder and to acknowledge that much remained still of Rome in the Church of England and that I feared my Calling was not right And p. 209. tells us That upon his return afterwards to Rome that Father Fitz Herbert told him that the Common-Prayer Book which was composed for Scotland was by Arch-Bishop Laud sent to Rome to be first viewed and approved by the Pope and Cardinals and who upon the perusal did approve thereof and liked very well for Protestants to be trained in such a form of Prayer and Service c. Great Cerus Panegyer Missae cap. 11. 12. alledgeth against the Reformed Churches the English Service-Book for their Popish Holy-days the Book of Canons for the Sign of the Cross and Kneeling at the Altar and for the whole Hierarchy c. Cornelpis Scultingius in his Hyerarchica Anicrists citeth whole Leaves out of Whitegift for the defence of their Hierarchy Stapleton Reflect against Whitaker Cont. 2. Qu. 3. Art 3. useth Whitegift's Argument to uphold their Discipline and professeth they are built upon one Foundation They further say as Paep Sapp Anno 1604. Reas of Relig. 13 That from their Treasure-House the Religion now established in England hath learned the form of Christening Marrying Churching of Women visiting the Sick Burying the Dead c. as their Book say they translated out of ours declares Curtaine Of Ch. Power p. 40. saith That he heard one of the Jesuits say that it was his hopes that our Service and Ceremonies would return us again to Rome Another Objection is this That whilst they separate for indifferent and about disputable things they do violate a known plain positive Scripture which enjoyns the Inferiors to be obedient and subject to their Superiors The Protestant Reconciler 2 part urges it as an Objection brought against the Diffenters compar'd with 1 part p. 198. That seeing God hath enjoyned all Persons to obey those that have the Rule over them Heb. 13. 17 and submit themselves and to be subject to the higher Powers as to the Ordinance of God and that for Conscience sake He that can satisfie his Conscience in his Refusal so to do must shew some Law of God as evidently forbidding his Obedience to what Superiors do enjoyn as do these Scriptures command OBEDIENCE to them in ALL LAWFUL THINGS And you tell us in your Scrupulous Conscience pag. 33. That these things of a publick Nature belong only to our Superiors and Governours and if they appoint what is unfit indecent and inconvenient they only are accountable for it It is not the fault of those that joyn in such Worship or yield to such Injunctions NOT PLAINLY SINFUL

the Supream Law-givers unrepealable Statutes quite exploding what 's undeniably borrowed from the Pompilian or Pontifical Canons Some Sheets have been Printed off of what I intended to present to you but the Messenger of the Press interupted the procedure and got me Committed to Newgate where I am now confined There is nothing done nor was intended to be done but a fair Examination of those things yonr Sermon invited to which I had thought if esteemed Criminal should fall rather within the Cognizance of Divines then the men of Law For methinks the Pandects should not be the Oracles of Religion and that temporal Statutes should be so Civil as to give precedency to the sacred Records 'T is possible that inquirers into Religion will look upon it as a preposterous proceeding and disagreeable to the Nature of the Christian Faith to force doubting persons by penaltyes to Embrace it for that can never make them good Converts but Hypocrites May they not say that t is a horid disparagement to the self-evidencing Light of the Gospel if it cannot stop the mouths of the Gain-sayers any other way then by the Rigid Execution of Acts of State I cannot find that Christ or his Disciples ever Church-cursed or Newgated Scrupulous Consciences to Conformity My Confinement is for accepting your invitation to hear both sides and I appeal to you whether it be Candid to punish me for Obeying a Guide of the Church I look upon you in honour Obliged to procure my Sheets yet unfinished a publick Pasport and to me my Liberty Else I must conclude it unfair and that if the irresistible Logick of Goals grows Al a-mode it will make the Reformation some pretend to suspected to be very little Meritorious of theat Name Religion is a Sacred thing and has been most horribly abused by such as have superadded their own inventions or those Traditional Fopperies received from our Deceiv'd and Superstitious Ancestors I am satisfied you as well as Dr. Stillingfleet will own or ther 's no debating with you that the Scripture is our only Rule of Faith If so pray let your Scrupulous Consciences be won to Conformity by that All Men are not of Equal Capacity to apprehend things doubtfull for if they had been so there had beed no necesity of Preachers and the Methods of convincing Men is as plainly lay'd down in the Bible as any thing there viz. By plain demonstrative Arguments meek and winning Perswasions not the Sylogisms of Prisons Pillories c. I Beseech you in the fear of God and as you will answer it to our great Lord and Master Jesus Christ that without respect to any other end then the good of Souls as the profession you take Obliges you to that you would Treat Scupulous Consciences as you would be dealt withal your self If they have no reason for their Dissent and will without ground suffer Imprisonments with all the Ruinous Concomitants of so dismal a Circumstance t is certain that Bedlam is more fit for them then such places of Confinement as are appointed for men in their wits and by consequence t is pity to be so severe with such Simpletons But if you will allow them any Modicum of Reason then I appeal to all the Guid's of the Church whether it be not more consonant to the precepts of our Soveraign Legislator to confute them by his Rules rather then by such Coercive methods which his Majesty judg'd Ineffectual in his Declaration of indulgence March 1672 As Truth seeks no Corners nor Suborners and as Real Beauty will not be beholden to the Artificial dawbings of a Pencil so the Christian Religion where professed in its naked Simplicity needs no other argument to beget Proselites then its own Lovely and Illustrious Features altogether plain honest and every way Amiable voyd of all Meretricious Gawdery or that Majestical Pomp which pleases only the External Sense I have no malignity against any Person whatsoever much less against your Church or any of its Members all I desire is that Scrupulous Consciences who trouble not the peace of the Nation should be dealt withal at least as weak Brethren according to Rom. 14. 1. and not Ruin'd by Penaltys for not Swallowing what 's imposed under the notion of Decency and Order tho Excentrick to the Scheme we have of it in our only Rule of Faith Sr. I intreat you to excuse this Trouble from a Stranger who would fain be convinced by something more like Divinity then Negate where any Message from you shall be welcome to Your Humble Servant Thomas Delaune From the Press-yand Newgate the 8 th of December 1683. To this Letter Delivered by my Wife I received an Answer to this effect That if I had been Imprisoned upon the account of Answering your Book you would do me any kindness that became you But not hearing from you I sent the following Letter by my Wife January Die Nono 1683. Reverende Vir QVod semel atque iter●m Concionatus eras Typisque mandaveras de Dubitanti Conscientia quotquot Diversae sint sententiae circa quosdam Ritus ac Ceremonias ad utriusque partis Rationes Examinandas satis publice vocitaverat Tacentibus alijs in illa re tibi parebam non litigand Causa imparnim est Congressus inter te tantum virum me tantillum sed uthujus-modi Litem adimendi sicuti praeceperas adhibeatur occasio Si propter tale duntaxat obsequium me paenas daturum nescio quot quibusve modis decretum fuerit Nunquid nova vincendi ratio sacris paginis inaudita apud quosdam Antesignanos exoritur Quid de his rebus sentiendum esse videatur ex sacro Codice ac probatis Scriptoribus disquirere proposui te Cunctos vaciliantes tam acriter invitante ex illo Lumine semitarum ex lla Lucerna Psal 119. 105. Rationes aliquot hauseraml adversus varios ac Multiplices Errores qui in Ecclesiant Irrepserunt Easola de causa usque ad Carcerem ubi nihil amabile est adactus sum Vtrum Istiusmodi Argumenta valuerint ad vestrae Concienis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 probandas sub Judice Supremo lis sit Anve tali modo ullus ex dubitantibus in spirituale Cogi potuerit Ovile Judex esto Nihil adversus Regiam Majestatem nihil de Regimine Civili nihil contra Monarchiae pacem asseritur De Rituum ac Ceremoniarum origine deque rebus quae specie veritatis Etiamsi parum recte in dubitantes Objiciuntur sola dissertatioest Quid de me Curia decreverit nescio Fiat summi Patris Voluntas Vniversis qui salutis humanae largitorem secundum verbum ejus Colunt Pacem internam ac externam in hoc ae●ernamque in futuro seculo Precatur Thomas De Laune Vt Responsumaliquod quod Theologum decet per dilectiss●mam meam Conjugem uti promisisti remittas obse●ro The English of which is thus January the 9th 1683. Reverend Sir What you once and again preached and then