THE CURTAINE OF CHVRCH-POVVER AND AVTHORITIE IN THINGS CALLED INDIFFERENT Drawne and laid open to shew the many infectious sores and maladies they bring in and cover Together with sundry infallible reasons proving that the service of God and the generall good of the Church and Common wealth require that they should be abolished By Ia Henric. Isai 29.13 14. Forasmuch as this people draw neere me with their mouth and with their lips doe honour me but have removed their heart far from me and their feare towards me is taught by the precepts of men Therefore behold I will proceed to doe a marvellous worke amongst this people for the wisedome of their wisemen shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Ier. 8.22 Is there no balme in Gilead is there no Physitian there Why then is 〈…〉 health of the daughter of my people recovered Printed MDCXXXII To the Christian Reader VVEe may see cleerly how it oft fareth betweene Christ and the Churches by that which he said against the Scribes and Pharises when he proved that in divers particulars they had made the word of God of none effect through theire traditions The Church of Rome hath in that evill exceeded them Marc. 8.6 to 14. Bellarmin in his 4 book of the unwritten word of God Chap. 2. making three sorts of traditions calleth one Ecclesiastical which he saith are introduced from ancient customes by the Prelates or by the people and creepingly by the silent and unquestioning agreement of the people have gained as it were strength of law with such are wee to deale Sess 21. Chap. 1.2 The Councell of Trent declareth that this power hath the Church alwayes had in ministring of the Sacraments haveing their substance to ordaine or alter that which she judged to be most expedient for the vtilitie of those that receive them I could wish the Church of England at least in her practise had never inclined to such kind of opinions and traditions But considering how things goe there I thought my selfe so much bound to Christ my Saviour that I must discover the mischeivous wounds and soares they bring in and cover that by the mercie of God and care of them that are sensible of the hurts there may happily be found balme in Gilead to cure them Ier. 8.22 Lame 1.12 For stay and consider all ye that passe by If the Church of England like the man m the Gospel that went downe from Ierusalem to Iericho be not fallen among theeues Luc 10.30 31.32 that have stripped her of her raiment wounded her whether many Priests and Levits have not come downe that way and seene her and passe by on the other side Whether I seeing the wouâ—â— thâ—â—â—re herein manifested Vers 37. could doe lesse then have compassion on her whether I have not as far as God hath enabled me bound them vp and powred into them the wine of his law and the oyle of the Gospel whether I had not reason to complaine of them that have so cruelly hurt her and if in ought I have donne the part of a neighbour remember what our Lord saith goe thou doe likewise Be not of them that cover with a covering Isai 30.1 but not of Gods Spirit But rather remember Christs words beware of false Prophets that come to you in sheepes clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves ye shal know them by theire fruits Math. 7.15 16.18 Doe men gather grapes of thornes or figs of Thistles A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit The presbiterie and the hierarchie may bee theese two trees which thou shalt know by theire fruits he that seekes the good hath adversaries about the bad I may find such in this worke but he that shall judge both them and me is able to defend it If then they constraine me to say with my Leader I have laboured in vaine Isa 49.3 I have spent my strength for nought I shal adde yet surely my jugment is with the Lord and my worke with my God To his grace therefore and protection I must commend it and rest Thine in the Lord IA HENRIC THE CVRTAINE OF CHVRCH-POWER AND Authority in things called indifferent drawne and laid open to shew the many infectious soares and maladies they bring in and cover I Deny not but that the Church may make ordinances when they be but few easie innocent and tend onely to the keeping of that which is in effect required though not in termes expressed in Gods word Aug. confess lib. 1. c. 11. In the primitive Church many put off their Baptisme either till age when the heat of sinne was well over or till they were sicke and in danger of death because they had a conceit that sinnes after Baptisme were greater that in Baptisme all sinnes and staines were washed away and in the meane they might give more scope to their lusts whereupon the Church made a Canon that none might bee a Bishop who had beene baptized in his bed because such a one seemed to be baptized rather of necessity then faith and love which was a scandall deserving such an ordinance against it because those who are chosen to that office should be blamelesse c. 1 Tim 3.2 Tit. 1.7 It is also a great scandall to Christianity that there are many Christians so called who are common dicers that in halfe an houre deprive men their wives and children of halfe sometime of their whole estates a vice that is oft accompanied with cursing swearing fighting killing and such fearfull concomitants Synod CoÌ„stantinop 6. c 50. Concil Elib c. 79. In remedy whereof Councels have ordained that such should be put from the Communion What Christian will deny but that there is need of such an ordinance as being in effect required 1 Cor. 5.5.7.11.13 Other instances might be given of the like nature As touching points of faith and salvation determined by Councels against heretikes such as the Arians Pelagians Arminians c. they are not so much to bee observed because the Councell hath so determined as because it is decreed according to Gods word which the Councell cleereth from false glosses that so the obedience in such cases may not be to mens ordinances but to the word of God Isa 2.4 that should judge amongst the nations and no man or company of men may sit in the temple of God as God ordaining lawes and pointes of faith binding the conscience The decrees of that Councell Act. 15. bound not but for a time touching abstinence from blood See Moulin Buckler of faith Sect. 91. and things strangled And everie Councell may not thinke it sufficient in like cases to say as the Apostles might It seemed good unto the Holy Ghost Act. 15.25 and to us The Apostles had a more warrantable authority and commission then provinciall Bishops have The first Councell of Nice determined well
man more ignorant in spirituall things nor more sensuall then thirst after great places Libido dominandi bestia ferocissima It is with this lust after honour as with that of uncleannes the mind is so takē up with it that there is little roome for better thoughts and the spirit of God will not dwell in that soule which is filled with such vainities growes more and more emptye of grace For surely many are cast away by the deceitfulnes of Balaams wages And God knowes that it is too manifest that many in the Church of England have beene made drunke with those Romish dignities and rewards that remaine therein that men bewitched with these or the desire of them stumble into Arminianisme and other errours at the pleasure of them that can advance them such are the fruits of those great places in the Hierarchie For though the Duke were oft accused in Parliament as an open favourer of Arminianisme and a secret practiser by that and other meanes to advance Romish Religion other notorious crimes yet many divines continued his constant freinds and advocates and have directly or indirectly maintained propagated the same opinion and which is most miserable the cheife of that faction being Bishops and heads of Colledges are they which now beare greatest sway in Religion governe the Church of England silence and trouble whom they list and in a manner give lawes to the whole Church in his Majesties Dominions Neither can it be better til Achan be found out the corrupting and Romish places of the hierarchie and such unprofitable traditions and ceremonies taken away but ever worse and worse For these things that were at first held indifferent and ordained to make Papists come the sooner to Church and to keepe unitie and uniformitie are now got into the place of the Scriptures the Appealer alleadgeth the Articles wrested and Dr. Iackson certaine clauses of the booke of comon praiers for Arminianisme with such authoritie as if they were the words of the Apostles making the Church of England to meane what they list and her meaning or rather theirs to be sufficient authoritie in points of faith against them that bring Scriptures to the contrarie as the Church of Rome did of old to establish her tenets and when these and the like have beene questioned in Parliament some to encourage others to follow them have counsailed to reward them with Bishopricks denaries Maisterships of Colledges Rev. 2.14 or fat benefices wherein they deale like Balaam that taught Balack to laie a stumbling block before the children of Israel For when divines see these thus rewarded this workes upon corrupt nature which being prone to covetuouses and ambition first makes the differences seeme small or not worth opposition and then drawes the mind to run headlong into the same opinions and to thinke they doe well enough in the conformitie Hence also it comes that though forraigne Princes and States have oft desired aide of England that it would joine with them in serving the Pope and his champions as they served them nothing was ever effectually enterprised by the English because such Courtiers as secretly favoured Rome have ever beene flattered by the Bishops and Clergie when the Palatinate should have beene defended and after recovered by the swotd these flatterers hindered it by crying out of wars of Chtistian against Christian and saying it would bring in the Turke that it were better all should joyne against him and speake lesse of the Romish Antichrist or Romes ruine as also by extolling peace and King Iames his indeavouts by Embassages and treaties which all men said would come to nothing and but make the adversaries to gaine time deceive us and grow more resolute cruell and mightie And indeed it is impossible that the English Hierarchie should ever seeke Romes ruine and not rather hinder it all they can because the great places thereof are Romish and a Diocessan Bishop as they are now is no other then the Pope of a shire or province and to shew reasons why Rome should bee ruined were to argue against themselves trench upon their owne hierarchie and seeke to ruine it They teach that their Hierrarchie and Rites ought to be maintained now the Romish is but an excesse in these things which the nobilitie perceiving can find no reason why men should bee so hot against Rome The Hierarchie of the Old fathers was positive the English is comparative the Romish superlative for as some have proved if you grant the one to be lawfull the other followes to bee as lawfull save in the degree of impietie as in that between fornication and adulterie or incest And therefore it is that Bishops cannot endure that Princes and Nobles should know the charter of the Elders nor the mischeife of the Hierarchie that they beare more with Church papists and whoremongers then any such puritanicall spirits with grosse ignorance then such knowledge with such as would set up poperie then such as would pull downe the Hierarchie or that of Rome If such a one as the Duke hindered wars with Rome or her chife champion the Spaniard they wil be his helpers so he will but stick to them against the freinds of the Eldership And therefore the Hierarchie and traditions with doctrine and arguments that maintaine them are like the great river Euphrates that hindred the sacking of Babylon For heathen Babylon lying on the one side of Euphrates betweene Assiria and Chaldea was fortified by that river So that Cirus the first vanquisher thereof had not wonne it but by a device of drayning the river above by sundrie artificiall sluces giveing his men in charge whom he left before the Cittie that when they should observe the river to be decreased and fourdable they should presently take the opportunitie to wade over and suddenly surprise Babylon And the Hierarchie I say is like this river for Bishops and teachers with their doctrines are called rivers and fountaines Divers of these rivelets meeting in one make a great river as many of them in a generall councell make a sea of doctrines canons and traditions the English hierarchie therefore having but a few Bishops and fewer canons and traditions then any popish Kingdom can not bee called a sea but is a great river and as a river oft parteth two Kingdomes or provinces pertaketh of both soiles watereth them both and keepes the one from invading the other so dothe the Hierarchie and the doctrines and traditions thereof which mistically lieth both to the Protestant and Romish shores watereth both is as pleasing and helpefull to Papists as to the reformation if not more the great power and places thereof are Romish so are the traditions canons and arguments they use to defend it they serve as well for the Papists as for the English Bishops for indeed they spring out of that sea out of the which the beast arose who alwaies alleadged the ancient customes and counsells and they naturally run againe into the same
against the Arrians They had almost decreed against Priests mariage that had not beene so well nor was well in such Councels as after decreed it against her and the word of God which is greater therefore the booke of Articles saith well That generall Councels may erre and sometimes have erred Art 2â— The same Councell made the Bishop of Rome a Patriarch and the first of the Patriarchs and so gave him a primacy of order before the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch who had like priviledges over the other parts of the Christian world but this was not so well because the Beast arose to his Antichristian greatnesse out of this sea of Fathers doctrine and Canons and from this small beginning of preeminence If the Church have taken on her to ordaine a feast for the blessed Nativity of our Saviour and another or two in memory of his resurrection and the comming of the Holy Ghost Esth 9.21 because indeed the Iewes did the like in a case of great deliverance from the conspiracy of proud Haman she must yet set bounds to her power and not think she may ordaine what holy dayes ordinances and ceremonies shee list as the Church of Rome hath done ordaining the feast of Candlemasse or the purification in place of that feast the Heathen kept to the Goddesse Febra the mother of Mars and so divers titular offices ordinances and Saâ—â—â—s dayes in place of those the Heathen celebrated to their hee-Gods and shee-Gods But leaving to make any further discovery of her presumptuous imitation of Iewes and Heathen in such cases because it is sufficiently set forth in a little booke called The root of Romish rites translated out of French into English let us take a little view of some ordinances and ceremonies received in the Church of England I deny not but the Church may ordain some orders for the decent worship of God as touching the time and place of meeting and reverent behaviour while the people are there that men should kneele and be uncovered in the time of prayer heare the word with silence and reverence when it is read or preached that a pulpit should be erected in a place most convenient for hearing a fit vessell set for Baptisme a Table and a Cup for the Lords Supper that people should come orderly and not confusedly to the same that collection should bee made for the poore in the best manner that may be that there should bee an uniformity in the manner of administring the Sacraments both in words prayer and ceremony and that as neere as may be to the institution and in that purity and simplicity wherein they were left us by the Apostles that so one may not doe these things after this manner and another after that and some come to say I like this 1 Cor 1.12 I that Ministers way best like those I am of Paul I of Apollo that the Pastors in every province shall meet once a yeare or so oft as need shall require to reforme abuses if any arise in doctrine or government Ordinances of this nature are not things meerly indifferent but convenient and necessary and doe not onely preserve peace and unity but even tend to the due performance of that which is commanded in the word directly or by consequence in such places as that O come let us worship and bow downe and kneele before the Lord our maker Psal 95. 1 Cor. 14. Let all things be done decently and in order There may and ought to be such orders and ceremonies but all are not thus necessary for the very Article confesseth Act. 34. Act. 20. that some be changed and abolished which cannot be said of such as are thus necessary and that nothing must be ordained against Gods word There ought to be nothing that may make Religion ridiculous or the word of none effect In the Church of England the Bishops will have an infant signed with the signe of the crosse In token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight under his banner against sin the world and the devill and to continue Christs faithfull souldier and servant unto his lives end Now what a mockerie is it to stand so strictly on this ceremonie when in the meane while they will not have such a one being come to be a man confesse the faith of Christ against the Arminians nor manfully contend for the faith against such Pelagian and popish opinions and when also they like a Minister the worse if in the pulpit hee strive to beate downe growing Arminianisme and Poperie in things controverted as if they were not things revealed matters of faith profitable for us to know and of great honor to God being knowne as that election is wholie of grace and not of foreseene faith and workes that the death and merit of Christ preached are more availeable for the conversion and salvation of the elect than of others that regeneration and conversion are of Gods grace and power and not of the will of man that those whom God electeth he calleth justifieth and glorifieth so that they cannot fall away finally that justification while wee live here and heaven after this life are not of our works and merits but of Christ and on our part of faith in him yea of faith alone that worketh by love and is fruitfull in good works That Christ by one oblation of himself hath made a full satisfaction for the sins of all the elect that he is the only mediator of intercession in heaven that can heare us know our hearts and by whom wee may come to the Father and the only head of his Church to ordaine lawes binding the conscience that his Testament is sufficient in matters of salvation that there is much error and vanitie in the doctrine of Purgatorie Images and other points of poperie Now I say it is a meere mockery to enforce Ministers to signe everie child with the signe of the Crosse in token that he shall confesse the faith of Christ and manfully fight against such spirituall evils and enimies and yet to hinder any much more Ministers to confesse and defend the faith of Christ in these and the like points by disputes bookes and sermons and to pretend that knowledge of Gods truth in these points is curious and unprofitable not only in babes that have more need of milke but even in divines and men of knowledge and that in a time when Papists and Arminians strive so much to corrupt men in them And the mockerie is so much the greater Because they teach all to pray Wee give thee humble thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace On the feast of Simon and Iude. and faith in thee Increase this knowledge and confirme this faith in us evermore Granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth And touching the Apostles and Prophets grant us to bee joyned together in
have troubled many in the universities and elsewhere Neither can they rest heere the fruite of the Hierarchie that is not a tree of Gods planting must needes grow worse Ioh. 15.2 and worse which shewes it concernes the faith it self to have the hierarchie abolished All which things considered doe manifest that their pretended devotion in commanding to kneele at the Sacrament is but like that of signing children with the signe of the Crosse wherein they straine at a gnat and swallow a Camel God must needes regard their kneeling verie litle as that of the Papists who exceede in that and all other humble and devout gestures because they are not better or more obedient Christians they doe not more feare God nor indeed so much as Protestants that kneele not when they receive For they ordaine that men should bow the knee so oft as they heare the name Iesus mentioned in the Church which they doe not at any other name of God nor when Ruffins sweare by it as also that all should kneele at the Sacrament But what a mockerie is this while in the meane with the Papists they themselves neither bow to the word and ordinances of God nor consequently to Christ Iesus who is the word nor suffer others that would in such proofes of Scripture as prove that there ought to be * Act. 14.23 Acts. 20.17.28 Tit. 1.5 1 Pet. 5. Elders in every flock to govern the same and no such Lords of Gods heritage as Diocessan Bishops no such edicts against confutation of Arminians nor no such traditions canons set fasts as make the word of none effect It is true that the Lent fast is very ancient but so is the mysterie of iniquitie the Popes usurped primacie dominion and many other parts of Romish superstition and errour that English Bishops doe not yet affirme plainly that it ought to be observed as an ordinance of God or pari pietatis affectu ac reverentiae because it is an ordinance of the Church but they so hover about it that men feare it will come to that if their dominion stand As to this reason that Christ fasted fortie dayes they might as well tel us because he walked on the water or suffered for sinners so therefore should wee And what a mockerie is it to make this time of the yeare the time of repentance and mortification when that is not to be put off till Lent but is due at all times of the yeare as mens soules by reason of daylie sins doe oft stand in need of bodily fasting and humiliation the better to fit them for praier Or if it were necessarie what a mockerie is it to ordaine abstinence from all flesh when men have libertie to eate the daintiest fish and other delicates used in fish dinners banquets and feasts and that as much and as oft as they lift And if the Prelates themselves did not use it they would not be so fat and lustie as they are * B. Bangor March 4. 1631. They make great feasts at their consecration in Lent But say they it makes much for the increase of cattel that the subject may have them in more plentie and better cheape I could say this might be much better effected by forbidding many great and superfluous feasts as was partly practised in that dearth 1630 but I answer They might as well tell us that the great feasts used in the twelve daies and at other festivall times cause plenty and cheapnes as Lent which costs men more in fish For who sees not that both the one and the other make all things the dearer That when they approach all men striving to store their houses with flesh and fish the markets are raised to that extremitie that mens purses find a dearth in the midst of plentie Butchers and Poulterers pay deere for their licences which makes all extreame deere to such poore and sick or weake persons as must needs eate some flesh and Lent ended people buy as if they had never eaten flesh before which makes it want for no price Besides how many thousands are there who are not sick and yet of such weake constitutions that they cannot live six weekes without eating some flesh all these must needes abstaine to their hurt or bee reckoned Rebels and vexed by promoters resembling them of the Inquisition But fishing and shipping would otherwise decay This were somewhat if they had beene or were like to be used in the defence of Religion or against the enimies thereof and not against such as the Rochellers but howsoever if men were free to eate fish when they list they would desire it more as experience shewes in other countries where such freedome is Or if there were but one or two daies in a weeke as wednesday saterday or both wherein it were prohibited to all under great penalties sick persons excepted and especiallie to Inholders Alehouses Vintners Cookes and Victuallers that none should dresse or sell dressed any flesh on that day on paine of having his house shut up and paying some great fine all thorow-fare and market townes would strive to be furnished with fish for those daies and there would be more fishing and fish spent in the land in one yeare then now there is in two and this being only a common law and but for a day or two in a weeke and not imposed as a fast would be no burthen But the lawes are alleadged for this Lent fast as for the dominion of the Prelates and observation of other their traditions and ceremonies I might answer that the way to have lawes observed is to commaund things reasonable and agreeable to Gods word such as may without hurt be observed things burthensome to little purpose are as little regarded That Ministers of the Gospel should rather alleadge the law of Christ that fasts and almes ought to be voluntarie or obtained by the word preached for private humiliation or publick being commanded by authoritie when there is a publick calamitie or some great enterprise in hand needing such humiliation to obtaine the assistance of God and thus only are they used in the reformed Churches but in this and the like cases there is an example noted in a hystorie worthy our observation Quarrels of Paul 5. lib. 1. p. 9. The state of Luca finding many Citizens had changed their Religion and retired into protestant countries published an Edict forbidding all their subjects to have commerce with such persons The Pope that could not dislike their intent saide The Republick had no authoritie to make such an ordinance which touched Religion for as much as the laicques have not any power to decree in matters of Religion although the law be in favour thereof therefore he commanded it to be raced out of their Records If the Pope said this of States and lawes helping and maintaining his Religion how much more may God say it of Diocessan Bishops Councels States and all such their lawes Canons and Edicts as helpe the
Which indeed may rather be said of the Bishops themselves and their defenders for though one prove never so plainly that the government of Diocessan Bishops though as old as the pretended primacy and usurpations of Antichrist is but a new way and very pernicious to the kingdome and people of Christ and to the honour peace and happinesse of that King and kingdome that maintaines it and further that the government by the common counsell of the * Act. 6.5 Cha. 15.22 Cha. 20.17 28. 1 Cor. 5 4. Tit. 1.5 Iude 3. Presbyters and voices of the brethren members of the congregation is the old and good way of God best for his Church and service and likewise that the convincing of Pelagianisme and Popery defending of the truth contending earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints and walking in the light thereof are the old paths the good way bee they proved never so old never so good the Prelates and their pertakers doe but geere and scoffe at them and further are so impudent as to say non ambulabimus in ea we will not walk in it Their manifest hating persecuting such as shew them these old paths this good way doe sufficiently prove it Iudge then Christian Reader if the Bishop have not abused his * Ier. 6.16 text and that Princely and most honoured audience Is such a man fit to governe and order one of those two fountaines of learning and nurseries of Divines the Vniversity wherof he is Chancelour and most of the affaires of Religion in his Majesties dominions as a Pope of those Kingdomes or to be the spirituall guide of Princes and Councellors who onely besides the Bishops beare all the sway in matters of Religion How is it possible that they should be well informed by such Prelates or their partakers And yet God knowes and we see it plainly they will heare no others no not though it be manifestly proved that the Prelates are as deafe and obstinate in these points as the Pope Cardinals and Iesuites are in these points and in others Neither let any man thinke it strange that these shall be compared to them of the Church of Rome For the Bishop of Rome and his Clarkes that are now corrupt in the superlative degree were not so bad in the dayes of the first Christian Emperours but beginning then to make the word of God of none effect by their traditions power and ceremonies they grew worse and worse and so have our English Bishops who follow them apace See an instance in the worst sort of Papists The Iesuites being banished for their practices out of the State of Venice at Padua Quarrels of Paul 5. lib. 2. p. 94 were found many copies of a certaine writing of 18. Rules under this title Regulae aliquot servandae ut cum orthodoxa Ecclesia verè sentiamus Certaine rules to be observed that with the orthodoxall Church we may judge or hold aright In the third it is ordained that men should beleeve the Hierarchical Church although it tell us that that is blacke which our eye judgeth to bee white Would not the Bishops have us beleeve the Hierarchicall Church of England when it saith of the Presbyterall government that it is blacke which our eye judgeth to be white And of the other side of their owne dominion and traditions so contrary unto Christs that they are white which our eyes see to be black In the seventeenth there is a prescription to take heed how men press or inculcate too much the grace of God Doe not the Arminian Prelates teach us the same lesson Bishops were not so corrupt or blinde in Queene Elizabeths dayes they had not this art but seeing their office and authority hath no root in Christ the Truth it is not of God but of mē they cannot but grow worse and worse They that thinke it strange that English Bishops should be Iesuited must yet confesse that it hath beene affirmed of the late Duke of Buck and some others of their abettors supporters and confederates Howsoever we may see that these and the like are the fruits of maintaining their government ceremonies and traditions against the light of Gods truth All these and divers other corruptions in religion and mischiefes in the State are crept in and covered under the Curtaine of Church power in matter of order decency and things indifferent And if they be still maintained greater abominations must needs follow things cannot but grow worse and worse both in Clergy and people ignorance and errour must needs be thereby more and more ingendred and propagated For they see well enough that many are so observant of these traditions and ceremonies that they dwell in them they serve them for an entire Religion or a cloak of one and of mocking and persecuting of professors they have little or none besides no love to the preaching and hearing of Gods most holy word wherby faith knowledge repentance humility and other graces are wrought in the soule but like many simple and ignorant women that will needs weare kerchers at their churching and yet in the afternoone or soone after run to playes and alehouses they are very observant of such ordinances and yet seldome come to a Sermon and scarce once a yeare to the Communion And these and others are not ordinances and ceremonies so innocent indifferent and profitable as some would make them Yea therefore it is but a meere mockery and delusion to say that though they be in themselves indifferent yet being commanded by authority they become necessary and men ought to be conformable not onely that they may hold their Ministery and doe good in it but even for conscience sake For 1. the Article saith They may be changed according to times and mens manners but the times and mens manners who now make a religion of them and a cloake of persecution do require that they should be changed and abolished therefore they ought to bee changed and abolished 2. What a gappe doe they hereby open for authority to impose what it list and to have it received by the same argument though superstitious and hurtfull to the kingdome in the free power of the word preached which is to abuse Princes and Synods and to infer they may impose maintaine and increase ordinances and ceremonies that thus make the word of none effect For grant that they may impose these and it followes they may impose others as hurtfull Yet some are not ashamed to preach and write much in the defence of them Coloss 2.8 2 Cor. 4. but this is after the traditions of men after the rudiments of this world and not after Christ to corrupt the earth and preach themselves not the Gospell when they should rather put the higher powers in minde of that Why tempt ye God Act. 15.10 to put a yoake upon the necke of the Disciples which neither our fathers nor we are able to beare wherein they are the lesse
excusable that they doe not pretend Peters chaire or that their Church cannot erre All which I urge not to drive men to helplesse opposition now much lesse to separation but to perswade all to seeke and pray for an effectuall reformation For can these things become necessary pleasing to God being coÌ„manded by authority which thus make the word ordinances of God of none effect are an unnecessary and a popish yoak and only pretended to be done unto edifying 1 Cor. 14. â—6 Indeed the Apostle saith Let all things be done unto edifying But these things as you have seene doe not edifie but hinder the free preaching of the Gospell in divers particulars as also diligent hearing faith knowledge and other graces nourish ambition temporizing lukewarmnesse and ignorance and withall carie this mischiefe along with them that be they never so unnecessary and hurtfull yet God must not have one servant to manifest so much no nor to speake in his cause For if any doe presently to choake him they brand him with the name of a Puritan and a factious fellow and if that will not serve they can suppresse him with power he is troubled and silenced the Church must bee deprived of him for stumbling at a popish ceremony though he be otherwise never so peaceable sincere learned painfull and powerfull when Diocessan Bishops were first ordained they had not this power much lesse in such cases In the booke of the ordering of Priests and Deacons they say there were alwaies Priests that must needs bee Presbyters in the Church If so what a mockery is it to retaine the name Priest as an order of the New Testament and neither distinguish that name from the sacrificers of the Law nor let them exercise the office of the Presbyters which was as well to rule their owne flocks as to preach and administer the Sacraments what a mockery is it to stand so much on the surplesse the hood tippet and square cap worne with such glory and superstition by the Papists and in the meane by all these things to bring religion out of square and deprive the Church of her better ornaments good Preachers Elders hearers faith knowledge humility zeale and other graces what a mockery is it to ordaine Can. 48. that no Curate or Minister shall bee permitted to serve in any place without examination and admission of the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie in writing under hand and seale Can. 51. That no strangers shall preach in Cathedrall Churches but such as are allowed by the Archbishop or Bishop Can. 52. That the names of all Preachers strangers that shall preach in any Church shall bee taken by the Churchwardens c. when all this is extended against few or none but such as stumble at some rites or ceremonies to keepe them from preaching and have them silenced and in the meane while divers ignorant and idle drones non-residents yea Arminian and popish teachers such as Doctor Price of Westminster lately deceased are admitted to have and hold the cure of soules and the Bishops use this their power to hinder the people from choosing zealous Ministers that subscribe to be their Pastors or helping Lecturers they reckon such dangerous and if they have got admission they shall be watched yea made offendors for a word Isa 29.21 and turned aside for a thing of naught If in the meane they will needs bee diligent they may with much adoe preach the Gospell and apply it against Poperie but not the whole counsell of God not a word against growing Arminianisme much lesse for the Eldership or against the Hierarchie and traditions What a mockerie is it to appropriate unto themselves and their Officials all Ecclesiasticall discipline and especially that sacred and dreadfull power of excommunication when in the meane they exercise it against few but such as are against their hierarchie rites and ceremonies or men that have failed to appear to answer for the opening of a shop doore on a holy day or some such triviall offence If a man plead necessity and want constrained him to it or that God saith Six dayes shalt thou labour c. neither reason nor the holy Scripture can be heard against their government and traditions but they know how to geere him out like the proud pharises that said Thou wast altogether borne in sinnes Ioh. 9. and dost thou teach us And indeed an incorrigible swearer fornicator drunkard blasphemer or heretike may more easily escape their power then such a Puritan as they terme him And if he offer to prove that in this or any other thing belonging to their government or ordinances they are somewhat Antichristian Doctor Lambe or any like monster may live more peaceably amidst all his known abominations then such a wicked Puritan heretike as they call him And in the meane while they are ashamed to make the name of a reformation as odious to all as it is to themselves and even to glory in their Church as the most pure and Apostolike that ever was since the Apostles not counting it in those Pastors and people that zealously and religiously preach and heare the word to have it followed for the Prelates would not have such counted to be the Church of England nor scarce of it but themselves assembled in a Synod which they call the Church representative or as they are considered with all their traditions and all the most conformable observers and maintainers of them These make that Church that so glorifieth her selfe like Laodicea Rev. 3.17 that said I am rich and increased with goods have need of nothing and knew not that shee was wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked Wherein they that are so mighty in power and so able to reward men cannot want flatterers and learned champions and so the great places of the hierarchy serve to corrupt men and to make them mould religion after such mens pleasures as can advance them like as wofull experience hath also shewed in the Arminians Isa 29.13.14 Their feare towards God hath beene long taught by the precepts of men and so because they as the Papists received not the love of the truth in matter of the Eldership Hierarchie traditions ceremonies 2 Thess 2.10 therefore God gave them over to strong delusions to beleeve popish and Arminian lies and because they received not the love of the truth against those Arminian errours God that is ever just must needs give them over to greater blindesse and error Such are the fruits of the Hierarchie and the humane invention and defence thereof Reverend Hooker as they call him shall in those cases bee of more authority with these men then St. Paul so much are they wedded to the traditions and ceremonies of their Church All these traditions inventions officers Courts and superstitious rites were not invented much lesse proposed to be received as lawes in the time of the Fathers as now by the
word And though in England the hierarchy and her traditions and injunctions have not had so many and so bad fruits because it hath not reigned so long yet as wee have seene for the time they have beene if not alike yet very injurious to Gods kingdome and the good of the Church It helpes them not to say that some great Divines in other Churches have approved them or counted them tollerable For strangers cannot so well see the fruits of them and bee sure that if they were brought into the Reformed Churches of Germany and France divers would bee found to receive them and give arguments of their necessarie use they are so full of honour and profit For we have lately seene it in Scotland and we know the Scriptures say Deut. 16.19 Gifts blinde the eyes of the wise This made them thinke it a sufficient authority that the ancient Church invented and used diocessan and provinciall Bishops though in a manner different from ours that not onely Councels but even Emperours and Kings confirmed and augmented their authority and that much good might bee done by the same When first King Edward and after Queene Elizabeth came in the Nobles and people were almost all Papists and it was thought they would bee the sooner drawne to Church if Bishops and their power and authority were retained having still their Courts Chancelours Officials Deanes Subdeanes Quiristers Organs Surplesses and other habits the crosse in baptisme kneeling at the receiving of the Sacrament bowing toward the Altar and divers other ceremonies For this end also the forme of Common Prayer Service was little altered but taken out of the Masse-booke and put into English which makes many Papists in Germany and France say sure the Romish is the true and right religion else the heretikes in England would never have received so much of it for some have avouched it to my face that the service there is nothing but the Masse in English others that it wants nothing but the consecration These things thus retained it was also thought that popish Kings and Princes would be the lesse offended what marvell seeing the Iesuites themselves are so well pleased with the ceremonies and service that I heard one of them God is my witnesse herein make it his hope that the maintenance of them against the Puritans Quovadis Sect. 4. would make England the sooner returne to Rome in the rest Mine eyes and eares saith Bishop Hall can witnesse with what approofe and applause divers of the Catholikes royall as they are termed entertained the new translated Lyturgie of our Church Which is the lesse wonder Cambden in an 1560 seeing Pope Pius the 4. sending Vincentio Parpatia Abbot of S. Saviours to Queene Elizabeth offered to confirme the English Liturgie by his authoritie if she would yeeld to him in some other things Indeed it pleased them so wel that for the first eleven yeares of Queene Elizabeth L. Cooke de Iure Regis Ecclesiastico Fol. 34. Papists came to the English Churches and service as the Lord Cooke sheweth All which things prove it to be a poore brag of some who thinke it a good justification in the common prayer booke that Papists have approved it and could never finde any fault in it As it is true that there are many godly and zealous men and some others also who thinking it a glory to be of their party are more of faction then well grounded knowledge and love to Christ against the forme and some other things in the book of Common praier So is it as true that there are many both of the Clergy and laity and some both learned and godly such as sincerely love the preaching and power of the Gospel that yet hold the booke of Common prayer both tolerable profitable and necessarie and are not willing to heare any thing to the contrary and therefore God may say of our times as of those wherein Ieremy lived Ier. 5.1 Run to and fro and see now if yee can finde a man that seeketh the truth I would desire such to take a few things into consideration Where first I must acknowledge that though divers faults are found in the book of common prayer which makes it so agreeable to the Papists for there is scarce a Church papist in England that doth not applaud and admire it yet doe I not finde it so corrupt as some would make it In it wee finde this prayer O God from whom all holy desires all just counsailes and all good workes doe proceed give c. this is certainly translated out of the Romish Liturgie yet is it in it selfe so faultlesse that I will not dispute against him that thinkes hee may daily say it either with a congregation or in private and so many other of the prayers that is if he doe not the lesse but rather the more hearken to Gods word in all points otherwise his prayer will certainly be abominable But if all the prayers be as uncorrupt why doth Dr. Iackson with the consent and approbation of the Bishops Pro. 28.9 Dr. Iackson 1. part alledge divers of them for points savouring of Arminianisme and Poperie and if they bee so necessary to salvation as some make them other reformed Churches are but in an ill case that have them not so was the primitive Church also especially for three hundred yeares Howsoever what need is there so much to flatter the Papists as to translate prayers out of their Masse book and do so many things in service after their forme when God saith 1. Sam. 15.22 Isa 1.12 Obedience is better then sacrifice Who hath required this at your hands which are now so far from making them come the sooner to Church unles it be to continue papists there and false brethren to us that they hence draw arguments to strengthen them in their religion saying sure theirs is the true religion or else these parts of it would not be so constantly defended against the puritans and in the meane that kept out which Queene Mary ordained should be razed out of all bookes of Rites used in the time of Henry 8 and Edward the 6 Hist of the Councel of Trent pap 385. wherein God is prayed To deliver the Kingdom from sedition conspiracie and the tyrannie of the Pope Can not other common praiers be made as good The french Churches have some that are used in the pulpit by him that preacheth and no other that so he may not make a sufficient Religion service of praier nor account the cure to be served without preaching In them they pray Deliver thy Churches from the mouthes of ravening wolves and all hirelings who seeke their owne ambition and profit and not the exaltation of thy holy name and the salvation of the whole flock This also is ordinary before sermon to pray that the word may be then preached in that puritie and sinceritie wherein it was left by the Apostles and Prophets So that
the preaching of the word is not hindered by their praiers Whereas in many Churches they have nothing on the Lords day but the common prayer which many both of the Clergie and people doe so highy extoll that they make an entrie Religion of it and not only neglect but even despise preaching in respect thereof Many nonpreaching Ministers make it the pretext of their idlenes and others of their nonresidence and pluralities saying the people have one to read prayers and the service is performed And that say many is sufficient if they had no more It is to no end to tell them that God saieth My people are destroied or lead into Captivity for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 Rom. 10.17 that faith comes by-hearing and preaching that certaine of the praiers are for knowledge for they yet dare say it doth more hurt then good therefore they are all for common praier which divers worldlings usurers drunkards whoremongers and other earthly and prophane people second and confirme making it their whole Religion and admiring it above measure because it doth not tax and touch their sins as preaching doth it serveth not for doctrine reproofe correction and instruction as preaching the scripture doth which therefore they have in contempt and hinder and slander the same and all the truest freinds and followers thereof and yet in the meane while they would not only be thought the better sbjects but the better Christians and the fitter to be Churchwardens yea and to beare greater offices in the Church and common wealth they count themselves more truly religious then the greatest preachers and hearers because they thinke they love the common praier booke better and it serves them for a Religion and a cloake of scoffing persecution and some of them to be Church Papists and false brethren under the name of protestants whereas if the commò praier booke were not or there were only such like common praiers as are used by the French and dutch in the pulpit they could not but make more profession of love to preaching and hearing of Gods word otherwise they would appeare to bee either without Religion or more open adversaries of our Religion and so lesse dangerous In the French and dutch Churches they are not troubled with such dumbe Ministers nonresidents Church papists and prophane mockers they that have least Religion speake no hurt of knowledge preaching and hearing for if they should they know all men would crie out of them as of papists or Atheists and order would quickly be taken with them by the Elders they could not passe as ours doe for the better men and fitter for offices The Bishops see all this and yet favour them the more of the two as being ever verie conformable and lesse dangerous to the Hierarchie so carefull are they that there may be nothing in their Church like the Eldership ordained of God Churchwardens and sidemen are but a mockerie of it these places being given to all sort of men drunkards and others when the parson also is a tiplar a nonresident or preacheth little there is a flock strangely governed And thus the word of God is made of none effect by the Hierarchie the traditious thereof and namely by the much defended Tit. 1.13 and admired book of common praier thus these ordinances of mē turne from the truth as Tit. 1.13 It wil be objected the abuse of any thing in Religion should not take away the use of it which you grant I doe so but that is in the things ordained of God as the Eldership the Lords prayer the use of the Psalmes and some formes of blessing Nomb. 6.23 Rom. 16.24 1. Cor. 16.23 like those Nomb. 6.23 Rom 16.24 Which being common prayers serve to justifie the use of a few such common praiers as may be in the reformed Churches but not the hierarchie never ordained of God nor a service booke taken out of the Romish liturgie in such a time and for such reasons as it was serving men for a whole Religion and thus making the word of none effect For if those reasons had beene good of drawing the papists the sooner to Church c. there are not the same now when almost all goe to Church the Recusants though many are nothing in comparison of those times and by Romish subtiltie the booke of service is turned to doe hurt to our religion as abovesaid Now to call for the use of the service book and extoll it is nothing else but to temporise with popelings to emulate knowledge preaching and writing and to provide one naile to drive out another at least in such points as touch mens corruptions in doctrine and practise which was a sleight used of old by the Romish clergie for when the Prelates saw preaching discovered their errours and tirannie they to put off that and yet to seeme no lesse religious fell to extoll the use of their service and masse and cried out for devotion peace and obedience to the Church and above all for praier wherein divers flattering and ambitious preachers and even most of the English Bishops themselves follow them apace and that in these daies while men complaine of corruption in the clergie and the increase of Arminianisme and poperie witnes Dr. Cousens his cousening devotions approved by the Bishops and divers sermons Speeches and practises of theirs to the like purpose But marke what God saith He that turneth away his eare from the hearing of the Law even his praier shal be abomination Pro. 28.9 What will become then of their devotion who not only turne away their owne eares but even the eares of others also frō hearing the oracles of God both in this point of the Eldership and in those maine points of the Gospel touching Gods free grace and power in election conversion perseverance c. It troubles them much that men should have knowledge preach or write in these points while in the meane they can let the contrarie doctrines passe in the books of the Appealer Dr. Iackson and others these trouble them not in a time when papists Arminians strive to infect Princes people with such Pelagian and popish opinion God commands to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints Iude. 3. they yet presume that it may be forbidden in these cases so the people be stirred up to praier peace and obedience to the Church I know the daylie exercise of praier may be much urged but by whom by men that sincerely love preaching and hearing in all things that God hath revealed taught and do not set the ordinances of God one against an other that is doe not urge praier as enemies of preaching in many points like the papists norn aemulation thereof as those that oppose praier to preaching to eat out knowledge and bring-in blind devotion these have but a forme of Godlines and scarce that wee had need to pray continually that God would purge rid the
so loth so see any thing against them For gifts blind the eyes of the wise and their ignorance in points of nonresidencie the hierarchie and traditions is a punishment on them for their frowardnes wilfull blindnes ambition and covetousnes at least for making tradition sufficient authoritie in such cases For indeed few men such is the weaknes of corrupt nature can be willing to see that which would hinder them from subscribing having a good living or make them sorrie they had subscribed or to be adverse to that against which they may not be suffered to speake much lesse to preach or write and least of all to reforme or amend as also because if they stir never so little in these cases they are sure to loose their liveings to bee by the Bishops and their champious silenced with scoffes power and terror in stead of good arguments and so to be in more danger then popish Preists and Iesuits Some therefore will have no knowledge at all in such points least it bring them to miserie others thinke it best to keepe their knowledge to themselves leave the amendement to God and in the meane doe the best good they can by their ministerie in other matters but the most know little of this argument Math. 13.11 because it is not given them of God to know it They therefore thinke all these things to bee lawfull necessary and the obedience an acceptable service to God because commanded by authoritie and in some sort ordained and used by the ancient Church This is as if they sayd Kings and Synods may command what they lift in the Church which is as good a warrant as they had of old that made a calfe in Horeb frequented the high places or Ieroboams Calves established by authoritie It is nothing that many of these men are learned and of great knowledge and good conscience in other matters For God saith For as much as this people Isa 29.15 draw nigh to me with their mouth and with their lips doe honour me but have removed their hart far from me and their feare towards me is taught by the precepts of men therefore behold I will proceede to doe a marveilous worke among this people even a marveilous worke and a wonder for the wisdom of their Wisemen shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Wisdom should decay in some and others should not dare to shew it God that is ever just must much rather doe it now to our learned and Wisemen seing he hath blotted out the handwriting of ordinances which was contrarie to us Col. 2.14 and tooke it out of the way nayling it to his crosse For hath he taken them away that himself ordained that men may loade us with others doth Christ say Rev. 2.24 I will put upon you none other burden but which ye have already hold fast till I come And shall men bee perswaded that they may impose such as he never ordained and as make the word of none effect The hierarchie is not only in it self a humane ordinance but the Bishops seeme to looke to nothing else but to uphold it and such canons traditions ceremonies and service as it hath invented or received from men Sometime hereticks as Anabaptists Arrians or the like and sometimes persons stained with notorious adulterie or Simonie are by them and their officials questioned and cast out as in the Church of Rome But these things to rare both may be and are much better performed by Elders in the congregations where such delinquents live as also against all notorious drunckards blasphemers swearers mockers and other profane persons of whom Bishops nor theire officials neither doe nor well can heare any thing and if they doe it is not amended and therefore Diocessan Bishops serve not to looke to them nor to nonresidents nor to hinder the growth of Arminianisme poperie c. they can see them increase and never stir against them yea religion to be corrupted more and never move to helpe it but hinder them that would If some others be better affected and would stir if they durst this is Gods mercie to his people who knowes that if all Bishops were as corrupt many would be ready to thinke sure they hold the popish or Arminian religion will serve to salvation and they are wiser then wee God therefore provides that some Bishops and conformists should a little distast their Romish practises though they doe little or no good against them but in the meane they can not bate a little of their hierarchie traditions and ceremonies ordained and commanded by men though they be proved to bee most injurious and repugnant to Gods Kingdome and the true peace of Christian Churches states and common-wealth making the word of God wherein their wel-beeing consists of none effect this is the order they preserve No proofes of holy Scripture can be heard against them either by the Bishops by the privie councell or by our Princes and Parliaments but their feare toward God is in these things taught by the commandements of men what marvaile then if not only in theire wisest councellors but even in their most learned Clergie wisdome bee hid and perished in divers points and they become the scorne of all nations and religions for upholding religion in ceremonie only letting it in the substance thereof fall dayly at home and abroade those of the papists and Arminians increase If they had not such a hierarchie such ceremonies and service to defend and serve them for an entire Religion or a cloake of one they could not for shame but defend the faith and religion it self and their brethren that professe it which seeing they do not what wonder if God plague them not only with pestilence famine and shamefull foiles in war but even with spirituall plagues that their governers both spirituall and Ecclesiasticall should not see the things that belong to their peace but have them hid from their eyes and turne religion into pollicie such poore policie as serves to cousen the land of her religion and her friends of true helpe when they have most need of it and most trust to her and to provoke the most high to bee their enemie while they seeke to please his enemies For the Spaniards and French have gotten aide of men munition and shipping against those of the reformed Religion The Protestants in other countries that thinke they may speake boldy because they have smarted for trusting to the English Say that all this shewes them to bee of a mixed or middle Religion part of the Romish in service and ceremonies which are most defended part of the Reformed in points of faith lesse regarded and part of the Arminians lately received or tollerated that as middle Counsailes and courses doe usually displease both parties and give satisfaction to neither so hath it beene in the Counsailes and courses of the English touching Religion and the defence thereof For though they somewhat
by the bountie and favour of Constantine and his Princes the Bishop of Rome was made rich and great but so were other Bishops also And as he began to have a tribunall and courts and causes so did others also and thence grew corruption upon corruption contention upon contention appeale upon appeale division upon division He grew to be reckoned a Patriarch but the Bishops of Alexandria and Antioch had the like priviledges given them which soone after was also bestowed on the Bishop of Constantinople because it was become the Imperiall Cittie as Rome had beene before And though the Greek Bishops would never acknowledge the Pope for their head because there was no reason they should yet they must needes confesse that his rising was theires Their rising and greatnes was but an imitation of his and so is that of the Archbishops of Toledo Paris Collen Mentz Trier Canterburie Yorke and others as also of the Bishops of Angiers London Winchester and Durham and all others in the Christian world according to the greatnes of the Provinces Cities and Countries whereof they obtained the title and jurisdiction The Pope was the Beast and Antichrist before he got the title of universall Bishop which made him theire head the grand Antichrist which hinders not but that before and since they by their office might be pettie Antichrists This would quickly appeare if men would trie the spirits trie the doctrines trie the callings and say The calling of Diocessan Bishops is it of God or of men But if Bishops may have their wills you shall neither trie their callings nor their doctrines by the Scriptures I wonder therefore that Princes and people of the reformed religion should have their doctrines and ceremonies in such admiration because of their persons and offices as if Gods spirit must needes be with them more then with others when they should rather thinke it to be lesse with them whose calling and dominion is not of God then with others and that if their doctrines traditions and ceremonies agree not with the Scriptures they cannot bee of God 2 Ioh. 9. Ioh. 8.44 Acts. 14.23 Act. 20.17.28 seing their authoritie and office that impose them is not of God but of the same spirit that ruleth in Antichrist they abide not in the government of Christ but are enemies to it For the Apostles ordained them Presbiters that is Elders in every Church by election Paul saith to the Presbiters to the Elders Take heede therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops the word is the same that is used 1. Tim. 3.1.2 and may be translated a Bishop or an overseer even as in the Greeke a presbiter is an Elder There were divers of them over one flock Therefore he saith To the saints that are at Philippi Phil. 1.1 Tit. 1.5 with the Bishops and Deacons the presbiters were then the Bishops which is cleere by that I left thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine them Presbiters in every Cittie that is by election according to Act. 14.23 Act. 1.23 Chap. 6.5 and 1. Tim. 4.14 as Beza well proveth it Vers 6.7 in his Annotations on these places and so Paul addeth If any be blamelesse Act. 20. Phil. 1. for a Bishop that is the presbiter aforenamed must be blamelesse which is so cleere that Bellarm. that would faine denie it Bellarm. de Clericis lib. 1. c. 14. is forced to coÌ„fess that in all these three places the presbiters are called Bishops and consequently when Paul saieth 1. Tim. 3. He that desireth the office of a Bishop desireth a good worke that is the office of a Presbiter they were one and the fame as Hierom and others cited by Bellarmin have affirmed Otherwise Paull would not have them passed 1. Tim. 3. as he doth from the office of a Bishop to the office of a Deacon but first from the office of a Bishop to the office of a Presbiter and then to Deacons but there he only speakes of Bishops and Deacons because a Bishop and a Presbiter is one and the same thing It is true that Timothie was an Euangelist which is greater then a Bishop but as he is called a Bishop that is a presbiter Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was giveÌ„ thee by prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbiterie Chap. 4.14 The presbiters ye see were then the Bishops that ordained presbiters that is Bishops and in that sense Titus a presbiter that is a Bishop was left to ordaine them presbiters in every Cittie that is Bishops but Titus was not a Bishop of Bishops for if any of them were taken in a fault the consistorie of presbiters were to looke to it Acts 20.28 So it is said against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses 1 Tim. 5.19 which is not to set one over the rest to make a Bishop of Bishops but as if an Apostle should write to a senator of Venice against a Senator receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses which were to teach him and all Senators their dutie Christ saith of the holy Ghost Ioh. 16. he shall not speake of himself he shall take of mine to shew unto you to teach us that the holy Ghost bringeth no new doctrine or ordinance that stands not with the old for Christ changeth not he is the same yesterday and to day for ever But Paul saith of the Elders The holy Ghost hath made you Bishops this ordinance therefore is unalterable Hebr. 13. â—â— Act. 20. They ought to have the government and the honour due to Elders so Paul saith Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5.15 especially they who labour in the word and doctrine Next to the Apostles and Euangelists the Eldership was the place of greatest honour in the Church None of the Apostles are called Bishops but Elders they disdained not the title but reckoned it an honour 2. Ioh. 1. The Elder to the Elect Ladie and saint Pet. saith The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder the Greeke word signifies a fellow elder The Apostles and Elders came together to consider of this matter Act. 15.8.22.23 The chosen menand decrees went out in all their names Some object that Bishops succede the Apostles and Presbiters the seaventie Disciples This is but a conceite For Presbiters were the Bishops ordained of God to succeede the Apostles Christ saith to them Loe I am with you alwaies to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 That is in their successors such as should teach their doctrine baptise and governe according to his ordinance the Eldership so they may have successors but not as they were Apostles and over Elders that is over Bishops for as Beza observeth the Apostles excercised no
freely preached in all other things and no Minister hindred in them but now it is come to another evill the bondage and limitations are more increased For the Clergy and especially the Bishops have not onely temporised with the Duke and other hispaniolized and popish agents and practisers but even for their favour let in Arminianisme neither opposing it themselves nor suffering others that would but because light remedies alwayes cherish an evil they got the King to prohibite disputes on both sides not to hinder Arminianisme for the bookes of Doctor Iackson and others were suffered to come out after that but others from confuting it in their disputations books and sermons and in stead of the Scriptures to make the Articles the Rule and them the interpreters of them who have not onely protected the Appealer Doctor Iackson Doctor Cousens and some others that savour of Arminianisme and Popery hindred the Parliament and others from convincing them of errour and so emboldned others to broach worse errours in flattery of mighty favourites helped to get Parliaments dissolved wherein men had some hope of remedy but have themselves preached some passages savouring of Romish and Trent corruption seeming to approve the vulgar edition that the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato and to tye the understanding of the Scriptures to the interpretation of the Fathers to make the best of moderne Divines little regarded In these and the like they being powerfull in Court cannot want followers and flatterers and therefore men of understanding say they are not so well read in the Rules of piety as in those of policy used against the desired reformation in the time of Luther which being set forth in the history of the Councell of Trent though it anger the Papists in regard it discovereth a world of their various dissimulations cunning shifts and devices yet it pleaseth them in this that they serve to teach the Bishops and Arminians how to frustrate and delude all the fairest proofes and attempts of their adversaries And because some have written to discover the errours practices and dangers they have not onely put all they could catch in the high Commission but lest such should get out and themselves be any way hindred or discovered in such proceedings they have obtained authority that if any writer Printer or Book-seller come with a prohibition he shall be presently censured Some will say this is but reason I anwser true if their hierarchie and practices were according to Gods word and they seditious and hereticall that they trouble but being as it is and this power seldome or never extended against any but such as stand for Gods truth against Arminians popish practisers and defenders of the hierarchy they abuse the King and Councell in getting them to be their protectors and are themselves blinde and Antichristian tyrants Such as in stead of following the rules of the Gospell seeme rather to encline to that of Paul 4. who set on foot the Inquisition Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 405. 409. which he said was the principall secret and mystery of the Papacy the true Ramme to beat down heresie and defend the Apostolike sea by advancing another which like it shall prevaile by power and terrour in stead of good reason namely the high Commission Court The Councellors of the Parliament of Paris seeing the Articles of reformation published in the Councell of Trent opposed saying the Ecclesiasticall authority was enlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giving power to Bishops to proceed to pecuniary mulcts and imprisonment against the laity whereas no authority was given by Christ to his Ministers but meere and pure spirituall that when the Clergy was made a member of the policy the Princes did by favour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergy men with temporall punishments that discipline might be observed amongst them but to use such kinde of punishment against the laickes they had neither from the law of God nor of man but by usurpation onely All which sheweth that diocessan Bishops are great impostors though the Pope bee indeed the grand impostor And let men be sure that as they and their hierarchy are more and more defended so will their power encrease and grow more popish blinde erroneous and Antichristian as that of the Church of Rome did their feare towards God being in these things taught by the precepts of men the wisedome of them and their supporters must needs decay and perish to the extreame danger of the Church and Commonwealth By all which may bee seene that the kingdome of God in the true free and full power of the word preached is incompatible with the hierarchy they cannot stand together but the maintenance of the one is the breaking of the bands of the other and of the true peace and happinesse of the Church and State and that therefore there is necessity of a reformation in the Church and restoring the ordinances of God to that forme which not any humane but his divine wisdome ordained Some have pretended that it is good policy to uphold the Hierarchy for say they no Bishop no King there must be order in the Church and Bishops are they that preserve it This is that bulwark which they used to beat off all just complaints and save themselves their cause their friends and followers such as the Duke the Appealer and Cousens from the parliamentary power Crushed and dissolved it must be rather then such a one or his trechery be brought to triall though they thereby make such the more bold to attempt the like or worse evills overthrow the power and use of Parliaments that confirmed their hierarchy a requitall not so strange in them as just with God and so alienate the heart of the King from his subjects and the subjects from the King though they know a kingdome divided in it felfe cannot stand that having their hearts hee is strong and a King indeed that otherwise hee cannot well subsist as a King should nor be supplied with money and men but must bee forced to make peace with the enemies of religion on the harder conditions and home-bred Papists and Arminians would thereby grow the bolder to encrease their religions and parties the Palatinate could not well be recovered but the enemy must needs be made the more absolute and resolute to root out our religion and brethren in forraigne parts and at last seeing division in England to venture thither to endanger the Church and Commonweale the Kingdome and all Wherein what have the Prelates shewed lesse then that they had rather all these should be shaken and endangered then their hierarchy or then one proud Appealer one popish Cousens should be questioned in disparagement thereof For these evils could not have beene effected against so many endeavours of Parliaments without the helpe of their religious pretences nor passed without the cloake of their Episcopall gravity And lest things should bee
conversion of his power and not of mans free will that men doe beleeve and persevere because they were predestinated though they be plainly taught in the Scripture yet they will not have them nor the like points cleared by Preachers in Pulpit nor Print nor by Divines in the Vniversities no not in a time when Papists Arminians corrupt men in them but they must be left to them the Fathers and Rulers as if diocessan Bishops never ordained of God being many of them Courtiers swolne with ambition depending on the interests of favourites such as the Duke parties in such factions corrupted with flatteries contesting against the endeavours of Parliaments daily busied at the Councell table in the Star chamber or high Commission Court should better know how to cleere and determine these and other high points then Preachers that study nothing else but Divinity and are not led by such particular interests There is no man that hath but an indifferent judgement and any sparke of true love to Gods Kingdome but will say it is impossible that these men or their flatterers should bee fit Iudges or give just lawes to men in such cases yet they governe all in Synods and elsewhere and if they have but colourable pretences like the Papists who doe resist or question them These are they that ruling all and having many things in their gift are sure to be flattered and followed in Court Synods and Vniversities and if as the Appealer doth they can but alledge the opinion of Bishop Bancraft or any such politician Prelate like themselves they care for no better authority Onely strengthned by the secular arme they know how to prevaile by power All which considered it is no marvell that they have decreed so many things to so little profit yea to so great damage to the Church and kingdome of God And all true Christians are the rather to take heed of them and their decrees and not to say it is either necessary to have Bishops or a thing indifferent seeing they so much endanger the faith and that in these respects it greatly concernes the faith and all the faithfull to have their government abolished and the Eldership restored lest by them as by the Bishops in the Church of Rome religion come to be corrupted It will be objected the most ancient Councels were governed by Bishops I answer that otherwise Popish errours could not have beene established nor so long maintained against the truth that at first Presbyters had their voices in them that Bishops of old differed little from Presbyters had pastorall charges and were not like ours but onely began to decline and therefore I wonder not that Nazianzen so long since observed that there came little good yea much hurt of them and that contentions have alwayes beene encreased by the Episcopall assemblies as also Bishop Iewel proves in many particulars In an Epistle annexed to the history of the Counc of Trent I wonder not if in our dayes some Bishops are learned affect some good things make some good bookes and tollerable constitutions For some of them have beene great Divines Pastors and of a good conscience in many things but might not a man have found the like in some of the Sadduces Heredians Arrians 〈…〉 Pâ—pists and other heretikes that is take them out of their heresies in such things as they hold common with other Iewes or Christians yet many things determined by them were dangerous so must it needs be in the diocessan Bishops of England who are of a humane law and heretikes in matter of the Eldership if not Arminians Therefore in this cause that may be said of them which Paul 4. said of the Bishops of his time that it was a vanity to assemble 60. Pa. 339. Bishops of the least able and 40. Doctors of the most insufficient as was twice done already in Trent and to beleeve that by those things could bee well regulated All which considered who can thinke that the Hierarchy or any Synod of English Bishops can be for the service of God In the meane the Churches or at least many thousands in them in their practice receive the hierarchy ceremonies and traditions Pari pietatis affectu ac reverentiae with like affection of piety and reverence as the written word of God and many with greater There are foure pillars that uphold the Hierarchy 1. Traditions and ceremonies 2. Spirituall ignorance and blinde devotion in the Nobility and Laity For that makes them take it for granted that Bishops and obedience to their traditions are de jure divino hence proceedes a 3. Riches and authority and from these a 4. reciprocall resolution combination with such Statesmen as the Duke and his confederates so to maintaine each others cause against al accusers as if they were one and they each others Advocates And as a branch of this the severe suppression of all bookes and complaints that discover their errors or practices There is no need to prove further that the three last are against the service of God it will suffice to shew that they are against the service of the King and State But first of ceremonies and traditions received in the Church of England Histor of the Councell of Trent pag. 259. It is remarkable that when some German Protestants for feare received those appointed in the Interim saying after they were indifferent Others whom necessity had not compelled said it was true that indifferent things concerne not salvation yet by meanes of them pernicious things are brought in and going on they framed this generall conclusion That ceremonies and rites though by nature indifferent doe then become bad when he that useth them hath an opinion that they are good or necessary Which hath beene proved of them in England and that generally they are men popish neutrall or of least sincerity that stand most for them as for the best meanes to uphold the hierarchy because they know that rule to be true No ceremonie no Bishop which as it seemes is the reason that the Bishops looke to little else though that bee to confesse that they serve for nothing but to uphold their owne traditions and ceremonies wherein they are very zealous like the Trent Bishops that anathematized them that say that the ceremonies Pa. 574. vestments or externall signes used in the Masse are rather incitements to ungodlinesse Pa. 548. then offices of piety Where if by ungodlinesse you understand superstition and ignorance the Trent censure is extreame harsh the rather because Antonius of Veltelina a Dominican had proved unto them that the Rite of Rome had beene received to gratifie the Pope but not in all places and by a booke called Ordo Romanus that it hath had great alterations not onely in ancient times but even in the latter ages also that the Roman Rite observed within 300. yeares is not that which is now observed by the Priests in that City For the vestments vessels and other
ornaments of the Ministers and Altars it appeareth not by bookes onely but by statues and pictures that they are so changed that if the Ancients should returne into the world they could not know them Therefore he concluded that to bind all to approve the Rites which the Church of Rome used might be reprehended as a condemnation of antiquity and of the use of other Churches His discourse displeased but the Bishop of the five Churches justified him If English Bishops would but with the Friar consider the consequences that follow their inforcing of their Rites they would not bee so extreame in them And indeed in those wherein they differ from the Reformed Churches they doe but mocke the Christian world while with the Papists they hold that they ought to be so strictly received and reverenced and yet abrogate others more necessary Pag. 163. seeing as one saith of the Papists they grant not to the people the election of the Minister which certainly was an Apostolicall institution continued more then eight hundred yeares but deny it to them with as good right as the Papists doe both that and the use of the cup which had beene continued as long It is a seemly thing to see the Temples where Christians use to meet in good repaire frequented with grave devout humble and religious behaviour in the worship of God the table covered with cleane linnen when the Sacrament is administred the cup decent and not of the basest metall But these and the like things are the more acceptable to God when the Church is not spoiled of her better ornaments diligent preaching and hearing soundnesse in the faith knowledge zeale and holinesse of life For if the Temples be never so glorious in structure the table of the finest wood and workmanship the cup of gold the Ministers in glorious vestments the service full of grave and devout ceremonies and all things else in the most plausible manner for outward ornament God is but mocked for all these if those better ornaments be neglected and despised When the Church of Rome began to abound in wealth and authority to have pluralities to maintaine their dignities to leaue poore hirelings in their cures to neglect soundnesse in doctrine knowledge and the like graces that they might seeme no lesse religious they began in stead thereof to be exercised in new manners of devotion See Plessis myst of iniquity pregress 24. looking out of relickes traditions and ceremonies to erect stately Temples Organs and Altars to guild and adorne them with images of Saints to have golden Chalices and wooden Priests to multiply feasts and holidayes to invent new orders and formes of will-worship to use all severity in bodily worship devout posture and demure cariage and to make all men conformable in those things to ordaine a world of superfluous constitutions But how was God mocked in all these while they did eate out religion For people being taken up in those his ordinances were the lesse regarded and while the stately Temples were erected in Cities Rev. 12. the Church was faine to flee into the wildernesse while the beauty of the outward stones were maintained 1 Pet. 2.5 the living stones were trodden under feet and despised while lights were set up in Churches people sate in darknesse and ignorance while traditions were observed Gods word was the lesse respected and in time could neither bee obeyed nor heard while the tables and Priests were adorned men of knowledge and other the best gifts were least esteemed while dead images of Saints were set up in the Church beautified and worshipped the true and living Saints such as the Waldenses Hussites and Calvenists were persecuted and martyred and the very faith it selfe called heresie Looke now a little upon the Church of England see how they abandon the cause of religion abroad and at home despise and persecute such as seeke that the ordinances of God may be restored Elders received Popery Arminianisme pluralities and non-residency excluded the true faith preached and maintained in Sermons and Lectures knowledge faith zeale and other graces nourished and increased and in the meane seem no lesse religious fall to building Temples Organs Tables Altars to satiate if it were possible the Clergy with titles of honour jurisdictions vestments revenues and riches and because a Bishop precedes a Baron to thinke that nothing is too much to maintaine his state that is not too much for a Baron and so for Deanes and Doctors according to their degrees and places which are the nurseries of pluralities and non-residency To call for observation of ceremonies canons fasts holidayes externall gesture and devotion and whatsoever else is commanded or practised in their constitutions and customes wherein though they doe not yet abound so much as the Papists yet it is the only religion in credit and fashion and as if Christ had ordained Bishops to looke to nothing else it doth and will eate out true religion and sincerity Howsoever while Prelates and others having pluralities to maintaine their dignities and leaving poore hirelings to serve their cures those better ornaments are neglected and persecuted are not these tokens that God is mocked by them I know well it is most irksome to Prelates to heare of these things they thinke no man should dare to manifest them and especially that the Eldership ought to be restored according to Gods ordinance They live as if they shunned no other plague nor feared any other purgatory then a reformation This fils their soules with Fiery indignation and makes them to be redeemed from it breake out into threats inquisitions and persecutions that they may overcome their tormentors by censures imprisonments exemplary punishments fines and torments Howsoever if they can but by flatteries invectives whisperings and other shifts keep the King and Councell so ignorant and blinde in those things that they may remaine firme on their side they care for no more But may not a man protest as plainly for God and his Church as the French Ambassador did for the priviledges of France and the French Churches in the Councell of Trent that protestation angred the Prelates but he defended it saying That those were ignorants Hist of the. Councel Pag. 771. 774. who having seene nothing but the Decretals lawes of 400. yeares did thinke that there were no Ecclesiasticall lawes before them that if any would reforme the King by the Decretals he would reforme them by the decrees and leade them also to more ancient times not onely of S. Austen but of the Apostles also Wherein the King justified him Now as the hierarchy and ceremonies make not for the true service of God but serve to eate it out by degrees as the Romish did so neither doe they make for the service of the King and State but are against it and very pernicious for every Nobleman and Ruler as appeareth 1. Because while they are by them kept from the knowledge of Gods truth in matter of the
Eldership against Arminian errours or any thing else the Bishops would not have them know that must needs be true in them which our Saviour saith He that walketh in darknesse Ioh. 12.35 knoweth not whither he goeth and therefore their deliberations in matters of preserving the Church and State which in these times are so intermixed by reason of popish practices that commonly the cause and good of the one belongeth to the other must needs bee accordingly canried that is with much blindnesse and danger 2. Because if any King or great Favourite like the Duke be in this error of the Hierarchy Arminianisme or any other the having of these great places in the Hierarchy in his gift makes almost all the Clergy and especially the Prelates and Vniversities to bee at his devotion to temporize temper forme and keepe bad divinity to their minde by such power and policy that all the most skilfull Divines in the kingdome shall not dare or at least not be able to helpe it but whatsoever become of the truth or reforming errours and abuses the honour of the Prelates and their abettors must bee saved as in the Court of Rome and by these things they are prepared to rule a Synod if occasion serve as the Court of Rome did that of Trent and in the mean so to keepe divers errours and abuses from the knowledge of their King and to guard his eares from all just counsailes and complaints made against them or their confederates or to pervert their drift by pretending his prerogative and government are taxed or questioned and the Episcopall government established by his authority is sleighted and contemned that nothing can bee heard fearfull divisions are made Parliaments are for their sakes dissolved the best counsels rejected reformation hindred notorious delinquents Papists and Arminians emboldned men in the greatest trust may daily be in the fellowship of Iesuited Papists what ever they practise it is found in vaine to accuse them and by this meanes the King is either the last that knowes the truth and right in divers causes or one that never comes to understand it nor indeed to be willing to heare of it Which is far from the wisedome and diligence of the Pope and popish Princes that seeke to supplant him and all true religion Histor of the Councel of Trent pag. 693. Pius the 4. doubting that some Prelates and other great ones favoured the Protestants resolved to discover them and was wont to say that he was more wronged by the masqued heretickes then by the bare faced Men that love theire King and Religion say as much of the masqued Papists in England and that therefore the Prelates and others vainly brag of the long peace and prosperitie England hath enjoyed while other Countries have smarted when it hath beene procured by such meanes and more vainely thinke that God is well pleased with them seing they haue no changes but he hath suffered them to prevaile against such as sought the redresse when they should rather know that the long suffering of God leadeth to repentance that all these things as they doe more and more disable the king and his people from defending themselues in the time of war because the Popish and Arminian factions are by them increased and God provoked so without amendment they will cause God to send a sword amongst them to auenge the quarrell of his covenant when thus weakned they shal be lesse able to withstand it Some foiles they haue had and their present securitie is an ill omen of worse 3. Because by these meanes Courtiers being nourished in spirituall ignorance Popist Princes that either labour to bring all to one Monarchie or neerer neerer to Romish Religion finde fit instruments in court and Councell to negotiate withall to get leauges treaties and articles of peace or war to theire best advantage to make divisions factions to corrupt and be corrupted that is either for reward or conscience to helpe Romish Religion vnder pretences of State policie or being against the puritans wherein they could never make things seeme to stand with religion without the consent and confederacie of the Prelates For if there were no hierarchie no Prelates to countenance them but the land were indeed of the reformed Religion all would be ashamed of such counsailes as stand not with the good thereof and Iesuits could not find the meanes they doe to be stickling by theire disguised freinds to trouble the state and by degrees and colourable pretences to alter Religion wherein if Princes and favourits come to be corrupted none so likely or potēt to get things decreed to theire mindes in Sinods as Bishops that are thosen by them and depend on them as others on the Pope the Trent fathers shewed it in many particulars All which is as ill for the soules of those Princes and statesmen as for the Church and State what a miserable case is it that Kings and Princes who of all should loue Christe and tender the good of his Church and people as being nursing fathers will not take these things into consideration nor suffer the words of exhortation and that such as are neere them will not vse the meanes that they may know them Ministers dare not touch vpon it seing the Prelates flatter and are able to vndoe them wherein Romish Princes and Religion haue infinite aduantages against them The meanest Iesuits and Capuchins are admitted into the closets of Kings and Sates men and permitted to convince or reprove in the cause of theire Religion to exhort and animate them to constancie vigilancie and courage to vnmasque and destroy the secret and open enemies thereof When the Queene Regent of France had suffered Beza to speake in Colloquie a bold Iesuit reproched the Protestants and openly reprehended the Queene for medling in matters that he said belonged not to her Pag. 454. but to the Pope c. yet was he not molested for it They honour others punish zealous spirits Papists and other children of this world are wiser in their generation then the children of light more zealous more diligent as is daily seene in France Spaine and all popish countries which is ill for the State and Church of England This therefore may be sufficient to excuse me for making this manifestation 4. Because if there be not a reformation God for all these evils is forced to plague such a Church and State in many things especially in those spirituall plagues Isa 29.14 and 2 Thess 2.11 It is pretended that they that seeke reformation of the Church make schisme The Church of Rome said as much for her selfe against them that sought to reforme her in the time of Luther And indeed the schism is rather made by the Bishops and their supporters from the reformed Churches and such as hold Gods truth with them which hath made the enemies attempt so much against them and prevaile therein while they saw the English to divided from them and oposite to them