preaching against the true Christ preaching against the Scribes and Pharisees and they affirming him to be a deceiver And I dare maintain that what they preach contrary to what we preach in publick if they do to be contrary to sound doctrine Object You say you do nothing but what is good you set open the great doors and little doors not caring who sees who heareth you Answ 1. Admit that what is preached is good yet it is not well done good things should be well done according to rule and order 2. The Tree is known by the fruits and by your such Meetings we see the publick Ordinances slighted neglected contemned 3. I cannot accuse what is delivered in your Meetings but if it is contrary to what we preach in publick it is not good doctrine And let me tell you that John of Leyden infused his dangerous opinions in private Meetings and how our Mr. Thrask in publick preached sound truths but in his private Meetings he did indoctrinate his followers with his pernicious principles Object They who preach to us in private Meetings are pious men the other are profane vicious scandalous Answ 1. If this be true that some of us are such we are sorry for it yea such we will not justifie and when was it otherwise nor is all done by the other justifiable 2. There are more sins than swearing and drunkenness who can forget the swarms of sins in our late Tragedies and who were actors of many of them in it 3. For the present Are not despising of Authority disobedience Cobler of Gloc. to wholsom Laws sins from which are these men free 4. Blessed be God although we all are proclaimed to be profane and naught yet there are very many as free from idleness drunkenness swearing and such like vices and as painful pious charitable and inoffensive as the strictest in your commanded company 5. But to be plain with you All professions whilst kept under it is their interest to be orderly but when these men of late had their liberty we are able to prove the profane excesses of some of them even to publick scandal by Epicurism intemperance and uncleanness to say no more For my part I cannot think but that the respect such who are in Authority bear to themselves their care to have their Laws and Religion upholden their obedient Clergy not vilified and people kept from Atheism and rebellion will awaken them in time strictly and by severity to do that which their clemency will not do You cry out much against Popery yet your doings endeavour to bring it in and set it up it is a Jesuitical plot to sow division amongst us to make our Religion odious and that they may fish in troubled waters From a good Author I will tell you a story which is this Before our troubles one Meridith an ancient Dr. Nicols and learned Jesuit told one reconciled to the Church of Rome that in England they had been long and industrious about the work of conversion but it went on slowly and so would do until they took a wiser course Two things there were that must be done before they should bring their business to a full effect they must first find a way to remove the Bishops and Ministers in whose rooms they must bring it so about that all should have liberty to preach Then secondly they must get down the Common-prayer-Book and suffer every man to use what prayer he list And we cannot but remember how far they effected this in our sad troubles Besides if you expect such priviledge why may not they expect the same They being Christians they being subjects they and some of you being Recusants why not they their Mass as well as you your Meetings Object Why Those you hear in your Meetings have rare gifts they are pious and precious men Answ I envy no mans gifts but bless God for other mens parts and piety 2. Comparisons are odious otherwise we could say as St. Paul of the false Apostles in his time Are they thus and so so are we 3. The forbidden fruit without doubt was excellent yet it had been good for our first Parents to have contented themselves with their allowed Trees and fruits Many mens Wives and Diet come short of other mens yet it is fit their own should content them 4. Blessed be God your allowance is large you may hear every week three Sermons in an approved way and none of them to be contemned And as for Popish Priests do you not think theâ— will say for their Priests and Jesuits the same that you do for your Preachers you say yours are rarely gifted men great Scholars pious painful and what you will more They will not conform to the Book of Common-prayer nor observe the Orders appointed by the Church of England they will not assent and consent They can and will say the same of theirs If you say yours will take no Livings they can say the same and add not Wives neither If you say that yours live by providence going about to do good they can say theirs have no setled abiding but are sometimes here and there to promote and spread the Catholick cause and are maintained by the peoples bounty We acknowledge that we and Papists are Christians agreeing in many things for we and they acknowledge unity in Trinity but we with them acknowledge no Queen of heaven to pray unto We and they acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Word of God but we with them make not the Apocrypha Canonical We with them make the Word of God the ground of faith but we with them make not unwritten traditions of equal authority We and they agree in admitting doctrinal traditions agreeing with Scripture or thence deduced yea ritual for order and decency left to the disposition of the Church although but of positive and humane right they not being childish nor accounted parts of God's Worship nor with opinion of merit nor burdensom for multitude But we with them believe not traditions obtruded as Articles of Religion grounds of faith and parts of God's Worship they not being deduced from Scripture by inference nor expresly commanded such we reject We and they receive and believe the three Creeds but we with them receive not the Creed of Trent We and they believe the true God is to be worshipped in Spirit and truth we with them believe not that he is to be worshipped by Images We and they believe that we are to pray with fervency and sincerity but we with them pray not in an unknown tongue We and they pray to God but we with them do not pray to Saints and Angels We and they acknowledge Christ to be our Mediator of redemption and intercession but we with them do not at all rely upon the intercession and merits of Saints and Angels We and they do honour Saints departed but we with them do not worship them We and they do urge to good works we as necessary
not fasting but after supper and must the deliverer wash the receivers feet 2. Christ did not make his example our pattern in such circumstances of time Communicants gesture c. but left his to be guided by his Church in all matters of comeliness and order We read of St. Pauls setting things in order yea seeming to cross the order of Christ forbidding the Corinthians to sup before 1 Cor. 11. 21. And the Church in St. Augustines time did receive the Communion fasting Epist 18. Chap. 6. he saith the whole Church the world over received it fasting that Christ left the manner of receiving to the Apostles that they appointed it to be received fasting and that the altering of the receiving of it after supper to take it fasting was the Ordinance of the holy Ghost for the honour of the Sacrament to have it enter before any external meat Object Christ did sit Mat. 26. 20. Answ Christ did not sit as we do but according to the custom of those Eastern Countreys did administer as the Passeover so his Supper lying on the floor upon couches Esth 1. 6. Mr. Beza from Josephus concludes that they did lye upon couches that one lay upon his next fellow with their feet laid outward And the Greek word shews as much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 26. 20. Macc. 14. 18. Joh. 13. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to sit upon a bed to take meat after the ancient custom And in Luk. 22 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to lye along to lye down The posture was therefore leaning or lying along not sitting besides the gesture was changed from God's appointment Exod. 12. 11. Obj. What Christ did not we must not do Christ did not kneel therefore we may not Answ Christ did not give it in the morning nor to Lay-men to no women not in a Church Christ did not give nor the Apostles receive it standing nor sitting as not kneeling therefore he left such particulars to the wisdom of the Church to order are agreed since what Christ did and commanded us to do we must do 2. What Christ did not we must not do what not baptize not communicate with women What Christ did we must do what take after Supper with a Lamb only with twelve 3 Some things Christ did as God some as Mediator some as man and as man he did many things necessary for us to follow him and he did some actions as man indifferent left free not for our imitaion 4. Churches who understand the duty and gestures used by Christ better than such objectors leave all Churches to their liberty not particular members in them to theirs and hence it is that some take it standing some kneeling and some as the Church of Poland either standing or kneeling but not allowing sitting because the wicked Arrians receive it sitting as implying their equality with Christ as man or at least derogatory from his divinity as God Our Rubrick shews there is no adoration of the Elements and it is manifest that adoration came not in amongst the Papists until after Transubstantiation which came in about 1215. and adoration about 1226. nor did Honorius appoint adoration to be used in the act of receiving but at the elevation and when carried about I pray suppose a Malefactor may have his pardon sealed with many priviledges to boot provided he will take it upon his knees not else and he will rather die than take it so because some take it on horse-back others sitting would not men condemn his stubbornneâ—s and say he justly perished Apply it I pray Oh my beloved brethren shall we deprive our selves of this sign to present this seal to confirm and this means to convey Christ and his benefits to us for we know not what for an harmless gesture savouring of humility in our selves and obedience to Governours which Mr. Beza calls a shewing Epist 12. opusc tom 3. pag. 2â—0 of holy Christian adoration Is this our thankfulness to God for planting us in the most flourishing Church in the world Is this our respect we bear to our first Reformers who sealed the Reformation with their blood and to such who have happily defended it Is this the care and love we have to our selves to quarrel at and deprive our selves of God's Ordinances for an harmless gesture Is the Communion a badge of Christianity and shall we be ashamed of Christianity so of Christ Is it a means to feed and nourish our souls spiritually and shall we slight it as not needing such nourishment Are we to receive to testifie our thankfulness for the death of Christ for which we can never be sufficiently thankful and shall we think much to do it Is our coming to the Lord's Table to testifie our Communion with God with Christ with his Spirit and Church and to increase the same that we may live more in unity love and concord and shall we neglect it 5. The Church enjoyns all to come to the prayers of the Church decently and in order And this is agreeable to all reformed Churches who have their forms To the ancient Church of the Jews meeting solemnly at their hours of prayers and to the directions of God Numb 6. 23. Deut. 26. 3 5. Mr. Calvin hath his reasons for set forms in publick an help for the weak to keep uniformity c. In Epist ad Protector Angliae yet alas we have with us who say they are abominable stumbling blocks walking with crutches c. yet such were appointed by God and our Saviour and used by the Prophets and Apostles Consider whether is better to pray with consideration or without whether he doth best who deliberates or he who doth not whether we can pray beter than Scripture prayers Although we may enlarge and vary them to make them more particular and pertinent to our personal occasions Whether he who prayes devoutly the Lord's prayer doth not pray with the Spirit since Christs Spirit taught it whether it is not as fit to offer ex tempore preaching to the people as ex tempore prayer to God See Mr. Durel pag. 64 184. And as for the prayers of our Church we have the approbation of the Reformed Churches And I have read that Gilbertus a German propounds ours for a sample of the forms of the ancient Chuâ—ch We have also the approbation of an Army of Martyrs Mr. Sanders in a Sermon affirms that the service set forth by King Edward was good because according to God's Word and the order of the primitive Church Dr. Tayler saith that that book was so fully perfected according to the Rules of Christian Religion that no Cristian conscience could be offended with any thing therein contained Bishop Ridley a little before his Martyrdom hearing that Mr. Knox did fault the Common-Prayer-Book said Alas that brother Knox could not bear with our Common-Prayer a man of parts and wit as he is may produce popular arguments against it yet I suppose
he cannot be able soundly by the Word of God to disprove any part of it When he who was called Protector sent a command to look to Ale-houses and Readers of the Common-prayer Mr. Gatford since Doctor of Divinity a sequestred Divine sent to him and his Parliament-House a tart rebuke in print for joyning the Common-Prayer with Ale-houses and a bold challenge requesting that all might be commanded to object what they could against it promising that he and some few of his sequestred Brethren would make good That that Book is absolutely the best and freest from exception that ever saw light in the Christian world and that it is none of the weakest forts the Church hath against Popery and Errors John Carelesse in his examination before Dr. Martin it is only in the first Edition of the Book of Martyrs which is in one volume saith That same Book which is so consonant and agreeable to the Word of God being set forth by common authority both of the King that dead is Edward 6. and of the whole Parliament-House ought not to be despised by me or any other private man under pain of Gods curse high displeasure and damnation except they repent Object It is Popery Answ Dr. Weston Prolocutor in the Convocation house in Queen Maries reign made a bitter invective against it In whose reign also Papists articled against some of the Martyrs for using of it for being present when it was used Arch-Bishop Cranmer affirmed that he with Peter Martyr and some few more would defend the Book of Common-Prayer against all Papists in the world for of a long time they only were the opposers of it and Papists now so abhor it that they are to and will lose two parts of three of their rents rather than hear it and yet Popery Fie besides what one Popish thing is in it Is there prayer to Saints or Angels Is there prayer to the dead or in an unknown tongue Is there any allowance of Purgatory of Merit Is it not directed against all the material points of Popery so that if it was observed it was impossible Popery should come into England Object Something in it is in the Mass-Book it was taken out of it Answ Is the Lord's Prayer Popery because it is in the Mass-Book Kneeling to Jupiter was unlawful to God is required St. Paul borrowed of Pagans Act. 12. 28. Tit. 3. 12. The Pope defends the Trinity shall we therefore deny it The Devils and Pagans believe on God so do we There hath not been nor can be a greater cause of triumph to the Papists nor cleerer vindication of their innocency in suffering so much in their estates for absenting themselves from our service than such doings of some Protestants who make the use of that service scandalous and so great a crime Upon this advantage given what may the Papists say how may they plead I pray judge and consider And take heed lest in calling that Popery which is not you bring it in by taking away such Bull-warks which should keep it out And I beseech you brethren do not flatter your selves by saying the Martyrs had not such gifts as you nor such lights as you have 1. As for gifts they were so gifted as to seal the Gospel Mr. Fox Preface to the Works of Mr. Tyndal saith Albeit increasing of learning of Tongues and Sciences with quickness of wit in youth and others doth marvellously shoot up as it is to be seen to the sufficient furnishing of Christs Church yet so it happeneth I cannot tell how the farther I look back into those former times of Tyndal Frith and other like more simplicity with true zeal with humble modesty I see with less corruption of affections in them In opening of Scriptures what truth what soundness can a man require more or what more is to be said than is found in Tyndal c. The same is the judgment of the Learned and witty Prefacer to the Treatise called the Book-Fish containing certain Treatises of John Frith the Martyr taken out of a Cod-fishes belly in Cambridge Market Anno 1626. and after published The Author of that notable Preface is thought to have been Dr. Thomas Goad of Haddenham one of our five Divines that were at the Synod of Dort This Author saith also He knows not how but he finds a better spirit more vivacity and efficacy in the writings of the first Reformers than in the more accurate labours of these of our times For new lights hear the judgment of the old Non-Conformists Opinions now embraced as new truths and lights are no other for substance but the old errors and dotages of Barrow and Greenwood long since published by them and by the godly opposed so that like rusty weapons they are newly furbished and being but the same metals and materials are cast into a new mold with an addition of some things more of the same sort with their blood as to confute their adversaries and defend the truth And Mr. Fox saith that Hadley a Town of Tradesmen where Dr. Tayler that great admirer of and commender of the Book of Common-Prayer lived was like an University for knowledge 2. And as for your new lights Did S. Paul hold nothing back but declare all the counsel of God Act. 20. 27. Did he pronounce him accursed who preached any other doctrine Gal. 1. 8. and command Timothy to keep the commandement until Christ's appearing 1 Tim. 6. 14. and must we now look for new lights I cannot imagine that the holy Ghost should give Timothy as solemn a charge as was ever given to mortal man to observe the rules given until Christs coming and new lights to be expected yet many pretend much to new lights and new wayes and gaze upon them so that as some gazing upon ignis fatuus lose their way and fall into ditches so these men stare so much upon their new lights that they cannot find the way to God's house and they lose the true light which hath shined and doth in the Church of God But whence come these new lights If from Scripture we had them before if not from Scripture they are false and deceitful lights Great is the wantonness of many in greeting new opinions and Opinionists as if former truths were sapless yet truth is alwayes flourishing although too many are even sick of new opinions The Fryars had formed a new Gospel and called it the everlasting Gospel they cryed it up to be worthier than the Gospel of Christ as much as the Sun is more perfect than the Moon the kernel than the shell this continued about thirty years with little reproof it was openly read and expounded in Paris 1235. but 1256. it was opposed by the Parisian Doctors and burnt as ignis fatuus is a vanishing Meteor so these new lights will I believe vanish and fade as did the Fryars Evangeâ—ium aeternum 6. The Church enjoyns God-fathers and God-mothers at Infant-baptism They are at Geneva They are