stretch forth their hands and authority beyond the rule further then God hath allowed them but Uzzah died for his presumption to have a zeal according to knowledge as the Apostle saith is to do all things in Gods matters prudently and circumspectly according to the rule of Christ and his Apostles institutions and not according to Mens traditions nor humane inventions of Cannons c. Whichcot I heard a Doctor I think his name was Whichcot preach in Black-fryers about seven years ago a conformable man and he said that if you would have men to conform you should first convince their consciences by plain Texts of Scripture of the lawfulness of those things which you would have them conform unto otherwise to force men to conformity and not convince them by plain Scripture Arguments of the lawfulness of what they conform unto he said it was to make men outwardly hypocrites and inwardly atheists now according to this by the neglect of duty in our Bishops and Prelates how many thousands if not hundred thousands hypocrites and atheists have our Prelates made in England within ten years by pressing ceremonies and observation of things which many hundred thousands do question whether they have any warrant in the word of God and in the 20. and 21. articles of the Church of England it is said that it is not lawful neither for the Church The 20. and 21. Articles nor for general Councels to ordain any thing contrary to the word of God written which word excludes all unwritten traditions and customes and that things so ordained have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they are taken out of holy Scripture and yet our Prelates will have such things observed without clearing them by Scripture or hearing what may be said against them by Scripture And further Volusianus said from Jer. 48.10 Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently that is saith he not to do the work of the Lord carefully and with a willing mind for whereas the Lord willeth us not to offer any thing to him against our wills so doth he forbid us to compel any man to offer any thing against our wills and he proves it Ex. 20.21 Thou shalt not vex nor oppress thy neighbour or a stranger now it is an oppression wrong to our neighbours to be corrected for his fault when it is done with disdain and upbraiding and not in compassion and mercy towards him to inform him in the spirit of meekness and not to destroy him in the spirit of bitterness and rigor much more is our neighbour oppressed when he is corrected for well doing for endeavouring to follow the Laws of Christ rather than the Laws of men thus Valusianus Norfolk â—nd Sufâ—â—lk m ns â—â—pplication And in a Supplication of Norfolk and Suffolk men to Queen Mary and her Commissioners they thus writ is not this the time say they among other times that Satan rides upon the red horse to take peace from the Earth for can man go into any place where the sons of wickedness are not ready to search out a mans deeds and mark his words and if he agree not with them in despising Gods word in swearing lying whoring and drinking c. Then will they spitefully and hatefully rail against him calling the truth of God error and heresie and the professors of it hereticks and Schismaticks with other odious and despiteful names as Traytors and not the Queens friends as if to love Gods word were heresie as though to talk of Christ and Religion were Shismatical as though none could be true to the Queen but such as are false to God as though none could be the Queens friends but such as despitefully rail against her Graces Father and Brother and the word of God as though none were truly Religious but such as blaspheme against the purity of Religion as though none favoured the Queen but such as hate all Godly knowledge wherefore we learn that true obedience to God the King of Kings and for him and in him and not against him to obey Princes and Magistrates who are not truly obeyed when God is disobeyed nor yet disobey'd when God is truly obey'd wherefore we pray that God may move your hearts to weigh these things and take the word of God unto your Councel and then you shall see how Gods commands and Bishops commands agree or rather disagree to which I shall add that by the word of God you may see clearly that neither Bishops nor Prelates c. ought to have either temporallities or tythes Christ hath said Rev. 11.3 That he will give power to his two witnesses to bear their testimony and witness against the Beast or Ante-christ therefore they that endeavour to suppress this witness bearing against Ante-christ are themselves Ante-christian and whether is not Christs Priestly office invaded by urging men to the observation of ceremonies and a form of worship which Christ hath not instituted but contrary to Christs institutions and so against mens consciences and his Kingly office invaded by exercising a Government over men that hath no ground nor warrant in the word of God but is of mans devising and yet punish men that would gladly observe the word of God for not observing the devices of men Daniel 6 and 7. What an odious thing is it said one to call out obedience to God by the name of disobedience to men as in Dan. 3.12 and Dan. 6 10. For his obedience to God in praying three times a day he was accused for disobedience to the King and thus it hath been with others for there is a generation of men who charge all with Schism that dare not subject their selves to the usurpation and arrogant impositions of the sons of pride that neither have authority nor ability from God to govern us who lay snares for mens Consciences and then accuse men for falling into those snares as the Pagans did against Daniel who make Laws for the Church unnecessary in their own opinions and sinful in other mens opinions and command things which they know others think the Lord forbids and then load men with reproaches of disobedient turbulent heretical schismatical persons for not yeilding to their imperious commands against their consciences to call men factious if they will not be of their faction against the Catholick unity and simplicity of the Gospel how easie and how common is it to call a meeting of sober Christians for prayer and mutual edification by the name of a factious and schismatical conventicle and a meeting of drunkards or gamesters or harlots by a far less disgraceful name if men will but turn their Religion into forms of words or beads or canonical hours and days outward shews and ceremonies which have no ground nor warrant in the Scripture few or none will let or reproach or persecute you for being too precise or strict for so doing for by such a Religion it is that Prelates have
Decrees or Constitutions which is not grounded upon the Holy Scripture they should therefore stand in no danger nor be impeached King Richard 2. King Richard the second propounded to John Wickliffe Whether the Kingdom of England might lawfully detain the Treasure of the Kingdome from the Pope He demanded the Church goods under pain of Censure Mr. Wickliffe setting a part the Common Laws of England and the Civiâ— Law It rests saith he to prove the affirmitive part by the Principles of Chists Law thus Every natural body hath power given of God to resist against the contrary and to preserve it self in due estate inasmuch as Bodies without life are indued with such a kind of power as hardness to resist those things that would break it and coldness to withstand heat that would dissolve it forasmuch then as the Kingdom of England after the manner of phrase of Scripture ought to be one Body of which the King is head and the Commonalty are the members thereof It seemeth the same Kingdom head and members hath such power given to them of God and so much the more apparent by how much the same body is more precious unto God adorned with virtue and knowledge for so much then as there is no power given of God unto any Creature for any end or purpose but that he may lawfully use the same to that end and purpose It followeth That our Kingdom may lawfully keep back and detain their Treasure of Temporalities and Tythes c. for the defence of it self in what case soever necessity doth require the same Secondly the same is proved by the Law of the Gospel for the Pope cannot challenge the Treasure of this Kingdom no more can the Prelates challenge Temporalities or Tythes but under the title of Almes and consequently under the pretence of works of mercy according to the rule of Charity But in the case aforesaid the title of Alms ought utterly to cease ergo the right title of challenging the Treasure of this Kingdom ought to cease also in the presupposed necessity and the Prelates and Clergie challenging Temporalities and Tythes ought to cease also by the same reason Forasmuch as all Charity hath its beginning of it self it were no work of Charity but of meer madness to send away the Treasure of the Realm unto other Nations whereby the Realm it self may fall into ruine under the pretence of such a Charity and is it not as much madness to suffer so many idle Drones to usurp the Kingdomes the Churches and the Poors goods of temporalities and tythes to spend on Coaches and Horses Hawks Dogs and Hounds I will not say Whores Taverns Cards and Dice Why should not such unfaithful Stewards give an account of their Stewardship It appears also saith he by this That Christ the Head of the Church whom all Prelates and Priests ought to follow he lived by the Alms of devout women as in Luke 8.2 3. he hungred and thirsted was a stranger and sustained many other miseries not only in his members but also in his own body He was poor that ye through his poverty might be rich 2 Cor. 8.9 Wherefore in the first endowing of the Church with Alms whatsoever he were of the Clergy that had any temporal possessions he had the same by way of Almes as several Writings and Chronicles do witness For saith he the Temporal Lords have power to take away their Alms when they see their Alms abused to riot and excess by some and others who are interested therein suffer penury and want by the Prelates and Clergy their unfaithfulness in their Stewardships Carolus Magnus Carolus Magnus that famous French King had decreed in a Council that only the Canonical Books of Scripture should be read in Churches and commanded the Bishops that they should not suffer any other to be read nor Preach themselves any thing that did not agree with the word of God And besides he ordered the goods given to the Church to be disposed of so That in wealthy places two parts of the Church goods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and that in poorer places there should be an equal division between the poor and the Clergy The good Lord if it be his good will and pleasure put it into the hearts of all Christian Kings and Princes to do the like Isidor Mr. Fox saith that Isidor hath these words Let Temporal Kings know that they must give an account to God for the Church which they have at the hands of God to govern and if so then it lies as a duty incumbent upon them so that to free themselves from the guilt of other mens sins there is an absolute necessity That seeing the Church goods are abused and not disposed of as they ought to be as it is proved above Therefore Kings and Nobles may not only lawfully but are bound in duty to God to take care to have such abuses reformed Charles the sixth Charles the sixth the French King made a Law That the fruits and rents of Benefices and other Pensions and Bishops goods that departed from their charges should be brought in to the Kings use King Philip About the year 1303. King Philip of France summoned a Parliament where all the Bishops were required within eight dayes after notice given to appear or else all their Temporal goods should be seized into the Kings hand By this it appears That upon their disobedience the King might take their Temporalities from them if he so pleased In which Parliament it was declared by Sir Will. Negareta Sir VVilliam Negareta in behalf of the King That for his Oaths sake that he made for defence of the Church and because the King was the Patron of the Church Therefore he was bound not only to defend the Church observe this well he was bound not only to defend the Church but to call in the goods of the Church which was wasted by the Pope and Prelates means And four years after the Lord Peter de Cugneriis in a Parliament Lord Peter de Cugneriis exhibited 65 Articles in the Kings behalf against the Bishops and Prelates of France and the misdemeanours of them and their Officers and Courts Mr. Fox Such goods as were given to the Church by our Ancestors saith Mr. Fox was neither so given nor so taken as to serve the private use of Church men but to serve the publick use of the poor and needy as is to be seen by the Canonical Institution of the Emperour Lodovicus Pius set forth in the year 830. in these words Lodovicus Pius The goods of the Church be the Vows and bequests of the faithful to ransom such as be in captivity or prison and the Patrimony to succour them with Hospitality that be needy c. Whereas now the Hospitality that is used is to feast such as need not such as are able to feast the Prelates again and the poor and needy if they get any
I have mentioned once before in his Exhortative Epistle printed at Basil saith I say yet once again and that in the zeal of the Lord as he is my Judge I wish if his gracious pleasure so were that first the Kings Majesty and so all those to whom God hath given power and authority on Earth may throughly see and perceive how that not only the bloudy Bear and Wolf of Rome but also the most part of other Bishops and stout sturdy Canons of Cathedral Churches with other petty Prowlers and prestigious Priests of Baal in all Realms of Christendom especially in England doe roar abroad like Lyons fret like angry Bears and bite like cruel Wolves clustring together like swarmes of Adders in a Dunghil or most wily subtile Serpents to uphold preserve their Interest Paul admonished us of them that after his departing grievous Wolves should enter not sparing the flock Acts 20.29 These spiritual man-hunters are the very offspring of Cain Children of Caiaphas and Successors of Simon Magus as their Doctrine and Living declare Most cruel enemies have they been in all ages to the Verity of God and most fierce Persecutors of Christ and his Church Marvel not ye Bishops and Prelates saith he though I thus in the zeal of Elias and Phineas stomach against your sturdy stubborness for never was any tyranny ministred upon Christs mistical members but by your procurement never did Christ send such bloudy Apostles and two horned Warriers but the Devils Vicar-Antichrist sent them who is the deadly destroyer of faithful Beleivers c. and so he goes on I reckon it therfore saith he high time for all Christian Princes which pretend to receive the Gospel of Salvation and to live in peace and tranquillity for ever to cast the Bishops out of Privy Councels and utterly to seclude you from all administrations till such time as they find you no longer Wolves but faithful Feeders no Destroyers but gentle Teachers for consider your beginning never came you in with your Miters Robes and Rings c. it the door as did the poor Apostles but by the window unrequired like Robbers Thieves and Man-quellers with Symon Magus Marcion and Menander never was your proud pontifical power of our heavenly Fathers planting and therefore must be rooted up Matt. 15.13 If any thing under Heaven hath need of Reformation let them that minde any Godlyness think this to be one for if these be not spiritual Spiritual Thieves Soul-murtherers Hereticks Schismaticks Church-robbers Rebels and Traitors to God and man where are any to be looked for in the world for nothing can they do but work daily mischief as well may they be spared in the Common wealth saith he as Kites Crows Buzzards Polcats Rats Weasles Otters Wolves and Foxes bodily Fleas or flesh Flies or other devouring noysome Vermin for so long as they sit in the Parliament-house the Gospel shall be kept under and Christ persecuted in his faithful members take me not here saith he that I condemn any Bishop or Priest that is godly doing those Offices the Scripture commandeth as preaching the Gospel and providing for the poor c. but against bloudy Butchers that murther Gods people and make havock of Christs Congregation to maintain Jewish Ceremonies and Paganish Superstition in the Christian Church these are not Bishops but Sheep-biters Tyrants Tormentors and the Devils slaughter men but such as in poverty preach the Gospel provide for the poor rebuke the wicked world of Pride Idolatry Hypocrisie they are not only worthy of a competent living but worthy of double honour but from the inordinate excess of Riches Bishops and Prelates ought of all men to be sequestred considering that the wicked nature of Mamon is alwaies to corrupt yea the very Elect of God were not more merciful saith he Thus as you have heared by these Testimonies above Lord Bishops standing in the Church with their Dignities and Jurisdictions is not of Gods institution but by men yet God suffers such kind of Adversaries in the Church saith Mr. Fox in Acts and Monuments page 1440. who under the name of the Church maintain a worldly State and Kingdom and because they cannot uphold their cause by Scripture the holy word of God they bear it out with outfacing railing and slandering making Princes and People believe that all are Scismaticks Rebels and what not and subverters of the Common wealth who soever that dare although it be by plain Scripture to speak against their doings As it is written of the Emperour that when he had burned Rome six dayes and seven nights he made Proclamation that the innocent Christians had set the City on fire to stir up the people against them whereby he caused them to be burned and destroyed as Rebels and Traitors See Suetonius in Nerone Melancton Melancton in an Epistle to King Hen. 8. saith That long and horrible darkness hath been in the Church of Christ that mens traditions not only have been a yoak to good mens Consciences but also which is worse they have been reputed for Gods holy Service to the great dishonour of God and hindrance of his true worship and the Keyes were abused to the maintenance of usurped tyranny and Ceremonies mens inventions and it is not light offence to set up new kinds of worshiping and serving God such presumption God doth horribly detest the manner of his worship is known in his word only and he will not hale Religion to be invented by mens devise for so the Alcaron and all Religion in all Nations might be approved and allowed of Therefore saith the Wise man In all thy wayes acknowledge God and lean not unto thine own understanding Prov. 3.5 6. God hath commanded us to hear Christ Acts 3.22 and not to hear the invention of subtile politick heads which frame Religion for their own Lucre and advantage we ought not to dissemble in Gods matters but use them as the Scripture speaketh for no service nor worship pertaining to God ought to be set up by mans device and Bishops will never cease to rage against the Church of Christ without mercy or pity for them the Devil useth as Instruments and Ministers of his malice and fury against Christ in his members Luther Luther in his answer to the Popes Bull saith That any Fool Ass or Blockhead may condemn a man of Error by saying I like it not I deny it I will not have it so without any reason from Scripture Is not thy whorish face ashamed to dare to set the trifling vanities of your own bare words of the Canons and Institutions of your own inventions against the Thunderbolts of Gods Word if such reasoning were sufficient to condemn men without Scripture why may we not turn Turks Hereticks Jews or Atheists as well as Papists Steven Gardiner Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester in his Book de vera Obedientia saith Though it be granted that Peter had the preferment of the first name or place in the Order of the
Prelates in the 23 question and 7. If we possess any thing privately but that which doth suffice us it is not ours but the goods of the Poor whose stewards we are except we challenge to our selves a property by some damnable usurpation the glâ—ss upon that part of the question saith that Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof â—mbrose And St. Ambrose upon Luke 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship c. hereby saith he We learn that Prelates are not Lords but Steward or Bailliffs of others mens substance â—ierom And St. Hierom in an Epistle quest 16. and 2. chap. Quisquid saith whatsoever the Clergy hath it is the goods of the Poor and writing unto Nepolianus he saith how can they be of the Clergy who are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance for to take away from a Friend it is theft but to deceive the Church and take away that which should be given to the Poor it is sacralidge â—arnard And St. Barnard upon these words Simon Peter said unto Jesus c. Truly said he the goods of the Church are the patrimony of the Poor whatsoever thing the Ministers Stewards thereof not Lords or Possessors thereof do take unto themselves more then sufficient for a competent living the same is taken away from the Poor by a sacralidgious cruelty â—usebeus Eusebeus in his Treatise upon the pilgrimage of St. Hierom saith If thou dost possessed garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the needy thou art a Thief and a Robber wherefore dearly beloved Children let us be Stewards of temporallities and not possessors thereof And Isidor in his Treatise de summo bono ch 24. Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the people and not Lords over them aâ— also in the 5. book oâ— Decraeâ—als extra â—e donationibus sub athoâ—itate Alixandrii Tartii Episcopi Paritienses he saith We believe that it is noâ— unknown unto your Brotherhood that a Bishop and every other Prelate is buâ— Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof both Lands and Tythes saith he are pure Alms which after the necessity of the Clergy is satisfied noâ— according to their pride and covetousness but in comely â—cent manner ofteâ— the example of Christ and his Apostles the rest bâ—longeâ—â—o the Poor and thosâ— that withhold it from them they are Thieves Robbers 〈◊〉 Sacralidgious persons saith he William Wroughton Thus it is manifest by what is already said besides what is said here after that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporall by taking the temporallities c. from the Prelates and disposing of them for the use anâ— benefit of the true Church the believing m mbers of Christ and the poor and the benefit and safety of the Kingdom the uses for which they werâ— first given they will in so doing be so far from committing sacraledge that they will do a work pleasing and acceptable both to God and all good men to their everlasting honour by putting a stop to the pride wantoâ— and luxurious riotous lives of some which is occasioned by the uperfluity of worldly wealth and riches which they wrongfully possess and detain from the right owners thereof having forsaken the right way and followed the way of Baalim who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 By with holding good from them to whom it is due Pro. 3.27 and as William Wroughton writ to King Henry the eight so long as ye maintain Antichâ—ist the Popes Knights that is Bishops in such inordinate riches you shall never saith he banish that monstrous beasâ— the Pope out of England When we say that such and such Lands were given to the Church wâ— cannot imagine that they were given to such a building of lime and stone and timber nor to such a parish and so to him that should usurp authority of Rule and Government there from age to age whether he be good oâ— bad holy or prophane for such are not to be accounted the Church noâ— so much as particular members of the true Church which is the mâ—stâ—caâ— body of Christ except they believe and all that do believe truly withouâ— hypocrisie rich and poor they are interested in the Church Lands and Goods all the poor in general are objects of Charity to do good unto all but especially to such as are of the huoshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 In the time of the Law when Tythes was paid by a divine institution unto the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and Temple because â—hey had no inheritance of temporal Land among their Brethren yet even â—hen the strangers fatherless and widdows had an interest in the Tythes â—s you may see in Deut. 14.28 29. and Chap. 26.12 13 and since that service ceased for which tythes were paid there is no new institution in â—he Gospel for the payment of tythes and yet our Prelates and Priests as â—hey will be called will have both temporal Lands and tythes and keep â—ll to themselves neither widdows nor fatherless have any thing and â—herefore it can be no sacralidge but a work of Charity for Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal to take the temporallities from them for â—he benefit of the Kingdom and tythes also or at least to cause them to â—llow some part thereof unto the poor The with holding of tythes c. From such to whom they are due as to â—he beleiving Church the poor the Fatherless and widdows God calls â—t a Robbing of him in tythes and offerings Mal. 3.8 9. For Christ saith â—hatsoever good or evil is done to one of the least of those little ones that beâ—ieve on him it is taken as done to himself Mat. 25.40 and 45. yea even â—hose of the Clergy who are not true believers they have no right nor tiâ—le from God to the Church goods and God will charge them as having â—he spoil of the poor in their Houses Isaiah 3.14 Suppose the Prelates should plead for themselves that temporallities â—nd tythes have been setled upon them by many Acts of Parliament to â—hat it may be answered that no Act of Parliament on Earth can make â—oid the Law of God inacted in Heaven viz. That when tythes were â—aid by a divine institution yet the Stranger Fatherless and Widdows â—ad by divine appointment a right and interest in them how then dare â—y now receive tythes not by divine but by humain institution and yet â—ye no part thereof unto the poor the Stranger Fatherless nor Widdow â—e may rationably imagine that it was because of the hardness of the â—arts of Prelates and Priests in keeping that to themselves which belongâ—d to the poor which caused that Noble King Carrolous Magnus to have it â—ecreed in a counsel that in wealthy places two parts of the Church â—ods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and 〈◊〉 poorer places that there should be an
for one nights lodging but this hospitality did not long continue through the subtilty of one Monk who took upon him to play the Devils part ratling in chains and making a fearful noise where the strangers lay to fright them by reason whereof no traveller durst there abide At length as God would have it one of the Earls of the house of Montfort a Benefactor to the same Abbey was there lodged in the Night the Monk did counterfeit to play the Devils part as before thundring bouncing on boards and ratling chains but after after a while the Earl took heart and running for his sword laid about him and followed the noise so that the Monk that transformed himself into a Devil in jest was slain in good earnest Clement John Segovius in the Council of Basil declared that it was the saying of Clement That he that liveth rebelliously neglecting to do good he is rather a member of the Devil than of Christ and rather an Infidel than a true believer which saying he applyed against Pope Eugenius Now let all wise and impartial men judge whether the Prelates do not live in open Rebellion against Christ himself and against Christ in his members for they neither obey the words of Christ who forbids Church Officers Lordship and Dominion saying to his Apostles It shall not be so among you Mat. 22.25 26. Neither will they suffer the Servants of Christ to worship him according to his own holy Institutions but as far as in them lieth by Censures and Excommunications by imprisonment and banishment c. John Segovius they would compell men to worship God in Ceremonial wayes of their own devising setting their Thresholds by Gods Threshold and their Posts by Gods Posts and so defile the service of God as in Ezek. 43.7 8. in equalling their own Canons and Institutions with the Canons and Institutions of the Scriptures or rather above them so that by Clement and John Segovius Testimony they by so doing are rather members of the Devil than of Christ and rather Infidels than true Beleevers and if not Beleevers then no members of the Church and so have no interest in the Temporalities and Tythes that was given to the Church and for the relief of the Poor Cardinal Aralatenses Isidor in the book of the Councels declareth that in an Epistle of Clement the successor of St. Peter that he applyed the saying of Peter unto himself which was this If thou be occupyed in worldly cares thou shalt both deceive thy self and those that hear thee for so thou canst not distribute those things which pertain unto Salvation and it is to be feared that our Prelates minde the things of this world more than the things of God For Cardinal Aralatenses said in the Councel of Bassil at this time saith he the more is the pity it is hard to find a Prelate in the world which doth not prefer his Temporalities before his Spiritualities with the love of which they are so drawn that they study more to please Princes than to please God and confess God in corners but Princes openly and upon this account it was that John Wickliffe and John Huss said that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal are bound under the pain of Damnation to take away the Temporalities from the Prelates to free themselves from the guilt of Prelates sins that they fall not in the same condition with them For it is most manifest that Prelates act against the light of their own Censciences as Stephen Gardiner the Bishop of Winchester upon his death bed the Bishop of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with the promises of free Institution in the blood of Christ which the Bishop of Winchester hearing said What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewel altogether to me and to such other in my case you may speak of it but if you open that window unto the People then farewel altogether Thus it serves to maintain their dignities by keeping the People in a blind Ceremonial way of Superstitious worship they had rather all the People should be damned in Ignorance than to make the Truth of the Gospel known unto them The Bishop of Burden and John Segonius both in the Councel Bassil said That the Popes greatest tirle is to be Servant to Gods Servant and so of all other Prelates and not to be Lords over Gods heritage 2 Pet. 5 3. It shall not be so amongst you Matth. 20.26 for Christ came not to be ministred unto but to minister and so the Servant is not above his Lord it is enough that the Servant be as his Lord and that is to have no Temporalities unless they will declaim Christs service for as Bernard said to Pope Eugenius they cannot have both Matth. 10.25 Bernard to Eugenius St. Bernard declared in his second Book to Pope Eugenius that he could not challenge any secular Dominion by right of Succession to Peter but be it so that you challenge it by some other way or means by right of your Title Apostolical you cannot challenge it neither can Prelates as pretending to be the Apostles Successors for how saith he could Peter give that to you which he had not himself Silver and Gold saith he have I none but such as I have I give thee that which he had saith Bernard was care over the Church but he did not give you Lordship and Rule over Gods Heritage but behaving your self as example to the Flock and that these words were spoken not only in humility but in verity mark what Christ saith The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Dominion but it shall not be so among you here Lordship and Dominion is forbidden to the Apostles and darest thou usurpe the same If thou wilt be a Lord thou shalt lose thy Apostleship or if thou wilt be an Apostle thou shalt lose thy Lordship for truly thou shalt depart one of them if thou wilt have both then think thy self to be one of those that God complains of They hav reigned but not by me they are become Princes and I know it not Hos 8.4 Lordship and Rule is forbidden Ministration and Service is commanded Chrysostom Chrysostom in Opere Imperfecto saith that a true Preacher ought not to swerve from the word of God to the right hand or to the left for they that do either add or diminish do endeavour to be wiser than Christ as if Christ had not in his word laid down sufficient rules both for the matter and the manner of his own worship how he will be worshiped Christ saith his sheep hear his voice and a Stranger they will not follow but flee from him for they know not the voice of a Stranger John 10.4 5. Now our Prelates do not keep close to the word of God as Chysostom saith but teach us to worship God by Ceremonies of Surplices Crossings Crouching and kneeling sometimes and by standing up other whiles and the like which is not the voice
Apostles which yet I would deny him yet it followeth not saith he that with this primacy he had also a Kingdom given him and though the Lord bid him confirm his Brethren yet was he not bid to exercise an Empire over his Brethren for so they should not be his Brethren but his Subjects Richard Feurus Richard Feurus a Martyr about the year 1554. in the Province of Dolphine in his disputing against his Adversaries he affirmed That the word of God ought to be our Rule and that nothing is left to Doctors or Councils to be devised without the word of God and that all things necessary either for government of the Church off or the Salvation of man are expressed and prescribed in the word of God for Paul saith That he durst not utter any thing but what the Lord had wrought in him and shewed unto him Rom. 15.18 John willeth us to receive no man unless he bring the same Doctrine that we have received from Christ and his Apostles Let him be accursed Christs Sheep hear his voice and know his voice but they know not the voice of a Stranger and all manner of worship and service that is not prescribed in the word of God is the voice of Strangers Hence it will follow that such Strangers that both command and practice such Ceremonial service of God as is not prescribed in the Word of God in the New Testament Kings and Princes c. may lawfully take away their Temporalities and Tythes and dispose of them to better uses as hath been said above Richard Lovingham in the reign of King Hen. 4. gathered out of a Book of John Purvey that the Temporalities of the Clergie in England at that time in the hands of such as did no duty for it belonging their office to do besides other Temporalities he said That the King Lords and Commons might without any other Charge but these Temporalities maintain fifteen Garrisons with fifteen thousand Souldiers having sufficient Lands and Revenues to live upon and also maintain fifteen thousand Priests and Clerks and fifteen Colledges more and an hundred Hospitals and every house an hundred Marks a year and bring in besides above twenty thousand Pounds a year into the Kings Coffers He said also that the Kings and Lords ought to banish the Pope and his Factors out of their Lands and all Bishops and their Factors that say it appertaineth not to Kings and secular Lords but to them and their Officials to punish Adultery and Fornication they do fall into manifest Treason against the King and Heresie against the Scripture and that it doth appertain to the King to have the ordering of Priests and Bishops as Solomon and Jehosaphat and others had saith Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments pag 502. Now if the temporalities at that time would have done so much in England what will the temporalities and tythes of three Kingdoms do now that Lands are at so high a rate to what they then were Augustin Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first about the year 867 said that good correction proceeding from the lesser to the greater is not to be refused nor disdained when he that is corrected is found to strive against the truth to please men and he mentions Augustin writing to Boniface that the disputations of all men be they never so Catholick or approved persons yet ought not to be received instead of Canonical Scripture Gregory so that we may saith he disprove or refuse any thing that is in their writings contrary to truth to which he adds a saying of St. Gregory What shall become of the Sheep when the Pastors themselves become Wolves Panarmetanus Mr. Rogers in his Answer to the Bishop of Winchester said that all the Laws of men might not nor could not rule the word of God but that all things should be discussed and judged thereby and obedience given thereunto and that no Christian mans Conscience could be satisfied without Laws that agree not with Gods word and he quotes Panarmetanus which said That unto a simple lay man that brings the word of God with him there ought more credit to be given than to a whole Council and to what they concluded without or beside the word of God Walter Mill. Walter Mill a Martyr in Scotland said that these which we call Bishops do not the work of Bishops nor the Office of Bishops as Paul biddeth Timothy but live after their own sensuality and pleasure and take no care of the Flock nor yet regard the word of God to do thereafter but desire to be called Lords c. And Luther saith that neither Pope nor Prelate can make Articles of Faith nor Laws of good works and manners and that we may withstand their doings and Judg upon their Decrees by the word of God though their Decrees be approved by a General Council Doctor Molius Doctor Johannes Molius sometime a gray Fryer disputed three days together at Rome against Bishops and Cardinals by Pope Paul the third his appointment of Original Sin of Justification by Faith and of Free-will and Purgatory and they all not being able to refell his Arguments at last they answered him That what he affirmed was truth nevertheless it was not meet for that present time for that it could not be taught nor published without detriment to the Apostolick See wherefore he should refrain from preaching the Epistles of St. Paul and return to Bononie and there profess Philosophy By this it appears That Popes and Prelates Act against their Conscience and will not suffer the truth to take place least they should lose their honor and wealth for here they confess that what Doctor Molius said was truth but they might not suffer it at that time no nor never since to be taught their reason was it would be detriment to the Apostolick See but what detriment the truth received and the soul of men by hiding the truth from them these Prelates cared not for they silenced him from preaching the truth to profess Philosophy And thus Prelates in this age Silence Ministrs from preaching the truth lest they should come to dishonour thereby and lose their sweet Morsells for if all Christian Kings Princes and Nobles were rightly informed in the truths of the Gospel and of the unlawfulness of Popes Bishops and Prelates of their standing in the Church with their titles dignities and jurisdictions which Papists themselves have confessed is but from men and not from God why then should Kings and Princes by suffering them in such ways become guilty of their Sins but rather rouse up themselves and take from them that which is not theirs but by usurpation that is the temporalities and tithes which they unjustly possess as is shewed above Neither need they fear the Popes nor Bishops Excommunications for they have no more Authority from God to Excommunicate for such things than the poorest Shepherd or Swineherd hath that keeps Sheep or Swine upon
so long enjoyed their usurped temporallities and tythes â—â—timer In Ezek. 44.24 It is said in controversies the Priest shall stand in judgement and they should judge it according to my judgement saith God but the Bishop of Glocester had written a book and for his own and other Prelates advantage he had changed the meaning of the Text from judging according to Gods judgement declared in the word of God to this they shall judge as the Priest shall decide the matter therefore Latimer reproved him saying what gelding of Scripture is this what clipping of Gods coyn nay my Lord the Clergy must not rule according to their own wills I would there were more faithful dealing with Gods word and not leave out a part and snatch a part here and there c. If Prelates may thus interpret Scripture they may easily maintain their usurped hierarchy what not that they have a mind to maintain â—rmacaâ—us â—ilus Richard Armacanus saith that to speak and seek to procure any high place in the Church it is a point of pride and ambition and Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica saith that the Pope himself hath no dignity above other Bishops but by humain Laws and institutions given by Councels and Emperors â—nselm and Anselm saith that Presbiters are above Bishops and were before Bishops and did elect them and Cardinal Aralatensis and several others more saith that Priests or Presbiters are of equal power and authority with bishops â—ralatenâ— so that all their Lordly Titles dignities and jurisdictions their temporallities and tythes are all humain devices and not of any Gospel institution for Christ hath forbidden their Lordliness saying it shall not be so among you Mat. 20.26 â—â—hn â—erson John Gerson declares that the neglect to observe an antient Canon viz. that bishops should have poor apparel lodging and dyet and should not strive for transitory things but to imitate the Apostles also he saith their making of laws such as they have no authority from God to make and their enjoyning men by censures and excommunications to observe their Laws their Courts with the oath ex officio and many other things the like which is the cause of division which he saith will never be appeased until the heads spiritual be reformed Episcopacy when it first crept into the Church was not so inconsistant with the Gospel rule as now it is for the bishops that are now are other kind of Creatures than those were as the records of antiquity do shew that at the first original of them they were chosen by the people and Ministers who were to live under their inspection and Government yea even the Popes themselves in antient times were chosen by the people and Priests and after confirmed by the Emperour and were not chosen by Cardinalls and Curtesans as they are now neither had they then either temporalities or tyths but now they intrude themselves with a high hand over the Church and people of God and makes themselves Lords over Gods heritage which the word of God forbids 1. Pet. 5.3 And yet all this the giving both the Pope and Bishops and other Prelates temporalities and tyths is but an Antechristian humain invention and not of divine institution neither do the Bishops now observe the antient Canons in their ordinations as Distinct 70. T. ordinationis which saith Distinst 29. quando Distinct 70. T. ordinationis Let not the Bishop presume to ordain any without the Councel of the Clergie and testimony of the people and again Distinct 70 T. ordinationis see that solemnly at convenient time in the presence of many standers by you make ordination and especially Distinct 64. T. Si forte which saith he shall be no Priest henceforth who neither Clergy nor people of his own City hath elected so that if the Clergy or people of any other place elect and not the Clergy and people of the City or place where he is to serve by this Canon he is no Priest And by Acts 1. verse 23. dist 64. Si forte to the 20 and Acts 6.3 to 7. compared with this Canon there is are thrust upon the people without their electing of them and therefore have no right to officiate unto nor to rule such a people Extravag de institu cap ex frequentibus Extravag de prescript c. 51. diligent et cum omne ex de qualit penâ—ls 50 destinct For a Sole possession is not sufficient in Eclestical benefices unless there concur a Canonical institution Extravag de institu Cap ex frequentibus a Sole possession maketh not one a Senator or Captain but a lawful election a prescription doth not profit in case it be grounded upon an evil consequence and therefore Sithence men so ordained be unjust possessors their deceit and collusion ought not to support them Extravag de prescript T. 51. dilligenti c. cum omne In these Laws in another place it is provided that both the promoter and the promoted as well the abetters as the deed doers are to sustain equal punishment there is a Law that as well the man unworthily promoting as the man unworthily promoted shall be deposed ex de qualit c. ponuis again it is decreed that if they shall henceforth presume to ordeyn any that are unskilful and ignorant that both the ordeyners and the ordeyned be subject to grievous punishment upon which decree and the word ordination the gloss flatly concludeth that the Law evermore is that whosoever promoteth an unworthy man deserveth to be deposed Well then upon this account that neither the Bishop himself not being elected nor ordeyned in the presence of those over whom he doth rule nor those whom he doth ordain and send forth they both ought to be deposed both by the Scriptures decrees and extravag above named so that if there were no other ground or reason but this only it were sufficient to depose them and to take away their temporalities and tyths from them Cod offic prefec orient lib. 3. For the Emperour Justinian commanded Signos judicis according to what is said above if thine excelencie find any judges for their negligence or any other like defect to be unprofitable thou mayst remove them from their Administrations and place others in their stead Cod offic prefec orient lib. 3. And saith the said Emperour in another place in bello c. A Souldier in time of warr that doth any thing forbidden by his Captain or doth not keep his Generals Commandment is to be punished with death though his enterprize take good success and shall then a pretended Minister that forsaketh his standing to walk according to the rules and institutions of Christ and weareth only the Ensign of Antechrist the proclaimed enemy of Christ his Lord and Master Mauger the law of his Lord and Master and Mauger the Laws of men above specified and other the like and shall he enjoy Life and Lands Panormetane and Livings and tyths and all Panormetane
a famous Canonist concludeth that a Doctor allowed may be disallowed again yea rather saith Bartol a famous Civilian he may be degraded as a Souldier Bartol and as a Clerk for those things saith he which I have spoken in degrading of a Souldier the same is to be verified touching the degrading of Doctors and Clerks Herenius Modestimus Hereneus Modestimus said that a Senator was not therefore a Senator because his name only was in the Table or Regester where the names of Senators was written unless he also were made a Senator according to Law and the gloss upon that Law verifieth the same to be an argument against those who are not rightly placed in the Churches and it is manifest that none of our Bishops nor Prelates accord to their titles and jurisdictions are rightly placed in the Churches of Christ because they are not of the institution of Christ as themselves do confess both Protestants and Papists and also not having the Seal of divine approbation upon them they are not rightly placed in Churches nor are not lawful Ministers of Jesus Christ according to his holy institution in truth but only in name but in real truth they are the Ministers of Antechrist the Pope for their titles and jurisdictions is of the Popes Hierarchical institutions they cannot deny it and therefore it is a work of mercy to their souls to unlord them and being them into the right way to imitate Christ and his Apostles by taking the temporallties and tythes from them as once an Emperour said and did That which we unadvisedly have done we will advisedly revolve and undo And Prelates to excuse their tyrany pretend decency in imposing their unnecessary Ceremonies upon the People but let it be considered whether the people who are turned unto God and endeavour to observe the rules of Christ rather than the rules of men or the Prelates who have forsaken the rules of Christ as appears above all along to imbrace and follow the rules and devices of Men let wise men judge which of these walk most undecently and let Bishops consider and examine themselves whether there robbing the Poor and murthering of Souls by granting dispensations to none residence and in giving pluralities be not an undecent walking can any but those whose Consciences are seared count these and Covetousness Pride hypocrisie ambition hatred mallice and revenge decent and comely in themselves and the endeavouring to observe the rules of Christ to be uncomely and undecent in others if Bishops and Prelates would first reform themselves and take the beam out of their own eyes or if the King and Nobles would compel them to a reformation according to the word of God then what the people were required to do that is decent and comly according to the word of God they would readily obey provided as Paul saith they cast not a snare upon them but for that which is comly 1 Cor. 7.35 But now our Bishops take as much upon them as the Pope viz. to make nothing something and to make the rules and institutions of Christ which is something nothing in respect of their own traditions and Canons and to make nothing somthing that is to make their own Canons and traditions c. which are nothing in comparison of the word of God to set them above the word of God and punisheth the transgressors thereof with sorer punishments than the transgressors of the word of God and thus they make their nothing something and Christs something nothing And thus they make sin to be no sin and no sin to be sin by their unjust Laws and their disobedience to the Laws and institutions of Iesus Christ may not God justly complain as once he did of Israel they have defiled the Land by their own way and by their doings their way is before me as the uncleanness of a removed Woman Ezek. 36.17 and chap 22.13 I have smitten my hand at thy dishmest gain which thou hast made there is a conspiracy of her Prophets like roaring Lyons ravening the Prey they have devoured Souls they have taken the Treasure and pretious things can our Prelates think that God will not thus charge them who have taken the treasure of the Church from those who are the true Church indeed and from Widows fatherless and other poor that should be releived with that treasure it follows her Priests have violated my Law as you see in this page above they have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have shewed difference between the unclean and the clean except it be in countenancing the prophane and unclean and discountenancing the holy and the clean see the 25. and 26. vers Mr. Tindall Mr. Tindall an English Man and a Martyr in Flanders petitioned to King Hen. 8. to have compassion on his Subjects that the Realm should not utterly perish through the wicked counsel of his pestilent Prelates for saith he the cause of false Preachers is the cause that the people have not love to the truth being kept ignorant of the truth through their neglect in not preaching the truth Mr. Hookers Episcopus Divinus Mr. Hooker in the second part of his Survey of Church disciplin page 23. he saith Episcopus is threefold Divinus Humanus Satanicus First a Bishop by divine Institution is such an Officer as Christ hath set in his Church whose Office is set forth and discovered in the word of God and such are Pastors and Doctors and Teachers Tit. â— 7. and 1 Tim. 5.17 Episcopus and Presbyter is one thing in Scripture sence Episcopus Humanus Secondly Episcopus Humanus is a president or moderator chosen by consent of Ministers meeting and consulting about the affairs of their Churches in their common consociations to whom it appertaineth to moderate the actions of the assembly to propound things to be agitated to gather voices to pronounce the Sentence which passeth by common approbation and he had no more but his equal suffrage with the rest and when the action was ended he was but in equal honour with the rest and it may be in less respect in regard of years or gifts and yet to leave this constantly upon one man it is perillous and might be an inlet to worse inconveniences than at first could have been suspected Episcopus Satanicus Thirdly Episcopus Satanicus is such an Episcopus which the enemy Satan acting the Pride and suiting the Soveraignity of the Spirits of men hath by a misterous way successively and secretly brought into the Church that so he might Midwife Antechrist into the world this being the next step to that man of sin and he becomes Princepe Episcopus who by his Insolencie hath arrogated and assumed and at last confirmed even a Monarchicall power unto himself and however the Pope who is Universal Bishop is the man of sin yet the Bishop especially when he is ascended to his Arch Bishops Chair is the same but only considered in
that it be performed according to his own institutions without alteration or adding or diminishing after the devises of men and shews us what need there is in reforming the Church to make the word of God our Rule Hence it will follow that those that decline and forsake the means appointed us of God for our edification and salvation to imbrace other means prescribed by men or to mix them with the institutions of Christ how specious soever they seem to be in our eyes and carnally flattering to be of more strength and efficacy to attain the end yet they cannot because they want the seal of divine approbation upon them they will fail as it is said of King Ahaz in his distress he sent for Tilgath Philazer King of Assyria for to help him and he came unto him but distressed him and helped him not 2 Chron. 28.20.21 For unto the wicked God said what hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my word behind thee Psal 50.16.17 If thou wilt not be reformed to observe the Law of Christ thou hast no right nor authority from Christ to preach his Law nor to take his covenant in thy mouth Holingshead Hollingshead in his History of Scotland pag. 183. saith that the superfluous possessions of the Church as they are now used are not only occasions to evil Prelates to live in most insolent pomp and corrupt life but is as a Nâ—t to draw Gold and Silver out of the Realm The Nobles of Bohemia in the councel of Basil propounded 20. Articles against the Prelates of which there was four which they said they would maintain until death and one of those four was that the Pope the Prelates and Clergy from the highest to the lowest their temporal possessions and riches ought to be taken from them and that they ought to be made poor as the Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ was who had no possessions in this world neither worldly power for the Clergy are but Administrators or Stewards of the Temporallities of the Church for the use of the poor and what Temporallities the Clergy hath that doth not belong to the poor they have gotten by false indirect ways either by promising that their prayers and masses should deliver the Souls of those that gave such Lands out of purgatory which they never could nor never can do and therefore the condition failing the Lands ought to return into the hands and possession of the King and Nobles who are the successors of them that gave them or else some of those Lands were gotten by cursings and excommunications as Pope Gregory the ninth excommunicated Frederick the Emperour until he gave one hundred and twenty thousand ounces of Gold for his absolution in Mr. Prynns book of the rebellion conspiracies treasons and seditions of Bishops between page 293. and 298 you may read that the Bishops of Landusse from time to time excommunicated 7 or 8. Kings and 12 other of the Gentry and some gave 2. some 3. or 4. or 5. peices of Land to the Bishops for their absolutions and this was one way how bishops and Prelates come by their Temporallities and therefore the King and Lords c. may justly take their unjust gotten lands from them and make them more conformable to Christ and his Apostles Arch bishop of St. Andrews his Recantation And to shew the unlawfulness both of bishops Temporallities and jurisdictions some of the bishops when they were in their right wits recanted as Patrick Adamson Arch-bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland made his Recantation in the Synod of Fife April the 8. 1591. in these words following I confess with a sincere mind without colour or fraud that I have formerly erred in this that I thought the Goverment of the Church to be like the Regiment of Terrene Kingdoms expresly against the precept of Christ our Lord and that the monarchy whereby the Church is governed did not rest in the person of Christ our Saviour alone as it doth in truth but likewise in the Ministers who yet are nothing else but vassals and Clerks under Christ and equal among themselves and lastly I confess that the office of a bishop as now it is used and claimed is destitute from all authority from Gods word and founded only upon the politick device of men out of which the primacy of the Pope or Ante-christ is sprung and it is deservedly to be condemned c. bishop of Dunkel his recantation In like manner Alexander Lindsay bishop of Dunkell in the year 1639. did also make his recantation at St. Andrews the 24 of January as he had formerly done at Glascow the 21 of November where he did freely submit himself and lay down saith he my pretended office of Episcopacy as pretended bishop of Dunkell and declare the said office of Episcopacy as it hath been used in the kirk of Scotland to be adjured by the confession of faith therefore wit ye me to have demitted quite claim c. the foresaid pretended office of Episcopacy of Dunkel with the whole title stile name and dignity thereof power of ordination jurisdiction voice in Parliament and all usurpation of the same in time to come and do faithfully promise and by these presents bind and oblige me never to exercise nor use the said pretended office nor any other power ecclesiastical belonging usurped or claimed to belong to the same pretended office which I acknowledge ought to be abjured and removed and the whole premisses I heartily acknowledge as I will answer to God in testimony hereof I have subscribed these presents with my hand c The bishop of Orkneys recantation Bishop of Orkneys recantation To all and sundry whom it may concern to whose knowledge these presents shall come especially to the reverent and honourable members of the future assembly to be holden at Edenburgh the 12 day of August 1639. I Mr. George Gryame sometime pretended Bishop of Orkneys being sorry and grieved at my heart that I should ever for my worldly respect imbrace the order of Episcopacy the same having no warrant from the word of God and being such an order as hath had sencibly many fearful and evil consequencies depending on it in many parts of Christendom and particularly within the Kirk of Scotland as by doleful and deplorable experience this day is manifest to have disclaimed like as I do by the tenor hereof altogether disclaim and abjure all Episcopal power and jurisdiction with the whole corruptions thereof c. promising and swearing by the great name of the Lord our God that I shall never while I live directly or indirectly exercise any such power within the Kirk neither yet shall I ever approve or allow the same not so much as in my private or publick discourse c. and shall Concur to the uttermost of my power sincerely and faithfully in advancing the work of Reformation within this Land
the examples of Christ and his Apostles according to the rule of the new Testament of Jesus Christ which is the thing I am now to shew and not after the example of Antechrist as now they do and will do if they may be suffered It may rationally be imagined that the Prelates and Clergy will say that if temporallities and tythes be taken from them how shall they then live I answer that such an objection will argue want of faith in the objector for can they pretend that they can trust God with the salvation of their Souls and can they not trust God with their bodies for food and rayment in the way of Gods appointment unless they carve out a portion for themselves by dishonest gain we must not presume to be wiser then God to think that we can prescribe a better way for the maintenance of Gospel Ministers than Christ hath prescribed to his Apostles and they practiced indeed I confess that mans way to be maintained by Lands and Tythes is a fit way for Theeves and Robbers that comes not in an the door by Christ into the Sheep-fold but comes in at the Window or some other way by Anti-christs invention to rob and steal as I knew a pretended Minister that said he cared not if the Devil had the flock so that he had the fleece maintenance by Lands and Tythes are fit only for such and none else and Christs way of maintenance which I shall shew anon is most fit for Christs Ministers who come into the Sheep-fold at the door by Christ for such Ministers will neither teach nor provoke the people to any manner of Ceremonial worship which they have not learned from Christ and which he and his Apostles hath not instituted neither will they presume to seek their maintenance in unwarrantable ways contrary to the precepts and example of Christ and his Apostles for if they do they do thereby lay an imputation upon the wisdom and holiness of Christ as if he had not in his word sufficiently provided for his own worship and for their maintenance except men will presume to be wiser then God If Ministers would approve themselves to be true Gospel Ministers of Jesus Christ by following his example and live as he lived then here is an example for them to follow first Christ was poor as to worldly things for he saith of himself the foxes have holes and the birds of the Air have nests but the Son of Man who is also the Son of God hath not where to lay his head Mat. 8.20 but thus it pleased him to be an example of poverty and humility to all Gospel Ministers to follow his steps that we by his poverty might be made rich in faith and good works Secondly he suffered hunger and went to the Fig-tree expecting to find fruit thereon but found none Mark 11.12.13 and at another time after his Resurrection he asked his Apostles have ye here any meat and they gave him a piece of a broyled fish and of an honey comb and he did eat Luk. 24.42.43 Thirdly he was wearyed with travelling on foot he had not his Coach and 4 or 6 horses as our Bishops have you may know them by their fruits whether they belong to Christ or Anti-christ Christ was also thirsty and asked water of a woman to drink Joh. 4.6.7 but our Prelates drinks the best Wines Fourthly Christ had his maintenance by the charitable bounty and benevolence of the people amongst whom was Mary Magdalen and Joanna the Wife of Chusa Herods Steward and Susanna and many others who ministred to him of their substance Luke 8.3 And this is the way that Christ hath ordained should have their maintenance namely by the bountiful and charitable devotion of the people unto whom they minister Learn of me saith Christ for I am meek and lowly in heare and ye shall find rest to your Souls for the Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord Mat. 10.24 If Christ were so poor why should Prelates and Priests be so rich if Christ and his Apostles suffered hunger and thirst as Paul saith of himself and the rest of the Apostles 1. Cor. 4.11 That they did both hunger and thirst and were naked and buffeted and had no certain dwelling place why then should Prelates and Priests be so full and so gorgeously apparrelled and have such stately pallaces setled on them for their lives If Christ and his Apostles were wearied with travelling on foot as Paul faith 2 Cor. 11.27 That he was often in weariness and painfulness c. Why should Prelates and Priests have their Coaches and great horses and if Christ and his Apostles had their maintenance by the charitable devotion of the people why should Prelates and Priests have such large revenues of temporallities and tythes this is to make the Disciple above his Master and the Servant above his Lord contrary to the words of Christ Mat. 10.24 For according to this example when Christ sent forth his twelve Apostles to preach he commanded them and in them all others that are right Gospel Ministers saying Provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brass in your Purses nor Scrip for your journey neither two Coats c. for the workman is worthy of his meat Mat. 10.9.10 and in Luk. 10.7 Eat and drink such things as they give but Christ did not bid them if the people did not give that they should take it by force of Law as the practice of Prelates and Priests is whereby they like the Sons of Eli make the offering to be abhorred this is not Christs but Anti-christs way for maintenance of ministers Christ only bids the Apostles that those who would not receive them to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them but yet with this threatning that it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgement than for those people that receive not Gods messengers nor allows them not maintenance out of their substance Thus you see men are bound under pain of damnation to give Christs Ministers sufficient maintenance for God hath ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corn for saith Paul if we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things 1 Cor. 9.9.11.14 And yet this must not be exacted by Law or constraint but as a matter of bounty that every man as he purposeth in his heart so saith the Apostle Let him give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a chearful giver 2 Cor. 9.7 but this I say He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully God will prosper his endeavours so much the more If Churches might have leave from the supream magistrates according to the word of God to elect and chuse their own ministers then as Paul saith