Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	civil_a	power_n	6,426	5	5.4101	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B21152	The increase of popery in England, since the reformation made by King Henry VIII shewing the great encouragement that priests, Jesuits, and other promoter of that bloudy religion have had from persons of power and authority, the discouragements and notorious hardships, even to silencing, and banishment from cities and corporations, that have been the portion of many able and faithful Protestant ministers, that have eminently opposed it : with an essay towards what may possibly befall the Churches of Christ from the hellish contrivances and damnable plots of Romish emissaries : with a faithful extract out of the most authentick records of the most memorable things referring to the reformation, viz. Henry VIII, his reasons given in his proclamation for taking away the Popes usurped power, his protestation against the pope, his injunctions to his clergy, Bishop St[e]phen Gardener's oath or protestation, and his reasons against the Popessupremacy in England and the publick agreement of the whole clergy of England, as confirmed and ratified in the book called the Bishops book, published in the year 1534 / by .. William Dell ...	Darrell, William, 1651-1721.	1681 (1681)	Wing D923	53,277	58

Agreement of the whole Clergy of England confirmed and ratified in their own publick Book called The Bishops Book Anno 1534. with the Names of the Witnesses WE think it convenient Te●timonies out o●●he Bishops Book against the Popes Supremacy that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach the People committed unto their spiritual charge that whereas certain men do imagine and affirm that Christ should give unto the Bishop of Rome power and authority not onely to be Head and Governour of all Priests and Bishops in Christs Church but also to have and occupy the whole Monarchy of the World in his hands and that he may thereby lawfully depose Kings and Princes from their Realms Dominions and Seigniories and so transfer and give the same to such persons as him liketh that is utterly false and untrue for Christ never gave unto S. Peter or unto any of the Apostles or their Successors any such Authority And the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul do teach and command that all Christian People as well Priests and Bishops as others should be obedient and subject unto the Princes and Potentates of the World although they were Infidels And as for the Bishop of Rome it was many hundred years after Christ before he could acquire or get any Primacy or Governance above any other Bishops out of his Province in Italy since the which time he hath ever usurped more and more And though some part of his power was given to him by the consent of the Emperours Kings and Princes and by the consent also of the Clergy in General Councils assembled yet surely he attained the most part thereof by marvellous subtilty and craft How the Bishop of Rome rose by ambition and especially by colluding with great Kings and Princes sometime training them into his Devotion by pretence and colour of Holiness and Sanctimony and sometime constraining them by force and tyranny Whereby the said Bishops of Rome aspired and rose at length unto such greatness in Strength and Authority that they presumed and took upon them to be Heads Concilium tertium Cartha inense cap. 6. and to put Laws by their own Authority not onely unto all other Bishops within Christendom but also unto the Emperours Kings and other the Princes and Lords of the world and that under the pretence of the Authority c●●mitted unto them by the Gospel First the General Council of Nice decreed that the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antiochia should have like power over the Countries about those Cities as the Bishops of Rome had over the Countries about Rome In the Council of Milevitan it was decreed that if a Clerk of Africk would appeal out of Africk un●o any Bishop beyond the Sea he should be taken as a person Excommunicate In the General Council of Constantinople the first it was likewise decreed that every Cause between any persons should be determined within the Provinces where the matters did lie and that no Bishop should exercise any power out of his own Diocese or Province And this was also the mind of holy S. Cyprian and of other holy men of Africa To conclude therefore the Pope hath no su h Primacy g●ven him either by the words of Scripture or by any General Council or by common consent of the holy Ca●holick Church ●●●rein the said Bishops of Rome do no● nely abuse and pervert the true sense and meaning of Christs Word but they do also clean contrary to the use and custom of the Primitive Church and so do manifestly violate as well the holy Canons made in the Church immediately after the time of the Apostles as also the Decrees and Constitutions made in that behalf by the holy Fathers of the Catholick Church assembled in the first General Councils And finally they do transgress their own profession made in their Creation For all the Bishops of Rome always when they be consecrated and made Bishops of that See do make a solemn profession and vow that they shall inviolably observe and keep all the Ordinances made in the first eight General Councils among the which it is specially provided and enacted that all Causes shall be finished and determined within the Province where the same begun and that by the Bishops of the same Province and that no Bishop shall exercise any Iurisdiction out of his own Province Gregorius l. 4. Epistolarum indictione 13. Epist 13. and divers such other Canons were then made and confirmed by the said Councils to repress and take away out of the Church all such Primacy and Iurisdiction over Kings and Bishops as the Bishops of Rome pretend now to have over the same And we find that divers good Fathers Bishops of Rome did greatly reprove yea and abhor as a thing clean contrary to the Gospel and the Decrees of the Church that any Bishop of Rome or elsewhere should presume usurp or take upon him the Title and Name of Vniversal Bishop or of the Head of all Priests or of the Highest Priest or any such like Title For confirmation whereof it is out of all doubt that there is no mention made neither in Scripture nor in the Writings of any authentical Doctor or Author of the Church being within the time of the Apostles that Christ did ever make or institute any distinction or difference to be in the preheminence of Power Order or Iurisdiction between the Apostles themselves or between the Bishops themselves but that they were all equal in Power Order Authority and Iurisdiction And that there is now and since the time of the Apostles any such diversity or difference among the Bishops it was devised by the antient Fathers of the Primitive Church for the conservation of good order and unity of the Catholick Church and that either by the consent and authority or else at the least by the permission and sufferance of the Princes and Civil Powers for the time ruling c. And shortly after followeth And for the better confirmation of this part we think it also convenient that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach the people committed unto their spiritual charge that Christ did by express words prohibit that none of his Apostles nor any of their Successors should under the pretence of the Authority given unto them by Christ take upon them the Authority of the Sword that is to say the Authority of Kings or of any Civil Power in this world yea or any Authority to make Laws or Ordinances in causes appertaining unto Civil Powers Truth it is the Priests and Bishops may execute all such Temporal Power and Iurisdion as is committed unto them by the Ordinance and Authority of Kings or other Civil Powers and by the consent of the people as Officers and Ministers under the said Kings and Powers so long as it shall please the said Kings and People to permit and suffer them so to use and execute the same Notwithstanding if any Bishop of what estate or dignity soever

second Psalm And now you Kings be wise Psal 2. and be learned ye that judge the earth c. Also the example of Salomon who being a King 2 Par. 28. according to his Fathers appointment ordained the Offices of the Priests in their Ministeries and Levites in their Order Exod. 32. that they might give thanks and minister before the Priests after the order of every day and Porters in their divisions gate by gate And speaking more of the said Salomon he saith 1 Reg. 22. For so commanded the Man of God neither did the Priests nor Levites omit any thing of all that he had commanded c. Besides this he alledgeth also the example of King Ezechias 2 Paralyp 28. He alledgeth moreover the example and fact of Justinian which made Laws touching the Faith Bishops Clerks Hereticks and such other Aaron saith he obeyed Moses Salomon gave sentence upon Abiathar the High Priest 1 Macch. 10. 1 Macch. 14. Alexander the King in the first of Macchabees writeth thus to Jonathas Now have we made thee this day the High Priest of thy people c. So did Demetrius to Simon Then coming to the words of Christ spoken to Peter Matthew 16. Matth. 16. upon which words the Pope pretendeth to build all his Authority to this he answereth That if Christ by those words had limited to Peter any such special state or preheminence above all Princes then were it not true that is written Coepit Jesus docere facere forasmuch as the words of Christ should then be contrary to his own facts and example who in all his life never usurped either in himself any such domination above Princes shewing himself rather subject unto Princes nor yet did ever permit to his Apostles any such example of ambition to be seen but rather rebuked them for seeking any manner of Majority amongst them The Kings Style and Title approved by Steph. Wint. And where he reasoneth of the Kings Style and Title being called the King of England and of France Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland and Supreme Head in earth of the Church of England immediately under Christ c. thus he addeth his mind and censure saying That he seeth no cause in this Title why any man should be offended that the King is called the Head of the Church of England rather than of the Realm of England and addeth his reason thereunto saying If the Prince and King of England be the Head of his Kingdom that is of all Englishmen that be his Subjects is there any cause why the same English Subjects should not be subject to the same Head likewise in this respect because they are Christians that is to say for the title of Godliness as though that God which is the cause of all Obedience should now be the cause of Rebellion At length thus he concludeth with an Exclamation saying To say saith he that a King is the Head of a Kingdom and not of the Church what an absurd and a foolish saying is this The King is as well the Head of the Church as of his Kingdom And further adding for example the subjection of the Servant and Wife If the Servant saith he be subject to his Master or Wife to her Husband being Infidels doth their Conversion afterward or name of Christians make them less Subjects than they were before As Religion therefore doth not alter the Authority of the Master over the Servant nor of the Husband over the Wife no more saith he doth it between the Prince and Subjects Paul making no exception nor distinction of Subjection save onely of that which belongeth to God willeth all men to obey their Princes and what Princes Those Princes which bear the sword And although we are bound by the Scripture to obey our Bishops and Spiritual Pastors of the Church yet that obedience diminisheth nothing the chief and head Authority that ought to be given to the Prince no more than the obedience of the Servant to his Master or of the Wife to her Husband exempteth them from Subjection due to their Superiour Powers And herewithall he inferreth a principle of the Law A Rule of the Law Divers Iurisdictions saith he proceeding from one person do not marry nor hinder themselves but rather do confirm and fortifie one another Again whereas the Bishop of Rome under the name of Peter doth appropriate to himself the highest place in the Church for that he is the Successor of Peter Thereunto he answereth in one word but in that one word he answereth enough and to the full I would saith he he were Wenchesters with that the Pope were Peters Successor for so in very deed he might well exceed and pass all Kings and Princes if not in preheminency of Dignity yet in admiration and excellency of Virtue in which kind of superiority the Lord Christ would his Apostles and Ministers to go before all Kings and Emperours in the whole world After this in prosecuting the Argument of Peters Confession he argueth thus and saith Argument The Prerogative was given to him which confessed Flesh and Bloud in Peter did not confess Christ Ergo the Prerogative was not given to the Flesh and Bloud of Pet●r that as flesh and bloud did not reveal to Peter that Confession so neither was that Prerogative given to the flesh and bloud of Peter but to the better part that is to the spirit of Peter which is to mean in respect of the spiritual Confession of Peter and not in respect of any carnal place or person c. Item If the Scholar ought not to be above the Master how then could either Peter take that upon him which Christ his Master so constantly did refuse Or how can the Bishop of Rome now claim that by Succession whereof no example is to be found either in the Head or his Predecessor before him For so we read in Eusebius both of Peter James and John that they did arrogate no such Primacy unto them but were content that James surnamed Justus should be the Bishop of the Apostles And as for the name and signification of the word Primatus i. Primacy Pr●matus or Primacy what it signifieth if it be taken for the first nomination or the first place given so he granteth that Peter had the preferment of the first name and place in the order of the Apostles but it followeth not that with this Primacy he had also a Kingdom given He saith Confirm thy Brethren but not thy Subjects And though he were bid of the Lord to confirm his Brethren yet was he not bid to exercise an Impery upon his Brethren for so were they not his Brethren but his Subjects Primus Primatus i. Primacy meaneth as much as the first standing in Vocation and is the name of Vertue and not of Power That Peter was Primus that is first or chief in the number of them which confessed Christ it is not

he be be he Bishop of Rome or of any other City Province or Diocese do presume to take upon him Authority or Iurisdiction in causes or matters which appertain unto Kings and the civil powers and their Courts and will maintain or think that he may so do by the Authority of Christ and his Gospel although the Kings and Princes would not permit and suffer him so to do no doubt that Bishop is not worthy to be called a Bishop but rather a Tyrant The Bishop os Rone judged to be a Tyrant and Usurper and as Vsurper of other mens rights contrary to the Law of God and is worthy to be reputed none otherwise than he that goeth about to subvert the Kingdom of Christ For the Kingdom of Christ in his Church is a spiritual and not a carnal Kingdom of the world that is to say the very Kingdom that Christ by himself or by his Apostles and Disciples sought here in this world was to bring all Nations from the carnal Kingdom of the Prince of darkness unto the light of his spiritual Kingdom and so himself to reign in the hearts of the people by grace faith hope and charity And therefore ●ith Christ did never seek nor exercise any worldly Kingdom or Dominion in this world but rather refusing and flying from the same did leave the said worldly Governance of Kingdoms Realms and Nations to be governed by Princes and Potentates in like manner as he did find them and commanded also his Apostles and Disciples to do the semblable as it was said before whatsoever Priest or Bishop will arrogate or presume to take upon him any such Authority and will pretend the Authority of the Gospel for his defence therein he doth nothing else but in a manner as you would say crowneth Christ again with a Crown of Thorn and traduceth and bringeth him forth again with his Mantle of Purple upon his back to be mocked and scorned of the world as the Iews did to their own damnation This Doctrine was subscribed and allowed by the witness and testimony of these Bishops and other Learned Men whose Names hereunder follow as appeareth in the Bishops Book before named TESTES Testimonies of Bi●hops and Doctors of England against the Pope Thomas Cantuariensis Edouardus Eboracensis Johannes Londonensis Cuthbertus Dunelmensis Stephanus W●ntonlensis Robertus Carliolensis Johannes Exoniensis Johannes Lincolniensis Johannes Bathoniensis Rolandus Coventr Lichfield Thomas Eliensis Nicolaus Sarum Johannes Bangor Edouardus Herefordiensis Hugo Wigorniensis Johannes Roffensis Richardus Cicestrensis Gulielmus Menevensis Robertus Assavensis Robertus Landavensis Guilielmus Norwicensis Richardus Wolman Archidiacon Sudbur Guilielmus Knight Archidiacon Richmond Johannes Bell Archidiacon Gloucester Edmundus Bonner Archidiacon Leicester Gulielmus Skippe Archidiacon Dorset Nicolaus Heth Archidiacon Stafford Cuthbertus Marshall Archidiacon Nottingham Richardus Curten Archidiacon Oxon. Guilielmus Glife Galfridus Dounes Robertus Oking Radulphus Bradford Richardus Smith Simon Matthew Johannes P●in Guilielmus Buckmaster Guilielmus May Nicolaus Wotton Richardus Cox Johannes Edmunds Thomas Robertson Johannes Baker Thomas Barret Johannes Hase Johannes Tyson These were Doctors of Divinity and both Laws A Protestation in the name of the King and the whole Council and Clergy of England why they refuse to come to the Popes Council at his call SEeing that the Bishop of Rome calleth Learned Men from all parts conducting them by great rewards The Kings Protestation why he sends not to the Popes Council making as many of them Cardinals as he thinketh most m●et and most ready to defend Frauds and Vntruths we could not but with much anxiety cast with our selves what so great a preparance of Wits should mean As chance was we guessed even as it followed We have been so long acquainted with Romish Subtilties and Popish Deceits The Popes craft espied that we well and easily judged the Bishop of Rome to intend an Assembly of his Adherents and men sworn to think all his Lusts to be Laws we were not deceived Paul the Bishop of Rome hath called a Council to the which he knew well either few or none of the Christian Princes could come both the time that he indicted it and also the place where he appointed it to be might assure him of this But whither wander not these Popish Bulls whither wander they not astray What King is not cited and summoned by a proud Minister and Servant of Kings to come to bolster up Errors Frauds Deceits and Vntruths and to set forth this feigned General Council For who will not think that Paul the Bishop of Rome goeth sooner about to make men believe that he pretendeth a General Council than that he desireth one indeed No who can less desire it than they that do despair of their Cause except they be Iudges and give sentence themselves against their Adversaries The King not bound to come at the Popes call We which very sore against our will at any time leave off the procurement of the Realm any common weal need neither to come our selves nor yet to send any Procurators thither no nor yet to make our Excuse for either of both For who can accuse us that we come not at his call which hath no Authority to call us But for a season let us as a sort of Blindlings do grant that he may call us and that he hath Authority so to do yet we pray you may not all men see what availeth it to come to this Council Who be they that have place in the Popes Council where ye shall have no place except y● be known both willing to oppress truth and also ready t● confirm and stablish Errors Do not all men perceive 〈◊〉 as we with what integrity fidelity and religion these men go about to discuss matters in controversie that take them in hand in so troublesom a time as this is Is it not plain what fruit the Commonweal of Christendom may look for there The place of the Council not indifferent whereas Mantua is chosen the place to keep his Council in Is there any Prince not being of Italy yea is there any of Italy Prince or other dissenting from the Pope that dareth come to this Assembly and to this place If there come none that dare speak for trodden truth none that will venture his life is it marvel if the Bishop of Rome being Iudge No reason that the Pope should be Judge in his own cause no man repining no man gainsaying the Defenders of the Papacy obtain that Popish Authority now quailling and almost fasten to be set up again Is this the way to help things afflict to redress troubled Religion to lift up oppressed truth Shall men this way know whether the Roman Bishops which in very deed are The Bishop of Rom in learning and life far under other Bishops if ye look upon either their Doctrine or Life far under other Bishops ought to be made like their Fellows that

and other of the Clergy of this our Realm should set forth declare and preach to them the true and syncere Word of God and without all manner colour dissimulation and hypocrisie manifest and publish the great and innumerable Enormities and Abuses which the said Bishop of Rome as well in the Title and Style as also in Authority and Iurisdiction of long time unlawfully and unjustly hath usurped upon us and our Progenitors and also other Christian Princes have therefore addressed our Letters unto the Bishop of the Diocefe straitly charging and commanding him in the same that not onely he in his own proper person shall declare teach and preach unto the People forthwith upon the receipt of our said Letters unto him directed every Sunday and other high Feasts through the year the true mere and syncere Word of God and that the same Title Style and Iurisdiction of Supreme Head appertaineth onely to our Crown and Dignity Royal. Likewise as the said Bishop and all other the Bishops of our Realm have by Oath affirmed and confirmed by Subscription of their Names and setting to their Seals but also give warning monition and charge to all manner Abbats Priors Deans Archdeacons Provosts Parsons Vicars Curats and all other Ecclesiastical Persons within his said Diocese as well to teach preach publish and declare in all manner Churches our aforesaid just Title Style and Iurisdiction every Sunday and high Feast through the year and further to monish and command all other Schoolmasters within his said Diocese to instruct and teach the same unto the Children committed unto them as also to cause all-manner Prayers Orisons Rubricks Canons of Mass-books and all other Books in the Churches wherein the said Bishop of Rome is named or his presumptuous and proud Pomp and Authority preferred utterly to be abolished eradicate and razed out and his Name and Memory to be never more except to his contumely and reproach rememb●ed The Popes Name and Memo●y aboli●●ed but perpetually suppressed and obscured And finally to desist and leave out all such Articles as be in the general Sentence which is usual●y accustomed to be read four times in the year and do tend to the glory and advancement of the Bishop of Rome his Name Title and Iurisdiction Whereupon we esteeming and reputing you to be of such singular and vehment zeal and affection toward the glory of Almighty God and of so faithful loving and obedient heart towards us as you will not onely do and accomplish with all power wisdom diligence and labour whatsoever should or might be to the preferment and setting forward of Gods Word but also practise study and endeavour your self with all your policy wit power and good will to amplifie defend and maintain all such Interest Right Title Style Iurisdiction and Authority as is in any wise appertaining unto us our Dignity and Prerogative and Crown Imperial of this our Realm have thought good and expedient not onely to signifie unto you by these our Letters the particularities of the Charge Monition and Commandment given by us unto the said Bishop as before is specified but also to require and straitly charge and command you upon pain of your Allegeance and as you shall avoid our high Indignation and Displeasure at your utmost peril laying apart all vain affections respects or other carnal considerations and setting onely before your eyes the mirror of truth the glory of God the dignity of your Sovereign Lord and King and the great concord and unity and inestimable profit and utility that sha●l by the due execution of the premisses ensue to your self and all other faithful and loving Subjects ye make or cause to be made diligent search and wait and especially in every place of your Shirewick whether the said Bishop do truly and syncerely and without all manner cloke colour or dissimulation execute and accomplish our will and commandment as is aforesaid And in case ye shall hear perceive and approvably understand and know that the said Bishop or any other Ecclesiastical Person within his Diocese do omit and leave undone any part or parcel of the premisses or else in the execution and setting forth of the same do coldly and feignedly use any manner sinister addition wrong interpretation or painted colour then we straitly charge and command you that forthwith upon any such default negligence or dissimulation of the said Bishop or any other Ecclesiastical Person of his Diocese contrary to the true tenour meaning and effect of the said Charge by us to him appointed aforesaid ye do make indelayedly and with all speed and diligence declaration and advertisement to us and our Council of the said default and of the behaviour manner and fashion of the same And forasmuch as we upon singular trust and assured confidence which we have in you and for the special love and zeal we suppose and think ye bear toward us and the publick and common Wealth Vnity and Tranquillity of this our Realm have specially elected and chosen you among so many for this purpose and have reputed you such men as unto whose wisdom discretion truth and fidelity we might commit a matter of such great weight moment and importance as whereupon the Vnity and Tranquillity of our Realm doth consist If ye should contrary to our expectation and trust which we have in you and against your duty and Allegeance towards us neglect or omit to do with all your diligence and wisdom whatsoever shall be in your power for the due performance of our mind and pleasure to you before declared in this behalf or halt or stumble at any part or specialty of the same be ye assured that we like a Prince of Iustice will so extremely punish you for the same that all the World besides shall take by you example and beware contrary to their Aliegeance to disobey the lawful Commandment of their Sovereign Lord and Prince in such things as by the faithful execution whereof ye shall not onely advance the Honour of Almighty God and set forth the Majesty and Imperial Dignity of your Sovereign Lord but also bring an inestimable weal profit and commodity unity and tranquillity to all the common State of this our Realm whereunto both by the Laws of God Nature and Man ye be utterly bound Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the 9. day of June Furthermore that no man shall cavil or surmise this fatal fall and ruine of the Pope to have come rashly upon the Kings own partial affection or by any sensual temerity of a few and not by the grave and advised Iudgment Approbation and Consent generally and publickly as well of the Nobles and Commons Temporal as also upon substantial grounds and the very strength of truth by the discussion and consultation of the Spiritual and most Learned Persons in this Realm It shall be requisite moreover to these premisses to adjoyn the words and testimonies also of the Bishops own oaths and profession made

and Iurisdiction within the same as of the Supreme Head of the Church of England and shall to the uttermost of their Wit Knowledge and Learning purely syncerely and without any colour or dissimulation declare manifest and open by the space of one quarter of a year now next ensuing once every Sunday and after at the least twice every quarter of a year in their Sermons and other Collations that the Bishop of Romes Vsurped Power and Iurisdiction Against the Popes Primacy having no establishment nor ground by the Law of God was for most just causes taken away and a bolished and that therefore they owe unto him no manner of Obedience or Subjection and that the Kings Power is within his Dominion the highest Potentate and Power under God to whom all men within the same Dominion by Gods commandment owe most Loyalty and Obedience afore and above all other Potentates in earth Item Whereas certain Articles were lately devised and put forth by the Kings Highness Authority and condescended unto by the Prelats and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation whereof part were necessary to be holden and believed for our Salvation and the other part do concern and touch certain laudable Ceremonies Rights and Vsages of the Church meet and convenient to be kept and used for a decent and politick order in the same the said Dean Parsons Vicars and other Curats shall so open and declare in their Sermons and other Collations the said Articles unto them that be under their Cure that they may plainly know and discern which of them be necessary to be believed and observed for their Salvation and which be not necessary but onely do concern the decent and politick order of the said Church according to such commandment and admonition as hath been given unto them heretofore by the Authority of the Kings Highness in that behalf The Kings Articles to be read to the people Moreover that they shall declare unto all such as be under their Cure the Articles likewise devised put forth and authorized of late for and concerning the abrogating of certain superstitious Holydays according to the effect and purport of the same Articles and persuade their Parishioners to keep and observe the same inviolably as things wholsom provided decreed and established by the common Consent and publick Authority for the Commonweals commodity and profit of all this Realm Images abolished Besides this to the intent that all Superstition and Hypocrisie crept into divers mens hearts may vanish away they shall not set forth or extoll any Images Reliques or Miracles for any superstition or lucre nor allure the people by any intreatments to Pilgrimages Pilgrimages Forbidden of any Saints otherwise than is permitted in the Articles lately put forth by the Authority of the Kings Majesty and condescended unto by the Prelats and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation as though it were proper or peculiar to that Saint to give this Commodity or that seeing all Goodness Health and Grace ought to be both looked and asked for onely of God as of the very Author of the same and of none other for without him it cannot be given but they shall exhort as well their Parishioners as other Pilgrims that they do rather apply themselves to the keeping of Gods Commandments and the fulfilling of his works of Charity persuading them that they shall please God more by the true exercise of their bodily Labour Travel or Occupation and providing for their Families than if they went about to the said Pilgrimages and it shall profit more their Souls health if they do bestow that on the poor and needy which they would have bestowed upon the said Images or Reliques Also in the same their Sermons and other Collations Prayers in the Mother Tongue the Parsons Vicars and other Curats aforesaid shall diligently admonish the Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governours of Youth being within their Cure to teach or cause to be taught their Children and Servants even from their Infancy the Pater noster the Articles of our Faith and the Ten Commandments in their Mother Tongue and the same so taught shall cause the said Youth oft to repeat and understand And to the intent this may be the more easily done the said Curats shall in their Sermons deliberately and plainly recite of the said Pater noster Articles or Commandments one Clause or Article one day and another another day till the whole be taught and learned by little and little and shall deliver the same in writing or shew where printed Books containing the same be to be sold to them that can read or will desire the same and thereto that the said Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governours do bestow their Children and Servants even from their Childhood either to Learning or to some honest Exercise Occupation or Husbandry exhorting counselling and by all the ways and means they may as well in their said Sermons and Collations as otherwise the said Fathers Mothers Masters and other Governours being under their cure and charge diligently to provide and foresee For bringing up of Youth in some Art or Occupation that the said Youth be in no manner wise kept or brought up in idleness lest at any time afterward they be driven for lack of some Mystery or Occupation to live by to fall to begging stealing or some other unthriftiness forasmuch as we may daily see through sloth and idleness divers valiant men fall some to begging some to theft and murther which after brought to calamity and misery impute a great part thereof to their Friends and Governours which suffered them to be brought up so idly in their Youth where if they had been brought up and educated in some good Literature Occupation or Mystery they should being Rulers of their own Families have profited as well themselves as divers other persons to the great commodity and ornament of the Commonweal Placing of good Vicars and Curats Also that the said Parsons Vicars and other Curats shall diligently provide that the Sacraments and Sacramentals be duly and reverently ministred in their Parishes And if at any time it happen them either in any of the cases expressed in the Statutes of this Realm or of special Licence given by the Kings Majesty to be absent from their Benefices they shall leave their Cure not to a rude and unlearned person but to an honest well learned and expert Curat that may teach the rude and unlearned of their Cure wholsom Doctrine and reduce them to the right way that they do not erre and always let them see that neither they nor their Vicars do seek more their own profit promotion or advantage than the profit of the Souls that they have under their Cure or the glory of God Every Parish to provide a Bible in English Item that every Parson or Proprietary of any Parish Church within this Realm shall on this side the Feast of S. Peter ad

by degrees all to pieces as they have fretted a great deal of it already And what English-man or Protestant is there that wi● not s● with us in these necessary Desires which if they be not granted farewel all Good Days from England for our time And now to conclude all I shall only leave two or three Sovereign Antidotes with my dear Country-Men to preserve them from the noysome Contagion and Plague of Popery 1. Consider with Trembling that none are given up to this Damnable Delusion but those whose Names are not Written in the Lambs Book of Life as the Spirit of God affirms Rev. 13.8 saying And all that dwell upon Earth shall worship him i. e. the Beast or Antichrist of Rome whose Names are not writt●n in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World And what Person would carry such a Worm in his Conscience continually for the whole World and all the Kingdoms and Gl●●y of it as to know and certainly to understand that his Name is not written in the Book of Life nor can ever be put in for all the Writings in that Book are from Eternity and no new thing can be inserted in it And therefore let Men say what they will they are none of Gods Elect who close in with this False and H●●●tical Religion after the Gospel hath been Preached to them and they have been instructed in it For to depart from the known Truth to known Error is not a Sin of Ignorance but of Malice and this is the Sin unto Death for which there is no Remission Wherefore let every one that would attain to any comfortable Assurance that his Name is Written in the Book of Life flee from Popery 2. They that Apostatise to this False Religion are a surely to be Damn'd as if they were in Hell already This is a hard saying but a True One as it is evident in that of Paul 2 Thes 2. where speaking of Antichrist that Wicked One whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Pow●r and Signs and Lying Wonders and with all deceiveableness of Unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved He adds And for this cause God shall send th●m strong Delusions that they should b●lieve a Lye that they All may be Damn'd that b●lieve not the Truth but have pleasure in Unright●ousness This sort of People God gives them up to believe a Lye the Grand Lye of Popery for this whole Religion is nothing else but one continued Lye from the beginning to the end of it to the intent that they should all Perish and be Damn'd This is the Word of God against all wilful Papists and it cannot be made void John also testifies Rev. 14.9 that an Angel Proclaimed with a loud voice saying If any Man Worship the Beast and his Image and receive his Mark in his Forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the Smoak of their Torment asc●ndeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest Day nor Night which Worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the Mark of his Name In which Scripture you may see with open face the sad end of all the Popish Generation which is to be tormented for ever and ever Wherefore out of very Malice they have been are and will be our Tormentors here when they get opportunity because the Devil is to be their Tormentor in Hell for ever Wherefore who ever would avoid the Torments of Hell let him fly from Popery 3. Lastly Antichrist is now in his Old Age and draws near his End yea is drawing his last breath He is very shortly to be utterly destroyed with the Spirit of Christs Mouth and the Brightness of his coming And what Wise-Man yea what Man of common reason would join himself to Antichrist for one hour yea for one quarter or minute of his hour If Men might have reigned with him many years and have enjoyed his Delicacies for a long Season then might it have been a strong inducement to a carnal heart who seeks his Portion only in this life to have closed in with him but now to do it when his Destruction draws near what extream Folly and Madness must it needs be Who would venture a Board that Ship which is just a sinking or become a Subject in that Kingdom which is just ready to be rooted up and confident I am through God that after Antichrist and his Brood of Serpents have play'd a few more of their old cruel Pranks anew in England both He and They will become so utterly odious to All that their Name shall be no more remembred among us but with highest Contempt and Indignation and that for ever And let the Lord say Amen and all his People AND now O Lord to whom should we look our Eies are only unto thee And we beseech thee to look down from Heaven the Habitation of thy Holiness and of thy Glory upon us and upon our present Sad and almost Desperate Condition and stretch forth thy Holy Arm to maintain Thine Own Good Cause which thine Enemies scorn and deride and laugh at among themselves and to help afflicted Righteousness and thine own poor People who are brought very low so that their belly cleaveth even to the dust Indeed Vain is the Help of Man and our Enemies say There is no help for us in God But yet we know there is help in thee and that thy help is never in vain For thou canst do the greatest Things by the smallest Means yea thou canst do the greatest Things without all Means For thou spakest and the World was made thou didst command and it stood fast Therefore our Eies are unto thee O Lord and we do believe that thou canst do all things and can so do them that none can resist thee Is any thing too hard for the Lord shall we call thy Power in Question who didst prepare a safe passage for thy People through the mighty Waters and didst cause them to walk on dry ground through the depths of the Sea Take therefore thy great Power and come and Reign in the midst of these thy greatest Enemies till thou make them All thy Footstool and till thou hast put down all Rule Authority and Power which lifts up its Head and stretcheth forth its Arm against thee O Lord and thy Holy and Blessed Gospel and thine Anointed Oh cause Iniquity to stop its Mouth and Wickedness to hide its face again Let Violence no more be heard in our Land nor Wasting and Destruction within our Borders let the cause of the Fatherless and of the Widows be justly judged Let thy Prisoners be loosed and thine oppressed be eased let them be helped who have no helper Make way with thy strong Arm for thy own Labourers to continue to come to thy Harvest-Work for thy Harvest we trust is very great in England And therefore O Thou into whose hands all Things are delivered of the Father and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given and who by this Greatest and Highest Authority of Thine hast commanded thy Ministers to go and teach all Nations after thou didst send them Oh do thou make way for them to teach this Unworthy Nation before the Coming of the Son of Man that through their ministring thy Word thy Church may awake and rouze up it self and put off its filthy Raiment and may be restored to the Brightness of its first rising when it was full of faith and love and all Graces and Gifts of the Holy Ghost without any mixture of Antichristian Errors that all thy People may strive together for the Faith of the Gospel and not quarrel any longer about empty Forms but may with One Mind and with One Mouth confess the Truth as it is in Jesus and then shall all Kings bow down before thee and all Nations that serve Thee they shall sing forth the Honour of thy Name and make thy Praise Glorious Amen FINIS