iurisdiction power is united and anexed to the crown from whence it is derived as from a source unto them and by law they are bound to make their proces and writings in the kings name and not in their own names and that their seals should be graved with the Kings armes as I have already declared in the first chapter It is true that they make processes in their owne name and use their own seals but herein they transgresse the formes prescribed by lawTheir manner of holding in Capite in chiefe of the king their Episcopall power and jurisdiction is not changed for all that want of formalitie as before I have cleared out of Bishop Farrars answer Sir Edward Cooke in the 5. booke of his Reports doth prove That the Function and Iurisdiction of Bishops and Archbishops in England is by and from the Kings of England and concludeth that though the proceedings and progresse of the Ecclesiasticall Courts run in the Bishops name yet both their courts and lawes whereby they proceed are the Kings as M. Sheerwood in his Reply to Downam doth report So then all the acts of their Episcopall jurisdiction are performed by authoritie derived from the King If ye will call that authoritie civill then actions of a spirituall nature are performed by a civill authoritie which is absurd But seeing this is impossible that civill authoritie can be elevated to so high a nature it must follow that it is truely spirituall power which is united to and derived from the possessor of the Crown I meane in the estimation of men and judgement of the Law howbeit in it selfe and by Gods Law it cannot be done It followeth therefore that all the Iurisdiction properly spirituall which the English Prelates doe exercise as Prelates is unlawfull how soever they have the warrant of mens Lawes It is but onely to save their own credite that they have set Downam Bilson and other their friends on worke to plead that Bishops are above Pastors jure divino by divine Institution which they are not able to prove Next is to be considered their sole authoritie which is censured by Sir Francis Bacon now Chancellour of England after this manner There be two circumstances in the administration of Bishops wherein I confesse I could never be satisfied The one the sole exercise of their authoritie The other the deputation of their authoritie For the first the Bishop giveth orders alone excommunicateth alone judgeth alone This seemeth to bee a thing almost without exemple in government and therefore not unlikely to have crept in in the degenerate and corrupt times We see that the greatest Kings and Monarches have their councell There is no temporal Court in any land of the higher sort where the authoritie doth rest in one person The Kings bench common pleas and the Exchequer are benches of a certain number of judges The Chauncellour of England â—ath the assistance of 12 masters of the Chauncerie The master of the Words hath 4 Councell of the court so hath the Chauncellour of the Dutchy In the Exchequer chamber the Lord Treasurer is ioyned with the Chauncellour and the Barons The Masters of Requests are ever more then one The justices of Assize are two The Lord President in the Marches and in the North have Councell of divers The Starre Chamber is an Assembly of the Kings privie Councell aspersed with Lords spirituall and temporall So as in all the Courts the principal person hath ever either colleagues or assessours The like is to be found in other well governed kingdomes abroad where the jurisdiction is yet more distributed as in the Courts of Parliament of France and in other places No man will deny but the acts that passe by the Bishops iurisdiction are of as great importance as those that posse by the civill Courts For mens soules are more pretious then their bodies and so are their good names Bishope have their infirmities and have no exception from that generall malediction against all men living Vae soli nam si ceciderit c. Nay we see that the first warrant in spirituall causes is directed to a number Dic Ecclesiae which is not so in temporall matters And wee see that in generall causes of Church government there are as well assemblies of all the Clergie in councels as of the Estates in Parliament whence theâ— should this sole exercise of jurisdiction come Surely I doe suppose and I doe thinke upon good ground that ab initio non fuit ita and that the Deanes and Chapters were councells about the Seas and Chaires of Bishops at the first and were unto them a Presbyterie or Consistorie and medled not onely with the disposing of their revenues and endowments but much more in jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall But that is probable that the Dean and Chapter stucke close to the Bishop in matters of profit and the worlds and would not loose their hold But in matters of jurisdiction which they accounted but trouble and attendance they suffred the Bishops to encroch and usurpe and so the one continueth and the other is lost And we see that the Bishop of Rome fas est ab hoste doceri and no question in that Church the first institutions were excellent performeth all Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction as in Consistorie And whereof consisteth this his Consistorie but of the parish priests of Rome which terme themselves Cardinals a Cardinibus mundi because the Bishop pretendeth to bee universall over the whole world And hereof againe we see divers shadowes yet remain in as much as the Deane and Chapter pro forma chooseth the Bishop which is the highest poynt of iurisâ—iction And that the Bishop when hee giveth orders if there be any ministers casually present calleth them to ioyne with him in imposition of hands and some other particulars And therefore that seemeth to me a thing reasonable and religious and according to the first institution that Bishops in the greatest causes and those which require a spirituall discerning namely the ordaining suspending or depriving Ministers in excommunication being restored to the true and proper use as shall be afterward touched in sentencing the validitie of marriage and legitimations in judging causes criminous as Simonie incest blasphemie and the like should not proceed sole and unassisted which point as I understand is a reformation that may be planted sine strepitu without any perturbation at all and that is a mater which will give strength to the Bishops countenance to the inferiour degrees of Prelates or Ministers and the better issue or proceeding in those causes that shall passe And as I wish thiâ— strength given to your Bishops in Councell so that is not unworthy your Majestiesâ— royall consideration whether you shall not thinke fit to give strength to the generall councell of your Clergie the convocation house which was then restreyned when the state of the Clergie was thought a suspected part of thâ— Kingdome in regard of their late homage to the Bishop of Rome
they make twenty that cannot teach and so idle shepheards are set up in the roome of true Pastors They that can teach are bound hand and foot till they get a licence But sithence Christ bad his Priests preach who should forbid them preaching said Wickleffe in the exposition of his Conclusions exhibited to the Bishops When they have gotten licence either they loyter or if they preach their preaching is hedged in with penalties injunctions caveats canons advertisements that they may not deliver the whole counsell of God or else they play the part of prophane Orators with affected eloquence or make the people laugh with merry tales as the Authour of the Admonition to the Parliament doth relate To conclude then a bare Reader of the service booke in English is sufficient to be an English priest In the rest of his administration according to the prescript either of the Q. Injunctions so that they be not repugnant to the lawes or of the Liturgie set forth by publique authoritie This Liturgie maintaineth a Reading Ministerie for it requireth nothing necessarily to bee done by the Minister which a child of ten yeare old cannot doe as well and as lawfully as that man wherewith the booke contenteth it selfe Preaching is but accidentall and accessorie without the which their office doth and may consist And indeed boyes and senselesse Asses are our common Ministers for the most part for common reason may serve the turn and do this feat well enough It is indeed lesse busie then the Popish Priests service because the Kalender and the Rutricks of the book are fewer and plainer then his Portuise and Pic were So that lesse Clerkes then 〈◊〉 priâ—sts which had but some blind Latine in their belly may serve for our store say the Authours of the Admonition to the Parliament The administration according to the prescript of the booke of Liturgie doth concerne either the Bishop or the Church or the Minister himselfe The Bishop to wit in confirmation of children The Church either in certaine rites as bowing the knee or in certaine answeres Of Bishopping we have entreated before The Congregations part standeth in some rites and gestures or in some answers Now the people sit now they stand up When the old Testament is read or the lessons they make no reverence but when the Gospell commeth then they all stand up they thinke that to be of greatest authoritie and are ignorant that the Scriptures come from one Spirit They make curtesie when Iesus is named either in Sermon lesson or otherwise uncovering their heads and making a leg with such scraping on the ground that the Minister or Reader cannot be heard for a space thereafter And yet saith the Author of the Petition to the Qu. The Bishops and their Chaplaines seldome use this unlesse it be at reading of the Gospell as if the Gospell were more holy then the rest of the Scripture especially they forget it when lustily and bravely they sweare by the name of Iesus The name of Iesus is more reverenced then the name of Saviour which is of the same signification or other titles of Christ as when he is named Messias Christ Mediator the Son of God c. or when God is named as if the Apostle had meant Philip. 2. that every knee should bow at the naming of Iesus when as he onely saith At the name of Iesus that is every creature shall bee made to acknowledge his power and authoritie which is his name as the word is often taken in the scripture It is not the sound of syllables but his divine power that is meant Then again for answers the people are appointed at divers prayers to rehearse word for word after the minister whereby an opinion is ingendred in their minds that other prayers do not so much pertaine to them as those which they utter with their own mouthes As the minister is the mouth of God from God to the people so should he be the mouth of the people from the people to God Sometime the minister saith one part and the people another And in sundry parts of the Letanie the people make the prayer and the minister onely directs them what to pray for At the communion one of the people is allowed to make the generall confession in the name of the whole congregation At some prayers they are enjoyned to kneele devoutly and not at others In the administration which doth concerne the Minister himselfe or to be considered either the substance of the booke it self or certaine directories As for the substance of the book it is taken out of the Popes portuis with some rubricks and glosses of their own framing The same matter which is conteined in the English is also contained in their service book with some little addition The same forme is also observed with a small alteration wheras our forme of service should be as different as may be from the Popish And for length it is so wearisome that many times it shutteth out Preaching viz. when Baptisme the Communion Marying Churching and Buryal conâ—urre together as often they doe in great Congregations as it is said in the Abridgement of Lincolne Ministers Divine service in the Apostolicall Church was not spent in reading prayers Psalmes Epistles Gospels c. but for the most part in doctrine and exhortation When the Congregation assembled their Pastor was with them and he spent not the time in reading lessons prayers collects c. but uttered some word of exhortation and doctrine upon the parcell of Scripture which was read as was the custome also in the Sinagogues And suppose it had bene omitted at any time in the Sinâ—gogue we reade not of any such lame Liturgie in the Christian Church in the dayes of the Apostles nor in many ages following till blindnesse ignorance and lazinesse made the chiefe part of divine service to be omitted and a prescript forme to be made for 〈◊〉 and ignorant Priests For shal we beleeve that as long as Pastors were able to teach and exhort that they posted over a number of prayers and lessons c. and no farther No The bels of Aaron should give a sound as often as the Lords Priest entreth into the Sanctuarie Or doe they thinke that their Pastor was abroad at his pleasures when the flock was at their pasturage as devine service and some other reading minister serving them The Apostolicke Church and purer Antiquitie knew no such minister Out of the lessons or Psalmes which were read the minister took the argument and ground of his sermon beginning after this or the like manner Ye have heard brethren the booke of c. read The booke is read wherein it is prophecied We heare brethren when the Gospell was read the Lord saying that c. The directories are contained either in the Kalender or the Rubricks In the Kalender to direct the minister in such things as belong either to the minister himselfe or to the
or else infamie arising upon the crime and make petent the ports of Ecclesiastical dignities to infamous men against the rule of the Law Infamibus portae ne pateant dignitatum The Prince granteth also dispensations either primarily by his Chancellour if the Archbishop refuse or secundarily confirming the faculties and dispensations granted by the Archbishop and so by dispensations may dissipate and wound at pleasure the Canons of the Church Now the Prince may dispense by their lawes in all causes wherin the Pope of Rome was wont to dispense of old The third sort of rights restored as due to the crowne which were not in use but since the Popes authority was driven forth concerne Benefices Ecclesiasticall and Dioceses in that the Prince may 1. enjoyne the Archbishop to confirme the election as also to consecrate the elected into the Bishopricke 2. to unite and consolidate or to divide lesser Benefices or Bishopricks which were before united 3. to grant a vacant Bishopricke or lesser Benefice in title of trust which they call a Commendam 4. to translate Bishops from one Bishopricke to another 5. of two which are nominated to choose one to be a Suffragane Bishop 6. to enlarge or contract the bounds and marches of any Diocie Election confirmation and consecration of Bishops were performed of old all at one time and that in a Synode of Bishops If the Prince may unite and enlarge Diocies and Parishes without the consent of those who have interest hee may make parishes Diocies and Diocies great Provinces The competent flockes for Pastors should bee measured by the Church who calleth them and knoweth best what burthen is most proportionable to their strength Bishops should not be translated at Popes or Princes pleasures as it often commeth to passe in our times The old Canons condemne this leaping from See to See Ambitious and covetous men cannot content themselves till they get either a fatter or more glorious Bishopricke Some are not content of one Bishopricke except they also get the commendam and custody of another They must not have two Bishopricks at once by the Canons yet heir a tricke one they may have in title of a Bishopricke another by way of trust and custody till it bee planted A man may not have two wives yet hee may have two women one as a wife another as a Lemman Some of them have keeped another Bishopricke in commendam sixteene or twentie yeares as the Bishop of Glocester was commendatare of Bristow Yea they may keepe this Lemman all their life time if it please the Prince to bestow a perpetuall commendam For commendams are not onely temporarie but also perpetuall whereas of old they endured onely for sixe moneths or some like short space They enrich themselves not onely with Commendams of other Bishoprickes but also when that cannot be had with the commendams of fat parsonages and lesser benefices The Diocesan Bishop hath a greater taske then hee can commodiously expede or else because hee is a loytering Lord he must have a suffragane Bishop to exercise some pontifical parts of his office in some part of the Diocie and disburthen him that farre This Suffragane Bishop is to be chosen by the Prince out of the Leits of the two presented by the Diocesan Bishop according to the statute made 26. Henr. 8. cap. 14. Translating of Bishops erecting and changing of Bishops Sees union of Bishoprickes enlarging of Diocies were in time of Poperie Papall cases reserved for the Pope of Rome We say then that the Prince as supreme head and governour of the Church of England is supreme judge in matters of heresie simonie idolatry and all causes whatsoever hath all maner of spirituall jurisdiction united to the crowne may commit the exercise and execution of the same to others also so that they bee naturall borne subjects may conferre benefices and consequently give Pastors to flockes may choose Bishops without Dean and Chapter receive appellations abbrogate canons abolish infamie and restore the infamous to dignities grant dispensations in all causes where the Pope was wont to dispense give Bishoprickes and lesser benefices in commendams enlarge contract unite divide Diocies c. And this hee may whether he be a Christian or not so that he be righteous possessour of the Crowne for all the particulars above rehearsed are sayd to be due of right to the crowne so that true or false Christian or infidell male or female man or child have all alike right What is due to the Christian Magistrate is due indeed to him not because he is a Christian but because he is a Magistrate A Christian Prince doth understand better how to use his righteous power then the infidel but hee can claime no further authority then the infidell and his power is onely cumulative as I have sayd not privative Now whether the particulars above rehearsed belong to any Prince whatsoever be he true or false Christian or infidell I think him too simple that cannot judge CHAP. 2. Of the High Commission THE High Commission is called commission of jurisdiction in causes Ecclesiastical it is called the high commission by the favourers of it to strike a greater terrour in the hearts of subjects The commissioners are partly civil partly Ecclesiasticall persons as the Archbishops certaine other Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chancellours some of the secret counsell and of the chief Iudges Courtiers Aldermen sometime the Lieutenant of the Tower the Post-master and others making up a great number But it is not requisite that all these whose names are set down in the kings letters patents should be present at every Session to make up a full judicature but power is given to any three of the number the Archbishop being alwayes one As with us are nominated and appoynted by the Kings letters patents to the number of fortie or fiftie persons Bishops Counsellors Noble men Barons Commissaries Ministers yet power is given to any five of them to make up the full judicature the Archbishops of Saintandros and Glasgow or any one of them being of the number of the five alwayes And as with us so there also graue Counsellours and Iudges and other of honorable respect may well be desired to be present when an incestuous person or some other maâ—efactor is brought before them that their countenance at one time or other may bring credit to their great authority But when a minister or any other godly professour is to bee troubled for nonconformity or writing against crossing and kneeling or having or spreading of bookes touching reformation of abuses and corruptions in the Church then are they not desired lest being present they should perceive the mysteries of their iniquitie by which they uphold their pompe and Lordly Domination If there be a courtier or new upstart that favoureth them or dare not controll them hee may well be advertised to be present The Archbishop hath power to associate unto himselfe any two nominated in the Kings letters parents whether they bee
commission In England if a man stand wilfully fourty daies together excommunicate and be accordingly certified by the Bishop into the Chancerie that then he is to be committed to prison by vertue of a Writ directed to the Shriefe as it is sayd in the Apologie of certaine proceedings in courts Ecclesiasticall And in a wrâ—â— de excommunicato capiendo it is sayd quod potestas regia sacrosanctae Ecclesiae in querelis suis deessâ— non debet The ordinarie lawfull courts Ecclesiasticall farre more then should be aided and assisted by the secular power and not molested or stopped The truth is that this high commission is erected to suppresse the libertie of the Kirk to maintain the usurped power and tyrannous domination of our perfidious Prelates over Synods generall Provinciall Presbyteries sessions to effectuate the intended conformity which they know they will never get done in Synods and Presbyteries unlesse the terrour of this high commission were standing above their heads And therfore when they urge conformity they haue their recourse to this weapon or in Synods and Presbyteries men are terrified with the feare of it This is their strong castell out of which they command and hold in slavery bondage the whole citie Here the Bonifacian Prelats stoutly draw the two swords fine consine suspend deprive imprison c. But the couragious souldier fighting the Lords battell will not bee borne downe with any such outrages and terrours Now as they receive appellations from inferiour courts no appellation can bee made from these three or our five suppose their injustice and tyranny cry never so loud I wonder if the heart of any faithfull Patriot let be conscientious professour can digest this These three Commissioners may appoynt inferiour Commissioners from whom also as subdelegates they may receive appellation I will add out of the record of the grievances of the house of Commons these considerations First out of the statute that the said act is found to be inconvenient and of dangerous extent in divers respects for that it inableth the making of such a commission as well to any one subiect borne as to more Item for that by the sayd Statute the King and his successors may howsoever your Maiestie hath beene pleased out of your gracious disposition otherwise to order make and direct such commission into all the Countries and Diocesses yea into every parish of England and therby all causes may be taken from ordinary jurisdiction of Bishops Chancellers and Arch-deacons and Lay-men solely be inabled to excommunicate and exercise all other spirituall censures For that limit touching causes subiect to this commission being onely with these words viz. such as perteine to spirituall or ecclesiasticall jurisdiction it is very hard to know what matters or offences are included in that number And the rather because it is unknown what ancient Canons or lawes spirituall are in force and what not from whence ariseth great uncertainty and occasion of contention Out of the commission grounded upon the statute That the commisson giveth authoritie to inforce men called into question to enter into recognisance not onely for appearance from time to time but also for performance of whatsoever shall be by the Commissioners ordered And also that it giveth power to enjoyn parties defendant or accused to pay such fees to ministers of the Court as by the Commissioners shall be thought fit As for the execution of the commission it is found grievous these wayes among other 1. For that lay men are by the commissioners punished for speaking otherwise then in iudiciall places and courtes of the simonie and other misdemeanours of spirituall men though the thing spoken be true and the speech tending to the inducing of some condigne punishment 2. In that these commissioners usually appoynt and allot to women discontented at and unwilling to live with their husbands such portions allowances for present maintenance as to them shall seem fit to the great encouragement of wives to be disobedient and contemptuous against their husbands 3 In that their pursevants or other ministers imployed in the apprehension of suspected offenders in any things spirituall and in the searching for any supposed scandalous bookes use to breake open mens houses closets and deskes rifling all corners and secretâ— custodies as in cases of high treason or suspition therof Their commission is grounded upon a statute and act of Parliament howbeit it agreeth not with the statute Wee have not so much as a shew of a statute for commission of jurisdiction in causes Ecclesiasticall and yet our usurping Prelates tyrannize over loyall subjects faithfull Patriots conscientious professours deserted by these who will be counted fathers of the Common wealth left open and naked to their violent rage without any protection of the law as if they were but the vile off scourings of the land Will not the estate in Parliament redresse this proud usurpation Shall the house of Commons in their Parliament bee grieved not onely at the exorbitant power of this high commission but also at the statute it selfe and shall our nobles and inferiour estates not be grieved at our usurped commission Or will they suffer the like statute and make the countrey mourn and groane for it the next day as our neighbours have done Can Princes or estates give power of spirituall censures either to lay or spiritual men Or may they lawfully put the temporall sword in the hand of Pastors Or may spirituall men as they call them accept it If neither can be done how can the estates erect ratifie or suffer such a commission What is this but the Spanish inquisition Set me up this throne Satan shall set up Papistry or any other religion whatsoever in short processe of time For they sit at the rudder and may turn religion as it pleaseth them and when they see fit occasions and themselves to have able power CHAP. 3. Of the dignitie and power of Archbishops in England THis proud name of Archbishop is not to be found in all the Scripture It was not attributed to any common Metropolitans at the first but to the renowâ—ed and mightie Giants the Patriarches of Constantinople Antioch Alexandria and Rome who were mounted farre above Metropolitanes when the time was neere that the Antichrist should be mounted on horsebacke But after that he was mounted then Metropolitanes that they might keepe some proportion with their head were lifted up to a degree of power above other Bishops invested into an office that the book of God the Apostolical Church never knew to consecrate Bishops to convocate Synods to receive appellations froÌ„ the courts of inferior Bishops to visit the Diocies of other Bishops within the Privince A Diocesan Bishop that is a Bishop over many flockes and Pastors of one Diocie was unknown to the Apostles far more a Bishop of Bishops a provincial Bishop an Archbishop having iurisdiction and power over the comprovinciall Bishops The Church being for the most part within
the bounds of the Roman Empire the governours framed the government according to the forme of the Empire and made degrees in the Church like to degrees in the common-wale They intended not to set up the Antichrist but being led partly with carnall wisedome partly with ambition and vainglory wittingly and willingly did that which brought in the Antichrist and so the mysterie of iniquity which began to work in the Apostles time wrought on still till Antichrist come to his full strength and perfect age While they were framing degrees according to the fashion of the Romane Empire first Bishops then Metropolitanes then Primates then the foure great Patriarches they were but forming the second beast according to the image of the first beast and the Bishop of Rome one of the foure Patriarches became the head Neither was the Bishop and Metropolitan so great in power before the Antichrist come to his perfect age as they were after and have been ever since even to this day They hatched him and he hath rewarded them with greater authority and power But giving and not granting the Diocesan Bishops to bee of divine or Apostolicall institution we will in this chapter onely let you see the Archbishops unlawful superiority over them Persons having lesser ample administration having eyther iudiciall administration or administration not iudiciall eyther constitute by law or introduced without law constitute by law as the administration of the ordinarie Iudges They doe execute it under the Prince either in their owne name or the name of others In their owne name as Bishops so called either with addition as Archbishops or simply Bishops Archbishops being in England two Canterburie and York are considered eyther in respect of their peculiar Diocies in all respects as other Bishops or in respect of the whole province according to the place which they hold eyther in the ecclesiasticall state or the civill In the ecclesiasticall estate eyther according to the place which they hold cōmon to both the Archbishops or that which is peculiar to Canterburie According to the place which is common they are to be considered eyther as in their ordination or as after their ordination In the ordination it selfe it is to be considered that if they the Archbishops haue not been heretofore Bishops they must be consecrated by some Bishops If they haue been Bishops then their election onely is cōfirmed by some Bishops Metropolitanes were chosen confirmed and consecrated of old not by some but by the whole Synode of the comprovinciall Bishops But the English Bishop have no Provinciall Synods to any such purpose They have neither the Discipline prescribed in Gods word nor the Discipline of the old Bishops and Metropolitanes but the Discipline and policie which was in use in the time of greatest darknesse under the Antichrist Here also wee see a signe that they make the Bishop and their Priest of a different order For a Priest when he is made a Bishop must receive a new consecration But a Bishop when hee is made an Archibishop is not consecrated of new howbeit hee bee in degree of power and jurisdiction above other Bishops After ordination they are to be considered either as Metropolitanes or as Archbishops or as Primates or as lesser Patriarches The English Metropolitanes have onely Bishops under them yet sayth Mucket they enjoy the titles and discharge the functions of Archbishops and Primates also Metopolitans at the first were not called Archbishops as I have sayd but the Patriarches greater and lesser onely to whom appellation was made from the Metropolitane But when Metropolitanes began to receive appellations then this proud stile descended to them also as we will see incontinent that as Bishops they received appellations They will extoll the wisedome of the ancients in framing degrees in the Church and yet they themselves confound these degrees and offices and make one man to bee a Metropolitan an Archbishop and a Patriarch Many degrees were made to the Pope to climm up to his throne that beeing done then was there confusion againe We have this confusion then out of Babylon As Metropolitanes 1. in confirming the elections of the Bishops of his Province 2. in consecrating these Bishops together with other two Bishops By the auncient Canons it was ordained that all the Bishops of the Province should assemble to the election confirmation and consecration of the Bishop also and the Metropolitan was present with the rest as one of the number and moderator onely of the convention and the action was common The Bishop of Spalato confesseth that by divine law one Bishop hath no greater right to consecrate another Bishop then another hath By their own book of orders it is not needfull that the Archbishop consecrate a Bishop but an inferiour Bishop may do it for him yet a Bishop may not suffer a minister to ordaine or say handes one a minister for him How can they then bee so shamelesse as to say that Archbishops bee of divine institution if another may consecrate a bishop as well as hee whether it bee with his consent or without it Abbots who have been but simple Priests have of old ordained bishops without either commission or consent of Archbishops as Beda restifieth Of the forme and rites of their consecration wee shall entreat in the next Chapter This that they call consecration of Bishops was not known to the purer Church The ministers chose one of their number to bee a perpetuall moderator of the common actions and called him Bishop as at Alexandria where he was first hatche◠and made at the first but onely perpetuall president and this was all 3. In convocating Provinciall Synods according to the Kings rescript 4. in moderating Synods and giving the last voyce Their Provincial Synods are not like the provincial Synods which wee wont to have For ours were but Synods of Shires 4 5 or 6 classicall Presbyteries assembling together twice in the yeare But their Provinciall Synode is a Synod of the Bishops of one Province All the Diocies of the Archbishop and of his suffragane or comprovinciall Bishops which are under him make but one province And seeing they have onely two Archbishops they can have but onely two Provinciall Synods The Metropolitane convocateth the Provincial Synod upon the Princes letter which happeneth very rarely If the Prince direct his letter to any Bishop as sometime hee hath done what need is there of a Metropolitan For they say we cannot have Synods unlesse we have Metropolitanes to convocate them and this is a chiefe part of his function If so be why doth he not exerce his function without a particular letter of the Prince as well as the Bishop doth in convocating his Diocesan Synod If that be a part of his ordinary power to him as this to the other why doth it depend on the Princes letter and how dare a common Bishop take upon him notwithstanding of the Princes letter that which of office apperteineth to the
Metropolitan Ye may see that this part of his function also is not of divine institution that is so dependant and changeable at the pleasure of princes as they confesse themselves Neyther is it requisite of necessity to haue a Metropolitane to convocate Synodes for Synodes at the first assembled without Metropolitanes And in our age both in our owne and other reformed Churches Synods have assembled where there is no Metropolitane Nay rather Synods would be more frequently convocated if they were altogether removed it is so farre from the truth that either we cannot have Synods unlesse we have Metropolitanes or that God hath ordained in his word that they should convocate Synodes For we haue no Synods Metropoliticall but onely Diocesan since Metropolitans have beene set over our heads nor yet national but seldome and dressed before hand for their purpose If it be not of divine institution that the Metropolitane should convocate Provinciall Synods neither is it to moderate And as for necessity there is none as experience of our owne and other reformed Churches can beare witnesse yea in their owne last Synode Banâ—roft Bishop of London was president It may be that it was his Papsticall office which hee had of old For in the Catalogue of the seventy Archbishops Canterbury is made the head of all â—ur Churches all Bishops sworn to Canonicall obediâ—nce of that Archbishop and defence of all privileges and liberties of that seat Where the Bishop of London is his Deane to call Synods to publish his decrees to make returne of the execution Winchesteâ— his Chancellour Lincolne his Vicechancellour Salisbury his Chaunter Worcester his Chaplaine Rochester his Crosse-bearer As Archbishops 1. in receiving of and answering to appellations interposed made from his Suffragane Bishops 2. In visiting the whole Province according to the lawes and custome As the Bishops haue suffragane Bishops under them so the Bishops themselves are Suffraganes to the Archbishop They are not his suffraganes as he is Metropolitane but as he is Archbishop So that as Archbishop he hath greater authority then he hath as Metropolitan For as Metropolitan he must doe nothing without a Synode in the Dioces of another Bishop neyther by receiving appellation nor by way of visitation But as Archbishop he may receive appellations and visite the Dioces of his Province without a Synode as being not onely superiour in honour and prioritie of order but also in power of jurisdiction And for this his greatnes which he attained unto he beareth the proud title of Archbishop The old Bishops knew no other but a Metropolitane the Provinciall Synode assembling twice in the yeare to the which appellations were made It is troublesome say they to call Synodes so often Dioces are so large and the Synode should be wearied to stay till all the appellations of inferiour Courts were decided Here a notable tricke First they say it is needfull to haue Synodes and therefore needfull to haue a Metropolitane This againe they crosse and say there is no need of Synods it is difficile and incommodious to have two provinciall Synods in the yeare as of old The Archbishop may doe all that the Synode did receive appellations visit and correct the excesses and defects of other bishops onely he may not make Canons and Ecclesiastical lawes without a Synod Neither is there any need of new Canons the old are sufficient But I would demand why Synods may not be so easily and so often convocated as of old Is it because they have their Diocies extended over one two or three Shires and the province extended almost as farr as the kingdome as Canterburies province in England and Saintandros in Scotland Their wings should be clipped their Diocies and provinces contracted and multiplied if that the Discipline of the old Bishops were to bee preserved that Synods may assemble But before they loose any part of their extensive power and large impire they will rather reteine the corrupted discipline brought in under Antichrist If they will say on the other side the Diocies were as ample of old then why doe they pretend to their loytering in their owne or the Kings palaces the distance of their Diocies And if they will not convocate Provinciall Synods twice in the yeare what is the reason that they will not convocate once in the yeare or as was concluded in the Councell of Basile once in three yeare Yee may see that this corruption is so grosse that it was palpable in the time of most palpable darknesse Againe Synods did not assemble onely to make Canons but also for to put order to all causes Ecclesiasticall Farther there is continuall occasion to make new Canons and also to reforme or repeale old corrupt canons Neither doe Synods need to stay long upon appellations if the Church should meddle onely with causes properly Ecclesiasticall and the ancient judicatories inferiour were restored of presbyteries and consistories But to medle with tythes testamentarie and matrimoniall matters and to set up Archdeacons Officials and Chancellours and the rest of that â—able it may well procure moe appellations then a grave and godly Synode should be troubled with When all is done yet Canterburie doth not nor will not take the pains as by himselfe to decide the appellations Hee hath â— Court which they call the Court of Arches wherein sitteth as Iudge the Deane of the Arches he hath to doe with appeales of all men within the province of Canterbury Advocates there be in this Court 16. or moe at the pleasure of the Archbishop all Doctours of law two Registers and ten Proctors And another Court not unlike unto this which they call the Court of Audience which entertaineth the complaints causes and appeales of them in that province So yee see what way the ancient Synods are gone Neither to direct by making Canons nor to execute them being made should bee permitted to the pleasure of one man And yet by the way remember that the Prince with advice of the Metropolitane may make Canons also Howbeit the Archbishop be made up with the spoiles of the provinciall Synode his grace may not attend on the â—â—scharge of the Synods care and jurisdiction And whereas he may visit if he please the whole Diocies of his province doe yee thinke hee will take the pains himselfe who then shalâ— attend on Court and Councell Yea I suppose that seldome hee sendeth his Chancelour or any other for him By the Canons of the Councell of Trent the Archbishop may no visit the Diocie of another bishop unlesse the cause and necessitie be first tried in the provinciall Synod so that the fathers of that superstitious and bloudy councell were ashamed of the Archbishops exorbitant power which the English retaine And the English say that during the time of the Archiepiscopall visitation whereby the jurisdiction of the ordinary is suspended that Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction which hee practiseth hee doth exercise from and under the Archbishop as his
seemes by the 36. article to be that wee are required to subscribe unto and which it may be some of the Bishops doe still use there are other corruptions as that the coape albe surplice tuniâ—le and pistorall staffe are appointed to be used in ordination and consecration There the elected is presented by two Bishops to the consecrator who is sitting and the elder of the two Bishops sayth Most reverend father in God c. So here he is presented by two bishops to the Archbishop or any other bishop having commission to whom one of them sayth Most reverend father in God we present unto you this godly and learned man that he may be consecrate bishop There none is consecrate till the commission be shewed here likewise the Archbishop is carefull to have the Kings mandate anent his consecration to be produced and read There the elected taketh an oath upon his knees to the Pope and another of obedience to the Archbishop so here they must take one oath concerning the supremacie another of canonicall obedience to the Archbish. There the Archbi demandeth some questions so also here There is sayd or song Veni Creatâ—r so here There the Archbishop together with the Bishops then present laying on their hands say Receive the holy Ghost so here also as if the one could give and the other receive the holy spirit from his finger ends By the book of ordaining Prists and Deacons the Archbishop should lay the Bible upon the bishops neck that is to be ordained and put a pastorall staffe in his hand sayth the authour of the petition to the Queenes Majestie but they put the Bible in his hand and observe not the former direction or else follow a later booke of ordinations After these things being done the consecrator and his assistants communicate with the new consecrated bishop so here also The Gospels the Collects the Epistles the Letanie which are here used for the most part are borrowed from the same Pontificall and the Letanie interrupted here also as there There the consecrator sayth nothing more ordesâ—e then is set down in the booke either when he prayeth or demandeth or consecrateth so here There the consecrator putteth gloves on the hands of the consecrated Here the consecrated Bishop dealeth gloves as I heare to his friends for why now he is maried and the mariage betwixt him and the Church which was begun by the election is consummate they say by consecration Should not then the bridegroome deale gloves among his friends That day that our Bishops were first consecrated at London their bride at home understood nothing of the matter In respect of his function either in things concerning Episcopall order or concerning iurisdiction Concerning Episcopall order as 1. to ordaine Deacons and Ministers according to the prescript of the booke of ordinations 2. to dedicate Churches and buriall places 3. to confirme children The power of order as they call it that is a power and authority which is given to men sanctified and set apart from others to performe such acts as belong to the service of God and the discharge of the pastorall function it acknowledged by D. Field as also by the sounder sort of the Romanists themselves to be equall the same in all pastors and that there is not a greater power of order in the Bishops then Presbyters If the power of order and authoritie to intermedle in things pertaining to Gods service be equall and the same in all Presbyters who hath power to abridge this their power and limitate the exercise of it To reserve the exercise of it to the Bishop as if he alone may give orders or if other ministers joyne either casually or by Canon with him that it is not for consecration but for consent and approbation onely or that a whole Presbyterie cannot ordaine that is sanctifie dedicate or set apart any person to the ministery unlesse there be a Bishop present to utter the words of consecration is not onely absurd because it imports that God hath bestowed on them a facultie which they cannot put in execution but also dangerous for the Church of God as experience of the last age hath manifested For then all the Ministers in France and other reformed Churches who received not imposition of hands by bishops should not be lawfull Ministers Their shift of the case of necessitie is no shift at all For if they have that power by divine right as they pretend the other may in no case usurpe it Further seeing nature giveth not faculties in vaine wee must not thinke that Christ gaue a power or facultie to be idle The gifts and faculties he gaue hee gave them to be imployed not onely in time of necessitie but at all convenient times and occasions offered Where do they finde in all scripture this exception of the case of necessitie Where the law of God doth not distinguish ought man to distinguish The prayer out of the mouth of a divine bishop a minister appoynted by the presbyterie to moderate the action is it of lesse efficacie then the prayer out of the mouth either of an human or Satanicall Bishop As for imposition of hands it is a rite onely which is common to all and not essentiall Seeing then to ordaine ministers belongeth to the power of order as to preach the word and minister the sacraments doth and that this power is common to all pastors the validity or invaliditie of ordination ought not to depend upon a bishop set up by mans appointment and invention and that it was but an invention of man is clear in that this reservation restraint came in but by corrupt canons In the councell of Ancyra a canon was made to forbid the presbyters of the Citie to ordaine presbyters and Deacons without the bishops permission wherby appeareth that before that Canon was made they had ordained some without the Bishops either presence or permission and yet their ordinations were not made voyd and that after the making of the Canon they yea it is confessed that this is reserved unto them potius ad honorem sacerdetij quam ob legis necessitatem rather for for the honour of their Priesthood then the necessitie of any law at Hierome sayth Beda sayth in plainer tearmes that for pride aud arrogancie this as many other things were not permitted to Priests but reserved to Bishops That which the Iesuite Swarez sayth concerning confirmation Si prestyteri ex visuae ordinationis haberent sufficientem potestatem ordinis ad hoc sacramentum ministrandum sine causa in universum prohiberentur illud conferre may be applied to that which I affirmed of ordination that God gave not faculties and powers to be idle I have as yet onely supposed this their confirmation to be lawfull But let us now see what it is The bishop or such as he shall appoynt apposeth the children in some questions of a short catechisme for hee taketh not the paines to
de accusat c. 1. in glossa and is ordained to this speciall end that hee suplieth the Bishops jurisdiction and office in the out places of the Diocie or else in such parishes as be peculiars to the Bishop and exempted from the iurisdiction of the Archdeacon For where either by prescription or composition there bee Archdeacons that have iurisdiction within their Archdeaconries as in most places they have there this commissarie is but superfluous and most commonly doth rather vexe and disturbe the countrey for his lucre then of conscience seeke to redresse the lives of offenders And therefore the Bishop taking praestation money of his Archdeacons yearly pro exteriori jurisdictione as it is ordinarily called doth by superonerating their circuit with a Commissarie not onely wrong the Archdeacon but the poorer sort of subiects much more as common practise daily teacheth to their great woe The Bishops Chauncellour and Commissarie and the Archdeacons official are all three termed officialls in the canon law the Chauncellour the principall officiall the Commissarie Officialis foraneus the third the Archdeacons officiall or by the generall name of officiall In the lawes and statutes of England the first is called Chancellour the second Commissarie the third by the generall name of Officiall The name of Chauncellour in this sense is not so ancient as that of Officiall sayth D. Field and that in a generall signification it is used for any one that is employed for the giving of answer to sutors for keeping of records and notes of remembrance and generally for the performance of some principall duties pertaining to him whose Chauncellour he is sayd to be The principall officiall that is the Chauncellour howbeit he be but onely a Deputie yet by fiction of the law when hee cognosceth any cause hee is interpreted to bee but one person with the Bishop and to make but one consistorie with him So that howbeit the Bishop be not present there yet it is his consistorie Such fictions of law have been made by cosening and deceitfull Prelates to deceive the world And therefore say the Canonists there lieth no appellation from the principall Officiall to the Bishop but to the Archbishop yet from the Commissarie who is Officialis foraneus there lieth appellation Regularly appellation also may be made from the Archdeacon and other inferiour Prelates to the Bishop sayth Canisius unlesse the custome of the countrey hath brought in another order The Archdeacon hath a certaine circuit of the Diocie wherein he exerciseth his office and iurisdiction For everie Diocie is divided into certain Archdeaconries comprehending about the fourth part of the Diocies if they be great Diocies But if they be lesser Diocies they haue but one Archdeacon as Canterburie Rochester Glocester Bristow Worcester c. The Archdeacon by vertue of his degree and order hath no jurisdiction but onely by prescription of time that is a papall custome which is yet retained in the English Church In Hieroms time at Rome the Deacons began to exalt themselves above Ministers against which usurpation evil custome of the Church of Rome he inveigheth with great vehemencie as a thing unsufferable that the ministers of tables and to widowes should be lifted up with pride aboue the minister of the word and sacraments and opponeth to the custome of the church of Rome the custome of all the churches in the world And yet the old corruption of that one church wherin ther institutions ye see if they were excellent hath spread over the whole church and grown to a great height So that the Archdeacons will not sayth Mr. Cartwright take the best Ministers of the church as their equalls They are called Archdeacons not of one particular Church but of a whole shire whereas Deacons were appoynted in several churches It is true that many of their Archdeacons are also ministers but yet they exercise their iurisdiction over a whole shire ministers and others within the bounds of their Archdeaconrie not as Ministers but as Archdeacons When the Bishop should have visited his Diocie and inquired into needfull reparations of the church and what other things were out of order hee sent his chiefe Deacons to visit for him At the first they were sent onely to visit and make report but not to sententiate in any mans cause sayth D. Field or to meddle with the correcting and reforming of any thing but afterwards in processe of time they were authorized to heare and determine the smaller matters and to reforme the lighter and lesser offences Hence in time it câ—me that Archdeacons much used by Bishops as most attendant on them in the visitation of their churches and reforming small disorders at length by prescription claimed the correction of greater things at having of long time put themselves into the exercise of such authoritie So the Archdeacons in the end became greater then the Deanes let bee common Ministers The lazie Bishop sent his Deacon to enquire into the life and conversation of the Clergie and Ministers which was not his office yet ye see from what a small beginning he is risen to so great a height It is dangerous to depart from the right paterne shewed upon the mount Againe to make a Preacher of the word a Deacon is to conioyne these two offices which the Apostles did separate Archdeacons then almost through all England by papall prescription have jurisdiction within their bounds and power to visite to inquire into offences to receive presentments to punish with ecclesiasticall censures to substitute officialls to supply their roomes in their Consistories whereby it hath happened that the subjects haue been molested for one and the selfe same fault by the Bishops Chauncelours and the Archdeacon or his officiall In a Canon lately made anno 1603 they haue transacted the matter so that they shall not medle with the presentments received at others visitations how the transaction is kept I cannot tell It is to be observed that Chauncelours and officials are Civilians Ministers doe sometime also beare these offices but utterly ignorant in these faculties For these Courts being confused Courts wherin matrimoniall testamentarie and other causes of temporal matters are handled not belonging to ecclesiasticall cognisance no wonder the Minister be ignorant in them But on the other part it were a shame if a Civilian should know better how to deale with an offender and to bring him to repentance Againe what a grosse absurditie and intolerable abuse is it in the Church of God that Chauncelours Commissaries officialls being Civilians should meddle with the censures of the Church The Bishop hath vendicate to himself the whole power of excommunication and then he transferreth this his power by a generall commission to another which he may not lawfully doe no not to a minister far lesse to a Doctor of the Civill lawe whom he appointeth to be his Chauncelour or the Archdeacon to him whom hee appoynteth to bee his Officiall They
Chauncellour are even faine to laugh it out many times when they can keep their countenance no longer Suppose our high commission were never so odious yet the Bishops shall bee sure of such servile varlets Commissaries Officialls and Chauncellours to sit with them for why they shall be their own creatures It is no wonder they be bribers for the Bishops and Archdeacons set in farme their jurisdiction to them Some Chauncellours and officialls pay 20. some 30. some 50. pounds yearly for their place Registers some an hundred some two hundred pounds some more How then is it possible but they should extort in their office and by unreasonable and untollerable exactions make up their hard rents as it is sayd in the Defence of the last petition for reformation Many greivous complaints have been made against Officialls Commissaries and Chauncellours from time to time in Germanie France and other countries which I might produce to make this bondage yet more sensible CHAP. 6. Of Suffraganes Deanes and Cathedrall Churches WE have seen in the former Tables what persons have judiciall administration Now follow Persons having no Iudiciall administration Those are either Ecclesiasticall persons or lay-men Ecclesiasticall persons are the Deacon and the Minister and they have their function either without perpetuall title as Curates or with title The second sort either have a peculiar function beside their common function or have not a peculiar function These who have a peculiar function beside the common either have it through the whole â—â—iocie or but in a part of it Through ane whole Diocie as the titular Bishops who were of old called Chorepisâ—opi that is Rurall Bishops now they are called Suffraganes They are to bee considered either according to the place which they hold in the Common-wealth to wit next unto Barones or according to the place which they have in the Church to wit that they are Bishops both in calling and order but wanting jurisdiction 2. Dedicate Churches 3. confirme children instructed before in the Rudiments of Christian religion and that in a Diocie allotted unto them That which is here sayd of Suffraganes that of old they were called Chorepiscopi is controlled by Mucket himselfe For hee saâ—th that the Rurall Dâ—â—nes are like the old Chorepiscopi Deâ—â—ni 〈…〉 is Ecclesiae Chorepiscopis Aâ—chipresbyteris Regionarijs haud absimiles And so doth Bleynianus also in his introduction into the theorie and practique of benefices At the first where the Gospell was spread through the Countrey townes and villages as it was through Cities so they had Counâ—rey or rurall Bishops as well as Bishops in cities But ambition and pompe in Citie Bishops increasing it was thought a disgrace that such a dignitie should bee obscured with a meane place of residence Therefore it was decreed that it should not bee lawfull to ordaine any Bishop either in villages little forts or small Cities lest the name and authoritie of a Bishop should waxe vile Sathan was advancing this way the great mysterie of iniquitie Because he would make of Bishops young Princes hee went about as is well observed by Mr. Cartwright with robberie of the rest to lift up the head of one otherwise the great pompe which they were striving for could not be maintained At the first the countrey or Rurall Bishop had the same power in his circuit which the Citie Bishop had in the citie and suburbs of it Hierome sayth that the bishop of an obscure citie hath as much authoritie as hee of the most famous citie The Presbyters who were ordained by them their ordination was not made voyd and reversed untill they were throwne downe through the pride and dispite of citie bishops to the order of priesthood which is an argument sufficient that they were in estimation and judgement of the Church bishops of that same sort and kinde that the citie bishops were Beeing spoyled of the greatest part of their power and name also they there called Archipresbyteri at the last Countrey or Rurall Deanes and were made subject not onely to Bishops but also to their Archdeacons No propter subrogationem in locum Chorepiscoporum superbirent Archipresbyteri idem sibi quod antea Chorepiscopi arrogarent si immediate Episcopis supponerentur sayth Bleynianus a Papist This is his conjecture that the Archpresbyters were thrust downe to a degree lower then Archdeacons lest if they had been immediatly subiect to Bishops they might perhaps have claimed the power of the old countrey Bishops to whom in place they succeeded For justly Archpresbyters may claim by their order that which Archdeac cannot do For howbeit they be inferiour to Archdeac in Popish dignitie yet they are greater then Archdeacons in respect of their order Countrey Bishops at their first erection being equall to Citie Bishops were not their Deputies In the later and corrupt ages proud Prelates and loytering Lords addicting themselves to the world seeking ease or intangling themselves with wordly affaires as they commited the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction to Chauncellours and Commissaries so that which is most proper to them as they pretend as ordination of Priests and Deacons confirmation of children and dedication of Churches they committed to Suffraganes that they might give themselves to ease and wait upon Councells Parliaments and other civill Courts and reserved nothing belonging to their owne charge that might trouble their ease or draw them from attendance upon Princes Courts and civill employments D. Field alledgeth against these Suffragane Bishops Melchior Canus a papist Such Bishops Melchior Canus entreating of Councells and the persons wherof Councells consist sayth they are so farr from having any place or voyce in councells that they neither have nor ought to have any place in the church at all The Bishops he speaks of he calleth annular Bishops happely for that whereas full Bishops had both staffe and ring expressing their jurisdiction as well as their espousing to the church these had the ring onely That Suffraganes may ordaine Priests and Deacons and confirme in their Church is evident by their latest Canons Now if Bishops may transferre these things which belong to their order to one Suffragane they may transferre it also to moe and consequently to all the Cathedrall and countrey Deanes and restore the countrey Deanes to their old liberties againe It dependeth onely upon some new Canon The Bishop of Spalato sayth Imo si vult Episâ—opus canones non prohiberent potest suos parochos plene Episcopos facere ordinare ut omnes sui or diniâ— actus plâ—ne possint explere simul ac in soli 〈◊〉 cum ipso Ecclesiam gubernare The Bishop may make all his parish priests not onely halfe but full Bishops that they might governe the Church in common with him sayth he if the Canon law were not an impediment The parish priest may curse this Canon law that hâ—ndreth them of that which Gods law alloweth them But that which Divine law hath given
communicate also as was the custome in time of blindnesse where every holy action behoved to have a Masse and so that action which should be common to the whole Congregation who are members of one body is made private and particular to a few howbeit in a publique place Then againe they have their forbidden times to marie in yea moe then the Papists have at least so many as have embraced the decrees of the Councel of Trent from Advent to the Epiphanie from Septuagesima sunday to the octaves of Easter from the Rogation weeke to the octaves of Pentecost amounting in all to the third part of the yeare as if marriage which is called honourable did prophane these holy times The councell of Trent hath dispensed with the Pentecost and the second they beginne at Ashwednesday Now notwithstanding of these forbiddeÌ„ times they may get a dispensation for some money and then it shall be lawfull enough and these holy times shall receive no pollution for mony hath a great vertue with it 2. Thankesgiving after childbirth This is commonly called the Churching of women Iâ— standeth more in Psalmes suffrages and collects wherein help is craved at God not notwithstanding he take upon him authority to 〈◊〉 from sins Then there is a Psasme and 〈◊〉 prayers read The silly curat can give no more comfort then the few set words which he must read can minister to the departing soul. If the 〈◊〉 person can get some to communicatâ—â—â— with him 〈…〉 as being ashamed to looke-up for some folly committed When she commeth to the church shee must kneele downe high unto the place where the table standeth that is nigh unto the Quire dore as the Rubrick in 2. Edward beareth as the women did who after the dayes of their purification were ended were appointed to bring their offering to the dore of the Tabernacle Levit. 12. 6. unto the Priest who shall make attonement for them Then the Priest readeth over her the 121. Psal. and assureth her that the Sun shall not burnâ— her by day nor the Moone by night Is not this a very pertinent Psalme for the purpose The Lords prayer being sayd and some versicles and answeres and then another prayer she doth offer her accustomed offrings and if there be a communion she receiveth the communion Call this churching a thankes-giving yet what reason is there of publick thanksgiving in the Church more for deliverance after childbirth which is ordinarie then from drowning or other extraordinary dangers or diseases and of womeÌ„ more then of men were not that the imitation of the Iewish purification is the Mysterie of it And so was this service intituled in the booke 2 Edw. The order of the purification of women as is reported in the Survey This superstitious service is not voluntarie but enjoyned When they come to the grave while the corpâ— is made ready to be laid into the earth they sing or say againe another parcell of Scripture out of Iob then while the earth is cast upon the body by some standing by the Priest again saith something and confidently affirmeth that God hath taken his soule and is of assured hope 〈…〉 3. The visiâ—a and comfort of the sick The Priest entering into the sickmans house sayth peace be in this house and to all that dwel in it When he commeth to the sickmans presence he kneeleth downe and prayeth his prescript lines for forgivenes of sinnes with two kyrie eleesons and one Christe eleeson the Lords prayer and some other versicles and responsories when as yet he hath not spoken a word to the diseased or understood whether hee bee sleeping or waking After the exhortation read which he may break if need be and the Creed rehearsed he desireth him to make his will and also declare his debts what he oweth and what is owing him Thereafter he moveth him to liberalitie Then shall the sick person make a speciall confession if he feele his conscience troubled with any weightie matter after which confession the priest shall absolve him When he absolveth he sayth By his that is oâ—r L. I. Christ authoritie committed to me I absolve thee from all thy sinnes in the name of the father and of the son and of the H. Ghost Amen He absolveth like a judge as the Popish Priest doth giving out a definitive sentence and absolutel doth forgiue not by way of deolaration This absolution is seuered from the preaching of the word For the dumb Gurat cannot preacâ— in thansgiving This help is to live and walkâ— faithfully in their vocation as if they were made uncleane by their childbirth to enterprise any thing Shee will not stirre out of the house suppose she were never so strong till the compleate time be expired that is a month commonly When she commeth forth she is muffled 〈…〉 him the communion If others may not conveniently come neere him yet the minister and he alone may communicate together and for shortnesse of time they have but one collect pistle and Gospell Thus are the people nourished in an opinion of the necessitie of the sacrament and the action which should be publick and solemne as the institution beareth and the practise of the Apostolicall Church declareth is made private administred peculiarly in a corner as if there were no other meane to eat the flesh and drink the bloud of Christ of that grace were tied to the externall signes 4. The Buriall of the dead They have a threefold peale enjoyned in their latest canons When any is passing out of this life a 〈◊〉 is to be tolled after the parties death a short peal is rung another before the buriall another after the buriall When the time of the funerals draweth neere the Priest the clearks make them ready The Priest putteth on his surplice and then commeth to the Church stile to meet the corps Then the Priest shall say or the Priest and cleark shall sing and so go either to the Church or towards the grave The words which are sayd or read alowd by the Priest or sung by the Priest and clearkes are 2 or 3 small sentences of scripture For any part of scripture is sung by theÌ„ as well as Psalms in their services and the Bishops haue punished women for not being churched sayth the authour of the petition to the Queen Some are churched at home by the Priest and therby saith the Surveyer They confirme women either in pride if they be able to goe to church and will not or in superstition if being not well recovered they yet must needs be chur 〈…〉 of his resurrection to 〈…〉 againe is said or sung a sentence out of the Revelation after the lesson two Kyrie eleesons with one Christe eleeson betwixt them after that the Lords prayer then the Priest prayeth that God might histen his kingdome that we with our brother and all other departed in the true faith of thy holy name may have our perfect consummation and