then is not God serued with his owne â—…est gifâ—…s Is not the iudgment of the Prophet then vpoÌ„ them which â—…aith Cursed be the deceiuer which hath in his flock a male yet voweth and â—…acrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing Is this old rotten Leitâ—…urgis their new songs they sing vnto the Lord with and for his graces May fuch old written rotten stuffe be called â—…ier the odours of the Saintes burnt with that heauenly fire of the â—…ltar the liuely graces of the spirit c. may reading be said praying â—…ay such apocrypha trumperie be brought into the church os God there be read reuerenced receaued as the sacred word of God â—…hrust vpon mens consciences yea vpon God himself whether he wil oâ—… no Is not this presumptuously to vndertake to teach the Spirit of God to take away his office which as hath beene said instructeth â—…l the children of God to pray eneÌ„ with inward sighes grones 〈◊〉 giueth both wordes vtteraÌ„ce yea as the Apostle 〈◊〉 â—…th we need no other teacher to these thinges then that annoinâ—…ing which we haue receaued and dwâ—…lleth in vs. Is not this if â—…hey wil haue their written stuffe to be held vsed as praier to bind â—…he holy Ghost to the froth leaueÌ„ of their lips as yt were to the holy â—…ord of God Is it not vtterly to quench extinguish the Spirit of God both in the ministerie people whiles they tye both theÌ„ God â—…o â—…heir stinted numbred praiers Is this the 〈◊〉 vnisormitie that ought to be in al Churches â—…s amongst al Christes seruantes to make them agree in a stinking 〈◊〉 diuisâ—…d apocrypha Leituâ—…gie good for nothing but for cushâ—… pillowes for the idle priestes profane carnal Atheistes to rock them a sleepe and keep them in securitieâ—… wherby the coÌ„science is no way either touched edified or bettered Truly I am ashamed to think much more to write of so grosse filthie abhominacion so generally receaued euen of al estates of these partes of the world who haue by a popish custom tradition receaued yt one of from an other without any warrant from the word For the Apostles I am sure these maister builders haue left no such president in or coÌ„mandement vnto the churches neither giueÌ„ theÌ„ any such power to bring in or set vp any such apocrypha Lyturgie in the church of God They alwaies vsed spiritual praiers according to their present wantes occasions so taught all churches to pray alwaies with all maner of praier supplication in the spirit therby to make knowen theiâ—… wantes shew their requestes in al thinges vnto God their heauenly father Our Sauiour Christ also he taught his disciples that God is a Spirit wil be worshipped in spirit truth He hath likewise set downe most excellent rules a most absolute forme for al praiers in that part of scripture Math. 6. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. commonly but falsly called the Lords praier wherin he hath most notably instructed directed and restrained our ignorant inordinate desires to those excellent heades In which whatsoeuer is needful for vs to desire or lawful foâ—… vs to pray is in some one or other of those branches included eueriâ—… one of them being a base foundatioÌ„ whervpoÌ„ wherby to frame many millions of seueral pâ—…ticions according to the seueral wantes occasions at such seueral times as the Saintes haue cause to pray They are all of them so many euerrunning fountaines from which Godes seruantes by the holy Ghost deriue draw continually fresh new graces are al together such an abisme vnmeasured sea of wisdome from which al Christes seruantes thorough the world haue alwaies fetched all their knowledg graces coÌ„fort assurance of and in their praiers according to the capatitie of the vessel of their faith some more some lesse al some yet haue not al of theÌ„ together much lesse any one of them is able in the litle dish of his shallow vnderstanding to comprise the vnmeasurable depth greatnes of this OceaÌ„ of al wisdome grace Wherby yt is euident as also by the circumstaÌ„ces maner of deliuering the same by our Sauiour CHRIST by his Apostles Disciples Churches spiritual vse of praier according to their present estate wantes that these prescript wordes were not giuen oâ—… inioyned as a prescript praiâ—…r so to be vsed by any euen the wiseâ—…t much lesse the simpler vnbroken vp vnexpounded c. so much as a coÌ„peÌ„dious summarie of all necessarie knowledg rules for al praier gathered by the Author of all wisdome into a brief for the directioÌ„ instruction of our weaknes ignorance Of which endes vses whiles some are ignorant or rather aâ—… their grosse idolatrie carnal dulnes superstitious presumption sheweth are ignorant either what faithful praier or the spirit of God is whiles they both popishly abuse this scripture as a principal collect in their publike leitourgiâ—… with their often idle repetition therof fiue times in their morrow masse c. also through this abuse they grow further bold to mould a new calfe a nâ—…w Leiâ—…ourgie of their owne set that vp also in the church of God as they count yt Yfyt were granted theÌ„ that this scripture sundry psalmes and other scriptures they alledg out of the prophetts were coÌ„manded â—…nioyned to be read vsed as for the very praiers of the church â—…f the Saintes then which nothing caÌ„ be more false or grosly fond to â—…onceaue yet which way if this were granted theÌ„ can they hereby â—…roue yt lawful for them to bring in their owne apocrypha diuises â—…et them yp in the church as with the holy canonical word of God May their sâ—…inking filth be compared or placed with the heauenly liâ—…ely word of God without vnsufferable blasphemie may the froth of â—…heir lips follie of their heartes be thrust vpon mens consciences â—…ea euen vpon the Spirit of God himself in this manâ—…r In the church â—…f God may nothing come or be heard but the canonical scriptures â—… liuely graces of Godes Spirit according to the same But these their â—…pocrypha Leitourgies can neither be said the word of God neither â—…e liuely graces oâ—… Gods Spirit according to the same word sâ—…ing â—…ey were made coÌ„ceiued loÌ„g before are wholy thus vsed withâ—…ut waâ—…ant example or coÌ„mandement in the word of God yea are â—…ontrary tâ—…l the rules of sor praier to the exercise vse of Gods â—…pirit directly set against al the lawes of the first Table by worshipâ—…ng God in vaine after their owne traditions preceptes diuises â—… not according to his holy Wil commandement Can these men think that because God commandeth his liuely â—…ord to be read or sung in the church promiseth a blessing therâ—…nto whiles
yt is vsed according to his ordinance yt neuer being so â—…pened touched or heard without great fruit yt being the verie tree â—… riuer of life with the abundaÌ„t fruites flowing graces wherof the â—…hole church is nourished watered that therfore the like commaÌ„â—…nt or blessing is of their leauâ—…ned Leitourgies or because God 〈◊〉 the infancie of his church prescribâ—…d certaine scripturâ—…s and psalâ—…es to be read sung vpon their sabath day solemne feastes c. yea â—… at other times of their great affliction oppression calamitie cauâ—…d certaine coÌ„fortable 〈◊〉 to be read in the assâ—…mblie sor the â—…rengthning of the faithful both that they should not be dismaied at 〈◊〉 greatnes coÌ„tinuance of these troubles or think theÌ„ straÌ„ge or els â—…ppose that God were either offâ—…nded with or vnmindful of theÌ„ or 〈◊〉 â—…is mercies c. that therfore now they may vpoÌ„ such feastes saboâ—…s daies times troubles enioyne that I no more meÌ„tioÌ„ their owne â—…auened leitourgies these or any other scriptures by stint measure 〈◊〉 iniunctioÌ„ law vpoÌ„ thâ—… church of God now Is the church of God 〈◊〉 in wardship such infaÌ„cie shut vp as vnder a garrisoÌ„ that yt must â—…ue such Tutors rudimentes Is not Christ now dead risen and â—…ended and hath freed his church from such tutelship he himself now becomming their lawgiuer and minister in person and hath now giuen them his holy word Spirit to administer wisdome vnto them in al freedome to vse the same his word according to his wil their owne occasions vnto his glorie and their comfortes And what can now be a greater bondage to the church iniurie vnto Christ and vnto the Spirit of God then thus to limit to stint circumscribe the church of God the ministerie of Christ the spirit of God by apportioning rating enioyning by way of subiection commandemeÌ„t this scripture in this number quantitie for this day feast fast calamitie c. where haue they any rule for this in the TestameÌ„t of Christ They wil say yt sufficeth that they haue warraÌ„t for yt in the old Testament where these perscript limited scriptures at such daies feastes times occasions were commanded inioined in the church c. But I hope they caÌ„ put differeÌ„ce betwixt the estate lawes of the church vnder Moses now vnder Christ that they wil not now reserue â—…eviue and apply those lawes belonging to the TeÌ„ple the ministerie therof now to the church ministerie of Christ. But they take not these to be ceremonial lawes but â—…ather morall which commandeth scriptures to be read praiers to be made in the church of God these scriptures which they inioyne are such therfore may so be vsed True yt is the moral law both commanded the name of God to bâ—… called vpon and the word of God to be read c. and this to al tiâ—…s estates persons indifferently as wel to that ministery vnder the law as to this vnder the gospel leauing the particular maner order therâ—…f to the wisdoÌ„ directioÌ„ reuelation of the holy Ghost from time to time as seemed good vnto him Now yt pleased God to giue those rudimentes of the vse of certaine scriptures psalmes c. to the ministerie of that church commanding such scriptures to be there read vpon such daies occasiones c. such psalmes to be sung by such Leuites of such an order of ASAPH HEMAN or IEDVTHVN to be sung in such a time with such musickes such instrumentes c. Al which I am sure they cannot deny to be inseperably ioyned vsed to those scriptures in that Temple and ministerie and were meerly ceremonial now vtterly abrogate with that Temple and ministerie and no way belong to the ministerie or Church of Christ. Those stinted lawes and customes I say I would not be vnderstood of the precious word of God wherof euerie iode and title abideth for euer and is of vse and fruite in the church of God which scriptures and figures are not without their especial profite in their spiritual sense and vnderstanding al and ech of which scriptures are now freely to be vsed withouâ—… stint or limitation in the Church of Christ as his spirit giueth wisdom grace and vtterance and not to be restreined and aportionate by way of prescription and commandement without the losse of Christian libertie of the truth of the Gospel the abusing the word of God vnto idolatrie making yt an Idol But heere they wil say that the reading of the scriptures and â—…inging of Psalmes is also coÌ„manded in the Church of CHRIST This â—…ath beene long since granted yet no such stinted and limited reading â—… singing thus thus much this day at that time c. as they inioine â—…ell yet seing they are still coÌ„manded though at our libertie what â—…heÌ„ to reade or sing them many of them being godly praiers we may â—…et pray by the booke and by written praiers As this word prayer by 〈◊〉 general constructioÌ„ may be vnderstood I graunt they may be called â—…raiers in that they conteine fit matter rules instructions for praier â—…nd were to that end by the holy Ghost written yet can they not be â—…ied our praiers or my particulaâ—… praier because they neither expresse â—…ur present wantes according to the present estate of our heartes neiâ—…her can be said the liuely graces worke of Gods spirit in vs so much â—…s the power of Gods word and Spirit vnto vs. My meaning is they â—…re not dâ—…awen or powred out of our heartes as out of a fountaine buâ—…â—…ather drawen out of the fountaine of Gods word powred into our â—…eartes as a vessel therfore can not be said our praier which must proâ—…eed from the present estate of our heart They are not our wordes by â—…s offred vnto God but Godes word by him offred vnto vs therfore â—…annot be said our praiers But ô how hard a thing is yt for carnal men to discerne spiritual â—…hinges They can by no meanes be made to put difference betwixt the â—…ord of God and their Apocryphâ—… Leitourgies which they falsly vaunt to â—…e according to the word of God betwixt reading singing praying 〈◊〉 the present liuely graces of Gods Spirit in vs and their old â—…enned dead writinges betwixt Gods word to vs instructing vs accorâ—…ing to our infirmities by way of petition and our wordes vnto God by â—…aithfull praier And this vale being layd ouer their eies and heartes â—…hese blind guides â—…ot only affirme but condemne thinges they know â—…ot the one in setting vp their owne rotten Leitourgies abusing the â—…ord of God to in the same c. the other in crying out with open â—…outh against such as reproâ—…e them and will not partake with them â—…n their idolatrie Insomuch as Doctor ROBERT SOME confesseth very â—…illingly and freely that he was amased when he heard vs affirme that â—…art of holy
shal haue recouered your senses froÌ„ the amazement wherinto you were smitten with this strange Doctrine touchnig praier to a further consideration of the matter to see if you can bring any better reasons or repaire these in your third booke against the poore persecuted seruantes of Christ whome you vntruly accuse blaspheme publish for Anabaptists what not in these youâ—… priuiledged poisoned writings I haue sufficiently as I hope shewed the vnlawfulnes of bringing into or reading in the church these stinted numbred praiers and set seruice in their written diuised Leitourgies both because they wanâ—… warrant in the Testament of Christ practise of the Apostles and are contrarie to the same being Apochrypha not the liuely graces of Gods Spirit being contrary to al the rules of praier yea to the Spirit yt selâ—… christian libertie not being drawen from the Spirit of God in vs according to the necessities present estate of the church or of our heartes as the Spirit giueth vtterance but rather teaching the Spirit wordes vsurping the office therof in the consciences of meÌ„ yea setting stintes lawes vpon the Spirit church prescribing this thus much to be said this day in the morning at afternone thus many collectes or Pater nosters heer a Creed a Tâ—… deum c. I haue shewed the supertition idolatrie abhominacion of the best of theÌ„ how they are buâ—… as a dead stinking carion not a liuely acceptable sacrifice vnto the Lord so abhominacion wil worship not required at our handes so superstitioÌ„ brought into standing in the church of God for that they are not namly as rules lawes of the church as holy praiers and incense of the Saintes as the liuely graces present worke of the Spirit so idolatrie I haue shewed that those scriptures vsed in them do no way iustifie theÌ„ no more then they doe the masse-booke or a Coniures magical incantatioÌ„s which haue also holy psalmes scriptures as vnreprooueable praiâ—…rs but rather that they make theÌ„ the more heinous in that they so rende mangle peruert the scriptures to such blasphemous abuses I haue shewed that such written stinted stuffe cannot be said the praiâ—…rs oâ—… the Saintes neither do any good either instruct or help the weakâ—… coÌ„sciences of any but are rather the very leauen poison of their heartes soules the very cradles and cushions of these graceles Priestes Atheistes to rock them asleepâ—… in their sinnes securitie neuer touching the heart or conscieÌ„ce but teaching them to prate ouer vpon the booke or by rote their certayne nuÌ„ber of wordes to the Lord as though the booke were their heart vtterly quenching the Spirit of God and al the light that is in them They make theÌ„ bâ—…leeue that this prescript praier is good at this time that at an other time this when they rise or at dinner the tother when they goe to supper or to sleepe this when they are sick that is special good to be read or saied at the point and hower of death Thus abuse they misleade men keep them wholy from the exercise of the Spiâ—…it of God in them from the searching and powring out theyr heartes â—…efore the Lord from the due confession sorrow repentance for â—…heyr sinnes froÌ„ the true knowledg or any vse or benefite of that blesâ—…ed benefite holy exercise of praier and wholy from receauing any â—…crease blessing or grace froÌ„ God as the preseÌ„t estate of their church â—…heir faith soules sheweth euideÌ„tly being by their stinted Leiâ—…ourgie â—…coÌ„sidered at the best that they can imagine or speake for theÌ„selues â—…ept at a stay alwaies in one estate hauing neither more nor lesse of â—…ods grace but eueÌ„ the self same stil. Thus are they neuer led forth â—…ne step towardes perfection vntil a new Leitourgie be made where â—…hey haue al thinges prescribed both what to doe how to doe what 〈◊〉 say how much to say wheÌ„ to say wheÌ„ to make an end Thus iugâ—…le they mock with God behold how the Lord deludeth deâ—… them withholdeth the early latter rayne of his blessinges froÌ„â—…eÌ„ the coÌ„tinual spring haruest of his fruitful gracâ—…s they being â—…holy emptie destitute therof depriued of light truâ—… knowledg â—…ea coÌ„mon sense feeling their consciences being seared as with an â—…ote yron their heartes paued hardned in their sinnes which they â—…oÌ„mit â—…ueÌ„ with gâ—…eedines hauing left theÌ„ no sight iudgmeÌ„t or power 〈◊〉 theÌ„selues to discerne betwixt good euil nether to looke or know â—…hat 〈◊〉 wil of God is for any thing they doe or leaue vndone Neither â—…aue they power to practise yt but depend wholy vppon others for al 〈◊〉 things to theÌ„ they goe to inquire as they say so yt is without any â—…oubt so yt must be done without any coÌ„traditioÌ„ Thus is their faith â—…at inwrapped faith of the papistâ—…s to belâ—…ue as the church 〈◊〉 without knowing what y â— church belâ—…eueth to beleeue doe â—…s such a preacher such a Rabbine beleeueth doeth Ó he is a learâ—…ed an holy maÌ„ he would not doâ—… otherwise theÌ„ wel for al the world â—…uch a Martyre made this such a maÌ„ that yt caÌ„not be but good say â—…od what he wil. They see with other meÌ„s eies speak with other mens â—…outhes pray beleeue with other meÌ„s heartes Thus doe they al by â—…rescript custome traditioÌ„ without regard to y e rules of Gods word â—…hus build they their house faith vpon thâ—… sandes thus are they by â—…heir blind guides deluded led out of y e way thus are they cast into â—…tter dâ—…knes held in y e chaines of sinne vnto iudgmeÌ„t their haÌ„des â—…ies heartes al their senses powers being fast bouÌ„d by thesâ—… Egipâ—…iaÌ„ in chaÌ„tâ—…rs their delusions And now that we haue thus largely set â—…ut the vâ—…lawfulnes inconuenieÌ„ces of al prescript Leiâ—…ourgies that all 〈◊〉 prâ—…tences may be remooued out of the way me thinkes yt â—…s now time to returne to this Leiâ—…ourgie of â—…he church of ENGLAND and â—…o consider somwhat more particularly of yt wherby we shal discerne â—…hat kind of faith they haue professe exercise AND HERE IN to dealâ—… with euery particular error therof or to medâ—…le with the patcheries innumerable trumpeâ—…ies therin or al their â—…rosse sollies more then childish euen apish triflinges or their friâ—…olous constitutions customes wheruÌ„to they bind lesson the paâ—…ish priest to say his matteÌ„s eueÌ„song in order to begin with this confession throughout the yeare nay throughout their life TheÌ„ cometh the priestes general pardon thorough the power that his lord Bishop hath comitted vnto him so he proceedeth to his stinted psalmes Lessons with his certaine of Paternosters euer among of CREEDES their forged patcherie coÌ„moÌ„ly calcd the Apostles Creed or SYMâ—…OLE ATHANASIVS CREED the NICENE CREED sometimes sayde in prose
if these men should know the right course which in deed I cannot beleeue because the scripture speaketh euidently that God wil blind their eies and bow downe their backes c. O how high then were their sinnes which forsake the waies of life haue in the presumption of their owne heart sought out vnto themselues bye waies and lead the people astray with how many stripes are they worthy to be beaten Thus you see how this Gospell they te◅ch you is taught in a strang◅ and false ministerie in the false Church is ioyned to the throne of the beast of antichrist is ioyned vnto al the abhominatiō abhominable of the land is taught by prescription limitation and stint according to the Bishops iniunctions decrees traditions vnto which yt is together with the whole church both ministers people in bondage You see how yt hath neither light nor power in yt to discouer and cast out these most grosse damnable idolatries how yt vtterly wanteth practise in this false Church where say CHRIST what he will all must be after the pleasure of Antichrist You see how therby the bodie hath not beene edified or led forth any one step toward perfectiō but rather as by Satans most strōg delusiōs haue beene held therby in this egiptian bondage and babilonish confusion vnder Antichrist You see the ministers of these wares of what liuerie they are how they are the marked waged seruants of Antichrist the merchantmen of the who◅e to carrie abroad her abhominable wares Now remaineth that I discouer vnto you some of the gall wherwith their hony is mixed some of the leauen wherwith your milke is poisoned that you may see how the Lord in iudgment hath mingled amongst them the Spirit of error giuē them vp to the Spirit of pride fornication and caused them to erre in al their waies made night vnto them for a vision and darknes for a diuination how the sunne is gone downe ouer your Prophets and the day made dark ouer them Now that this may the sooner be brought to passe let me verie briefly shew you first what maner of CHRIST they teach you then some few of the cheif heads of the infinite errors they teach And this the rather because they say they hould the foundation and that there is nothing wanting amongst them but matters of lesse moment of no necessitie making some doctrines and some part of CHRISTS Testament fundamental substantial others accidental such as may be altered and violate without any preiudice or danger to the soule Yea such may the transgressions errors be as though they be obstinatly continued in and openly taught after they be reproued and conuinced by the word of God yea the parties die in that estate without repētance of these transgressions or errors yet may they hold the foundation be vndoubtedly saued Of this mind were still continue fiue of the verie principall best esteemed ministers of Englād both for learning and conscience although there were alledged against the same these expresse scriptures Numb 15. 30. 31. where yt is written that That soule that doth anie thing with an outstretched or high hand whether he be borne in the land or a strāger the same blaspheme◅h the Lord therfore that person shall be cut off from amongst his people because he hath despised the word of the Lord and made his commandement of none effect that person shalbe vtterly cut off his iniquit◅e shall be vpon him Exod. 23. 21. 1 Sam. 15. 22. 23. Ezek. 18. 26. where the Prophet concludeth that when a righteous man turneth away from his righteousnes cōmitteth iniquitie dyeth therin he shall die for his iniquitie that he hath done Likewise also our Sauiour CHRIST Math. 5. 1◅ 19. teacheth that one iote or title of his word shall not passe and that whosoeuer shall breake one of the least of his commandements teach mē so shalbe called least in the kingdome of heauen And the Apostle ◅ames 2. 10. teacheth that whosoeuer shal keep the whole law yet faileth in one becōmeth guiltie of all And how plentiful is the Apostle Paul in this point that whoso teacheth otherwise yeildeth not to the wholsome words of our Lord IESVS CHRIST to the doctrine which is according to godlines such are of corrupt mindes destitute of truth c. to be seperated 1 Tim. 6. 3. 4. 5. to be auoided Rom. 16. 17. to be reiected Titus 3. 10. As for offences and transgressions of the word we haue a perpetuall rule Math. 18. 17. 2 Thes. 3. 14 If he transgresse he is to be admonished reproued censured Yf he erre of ignorance he is to be instructed with meeknes vntil God re◅eale the truth also vnto him But if he not only erre but affirme teach his error wherby others are or may be infected yt is time to looke to that GANGRENE least yt fret further yt is time to purge out such leauē least yt make sowre the whole lumpe But to hold as these men doe and as they are driuen to doe when they plead for their whorish Church antichristian ministerie is not only to goe expresly contrarie to the whole scope of scriptures to infringe violate all Gods lawes couenant to hould as in deed they teach CHRIST a Sauiour without repentance to make some part of the scripture more holy more authentical more true then other in summe to submit the holy scriptures Testament of CHRIST to the wil lust of man to ratifie or abrogate them at his pleasure to make this part of substance that of forme this fundamentall that accidentall this necessarie to saluatiō that needles c. But if the whole scripture was giuen by inspiratiō of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct to instruct in righteousnes If yt be the groundworke foundatiō of the Church of our faith if yt be the law rule of our life the light of our eies c yf e◅erie word of God be holy pure perpetuall then is this di◅p learning of theirs diuelish and blasphemous that thus to couller couer their wickednes make some part of Gods word fundamental substancial necessarie other accidentall superficial needles especially where yt sheweth reproueth and condemneth their doinges yea which make some sinnes openly manifestly conuinced yet ohstinatly continued persisted in without any repentance in this life for all this not to be mortall or deadly as the papistes say hould Yet neuertheles wil these men be said to hold the foundation to saluation notwithstanding that they disfranchise reiect a great part of CHRIST Testament and hould yt not as fundamental necessarie and make neither cōscience nor care to transgresse the same and to bring in other lawes into the Church in stead therof yea vpon that part which they would seeme to retaine they build all this stubble trumperie
his Commandements and those per◅etuall such as he will haue to continue and be obserued of all his seruantes vnto the worlds end We see them no◅ onlie commāded vnto his Apostles that they should practise and teach them in their time or in time of per◅ecution but he chargeth his Apostles to teach all churches all Christians to keepe and obserue them at all times vntill the consummation and end of the world giuing vnto al his seruantes and churches the same power to practise and obserue all these his comandementes that he gaue vnto his Apostles plighting vpon such their faith and obedience his presence protection vnto them in these wordes And loe I am with you all daies vntill the consummation of the world sealing the truth both of these his commandemetes and ordinances and also of this his couenant and protection vnto all ages with this his authentike seale with this word of all truth Amen So that me thinkes all the blasphemous reproches and cauils of al sortes of enemies vnto the sacred inviolable gouernment and order of our Sauiour CHRIST deliuered and practised by his Apostles in his churches are vtterlie by this one place of scripture if so be there were no more to the same effect taken out of the way both they that denie the continance or necessitie heerof in all ages and places they that would make these Apostolike ordinances but matters of forme not matters of faith or of substance as they speake they being heere confirmed commanded by that Lord of all truth of all power in heauē and in earth Peraduenture that old Saducee that ◅hus sophisticallie hath propounded these questiōs in that 74 leafe of his answere vnto MARTIN will stūble as he ordinarilie doth at the word of God at these wordes al things whatsoeuer I haue cōmanded you collecting that because the Apostles had not as yet receiued the exp◅esse rules commandments for al the things they afterward taught practised that therfore this commandement cannot be vnderstood or applied to such things as they afterward taught and so nothing or litle serueth to the outward forme of gouernment order of the Church Although yt were not hard from this verie place necessarilie to cōfirme the intendement commandement of all the ordinances and rules which the Apostles after taught prescribed vnto the churches euen by that which is heere expressed concerning the ministerie baptisme c. which heere are commanded al churches to be obserued in that manner as the Apostles taught them which ministers sacramēts ministerie could not in and by these churches be had or practised without the obseruation of these rules ordinances as the election probation of such ministers by the flockes where they are to administer c. which were not al that time set downe by the holy Ghost or practised by the Apostles as yet Although I could also shew that our Sauiour Christ had alreadie instructed his Apostles that he had chosen and set a part to that worke of all things belonging to his kingdome Act. 1. 2. and had giuen thē his holie spirit in abundāt measure to this their ministerie which should teach them al things b◅ing al things to their remembrance Ioh. 20. 22. which he had tould thē Yet mine awnswere heere is y t if our sauiour Christ in these wordes Al whatsoeuer ◅ haue commanded you had respect onlie vnto such precepts as he had then at that time giuē thē not vnto al other things which he should afterward reueale vnto thē by his holy spirit also yt were both cōtrarie to their commission charge they deliuered which as is saied vvas that they should win gather together build order instruct establish his Church according to the rules cōmandements of his wil Testament which could not at al be done by thē if al these lawes rules were not alike cōfirmed of cōmāded by him as also if these words Al whatsoeuer ◅ haue comanded c. should so be restrained yt were to make the other holie lawes ordināces which he afterward shewed to his Apostles they by the same spirit both shewed recorded vnto the churches of Christ of lesse valew and authoritie then those former to make some part of holie scripture more true holy authentical thē other yea yt were vtterlie to abrogate disfrāchize these latter scriptures Furthermore I suppose yt were a hard matter for anie man to dis◅sse set downe what things Christ had at that time taught these Apostles what he had as yet cōcealed So that this cauil can no way put off this most direct and expresse place let me therfore proceed to others The Apostle Paul 1. Tim. 5. 21. chargeth Timothy before God the Lord Iesus Christ the elect Angels that he k◅epe these things without preiudice doing nothing according to inclination c. Also Chap. 6. ver 13. he vseth these wordes vnto him ◅ cōmand thee before God that ◅uickneth al things Christ ◅esus that testified before Pontius Pilate that good confession to keepe the commandement without spot vnrebukeable vnt◅l the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ which in due time that blessed onlie mightie that King of Kings and Lord of Lords shal shew c. Likewise 1 Cor. 14. 37. he hath these wordes If anie mā seeme to be a prophet or spiritua◅ let him acknowledg the th◅ngs I write vnto you because they are the cōmādemētes of God but if anie man be ignorāt let him be ignorāt With what greater authoritie or waight of wordes could the Apostle either confirme or incōmend vnto the Church in all ages these cannons ordināces which he in these epistles hath set downe for the building order gouernment of all churches of al the officers people actions of the same to be religiously inviolably kept as the cōmandemēts of that great dreadfull God as the lawes of that our Lord and King vntill his appearing in glorie Who can anie longer doubt that vvil either rest in the manifest testimonies of the holie Ghost giue credite to the resolute affirmations and eare to the vehement charges of the Apostle or that will duly expend either the general scope of these epistles or dulie weigh the manifold rules in particular and the manner of deliuering them that these cannons and ordinances are the absolute lawes and holie commandements of CHRIST for the building and gouernment of his Church so necessarie inviolable perpetuall as without which or with anie other his Church can neither be built nor kept Are not all these p◅rticular rules for the seueral offi◅es persons qualities for their maner of election probation ordination administration c. set downe in way of cōmandement and law with as great authoritie credite reuerēce as anie other part of Christs Testament or Gods word So that the Apostles whole ministerie may with as much right or reason be called into doubt or question as
seruice of his Church But that vvere to handle the vvhole platforme and oâ—…der of Christs Testament the excellencie and perfection wherof but slightly to describe as yt far exceedeth my slender capacitie so not being to this present purpose I haue onlie indeuored to vse such general reasons as might prooue this generall PropositioÌ„ That the gouernment and ordinancâ—…s that Christ in his Testament hath set downe and apointed vnto his Church are necessare onlie fiâ—… and perpetuall and that the true Church of Christ can or may no more receaue anie other officeâ—…s gouernment and ordinances then the bodie of a man can receaue other members the members an other order or temperature then that which God hath assigned Which I hope by these places is so manifest as I need stand no longer to inforce the necessitie and onlie fit congrueÌ„ce therof vnto the bodie members of the church by shewing either the comelines beautie features of the Chucch when yt is thus furnished of these true members and the members thus placed built together ordered and vsed The necessitie of these let common sense and experience in the basâ—… patterne of our owne naturall bodie shew how ill we could either admit anie other then those members that God hath apointed thervnto or spare anie of those membersâ—… or haue them kept from their true vse and peculiar function or placed in anie other order or place or knit togetheâ—… with anie other iointes sinewes or vainâ—…s then God hath disposed for them But the heauenlie spirituall beautie order congruence and vse of these members thus commixt and contempered â—…et the 4 6. and 7 chapter of Solomons song declare From all which together â—… euerie member apart the vse administration and benefite therof as also from the disorder infinite inconueniences and mischeises that would ensue of the reiecting of this or receauing any other order gouernment administration might infinite and seuerall arguments be drawen to proue the absolute necessitie of the one the vâ—…ter inhibition vnfitnes of any other But heere now fitly commeth a certaine obiâ—…ction of the aforesaid D. R. S. â—…o be answered Saâ—…th he Yf that outward forme of discipline were of the essence of the Church then where that forme of discipline either was or is not there was and is no Church which is a grossâ—… absurditie My reasons are Samaria had not that forme of discipline but yt was a famous Church Actes 8. Antiochiâ—… had not that forme of discipline yet yt was a floorishing Church The greatest part of reformed Churches in Christendome haue not that forme of discipline yet they are accompted holie Churches of all but of the Papistes and 〈◊〉 What his Doctorhood meaneth by these disguised termes of the discipline essence of the Church I vnderstand noâ—… and therfore wil leaue them where I â—…ind them eschewing according to the Apostles rule such profane inanitie of words and oppositions of science falsly so called which somâ—… proâ—…essing haue erred about the faith But if he by these reasons suppose to haue impugned the necessitie and perpetuity of CHRISTS holie gouernment order wherinto the Apostles built all Churches and which they left vnto all Churches I shal then briefâ—…ly shew how far he faileth of that purpose and reasoneth quite to a new and diuers question and therfore can therby conclude nothing against this For our quâ—…stion heere is not whither the Church may not sometime vpon some necessities bâ—… without this order or some part therof for a season but whither the Church may receaue anie other forme of gouernment in stead of this So that if he had prooued that the Churches of Samaria and Antiochia had receaued anie other forme of gouernment and order then this Apostolick then had he in deed said somwhat although a particular instance or two may not take away or draw vs from a generall law and perpetuall rule But he trifling about the name of a Church quite forsaking the question would inser from the ambiguitie of the word that because a Church vpon some necessitieâ—… may for a season be without this 〈◊〉 ordâ—…r and gouernment therfore they may reiect this anâ—… take an other according to the pollicies of the time place How diuersly the church is read in the scriptures not heere to stand of the etymologie of the word ecclesia me thinkes this great diuine should not be ignorant how somâ—…times yt is read for all the Saints in heauen and in earth sometimes for all the Saints dispersed or gathered heere in the whole world somâ—…times for a companie of faithfull people ioined together in the 〈◊〉 coÌ„â—…union of the faith indeuoring to proceed into the order of CHRIST and in the same faithfully to walke together But coÌ„monly yt is taken for a companie of such faithful thus entered couenant established walking in due order according to the rules of Gods word of which kinde of Church we al this while reason For their church of England is not now vnestablished as Samaria and Antiochia were at these times he speaketh of but yt is established into an order ministerie and gouernment though according to the Popes cannons not according to the Testament of CHRIST So that he might as well haue reasoâ—…ed from anie of the othâ—…r readings of a Church and gained as much scilzt that becausè all the Saints in heaueÌ„ are called a Church yet they haue not Pastors Teachers c. therfore the Church of CHRIST may be established w tout these as also al the dispersed Saints are called a Church yet haue not this order gouernment therfore c. Samaria Antiochiâ—… at their first calling to the faith had not this established order and gouernment yet were held famous floorishing Churches therfore the Church may be established into an other forme of order and gouernment then that of CHRISTS Testament this if he conclude not he gaineth nothing this if he conclude I denie his Argument It followeth not because the Church is not alwaies thus established therfore yt ought not to be thus established The Churches of Samaria and Antiochia â—…either can be shewed to haue receiued anie other order or gouernment or to haue neglected this but the contrarie apeareth of Samâ—…ria Act. 9. 31. where Luke recordeth that the churches throughout al â—…udea Galile Samaria had peace being built proceeding in the feare of the Lord and were replenished with the comfort of the holy Ghost What thinketh D. S. now was not Samaria built established in this order vnles he can shew that the Apostles built the Churches in anie other order and then froÌ„ this place may he also conclude that the Churches in Iudea Galile were not thus built this scripture not secretly shewing that â—…oth they were all built alike that there was but one order of building amongst the Apostles in these wordes being edified or built Me thinks this place also sheweth some letts that sometime may hinder the Churches
frō this holy order namely the tyrannie of wicked magistrates who persecute the Church in such sort as they cannot safelie meete assemble to make choice of ministers or to exercise ◅nie ministerie But wee see the churches here vpō the first meanes neglected not either to attaine vnt◅ or exercise this order and that without staijng for the Magistrates p◅sion and were in so doing replenished with the comfort of the holy Ghost Neither yet appeareth h◅ere the certaine time when Sa◅aria was thus built It is not vnlike that yt was established into this order euen Actes 8. that he speaketh of when they receaued the gifts of the holy Ghost at Peter and Iohns being there who yt is to be iudged likewise rather helped to bestow those gifts in order to the edifijng of the whole then left them hauing fit gifts for these offices in disorder which had beene great sinne both in the Apostles in the Church of Sa◅aria The like also is to be thought of the Church at Antiochia Act. 11. they being called to the faith were a long time instructed by the Apostles Barnabas and Paule God so blessed their labours as that Church grew famous and many Prophets resorted thither from Ierusalem May we then by D. SOMES bare affirmation without any proofe affirme that this Church being so long excellently instructed by these famous men hauing so greatly profited in the faith knowledg of Christ aboue many other Churches which had this or◅er that they yet should thus long be kept from yt more thē any other Church being more fit then many yea thē any other Church at that time saue Ierusalem This were not only cōtrary to the practise of Paul Barnabas in al other churches but contrarie to the rules of Christs Testament But if we would stand vpon the point yt were not hard to proue that Antiochia was then established into order we see they there administred vnto the necessities of other Churches and sent Paul and Barnabas vpon this their busines which they hauing fulfilled returned back againe to Antiochia from whence by the whole Church they were at the commandemēt of the holy Ghost sent out with imposition of handes Afterward when they had planted and established manie Churches in Asia into this order they returned thither againe there remained a long time vntil they w◅re againe sent to Ierusalem about the question of Circumcision which being debated they with other famous men returned abode in the Church of Antiochia preaching teaching the Gospell with great ioy comfort and blessing Yet in none of these places we find mentioned that after Act. 11. they were established into this order but we see that there and in all these places they executed the duties and had the full power of a church established Therfore except we wil make the practise of the holy Ghost cōtrary vnto yt sel◅ we are not to doubt but this An◅iochia also was established in this order Doth not D. SOME then vnsufferably both falsifie and peruert these scriptures in affirming that these churches had not that established order amongst them concluding from their example that the Christian order and gouernment of Christs Testament is neither necessarie nor perpetuall But to conclude shut vp the point at once he bringeth the greatest pa rt of the reformed Churches of Christendome which haue not this christian order gouernment which he termeth forme of discipline yet are accompted holy Churches of al but Papists and Anab◅ptists Doth he not heere very learnedly proue the question by the question if his church be of God l◅t him approue yt by Gods word otherwise though he should fetch the Popes broade seale also from whome he borroweth this argument yt would not serue his turne With the estate of other Churches I am not acquainted and therfore will not meddle but how well this holy church of England is reformed you parly may perceaue by that which is aboue said and more euidently may if you measure yt by the rules of CHRISTS Testament according vnto which yt hath no one thing in due order or frame So that why either Papists or Anabaptists should denie yt I cannot see yt being an vncleane hould or prison of euerie vncleane bird of euerie fowle and hatefull Spirit except yt be as that kingdome diuided in yt self because yt consisteth of such iarring and disagreeing spirits Neither can I see how any that knoweth or wil be instructed what a true established Church of CHRIST is can anie longer mistake that adulterous Church of England that sitteth vpon all the confuse peopl◅ as vpon manie waters that is liker vnto Zennacheribs tumultuous campe then vnto the wel ordered and established Church of CHRIST which hath nothing cōmon with CHRISTS Church but the ve◅ie name only For the true Church of CHRIST we find vpon her all the markes of that harlot and of that Beast whose members image yoke she carieth and hath cast off Christ◅ yoke from her necke despising his word persecuting and murdering his seruants Wherfore vntill she bring vs either better Arguments or better fruits we are so far frō honoring her with the title of a Church as we are not abashed to rēder vnto her as she hath rendred vnto vs to double vnto her double according to her workes and in that cup wher◅n she hath mixed to mingle to her y e double So far are we from giuing that authoritie vnto her in this presumptuous sin as to draw an argument from or be induced to thinke by her example that because she casteth off CHRISTS yoke beareth Antichrists therfore the holy order ordinances of CHRIST for the building ministery gouernment of his Church is not perpetuall necessarie or alwaies expedient I grant that the true Church of Christ may sometimes vpon some necessities be without this holy order for a season as in the first gathering of the Saints especially now when we are not to expect anie such miraculous or extraordinarie giuing of Gods Spirit as was in the primitiue times whē we cannot sodenly either be made fit for these high offices or haue such perfect knowledg and probation ech of others giftes and co◅uersation as is required thervnto Also in time of persecution when the Church cannot peaceably meet either to chuse or exercise anie ministerie or that their chief and principall members be held from them in prisons or at such time as the chief Elders are taken away either by death or otherwise fall away In these and such like times the Church may for a season vpon necessitie so inforcing be without this established order but this is neither willinglie to neglect yt nor presumptuously to reiect yt Heerehence yt followeth not that this holie order is not alwaies necessarie because yt is not nor cannot be alwaies executed So they might conclude all Gods lawes not alwayes necessarie perpetuall or expedient because they are not or cannot be alwayes practised by vs.
the same are ◅ncurable without redresse these Balaamites these crooked disciples of M r. CALVIN bring from him the examples of the Churches of Corinth Galati◅ and A◅ia where were open wicked men as the incestuous person drunkardes gluttons extortioners wranglers wrong-doers prowd and ambitious persons sectaries heretikes c. as also sundrie abuses and corruptions in doctrine and in the administration of the sacrament c. yet they were by the iudgment of the holy Ghost notwithstanding al these sinners sinnes adiudged the holy churches of God neither were the faithfull commanded to refraine their communion Furthermore the Prophets and our sauiour CHRIST at such time as the estate of the Iewes temple was wholy corrupted forsooke not the Temple but resorted and communicated with the wicked people at their feastes and sacrifices Yea when the pollution and contagion was generall and incurable both in the people and priestes bec◅se saith their Author a godly conseience is not hurt by the vnworthines of any either minister or people nor yet their ministerie being the ordinance of GOD as their ceremonies sacrifices and praier with them c. the word and sacramentes with vs defiled but are pure wholsome vnto the vpright and faithfull receauers who may lift vp pure handes in a wicked assemblie neither ought for the wickednes of mē to ref◅se the holy ordinances of GOD seing yt is only CHRISTES office to purge the ba◅e-floore seuer the tares c. and belōgeth to no priuate men to examine others or the whole Church so much as for euerie one to examine his owne self to see y t he be good wheat least otherwi◅e he eate vnto his owne iudgment For the bread of the Lord the faithfull receauers therof are not made worse with the sinnes of others It is one thing in common bread and conuersation to flee the companie of vvicked men an other thing for hatred of them to forsake the fellowship of the Church These and such other poisoned blasphemous cauils they bring to iustifie and vphold their confused babylonish synagogues and al the abhominations they cōmit in them vvhich wind◅haken figleaues although I could in a word pluck frō them so lay their filthines naked namly by shewing that there can be no comparison betwixt the Church of Christ and their whorish idolatrous Church which hath not one part of a true church not one pinne naile nor hooke according to the true patterne or in due frame and so could set this their Author vpon whome they so much relie most sharply against them vvho in all these treatises is alwaies to be vnderstood of a Church rightly established and planted according to the Testamēt of Christ with such ministers such sacramentes as there are apointed c. thē which here amongst these his followers is nothing lesse as shall not be hard to shew in due place And therfore the Argumentes drawē from the Churches of Corinth Galatia c. euē by their Authors owne iudgment nothing serue their turne who are more like to DAN and BETHEL in the schismatical estate of the kingdome of Israel remaining stil in that great defection of Antichrist fortold of c. yet seing they haue taken the paines to fetch these Argumentes from ouer the sea and so ernestly vrge them let vs do them the fauour euen so far as we may with Christian patience to giue them the hearing THEIR FIRST Argument seemeth to be this THERE VVERE in the Churches of Corinth Galatia c. not only wicked persons but also sundrie errors abuses corruptions in doctrine administration yet they were stil iudged ◅he Churches of God and the faithful re◅rained not their cōmunion th◅rfore we ought not to leaue these their assemblies though the open wicked and many other enormities be there committed and suffered First as hath beene noted there is no comparison betweene these holy Churches of God which were truly gathered planted ordered and these their confused idolatrous assemblies Then here must be obserued that they in nothing can be compared vnto these C◅urches but in sinne error moreouer that the faultes of these Churches which were but of ignorance and frailty cannot be compared to the sinnes of these vnchristiā assemblies which are in presumption obstinacie disproued by others confessed yet continued of themselues Lastly here must be noted how corruptly they vnderstand vnsufferably pervert those scriptures where the apostle reprehendeth these sinnes in those churches c. exhorteth the whole church to repentance to redresse the thinges amisse that with sundrie seuere and apostolike threats vpon their ◅eglect or default therin But these mē take these places where the sinnes of these churches are thus sharply reprehended censured and would iustifie therby the receauing reteining nourishing al this profane rowt of people in the bosome of their churches as ◅lso al the abhominatiō idolatrie opē wilful breach of Gods lawes setting vp their owne antichristian divises pop◅sh cannons in stead therof c. would from hence conclude yt to be no more lawful for true Christians to remoue out of these assemblies in this estate then yt was for the faithful in the churches of Corinth Galatia c. to forsake those churches before their sinnes errors were either reproved or cēsured What more vnsufferable abuse of scriptnres can there be thē this to take those examples which were written to terrifie admodish stir vp all Churches posterities to eschew watch against and r◅dresse such sinnes transgressions to colour and cloke al sinne and iniquitie yea to take away from al Christi◅ns their libertie prower either to reproue censure or refraine the same These churches say they were iudged pronounced by the holy ghost the churches of God notwithstandi◅g these hainous sinnes amongst them Wel what then these and al other churches whiles they remaine in this life shal commit sundrie daily sinnes of ignorance frailtie c. therfore they may also commit presumtuous sinne y◅a remaine incorrigible obstinate in their sinnes and yet of vs be esteemed reuerenced as the true churches of God this they must proue or els they say nothing this these examples of these churches prove not For they cannot shew that euer t◅ey de◅pised the Apostles admonition or refused to redresse the thinges they were blamed of which if they should haue done houw could they be esteemed the church of God whiles they reiect the word breake the law despise correction yea even Godes grace mercie offred by stopping their eares hardening their heart refusing to repent c. What can the heathen doe more nay wh◅t doe they so much for they sinne in their ignorance these in the presumtion of their heart contempt And now in this estate what communion is to be held with them what fellowship may the childrē of God haue with such reb◅ls apostataes Can any glorious titles or name of a Church
they keep an holy feast abstaine from laâ—…our c. Moreouer by this Book are the priestes to administer their â—…cramentes by this Book to Church their women by this Book to â—…arry by this Book to visit housle the sick by this Book to burie the â—…ead by this Book to keâ—…p their Rogation to â—…ay certaine Psalmes and â—…raiers ouer the corne and grasse certayne gospels at croâ—…sewaies c. â—…his Booke is good at al assaies yt is the only Book of the world He 〈◊〉 can but orderly distinctly reade this Booke may get a liuing by 〈◊〉 It is no maruaile though they be sworne to and by this Booke â—…any great thinges might be said of this Book how yt was made by â—…ertayne learned Bishops afterward godly Martyres and how some â—…f the Martyres vsed part of yt as the Letany the night before 〈◊〉 suffered c. Well vvho translated yt vve vvill not contend For â—…e thing yt self yt is euident to be abstracted out of the Popes blasâ—…hemous MASSE-BOOK and how consonant yt is vnto the word of â—…od remaineth to be examined and shall through Gods grace by the â—…iscussing of some particular pointes though not of euerie singular erâ—…or for that were an endles labour apeare so shall neither the marâ—…yres vse coÌ„mend nor our dislike condemne but Gods word be Iudge â—…f all To let passe therfore what in times past this Book hath beene and â—…ow yt hath beene vsed either by the Pope or those Bishops vve find â—…t now to be the very ground worcke of their faith Church and miâ—…isterie in place to them of the vvord of God as from whence they â—…etch all their direction for all thinges yea herein aboue the word of â—…od in that from hence they fetch not only their rules wherby to doe â—…hinges but eueÌ„ the verie things themselues that they do as their Leiâ—…ourgies c. So far is this Book froÌ„ being subiect to the word of God as â—…t in al things ouerrulâ—…th the word of God dismeÌ„breth rendeth corâ—…upteth peruerteth abuseth yt to their stinted Mâ—…tteÌ„s Euensong to theiâ—… dayes fastes feastes c. yea the word of God mâ—…y not be taught buâ—… where this book hath first beene read and hath had the preeminence This booke in their Churches must haue the soueraintie yt may not be gainsaâ—…ed or controld or if yt be the word of God must giue plaâ—…e that priest called corâ—…m nobis lessoned and scholed if he wil not be conformable depriued of his priestdome if he be found stout or conâ—…macious theÌ„ is he cast into prison to coole him vnâ—…il his stomake comâ—… downe that he make sute vnto his Grace or some other L. Bishop hiâ—… Ordinarie and enter bonde to be conformable or silent Moreouer this booke in that yt standeth a publike prescript continued Leiturgy not as yet to come to the particulars or meddle with the blasphemous contentes therof but to speake generally of yt as if 〈◊〉 were the best that euer was deuised by mortal man yet in this place vse being brought into the Church yea or into any priâ—…ate house 〈◊〉 becometh a detestable idol standing for that yt is not in the Church oâ—… God consciences of men namely foâ—… holy spirituall and faithfuâ—… prayer yt being nothing lesse but rather abhominable and loth somâ—… sacrifice in the sight of God euen as a dead dogg Now vndâ—…r the law might neither any corrupt or any vnlawful sacrifice with any seene blemish be offred at the Altar nether any part of any beast â—…hough whilâ—… yt liued neuer so sufficient being slayne before yt be brought vnto 〈◊〉 Altar yt was abhomination vnto the Lord. Euerie sacrifice must be brought quick new vnto the Altar there be sâ—…ayne everie morning and euening how much more in this spiritual Temple of God wheâ—… the offringes are spiritual and God hath made al his seruantes Kings priestes to offer vp acceptable sacrifices vnto him through 〈◊〉 CHRIT who hath thervnto giueÌ„ them his holy spirit into their hearts to helpe their infirmitâ—…es and â—…each them to crie ABBA Father Hoâ—… much more hath he which ascended giueÌ„ graces to thoâ—…e his seruanâ—… whome he vseth in such high seruices to the repairing of the Sainâ—… the worke of the ministerie and the edification of the Church vnto whome God vseth theÌ„ as his mouth the Church againe on the othâ—… side vseth them as their mouth vnto the Lord. Shall we think thâ—… God hath any time left these his seruantes so singly furnished destitute of his grace that they cannot find words according to their necessities faith to expresse their wantes and desires but need thus to be taught line vnto line as children new weaned from the brestes what when to say how much to say and when to make an end to say thâ—… collect at at the beginning that at the end that before the tother afteâ—… this in the morning that at after noone c. How like children or raâ—…her like mas king fooles are these great clarkes dressed shew they nâ—… hereby that either they haue no faith or elâ—… are such infantes as 〈◊〉 haue more need to be fed theÌ„ to diuide the portioÌ„ vnto others Knoâ—… they trow we what praâ—…er or the spirit of God meaneth Praier I take 〈◊〉 be a confident demanding which faith maâ—…eth thoâ—…ow the holy 〈◊〉 â—…ccording to the wil oâ—… God for their present wantes estate c. How now can any read prescript stinted Leitouâ—…gie which was penned many yeares or daies before be said a powring forth of the heart vnto the Lord or those faithful requestes whâ—…ch are stirred vp in them by the holy Ghost according to their present waÌ„tes estate of their heartes or church vnlesse they can say that their heartes church stand in â—…he same estate now so still to their liues end shal continue without â—…ither further increase or decrease change or alteration as they did â—…hen yea that their childers children shal also so continue to whome â—…hey leaue and incommend this Leitourgie vnto the worldes end What 〈◊〉 strange estate is this that alwaies thus standeth at a stay The way of â—…he righteous Solomon saith shineth as the light that shineth more â—…nd more vnto the perfect day as on the contrarie the way of the â—…icked is as the darknes they know not wherin they shall fall Our Sauiour Christ saith that if we gather not we scatter The Apostle 〈◊〉 willeth the new borne babes to desire the sincere milke of the â—…ord that they may grow therby vntil they come to the measure of â—…he age of the fulnes of Christ saith the Apostle Paul Now then if â—…hey their church increase not in the measure of knowledg grace â—…olines c. yt is an infallible signe that they haue not the Spirit of God If thâ—…y do increase why
scripture comonly by them called the Lordes praier so â—…ighly abused ought not by Christians to be inioyned or vsed for or as â—… praier either publiquely or priuatly Our reasons are yt vvas not to â—…hat end instituted by our Sauiour CHRIT so much as to instruct vs to â—…ray and direct and assure vs in praier c. It was neuer so vsed by our â—…auiour his Apostles Churches who euer prayed according to their â—…resent wantes as the Spirit gaue vtterance The like rules beside â—…heir examples and practise they haue giuen vnto the Churches no where mentioning nor enioining this or any other scripture to be vsed â—…or their praier We cannot arriue nor comprehend the riches and depth of that praier without more particular explication and application That prayer expresseth not our particular wantes or estate of our heartes neither do we vnderstand those generall doctrines by the bare saying or reading yt ouer This scripture is not the grace of Gods spirit in vs It is not drawen out of the fountaine of our heartes It is not our wordes to God but his vnto vs c. It edifieth not the whole Congregation so that they may al mind one thing or say Amen Theâ—…fore and for all these reasons yt ought not and cannot be vsed of any christian either publiquely or priuatly as their praier as by many other reasons shall further apeare in the breef answere to this said Doctors Argumentes HIs first ArgumeÌ„t is thus from CHRISTS owne mouth CHRIST COMMAVNDETH CHRISTIANS to pray thus Our Father c. Therfore yt is lawful for Christians to pray so Wel said be it so a litle while be yt a commandement in these wordeâ—… when ye pray say c. It then being a commandement is of necessâ—…tie to be wholy said as yt is there sâ—…t downe and cannot be in our choice and will whether we wil say yt or no for the commandement is tied to al the wordes no commandement is in our libertie to do or leaue vndone but they that leaue yt vndone break that coÌ„mandement which coÌ„mandeth yt to be done Moreouer these wordes when ye pray are general extend to al times of our praier that whensoeuer we pray we must say those words there prescribed whensoeuer we faile â—…o to do we break this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t And thus by this Doctor his reason haue the Apostles Churches yea our Sauiour CHRIST faulted broken this coÌ„mandement so oft as he hath failed to vse these wordes in praier which wordes we can neuer find that either he or they haue vsed at any time in their praiers but that with other wordes they haue praied vve find euerie vvhere By this time you haue spunne a faire thred you haue made a goodly reason But yt is peraduenture my ignorance and want of learning that thus wrest that I vnderstand not for your Argument wil beare no such conclusion Your wordes I am sure I misaledg not CHRIST say you commandeth Christians to pray thus Our Father c. Therfore they may pray so This coÌ„mandement I trow extendeth to the veâ—…e wordes Our Father c. els your Argument maketh nothing for you or against vs. And if yt be a coÌ„mandement haue a relation to the wordes then I am sure the other conclusions wil follow as wel as this Therfore yt were better for your safety though not for your flâ—…shly credit to loose this ArgumeÌ„t then gaine this blasphemy that we consent together in this that the commandement heere stretcheth not to the wordes but rather to the doctrine sense For if yt should at all be vnderstood of those prescript wordes that the reading or saying of them might be our praier then must yt nâ—…edes be granted that this of al other were the most perfect praier both in that there is included in yt al other prayers euen whatsoeuer may lawfully of vs be asked oâ—… can of God be granted and also auoided al battologie vaine repetitions c. Wherfore yt being a praier to be vsed and the best of all praiers fitting all times occasions c. yt must needes follow of â—…ecessitie to be alwaies vsed because God is alwaies to be serued with 〈◊〉 best Yea yt must needes follow to be solely and only vsed none â—…ut that because all other praier should be but vaine babling yea open â—…mbition in putting our owne vnsufficient stuffe in the place of this â—…lsufficient praier For the best of our praiers actions are vnsufficiâ—…nt vnperfect as a stained cloth But this if yt be a praier cannot be â—…enied to be sufficient perfect and without staine THis Doctors second Argument is this EVERIE BRANCH OF THE Lords praier is a petition Therfore euerie branche is a praier For euerie meane â—…coller knoweth that the Argument followeth a specie ad genus affirmatiuè And if euerie branch be a praier then must the whole because they concerne the glorie of God our benefite needs be an excellent praier Virtus coniuncta fortior I haue before shewed how sundrie Psalmes this many other scripâ—…ures may be in some sense called praier or praiers because the Lord 〈◊〉 them by petitioÌ„ maner instructeth our weake faith how to pray vnâ—…o him how to frame our requestes our wordes how to lay hold of â—…se his promises c. Yet I haue further shewed why these scriptures â—…hus barely read or said cannot be said our praiers without further exâ—…lication application c. vnto our present needes and estates So that â—… r. Doctors learned reason followeth not for except he can proue yt â—…ur praier he saith nothing Now in that I graunt yt him by some coÌ„â—…ruction to be called a praier yt is to auoide contention about wordes â—…or els they would neuer leaue vrging the synonimie betwixt a petitioÌ„â—…nd a praier vvhich in all tongues signifie one thing Now then Mr. â—…octors reason in his owne sense is but thus much Euery branche â—…f the Lordes prayer is a prayer Therfore euerieÌ„ branch of the Lords â—…rayer is a prayer Need he to haue shewed his deep learning and hard â—…ogicall rules a specie ad genus affirmatiuè for this stout reason I would haue â—…hought he might haue learned to haue made as good a reason as this â—…t home and neuer haue trauailed to Cambridg for yt For if this reaâ—…on hould he may proue himself a learned a wise or an honest man â—…r the falsest and absurdest thing of the world It is so therfore yt is so vvould here know of his Docterhood vvhither praier or Petition â—…e the Genus and vvhich is the Species in this his logicall reason or if he â—…et yt alone and trouble not himself now any further with the matter seing he hath fethered his nest and hath got that he al this while waiâ—…ed for I am content for I am not greatly desirous to learne away this â—…is cunning To the matter in controuersie I denie that scripture which he
sometimes songe in meter on their festiuals their Epistles their Gospels the one to be read with the priestes face toward the weast the other with his face toward the east with their versicles one to be said by the priest the other by the parish clarke or people with their time◅ when to kneele when to sit when to stand when to cursy at the name of IESVS when to glorie their Lord at the beginning of their Gospel or at the end of their psalmes with their Collectes Anthemes this in their ordinary iournal that in their festiuals this at morne that a◅ euen c. With these grosseries follies yt is not my purpose to meddle the worke is to great for me if I should begin I should not know when to make an end Only Here by way of question I wold know of them where they learned thus to limit and apportion scripture this Chapter to be read on this day that vpon their next sunday this for the first lesson that for the second these on the morning that at euēsong I would moreouer know of thē where they learned to hew out dismember the scriptures in this maner to pluck them from the context with such violence without al ◅ense order or cause to make that their Gospel of the day more then any other Scripture of the new Testament or then a whole Chapter of one of the Euangelistes cōmonly read for their second lesson at their mattens to giue more honor to this shred al the people being bound to stand vp vpon their feet alowd to glorie God where they take their ease sit stil at the other say neuer a word vnto yt I would also know of them how their peeces of the prophecies became Epistles where they learned to make thus many Pistles Gospels I would also know of them where they learned to cannonize reade the APOCRYPHA writinges which swarme with vnsufferable forgeries lies and errors in the church if not of the MASSE-BOOK wherof in deed this their Portuise is a right graffe In the new Testamēt I am sure they find none of these customes they haue no presidēt there thus to distort abuse prophane dismember rend the holy Scriptures or to thrust them by stint limitation to daies times in this childish maner vpon the church neither to reade nor bring in the erroneous deuises of men into the church and set yt vp as the word of God Yet are these patches and shreddes euē y ◠very bad best partes of their seruice or worship euē the vnsufferable best vse they make of the Scriptures which they not only thus rend dismēber apportion stint limite this thus much on this day in the morning in this or that place of their morow masse c. But yet see how they abuse yt to more accursed idolatry and abhominaciō as to their idol feastes both Iewish and popish their fastes ◅f all sortes their holy daies All which because they celebrate so◅mnize in their Church yt shall not be amisse a litle by the light of the ◅ord to examine what kind of stuffe they are First therfore I will begin with the Iewi◅h feastes they stil retaine as ◅heir Easter Pentecost Of these solemnities feastes we reade Exod. ◅2 Leu. 23. Numb 28. Deut. 26. that they belonged were inioined to the ◅ewes vnder the law were meerly ceremonial ritual figuring Christs ◅erson belonging to the Leuitical ministerie such as appertaine not ◅nto neither are to be reteined in the church or ministerie of CHRIST ◅ithout the vtter losse of CHRIST and vtter denial of him to be as yet ◅ome in the flesh c. But heer peraduenture they will vse their Doc◅ors foresaid Catholike distinction viz. that they keep not these feasts daies after the Leuitical maner neither vnto those endes but rather ◅n the one to celebrate the resurrection of our Sauiour CHRIST in the ◅ther the glorious miracle of y e giuing the holy Ghost vnto the Apost◅es c. and this their seruice vpon these daies sheweth playnly Of ◅hese endes vses seruice at and of these feastes daies which are a ◅reat deale more abhominable then those of the Iewes hereafter for ◅ith al these floorishes cannot I be satisfied concerning the very feastes daies of Easter and whitsontide which still reteine the same names ◅ascha and Pentecostes the same times solemnities cessations the same so◅emne Sabothes or Sundaies y t the Iewes did keeping their Passouer ◅n the first month of the Iewes the first day more solemne then the rest ◅umbring seuē weekes iust after the same vnto their Pētecost whose first ◅day they keep in like maner Al these ceremonies the lawes places a◅boue alledged shew euidētly to be deriued from thē Iewes We find no ◅uch customes no such cōmandemēts in the new Testamēt We there ◅eade that if we obserue or be brought in bondage of such feastes daies c. we turne from Christ he profiteth vs nothing But they obserue ◅hese feastes of E◅ster Pētecost as our Sauiour Christ his Apostles did so haue warrant sufficient inough for that they do Is yt so Then ◅hey obserue their Easter wholly after the Iewish maner for so did our Sauiour CHRIST being made vnder the law But our Sauiour CHRIST ◅here instituted this feast to be kept that after an other maner as the ◅institution of the Supper declared how yt ought to be kept in the ministerie of the gospel I neuer found any such thing in the text Neither did the Apostles who deliuered as they had receaued euer giue any such cōmandment or tied the celebrating the Supper to y t feast that day as y ◠Church of England doth but left the day time to the libertie of the Church If yt be to be kept in y t maner thē is yt to be kept in y e night after supper If the feast day stil remaine then doth the Pasouer still remaine for both were alike by our Sauiour obserued at that time but if the Passouer be abrogate Christ our Passouer be offred for vs then is that feast day also abrogate and we to keep the feast euen al the daies of our life in sinceritie truth other obseruation of the day I neuer found in all the practise of the Apostles or Churches For the other feast of their Penticost they haue litle help from the second of the Acts for the Disciples assembling in that priuate maner could not be to keep that publike feast of their first fruites where they were to make publike ◅olemne offringes according to the law c. so much as according to the commandement of our Sauiour CHRIT to wait for the promise of the Father c. which not being as yet performed they could not keep that day as in cōmemoratiō of the great wonders the Lord thē shewed
hath D.R. SOME now to contend that the baptisme deliuered in the false Church should be a true seale of the couenant or what occasion hath Mr. PENRIES Proctor to denie that such as there receaued that baptisme are not touching the outward action baptised they must heere shew some sufficient discrepance betwixt these examples alledged out of the scriptures the estate of the present question or els with reuerence rest in the practise of the holy Ghost though neither they nor I be able to arriue to the wisdome therof As for D. SOME I see not what he can say vnles he either affirme y ◠circumcisiō in that apostacie of Israel to be a true seale of the couenant which if he doe then I oppose vnto him not only the through corruption of their estate but also the publike repudiation bil of diuorce which the Lord sent them by his Prophets or els he must in deed shew himself a worthy champion prefer his mother Church of Rome to the defected estate of Israel which if he doe then must we send to E◅dor to call vp Amasiah the priest of Bethel to debate the matter with him And vntil they meet I leaue vpō him the 17 Chapter of the Reuelation where the holy Ghost as liuely describing y t Citie Church of Rome in their scituation and collers as if he had named them calleth the one the Beast the other the Harlo◅ or great whore in that vision Now if she be an whore as I must beleeue God rather then D.S. then can she not be the spouse of CHRIST the true Church Then for the rest let Bethel Rome striue in hell for the preemin◅ce I haue nought to do to iudg them that are without But now M r. PENRIES aduocate D. SOME his aduersarie who hath chosen the much more reasonable extreme peraduenture wil not be so soone satisfied It is an hard matter to perswade sense where faith is wanting But I for this matter must hold him still hard to the places of scripture alledged so that he must shew me some sufficient difference b◅twixt these cases or els yeild vnto or reproue the holy Ghost If he put difference yt must be either in the estate of the place of the people or of the thinges deliuered and compared For the place though Israel were part of the promised land yet that could no way sanctifie the Israelites or better their state or defend them from the wrath of God due to their sinnes It was also accursed of God together with and for them deliuered into y ◠handes of the heathē as we reade Neither was yt euer more holy then Rome or any place where the Church of God was or is seing Gods blessing is eu◅r with his Church therfore y e place can put no difference For the people as they were somtimes Gods chosen peculiar people so were somtimes the people of the Church of Rome also both of them apostatate both in transgression though yt may be not in like depth yet both of them out of the fauour in the wrath of God It were in vaine to plead which of them were worse the best place out of the Church of God they shal◅ find ill inough Though I easilie yeild Rome or the fairest of her Daughters though yt be the Church of England to be w tout all comparison worse For the thing◅ deliuered compared both circumcision baptisme were seales annexed to the Lords couenant both signes and markes which all that were receaued into the communion of Gods seruantes ought to haue both signifijng a putting away the shame of Egip◅ a cutting washing away our original natural corruption our ingraffing into CHRISTS death resurrection both through with him of our dijng vnto sin liuing vnto righteousnes as also a verie putting on of CHRIST with the ful benefite of his merits passiō to the perfect redemptiō of our soules bodies ful appeasing of our consciences from the wrath of God the rigour of the law for all the sinnes that euer we haue cōmitted as fully assuredly as we our selues had fulfilled the law satisfied the wrath iustice of God c. what then should be the impediment why the outward baptisme deliuered in the false and apostaticall Church which I only properly count y ◠false Church as the outward circumcision deliuered in the false apostaticall Church should now more be denied this more then that Peraduenture yt will heere be alledged that the circumcision there was much more lawfully done better then this baptisme I will not stand vpon y t yt being nothing to our purpose I wil not stand vpon tearmes of better more lawful in cōparing thē one with an other It sufficeth me y t in comparing them vnto iudging them by the law of God neither of them are found either good or lawful For vnlawful yt was to administer circumcision vnto opē idolaters or apostataes or vnto their seed vntil they were renewed by faith repentance So is y◅ stil in baptisme the lawfulnes of circumcisiō or the holines of y e word of God doth not iustifie the action or the people where the one or the other are abused As in the false Church circumcision is good the word of God is most holy but to receaue circumcision or to heare the word of God in y e false Church is to apostatate from CHRITS to ioine to Gods enemies to forsake the true church He cānot haue fellowship with both at one time at what time he ioineth to the one he forsaketh the other Nothing done in y e false Church be it neuer so holy in shew is iustified either by them or to them but euē the calling vpō y ◠name of God the reading scriptures the administring baptisme c. is turned into sinne presumptiō profanatiō of Gods name ordinance vnto them whiles they remaine in their inquitie There was nothing in the false Church either in their maner of doing yt that made this circumcisiō receaued allowable or not to be repeted neither did the faith subsequent iustifie the action past of circumcision done to in the false Church It was the meere mercie of God y t pardoned and purged the sinne to the faithful penitent It was the wisdom of God the sin abuse of the action thus done receaued in y e false church being thus purged to reserue his owne ordinance not to reiterate y e action of circumcision They that giue a natural cause therof as of the impossibility of reiterating circumcision so put difference betweene circumcision baptisme the one being impossible to be done againe the other not so greatly erre in iudgment misse the point For both ◅he Apostle in expresse words sheweth experience in Chirurgeric confirmeth the same that circumcision may be gath◅red so
might be terate or defaced also as baptisme if that had beene found needful in the wisdome of the holy Ghost What say I then doe I any way iustisie this outward actioÌ„ of circumâ—…ision as yt is done in the false Church nothing lesse but coÌ„demne yt â—…ltogether as an hamous profanatioÌ„ of Gods holy ordinance yet when â—…t is purged by sincere repentance of al y e error therin abuse therof â—…t pleased God in pardoning the faults to reserue not to repeate the outward actioÌ„ which because yt was wrongly done yet caÌ„not therfore â—…e said not done at al. For we may and must put difference betwixt a â—…hing not rightly done a thing to be done or not done at al. For the â—…rrors faults of the baptisme being purged by repentance done away through the mercie of God the Lord now beholdeth the rest of â—…he action the thing which in pretence before they seemed to do as â—…is ordinance coÌ„mandemeÌ„t not from hencforth imputing y e faults â—…n doing yt being now repented pardoned done away either vnto y â— action or them so that â—…rom henceforth they looke more carefully to â—…he doing 〈◊〉 holy actioÌ„s according to the prescript wil of God making no willing transgression therin hereafter neither presenting or willingly suffering their childâ—…en to be presented in the false Church vnto their baptisme sor then they caÌ„not be said to haue truly repented yt That were to go back againe wallow them in their former apoâ—…tasie sinne to bring their old sinnes vpon their head But now seeing we iustifie not the action of Bâ—…ptisme as yt is done in thâ—… false Church by an vnlawful minister after an vnlawful maner yet the error euill doing therof being repented purged away doe not 〈◊〉 the outward action because yt cannot be said no action c. Peraduenture herevpon may be collected that such baptisme as is deliuered by an infidâ—…l which neuer had knowlâ—…dg oâ—… God in CHRIST being afterward repented of and sorrowed that their body hath beene guiltie of such profanatioÌ„ c. the outward baptisme may in like maner remaine not be repeted when they ioine vnto the true Church This may at no hand be brought to passe neither in deed doth yt herehence follow for easy yt is to put difference betwixt an infidel which neuer knew God in CHRIST and an Apostata which hath had knowledg of and still outwardly though corruptly proâ—…esseth God and CHRIST The one sort know not what the Church worship and sacramentes meane the other though corrupted in their knowledg yet carrie a shew of Church worship sacâ—…amentes ministerie yea hath them though corrupt adulterate so there is neither sequele nor coÌ„parison betwixt them For that which the heathen infidel should so prophanâ—… deliuer can no way be said any kind of sacrament either â—…ue or false because as is said they haue no kind of â—…hew of Church ministerie or sacramentes c. but the false Church hath al these to shew seeming true though in deed false So is yt easie to put a difference betwixt false adulterate baptisme and true baptisme which D.R.S. with all his diuinitie hath not as yet learned to do and also betwixt false adulterate baptisme no baptisme which these other learned priestes cannot as yet spie out For els would they neuer so grosly both denie the baptisme in the Church of Rome to be any baptisme concluding all the people that receaued yt altogether without outward baptisme yet being vnbaptised make yt a matter of no necessity to seeke outward baptisme because they notwithstanding al their writings still suppose yt to be true baptisme they there receaued so yt is needles that they should seek or receaue the outward baptisme and hauing the inward baptisme of Gods Spirit in their heartes they need not seeke the outward seale but proceed without yt vnto the other sacrament Also they hauing found comfort in that then they are safe inough though meÌ„ Angels yea though God himself in his word say yt is vnlawful vnsufferable yea damnable sacriledg both to them and the whole Church that administreth or ioineth vnto them in this action Yet if they haue found comfoâ—…t they may notwithstanding al this boldly resort thither againe where they haue beene thus banqueâ—…ted yea the parties finding this comfort in their soules at the receauing the supper though as is said expresly against Gods word which warranteth no such coÌ„fort vnto them in that actioÌ„ but condemneth yt flatly yea their estate sinne being shewed them in the word wherby their conscience is conuinced yet may they by this great Clerke of OXFORD his opinion hang vp the law of baptisme as an old cancelled record yea as popish traditioÌ„s that make nothing to saluation wherof they wil assure themselues though they wittingly breake Gods lawes remaine in the same transgression For say they men at the supper are not bidden to examine themselues what was done to them being infantes or what they did 90. oâ—… 50. yeres agoe c. Is this a strong reason to disproue the commandement of God touching the receauing outward baptisme or to come vnto the Table and supper of the Lord being vnbaptised yea to count these commandementes as ould worthles concealed recordes popish traditions c. or is yt not most high and vnsufferable blasphemie rather against CHRIST his ordinance Is this the accompt they make of the law of God or the comfort he taketh coÌ„tinual vse he maketh euen of that outward baptisme as an excellent instruction stay assurance of his faith not that I make baptisme the cause of saluation oâ—… think that none can be saued without yt But God hath made yt a most comfortable pledg seale of his loue help to our faith all the time that we liue in this mortal life euen to him most that hath receaued the greater measure of inward grace So far is yt from being at any time to any man a cancelled record that yt remaineth for euer a sacred iuuiolable law of special vse to them that haue receaued yt of necessity to al such as wil enter into the established church of CHRIST without which they canot be permitted to enter much lesse admitted to the Table of the Lord. It is no imaginarie comfort of ours caÌ„ take away or alter the irrefragable law of God though we be not biddeÌ„ to examine what was done to vs being infantes or to particulate euerie thing we haue done in our life yet are we to consider our estate before God shewed vs this mercie both of our natural corruptioÌ„ in general and our particular miserie being the seed of infidels idolaters such as were without the couenant such as presented offered vs to Sathan in the false Church we there in that adulterate baptisme receaued the pledg of God his assured wrath so euerie way y e
Church to the priest after this manner I euer tooke marriage for an ordinance action of the second Table and see not why they might not as well set vp the tables of the money changers or bring in any other ciuil busines or chaffaire as this into their church But see what these Balaamites wil not doe for gaine both make God a new diuised worship setting vp and bringing in their owne diuises and Burning incense therunto and holding the people in such blindnes and superstition as they beleeue not themselues to be rightly married except yt be done by a priest after the prescribed manner and the in the due seasons also namely in the forenoone at morning praier whē mattēs is done next before the communion as they call yt this not vpon any forbidden tydes as in the holy time of lent c. when men ought to fast without an especial licence from the sea of Can◅erburie which Popedome hath power both to restraine meates and marriage and ag◅ine to permit them vpon graue waighty considerations to such as wil pay roundly for the same THE PRIEST hath also in this their portuise a prescript forme of visiting the sicke with perfect instructions what to say at the first step into the sick man his house what when he commeth into the sick mans presence how vvithout any questioning of his estate whether he be asleepe or awake aliue or dead vvithout any wordes vnto the sick person the priest must doune vpō his mary bones desire God to forgiue the sick man his sinnes and also to forgiue the sinnes of his forefathers vvith his due number of Lord haue mercie vpon vs Christ haue ◅ercie vpon vs his Pater noster vvith his versicles and response or aides to this masse for the quick and the dead Which being ended he procedeth to his prescript exhortation vvhich because yt is almost a leafe long the priest to make short vvorke if the partie be passing away c. may cut off two partes of yt and say a creede then exhort him to temember his debtes and to make his wil and to giue to the poore which being done then by that special authoritie cōmitted to him by his lord Bishop to absolue the sick person of al his sinnes and so with a special psalme and his certaine of collectes to conclude the matter This is the ordinarie Visitatiō ouer besides that especial housell or Communion of the sick aboue spoken of And heere before we proceed further me thinkes there would be somthing said concerning this power of binding and loosing sinnes which the priestes of the Church of England and also of the Church of Rome challenge vnto themselues as incidēt to their office by vertue of some especial graunt and prerogatiue made vnto them aboue other Christians Which vnlesse they together with their holy Father the Pope should fetch frō the keies giuē to Pe◅er Math. 16. 19. or frō Iob. 20. 23 I neuer could heare of any euidēce they had to shew For y e first place I think they wil not say that the promise was made to Peter only for then yt should be contrarie to the second where the same power is giuen to more Besides that yt is an vsual doctrine in their pulpets to confute the Popes false vnderstāding of that place And for the place of Ihon I trow they cannot prooue this power there giuen only to the Apostles there being many disciples both men womē in the place I hope also that they are not so grosse to suppose this power giuen to the persons of men for then yt must haue died and ceased with the Apostles seing we reade not in al the Testament of any speciel or personal bequest made by them to any degree of men one more thē another and so they challenge yt by an old worthles title so much as to the truth and power of the word of God which word being beleeued and apprehended by faith looseth vs from al our sinnes through that blood of Christ our Lord which word also being reiected or transgressed bindeth our sinnes vnto the iudgment seate of Christ without repentance which word is bound sealed vp amongst Christs disciples Neither is yt giuen or committed vnto the ministe◅s of the Church only for then none could haue faith but ministers none ought to professe publish or stand for the maintenance of the faith but ministers But we see this power the word the faith committed to the whole Church and euerie member therof all being commanded to watch to publish defend and practise the Gospell to the vttermost of their power to admonish reprooue one another c. Now how should this be done but by the power of the word Moreouer our Sauiour Christ in sending forth the 70. gaue y e self same power vnto their word that he did vnto the 12. to such as receaued the Gospel peace with remissiō of sinnes to such as receaued yt not the shaking off the dust of the feet against them But yt wil peradventure be said that in as much as the ministerie of the word is chiefly committed vnto them therfore the power of binding loosing also To this I answere that I haue not learned in the word so to tye the power to the person of the man This power is not of man but of God The least in the Church hath as much power by this word of God to bind the sinne of the Pastor and vpon his repentance to pronounce cōfort peace vnto him as he hath to remit or bind the sinne of the least So that monstrous is their presumption that assume vnto themselues not only the power giuen vnto the whole Church as shall be shewed hereafter but vsurpe I wote not what peculiar power oboue all other to bind or remit sinnes yea to remit for wage the sinnes of euerie prophane glutton and wicked Atheist which will send for the priest at the howre of death to reade his Masse-booke ouer him c. LIKEVVISE ALSO as these Priests visit and houfel their sick by this booke so doe they in like maner burie their dead by the same booke The priest meeting the corps at the Church stile in white aray his ministring vesture with a solemne song or els reading alowde certayne of their fragmentes of scripture so carrie the corps either to the graue made in their holy cemitery hallowed Churchyard or els if he be a rich man carry his bodie into the Church Ech where his dirige trental is read ouer him after they haue takē off the holy couering cloth the linnen crosses wherwith the corps is dressed vntill yt come vnto the Churchyard or Church into that holy ground least sprights in the meane time should carrie yt away the priest there pronounceth that almightie God hath taken the soule of that their brother or sister vnto him be he heretike witch coniurer and desiring to meete
him he ◅hal want none of this funeral furniture to help him to heauē He shal for his money want neither priest to pray for him to preach ouer him to praise him to tell the people that his soule is assuredly with God because in deed ere while vpon shrift he forgaue him al his sinnes in the name of the Father the sonne of the holy Ghost peradu◅ture housled him also with the Sacrament Al this with mourners enough both men womē boies shal he not want for his money in Church of England to be his beades men to say a paternoster for his soule desire God to haue mercie vpon yt for their liueries doles which is had at their death though in his life time the poore might goe naked or starue for anie help and releife they found of him He would not then giue least he might need himself ere he died yea at his death he shall want no ringers that vvill for money ring a soule-peale on all the hallowed belles for his soule drink a carrowse for yt also But this you must note neither rich nor poore neither young nor old can get burial vvithout money in the church of England no peny no paternoster there but please y e priest then he will burie his brother pray for and ouer him whatsoeuer he be so far as his booke wil goe There are all thinges vaenal venial for money The priest will for money pardon al his offences by the authoritie committed vnto him he will for money marrye and burie both which are become solemne actions of this Church especial partes of the worship of God as you may perceaue by their seueral Leitourgies solemnities apointed to the same YET REMAINETH also an especial part of the priestes trade againe namely the Purification or as they call yt the Churching of women who after they haue beene safely deliuered of childbirth haue lie◅ in beene shut vp their moneth of daies accomplet then are they to repaire to Church to kneele downe in some place ◅igh the Communiō Table not to speake how she cōmeth wympeled muffeled accompanied with her wiues dare not look vpon the sunne nor skie vntil the priest haue put her in possessiō againe of them vnto whome thus placed in the Church commeth Sr. Priest straight waies standeth by her readeth ouer her a certayne Psalme viz. 121. assureth her that the sunne shal not burne her by day nor the moone by night saieth his Pater◅oster with the prescribed versicles and response with his Collect. And thē she hauing offred her accustomed offringes vnto him for his labour God speed her wel she is a woman on foot againe as holy as euer she was she may now put off her vailing kerchife looke her husband neighbours in the face againe Is not this excellent stuffe to be brought into and practised in the Church What can be a more apish imitation or rather a more ful reuiuing of the Iewish purification then this both in respect of the occasion as Childbirth the time of her keeping in and seperation from the congregation namly a ful moneth the occasion maner of her comming abroade vailed accompanied with her womē neighbours repairing to the Church kneeling downe to the priest vntil he haue said his certaine ouer her then her oblation vnto the priest for the same Is not all this absolutely Iewish though in deed the priestes part sauor more of poperie Seing therfore they will not haue yt a Iewish purificatiō let yt be a mixt actiō of Iudaisme poperie This trumperie is so grosse as yt deserueth no refutation but a doung forke to c◅st yt out Yf they be ashamed of the action why doe they vse yt if she be not defiled by childbirth why doe they seperate her why doe they clense her why may she not returne vnto the Church hauing recouered strength before her moneth be expired why may she not come a◅ter ◅er accustomed maner and giue God thankes for all his benefites mercies together with others why is she inioined to come y e priest to receaue her in this prescript manner why are the women held in a superstitious opinion that this action is necessarie why is yt a statute ordinance of their Church an especial part of their worship which who so neglect either priest or people are for their such defaults punished by the Commissarie or Ordinarie To conclude why should such solemne yea publike thankes to take yt at the fairest they can make it be giuen openly in the Church more for the safe deliuerance of these women being though a singuler benefite of God y◅t a thing natural ordinarie and common more then for sundrie other strange and marueilous deliuerances from sicknes manie dangers of death and perilles both by sea and land shewed by the mighty hand of God towardes men and women daily if there lay not some high misterie and diepe point of diuinitie in the matter why should euerie priuate and ordinarie benefite be made a publike action and dutie of the Church or why should womē haue this prerogatiue if yt be but bare thancksgiuing as they whē they are called to account for this would beare vs in hand why should if that be so the women be more churched vpon that occasion then when they haue escaped some great danger of drowning burning sword enemies or when they are recouered of some extreme sicknes and disease yea why should this solemne publike peculiar thankes be more giuen for the escaping of euil then for the receauing many singuler great benefites at Gods hand which they are content be they as manie as he wil to swallow vp in obliuion and neuer to trouble him nor themselues with the matter Thus whiles they seeke to eschew the golph of Iudaisme and superstitiō they runne themselues vpō y◅ shelues of the Massaliā heresie THVS HAVING summarily runne ouer the publike worship of the Church of England prescribed in their seruice booke rather by way of discouerie then of discourse I wil now passing ouer their superstitious customes in their seueral churches some vpō this day some vpon that Eaue according as they stand affected and deuote to this peculiar Sainct or that Angel for some special wonders great miracles shewed in these seueral places as largly appeareth in their legēd addresse my self to speake a litle of these their holy Synagogues or places of assemblie commonly called their parish Church wherunto al this rabble of worshippers resort at their apointed seasons to heare this diuine booke together with their learned priestes sermons c. And in the first beginning I feare me we shal fal into such a cōtroversie as cannot easily be decided namely whether the Pagans or papistes where the first founders of them Some of thē vvhich for their fame deserued to be chronicled are recorded to haue beene deuote vnto the Godds of the heathens like
the Bishops iniunctions and decrees of the high commission by which your Church is wholy oâ—…erruled vnto which your king Câ—…rist himself whiles he is amoÌ„gst you must be subiect or els there is no place for him CHRIST giueth lawes vnto his seruants ordereth al things in his Church according to his owne will but you giue lawes to your CHRIST set strange ordinances ouer his Church yea you haue not anie one thing there either in order or administratioÌ„ according to his Testament Againe CHRIST hath giuen ful power libertie to all and euerie one of his seruantes to put in pâ—…actise whatsoeuer he commandeth as also to reforme to reproue censure and cast out whatsoeuer is found to be coÌ„trarie repugnant vnto his word though al the powers in the earth or in hell withstand yt But the CHRIST these men preach you is vtterly without power to put any thing of his owne will in practise but is sold as a bondslaue to these antichristian Bishops and preachers his enemies He cannot by vertue of his owne word authoritie redresse any thing be yt neuer so heinous or enormous neither can he establish or bring in any thing that is wanting be yt neuer so necessarie important without humble sute and attendance vnto the high Court of parliament or vpon the high Court of commission Yf they reiect his sute though yt be by 30 yeâ—…es together and that in these two reasonable requests that they would remoue their heinous blasphemous idolatries from before his face and giue him leaue to rule them by his owne officâ—…rs lawes yet must this poore CHRIST with all his seruants euen the whole Church stil surcease the practise of the Gospel and continue vnder these abhominations yea if he anger his Lords the Bishops much he shalbe whipped with scorpions with new rods and this by the vniuersal consent of all his learned preachers in the laÌ„d who are at a ful point haue set yt downe as a resolute decree not to stir a foot forward vntil they haue the princes power the consent of parliament Then they will bring him in with horsemen and charets with belles bonefires How like you this your worthy King trow you that euer PILATE araied him worse when they clad him in purple put a scepter of a râ—…d in his hand a crowne of thornes vpoÌ„ his head bowed the knee before him hailed him a King yea wrytt him one in three languages Hebrew Greek 〈◊〉 or the chief priestes and phariseis when they bâ—…indfolded him buffâ—…d scourged him spatt in his face blasphemed him or the people that with one consent demanded him vnto the death preferred the seditious murtherer BARRABAS before him haled him to the crosse despighted reuiled him vpon the crosse A King he is without power a King without lawes a King without officers a King without subiectes yea a slaue he is made to euerie slaue He hath strange officers straunge lawes that he is not acquainted with set ouer him imposed vpon him whether he wil or â—…o which not only rule his heritage but ouerrule him aâ—…ter their owne lustes He is fashoned to the common welth not the coÌ„mon welth vnto him and in the Church he is but an idol king an idol Christ and hath not there so much honour giuen him as the players doe vnto their kinges vpon the stage And as for the priestly office he should execute amoÌ„gst theÌ„ therein they abuse him yet worse for a new ministerie they erect in stead of his parsons or mercenarie rouing preachers in stead of Pastors and faithful Teachers As for the other rable that serue in stead of Elders with their multitudes of attendants as also their other inferiour new found officers would fill a booke but to describe theÌ„ their offices Thus make they him a minister after an other order theÌ„ that which he hath set downe in his Testament then that wherunto he was annointed of his Father that with an othe that for euer They impose also vpon him a new ministration strange worship more displeasing vnto God then Nadabs fire theÌ„ Vzzahs altar euen al that idolatrous booke of that coÌ„mon seruice which he must wil he nil he administer in maner forme abouesaid Thus make they him a minifter of al their idolatries abhomination by him they offer vp vnto God all this their wil worship poperie superstition Moreouer they make him a mediatour of an other Testament then that of his owne binding him to this english masse booke and to al the iniunctions of the BB s. the high commission convocatioÌ„ house Finally they make him a priest a mediatour a sauiour to all the prophane atheistes idolators miscreantes wicked persons coniurers witches heretikes who not al being receaued into the bozome of their Church whomâ—… they blesse in his name with his peace to whome for mony they sell deliuer their sacraments and thus by al these waies they most impiously deny sacrilegiously defile y â— holy priesthood of Christ. What kind of prophecie he exerciseth amongst them may appeare by that which is already said They make him takâ—… vpon him the ministerie of Antichrist euen that the Pope left in the Land they wil not suffer nor receaue his ministerie which he hath in his Testament apointed for his Church They set lawes not only ouer him in this ministerie they apoint him but also ouer the Gospell yt self both by aportionating how much of his word shalbe read in what oder and time c. And this order being through the yeere and permanent they therby abrogate no small part of the Bible and take yt cleane away from the Church in that by their law they apoint what shalbe read for euer casting the rest quite out of the Church allowing yt no time or place to be publikely read They bring in also in stead therof diuers apocrypha writings and reade them in their Church in the place of canonical scriptures They reade also as part of their publike ministerie of their Church not only their abhominable seruice booke but the blasphemous iniunctions of their Bishops and are not ashamed to preach and publikely to expound in the Church their fond Apocripha Catâ—…chismes To coÌ„clude they mussell bridle vp their Christs mouth by publike law power forbidding him to teach any thing coÌ„trarie vnto or to find fault with any thing by publike authoritie established or to be established swearing him dayly to execute their iniunctioÌ„s thus ioining the Gospel to al the idolatrie abhominatioÌ„ blasphemie as you see to all the sinne iniquitie mischief of the land wherby they make Christ a false prophet an idolater a blasphemer and guiltie yea a ringleader to al this ill Thus you see what kind of Christ they teach you without poweâ—… holines truth what kind of Gospel
grosse mistaking peruerting this place of scripture I dismisse their Argument by denying the consequent therof That because the Spirit of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets y t is such as haue the gift of vtterance expounding scriptures ought principally especially to iudg of that exercise and to speake in that exercise as in way of prophecie Therfore the whole Church besides nor any member therof ought not to reproue and censure such errors as haue escaped the Prophets are reuealed vnto them And for this I insist in the former reasons expresse places of scripture alledged Very hard yt were that y t heauenly and most blessed exercise of prophecie which was instituted of God for the singular comfort general inlightning of the whole Church should through the pride and arrogancie of a few be turned to the vtter subuersion of the faith of the whole Church and the desolation therof For what part can there be pure where the doctrine is not sound or what can be more miserable then to see with others mens eies to beleeue vvith other mens hearts yea to be brought into that slauerie and subiection that they must receaue and beleeue whatsoeuer the prophets or ministers speake and agree vpon be yt neuer so dissonant and repugnant to the word of God This were right after the manner of the Atheists of these daies to hire into their parish a learned preacher though al the rest of the parish be neuer so blind prophane wretched yet where this burning lampe is they are all in happy state and safe inough because they haue the Gospell preached amongst them they are a famous Church But our Sauiour Christ his Apostles submitted their ministerie doctrine to the trial censure and iudgment of al by the scriptures yea most commended and reioiced in these hearers that were most diligent to examine and try their doctrine And I would faine know what iniurie yt were vnto any if the Church stil reteined that libertie not disturbing the holy order therof But these priestes they will not only not submit their persons doctrine to the censure of the Church where they administer for they must haue a iurie of clarkes a Classis of Priestes to goe vpon them but they bind their poore Church to their lipps and build yt vpon themselues and vvith their blazing light strike al y e r est of their hearers followers sta◅ke blind Now let me returne to this place of the Corinths which they so falsely interpret miserably misuse and most perniciously peruert The prophets they giue out to be vnderstood of such ministers only as haue the gift of preaching as they call yt holding yt lawful for none els to speake of the scriptures by way of interpretation and prophecie especially to expound them in the Church or Congregation This exercise spoken of heere by the Apostle they say is vnders◅ood of such propheticall ministers only is instituted only for such and belongeth only vnto such The place of such exercise they terme a schoole or colledg of prophets Heerupon they abuse this heauenly glorious exercise in that they shut yt vp amongst a few of them shut out the people from yt vtterly making yt like OSYRIS mysteries Besides that they heere amongst themselues vnsufferably corrupt all the scriptures they intreate of by their Rhetorical figures deuisions demonstrations humane traditional writings wherin all their vniuersitie learning consisteth This place they most pernitiously peruert in that from hence they deriue their Prophetical Conuenticles and Classical Synods assuming heerby into their owne hands the key of al knowledg and shutting vp the scripturs yea all Gods graces euē the holy Ghost yt self amongst thēselues in these their schooles of prophets as also into their Classes of select priests the sc◅pter of Christ and absolute gouernment of al churches to whome yt is left but to receaue execute the reuerēt decrees of this famous Classes of priestes And now let this ◅cripture wherupō they build al this stuffe be duly searched pondered you shall find yt in all these things direct flat against them First that the prophets there spoken of by the Apostle that are to speake in and iudg of this exercise were not only ministers is gathered by the whole scope of the chapter where euerie brother is incited to emulate spiritual gifts the rather that they might prophecie and helpe to edifie the Church this gift by manie reasons being preferred to all other gifts prooued far most excellēt both in yt self to others c. Moreouer in this exercise of prophecie which was instituted for the instruction and comfort of all the Apostle saith that Three Prophe◅s may speake in due order one after an other at one time y e others are to iudg c. Three ministers I am sure in any one church there cannot be that by office are to attēd vnto the ministratiō of the word The pastor the Teacher are the only offices that I now know appointed to the ministerie of the word therfore euen by this place more besides the ministers of the Church may speake in the way yea in this publike exercise of prophecie Neither ought this to seeme strange in the eares of anie that knowe what belongeth to the exercise of prophecie or order of the Church It is no other thing thē Christ hath instituted the Apostles euerie where taught and that by most sensible reasons For as the bodie consisteth of manie members al the members haue not one office c so the members of the Church being diuers hauing receaued diuers gifts are according vnto the grace that is giuē to euerie one to serue the Church or rather y e Lord with the same as good disposers of the manifold grace of God If they haue the gift of prophecie then are they to exercise yt according to the proportion of faith speaking as the wordes of God alwaies keeping themselues within the bound of sobrietie truth who so doth otherwise is subiect to censure reproofe We see the practise heerof not only in Corinth but in Antiochia Rome no doubt by the same rule in other churches In Anti◅chia we reade of sūdrie prophets teachers Barnabas Symeō Lucius Mana◅en Paul Act. 13. 1. 15. 32. of Iudas Silas that exhorted taught in that Church That there were sundrie also that taught in Rome appeareth Philip. 1. 14. 15 ◅ Neither hath this beene strange euen vnder the law we see God chose his prophets of al tribes whose doctrine was to be tried by Gods word Their prophecies of future things by the euent we see our Sauiour Christ his Apostles disciples did the like throughout al the cities synagogues of the Iewes Yf vnto this yt be answered that our sauiour Christ was Lord of the law of the
to vse their libertie to the edification not the confusion of the Church for God is not the author of disorder but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saintes They then that thus preâ—…mptuously either innouate or abuse this blessed ordinaÌ„ce of CHRIST find fault with controule the commandements of God and charge God with confusion who is the author of this exercise order libertie But D. SOME hath by the priuiledg of the Church of EnglaÌ„d published yt vtterly vnlawful for any that is not a minister to deale with the interpretation of scriptures what giftes soeuer God hath giueÌ„ him thervnto and saith these absurdities would ensue therof that woâ—… may then also preach in the Church that those men that thus speake in way of prophecie vsurpe the ministers office with Corath offer vzziahs incense may also by this meanes enter into the Councel chamber and intrude into the ciuil magistrates office for to giue councel also is euerie Christians dutie c. What can be more blasphemously reprochfullie repugnant to the word order of CHRIST who you see is the author of this exercise in this maner hath for euer left yt as a coÌ„mandemeÌ„t vnto al churches For saith the Apostle vers 37. If any man seeme to be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledg what I write vnto you because they are the commandements of God c. But if anie man be ignorant let him bâ—… ignorant Therfore my brethren couet ye to prophecie and to speake with tongues forbid not Let al things be done comely and according to order For D. SOMES first absurditie womeÌ„ are expresly forbidden to speake by way or in the exercise of this prophâ—… in the Church vers 34. 35. So then this is but a reproch of his owne absurd brayne to bring thâ—… truth into slaunder That such as speake in this exercise of prophecie doe not anie way vsurpe the ministers office hath beene largly shewed by the discourâ—… of this whole Chapter Neither hath he brought any peece of a reason to proue that only ministers ought to speake of the scriptures in â—…he Church For his third impiâ—…us odious calumniation that such as presume to speake in the Church not being ministers may as well intrude into the Councel chamber magistrats 〈◊〉 yt is in yt felf so false foolish absurd as yt deserâ—…eth none answere It is but the venome of his serpâ—…â—…ongue the Addâ—… poison that is vnder his lipps wherâ—…y he seeketh to draw the truth of CHRIST and the professors therof into hatred He might as wel say that because CHRIST hath made vs all Kings Priests vnto him therfore we will heere vsurpe the ciuill magistrats and ecclesiastical ministers office These are but the malicious collections vaine conclusions of his idle head graceles heart thus to blaspheme the holy ordinances of CHRIST to call yt Anabaptistical the deprauing of the holy scriptures abusing of the auditors disturbing both of Church common welth calling such Christian assemblies as practise this coÌ„mandement 〈◊〉 conuenticles although he neuer in his life was present at any of their exercises nor is able to charge any one of them with any one 〈◊〉 error as they by his owne mouth are able to charge him all this antichristian ministerie of England which exercise a ministerie without a lawfull calling thervnto by vertue of their inward calling which is their learning sufficiencie as though CHRIST did not know the end vse measure of the gifts he hath giuen them In the Church of CHRIST there are none suffered to speake by way of prophecie but such as haue the gift of prophecie and to forbid such to â—…peake were to stop vp the conductes springs of the Church or rather of Gods graces wherby the Church should be watered and refreshed so far is this exercise from dâ—…prauing the scriptures or abusing the auditorie The rest of his vituperie he hath layd vpon CHRIST the author of this exercise and to him shall answere for the same at that day of reckoning accompt Yf none but Ministers may speake publikly in the Church by way of prophecie how should the people haue trial of the gifts of any how should any ministers in this generall apostaciâ—… and departure be râ—…stored yea how should there euer be any other then now are For if the people may not heare their gifts how should they iudg them â—…f they may not vtter their gifts how should the people heare them Heere I shall by both sorts of our priestes aswell Pontifical as 〈◊〉 be answered that the law is not so generall but that there are exceptions vnto the same The Pontificall will alledg That their mother the Vniuersitie their father the Bishop haue authoritie to giue liceÌ„ce to preach in any Church whersoeuer they become before thâ—…y be either full ministers or haue any office as the engliâ—…h Deacon or half priestes the cathedral Prebends the commoÌ„ Curates or rouing Preachers AmoÌ„gst which you must note a double mysterie Some of them are full ministers without either certayne chaâ—…ge place or office Others haue a certayne yea a pastors charge and office and yet are not full ministers of which sect are the Prebendes ciuil Doctors who may haue parsonages and yet be no ministers The Reformists they wil likewise answere me that their mother the Vniuersitie she hath power to giue leaâ—…e to preach vniuersally through all Churches and also the Select Clâ—…ssis yea peraduenture this schoole of Prophets asâ—…embled haue power to admit some one pickâ—…d maÌ„ to their mysteries which is no priest to giue him leaue to speake amongst them yet hereof I doubt and therfore wil not stand and thus may the people by both sides haue triall of their gifts Great reason that they which maâ—…e the law should also make and take â—…xceptions at their pleasure But wel what booteth this trial that they allow the people when neither of them giue the pâ—…ople liberty to iudg or reproue their doctrine when both sides both Bishops and this new Classis take vpon them to make ministers without the people without any charge place or office certayne But let this matter rest I would know of both or any of them what this their mother they so much boast of is where she had this high authority aboue other women Hâ—… they wil with one voice answere that the Vniuersities are the seminaries of religion of the ministerie of the land the schooles and colledges of learning wherin the sonnes of the Prophets are trained vp as they were in Naiotâ—… in Bethâ—…l Iericho Ierusalem Coriâ—…th If the â—…ree be knowen by the fruite the Cockatriâ—…e by the poisoned egges the Viper by the spawne thâ—… nest by the birdes then let the religion and priestes of the land shew what kind of seminaries colledges these Vniuersities are If these be the bâ—…st fiuite and famousest men that are instructed in nothing but to
personages are wholy exempt from them The other sect of these Priests the counterfait Reformists they also would exclude the Church from this al other ecclesiastical ceÌ„sures assuming theÌ„ wholy into their owne haÌ„ds either into the Priests haÌ„ds with his silly presbitery or eldership which he ouerruleth at his pleasure in euerie particular congregation or els into their synodes and councels which haue power ouer al churches euery meÌ„ber actioÌ„ theâ—…of to excommunicate absolue to make and depose to ordeine abrogate without the pâ—…iuitie coÌ„sent of the Churches other theÌ„ of their Preachers or Priests Thus both sides subuert the libertie of the Church peruert the ordinance of Christ the one sort by corrupting the other by vtterlie reiecting the vnpartial vse of true excoÌ„municatioÌ„ by euerie ChristiaÌ„ coÌ„gregation according to the rules of Chriâ—…s Testament as intollerable a mischiefe to this common welth We haue aboue larglie prooued the necessitie stabilitie perpetuitie of that order and gouernment which Chriâ—… in his Testament hath set downe for the building direction of his Church By manie places of scripture reasons we haue shewed how that order gouernmeÌ„t onlie best accordeth and fitteth to the Church of Christ in al places times whatsoeuer and how the Church can neither receaue other orders and lawes or change these which Christ hath giueÌ„ without casâ—…ing off CHRISTS yoke disanâ—…lling his Testament CHRISTS Testament and Church being for euer in all places one and the same We haue also 〈◊〉 places of this preseÌ„t writing shewed how CHRIST hath giuen vnto his Church his spirituall power and authoritie with the sharpe two edged sword that proceedeth out of his mouth to cut off all transgrâ—…ssion and error as also all trespassers and heretikes that remaine obstinate and impenitent in their sinne and hath giuen them straight coÌ„mandement vigilantly vnpaâ—…tially to vse the same sword and power vnto the worldes end The necessitie of which power though yt were not confirmed by so manie direct and expresse places of scripture yet might yt to aâ—… men appeare in that without the same they caÌ„ neither receaue CHRIST who is neuer seuered froÌ„ his power neither can they keepe sound anie communion when they hâ—…ue not the power to â—…ast out seperate the plaguy leprous from amongst them Moreouer we haue shewed how this power of excoÌ„munication election ordination c. is not committed into the hands of one particular person as the Pope and his natural children our Lord Bâ—…hops now vse yt nor yet into the hands of the eldership only or of the Pastors of many particular congregations as the reforming preachers would haue yt so much as yt is giuen committed to the whole Church euen to euery particular congregation and to euery member therof alike To which holy spiritual power of CHRIST euery member of the Church seruant of Christ must be subiect alike without exception or exemption of person How contrary then vnto God preiudiciall vnto his Church is the blasphemy pride of those meÌ„ which thus presumpâ—…uously opeÌ„ their mouthes against heaueÌ„ all the ordinances of God pronouncing this spiritual heauenly censure of excoÌ„municatioÌ„ duly executed by the church according to the wil coÌ„mandement of Christ as the only meanes for the preseruation of the whole Church and of the parties so excommunicate to be intollerable in a christian realme preiudiciall to Princes and Magistrates yea that popiâ—…hly assume this sword of CHRIST this power of his Church into their owne hands and therwith of their owne sole authority smite some exempt others as they lust themselues whose monstrous enormous abuse of this heauenly ordinance caÌ„not by the pen or mouth of any be so liuely discribed as yt is with great letters to the view of all men ingraued and exposed in the daily practise of their Commissaries courtes the court of high coÌ„mission c. But that all the pretextes of this their odious blasphemy and pride may at once be plucked from them let me in a word or two by expresse scriptures shew what true excommunication is by whome vpon whome and how yt is to be executed We reade 1 Cor. 5. Titus 3. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Excommunication to be an vtter disfranchizing and publike cuâ—…ting off of all conuinced obstinate offendors from all interest in CHRIST all coÌ„munion with his Church in the open congregation We reade in the said 1 Cor. 5. as also Math. 18. 17. Math. 28. 20. Rom. 16. â—…7 2 Thess. 3 6. 14. the power execution of this censure of excoÌ„munication to be coÌ„mitted to the whole Church else why should the Apostle charge blame the whole Church for y â— neglect therof and command the whole Church to execute yt why should our Sauiour CHRIST command his disciples to admonish their brâ—…thteÌ„ wheÌ„ they offend and if they repent not to complaine vnto the church He sendeth them not heere vnto the Pastor to complaine vnto him nor vnto the Bishop high commission Presbutry Synode or Councel to coÌ„plaine vnto them for redresse neither yet comitteth he here or in any other place of scripture this action vnto them or commandeth them as by vertue of their office to do yt But as may euidently appeare in these and sundry other places of scripture both this publike casting out receauing in of any member is committed and belongeth vnto the whole Church euerie member therof iointly together is not especiallie or solely committed to anie one or anie some of them anie more then vnto al the rest We see also the Pastor al the teachers other members of the Church subiect vnto this censure yea the church where these members make such offence is to proceed against them to auoide them to excommunicate them Read for further proofe of this Gal 1. 8. 9. 2 Ioh. 9. â—… 1 Tim. 6. 3. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 17. 3. 5. Coloss. 4. 17. Phillip 3. 2. 17. 18. 19. So that although y e church performe this action by the Pastor as a member most fiâ—… thâ—…r vnto yet neither the Pastor gayneth nor the Church looseth anie right or interest in this action heerby because we see euidently the church hath power to doe this action without a Pastor yea against their Pastor The maner of thiâ—… excommunication we in the said 5 of y e 1 Corinth find to be done in the publike congregation where the whole church is assembled not in anie courtes or Bishops howses in the name power of our Lord Iesus Christ not in the name and power of a Lord Bishop or arch Bishop in the vsuall tongue of that congregation as yt may best edifie and not in the romane tongue after their popish maner in forme of a writ This ceÌ„sure is not done before y e fault be publikely knowne either in the first committing of yt or els by processe for contemning admonition neither
place and office of CHRIST shewing himself in the Church of God as God by changing the lawes and Testament of CHRIST and by bringing in new ordinances new ministery worship c. Reuel 13. Reu. 17. 12. 13. 14. 17. how Antichrist being thus exalted the Dragon should giue him his power his throne his great authority as also the Kings of the earth yea such Kings as had before burnt the whore with fire should giue vnto the Beast their power authority wherwith he should fight with the Lamb make wa◅ with the Saints opening his mouth vnto blasphemy against God and his tabernacle and them that d◅ell therin setting vp his blasphemous image in all pl◅ces c. Now as we haue by the light of Gods word in this litle y t hath beene s◅ied euidently found seene these Bi◅hops their courtes gouernment to be wholy antichristian vtterly vnlawfull but especially this their high court of Cōmissiō to be most blasphemous y e very throne of the Beast vtterly cōmingling cōfounding subuerting al Gods ord◅nances all estates and offices both of Church cōmon welth the whole liberty of Christians the power duties of the church so likewise if we by the same rules but as lightly examine measure the secret classes the ordinary set Synodes councels of ministers as they terme them selues which these Reformists now priuily bring in and would openly set vp they shall no doubt be found as new strange and antichristiā as preiudicial to the liberty of the Saints to the power right and duties of the whole Church and as contrary to the Gospell of our Lord IESVS CHRIST as these other what shew soeuer of former antiquity or of present necessity they may pretend And this if they be compared in the persons assembled and causes for which they are assembled and which they handle in the se◅ continued times place of their meeting in their order maner of proceeding iudgment in t◅eir decrees power vnto that perfect patterne of all christian councelles Act. 15. will forthwith appeare The persons assembled in these councels are only ministers al other Christians being shut out and allowed neither place voice or consent among them The causes for which they are assembled and which they handle not being doubtes or questions which arise in the Churches but al the affaires offices and duties of the Church that without making the Churches priuy wherfore they assemble or what they will t◅ere handle The time place of these councels they without the wil priuity of the Churches make setled continual permanent not leauing to the Church either the liberty when and where to keepe these councels or whome to vse in these councels The order maner of their proceeding and iudgment is first to choose erect amongst thē a Prolocutor Moderator or Iudg to gouerne order this action who whē they shall speake and when they shall cease c. where the matters being debated the greater part preuaileth and carri◅th the iudgment Their decrees are per◅mptory irreuocable most holy inviolable to be receaued embraced of all Churches without contradiction or scruple no power left to any Church to examine refuse or reuerse the same be they found neu◅r so contrary to Gods word but only either by the same councell or by act of Parliament in the meane while they all must practise obey these decrees The power of these councels is ouer all Churches persons causes doctrines to giue the right hād of fellowship as they terme yt or to send the bill of diuorce to ratifie or rei◅ct whome what they will This councel also executeth al the censures duties of the church as to make or depose ministers to censure excōmunicate c. To conclude as all these councels haue exercise power iurisdiction ouer the ch◅rch so are they in authority one aboue an other as the Synode aboue the Classes the Councell aboue the Synode to confirme abrogate or disanul whatsoeuer constitutions or actions the other ha◅h made Yea as some report vpon the e◅ormities abuse◅ y t did arise in these coūcels assemblies of Bishops were deuised erected these new strange orders degrees of Bishops Arch-bishops Patriarches Popes and all their substitutes courtes From which strange councels offices ministery courtes haue flowed forth and daily spring all these strange popish ◅ntichristian orders decrees innumerable diuises traditions daily innouations continuall changes in the worship of God all the proceedings of the Church of the whole Testament of CHRIST whiles men re◅t not in the wisdome councels of God but presume to be wise aboue that they ought to be wise some attributing vnto their Clergye as they call them others to the Prince others to the Church more then inough none yeilding vnto CHRIST that which is his due namely to suffer him to gouerne his whole Church by such officers and lawes as he hath in his Testament prescribed but rather in the presumption of their owne hearts they will set ouer him his Church such lawes officers or at the least assigne vnto him such lawes offi◅ers as they thinke best to accord and iudg most meet for their pollicie as though CHRIST could be a minister or mediatour of any other Testament thē of his owne or that any mortal men may alter change neglect or re◅ect CHRIS◅S Testament without his fearfull wrath heauy indignation for the same Wherfore seeing the whole church al the proceedings therof must be built vpon CHRISTS Testament seing euery ◅oule and euery action shalbe iudged by CHRISTS Testament seing nothing is pleasing vnto God or wil stand before the face of CHRIST that is found disagreeing to CHRISTS Testament seing also euē by this litle search superficiall view we haue takē of the present estate and pretended reformation of this their church of England all things appeare to be out of frame stil in the olde corruption and at the best but enclining to the primitiue ancient defections from CHRISTS Testament nothing being aright or according to the will of God amongst them seing we find all those scriptures that haue foreshewed of An◅ichrist his proceedings liuely fulfilled amongst them al the markes of that painted deccitful harlot the false malignant Church to be fownde vpon them as also all t◅e vials of Gods wrathfull iudgments to be powred forth vpon them and al their doings Finally seing God vouch◅afeth both to discouer and to call al men forth out of Babilon by proclaiming of his glorious Gospel and yet offr◅th more grace before he let fal the heauy milstone of his finall indignation vpon them al to grind them to dust and to presse them to the bottome of hel b◅ing ready to receaue all that come forth vnto him to esteeme guide and defend them as his deare children It behooueth al such in whome in any care of their owne saluation
the filthie do filthilie yet and let the iust do iustice yet and let the holie be sanctified yet Behold I come shortlie and my revvard with me to render vnto euerie one according as his worke shalbe Apoc. 22. 11. 12. SEing we haue receaued a most sure word of the Lord our GOD It behoueth vs to geue heede thervnto as vnto a light that shineth in darke places whiles we trauell in the dangerous wildernes of this world In which word the whole wisdome and conncells of GOD for our direction and instruction in all thinges are fully reuealed vnto vs. So that now we are not to say in our heartes who shall goe vp for vs to heauen and bring yt vs or who shall goe ouer the sea bring yt vs cause vs to heare yt that we may obey yt For loe yt is neere vs euen in our mouth in our heart and set before our eies for to do yt the sound of the Gospell hauing beene long since caried forth through al the Regions of the whole earth So that no nation â—…halbe excused which will not serue obey vnto the Gospell of our Lord IESVS CHRIST which being proclaimed with his owne blessed mouth sealed with his owne heart blood writteÌ„ with the pen of the holy Ghost deliuered incommended by his holy Apostles Prophets vnto vs all posterities as his last wil Testament wherunto nothing may be added nothing diminished aâ—…tered or changed violate or wilfully neglected according to fleshly wisdome or vvorldly pollicie without most heinous transgression sacriledge and impietie For as all degrees of men without respect or exception of any person are bound vnto the same as vnto the Scepter of our soueraigne Lord IESVS CHRIST who is King ouer all blessed for euer Amen so shall all men in particular be iudged by the same of all things done in this mortall life Neither hath any Angel in heauen any mortall man no nor the whole Church power or prerogatiue to alter or neglect the least iote or title therof But GOD hath especially coÌ„mitted these holy oracles to the carefâ—…l custody of the Church there to be inuiolably preserued as in the side of the Arke purely taught expounded deliuered without corrupting mixing hiding obscuring peruerting wresting there to be precisely obserued with all reuerence and feare without any willing or knoweÌ„ transgression or swaruing either to the right hand or to the left of the whole Church or any member therof And heervnto is the whole Church and euerie particular member therof both iointly and seuerally bound both because they haue all of them interest in the tree and riuer of life all are bound to the maintenance of the faith which is giuen is coÌ„mon to al Sainctes and because they are all of them the members of CHRIST and togeather his bodie each others meÌ„bers in him Therfore are they so often by the Apostles charged stirred vp to exhort edifie and admoniâ—…h one an other to staÌ„d vpoÌ„ the watch-towre of their faith to scowte and obserue them diligently which cause diuisions offences coÌ„trarie to the doctrine which they haue learned to trie the spirites to examine the doctrine whether any man teach otherwise coÌ„sent not vnto the wholsome wordes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST to the doctrine which is according to godlines Many waightie and graue reasons are added to induce them to be the more vigilant 〈◊〉 the doctrine being likened to the light of the eies to the food yea to the life of the foule as also error corruptioÌ„ resembled to daâ—…knes leauen poison c. Moreouer such teachers to false and deceitful workmeÌ„ blind vnfaithful guides to greeuous rauening wolues to thieues murtherers c. what counterfeit titles â—…heepes clothing soeuer they take and get ynto them yet the holy Ghost speakes euidently euerie where warneth that these builders shal destroie the Temple of God vvhose howse and workâ—… vve are c. these guides shall seduce mislead vs in the waies of death destruction these thieues and vvolues shal spoile murther vs. Now by how much these goods are spiritual this death of the soule by so much are they more carefully to be auoided shuÌ„ned eschewed Therfore our sauiour CHRIST his Apostles as they were most vigilant faithful ministers did both preuent and foresee diuers dangers great euils to come so gaue they verie earnest and often warnings hereof vnto the disciples vnto the Churches coÌ„manding the porter yea euerie seruant of the house to watch to beware to take heed shewing them that manie false CHRISTES should arise many false prophets shewing great signes woÌ„ders wherby to deceaue if yt were possible the verie elect He fore told them of Antichristes original increase exaltation how he should be haue himself vvhat hauock he should keâ—…p in the Church of God as also of the general defection euen of the verie beginning therof How immediatly after the tribulation of those daies namely the destruction desosatioÌ„ of the earthly material 〈◊〉 the Sunne shoud be darkned the moone should not giue her light the starrs should fal from heauen the powers of heauen should be shaken and thâ—… beauâ—…ie therof wrapped vp as a scroule that the whole world should be drowned in sensualitie and securitie as in the daies of NOAH because iniquitie shalbe increased faith scarse found vpon the earth at his coming So that if those daies should not be shortned there shoud no flesh be saued Yâ—…t that al these things must should vndoubtedly come to pass he shewed yt by the nearer thinges namely the destructioÌ„ of Ierusalem the temple there c. as also confirmed yt by the truth stedfastnes of his word shewing how the heauen earth should passe away but his wordes should not passe away neither should this generatioÌ„ passe vntil al these thinges were fulfilled Of these things the Prophets spake before though more darkly as a far off by diuers types as Isa. 14. 13. 14. Naâ—…um 3. 4. 5 6 7. Daâ—… 9. 27 â—…lso Isa. 13. 10. â—…4 4. Ezek. 32. 7. Ioel 2. 31. 3 14. 15. But the Apostles gaue much more euident plaine warning of these things chiefly they that liued longest and came nearest to these times As the Apostle Paul to the Elders of Ephes ' Act. 20. 29. 30. 31. in al his Epistles pleâ—…tifully the Apostle Peter in his 2. Epistle 2. 3. Chapt. The Apostle Iude Ihon in al his Epistles but especially in that heauenly Book of the Reuelation vvherin he most liuely describeth these thinges euen from the original in seueral visions according to the seueral times y t should ensue vvherin he sheweth the happy estate of the Church whiles Gods glorious throne was in the midst
the daies of GIBBEA not one sownd part from the crowne of the head to the sole of the feet but all ful of woundes swellinges old putrified sores which cannot be bound vp or cured iniquitie hauing brokē in and ouerflowed the vvhole land and euerie place therof euen as the raging sea which cannot be stopped There is no faith no mercie no knowledg or feare of God in the land by swearing lying killing stealing whoring they breake out and blood toucheth blood they ◅bhor iudgment peruert all equitie they turne iustice into gall and the fruit of righteousnes into wormwood T◅uth falleth in the streetes equitie cannot enter the heades iudg for ◅ewardes the priestes teach for hire the Prophets prophecie for money the people are incorrigible such as cannot brooke nor endure vvholsom doctrine but get vnto them after their owne lustes an heap of teachers which may prophecie to them of vvine and strong drink c. They al hate persecute him that rebuketh in the gate they abhor him that speaketh vprightly They prosecute vvith mortal hatred him that runneth not to the same excesse and sinne with them and he that refraineth from euil maketh himself a pray and is spoiled of all men All the lawes of GOD are heere broken and reiected both of the first and second table both of the ecclesiasticall and ciuile estate and of euerie particular person in both both in the worship of GOD and in ciuile iustice and conuersation all things being innouate in both according to the lustes and pleasures of men the law and word of GOD being quite reiected and cast aside as may appeare if the estate either of the Church or common welth be examined or tried by the word of GOD. The particuler defaults wherof in their customes lawes trialls pleadings iurisdiction orders decrees c. are well nigh infinite And what then are the enormities that ensue therof to euerie estate degree and person This need no other demonstration then the general excesse pride superfluitie couetousnes rapine crueltie deceit malice debate inordinate affections vnbridled lustes dissolutnes disobedienc◅ c. which are found most rife euē in all estates degrees amongst them Neither hath all kind of sinne and wickednes more vniuersally raigned in any nation at any time then heere at this present in this land where all are receaued into the Church all made members of CHRIST All these sinnes and many more abhomina◅ions which a Christian heart abhorreth but to think or speak of are amongst them vvinked a◅ tollerated excused couered and cured with the Gospel preached and their holy sacramentes All this people with all these manners were in one daye with the blast of Q. Elizabeths trumpet of ignorant papistes and grosse idolaters made faithfull Christianes true professors vpon vvhome these hungrie priestes like rauening vvolues and greedy foxes flew to diuide the pray some getting them the roomthes of Arch-bishops others caught Bishoprickes others caught Deanries arch-Deaconries fat parsonages some more some fewer as their estimation and frendes were They being thus installed and their mouthes stopped with these fat morsels the world by this time was well amended with them There was no neede to gather a people to the faith by preaching of the Gospell neither to set the holy gouernment of CHRIST ouer such as were called to the faith All was now well enough ◅er the people had receaued this ministerie after their Portuise was translated from latine into english the supremacie from the Sea of Rome to the Sea of Canterburie And after these Pseudo martyres and runneaway professors had tasted the sweetnes of ◅his rost and pleasantnes of these roomths and were once warme ◅n their nestes then forgate they all their former peregrination ◅nd deuowred the vowes they then made seking now to fortifie ◅nd establish their owne and not CHRISTS kingdome And to this ◅nd they inuented obteined and erected their blasphemous high Commission in stead of the Spanish inquisition where they gate ◅ower ouer all causes and persons ecclesiasticall to make or abro◅ate what lawes they list and to impose them vpon the whole Church which is the whole land to molest cite fetch vp examine ◅mprison and fyne whome they list as long as they list as much as ◅hey list w◅hout controlement or any redresse though their pro◅eedings be expresly contrarie preiudicial and repugnant vnto the Crowne and prerogatiue royal vnto the great charter and lawes of ◅he land as were not hard to shew if any eare might be giuen ◅herunto Thus being enthronized they shew themselues playnly in their colours both in establishing most of the Popes cannons and in adding new as ill of their owne still re◅aine further power to make more at their pleasures which howsoeuer they cannot nor dare ◅ot iustifie by the word yet will they maintaine them by the sword vvhich sword they now draw forth against CHRISTES most faith◅ull seruantes that vvill no◅ bow downe nor vvorship their beastly ◅uthoritie but stand for the maintenance of the faith once giuen vnto the sai◅tes and for the free and sincere practise of CHRISTES holy Testament vvhich faith Testament and people of GOD these accursed Apostataes with most deadlie hatred and hostilitie persecute and seeke to suppresse by all exquisite tyrannie closing and mving vp the bodies of them in the most noisome places of the most vile prisons somtimes ◅ot wi◅hout yrons and blowes in stead of Argumentes and perswasions railing blaspheming and slandering both the holy truth and the witnesses therof vvith their poisoned heretical lying bookes pamphlets libells vvhich the Dragon like a flood casteth out of the mouth of his false Prophets after the Church yet dare they not once produce them to any triall or answere knowing in their bad consciences that their ill dealings may not endure the light and therfore seeke they by all subtill and forceible meanes to suppresse the same limiting and prohibiting their priestes not to meddle vvith the reproofe of anie thing by publike authoritye established c. And such as vvill not be thus nurt◅ed they inclose vp by their sole ◅ommandement in close and strait prisons neuer letting them to escape out of their handes vntill they be brought out vpon the beere Thus fulfil they the measure of their predecessors shed the blood of the righteous make opē war against CHRIST and his G◅spel cast the Sonne and heire out of his house and vvil not susfer him to reigne there by his owne officers and lawes but take his inheritance vnto them with his scepter and al his roial rites and prerogatiues into their handes shewing themselues in the temple of GOD as GOD erected newe lawes newe ordin◅ces a newe ministerie newe worship newe orders forme of gouernment as shalbe shewed hereafter Now vnto this their apostatical bloody throne antichristian power and vnto al the abhominations proceeding from the same standeth
not so much as seale Gods grace vnto vs they giue not faith to any so much as confirme the faith of all the worthy receauers But where they are thus prostituted sacrilegiously profaned they bring no such ioy they seale no such comfort but rather Gods assured wrath for the abuse of his ordinances the people sacramentes and all being hereby vncleane polluted in Godes sight Neither preserue they vnto the Church hereby her vnitie and power but rather take away al communion and so corrupt and poison yt that now their fellowship is not in the faith but in sacriledg and sinne And for the power of the Church yt is not giuen them to receaue and admit but to driue away and keep out the profane and open vnworthy from the table of the Lord. THE NEXT shiftes these Balaamites haue for the administring vnto the communicating with and retayning the prophane in the bozome of their Church are certayne Argumentes draweÌ„ by M r. CALVIN from the 13. and of Mathew against the Anabaptistes to prooue that the Church heer on earth shal neuer be without sinne and is not to be left for sinne c. comparing the Church to a corne field vvhich being sowen with good graine ys by the enimiâ—…s fraud scattered with tares of which yt is not clensed vntill the crop be brought into the barne-floore and vnto a net in which all kind of the fiâ—…hes are gathered together are not chosen out vntil they be laid out vpon the shore c. and vnto a floore wherin the vvheate is so gathered that yt lieth hiddeÌ„ vnder the chaffe vntil by fanne and syue yt be at length layd vp in the grainer The doctrine which M r. CALVINE heer indâ—…uoreth to prooue as yt may be vnderstood is true for no doubt while the Church consisteth of mortal men so long is yt subiect to sinne ignorance els had we no need of CHRIST to be our mediator ouâ—… aduocate our high priest our Prophet to make our peace to intercede for vs to offer vp our praiers to instruct vs c. Therfore such as shall for sinne leaue the communion of the Church must seeke the societie of Angels and not of men Much better should they doe according to the Apostles councel to admonish them that are out of order to comfort the feeble minded to beare with the weake to be patient towardes all men yea if the sinne be publike and of the whole Church grauelie in the name of the lord to reprehend reprooue the same louingly to exhort them to repentance amendment rather then preposterously to leaue them and rashly to forsake the fellowship as the maner of some is And doubtles if yt be the true spouse of CHRIST yt wil giue eare to the voice of the bridegroome and not coÌ„tinue obstinate in presumptuous sinne for therfore were they not receaued to grace Faith doth not abrogate the law neither came CHRIST to take away the law so much as the curse of the law from the Church And heervnto serueth that great base and sea of CHRISTES blood which is placed in the Church to purge and wash away through faith and repentance those deformities and blots of sinne which thâ—… glaÌ„sse of the law â—…heweth not vpon the priuiledg of CHRISTES death to take bouldnes to sâ—…e or to continue in any knoweÌ„ sinne or to neglect or despise the word or to thinke lightly of the lâ—…ast sinne or not with all possible speed to redresse yt rather remooue yt out of the Chuâ—…ch whervnto the true church neuer wanteth either wil or power Neither ought any faithfull seruant of GOD â—…o coÌ„municate with that assembly which waÌ„teth either wil or power to reforme amend any default which is coÌ„mitted amongst them after yt is made knoweÌ„ vnto them as shal apear in the further handling of these other their places Argumentes which they haue corruptly sucked from M r. CALVIN in this discourse vvho no doubt hath vnsuffeâ—…ably peruerted and wrested these places and other places of scripture drawen verie foule corrupt doctrine from them touching the estate and order of a planted Church and more dangerous damnable conclusions from the same as that yt is lawfull for the Church to receiue and reteine the ignorant prophane multitude to adminiâ—…ter the sacrameÌ„tes vnto coÌ„municate in the same with them that the sacrament is not defiled with such open vnworthy receauers neither the faithful of the Church with this actioÌ„ or their fellowship also that we ought to abhor withdraw froÌ„ the wicked in coÌ„mon bread conuersation but not in the worship of God the sacrameÌ„ts c. that the people our sauiouâ—… CHRIST did coÌ„municate with the polluted priestes corrupted sacrifices people c. These such other fearful false doctrines conclusions contrarie to the whole course of scripture his disciples haue drawen from him And in deed his abuse of these and other placâ—…s as the epistles to the Churches of Corinth Galatia Asia c. his discourse therof seeme to import w ch that yt may more plainly apeare let vs come to the more particular coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of his places examine whether any sâ—…ch doctrines applications conclusions may be drawen from them and that breefly To HIS FIRST place where he resembleth the planted Church to that sowen field or rather confidently affirmeth that sowen field to be the planted Church c. and from thence draweth that seene knowen tares shall grow and remaine in the planted Church vntill GOD â—…oot them out thervpon coÌ„cludeth that none ought to refraine the coÌ„munion of the Church for such offendors especially where the word is purely taught the sacramentes rightly administred which he maketh his two infallible markes of the Church leauing out obedience vnto practise of the word which he his disciples vnder the name of Discipline make an hangby wherof in due place First heer against M r. CALVINS writinges his disciples I oppose the interpretation of our Sauiour himself who opening this parable vpoÌ„ his disâ—…iples requests vnto our good saith that he which sowed the good seed is the Sonne of man the field is the world and the good seed are the childreÌ„ of the kingdom the tares are the childreÌ„ of that wicked one the enimie that soweth them is the deuil the haruest is the end of the world the reapers are the Angels c. What interpretatioÌ„ can be more excellently consonant in euerie point vnto the parable theÌ„ this or what other interpretation can be 〈◊〉 is not euerie part of yt most liuely opened did noâ—… GOD at the firâ—…t make the world all things in the â—…me good was â—…t not corrupted through the fraude mallice of the deuil hath â—…ot GOD stil in yt his Church visible
vniuersal here there gaâ—…hered scattered in the world hath not the deuil also that prince â—…f this dark world his childreÌ„ seruantes which as tares ouergrow grieue the wheate couer the face of the whole fâ—…ld Is not this â—…he condition estate of the world shalbe to the end Now here â—…hough GODES children by the light of his word espie and grieue at â—…hese wicked tares so see this world which is in deed y e Lordes field beloÌ„geth to the good seed not vnto the euil thus pestered and â—…uergrowne with the wicked yet may they not by a rash inordiâ—…ate zeale be caried away either peremptorily to iudge coÌ„demne â—…r vtterlie to extirpate these tares as reprobates both because the â—…ord hath reserued this final iudgment execution vnto himself who knoweth to what he hath predestinate euerie vessel that he â—…ath made whether vnto honour or to dishonour reserueth the â—…easons oportunities wheÌ„ to cal or cut off in his owne handes â—…ath neither coÌ„mitted these things to maÌ„ nor need to be couÌ„celled or aduised in theÌ„ by maÌ„ But Christ in this parable rather teacheth â—…is disciples patience sobrietie to be patient towardes al men as â—…heir heauenly Father is patieÌ„t rather suffring instructing y e euil with meeknes prouing if God at any time will giue theÌ„ repeÌ„tance â—…y they may acknowledg y â— truth come to ameÌ„dment out of the â—…nare of the deuil of whome they are takeÌ„ prisoners to do his wil â—…ather pitiâ—…ng in their soules praying for al meÌ„ theÌ„ iudging fiâ—…ally condemning any or calling for fire vengeance vpon them c. This were a preposterous zeale greatly against Godes glorie who willeth al men to be saued calleth theÌ„ to his SoÌ„nes mariagé â—…east therefore causeth the gospell to be preached proclaimed for vs after we are once entred to shut the dore of Godes grace against others we were not for this cause receaued to mercy but raâ—…her to prouoke others to tast of Gods goodnes also be examples â—…o them that shal in time to come beleeue vnto eternal life Yf Paul Mary Magdalene others nay if we our selues by whome of al others we know most euil had beene plucked vp by the rootes whiles we grewe amongst the rankest of the weedes tares in the field of the world had yt not beene much ruth had not much good wheate beene spilt but he y chose called vs out of this dark world vnto the glorious inheritance of the Saintes in light shal shew the like mercie vnto them also if they abide not in vnbeliefe Our sauiour Christ whiles he was here emongst vs came not into the world as theÌ„ to iudge or coÌ„deÌ„ne the world but that the world through him might be saued Let not vs then take that vpon vs w ch belongeth not vnto vs neither iudge before the time seing God hath not giuen to his church to censure or iudge them without but to attend vpon iudg them which are within God iudgeth them that are wâ—…thout But now how may this place of the sowen field without vnsufferable vvrasting and falsifying be vnderstood of or applied vnto the planted Church of Christ shall these stinking vveedes noisome tares grow there vnweeded out or hath not GOD therfore giueÌ„ vnto his Church and euerie member therof the vveeding hooke of his word the power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST vvherby to censure cut off euerie obstinate offendor to cast downe euerie high thing that is exalted against the knowledg of GOD to haue vengeance ready against all disobedience and euery transgression that ariseth amongst them Is not the vvhole Church euerie member therof often almost euerie where in the scriptures coÌ„manded and stirred vp to keep this vvatch diligently and for the neglect contempt therof reade we not of sundrie Churches sharply reprooued yea vtterly cut off and is yt then likely that our sauiour CHRIST would here vtterly forbid his Apostles Disciples to intermedle vvith the vveeding out of these tares out of the Church his gardeÌ„ doth not this place thus vnderstood of the planted Church vtterly subuert and ouerthrow all ecclesiastical censures and condemne the Apostles of presumption for stirring vp the Churches to excoÌ„municate and cast out their obstinate offenders inordinate walkers heretikes c. from amongst them yea for so sharply reproouing whole Churches and threatning to come against them vvith the iudgmentes of GOD for their defalts herein vvhich vvay can all the learning these men haue reconcile these places but that by this their interpretatioÌ„ there must needes be expresse coÌ„trarietie But as they thus peruert this place so the applicatioÌ„ of yt and their collection from yt is much more pernicious and vnsusferable as shall afterward appeare THE NEXT place that is brought for the receauing and reteining their profane sinfull multitudes in their Church is the Parable of the draw-net vvherin fishes of all sorts are gathered and not seuered vntill the Lordes finall iudgmeÌ„tes This is granted them to be vnderstood of the planted Church where by the power of the word all degrees and sorts of men are gathered and amongst them diuerse false and wicked hypocrites vvhich shall coÌ„tinue remaine in the Church vntill the Lord pluck off their visors pull theÌ„ out whether by death or by his finall iudgment This is no new thing this is not denied this alwaies hath beene alwaies shalbe vnto the end of the vvorld Many shall enter without the vvedding garment vvithout that vvhite stone that inward testimonie and assurance vvhich no man knoweth saue he that receaueth yt and GOD giueth vnto none but vnto his choseÌ„ Many glorious hypocrites shal there be vvhich make a faire shew in the flesh which shal haue prophecied cast oâ—…t deui's done great vvorkes by CHRIST name which in that day shall call and not be heard But what of all this may yt â—…om hence be concluded that the profane multitude without due â—…stimonie and proof of their faith by publike profession c. may â—…e admitted into or any open vvicked vvhich remaineth obstinate â—…d impenitent may be reteined in this Church of CHRIST Surelie â—…is ground vvill beare no such doctrine this place no such conâ—…ruction THERE YET remaineth an other maine place to vphold their conâ—…sed profane assemblies draweÌ„ from the third chapter of Mathew 12 â—…rse vvhere they liken the gathered and established Church of â—…HRIST vnto a barneflore in vvhich the vvheate is so gathered toâ—…eather that yt lieth hidden vnder the chaffe vntill being clensed â—…ith fanne siue yt be aâ—… length layd vp in the grainer c. yea M r. â—…ALVINE in an other peculiar treatise against the Anabaptists vsing â—…is place of Mathew saith THAT the faithful shalbe in the planted â—…hurch of CHRIST
hidden amongst the opeÌ„ wicked vngodly as 〈◊〉 few graines of wheate lie in a great heape of chaffe c. Then â—…hich doctrine nothing can be deuised more vncleane corrupt â—…r more vnworthy the Church of CHRIST as breaking all the orâ—…inances and lawes of GOD at once and vtterly subuerting defiâ—…ng all Christian communion c. vvhich doctrine as yt is directly â—…ontrarie vnto the whole course of scriptures both for the entrance â—…to the Church and for the order conuersation in the Church 〈◊〉 can no place of scripture be applied to the vpholding and confirâ—…ation therof without vnsufferable falsifying and violent wrasting â—…e same As for this place Maâ—…hew 3. 12. yt no more prooueth this docâ—…ine then the others out of Math. 13. for here Mathew rather recorâ—…eth the conclusion of Ihon the Baptistes sermon doctrine then â—…ny way describeth the estate of the established Church of CHRIST 〈◊〉 the 11. and 12. verses shewing the incomparable excellencie of CHRISTES person and ministerie in respect of his also in the same â—…ewing the diuers effectes of Christes coÌ„ming vnto such as looked â—…or him vvho as they vvere of two sortes so had they seuerall sucâ—…esse The one sort he baptised the other he consumed with fire â—…he one sort he fanned fifted purged fined and preserued as wheat â—…nd siluer the other with the same fanne and fornace he â—…scattered â—…nd burnt vp as chaffe drosse The humble poore of the flock â—…vhich gaue eare to the voice in the wildernes which confessed â—…epented their sinnes and made strait his pathes receaued Ihons â—…aptisme those he receaued fed kept c. but those proud Phaâ—…isies learned Scribes and carnal Saâ—…uceis which thought themâ—…elues in a perfect estate and despised the councel of God against â—…hemselues and would not be baptised of Ihon those when the â—…ESSIAH also came despised and contemned him and therfore he â—…ut them off in one day yea his day was vnto them darknes and not â—…ght c. But now which way should this fowle vncleane barn-floore thus pestered ouerspred with chaffe be likened almost without blaâ—…phemie vnto y e holy Church of Christ rightly planted established gouerned according to his holy will testameÌ„t where as hath beene said all the people that enter are receaued there are chosen redeemed called out of the world from amongst the heathen Saintes by calling partakers of the same pretious faith glorious hope humble obedient louing sheepe And therfore is y â— church likened to a sheepfold which is both watched and defended to keepe out the wild beastes the wolfe and litle foxes vnto a garden shut vp welspring inclosed an orchyeard vineyard walled where al the plantes are natural sweet incense trees pomgranate al sweet fruit trees Myrrhe Aloes cynnamon with trees of chief spices Heere entereth no Cananite or profane person but euerie vessel shalbe cleane holy as bowles before the Altar c Furthermore eueÌ„ in the material temple there were ash-pannes besoms to sweep carry out al dust filth And euen in euerie barn-flore the husbandman hath his flayle his fanne his syue to tresh his wheat out of the eare to purge yt from the chaffe to seuer yt from darnel tares c. which labour if he should slack he should haue no vse of his wheat he should haue no cleane nor wholsome bread And how much more shal our heauenlie husbandman purge his seed his wheat from such reprobate chaffe giddy darnel before he receaue them into one loafe set them at his heauenly table They canot be a newe lump vnto him except they be purged from the old leuen of maliciousnes wickednes The seruantes of God can neither build the Church nor ioine in any spiritual actioÌ„ with the profane nor with such counterfeit professors as the Samaritanes nor with such bastardy false seede as that of MOAB of ASHDOD c. There may be no misseline or seedes of diuers kinds soweÌ„ in the Lordes â—…ield The God of heauen and earth requireth vnto himself a holy seed he will be sanctified of all that draw neere vnto him for euen our God is a consuming fire How then dare any admit those the Lord shutteth out of his Church or how dare they mingle and ioyneth such reprobate knowen chaffe cockle tares darnel with the Lordes wheate wittingly and wittingly which the Lord with fanne syue purgeth seuereth casteth out of his barn-flore much lesse receaueth not into his granarie But how far is their ignorant rashâ—…es or rather presumptuous boldnes proceeded which not only receaue into retaine in their Church fellowship these heapes of the wicked opeÌ„ vnworâ—… euen all the profane multitude al sortes of people that are found within their territories and iurisdiction without respect of person but euen thrust them vpon Christ whether he will or no and make him an high Priest Prophet vnto them administring vnto them and their seed the holy thinges of God as baptisme the Lordes supper Is not this to mingle heauen and earth ligh darkâ—… or â—…hat higher sacriledge can be committed shal these places thus â—…rasted falsified hide diminish their sinns or rather not agraâ—…ate make manifest their error wickednes By what sober conâ—…truction or almost coÌ„mon sense can this place Math. 3. be vnderâ—…tood of the planted and rightly ordered Church of Christ or how â—…ay such a Church be compared to a flore where in a great heape â—…f chaffe a few graines of wheate lie hid and buried we read in the â—…criptures that the righteous shall shine as starrs in the Church of God yet I willingly acknowledge that there can in this life be no wheate so pure which hath not both chaffe branne c. but that â—…n an other sense only I would know of these men that thus grossly â—…iken the Church of God what difference we may put betwixt the â—…orld and their Church In the world in deed the children of God â—…hal for a season be mingled remayn amongst the profane wicked vntil the time of their visitation calling but after they haue once giuen obedience vnto the voice of Christ then forget they forsake their old conuersation companie haue no longer felâ—…owship with the vnfruitful workes of darknes but are renned in â—…ighteousnes holines and true knowledg after the image of him that called them out of darknes into his merueilous light c. But to couer cure al this confusion disorder al this sacrilegious profanatioÌ„ portsale of the holy thinges of God al other mischeifes enormities amongst theÌ„ as also to stop the mouthes to terrifie al such as find fault with reprooue these thinges or depart from amongst them where
sauing their soules bodies from such wicked accursed assemblies from such disobedient rebellious people and from al the trumperies and deceites of the false Church c. But let vs a litle examine what kind of doctrine these men draw from Mr. CALVINE spread abrode in their pulpites publike writinges They hould that whatsoeuer Congregatiō keepeth an outward shew of the ministerie of the word sacramentes ceaseth not to be a Church neither is to be left for any sinne in maners as they call yt whatsoeuer though they willingly presumptuously neglect break the lawes of God both in their worship and conuersation and remaine incorrigible obstinate in these transgressiōs Now they teach that neither for such sinnes God is so displeased with the congregatiō that he herevpon withdraweth his fauor from them or they ◅cease to be held reuerenced of vs as a Church neither the publike actions of the said congregation as their praiers preaching sacramentes c. neither the cōmunicantes with this assemblie in these actions are with for these sinnes defiled For say they a godly conscience is not defiled with the sinnes of an other What fleshly libertine hath or can breath forth more poisoned doctrines then these more contrarie to the honour whole word of God from which yt at once taketh away al reuerence obedience practise What can be more popishly alledged for their Church then to say that yt can blesse these actions and persons whome God in his word accurseth or that the Church may cōmit such high sacriledge presumptuous sinne without the iudgment punishment due to the same Yf God haue made one the same couenant from the beginning of the world with the whole Church that he hath with euerie particular priuate mēber therof hath giuē no more libertie to the whole Church then to any priuate man to breake the least of his lawes if God for the transgression of his lawe vnpartially iudgeth al without respect of persons if presumptuous sinne with obstinacie ioined thervnto breaketh the couenant with God insomuch as yt both breake◅h Godes law and despiseth Godes mercie grace so depriueth them in that estate of any benefite of CHRISTES death If they which in this maner breake Godes law despise his grace to be iudged of al men as open wicked c. If al the actiones of the wicked be accursed of God so much the more accursed and abhominable by how much they take shew of holines profane Godes name ordinances Yf all they which partake in such actions praiers sacrifices which are an abhomination vnto the Lord be guilty of the altar and vnder the same curse how should those assemblies which continue in presumptuous obstinate sinne be esteemed the true Churches of CHRIST or any that administer vnto or cōmunicate with them in this estate in praiers sacramentes c. auoid the iudgment curse of God both for ioining vnto blessing the wicked for so high profanation of his name prostituting the holy mysteries of the ◅odie blood of Christ to such open vnworthy receiuers Rightly then and directly to reason to the point As many places of scripture as command Godes faithful seruantes with al their forces vttermostindeuor to obserue practise and obey vnto Godes holy word euerie part therof without any willing neglect or breach of the least cōmandement to their knowledg As many places as shew that obstinate presumptuous transgression breaketh the couenant As many places as command vs to seek out and resort vnto the true Church of CHRIST namely the cōmunion fellowship of the saintes Godes faithful obedient seruantes there to present our soules and bodies to be built bestowed according to Gods wil there together with thē to vvorship and serue our God c As many places as forbid vs all false Churches assemblies al spiritual fellowship cōmunion with the wicked or to repaire vnto or ioine with thē in their praiers worship c. So many places forbid vs al spirituall fellowship cōmunion vvith al assemblies in this estate vvhat faire shewes soeuer they make vnto vs or glorious titles they take vnto themselues so many places euidently prooue that if in this estate vve should communicate vvith them vve should be guilty of their sinns partakers of their plagues Which doctrines because they are generally receaued of all denied of none though omitted and forgotten by many and generally taught through the whole scriptures I need not here stand to make any more particular proofe or demonstration of them And so these being granted all these doctrines of M r. CALVINE and his Disciples fall to the ground Yet that the falshood of them may somwhat more appeare vnto all men let vs draw a litle neerer vnto them consider of their maine proofes and fundamental doctrines The publike actiones say they and ministerye of the Church as praiers sacramentes c. neither the godly conscience of anye are defiled vvith the open sinnes of others either of ministers or people c. For vvhy such publike actions are the ordinance of God and cannot be defiled or made vnavaileable with the sinnes of men neither are to be left for such sinnes Therfore the holy Prophets and our Sauiour CHRIST himself refrained not the Temple at such times as the estate therof was vholy corrupted but communicated with the wicked in their feastes and sacrifices although the pollution and contagion was generall and incurable both in the people and priestes For the rest euerie man is to eyamine himself and not othe◅s when he resorteth to the Church or receiueth the communion of the bodie and blood of CHRIST because he eateth to his owne damnation or saluation not to an other mans c. First if the open sinne of the minister or people defile not the praiers sacramentes by to them administred why hath the Lord said that ◅he sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination vnto him that they might as well kil a man as a bullock vnto him that they might as wel offer a dog or swines blood as sacrifice or burnt offering why hath the Lord said that sacrifice without obedience is not acceptable vnto him that he will haue mercie not sacrifice c. Why hath the Lord beene alwaies so ielous ouer his sanctuarie and ouer them that come neere vnto him vvhy hath he made so many lawes for the place Altar sacrifice priestes people c. that no priest with any apparant blemish might offer the bread of the Lord that no offring with any blemish might be accepted at the handes of any that none vvith any pollution or vncleannes vpon him might touch the tabernacle that no heathen or profane person vvhich was not yet come vnto the faith might tread in the courtes of the Lord or any offring be accepted at their handes vvhy hath the Lord
Church not to breake the fellowship c. In â—…eed they say true In thus doing in this coÌ„munion I should not break â—…e fellowship but euen for companie goe to hell with them For as â—…e Apostle saith we which are manie make one bodie one bread â—…ecause we are together partakers of one bread But ô how much better should we prouide both for them and our â—…lues to examine wel declare vnto them what this action is how â—…ur sauiour CHRIST hath not only instituted after what maner yt is to â—…e deliuered receiued but also who should deliuer receaue yt â—…o shew them how in this estate they remaining impenitent and obstiâ—…ate there belong no sacramentes or blessing vnto them but rather a â—…arful looking for of iudgment seing they both breake GODES lawes â—… despise GODES grace therfore the sacramentes seale vnto them â—…nd vnto as many as either deliuer the same vnto them or participate â—…ith them in the same the assured wrath of God both for that they â—…lesse ioine vnto the wicked so become guiltie of all their sinnes â—…ogether with them also coÌ„mit most heinous sacriledge in breaking â—…he institution of CHRIST in deliuering the sacramentes as they pre-end vnto the open vnworthy ioining together with them therin I â—…ope they are not so grosly popish to suppose that the sacrameâ—…t can â—…nctifie the vnworthy receauers giuers that in deed were no smal â—…iracle that yt should do more then CHRIST doth whome yt repreâ—…nteth especially where the institution is so wilfully impiously broâ—…en as with them where yt is deliuered to the open vnworthy who as the Prophet saith defile that holy thiâ—…g whatsoeuer they touch But say they Charitie must thinke iudge the best yt must think â—…at in this heape of chaffe are many graines of wheat Well yt doth â—…ink so what of this can those graines either iustifie this sacriledge 〈◊〉 set a loafe of filthie chaffe vpoÌ„ the Lordes holy table or sanctifie the â—…icked this heape of chaffe c. Surely well ought charitie to border 〈◊〉 yt self within the compace of sobrietie and not peremptorily to â—…dge or determine of any who belong to Godes election and who be â—…probates which God hath kept secret to himself vnlesse they see â—…ese damnable signes of the sinne against the holy Ghost vpon them et cannot charity iudge or pronounce any to be graines of wheate â—…hiles they lie together hidden vnseperated from this filthy chaffe â—…ese apparant wicked wickednes for charitie must be directed and â—…dged by faith faith by the word of God But charitie ought to iudge say they that euen the worst when theâ—…â—…ome to that â—…able are inwardly sory secretly repent But doth chaâ—…itie see this sorrow repentance if not how should yt iudge perâ—…wade yt self it is so yea and presume thervpon to communicate with hem receaue them vnto the table of the Lord Charitie had need â—…aue a good ground in these high matters not walke by rote least yt â—…estroy both theÌ„ yt self Charitie may not breake Godes lawâ—…s their â—…innes are seene knownâ—… publike their repentance must be answerable secret repentance suffiseth not the church for open sinne they must see and witnesse the repentance or els they must proceed without delay to excommunication Charitie for no respect can either linger lighten or take away Gods iudgmentes It alwaies euen in all causes saith RIGHT and true are thy iâ—…dgmentes King of Saintes The iudgmentes of the Church of al the faithful are the iudgmentes of the Lord which must be vprightly without al eaâ—…thly affection or inclination any way executed least Gods wrath burne likewise against them as we haue plentiful examples in the scriptures How then say these blind guides that the faithful ought not to meddle with the iudging of the wicked in the church It is only Gods office to root out the tares Their final iudgment we with al humblenes reâ—…it vnto the Lord the Iudge of al. Their temporal iudgmentes the Lord hath coÌ„mitted to his Church to euerie member of his Church who are to pronounce vpon them the iudgmentes that are written and euerie member of the CongregatioÌ„ throw vpon them the stone of his iudgment and consent Therfore hath the Lord raised vp the thrones of DAVID in his Church and set his Saintes vpon seates round about his Throne Yet for al this the beginning and end of their song is THAT the Church and table of the Lord is not to be forsaken and left because of the wicked True for the wicked are to be chased and driueÌ„ from thence where none may enter or stand without his seene wedding garment vpon him But as I haue beene often driuen to say they that abandon these wicked peruerted assemblies which will not be withdrawâ—…n from their sinnes but remayne hardned and obstinate leaue not the Church or Table of God but preserue the Church and Table of God They make not the schisme which keep the faith but they that forsake the faith yea the faithful thus seperate ought not for the sinnes of these or any to neglect or intermit these holy exercises of the Church but to indeâ—…or to haue â—…hem in al holy and pure maner according vnto Christes ordinance c. THE last shift help they haue for receauing the prophane wicked to the sacramentes is that we ought to detest abhor their conversation in common bread because that is in their power wil but not for their sakes to refuse the sacramentes because that is not in their wil. What can be more grosse foolish know these men what belongeth to the communion of Saintes Is it in our power to refuse him in conuersatioÌ„ to whome we ioine in the faith in communioÌ„ Or may I abhor driue him froÌ„ my table whome our Sauiour Christ receaueth admitteth to his table Am I or my table holier then he or his What a pharisaical pride were this eueÌ„ the same they exercised vnto the publicanes where is now this charitie they erwhile spake of Loue couereth the multitude of sinnes wantes let not him that is stroÌ„g despise them that are weake but receaue them vnto him c. instructing them with meeknes bearing their burden c. May they â—…en despise abhor any that is held a brother or auoid his companie â—…fore he be excommunicate or haue forsaken the faith remaine â—…rdned or impeniâ—…ent c. what a preposterous dealing is this to reâ—…aue the wicked vnto the Lordes Table to driue them from their â—…ne table This is cleane contrary to the Apostles doctrine which â—…ace M r. CALVINE thought to escape and put away with this botche 〈◊〉 there teacheth that iâ—… any which is called a brother be a fornicaâ—… or coÌ„uetous or a railer c. such one is both to be purged as leauen
in the bozome of their Church c. so if we by the rules of Christs TestameÌ„t duly examine this their flanting ministerie wherof their Church so boasteth I doubt not but that we shal find them as counterfeit prodigious antichristian and rightly fitting to this monstrous confuse bodie of the multitudes this harlot their Church sittetâ—… on Which ministerie to describe in their coullers were a fitter Argument for a stage play to bring forth these hypocrits out of their dennes and to make them play their partes in the light then for any sober christiaÌ„ discourse who abhor to raue in their vncleane cages filthy kennels yet that they may the sodainlyer apeare of what soâ—… they are we the soner haue done with them let vs first coÌ„sider what maner of officers CHRIST hath apointed in the Church of God then how thâ—…se ought to enter then how to administer and so briefly by these rules examine the ministerie of their Church of England The ministerie apointed vnto the gouernmeÌ„t seruice of y e Church of CHRIST we find to be of two sortes Elders Deaâ—…ons the Elders some of them to giue attendance vnto the publike ministerie of the word sacrameÌ„tes as the Pastor Teacher the other Elders together with them to giue attendance to the publike order gouernmeÌ„t of the Church the Deacons to attend the gathering and distributing the goodes of the Church Now these Officers are first duly proued examined compared by to these rules set downe in the Testament of CHRIST both in apparant graces by the manifestation of the spirit as also in al vnreproueable conuersation witnessed wel aproued vnto that flock of which they are chosen to serue attend This done with praier fasting they are chosen ordenied in the same CongregatioÌ„ by publike consent They being thus chosen ordeined by all are now diligently faithsully to execute their office vnto all not preiudicing the libertie of any â—…mbitiously assuming any inordinate authoritie or abusing or neglecting their office neither holding or executing yt in regard or in respect of person but vprightly and indifferently performing yt vnto all men as in the eies of God whose word they purely and sinâ—…erely teach faithfully precisely obserue to their vttermost knowledg and power If in any thing they transgresse or offend they are as well as any other members liable to the censure of the Church which is to reproue depose or excommunicate them according to the qualitie of the sinne estate of the offenders c. Now to come to the ministerie of the Church of England which is so manifold diuers as I know not how to begin to describe yt But let yt first be diuided into these 3 sorts 1. Reigning or Gouerning 2 Seruing 3 Collegiate 1. Of the reigning gouerning minifters are Arch-Bishops Lord Bishops Arch-Deacons Chancellers Commissaries all of the high Commission as likewise such ciuil Doctors Proctors Registers Scribes Pursuiuantes Sumners as attend vpon their Courtâ—…s of faculties prerogatiue Archies delegates c. 2 Of the seruing sort are Parsons Vickars Curates hireling Lecturers vagrant mercenarie Preachers house priestes Chaplens half-Priestes or catechisers Church-wardens sidemen questmen paâ—…ish Clarkes 3 Of the ministerie colâ—…egiate are Lord Bishops Deanes Sub-Deanes Prebendaries Canons petie ChaÌ„nons Gospellers Pistellers Singing meÌ„ Singing boies Vergiers Sextines This diuisioÌ„ I suppose wil wel neere suffice for their officers But now how to diuide or distinguish their offices I know not I am so vnlearned ignorant of such great secrets high misteries Neither yet haue I skil to â—…arshial theÌ„ in their degrees of honour which I haue heard say they haue both in the coÌ„mon welth in their schooles as â—…eir Primate their Mettopolitane graces their Palatine Lordbishops 〈◊〉 their Baronny Lordships al which I weene be Peeres of the realme 〈◊〉 estates of the Land Now there are also certayne Doctors of diuiâ—…tie Bachelors of diuinitie which haue many great priuileges â—…ogatiues of the cappe the skatlet gowne the hood the habbite the â—…pet c. the ring the chaire the one of theÌ„ being a Kinghts fellow â—…e other an Esquires in any ground in England Also how capable â—…ese are by statute of how many benefices I cannot tell Neither haue I the cunning to deriue their genealogies and pedeâ—…ies as they tooke beginning in the ages succeeding the Apostles in â—…e first 4. or 500. yeres only because I want that deep learning I must â—…ntent my self to goe to that old book of Gods word There in deed â—…emember Reuel 9. that I read of a Sar that fell from heauen vnto the â—…rth which had the key of the bottomles pyt giuen vnto him who â—…hen he had opened that bottomles pyt there arose the smoke of â—…e pyt as the smoke of a great fornace wherwith the Sunne and â—…e aire were darkned Out of which smoke of the said pyt I read 〈◊〉 at al these monstrous armed crowned poisoned Locustes Scorâ—…oÌ„ns issued c. Now as they tooke beginning with Antichrisâ—… vnder â—…eir king 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apolluon so tooke they increase together with him â—…or when Sathan had enthronized him giueÌ„ him his high CoÌ„missioÌ„ 〈◊〉 made him his LieftenaÌ„t general in earth c. then these his Peeres 〈◊〉 câ—…ptaines compassed about guarded his throne did miracles â—…efore the Beast deceauing with the effectual power of their errors â—…l such as receaued the Beastes marke or worshipped his image and â—…ried forth his image far an neere and set yt vp in al places where his â—…rson could not be coÌ„pelled al both smal great rich poore 〈◊〉 receiue the Beastes mark worship his image this I read in the 13 â—…f the Reue. Now in the 16. Chapter of the said booke after that yâ—… viâ—…s of Gods wrathful iudgmeÌ„tes had beene powred out vpoÌ„ the earth â—…oÌ„ the sea vpoÌ„ the riuers fountaines ef waters vpoÌ„ the Sunne vpoÌ„â—…e Throne of the Beast vpon their great riuer Euphrates I read that â—…ese vncleane spirites that came out of the mouth of that Dragon â—…nd out of the mouth of that Beast and out of the mouth of that false â—…rophet â—…hich are y c spirites of Deuils working miracles should goe â—…rth vnto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather â—…em vnto the battel of that geat day of God almightie yea and in â—…e 17. of the Reuelation that they should cause these kings those ten â—…ornes to hate the whore to make her desolate and naked to burne â—…e whore with fire euen that faire harlot of whose cup they haâ—…â—…runke and with whome they had coÌ„mitted foâ—…ation so many â—…eares before and to giue their kingdomes power and authoritie vnâ—…o the Beast vntil the woâ—…des of God be accoÌ„plished In the 19. 20. â—…hapters of this
said booke I read that they together with all the â—…ostes of these kings that thus make warre against y e LaÌ„b beseege â—…e beloued Citie the teÌ„tes of the Saintes round about shalbe takeÌ„ cast into a lake of fire brymstone there to be tormented together with that Dragon that Beast that false Prophet day and night for euermore And loe thus haue we brought these fellowes home againe euen to the place where we found them For out of the bottomles pyt they came into that fierie fornace they shal Let them that list more curiously to search inquire after them in their Cenâ—…uaries and Aâ—…nalles yt sufficeth me to know that they came out of the bottomles pyt that they belong not to CHRISTES kingdom that they are strangers there haue there neither name place nor office We find in the Church of CHRIST no mention of these rufflers they are not members of his bodie they are neither Pastors Teachers Elders nor Deacons but euâ—… of late before our eies these felf fame officers Courtes attendantes euen from their Primate Arch-bishop to the parish priest so to the Sumner administred vnto the whore of Rome had their originall froÌ„ the Apostatical seate of ANTICHRIST How then should they thus sodenly become the members of CHRIST yea rulers of his house whether he will or no who not only thrust in their parsons by intrusion but these monstrous offices Courtes Cannons neuer read of neueâ—… heard of in the Testament Church of CHRIST For there we find no mention of any other Arch-bishop or Lorâ—… Bishop then that chief shepheard Lord of life CHRIST IESVS vnto whome euerie knee ought to bowe and euerie tongue confesse But these blasphemous Beastes or rather heades of that Beast are noâ—… ashamed to arrogate vnto them CHRISTES names and titles which aâ—…e written vpon them as names of blasphemie that the scripture mighâ—… be fulfilled which titles honors they blasphemously would defend with this scripture which is spoken of the office person of the ciuâ—… magistrate I haue saied ye aâ—…e Goddes ye all are the children of the most high Psa. 8â—… 6. although our Sauiour CHRIST hath expresly with his owne mouth said to his Apostles theÌ„ whome I am sure these are neither greater noâ—… better The Kinges of the Gentiles reigne ouer them they that beare rule ouer them aâ—… called bountifull but be ye not so but let the greatest among you be as the least 〈◊〉 chiefest as he that serueth Now wheÌ„ they cannot defend their pride blasphemie by the word which glasse most liuely sheweth eueÌ„ to their owne eies coÌ„scienceâ—… the ouglines heinousnes of their sinne they then runne to their laâ—… shote anker to vphold their tottering states by the Princes donation Which if yt were so were but a weake defence for them against the wrath iudgment of God that condemneth them a mightie sinne yet no noueltie for the Kings of the earth to giue their crownes vnto the Beast c. But I would heere know of them whether any Prince may lawfully giue that vnto theÌ„ or they receaue that which CHRIST hath denied them yea carefully auoided in his owne person leauing them an example c. why by the donation of the Emperour CONSTANTINE the Popes supremacie may not be as well iustified then â—… would heere know how they caâ—… auoide the crime of slandering the â—…rince which lay this charge vpon her which in deed is due to their â—…oly father the Pope who wheÌ„ he receiued of his father the diuel his â—…thoritie great power magnificently dealt these honorable titles 〈◊〉 offices to these his natural sonnes proceeded froÌ„ his owne mouth 〈◊〉 throne many himdred yeres before Queene ELISABETH was born Now as we find their names titles blasphemous so if we looke â—…el into their offices we shal find them no better Of the ordinarie â—…tablished permanent offices Pastour Teacher Elder which are 〈◊〉 ouersee and administer vnto that flock of which they are orderly â—…osen c. these are not who some of them staÌ„des a Primate or Pope â—…to the whole land some other a Metropolitane ouer half the land â—…e least of these Anakims ouer many hundreth steeples Churches â—…s they say therfore they haue none of these ordinarie offices which â—…nly now remaine As for the extraordinarie offices of Apostles Proâ—…etes Euangelistes which God at the first vsed to the carijng forth â—…f his truth the gathering together setting in order of his Saintes 〈◊〉 we find Ithem Apostles I meane EuaÌ„gelistes altogether ceased 〈◊〉 now needles insomuch as the foundatioÌ„ is already fully soundly â—…yde as also al ordinances orders which the Church is to receauâ—… â—…pressly set downe manifested in the TestameÌ„t of Christ to which 〈◊〉 Churches are now for their directioÌ„ in al thinges wholy râ—…ferred As for Prophets their office was neither definite nor permanent â—…ut by peculier extraordinarie reuelatioÌ„s according to some espeâ—…al occasions of the Church wherof I suppose these men who are so â—…notant of rebellious against the reuealed wil of God haue fmal â—…ccasion to boast But if their madnes should proceed so far we leaue â—…eir discouerie iudgment to the law of God written Deut. 13. 1. â—…postles I suppose they are not hauing neither any immediate calâ—…ng from God vnto their Apostleship vnles as they in their inscripâ—…on of their titles and stile doe write IOHN by the permistion of God and â—…wer of the diuill Bishop of such a place and so as the Apostle saith are â—…alse Apostles laying not the true foundation but a new 〈◊〉 euen their holy father the Popes Cannons and the deuilish inâ—…unctions of their blasphemous high CoÌ„mission whervpon wherâ—…y their Church is built ruled in all thinges Now to their office â—…f Euangelistes they want their Apostolical sending also their worke â—…nd building declareth that false Euangelistes deceitful workmen â—…hey are that keep not that true patterne which the Apostles pracâ—…ised left to all the Churches but according to their owne fancies â—…et vp pluck downe what when yt pleaseth thâ—…m as all their acâ—…ions declare hauing no one pynne naile or hooke according to the â—…rue patterne in CHRISTS Testament or in right frame which if I 〈◊〉 here indeuoâ—…r in particular to declare yt were to goe about to â—…mptie that foule sinke euen the bottomles pâ—…t fâ—…om whence they â—…ame sufficeth vt heere to haue shewed their names officâ—…s authoriâ—…ie not to be of God neither to belong to CHRISTS Church Therfore we need not be further inquisitiue either of theiâ—… callings or doings seeing they belong not vnto vs were yt not to cal them or so many of them as belong to Gods election vnto repentance to leaue theâ—… accursed trade and offices c.
if any they had before and how by taking this licence with this limitation they haue emancipate the whole word of God as much as in them lieth vnto these Bishops or rather the Popes Cannons And yet to make their sinne the more odious inexcusable these slaues to sinne are not only sworne vnto such decrees as are already made although nothing can almost be added to the wickednes and blasphemie of them but euen haue bound themselues by othe to such decrees as they hereafter shal make being by publike authoritie of the land enioined c. also how they hereby become the vowed seruantes bondmen the marked ministers waged soldiours of Antichrist I haue also shewed their ministerie to be Antichristian adulterate and vagrant wit◅out place people chardge office gouernment and how they must come by yt b◅ as vnlawful meanes euē by symonical cōpactes opē bribery extortiō as the ex cessiue price of their boxe writinges vnto the Bishop his clerke ◅heir first fruites not to speake of other secret bargaines how they come by the patrones good wil c. declare Moreouer I haue shewed how their office of Parson or Vickar is ◅s popish strange antichristian how their entrance induction is ◅s popish iewish as the rest how the function of their behauiour in this office is yet worst of all most corrupt blasphemous ab◅ominable which now but by as slight a running ouer their admini ◅tration wil euen with detestation appeare vnto al mē Whose infinite odious sinnes heerin to set downe in particuler according to ◅heir hainousnes no tongue or pen of any martal man is able for that were to momber the haires of the beast or to diuide the droppes of a ◅unning riuer If I therfore set downe some such principal especial heades fro◅ whence these mischeues their particular transgressi ◅ns flowe as I remember them who know of many but a few leauing the further search of the r◅st cōsideration of these to the further labour iudgment of the godly by the scriptures as also the more particular remorse repentance of them to their con◅ciences which haue cōmitted shal accōpt before the Lord for the same I hope I say by that time the delusionis of these Babilonish diuines Egiptian Inchanters wil apeare vnto al mē saue vnto thē that perish their madnes be made so manifest as both they their Proselites shalbe left naked without one excuse or figleafe to couer their shame Now then as the education training learning degrees ministerie maner cōditions of r◅ceauing that office maner of cōming by entrance into the same haue beene partly described so was the endes function of their ministerie and office a litle touched in a word or two Namly how they al are by othe and office bound to reade and obserue the iniunctiōs c. to reade their seruice book at their apoin ted times places and maner according to the same to administer their Sacramentes church women visit the sick burie the dead c. and only for this ministerie they receaue the offringes tithes mortuaries wages of the people Also yt hath beene shewed that preaching is no part of their office or ministerie but only in certaine special cases where y t benefice is at a certaine rate in the QVEENES book required and that not necessarily laid vpon the person of such a parson but ōly quarterly inioined at 4. solemne feastes of the yeare as at their Christmas Easter c. and may be performed or supplied by their substitute Heere also must ◅e obserued that a person or Vickar is not by law nor office inioined to be resident giue attēdance in person vnto his charge flock but may be absent at his wil where he will so he find the parish a iornay man to reade their seruice administer their Sacramentes c. yea and as he cōmeth vnto them without the people◅ priuitie wil or consent so may he stand◅ parson or ◅s these learned preachers would haue him ter◅ed a Pastor vnto thē though he neuer see his f◅ock nor his flock him So may he also by law as the best of them vsually do vpon their owne liking or disliking but especially vpon the offer of a better liuing depart from them chang◅ or sell his office without the peoples knowledge or priuitie For as their ministery is not tied to any office so is not their office tied to any charge Are not these miserable Pastors trow we or are not the people more miserable that haue such sh◅pheardes and guides se◅ ouer them whome they must wil they nil they nourish with their goodes c. to the gathering vp wherof these priestes wil looke wel enough without regard or respect of persons whether they be rich or poore old or young widowe or fatherles that is al one to them they wil not spare their due They take vp al with the angle th◅y catch yt in their net and gather yt in their yarne It skilleth not to them whose yt be whether the goodes of the infidel or of the beleeuer It skilleth not them whome they spoile whether the poore the widow or the fatherles if they fall within the boundes and precinctes of their parish they regard not by what right or after what maner they haue yt whither by Iewish tithes and offringes or popish chrismatories and mortuaries They regard not so the Princes and their lord Bishops lawes allowe them though Gods lawes expressly forbid That day of accompt they put far ◅ff and think to do wel inough then yea they in the meane while blesse themselues in the name of the Lord though they cōmit all this wickednes Of al that groweth or increaseth within the compasse of their parish whithe◅ corne wood grasse or ca◅tel the priest wil haue his part yea for whō soeuer is borne or dieth in his parish he wil haue a fee and for thi◅ geare he standeth a priest to the whole parish and al the inhabitantes therof indifferently If the d◅iul of hel would ◅ome and dwel in his parish he were a priest for him and would for his goodes administer the Sacramentes c. vnto him also But heere before I begin to deal◅ with their maner of administratiō yt were not amisse in few wordes to shew the dānable filthines of their maintenāce for their ministeri◅ Christ hauing abrogate the Leuiticall priesthood and law instituted for the gospel an other ministerie for the ministerie an other maintenāce He ordeined in his Testament that the minister of the gospel should liue of the gospel the shepheard of the flock he ◅eedeth the husbādmā of the vineyard he d◅esseth keepeth Now this flock ◅ōsisted not of gotes swine doggs wolues c. neither is this shepheard limited or sheepe constrained to a tenth or any stinted part or portiō but according to the present wāt of
grace he shed vpon them Now then if they kept not that day as any feast either after the Iewish or this popish maner how should these meÌ„ from thence fetch warrant for their feast for after the Iewish maner they will at no hand be said to keep yt after their maner yt is cleare the Apostles then could not keep yt because the miracle was not as theÌ„ done neither had they as yet those giftes of tongues neither knew they at their assembling in what maner or what the Lord would worke that day For though yt pleased the Lord vpon that day to shew these wonderous workes yet did not he it that either we should keep a superstitious celebration of that day more theÌ„ of others after this idolaâ—…s maner or still reteine the Iewish feast c. so much as vpon that day in that great and solemne concurse of people to giue publike witnesse to the Gospel of our Lord â—…SVS CHRIST furnish vp his witnesses according to his promises c. For I am sure they cannot shew either coÌ„mandement or example in the new Testament that this or any such feastes haue beene kept or are to be kept in the Churches of Christ. It maketh nothing to their purpose that Paul Act 18. departed from Ephesus to keep the feast ensuing in Ierusalem for what he did no doubt he did by reuelation of the Spirit vnto the more easie winning of the Iewes to whome he for the time became and behaued himself as a Iew this both by the speciall reuelation of the Spirit and warrant of the word For vnto the Iewes a time was giuen of shaking and remouing these ceremonies from which they could not be so sodainly or easily remoued because they were giuen and deliuered vnto them by God himself vpon the mount Sinai c. yet seing they neuer were giuen nor belonged to the Gentiles the Apostles at no hand would haue them intangled vvith these ceremonies Neither did Paul here inioine the Church at Ephesuâ—… to keep this feast but how sharply he hath dealt vvith those Iewes or other false teachers that sought to trouble the Churches with them appeareâ—…h in all his Epistles and how roundly but for a litle halting herein he dealt with the Apostle Peter appeareth Galat. 2. 14. And if the Apostle then at the first planting of the Churches when many â—…wes were mingled amongst the Gentiles would not receaue the least ordinance vvith the ministerie of the Gospell by vvay of subiection not for an howre that the truth of the Gospell might continue amongst thâ—…m what would he now say to these false Apostles and counterfait wretches which not being Iewes but Gentiles by nature and hauing 〈◊〉 these examples and documentes before them yet dare without â—…y warrant thrust their Iewish and heathenish traditions vpon the â—…hurches with a strong hand which thus mingle the Iewish ceremoâ—…es with the Gospell which way should the truth of the Gospell reâ—…aine with them when the Apostle saith that but a litle of such leaueÌ„ â—…oth leauen the whole lump But see these Phariseis not only reteine the day the feast but ioine 〈◊〉 the celebration of the one day a principal article of our faith the reâ—…rection of Christ from the dead vvhere haue they learned trow â—…e to make such a set and especial memorial of Christes resurrection â—…e day aboue all the daies in the yeare But here their answere is reaâ—… because forfooth CHRIST rose as that day of the yeare Did he so â—…ow shall vve know that their holy Father the Pope hauing in a soâ—…mne generall councell corrected his Calender saith he rise ten daies â—…efore and keepeth his feast accordingly Is yt not doubtful they come 〈◊〉 the post and then all their deuotions are lost But be yt of their â—…de Be it that Christ rose iuâ—…t as that day yet would I faine know the â—…ysterie of the matter vvhy we should more specially remember â—…d celebrate Christes resurrection that Lordes day then the next â—…ordes day yea or then any day of the yeare or why they should keep â—…ch a solemne double feast thaâ—… Lordes day more then any other vnâ—…sse peraduenture yt be because the sunne daunceth that day vvhen 〈◊〉 riseth I could neuer as yet find in Christs Testament any such betâ—…rnes of one day then an other neither that Christs resurrection was 〈◊〉 be celebrate with such a stagelike fleâ—…hly pompe in superstion and â—…olatrie in flesly â—…ustes riote and gluttony that day making holy two â—…ther daies after yt and drawing the whole land both yonge and old 〈◊〉 these daies to intermit their lawful callings vvherin they are placed â—…f God vpon vvhat necessitie or occasion soeuer to giue atteÌ„dance to â—…eir propery and Idolatrie so spend the time in idlenes folliè vaniâ—…e Is this to celebrate the resurrection of CHRIST from dead workes â—… to be renewed in knowledg holines after the image of him that â—…reated them or is yt not amongst their holy Fathers superogatorie â—…orkes which God neuer required or coÌ„manded For I vvould â—…aine â—…earne of them where they can likewise shew any commandement or â—…varrant for their solemne WHITE SONDAY and their feast of PENTEâ—…OST other theÌ„ the Iewes double Sabaths feasts c. But I haue now â—…one with this feast I would therfore know vvhere in the new Testaâ—…ent they find any president or commandemeÌ„t to solemnise the verie â—…ay of the Apostles receauing those wonderful gifts of the holy Ghost â—…hat the Apostles did not then keep that day as a feast or gratulation â—…f this matter is alreadie shewed because they had not as theÌ„ receiued â—…hese giftes neither knew in vvhat maner God vvould work that euer â—…fter they kept or commanded to be kept any such set solemne memorial therof vpon any one day more then an other I supposâ—…â—…annot â—…e shewed in the new Testament Paul they may alledg Act. 20. 16. made haste out of Asia to be if yt were possible at Ierusalem at the feast of Pentecost yet this proueth nothing y t the Apostles or Christians kept the feast commemoration of the wonderfull apparition of the holy Ghost c. which vntil they can shew they must be guiltie as forgers coiners of a new religion so of adding vnto yea abrogating of the Testament of CHRIST We doubt not but the Iewes a long time kept that many other feastes but they may be no example for vs in this matter nor yet these with their auncient traditions wherin the papistes and they prescribe from which forgeries they deriue these and many other trumperies without some better warrant from the word of God then as yet they can shew Neither is yt my purpose heere to stand to recite their heathenish maner of keeping those feastes with idlenes riot gluttony with their maygames morrice dance sommer Lords c. I now make hast to their popish feastes WHICH BECAVSE
in the best construction to be an humane law â—…estraining and inhibiting the sober and â—…oly vse of those creatures which God hath put in our libertie But â—…s the truth in deed is and as their present practise without all conâ—…radiction declareth yt is as yt is vsed with them a burdenous idolaâ—…rous tradition a papisticall and romish custome being vsed after that â—…uperstitious abhominable manner that I haue abouâ—… declared a speâ—…iall and solemne part of their worship a great and principall action of their Church as the solemne bidding and keeping of that shewâ—…th How can this doctor then say yt concerneth not the conscience â—…o not the publike actions of the Church the worship and seruice of God praier fasting concerne the conscience or may such trumperie â—…raditions be brought into the Church or laid vpon the conscience â—…e learneth nâ—… such doctrine of M r. CALVINE who alloweth no humane diuises no Apocrypha traditions to be brought into the Church of God how holy pregnant or necessarie soeuer they may seeme to be Yet in handling this point he hath vnhappily stumbled at I vvote â—…ot vvhat old prescriptions and auncient erronious customes of keeâ—…ing a solemne memoriall of the birth death and resurrection of CHRIST vpon their peculiar daies yerely as also the feast of Pentecost when the Apostles receiued the holy Ghost c. He also alloweth of Apâ—…crypha Leitourgies viz. â—…set stinted forme of numbred publike praiâ—…rs to be brought into and vsed in the Church and this as yt should â—…eeme because he would not be thought a Nouatian or an Author of â—…ew Religion c. But see how he hath therby both insnared himself opened a gap for other like trumperie to be brought into y e church â—…vhich may easily carrie both as great shew of antiquitie and of godines as these He hath therby also giuen a verie pernitious president â—…nto other ages as apeareth in the miserable estate of our common â—…velth who are a great deale more ready to follow him in his errors â—…ransgressions then to imitate him in his godly vertues laborious and â—…oly life Me thinkes also that M r. CALVINE in the other part of this â—…oint concerning such lawes as pluck away any part of our Christian â—…ibertie or inhibite restraine that which God hath put in our power â—…ath greatly departed from himself therin For hauing very truly set downe that yt is heinous presumption in any mortall man to restraine or make lawes of such things as the Lord hath left in libertie he straightway least he should offend or keepe back ciuil magistrates froÌ„â—…eceauing the Gospel inuenteth a pollitike distinction betwixt y e outward or ciul Court the Court of conscieÌ„ce saying that this outward Court respecteth men only bindeth not the conscience of the doer but the outward actions only the other concerneth matters belonging vnto God therfore bindeth the conscience Thus hath he both lost intangled himself vtterly ouerthrowen all his former doctrine CONSCIENCE HE defineth from the second of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—… to be a certaine feeling or remorse within our selues according to the knowledg of Gods wil which doth continually present vs accuse or acquit vs before the iudgment seat of God Although this definition be somwhat of the scantest as making the conscience of man extend no further then his present knowledg which yet we read in the scriptures stretcheth much further namly to the vvhole liâ—…e of man wherin God as in a book writeth aly thinges done in this mortal life which booke he often openeth not vntil the final iudgmeÌ„t but suffereth men to run on die in their sinne without feeling vntill then he plucking away all vailes lets set al their sinnes that euer they haue committed in thought word or deed in order according to their indignitie before them vvhervpon in horror of conscience the scripture setteth out and describeth their fearfull desperate estate vnto our capacitie shewing that in that day they shall euen desire the rockes to fall vpon them the seas to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. c. If our consciences were only charged but with the sinnes which we coÌ„mit against our knowledg theÌ„ ignorance of Gods lawe excuseth the breach therof then were the ignorant in far most best estate and had the cleerest conscience then needed we not to pray for pardon for our ignorant sinnes c. But because our conscience in this life cannot be touched vvith or accuse vs here of more then we know to be sinne for as the Apostle saith without the law we liued but when the commandement came sinne reuiued but we died therfore to aâ—…oide further controuersie I rest in this his description which me thinkes also maketh vene fully against himself for we see how the knowledg of the law reuiueth sinne maketh yt out of measure sinful But to come to the point M r. CALVINE saith that by the ciuil lawes the conscieÌ„ce is not bound but the outward action only Yf he meane thus that the conscience is not subiect to the ciuil Magistrate but the bodie only he saith true If he meane that the ciuill Magistrate can but looke vpon the outward action in the keeping or breach of his law he saith true For man no not the whole Church can enter into Gods seat to search and iudge the conscience the inward affections of the heart c. Man can but behould and iudge the outward actions according to the law of God for if they could then should no hipocrites creepe into or remaine in the Church The heart and conscience vntill by outward actions yt be reuealed is not only liable vnto but searched by and iudged of God And this we see as well in the lawes of the first Table as in the lawes of the second Whiles I resort and vvalket together vvith the Church and vvorship God to all outward seeming vnreprouablie though I be inwardly neuer so great an hypocrite vntill my sinne apparantly breake out the Church can no more censure me then the ciuill Magistrate can punish me before I haue broken the law So then we see the secret conscience is as far out of the reach censure iudgment of the Church as yt is out of the Magistrates hand vntill some fault or offence be made But if M r. CALVINE meane as his wordes and whole scope intâ—…nd that the conscience is not charged with the law of the outward Court but vvith the outward action only then surely he greatly erred For this doctrine is most dangerous and false as discharging the conscience froÌ„ the whole second Table vnto vvhich yt is as much bound as vnto the first Neither can vve keep or please God in the first that vvalke not vvith a good conscience towardes all men in the second Our praiers are abhominable that are offred with handes ful of blood â—…r vvith our
the peace blessing of God There is no people within the compace of the whole land that will fee and feed them well to whome they wil not at the first sight administer deliuer them the sacraments c yea be he neuer so notoriously wicked impenitent vnworthy vnto with whome they wil not communicate Yea let him be welthie and one that wil entertaine countenance the preacher receaue him vnto house resort to his sermons what life may not this man lead euen before M r. Preacher his face What gluttony riot excesse idlenes profannes pride what crueltie oppression wrōg couetousnes pleasure vanitie delight euē al y e apples ripe authūne fruites their soules can lust after or desire may they not gather vvith full hand by M r. Preachers permissiō yea so they be riche of authoritie or noble then wil he help to reach him downe the boughes and prepare them to his appetite which way soeuer his humor stand For they are cunning physicians wil verie soone espie the cōstitution inclinatiō of their patientes which being found then physick diet al shalbe prepared accordingly which way soeuer his appetite chiefly tendeth that shal not be crossed I warrāt you but finely fed nourished If he be ambitious discontented with his present estate still aspiring and climing to fu◅ther honour that is imputed to his vertuous honorable mind which no meane thing can content or suffice what soeuer office or many offices he thus attaineth they a◅ al in him the redward of vertue y e especial fauour blessing of God towardes him wherwith God doth most highly honour esteeme and aduance him before al other men Let him execute these offices as negligently nay as vniustly corruptly with as great extortiō wrōg violence as apparantly as may be peruerting yea selling iustice so that iudgment is turned into gall and the fruite of righteousnes into wormwood all this geare belongeth not to M r. Preacher to intermedle with matters too high for them Yf they should reprooue these thinges yt were the next way to bring him in dislike with the Gospell to bring in poperie againe so should the preachers want countenance so far are they from reprouing him by name or their Church from calling these great states to accompt for these or any other particular sinne that so they might either be turned from their euil waies by r◅pentance or els receaue that publike reproofe and ecclesiastical censure that belongeth to the same according to the cōmandement and power of our Lord Iesus Christ for the humbling of his flesh But sure I weene this case is a Demurrur in the Church of England ye◅ vtterlie denied to be lawful or sufferable that the magistrate should be excōmunicate they therfore in stead hereof receaue them in this estate to their sermons praiers sacramentes in hope of secret repētance as they say for what though they haue vsed yt al their life and giue no outward figne of amendement yet repentance may come in the twinkling of an eie Well now if these noble or rich men be giuen to riote gluttonie with all manner of delicate fare pampering vp the slesh c. that in them is but good houskeeping if they their retinew exceed in mōstrous and vaine apparell yt is but raiment fit to their degree age or sexe If they keep nourish troupes of idle seruingmen followers this still belongeth to their degree if they and their whole houshold spend al their life time in fleshly vaine sportes and gaming so that numbers of men haue no other trade and be wholy employed to the keeping of hawkes doggs to serue the lust of these mē al this is couered vnder christian recreation pastime and is tollerable inough so he wil heare a sermon and cal his familie to a lecture yea the priest will not then stick to stay looke on vntil the games at tables or set at cardes be done yea or at some odd time to make their exercise gi◅e place to an enterlude As for their common table talke they may there be as prophane as Esau and vse there what merrimentes scoffes iesting vaine speach they list al is in the way of mirth good fellowship wrapt vp in the cloth and sanctified with M r. Preachers short grace As for most insatiable and greedy couetousnes in purchasing and ioining not field vnto field but towne vnto towne vntil they be Lords of a whole countrie that is but good hu◅bandrie wise foresight and allowable prouidence for them their posteritie Be the sinne neuer so odious and apparant if yt be in a man of au◅horitie these prophets these preachers dare not reprooue yt for that were both to transgresse their commission forfait their letters pattentes If these sinnes be found vpon any of their patrons proselites or hearers then for loue they must winke at them and not find faul◅ especially if they be any of these inherent or inbred sinnes which cleaue close to the soule cannot without great strift dislike vnto the flesh be left With these sinnes these Predicantes wil not meddle as if they be giuen to pride to exhort them to lowlines humblenes to cast away these ornaments which nourish that sinne vvherin the flesh delighteth and to get vnto them the iewels of godly knowledg Christian vertues to deck garnish their soules therwith if they be giuē to ryot fleshly lustes vanities spending their time therin to councel them to redeeme the time whiles yt is called to day to subdue the flesh bring yt into obedience mortifie the lustes therof shewing them the end of such pleasures delights to be bitternes death c. Yf they be giuen to couetous hoording vp treasures purchasing landes building sumptuous houses and garnishing them c. to shew them that the couetous shall not enter into the kingdome of God that these vncertaine riches can neither help them nor establish their posteritie no not in this world God hauing so many meanes to take their welth from them and them from their welth in the twinkling of an eie much lesse make them the more acceptable vnto God shewing them that they are but the Lords stewards and bayliues of them and shall accompt vnto him for the vse of euerie farthing and therfore yt behoueth them to be careful that they bestow them according to their M r. his wil otherwise the mispēce or miskeeping of them shal fret their soule rise vp in iudgment against them yea euē in this life they shal be but snares to them their posteritie to bring and hale them to more sure damnation c. Fie these were too sowre vnpleasant doctrines especially when they come to be
without freedome without practise without light You see how they subiect Church Gospel Christ to the apostaticall chaire of Antichrist making Christ both a minister to al their abhominations and to iustifie and daw be them vp with the Gospell Infinite were the labour to reckon vp all the forgeries they build vpō this foundation this Christ this Gospel or to shew how these wretches munge corrupt peruert wrast falsifie abuse y e scripturs how they roile yea poison the pure fountaines or to recite the sundrie errors they heerby fall into For whiles they thus blasphemously denie in deed and practise the whole annointing of Christ namely his three offices his kingdome priesthood and prophecie standing the sworne waged marked seruants of that aduersarie that Antichrist that beast these Bishops deriuing their forged false ministerie from them prophecijng by their licence limitation c therby they fla◅ly denie the kingdom Priesthood and prophecie of Christ for two contrarie Maisters they cannot obey they cannot be subiect both to Christ and Antichrist two diuerse and contrarie ministeries they cannot execute the ministerie of Christ and the ministerie of Antichrist at the same time neither cā they prophecie in bot◅ their names c. Many are their forged cauillations which they invent vnto themselues to hide this their perfidy all which as not recking them wor◅hie the reciting I leaue to be refuted by their owne practise comp◅red to the word of God as I might also vnto their owne alligations excuses God hauing so deuided their tongues made them so contrarie one vnto an other as yt is an impossible thing to find two of thē of one mind yea or any one of them con◅tant in that he affirmeth So are these accustomed to doe all things without ground or assurance following the traditions writings examples of others neuer looking how consonant they be vnto Godes word This maketh them thus ignorant and blind in all the lawes and ordinances of Christ touching the true gathering building and gouerning the Church of Christ that they know not the doctrines euē of the beginnings of Christ of repentance from dead workes faith towardes God of baptisme and laying on of handes This maketh them not to know so much as the stones wherof Christs Church must be built nor the true foundation wherupō to build them as you may see by that which hath beene said cōcerning their outward estate practise much lesse know they the true forme fashion of the house least of all the true administratiō ordinances therof as apeareth euidently by their receauing of administring vnto this mōstrous confuse bodie of their profane rowtes of people by their exercising this their false and antichristian ministerie and that after such an idolatrous blasphemous symoniacal maner as also by receauing Antichrists yoke traditions ordinances wherby as hath beene shewed they deny Christ in the flesh by denijng his offices his annointing they denie his ministerie his ordinances his whole Testament by receauing an other ministerie other lawes then s◅ch as he there hath prescribed Or els they must affirme that earthly mē may admit into make members of the Church whome they please and wil that they also may alter add to detract yea abrogate and disanul what part of Christs Testament they lift that they may erect a new ministerie a new forme of administration of sacraments of worship of government Of al which seuerally to intreat and set downe their particular errors and enormities no pen of man sufficeth I refer heerin the reader partly to that which heer is already vvritten concerning their ministerie ordination ministration sa◅raments worship c. but chiefly to his own◅ more neere view and diligent search of their doings by the light of Gods word They holde also that the true Church of Christ may be built and established without the outward offices and gouernment he hath prescribed in his Testament yea that in stead of them yt may receaue a false and adulterate ministerie be gouerned by other Officers and lawes then he hath appointed in his word They holde that yt may be a true Church though both ministerie ministration and government be thus wholy corrupted and forged and though yt haue neuer entred or smitten couenant with Christ but stil and euer haue remained in subiection vnto Antichrist in one false shape or other whose yoke they hold ought not to be cast off to redresse any sin or abuse amōg them or put in practise any more of CHRISTS Testamēt then is by publike authoritie permitted yea in this confusion idolatrie subiection though neither the people be called vnto nor ioined in the faith though neither ministerie ministration nor any thing be aright according to the word amongst them though their Church abound with all manner of sin abhomination and abhominable persons though they haue neither power to seperate the most vncleane to censure or cast out anie offendor or off◅nce to redresse any thing be yt neuer so odious hateful and apparantly ill nor yet haue libertie to put in practise any of Christs heauenly ordinances notwithstanding all this they hold yt with maine force and outcries to be a true established church of Christ though there be neuer a true stone nor any one pin or nayle o◅ the true tabernacle aright amongst them as their adulterate ministerie office election ordination administration worship sacramentes pr◅iers fasting abuse of the word read abuse of the word preached which they corrupt roile distort peruert wrast leauen falsifie poison abuse prophane abrogate exclude at their wils d◅clare Of all which what vnsound opinions they hold their present practise compared to the word of God manifesteth yea they wil stil be the true Church ministers of CHRIST though they reiect his word remaine obstinate in their sinne defend plead for iustifie the same persecute blaspheme mu◅ther CHRISTS seruants that speake vnto them in the name of CHRIST exhort them to amendement Thus you may see into what hardnes blindnes of heart extreame vtter darknes the Lord hath cast these your Seers because they haue loued darknes more then light neither haue trembled at his word but walked in the presumption of their owne heart committing arrogancie in their wrath O how great is that darknes when the verie light of your Church is such darknes as yt is but that verie smoke of the bottomle◅ pit when yt is duly examined For as you haue heard al their worship ministerie praiers sacraments fastes to be but counterfait abhomination so yet of all other you may perceaue this their preaching of the Gospell to be most detestable pe◅nitious euē the strongest snare delusion of Satan wherby he allureth deceaueth and holdeth captiue the miserable world in the chaines of transgression error idolatrie abhomination impenitencie vnto iudgment This preaching of theirs as yt is exercised in a false ministerie a false
Church as yt proceedeth from the chaire of Antichrist so is yt wholy subiect therunto both the person doctrine of the preacher Their person either to be still approued licenciate or els silenced suspended depriued their doctrine to be allowed or condemned as pleaseth their Lords Ordinaries in whose pontifical brests and handes standeth the whole doctrine of the church of England what they shal receaue what they shal reiect what they shall say what they shal leaue vnsaied c. The word of God Church ministerie preaching and al are wholy in the handes of these lawlesâ—…e Lordes to abrogate establish bring in cast out depose suspend without controlement or accompt A greater power then euer was giueÌ„ vnto or exercised by any of CHRISTS Apostles who alwaies submitted their doctrine practise persons vnto the trial and censure of the word and that by any Christian. They neuer exercised domioÌ„ oâ—…er the faith of any or layd anie other burden vpon the Church theÌ„ what they either read in the word of God or acknowledged to be the will of God But heere in the Church of Englâ—…d yt is held a small thing to haue a strange ministerye worship lawes orders gouernment imposed vpon them to haue a great part of Gods word quite banishâ—…d the Church the rest that is allowed them but by shredds patches at â—…tarts braydes to haue their preaching by stint prescription limitation to haue the whole doctrine subiect not to the wil of God but to the wil of these their Ordinarieâ—… who they may be sure wil allow no more none otherwise then shal agree to their apostatical throne The ministers of this Church may not preach the people beleeue much lesse practise any more of the word of God theÌ„ what is confirmed by these their Ordinaries The poore parish oâ—… congregation where these priestes serue may not meddle or haue to do with the election administration or deposing of these their ministers for why they are lay meÌ„ haue no skil neither ought to intermeddle with ecclesiasticall affaires or with the word of God Be their minister neuer so blind vnsufficient or vile a wretch detected of neuer so horrible sinnes yet may not they remoue him their only help is to complayne to their Lord Ordinarie in the meane while they must ioine to the wretâ—…h in praiers in sacramentes yea still for euer if yt pleasâ—… not their said Lord to giue eare to their complaint Let their minister preach neuer such damnable or hereticall doctrine wrest peruert corrupt falsifie the scriptures neuer so violently and heinously all the Church no though there be all the priests in a countrie as at a Scene hath no authoritie nay is by expresse law forbidden to reproue this doctrine presently or publikely or yet to forbid him to deale with the scriptures their remedy is stil to complaine to their Ordinarie and vntil yt please him to take order therin the whole congregation is stil bound to frequent his heretical sermoÌ„s ministerie yea al the priestes of the land both pontifical and reformistes agree in this point coÌ„clude that the lay people as they terme them ought not to intermedle either with y e deposing their minister or reproof of hiâ—… doctrine The one sort as you haue heard sendeth them to their Lords these Bishops the other referreth them ouer for these manie other cases vndâ—…r hand to a prouincial or classical Synode or permanent councel of priests c. Amongst whome all these affaires must be debated after they are agreed vpon the point then their decrees to be brought forth solemnely published pronounced to the people who must attend vpon awayte receaue these Oracles as most holy canonical They haue no remedie if they also be contrarie to the truth but to appeale to a councel in the meane while still ioyning to such a wretch such an heretike and that in the high profanatioÌ„ of Gods holy name word ordinances But my purpose is not in this place either to refute the popish prelacie of the one sort or the deuilish forgerie of the other hoping to find a more fit place for both so much as to shew that euerie Christian congregation hath power in themselues and of duty ought presently publikly to censure any false or vnsound doctrine that is publikly deliuered or maintained amongst them if yt be knowen discerned vnto them yea anie one member in the Church hath this power whatsoeuer he be Pastor or Prophet that vttereth yt as also to shew how far this their pulpet preaching differeth from that heaueÌ„ly blessed exercise of expounding scriptures or prophecie in the Church of CHâ—…IST The first me thinkes alreadie verie fully proued in all these places where our Sauiour CHRIST hath giuen vnto his Church and to euerie particular congregation therof himself his word his power with expresse charge to put in practise whatsoeuer he hath coÌ„manded them and threatned his wrath and displeasure against that whole congregation which neglecteth or breaketh any of his coÌ„mandements or suffreth any seene transgression or error or incorrigible impenitent offendor Also where he commanded all men to informe that Church wherof they are members of fuch transgressions offences enormities as arise amongst them This he in vaine had commanded and they in â—…aine should do this except he had giueÌ„ both absolute authority expresse charge vnto the Church to redresse and take order in the same In as many places alâ—…o as he hath coÌ„manded the whole church euerie member therof to watch to scowte and obserue their teachers to trie the Spirits to marke theÌ„ diligently which cause diuisioÌ„ offences contrarie to the doctrine which they haue learned to seperate themâ—… from â—…uch as teach after an other maner or consent not vnto the wholâ—…ome wordes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST to the doctrine which is according vnto godlines to hold theÌ„ accursed that peâ—…uert the Gospell of CHRIST or preach any thing besides that hath beene taught by CHRIST his Apostles to reiect an hereticke after one the second admonitioÌ„to haue in a readines due vengeance against al disobedieÌ„ce c. In al these and sundrie other places most euidently apeareth that CHRIST hath giueÌ„ ful power absolute authoritie and expresse coÌ„mandement vnto his Church eueÌ„ to euerie particular congregatioÌ„ to cenâ—…ure both the persons doctrines of their ministers of euery member of their said coÌ„gregations He sendeth them not heere â—…o these popish ordinaries neâ—…ther yet to a prouincial Synode or a Classis of priests there are other vses of Synods or councels as shal in due place be declared They can neither ad to nor diminish from the power of the Church or execute alter any part of the Churches dutie ‡ Moreouer sith euerie member hath like interest in CHRIST in his word the publike doctrine
Temple and so might doe his pleasure for the prophâ—…ts Apostles disciples what they did was also by the commandemeÌ„t of God and so none of these examples to be made presidentes vnto vs without the like warrant I graunt well neither would I ground vpoÌ„ these examples if either they were coÌ„trarie to any law of God or that there were not expresse warrant in the TestameÌ„t of Christ in y e other scriptures that such as haue the gift of prophecie may and ought to exercise their gift in the Church of Christ. To that end I brought these examples to shew that yt was a thing vsual amongst the Iewes and not contrarie to anie law as Doctor SOME almost al the priests of the land very ignorantly and falsly giue out For neither can they prooue that yt was vnlawfull for any besides the priests to reade or expound the scriptures or vse exhortâ—…tion and praier in the Temple publike Synagogues of the Iewes neither yet that yt only belongeth to the ministers of the Chuâ—…ch vnder the Gospel vnlesse we wil take their bare affirmation for proof But as vnder the law I haue alledged manie examples to the coÌ„trarie so might I bring more Solomon praied 〈◊〉 exhorted in y e Temple If they think to euade by saijng they were prophets did yt by especial warrant I doubt they cannot prooue Iosiah a prophet Againe I would aske them whither this especial warrant were priuate and knowen only to themselues or publike and knowen to the people state also Publike they cannot shew yt for then would they neuer haue resisted the message and slayne the prophets c. If yt were only priuate and knowen to the prophets only then what was this to the state or people the priestes would neuer haue suffred them in this maner to haue vsurped their office Againe our Sauiour Christ if yt had beene contrarie to the law would neuer haue done yt or caused his disciples to doe yt who were no where repreheÌ„ded for teaching but for their doctrine only as apeareth by the examinatioÌ„ of our Sauiour CHRIST before the high priestes neither were anie of his disciples troubled for teaching in any of the cities and synagogs where he sent them After his death also when the Apostles accustomably taught and praied in the temple being brought before the councel they were not reprooued though they were igâ—…orant and baâ—…e men of occupation in their eies because they taught praied publikly but because they taught the righteousnes and glorie of that Christ whome they had so vniustly murthered and put to death and were not forbidden simply not to teach but not to teach in his name So you see yt was not Christs warraÌ„t that stood theÌ„ in any stead for the allowaÌ„ce of this actioÌ„ either before magistrates or people who knew or acknowledged not Christ but abhorred him put him to death Yf yt had beene coÌ„trarie to the law for any but priests publikely to teach pray c. both our sauiour Christ and his disciples should haue heard of yt no doubt at the handes of these carping cauilling phariseis of those malicious murtherous priestes But we see the Apostles were euerie whâ—…re permitted to teach through all the synagogs of the Iewes inso much as the rulers of the synagogue at 〈◊〉 sent vnto Paul Barnabas willing them if they had any exhortation for the people to say This they would neither haue permitted nor done if yt had beene contrarie to their law By 〈◊〉 warraÌ„t these rulers did yt not for 〈◊〉 his name sake they persecuted afterward stoned him Let this perilous paradoxe then at length be gained Thaâ—… others which haue the gift of prophecie besides the ministers may publikly 〈◊〉 or exhort in the Church Now remainâ—…th to be shewed that this exercise of prophecie belongeth to the whole Church and ought not to be shut vp in this maner amongst the priests only the people being shut out eitheâ—… to speake or heare This the Apostle in this 14 Chapter plentifully proueth by many reasons plainly aâ—…oweth in direct words Reasons may be draweÌ„ from the verie exercise of prophâ—…cie yt self which is nothing els now with the Church then an expounding interpretation of scriptures This light I am sure they wil grant ought not to be hid vnder a bed or bushell neither to be shut vp amongst a few as these Anabâ—…ptistical preachers vse in their coÌ„uenticles at this exercise There are no eare secrets or hiddeÌ„ mysteries which are to be kept close but are to be pâ—…oclaimed published vpon the house top The endes also of this exercise of propâ—…ecie shew that yt belongeth to the whole Church and none of them ought to be shut out The endes are the edification exhortation comfort of the whole bodie what a pride insolencie yea crueltie is yt in these men that would assume vnto themselues only this bountiful grace of God and debarre 〈◊〉 from the same and that the verie Church to whome yt belongeth for whome yt was instituted wheÌ„ the Lord alloweth eueÌ„ strangers vnbeleeuers to come vnto yt lifting vp the Sonne of man therby as a standard to other nations What enemies theÌ„ are these men vnto the glorie of God and contrarie vnto all men that would take from them this most blessed meanes of their saluation The Apostle also in expresse wordes declareth that this exercise belongeth to the whole Church Vâ—…r 23. 24. If saith he when the whole Church is come together vnto the same all speake tongues there come in also they that are ignoraÌ„t or vnbeleeuers wil they not say that ye are mad but if al prophecie there come in an infidel or idiote he is conuinced of all he is iudged of all c. The 26. Ver also what is then brethren when ye come together euerie one of you hath a psalme â—…ath doctrine c. Likewise Ver. 31. For you may all by one euerie one of you prophecie that all may learne and all may be comforted What can be more manifest direct then these places that this exercise of prophecie belongeth to the whole Church that euerie faithful man â—…ath here freedome and poweâ—… both â—…o be present and to speake also as â—…eed â—…equireth and God reuealeth vnto him Are not also al the carnal reasons of these phariseis takeÌ„ away which alledg the ignorance of the most part or confusion if al might be suffred to speake To the one no maÌ„ is to speake but as the words of God according to the proportioÌ„ of faith within the boundes of sobrietie truth his wordes must be to edification els he faulteth is iudged for them For the confusion that might herevpon arise if all should haue power to speake It is not here said that euerie one which hath power should at al times vse this power that which is lawful is not alwaies expedient Christians are
the Church as also to bayte the wolfe from the fould and not to suffer him to enter much lesse to teach or exercise anie office there come he neuer so disguised in sheepes clothing wrapped in Samuels mantel or in a rough hayrie garment to deceaue Yf their examples for their incomparable preeminence be not allowed me to follow yet their doctrines cannot be so taken from the least of Christs seruants For a pâ—…rticular instance I insiâ—…t among many other scriptures vpoÌ„ Zacar 13. 2. 3. Verses where they may see an expresse warrant for this my maner of dealing w t these maner of meÌ„ as also the â—…oueraigne vertue effect of this sharpe medecine olde corrupt sores must not be cured w t skinning plaisters or sweet ointmeÌ„ts If I should obey their ambitious appetite therin I should destroie both theÌ„ my self their seared consciences must be wounded their rough garment and counterfait ministerie which they for gaine vainglorie so corruptly execute must be plucked from them they shewed the heigth of their sinne the wrath of God due vnto the same for the high profâ—…nation of his holy name word the misleading murthering so many soules c. that so they may if they belong to Gods election to CHRISTS kingdome be humbled for their sinnes and betake them to some more godly trade of liuing vntill CHRIST thinke them worthy and call them to the worke of his ministerie This grace effect with my whole heart I wish them beseeching theÌ„ in the meane while not to fixe their eies vpon my basenes and ignorance which bring the message so much as vpon their owne miserable estate the message that God vouchsafeth euen by me to send them least they be offended at my basenes folly which is euetie way greater then they â—…aÌ„ imagine or I vtter so in the pride of their owne wisdome and presumption of their owne hearts in disdayning me they stumble at the words of God despise his grace against their owne soules The basenes of CHRISTS choice hath euer beene no small offence to the learned Phaâ—…seis their proselites that he should begin his glorious ministery kingdome in GALILE and that amongst a sort of the most despised simple artificers leauing reiecting the great learned Phariseis Scribes Priests who where the greatest enemies and persecutors of him his Gospel c. The scripture also speaketh euidently that in these latter daies when the viallâ—… of Gods iudgments shalbe powred vpon the false Church that the most part of the men that haue receaued the marke of the Beast and worshipped his image shall not repent of their works but breake out into noisome greeuous sores botches â—…nd shallbe so tormented with heaâ—…e that their tongues shalbe smitten with venemous bliâ—…ters that they shal blaspheme the God of heauen for their paine sores c. The truth of this prophecie and terror of these iudgmentes I behold with griefe executed euen vpoÌ„ the cheefest learnedest of your ministerie striken with such blindnes as they grope their way in the noone light and reele like drunken men in their pathes they are hardned with ambition and couetise as they can find no grace nor place to repentance yea that I euen trâ—…mble to thinke of possessed which such madnes as they that sometimes to our seeming sought reformation and the kingdome of CHRIST IESVS are now become of al others the most pernicious enâ—…mies therof daily studâ—…jng for new caâ—…illes and shiftes to hide their wretchednes and to keep back and misleade the people yea to weaken and discourage the hearts handes of such as in the loue feare truth of God haue begiâ—…ne to build the Lords Temple despising accusing slandering reproching them worse then euer the Amonites Samaritaâ—…es did the Iewes yea euen blaspheming the truth of the Lord when they see they can by no meanes preuaile against yt For all which their impious deeds hard sayings they shal shortly giue accompt to him that is coÌ„ming with thowsands of his saints THVS HAVING discored vnto you the true estate of the people ministerie worship ministration of the church of England yt remaineth now that we take a litle view of the 〈◊〉 gouernmeÌ„t ordinances of this their Church which though they may partly appeare by that which is already written concerning other pointes yet if they be brought a litle neerer the light and compared to these orders ordinances that our Sauiour CHRIST hath set downe in his last wil Testament and incommended to his Church for euer then shal they most eâ—…idétly easily be discerned of all men no labor learning or power can then any longer iustifie couller or vphold them Great hath beene their craft manifold their deuises to couer their antichristian practises and to vphold this their ruinous and tirannous kingdome I had need expresse my meâ—…ning to be of their false ecclesiasticall regiment the kingdome of the Beast least they be my interpretors draw me within dager of treason so like are they vnto their predecessors the Priests Phariseis so apt as the Prophet saith to lay a snare for him that rebuketh in the gate to coÌ„demne him as guilty for the word c. First they sought to darken the true light by terming this heauenly gouernment of CHRIâ—…T and holy ordâ—…rs ordinances of his Testament The outward discipline vsed in the primitiue Churches especially in the time of Lent c. then to keepe the Magistrates the people vtterlie from all sight knowledg hereof both by inhibiting all their priests to preach therof and not suffring any such places of scripture as make expresse mention therof to be so much as read in their Church as â—…om 12. 1 Cor. 15. 12. 2 Cor. 2. Eph. 4. 2 Thes. 3. 1 Tim. 3 5. Tiâ—… â—… much lesse to be sincerely expounded made knowen vnto the Church y t they can at no hand away with scilencing suspending emprizoning such of their forsworne priests as meddle with such matters Yea the wretches perswade the magistrates that yt would breed an innouation if not a subuersion of the whole state hinder the course of the common law cut off the ciuil quite extinguish the cannon law that yt would raise continual schismes contentions and vnapeaseable troubles and tumultes that yt would innouate and alter the regiment of the coÌ„mon welth and draw yt to an Aristocraâ—…ie or Democratiâ—… c. These things these vncleane deuilish spirits thâ—…t are come speake out of the mouth of the Dragon blow into the ciuil magistrates 〈◊〉 and breath into their hearâ—…es who being a great deale more pollitike then religious the Lord knoweth with what truth sorrow of hearâ—… I speake yt are not able to discerne this most impious high blasphemie against God and his CHRIST from sacred veritie but because yt is plausible to the flesh rightly agreeth to the present
of election only inioyning them to choose some vniuersitie clarke one of these colledg birds of their owne brood or els comes a Synode in the necke of them and â—…dnihilats the election whatsoeueâ—…â—…t be They haue also a trick to stoppe yt before yt come so far namely in the ordinatioÌ„ which must forsooth needes be done by other Priâ—…sts for the Church that chooseth him hath no power to ordeyne him And this makes the mother Church of Geneuâ—… and the Duch classes I dare not say the secrete classes in England to make ministers for vs in England And these ministers when they are come ouer are receaued and esteemed as Angels in hell shine as bright starrs in these smoky Egyptian fornaces wherin the miserable people of the land are kept in most harde seruitude daily new taskes layd vpoÌ„ them by this spiritual 〈◊〉 Antichrist so far are these new guides whome they trust froÌ„ leading them freely with the Lordes banner of the Gospell displaied before them as you see they would be glad of anie of Pharaohs coÌ„ditions their suite at the best intendement and vttermost course being but to worship God in Egipt to haue these tyrannous taske-maisters their Lord Bishops their attendants takeÌ„ from them Most willing they are with al their people to remaine in spiritual bondage to the ciuil magistrate I would not heere be misvnderstood of that lawful bodily obedience which al Christians owe in al lawful things vnto the ciuil magistrate But these vncleane spirites are gone out vnto the Kinges of y e earth to gather them into battell against God his Christ to make thâ—…m not only to cast Christs bandes from them but to tie him in their bâ—…ndes keeping awaie vpon their regal authoritie what part of Christs lawes they lyst from the Church and laying what lawes of their owne they lyst vpoÌ„ the Church Alas what a dangerous fearful abuse of their authoritie is this they are not made Kinges to reigne ouer Christ or to giuâ—… him lawes but to honour and worship the sonne to cast downe their Scepters at his feete not to disturbe or hinder his saintes from the free and sincere practise of his Testament but to incourage them and goe before them therin as king Dauid did dauncing recoicing before the Arke Princes are equally bound to the keeping of all Godes lawes as the meanest or any other shal for the breaâ—…h therof not escape the iudgment of that Lion of the tribe of Iudâ—… whâ—… wil tread vpon Princes as the prophet saith as clay when he treadeth the great winepresse without the citie This is the portioÌ„ of al the Lordes enemies to this banket doe these false Prophets with their perfidie and â—…latterie bring them that they cannot endure to be reprooued of God himself by his word to which they can at no hand endure to be made subiect Therfore they hate persecute him that rebukerh in the gate they abhor him that speaketh vprightly and rule all thinges after their owne lustes And sure eueÌ„ this incorrigible pride wickednes of Princes magistrates which would by no meanes be brought to the obedience of the Gospel first draue the Anabaptistes into their deuili h conceits of theÌ„ that no Prince or magistrate could be saued afterward thâ—…t theiâ—… veriâ—… office functioÌ„ are vtterlie vnlawful in the kingdome of Christ which wicked heresies as they haue no ground in y â— word of God the ciuil magistracie being the blessed ordinance of God for the defence of Christs Gospel Sainctes therfore al humble obedieÌ„ce therunto coÌ„maÌ„ded as vnto the Lord himself this both by our Sauiour Christâ—… owne exaÌ„ple the continual exhortations coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„ts of his Apostles in al their epistles vnto the churches so caÌ„ these Anabâ—…ptistical heresies no way be better refuted takeÌ„ out of the hearts of al meÌ„ at once theÌ„ by the humble submissioÌ„ of Princes magistrates vnto the Throne Scâ—…pter of Christ theÌ„ by bringing their glorie honour vnto y e church according to the coÌ„fortable prophecies of the scriptures O what â—… coÌ„fort were this to Christs poore laÌ„bes to â—…ee the LioÌ„ so humbled as to eate hay together with theÌ„ in the mountaine of the Lord not to liue of y e rauine spoile of y â— poore sheepe so as they dare not come aneere theÌ„ for their fiercenes What a ioy were yt to see Gods ordinaÌ„ces thus vnited to see Moses Aaroâ—… brethren this in the glorious spirituall Temple of God where Christ shalbe Hhimmanuel God with vs rule guide feed sanctifie vs euery one in their callings O what a heauenlie communion should this be what a beautie what a ioy to the whole earth But ô how far are we from this coÌ„fort our magistrates froÌ„ this happines whiles they giue their eare to the serpent speaking out of the mouth of the false prophet that blasphemeth Christ his ordinances accuseth his saints vnto theÌ„ whiles they giue their power vnto the Beast y t traÌ„pleth Christs Testamet vnder their feete couÌ„teth y â— blood therof as a coÌ„moÌ„ thing y â— setteth vp the image of his owne deuises causeth al meÌ„ of al degrees to worship the same al such as in feare faith vnto God refuse so to doe those in al hostile maÌ„ner they confiscate persecute imprison inclose make away without aniâ—… equal hearing of their cause or once bringing yt to light This their blasphemous writings sermoÌ„s y e publike worship estate of their church their prisons generally through London the land declare They haue published in their writings That the orders ordinances which Christ hath inâ—…is Testament left vnto â—…is Church were but temporarie whiles â—…he Church â—…as vnder heathen tyrants and that where the Gospel is embraced by a Christian Prince they are not onliâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but inconvenient yea intollerable as bringing the vtter subuersioÌ„ of the land 〈◊〉 vp tumulâ—… 〈◊〉 withdrawing the people from obedience vnto their magiâ—… a nuÌ„ber of such like execrable mandible blasphemies Reade that most blasphemous Pareâ—…thesis of T. C. esteemed the Bishop of Winchester beginning at y e73 page vnto y â— 84 of y t his Booke which he writ against the Libeller MARTIN MARPRELATE The wickednes falshood of whose deuilish calumniations y â— they may eueÌ„ sodenly appeare I wil adresse my self to prooue vnto him by the vndoubted euideÌ„ce of Gods word yâ—…strange PropositioÌ„ which he so coÌ„fidently coÌ„deÌ„neth in way of reprochful chaleÌ„ge to al Christs seruaÌ„tes propouÌ„deth namelie That there ought throughout alâ—…ges estates of y â— world in al places to be one y â— same forme of outward gouernmet in al true churches of Christ vnto the worlds end Scilicet thaâ—… Apostolike priminue patterne lefâ—… vnto 〈◊〉 in Christs new Testament none other And this through the assistance of Gods spirit
seuerity of God who is the iudg beholder of this church against all inordinate walkers contumatious offendors therin From euerie word almost of which epistle may an argument be drawen to proue the inuiolable excellencie perpetual necessitie of Christs orders and ordinances left in his Testament for the building direction gouernment of his Church It will not heere helpe them to say that the ministerie gouernment of Christ are eternall in respect of the couenant end in that they lead to the kingdome of heauen or in respect of the perpetuitie of the doctrine of the Gospell or in respect of the inward rule worke his holy Spirit hath in our heartes and is not vnderstood of the perpetuitie and necessitie of that outward order of gouernment administration left and practized by Christs Apostles These ignorant cauils will not helpe them For this self same couenant of life euerlasting touching the end had the Iewes and all the faithful that euer were They were all ◅aued through faith in Christ seene apprehended by the eie of faith though not yet exhibited in the flesh vnto them The difference of the couenant thē was not in the e◅d to which yt tended so mu◅h as in the present Church ministerie things administred orders ordinances worship worshippers c. the couenāt being made to these outward ritual figures and ceremonies but vntil the substance should be Ihewed and Christs heauenlie Church ministerie erected to which then the Iewes al men were called to which now the couenant is only made As for the truth perpetuitie of the doctrines of the gospel they were the same from the beginning that they are now Christ was before all beginnings that wisdome word of God Christ was the fulfilling of al the Prophets who foreshewed of him But if they meane by doctrine Gospell that heauenly ministerie sacramentes exercises and cōmunion of the Church which are peculiar vnto the Gospell according to the rules prescribed in Christs Testament then is the question graunted me without the due obseruati◅n of which rules they can haue no true ministerie sacraments exercises communion Gospel as I shall straight way shew Now as fo◅ this inward gouernment sanctificatiō they speake of where Christ reigneth in their hearts by the power of his Spirit c. I say that the Spirit of God may not cānot be seuered from the word of God They that openly willingly breake the least of Gods lawes boast of a false gift when they speake of their inward sanctification Christ doth not reigne in the heart of anie that wil not submit all their outward actions to be ruled by him also Christ will haue the whole man both bodie soule to serue him he parteth not with Antichrist or Beliall This is one of the Anabaptistical errors wherby the reforming prea◅ers defend their popish ministerie They say they haue Christ◅ inward calling to the ministerie in that they haue gifts learning and fitnes therfore though they want his outward calling which they say is not of the substance of the ministerie yea though they haue a false antichristian outward calling yet are they to be esteemed as the minister◅ of CHRIST Might they not as tollerably yea with lesse offence both to God and man vsurpe the magistrates chaire without a calling inasmuch as yt is of no such excellencie or worthines as the heauenlie ministerie of CHRIST because they haue wisdome and fitnes c. But to returne againe to our purpose This inward gouernment sanctification of the Spirit had the faithful Iewes before Christ came in our flesh and before they were called to the Church and ministerie of Christ Therfore either these are no answeres or els the whole scope of that epistle to the Hebrues is vaine◅ for all these things the Iewes enioyed before they had the same couenant of saluation the same perpetuall true doctrines Gospel the same inward gouernmēt sanc◅ification of the Spirit that we haue Only because they wanted the heauenly practise ministerie of the Gospel the heauenly orders exercises and cōmunion of the Church of Christ they were called from those ritual types figuratiue shadowes wherby in their infancie and ◅onage they were trained shut vp vnto the open sight and cleare beholding of the glorie of the Lord with open face all vailes being takē away and vnto the free orderlie practise of the same Gospel according to Christs new Testamēt al trumperie traditions being abolished With what extreame desire haue all the Prophets longed after and great delight written of the excellent beawtie heauenlie gouernmēt inuiolable order of this Church How often hath Dauid in his Psalmes remembred the same with what admiration hath he expressed the absolute perfect structure of that compact citie as Salomon also liuelie described the beawtie pretiousnes iuncture of al her parts How plentifully haue the Prophets Isaiah Ezekiel zachariah and others euen with an open eye described the whole forme of the building of this Church as also all of them giuē euident testimonies of the perpetuitie of the gouernment ordinances therof How oft doth Dauid exhorte the Saint◅ to celebrate y ◠excellencie perpetuitie of Christs gouernmēt throne by how many testimonies doth he extoll proue the same as is euerie where found in the psalmes sundrie wherof the author to the Hebrewes as also the other Apostles in their sermons writings haue vsed both to proue the excellencie necessitie eternitie of and to draw mē vnto this heauenly gouernment of CHRIST in his Church The prophet Isai◅h in the 33 of his prophecie v◅rs 20. c. willeth the ◅ewes in al their calamities to behold Sio◅ that citie of their assemblies to cause their eies looke vpon Ierusalem that quiet fould that tent that shall neuer be disseuered of whose pins or stakes not one may be taken away neither shall anie of the coards therof be broken but there the mightie IEHOVAH shalbe vnto vs in place of floods of broade riuers wherin shal passe no naui◅ with oares neither shall anie great ship pass◅ through yt for IEHOVAH is our reuenger IEHOVAH is our Lawgiuer IEHOVAH is our King he shall saue vs. What can be said more plainly ◅or the inuiolable perpetuitie both of the order forme of building and also for the gouernment administratiō ordinances of CHRISTS Church Of al which as God himself is the author so you see he voweth to be the defendor and reuenger against all the power of tyrants o◅ anie mortal man whosoeuer Likewise the prophe◅ Da◅iel in his 7 chapter after he had beene shewed the calamitie tyrannie oppression done vnto the Saintes by the 4 beasts but especially by that presumptuous horne that liuelie figure foretreader of Antichrist whose mouth spake presumptuous words against the most high and consumed the ◅aints of the most high that thought he might chāge the times the
doctrines what when they please as also the Reformists they sue to Prince parliameÌ„t y t they might be allowed to make bring in yet other new lawes doctrines as far froÌ„ the true patterne as these as wheÌ„ they are compared thervnto will appâ—…are But the Apostle heere as he teacheth but one foundatioÌ„ so teacheth he yt the groundworke both of the whole church of euery part therof actioÌ„ therin calling al builders herevnto charging them to take yt for the foundation of all their doings without which whatsoeuer they doe or enterprize seeme yt neuer so necessarie or expedient in their eies yet is yt but as an house without a foundation which not being laid vpoÌ„ the rock but vpon the sandes of mens wisdome wanteâ—…h a groundworke therfore cannot stand He willeth them therfore to be sure of this foundation before they build yea and to loke careâ—…ully how they build vpon yt because their worke shalbe manifested declared tryed reuealed in the day in the fire This day shal manifest and declare all their whole building both within without the whole forme and order therof Al things when they are reproued of this light are manifest for yt is the light that maketh all things manifest This fire not only trieth reuealeth al counterfait stuffe but burneth and consumeth the same their wood hay stubble cannot be vnreuealed in this day or vnconsumed in this fire To which wood hay stubble he likeneth al the deuises pollecies of mans wit how prudent or pregnant soeuer thâ—…y seeme and therfore vpon the diuers ends of such buildings and builders he exhorteth by the reward and eternitie of the one vnto the faithful and carefull keeping the true patterne by the terror losse of the other he dehorteth from all negligent but especially al wilfull and presumptuous transgression of the same shewing Gods vnpartiall examination and iudgment of euery mans worke which by how much yt is so deare vnto the Lord so pretious in his sight by so much yt behoueth all men to be the more carefull therof whose transgressions therin shall be the more hainous This worke he calleth the Temple of God which Temple we haue aboue shewed in the type to be built in euerie thing according to the patterne shewed in the mount How much more then ought yt in the true substance to be built in euery thing according to the heauenly perfect patterne of Christs Testament wherin we haue the whole mind and will of CHRIST as the Apostle saith in the last words of the second chapter of this epistle Now the Apostle heere saith this Temple of the Lord is holy but euen in the figure might no strange or pollâ—…ed thing enter yt was an abhomination vnto the Lord how much more in this excellent spiritual house ought no fleshly deuises of our owne which are wholy corrupt altogether defiled to be brought but the wisest deuises of men being set in the place of the wisdome of God or brought into his Temple are not only foolish idle vaine but abhomination to the Lord such as corrupt destroie and deface the Temple of God because the deuises of man cannot be ioined with the thoughts of God God needeth not the aduise or councell of man The wisdome of man is alwaies to rest in the wisdome of God wherin he proceedeth further yt is turned to folly and rebellion made a snare vnto themselues Now then seing the Church of Christ is the Temple of God and the Temple of God is holy and is corrupted destroied wheÌ„ man presumeth therin to be wise aboue that he ought or hath warrant to be wise the Apostle from all these places and euery word therof vseth reasons exhortations to exhort all men that enter into this Temple to obserue their feetâ—… that they be more neere to heare theÌ„ to offer the sacrifice of fooles for the Lord is more delighted with obedience then sacrifice he will be sanctified in all that come neere vnto him wilbe serued in this â—…is Temple with reuerence and feare for euen the Lord our God is a consuming fire But our learned Priests treading in the steppes of their predecessors the false Prophets are so far from being moued with reuerence and feare because of the Lords holy Temple that they from hence draw arguments to iustifie their transgressions and embolden themselues therin by the titles of the Church and Temple of God Say they the Churches of Corinth Gallatiâ—… Asia had sundrie faultes yet are they pronounced by the Apostle the Churches of CHRIST therfore much more they that teach not circumcision denie not the resurrection c. Though these arguments be largelie answered in an other place yet heere would be obserued besides the poâ—…son that they gather from these examples to tollerate and commit sin therby how litle they vnderstand the estate of these Churches chardging the whole Church with the errors of some few whome the Apostles theâ—…e coÌ„futed But if some of these were the errors of the whole Church as we doubt not but the Church may doth and shal whiles yt is in this life erre yâ—…t if yt shall persist in error after yt shall be by the word of God conuinced and reproued then we may say with the Apostles heere that such corrupt and destroie the Temple of God euen so manie soules as are by them and together with them thus misled wherof this building consisteth Therfore the Apostle heere as in sundrie other places admonisheth the whole Church euery member therof carefully to looke to their builders guides that they lead them in the right waies of the Lord and build them according to the true patterne of CHRISTS TestameÌ„t to follow them no further then they follow CHRIST haue his word for their warrant from which when they sweâ—…ue or transgresse and being admonished will not returne then is the whole Church to excommunicate such a Pastor leader builder whosoeuer and to sepeâ—…ate him or as many as cleaue vnto him or follow him in this estate The argument the Apostle vseth is of no lesse waight then the saluation of their owne soules which otherwise shóuld be destroied corrupted by them He willeth them neither to be led away with y e shew of wisdome vtilitie pollicy holines nor any pretences wherwith they shall couer their error neither with the estimatioÌ„ of their persons authority wisdome learning vertue c. For if they teach otherwise come not to the wholsome wordes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and to the doctrine which is according to godlines they are puft vp knowing nothing As for their person office they are not to rule ouer so much as to build vp our faith for by faith we staÌ„d they are not Lords ouer the heritage but seruants of the Church for Paul and Apollo and Cephas are ours and we Christs and Christ Gods But see whiles I thought but to haue touched the generall argumeÌ„t of
this Chapter to proue that the Church of Chriâ—… ought to be built in all things according to the wil of Chrift as he hath set downe in his TestameÌ„t othérwise yt caÌ„ neither be said his howse nor y e builders therof or builded therin his faithfull seruantes See how before I wist or would I am drawne into particulars as into a whirlepoole bottomles gulph of knowledg whiles I thought but to haue drawne but a litle water at the brinke in the shallow vessel of my vnderstanding and crazed memory which though they be no way able to breake vp these vnmeasured depthes or orderly to deliuer but that litle God giueth me to see in them yet I doubt not but many infallible Arguments may from this Chapter be drawen without any violence or wresting to proue the necessity perpetuity of that forme order of building gouerning Christs Church which he by his Apostles hath set downe in his Testament Now let me proceed to confirme this Proposition by other reasons drawen from other places of scripture As yt hath beene shewed that there can be no true building without that only true foundation expresse patterne of the Apostles practice in Christs Testament that all other foundations formes buildings builders are deceitful false and wil not abide the fiery trial or stand in Gods sight so if we consider the manner how the holy Ghost instructeth vs in other places vz. 1 Cor. 12. Epâ—…es Rom. 12. vve shall there see the coÌ„gruence necessity perpetuity of the order gouernmeÌ„t which Christ hath in his TestameÌ„t prescribed We there reade this his Church compared to an â—…umane body which consisting of diueâ—…s members must of nâ—…cessitie haue them duly placed and knit together in their â—…ight order srame We reade there that as God createth fashioneth placeth and knitteth together the membâ—…rs of this our earthly bâ—…die without taking couÌ„cel of one or another so in like wisdome power he createth prepareth ordereth disposeth coÌ„mingleth coÌ„tempereth al the members of this his heauenlie bodie according to the rules of his Tâ—…stament by the manifestation of the spirit in euerie one But now â—…uen common sense teacheth how far the wisest man vpon earth is from being able to make vnto mans bodie the least mâ—…mber therof euen but one haire white or blacke much lesse to knit the members together by iointes sinewes in their due place function How theÌ„ can dust and aâ—…hes imagine to make vnto the spirituall bodie of Chriâ—… new straÌ„ge members knit them as straÌ„gely together by new iointes and synewes We reade in theâ—…e chapters that the ministers officers appointed by our Sauiour Chriâ—…t in his TestameÌ„t are the principal meÌ„bers of this publike bodie of the Church his ordinaÌ„ces lawes there set downe the iointes and sinewes wherby the members are fitly knit vnto the whole bodie euen as the curtaines of the tabernacle by their strings and hookes But now as no mortal man can make fashion dispose or knit together these humane members of a naturall bodie so much lesse can he make anie other members serue in the places of the true natural meÌ„bers or by anie meanes place fasteÌ„ and knit these as by ioints and sinewes vnto and in a mans bodie What vse should a man haue of an eie of glasse a nose of waxe an hand of brasse a foot of wood what congruence coherence proportion sympathie feeling compassion should these haue with the other members what learning or art can knit these by iointes sinewes vaines artures or draw one the same â—…kin ouer them as a couering or fasten yt vnto them as vnto or together with the true and natural members Yf mans wisdome cannot 〈◊〉 this in a fraiâ—…e humane bodie of earth and clay what possibilitie theÌ„ is there to bring this to passe in the spiritual bodie of Christ what communion what commixture can there be betwixt heauen earth betwixt light and darknes betwixt spirituall carnal things how theÌ„ is yt possible to knit or make agree the earthly darke carnal diuised members and lawes of man to the heauenlie lightsome spiritual bodie of Christ Yea albeit this could be supposed to be brought to passe then which nothing caÌ„ be more fonde theÌ„ to imagine more wicked then to attempt vvhat kind of strange and monstrous bodie should â—…hey now make vnto Christ by knytting vnto him strange members such as belong not to his bodie Yf an humane bodie should haue growing vnto yt anie other then the true members that belonge vnto a man were not â—…uch a creature to be held a monster and not a man As for example if yt had manie heades in steade of one if yt should haue feete like a Beare a mouth as a Lion the rest like a Leopard c. who that had anie sight or sense could take esteeme this for the natural bodie of a man muchlesse for the comely beawtiful amiable bodie of Christ or of his Bride were not this to be liker vnto the bodie of Antichrist that Beast of that whore that monster what then iâ—… the presumption reb ellion furiâ—… of those Prelates that dare enterprise not onlie to cast away the true and naturall members but in the place of them to plant these adulterate monstrous members and that as they would make themselues and others beleeue in the bodie Church of Christ. Againe what an astonishment madnes hath inuaded and possessed these learned reforming Priests that confesse the want of al Christs true members I meane such officers as he hath ordeined for the building and gouerning his Church that complaine likewise of the vnlawfulnes and antichristianitie of these members which now grow vpon this bodie and gouerne the same and yet discerne not themselues to be of these moÌ„strous antichristian members euen the ministerie mouth of that Beastâ—… hauing the same orginal shape and forme with them being all come out of one smokie forge c yea and for all this mistake that beastlie bodie of the harlot their Church that beareth groweth vnto and consisteth of these members for that heauenlie bodie that true spowse established Church of Christ as though Christs bodie Christs Church could grow vnto and consist of these false members or be said built and established without the true members What strange paradoxes are these yet are they euen the forwardest positions they can be drawen vnto But we are taught in these scriptures that Christs bodie consisteth not neither can his Church be built with such strange Antichristian meÌ„bers or with anie other then those which he hath there prescribed for the gathering the Saints into one for the worke of the ministerie and for the edification of the bodie of Christ c. From which Scriptures infinitie reasons if we would enter into particulets might be drawen to prooue the necessitie congruence and perpetuitie of these officers ordinances there prescribed to the ministerie gouernment and
Should our infirmitie sinne oâ—… default take away the stabilitie or truth of Gods ordinances This would as wel follow of this their reason as the other that because the Church of CHRIST may at sometimes be without this established order of CHRIST and yet be held the true Church therfore that prescribed order of CHRIST is not perpetuall alwaies necessarie or conuenient thus laijng the default vpon CHRISTS sacred ordinances as though they were notalwaies holy necessarie conuenient which in deed is due to vs anâ—… our infirmitie and inhabilitie to receaue or exercise such a gratious blessed ministerie or to walke in this heauenly order Nothing is more sure then this the true Church can be established into no other order yt can receaue none other officers or lawes then are in CHRISTS Testament prescribed This hath beene already manifestly proued yet further might be by as many places of scriptures as either the true or false Church is spoken of the true of false ministerie the true or false ministration as either CHRISTS kingdome or anie of his offices are spoken of or Antichrists presumption and forgerie as yt hath beene proued by the true patterne of the house wherby euery part therof ought to be â—…ramed and put together according to the will of the Lord of the house otherwise the house will neuer hang together or be to the owners liking or the builders praise Likewise yt hath by the necessitie congruence coherence of the true and natural partes and members of the bodie beene proued how that no other can be added without making yt a monstrous bodie neither the true members be otherwise knit together placed disposed vsed without the destruction of the whole bodie and this much more of that spiritual house and bodie of CHRISTS Church which being so perfect pretious comely excellent cannot admit to be shaped fashioned framed disposed after the faâ—…sies of earthly men who the best of them that euer was alwaies excepting the head of the Church in his best consideration was but a member of the Church Neither was there euer power giuen to anie of them whether Prince or Prophet whosoeuer or authoritie to alter neglect or bring in anâ—…e pinne or hooke eueÌ„ the least thing or so much as the place therof in the Tabernacle Temple or Church of God How often doth the Church in the song of Solomon say My beloâ—…ed is miâ—… I am his how often doth she charge all her freinds to stay w tout not to stir vp her welbeloued vntil he please how ofteÌ„ doth she vow to keepe her self wholy vnto him how often doth he againe repeate the amiablenes comlines beawty congruence feaâ—…ures frâ—…itefulnes pleaâ—…antnes of all her partes euen from top to toe how greatly he is delighted in her and how the Kings of the earth should be tyed in her raâ—…ters c. Doth not he say that Solomon earthly Princes may put or let out their vineyeards not being able themselues to till and dresse them to be dressed trimmed to their seruants reseruing to themselues a rent c. But his vineyard is alwaies before him he is able to til dresse and keepe yt euery whit himself he neither letteth yt out to hire nor suffreth anie to part or possesse the fruite therof with him How many Arguments then might be drawen either from the perfection diuine order c. of the partes of the Church from the faith loue chastitie obedience vnto CHRIST as to her husband Lord King Likewise how many from his absolute power authority possessioÌ„ ouer her wholly by the right of an husband Lord King How many reasons might be draweÌ„ from the absolutnes wisdome of his lawes the graciousnes peace of his heauenly gouernment order which cannot be willingly infringed or broken without rebellion nor changed altered without presumptuous treason to proue the perpetuity necessity and fit congrueÌ„ce of those officers ordinances that he 〈◊〉 his Testament hath prescribed for the building ministery and gouernmeÌ„t of his Church and of euery member therof whither Prince or minister ouer whome CHRIST reigneth by equal right and euen the â—…ame iurisdiction that he doth ouer the least There is no exception or acceptation of persons with God That nation that kingdome that will not serâ—…e him shall perish and those nations shalbe vtterly destroied He that obeieth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth vpon him Those that will not haue him to reigne ouer them he iudgeth and destroieth as enemies CHRIST reigneth by his owne officers which yt is lawfull at no hand for his true subiects either to disobey alter or reiect Subiects and seruants are not to giue but to take lawes at their King Lord God hath made his Sonne Lord and hâ—…ire of al things and hath giuen him a name aboue euery name that at the name of IESVS euery knee should bow both of hâ—…auenly things earthly things and things vnder the earth and euery tongue should confesse that IESVS CHRIST is the Lord vnto the glorie of God his Father because all men should honour the Sonne as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Father that sent him O how great then is their wickednes how pernitious their councell who for filthy lucre sake perswade Princes that they are not only not subiect themselues in person to the lawes spiritual censures of Christ in his Church but that they are not bownd to admit that order of gouernment prescribed in his Testament which they shuffle off with the terme of outward discipline in their landes May not yea doe not Princes by this meanes bouldly breake all Gods lawes and disanull anie of them at their pleasures breake that they may follow their owne hearts lusts fulfilling the inordinate appetites therof wallowing glutting themselues in all fleshlie pleasure vanitie exceâ—…e committing what wickednes they wil without admonition censure or reproofe I would heere still be vnderstood of the ecclesiastical spiritual censures by the word May they not yet proceed further and disanul which of Gods lawes they list either in common welth or Church In the common welth when they both abrogate all Gods iudicial lawes cut them off at one blow as made belonging to the coÌ„moÌ„ welth of the Iewes onlie as though God had no regard of the conversation of other Christians his seruantes also or els had left some other peculiar lawes for the manners of the Gentiles or had left them in greater libertie to be and to make lawes customes vnto themselues Heervpon yt commeth to passe that so manie wicked vngodlie lawes and customes are decreed that the whole order course of iudgment iustice is constuprate peruerted that so manie capital mischeifes as God punished by death as blaspheming the name of God open idolatrie disobedience to parents are not by law punished at al incest adulterie either
distribute not to gouerne The third point in this cauilling questiō is to know where these officers aboue said practised that gouernmēt in an equalitie without superioritie in one aboue an other It hath beene euen now shewed how this gouernment belongeth is committed to the whole bodie how their office consisteth to teach the Church how to practise yt to see yt obserued by al in due order and not ambitiously to assume yt wholy into their owne hands For the rest though there be a communion in the Church yet there is no equalitie The Church knoweth how to giue honour reuerence vnto their Elders especially to them y t labor in the word doctrine The Church of CHRIST is taught to obey submit vnto their leaders to acknowledg them that labour amongst them that are set ouer them in the Lord to admonish them and to hold those in superabundant loue for their worke sake The Elders also amongst themselues know how to giue honour one vnto another by going before yet al this without preiudice to themselues that giue or detrimēt to him that receaueth yt without the losse of the least iote of their owne libertie or puffing him vp or setting him in anie vnlawfull authoritie They giue yt to his labor diligence vertue and desert which ceassing they straight withdraw their praise in the stead therof vse exhortation admonitiō yea if need be censure All the parts of mans bodie are not alike esteemed and vsed we haue much more care and tendernes ouer the eies then of the hands or feet yet may not the eye heerby refuse to doe seruice and attend to the hand or foote in all their busines and affaires neither may yt disturbe the least member of the bodie in their peculiar office functiō or intrude into their place The eye guideth directeth the hand shewing how yt ought to doe the worke the hand againe washeth wipeth and doth all louing helpe yt may vnto the eye Both eie hand euerie other part of the body are distinct members yet so knit and ioined together in the bodie as they do their due seruice vnto the eie ech vnto other in the whole not confounding the order of nature nor disturbing ech other in the worke The Church hath like care to see that inuiolable order and temper of the members in CHRISTS bodie dulie preserued the honor they gi◅e to one member is not the dishonor of another or hinderance of the whole bodie The Church neither doth neither may giue immoderate honour either in fastuous swelling titles of vanitie or any inordinate authoritie to anie member that would rather puffe vp the flesh then cheare vp the spirit All the gifts God hath giuen any member are to the seruice of the whole bodie he that will be greatest must be as the least he must wash the feet not haue his feete kissed of the least all superioritie is heere comprised within the bounds of Christian order modestie Humilitie goeth before and is the compagnion of honor honor is not heere conferred to lift vp the hear◅s of the greatest aboue the least but rather for their coūsaile care loue seruice vnto al yt is willingly giuen vnto such by all Ambition vainglorie are heere carfully auoided both by the g◅ers receauers who so seeketh the primacie with Diotrephes is heere ◅uggillate layd open resisted rebuked of al as that Antichrist that Lucifer y e greatest Elder of the Church the Pastor is but a seruant steward of the house not Lord of the heritage but a member not Lord of the bodie to be honored for his excellent place in the bodie giftes of God to be reuerenced for his fa◅thfulnes labour and diligence Yet this must euer be remembred his honour consisteth in his seruice his seruice belongeth vnto al so that the least member of the bodie hath like interest in him as he in the least member the l◅st member hath like libertie and f◅eedome with him in Christ though not like gifts or function of Christ. AND NOW this strange troublesome Proposition is thus proued That Christs Church can be established into no other order or gouerned by any other officers or ordinances then Christ in his Testam◅t hath prescribed that these great impediments difficulties are also remooued out of the way me thinckes yt time heere a fit occasion offred to goe in hand with the examination of the present established gouernmēt of the Church of England And heere to begin with the Antichristian authoritie of the chiefe rulers namelie the Bishops which they would beare away hide v◅der this word Superioritie of their lineage petigree original you haue aboue heard as also of their strange manner of offices and consecration and somwhat also of their power generally and from vvhence they deriued yt but let vs now a litle further consider therof First they take vpon them ech one of them to sit vpon as they call yt or to gouerne many hundred churches others of thē many thowsands one of them as Pope or Primate ouer al they make depose ministers by their absolute authoritie they make and disanul lawes th◅y ratifie or rei◅ct vvhat scriptures they list they confirme or refuse what doctrines they list they make what kind of vvorship ministration they list they chāge innovate coine alter bring in cast out what and whome they list without checke or controulement The truth of al these need no other proofe then their present estate the warrant of anie of these I am sure cannot be shewed in Christs Testament therfore I doubt not at one word to call them all diuelish Antichristiā To confute thē seuerallie were a labour both needles troblesome they being of themselues so apparantlie odious yet this brieflie in a word One man cannot stand a Bishop vnto diuers churches at one time no more then one eye can be a 1 member 2 doe the function at one time to diuers bodies 3 in diuers places no more then one candle can be put in two or mo diuers candlesticks 2 in diuers howses 3 and shew light vnto them al at one time Thus are Bishops in their office place ministerie called members yea the eye of the bodie lights and the candle of the howse the Church yt self also c◅lled the bodie the candlesticke in the scriptures No one shepheard can attend watch feed ouersee two or more flockes at one time in diuers places no watc◅ mā can keep watch in diuers Cities at one time Bishops are called shepheardes watchmen the Church a flock a citie in the scriptures Be◅ides CHRIST hath established an other quite contrarie order not one watchman or shepheard ouer manie churches but manie watchmen ouer one Church yet hath giuē power cōmanded euerie mēber to watch al litle enough Mo◅eouer yt is CHRISTS only office now to walke in the midst of the 7 goldē Cādlesticks he
holdeth the 7 stars in his owne right hand he is the arch-Bishop and visiter of all Churches shepheardes CHRIST is the head ouer the vniuersall euerie particular bodie of his Church he hath giuen this office to no mortal man in earth they are al but members of some one bodie though diuers in functiō dig◅itie as the eie hand foote c. yet al but mēbers of the bodie to which they serue euerie member being circumscribed within the limites of their place office function One member cānot place displace or cut off an other this ought to be done by the whole bodie as in the name power of their head CHRIST vnto euerie one of which congregations CHRIST hath giuen this his power to be executed according to the rules of his word CHRIST is the Bridegrome he only hath the Bride but the frendes of the Bridegrome they stand and heare and reioice exceedinglie for the Bridegromes voice CHRIST is that slaine liuing Lābe that hath obteined to take y t sealed written Booke out of the right hād of him that sitteth on the throne and to open the same All Elders Angels and the whole host in heauen in earth fall downe on their faces giue glorie to the Lambe CHRIST is the only Lawgiuer vnto his Church and hath giuen mos◅ heauenlie perfect lawes in his Testamēt vnto his Church hath sealed his Testament with that his blood so that nothing may be added vnto or taken there from He neuer gaue to anie mortal man power to make new lawes but hath commanded all men faithfullie to keep those lawes which he hath made within the limits of their calling It is onlie the office of the holy Ghost to teach the S◅ints to pray to giue wordes according to the wil of God to fill their mouthes with new ◅onges which they as sweete odors incense day night offer vp vnto God through CHRIST What then and how great is the sinne of these presumptuous shepheardes these blasphemous antichristian Bishops that climbe vp and intrude into the place office and roome of CHRIST that take his spowse from him and al his ministers officers orders and ordinances from her that alter abrogate bring in cast out what and whome they ◅st c. that take the office of the holy Ghost vpon them and not onlie set vp in the Church of God their moulten egiptian calfe cast ◅n y e old mould of the masse booke saue a litle new annuled ingrauen with a few of their owne diuises b◅t thrust this filthv idoll vpon mens con◅ciences as their praiers yea vpon God himself as al the seruice and worship they wil allow him in his Church See whither these be not the vndoubted markes of Antichrist that aduersarie search the prophecies the scriptures whether this be not that verie abhomination of desolatiō lift vp your eyes to the destructiō hauo◅k and wast thes◅ aduersaries haue made in the sanctuarie how they roare in the midst of the congregation haue there set vp their bāners signes lift vp their axes vpon al the Lordes plantes broken downe with their malles al the beawtiful sieling carued worke haue cast the Lordes sanctuarie into the fire haue raced yt to the ground haue profaned the dwelling place of his name they are resolued in their hearts to doe violence and to destroy them altogether and haue brought in al maof filthy abhominable thinges into the sanctuarie When they find these thinges in this estate then let him that readeth consider let them that be in the citie and wil saue their soules flee into the mountaine There belongeth no reformation to this estate euen that reformation which these counter fait preachers pretēd is altogether as yl You see what in ordinate antichristian power they still retaine in the priests hādes in al their parishes the pa◅son or minister as they cal him must rule all and be aboue the whole ◅ocke who may controwle him or withstand him in nothing either in doctrine or practise be yt neuer so ill They must complaine to the Synode classes or councel of pri◅ts which synodes classes councels must consist wholy of ministers ◅e people shut out and those haue absolute power ouer al churches persons matters causes to debate define determine decree ratifie di◅anull what they list by permission of the high Court of Parliament which hath supreme power ouer the Church and all councels and causes therof vt supra otherwise vntill by this court these decrees be taken away all churches are burdened and must stand subiect vnto them But let vs now returne to the execution of this mōstrous antichristian power of the BB◅ This extendeth euen to al the whole practise worship ministerie orders ordinances iniunctions decrees lawes of their Church alreadie made and heerafter to be made and therfore are infinite and passe any man or creature whatsoeuers setting downe in particular A great labour yt were to recken vp all their consti◅utions and cānons which they haue fetched from I wote not what old councels or rather from th◅ir holie Father the Pope or the heape of their ciuil lawes customes which they haue receaued frō their mo◅er of Rome al which are pleaded iudged sould by these Lords Bishops their chāc◅llors ◅eanes ciuil Doctors Proctors aduccates pleaders brawlers archdeacōs cōmissaries in their Courts of faculties Ar◅s prerog◅tiue delegates in their commissaries court not heere to spake of y e wel head y t euer rūning spring of al mischief their Spanish i◅quisitiō or english high cōmissiō yt deserueth especial mētion by yt ◅lf These lawes they take for y e foūdation of th◅ir church in stead o◅ Christs new Testament these courts giue the whole direction vnto and execute all the censures of for this Church whether yt be excōmunication s◅spension or mulct M r. Archdeacon masse Commissary bea◅e no small sway It were long ha◅d to relate the diuers orders processe maners of pleading that belong to these courtes that is no small secret yt is no easie occupation many a mans liuing dependeth theron yt is no small calling to be but a pursuyuāt or cursetor of these courtes I say not so of the parators sumners that belong to the cōmissaries court heere are all things plead◅ble vendible fo◅ money but without money heere is no man will open his mouth be the cause neuer so iust For money you may heere haue expedition or delay of iudgmēt with ◅undry shifts euasions which I want skill to vtter For money you may haue priuiledges dispensations licēces to eate fle◅h or to marry at forbidden times as in the holy time of Lent c. priuatly in the night in some secret place sodenly without consent of parents yea without banes as king by what Priest you will also to haue many benefices in sundry other cases wherof these courtes exercise iurisdiction as of
this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of Artaxerxes who no doubt vsed such words in this coÌ„mission as agreed to the lawes iudgmentes of Persiâ—… rather then of knowledg in Gods law be made either ecclesiastical censures or any way be executed in any Christian pollitike regiment otherwise theÌ„ they are found to accord with the lawes iudgments of God prescribed in his word But this new diuised high ecclesiastical Commission doth not only ceÌ„sure punish al faultes of their churches by these iudgmeÌ„ts penalties but doth inflict theÌ„ in what measure manner they lust vpon al persons for al cawses whatsoeuer whether cawses of religion as opeÌ„ idolatrie popish masse c. or contempt of their iniunctions decrees in not resorting to their worship sacraments or administring them after any other maÌ„ner theÌ„ they haue prescribed c. whither for ciuil offences be they neuer so hainous abhominable as most odious incests adulteries polygamies c. Al these by this commission are punished by the purse by the prison for the law of God for idolatours adulterers were al to sharpe therfore this holy councel guided belike by some better wiser spirit haue found out this more mitigate course repressing these sinnes But if any vpon faith and conscience towards God refraine their idolatrous deuises there can for such be found out no kind of hostility confiscation perpetual close imprisonment sufficient for their faultes Thus no way can this high CoÌ„mission of the church of England be iustified by these examples of 〈◊〉 Artaxerâ—…es neither hath yt any more defence in the new Testament where is no mention of any such councel or Court set ouer all churches ouer euery méber minister cause affaire ceÌ„sure therof to impose depose determine iudge censure punish at their pleasure whome what they lust without coÌ„tradiction or controlement We reade in the practise of the Apostles of a synode or councell of â—…undry churches for the deciding of controuersies doubtes where certaine chosen Elders of the churches are thervnto assembled together with such faithfull of any church as will be present without shutting out of any of them neither are these Elders here gathered in any such stagelike or pontisicall maner as these our Prelates are in this CoÌ„mission but in this christiaÌ„ councel or assembly ech one hath free liberty and place to relate or debate his owne cause without interruption or preiudice neither is any thing heere decreâ—…d by the wil of any man but only by the wil of God that vpon euident demonstratioÌ„ of the word otherwise no credite or obedience giuen to any thing they set downe or determine During y e time of which couÌ„cel at any time after w tout any preiudice any christiaÌ„ hath freedome and liberty in due time place not disturbing the peaceable order of ChristiaÌ„ assemblies to speake according to the word of God either in approbatioÌ„ or reproofe of any thing to be done or done in y t councel Which councel or synode as yt hath not power to erect or bring in any new decrees or ordinaÌ„ces into the church besides those which are prescribed in y e booke of God which are alsufficieÌ„t for al times occasions vnto the worlds end so hath not this councel any power or authority ouer any church or any member of the church to censure excoÌ„municate erect or depose any This councel or assembly is only ordained for the helpe quiet of churches to discusse questioÌ„s to decide doubtes as they fall out arise that so all churches in all places might walke by one rule in the vnitie of the spirit This couÌ„cel is not permanent or alwaies setled in one place but to be vsed by any Churches at any time or place vpoÌ„ due occasions Neither is this councel so subsisting of the presbitery ortied to the persons of any that the least meÌ„ber of Christ is therby shut out not suffred to heare or to speake or any way preiudiced neither is any Church by this councell either depriued of their high power authority which Christ hath giueÌ„ to euery seuerall congregatioÌ„ alike or forestalled froÌ„ the due execution therof towards any member of their congregation or cause that ariseth amongst theÌ„ But as is said this councel is only a brothâ—…rly peaceable meeting of sundry churches for the better more asâ—…ured deciding discussing of doubtes and questions that arise leauing the whole practise due execution of al things to euery particular congregation in that order maner that Christ hath prescribed in his Testament These occasions rules and proceedings of Synodes councels or meetings of diuers Churcheâ—… we find left vnto vs in that holy patterne Act. 15. where though the chiefe builders y â— Apostles themselues were yet euen there were al things handled with this order modesty sobriety freedome c. But now if we compare their high ecclesiastical Commission vnto this holy councell and meeting how vnlike in al their orders proceedings and actions shall yt be found Their Commission being made a continuall setled permanent Court hauing strange Iudges aduocates officers iuriâ—…diction pleas processe c. vsurping and exercising supreme power absolute authority ouer al churcheâ—… ministers persons lawes doctrines to ratifie or disanull to establish or reiect to erect or depose whome what they lust executing al the censures offices of the Church changing bringing in and setting vp what they please shutting out the sentence of all Churches Christians allowing them neither interest electioÌ„ voice or presence in this their councell thrusting their decrees and constitutions as most holy vpon all Churches the consciences of all men with an high strong hand to be receiued without contradiction or question adiuring examâ—…ning suspending deposing fining emprisoning persecuting with all hostility all such as receaue not their constitutions submit not vnto their power Now let any christian iudge whether this Commission be not more like vnto the high court of the Beast then vnto an holy peaceable orderly assembly of christiaÌ„s met in the feare of God and guided by his Spirit to enquire search out Gods wil and humbly to rest in the same The ciuill magistrats power or presence can no way iâ—…stifie this CoÌ„mission or their proceedings being found so directly contrary to the TestameÌ„t of CHRIST vnto which yt is now lawfull for no man or Angel to superordeine alter or pluck away any thing without hainouâ—… sacrilege This monstrous coÌ„mixture then of these distinct powers in one court or person together with this confuse practise barbarous hauock tyranny they make exercise ouer Gods heritage Christâ—… poore seruants doe euidently denote and as by the very steppes trase out vnto all men the person throne and power of that Antichrist that aduersary that beast accordingly as they are described foreshewed vnto vs in the scriptures Math. 24. 15. 2 Thess. 2. how Antichrist should presume into the very
the one estate of the other this matter is otherwise prouided they together releeving him according to his present need he together wiâ—…h them bearing the burthen of their present and common pouertie â—…uerie one that is taught-in the â—…ord â—…reely contributing and impâ—…rting euen of al their goodes to â—…he competent mainâ—…enance of such as instruct them in the word â—…nd haue the ouersight of them not vnto riot and excesse but vnto â—…fficiencie Which contribution as yt is a dutie of the Saintes so is â—…t also in the maner of yt a free offring of their beneuolence and an â—…oly almes vnto the Lord by which almes and contribution our Saâ—…iour Christ himself his Apostles and al the ministers or officers of â—…he church of Christ which liue or receaue any thing of the church â—…ere and are to be maintained Within the boundes of which sober â—…ediocritie and christian modestie whiles these prowd Prelates and â—…reedy priestes wil not be held the one sort breaketh out into al exâ—…esse and riot the other into miserable rapine and extortion thrusâ—…ng their flesh hook into euerie poore bodies kettle and as yt were â—…lucking the bread from them and their childrens mouthes 〈◊〉 they should be sustained besides the heinous vnlawfulnes of â—…he very action yt self high sacriledge they commit therin which â—…hiles a certaine Doctor of theirs hath of late laâ—…ored to approue the â—…icked man hath termâ—…d this blessed almes and holy contribution â—…f the Saintes in contempt therof and of them which are or haue â—…eene sustained therby the â—…lmes 〈◊〉 yea to disgrace the truth and â—…o hide the superfluitie excesse pride and vnsatiate couetise of the â—…nglish Clergie he maketh yt a common custome in his slanderous â—…aÌ„phlet to leaue out or take inn at his pleasure or mistake where â—…hat seemeth good vnto him As heere he hath done the 9. Chapt. â—…f the â—… Corinâ—…h for the 9. Chapter of the 1. Corinth and so still fighteth â—…ith himself and confuteth his owne idle fantacies The one place â—…eaketh of the general charitie we ought to carrie towardes al â—…aintes euen â—…o them of other Congregations and Countries the â—…ther of the peculier maintenance of the Minister of Christ how he â—…ught to be maintained by that flock to which he administreth and â—…ot by infidels or wicked persons to whome his ministerie belongeth â—…ot Likewise that place Gallat 6. vers 6. where they that are taught in â—…he word are commanded to impart of al their goodes vnto them that â—…nstruct them in the word which place euidently sheweth what kind â—…f maintenance belongeth to the ministers of the gospell who ought â—…o contribute in what maner and how far Namely al such faithful â—…o whome this ministerie belongeth and they not by any rated proâ—…ortions as tenthes or thyrdes c. but euen in loue to make him â—…artaker of that litle or much the Lord sendeth according to his preâ—…ent wantes and necessary vses who if he haue to food and â—…ayment â—…ught to be therwith content This place this Chemâ—…rim would put â—…way with a maruailing at our folly in quoting yt in the side of â—…is former booke against the stinted tithes and accursed goodes â—…ffringes of the prophane wicked wherof he and his fellow priestes â—…re maintained Wherby yt is euident that these priestes which thus are maintained either by these Iewish tithes offringes as at the baptisme oâ—… children and purification of women or by the goodes and wages of the profane and wicked are not the ministers of Christ. For faith the holy Ghost If there be a change of the priesthood then of necessitie must there be a chaÌ„ge of the law But these men both priesteâ—… and people which either pay or receaue these tithes and offringeâ—… c. still keepe these leuitical lawes for the maintenance of the ministerie therfore they not hauing made a change of those lawes belong not to the ministerie and kingdom of Christ. For as I haue shewed these are not the lawes which Christ hath instituted for thâ—… maintenance of the ministerie of the Gospel neither can these laweâ—… now be ioined vnto or made to accord with the gospâ—…ll For in reteining the gospel we abâ—…ogate the ceremonial law in reâ—…uing the ceremonial law or any part therof we reuiue the Leuitical ministerie and therby abolish the gospel and ministerie of Christ yea in retaining and cleauing vnto the shadow we loose the substance and so are left and shut vp vnder the law and are abolished â—…rom Christ whome we denie to be either come dead risen againe or ascended whiles we stil retaine the ceremonie and shadow Now it is apparanâ—… that tithes and offringes were meerly ceremonial and instituted for the maintenaÌ„ce of the leuitical ministerie and belong not to the ministerie of Christ neither haue any reseruation in the Testament of Christ but sundrie expresse places there are against them in place therof we haue as hath been said the free contribution of al the faithful not limited or stinted but extending to the communication of al the goodes they haue But these priestes people stil retainâ—… the leuitical decimations in the same forme to the same endeâ—… c. therfore must they needes be vnder that dangerous estate obouâ—… declared Neither wil their Doctors popish distinction help the matter Saieth he the Church of EnglaÌ„d reteineth not tithes as any paâ—… of the ceremonial law but as a stipeÌ„d for the ministers Why I besech him how did the Iewes reteine vse theÌ„ was yt not as a stipeÌ„d likewisâ—… for their ministers may this law this stipend now fit the ministerie of Christ why hath Christ then made new or how is the old law changed with the old ministerie if the law of tithes be stil kepâ—… Might not this Doctor as wel bring in the cities and subvrbs which were giueÌ„ to the Leuites priestes for them their families to dweâ—… in or any other Leuitical ceremonie by the same excuse I doubâ—… not but they would do so also were yt not y â— they haue already much more aÌ„ple allowance in the stead therof in euerie Citie towne of the laÌ„d where the parsoÌ„ yea some where both parsoÌ„ vickar is indowed with houses gleab landes besides their tythes not to speakâ—… of the whole lordships townes that the Collegiate priesthood poâ—…sesse yet these cormoraÌ„tes are neuer satisfied these horsleaches stil suck though blood in abundaâ—…ce runne out of their wide mouthes And heere also by the wayâ—… the vnlawfulnes of their gleebes would â—…e noted both in that they haue no warrant in â—…he Testament of CHRISâ—… being so fixed and certaine he hauing there set downe an â—…ther kind of maintenance not fixed nor certaine but according to â—…he present wantes and occasiones c as also that that tying of land â—…n a parish to the
ministerie there doth presuppose and necessarily preâ—…ume of a Church alwaies in that pariâ—…h where as the Prophet saith â—…hey that were my people yesterday are risen vp on the other side as â—…gainst an enemie c. How many famous Churches see we remoâ—…ed and fallen how mâ—…ny godly Fathers haue had wicked children â—…odly ages wicked successors Many other reasons might be brought â—…gainst these gleabes for which these belly priestes so crie out As conâ—…erning their idolatrous originall and abuse being giuen to the mainâ—…enance of a popish ministerie and therfore ought rather to be put to â—…iuill vses and not to the maintenance of the ministerie of CHRIST But to returne to thâ—…ir tythes againe wherin as yet I could neuer â—…ee any difference betwixt the Iewes and them saue that these swineâ—…eardes tythe piggs geese c. and al such vncleane beastes and fowles â—…or gaine which were an abhomination vnto the Iewes But some of â—…hem would hide this by the Princes commandement We haue in many places shewed that the Prince hath no power to breake Godeâ—…â—…awes or innouate or alâ—…er CHRISTS Testament Heere I would know of them whither the due paiment of tithes c. was not often commanded by the godly Kinges of â—…da also Let them reade the stories of EZECHIAH IOZIAH NEHEMIAH c. let them reade the prophecies of IOEL HAGGAI ZACHARIE MALACHIE Why then we see the commandement of the Prince makes no difference betweene them and the â—…ewes herein the commandement of the Prince cannot alter the proâ—…ertie of Gods lawes the coÌ„mandement of the Prince can be no warâ—…ant or â—…xcuse for the altering of CHRISTS Testament But what excuse can they now forge for their offringes at the baptisme of children at â—…heir purifying of women Is not this also manifest Iudaisme I wil not heere speake of the superstition of the action but of the oblation only what difference is there betwixt them and the Iewes herein They will say the Iewes offred Pigeons c. not money But they must vnderstand the Iewes had a law also of redeeming their sacrifices for mony so offrâ—…d mony also when the sacrifice could not be had in sundry other cases This then wilbe no sufficient difference I doubt therfore they must be driuen to Doctor ROBERT SOME his catholike vniuersal distruction abouenamed They retaine them not as any part of the ceremoâ—…l law but as the ministers stipend Wel let this distinction be authenticall because yt goes with priuiledge yet let a poore Christian aske them this question where they find in the new Testament that Christians may make such offringes or the minister of CHRIST liue of sâ—…ch offrings I suppose they will take day to answerâ—… and I because I will not too far ouerchardge them at once wil forbeare here to call them to â—…ccompt for their mortuaries or portion which they take of the goodes of the dead for their oblations at their Easter Sacrament at the marijng and at the burijng of any in their parish This I think would proue a combersome peece of work for them to approue and iustifie by CHRISTES Testament to belong to the maintenance or office of his ministerie And sure I take no great pleasure to raue more theÌ„ needes I must in this their doung which is so grosse as euen with the reciting yt is refuâ—…ed So that I hope by this litle which hath beene said concerning their Leuiticall tythinges their Iewish oblations their heathenish and popish customes c yt euidently may apeare to all men in whome is any light that neither this their ministerie or these their ministers which are thus maintained are of CHRIST or belong to his Church Yf this yet be not plaine inough let such as doubt giue eare to their Administration which now followeth to be examined WHICH ADMINISTRATION of theirs because it is so ample for the help of my memorie that the matter may be the better vnderstood I will for this time diuide yt into necessarie and voluntarie By necessarie I meane that publike administration whervnto by law office and othe they are bound by voluntarie I meane their extraordinarie paines taking in preaching reading lectures on the weeke daies catechising families c. And first as order requireth I wil deale with the more general with that of necessity which law requireth of all priestes whervnto both they their Church-wardens and Side-men are bound by othe the one to obserue the other to see yt obserued to present the defaltes And this because yt is so infiâ—…ite extendeth so largely almost to the practise execution of all the Iniunctions and orders of theiâ—… Church c. I will only or chiefly at the least here meddle with their publike administration in their Church in their worship of God c. and that but with some few I will not say chief thinges for yet the Subiect is too large for my capacitie Vnto this ministration for their better instruction and direction in all thinges as also that there might be found one vniforme ordeâ—… amongst them in all places they haue one SERVICE BOOK commonly called THE BOOK of common praier vnto this are all the priestes of the land sworne to vse yt in maner and forme prescribed Now in this Book is included the whole forme and substance of their ministrie Heere are their praiers made to their hand and prescribed what praiers to say in the morning and likewise what at Euensong as also what Psalmes Chapters pistles Gospels to read in their due seasons what in the winter what in the Sommer what in the Leâ—…t what in the Aduent Heere are set downe their praiers chapters c. for their fastes their solemne feastes and Saintes daies yea and for euerie other day of the yeare â—…or the Sonday is a gouerning day and is written in their Calender â—…ith red letters and ruleth all the daies of the week saue certaine vnâ—…uly daies and their Eaâ—…es which will not be gouerned by yt but chaâ—…enge to themselues a peculiar worship also they hauing their daies 〈◊〉 the same Calender writteÌ„ with great letters too that which moâ—…e 〈◊〉 their Eaues written with red letters And because they are but stranâ—…ers and come but once in the yeare they looke for the more solemne â—…tertainment that the priest should diligently watch and the people â—…ait for their coÌ„ming make preparation accordingly if they come â—…n a cluster or at some solemne and double feast thâ—…n to inâ—…ertaine â—…eÌ„ with new clothes cleane houses garnished with greene bowghes 〈◊〉 holly and Iuye with good cheare much pastime al work on these 〈◊〉 idol daies laid aside Yea though they come but one alone and 〈◊〉 on the week day â—…et that week is not S â— Sonday Lord of the Asâ—…ndent yt is a part of his seruice to giue vvarning vnto the people of â—…e others comming that they keep his or her Eaue with fasting and â—…aier that vpon their day
by direct scriptures without anie wrasting or peruerting the same Which being done by that time I hope the innocencie of such as seeke this Christian order and communion in sinceritie as also the blasphemie of them that depraue the order accuse the seekers therof shalbe euident to al men I am not ignorant in what a sophistical Saducaical manner this horned Bishop hath propounded his questions quite from the state of the controuersie and drift of his reproches subsequeÌ„t The deceit error wherof may be more fitly laid open after this difficult proposition which he and his associates with such tyrannie impugne is prooued God we reade wheÌ„ he first erected his tabernacle amongst the Israâ—… set downe in the mountaine the perfect patterne of al things eueÌ„ to the least instrument hooke or tape vsed therin as also the whole composition and vse of euerie thing belonging therunto with all the ordinances therof He left nothing to the wil or discretion of Moses whose commendation was that he was found faithful in al his house as a seruant for a testimonie of thinges to be spoken The like vve reade of David in the distribution of the orders and functions of the Priests and Leuites Of Solomon and Zerubabel in the building the material Temple We see I say how perfectlie the Lord set downe y e matter and forme the number assize place order and vse of euerie thing belonging to his Tabernacle and Temple We see vvhat absolute lawes he set downe for euerie thing there to be done how iâ—…lous he was ouer his sanctuarie and what seuere iudgmâ—…ntes he shewed vpon them that transgressed the least of his ordinances as the exaÌ„ples of Nadab Abihu Corath Ely and his sonnes vzza sundrie others the deportation of both the kingdomes with the destruction of the Temple and at length the vtter desolation therof shew And may we suppose that God is lesse carefull prouident absolute ielous ouer this his glorious Temple vvhich consisteth of the bodies and soules of his deare 〈◊〉 Saintes for the structure instrumeÌ„tes forme order ordinances of this which abideth for euer theÌ„ he was of that other vvhich consisted but of stone and wood vvhich was to abide but a time was but a type and shadow of this If we so thinke let the new Testament of our Sauiour CHRIST conuince vs wherin is left vnto vs a most liuelie and expresse patterne for all things with the fit mould wherin euerie thing ought to be formed cast most perfect direct lawes ordinances for the number place order vse direction of al things belonging vnto CHRISTS Church Can anie imagine vnto themselues that God is lesse louing vnto delighted in or ielous ouer this Temple wherof his owne only deere sonne is builder minister head then he was ouer that base earthen Temple for so in respect of the incomparable glorie of this I may call yt wherof MOSES was the builder c. Can anie imagine the ministrie orders ordinances of CHRISTS Church deliuered by the sonne himself ratified coÌ„firmed by the voice of God from heauen by manie miracles and wonders on earth of lesse congruence necessitie or accompt then those of that TeÌ„ple deliuered by Angels or that God hath giueÌ„ now greater power or priuiledg to anie mortal creature Prince or minister in this church to neglect alter violate or innouate any of Christs lawes or bring in set vp anie of their owne in this Church then he did then to MOSES DAVID SOLOMON in that Temple If these lawes be of greater force estimation perpetuitie both in regard of the dignitie preeminence of Christ the minister of the things administred of the place I meane the spiritual Temple yet if the word spoken by Angels was sure and euerie transgression disobedience receaued iust recompence of reward If that word might at no hand either in the building reformation or administration euen in the least vilest things as the ashes of the Altar which had their apointed place iâ—…struments ministers be neglected brokeÌ„ or innouate by no mortall man of what estate or degree soeuer vpon what occasion or pollitike respect soeuer without some warrant from Gods owne mouth that gaue the Law how shall they escape or where shal they stand that not only neglect violate but despise reproch and innouate the whole established order ordinaÌ„ces that Christ hath set downe in his TestameÌ„t for this his church Shal not this be to make God more louing gracious prouident careful ielous ouer that material Temple that shadow theÌ„ he is now ouer this his Church the substance and to prefer the shadow to the substance that Temple to this Church Should not this be to prefer the person Testament of MOSES to the person TestameÌ„t of Christ inasmuch as they make the one to be deliuered and confirmed with a great deale more authoritie maiestie power then the other were yt not to make MOSES more absolute faithfull in his house then Christ in his Church inasmuch as MOSES left a perfect Tabernacle Testament and did see gaue charge that al the ordinances therof should be most precisely kept obserued But Christ belike hath left an vnperfect Church and Testament in as much as he hath not taken full order for the ministerie gouernment orders and ordinances therof yea though he haue in his Testament set downe orders lawes for all these things yet they are not so authentike or irrefragable as those of Moses Princes States may according to their pollicies receaue reiect or innouate these c. Were not this to prefer the ministerie of Leuy those outward ordinances and beggerlie rudiments in dignitie to the sacred ministerie and ordinances of Christ inasmuch as they are made more holie congruent necessarie inuiolable then Christs But the holie Ghost throughout the whole epistle to the Hebrewes handeling this verie subiect conuinceth instructeth and exhorteth the Iewes to leaue al superstitious foreconceaued opinions of their Temple ministerie ordinaÌ„ces wholy with reuerence to embrace behaue themselues in the Church ministerie ordinances of Christ. Herevnto he perswadeth by the incomparable excellencie glorie prâ—…eminence perpeâ—…uitie of Christs person Church ministerie Testament which can neuer be shakeÌ„ or remoued compared vnto the weakenes basenes impotencie vanitie of MOSES person that Temple ministerie TestameÌ„t which were temporarie caduke to be abolished and to giue place vnto these which they but prefigured wherevnto they led and serued this being the beginning the end of their erection Manie most graue exhortations and weightie charges doth the holie Ghost there giue vnto vs concerning the reuerence feare faithfull holie obedient diligent orderlie constant walking behauiour that we ought to shew in the Church of Christ vnto his word TestameÌ„â—… drawing Argumentes both from the vnspeakeable glorie maiestie excellencie beawtie ioy of Christs church aâ—… also from the terror