Secondly whether hath your Gospel been universally and publickly preached these sixteen hundred years or nay And is it the very same that was preached in the first hundred or two hundred years seeing that John saith that all Nations did drink of the whores cup of fornication And then Nâ—tions were Waters Seeing he saith the Gospel shall be preached again to Nations Kindreds and Tongues which clearly demonstrates there was a time when the everlasting Gospel was not preached to the Kindreds and Tongues which are the waters upon which your Church is Scituated And it is evidently manifested that yours hath been another Gospel then that which was preached in the Apostolick Church and in the Catholick Church the first hundred or two hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh Much might be said to demonstrate the Truth which is in hand that there hath been an apostacy the beginners whereof came forth in the Apostles dayes and afterward grew into a body and became like a great Sea which according to the best Ecclesiastical writers which have given a narrative of the first five hundred years declared that there was a great loss within 300. years but in five hundred years or less the very power of Godliness was denyed and very much of the form And though your Church pleads Antiquity for a Thousand years for these things a fore mentioned which they would be hard to prove For although it should be granted them yet we will joyne issue with them in this thing and are able to prove all these Doctrines and Practices not to be as it was in the first two hundred years except they will own such as taught the Doctrine of Balaam and taught the Doctrine of Devils and went in Cains and Chores way for an example It were not hard to prove the introducing of all these things before mentioned and how they have come in by degrees one Counsel that rose out of the waters ordaining this another ordaining that and so have risen up into this great body of darkness some of the practices borrowed from the Jews and some from the Heathen and some invented of themselves in latter ages So that the worship that was in the Spirit and in Truth in Christs and the Apostles dayes is turned from and such a numberless number of vain Traditions Avemaries Creeds and Pater nosters and such a deal a do as there is about their unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse that they are glad to be counted by their beads on strings as many very well know By all that which hath been said may easily be collected that there hath been a great Diviation and apostacy from the Doctrine and practice of the Primitive times thus far as I am descended I leave it to the Reader to judge and compare these things with the Churches doctrine and practices in the first hundred years after Christ and if these things be found invented and without footing or ground then let them that are informed depart from them CHAP. III. But now to descend a little further nearer unto our own age to speak somthing to them which I believe look upon themselves to be Catholick and Apostolick in Doctrine and practice according to the Primitive time and order and that they are totally come out of the Apostacy THis I have to say to you which is my judgement and belief and that upon good ground that you are in many things in the Apostacy as hereafter I shall demonstrate and to tell you nakedly and plainly we look upon the reformation which was made in denying the Church of Rome to be but very weak and poor and feeble and imperfect comparatively with the Doctrine and practice and order in the Primitive times in so much that we judge upon good grounds that it cannot be parrelled with the Church in the Primitive times which I have spoke of before in that you have denyed the Pope to be the head of the Church and so are called Protestants So am I knowing that Christ is the head of the Church and ought to rule by his Spiritual Scepter and his eternal power in the hearts and consciences of people and in and over the true Church which is his body whereof he is the head and let all take heed who doth intrude and take upon them that which belongeth to the King of Kings and King of Saints as to matter of head-ship Regulation or Goverment for all power is committed unto him in Heaven and Earth and the Father hath given it to him and will not have any other have that Glory But whosoever seeks it must be condemned and his glory he will not give to another For the Lamb is worthy of glory and strength And though the Church of Rome be generally acknowledged to be in the Apostacy by them that are separated from them and that upon good grounds yet I say the Separation is in some little or smal part more in name then in nature more in form then in power more in some circumstantial things then in the very ground it self and very many of these Doctrines Practices Discipline and order as they call it I find to be upholden practiced and contended for which are found in the former I have mentioned First of all to instance that which is generally holden out by the reformed Protestants is that the writings of Mathew Mark Luke and John and the several Epistles is the Gospel which the Primitive Disciples and Ministers preached and published and which People did receive and by believing the found thereof were accounted Christians and believers We would have all to know the Gospel was preached to Abraham before Mathew or Mark or any of the Apostles writ a word Moreover we would have all to know that Christ had preached glad tidings to the captives and some of the Disciples had preached the word of the Kingdom before Matthew or Mark or Luke or John had wrote a word my reasons are divers Matthew Mark Luke and John must needs hear and see that done which they testified of before they writ and if Matthew Mark Luke and John be the Gospel the writings of them I intend then the Disciples could not preach it before it was given forth and if the Epistles be a part of the Gospel this the Disciples could not preach before it was written for Paul succeeded and was converted after divers of the Apostles had preached the Gospel so then doubtless the Disciples and Apostles had something to say and declare and pâ—blish before any of the new Testament was written and it is manifested that they were not sent out to preach the Law nor the ordinances of the first Covenant after Christ were offered up the end of the first So then there was something and is something which was preached by them and is to be published now to all that are made Ministers by the holy Ghost and that is in few words the power of God which was before the new Testament so
began to enter in and Judaism among the Christians brought in by their leaders and from the opinions of these and other antient Fathers who took their ground from the Law Tythes Easter Penticost and other things came to be introduced and brought into the Church Yet notwithstanding the doctrine and hard threats of some of the great Bishops of that time It was not a General received doctrine that tythes ought to be paid till about the year 800. Neither was any thing by the then Church determined or ordained touching the quantity that should be given though no doubt in many places the offerings of the devouter sort tenths or a greater part of their increase were given according to Ambrose doctrine and others And then at this time the offerings or gifts to the Church were disposed of in this wise being received into a common treasury one fourth part to the Priests out of which every one had his portion another fourth part to the relief of the poor and sick and strangers A third to the building and repairing places of publick meeting And the fourth to the Bishop and generally the Bishop lived in some Monastry his Clergy with him from whence he sent them to preach in the Countries and Diocess and there they received such offrings as were made and brought them to the Treasury So that by the way the Reader may take notice that the Priest had no such a peculiar interest in that which was given But now they claim all their meeting places since called Churches was builded out of the gifts of people and the poor was relieved and the widow But now Tythes taken by force three or four sold and people compelled to build repair their houses or Temples by force and the poor the widdow hath no share nay hath not many poor been cast into prison and widows goods spoiled by the Priests of this generation how unsuitable these practices are unto the Apostle let all judge nay they are proud of the antient Fathers and their words but they will not so such as come near them in example in any thing that 's good So for shame you Protestans leave forcing of maintenances and forcing of your wages and forcing to repair your Houses of worship and do not tell us of Church Church and Antiquity when you are far enough off their practice though they were in a declining state in this age I have been speaking of And although divers of the Fathers and Bishops and Popes in this age did declare that Tythes were due and ought to be paid their ground only taken from Moses yet none of the first eight generall Councils did ever so much as ever mention the name of Tythes or declare them a duty The ninth general Council held at Latteren under Pope Calixtus the second 1119 mentions tythes but speaks only of such as had been given to the Church by special consecration for at that time people being led to believe that their Tythes ought to be given to the poor did dispose of them to the heads rulers of religious houses who keeps open hospitality for the poor and for strangers they were esteemed holy and good Treasures for the poor who took care of distribution of them as is testified by Cassian But the Councel held under Pope Alexander the third Anno 1180. Seeing much given to the poor little to the Priests made a Decree to restrain peoples freedom and indeed by this time much wickedness was crept into these houses as Histories relates There was no Law Cannon or Constitution of any General Council as yet sound that did command tythes or expresly supposed them a duty of common right before the Council of Lateren held in the year 1215 under Pope Innocent the third about which time the Popes power was grown great powerful But still the people had greater mind to give them to the poor then to the Priest and made Innocent complain cried out against those that gave their tythes and first fruits to the poor and not to the Priests as hainous offenders At a Council held at Lions under pope Gregory the 10 in the year 1274 it was constituted that it should not thenceforth be lawful for men to give their Tythes at their own pleasure as they had done before but to pay all to the Mother Church But the great Decree which speaks most plain and till then nothing was given forth which did constitute them but rather supposed them as by former right was made at the Council of Trent under Pope Pius the 4th about the year 1560. They commanded tythes to be paid under the penalties of excommunication about the year 800 900 1000 and after tythes were called the Lords goods the patrimony of the poor according to Ambrose Jerome Chrysostoms Doctrine only borrowed from the Jews So thus in short I have shown that Tythes were never reckoned as due to the Clergy for a thousand years but they did give them as they would how much they would that without compulsion till the hight of popery and the power of darkness spread over all And since forcing Constitutions have been made by Councils of Priests And so you who looks upon your selves to be Ministers of Christ and to follow the Doctrine of the Primitive times for shame cease from those things of taking Tythes and giving tythes which was ordained and Constituted in the mid-night of Popery when the power of God was lost which should have opened peoples hearts both to the poor and to the Ministry and then this false Church began to force and compel or else they could not have subsisted for the Doctrine had little influence upon peoples hearts About the year 600 or soon after Gregory the first then the pope of Rome sent over Augustin the Monk into England by whom Ethelbert King of Kent was converted as they call it but it was but to popery he and his Clergy long time after followed the example of former ages living in Common upon the Offerings of their convers those that received them joyned into societies according unto the primitive practice by Gregories order and that they should in tenderness to the Saxon Church that they should still imitate the primitive times that they might not make their Religion burthensome But afterwards having brought a great part of the Nation to their faith they began to preach up the old Romane Doctrine that Tythes ought to be paid and having taught people that pardon of sin was merited by good works and the torments of Hell be avoided by charity then it was no hard matter to perswade them to give their tenths and Lands but also their outward Riches and the Clergy had almost got a third part of the Land into their hand As concerning Laws and Canons for tythes among the Saxons in England it is reported that in the year 786 two Legates were sent from Pope Hadrian the first to Off a King of
making any Covenants or enquiries after wordly revenews but went from City to City preaching the Gospel of Christ freely as they had received without any conditions from the people And as many as beleived and received the Gospel did Minister freely their hearts being open unto them who had declared unto them spiritual things Acts 4. 34. Mat. 10. 8. c. So that we read of no compulsion or forceing maintenance from any of the Cities whether they beleived or not believed the Father took care of such harvest men and what they received was given freely and there was no complaint though often they denyed that which was profered to them and their care was to make the Gospel of Christ not burdensome or chargable but rather their hands should Minister unto their necessities Act. 18. 3. Again though divers gifts were given unto the Disciples before and after Christs ascention as some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and some Elders or Bishops yet they were all made Ministers by the holy Ghost yet it were large to speak of the Power and of the wisdome and of the enjoyments of God in that day and time and of the gifts and of the order which was in the Church at that time But in a word the Son of God was made manifest and gave them an understanding and they knew him that was true Truth it self and Christ was revealed in them and manifested to them the hope of their Glory Col. 1. 27. Furthermore they came to see over the new Moons and Fasts and feasts and Dayes and Times and Meats and Drinks and nonecould judge of them or ought to judge of them in those cases for they saw the Body Christ for the man-child was brought forth and the woman was cloathed with the Sun who had the Crown of twelve Stars upon her head who brought forth the holy Child Jesus who saves his people from their sins In whom all Shadows Types Figures representations ends This in short was part of the glory of the Primitive Church which would be large to spake of as it was in the first State of its purity But hereafter some fuller thing the Lord may bring forth in his own time and day CHAP. II. Concerning the entering in of the Apostacy and the Declination from that purity of Doctrine Worship and Practice and when it began downwards from the entering of it in until this present age and time CHrist the true Prophet which Moses spake of whom the Lord raised up manifested in the fulness of time he prophesied and declared of false Prophets that should arise Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets which shall come unto you in sheeps cloathing which are inwardly ravening Wolves ver 16. ye shall know them by their fruits and in Mat. 24. 11. But many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many and this came to be seen and fulfilled in the age of the Disciples and John Testified 1 Joh. 2. 18. Little children it is the last times as ye have heard that Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time they went out from us but were not of us and Chap. 4. 3. So they entered in then and went out from the Light from the Power of God which the Apostles preached for the remissions of sins And Jude he testified against such as was entered in who was in Cains way that were degenerated and killed and in Balaams way for gifts and rewards and yet preached up the words which the Apostles spoke but for filthy Lucre and had mens persons in admiration because of advantage And Peter said false Prophets and false Teachers should arise that should bring in damnable Heresies that should deny the Lord that bought them and many should follow their pernicious wayes 2 Pet. 2. 2. And the Apostles wrote to Timothy the Bishop or overseer that the Spirit spoke expresly that in the last times some should depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking lies in Hypocrisie forbiding to Marry and abstain from meats c. 1 Tim. 4. and again Paul in the 2 Tim. 3. saw the Apostacy coming in and perillous times should come that men should be lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters without natural affection Truth-breakers False accusers dispisers of them that are good Traytors Heady High-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the truth having a form of Godliness but denying the power and as the same Apostle saith in another place was enemies to the Crosse of Christ And these went out into the world and this is 1400. years agoe and upwards Then the mystery of iniquity began to work and worught and they went out and did not preach up the Jews Religion the ordinances of the first Covenant But they preached Christ in words and transformed into the form of the Apostles words but denyed the Cross and spoke those things they ought not for filthy Lucre sake and there was the beginning of the Hirelings that care not for the Flock and those went out into the world and many followed their pernicious waies and there held the form but denyed the power and so indeed preached another Gospel and they lived in the liberty of the flesh and held People in the Liberty yet prosylited them into a kind of a faith which was seigned and these kinde of false Apostles and deceitful workers led many after them and there was the beginning of the Apostacy and they published these things in the World and when the Name of Christ came to be in reputation and the preaching of the Gospel to be in request then they for filthy Lucre went out with the words and retained the form not the Jewish from altogether but the form of the Saints worship and practice which were in the Church of Christ which were elect and precious and they grew to such a head and to such a body and became such a number and yet gain-sayers and in Cains way for they were out of the power and out of that which mortifies the deeds of the flesh and they spred themselves over Nations and Kindreds over Tongues and People and Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People have now got the name of a Church and the seat thereof came to be great the false Church the Harlot Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots which had denied the Husband Christ the power of God her seate was set upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and these were her seate And John said these were the waters which he saw the Whore or false Church sit upon and she turned and all her children against the free-woman the Lords spouse the Lambs Wife and made her fly into the Wilderness for a time times and half a time and she reached out her Golden Cup a fair out-side but full of fornication within and she claimed
Christ to be her Husband and sate as a Queen and the Kings of the Farth John saâ— in the Revelation drink of her Cup and bewitched by her Sorceries and then all the Nations becoming Water and unstable being drunk with fornication sraggered up and down and reeled up and down and stood in nothing being out of the power which should have stablished them And then a great Beast arose out of these Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People which are these waters with seven heads and ten horns and then these Apostatized Disciples or Ministers which preached for filthy Lucre and them that beleived them sheltered them under the Beast and cryed who is able to make war with the Beast and the Kings of the Earth gave their strength to the Beast which arose out of the waters and now the false Church gets upon him these that had the form of Godliness and out of the power and rides upon the Beast and he carries her and hath done this many years and she hath travelled in the greatness of his strength And then Laws began to be made about Religion and then began compelling we heard of none in the Primitive times nor in the true Church but now the false Church calling her self by the Free-Womans name and getting on the outward dress and habit and attire saith I am she have not I the form and ordinances which was practised in the Apostles dayes Who doubts of that may look into the Primitive times and see that I am conformable to the form which was amongst the first Christians in things that are outward And thus she hath deceived the Nations Rev. 18. 23. Now Rome look to thy beginning and read thy Original and view thy Antiquity We will grant thee every dram and every hour of time these thirteen hundred years and prove thee to be in the Apostacy in doctrine and practice from the Primitive time after the first hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh And Christendom look about thee for thou art measured and thy compass is seen If Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People have drunk the Whores Cup since Johus dayes as will be made manifest then what cause hast thou Rome to boast of Antiquity and universality for that doth the sooner prove thee to be a Harlor then the true Church and thy universality which hath long been boasted of proves thee no more to be the true Church of Christ then the sea can prove it self to be a Rock for if Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Languages and People universally be the waters that the Whore sits upon and the Beast rose out of the Waters Now read thy self we have measured thee as in the hollow of a hand and we have thee in the Apostacy clear thy self when thou can If the Beast compelled all both small and great to worship him and made war with all that bore not his Image then we have thee between us and the Apostles time as in a press for not such compelling was in the true Church by any Ecclesiastical or Secular power Instance if thou can from the Apostles writings any such thing or where Cains Weapons was lifted up or Creatures men and women killed by the Sword or destroyed with lingring torments in the time of the Apostles Now in that it is said the Church hath been universal to that more might be said Europe or some parts adjacent is not all the Earth and it is no where found since the Apostles that klling and compelling and forcing hath been but by thee and them that are at the best but in the Suburbs of thy City which afterwards I shall in brief descend to and so it is evidently known that thy Church so called hath been upheld more by cruelty and force then any sound Doctrine or Practice agreeable to the Apostles dayes Though thou may wipe thy Mouth and say I am clear we persecute none to death we have a Beast to ride upon and will make war for our City and will compell to our worship and institutions we 'l cry him up for the higher power and we will frighten people that who resists this resists the ordinance of God And he will kill and destroy and compel and force and we shall be clear and he will call us the holy Church and we will call him the higher Power And so it is clear and evident by what hath been said that thou art in the Apostacy as hereafter shall be manifested by name and practice First thy Ministers are not according to the Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times their call not such their practice noâ— such They were made Ministers in the primitive times by the holy Ghost and by the Spirit but yours by natural parts Tongues Arts Philosophy and Study and packing up Old Authors together to make a little discourse of and this must be called the Gospel Secondly the Ministers of Christ they preach freely not for gifts and rewards and Tythes but you have brought in Judaisme Tythes which belongeth to the first Priest-hood your Oblations Obventions your Mortuaries and these Invented and Introduced things to maintain your Ministers by Thirdly the Ministers of Christ did not compel any at Corinth Thessalonica Macedonia or any other Church to give them such and such maintenance by force who received not their Doctrine But you compel and force and have made that which you call the Gospel chargeable to the Earth where you have power 1 Cor. 9. 18. Fourthly your Doctrine is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the primitive times as that the real and substantial presence of Christs Body and blood after the consecration of Priests is in the bread and wine which may corrupt and so doth not the body of Christ do contrary to Christs Doctrine who saith he that eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall live for ever Joh. 6. 56. But you that eat that which you call his substantial and real Body and blood both it and you shall corrupt Fifthly of the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse this sacrifice doth no good at all for where there is no blood there is no life and where there is no blood there is no remission saith Paul Heb. 9. 14. and so your sacrifice is abominable and an Idol and such an one as there is no mention made of in the Scriptures Sixthly of your Liturgy and publick prayers in an unknown tongue this is an unprofitable and a vain Worship and this is like your unbloody Sacrifice herein you are like Barbarians one to another and how should they that worship with you say Amen when they know not what you say you praying in an unknown tongue is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said 1 Cor. 14. and the 18 verse I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all verse 19. yet in the Church I had rather speake five words with my understanding that I might reach others also then ten thousand in an unknown Tongue
Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God from whence it hath been inferred by many that baptism of infants was absolutely necessary to salvation Christ spoke of that which did regenerate and make a new and clense the heart and of the clean water which the Prophet Ezekiel spoke of which he would pour upon his people visible water cleanses not the inside neither doth regenerate but the water which Christ giveth to every one that thirsteth to drink is the water of life and this washeth the inside and cleans the heart and this is the washing of regeneration which whosoever comes not to know connot enter into the kingdom of God because that which is defiled is shut out but they that do not look after the substance hath made an idol of the figure but the Chuch of Rome themselves which were the first inventers and setters up of this humane institution have said that this must be recieved by tradition and not from the Scriptures because it could not be proved as a commandment witness Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a counsel at Pysoy in France 1500. and yet this Doctrine hath been held out to the Nations for Catholick and Apostolick which the Primitive Churches made no mention of neither the Apostles taught any such Doctrine but was preached up by such who went out of the light and from the power into the Nations which became as waters for the first ordainer of baptism of Infants and that they should have a Godfather and Godmother was Ignatius Bishop of Rome long after the Apostles daves when Rome was got up into pride and claimed authority over all Christian Churches to impose upon them what ever they listed for Doctrine and such dark things as these have been brought forth whereof mention might be made of many things and what unsavory words as Godfathers and Godmothers is used not only amongst them but also amongst the Protestants to this day who is Gods father or who is Gods mother is this Apostolick Doctrine as though God was begotten by generation indeed is it not Blasphemy to affirm such things and also to hold up such things all which demonstrates these things to be in the Apostacy And therefore you who profess your selves that you are come out of the Apostacy and are reformed Churches for shame leave off practising and pleading for the upholding such things which the Scriptures do not own or else the practice of the Saints in former ages will judge you And it hath been reckoned as absolute necessary to salvation and therefore Victor Bishop of Rome did institute that the children might be christened by a Lay-man or Lay-women in time of necessity because infants were often in danger as Polydore makes mention Lib. 4. CHAP. VI. Concerning the Sign of the Cross and ordaining of Parish Churches LIkewise the Sign of the Cross and the Chrism are invented things which are in the Apostacy and therefore you who profess your selves reformed for shame leave off these things and come out of them and deny them Secondly Parishes and Parish Churches which were ordained and builded in the Apostacy and dedicated unto Saints which stand to this day both in the Church of Rome and in the reformed Churches so called and Church-yards which they call holy and consecrated ground to bury their dead in this is an invented thing and superstitious and yet it stands as an Apostolick order both among Papists and Protestants in the Primitive times in the dayes of the Apostles The Scriptures make mention of the Jews Temple at Jerusalem and of the Gentiles Idols Temples in which they worshipped the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who published the word of reconciliation and Christ the substance of all figures they gathered them that did believe of the Iews from the Temple and Temple-worship and the Gentiles from their Temples and Idols to worship God in the spirit and they met together in houses we read of no Parish Churches dedicated to Saints nor consecrated ground for they knew the earth was the Lords and the fulness thereof and was clean and good and blessed to them that believed and there was no dividing into Parishes then nor no compelling then Corinth was not divided into a Parish Antioch Philippi Thessalonica Philadelphia and Smyrna and the rest were not all made into Parishes neither were them that believed not compelled or forced to come to the Christians meeting at Antioch Philippi Thessalonica Philadelphia or any other place that we read of in the Scriptures and the Apostles were not confined nor their spirits were not so strait as to stay over one hundred or fifty families twenty years and call that their Parish between such an hedge and such a ditch and such a water and such a way as Parishes are now divided into though I say they had houses to meet in and preached the Word and brake bread from house to house and sometime by the sea-side they congregated and sometimes on an hill and at certain places they met together to worship God they went not back to the Jews Temple nor Gentiles Idols Temples neither forced any of their maintenance as to minister unto them by which all may see that these invented Churches and Church-yards for holy ground and Parishes are not Apostolical nor was no Catholick nor universal thing then in the Primitive times neither was there any command given to the Christians to do any such thing neither reprehension for not doing such things The first Church or Temple that we read of was consecrated by Pius Bishop of Rome in honour of the Virgin Prudentia and afterwards Calistus made a Temple to the Virgin Mary a place beyond Tibris and instituted a Church-yard in Apius his street and called it after his own name And Dionysius in the year 267 divided both in Rome other places Churches and Church-yards to Curates and made Parishes and Diocesses to Bishops and commanded that every man should be contented with his prescript bonds and there was the beginning of Parishes Churches and Church-yards consecrated ground and in process of time when all Nations had drunk of the cup of fornication the Nations began to imitate their mother and to build and consecrate Temples and Churches and Church-yards to this Saint and the other Saint as is too too manifest through Christendom to this day And here 's the rise of holy Parish Churches which of late have been preached up for the house of God and the house of prayer which bears the name yet by which the Pope baptized them Saint Peter Saint Paul Saint Mary Saint Hellen Saint Katherine Saint Gregory Saint Maudlen Saint Alban Saint Anthony Saint George Saint Margaret Saint Dunstoâ— Saint Clement Saint Christopher Saint Giles Saint Martine and painting and garnishing these houses with Images and pictures and hanging of flowers and boughes and garlands this came from the old heathen who sacrificed to Saturn and Pluto and this hanging up candles
Dionysius writes unto him how that all Cilicia Cappadocia Galatia and the bordering Nations how great Synods had decreed that they would not communicate with them because they rebaptized Hereticks and saith further the greatest Synods of Bishops hath decreed that such as renounce any heresie should first be instructed and then Washed and Purged of their impure leaven and thus they Wrangled and Jangled about things with one another and brake into Fractions notwithstanding many of these men Suffered under the merciless Cruelty of the Heathen Emperor likewise they excommunicated one another and called Councils and censured one another and hurt the spreadng of Truth amongst them that believed in the Name of Jesus all this is to shew that they were declining and coming to loss in this time though so near the Apostles time and though they suffered under the Emperors and found peace with the Lord yet many practices and institutions were made which are not according to the Primitive times which ought not to be binding to all generations afterwards because of the Antiquity of them as the now called Church of Rome would have all to receive as Apostolick Doctrine But to return to Constantine the Emperor when peace was established in the Empire he set forth a general Proclamation or Edict not constraining therein any man fro any Religion but giving liberty to all men to exercise their Religion whether Christians or others which thing was taken well by the Romans and all wise men this Licinius joyned with Constantine in the Government of the Empire and seemingly favoured the Christians and joyned with Constantine in setting forth an edict for the Christians liberty yet afterwards he had great hatred towards Constantine and conspired his death rejecting the Christian Religion and Persecuted them who said he would become an Enemy to the Christians for that in their Meetings and Assemblies they prayed not for him but for Constantine so cast the Christians into Prison and Persecuted them within his Dominions and many were put to death but at length he was slain after several battels between him and Constantine by the souldiers in the year 324. Constantius the Emperor the Father of Constantine dyed a natural death and was buried at York Dioclcesian died at Salena as some say by his own Poyson in the year 319. he was the chief of the seven Tyrants in the tenth Persecution Maximinian the second who was hanged at Mazilla by Constantine in the year 310. Thirdly Galerius who was plagued with a terrible disease Severus the fourth was slain by Maximinian the father of Maxentius the wicked Tyrant who was Banished by Constantine in the year 318. The sixth was Maxentius who dyed not long atfer in the year 320. Lastly Licinius was overcome by Constantine and slain about the year 324. And thus the Lord Plagued the cruelty of the Heathen Emperors who knew not God but hated his appearance and rewarded them according to their deeds The Christians in these three hundred years wherein was the ten Persecutions they were sufferers under the Power of the Dragon who ruled in the Emperors and then they were not Persecutors having not the outward power in their hand but when they had the outward power then they turned Persecutors especially the Bishops of Rome when they had the outward power on their side then they were worse then Constantine the great who gave liberty to all Christians and others to Worship God without forcing of any as their actions following afterwards makes it appear for being countenanced by the Emperor they grew proud and lordly and increasing in power and outward Authority though set up at first by the Emperor at last excluded him for having any Authority or Power over the See of Rome as after a season may be made appear In the year 367. Damasus was Bishop of Rome 18. years Also in the first three or four hundred years before ever the Bshop of Rome did get so high as to be called universal Bishop abundance of Darkness spread over and abundance of Idolatry and superstitious things was invented and abundance of Orders as Friars and Monks and Monasteries and Nunneries wherein they were diverted from the order of the Gospel and a great Apostacy came in In the year 260. Anthony is called the Father of the Monks who followed the Example of Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt who retired himself to a private Gave under the foot of a Rock in the seventh Persecution by Decius And one called Basil is said to be the first that built Monasteries and ordained vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience and these are called the Monks of Basils Order and are bound to abstain from all kinde of Flesh and here began this Doctrine of Devils contrary to the Doctrines of the Apostles of Christ. The next who prescribed Orders was Augustine born in the year 350. this order was called Austin Fryars they wear a Lethern girdle to distinguish them from the Monks the first Order of the Eriars was Mendicants the third that Prescribed Orders was Benedict in the year 472. and out of this Order did spring the Monks of Benedict and divers other Orders which I have mentioned before in the former part of the Book The fourth that Prescribed Orders was Francis of Assis these are called Franciscans or Grey Friars their rule and order was confirmed by Innocent the third these are the fourth Order of Friars Mendicants or begging Friars and from this order sprung Friars Miniries and Capouchen Friars Miniries were ordered by Franciscus de Pola and Capouchens were ordained by one Matthew Basa of Acona The Jesuites were first founded by Ignatius Loyolla born in Navar they were first confirmed by Paul the third The Nuns first Author was one Clare the Daughter of Asses who forsoke her Fathers House and devised an Order of religious Women who vowed Poverty and Virginity they were confirmed by Honorius the third but many of these being mentioned and their Practices which are contrary to the Primitive time is mentioned before in this Book and so let them pass and to return to the Bishops of Rome but divers contentions and sects began to breake forth and the Bishops not only of Rome but of Alexandria and Nicomedia and Miletus and one clashing against another Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Eusebins Bishop of Nicomedia and many Bishops in other places joyning one to one side and one to another and envying one another insomuch that as Eusebius saith a man might have seen not only the Presidents and chief Rulers of the Churches envying one against another with spightful approbrious Terms and also the Multitude severed into parts that the Christian Religion was openly derided of all Men and so called Councils and Synods and condemned one another and excommunicated one another as Hereticks and so went out of the Long-suffering and Patience and forbearance which the Apostle exhorted unto And so no less then four hundred years many run wholly out into contention about
about Spiritual matters for the worship of God But we never read of any called Christians that did so untill Pelagius a Bishop of Rome or Pope when the Emperour had given Boneface the third this power to be called the Chief Bishop and head universal over all Christian Churches Then he begun to make temporal Laws to punish about Spiritual things And Pelagius made a decree that Hereticks should be punished with Temporal death about 555 years after Christ So let all Princes Magistrate and Rulers who denies the Church of Rome in her Apostacy follow not her example but leave every one free to the Lord in Spiritual matters as concerning his Worship for to him must every one give an account in his own day when it shal be required from which the wicked shall not be able to fly Another Objection But then it may be said what power will you allow unto Magistrates that profess the Name of Christ Or how far have they Authority from God to punish evil doers and encourage them that do well Answer It is said by me Kings Rule and Princes decrees Justice there is a ruling by him and that is a ruling in the power of God in him He that rules in the power of God measures equal justice unto all men and ruleth by the good and wholsome Laws which are made by the will of God which is according to Gods witness which he hath placed in every mans heart and such a one is a Temporall head over the temporal body ruleth in Righteousness in temporal things But Christ he is the head of the body that is spiritual which is his Church Now the Law is against the lawless as against Liers Swearers Stealers Cursed speakers Murderers Man-slayers Man stealers Violence and Oppression and Deceit and that which tends to the hurt and destroying of the Creation And he that is the Executor of the Law ought to inflict temporal punishments for temporall facts provided that every punishment be suitable to the transgression and go not beyond it and in so doing he rules for God and the sword is to be turned against that which doth evil and to keep peace amongst all men and to keep down all strife and Contention Quarrelling and fighting and keeping the unruly from devouring and destroying one another And this is to rule for God in a Nation in the Creation and to countenance the honest upright and quiet and meek and this is a praise unto them that do well and this is that which would keep the Nations at peace And here Governors and Rulers comes to be blessed when the Princes thereof rules in Righteousness and when people live under them a holy godly and quiet life But when Godliness Holiness Righteousness is counted as a crime and wickedness and violence and iniquity set up that Nation is near a judgement and for the iniquity of Rulers Kings and People many fruitful Lands hath the Lord made barren and that which is for the well-being and preservation for the universal good and all people therein all people ought to render obedience unto such Command for conscience sake and all people ought â—to obey Rulers and Governours in that which is good and lawful and warrantable in the sight of God unto all just commands to yeild obedience not for wrath but for conscience sake For so the Lord requires which will be acceptable and pleasing in his fight And all Magistrates who are Christians ought to be paterns of Holiness and Righteousnesse to their people and to admonish exhort and reprove the prophane and ungodly and to the worship of the True God who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth It is the duty of every true Christian who is a King and a Priest unto God CHAP. XVII Concerning Oaths in the first Covenant and the Lawfulness thereof and the unlawfulness thereof discovered in the New Covenant in Gospel times Though Apostates mingle the Ordinances of both together denying all oaths proved to be no new Doctrine IN the beginning when God Created the Heavens and the Earth all things that are therein by the Word of his power and set the bounds the habitations thereof separated betwixt Light Darkness And when man was Created in his own Image in the Image of God created he him Male and Female created he them Now the Image of God consists in Righteousness Holiness Equity long suffering Patience Goodnesse Mercy and Truth the Glory thereof is unspeakable man being in this Image there was no trangression nor sin nor sorrow man was bound unto his Maker by the Power in which he was made yea he was in a capacity to Fear Love Honour Obey and Worship his Maker from the virtue of that Power and Principle which God had placed in him which some ignorantly calls the Law of Nature But that is not the intention of my discourse to contend what it was but to shew that man was at union with God and bound unto him by that which God had placed in him in which his wisdom power and dominion stood to rule over all the Creatures life was in him there was no death then in this the Obligation stood not in outward written commands or ordinances but it stood in that which was internal and invisible this was before the transgression here was no Oaths yet nor outward Covenants made nor outward Ordinances But after man had transgressed and eaten of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil and gone from the power and broken the Covenant he lost his wisdome and folly entred he lost his dominion and weaknesse entred he lost his knowledge and ignorance entred and an earthly part and a mutable came to have Dominion not that this was evil in it self being subjected by the power and word in its place and in the state wherein it was good but man being gone from the power and from the Covenant joyned to something out of it and out of the mind and listened to that which should have been ruled over that became a Leader which God never appointed and this led mans heart from the invisible God of life and light who is immutable to lust after visible things and mutable and earthly things and into instability And so his heart and mind and affections became more and more to be alienated from the Lord and his understanding more darkned yet such was the love of God unto mankind that he did not wholly cast him off here but followed him with his mercies and promised the Seed of the woman should bruse the Serpents head and so it did yet the Adulterers generation in the transgressing nature were great and fast and there was but few before the flood in comparison of the Multitude who bore the Image of God and few in a generation as Abel Enock Seth and the rest went after the Imaginations of their own hearts and set up Images and Idols and also after the Flood when the
and Princes may take warning by this King Richard not to fulfil the cruel and bloody desires of their Prelates And Chrysostome who was Bishop of Constantinople in commendation of whom much is said in the Ecclesiasticall histories he blameth them greatly that bringeth forth a book to swear upon charging Clerks that in no wise they constrain any body to swear whether they think a man swear true or false saying that it is a sin to swear well now I mentioned before it was an Emperor that commanded first that men should swear by it book this Chrysostom reproves so hereby it may be seen by these examples it is no new doctrine to deny all swearing and there hath been a people very many years in the Low Countries that have denied swearing in any matter therefore their yea and nay stand in Courts of judicature equal with an oath they being men generally of known integrity whose yea is yea and nay nay in all places and matters If they that despise Moses Law died without mercy of how much more sorer punishment suppose ye shal they be thought worthy of who treads underfoot the Son of God c. and disobey his commands teach others so to do they shall be shut out of the Kingdom of God have no part with the obedient who keeps Christs commands through temptations and sufferings and are not offended at them neither counts them grievous they only are happy and shal inherit everlasting life Likewise Jerome who was an antient Father and Teacher in the Church which all the Protestants owneth upon that place the 5 of Mat. and 37. ver 5 James 12 These are his words It was permitted under the law to the Jews as being tender and as it were infants that as they were to offer Sacrifices to God least they should Sacrifice to Idols so they might swear by God not that it was rightful so to do but because it was better to swear by the Lord then by false Gods devils but the great Evangelical sincerity and truth admits not of an oath since every true saying is equivolent thereunto In like manner doth Theophilact an antient Father of the Church whoÌ„ the Protestants owns have often cited his doctrine for proof upon the place in controversy saith Learn hence that then under the law it was not evil for one to swear but since the coming of Christ it is evil as is circumcision in sum whatever is judaical for it may become a child to suck but not a man So that oaths pertained to the Jews who were under the changable Covenant the mutable Covenant which continued but for a time till the Seed Christ the oath of God was revealed and where he is revealed and witnessed all the Judaical Types and Figures and changeable Ordinances hath an end Likewise Ambrose upon the 118. Psalm he saith None doth swear a right but he that knows what he swears and the Lord hath sworn and will not repent upon Psalm 110 Ambrose saith let him then swear who cannot repent of his oath and a little after the said Ambrose saith do not imitate him in swearing whom we cannot imitate in fulfilling And indeed the principal solution given by him is swear not at all and the aforesaid Waldenses who condemned all maner of swearing as unlawful they made it their care to avoid swearing and lying and hereby they did give sufficient caution against all inconveniences which may come thereby as to government in general for where a testification or assertion is made without an oath is as sure as if it had been sworn to And Bishop Usher doth esteem that place of Matthew the fifth swear not at all to be a sufficient plea for the Waldenses against swearing And therefore they who have any esteem of the aforesaid Authors and of their doctrine must not condemn the Quakers as for novelties or for broachers of new Doctrine For Reynerius one of the popish inquisitions saith amongst all the sects which are or have been there is not any more pernitious to the Church meaning the Church of Rome then the Waldenses and that for three reasons 1. Because of their antiquity secondly because of their universality thirdly in that they did profess it no way lawful for a Christian to swear on any occasion which doctrine was contrary to the Church of Rome which made Rinerius Jansenius two papists so much envied the Walden ses in this thing about keeping the commands of Christ And yet notwithstanding all this cloud of witnesses both in primitive times after ages diverse who suffered as Martyrs did hold the same also the many testimonies of them who have died in the faith yet many are so wilful and so peevish and so envious against every thing which they cannot joyn unto as that they will brand this Doctrine for Novelty and Heresie Let such consider how they will condemn this doctrine and yet justifie Christs words and them which have been reckoned as Fathers and Marryrs and as Orthodox found in the faith by all except the Church of Rome who too much imitates the Jews yet are no Jews and they have been the chief criers up of oaths and swearing afterwards gives dispensations to them that breaks them and therefore all who reckons your selves as Christians keep to the doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of the Apostles who were followers of him and run not back to the Jews ordinances wâ—h continued but til the time of reformation and you that reckons your selves aâ— Protestants for shame leave off that Doctrine which hath been brought in by the Apostates who hath mingled things together without having respect either to time or age or people And so have run back to the Jews and brings those commands injunctions wch pertained to the Jews layes them as yokes upon the necks of Christians remember what the Apostle said to the Galathians concerning the works of the Law concerning Types and figures Gal. 1 2. If ye be circumeised Christ profits you nothing and an oath was a type as well as circumcision to the Jews and what if I say of all swearers who hath no better ground for so doing then the Jewish oaths which were types and testifie unto every one that he that takes an oath swears at all is bound to keep the whole Law Christ profits him nothing And so ler all people who fear the Lord and doth believe that they have received Christ in their hearts the end of the Law for Righteousness not turn back to the changeable Covenant again least he who is the everlasting Covenant say unto them who hath required these things at your hand and also raise up his swift witness to condemn them who transgresses his pure and holy and righteous commands and would compel others so to do CHAP. XVIII Tythes in their first institution unto whom they were due according to the Command of God declared and
their Brethren there was made of necessity also a change of the Law and a disanulling of the Commandment going before Christ Jesus when he had finished his Office upon earth by fulfiling all righteousnes he offered up himself through the eternal spirit sacrifice unto God without spot The Apostles and Ministers who were made partakers of the divine nature and of the word of reconciliation did not look back to the former Ordinances of the first Priesthood but testified an end was put to them witnessed again the Temple wherein the Priests Ministred Paul and likewise Stephen was stoned to death against circumcision saying It was not that of the Flesh and against all the outward ordinances of that Covenant called them carnal preached up Christ Jesus his doctrine the new and living way wch was not manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing they preached freely the ever lasting Gospel and did not desire or require setled maintenance but were Ministred unto only by them who had believed their report were turned to Christ Jesus and were made partakers of spiritual things though they often denied that which was given unto them Here was no Tythes spoken on either to the Jews or Gentiles who believed At Jerusalem and there abouts such was the love and unity of heart among the Saints in the Apostles time that all things were in common none wanted So likewise the Church gathered by Mark at Alexandria in Egypt followed the same practice and the Church at Jerusalem and Philo Judeus saith in many other provinces the Christians lived together in societies In the Church of Antioch Galatie and Corinth the Saints possessed every man his own Estate where the Apostle ordained that a weekly offering should be made of the Saints that every one might offer freely of that which God had blessed him with which was put into the hands of the Deacons of the Churches whereby the poor was relieved and other necessary services were supplied In the next age monthly offrings were made not exacted but freely given as appears plainly by Tertullian in Apologet. chap. 29. where he upbraids the Gentiles with the piety and charity of the Christians he saith Whatsoever we have in the Treasury of our Churches it is not raised by taxation as though we put men to ransom their Religion But every man once a month or when he pleaseth himself gives what he thinks good for no man is compelled but left free to his own descretion and it is not bestowed in vanity but in relieving the poor and for maintenance of poor Children Deffitute of Parents and aged people and such as are cast into Prisons for professing the Christian faith And this way of contribution continued till the great persecution under Maximinian and Dioclesian about the year 304 as Eusebius witnesseth and so doth Tertullian Origen Cyprian and others Also about this time some Land was given to the Church by them that believed and the revenue thereof was distributed as other free gifts were by the Deacons and Elders to the poor for the fore mentioned uses but the Bishops or Ministers medled not with them Origen saith It is not lawful for any Minister to possesse Lands given to the Church to his own use Cyprian Bishop of Carthage about the year 250 also testifieth the same sheweth how the Church maintaineth many poor and that her own diet was sparing plain and her expences full of frugality Prosper saith also that a Minister able to live of himself ought not to desire any thing to be given unto him and he that receiveth it doth it not without great sin The Council at Antioch Anno 340 finding that much fault had been among the Deacons to whom it properly belonged to distribute the offerings or free gifts where there was need which they detained for their own covetous ends the Council did ordain that the Bishop might distribute the Goods but required that they took no part thereof to themselves nor to the use of the Priests using the Apostles words having food and rayment be therewith content Chrysostome notes who lived about the year 400 that Christian converts joyned in societies and lived in Common after the example of the former Saints at Jerusalem by whose writings it doth appear that three was not the least mention made of Tythes in that age The Church at this time living altogether by free offerings of Lands Monies and Goods the people were much pressed to bountifull Contributions for holy uses as may be seen in the writings of Hirome and Chrysostome who brought the liberality of the Jews in their payment of Tythes for an example beneath which they would not have Christians determine their charity Chrysostome saith I speak not these things as commanding or forbidding they should give more Yet as thinking it fit they should not give less then the tenth part And Hierome also doth admonish them to bounty and charity towards the poor not binding at all to offer this or that part leaving them to their own Liberty yet pressing them not to be shorter then the Jews in their tenths Ambrose who was Bishop of Milane about the year 400 preached up tenths to be offred up for holy uses as the phrase was then But his Authority he produceth wholly from Moses writings Likewise Augustin Bishop of Hippo joyns and agrees with Ambrose in this thing but from the Law given to Israel take their whole Doctrine and threatned them with great penalties and heavy Judgments from God that did not give their tenths But yet take notice to what end they required them that the poor might not want and saith God hath reserved them for their use So by this time love did grow cold in many and the power of God was much wanting which would have kept the hearts of people open in love and mercy to their members And therefore they were much prest on and threatned by the Bishops to give their tenths Not that the Bishops had any better ground but only the Jewish Law for their foundation and so in process of time this Doctrine came to be received many following the opinion of the antient Fathers yet hitherto it was not laid down as a positive Doctrine to pay them as the Jews did but onely brought the Jews for an example that Christians should not pay less Leo called the great about the year 440 who reigned twenty years he was very earnest in stiring up mens devotion to offer to the Church but speaks not a word of any quantity Severin also 470 stirred up the Christians in Panona to give the tenth to the poor Likewise Gregory not only admonished the payment of Tythes from Moses Law but also the observing of Lent which he reckoned as the tenth of time in the year And this he would have given unto God saying we are Commanded in the Law to give the tenth of all things unto God And thus Ignorance
did proclaim it in their Assemblies let none that is wise enter none that is learned none that is prudent for thus it is appointed us in the Gospel but if there be any unwise unlearned any foolish let him approach with confidence for these were fit to be the servants of God Ouzetius in his Animadversions page 25 saith that the Gentiles did object against the Christians their rude stile their harsh Language and how they were destitute of all Addresses calling them Rusticks and Clowns So the Christians did again term the Gentiles the Politie the Eloquent and the Learned Clemence Romanus saith in his writing lib. 2. chap 6. Abstain from all the Books of the Gentiles for what have you to do with strange discourses or Laws or false Prophets which Seduce weak men from the Truth In the Council at Carthage there was a Canon made distinct 37. cap. Epist. citante Jac. Laurentio de lib. gentil page 41. Let not a Bishop read Heathen Authors Gracian saith we see that the Priests of the Lord neglecting the Gospel and the Prophets they read Comedies and read love verses out of Beuchlies they peruse Virgil And what is a sin of enforced necessity in Children is become their delight doth not he seem to walk in vanity and darknesse of mind who vexes himself day and night in the study of Lodgick who in the persuit of Phisicall Speculations one while elevates himself beyond the highest Heavens and afterwards precipitates himself below the neather parts of the Earth and diveth into the Abisse and chargeth his memory with the distinct knowledge of verses Petrus Belonius saith in Greece amongst the Christians which were very many there were very few learned men because they esteemed not of it as of nenessity to Christianity though they could speak Greek and some Latine but few could write or read in their Libraries were severall manuscrips of Divinity but no Historians no Philosophers for those were anathomized And all Christians were exhorted not to study Poetry nor Philosophy Yet Reader thou mayest understand that the Greek Church is highly owned for a true Christian Church and highly owned by the Protestants yet neither they nor the Pickards nor Waldenses in Bohemia did value learning so far were they from esteeming of it as the proper true Religion Luther de Institu puer inter aper Wittenburg to 7. fol. 444. Paul exhorteth to beware of Philosophy and vain deceit Col. 2. He had been at Athens and had acquainted himself with that vain-glorious humane wisdome and knew the multiplicity of Contradictions which it had procured What then hath Athens to do with Jerusalem What fellowship hath the Epicures and Stoicks with the Church of Christ Jerome lib. 1. Contra Pelag. what hath Aristotle to do with Paul or Plato with Peter A multitude of Testimonies might be brought to this effect how the Christians did in former ages reject Philosophy and Heathen Authors and all such frivilous stories as no way lawfull for Christians to meddle in nor any way good to propagate Christianity Bishop Usher in Vindication of the Waldenses by way of Apologie he saith God did chuse Fisher-men that so he might not give his glory to another for asmuch as the little ones had asked breâ—d came to receive it and the learned being busied about vain contentions and disputations were sent empty away The Waldenses saith Bishop Usher de success chap. 6. 28. We are not ashamed of our Teachers because they labour with their hands procuring thereby a livelihood to themselves because both the Doctrine and example of the Apostles doth lerd us to such apprehensions And as for the Ceremonies which are found in these Universities and Colledges and popish superstitious practises I shall leave the Reader to read thém else where which are so many and so Superstitious that they come little behind Rome in Idolatry and as for their consecration of Priests and the endlesse rabble of Ceremonies which do attend as such times as they take degrees is well known to many in this Nation And yet these Universities and Schools are elevated in some mens minds as though they were the chief propagators of Christianity when as indeed they are an in-let of Heathenism and Idolatry and no way of necessity usefull for the true Church of God And it is judged by some learned men and that upon good ground that the present fashoned Universities Orders and Habits was from the Dominicans An order instituted by the Pope to suppress the Waldenses and their doctoral degrees by the learned are judged to be no other then Noval and accounted Antichristian by the reformed Churches so called in Scotland France Holland Switzerland and the Calvinists in high Germany And so many Doctors there are in the Universities who never knew how to divide the Word aright nor what it is to convert one Soul unto God A Doctor that is no Teacher he is a dumb dog and an insignificant piece of formality in the Universities which carries a shew of something but is nothing in substance and the chief practise is several ridiculous Solemnities together with constant wearing of a Coull and some other vestments fetcht out of a popish Wardrobe It was an Article of John Wicklifs condemned at Constance who suffered as a Martyr that Graduations and Doctorships in Universities and Colledges as they were in use then did conduce nothing to the Church of Christ Acts and Monuments page 449. Didoclavius in his book Alte Damascanum page 891. saith that Hoods Tippets and Square Caps were introduced by antichrist to promote his splendor and it is a Stage-play dresse and altogether ridiculous being a distinguishment of some men from others by signes useless and destitute of all Ornament Upon their shoulders saith he there hangs down a hood such as fools used to wear being neither handsome nor convenient Bucer refused to wear a square cap and being demanded the reason he answered that God had made his head round Philpot chused rather to be secludvd the Convocation of the Clergy then to wear a hood and a Tippet who died a Martyr for the faith of the Protestant Church as Fox tells us in his Acts and Monuments and the superstitious hoods is but a product of the old Monkish mettel grounded upon the superstitious exposition of that place Heb. 11. they wandred abroad in sheeps skins c. And whether such men are fit to be Ministers of Christ who gives such expositions upon the Scriptures or whether it is not altogether detestable and Idolatrous and savours altogether of Ignorance as to expound such a Scripture as this stand fast having your loyns girt c. And this must signifie the Episcoparian girdles with which they tye their Canonical Coats or long black frocks And whether this is a good foundation for the Colledge Doctors to stand booted and spurd in the Act because there is mention made in Scripture of being shod with the preparation of the Gospel See Statute Accad Oxon.