equal division between the poor â—d the Clergy and if by the covetous unsatiable desires of the Prelates â—d Clergy they have gotten the Church Lands and tythes setled upon them by many Acts of Parliament yet another Parliament upon better information and better consideration of the Kingdoms necessity and daily charge and the necessity of the poor and the unlawful spending of the Church goods by them which have no right unto them but spend them quite contrary to the intent and meaning of the Donors why may not the King Princes and Lords temporal take again into their hands the Church goods which was given by their Predecessors from them which so sacreligiously abuse and usurp them and imploy them for the benefit of the Church and Kingdom and the relief of the poor If the King commit a power into any mans hand and find that he or they do abuse that power he may not only lawfully but he ought to take that power from them again the whole Popish Clergy of Bishops Prelates Abbots Priors and Monks in England had once their priviledges and temporalities setled upon them by act of Parliament and yet the King and Councel seeing the inconvenience thereof by another Parliament took those priviledges temporallities and tithes from them and so may this or another Parliament do by our Prelates for the benefit of the Church and Kingdom and the relief of the poor For Bishops and Prelates are useless in the Church of Christ because they are none of those Church Officers which Christ gave to the Church at his assention Ephe. 5.11 he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God their is aâ—ed in 1 Co. 12.28 helps that is Deacons to minister to the poor and goverments that is ruling Elders now ruling Elders are inferior to teaching Elders as Paul saith 1 Ti. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well bâ— counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine they who labour in the word and doctrine they especially are worthy of double honour rather then the ruling Elders in Pauls judgement and he had the Spirit of God to teach him now if Christ who is the alone Law-giver to his Church saw these Church Officers sufficient for these four ends for which he ordained them as first for the perfecting of thâ— the Saints 2ly For the work of the ministry 3ly For the edifying oâ— the Church which is the body of Christ 4ly For the time till we alâ— come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God Then all other pretended Church Officers are superfluous and useless besides St. Paul saith that he shuned not to declare unto the Church the whole counsell of God and that he kept nothing back that was profitable for the Church but taught them publickly and from House to House Acts. 20.20.27 And yet in all his Epistles he hath not made mention of any Lord Primot or Metropolitant or Prelate or the like as any of Christs Church officers or of their dignities or jurisdictions as being profitable to the Church but only those Church Officers mentioned above in Eph. 4.11.12 and 1 Cor. 12.28 Therefore all other are strange Creatures which neither Christ nor Paul nor the Scriptures of the New Testament makes any mention off unless those that Paul speaks of verse 29. that after his departure grievous Wolves would enter not sparing the Flock yea the Papists themselves say that there is but three sacred orders in the Church all the rest by their own confession is of human devising Again as Bishops and Prelates are useless in the Church so also they are usurpers of the Kings royal prerogatives in making out their prossess sitations suspentions sensors and excommunications and the liâ—e in their own names and by making Printing and publishing in their own Names New Visitation Oaths Articles Injunctions Cannons Rites and Ceremonies and inforcing them upon Ministers Scoolmasters Church-Wardens and others and have excommunicated suspended Silenced fined imprisoned and persecuted his Majesties faithful Subjects for not submitting to their usurped power as though they were Kings and Governours both of Church and State contrary to several Statutes and to Magna Charta and the Petition of right as Mr. Prinne saith in his Book of the Exorbitances Treasons Seditions and Conspirecies of Bishops c. Your Majesties most humble and obedient Subject and Servant E. K. The General and Vnanimous consent of Antient and Modern Writers against Prelates and Priests their possessing of Temporalities and Tythes HIstories do relate that when Bishops began to be possessed of Temporal Lands then an Angel was heard to cry in the Aâ—re Woe VVoe VVoe This day is Poyson begun to come into the Church and so it proved for many striving for Lordship and Dominion and could not prevail turned Hereticks in malice to be revenged on them that were preferred before them as Donatus who because Cecilianus was preferred before him to the Bishoprick of Carthage Donatus turned Heretick from whom his followers took the name of Donatists and he accused Cecilianus and all the Bishops that Ordeyned him to be Traditories This VVoe and Poyson of Prelates possessing of Temporalities hath made the Possessors thereof in all Ages to maligne and hate even unto death all sorts and degrees of men that have spoken against their worldly gain and profits and admonisheth them to follow the Example of Christ and his Apostles and the Priests of the Levitical Law who had no Possessions of Temporal Lands Yea the Prelates have manifestly declared their malice against such even after death as the Council of Constance who condemned John Wickliffe and his 45. Articles and by a Decree caused his bones to be digged up and burnt one and forty yeas after he was dead which Condemnation the University of Prague would not receive but defended them by Arguments from Scripture and Reason which was about the year 1418. I shall mention two or three of the Articles and some few of the Universities Arguments in defence of them The ARTICLES Item Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may at their own will and pleasure take away the temporal goods from the Clergy if they do offend and therein continue Item It is against the Scripture that Ecclesiastical Ministers should have any temporal Possessions Item That Tenths are pure Alms and that the Parishio ner may for the offence of their Ministers deteyn and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own will and pleasure c. That Kings and Lords Temporal may take Temporalities from Prelates the Universitie proves thus Kings in the Old-Testament took temporal goods from the Clergy c. Therefore Kings of the New Testament may do the like 1
any note or spot of suspition noised of him but in his Answering Reading Preaching and Determining he behaved himself laudably and as a stout and valiant Champion of the Faith vanquishing by the force of the Scriptures all such who by their wilful beggery blasphemed and slandered Christs Religion neither was this said Doctor Convict of any Heresie God forbid that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for a Heretick who amongst all the rest of the Vniversity had written in Logick Philosophy Divinity Morality and the Speculative Art without Peer the knowledge of which all and singular things we do desire to testify and deliver forth to the intent that the Fame and Renown of this said Doctor may be the more evident and had in reputation amongst them unto whose hands these present Letters testimonial shall come Here is to be seen that this Vniversity of Oxford did also maintain the truth of Doctor John Wickliffe's Articles That Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may lawfully take away Temporalities and Tythes from the Clergy In witness whereof we have caused our Letters Testimonial to be Sealed with our common Seal Dated at Oxford in our Congregation-House the 5th day of October in the Year 1406. Edmond King of England King Edmond of England about the Year 940. made a Law that every man should pay Tythes for Churches Fees and Almes Fees Thus here you see that Tythes were then given as well for the relief of the Poor as the Church He made a Law also that every Bishop should of his own proper charge see that Churches were repaired Bishop of Canterbury About the same time the Bishop of Canterbury in a Letter to the Prelates and Clergy said If it were or could be so that all the Riches of the World were laid before me so that I were Emperour and had all things universally under my subjection all these things would I gladly give and offer my self willingly for the health of Souls And thus he exhorted the Clergy to their duty lest the Lord should say of them The Shepherds fed themselves but did not feed my flock they have raigned but not by me they have made themselves Princes of my flock and I knew it not that is he knew it not so as to approve of their doings But where is there a Prelate now that hath such a zeal for the good of Souls King Edgar King Edgar in an Oration to the Clergy about the year 959. What negligence saith he is in Gods Service I will speak with sorrow they be Riotous in Banquetring in Chambring and Drunkenness And now saith he the Clerks houses are thought to be Stewes of Harlots Thus the Goods of Kings and Alms of Princes is mispent have our Fathers spent their Treasurie for this purpose Have the Kings liberalities in giving Lands and Possessions been for this intent that Clerks Harlots should be deck'd with the same And for riotous feasts Hauks and Hounds and other Toyes to consume it Soldiers cry out the people grudge but ye regard not c. King Hen. 2d Among other antient Laws of England in the reign of King Henry the second this was one That if any Clergy man did hold any Lay Fee in his hands he should therefore do the Kings service that belonged thereunto as upon Juries Assises of Lands and Judgements and that no Lands should be given to the Church nor to any House of Religion without the Kings License And that the Peter-pence which was used to be gathered for the Pope should be paied to the King and that all the Possessions Goods and Chattels of such as favoured the Pope or Thomas a Becket to be Seized and Confiscate to the King And that all such of the Clergy as were absent from their Charge out of the Realm and had Rents and Profits in the Land and did not repair home in three months their Rents and Goods to return to the King c. If it were lawful for the King then in the time of Popery to seize upon the Rents Profits and Possessions of the Pope Cardinal and others it is much more lawful now for our King and Nobles to cize upon such Goodss aâ—d Possessions as were given by Papists in the time of Popery and are now wrongfully possessed and abusively used by others King Edward 3. In a Parliament holden the twentieth year of the raign of King Edward the third It was propounded that all Alien Monks should depart England whose Livings the King took into his hands It was also concluded by the Parliament That the Livings of all others Strangers and Cardinals during their lives the profits should be brought into the Kings hand The Commons also denyed to pay any payments to Cardinals in France c. besides the King took order by two of his Clergy viz. John Stocks and John Norton to take into their hands all the Temporalities of all the Deanaries Prebends Dignities and Benefices being then vacant in England and to answer the profits thereof unto the King King William Rufus King William Rufus took certain Lands and Possessions from Canterbury and disposed of them to secular uses King Henry 4. In the eighth year of the raign of King Henry the fourth it was petitioned to the Parliament That the King might enjoy halfe the profits of every Parsons Benefice who was not resident thereon But in the eleventh year of his raign the Commons put up a Bill unto the King to take the Temporal Lands from the Clegie mens hands or Possessions in which Bill it was declared that the Temporalities disorderly wasted by men of the Clergy might suffice to find to the King with maintenance 15. Earles 1500. Knights 6200. Esquires and 100. Almes houses To every Earl 3000. Mark a year to every Knight 100. Mark and four plough lands and to every Esquire 40 Mark a year and two plough lands and to every Almes house 100. Mark a year which lands is now no doubt worth double if not treble to what they were then For I have credibly informed by a Yorkshire Esquire That when his Majestie was restored to the Crown one Bishoprick that is the Bishoprick of Durham If it had been set upon the rack rent it was worth above fifty thousand pounds a year This story above you may read in Mr Fox his Acts and monuments of the Church in the story of King Hen. 4. King Henry 8. It is there also to be seen in the History of King Hen. 8. That the King did injoyn every Vicar Clerk or Benefic'd man that had one hundred pounds a year that he should find a Scholar at the University and he that had two hundred pounds a year should find two Scholars at the University Also in his raign it was complained of by the Commons against the Prelates and Clergie for their cruel proceeding Ex Officio And for the remedy it was enacted That whosoever did or speak any thing against either their usurped power or their Laws
temporalities but Prelates have been unfaithful Stewards and therefore it is high time to compell them to deliver up their Stewardship that they may be no longer Stewards for the Priests as they call themselves and desire to be called ought to have no temporal possessions or inheritance for their service as Eze. 44.28 I am their Inheritance ye shall give them no possession in Israel I am their possession yea even the Primate himself as he expecteth to be called who thinks himself to be Successor to Aaron cannot by Aarons example possess any temporalities as in Num. 18.20 And the Lord spake unto Aaron then shalt have no inheritance in their land neither shalt thou have any part amongst them I am thy part and thine inheritance among the Children of Israel and Josh 13.33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance If Prelates consciences were not seared as with an hot iron how could they pretend any right to Temporal possessions either by example of the Levitical Priesthood unto whom you see Temporal possessions was prohibited neither by the example of Jesus Christ nor his Apostles if it were not as Cardinal Aralatensis said in the Council of Basil that Prelates value their Temporalities above their Spiritualities Therefore if you observe the rule of Christ by their Fruits you may know them and their Fruits in that way hath been the occasion to bring in and to uphold and maintain Antichrist the Pope in his Throne for if it were not for his great Temporal possessions he could not domineer over Emperors Kings and Princes as he hath done and whilst Prelates possess their Temporalities they do uphold him in his Throne for both of them are one upheld by the other if once the one fall the other will shortly follow Angelo Cararo Whosoever saith Angelo Cararo beholds the surpassing state and magnificence of the Church and Court of Rome above other Kings and Princes cannot but wonder that she upon so slender a foundation and so far from the intention of her Founders should raise her self to so proud a height as to turn those benefits she hath received against and to the prejudice of them that gave her those possessions for the Canonists other Emissaries of that Court study nothing more than how to strengthen and extend their Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and abase and demolish the power of Secular Princes if they can possible A Book of the Image of a Bishop In a Book called The Image of a Christian Bishop and of a Counterfeit Bishop set out in the year 1539. he speaks of some that he calls shadows of Bishops that have raised themselves to dominion and Lordship against both God and man against reason common sence and judgement after the nature of Tyrants which rule only by the wrath and indignation of God for Prelates saith he if they be not good and virtuous to promote the word of God unfeignedly with all their hearts they are Wolves and cruel murtherers of Souls much like as if Satan should have a Mitre on his head and Rings on his fingers and should sit in a Chair to rule the people for Bâ—shops that do not preach the pure word of God they are as much to be eschewed as the Devil himself And whereas Bishops exercise their tyranny over men under pretence of Conformity to keep men from sedition and strife he saith the word of God doth not stir up to sedition and strife but the stubborn obstinate disobedience of Bishops themselves against the truth and their rage against the word of God is the cause of sedition for whosoever receives the word of God that man raises not up sedition albeit he no longer fears such vain Buggs nor worship such Episcopal Puppets for since he knows the word of God he doth not fear nor reverence their vain humane Innovations and Traditions But wilt thou that I tell thee at one word that they are they are Wolves Tyrants Traytors Man-quellers monsters of the World burthens of the Earth the Apostles of Antichrist to corrupt and destroy the Gospel And therefore it is the part and duty of all Christian men with the word of God to destroy and pluck up by the roots them and their Kingdom which our heavenly Father hath not planted who by their Tyranny destroy the Gospel Institutions of Christ to establish their own Institutions so that if there be any Christianity in our minds and breasts we ought saith he to speak unto the King for a Reformation Thus he and much more to this purpose See Mr. Prynns Book of the execrable Treasons Conspiracies and Rebellions of Prelates pag. 389 390 394. William Wroughton William Wroughton in his rescuing of the Roman Fox dedicated to King Hen. 8. We have saith he put down some of the Orders of the World there remains yet two viz. the pompous Bishops and the dependants thereon and the gray Fryers which if they were put down also as well as the other I reckon that there would not be any Kingdom wherein Christ would more reign than in England and there he proves at large the Prelates Canon Law to be the Popes Law and that so long as the Bishops maintain it in England they maintain the Pope in his Soveraignty and Legislative power in England Thus and more to the same purpose Roderick Morce To the very same purpose Roderick Morce in his Complaint to the Parliament the 37 of Hen. 8. writes thus The whole Body of the pestiferous Canon Law according to which Judgement is given through the Realm so that we are still in Egyptian bondage to the Popes Law And so long as ye walk in those wicked Laws of Antichrist the Pope and maintain his Knights the Bishops in such inordinate riches and unlawfull Authority so long ye shall never banish that monstrous beast the Pope out of England yea and it shall be a means saith he in process of time to bring us into bondage to the Pope again and that knows our forked Caps full well meaning Mitres Wherefore if you will banish the Pope you must fell down to the ground these rotten posts the Bishops c. And in another place he said that one Bishop one Dean or Colledge or House of Canons hath ever done more mischief than ten other Religious Houses The King saith he hath done well in weeding the Garden of England but yet he hath left the fowlest stinking weeds standing the pompous Bishops Canons of Colledges and Deans c. But now saith he I will speak no more against the particular Pope seeing every Bishop now is a Pope Martin Bucer Martin Bucer professors of Divinity in Cambridge writ to King Edward the sixth that the reformation of the Church could never be expected from the Bishops and said that the wealth of Princes which ought to be bestowed upon faithful Ministers upon Schools and upon the Poor the Prelates sacraligiously spend it in ryot and
Prelates in the 23 question and 7. If we possess any thing privately but that which doth suffice us it is not ours but the goods of the Poor whose stewards we are except we challenge to our selves a property by some damnable usurpation the glâ—ss upon that part of the question saith that Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof â—mbrose And St. Ambrose upon Luke 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship c. hereby saith he We learn that Prelates are not Lords but Steward or Bailliffs of others mens substance â—ierom And St. Hierom in an Epistle quest 16. and 2. chap. Quisquid saith whatsoever the Clergy hath it is the goods of the Poor and writing unto Nepolianus he saith how can they be of the Clergy who are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance for to take away from a Friend it is theft but to deceive the Church and take away that which should be given to the Poor it is sacralidge â—arnard And St. Barnard upon these words Simon Peter said unto Jesus c. Truly said he the goods of the Church are the patrimony of the Poor whatsoever thing the Ministers Stewards thereof not Lords or Possessors thereof do take unto themselves more then sufficient for a competent living the same is taken away from the Poor by a sacralidgious cruelty â—usebeus Eusebeus in his Treatise upon the pilgrimage of St. Hierom saith If thou dost possessed garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the needy thou art a Thief and a Robber wherefore dearly beloved Children let us be Stewards of temporallities and not possessors thereof And Isidor in his Treatise de summo bono ch 24. Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the people and not Lords over them aâ— also in the 5. book oâ— Decraeâ—als extra â—e donationibus sub athoâ—itate Alixandrii Tartii Episcopi Paritienses he saith We believe that it is noâ— unknown unto your Brotherhood that a Bishop and every other Prelate is buâ— Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof both Lands and Tythes saith he are pure Alms which after the necessity of the Clergy is satisfied noâ— according to their pride and covetousness but in comely â—cent manner ofteâ— the example of Christ and his Apostles the rest bâ—longeâ—â—o the Poor and thosâ— that withhold it from them they are Thieves Robbers 〈◊〉 Sacralidgious persons saith he William Wroughton Thus it is manifest by what is already said besides what is said here after that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporall by taking the temporallities c. from the Prelates and disposing of them for the use anâ— benefit of the true Church the believing m mbers of Christ and the poor and the benefit and safety of the Kingdom the uses for which they werâ— first given they will in so doing be so far from committing sacraledge that they will do a work pleasing and acceptable both to God and all good men to their everlasting honour by putting a stop to the pride wantoâ— and luxurious riotous lives of some which is occasioned by the uperfluity of worldly wealth and riches which they wrongfully possess and detain from the right owners thereof having forsaken the right way and followed the way of Baalim who loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 By with holding good from them to whom it is due Pro. 3.27 and as William Wroughton writ to King Henry the eight so long as ye maintain Antichâ—ist the Popes Knights that is Bishops in such inordinate riches you shall never saith he banish that monstrous beasâ— the Pope out of England When we say that such and such Lands were given to the Church wâ— cannot imagine that they were given to such a building of lime and stone and timber nor to such a parish and so to him that should usurp authority of Rule and Government there from age to age whether he be good oâ— bad holy or prophane for such are not to be accounted the Church noâ— so much as particular members of the true Church which is the mâ—stâ—caâ— body of Christ except they believe and all that do believe truly withouâ— hypocrisie rich and poor they are interested in the Church Lands and Goods all the poor in general are objects of Charity to do good unto all but especially to such as are of the huoshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 In the time of the Law when Tythes was paid by a divine institution unto the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and Temple because â—hey had no inheritance of temporal Land among their Brethren yet even â—hen the strangers fatherless and widdows had an interest in the Tythes â—s you may see in Deut. 14.28 29. and Chap. 26.12 13 and since that service ceased for which tythes were paid there is no new institution in â—he Gospel for the payment of tythes and yet our Prelates and Priests as â—hey will be called will have both temporal Lands and tythes and keep â—ll to themselves neither widdows nor fatherless have any thing and â—herefore it can be no sacralidge but a work of Charity for Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal to take the temporallities from them for â—he benefit of the Kingdom and tythes also or at least to cause them to â—llow some part thereof unto the poor The with holding of tythes c. From such to whom they are due as to â—he beleiving Church the poor the Fatherless and widdows God calls â—t a Robbing of him in tythes and offerings Mal. 3.8 9. For Christ saith â—hatsoever good or evil is done to one of the least of those little ones that beâ—ieve on him it is taken as done to himself Mat. 25.40 and 45. yea even â—hose of the Clergy who are not true believers they have no right nor tiâ—le from God to the Church goods and God will charge them as having â—he spoil of the poor in their Houses Isaiah 3.14 Suppose the Prelates should plead for themselves that temporallities â—nd tythes have been setled upon them by many Acts of Parliament to â—hat it may be answered that no Act of Parliament on Earth can make â—oid the Law of God inacted in Heaven viz. That when tythes were â—aid by a divine institution yet the Stranger Fatherless and Widdows â—ad by divine appointment a right and interest in them how then dare â—y now receive tythes not by divine but by humain institution and yet â—ye no part thereof unto the poor the Stranger Fatherless nor Widdow â—e may rationably imagine that it was because of the hardness of the â—arts of Prelates and Priests in keeping that to themselves which belongâ—d to the poor which caused that Noble King Carrolous Magnus to have it â—ecreed in a counsel that in wealthy places two parts of the Church â—ods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and 〈◊〉 poorer places that there should be an
living wickedly ought to be reproved by the Laity by taking away their Tythes and other Temporal Profits from them and give them to others c. Mr. Tindal Mr. Tindall in his Book of Obedience of a Christian page 114 115. saith That the Sword is put into the Kings hand to execute vengeance upon all evil dooers But now saith he the Bishops minister the Temporal Sword and the Office of Preaching they lay aside and will neither preach themselves nor suffer others that would to preach but slay them with the temporal sword and as none saith he can preach Christ except they preach against Antichrist and as none can heal a disease unless he begin at the root so canst thou not preach against any mischief except thou begin at the Bishops And in page 124. he saith Those that are sworn to be true to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops it is as if they should swear to be false to Christ to the King and to the Realm for such Prelates that will revenge themselves of men for speaking the truth and for every trifle they are not fit to preach the patience of Christ Henry Stalbridge To the same purpose writeth Henry Stalbridge in his Exhortative Epistle to his dear Countreymen of England he saith that what blood hath been shed between Emperor and Emperor Kingdom and Kingdom Constantinople Almain England France Italy and Spain who seeth not that the pride of bloody Bishops is the ground and original foundation of all Controversies Schismes Variances and Wars between Realm and Realm see the fift and sixth part of the Homily of Whitsunday And to confirm the truth of this consider whether the carriage and practice of Prelates and their Doctrines such as Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester who in one Sermon at White-Hall before his Majesty delivered five points of flat Popery and did follow many Popish practises And at another time in the year 1636. he said that the Church of Rome and our Church are both as one for we said he and he said not much amiss have both the same Hierarchy and Government the same Liturgie Holy-dayes Fasts Ceremonies Sacraments c. so as those who affirm that Papists are damned do but through the sides of the Church of Rome give a deadly blow to the Church of England and deny that we are saved with more the like And also Bishop Laud's silencing and suspending of Ministers and sending a new book of Common Prayer differing from ours into Scotland consider whether these and the like were not the cause of our late unhappy Warrs in England Bernard Bernard as touching Bishops having Conusance in their Courts of Tythes c. writes thus For Tythes Testaments Administrations Servitude Legitimations and such like saith he to Pope Eugenius you went beyond your bounds when you restrained them to your Courts and without Caesar made Laws for things that did belong to Caesar for the Goods Lands Livings Estates of Lay-men and Clerks also are Caesars Charge and not yours nor the Prelates My Kingdom saith Christ is not of this world If then the Pope Prelates and Priests will be the servants of Christ saith Ambrose they must not challenge any worldly Kingdom Ambrose the servant is not above his Master and if the Master deny it the servant may not affirm it and usurp it Souldiers of Christ must not entangle themselves with the affairs of this world much less to make themselves Lords and Judges of earthly matters William Ocham William Ocham a famous Schoolman writ a book about the year 1330. which was printed in London in which he saith that Clergie men are liable to pay tribute unto Princes and that Princes may take away their Lands and Possessions when they abuse them to Luxury Pomp and other private uses and they may imploy them for the defence and peace of the Realm And after he adds That all the Revenue of Clergie men but that which is sufficient to provide them Food and Rayment with which they ought to be content as Paul saith 1 Tim. 6.8 Having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content and the rest ought to be spent in pious uses and in feeding the poor which if they be not employed in this sort Kings ought to take care of them to set some to see it done William Prynne In the second part of Mr. William Prynne's book of the Antipathy of the English Lord Prelates both the Regal Monarchy and Civil Unity page 311 he saith that the endowing of the Prelates with great temporel Revenues was the very bane and poyson of Religion and one principal cause of Bishops Rebellions Treasons and Exorbitances he had fore-mentioned and therefore they may both with good Conscience and reason be subtracted from them and put to better uses and they like other Ministers be confined to one competent living with Cure there constantly to reside and instruct the People like Bishops in the Primitive Church for so long as our Lordly Prelates continue there will not only be a possibility but a probability of bringing in Popery and the Pope again amongst us since their Lordly Hierarchy is supported by Popish Doctrine Canons Ceremonies Liturgie Godfry Goodman Holy dayes c. as Godfry Goodman Bishop of Glocester said a little above which they are ingaged to maintain to preserve their tottering Thrones from ruine John Salisbury John Salisbury our Country man flourished about the year of Christ 1140. de nugis Curialium lib. 8. cap. 17 23. writ thus of the pride and sedition of the Bishops Thou maist admire to see the various Houshold stuff and Riches as they say of Craesus amonst them that preach poor Christ they live of the Gospel without preaching the Gospel and it is well if they live only so as they do not also riot they so gape after gain that they contem the things of Jesus Christ and are neither worthy the honour nor name either of Pastor or Hireling they do that which makes them to be feared of all and to be beloved of none they preach Peace yet make Division they make a shew and counterfeit Humility that they may challenge Pride in fulness they dispute of Fasting and what they build up with words they pull down with deeds the works they do bear witness of them you may know them by their Fruits they do not only contend but fight for a Bishoprick the Antients were dragged against their wills to a Bishoprick but went willingly to Martyrdome they feared the chief Chains worse then a Prison or Cross Ex Catal. Illyr There is a Story that about the year 1228. at Paris in a Synode or Convocation of the Clergie one that was appointed to preach was much troubled in his minde what to say the Devil came unto him and asked him why he was so careful what to Preach say thus quoth the Devil the Princes of Hell salute you O ye Princes of the Church and gladly give you thanks because that through your
Apostles which yet I would deny him yet it followeth not saith he that with this primacy he had also a Kingdom given him and though the Lord bid him confirm his Brethren yet was he not bid to exercise an Empire over his Brethren for so they should not be his Brethren but his Subjects Richard Feurus Richard Feurus a Martyr about the year 1554. in the Province of Dolphine in his disputing against his Adversaries he affirmed That the word of God ought to be our Rule and that nothing is left to Doctors or Councils to be devised without the word of God and that all things necessary either for government of the Church off or the Salvation of man are expressed and prescribed in the word of God for Paul saith That he durst not utter any thing but what the Lord had wrought in him and shewed unto him Rom. 15.18 John willeth us to receive no man unless he bring the same Doctrine that we have received from Christ and his Apostles Let him be accursed Christs Sheep hear his voice and know his voice but they know not the voice of a Stranger and all manner of worship and service that is not prescribed in the word of God is the voice of Strangers Hence it will follow that such Strangers that both command and practice such Ceremonial service of God as is not prescribed in the Word of God in the New Testament Kings and Princes c. may lawfully take away their Temporalities and Tythes and dispose of them to better uses as hath been said above Richard Lovingham in the reign of King Hen. 4. gathered out of a Book of John Purvey that the Temporalities of the Clergie in England at that time in the hands of such as did no duty for it belonging their office to do besides other Temporalities he said That the King Lords and Commons might without any other Charge but these Temporalities maintain fifteen Garrisons with fifteen thousand Souldiers having sufficient Lands and Revenues to live upon and also maintain fifteen thousand Priests and Clerks and fifteen Colledges more and an hundred Hospitals and every house an hundred Marks a year and bring in besides above twenty thousand Pounds a year into the Kings Coffers He said also that the Kings and Lords ought to banish the Pope and his Factors out of their Lands and all Bishops and their Factors that say it appertaineth not to Kings and secular Lords but to them and their Officials to punish Adultery and Fornication they do fall into manifest Treason against the King and Heresie against the Scripture and that it doth appertain to the King to have the ordering of Priests and Bishops as Solomon and Jehosaphat and others had saith Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments pag 502. Now if the temporalities at that time would have done so much in England what will the temporalities and tythes of three Kingdoms do now that Lands are at so high a rate to what they then were Augustin Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first about the year 867 said that good correction proceeding from the lesser to the greater is not to be refused nor disdained when he that is corrected is found to strive against the truth to please men and he mentions Augustin writing to Boniface that the disputations of all men be they never so Catholick or approved persons yet ought not to be received instead of Canonical Scripture Gregory so that we may saith he disprove or refuse any thing that is in their writings contrary to truth to which he adds a saying of St. Gregory What shall become of the Sheep when the Pastors themselves become Wolves Panarmetanus Mr. Rogers in his Answer to the Bishop of Winchester said that all the Laws of men might not nor could not rule the word of God but that all things should be discussed and judged thereby and obedience given thereunto and that no Christian mans Conscience could be satisfied without Laws that agree not with Gods word and he quotes Panarmetanus which said That unto a simple lay man that brings the word of God with him there ought more credit to be given than to a whole Council and to what they concluded without or beside the word of God Walter Mill. Walter Mill a Martyr in Scotland said that these which we call Bishops do not the work of Bishops nor the Office of Bishops as Paul biddeth Timothy but live after their own sensuality and pleasure and take no care of the Flock nor yet regard the word of God to do thereafter but desire to be called Lords c. And Luther saith that neither Pope nor Prelate can make Articles of Faith nor Laws of good works and manners and that we may withstand their doings and Judg upon their Decrees by the word of God though their Decrees be approved by a General Council Doctor Molius Doctor Johannes Molius sometime a gray Fryer disputed three days together at Rome against Bishops and Cardinals by Pope Paul the third his appointment of Original Sin of Justification by Faith and of Free-will and Purgatory and they all not being able to refell his Arguments at last they answered him That what he affirmed was truth nevertheless it was not meet for that present time for that it could not be taught nor published without detriment to the Apostolick See wherefore he should refrain from preaching the Epistles of St. Paul and return to Bononie and there profess Philosophy By this it appears That Popes and Prelates Act against their Conscience and will not suffer the truth to take place least they should lose their honor and wealth for here they confess that what Doctor Molius said was truth but they might not suffer it at that time no nor never since to be taught their reason was it would be detriment to the Apostolick See but what detriment the truth received and the soul of men by hiding the truth from them these Prelates cared not for they silenced him from preaching the truth to profess Philosophy And thus Prelates in this age Silence Ministrs from preaching the truth lest they should come to dishonour thereby and lose their sweet Morsells for if all Christian Kings Princes and Nobles were rightly informed in the truths of the Gospel and of the unlawfulness of Popes Bishops and Prelates of their standing in the Church with their titles dignities and jurisdictions which Papists themselves have confessed is but from men and not from God why then should Kings and Princes by suffering them in such ways become guilty of their Sins but rather rouse up themselves and take from them that which is not theirs but by usurpation that is the temporalities and tithes which they unjustly possess as is shewed above Neither need they fear the Popes nor Bishops Excommunications for they have no more Authority from God to Excommunicate for such things than the poorest Shepherd or Swineherd hath that keeps Sheep or Swine upon
I have mentioned once before in his Exhortative Epistle printed at Basil saith I say yet once again and that in the zeal of the Lord as he is my Judge I wish if his gracious pleasure so were that first the Kings Majesty and so all those to whom God hath given power and authority on Earth may throughly see and perceive how that not only the bloudy Bear and Wolf of Rome but also the most part of other Bishops and stout sturdy Canons of Cathedral Churches with other petty Prowlers and prestigious Priests of Baal in all Realms of Christendom especially in England doe roar abroad like Lyons fret like angry Bears and bite like cruel Wolves clustring together like swarmes of Adders in a Dunghil or most wily subtile Serpents to uphold preserve their Interest Paul admonished us of them that after his departing grievous Wolves should enter not sparing the flock Acts 20.29 These spiritual man-hunters are the very offspring of Cain Children of Caiaphas and Successors of Simon Magus as their Doctrine and Living declare Most cruel enemies have they been in all ages to the Verity of God and most fierce Persecutors of Christ and his Church Marvel not ye Bishops and Prelates saith he though I thus in the zeal of Elias and Phineas stomach against your sturdy stubborness for never was any tyranny ministred upon Christs mistical members but by your procurement never did Christ send such bloudy Apostles and two horned Warriers but the Devils Vicar-Antichrist sent them who is the deadly destroyer of faithful Beleivers c. and so he goes on I reckon it therfore saith he high time for all Christian Princes which pretend to receive the Gospel of Salvation and to live in peace and tranquillity for ever to cast the Bishops out of Privy Councels and utterly to seclude you from all administrations till such time as they find you no longer Wolves but faithful Feeders no Destroyers but gentle Teachers for consider your beginning never came you in with your Miters Robes and Rings c. it the door as did the poor Apostles but by the window unrequired like Robbers Thieves and Man-quellers with Symon Magus Marcion and Menander never was your proud pontifical power of our heavenly Fathers planting and therefore must be rooted up Matt. 15.13 If any thing under Heaven hath need of Reformation let them that minde any Godlyness think this to be one for if these be not spiritual Spiritual Thieves Soul-murtherers Hereticks Schismaticks Church-robbers Rebels and Traitors to God and man where are any to be looked for in the world for nothing can they do but work daily mischief as well may they be spared in the Common wealth saith he as Kites Crows Buzzards Polcats Rats Weasles Otters Wolves and Foxes bodily Fleas or flesh Flies or other devouring noysome Vermin for so long as they sit in the Parliament-house the Gospel shall be kept under and Christ persecuted in his faithful members take me not here saith he that I condemn any Bishop or Priest that is godly doing those Offices the Scripture commandeth as preaching the Gospel and providing for the poor c. but against bloudy Butchers that murther Gods people and make havock of Christs Congregation to maintain Jewish Ceremonies and Paganish Superstition in the Christian Church these are not Bishops but Sheep-biters Tyrants Tormentors and the Devils slaughter men but such as in poverty preach the Gospel provide for the poor rebuke the wicked world of Pride Idolatry Hypocrisie they are not only worthy of a competent living but worthy of double honour but from the inordinate excess of Riches Bishops and Prelates ought of all men to be sequestred considering that the wicked nature of Mamon is alwaies to corrupt yea the very Elect of God were not more merciful saith he Thus as you have heared by these Testimonies above Lord Bishops standing in the Church with their Dignities and Jurisdictions is not of Gods institution but by men yet God suffers such kind of Adversaries in the Church saith Mr. Fox in Acts and Monuments page 1440. who under the name of the Church maintain a worldly State and Kingdom and because they cannot uphold their cause by Scripture the holy word of God they bear it out with outfacing railing and slandering making Princes and People believe that all are Scismaticks Rebels and what not and subverters of the Common wealth who soever that dare although it be by plain Scripture to speak against their doings As it is written of the Emperour that when he had burned Rome six dayes and seven nights he made Proclamation that the innocent Christians had set the City on fire to stir up the people against them whereby he caused them to be burned and destroyed as Rebels and Traitors See Suetonius in Nerone Melancton Melancton in an Epistle to King Hen. 8. saith That long and horrible darkness hath been in the Church of Christ that mens traditions not only have been a yoak to good mens Consciences but also which is worse they have been reputed for Gods holy Service to the great dishonour of God and hindrance of his true worship and the Keyes were abused to the maintenance of usurped tyranny and Ceremonies mens inventions and it is not light offence to set up new kinds of worshiping and serving God such presumption God doth horribly detest the manner of his worship is known in his word only and he will not hale Religion to be invented by mens devise for so the Alcaron and all Religion in all Nations might be approved and allowed of Therefore saith the Wise man In all thy wayes acknowledge God and lean not unto thine own understanding Prov. 3.5 6. God hath commanded us to hear Christ Acts 3.22 and not to hear the invention of subtile politick heads which frame Religion for their own Lucre and advantage we ought not to dissemble in Gods matters but use them as the Scripture speaketh for no service nor worship pertaining to God ought to be set up by mans device and Bishops will never cease to rage against the Church of Christ without mercy or pity for them the Devil useth as Instruments and Ministers of his malice and fury against Christ in his members Luther Luther in his answer to the Popes Bull saith That any Fool Ass or Blockhead may condemn a man of Error by saying I like it not I deny it I will not have it so without any reason from Scripture Is not thy whorish face ashamed to dare to set the trifling vanities of your own bare words of the Canons and Institutions of your own inventions against the Thunderbolts of Gods Word if such reasoning were sufficient to condemn men without Scripture why may we not turn Turks Hereticks Jews or Atheists as well as Papists Steven Gardiner Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester in his Book de vera Obedientia saith Though it be granted that Peter had the preferment of the first name or place in the Order of the
stretch forth their hands and authority beyond the rule further then God hath allowed them but Uzzah died for his presumption to have a zeal according to knowledge as the Apostle saith is to do all things in Gods matters prudently and circumspectly according to the rule of Christ and his Apostles institutions and not according to Mens traditions nor humane inventions of Cannons c. Whichcot I heard a Doctor I think his name was Whichcot preach in Black-fryers about seven years ago a conformable man and he said that if you would have men to conform you should first convince their consciences by plain Texts of Scripture of the lawfulness of those things which you would have them conform unto otherwise to force men to conformity and not convince them by plain Scripture Arguments of the lawfulness of what they conform unto he said it was to make men outwardly hypocrites and inwardly atheists now according to this by the neglect of duty in our Bishops and Prelates how many thousands if not hundred thousands hypocrites and atheists have our Prelates made in England within ten years by pressing ceremonies and observation of things which many hundred thousands do question whether they have any warrant in the word of God and in the 20. and 21. articles of the Church of England it is said that it is not lawful neither for the Church The 20. and 21. Articles nor for general Councels to ordain any thing contrary to the word of God written which word excludes all unwritten traditions and customes and that things so ordained have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they are taken out of holy Scripture and yet our Prelates will have such things observed without clearing them by Scripture or hearing what may be said against them by Scripture And further Volusianus said from Jer. 48.10 Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently that is saith he not to do the work of the Lord carefully and with a willing mind for whereas the Lord willeth us not to offer any thing to him against our wills so doth he forbid us to compel any man to offer any thing against our wills and he proves it Ex. 20.21 Thou shalt not vex nor oppress thy neighbour or a stranger now it is an oppression wrong to our neighbours to be corrected for his fault when it is done with disdain and upbraiding and not in compassion and mercy towards him to inform him in the spirit of meekness and not to destroy him in the spirit of bitterness and rigor much more is our neighbour oppressed when he is corrected for well doing for endeavouring to follow the Laws of Christ rather than the Laws of men thus Valusianus Norfolk â—nd Sufâ—â—lk m ns â—â—pplication And in a Supplication of Norfolk and Suffolk men to Queen Mary and her Commissioners they thus writ is not this the time say they among other times that Satan rides upon the red horse to take peace from the Earth for can man go into any place where the sons of wickedness are not ready to search out a mans deeds and mark his words and if he agree not with them in despising Gods word in swearing lying whoring and drinking c. Then will they spitefully and hatefully rail against him calling the truth of God error and heresie and the professors of it hereticks and Schismaticks with other odious and despiteful names as Traytors and not the Queens friends as if to love Gods word were heresie as though to talk of Christ and Religion were Shismatical as though none could be true to the Queen but such as are false to God as though none could be the Queens friends but such as despitefully rail against her Graces Father and Brother and the word of God as though none were truly Religious but such as blaspheme against the purity of Religion as though none favoured the Queen but such as hate all Godly knowledge wherefore we learn that true obedience to God the King of Kings and for him and in him and not against him to obey Princes and Magistrates who are not truly obeyed when God is disobeyed nor yet disobey'd when God is truly obey'd wherefore we pray that God may move your hearts to weigh these things and take the word of God unto your Councel and then you shall see how Gods commands and Bishops commands agree or rather disagree to which I shall add that by the word of God you may see clearly that neither Bishops nor Prelates c. ought to have either temporallities or tythes Christ hath said Rev. 11.3 That he will give power to his two witnesses to bear their testimony and witness against the Beast or Ante-christ therefore they that endeavour to suppress this witness bearing against Ante-christ are themselves Ante-christian and whether is not Christs Priestly office invaded by urging men to the observation of ceremonies and a form of worship which Christ hath not instituted but contrary to Christs institutions and so against mens consciences and his Kingly office invaded by exercising a Government over men that hath no ground nor warrant in the word of God but is of mans devising and yet punish men that would gladly observe the word of God for not observing the devices of men Daniel 6 and 7. What an odious thing is it said one to call out obedience to God by the name of disobedience to men as in Dan. 3.12 and Dan. 6 10. For his obedience to God in praying three times a day he was accused for disobedience to the King and thus it hath been with others for there is a generation of men who charge all with Schism that dare not subject their selves to the usurpation and arrogant impositions of the sons of pride that neither have authority nor ability from God to govern us who lay snares for mens Consciences and then accuse men for falling into those snares as the Pagans did against Daniel who make Laws for the Church unnecessary in their own opinions and sinful in other mens opinions and command things which they know others think the Lord forbids and then load men with reproaches of disobedient turbulent heretical schismatical persons for not yeilding to their imperious commands against their consciences to call men factious if they will not be of their faction against the Catholick unity and simplicity of the Gospel how easie and how common is it to call a meeting of sober Christians for prayer and mutual edification by the name of a factious and schismatical conventicle and a meeting of drunkards or gamesters or harlots by a far less disgraceful name if men will but turn their Religion into forms of words or beads or canonical hours and days outward shews and ceremonies which have no ground nor warrant in the Scripture few or none will let or reproach or persecute you for being too precise or strict for so doing for by such a Religion it is that Prelates have