Lordly Prelates aunciently yea lately done or endeavoured at least to doe the like in Germany France that I say not in England too Their chiefe practise 〈◊〉 allwayes beeâ—…e to aliâ—…nate subjects affectiens from their Kings by putting them upon unjust Taxes 〈◊〉 Projects Monopolies oppressions Inâ—…ations by giving them evill counsell by â—…opping the course of lawes of common Right and Iustice of the preaching power and progresse of the Cospell by advancing Idolatry popery 〈◊〉 with their owne intollerable 〈◊〉 and Lordly iurisdiction by fathering all their unjust 〈◊〉 uâ—…on Kings c. and on the contrary to estrange the Kiâ—…gs hearts â—…om their Subjects by false Calumnies by sedicious Court-Sermons and by infusing jealousies and discontâ—…nts into their heads and hearts against their best and loyallest Subjects without a cause A divellish practise never more used then in these our dayes 29. Satan will not bee devided against Satan for feare his Kingdoâ—…e should not stand Math. 12. 10. So these Lordly Prelates wil never be devided one against another in point of their Antichristian Iurisdiction Pompe and Hierarchie which they all concurre iâ—… though they have oft many deadly personall and particular fendes one with another nor yet against the Pope or Devells Kingdoâ—…s for then their oâ—…ne kingdome a branch and meâ—…ber of the Pâ—…pes and divells as many of our godly Mâ—…rtyrs and Writers have resoâ—…ved should soone fall to ruine 30. The divell that Red-Dragon had seven crownes upon his head Revel 12. 3. to shew his royall power So have the Popes and other Prelates Crownes and Miters oâ—… their pates to testify their royalty and Lordly doâ—…inion over Kings and others as they vaunted in D. Baâ—…twicks Censure 31. The Divell had a seate and Throne in the Church of Pergamus wherein hee sate in state Revel 2. 13. So have the Prelates in their Cathedralls and Chappell 's as they then also boasted yea their great Cathedralls are but châ—…ires for these great two legged Foxes Lordly tayles to sit in 〈◊〉 a lesser meaner Chayre did then câ—…ntent the divell who now sits in greater state and is farre better served and attended in our Cathedrals then ever hee was in the Church of Pergaâ—…us 32. The divell that Red-Drogon with his tayle drew the third part of the Starres from heaven and cast them to the earth Revel 12. 4. So have Lordly Prelates the tayle of that fell Dragon anciently and of late times swept downe the third part or more of our starres to wit of all our faithfull powerful painâ—…full zealous Ministers fâ—…om heaven to wit from their Pulpits and â—…hurches and by their suspensions excommunications imprisonments deprivations suppressing of Lectures persecutions c. have cast them to the ground nay trampled them under their dragon-like pawes depriving them of their office and Benefices thereby robbing God and Christ of the glory the poore peoples soules of the fruit and comfort of their Ministry to their greatest griefe 33. This greate Red Dragon the divell stoode before the Woman the Church which was reddy to be delivered of a man-childe for to devoure her Childe her spirituall regenerate Children as soone as it was borne Rev. 12. 4 5. Thus those Lordly Prelates doe No sooner can the Church be reddy to be delivered of a man-childe of a godly faithfull Pastor new Minister or zealous Christian but these great redd scarlet Dragons wâ—…o can suffer dumbe Dogges deboist licentious dissolute drunken scandalous Ministers and supersticious Popelings to sit still and doe what they list without danger or countroll are at hand like Pâ—…aroah and the divell to devoure silence suppresse persâ—…cute and destroy thâ—…m as sâ—…one as they are borne or â—…ginne but once publiquely to appeare in the world as experience too well â—…ifieth in most places where a godly Minister or Christian can no sooner shew his head or beginne to doe God faithfull service but they presently lay trappes and snares to hamper or send Apparitors Pursevants with such other Hellish Furies to seize upon them that so their Lordships may swallow them all up at a bit Yea if any good Booke shall beginne to peepe out against their tyranny Prelacy and Innovations Howses Shipps Studdies Trunks and Cabinets must be broken up and ransacked for them Such ravenous redâ—… Furious Dragons are they and such open wide Sepulchers are their devoâ—…ring throates to swallow 〈◊〉 all things that any way make against them 34. This Dragon and his Angells make ware in heaven fiâ—…hting with Michaell to wit our Saviour Christ and his Angells Rev. 12. 7. Soe the Lordly Prelates and their Angells To wit their Deanes Arch-deacons Officialls Chauncellors Commissaries Surragates Advocates Proctors Registers Pursevanst Sumâ—…ers Apparitors Howshold Chaplaynes too for the most part have in al ages to this very moment made warre in heaven Gods Church militant with Christ and his Angells To wit his faithfull poâ—…erfull godly Ministers Preachers Saints and Servants as all Histories ages witnesse And now this Battaile seemes to be at the hottest here amongst us More godly Ministers hâ—…ving been silenced suspended deprived driven from their Ministry chased out of the Realme within these 5. yeares though conformable to the established doctrine and discipline of our Church then in many ages before 35. When the divell coâ—…es downe among the inhabitants of the earth and of the Sea then woe be to them Rev. 12. 12. Soe woe be to the kingdomes Churches and people where Lord Prelates come and beare most sway amongst them witnesse our Booke of Martyrs and Chronicles of England to these Diocesse wherein they domineere Witnesse Norwich Diocesse and others at this present 36. When this Dragon and the Divell was cast out to the earth he persecuted the Woman the true Church of God Rev. 12. 13. So have these Lord Prelates in all ages as the Bookes of Martyres record at large since they were cast out of heaven Christs true spirituall Church for their Lordly pride 37. When the Dragon saw the Woman had such swift winges given her that Shee escaped his hands and fledd into the wildernesse out of his reach and danger where Shee was nourished for a time then he cast out of his mouth a floud of water after her to devoure drowne her Rev. 12. 14 15 16. So these Lord Prelates when any godly Ministers or Christians have escaped their Lordships their Apparitors Pursevants or other Cathpoles hands by flight or otherwise power out of their mouthes a floud of Execrations Excommunications Intimations Suspensions Maledictions reproaches obloquies and outragious Censures against them to devoure and over whelme them Yea Excommunications with agravations that no man shall buy sell trade eate drinke or have any conversation with them An Hellish Antichristian tyranny lately practised and revived against all lawes and Statutes of the Realme against 4. men in Norwich Only for not bowing at the name of Iesus and against Mr. Samuell Burrowes of Colchester for Indicting Parson Newman for enforcing the
Register refused to accept or receive his Answer though tendred to him in writing saying it was too long and hee durst not take it Hereupon hee contracted it into lesse then a sheet of paper and tendred it to him as his answer He refused it the second time and though he thus tendred his answer yet an Attactment issued out against him for not answering The conclusion was hee must put in onely such an answer as the Register should prescribe without any justification or defence or mention of the reasons why hee refused to read the Booke telling him that he might and should put in his reasons in court by way of defence Whereupon he gave in a short answer without any defence at all in a manner which comming to bee repeated before one of the Commissioners the Register and hee dashed out of his very answer against all Law and Iustice what they pleased which M. Snelling perceiuing professed hee would not acknowledged for his answer none of his but their owne making vet notwithstanding this answer must stand as his This Hilary tearme hee tenders his defence the Register and Court at Informations refused to accept thereof telling him 〈◊〉 came too lâ—…te though before the cause informed against At Lambeth he tendred his defence in Court the Archbishop referre the consideration of it to Sir Nathaniell Brent and D. Guyn whether it were fit to bee received only he told them he would have no dispute of the point which is all one as if his Grace had said I will have no defence at all This the event hath manifested For hee tendering his defence to these Referres they refuse to receive or allow thereof telling him that the King the Archbishop have decreed that the Booke shall and must be read and therefore hee must submit and read it and they can allow of no Defence against it That the Archbishop hath decreed it shall be read I believe it without an Oath but that his Majestie hath made any such Decâ—…ee they must give me and all others leave to demurre to it till they shall be able to produce such a Decree as this under his Majesties great seale which will be ad Grecas Calendas loe here the desperate impiety and injustice of our Prelates parallell to that of Ananias when hee commanded Paul to be smitten on the face as â—…ee began to make his Defence For first they will make and prejudge the not reading of this forged declaration an heinous offâ—…ce though there be no law canon or precept at all for the reading of it nor any clause at all that it should be read much lesse by the Minister nor any power given them so much as to question much lesse to suspend excommunicate fine or cenfure any who refuse to read iâ—… When as the great question is whether it be an offence at all but this must not be disputed What now is this but to prejudicate and not judge mens causes 2. No answer must bee given or received but what themselves shall make and allow and alter at their pleasures Is not this pretty iustice Who then shall bee innocent 3. When the answer is in no defence must be made or accepted If so then the most innocent man in the world may bee condemned What no defence made Christ himselfe had liberty to make his defence before Pilate an Heathen Iudge Paul the like liberty before Felix Festus and Agrippa â—…eere Pagan Infidell Magistrates Yea the veryest Traytors and Rebels in the world have liberty in all Courts of justice to make their defence and pleade the best they can for themselves yet this godly grave Minister cmming for such a grand crime as this before our Lordly Prelates must make no defence at all O divell o Iewish High Priests blush at this impudency impiety and injustice of these your sonnes and successors A drunkard an Adulterer a Symoniacke any incarnate divell may put in what answer and defence he please before them but this grave Minister every way unspotted in his life and doctrine must not doe it because they haue decreed before hand to condemne him Is not this right high Priests justicâ—… 7. This Iewish high Priest â—…te to judge Paul after the law and commanded him to be smitten contrary to the Law Acts 2â—… 3. So our Lordly Prelates in their Consistories Visitations and Commissions sit to judge Ministers and others his Majesties Subjects according to the Law and yet imprison fine excommunicate suspend deprive degrade teare fleece and judge them for the most part contrary both to the Lawes of God the Realme and their owne Canons as thousends of Presidents evidence of late 8. The Iewish high Preist by Tertullus his Orator accused St. Paule before Felix the Governour for a Pâ—…stilent fellow a mover of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens Acts 24. 1. Ioâ—… The selfe same accusation haue the Lord Prelates laid to our Ministers charge in former ages and to our zealous godly Ministers and Preachers now adayes accufing them to the King and his Counsell and persecuting yea suspending imprisoning them every where as pestilent factious sedicious persons and ringleaders of Sects and Schisme as many late examples and some now in agitation evidence 9. The Iewish his Preists informed Festus the Governour against Paule and desired favour against him that he would send for him to Ierusalem that there they might judge him themselves according to their owne law or else murther him by the way Acts. 25. 23. c. 24. 6. Our Lordly Prelates Especially his Archgrace of Canterbury and other our Cant Bishops doe the like informing the King or temporall Majestrates against godly Ministers and people and desiring not Iustice but favour against them that they would sent for them into their owne Courts or High-Commissions or not suffer them to appeale or be released thence by Prohibitions oâ—… other meanes that so they might judge them after their owne law and wills and be both enemies parties delinquents and Iudges in their owne cause contrary to all reason Iustice equity and law both of God and man of which we have manylate memorable Instances and one thing verie observable that they have caused his clause derogatory to his Majesties royall Iustice and supremacy to make themselves absolute supreme Kings and Iudges that there shal be no Appeale or Provocation allowed or admitted from the high Commissionâ—…rs to be inserted into their last Commission A strange clause to tie up his Majesties hands and soveraigne Iustice from being able to releive his oppressed or injured subjects be their causes never so good their Iudges their censures never so parciall maliâ—…ious exorbitant or vnjust 10. Saul by authority received from the Iewish chiefe Preists shut up many of the Saints in Prison and persecuted them even unto strange Citâ—…es Acts. 26. 10. 11. 12. Our Lordly Prelates Pursevants Catchpoles creatures and vermine by like
promote your Cardinals to the higest seat of dignities without any let in all the world in stopping the mouth of our adversarie Iesus Christ and alleaging againe that he preferred his kins folks being but of poore and base degree vnto the Apostleship but doe not you so but rather call as ye doe those that live in arrogancie in haughtinesse of mind and filthie lecherie unto the state of wealthie riches and pride and those rewards and promotions which the followers of Christ forsook do ye distribute unto your friends Therefore as ye shall have better vnderstanding prepare ye vices clocked under the similitude of vertues Alleage for yourselues the glosses of the holie Scripture and wrest them directly for to serue for your purpose And if any man preach or teach otherwise then ye will oppresse ye them violently With the sentence of excommunication and by your censures heaped one upon another by the consent of your brethren let him be condemned as an heretike and let him be kept in most strait prison and there tormented till he die for a terrible example to all such as confesse Christ. And setting all favour apart cast him out of your temple lest peradventure the ingrafted word may save 〈◊〉 soules which word I abhorre as I do the soules of o her saithfull men And do your indeuour that ye 〈◊〉 deserue to haue the place which we have prepared for you under the most wicked dwâ—…lling on of our dwelling place Farre ye well with such felicitie as we desire and intend finally to reward and recompence you with Given at the center of the earth in that darke place where all the rablement of divels were present specially for this purpose caâ—…led unto our most dolorous Consistorie under the the Character of our terrible seale for the confirmation of the premisses Ex Registro Herefordensi ad verbum This letter of Lucifâ—…r to your Lordly Predecâ—…ssors then will I trust excuse my Epistle and Parallels here dedicated to your Lordships now both from the unjust imputation of calumnie slaunder or reviling And so leaving your Lordships to Veâ—…we and reueiw your selves in this new Looking-Glasse made purposely for your sweet holy faces I take my leave of you as I trust you will now doe of all your Lordlinesse worldlinesse pride and other vices here discovered till you have exactely trimed yourselves thereby to make yourselves more amiablc both to God and man then now you are A notable Jesuiticall Policy of some Lordly Prelates worthy consideration SOme great domineering Lord Prelates to advance their own power and draw all men to their party have of late endevoured to ingrosse into their hands the disposall of most Ecclesiasticall dignities as Bishopricks Deanneres Prebendaries Headships in the Vniversities presentations to most great Benefices and the like and of many temporall preferments together with the Custody of his Majesties Treasury By this policy First they keepe all men from preferment how deserving learned and pioussoever but those of their owne faction and creatures Secondly they make their owne party very great and strong in all Courts of Iustice and places of the Realm so as none dare oppose them in the least measure no not in cases which highly concerne both GOD the King Religion and the whole Realme Thirdly they are more feared and crowched to then the King himselfe or all his Nobles Fourthly they would win all men to their own opinions humours and superstitions out of hopes of preferment which else they have no way to attaine Fiftly they have many Clergie men so wholly at their command that they will write preach practice defend any errours false Doctrines Innovations Superstitions or popish Ceremonies their Lordships shall command or desire them to obtaine their favours and advancement Sixtly by this meanes they gaine scouts and spies in every corner of the Kingdome in Court City Countrey and in most Noble-mens and Gentlemens families whose Chaplaines are now for the most part nought else but these great Prelates agents and Intelligencers so that nothing can be done or spoken against them or intended for their prejudice but they have present information of it Seventhly by this policy they keep all men under their girdles crush all that dare oppose them stop the current of Iustice bolster out all their popish agents and opposing officers setup Popery againe without much noyse or opposition oppresse his Majesties good Subjects extirpate piety and Religion rob his Majesty his Nobles and officers of ther Authority Privilidges and power to preferre well-deserving men and so by consequence deprive them of much honour service respect observance and thankfulnes for benefits to be received advance their owne Episcopall power jurisdiction Cours beyond all moderation and bounds and in a manner do and say what they list without opposition or controule This Iesuiticall stratagem of theirs prescribed by Conc ' in his Politiques as one of the chiefe meanes to undermine Religion and all protestant States and Churches is worthy his Majesties and his Nobles most serious consideration and prevention in due time for feare it inslave them and the whole Kingdome to the Pope and Prelates before they are aware of it Great Reverend Lord Prelates are like to that we call a Sir Reverence the more they stirre and are stirred the worse the more they stinke They are like Davids mountaines Ps. 144. 5. If men doe but touch them and their vices they will smoke yea storme and rage like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waterscast up mire and dirt Isay. 56. 20. Hence they labour to suppresse sease and call in all good Bookes yea the Palsgraves New-printed Declaration in affront to his Highnesse and his Churches because it censures some of their idle Ceremonies and Arminian Doctrines though tacitly and moderately by way of Apologie our Saviour himselfe gives us the true reason Why Iohn 3. 20. For every one that doth evill hateth the light neither commeth to the light lest his deeds should be discovered and reprooved as their Lord ships now are pretty well if not to their amendment yet doubtlesse to their shame Gentle Reader ere thou read this Treatise be pleased with thy penne to correct these Presse-errors Page 2. line 2. read Parallels p. 3. l. 17. for fable r unstable l. 6. p 4. Iowne c drowne l. 9 be sure l. 19. but weekes p. 8. l 3. makâ—…s p. 10. l 7. and not r. as not p. 12. l. 11. traducing l. 30. that r. their p. 14. l. 22. Fathers p. 15 l. 24. them r. their p. 16. l. 3. habeâ—…s p. 17. l. 8 publish p. 18. l. 25. a practise p. 19. l. 5. Bayli l 7. urge this l. 25. auncient l. 29. Crantzius l. Testium Aventimus l. 32. Hypocrites p. 21. l. 9. heart p. 22. l. 17. bruize r. bring p. 23. l. 3. Bacchanals l. 12. Rainsford p. 24. l. 13. Ed. 6 p. 25. l. 3. ransant Banger l. 5. his r. her p.
rewardes causing Servants to betray their Masters Wives their Husbands Children their Parents People their Pastors Nay one Minister one Professor at least in 〈◊〉 another and cause one friend one neighbour to accuse intrappe and betray another whom they malice for their grace and goodnesse or any other occasion that so they may persecute hamper ruine them in their ecclesiasticall or high Commission Courts or crush them by their temporall power and greatnesse at their pleasures by putting them from their freeholds and lawfull callings confining them to some prison or forcing them to flie the land in case they stoope not to their lusts in all particulars as hundreds of late Presidents manifest aâ—…â—…ull 25. The divell doth buffet and binde Gods servants till Christ by his infinite power doth loose them 2. Cor. 12. 7. Luke 13. 16. So have done and yet dayly doe Lord Prelates buffet and binde Gods people by their Censures Excommunications officers Pursevants Iayloâ—…s till Christ by his omnipotent power shall rescue and deliver them from this their tyranny 26. The diuell filleth mens hearts to lie to the Holy Ghost Acts 5. 3. So Lord Prelates with promises and perswasions do the like by suborning their instruments in their writings and Sermons before Kings Princes Vniversities and the most eminent assemblies to maintaine their Episcopall Iurisdiction Lordlinesse pompe and power their superstious Popish Ceremonies Altars Crucifixes Tapers genuflexions Conservations adorations c. to bee all Iure divino warranted anâ—… prescribed by Gods Law and word of purpose to deceive the Auditors when as their consciences know tâ—…e contrary to bee true and that they lye against the Holy Ghost in what they preach and write and to forge divers notorious fables and calumnies of Puritans Precizians and godly Christians out of their owne poeticall braines as false as any figments in the golden Legend to bring both them the practise power and profession of Religion into publike scorne that so Popery Atheisme and Profanenesse may overfloâ—… the world A dangerous yet now a common sinne and practise which I wish the guilty would reforme by Ananias and Saphirahs exemplary punishments for this very sinne Acts 5. 3. to 10. 27. The divell tempts and encourageth men to all kindes of sinne of wikednesse and to disobey all Gods Commandements Gen. 3. 1. to 7. to â—…cleanenesse 1 Cor. 7. 5. to cruelty and implacablenesse 2 Cor. 2. 11. to wantonnesse worldlinesse lasciviousnesse profanenesse and fleshly lusts Ephes. 2. 2 3. 1 Tim. 5. 15. besides murther treachery lying and other forenamed sinnes So doe the Prelates witnesse their many late vngodly Superstitious licentious Bookes and practises to spurre men on to Popery and superstition but especially to profane the Saboath to use dancing Morrisses May-games erect Ales May-poles Bacchavalls drinke swill and play the Epicures the Pagans even on Gods owne sacred day and that whiles we lye all under Gods scourge plagues for this very sinne to tumble them headlong into hell and draw downe all Gods wrath and plagues upon us from heaven at once to our speedy certayne ruine Take but one fresh instance of this kinde Master Skinner the Bishop elect of Bristoll this last Sâ—…mmer even in the heate of the Plague invited one Sir Garret Ramsford a prisonner in the Kings Bench with his Lady to dine with him at his Countrey house on the Lords day and charged them not to fayle him for they would bee very merry They came accordingly and his elect Lordship according to promise was so merry that hee called for Bristow milke strong Sacke to season him for that diocesse and sucked it up so freely that hee had almost got the Staggars and his men seeing their new Lord set upon so merry a pinne plied him so fast with it that at last he bad them take away the Sacke for feare they should kill him with it and what then should his Majestie doe for a new Bishop as if enough would not bee reddy to succeed him if hee were gone Well their company was so good that they must stay at Supper with him too they did so and they were very merry Supper ended his Lorâ—…ship cals for a paire of Cardes and to play they must all goe Sir Garret thereupon answered My Lord I thinke you are of their opinion who hold that the Saboath endeth at six of the clocke that you will now goe to Cardes for I hope you will not play upon the Saboath No saith hee I am not of that opinion but his Majestie coÌ„mandeth us to play on this day A notorious untruth For where I pray commandeth his Majestie or alloweth Bâ—…shops or Ministers to play at Cardes or Dice or Tables on the Lords day when as he commands that nothing bee done against the Lawes aud Canons of the Church in that very Declaration they would father on his Highnesse and the 73. and 74. Canons expressely proâ—…ibit Bishops and Ministers to play at Cardes Dice or any other unlawfull games on any day Much lesse then on the Lords day which the 13 Canon and the Homilie of the time and place of prayer with 5. 6. E. l. c. 3. and his Majesties prime Act. 1. Carolic 1. will infâ—…rme them ought otherwise to be spent then in Carding Playes and pastimes Sir Garret replied that hee conceiued it was against the fourth Commandement and that his Majestie neither would nor could command any thing against Gods Law or if he did we were not to obey in such cases His Lordship replied that the fourth Commandement was ceremoniall and abrogated long agoe So said Sir Garret you may say as well of all the rest and if his Majestie should command any thing against the other 9. Would you obey it That said his Lordship wee must dispute when there shal bee occasion intimating that if his Majestie should command any thing against aâ—…y of Gods Commandements which wee trust hee will never doe the Bishops would obey it without any great dispute Well Sir Garret would not play at that time and thereupon the Cards were sent backe againe And is not this a man thinke you like to make a very hoâ—…y Prelate It may be so for hee hath since beene consecrated and that with some new Popish Ceremonies as is reported And in truth he needed a Consecration for I remember well when hee was fellow of Trinity Colledge in Oxford hee after pretty Bes Bauger so long that he begate a strong kinde of spurious tympany in his belly for which I never heard hee did any penaâ—…ce or made any purgation But his Consecration doubtlesse hath purged this and all other his sinnes cleane away Such holy examples are Lord Prelates whose doctrine had need convert mens soules for few of their lives will doe it 28. The divell stirreth up Kings to offend God to the destruction and prejudice of their subjects 1 Chron. 21. 1. and rayseth discordes and dissentions and disaffections betweene Kings and their subjects Iudges 9. 23. And haue not
people up to his new rayle to receive 38. The divell if stoutly and manfully resisted will flie from us ever raging like a coward over those with greatest extremity that make the least resistance 1 Pet. 5. 9. Iames 4. 7. Thus doe these Lordly Prelates where they are stoutly and manfully withstood in their tyrannicall exorbitant procedings vsurpations and incroachments by men of courage there they for the most part flie giue over these ever fareing best that most manfully oppugne them Where they are crowched bowed and basely submitted to or faintly resisted or not opposed as late experience too well manifesteth there they rage tyrannize triumph most and make strange havock in the Church Yf Ministers or people then will ever be free from the tvranny bondage insolency rage or desperate oppressions the unjust illegall Excommunications Suspentions exacted Fees Visitation Oathes Articles Ceremonies Innouations Citations Procedings of these outragious divells made in their owne names and rights alone under their propper Seales without any Patent or Commission from his Majesties authorizing them Contrary to the expresse Statutes of 25. H. 8. c. 19 20 21. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 31. H. 8. c. 9 10. 32. H. 8. c. 26. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1 El. c. 1. 2. 5. El. c. 1. 8. El. c. 1. 13. El. c. 12. or from their high Cō nission ex officio Oathes Pursevants imprisonments and Fines contrary to Magna Carta c. 29. the Petition of Right 1 Eliz c. 1. on which their commission is grounded 3 ◅oli and the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme as their very last High Commission it selfe expressely resolves and therefore add a non obstante these their ex officio oathes imprisonments fines and censures bee contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme Such is the Prelates Iustice conscience piety fatherly charity and obedience to his Majesties Lawes to foist such a desperate Papall non obstante into their High Commission Let then them manfully couragiously unanimously resist and withstand them to the uttermost of their power by all just warrantable lawfull meanes that may bee as loyalty to their King Countrey Charity to themselves and their posterity and Conscience towards God enioyne them and then these base-borne ignoble cowardly mushrom Lords and divells animated flushed enraged only by mens former cowardise faint-hartednesse and strange unchristian sordid basenesse will flee away shortly from them and never assault or oppresse them more in such a tyrannicall uniust illegall manner as they have lately done as Phil 1. 27. Iam. 4. 7. resolve and certifie us for comfort and encouragement 39. There is and hath been from the fall of Adam to this present a bitter perpetuall implacable enmity and warre betweene the old Serpent the divell and his feed and Christ the seede of the Woman his Church and her seed the elect and regenerate Saints of God Genes 3. 15. So hath there beene betweene the Lordly Prelates their officers spawne and generation and Christ and his true spirituall seede and faithfull members even from their first originall till this present witnesse the desperate enmity the implacable malice and horrid cruelty of the ancient Lordly Arrian Court-Bishops towards the orthodox Christians of old Of the Popes and popish Prelates to the true Ministers Professors of the Gospell and Protestants and of the ceremonious pompous Lordly English Lord Prelates towardes the Puritans and Precisians as they nickname them the powerfull painefull zealous godly Preachers Ministers and Christians since Of all which our Bookes of Martyrs with other Ecclesiasticall Histories and late Treatises give ample testimony which present experience cannot but subscribe to 40. The divell is a malicious malignant spirit whose malice is never satisfied ended mittigated or appeased but with the ruine of the parties maligned as appeares in Iob. 1. 13. to 22. c. 2. 1. to 8 Where he could not be satisfied with the destruction of Iobs Children Oxen Asses Sheepe Camells Servants and estate but he would have had his life too and when that could not be obtayned Yet he would torment his body with sore painefull boiles from the Crowne of his head to the sole of his foote So Lordly Prelates malice and rankor against Gods faithfull Ministers is endlesse boundlesse implacable they cannot be content to vex molest and trouble them with causelesse suites vnlesse they silence stop their mouthes when that is done they are never quiet till they have quite deprived them of their livings and Ministry stripped them of all their lively-hood cast them into some nasty Prison or bannished them the Realme When this is acco◅plished Yet is not their rage abated nor their malice extinguished euen in Prison they will keep an hard hand against them use them with all de◅pit and rigor depriue them as much as may be of all releife resort and comfort seeke out new occasions to vex and persecute them But if perchance they escape beyond the Seas and get out of their clutches then they persecute them as the high Preists did the primitive Christians euen into strange Cities and Countries Acts 26. 11. raising up fresh troubles and stormes against them by their Catholike agents even there to destroy them as they did against Mr. Tindall and other Martyres of olde and against some of our godly Ministers of late being never at rest or peace till they have either sucked their bloud or seene them dead in their graves A truth too apparant by many present Examples fresh before our eyes 41. The divill hath his Angells his Ministring spirits and spirituall Sonnes to doe his service advance his kingdome and execute his Commandements Math. 25. 41. Iohn 6. 70. c. 8. 44. 1. Iohn 3. 8. 10. Yea to perswade men to worship the divill and Idolls of gold and silver and brasse and stone and of wood which neither can se nor heare nor walke Rev. 9. 20. Math. 4. 8. 9 10. Luke 4. 5 6 7. 1. Kings 22. 28 29 30. So have Lordly Prelates their Angells their spirituall Sonnes and Ministring spirits to execute their severall Injunctions Commandments Their Angells To wit their howshold Chaplaines now knowne Apostate Angells from their first faith love and workes and their spirituall Sonnes To wit their Preists serving at their ◅ew erected Altars as themselves now pray write and preach who now call themselves the Sonnes of the Church to wit of the Bishops who like an Oven heated by the Baker send out nothing but black fiery Coales from the Altar with which their owne tongues and others lips being touched by these greate Seraphins Commandments according to their usuall formes of prayer before their Sermons insteed of crying out against the Idolatrous Altlas of Bethell as the man of God once did by Gods speciall Commandment in the very presence of K. Ieroboam 1. King 13. 2 3 4. they doe nothing else but preach and cry out for Altars setting up of Altars Images