beeing suffered among the Isralites were a snare vnto them Iudg. 2.2 so must it needes be with these popish offices altars and ceremonies left among protestants The parliaments therefore should have struck at the rootes and stocks of the trees wh ch bring out such fruits in matters both of the church and common wealth and better they never did nor never can bringe foorth in any nation It is a just plague God hath sent on the Clergie because like the Angels they kept not theire first estate of presbyters nor receive the love of that ordinance For now since the death of the Apostles prophets and Evangelists by the Testament of God all degrees of Clergie men that since crope in are not branches of Christ the vine he gave some to be pastors Teachers and Elders but never any to be diocessan Bishops Such as are not content with the callings and offices that he hath given for his church but aspire to others that make them Lords of Gods heritage they abide not in him Ioh. 15. â— 5 6.7 1. and as he saith As the branch cannot beare fruite of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Euen as he is the word he is the vine and his ministers are the branches by which his fulnesse is spread abroade wherfore he saith If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered He saith abide in me and I in you and sheweth what that is If ye abide in me and my words abide in you and that as well in matter of office and ceremonies according to his ordinances as in other things Herein is my father glorified that ye beare much fruite soe shall ye be my Disciples as if he saide otherwise not Bishops therefore that have not theire callings of him of his Testament are branches of some other trees not of Christ Iesus the vine and that makes them bring out such fruite as they doe It will be saide if kings may not give Clergie men such honour and power as Constantin Iustinian and other Emperours gave them where is theire prerogative And if councels may not give them such authority as the councell of Nice and other Synods of those times gave them where is Christs promise of the Spirit To the first I answer wee are willed to give vnto Cesar the things that are Cesars Math. 12.21 but vnto God the things that are Gods This as wee have shewed is a thing that is Gods And who then would thinke that Christians if they may be so called would ever teach that Kings or Synods may gâ—ve a power to Prelates that shall make any of the ordinances of God of none effect most of those prelates Antichrists and one of them the grand Antichrist Kings indeede are nursing fathers to the church but that is then to see that theire people be fed with the sincere milke of the word of God and not with the traditions of men or leaven of the Pharises Isa 52.2 which beeing not the bread of heaven satisfieth not Yet Prelates are ever buzzing Princes in the eares with theire prerogative in what they have established They may as well reason thus 2. Chro. 12.11 Iehoram made high places and so caused men to commit fornication He compelled Iudah thereto therfore Kings may s t vp diocessan Bishops and Sees which are high places never ordained of God and so cause fornications and compell men to theire obedience 2. King 16 â—0 Ahaz saw an Altar at Damascus sent the fashion of it to Vâ—â—ah the Priest made him make such a one and offer on it therfore Kings may set vp Altars cause such things and divers others taken from the heathen Iewes or Papists to be vsed in theire churches Ieroboam set vp golden calves Nebuchadnezar a golden Image and caused all to worship it ergo Kings may set vp these golden Images the B shops and cause them in all theire power traditions and ceremonies to be obeied that is worshipped Christs Bishops would rather say Kings are commaunded to write them a booke of the law not to depart from it as God willeth Iosha but to mediate therein day and night that they may observe to doe according to all that is written therein Ios 1.2 therfore they may not make theire subjects worship the Beast and take his marke not though he pretend that they are the things of the Spirit either invented or confirmed in councels If Christ by whome Kings raigne be the King only wise the best and noblest King as he is the word and wisdom that ruleth his then it is the greatest and best prerogative to be renued into his image and seeke his kingdom seeing the father saith Psa 2. J have set my King vpon my holy hil of Sion to rule all nations in all matters of religion be wise now therfore o ye Kings c. Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Now his Image is renewed in knowledge righteosnesse and holinesse of the truth Marke not holinesse of mens inventions and traditions but holinesse of the truth The rudiments of the world as Paul sheweth bring men into bondage and ignorance Gal. 4. Ioh. 8. Chap. 17. Chap. 14. but the knowledge and obedience of the truth and continuance therein as Christ also saith maketh men free and Sonnes of God which is the greatest honour that can be He saith Thy word is Truth I am the Truth His name is called the word of God Such as yeeld to Gods word yeeld to this truth they truly bow at the name of Iesus and doe him homage as the King of Kings Princes are rightly called Gods Deputies and truly honourable when they labour to bring men to this true holinesse For there is no true holines but the holines of the Truth No man can serve two Maisters not God and Mammon much lesse Christ and Antichrist who commaund and teach contrarie things But Christ is the Truth And every one saith he that is of the Truth heareth my voice Ioh. 18.37 Chap. 10. To be of the Truth then is to be a true Christian My sheepe heare my voice and they follow me and a stranger they will not follow This stranger is one that bringeth false doctrines or for doctrines the traditions and inventions of men His servants ye are to whome ye obey He saith not to whome ye pray but to whome ye obey Rom. 6.16 Him ye serve worship whether Christ or Antichrist God or any other potentate The Papists and all that teach or observe for doctrines commaundements of men will say wee worship and follow Christ Indeede his is the kingdom the power and the glorie But as he is the eternal word and wisdom of God Ioh. 12.26 he saith If a man serve me let him follow me that is to heare beleeve and obey me and me only as I am God with the father and the holy Ghost or as I only am the
doe what they list in religion shall be sure to be flattered in it as the popes were as soone as ever they grew greate and to have any power over the Clergie and this indeede made them attempt what they list and carrie or obtaine it while verie few durst call it incroaching or corruption such was and such is the fruite of this power in the church and therfore God would neither commit the election or confirmation of his ministers nor the government to one in a diocesse but to the presbyters and members of every church as abovesaide Men will not see these things but if wee tell them these all doe contrarie to the decrees of Christ to stop our mouthes with those Iewes and others of the baser sort they say These all doe contrarie to the decrees of Cesar Act. 17.5.7 saying that there is another King in these cases namely Christ making a verie heinous matter of it that wee are so bold as to affirme it But it were to be wished that they would so give vnto Cesar the things that are Cesars as not to take from God the things that are Gods to give them to Cesar These are things that have been manifested to be Gods Why then will they perswade Kings that they doe God service and shew love to his church his Ierusalem while they strengthen the Prelates that vsurpe these offices suppresse the verie name of the presbiterie and make Princes beleeve that as they doe more or lesse vphold theire hierarchie so God will more or lesse blesse them theirs Wherein they reason like Baronius Baron in an 452 who speaking of the law of Valentinian abovementioned which curtailed the power of Bishops saith That the making of it incensed the wrath of God and caused Attila with the Hunnes to come downe upon the Empire When that was rather because he left them so much power as he did and did not rather reduce them to that order and power wherein the Apostles left them taking away all that which made the word of God in divers particulars of none effect or is contrarie to his ordinances though it had been given them by Emperours or Synods They should have all knowne that it is the King eternall and immortall who is only wise 1. Tim. 1.17 Isa 30.22 Pro. 8. mark that word onelie wise especially in Spirituall things The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our lawgiver the Lord is our King Christ beeing the wisdom of God saith By me Kings raigne and Princes decree justice that is when what they can they governe according to Gods revealed wisdom Much more then in matters of religion they are not set in the throne to doe and require the doeing of theire owne will but Gods as David acknowledged and therefore saide Give thy judgments ô God thy judgments not mens not mine to the King and thy righteousnes to the Kings Sonne Psa 70.1 2. Chron. 29.23 2 Sam. 22.51 1 Chro. 29 11.12 So it is saide Solomon sate on the throne of the Lord insteade of David his father who is saide to be Gods King Every king therefore should acknowledge God King of his kingdom as David of his Thine o Lord is the greatnes the power the glorie the victorie and the majestie for all that is in the heaven in the earth is thine thine is the kingdom o Lord thou art exalted as head above all that is theÌ„ above Kings who beeing set on the throne of the 〈◊〉 that is to see his word his lawes Statutes observed to se◠〈…〉 the righteousnes thereof for then doe they bring theire glorie honour to the new Ierusalem Hos 2.19 then is he maried to them and theire pepole Ãn righteousnes in judgment in loveing kindnes in mercies as he promiseth that is when Kings make priests and people live and doe according to the order which he appointeth them in his word as both Hezechiah and David himselfe did when he saw Vzza slaine for breaking that order He sits on the throne of the Lord that gives his power strength to God and to his ordinances as the Kings which are the hornes of the Beast gave theire power and strength vnto the Beast to enforce his lawes rites and errours on theire people which was a war against the lambe But at last as is graciously promised The lambe shall overcome them Rev. 17. For he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings If therefore they will be saide to sit on his throne they must doe the like for Christ against Antichrist and all enemies of his truth seeing God hath set his King vpon his holy hill of Sion to rule all nations in matters of religion and therefore addeth Be wise now therefore o ye Kings Psa 2. Let it not be saide your subjects dwell where Sathan hath his throne for Antichrist or any other David knew the true wisdom when he saide 2. Sam. 22.22 J have kept the waies of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgments were before me c. And when in an assemblie of all his Princes Captaines 1. Chro. 28 1.8.9 and 〈…〉 to them Keepe and seeke for all the com◠〈…〉 â—th Solomon and 〈…〉 thâ—e but if 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—re did God 〈…〉 â—e a King among his Sonnes He wâ—s a King indeeâ—â—or God seeing he thus raigned psa 47.3 and in this â—ense had ever such sayiâ—gs in his mouth God is the King of all the Earth The shields of the eartâ— belong unto God For the Lord is a greate God and a greaâ— King above all Gods The holy one of Israel is our King The prelates and theire adherents say there must be order in the church diocessan Bishops to be over others Objection question and reje◠〈…〉 â—ers God hath not appoin◠〈…〉 therefore Kings and councels 〈…〉 I answer this is to say 〈◊〉 God hath not had a sufficient 〈…〉 â—rch and to accuse his Testament of insufficiencie as if th◠〈…〉 â—d not as well provided for his church in this case as in others when yet for these ends he ordained Elders to be Bishops 〈◊〉 every congregation Now all his ordinances are perfect His worke is perfect Deut 32.4 for all his waies are judgment He is God and changeth not therefore to say that this was only for the times of the Apostles and as the church increased and those times changed the wisdom of men might provide better is a greate presumption yet such hath beene the wisdom of the flesh Act. 15.18 and of the world to thinke so But knowne vnto God are all his works from the begining of the world Men cannot in time better them If the Eldership had not beene sufficient he would either never have ordained it to be so soone abolished or have foretold and given authority to his church to ordaine diocessans This he did not but for bad to adde
man hunger let him eate at home The holy Ghost giveth divers gifts of wisdom knowledge healing faâ—th prophecie tongues c. to divers members of the same body If the one of them should say of the other I have no neede of thee this were not to doe things decently and in order He wisheth them to covet the best gifts rather to prophecie then to speake with tongues that men praying or prophecying should be vncovered Chap. 14. that women should be covered and not speake in the church and above all he there speaketh of prophecying one by one of others holding theire peace and judging or trying the Spirits And so of these and the like things then in vse Rev. 2.24 he saith let all things be donne decently and in order As for these new inventions of Bishops and Synods Chr st himselfe saith I will put vpon you no other burden but that which ye have alreadie hold fast till J come And shall men thinke that they may doe it Are there any true Christians that will not see that the offices of dâ—ocessan Bishops who burden the church with sup rsti ious rites are not de jure divino not of God but of men That they w re raised to this height and power after the example of the Bishop and church of Rome who in those first ages was imitâ—tâ—d by the most So truly is she called the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth That they beeing armed with power serve chiefely to suppresse the truth in these other po nts to get and have dominion over mens faith bring in Arminianisme or other like errours forbid confutation of them exalt humane traditions Romish inventions and ceremonies and like Egiptian taskemaisters to burden the churches with them make ministors that they dare not see these evils least it should hinder theire preferment or they should be deprived of theire liveings or silenced for speaking against them whilest they see that others flatter or extoll them and they serve thousands for a religion and insteade of that which Christ ordained as also for a cloake of poperie mocking and persecution It will be saide the Canons ceremonies are not imposed as matters of faith but of order and are counted things indifferent and therfore innocent and not so hurtfull as you make them I answer 1. So were they at the first in the Roman church but they grew into greater authority and so do these among thousands in England as sleight a matter as some make of them If things indifferent and innocent why are they pressed with such power For they are more vrged and observed by many then the Gospel In whose mindes these imposers preachers of ceremonies only leave Christ a name while like vsurpers they carrie away the power of a King and kingdom and therfore an offence against them is more punished and more skorned by such popelings newters and temporisers then an offence against the Gospel who yet in all these things count themselves the better subjects the better Christians 2. That in the booke of Articles which is of matters of faith ministers are made to subscribe to this that the church hath authority to ordaine these things that must be by som power given them in Gods word and that is as much as to make them matters of faith and necessity For that is in effect implied If as they say God have given every national church this authority then his will is that these things should be religiously observed and obeiâ—d and to breake them is sinne Thus they are or ought to be of faith Rom. 14.23 for whatsoever is not of faith is sinne But as wee proved the Papists take many of these ceremonies and even the office of diocessan Bishops and Archbishops from the heathen and from the daily encroachings of prelates therefore how should the subscribing to them in this tyranie be of faith no sinne especially seeing they doe many waies turne from God I denie not but that som things that the Apostles vsed are indifferent and may be altered for time and place as preaching and administring the Sacraments in the night and in mens howses Act. 8.36 This may be donne in the day and in Temples Philip and the Eunuch went both downe into the water others neede not to doe soe But such things altered or added by Synods ought to be verie few and such onely as necessity and not pretended conveniencie require For so say the Apostles and Elders Act. 15.22 28. with the whole Church at Ierusalem It seemed good to the Holy Ghost to vs to lay vpon you no greater burden then theese necessarie things Marke they say necessarie things I grant that some things the Church hath altered are necessarie in some Churches as that the whole body should not be dipped in Baptisme nor men forced to stand vncouered in such cold countries as Russia and Sweden while Moses and the Apostles are read as they did of old and as now they doe in prayer and singing of Psalmes other order may be taken for a Reader to reade the Scriptures and begin the Psalmes also for the manner of collecting almes setting vp a pulpit with water for Baptisme and a table conveniently placed on the communion day for at other times there needes none But vnder pretext that the Church hath this power it is most absurd to say it may giue authority to diocessan Bishops and Archbishops theire courts power and proceedings the oath ex officio theire fining imprisoning suspending silencing and so many ceremonies Altars canons customes and traditions as are in England more then were in the Apostles time or then are in the reformed Churches of France Germanie Belgia and other countries and whereof there is no necessitie but much mischiefe as beeing many of them Popish and snares tending to poperie tyrannicall and causing grievous schismes Which if Queene Elizabeth did not abolish consider how she found the land what policies and tempers she vsed how she suffered as King Edward had donne Cand. lib. 1. p. 16.28 and 77. the same service in English which was before in Latin some vaine things omitted Popish Priests to hold theire liueings if they would but take the oath of supremacie that there wâ—re therfore but 80. in the whole land that refused it how the Iudges and many of the nobilitie Iudges in Parliament were still Papists for many yeares after her coronation as the Reader may finde in Camden withall that notwithstanding all theese tempers which she thought those times required she so loued the Gospell and was so far from beeing an enemie to the reformation of Geneva that she as a meanes vnder God established it in Scotland France and the Netherlands her forces did it Againe consider that the best acts that euer any King of Iudah did in the reformation of religion were no excuse for his or theire leauing the high places vntaken away that prouinciall and diocessan Bishops
to be ordained of God and necessary when indeede it is theire owne office that is not necessary seeing it onely serveth for such things to persecute men for the Testimonie of Iesus and more to force vnnecessarie then necessarie ceremonies For kneeling in prayer good order and reverent gesture in the Church are vsed in the french Churches as commendable and necessarie and yet in men that in those other thâ—ngs are disobedient to the truth theire verie prayers are abhominable and but mockeries much more theire owne deuised cringes and gestures as in Papists who abound in such things and as if a man should with all order and reverence bow his body to the King his chaire of Estate Image or seale and yet despise or neglect many of his wholsom Lawes and commandements The orders and ceremonies which God ordained are indeede to religion as the barke or leaues to a tree that is a comely part of it but as for other ceremonies and inventions with theire pretended significations which beeing devised by man are more then are in the reformed Churches of France or were in the Apostles time they are not to the religion and truth of God as they say like the barke to the tree which if it be taken off the tree withereth but as the ivye to the oake which seemes to adorne and embrace it but indeede binds shadowes and by degrees wasts and destroyes it For these shewes serve many for a religion and a cloake of persecution and the power of Bishops serues for a tyranous terrour to keepe men from pâ—aching and writing the truth and setting theire names to theire bookes in the cases of the hierarchie traditions Altars images pelagianisme or the like and consequently to beget flatterie and lukewarmnesse in Clergie and people and eate out that loue and zeale of the truth in all things that they either doe now or may hereafter prohibit or maintaine Such was and such is the fruite of theire power and therfore certainly it is not of God but of men of the world of the coueteous lust of the eyes and of the pride of life and therfore what matters it who gaue it them whether councels or Kings they cannot make black white nor euill good nor that Lawfull which is so unlawfull and pernicious to the Kingdom of God Constantine no doubt thought he had offered a greate sacrifice to God in giueing them so much as he did other Emperours Kings therfore haue augmented it But he that forbiddeth to adde to his word or take from it saith to obey is better then sacrifice 1. Sam. 15. Therfore Asa to doe that which was right in the eyes of God did not vrge his owne or other mens inventions 2. Chro. 14.3.4 but tooke away the Altars of the strange Gods and the high places and Images other Kings had erected and commaunded Judah to seeke the Lord God of theire Fathers and to doe the Law marke and the commaundement Chr st beeing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords though Kinges as his deputies haue greate power in matters of Religion yet that is so as in theese things not so seeke theire owne but Gods will donne in earâ—h as it is in heauen I saith he Ioh. 8.26 chap. 6.34 Tract 40.41.54 speake to the world those things which I haue heard of him J came not to doe mine owne will but the will of him that sent me He saiâ—e this that was the eternall word and Wisdom of God yea verie God and eternall l fe For indeede he was not his owne wisdom word but the Fathers as August n doth mâ—nâ—fest on theese the like places of the Gosspell And shall not Kings then who are but his Deputies much more say it yea doe it either by causing the word of God to be faithfully taught in theire cities as David and Iehoshaphat or by rooting out all monuments and stumbling blocks of superstition and idollatrie and by suffering theire subjects to preach freely against them and to worship the Lord in the beautie of holinesse as Hezechiah and Iosiah did that is in a word by causing theire subjects to worship God aright and take his marke in the puritie of his ordinances and not to worship the Beast and take his mark in receiving professing and defending his corrupt traditions and ceremonies For to serve God and make others serve him in the beautie of holinesse Psa 110.3 is to make men serve him in the holinesse of the truth according to all that is written in his Testament Ios 1.8 and not with cathedrall service and musick after the pompous traditions and inventions of Prelates and theire Canons as some infer For the Image of God is renewed in all righteousnesse and holines of the truth Ephes 4.24 and if God would not that wee should be again in bondage to the rudiments which himselfe ordained in the ceremoniall law Christ haveing nailed them to his crosse much lesse to those which the pope and church of Rome or other men have invented or established It were good that Princes and theire chaplains would think of that Ezra 7.21 whatsoever is commaunded by the God of heaven that is in matters of religion let it be diligently donne where mark he saith not commaunded by Kings for why should there be wrath against the Realme of the King and his Sonnes That is either for neglecting Gods commaund or vrging inventions of men for therfore wee are willed not to thinke of men and theire power above that is written 1 Cor. 4.6 It is the necessity of conformitie imposed upon Ministers that furnisheth them as it did the Papists with arguments to defend traditions humane precepts and Canons against this truth and so to make a fearfull war against God Which I observe not so much of them who haveing subscribed follow theire ministrie preach the word and never speake of English traditions hopeing God will reforme them as of those that defend and preach them Isa 1. never thinking that God may say vnto them who required these things at your hands What Gospell is this How doth it helpe the Kingdom of God What knowledge what fai h what holinesse of the truth doth it worke They yet strive to justifie these ordinances and all the power of the prelates 1. Cor. 14.40 saying the Apostle saiâ—h Let all things be donne decently and in order therfore Synods may ordaine diocessan Bishops and all such Canons as are in England and doubtlesse the will of God is that they should be obeied I nswer the Apostle by this decencie and order can not meane any thing that shall overthrow any of the ordinances of God or make his word of none effect in any particular He speakes it of things before mencioned in his Epistle Chap. 11.21 Chap. 12. There were divers who did eate theire suppers when they came to the Sacrament one is hungrie and another is drunken this was not decently and in order If any
Hereunto agreeth that glosse It is evident that the church is therefore one because in the vniversall church there is one supreame head to wit the Pope whome all that are of the Church are bound to obey He incurreth therefore the sinne of paganisme whosoever renounceth obedience to the see Apostolike Thus he causeth all to take his marke If a man would know a litle better what the marke is he may see the same in the Popes new creede of the Trent faith as it is propounded by the Bull of Pius 4. and that act of the councell of Trent wherin it was ordained That the Bishops shall in the first provinciall councell receive the decrees of the Synod of Trent promise obedience to the Pope Histor of the councell of Trent lib 8. p. 808. Anathematise the heresies condemned and every Bishop hereafter promoted shall doe the same in the first Synod and all beneficed men who are to assist in the diocessan Synod shall doe the same therein Those who have the care of vniversities and studies generall shall indeavour to make the Decrees to be received in them c. and shall take a solemne oath herein every yeare All both smal greate Priests and people take this maâ—ke in the forhead who professe the Romish or Trent faith To take it in the hand that is to maintaine it in part or in whole by wit sword power purse or otherwise whether openly as profest papists or more privately as disguised wolves in the sheepes cloathing of a protestant out side false brethren such as creeping in vnawares doe more or lesse practise the bringing in of poperie and division or flatter those that doe which is the roote of all other vngodlinesse presumptious sinning licentiousnesse and corruption and indeede of turning the grace of God into laciviousnesse prevarication and following the way of Balaam for reward as S. Iude observeth in a like case Iude 3. to 12 and therfore wisheth men to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints which shewes that the only way to preserve that good which remaineth and reforme all things that are amisse is to contend for that puritie and simplicitie in doctrine and discipline which God by his Apostles ordained in his Testament for therefore against all these innovators flatterers and mockers he saith Vers 17 but remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles c. building vp youre selves in youre most holy faith keepe your selves in the love of God And others save with feare pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh much more then the marke of the Beast and all appearance of it As for the number of the Beast which is the number of a man and his number 666. some finde it in the word Romanus written in Hebrew characters and that is the number of a man beeing the name of one of theire Popes But Iohn wrote in Greeke Irenae advers haerâ—s l. 5. and to the Greeke churches therfore the name Lateinos written in greeke letters which was the name of a King in Italie is more probable because the Beast is latin and so are his body and members and as Ireneus also noteth The most true kingdom hath this name for they are latines which now raigne And we know that the Dragon which then raigned was to give his throne to the beast The word ΛΑΤΕΙÎΟΣ as King Iames observeth sutes well with the Romish church praemon pag. 94. Romish faith and latin service The later as I take it beeing especially meant in this place as beeing brought into the church by Vitalian and so by the second Beast who also first set vp organs in churches and other ceremonies and that aboute the yeare 666. Now whereas he causeth that no man might buy or sell save he that had the marke or the name of the beast Platina in Vitalian or the number of his name This sheweth that if a man will live in peace among them he must professe the Trent faith Som Papists will not doe this For as som in England are content to seeme to be protestants yet are church papists popish or newters so are there ever were som in Spaine Italie Rome who are coÌ„tent to seeme to be Papists yet in theire hearts abhor the Trent faith yet are not profest perfect protestants though the Inquisitors when they finde in any point punish them for such as wanting libertie and meanes of knowledge Now if such will not take the marke helpe professe and defend the Trent faith yet must they have the name of the Beast be called latin or Roman Catholiks that is vniversals of him the vniversall Bishop Or catholik If one be loth to take his name yet if he will buy and sell he must at least have the number of the Beast come to the latin service and vse some latin ceremonies heare the singing men c. as church papists have this that they come to the English churches though they have no protestant religion in them only they like well of the hierachie traditions cathedral service and many canons knowing whence they came and whither they tend even to his kingdom service who obtained of the murtherer Phocas to be called vniversall Bishop For this beeing aboute the yeare 606. shortly after he got the power of that title and then from thenceforwards Romish customes though never so superstitious were observed for lawes Antonius of Valtelina a Dominican friar in the councel of Trent saide Histor of the counc of Trent l 6. p. 548. That it was plaine by all histories that anciently every church had her perticular Ritual of the Masse brought in by vse and vpon occasion rather then by deliberation and decree and that the small churches did follow the Metropolitan and greater which weere neere The Roman rite had beene to gratifie the Pope received in many provinces But as he proved by a booke called Ordo Romanus that of Rome had also had greate alterations both in ancient and later times within 300 yeares Insomuch that the vestments and other ornaments of the Ministers and Altars as appeareth by bookes Statues and pictures are so changed that if the ancients should returne into the world they would not know them Therefore he concludeth that to binde all to approve the Roman Rites might be reprehended as a condemnation of antiquitie and of the vses of other Churches Nevertheles the English Prelates haveing retained many of them and divers other Romish customs in theire canons and hierarchie doe binde all that are in theire Churches to approve and vse them and yet will not be perswaded that this is to worship the Beast or in part to haue his marke Because say they it is not donne on purpose to serve or flatter the Pope or Church of Rome Ioh. 16 2 Christ saith it shall come to passe that he that killeth you shall thinke he
following that government that they cannot abide to heare of it This therfore pretended to be donne to edifying is but like the dog in the fable to catch and make others catch at the shadow let goe the substance they will not suffer men to take the marke of God in some points It is in the case of Euangelicall precepts as in that of the ten commandements the best do many times of infirmitie breake them and so sinne against the Testimonie of Iesus which also hath many rules and therfore theese that weare the white roabes haveing no doubt some staines of infirmitie are faine to wash theire roabes and make them white in the blood of the lambe Reu. 7.14 Now the fault of the Prelates is not of this kinde but as when a man breaketh any of the commandements And teacheth men so though he be zealous in all the rest yet this is abhominable before God Gal. 3.1 that therein he will not obey the Truth nor heare of it O foolish men who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the Truth If the question be asked to those of the Church of England the answer is ready Surely the honours and proffits of this world For as the Galathians did not obey it in some particulars no more doe theese in others Many not onely of the Romish but even of the English Ministers that are conformable haue in other things the Testimonie of Jesus and in many points hold it with zeale against Hereticks but in the matter of the presbiterie the power that God gaue to each Church or congregation and things that are against the hierarchie and ceremonies they change and breake the ordinance of God and teach men soe Such is the fruite of the hierarchie it makes men feare and flatter the Prelates and haue the truth of God in respect of persons Pro. 28.23 and as the Scripture saith to haue respect of persons is not good for for a peece of bread that man will transgresse Much more that he may get or hold a liveing and most of all for a Bishopwrick or denarie They doe not in this case observe that precept of the old and new Testament Zach. 8.16 Eph. 4.25 speake ye euery man the truth to his neighbour The Bishops do in this case as the Papists doe in this and others they will not so much as suffer Princes much lesse other men to heare of the Presbiterie and the grounds and reasons that show it ought to be maintained but scorne and persecute those that seeke or defend the truth So they withhold the truth in vnrighteousnesse Rom. 1.14 and change it into a lie They hold that though God ordained the presbiterie gaue each Church power to choose theire minister and him to receive the gift by laying on of the hands of the presbyterie to excomunicate c. Yet as the Church was enlarged another government might be ordained and now he is better pleased with theire hierarchie traditions and ceremonies that is that wee turne againe to weake and beggarlie rudiments be againe in bondage to them to observe dayes and times c. And so that he ordaineth or alloweth theese Yea som of them change the truth of God into a lie while they wilfully take that to be spoken of diocessan Bishops which is spoken of the presbiters And beeing driven from that for want of more divine warrant they are ever telling men of the Queenes injunctions of the statute and proclamation and the peace the English have since enjoied knowing that men dare not speake so boldly against these as themselves doe against the presbiterie ordaind of God without any feare that he may say vnto them wilt thou disanull my judgment Iob. 40.8 to establish thy owne or the inventions of men wilt thou condemne me that thou or they may be righteous What good doe ye to your Kings by flattering them with the emptie name of a prerogative in things so many waies against me and good government Can they get any good by that or by making Israel to sinne Doe not you your selves run away with the wordly proffit and honour of it Have I not manifested how the church of Rome became the greate whore Gal. 4.25 and shewed you of a new Ierusalem that is to come downe from God as a bride prepared for her husband and arraied in white which is when the church gives the kingdom in all things vnto her God when she is neither defiled burdened nor in bondage vnder precepts and inventions of men that the Ierusalem which is from above is free and will ye yet be in bondage and pleade to bring others to such bondage Will ye yet give the Kingdom and dominion to men in these things Will ye pretend your selves to be spirituall Bishops ministers or Christians for me and yet mock at this Ierusalem at this bride and those that desire to see her so adorned ye have no such affections ye doe not put them on as a wedding garment but to terrifie and crucifie them that doe or would ye thunder in talke of proclamations Statutes and inventions like them that with trumpets drums or the like things made a noise when they sacrificed theire children vnto Idols least theire cries shoud move pitie and remorse All your pretences and thundrings are for Kings and councels for theire prerogatives and lawes in these cases Let others prove what they will for me these must make them speechles now what ever make you speechles herafter for not haveing on a wedding garment Ye talke of faith but shew me your faith by your workes or affections in this cause Will true faith stand with opposing scorning me in these things Whome doe ye despise against whome doe despite and make war in all these things Herein they have no way to avoide Antichristianisme but to say with Cardinal Cusanus that the vnderstanding or sense of the Scripture goeth with the practise of the church C. Cusan ad Bohem. epist 2. epist 7. and so in effect that Gods minde is changed in these things or which is all one that notwithstanding his ordinance of the presbiterie he hath left thē to Princes and councels they might ordaine diocessan Bishops traditions and ceremonies Now is it not a greate dishonour to God to say that his minde is so changed that they might ordaine them and so change the government For while they say they ought to be obeied in all these things they withall tell vs that Gods will is that it should be so which is in effect to corrupt the word of God and to say his minde is in these things mutable One of the first and greatest heresies was that of Ebion who as Eusebius and Irenaeus shew vs Histor Eccles l. 3. c. 24. Iren. adve haeres l. 4. prolog denied Christ to have beene alwaies God and the word and wisdom of God and refused part of the new Testament And of them indeede Irenaeus
originall and first authority from her who taxing the offices and ordinances of Christ of insufficiencie for the government of the Church is the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth that the mysterie of iniquitie began to worke in these things and when they are vtterly confuted or taken away it will begin to cease working Rev. 16.17 In that theire last plague this voyce will be heard It is donne That while Christ is thus spoken against in his officers and ordinances the hearts of many are discovered that they stand not so much for the truth of God as the traditions of men That they in England who make these things indifferent innocent and trifles doe cover with a covertng but not of his Spirit they full of wrath doe not favour the powring out of the last vial much lesse pray for it though it be a greate mercie to his people and onely full of wrath to his enimies That the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof which all Christians should seeke doth suffer more prejudice by such temporising and daubing then by the malice of such as are the profest enemies of religion That they have hereby so vpheld the power and rigour of the Prelates that men begin to crie out that vnder colour of maintaining theire authority they shake the defence of Religion against Papists and bring in the defense of Altars Images such precisenes in ceremonies that wee are like to be coosoned of our Religion and loose it in the fire of humane inventions diocessan power superstition avarice ambition and persecution as by the same meanes and the like the Church of Rome lost the love of the truth and was given over to strong delusions to beleeve lies vnto the everlasting ruin of many millions of Soules which is an evill so greate and so sure a roote of all evils that the Church of England and all the Soules therein should rather seeke to prevent it by watchfulnes and due reformation then by mocking and scorning the reasons of reformists as groundles opinions full of curiositie schisme and puritanisme to discover theire owne shame and keepe the way broade to her owne corruption and ruin or at least to the corruption and destruction of many thousands of Soules who live in the pale of that Church and covering themselves vnder the vaile of conformitie are Popish or newters or meere civil men or Prophane or persecutors and will not be made to see that in this manner the church of Rome began to be Babylon And yet in the meane by her prosperitie and deliverance from heathen persecutions she iudged her selfe to be beloved of God and that he was well pleased with the authority of her Prelates traditions inventions and ceremonies as Philip King of Spaine hardly escaping a danger at sea saide Histor of the counc of Trent lib. 5. pag. 417. he was delivered by the singular providence of God to roote out Lutheranisme which he presently sought to doe as English Prelates thinke God hath longe preserved them in theire pompe and power to roote out reformists called puritans and iudge of the favour of God toward them theire hierarchie and traditions by the deliverances from the Marian persecution the Spanish invasion and the longe time of peace and prosperitie they the Church hath enioyed when all other Churches have beene vnder the crosse A strong evidence say they that God was therewith well pleased which is the argument of them that burnt incense to the Queene of heaven for then say they wee had plentie and were well and saw no evill Not considering that in the Spanish invasion and the powder treason the axe for some sinnes was laide to the roote of the tree that though God seeing some in that land did seeke the truth and mourne for the abhominations that were donne therein did in mercie spare the same yet his mercie and longe suffering leadeth to repentance That Rome and Italie from the time of Constantine to the inundation of the Gothes and Vandals enjoyed as greate peace and plentie and no doubt glorified her selfe therein that her hierarchie traditions and ceremonies which then had not donne much more hurt to the Kingdom and truth of God then the English now have were pleasing to God seeing while other Churches were plagued she was at rest Athanasius Basil travailing in the East and groaning vnder the burden of the Arrians and other miseries writ to the Bishops of Italie and France Basil Epi. 70. Epist 78. It beeing impossiblo say they that they should be ignorant of our miserable estate so well knowne through out the world Therefore they redoubled theire letters conjuring them to informe the Emperour of these troubles in the East from whome and not from Damasus they hoped for redresse But in the meane the Churches of Rome Italie and France beeing in prosperitie neglected theire afflicted brethren Epist 10. and were no comfort to them For if the Anger of God saith Basil continue still vpon vs what comfort will the pride of the west afford vs who neither do know neither yet will have the patience to be rightly informed of the truth of things c. wee have saith he venerable brethren set our eyes vpon you but our hope hath proved vaine c. And yet this thirteene yeares longe do wee continue in this war Which in effect hath beene the complaint of the french and German Protestants to the Prelates of England from whome they have found as litle pitie and helpe in theire distresses The arme is oft let blood to cure som part of the body 1. Pet. 4.17 If iudgment as it oft doth begin at the howse of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel Therefore seeing in the English reformation many Popish things were left vnreformed she hath cause to feare it will be saide of her as somtime of Iudah Ier. 3.10 Yet for all this her trecherous sister hath not turned vnto me with her whole heart but fainedly saith the Lord. But let the Church of England therfore take heede that she do not now glorifie her selfe as foolishly as the Churches of Rome and Italie then did Rev. 18. Chap. 3. and now doe to say J sit as a Queene and am no widdow and shall see no sorrow or like Laodicea who saide I am rich and increased with goods and have neede of nothing and knew not that she was wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked When the last plague is ready to be powred out Christ saith Behold I come as a thiefe That is to judge and plague such secure ones And indeede as now so in those dayes the Churches of Italie were in greater pompe and prosperitie then any other Christian Churches but withall theire feare toward God was more taught by the precepts of men there was more superstition and Ecclesiastical tyranie therefore they were not more happy but indeede more miserable as the
theire seas pompe power and traditions are like those high places And lastly consider what way or wherein do theese things edifie and further the Kingdom of God the saueing knowledge of his truth and the true preaching of his Gospell whereby it is wroâ—ght for the same is the power of God to saluation and that by which he hath brought many nations and the verie thoughts of the heart to the obedience of Christ 2. Cor. 10.5 Haue the hierarchie ceremonies and ordinances likwise beene the ouerthrow of poperie and mightie weapons to cast downe the strong holds thereof to convince and ouercome Papists or other hereticks and wicked livers or doe they not rather strengthen the Papists in theire religion and make them say the Bishops know well enough that the Romish is the true religion for all or the most of theese things were taken from the Church of Rome And this was the reason that not onely diuers Priests kept theire liueings but for the first eleuen yeares of Queene Elizabeth most of the Papists came to Church L. Cooke de Iure Regis Ecclesiast fol. 34. knowing that conformitie to the service and ceremonies doe not make a Protestant that they and euen the hierarchie it selfe were of a Romish invention and custom All which sheweth that things were not rightly founded in the English reformation as in the reformed Churches of France and Germanie where if any would leaue the Church of Rome and become a protestant he commeth to the Elders of the Church is well instructed and informed by them after he commeth into the publike congregation all men looking vpon him with loue and ioy as vpon one that commeth to be maried he is asked questions to this purpose 1. Whether he hold the Doctrine of the old and new Testament to be of God and sufficient to salvation 2. That in the Sacraments the signes are called by the things signified 3. That the Pope of Rome is Antichrist and the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon the mother of fornications Theese and the like to which he haueing publikely assented there is no doubt of his sinceritie If they had a parliament of Protestants they neede not feare his fidelitie nor any mans else among them for all men make this profession vnles they be borne and bred in it and then they doe it by Catechisme which things Church Papists will neuer doe neither will the Pope dispence with them to doe soe whereas in England where neither at the first nor euer since there was euer any such profession if a man be but conformable to the Church in owtward ceremonies take the oath of allegeance and communicate he passeth for a Protestant he may be chosen into any office of the common wealth be a Parliament man and yet in his practise a Church Papist an Arminian lukewarne a semie-Papist or a temporiser no man dares account him such yea he thinks that he ought to be more regarded then the most sincere Christian whome he calleth a puritan Thus the hierarchie service and ceremonies are shelters and cloaks to divers Religions cause infinitie factions and divisions and are therfore very ill for the service of godly and just Princes And this is the reason Note that there hath come so litle good of late Parliaments yea so much hurt theire members beeing by this meanes of divers religions and some of them readie to side with the strongest as beeing themselves of a corrupt or none at all like many of them that beare sway and haue voyces in the election of knights and Burgesses euery one would haue them of his owne Religion and faction which was the reason that the Duke and his adherents found so many friends among them and had so many Prelates and Clergie men to cloake and defend his doeings It is strange that men will not see that an imperfect reformation in the Church of England is the vaile and shelter to couer and defend theese and many other corruptions which if the presbiterie had beene restored could neuer haue stood with the name of Protestants or good Subjects Sir Robert Cottens advise sheweth that the Land did greatly suspect the Duke and others of Popish practiset Ye see the hierarchie brings out such Protestants And is it not so in the greate parishes and corporations of London and indeede almost of all England wherein commonly such Protestants beare office and all the sway Yet they held with the Prelates and the Prelates with them which was thought enough to passe them for Protestants though they were suspected of trecherie to the Churches beyond the Seas where they say the English can neuer be at true vnitie among themselves much lesse with other Protestants while the hierarchie stands vnder which as vnder Daniels tree such and so many kindes of Beasts doe shelter themselves Dan. 4.21 and therfore the parliaments laboured in vaine against theese factions as also against the Appealer D. Iackson Cosen and his coosening deuotions the Bishops for theire owne ends taking part with them all would in theese cases haue all the power like the Pharises that shut vp the Kingdom of God not entring in themselves for the loue of it to worke a due reformation and yet hindring others that would This is the order they preserve and theese and the like are the fruits of maintaining theire hierarchie The most zealous members of the parliaments loth to be accounted puritans thought to vphold the hierarchie and canons and yet to reforme and prevent theese things and so to make the hierarchie canons and ceremonies which indeede are Popish bring forth fruite vnto Christ Divers greate divines beeing capable of Bishopwricks or other preferments are of the same hope never considering that not onely gifts but euen the expectation of them blinde the eyes of the wise that many in the ancient Church of Rome and some of the Fathers themselves had the like hope but were deceiued making theire account without Christ who telleth vs ye shall know them by theire fruits Do men gather grapes of thornes Mat. 7.26 or figges of thistles Christian fruits of Antichristian inventions The goodnes or corruptnes of the tree in knowne by the fruite In the English reformation divers of the Protestant tenets were ingrafted into theese Popish plants which is the reason that some Bishops haue brough out some fruits to the Protestant Religion or rather to both Religions For the Episcopall office it selfe that is the stocke and body of the tree and the branches of it court canons and ceremonies beeing Popish must needes bring forth Popish fruite The very Greeke Bishops though dissenting from the Romanists haue donne it in the like things in ambition superstition traditions factions and errours the greatest difference beeing aboute the supremacie which some of them have aimed at purgatorie and a few other things and yet at last they were brought to subscribe to those in the councell of Florence As heathen Altars idols and people