A BRIEFE SVRVAY AND CENSVRE OF Mr COZENS His Couzening Deuotions Prouing both the forme and matter of Mr Cozens his Booke of Priuate Deuotions or the Houres of Prayer lately publâ—shed to be meerely Popish to differ from the priuate Prayers Authorized by Queene Elizabeth 1560. to bâ— transcribed out of Popish Authors with which they are here paralelled and to be scandalous and preiudiciall to our Church and aduantagious onely to the Church of Rome By William Prynne Gent. Hospitij Lincolniensis MAT. 7.15 16. Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheepes clothing but inwardly they are rauening Wolues Ye shall know them by their fruits 2 COR. 11.14 15. For Satan himselfe is transformed into an Angell of light Therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of righteousnesse whose end shall be according to their workes Printed at London 1628. To the Right Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons house of Parliament now assembled RIght honorable thrice worthy aâ—d true Christian Senators your pious zâ—ale and zealous pietie in questioning some Popish and Arminian Bookes which haue beene lately published and I would I could not say authorized and patronized by some spurious and Romanized if not Apostalized Sonnes and Pastors of our Church to the inquietation of oâ—r State the hâ—zzard of our Church the propagation of Popâ—ry and Arminianisme the beâ—râ—ying of the truth the encouragement of our Enemies and the inexpiable blemish of our orthodox and Apostolicall Religion hath as at first inuited me to pen so now emboldened mee to pâ—blish and dedicate this BRIEFE SVRVAY and Censure of Masteâ— Cozens his cozening Deuotions to your Honours if not to animate helpe or further yet at least to ease you in the Anatomie and cleare Discouery of that virulent and popish poyson which is couched in the veines and cloaked vnder the Coule and Saint-like habit of those new Deuotions which now expect nay neede your doome and censure As it fares with potent States and ample Cities that they can no sooner want an enemie abroad but presently they finde and feele some foes at home so hath it of late befell our Church who hauing secured her selfe against the feare of foraigne Enemies by those sundry victories and glorious Trophiâ—s which her Tyndall her Fox her Iewell her Rainolds her Whitakers her Fulke her Perkins her Abbot her Whites her Willet her Morton her Vsher and her other learned Woâ—thies haue oft-times gained ouer Romes Master-Champions and greatest Goliahs who proclaime vs Victors by their long continued silence is now endangered and almost surprised by Couzning and Domesticke foes who in fighting for her doe but warre against her her foraigne peace hath bred her warres and iarres at home and raisd a Troian Horse within her bowels which is like to set her all on fire at vnawares vnlesse some showers of soueraigne Iustice quench her flames Now blessed be the God of heauen who hath infused this Christian prouidence and zealous care into your pious hearts to single out these wilie and friend-seeming enemies of our Church before you haue seized on those rauenous and oppressing Wolues which prey vpon our State What Authority and right a Parliament hath to deale in Ecclesiasticall affaires to patronize Religion to vindicate plead its cause and to arraigne conuent and censure such who violate the setled and receiued Doctrines of our Church let Christ Iesus testifie who informes his Apostles and Saints that they should be brought not onely before Councels and Synogouges but likewise before Kings and Rulers that is before secular Magistrats not for temporall and State affaires onely but for his name sake and for bearing witnesse to his truth and Gospell Whereby hee admits that temporall Magistrates may intermeddle with Religion if occasion serue Whence it was that not onely Iohn the Euangelist and other Christians in the Primatiue Church were conuented before temporall Magistrates for matters of Religion but likewise St. Paul himselfe was by the very Iewes themselues accused before Faelix Festus and Agrippa for his very preaching and Doctrine before whom he pleads his cause and at last appeales to Caesars iudgement seate euen in these particulars of Religion which he would not haue done had not Princes and secular Magistrates a Iurisdiction and Prerogatiue as well in Church as State affaires Not to trouble you with the petition of Mr. Iohn Witcliffe to the Parliament in the time of Richard the 2. for the Reformation of the Clergie for the weeding out of many false and the establishment of sundry Orthodox pointâ— of Doctrine in our Church his seuerall posiâ—ions That the Parliament or temporall Lords might lawfully examine and discusse the State the disorders and corruptions of the Church That they might lawfully and deseruedly yea that they were bound in conscience vpon the discouery of the Errors and corruptions of the Church depriue her of all her Tithes and temporall endowments till she were reformed And that any Ecclesiasticall person yea the Pope of Rome himselfe might be lawfully accused censured and corrected by Lay men do sufficiently confirme your Parliamentary praerogatiue in matters of Religion Not to recite the opinions and Resolutions of two reuerend and learned Praelates of our Church Iewell and Bilson who both acknowledge that Ecclâ—siasticall or Church affaires and matters of Religion both may and haue been alwayes debated determined and setled in Parliament as well in former as in latter ages Our Common prayer-booke our Articles and our Homilies in which the body of our Religion doth subsist which are all established and setled in our Church by Act of Parliament together with Articuli super Clerum 1. E. 2.36 E. 3. c. 8.1 R. 2. c. 13.15.2 H. 4. c. 25.4 H. 4. c. 17.2 H. 5. c. 7.26 H. 8. c. 1.2.27 H. 8. c. 15.28 H. 8. c. 10.31 H. 8. c. 9.14.32 H. 8. c. 15.26.33 H. 8. c. 31.32.34 35. H. 8. c. 1.35 H. 8. c. 5.1 Ed. 6. c. 1.2 2. 3. Ed. 6. c. 1.19.20.21.23.3 4. Ed. 6. c. 10.11.12.5 6. Ed. 6. c. 1.3.12.1 2. Phil. and Mary c. 8.1 Eliz. c. 1.2.5 Eliz. c. â— 28.27 Eliz. c. 2.39 Eliz. c. 8.1 Iac. c. 4.11.12.3 Iac. c. 1.4.5.7 Iac. c. 8. and sundry other Statutes both in the times of Popery when as Clergy men had the greatst iurisdiction and command and since for the establishing and setling of Religion the ordering of Ecclesiasticall persons and affaires and the suppression of haeresies and haeretiques doe abundantly testifie that the Parliament hath an ancient genuine iust and lawfull praerogatiue to establish true Religion in our Church to abolish and supprâ—sse all false all new and counterfeit Doctrines whatsoeuer and to question and censure all such persons who shall by word or writing oppugne the setled and receiued Articles and Doctrines of our Church what euer some ignorant or
stockt vp before these bitter fruits will fade or fall These petty Orbs and vnderwheeles which haue made such irregular motions and commotions in our Church deriue their motions from some higher and superiour spheeres which must be rectified and reduced to their true and proper motions before the lâ—sser Planets and clocke-wheeles of our Church will moue aright These little Foxes haue some strong and mighty Burrowes wherein to shelter and repose themselues which must be stopped and demolished before the Grapes the Vines and Vinyard of ouâ— Church be freed from their inuasions These poysonous muddy and polluted riuâ—lets descend and flow from greater streames and higher Fountaines which must be knowne dammed and dried vp at least diuerted or else the waters of our Church will still be venomous slimie and vnwholesome And till all this be well accomplished you shall but onely skinne and so increase not heale and cure the festrâ—d sores and wounds of this our Church which will soone breake out againe with greater torment and lesse hopes of cure Fourthly to examine and finde out the cause if it be not like the head of Nilus vnsearchable and past finding out though some of late record the conâ—rary why Popish and Arminian bookes haue now of late beene published printed and countenanced by Authority and not suppressed as they ought to be why there is now such diligent and daily search at Printing-houses to anticipate and stoppe all Answers to Mr Cozens his or Mr Mountagues Bookes from what originall grounds and whence it comes to passe that the seuerall Answers and Replies to Mr Mountagues Gagge and virulent Appeale were denied licence at the first and since surprized and call'd in though there was neither matter of Haeresie Schisme false Doctrine or Sedition in them but onely a bare defence and positiue iustification of the established Doctrines of our Church oppugned and traduced in those Arminian and Popish Bookes of his which were neuer yet so much as once inhibited or questioned but in Parliament and who were the principall Agents and Factors in this worthy seruice of suppressing all these Answers The â—â—ucleating and discussing of these intricate and perplexed Quaerees a taske which well befits a Parliament may happily reueale a world of treachery and vnfold a deepe obstruce and hidden Mysterie of Iniquitie yea it may chance to shake and ouerturne the very pillars and foundation stones of the Roman and Arminian Faction if it be but prosecuted sifted and ventilated to the full Fiftly to prouide that all such vnauthorized Answers and Replies consonant to the established Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England which haue beene giuen to Mr Mountagues or any other such Popish or Arminian Bookes and since suppressed may be henceforth lawfully printed and dispersed without controll to counterplead and beat down Popery and Arminianisme and to giue publike testimonie and satisfaction to the world that how euer some haue lately broached yet that our Church disclaimes and disapproues their Popish and Arminian Doctrines And withall to secure the Authors Printers and Dispersers of all such Answers and Replies from all High-Commission suits and other troubles and vexations whatsoeuer Else none will euer dare to write or print hereafter in the defence and quarrell of our Church and Truth in hard and euill times from which God keâ—pe vs when Popery and Errour shall haue all and Truth no sway nor licence for the Presse For what encouragement can men haue to write or to shew themselues actiue for the Churches good when they shall haue no other reward nor gratification for their paines and industry but High-Commission Suits and troubles but heauy fines and mulcts or long and tedious imprisonments and restraints which is all the encouragement reward and thankes that some haue found And if no writers to vindicate Religion the Truth and Churches cause when as they are opposed by authoriz'd writings then Truth Religion Church yea State and Kingdome which fall or stand together with them will soone be ouerâ—grown with Haeresies Errours Schismes Factions and false Doctrines and so brought quite to ruine Sixthly to take some speedy course to inhibit the publishing and diuulging of all Popish and Arminian Doctrines either by word or writing vnder seuere mulckts and penalties and to establish some good and setled course for the inhibiting suppressing of all scurrilous and prophane Play-books Ballads Poems and Tale-bookes whatsoeuer and the free and speedy licensing of all such orthodox learned and religious Tractates as shall be thought necessary meet and worthy for the Presse that so Schollers may be incouraged to write and study vpon all occasions for the Defence the propagation and aduancement of Religion and not discouraged as they haue beene of late because all their industry and labour is but lost and buried in silence and obliuion for want of licence and authority to diuulge them in due season for the publike good Seauenthly and lastly to take speciall care and Order that the two famous Vniuersities of our Kingdome the very nurseries and seed-plots of our Church may be defaecated and purged from all poysonous Popish and Arminian Doctrines and that all such heads and fellowes of Colledges together with all our other Diuines who are either notoriously knowne or iustly suspected to be the chiefe Abbettors Heads or Patriots of the Arminian or Popish cause or Faction may be speedily conuented before a selected Committee assisted by some orthodox choyce and prime Diuines and Prelates to be there interrogated and examined in all the now controuerted points of Popery and Arminianisme and vpon their iust conuiction or attainder of all or any of the foresaid Points to be enioyned a particular and open recantation of them in writing to which they shall subscribe their names so farre forth as they are dissonant either from the Homelies Articles and established Doctrines of the Church of England or Ireland or from the fiue Conclusions and Resolutions of the Synod of Dort or else vpon refusall of such recantation and subscription to be immediately depriued of all their Ecclesiasticall and spirituall promotions whatsoeuer These are the wayes courses in my raw conceit which I humbly submit to your maturer iudgements to quit and free our Church and our Religion from all their present and to bulwarke and secure them against all future homebred opposites and pressures whatsoeuer Now hee who hath put that zeale that care and courage into your pious hearts as to ingage your selues in the defence and patronage of our Church and Faith which are now beser and violently assaulted by troops of forraine and domestique Enemies who would spoyle and cheat vs of them to our faces inspire you with such heauenly wisedome from aboue as may pitch you on the speediest best and safest proiects for the extirpation and suppression of all their open or concealed Foes the vindicating of their former purity freedome the establishment of their future peace the perennious
preseruation and propagation of that pure orthodox sincere Religion which we yet enioy Which Religion as it is the breath and fragrant odor of our nostrils the delight and pleasure of our eyes the swetest harmony and musicke to our eares the most luscious hony and Manna to our pallats the most rauishing ioy and satisfactory contentment to our hearts the onely food the essence life and being of our soules the grand procurer of all our outward comfort and prosperity the onely Author of our peace and welfare the most transcendent glory and honour of our Nation the brazen wall the strongest fence and bulwarke of our kingdome the chiefest dread and terror to our Enemies the sole encouragement and comfort of our Confederates the fundamentall prop and pillar of our State the onely pawne and euidence of our future hopes and happinesse and the onely polestar way and passage to conduct and lead vs vnto Christ to God to heauen and eternall blisse all motiues for to prise and hold it fast in these degenerating declining and reuolting times so if we once but slacke our hold or let it goe it being the very rocke on which our Church our kingdome and we all do rest and Anchor both Church and State our selues our soules and all we now possâ—sse are wrackt and lost for euer Wherefore right Christian Worthies what euer becomes of other outward Priuileges and hereditary liberties the losse of which you cannot brooke with any patience where as the condescending vnto them alone would win your hearts and purses too be sure to hold fast and guard this maine foundation whereon our Church our kingdome and we ours stand against all Cozening vnder miners and Fauxes whatsoeuer who labour for to blow it vp If this bee safe our Church our King our Kingdome our liues our goods and liberties are all secure we need not feare what Spaine what France what man can doe vnto vs For then God is ours Christ is ours the holy Ghost is ours Angels and Men and all the hostes and creatures of heauen and earth yea earth and heauen it selfe and all is ours all these will take our parts plead our cause against our Enemies and if these be for vs who what can be against vs But if this be once endangered or rased but a little O then we sinke we droope wee perish our God our Crowne our peace our glory our wealth our liberties and all those sundry magazines and heapes of blessings which we now inioy will forthwith take their winges and flie away and leaue vs destitute helplesse hopelesse forelorne in those ouerwhelming floods and bitter stormes of misery bondage sorrow want and woe which shall euen breake our hearts and crush our bones and sinke our soules in endlesse horror and despaire O therefore looke betimes to this Foundation which now begins to shake to totter and moulder by degrees settle but this a right and roote out all those domestique Romane and Arminian Pioners who dig so deepe and fast to vndermine it and then both Church and State will soone be settled in their former peace and happinesse O consider that the present totterings declinings and ruines of our State arise but from the wauerings wastings and backslidings of our Church Our State and kingdome now decline so fast and hasten to the period of their former glory because our Church our faith our loue our Religion lose their ground Our Realme is full of factions and diuisions because our Church is so Popery Arminianisme False doctrines sin and all prophannesse haue ouer-spred our Church yea wasted corrupted our Religion no wonder then if pressures greuances losses crosses penury misery beggery shame and a world of other euils do now annoy our State Our State Enemies are no other but our Church Enemies O therefore curbe purge out quite suppresse the Achans Errors and great Annoyances which trouble oppresse and vndermine our Church and our Religion and then our State and Kingdome will be settled and freed from those many pressures miseries and afflictions which they now sustaine and not before In vaine is it to mend the tiles and vpper roomes till the Foundation be repaired in vaine doe any labour to repaire the decke whiles the keele is full of leakes whiles the head and heart is sicke the other members cannot prosper Neuer looke that our decaying State should thriue or flowrish till our Church be healed and recouered Goe on and hasten therefore with this maine and weighty Cure and haue a speciall eye to this great Cozening and infectious plague-sore whose briefe Suruay and Censure I here in all humility present and tender to your Honours and the great Physitian both of soule and body so blesse and ayde you in all your good endeauours that all the festring wounds and sores of our gangrend and consuming Church and State may now receiue a sound a perfect and a present Cure be reduced to their perfect soundnâ—sse that so our wildernesse may be like Eden and our Desart as the Garden of the Lord that our wast places may be comforted and all our sad and drooping hearts may bee filled with ioy and gladnesse with thanksgiuing and the voyce of melodie that you and I and all the people of the Land in the period and perclose of this your great Assembly may be sent away vnto our tents and habitations glad and merry in heart for all the goodnes that the Lord hath shewed vnto Dauid and Salomon to our King our Church our State to Israel we his people by this your happy and much desired meeting and let all that loue our Dauid our Salomon or our Israel say Amen Your Honours in all humility seruice and respect WILLIAM PRYNNE A BRIEFE SVRVAY AND CENSVRE OF Maister COVZENS his Couzening DEVOTIONS IT hath alwayes beene the beaten rode and method of all Heretiques and seducing Spirits in all the ages of the Church to Dulcerate their Venomus Harsh and bitter Potions with Lushious and sweete Ingreedients Nemo venenum temperat felle hellâ—boro sed conditis pulmentis bene saporatis saith Tertullian Heretiques and false Teachers are alwayes cunning Apothecaries they neuer temper their Poysons with Gall or Colloquint but with the best and pleasantest Conserues their venome lurkes in Honie Potions that so men may swallow it downe with greater greedinesse and lesse suspition Viperium obducto potamus melle venenum Heresies and false Doctrines yea all euill things whatsoeuer as they are of an Odious so likewise are they of a Timorous and Bashfull disposition they dare not walke Vnmasked especially in the brightest Orbe and Hemisphere of the Gospel-sunne for feare of present discovery whence they alway claspe and twine themselues at first with knowne and approued Trueths which serue as Sauce or Baites to draw them downe and cloathe themselues in the Amiable dresse and Rich attire or at least wise Christen themselues
and sentence which Christ himselfe records for your instruction yea your terror and damnation if you mend not speedily Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angels For I was an hungred and you gaue me no meate I was thirstie and you gaue me no drinke I was a stranger and you tooke me not in naked and you cloathed me not sicke and in priâ—on and you visited me not Verily I say vnto you iâ—asmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these how much more then when you did it not to that great and numerous Flocke which I my selfe committed to your charge whose Fleece you alwayes share whose Milke you drunke and Tithes you gathered and exacted to the vtmost farthing and yet made no Conscience for to keepe to guide to teach instruct or feede them both by life and conuersation you did it not to mee and therefore goe away you must you shall and that deseruedly into euerlasting punishment If therefore you would not haue Iesus Christ to visit you thus hereafter be sure now to visit teach bind vp and cure your destitute sickely starued and forlorne Flockes and to reside and dwell so frequently and constantly among them as to know and call them all by name as Christ Iesus doeth because though it be no Sacrament yet it is your duetie thus to teach to visit and reside among them But lest some should taxe and censure me as being a Nonresident from my intended matter I will now returne and pâ—sse vnto my sixt Conclusion That there are some prophane and dangerous passages inuolued in these nâ—w Dâ—uotions As first they scoffe at all concâ—iued or set formes of Prayers that are either made or vsed by priâ—ate Christians which they stile Extemporary effusions of irkesome and indigested Prayers which they vse to make that herein are subiect to no good order or forme of words but pray both what and how and when they will abrupt or rude dictates which are framed by priuate Spirits and Ghosts of our owne in which wee lose our â—elues with confusion on a suddaine A most prophane and scurriâ—ous passage as if God did not giue the Spirit of Prayâ—r and Supplication to all his Children whereby they are inabled to power out their Hearts and Soules beâ—ore him vpon all occasions as their necessities and needes require without the helpe of any Prayer Bookes which cannot bee alwayes ready at hand nor alwayes fitted for their sundry wants temptations and occasions which are not knowne to themselues before hand Secondly hee stiles the opposing oâ— these pointes of Popery and Arminianisme which are now in Câ—ntrâ—uersie among vs nothing â—lâ—e But the curious Disquisition of many vnnecessary Questions as if the freedome of Gods free Grace and the Trueth and puritie of Religion were a matter of no such consequence being nothing else but either the new seeds or the old fruites of mâ—lice and by consequence the enemies of Godlinesse and the abatement of that true Deuotion wherewith God is more delighted and a good Soule more infâ—amed and comforted then with all the busie subtilties of the World A prophane and dangerous passage which makes the freedome trueth and perpetuitie of Grace wherein the very life and power of Christianitie and the roote and marrow of all true Christian ioy consist together with the controuersies of originall Corruption of mans free will and the liâ—e meere curious Disquisitions vnnecessary Questions and busie subtilties when as the very pith and essence of Religion is inuolued in them which extenuates and slights the Controuersies of Popery and Arminimisme as not worth the heeding that so they might through our securitie more smoothly speedily and imperceptibly 〈◊〉 and iâ—corporate themselues into our Church without resistance whiles they are thus slighted despised and neglected by vs as meere toyes and trifles Which stiles the resistance and oppoâ—ition of theâ—e Popish and Arminian Doctrines the new seeds or the old fruites of malice the enemie of all Godlinesse and all true Deuotion But if the defencâ— and patronâ—ge of Religion and the established Doctrines of the Church bee but the seeds or fruites of mallice not of Zeale and Loue to God or Christian Pietie as in trueth they are what must the opposition of aâ— grace and goodnesse what the protection and propagation of Popery and false Doctrine be If this be but the enemie of all Godlinesse and true Deuotion which is the onely prop and pillar to support them for if the trueth of our Religion once decay and Popery or Arminianisme ouer-spred vs as they will doe if they want Opponents farre well all Godlinesse and true Deuotion yea Church and Kingdome too what is the persecuting of Godlinesse and godly Men what is the suppression of the Trueth and Doctrine of our Church and the publishing of Popish Doctrines and Deuotions in which our Author hath had his hands and thumbes Well this passage doeth suâ—ficiently euidence how our Author stands affeâ—ted to our Religion euen so as that hee slights those great and weighty differences which are betweene Papists and Arminians and our Church as if they were not worth the naming and that he honours Popery and Arminianisme in his Heart since he brands the very oppugning of them as the fruites or seedes of malice as the enemie of Godlinesse and abatement of all true Deuotion as if there were no Deuotion in withstanding Error and protecting Trueth Good God in what a miserable condition were our poore distressed Church and how happy were Arminians and the Church of Rome had she now no other Aduocates nor no stouter Champions then our Author to iustifie and maintaine her cause But I passe from this vnto a third prophannesse That a man may safely sweare in serious matters though he bee not lawfully called to it so as he periure not himselfe which apologie the ordinary swearers make who hope they may â—awfully sweare a trueth without offence This I colleâ—t from his Exposition of the thiâ—â— Commandement Offenders against the third Commandement saith he are They that vse vaine or customary swearing They which in matters serious sweare fasely and periure themselues without any such addition thosâ— that sweare ordinarily in serious matters not being lawfully caâ—â—ed to it by a Magistrate though they sweare a true th which doeth necessarily inferrâ— the former colleâ—tion Fourthly he scoffes and ieeres yea consures and condemnes all such as spend the Lords day in hearing or meditating of Sermons or make a Conscience of obseruing it which he stiles a Iudaizing obseruation in these words 6. Offenders against the fourth Commandement are they that vnder a pretence of seruing God more strictly then others especially for hearing and meditating of Sermons I pray Obserue the Parenthesis well Doe by their Fasts and certaine Iudaizing obseruations condemne the ioyfull festiuitie of this high and holy day which the Church allowes aswell for the
especially in men of highest place which the Licensing Publishing and Countenancing of these Priuate Deuotions and some other writings now in question haue produced to the shame and scandall of our Church and Prelates who ought for to suppresse them Secondly as they are thus scandalous so likewise are they preiudiciall to our Church and aduantagious onely to the Church of Rome Preiudiciall to our owne Church First in breeding feares and iealousies in the hearts of many that Popery is now creeping in and getting ground among vs Secondly in causing many to wâ—uer anâ— stâ—gger in Reâ—igion like young Hercules in his Biuiâ—m not knowing what â—â—â—igion for to chuse since they see thâ—se Popish Bookes diuulged by Authority and no Authoriâ—â—d answere giuen them Thirdly in giuing those Priests and Iesuites which now swarme among vs who make their Prisons but their socurer Lodgings walking abroad at pleasure to seduce his Maiesties Loyall Subieâ—â—s as a late and lamentable experience of a seduced and now distracted Gentlewoman can sufficiently testifie a mystery that would bee striftly pried into occasion and great aduantage to spoyle and rob vs of many members of our Church and to detaine them Captiues in the snares of Satan whereas else they might be rescued and regained Fourthly in putting Armes and Weapons into our Enemies hands to beate and foyle if not to conquer vs who in their latter Writings against vs and Disputations with vs haue had no other Arguments to oppugne vs with but our owne Popish Writers As they are thus preiudiciall to our owne so likewise are they aduantagious to the Church of Rome in these subsequent respects First in giuing her good hopes and incouragements that we are now falling backe to her former obedience which makes her the more industrious for to winne vs. Secondly in incouraging and animating those Priests and Iesuits that lurke among vs to seduce more confidently and boldly Thirdly in confirming our poore seduced Brethren in their Romish Superstitions and Deuotions whiles they behold them seconded backed and approoued by these Authorized and approued Writings Fourthly in administring strong almost impregnable Arguments to all seducing Priests Popish Factors to inuegle peruert and seduce the weeke the feeble and vnstable members of our Church yea and the stronger to and to winne them vnto Romes Allegiance with whom they contend and argue thus What meane you now to continue Protestants and to disaffect our ancient Mother Church and Catholike Religion any longer Do you not see how your own Church is now ashamed of her Tenents and that shee now approues and sticâ—es to our Doctrines Doth not Master Mountague expressely testifie in his Authorized and vncontrouled Writings which no man can haue leaue or libertie to oppose That the Church of England disclaimes all absolute irrespectiue Praedestination as a desperate Doctrine That none are elected but from the fore-sight of their Faith and from a disproportion in the obiect it selfe That man hath free will to resist the inward offer of Gods operatiue Grace That men may fall totally and finally from the state of Grace That the Church of Rome doth still remaine the Church and Spouse of Christ That shee is and euer was a true Church euer since she was a Church That shee holdeth the Foundation and embraceth Communion with the Ancient and vndoubted Church of Christ and hath not erred in matters of Faith That Iustification consists not onely in forgiuenesse of sinnes but partly in it and partly in sanctifying graces infused by which graces we are iustified That our Workes are meritorious ex Condigno That there are Euangelicall Counsells or Works of Supererogation That there is no difference between vs and the Papists about the Reall Presence That the manner of Christs presence is inutterable and that we make no matter of Consubstantiation or Transubstantiation That Images may be lawfully set vp in Churches That they may serue for Religious imployments and be worshipped with any worship saue Patria That there 〈◊〉 an operatiue virtue and power in the signe of the Crosse. That there is no great impietie in praying to Saints to pray for vs and that we may inuocate those Angels that are our Guardians That a man cannot bee sure of Saluation That the Turke and Pope are Antichrist but rather the Turke then the Pope That there was a Limbus Patrum That Doctrinall Traditions both for Faith and manners may be allowed and that they are equall to the holy Scriptures Are not all these our Assertions directly iustified and defended in his Writings with many more and doe not the greater part of your Bishops iustifie and approue these Books of his Doe they not protect his person and his Writings and suppresse the Workes of all such persons as write against them with great anxiety and care when as they haue not for these sundry yeares so much as once suppressed or questioned any of our Bookes which haue bene here published among you in great abundance euen in despight of Parliament which represent your State and not your Church which is included in your Bishops breasts who will most of them maintaine and iustifie his Bookes and Doâ—trines to the deaâ—h though the Parliament hath often questioned them And if all this be not sufficient haue they not since approued and Licenced a Booke of Priuate Deuotions or Howers of Prayer which we Catholiâ—es admire and buy vp apace graced not onely with the Licence but likewise with the annexed and speciall Approbation of the right Reuerend Father the Lord Bishop of London Wherein our Crosse our Canonicall Howers and so our holy Friars Monkes and Nuns who are onely tyed to the strict obseruance of them Our Canonization of and Canonized Saints Our prohibited times of Marriage nay more then this The Antiquitie Authoritie and holy Lawes and Canons of our Church Our Pictures of God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost Our worshipping of Saints and Images Our Churches Precepts Our 7. Sacraments Our Veniall sinnes Our Apostolicall and Diuine Institution of Lent and Fasting-dayes Our Auricular Confession to a Priest Our Priestes our Altars our Penance our Odoration of the Host and Corporall Presence our Mediation of Angels Our praying for the Dead With a number of such like particulars transcribed Verbatim out of our Primers Breuiaries Horaries Catechismes and Prayer Bookes after whose formes and modell they are exactly framed are directly broached iustified and approued Doe not you see plainely by these how they directly yeeld to vs almost in euery point of our Religion Vnlesse it be in point of our Popes Supremacy which they dare not breach as yet for feare of incurring his Maiesties displeasure â—who cannot brooke an equall or superiour in his owne Dominion or for danger of the Lawes which make this Doctrine high Treason at the least When as we haue neuer yeelded one foote or Inch to them Why then should you be auerse and obstinate any longer since your graue