please the papists yet they satisfie them not but only imbolden them to get greater advantages for their Religion to encroach demand practise and by degrees prevaile by corrupting such luke-warme newters that all these things are the fruits of the English hierarchie and traditions the Achans and Babylonish garments that trouble Israel an hierarchie and traditions which taking their greatest authoritie from Romish usurpation and superstition bring forth such Protestants and which therefore is a Church planted accordingly For say they in England it hath beene and is taken for a sufficient conversion from poperie to come to the Church to the service and Sacrament whereas in France and other reformed Churches before any papist is received and counted a protestant he is presented in the congregation before the preacher who asketh him question to this purpose First whether he hold the doctrine taught in the old new Testament to be Gods and sufficient to salvation 2ly whether he hold that the reformed Churches teach and hold the same doctrine in theire Religion and he desire to bee of it 3 whether he hold the Pope to bee Antichrist and the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon And so he consenting to all this is received with joy and there is no danger that he should be false or popish who makes this profession whereas in England where allare admitted without any such profession they may be true or false as they list If they doe but come to the Church to the service sacrament though they secretly favour the Romish religion it appeare to many in their practise they may nevertheles be chosen parliament men if they doe but take the oath of allegiance as verie many papists have donne who dares question them which is the reason there hath beene so much disturbance in all the late assemblies of Parliament and so little fruit by them Some say they not only in private parishes but ever in the court have come to church like Hēry Earle of Northāpton he Duke of Buck others and have favoured the hierarchie service spake well of them of some mēs bookes sermons as little or nothing repugnant to poperie and for it were content to bee reckoned protestants that so they might get offices honours trust and power in great affaires make some pretences for the good of our Religion or the state but secretly carrie them for the advancement of the Romish cause To effect it the better and withall to save themselves from danger these say they beeing great and able to helpe others to offices and honour plant such about Kings as themselves are and have had enow to applaude second and justifie them in their proceeding for as the Apostle saith A little leaven leaveth the whole lumpe Gal. 5. ◠how soever these getting to be the Major and predominant part will in time worke that there shal be no other but such unles perhaps some that are neither hot nor cold in religion or being poore or lesse potent are forced for their owne private interests to be silent in time to depend on them or beswaied by them and then they all thus ingaged in any cause are prone to justifie theire owne acts for good policies and there is so little hope of getting sounder men into their places that it must needes bee as hard and dangerous to convince them as for an inhabitant of Rome to convince that Church of any errour a Parliament of wise men sufficeth not to doe it which hath beene the losse of the Palatinate and the cause of all the evill our Religion hath suffered in Bohemia Germanie Frāce at home Eor say the forraigne protestants if the house of Austria the French had not beene sure they had such freinds in England they durst never have attemtped that they did that they that are such or flatter such as are much infected with avarice ambition lust must needes be blinde in spirituall things especially in the matter of the hierarchies wherein the devill labours to keepe them more blind then others that so they may be unfit judges in the cause and he may thereby set up traditions to make the word of none effect eftablish the tyrannie of the Bishops in the Church against the Eldership and all the friends thereof keepe men lukewarme and newters if not thus false betweene Christ and Antichrist and so make way to bring England againe to Romish errour or somwhat as bad that such Lords were ever in grace with the Bishops and the Bishops with them because it troubles them not to have fellowship with Church papists so unlike are they to Saint Iohn that would not come in the bath where Cerinthus was that divers chaplaines preachers also set up fitted for their turnes seeing them able to advance whom they would have for their favour broached maintained Arminian and popish tenets wresting the Articles and the very Scriptures to confirme them and thus say they the English hierarchie and service bring forth such counsellors and protestants and such counsellours bring forth such Bishops and Chaplaines For if Princes or their favourites be but corrupted in religion they cannot want flatterers both of the Clergie and others to corrupt and be corrupted to conforme and be conformed to them For one that is against them they shall have hundreds with them as in Ahabs time so miserable a thing it is when they will not conforme their opinions to Gods word but it to their policies and opinions as one said to Micajah 1 Kings 22 13. The words of the Prophete declare good unto the King with one mouth let thy word I pray thee be like the word of one of them Constantius fell into Arianisme the Rivers and fountaines the Bishop and teachers were corrupted To omit other instances this desire of authoritie honour and precedence was the bane of the Church of Rome who being drunke with that poison and thereby swolme with a monstrous greatnes gave the cup to others a cup that all nations are but to prove to drinke of And indeed so much doe the favour of Princes and honours more then all other gifts blind the eyes of the wise and bring them to temporising and spirituall ignorance that it may be counted a worke of Gods speciall grace that any that seeke or attaine wealth honour and authoritie should have the true knowledge and feare of God seeing as Paul saith of them that wil be rich 1. Tim. 9.6 so it may be said of them that wil be honourable and great they fall into temptations and snares and many foolish and noysome lusts that drowne men in perdition And indeed such doe commonly so abound in sensualitie that it may be said of the most part of them Psal 49.20 Man being in honour hath no understanding but is compared to the beasts that perish For nothing makes a man more like a beast then spirituall ignorance and sensualitie Nothing makes a
against the Waldenses and Albigenses whilest these popes were busie in sending Kings to conquer Ierusalem and persecuting the Emperours King Iohn of England and other Princes Such was the religion of those times the ages next before for as one observes If the Bishops of Rome sent into any countrie it was not principally to preath the Gospel Plessis mysterie iniquitie prog 24. but to broach their owne ceremonies their singings their service in latine howres organs Altars tapers c. stirring up Princes to enforce their subjects to use and practise them who would faine have kept themselves to the first institution of the Church in the puritie of the Gospel And as he observeth the worser sort of men are most zealous in such things to shadow and obscure their evill acts and indeed to serve them in steade of the Religion which Christ ordained therefore though they neglected and contemned found doctrine true faith knowledge zeale and the like graces yet they would build stately Temples bow to the Altar and to the bread which is called the body of Christ and thinke they did God the better service I will not say that those English Bishops and Doctors who had hand in the reformation and ordained kneeling at the receiving of the bread and wine did beleeve transubstantiation or consubstantiatiō or teach men to doe honour to those elemēts because they are called the body and blood sacramentally it may be it was rather to draw Papists the sooner to Church that this and other Romish rites were retained as also because this had beene so long used in all the world they thought it too much as once to fall from kneeling to sitting thinking that if they should ignorant Papists of which the land was then peopled would never bee drawen to Church or to hearken to thē in other things when having once laid these things for Rules like the Lutherans in their tenets they can heare nothing to the contrarie but above all because they knew the office of a Diocessan Bishop could not subsist in these daies of reformation without maintaining them against all opposers of traditions and humane inventions I know that as yet there is no publick constitution teaching plainly that reverence ought to be done to the Elements because they are called the body and blood of Christ but if they that stand so much for kneeling at the Sacrament have not some such superstition in it why doe they bow toward the Altar or table rather then toward the pulpit or some other side of the Church seeing God is every where and on all sides of us And why else doe they begin to erect Altars at the east end of the quier in Churches where there have beene none since poperie was abolished These Popish ceremonies should also have beene abandoned to shew plainly that they doe not favour superstition and the worship of bread They vainly say it argues too much boldnes to sit or stand at the table of the Lord for it is a far greater presumption to use and ordaine a ceremonie so contrarie to the institution and practise of the Church in the Apostles time The greatest reverence wee can doe to God is to stick close to his ordinances to obey and love them and the greatest presumption to thinke any thing can be better devised performed and practised then it was in his institution with the Papists they doe but mock God with a name of greater reverence whilest they withstand that of the institution and command another gesture that is farthest from it God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth In beleeving and following his word and ordinances as Paul worshipped the God of his fathers Ioh. 4. Act. 24.14 1. Cor. 11. who delivered this ordinance so as he received it of the Lord and not as they did whose feare toward God was taught by the precepts of mē they worshipped him in vaine he regards not their kneeling It is not enough for preachers to say wee preach and urge them because our Princes and Bishops have commaunded them for he will answer Who required these things at your hands Isa ◠1◠which doe but open a gap for Kings and Prelates to commaund what they list Hence came that * Besides that about the Saboath order of King Iames that men should not in pulpits confute poperie in things controverted but leave that to the Bishops and Deanes and that which succeded that Ministers should not in the Vniversities pulpits and print dispute preach or write against Arminianisme they that perswade a King that he may doe this strive in effect to make a Pope of him And lastly thence comes the great domineering and strange injunctions of prelates in their visitations that none must dare to speake against any of their orders or ceremonies whatsoever unles he long to be silenced reckoned a mad fellow Dr. Clewit at the Bishop of London visit An. 1631. thence comes the extreame flatterie of their Agents and Chaplaines who begin to preach thus Auctoritàs praecipientis est ratio praecepti and no man considers that thus the Church of Rome grew to an unlimited and licentious power that such are the naturall fruits of the hierarchie and they must needes grow worse and worse In those reformed Churches where men sit they come to the table more prepared with more knowledge feare Rev. 2.20 reverence and circumspection then such men they dare not admit a notorious drunkard Adulterer Arminian or the like nor any person utterly unknowne because it tendeth to corruption 1. Cor. 5.6 For a litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe Whereas in England all that will may come bodly even in the Cathedrall Church in London They that receive are utterly unknowne to them that administer no man examines them nor testifieth for them they may be Arminians excommunicate prophane or Church-papists for ought that any man there knowes they looke after no religion but this that he kneele at the Sacrament which if he doe but observe be his life or religion what it will he may come boldly Notwithstanding all these things many say so long as the Gospel may be and is freely preached why should wee trouble a Church or leave it our places and meanes for such faults and ordinances Marke how God hath suffered these men to be punished and deceived the Gospel is there freely preached by them that will needs preach so but not by the care of the Bishops nor yet in all points much lesse in all places Ministers are called upon to urge these ordinances of men yet in the meane they are not suffered to preach Gods ordinance the Eldership nor yet against Arminianisme It is true that after the prohibition the Parliament immediately succeeding many couragiously preached against Arminianisme and so doe some to this day but not in the Court nor in the Vniversitie much lesse before the Bishops who are still against such and
word And though in England the hierarchy and her traditions and injunctions have not had so many and so bad fruits because it hath not reigned so long yet as wee have seene for the time they have beene if not alike yet very injurious to Gods kingdome and the good of the Church It helpes them not to say that some great Divines in other Churches have approved them or counted them tollerable For strangers cannot so well see the fruits of them and bee sure that if they were brought into the Reformed Churches of Germany and France divers would bee found to receive them and give arguments of their necessarie use they are so full of honour and profit For we have lately seene it in Scotland and we know the Scriptures say Deut. 16.19 Gifts blinde the eyes of the wise This made them thinke it a sufficient authority that the ancient Church invented and used diocessan and provinciall Bishops though in a manner different from ours that not onely Councels but even Emperours and Kings confirmed and augmented their authority and that much good might bee done by the same When first King Edward and after Queene Elizabeth came in the Nobles and people were almost all Papists and it was thought they would bee the sooner drawne to Church if Bishops and their power and authority were retained having still their Courts Chancelours Officials Deanes Subdeanes Quiristers Organs Surplesses and other habits the crosse in baptisme kneeling at the receiving of the Sacrament bowing toward the Altar and divers other ceremonies For this end also the forme of Common Prayer Service was little altered but taken out of the Masse-booke and put into English which makes many Papists in Germany and France say sure the Romish is the true and right religion else the heretikes in England would never have received so much of it for some have avouched it to my face that the service there is nothing but the Masse in English others that it wants nothing but the consecration These things thus retained it was also thought that popish Kings and Princes would be the lesse offended what marvell seeing the Iesuites themselves are so well pleased with the ceremonies and service that I heard one of them God is my witnesse herein make it his hope that the maintenance of them against the Puritans Quovadis Sect. 4. would make England the sooner returne to Rome in the rest Mine eyes and eares saith Bishop Hall can witnesse with what approofe and applause divers of the Catholikes royall as they are termed entertained the new translated Lyturgie of our Church Which is the lesse wonder Cambden in an 1560 seeing Pope Pius the 4. sending Vincentio Parpatia Abbot of S. Saviours to Queene Elizabeth offered to confirme the English Liturgie by his authoritie if she would yeeld to him in some other things Indeed it pleased them so wel that for the first eleven yeares of Queene Elizabeth L. Cooke de Iure Regis Ecclesiastico Fol. 34. Papists came to the English Churches and service as the Lord Cooke sheweth All which things prove it to be a poore brag of some who thinke it a good justification in the common prayer booke that Papists have approved it and could never finde any fault in it As it is true that there are many godly and zealous men and some others also who thinking it a glory to be of their party are more of faction then well grounded knowledge and love to Christ against the forme and some other things in the book of Common praier So is it as true that there are many both of the Clergy and laity and some both learned and godly such as sincerely love the preaching and power of the Gospel that yet hold the booke of Common prayer both tolerable profitable and necessarie and are not willing to heare any thing to the contrary and therefore God may say of our times as of those wherein Ieremy lived Ier. 5.1 Run to and fro and see now if yee can finde a man that seeketh the truth I would desire such to take a few things into consideration Where first I must acknowledge that though divers faults are found in the book of common prayer which makes it so agreeable to the Papists for there is scarce a Church papist in England that doth not applaud and admire it yet doe I not finde it so corrupt as some would make it In it wee finde this prayer O God from whom all holy desires all just counsailes and all good workes doe proceed give c. this is certainly translated out of the Romish Liturgie yet is it in it selfe so faultlesse that I will not dispute against him that thinkes hee may daily say it either with a congregation or in private and so many other of the prayers that is if he doe not the lesse but rather the more hearken to Gods word in all points otherwise his prayer will certainly be abominable But if all the prayers be as uncorrupt why doth Dr. Iackson with the consent and approbation of the Bishops Pro. 28.9 Dr. Iackson 1. part alledge divers of them for points savouring of Arminianisme and Poperie and if they bee so necessary to salvation as some make them other reformed Churches are but in an ill case that have them not so was the primitive Church also especially for three hundred yeares Howsoever what need is there so much to flatter the Papists as to translate prayers out of their Masse book and do so many things in service after their forme when God saith 1. Sam. 15.22 Isa 1.12 Obedience is better then sacrifice Who hath required this at your hands which are now so far from making them come the sooner to Church unles it be to continue papists there and false brethren to us that they hence draw arguments to strengthen them in their religion saying sure theirs is the true religion or else these parts of it would not be so constantly defended against the puritans and in the meane that kept out which Queene Mary ordained should be razed out of all bookes of Rites used in the time of Henry 8 and Edward the 6 Hist of the Councel of Trent pap 385. wherein God is prayed To deliver the Kingdom from sedition conspiracie and the tyrannie of the Pope Can not other common praiers be made as good The french Churches have some that are used in the pulpit by him that preacheth and no other that so he may not make a sufficient Religion service of praier nor account the cure to be served without preaching In them they pray Deliver thy Churches from the mouthes of ravening wolves and all hirelings who seeke their owne ambition and profit and not the exaltation of thy holy name and the salvation of the whole flock This also is ordinary before sermon to pray that the word may be then preached in that puritie and sinceritie wherein it was left by the Apostles and Prophets So that
have troubled many in the universities and elsewhere Neither can they rest heere the fruite of the Hierarchie that is not a tree of Gods planting must needes grow worse Ioh. 15.2 and worse which shewes it concernes the faith it self to have the hierarchie abolished All which things considered doe manifest that their pretended devotion in commanding to kneele at the Sacrament is but like that of signing children with the signe of the Crosse wherein they straine at a gnat and swallow a Camel God must needes regard their kneeling verie litle as that of the Papists who exceede in that and all other humble and devout gestures because they are not better or more obedient Christians they doe not more feare God nor indeed so much as Protestants that kneele not when they receive For they ordaine that men should bow the knee so oft as they heare the name Iesus mentioned in the Church which they doe not at any other name of God nor when Ruffins sweare by it as also that all should kneele at the Sacrament But what a mockerie is this while in the meane with the Papists they themselves neither bow to the word and ordinances of God nor consequently to Christ Iesus who is the word nor suffer others that would in such proofes of Scripture as prove that there ought to be * Act. 14.23 Acts. 20.17.28 Tit. 1.5 1 Pet. 5. Elders in every flock to govern the same and no such Lords of Gods heritage as Diocessan Bishops no such edicts against confutation of Arminians nor no such traditions canons set fasts as make the word of none effect It is true that the Lent fast is very ancient but so is the mysterie of iniquitie the Popes usurped primacie dominion and many other parts of Romish superstition and errour that English Bishops doe not yet affirme plainly that it ought to be observed as an ordinance of God or pari pietatis affectu ac reverentiae because it is an ordinance of the Church but they so hover about it that men feare it will come to that if their dominion stand As to this reason that Christ fasted fortie dayes they might as well tel us because he walked on the water or suffered for sinners so therefore should wee And what a mockerie is it to make this time of the yeare the time of repentance and mortification when that is not to be put off till Lent but is due at all times of the yeare as mens soules by reason of daylie sins doe oft stand in need of bodily fasting and humiliation the better to fit them for praier Or if it were necessarie what a mockerie is it to ordaine abstinence from all flesh when men have libertie to eate the daintiest fish and other delicates used in fish dinners banquets and feasts and that as much and as oft as they lift And if the Prelates themselves did not use it they would not be so fat and lustie as they are * B. Bangor March 4. 1631. They make great feasts at their consecration in Lent But say they it makes much for the increase of cattel that the subject may have them in more plentie and better cheape I could say this might be much better effected by forbidding many great and superfluous feasts as was partly practised in that dearth 1630 but I answer They might as well tell us that the great feasts used in the twelve daies and at other festivall times cause plenty and cheapnes as Lent which costs men more in fish For who sees not that both the one and the other make all things the dearer That when they approach all men striving to store their houses with flesh and fish the markets are raised to that extremitie that mens purses find a dearth in the midst of plentie Butchers and Poulterers pay deere for their licences which makes all extreame deere to such poore and sick or weake persons as must needs eate some flesh and Lent ended people buy as if they had never eaten flesh before which makes it want for no price Besides how many thousands are there who are not sick and yet of such weake constitutions that they cannot live six weekes without eating some flesh all these must needes abstaine to their hurt or bee reckoned Rebels and vexed by promoters resembling them of the Inquisition But fishing and shipping would otherwise decay This were somewhat if they had beene or were like to be used in the defence of Religion or against the enimies thereof and not against such as the Rochellers but howsoever if men were free to eate fish when they list they would desire it more as experience shewes in other countries where such freedome is Or if there were but one or two daies in a weeke as wednesday saterday or both wherein it were prohibited to all under great penalties sick persons excepted and especiallie to Inholders Alehouses Vintners Cookes and Victuallers that none should dresse or sell dressed any flesh on that day on paine of having his house shut up and paying some great fine all thorow-fare and market townes would strive to be furnished with fish for those daies and there would be more fishing and fish spent in the land in one yeare then now there is in two and this being only a common law and but for a day or two in a weeke and not imposed as a fast would be no burthen But the lawes are alleadged for this Lent fast as for the dominion of the Prelates and observation of other their traditions and ceremonies I might answer that the way to have lawes observed is to commaund things reasonable and agreeable to Gods word such as may without hurt be observed things burthensome to little purpose are as little regarded That Ministers of the Gospel should rather alleadge the law of Christ that fasts and almes ought to be voluntarie or obtained by the word preached for private humiliation or publick being commanded by authoritie when there is a publick calamitie or some great enterprise in hand needing such humiliation to obtaine the assistance of God and thus only are they used in the reformed Churches but in this and the like cases there is an example noted in a hystorie worthy our observation Quarrels of Paul 5. lib. 1. p. 9. The state of Luca finding many Citizens had changed their Religion and retired into protestant countries published an Edict forbidding all their subjects to have commerce with such persons The Pope that could not dislike their intent saide The Republick had no authoritie to make such an ordinance which touched Religion for as much as the laicques have not any power to decree in matters of Religion although the law be in favour thereof therefore he commanded it to be raced out of their Records If the Pope said this of States and lawes helping and maintaining his Religion how much more may God say it of Diocessan Bishops Councels States and all such their lawes Canons and Edicts as helpe the
Episcopall power and if they were there is as was shewed no reasoning from the consent or connivance of the Fathers if the institution bee not warrantable by Gods word There were then divers things which had got beginnings in those times against which the Fathers did not much inveigh because they were then held indifferent and not established as since for matters of faith and necessitie as the primacy of the Pope single life of Priests set fasts deferring baptisme till death the use of salt holy water and divers other things in their rites the antiquity whereof makes them never a whit the more lawfull Ioh 8.44 The devill was a seducer and a lyar from the beginning Whether it were in a vaine policie of some Bishops of those times the sooner to draw Iewes and Heathen to Christianity as some of ours pretend the indifferencie and wisedome of using some Romish rites the better to draw Papists to Church or for other like reasons Sure it is that many institutions of religion began in those daies to be taken from the Iewes and ancient heathen as divers have proved to the Papists out of their owne authors Among others Mr. Derlingcourt Minister of the Reformed Church of Paris in his booke of the Iubilee shewes in it many things to omit other particulars Iubile of the reform Chur. part 2. c. 11. The whole Papall Hierarchie saith he is founded on the example of the Iewes who had their soveraigne Pontife their sacrificers and their Levites and among them divers orders and functions And that the Church of Rome hath founded her Hierarchie and the diversity of her orders on the example of the Iewes besides that the thing is cleere enough the Author of the Canon Decretis acknowledgeth it And Polidor Virg. de invent rerum lib. 4. cap. 5. 7. where he also confesseth Decree of Gratian part 12. dift. 21. that the Romish Priests have borrowed of the Iewish Priests the most part of their habits that it is most evident that the institution is rather Hebraicall then Apostolicall And indeed the Apostles were never cloathed in the habits of Bishops nor Popes Reade on this subject Pope Innocent the 3. Mysteriorum Missae lib. 1. and the Bishop of Manda Ration divin officior lib. 3. And a little after We have seene that the Church of Rome authorizeth her hierarchie on the example of the Iewes but shee also avoucheth that it is a pagan invention for the decrees of Gratian after hee had represented the diversitie of the Romane Clergie composed of simple Priests Archpriests Bishops Archbishops Primates Metropolitanes Patriarches Popes addeth that this diversitie proceedeth principally from the ancient Pagans who had their Priests their Archpriests c. a confession which is drawne from the Master of the Sentences lib. 4. dist 24. lit M. The Bishop of Manda doth also acknowledge the same truth Ration divin offic lib. 2. c. 1. n. 22. But there is none more formall in this subject then G. du Chol. who saith G. du Choul discours of the Religion of the ancient Romans pag. 337. 335. That Romanes had another fashion of making their priestly dignities as the great Pontifes the little Pontifes Flamins Archflamins just so as we have the Pope Cardinals Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs c. And if we here observe it curiously we know that many institutions of our religion are taken and translated from the ceremonies of the Egyptians and Gentiles as are the copes and surplesse the Priests shaven crownes the bowing of the head to the Altar the sacrificall pompe the musicke of the Temples adorations prayers and supplications processions and Letanies and many other things which our Priests usurpe in our mysteries Of which indeed many are anciently assumed of Christians but that makes them never a whit the more lawfull How little then doe they helpe themselves who say the Church of England in her hierarchie and ceremonies is most like to the Church which was soone after the death of the Apostles that is if it were so as it is not for they had not such dominion over Presbyters nor such Courts Chancellors Deanes Officials power in probates of Testaments to governe and command give licences and dispensations nor such rulcs and canons to suspend and silence about surplesses ceremonies c. nor yet such service and ceremonies and if they had yet that were nothing being thus invented and received by the Papists and after retained in the English reformation either for policie or for the profit and honour that comes by them Many more zealously defend these then they doe the Gospell against Papists and Arminians Surely the Angell speakes not of such men but rather of such in the reformed Churches as have abandoned these inventions Rev. 19.10 Eph. 1.13 when he saith I am of thy brethren that have the testimony of Iesus which is to have the marke or seale of God in the forehead by professing they will receive no other doctrine and religion but what is rightly drawne from his testimony as on the contrary to professe the Romish faith and superstition is to have the beasts mark in the forehead by profession and any way to defend it is to have it in the right hand by operation and therefore though it seeme harsh to say that the champions of the hierarchie and ceremonies have the mark of the beast because in other things they are Protestants yet can it not be maintained but that they are guilty of having some part and print of that marke because they obstinately maintaine them against all proofes shewing them to be popish in favour Iewish and Heathenish against the word of God and to make the same of no effect in divers particulars The wisedome of God saith by the Apostle Tit. 1.13 Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith not giving heed to Iewish fables and commandements of men which turne from the truth So doe these in England in divers respects Because while some Prelates and Ministers make a noise and a blustring with crying out against Puritans and a great flourish with exalting the name and authority of the Church in such cases and the ancient use of the diocessan and provinciall Bishops ordinances and ceremonies Princes and people thinke they serve God in obeying her in them and therefore stop their eares to all proofes to the contrary and mocke at them like the Bishops that both scorne and suppresse them all even as others did in the Church of Rome in the same and other causes who otherwise had never attained that dominion she thereby got nor to have her traditions errours and superstitious rites received for lawes which were the terrible fruits of mens blind obedience to provinciall Bishops and their power and ordinances which ever increased more and more as they were more and more obeyed and defended to the great hinderance of the kingdome of God and the due preaching and obedience of his
the preaching of the word is not hindered by their praiers Whereas in many Churches they have nothing on the Lords day but the common prayer which many both of the Clergie and people doe so highy extoll that they make an entrie Religion of it and not only neglect but even despise preaching in respect thereof Many nonpreaching Ministers make it the pretext of their idlenes and others of their nonresidence and pluralities saying the people have one to read prayers and the service is performed And that say many is sufficient if they had no more It is to no end to tell them that God saieth My people are destroied or lead into Captivity for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 Rom. 10.17 that faith comes by-hearing and preaching that certaine of the praiers are for knowledge for they yet dare say it doth more hurt then good therefore they are all for common praier which divers worldlings usurers drunkards whoremongers and other earthly and prophane people second and confirme making it their whole Religion and admiring it above measure because it doth not tax and touch their sins as preaching doth it serveth not for doctrine reproofe correction and instruction as preaching the scripture doth which therefore they have in contempt and hinder and slander the same and all the truest freinds and followers thereof and yet in the meane while they would not only be thought the better sbjects but the better Christians and the fitter to be Churchwardens yea and to beare greater offices in the Church and common wealth they count themselves more truly religious then the greatest preachers and hearers because they thinke they love the common praier booke better and it serves them for a Religion and a cloake of scoffing persecution and some of them to be Church Papists and false brethren under the name of protestants whereas if the commò praier booke were not or there were only such like common praiers as are used by the French and dutch in the pulpit they could not but make more profession of love to preaching and hearing of Gods word otherwise they would appeare to bee either without Religion or more open adversaries of our Religion and so lesse dangerous In the French and dutch Churches they are not troubled with such dumbe Ministers nonresidents Church papists and prophane mockers they that have least Religion speake no hurt of knowledge preaching and hearing for if they should they know all men would crie out of them as of papists or Atheists and order would quickly be taken with them by the Elders they could not passe as ours doe for the better men and fitter for offices The Bishops see all this and yet favour them the more of the two as being ever verie conformable and lesse dangerous to the Hierarchie so carefull are they that there may be nothing in their Church like the Eldership ordained of God Churchwardens and sidemen are but a mockerie of it these places being given to all sort of men drunkards and others when the parson also is a tiplar a nonresident or preacheth little there is a flock strangely governed And thus the word of God is made of none effect by the Hierarchie the traditious thereof and namely by the much defended Tit. 1.13 and admired book of common praier thus these ordinances of mē turne from the truth as Tit. 1.13 It wil be objected the abuse of any thing in Religion should not take away the use of it which you grant I doe so but that is in the things ordained of God as the Eldership the Lords prayer the use of the Psalmes and some formes of blessing Nomb. 6.23 Rom. 16.24 1. Cor. 16.23 like those Nomb. 6.23 Rom 16.24 Which being common prayers serve to justifie the use of a few such common praiers as may be in the reformed Churches but not the hierarchie never ordained of God nor a service booke taken out of the Romish liturgie in such a time and for such reasons as it was serving men for a whole Religion and thus making the word of none effect For if those reasons had beene good of drawing the papists the sooner to Church c. there are not the same now when almost all goe to Church the Recusants though many are nothing in comparison of those times and by Romish subtiltie the booke of service is turned to doe hurt to our religion as abovesaid Now to call for the use of the service book and extoll it is nothing else but to temporise with popelings to emulate knowledge preaching and writing and to provide one naile to drive out another at least in such points as touch mens corruptions in doctrine and practise which was a sleight used of old by the Romish clergie for when the Prelates saw preaching discovered their errours and tirannie they to put off that and yet to seeme no lesse religious fell to extoll the use of their service and masse and cried out for devotion peace and obedience to the Church and above all for praier wherein divers flattering and ambitious preachers and even most of the English Bishops themselves follow them apace and that in these daies while men complaine of corruption in the clergie and the increase of Arminianisme and poperie witnes Dr. Cousens his cousening devotions approved by the Bishops and divers sermons Speeches and practises of theirs to the like purpose But marke what God saith He that turneth away his eare from the hearing of the Law even his praier shal be abomination Pro. 28.9 What will become then of their devotion who not only turne away their owne eares but even the eares of others also frō hearing the oracles of God both in this point of the Eldership and in those maine points of the Gospel touching Gods free grace and power in election conversion perseverance c. It troubles them much that men should have knowledge preach or write in these points while in the meane they can let the contrarie doctrines passe in the books of the Appealer Dr. Iackson and others these trouble them not in a time when papists Arminians strive to infect Princes people with such Pelagian and popish opinion God commands to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints Iude. 3. they yet presume that it may be forbidden in these cases so the people be stirred up to praier peace and obedience to the Church I know the daylie exercise of praier may be much urged but by whom by men that sincerely love preaching and hearing in all things that God hath revealed taught and do not set the ordinances of God one against an other that is doe not urge praier as enemies of preaching in many points like the papists norn aemulation thereof as those that oppose praier to preaching to eat out knowledge and bring-in blind devotion these have but a forme of Godlines and scarce that wee had need to pray continually that God would purge rid the
as rivers through many windings find way into the sea Nothing lieth so newtrally betweene the Romish and reformed Religions as the Hierarchie and the traditions thereof unles perhaps the Lutheran Religion which hath affinitie with it and that nothing doth more fortifie Rome and hinder the ruine thereof this whole worke doth manifest And as a river doth water the bancks townes castles and mannors that lie upon it so doe these water the noblitie and people who delight to dwell on these shores and drinke of these waters which coole or quench their zeale against misticall Babylon and so fill them with ignorance and neutralirie that they relish them better then the waters of the sanctuarie which are those of the Eldership and in requitall send into her those land waters which comming to them from heaven or springing out of their grounds fall into this river and make it swell with a terrible greatnes and these land waters are riches and authoritie which streames must bee exhausted or turned an other way before Babylon can be destroyed I am not so confident is to make this a full exposition of the sixt viall which yet is not the least probable seeing that things are rather to bee mistically then literally understood But sure it is that some have thought that as without England there is little hope that the Protestants should prevaile not rather be dayly consumed as heretofore they have beene So the Bishops with their traditions and practises are the greatest hinderances of true unitie and confederacie among all protestant Princes and States that England doth not effectually joyne with them against Antichrist and his champions Papists therefore nourish the English Hierarchie and all helpes thereof knowing that the Episcopall authoritie is at such emnitie with the Eldership that they can never be so true freinds of religion as to seeke unitie and confederacie with Churches governed by elders that all such Princes and States as Kings of the East and Citizens of the new Ierusalem may joyne to make the whore desolate Experience shewes that they have hindered it and so are like so long as the Hierarchie stands and the waters thereof run with so stronge a streame These therefore must be dried up by true light knowledge and zeale ere God can be well pleased or the Church have hope of victorie And sure they shal be taken away Ioh. 15. for Christ saith Every branch that beareth not fruite in me he taketh away they therefore that stand for them doe in effect shew themselves Romes freinds and the Churches enemies as the Arminians and popelings doe There are three things that breede all the stir in the world and hinder Romes ruine 1 The greatnes of the house of Austria which is nourished by the Romish Clergie and that Clergie by it and that hath made some think this house and the power and riches thereof to bee the misticall river Euphrates which must be exhausted or turned an other way before Rome can be burned which is well begun by the King of Sweden 2. Want of true unitie and confederacie amongst Protestant Princes and States against the common Adversaries of Religion for this hath emboldened the Pope the howse of Austria and others to attempt so much as they have to subvert all by power and policie 3. The pernicious power offices and greatnes of Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops and other Clergie men which hinder these good effects in the two former and makes bothe the Spaniard and Church of Rome to have stronge parties in all the greatest Kingdoms in Christendome and even in England it self though Protestants in profession And such Prelates indeed are a stronger fort to the great whore then the howse of Austria which if it be a fort these yet are the deepe ditch or more that goes about it the great river that strengthens both it the Church Cittie of Rome the bankes of this river must be cut the streame of theire power and riches let out and dried up ere any great good can be donne It is a thing that will serve to astonish the ages to come that any reformed Christian much lesse those that are reckoned and so should be of the wiser sort as Counsellours of estate Nobles Divines many others that seeme to have a greater share of preeminence wit and learning then of true knowledge honour and authoritie in such cases should stand so stedfastly in the maintenance of diocessan Bishops and traditions and other wordly dignities honours and revenues which the Clergie have obtained besides those that are given to the Ministers of Christ in the Gospel Wherein though it be true that all their defēders doe not willingly take the marke of the Beast because all that defend them doe it not on purpose to helpe the Pope and Church of Rome or with the more ease to bring-in poperie as some have said of the late Duke and his faction which indeed is to have the marke secret in the right hand nor wholly because some that stand for Diocessan Bishops and theire traditions which are popish and tend to poperie doe nevertheles hate other points of Poperie yet doe they take it partly in effect and by consequence and in a way which is a step helpe and introduction to all poperie which cannot but bee * Rev. 14.9 dangerous especially when like Papists they will not see it or seeing it will not desist First because Antichrist and they are of one and the same broode and ofspring of one and the same foundation his rising was their rising and their traditions and ceremonies are his they had them from him every Diocessan Bishop is now a pettie Pope in his Diocesse For at the first Plessis misterie of inquit prog 4 and 5. the Pope only grew great as a Diocessan Bishop in a great citty haveing this only priviledge that he was reckoned the Bishop of the first sea and an Arch-Bishop Rome being the seate of the Empire but there were then others that were reckoned Archbishops as well as hee and governed theire seas as freely as he did his and so did many Bishops also It is well manifested by Hierome on the first of Titus and by many other fathers Bellar. de clericis lib. 1. c. 14. and moderne writers cited by Bellarmine and Medina as also by Pietro Scave Polano in his historie of the councell of Trent that at first a presbiter and a Bishop was one Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 220.331.332.591 and the same thing that the Churches were governed by the common counsailes of the presbiters and how the jurisdiction and power of Diocessan and Provinciall Bishops crept into the church to withstand divisions namely together with the Popes and therefore to defend their office is to defend his which only differs in the excesse of power and evill and in supremacie and universalitie neither have they so much withstood divisions as increased them for Plessis and these other authors shew
discovered or reproved besides their diligence in suppressing of bookes they have got the Court and Crosse supplied with Preachers for their owne turne yea caused some mens sermons to be perused beforehand according to the policy used in the third convocation of the Councell of Trent Histor of the Councell of Trent pag. 468. where the Bishop of Modena was appointed to peruse every sermon and whatsoever else was to be delivered in publike By all which he that will may see that as it was ever in the hierarchy so hath it beene is and will be in this the more Bishop and hierarchy the lesse King the lesse good order in Church and Commonwealth For they have beene in effect the Kings nothing must bee preferred or heard against them or such friends of theirs as the Duke and others but still they pretend that these complaints are not so much against them as against the Kings government and prerogative which is a meere trick and colour to engage the King in their cause and so to save them their friends and practices from comming to triall and so in conclusion it comes to be their prerogative that must not bee touched by the Parliament nor indeed by the word of God Is not this to bring all out of order And which makes the evill seeme the more incurable no man dares manifest so much so able are they to undoe him Which is a power the devill hath purchased them that they and others may boldly proceed to propagate other errours and doe what evill they list without controule like the Church of Rome and that to maintaine them their pontificall greatnesse their Pallaces and Coaches religion may abide in their power be made a leaden rule for them to turne which way they list the truest lovers of Truth oppressed the kingdome of God invaded and usurped and the whole Christian world disturbed and afflicted Are not men ashamed that living in the light of the Gospel the love of Christ constraines them not to be against these men but that they should neverthelesse suffer themselves to be made the friends and protectors of them and their hierarchy and to thinke that therein they either serve God or the King and State as they ought For first that their hierarchy is against the service of God if enough hath not beene said this may be added that while the office of Diocessan Bishops is falsly held to be ex jure divino as we have proved Gods ordinances and officers being rejected the Church is governed by their greatest adversaries who also having gotten the ruling and descissive voices in Councels which should rather belong to those true Bishops and Pastors the Presbyters make their owne opinions and errours of Bishops and traditions to bee received for matters of faith as in the Councel of Trent For though some hold that it is no matter of faith but rather indifferent and at the pleasure of Kings whether they or Elders should governe the Church yet it is of no lesse consequence because even in England they make their Articles to bee received and in a wrested or doubtfull sense to be a sure Rule and so matters of faith as themselves interpret them yea this to be granted that themselves and their adherents assembled in Convocation as the Church representative which if it make other Articles more unsound or savouring of Arminianisme or other errour will thinke they should bee received especially in matters of their authority for who can hinder it or dare say they have not power to decide what is the faith when indeed seeing the institution of Diocessan Bishops is of a positive law and not de jure divino men should rather consider the consequences which were very aptly set forth in the Councell of Trent Hist of the Councell of Trent pag. 608. where the Papalins maintaining that the institution and jurisdiction of Bishops were not de jure divino but that Bishops had their jurisdiction from the Pope and that hee onely had received institution and jurisdiction from Christ in the person of Peter the Bishop of Segna replyed That if they have it not from Christ neither can the Councell have any from him which consisteth of Bishops that if Bishops are not instituted by Christ the authority of them is altogether humane and he that heareth it spoken that Bishops are not instituted by Christ must needs thinke that this Synod is a congregation of prophane men in which Christ doth not preside but a power received precarily from men and it would be a great illusion generally of all Christendome to propose it not onely as the best but as the onely and necessary meanes to decide controversies That hee would never have come to the Councell if he had not beleeved that Christ had beene in the midst of it that if any Bishop should beleeve and thinke his authority to bee humane it had beene great boldnesse in him to denounce in the former difficulties anathematismes and not rather refer all to him who had greater authority Now howsoever the opinion of the Papalins that the Pope is the onely Bishop jure divino and that others ought to have institution from him is most erroneous yet seeing it is certaine that the institution and jurisdiction of diocessan Bishops are not from Christ but of a positive law all those consequences alledged by the Bishop of Segna doe follow thereupon and those also which the Bishop of Paris added against the tenet of Laynez Generall of the Iesuites who exceeded in maintaining the cause against the Bishops Pag. 614. That in stead of a celestiall kingdome for so the Church is called it maketh it not a kingdome but a temporall tyranny that it taketh from the Church the title of the Spouse of Christ and maketh it a servant prostituted to man whence it followes that the English Hierarchy having no authority from Christ is a temporall tyranny and the Spouse of Christ is made a servant and subjected to it It is true that where two or three are gathered together in Christs name there is he in the midst but to bee truly gathered together in his name requireth that their office be de jure divino and they hare power from him to assemble and handle such matters this he never gave to diocessan Bishops for he never ordained them they are but intruders usurping that which by Gods institution belonged to Pastors that are Presbyters With the Trent Fathers they pretend right by that place Take heed to your selves and to all the flocke over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feed the Church of God Act. 20.28 which is spoken to Presbyters and yet by usurping these letters patents of the Presbyters diocessan Bishops take the charge from them exclude the Presbyters to whom they were granted and what worse is reigne over them as over their subjects who must not preach any thing that dislikes them That election is of Gods free grace regeneration and
conversion of his power and not of mans free will that men doe beleeve and persevere because they were predestinated though they be plainly taught in the Scripture yet they will not have them nor the like points cleared by Preachers in Pulpit nor Print nor by Divines in the Vniversities no not in a time when Papists Arminians corrupt men in them but they must be left to them the Fathers and Rulers as if diocessan Bishops never ordained of God being many of them Courtiers swolne with ambition depending on the interests of favourites such as the Duke parties in such factions corrupted with flatteries contesting against the endeavours of Parliaments daily busied at the Councell table in the Star chamber or high Commission Court should better know how to cleere and determine these and other high points then Preachers that study nothing else but Divinity and are not led by such particular interests There is no man that hath but an indifferent judgement and any sparke of true love to Gods Kingdome but will say it is impossible that these men or their flatterers should bee fit Iudges or give just lawes to men in such cases yet they governe all in Synods and elsewhere and if they have but colourable pretences like the Papists who doe resist or question them These are they that ruling all and having many things in their gift are sure to be flattered and followed in Court Synods and Vniversities and if as the Appealer doth they can but alledge the opinion of Bishop Bancraft or any such politician Prelate like themselves they care for no better authority Onely strengthned by the secular arme they know how to prevaile by power All which considered it is no marvell that they have decreed so many things to so little profit yea to so great damage to the Church and kingdome of God And all true Christians are the rather to take heed of them and their decrees and not to say it is either necessary to have Bishops or a thing indifferent seeing they so much endanger the faith and that in these respects it greatly concernes the faith and all the faithfull to have their government abolished and the Eldership restored lest by them as by the Bishops in the Church of Rome religion come to be corrupted It will be objected the most ancient Councels were governed by Bishops I answer that otherwise Popish errours could not have beene established nor so long maintained against the truth that at first Presbyters had their voices in them that Bishops of old differed little from Presbyters had pastorall charges and were not like ours but onely began to decline and therefore I wonder not that Nazianzen so long since observed that there came little good yea much hurt of them and that contentions have alwayes beene encreased by the Episcopall assemblies as also Bishop Iewel proves in many particulars In an Epistle annexed to the history of the Counc of Trent I wonder not if in our dayes some Bishops are learned affect some good things make some good bookes and tollerable constitutions For some of them have beene great Divines Pastors and of a good conscience in many things but might not a man have found the like in some of the Sadduces Heredians Arrians 〈…〉 Pâ—pists and other heretikes that is take them out of their heresies in such things as they hold common with other Iewes or Christians yet many things determined by them were dangerous so must it needs be in the diocessan Bishops of England who are of a humane law and heretikes in matter of the Eldership if not Arminians Therefore in this cause that may be said of them which Paul 4. said of the Bishops of his time that it was a vanity to assemble 60. Pa. 339. Bishops of the least able and 40. Doctors of the most insufficient as was twice done already in Trent and to beleeve that by those things could bee well regulated All which considered who can thinke that the Hierarchy or any Synod of English Bishops can be for the service of God In the meane the Churches or at least many thousands in them in their practice receive the hierarchy ceremonies and traditions Pari pietatis affectu ac reverentiae with like affection of piety and reverence as the written word of God and many with greater There are foure pillars that uphold the Hierarchy 1. Traditions and ceremonies 2. Spirituall ignorance and blinde devotion in the Nobility and Laity For that makes them take it for granted that Bishops and obedience to their traditions are de jure divino hence proceedes a 3. Riches and authority and from these a 4. reciprocall resolution combination with such Statesmen as the Duke and his confederates so to maintaine each others cause against al accusers as if they were one and they each others Advocates And as a branch of this the severe suppression of all bookes and complaints that discover their errors or practices There is no need to prove further that the three last are against the service of God it will suffice to shew that they are against the service of the King and State But first of ceremonies and traditions received in the Church of England Histor of the Councell of Trent pag. 259. It is remarkable that when some German Protestants for feare received those appointed in the Interim saying after they were indifferent Others whom necessity had not compelled said it was true that indifferent things concerne not salvation yet by meanes of them pernicious things are brought in and going on they framed this generall conclusion That ceremonies and rites though by nature indifferent doe then become bad when he that useth them hath an opinion that they are good or necessary Which hath beene proved of them in England and that generally they are men popish neutrall or of least sincerity that stand most for them as for the best meanes to uphold the hierarchy because they know that rule to be true No ceremonie no Bishop which as it seemes is the reason that the Bishops looke to little else though that bee to confesse that they serve for nothing but to uphold their owne traditions and ceremonies wherein they are very zealous like the Trent Bishops that anathematized them that say that the ceremonies Pa. 574. vestments or externall signes used in the Masse are rather incitements to ungodlinesse Pa. 548. then offices of piety Where if by ungodlinesse you understand superstition and ignorance the Trent censure is extreame harsh the rather because Antonius of Veltelina a Dominican had proved unto them that the Rite of Rome had beene received to gratifie the Pope but not in all places and by a booke called Ordo Romanus that it hath had great alterations not onely in ancient times but even in the latter ages also that the Roman Rite observed within 300. yeares is not that which is now observed by the Priests in that City For the vestments vessels and other
ornaments of the Ministers and Altars it appeareth not by bookes onely but by statues and pictures that they are so changed that if the Ancients should returne into the world they could not know them Therefore he concluded that to bind all to approve the Rites which the Church of Rome used might be reprehended as a condemnation of antiquity and of the use of other Churches His discourse displeased but the Bishop of the five Churches justified him If English Bishops would but with the Friar consider the consequences that follow their inforcing of their Rites they would not bee so extreame in them And indeed in those wherein they differ from the Reformed Churches they doe but mocke the Christian world while with the Papists they hold that they ought to be so strictly received and reverenced and yet abrogate others more necessary Pag. 163. seeing as one saith of the Papists they grant not to the people the election of the Minister which certainly was an Apostolicall institution continued more then eight hundred yeares but deny it to them with as good right as the Papists doe both that and the use of the cup which had beene continued as long It is a seemly thing to see the Temples where Christians use to meet in good repaire frequented with grave devout humble and religious behaviour in the worship of God the table covered with cleane linnen when the Sacrament is administred the cup decent and not of the basest metall But these and the like things are the more acceptable to God when the Church is not spoiled of her better ornaments diligent preaching and hearing soundnesse in the faith knowledge zeale and holinesse of life For if the Temples be never so glorious in structure the table of the finest wood and workmanship the cup of gold the Ministers in glorious vestments the service full of grave and devout ceremonies and all things else in the most plausible manner for outward ornament God is but mocked for all these if those better ornaments be neglected and despised When the Church of Rome began to abound in wealth and authority to have pluralities to maintaine their dignities to leaue poore hirelings in their cures to neglect soundnesse in doctrine knowledge and the like graces that they might seeme no lesse religious they began in stead thereof to be exercised in new manners of devotion See Plessis myst of iniquity pregress 24. looking out of relickes traditions and ceremonies to erect stately Temples Organs and Altars to guild and adorne them with images of Saints to have golden Chalices and wooden Priests to multiply feasts and holidayes to invent new orders and formes of will-worship to use all severity in bodily worship devout posture and demure cariage and to make all men conformable in those things to ordaine a world of superfluous constitutions But how was God mocked in all these while they did eate out religion For people being taken up in those his ordinances were the lesse regarded and while the stately Temples were erected in Cities Rev. 12. the Church was faine to flee into the wildernesse while the beauty of the outward stones were maintained 1 Pet. 2.5 the living stones were trodden under feet and despised while lights were set up in Churches people sate in darknesse and ignorance while traditions were observed Gods word was the lesse respected and in time could neither bee obeyed nor heard while the tables and Priests were adorned men of knowledge and other the best gifts were least esteemed while dead images of Saints were set up in the Church beautified and worshipped the true and living Saints such as the Waldenses Hussites and Calvenists were persecuted and martyred and the very faith it selfe called heresie Looke now a little upon the Church of England see how they abandon the cause of religion abroad and at home despise and persecute such as seeke that the ordinances of God may be restored Elders received Popery Arminianisme pluralities and non-residency excluded the true faith preached and maintained in Sermons and Lectures knowledge faith zeale and other graces nourished and increased and in the meane seem no lesse religious fall to building Temples Organs Tables Altars to satiate if it were possible the Clergy with titles of honour jurisdictions vestments revenues and riches and because a Bishop precedes a Baron to thinke that nothing is too much to maintaine his state that is not too much for a Baron and so for Deanes and Doctors according to their degrees and places which are the nurseries of pluralities and non-residency To call for observation of ceremonies canons fasts holidayes externall gesture and devotion and whatsoever else is commanded or practised in their constitutions and customes wherein though they doe not yet abound so much as the Papists yet it is the only religion in credit and fashion and as if Christ had ordained Bishops to looke to nothing else it doth and will eate out true religion and sincerity Howsoever while Prelates and others having pluralities to maintaine their dignities and leaving poore hirelings to serve their cures those better ornaments are neglected and persecuted are not these tokens that God is mocked by them I know well it is most irksome to Prelates to heare of these things they thinke no man should dare to manifest them and especially that the Eldership ought to be restored according to Gods ordinance They live as if they shunned no other plague nor feared any other purgatory then a reformation This fils their soules with Fiery indignation and makes them to be redeemed from it breake out into threats inquisitions and persecutions that they may overcome their tormentors by censures imprisonments exemplary punishments fines and torments Howsoever if they can but by flatteries invectives whisperings and other shifts keep the King and Councell so ignorant and blinde in those things that they may remaine firme on their side they care for no more But may not a man protest as plainly for God and his Church as the French Ambassador did for the priviledges of France and the French Churches in the Councell of Trent that protestation angred the Prelates but he defended it saying That those were ignorants Hist of the. Councel Pag. 771. 774. who having seene nothing but the Decretals lawes of 400. yeares did thinke that there were no Ecclesiasticall lawes before them that if any would reforme the King by the Decretals he would reforme them by the decrees and leade them also to more ancient times not onely of S. Austen but of the Apostles also Wherein the King justified him Now as the hierarchy and ceremonies make not for the true service of God but serve to eate it out by degrees as the Romish did so neither doe they make for the service of the King and State but are against it and very pernicious for every Nobleman and Ruler as appeareth 1. Because while they are by them kept from the knowledge of Gods truth in matter of the