ashes and Suruiuing memory of that Euer-blessed Deuout and Pious Queene who gaue the greatest life increase and vigor to our Protestant Orthodoxe Zealous Pious and sincere Religion and Deuotions and the chiefest fâ—â—le ecclipse and downefall to the Church of Rome as the vote and suffrage bâ—th of our owne and forraine Nations testifie a forged Patronesse and grand Protectresse of that Roman Faith and Popish Ceremonies which She so much oppugned and abhorred all Her life and the onely Stampe and Royall Impresse to make them passe for currant Orthodoxe and true English Coyne in this Church and State of ours which had long since boared and cast them out as counterfeite and Romish drâ—sse and Mettall Certainely if the counterfeiting or forging of a Princes Seale or Coyne be capitall what shall the Treacherous Scandalous and Pernicious forging Slandering Sophisticating Peruerting Deprauing and ruinating of the Religion of such a Royall and Religious Princesse as Queene Elizabeth be I onely doe propound the question I leaue the full discussion and discition of it vnto others who are more iudicious then my selfe I now proceed vnto my fourth Conclusion which I shall branch out into three Propositions which will most of all Vnmasque and best discouer our Authors Treachery Fâ—rgery and concealed Popery First that these Deuotions and Howers of Prayer are farre different from the priuate Prayers Authorized by Queene Elizabeth Secondly that they are not warranted by them nor extraâ—ted frâ—m them nor from our Common Prayer Booke as our Authors Title Preface and Printer doe pretend Thirdly that both the Forme and Matter of them are stolen taken and transcribed out of Popish Authors Primers Breuiaries Chatechismes Prayer-Bookes and Horaries which the Author and the Printer both denie For the first of these that these Deuotions and Howers of Prayer are farre different from the priuate Prayers Authorized by Queene Elizabeth yea from the very first Edition of them on which our Author most insists I shall euidence by these apparant discrepancies First they vary in the Frontispiece The one hath a Crosse and IHS vpon its fore-head the other hath no such Roman Character or Badge at all Secondly they differ in the Title the one is stiled A Collection of priuate Deuotions or the Howers of Prayer the other Orarium sâ—u libellus Praecationum An Orary or little Booke of Prayers Or Praeces priuatae in studiosorum gratiam collectae as the second and third impressions of them are intituled Thirdly they are dissonant in the Language the one is in English the other in Lataine and so are all the subsequent Editions Fourthly there is a variance in the persons for whose vse and benefit they were published the one was Printed for the vse and benefit of Illiterate persons but specially our English Roman Catholiques the other in studiosorum gratiam for the benefit of Schollers and such who were skilfull in the Lattaine tongue as the Title and the Printers admonitiâ—n in the second and third Editions of the priuate Prayers of Queene Elizabeth testifie Fifthly their very ends are discrepant and various these latter being onely published To continue and preserue the ancient Lawes and godly Câ—nâ—ns of the Church to exterminate all conceiued Prayers which our Author sâ—â—lâ—s extemporall effusions of irkesome and vndigested Prayers to abolish all priuate Prayers of priuate men not first allowed and Authorized by the Church framed onely by priuate Spirits and Ghosts of our owne and to confine men to a set and constant formâ— and time of Prayer To let the World vnderstand that our Church retaines all the Ancient formes of Pietie and Deuotion yea all the Religious exercises and Prayers of our Fore-fathers all the old Ceremonies and blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholique Church to wit the Church of Rome to tye men to a dayly practise of Canonicall Howers and Munkish Deuotions as the Preface and to Vsher Popery into our Church as my second Conclusion prooues where as the former were diuulged to helpe and further young Schollers and Students in the exâ—rcise and knowledge of the Lattaine tongue to ground them in the points of Chatechisme and to instruâ—t them not so much when or what as how to Pray and that not onely in priuate but in publike too whence all the Morning and Euening Prayer in our Common Prayer Booke together with our common Chatechisme and the description of Christs Passion is inserted in it Sixtly they differ much in the very forme and structure and in the substance and subiect Matter The one begins with a 〈…〉 and so proceedes with sundry proofes and discourses iustifying the vse and practise of Canonicall Howers the Canonization of Romish Saints the Apostolicall and Diuine Institution 〈◊〉 Lent and the like The other hath no such Prefaces nor Prologues in it nor any such Popish trash as the Prefaces and the first part of these 〈◊〉 Deuotions doe 〈◊〉 These Ancient Prayer 〈◊〉 begin with a Kâ—lâ—nder farre different from our Authors then followes the Chatechisme in our Common 〈…〉 Mâ—rning and Euening Prayer with 〈…〉 befâ—re and after meate next the Generall Confession 〈…〉 in our Common Prayer Booke all which these new Deuotions want Then ensue Morning and 〈◊〉 Prayâ—rs the matter and forme of which vnlâ—ssâ— it be one Hymne onely or the first the third the sixt the ninth Hower and the Compline which are quite left out in the second and third Editions being almost the same with our Common Prayer Booke and farre different from Maister Couzens his Deuotions which vary wholy from them both in Prefaces Order Prayers Chapters Hymnes and Psalmes but onely in the first Hower in which they doe in part but yet not totally accord Then follow seuen selected Psalmes not seuen Penitentiall to bee vsed in times of Penancâ— c. as our new Author phraseth them Next ensue the Letanie a Saintâ—ohn â—ohn with sundry other deuout and godly Prayers to the end of the Booke all which being the better halfe of that Prayer Booke and the best and vsefullest part are wholy omitted in these new Deuotions Take but away the seuen selected Psalmes the Letanie and some three Psalmes more and I dare confidently aâ—â—rre that these old Prayers and new Deuotions agree not so much as in one leafe and that there are not so much as sixe leaues of this ancient Prayer Booke of Queene Elizabeth contained in this new On the other side take the first part of these new Deuotions from the Title page to the end of Quatuor Nouissima which are not figured together with the residue of the Booke from page 121. the first part to the conclusion and period of the Booke in which most of our Authors Popery is inuolued and there is scarce one word or sentence of it in the Ancient priuate Prayer Booke of Queene Elizabeth which our Author would make the World beleeue to bee the same or almost the same with these his new and Popish Deuotions So that they differ plainely both in forme
Licenced them and he that published them haue the greater sinne the more palpable and apparent guilt What was it not enough for the Author to print or to disperse them couertly but that he must grow so Impudent and Audacious as to procure a publike Licence and speciall Approbation for them that so hee might vent and publish his Popery to the World Cum Priuilegio to giue the greater and more publike scandall and offence the deeper wound and blow to our Religion and our Church the more irrecouerable aduantage and notorious tryumph to the Church of Rome the more dangerous downefall to our Religion and that these his Popish Deuotions might stand as an vnanswerable authorized and approued record against vs vnto all Posteritie Certainly the Authors impudencie in seeking and his treachery in purchasing this publike and notorious Approbation for his Booke that so it might doe the greater hurt and giue a more fatall and pernicious blow and brand to our Religion is so far from extenuating that it doth infinitely aggrauate and increase his guilt Authoritie added vnto euill things detracts not from their euill but intends it more this Approbation therefore will not salue but fester and inlarge his sore But were these Popish Deuotions Licenced in good earnest Why then was not the Approbation annexed to the written Copy as it ought to bee but to a meere loose Paper which was neuer ioyned with the Copy Why doth the Printer report abroad that the Bishop of London neuer read the Booke and that he carried him nothing but a bare white Paper with a Message from the Bishop of Winchester that now is to Licence these Deuotions to which he set his hand and wrote his Approbation when as he neuer had perused nor seene the Booke it selfe Either the Printer therefore is a lying Knaue as most report him to be or else the Bishop of London neuer read and so neuer could approue this Booke But admit the Printer whose dishonestie is reported to be such that he will Print any thing whatsoeuer for his priuat gaine hath mis-reported the cariage of this Licence and that the BB. of London read the Book as is most probable because his Aprobation shews as much yet I would willingly learne thus much whether this Printed Coppy differs not from the written one which was allowed by his Lordship or whether there is not some Popery inserted in the Printed which was either wholly razed out or else omitted in the written Coppy For mine owne part I cannot but suspect that most of the Popery that is broached and couched in this booke was foysted in at the Presse without my Lord of Londons priuitie and the more iealous am I of this because the Printer had his written Coppy but by peecemeale sheete by sheete and not compleate together because the written Copy was taken from the Printer as he Printed it by the Author against the vsuall course and because there were sundry leaues reprinted and altered at the Presse by the Authors bare direction who hath likewise lately made some alterations in our Common Prayer Booke by what Authoritie I knowe not So that it is most probable that our Author hath exceeded and abused not followed his Authoritie which makes his crime the greater So that this first excuse and Plea doth onely aggrauate not lessen or abate his faulte Our Authors second excuse is this That these Priuate Deuotions of his were compiled for the priuate vse of a well-disposed friend without any meaning to make the same publike to the World though a certaine number of them by leaue and warrant of the Ordinary were printed at the charge of the Party for whose onely vse the same was collected to saue the labour and trouble of writing Coppies to be sparingly communicated to some few freinds they are the very words of the Author in his Epistle to the Reader in the last Edition which is but shrowded vnder the Printers name when as in truth it is the Authors owne as the Printer hath in part confessed These Deuotions therefore being Printed but for the benefit of some priuate friends without any intennt to make them publique may seeme to mittigate if not excuse the Authors guilt To this I answere First that this vnder-hand printing and spreading of these Deuotions among some priuate friends is a violent and strong presumption that the Author was conscious to himselfe that they were fraught with Popish trash If they were the priuate prayers published by the Authority of Queene Eâ—izabeth as his Title page and Preface doe surmise or if they were orthodox or fit to further and encrease Deuotion why should hee thus conceale them from the world and imprison them in the hands and closets of some few priuat friends since Truth desires to be publick seekes no corners for to hide her self If they were Popish and corrupt why then were they printed and disperced sparingly among some priuate friends or why were they Penned and collected why were they printed or disperced at all Secondly this close and secret scattering of these Popish Deuotions is ten times more dangerous and infectious then the open publishing of them to the world at first because it findes the least opposition and so perhaps seduceth many before it be discouered As a concealed enemie or fire in a close obscure building which is not obuious vnto all mens sight are most pernitious and ineuitable so Popish Pamphlets which passe from hand to hand and are scattered vp and downe in priuate are most seducing and infectious because they passe without discouerie and controle whereas they would quickly be descried and so either answered or suppressed before they could intrap infect or poyson any were they but obuious vnto all mens view and censure at the first so that our Authors vnder-hand communicating of his Popery doth aggrauate his fault and make his dealings more suspitious c because they shunne and flie the light as all euill workes and workers doe Thirdly I would demand what priuate friend that was for whose vse these priuate Deuotions were compiled who would bee at so much cost and charge as to print such Popish trash as this Was this priuate friend a Papist or a Protestant If a Papist as I dare presume it was then questionlesse these Deuotions which were composed for the benefit and vse of Papists must needes be Popish If a Protestant then doubtlesse it was such a one whom our Author would perswade to become a Romane Proselite yea to enter into Popish Orders to which these houres of Prayer onely suite else hee would neuer haue taken so much paines to compose these Canonicall and Popish Deuotions for his priuate vse which Protestants doe disclaime It were well therefore if this our Authors friend were enquired after that so we might know his Religion by his friend which is in part discouered by his booke Thirdly I answere that this is but a meere forged and false pretence
renowned Queene so preiudiciall and dangerous to our Church our Cause and our established Religion which they oppugne in a notorious and high degree and so aduâ—ntagious for the Whorish Church of Rome who still contriues and workes our ruine by our selues alone I will here conclude my verball Censure and Surâ—ay of him and his Deuotions and leaâ—e both him and them to the reall Censure and Suruay of that Honourable Pious Zealous and Graue Assembly of Parliament which I hope will render both to him and them according to their iust demerits that so their penall exâ—mples â—ay prooue others medecines HIEROM Epist. 54. Hac sâ—nt quae coargutione non indigent perâ—idiam corâ—â— exposuisse superasso est FINIS a Nulla magna Ciuitas diu quiescere potest si foris hostem non habet domi inuenit Liuie Rom Histor. l. 30. sect 14. Arma quae non habent hostem saepisame in ciuem conuertuntur Case Polit. l. 7. c. 14. p. 6â—2 b Quam graue quam acerbe est hostibus tam proâ—ligatis nemineâ—x aduerso se opponere audente vt ipsi nos oppugnaremus mutuo sic â—aetitiam inimicis atque adeò â—â—sum praeberemus Theodoret. Ecclesiast hist l 1 c. 7. c Non longe scilicet hostes Quaren li nobis circumstaÌ„t vndique muros Virgi Aeneid l. 11. Intus habes quâ— poscis Ouid. Met. l. 6 d Virgil. Aeneid l. 2. e Quot usquisque enâ—m iuxta diuitem pauper aut iâ—tactus aut tutus est Quid enim omnium aliud dignitas sublimium quam proscriptio ciuitatum aut quid aliud quorundam quos taceo praefectura quam praeda Nulla siquidem maior pauperculorum est depopulatio quaÌ„ potestas Ad hoc enim honor a paucis emitur vt cunctorum vastatione soluatur Quo quid esse indignius aut iniquius potest Reddunt miseri dignitatum praetia quas nonemunt Comercium nesâ—iunt et solutionem sciunt vt pauci illustrentur mundus euertitur Vnius honor orbis excidium est Veniunt plerumque noui nunâ—â— nouiâ— epistu arâ— a summis sublimitatibus missi qui commendantur illustribus paucis ad exitiae pluâ—â—morum decernuntur his noua munerâ— decernuntur noua indictiones decornunt potentes quod soluant paupeâ—es decernit gratia diuitum quoa perdat turba miserorum Ipsi enim in nullo seâ—tâ—unt quod decernunt Salu. De Gubernat Dei l. 4. p. 104.105 l. 5. p. 161. 162. f Marke 14.9 Luke 21.12.13 g Euseb. Eccl. hist. lib. 3. c. 16.17 h Iustin Martyr Atolog 1. 2. Tertul. Apolog. aduersus Gent. et ad Scapulam lib see Zozeman Eusebius Nicepherus Socrates and the booke of Martyrs according i Act. 24.25 26. k Act. 25.9.10.11.12 l See Thomas of Walsingham hist. Angl. Rich. 2. p. 256.257 m Ibidem p. 205.208.209 n Defence of the Apologie part 6. cap. 2. diuision 1. pag. â—22 o Christian subiection Antâ—christian Rebellion part 3. neere the end p 2. 3. Ed. 6. cap. 1.19.3 4. Ed. 6. c. 10.5 6. Ed. 6 cap. 1. 1. Eliz. cap. 2. q See Apostol Canones Can. â— 7.80 82. Clemens Conflit l. 2. cap. 6. Concil Elâ—berenuÌ„ Can. 19. Carthag 1. Can. 6.9 3. Can. 15. 4. Can 18.20.51.52.53 Chalcedon Can. 3. Turâ—nense 1 Can. 5. 3. Can. 23. Aurelianense 3. Can. 26 4. Can. 23. 11.13 Toletanum 4 Can. 30 4â— 11 Can. 6. Constanâ—inâ—â— 6. Can. 9. Palatâ—um Vernis Can. 16. NicanuÌ„ 2. Can. 10. Forotuliense Canâ— 6. Cabilonâ—nse 2. 5.6.11.12 MoguntinuÌ„ Can. 10.12.14 sub Rabano Can 13. 29.30 85.93.100 Parisiense l. 1. cap. 28. Meldense Can. 49. Wormatense Can. 67. Synod 8. Oecumenica Can. â—4 Triburiense Can. 2. Coloniense part 2. cap. 25.30 â—1 Lateran pars 1. cap. 12. part 17. Can. 106. Reformat Cleri Germania cap 4 Synod Augustensis cap. 10. Concil Trident Sess. 2â— de Reformat cap. 2. Sess. 25 cap. 1. Sess. 25. cap. 17. See Gratian. Causa 21. Quaestio 3. Roger Houedon histo Angl. p. 589.590 Hâ—erom Epist â— ad Nâ—potianuÌ„ Decreta Pelagii cap 17 Surius Concil Tom. 2. p. 295. Rescripta Nicholai 1. Tit. 10. cap. 6.7 Bernard de Consid. l. 3. c. â— â— l. 4. c. 2. See Thomas of Walsingham hist. Angl. p. 181. â—podigma Neustria p. 132 Where vpon the petition of the â—ords in Parliment 4 〈◊〉 of Ed. 3. all Bishops and Clergie men were dâ—priued of all theire temporall offices r Perpetuity of a Regenerate mans estate The appendix to the Epistle to the Reader s Theodoret. Eccl. hist. lib. 1. c. 23. t Theodoret. Ib. c. 24. v Munster Cosmogr l 4. c. 39. x Extant libri quos adhuc laicus recentissima mea conuersione conscripsi c. Contra Iulianum l. 6. c. 4. Tom. 7. part 2. p. 508. y August de Anima et eius Origine l. 2. c. 1. 2. z Euseb. Eccl. hist. l. 6. c. 19.20.21.22.23 a Euseb Ecel hist. l. 6. c. 19. b See Doctor Sparkes Answer to Albines cap. 13. And Bishop Vshers Praeface to Sir Christopher Sybâ—â—orps booke accordingly Nihil itaque indâ—gnaduÌ„ vel dolendum si quicunque de diuinis quaerat sential proferatâ— cum non dispâ—tantiâ— authoritas sed disputationis ipsius veritas requiratur atque etiam quo impeâ—itâ—or sermo hoc illustrior ratio est Minutius Falâ—â— Octâ—uâ—o p 44. c Aâ—tera manu ferunt lapidem dum panem ostentant altera Pâ—auti Aulularia Act 1. p 82. d Ier. 8.22 e Cantâ—c 5.7 f Heb. 3.1 1 Cor. 16.20 Ephes 6.23 1 Thes. 5.26 1 Iohn 3.16 g See Gees Catalogue of of Popish bookes that haue beene lately printed and dâ—spersed here in England h Maluerim verâ—â— effendere quam â—lacere adulâ—iâ—do Seneca de Clementia cap. 2. * Temeraria falsa impia dicta refellâ—tote redarguste reprobate Nam Intercipere scripta publicatam velle submergere lectionâ—m non est Deos defendere sed veritatis testificationem timere Arnob Adu Gentesâ— l 3. p 104. p Cuncta prius tentanda sed immedicabiâ—e vulnus ense reseidendum est ne pars syncerae trahatuâ— Oui. Metamop l. 1. q Grex totus in agris vniuâ— scabie caâ—iâ— porrigine porci vâ—aque conspecta liuorem ducit ab vua Iuuen. Satyr 2 r Cum feriunt vnum non vnum fulmiâ—â— tâ—rrent Iunct aque perâ—usso turâ—a â—auerâ— solet Ouid de Pont. l. 3. ele 3 Cant. 2.15 u Alitur vitium cresciâ—que tegendo Virg. Gâ—ag l 3. Multa dum leâ—iter corriguntur sapius maiâ—ra consurgunt Concil Cabilonense 1. c. 19 x Herodotus Euterpe secte 42 43 44. Strabo Geogâ— l. 17. Diodor Sicul Bibl hist l 1 sect 32 Lucan Pharsal l 10 y Purc Pilgr lib 2 c 19 * Quiâ— enim virtuâ—em amplectituripsam pramia sitollâ—s Iuuenal Satyr 10. y Tutius est hos offendere quam demerâ—isse Seneca de Beneficiis l 2. c 24 a Cito indignatur libertas si opprimitâ—r Nemo plus impetrat a libero quam qui seruire non cogit
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
though it were licensed and reprinted is yet suppressed and called in vpon no doctrinall nor iust excâ—ptions inhibited cald in and seized on vnder the bare pretence of not being licâ—nsed but in truth because they did oppose Mr. Mountagues Popery and Arminianisme which the Parliament it selfe tooke notice of displaid both it and all his treachery and falsehood to the woâ—ld and were not all the Printers and Stationers which were the instruments to publish thâ—m vnto the world conuented Ex Officio before the High Commissioners where thâ—y wâ—re glad to buy theire peace at last for their good seruice to our Church and State in printing and divulging all tâ—ese books to the affronting and suppressing of his spreading errors Since these old stirs and garboâ—lâ—s haue not these priuate Deuotions and houres of prayer whose Censure and Suruay I here doe humbly tender to yoâ—r Honours beene licensed in a spâ—ciall manner for the Pressâ— â—uen with an affixed and printed Approbation like that of Dr. Whites to Mr. Mountagues Appeale and since its publication so guarded and supported by Authoâ—ity though fraught with 20 seuerall points of Popery and patched vp of Popish ragges and reliques that neither the complaints and cryes of mâ—n against them nor the voyâ—e and presence of a Parliament could yet moue any of our swaying great and zealous Praelates to suppresse them or passe a doome of condemnation on them who now insteâ—d of Answering and inhibiting them doe not onely dâ—ny to licence but likewise diligently suppresse and intercept all Answers and Râ—plies vnto them as the intercepting Mr Burtons Answer at the Presse and the detaining of the Copie of this my present Censure in the Licensers hands who will neither licence nor deliuer it do abundanâ—ly testifie And is it not then high time for your Honours to engage bestiâ—re and shew your zeale in the cause the quarrel and patronage of our Church and Faith when Popery and Arminianisme are growne now so potent so head-strong so impudent sawcy and audacious as to ouer-top controll affront and beard the very truth and Doctrines of our Church to stop their pleas and bâ—rre their passage to the Presse in a peremptory and presumptuous manner euen whiles the Parliament doores of Iustice stand wide open to heare their pressures and auenge thâ—ir wrongs bidding particular and personall defiance to these two spreading and combinings errors which threaten ruine and surprisâ—ll to them When those Consistories and High-Commission Courts which should be Sanctuaries Shields and chiefe Protectors to them against domesticke vipers which gnaw out their bowels and those from whom they might expect and iustly challenge the greatest fauour aide and best support are now so farre from shielding and assisting them against their Mountebanke Cozeninâ— and domesticke Opposites that they doe euen bend themselues against them in intercepting all supplies which priuate louers would impart vnto them in silencing questioning and clubbing downe such by force who take vp armes in their defence agâ—inst their personall homebred and professed foes Alâ—s whithâ—r should our poore distressed Church or our Religion flee where should they seeke for succour and reliefe in this their forlorne and distressed condition when as they are so forsaken of their owne indeared and ingaged friends that few of them hâ—ue eares to heare or hearts to pitty their pressures and most iust complaints and fewer courage hands or strength enough to ease or quit them of these pressing opressing and suppressing vulters which rent and teare their liuâ—rs and their in most parts To you to you alone right Christian Senators and valiant worthies of the Lord they now addresse their tongue-tide grieuances and silenced complaints to you they flye for present succour and redresse against their aduerse and preuailing powers and now implore your aide your iustice doome and finall sentence euen with silent sobs and mournfull teares because their mouthes are closed and shut vp against those opeÌ„ professed enemies whose woâ—ks and writings haue betraid their cause and those tyrannicall vsurping powers who haue enâ—oyn'd them silence at the Presse and intercâ—pted or reiected all those Counterplees Answers and Rebutters which haue beene tendred or drawne vp by any to vindicate their right and cause against homebred and perfidious Opposites And can â—ou then denie their importunate flâ—xanimous and most iust â—equests which you haue so readily and cheerefully embrâ—câ—d at the first wâ—â—hout Petition Blessed be God your zeale and courâ—ge for Religion are so eminent and intense already that they neede no spuâ—s oâ— mine to quicken or â—xcite them to so necessary and pious a worke Therefore leauing all needlesse exhortations and encouragements to set on these requests I shall briâ—fely glance vpon the best and speediest meanes of disâ—nâ—rating our Church of all her prâ—sent grieuances of rescuing her restrained Doctrines from their Egyptian thraldome of reinuensting them in their former priuiledges and quitting them from all future dammages incrochments and inuasions whatâ—oeuâ—r which meanâ—s I here humbly prostrate and submit to your mature graue and pious wisedomes which haue no such Pole-star to direct them as themselues The meanes which I shall meekely offâ—r and propose to your refined iudgements for this purpose are First to suppresse those Popish Deuotions and Arminian Treatises which haue beene published of late among vs by appprobation and authority and to expiate defecate and puâ—ge out their Romish and Arminian drosse and filth at least by fire that so they stand not as Records against vs to the shame the weakning or betraying of our Cause and Church Secondly to lop off those putred gangrend festred and contagious members who are like to putrifie leauen and infect the whole intire body of our Church and haue already sowne by their pernicious writings the Tares of Popery and Cockels of Arminianisme which sprout vp apâ—ce amidst the Wheate and pure Doctrines of our Church that so their exemplary and open punishmentâ— may deterre all others from â—he like â—udacious scandalous treacherous and pernicious attempts Thirdly to inquire out the roots and great-bulkt trees which nourish and support those limbs and vnder-branches which haue thrust forth these buds of Popery and blossomes of Arminianisme which your flamish zeale and feruency to Religâ—on are like to scorch and blast before they come vnto maturity to discry those superiour spheeres and vppermost wheeles which moue those lower and inferior Orbs which now run out of course to search those Dens and Burrowes out which harbour and protect those little Popish and Arminian Foxes which now spoyle our Vines and offer violence to their tender Grapes and to discouer those higher Springs and poysonous Fountaines which send out those muddy bitter and vnwholsome streames which doe not water but poyson and defile our Church Certainly these budding branches whose Popish and Arminian fruits you now examine receiue their sap their nourishâ—ment and support from some greater Trunkes and deeper Roots which must be felled and
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
all Ages testifie Whence the Fathers in the Primitiue Church who knew that Heresies must bee alwayes crushed in the shell haue beene so iealous ouer springing Heretiques that they haue sifted euery Sentence word and â—yllable of their Writings to the bran and giuen them that interpretation alwaies which was most â—utable and consonant to their Hereticall and pernitious purposes and intents when as thâ—y would haue borne a more faâ—ourable Orthodoxâ— and â—ayrer construction had they beheld them onely with the eyes of Charity and not of Iustice prouidence and discretion too And is not this our Authors practise Doth he noâ— cunningly sow and intermixe his Tares and Drugs of Popery with seeds of Truth and Scriptures doth not he like a Nurse or skilfull Physitian sweeten his Popish Pills and bitter Potions with some sugered and pleasant ingredients and adorne the poysonous and rotten carkas of his Bookâ— with the Saint-like Stile and Title of Deuâ—tion that so his truthes his pietie and glosing Title might draw downe and vent his Romish Errors pylls and poysonous Potions Why then should a-any out of a blinde and â—oolish Charitie extenuate or conceale his treacherous and seducing Practises or quaâ—f off these his poysonous though health-promising Poâ—ions to his owne and others hurt and not diâ—ulge and and lay them open to the view of all men in the amplest manner that so they might auoide and shunne them more Well let other men conâ—iue and wincke at Errors and smooth ouer slight or disregard or else extennute falâ—e or skinne-ouer these Popish passages Doctrines and pernicious practises of our Author whiles they will out of a foolish pitty or delâ—ded Charitie which is the only meanes to spred their poyson and contagion farre and neere and to betray our Church and Truth into our enemies hands without resistance Yet my poore Iudgement and my Conscience tell me that I cannot act a greater or higher part of Loue and Charitie to God to Church to State or to the ouer-credulous and secure soules of men who are apt to swallow all that comes to hand without suspition then to Anatomize and rip vp all those hidden vaines wherein the Romish and soule-slaying poyson of these Deuotions lye and to display them to the World that so men might shunne their venome and Infection for all future times In which I haue gone so euenly betweene the Author and the Trueth that all Circumstances being well considered I hope I haue neither gone to farre in strayning of the Words and meaning of the one nor fell to short but where my ability and leasure could not reach in vindicating the wrong and quarrell of the other which cleares my Innocency and falsifies this Excuse The last excuse which may be made and pleaded for our Author is that which the supposed Printer but in truth the very Author makes That whateuer reproachfull Imputations haue beene cast vpon the Author or his Booke by the maleuolency of some dispositions of the times who make this Booke of his an Apish imitation of Romish Superstition yet he is a faithfull Minister though inferior vnto most a clause which neuer came from any Printers quill who alwayes doe applaud their Authors not depresse them thus and a Member of the Church of England and that he and others who were therewith acquainted before the Printing of the Booke are as ready to ingage their credits and liues in defence of the Faith of the present Church of England by Law established and in opposition of Popery and Romish Superstition as any other therefore the Author and his Worke are guiltlesse To this I answere First that these are but the Printers vaunts and bragges if Titles may bee credited and not the Authors Plea who ought to iustifie and acquit himselfe But admit it be the Avthors proper Plea as in truth it is though the Printer beare the name I answere in the second place that our Author may be to partiall a Iudge in his owne behalfe and therefore he must reâ—erve himselfe to such impartiall Iuges who can iudge more clearely of him then himselfe and that not by hiâ— words alone but by his deedes by which he shall be iudged at the last Wherefore wee must not wholly dote vpon our Authors or the Printers words but sentence or acquit him by his workes Now it is as euident as the Sunne at Noone-tide that these Deuotions of our Author are wholly Popish both in Method Manner Forme and Vse and all concurring circumstances as this Suruay and Censure of them prooues Why then should we ballance or Iudge him by his own or by his Printers smooth and glosing words which are contrary and repugnant to his Workes If Wordes or ample protestations of Sincerity and Loyalty to the Truth and Church might passe for currant Then Heretiques who alwayes giue good words protesting that they are for Christ and for his Church when as yet they war against them vnder these pretences might alwayes scape vnsentenced and vndiscouered and passe for Orthodox zealous and true hearted Christians Hee therefore who professeth himselfe a Christian a Protestant or faithfull member of our Church and would hâ—ue others deeme him so â— must declare himselfe to be such a one not onely by his words but by his fruits and actions which if they contradict his speeches as our Authors doe they are so farre from expiating the guilt that they doe but propalate and discouer the hollownesse and treacherie of his heart and subiect him to the sharper censures It skills not then what Verball protestations our Author or the Printer for him make since these his Howers of Prayer which would vsher Popery into our Church againe with publike approbation vnder the name and Standard of our blessed Elizabeth to baffâ—e and cheate vs of that Orthodox pure and vndoubted Religion which we haue so long and happily enioyed in peace in wealth and all variety of outward blessings and therefore should not now begin to loath and cast it off at last together with his alteration of our Common prayer Booke and putting in of Priests for Ministers his ingrossing of Popish Prayer-Bookes Portuasses and Deuotions for sundry yeeres and his curious and costly binding and stamping of them af-the Popish manner his forwardnesse in suppressing such Parallels and Answers as were written against Master Mountague his bosome freind and brother in euil without any lawfull warrant his causing 280. waxe Tapers to bee lighted in the Cathedrall Church of Durham on Candlemas day last past as I haue heard with the publik bruite and same of most that know him proclaime him an open and professed Papist an industrious Factor and an vndoubted member of the Church of Rome whose good he wholy labours and no true member of our English Church Since therefore our Author hath now nothing left to iustifie or excuse his person or this worke of his which is so derogatory and scandalous to our
continue and preserue the authoritie of the Ancient Lawes and old Godly CANONS of the Church which were made and set foorth for this purpose that men before they set themselues to Pray might know what to say and not Pray what and how and when they list Secondly to let the World vnderstand that they who giue out and accuse vs here in ENGLAND to haue set vp a new Church and a new Faith to haue abandoned all the Ancient formes of Pietie and Deuotion and to haue taken away all the Religious exercises and Prayers of our Forefathers and to haue despised all the old Ceremonies of Christs Catholique Church by which the Obiecters and our Author onely meane the Church of Rome which the Iesuites and Papists stile and tearme the Ancient and Catholique Church of Christ doe but betray their owne infirmitie and will not vnderstand vs what wee are Thirdly that they who are this way already Religiously giuen I pray marke the Emphasis of the words and whom earnest leâ—s and impediments doe often hinder from being partakers of the Publique might haue here a dayly and deuout order of priuate Prayer wherein to exercise themselues and to spend some Howers of the day at least as the old godly Christians were wont to doe in Gods holy Worship and Seruice c Lastly that those who perhaps are coldly this way yet affected that is such as are not yet affected towards Poperie might by others example bee stirred vp to the like Heauenly duetie of performing their dayly and Christian to wit their Popish Deuotions By all which reasons and passages to which I might haue added his discourse of the Ancient and accustomed times of Prayer in generall tending to the selfe-same purpose our Author doeth expressely testifie that the end of publishing these Deuotions was but to Introduce and Vsher the old Religious Ceremonies Canons Lawes Sacraments Prayers Canonicall Howers and Deuotions of our Superstitious and Popish Fore-fathers and the Church of Rome into our Church and to aduance the Catholique cause and Roman Faith among vs to whose obedience he labours now as other Cassandrian Moderators haue of late to reduce and reconcile vs once againe Since therefore you finde him guiltie of this Conclusion by his owne Confession I will not trouble you with further proofe I come nowe vnto my third Conclusion That the Author endeauours to make Queene Elizabeth of euer blessed memory the Patronesse of this his Poperie and to harbour it vnder her Protection This is most cleare and euident First from the Title Secondly from the Preface of the Booke For the first of these our Author entitles this Booke of his A collection of Priuate Deuotions in the Practise of the Ancient Church called the Howers of Prayer as they were after this manner published by Authoritie of Queene Elizabeth 1560. saith the first and second but as they were much after this manner published by Authority of Queene Elizabeth 1560. saith the third Impression taken out of holy Scriptures the Ancient Fathers and the Diuine Seruice of our owne Church In which hee affirmes these two things First that these priuate Deuotions and Howers of Prayer are no new Deuotions of his owne composing but onely a reuiuall or new Impression of those priuate Prayers and Deuotions as were formerly published by Queene Elizabeth in the yeare 1560. and so did most men take them to bee at first till they had better sifted and examined them Secondly that the mater of these Deuotions were published by the approbation of Queene Elizabeth or at leastwise warranted by her Authority therefore there can bee no Popery or poysonous Doctrines couched in them and all that loue the name and memory of that blessed Queene should buy and approue them A glorious and bewitching Title or Prologue I confesse but yet a dangerous and insnaring Booke Of which I may truely say Tituli habent remedia pyxides venena the Title is wholesome but the Booke it selfe is poyson Our Author no doubt had learnt this lesson long agoe Nulla aconita bibuntur fictilibus that poyson must alwayes be administred in golden Challices else none will quaffe and drinke it downe and therefore he puts a golden Front and outside euen the sacred Diadem and Authority of that vnparalell'd and renowned Queene whose royall Duggs gaue life and growth to that most Orthodoxe Ancient Holy Sincere Religion which hitherto we haue and I hope we alwayes shall enioy in despite of all Domesticke Romish Vipers who harbour in our bowells and labour for to gnaw them out in an imperceptible smooth and friendly manner that so these poysonous Pills and Romish druggs which are inuolued in the Booke it selfe might bee more greedily confidently and securely swallowed downe But yet all this vntempered dawbing hath not so skind nor cloacked the Boyles and dangerous Vlcers of these Romanized Deuotions but that some searching and iealous Chyrurgions who giue no credit to glorious Titles haue at length discouered their dangerous and infectious plague-soares which are onely vizarded and palliated not clothed nor warmed with the sacred Robes of that Royall Queene whose authorized Prayers haue no affinitie with these Spurious and Bastard Deuotions as the Premises doe and the subsequent conclusion shall at large declare The second passage which would pinn these Popish Deuotions on Queene Elizabeths sleeue is this which followes in the Praeface A part of which Ancient pietie are these dayly Deuotions and Prayers that hereafter follow Prayers which after the same manner and diuision of Howers as here they are hauing heretofore beene published among vs by high and sacred Authoritie for which he quotes in the Margent the Horary set foorth with the Queenes Authoritie 1560. and reuewed 1573. Imprinted with Priuiledge at London by William Seers are now also renewed and more fully set foorth againe Which passage doeth but backe and second what the Title Page had formerly auerred both of them iumping in this scandalous and vnworthy Act to make the Memory Name and Royall Authoritie of that Neuer-dying and Religious Queene the Sanctuary and Patronesse of all those seeds and heads of Popery which are Scattered Sowen and Diuulged in these dangerous and Romish Deuotions and so to Vsher in Popery vnder her Sacred colours and Protection who was the chiefest instrument to purge and thrust it out Now what an Audacious Impudent Odious Wicked and Treacherous Villany and Plot is this and how worthy of the sharpest and seuerest punishment that Law or Iustice can inflict for an English-man a Protestant at least in shew and reputation yea a Minister and Pastor of our Church who if wee may beleeue the Printer is as ready to ingage his credit and his life in the defence of the stablished Faith of the present Church of England and in opposition of Popery and Romish superstition as any other to make not onely the very Raigne and Life but euen the Sacred