Lord for so the word is in the number of multitudes to speak impartially we see no colour of way to evade this Proposition but by undertaking the defence of the Mass-book for as Mountague and others produced that their Service is the same in most things with the Church of Rome the differences are not great nor should they make any separation then a necessity is laid upon the Prelates and the rest Recusancy p. 1. either to defend the Mass so far to be the true worship of God against the truth and all Orthodox Writers or else to give up the Service-book to fall with the Original and though the Treatise will not give us leave to limne out the Mass in every piece patch'd up by divers Popes having given a specification of some parts of it most concerning our Liturgie yet will it not be amiss to lay down from the learned the first entrance of it into England and then to take off briefly the silly defence that the Papists seem to make for it To the former Augustine the Monk sent from Gregory called the Great for what we know not except for his grand devises of Will-worship his man Austin finding not all things for his tooth in France put over into England and there finding an ignorant King and a superstitious Queen there like the envious man he sows his corrupt seed of all Popish trumpery as Masses Letanies Processions Copes Vestments Altars Candlesticks Holy-Waters Consecrations c. Having like a Serpent deceived the People and as the Apostle saith corrupted their minds 2 Cor. 11.3 from that simplicity that is in Christ sore against the minds of the godly Lib. 1 and learned Preachers of the times yet to make them as Beda witnesseth add this condition which he never ment to keep that no man should be forced or constrained thereunto but having plaid the Wyly Fox in his entry to finish the work he had begun he took on the Lyons skin and being opposed by one Dinoth a great Divine who withstood him to his face in a publick Synode avouching that he ought not to change the ancient form of Religion neither would he acknowledge him for Arch-Bishop but the bloudy Prelate to be revenged on him incensed Etheldred King of Northumberland against him who murdered the Servant and Minister of God and twelve hundred Monks with him afterward about the Year 637. Pope John the fourth sends over Malitus Honortus Justus his Bandogs one after another to hold out and confirm the continuance of this dismal alteration as they might easily do once having got footing for Pompous superstition suits too well with corrupt nature then came in keeping of Easter after the Romish manner Lib. 18. cap. 14. de gest Ang. Ministers called Priests chanting and playing upon Organs with all which godly Beda his soul was grieved who vented his grief in this sad complaint heretofore instead of these things the principal Service of God consisted in Preaching Morney of the Masse Lib. 1.6.8 and Hearing of Gods Word Here we may observe for matter of Humiliation how easily Superstition finds entrance into England and how hardly it is rooted out that former Maledict Monk Banedict as they call him found so little entertainment in France that he made little stay there only stomacking that the Worship was not after the Romish Order he certified his Master by a grievous complaint who being more moderate than the Monk bid him take that which was good in every Church but England found that that would not serve him of whose Mass and Mischief it could never yet be rid It is also worthy your observing how he laid the Foundation of the Mass and established it in blood yea that See of Canterbury in him and his Successors hath been a See of Blood yea it is too well known that that cursed Mass whether Latine or English hath lived in blood and bathed in the blood of bodies souls and states as shall be more particularly manifested hereafter Sect Now for any thing that can be said in defence of this Idol the Masse-book it is not worth the citing and hath been more than abundantly refuted yet one touch for a taste and that upon Prayers because it is the Subject of our discourse we will shew you one place out of the Old Testament and another out of the New such as they make choice of to defend their Masse or Liturgy as they call it the place of the Old Testament is in Genis chap. 4. vers 26. the words are these Then Men began to call upon the Name of the Lord as there be diversity of thoughts upon the meaning of the words so Pertertus a Popish Fryer will have this the meaning that then they found out some set form or order of Prayer to gain footing forsooth to the Popish Liturgy but say it were so what would it make for them The Doctors of Doway are of the same opinion and fuller also in their words It is meant say they of Publick Prayer with observing some Rites and set form in a particular place dedicated to Divine Service Grant that that were the meaning as indeed it is not yet what would this make for them Would the faithful Prayers of the godly Patriarcks consirm or would they not rather confute the abominable Prayers of the Popish Masse The word Invocat in the first Language signifieth also to prophane though not so in this place for it suiteth not with the sense but if this were the sense then the Papists might well take a hint to parallel their unhallowed Masse which is nothing but an high prophanation of the Name of God The other place which I touch upon and which they do egregiously abuse as they do many more is from the New Testament 1 Tim. 2. vers 1. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanks-givings be made for all men out of which words of the Apostle the Rhemists make this deduction that the Prayers and Petitions of the Masse are deduced out of the Apostle his words producing or rather traducing the Fathers making them speak that for the Masse which they never meant the transcription of all the passages would be too tedious but let Master Cartwrights answer suffice First by way of Concession grant the Mass-book to have in it the same prayers that the Apostle commands will it therefore follow saith he that their prayers is the true service of God no more than the using or rather abusing of the words of Institution This is my body makes for the Justifying of Transubstantiation Inchanters and Charmers use many holy words in their Charms as they do with a piece of the first Chap. of S. Johns Gospel but it agravateth their sin This plea from good words is or hath been too frequent in the mouths of some Professors whom we desire to satisfie with this answer Again if their whole Liturgy or Service be here as they say where are
things for and about their Church their Service and Ceremonies every Bishop in his Diocesse doth take upon him to give a sense and an interpretation as he pleaseth on which we must rest though it be never so absurd and not take the words as they be in the letter till there be another Convocation to decide the question and doubt arising as they ought to do And if men be not satisfied they labour to gain the help of Royal authority by some publique declaration to make good what they say and do and so lap up all under the authority of the Church Quaere Whether such a Convocation can justly be approved Whether such Canons coming forth are to be held the Canons of the Church of England Whether they be of all to be submitted unto before they be confirmed by Act of Parliament Why more Canons are added and not rather the other reformed Why they establish and countenance all their decrees so as if they were of an unchangeable nature ordained without errour and necessarily usefull ever and every where The humble Petition That his Majesty the noble Lords the worthy Commons of the house of Parliament would carefully see that the Convocation be gathered lawfully that voices be free therein without an over-awing power that nothing be there decreed but with a serioâ—s examination and full consent of the House and not be permitted to passe without an Act of Parliament for if this kind of Convocation and their such proceeding as have been be suffered to passe they will Lord it over us still and so the people of God then will never be in peace Oh consider how in the Parliament they have been prevalent over their equals and betters in the Convocation then they must needs domineer over all heir underlings on whom they can avenge themselves afterwards if they find any wisely and with courage to have affronted and cressed any of their intents and purposes SECT X. Of the great and manifold evils of these Prelatical Governours THey bear up themselves mightily by their Revenues and Baronries strengthning themselves in their pomp and in their pride to overtop whom they list They become as great Peers of the Land and sit in Parliament with them cheek by jole to affront all the Nobles of the Kingdom to bear down the House of Commons and perhaps to procure the dissolving of Parliaments to the great disturbance of the whole Kingdom and State They have raised up a bellum Episcopale to dash two Kingdoms one against another to the shedding of much bloud if God in mercy prevent it not They keep up a Romish Hierarchy among us full of corruption which they suffer not to be reformed They uphold the fore-named sinful Prelatical and Priestly Clergy so as those their Priests be conformable to all their Rites and Ceremonies they may in a manner live as they list and be supported against all those that shall attempt their reformation They are pleased with the peoples ignorance and their contentednesse resting in a long read Service without better instruction holding reading to be preaching and preaching no part of divine Service that so such silly people might be misled in grosse blindnesse perishing for lack of knowledge They suppresse Lectures and also Sermons in the afternoon and allow no questions in catechising but onely such as be in the very common Catechism much hindering increase of knowledge They will permit no Minister to preach nor to expound in his own Parish without paying for a License for which when he hath paid they never care whether he preach or no. They will allow none of the people to seek for instruction when they want it at home nor yet presse the Minister to the discharge of his duty but trouble others They never trouble any Minister for neglect of his duty in preaching But diligent preachers they have a jealous eye over and are ready to take an occasion to vex them as not for their turn They sinfully trouble thousands of Church-wardens and Side men making them swear to their Articles which cannot be observed They hinder prohibitions stop the courses of Law and terrifie both Lawyers and Judges They dare to fine and imprison without Law going beyond as Spiritual power yea and the Laws of our Land They have ever been plotting to ensnare Christs painful Ministers that they might root them out I. They have pressed upon them Subscription and Ceremonies and so cast out very many II. They have urged the oath ex officio and by this they have undone not a few III. They procured the reading of the declaration for prophaning the Lords day and hereby many were suspended excommunicated and some deprived IV When they saw that all these things would not bring to pass their intended mischief they lately framed a wicked oath to be tendred to all Gods Ministers which whosoever would not take should be suspended first after deprived Lastly to make up the measure of their evils they have illegally given a Subsidy to be extorted from under the name of a benevolence which who so shall refuse to pay is utterly undone according to their mercilesse decree in a Book published which now they are loath should see the light and be read of any judicious and religious Lay-men They are the cause of the division and separation among us by their Lordly rule by their rigorous exacting conformity and by their cruel dealing with such as do not obey their Lordly wills They suffer Papists and nourish Arminians in the bosom of their Church to the disturbance and danger of the true Church of Christ and this whole State They allow to vain people Revels heathenish vanities unchristian meetings and that on the Lords day to prophane it and have procured a Declaration for the reading of this licencious liberty in every Church in time of Divine service and such Ministers as refused they did suspend excommunicate and some they deprived the like never heard of in any Church of Christ They will have bowing to Altars and yet permit notorious offenders yea Theeves and Murt herers condemned if they have gotten pardons to come to the holy Sacrament before satisfaction be given to the congregation yea drunkards blasphemous Swearers infamous Adulterers and other vile persons may receive and not be debarred if they can satisfie their Courts and free themselves from thence though they do not manifest their repentance to the Congregation eating and drinking the holy Sacrament unworthily to their own damnation a prophaneness much to be lamented They hunt after Greatness and not for goodness but for gain and do withstand all good meanes of reformation and all the waies of redressing their corrupt courses much to the hindrance of the growth in Religion and walking with God Quaere Whether these evils are not such as may force all pious men to lay them to heart and to seek that they may be removed as farr as they are able to the utmost that we may be freed from
and an addition added to Psa 24. corrupting the text and applying that to Jacob which is spoken of God and divers additions more which we will not reckon Now a taste of Omissions or leavings out Sect. as all the titles of the Psalms being as other holy scripture given by Holy Inspiration and very useful yea and Mr. In his Preface to the Psalmes Bucer learnedly and divinely affirmeth are as so many keys to unlock and open the door that letteth into the understanding of the Psalms Hallelujah is left out of the 72 Psalm the Book omitteth Praise ye the Lord seventeen times and putteth in Gloria Patri Lastly amongst divers other Omissions on which we cannot insist the comfortable Conclusion of the Lords Prayer is left out They have drowned in this Book 160 Chapters according to their own account of Canonical scripture amongst which are whole books as the Chronicles Canticles and the most part of the Apocalyps is left out in place whereof the Apocrypha is placed and that as they say tending more to Edifying yea and some Chapters also wherein are palpable untruths as Ecclesiasticus 49. Judith 9. Tobit 5. the last two of these Books being Fabulous A President of these foul Abuses of scripture are found no where in the world but in the Popish Mass-book To this we may subjoyn that Prophaning grosse abuse of Epistles und Gospels in which there are three strange and remarkable Occurrences for which there is no Ground or Reason but from the Masse-book and Masse-mongers First what reason is there that in the Masse-Book and in our Liturgie the Acts of the Apostles and Prophets yea any book of the old Testament the books of Genesis excepted by them should be called Epistles as Acts 7. on Stephens day Rev. 14. on Innocents day Joel 1. Esay 50. Secondly Sect. there is never a full passage or whole place but scraps and shreads as the beginning of one Chapter and ending of another and in this they deal with the Word as Mezentius dealt with his beds he cut them and lengthened them to serve his own cruel humours and not for the good of his guests If Kings will not have their Writs by confusion of names wronged much less the King of Kings who is the God of Order Thirdly and lastly Sect. at the Epistles there is silence sitting and what every one will but at the Gospels there is standing scraping Ruper l. 4. fol. 49 bowing and a response before and after as every one of these were to serve some piece of Superstition or other so the reasons given by Papists are as ridiculous as the things are Superstitious it is enough to name them in general that the maintainers of the Liturgy may be ashamed to alledge them and better of their own they have not We therefore desire your Honours to cast a regardful eye upon the wronged and much abused Word Ier. 1.12 and not as passers by as Jeremy speaks in a case much like but as supream judges here on earth to vindicate Gods dishonour done to him in his Ordinances Chrysost 2 Thes 2 Gods Word as the Fathers speak in his Epistle not in that sense they call Prophesies Epistle wherein he commends many lovely favours to us yea his Testament wherein he leaves and bequeaths many rich legacies to us If Kings Monarchs should deal so with us would we suffer them to be abused corrupted altered cut in pieces No we would count them our deadly enemies that should do so also traytors to the King What an eye of indignation then should your Honours cast upon such grosse abusing of the Word of the Epistle and Will of the Omniscient and Omnipotent God If clipping corrupting or counterfeit coyning be Treason by the Law how much more and in a higher degree is it to deal thus wiih the Word Yea and more than that to maintain this and cause Ministers to subscribe to it being no less than Treason against the high and mighty God Culpam deprehensam pertinaciter tueri culpa altera est Pertinaciously to maintain a fault openly discovered is a greater fault than the former on whom whether Nation or Person will the Lord rest upon saith the Lord by the Prophet Esay but upon him that trembleth at my word that is a humble soul not onely moved to obedience to it in it self but further out of that reverence that it beareth to the Word it will not as much as in it lyeth suffer the word to be abused by others as one speaks of the Papists that corrupting the Fathers they rather make them their sons to speak what they will have them then Fathers indeed Just so doth that book and the Champions for it Discovery of corrupt translations make the word thus dealt with none of Gods but their own If a Minister adde or take away from the Service-book it is made matter of inditement but they it seems may adde take away alter and corrupt what they will without controlement Preface this course gives a shrewd randcounter to our learned and Orthodox Writers against the Papists witnes Doctor Fulk his Answer to Campian discovering the evils of the Apocripha Gregory Martin recoils thus upon the learned worthy that by those words he condemned their own Service-book which appointed those Books to be read Having thus proceeded against the Servick-book Sect. for its false translations additions omissions misnominations we come now to some more particular untrurhs in the Book and that partly by false or misapplication of Scripture partly by coyning things that have no shew or ground for them partly by establishing some Popish expositions Lastly by confirming and pressing upon Ministers and people a heap of Popish and Idolatrous Ceremonies a touch of every one will suffice For the first Sect. be pleased to look upon that egregiously abused place or Christ abused and dishonoured by their dealings with the place namely Rev. 12.7 Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon c. which words the Book appoints for the Collect for Michaels day where they make Christ by misapplying the place a created Angel for the place is meant of Christ neither can it agree to any other for which we have a cloud of witnesses not only from the universal concourse of the learned and Orthodox Writers as Fathers and modern Authors as Austin Ambrose Musculus Calvin Beza Doctor Fulk Doctor Willet and many others but also from the very name Michael proper only to Christ who vers 10. is called Christ And further from the scope of the place to set out Christ and his Angels encountering Satan and his Angels And lastly other places of Scripture parralleling the truth of this sense Dan. 10.13 12.1 1 Thes 4.16 Judg. 9. Angels here under their General Christ are said to be on Earth in the Church Militant for that is meant by Heaven and here they are said to die which suteth not with Heavenly Spirits the Rhemists indeed hold
may be a terrour to all men in place that they do not the work of the Lord by halves and quarters Num. 14.24 but that with Caleb they follow the Lord to the full The Lord hath said his Command upon you to put away the Excommunicate thing and to cleanse his house of Idols and Idolothites and blessed be that God whom you serve ye have begun by your Edict though men of disobedience hinder the work but follow home the work we intreat you and remember those Achans but above all put away that Ashtaroth the Service-book for that we may well call Fundi nostri calamitas the very Caterpiller of Gods Husbandry To shut up this Motive from the point of danger be pleased to take notice how God bears in upon Moses that great Commission to Pharaoh to let his people go Exod. 4. and that both by words and signes namely by turning his Rod into a Serpent his hand made leprous and the waters turned into bloud which were not onely to confirm him in his message against the fear of his adversaries but more particularly to teach him that if he withdrew himself in part or in whole from the work the Plague of Leprofie of Blood and Biting with Serpents should be upon him yea God put Moses upon a present trial of Obedience and Faith by causing him to take the Serpent by the tayl notwithstanding of the danger to be bitten by it we speak to the wise who can apply it better than we CHAP. X. Of the Covenant THe third Motive for removal of the Book may be taken from the Protestation dated May 5. 1641. Confirmed sent abroad and solemnly sworn unto yea and bound up with a publick Covenant on the publick day of Tâ—anksgiving by Ministers and People so that it is an inviolable Covenant stricken between God and us like unto that in Nehemiah which is there called a surâ— Coverant Neh 9.38 Coverant a written Covenant to which our Princes Ministers and People seal unto from which we cannot depart except we will incur that fearful Judgement threatned against Covenant breakers Emblemed out un ous in Scripture Psal 15.4 by dividing of the Sacrifices and causing the parties to go betwixt them Gen. 15.17 admonishing that God will so divide them in his wrath if they forsake the Covenant The subject of the Covenant consisteth of three parts In the first we are sworn and tied to maintain all the Rights of Religion Jer. 34 18 King and State In the second to oppose all Persons and things that do oppose the three former mentioned and more specifically to oppose with all our life and power all Popery and Popish Innoâ—ations which Expressions are thrice mentioned once in the Protestation or Oath and twice in the Explanation The third and last piece of the subject iâ— the Peace of the three Kingdomes England Scot aâ—d and Ireland which we by Oath are also bound to maintain Hâ—nce two Arguments will offer themseives one more directly and the other by way of conseâ—uence For the former Sect. if all Popery and Popish Innovations are to be opposed then it will follow that the Service book and Ceremonies should be opposed and by consequence by your Authority abolished Verba Statuti sunt amplianda non râ—stringenda the words of Acts and Statutes for good and against evil are to be taken in the largest extent but the words themselves are universal enough Now that the Service-book and Ceremonies therein contained and pressed upon mens Consciences are Popery we and many others have cleared yea they are Popish Innovations Nam omnia quae a Chriâ—o non sunt nova sunt all things that are not from our King Christ in his worship are meer Innovations Cant Prax. as Tertullian was wont to call Praxeas hesternum Praxeam a yesterdaies upstart so one and all of them are Exotick upstart things It is true indeed by the malignity of the Masters of those Ceremonies the bulk was increased and would have been like Crocodiles who grow so long as they have a being if you had not come in place of the Tâ—tyrites a creature terrible to the Crocodiles which leapeth upon their backs and brings them to the shore but otherwise for the kind they are all non ejusdem farinae sed furfuris the same kind of Bran and as the woman said of the Foxes Plin. lib. 8. c 25. If one be good all are good For the further confirmation that they are Popish we have proof from that Treatise of Ceremonies annexed to the Service-book Bible in the Duâ—â— letter Anno. 1561 in some antient Copies we have read that they thought good to retain some Popish Ceremonies but in another Copy they call them the old Ceremonies retained stil all one in effect The latter Argument from the Protestation Sect. by way of sequel is from our muâ—ual Covenant and Oath joyntly and severally to maintain the peace of the three Kingdoms which is impossible to be done in the opinion of our Brethren the Scots without Identity of Discipline and Worship witness the very words of the Arguments by the Scotish Commissioners given to the Lords of the Treaty perswading conformity in these to be the chief meanes of peace We will transcribe some passages for all we cannot leaving the thing it self to your Honours review It is said they tâ— be wished that there were one Consession of Faith one form of Catechisme one Directory for all the parts of Gods publick Worship as Prayer Preaching Administration of Sacrameâ—ts c. Page 2. The Arguments that they use are first from the Conjunction of spirit and presence both of great and small of Assemblies in the Courts and other where where there is oneness of worship but by the contrary there is division where the worship is diverse Secondly Vnity of worship will extinguish those Nick-names as Puritanes and Scismaticks put upon Professors Thirdly This will make the Ministers of both Nations with face to face labour strenuously and chearfully to build up the body of Christ Fourthly and lastly Pages 3 4. This will break the back of the Recusants hope of bringing Rome into England all which works strongly for peace the sense whereof we cite though not the very words But if this unity of Worship be not say the Commissioners there is no unity in Policy or Church to be looked for for as all the former combustions and stormy tempeâ—â—s formerly arose from that Popish Service-book born it upon them whereby all the three States were much indangered so they professe in plain terms that their Reformation so dearly bought Page 8. shall again be spoiled and defaced from England and whatsoever peace shall be agreed upon they do not conceive how without Reformation it shall ever be firm and durable for that Service Government and Officers being none of Christs but the main evil and the cause of all evil in the three Nations That Maxime