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APPEAL

To the

PARLIAMENT

O R

SionsT>letu again/i the<rPrciacit^.

The furamc whereoff is delivered in a DECADE of POSITIONS.

Jn the handling Tvhcwoff y the Lord Hifoops , and their appurtenances are manifcfi lie proved , both by di- vine and humane Larves^to be intruders vpon the Pri ledges of Chnfl>of the King, and of the Commonweal : Kyind therefore vpon good evidence given , Jlte hartelie dejireth a ludgement and execution.

Lament. 1. 12.

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pafie by -x behouldandrec,6cc.

LVC. 19. 27. Tfofe mine enemies, y^hich Vrou.'d not that I fiould raignt^ $z,er them,hring hetker7andjly thtm before wc;

On*tn. in IfiU. id Rom. r ludicandoi fe poiius^uata j u Jicacuros ItfllHIII.

Ztntc.mJl^H.Ali.S' Ul

Nec abnuendnm 5 Ji det imperium Deus. Printed the year & monetJi wherein fecfotlvns k

Ncutrt cedet*

Omnibus int enfant " per vis txtinguere verbi LamfAditfoccurrat mptd vejlra manus :

Prevailing Prelats drive to -quench- onr Light, Except your facred power quafh their might*

Angutt in jOuttieshominibHs pratfe dt{ider$l

pf.jromc Totics Deo mte prrircj emends

Dam licit jwuft fu]&rAk4 ^ 'Wl

Sfttu udt*

Sic fprtta Utinpttnt bf/wj, cenbri7

Vt ftabilts fn^iavi ma Deti

The tottering Prclats, with their frumpryalJ, Shall moulder downc, like Eider from the wall.

Si id diving tradmcnis ap*r , V.t enqtnem r(iCrf<wur^tfAt Qmms error hum Anus %

ro

<fe>^^>

T O

7^ right Honourable & high Qown f

PARLIAMENT.

Right Honorable and High Senators

( ZJcb hath beene the care &i:d I Jlrie of that Panacxan or tu (^ourt of Parliament-* , th.n to give inftrutlicns to it Voeve to teach ah haglc ■'* to flyc,or a Dolphin ro fwimmc yerfch ■*»« bath beene the gracious difpofit'wn of the golden head, tj loving affeftion of that Blvci body repre/entative, that they have bent their eares to the grievances of the lolvejl members y efpecially if they "Xoere gru-Ved 7»itb the grievances either of( hurch cr comrnorffre alt •/•> That greate State fman l^lato VpouU have a St eheareful/y and lovingly to inter taine the motitn of the nteancftJubietffoY the good oj the commonTtcai' Tbife general! of a fedd dejpijetb not the advice rj tie meanefl fouldter in matters of greate fl Waigbt, Grecians u fed to lay their e dejptrately i ) the

AN EPISTLE TO THE HIGH

highway fide, that everie pajfenger might deliver what he kn:W or heard to be good for fuch a difeafe >finn* & judgment {the difafrs ofourfate^are not hid hut open to the eye of everie pajfenger. *As the greate Phyfitian faid of nature diflemperedy^M it is all but one ficknes : Jo our diffi'amtdj i$ dijiempered fate y from head to joote is all but one fore. Jn this cafe /be compUincth as though there Were none tofuccour her. Is it nothing 10 all you that paffe by} Behold & fee my forrowes,&c. Not to mourne "Kith and for our mother Were unna- turally all that Wee can doe is to mourne for ber(yea Would to God We could doe that as Weefbould , our fate-medicines aremeerely empyricall- but your Ho* nours being the methodical! phyficians of out fate can make a right ufr oft hem. Wee reade that marvailoui cures have beene done by 6 mpyricall medicines > ejpe- cully in dejperate cures. To your Honours Weeprefent one ,not of our oWne invention , but of an ancient and fiver aigne Probatum eft: fuchaone as never yet fay led (as Wee conceive) it Wanteth nothing, but giving out of the phyfitians hand. That golden apothegme of out gracious Soveraigne, that all is in aftion, is the ntery be si theame for your meditation and ground , and mo- tive for your heroicke accomptifhments. The Laconic^? vTxvft'Mv brevitie of Kings /peechesyas Homer faid of \5Wenelaut* *^*f**- is njery acute and full of matter > and fo they Would \ V" have themfelves underjlood. ForaWordis enough front •

COVRT OF PARLIAMENT.

f be Wife and to the Wife: As Cod bath fetyou fortb(rigbt H onourable) for this greate Worke of re format ion ;Jo your choyce and place requiretbyou to bee nqco of adtiviric, as the Spirit ffeaketb, that is inwardly and outwardly comple ate With prudence , froWcJJe , Valour and di- Iwn.e.Gen^-jA. Exod.16 21. ifTharaob Would have p'cb beardfrnen-, What neede fUnJktkmr Abirne- lecb of fucb fhcepbearc.es fr the JJxcpz of bis people, ftj fitch JbjapbeardyoumiJ} bee indeede. Tourionours kpoWe that confutation , yea or bumdiation can doe no good Without reall ( and in fome things eradicating reformation) fofhua didwelltopray, but lee n.uji n p (£? doe. When ^Mofes (efr *Aarw are prayinge ,fo- fhuamufibefmitingeof Amalecke. Wo at danger the flate is in byfinne Within us judgment njpon njs, and over njSyCvillmen amonge <vs > and the Wrath of God again/lnas, is better knoWne to your honours then Wee can exprefje. Butr Wee may be bold to fay of religion, f£ flate, as Dauidfaid of bin fife , there is but aftep betWetne them fj death. Intbisacpnie of death With l h fares {yoroanes Wee cry to you right Honourable M^ c us,or wccpcnlh. Let not the tall future of the tAmhms; nor the combination of the i domuesjior the coutflls of <Abitopbells;nor tbeproudc lookes ftj I Wordes of Ama^iubs dcterre you,cr deteyne you. Let not the overtopping growth of the fnnes oj Zerviah Eio feme too hard for you. rBut let every md* ffti tA 1

AN EPISTLE TO THE HIGH

f?Pord ofjufiice -vppor. bis thiph , and doe execution accordino to defen Feare nor, have not 1 commanded >'°11 (faith our Kiri'j) Be cotcragious tybe valiant, yea the God oflfrael hath bidyou doe it. M ake Way then for religion andrwbteoufies , by removal! of all run - godly mes andunrighteopfnes^and Cod frill be With you, Wee neede not tell you of the Komane Tatriots,or the ^itheman Kings ; who Were WiUinge to dye that the Gen 41.14 glorie of their nation might live, lacob Wi!^ fend his be- loved fonne to Sgipt in cafe ofneceffttie , and if hce be robbed,ler him be robbed. So Hefier Will interpoje her felfe for her Countrey , andiflheperifhfhcperi-

nendus &? ftlcth : <As ^at man (fa'0 ^)e Oratour) is Worthy all

Tui. contempt that Would rather fave himfelf then the Jhip

ad Hcrcn. wherein hee is^aud all that are with htm So hee is an

unfrorthyman that pre ferreth his oWne particular fafe-

tie to the faveinoe of the common Weale : But there is

no fuch danger : Let the righteous be as bold as Lyons

Prov 28 1 and lne w^c^c<^ wi^ %c when none periiieth them.

Fenny -Bitters in their bolloWe canes make a terrible

noyfe to the amazement uftbofe that are not acquainted

With their Jpir its ;but they dare not looke <v dour in the

face;nor holdnjp their he ad in theaffembly of thejufie

Vice is ever a coWard where yertue is in place : Only

this Wee intre ate your honours t that you Would not be

Hofi;.i;. ltlze€phraim,of 'whom the Lord complayneth && of an

*vn-

COVRT OF PARLIAMENT. nanWife fonne; bccaufc hee ftaied too long in the place of the birth • that is , bee ^u too long in refofoi Without re all performance. Bee yon eyes, fares , a$d bands to our SoV?rargne,as yourpUce authors to, & bee by you/hall ' (cattterthc Vptik$d>&bri'tg the Vrbeelt over tbtm-,: 1 be fire of God* W rath is alreadu brokf in njponus , and if the fuel/ offline , and eff?ecully our domineering national! finne be not removed ; the Wrath ofCcdwili never ccaffe till it bath confimed Hi from beir.g a nation to himfelfe . Jhoidd not every one (unlejfe Lee be aviper) bring fame Water to que this fiie : heboid right Honourable Wee bring one Buc- ket full taken out of the CbrtfidtBne pa and fiver ftreames of divine and humane LaWes (as Wee con- ceive)a medicinahle and quenching Water. Water unap - *&?« plyed cannot quench the fyreiScmeWaters incre.fi the fire <u cyly fulpburioiu & 'pitchie Waters. An unpropor [U:\Q^ ' tionable mixture maketh the fiie the fiercer. Lafl!ic, it is no timt-s tofiino Water wben all is confimed to ajhes. Wee mtre ate leave therefore (right Honour.? to importune you aoaine and again-: to fly the fun Wa ters from the higher places ; bar and abandon alltbe pitchie Waters of the ^abdomjb Lake , whuh jgnis fomentum , the very life and fpiril <»t ' iju- tire. • There be nuny artificial! iiuflingcrs, who/e fii Aa/*

tA 3 ["rlt

AN EPISTLE-TO THE HIGH Ardent in the Water 's,confumingefi>ipps, bridges ,and aff "vpon the Waters. Take beede of tbefe-yand fling Water enough : and let not that proverbe of delay be verified in your &0»<wrj,aquaminfiindcre incineres; to cafi Water njppon the afhes. Wee intre ate your Honour s> to reprefent to your [elves by imagination 3 that fire Were kindled at home in your bowfes, you lookmge on {which fire could not but confume ft ate, Wives and children, if it Were not quenched }and that be time) how Would you bejiirre you ? hoW much more Jhould you batten to five Syonfrom being confimed: Tor Zionsfikc Wee cannot bold our peace , Wee cannot but complaine <u the chil- dren^ doe to their Tarents. Tbaraohes fervants are Very homely With their Kinge, to fett Gods people free* Eiod.j© 7 When they Were all like toperifk. KnoWeftthou not yet that ggipt is deftroyed ? how much more may Wee your Honours ferv antes complaine to you of our defy er ate condition ^better knoWne then thougbtr on. Hence alfoe your Honours may bepleafed toobfeive hoW faithfull and plaine you fbouldbe With bisroyall Majeftie both in the difcoverie , end the remcd:e of the eminent and imminent deftruftion. What mxy be found amijje in this poor e fame ^either for manner or matter ^Wee hum- bly i rave pardon^ ; as for jreedome cfjpeech^wherein Wee Would nor Wronger any) Wee hope your Honours Will impute it to theprefent danger: Forwho Wili?wr cry {if bee can doe no more ) When his mother is like tc be numbered before his eyes ?

eAnd ilooktd^and ' there Vms none to he/p^and IVoondred that there ^as none to vphold. Efa.63 . 1 .

But thofe mine enemies , ^hich^could not I ftouldraigne over them , bring them hither > and Jlay them before me. Luc.19^27.

Ynum vos pofcimus omncs.

The ijiU to the Reader.

EllaffeccioncdRea

If ever fonndncflc of mindc and Bh< cere uprlght&elTe of heart were robe manifcflcd for the Lord;now is the time eif ccially,bfftaufe rhis is ihc adulterous^ wfull generation^ that the Spirit fpeaketh off; whici ometo fuchahightof impiety, iniquity , and- pro- >hancfle, thatbyfinnc nfhreth heaven in the face, k: dalheth Gods people out of countenance^ that they nay be aihamed of the Gofpcll : we doc not readcof ;reatec pcrfecution, higher indignitie and indemniric lone uppn Gods peoplejin any nation p refilling ihc ;ofpcll,than in this our Ilandicfpecially lince the death >f QueeneKIizabcfh) uirneile, the iikneing, fining, ^communicating , and calling our of the Mmftciic; ca the pining of iome pf them , and fundry goo J. >cople to death, whole blood we mull know ciyerh ■ct for. revenge* for frc&om in tkt fight <; \ leath cf his &&»&$ : yea in fo me mcalurc wc: cacfy payed for it • for how much Bri in-blood hath he Lord lould for no price , within ti<: ad what for all our paincs>mcancnJand It I mjhcftdiQumouiiha! could be thoi A

The ffifile to the Reader.

knowesyet whatadeepo/rt/^w4,or field of bleod, our Land may be5 if that blood be not expiated } but who is the main Impulfive caufe of thefe evills of finne,and judgement? Even ikofe men of bloods , the Prelacie,as we have proved, whofedig'nitie fas the late King hath it in the preface of his Bafilicon ) fmelleth vildlie of Pcpelike pride $ yea they are a main part of him j Lone of his hone , and Jit ft of his fletyu Againft this Hierarchie we do not commence , but renew our fuite,forthe recovery of the KCyes tfcbriH , and the Tt)le of h\$JJ?o$ife: In the profecution whereoff'We intreat the help of all that love the Lord : jRrjl agree with God, by reforming at home 5 and then looke upon them,as they are clearly convinced , to be enemies to God,and the States and fo katetbern^hh aperftel hatred^ be not ajhamedof Chnsi t and bis Word $ that is , of ftanding for the Priviledges of his King- dome,no,not among an adulter tth & ftnftill gertrati&n^ that is, when Chrifts entmies are in their tuff, left Chrift be afhamtd of you. As for their fwelling pride,feare it nor. There are more ^ith vs, then againft vs.: yea it isenougfr, that xhtLordcf tiottes is againft them. .

We may fay truely of them,as an ancient faid of the Prelates of his time : Ommbis terrors, amantur a mdlo: they are a terror to all,and loved by none, ex- cept by fuch as Hand too nigh them in a contiguitic of profitt5Poperie,Oi Prophanesi thefe indeed cannot fee; becaufc they will not fee.

v

As

The fyiftle to the Retder.

As for their traditions, whereby they fupport them- fdves,they are branches of the fame root, condemned by the Word, Councils, Fathers ; by all ancient, and modern, Orthodox writers : yea, and by thetofitions of the Papifts. But it is enough, (as D. Whittaker ob- ierveth; : quedaChriiio damn Amur : that they are con- C'^ demned by Chrift. The matter is of no lefie weight then ihc Kir gdomt of cbrift ; in the fupprcfling , or advancing whereofT,(fandc:h theruinc, or revising of ourKingdomcs : and therefore we commend it to your la lous consideration : wc have endevoiired to clear Chrillstiile , .ind ihc uueth of the Potitions from the Word efpccialiic3 as for other testimonies, let' rhem have their owne weight : by that />?//> e_>> Vccrd , as the Pfalmilr fpcakeih , and for it, we doc contend , PC 19. 8. 'For it hath in it felf *'?<*$* tetchy Lie. 1.4. That infallible certaintic , w...ch is S-tSiTHwros ki aur07HfG$ , by divine infpiration, and onely of itfclf to be bclccvcd : Though in regard of our danger wc have ufed freedomcof fpecch , wc neither hate their perfons , nor envic their pomp, but wc wifh their conversion, and fate tic of the State.

If in rtead of entcrtaynrtnent, or of a legall tryall, they turnc againc 3 to tcarc this treatife , and trouble the mainrayners of ir , let rhem take heed, for by this tructh hecr maintayncd , they (lull one day be judged : if they fhould aifo go about , to incenfe the Kings Majeftie wiih a prcjudicatc ion of this iuftc APPEAL , wc hope ic

fa

The tpiftleto the Reader.

(hall plead for it fclf four infirmities excufed.J That ia uprightneffc of confcience we could not doe him better fcrvice : yea we are confident , if all that love the Lord fefpeciallie men of placed will do their part, we (hall have our Ki»g,as an Ange/l of God in this pxr- ticulanthough Rome muft fall by the fword, yet the word muft both inftruft Princes,that Babe/'cz no other wife be healed,&alfo inarm them for her mine. We thought the volume (hould have been farre leffer then it is, and therefore we made no chapters,nor Indcx,buc confideringthefubjed, it required both longer timc5 and a greater volume $ An other edition may come forth iabetter order. Cenfure not a part,beforeye have perufed the whole , becaufe divcrfe parts of the the fame matter, have their divcrfe places in feverall Tcfitions. Part not with a good title, though it be in- cumbered. Labour hard, by prayer,and pra&ife, that God may have his honourjthc King his right; and the Enemies of both their defert ; and the Lord W/// cfocell Among vs. It is not our intent in this trcatife , to difputc at large every particular pro- pounded and proved i for the fubjeft wowld not fuffer it; the volume would have beene too large ; and the tructh of divcrfe particulars , is alrcadie vendicated by whole voIumcs,from al! gainfayers : But if any lift to be contentions in contradicting any point aflcrted,and proved, either direftIie,or by eonfequence • we fhall be readieatali times by Godsaftulance further to make it good-

A DE-

DECADE OF

GRIEVANCES;

Trefented and proved to the right Hononubk and High Court °f

PARLIAMENT,

Againft: The Hierardje, orCorvtrrncnt oftkeLordHifhoffs

dr. d their dependent Offices 9 by imuUUuii of jmb as are [enable of the mine of religion , the /inking of the Jlme y and ef the flotts and tnfult&tions of enevna againjl both.

Ight Honourable and High Scftftt you arc not unacquainted, howc th<

&nujmn£and turmoyling trout I heart i^cakc in the faces of all tiuc b<

ncd iubieds , exprcllcd often bv then

iusand ^roancs , andaUb vcoscd tkcirpathcticall complaints; the r»cvingt4nfe \

D

B

IS

2 Syons ?lc<L*

is our Calamitieypm\ic alreadye feized,& partlic making hast (as it is further threatned) to feize upon us. But to our flume and confufion of faces , wee mtf ft confeffe, that of the provokinge caufe of this calamity ( namely finncj wee are nothing fo fencible as weeflnuldbc; Or if wee cornplaine of finne , yet wee find not out that L^Jhurotb or maine nationill finne , which is the Coriyiinft or immediate working ciufeof all the evill thatisuponus. When a bodye politique is runne all into oncfeftercd fore of fin <5c one benamming bruifc of iudgnent,thcn the univcrfall and painefall diftempec taketh awiye the difcerning facuhie of the Mtfter fore that hath bred and fed all me relt, watch indeede muft . . eyther be foueht out and removed , ( as z\\z principall

Rom. fit J r ?„ _///./

caufej or it will never prove a cure. Though the ^ratv efGod be revealed agatnfl all rjngodlines and vnrighteouf- nes y yet for fomc one capitall finne,efpecially the Lord

H0C4 17. departeth from a ftatc,& turneth it upfide downe.This

*•"• might be inftanced in Ifraell \oyning himfelfe vntohis

idolls^hicb made the Lordvnto him as a moth , andvnt*

the hoVofe of luda as rottenejfe. This principall Ifracl

Itidg.io. underfoot when he fought againe & againe; & found out the caufe 'toby be fell before Benjamin. The fame courfetooke/tfjfr;^ in humbling himfelfe, to find out Aehan , and the excommicate thing. He might have found out, and alfo removed manie other finnes,yet if he had not found out the thing of the curft , he might have mourned his heart out , before he had prcvayl ed with the Lord againft the enemie. Howe to find out our Achanyor golden Voedge and Babilonijh garment , hoc opus,&c. For it is not obvious to every man. Yea this

Spirit

tAgainJi the Trclacy. 3

Spirit is neythcr found out nor caft out , but by faffing and frayer. Yet wocfull experience, the common fchoolmafter hath formerlie diicovered xoihcchartotts and Horfemen of ifraell, & now doth difcover this vcryc fame to be the veryc chiefc caufe of our Calamine that wee pitch upon. Wee doe not fecludc our ownc finnes, nor others finnes , for manie finnes, and manic indite- meHts are again ft us; bnt this is the Mafier finne (as wee conceivej And that upon thisground,ihat the capitall finne of a nation is not thchigheft finne, abounding in the higheft meafure, againft which there is any la^e ejtab/ijh:d'y)but that i« the maine &.Mas7er Jinn e^whkh is cftabltfiud by 4 laVc. And 1 his is t hat ftameing of mtfhufe byalaVcc, that the Prophet fpeakeih of , called in anf/-94,20-

11/ 1 «•«.«./■ Hoi. j. 11.

other place, the Cemandtment of man eltablifhing linne : Now give us lcave(rightHo:)todcmad,what iinis efa- b/iPh-d bfa lofto in this comon weale5but the Hierarchyc & their acoutrements? And therefore we verilic bclccvc by the grievances following , offer to demonftrate that the Hicr archie and their hefofroldfluffe , is the capttalt finne and maine caufe Vthy all this evil/ is come vpon vs.

I.

FIrft,may it pleafe your Honours to take notice, that 1. p0fici«» the calling of the Hierarchye ,fhcir dependent Offices and Ceremonies , whereby they iublift arc all unlawfull and Anttchrtjlian.

B a

4 Syons PL<£*-

II.

i. Poflt^cm Hpflfc Hierarchicall government cannot confift in %

X nation 'toith foundries of doclrine, fiuccrhie of Gods-

^^J»//>, holines of life , the glorious power of Chrifl*

government , nor with the profperitie and fufette of the

common wealth.

III.

itPofitiea T^Hc prefenthierarchie are not afliamed,ro beare the X multitude in hand, that their calling is )uredivino* But they dare not but confefle when ih.y are put ro it, that their calling is a part of the Kings prerogative. So that they put upon God what he abhorrerh , and will hold of the King when they can doe no other.

IV.

4. Pefition npHcy abufe manic wayes that power from the King,

X by changing, adding & taking away at th<ir plea-

forego the greivous vexation of the fubieft , the difho-

nouringofhis Majeftie, and the making of theLawcs

of none effecl.

V.

f, ?*&&& HpHe priviledges of the Lawes and tke Hierarchicall X goverment cannot confift together.

The

tApmsl the Prelacy. 5

VI.

THc loyalrie of obedience to the Kings Mi jeftie <$; s. Blfittei hislawes , canno: poillbhe lland whhthc obe- licncc to the Hierarchic.

A

vir.

LL the unparelelled changes, bloudye troubles, de- 7.Po(m«* ^vaftations, defolations, perfecutions of the trueth, from forraines or domed ickes, fine the rare of our Lord 600. Arifing in this Kingdome 5 and all the good interrupted or hindred , h.uh had one or more of the Hierarchies principall caufesof them.

VIII.

ALL the fearcfull evills of finne <5c jndgement,for 1. Prft&i he prefenr raigning among us, and threatened igainft us , (to omitt the blacke dciohrion of our lifter Churches ) 'wee conceive xohzthe lir.h of the toimbe Andthcnurflingi ofthebrca/lscfthe Hierarchic.

IX.

I? the Hierarchyc be not removed, and the [center of 9.v%b\*m ids government, tt2tXtclfDiprt v i to

its place, there an be no healing ofourfofc no ..'king bpofourcontroverfic with God. Yea oar dcfoIaUonsj Dy his rareft judgments , arc like to be ihcaftoniflv ncmafalliuiioas. LalUie.

6 Syons Tic***

X.

**£**' T Aftlicj right Honourable^ you ftrikc at this rootc JL/of the Hierarchic \ removing that Af troth ox grand /<afc//,and creft the puritic of Chrifts ordinances , wee arc confident that there Ihall be aceaffing from exor- bitant finnes^ arcmoveall of judgment^ recoverye of Gods favour,a repayringof the breaches of the church and common wealth, a redeeming of the Honour of the ftate , a dalhing of Babclh brans againfr the ftoncs. Yea this (hall remove the kicked from the Throng ftrikc a terror and aftonifhment to the hearts of all forrcigne and domeftickc foes. In a word 5 God will goe forth "Kith w 3 and fmite our enemies. Yea a glorious prof- peritic (hall reft upon Zion, King, ftate and common- wealth.

THus having laid downe a decade of evills , arifing as fo manie corroding <vlccrs out of the bodyc of the Hierarchic , wee come to fome proofe of the particu- lers,as they lye in order ; and that as punctually and brieflie as wee can.

I. Tojition-* proved.

i. A Nd firft, to the firft,namclyc,^<tf the Hier archie, f\their dependent offices and ceremonies arc <^sfnti- chrtttian. For making way for the proof of this point wee are to confider with the learned both auncient & : -lodernc what ftate of *~ "erment Chxift hath appoin- ted

%4gainSl the Trclacy. 7

ted in his Church and whit kind of govcrnours hec hathchofen togovcrne the fame. For the former they tell us from the word,that the Church in refpect of her policic and outward government appointed her by Chrift, is no: a Monarchielike unto the Kingdomes and DDminionsof temporall Princes, as that of the Afl)Tians,Perfnns,or the like , in and over which cer- taine men as Princes have and exercife Soveraigne au- thoritie,but in regard of the choice of govcrnours,by [Vt DU, common content it is a free commonaltie, andinrel-10 n. peel of the govcrnours fo chofen and governing accor- Din* ding to Gods appointment it is an A^hlocracie, as lH/JU$. A- hens, Venice, or the like , as this is the judgment of CI**** the lcarned,fo it is clcere from the prefcript of Chrilt. ^huulk. Mat. 18. 17, and from the continued pra&ifc of the government ofCbri(lsChnrch,tillfasthelearncd true- lie affirm: ) it cam: to b:eopprcffjd with tyrannic. As for the latter viz. the governours, they were & fhould be fuch Bifhops as God ordained together with ruling Elders, which B.fli >ps (as the Scripture proclaimeth.Sc the Orthodox learned betcevcj are no o:her than Mi- nifters or teaching Eiders witnes 1 Tim. u x , com- . pared with Tir. i . ? ,.ind 7.verf. which trucrh is not one tu i. lie maintained by the Orthodox ancient , as Auguftin, Al 2t- Hicrom: & Ambrof: but alfoby Papifts,asHug Cardi- nal-Anfelm. Limtnrd-Cufan Iohan: Paniictif. and lift. 4 others , who hould this diitinttion to bee but joy^'-m- fo/i/rua,$c that it is not of Gddsappoiirmenr,bo.li Ca non Law Sccivill Law djwunes. Thence nwasdc \, creed and maintained by ancient councells from A\: \V0rd.A6t15, that all Miniften (hould have voices w

coun m

8 Syons Tlc^

n'm'acon councc* ^oth deliverathe & dr. ifive Cnr hag-Can. 3^ d.Ttident. S 5 >all edging ilfb .Nice Cajceciaq and others.

Lnftlicourlearnedeftof later times have-given full, evidence to the poinre,\vitnes D.Raynoldsin hisletten to Sir Francis Knowls, wherein he proves fufricient- lie rhar God never made , nor doth the fcripture wit- nes anie fuch d.ftinClion, bat that Bifhop and Miniftcn were all one : taxing and difproving D.Banc. for hol- ding the comrade. The very fame trueth was con- cluded by D.Holland , the Kings Prof effor in Oxford., At the act luly the 9. 1608. J>hiod Eptfcopus nonjitordo disrinchis a frcfbiteriatu^oquefiipcrior'yire divixo. That a Bifhop is no diftinft order from a Minifter, nor fupe- riourtohim by divininftitution. The felf fame did 3k. Bosfe. Cranmer 6c Latimer teftify to H. the 8. It is true that fome fervile and fhameles Papifts to flatter the Pope,, as fome amongft us to flatter Prelats do averre: the fuperiotie of Bifhops , taxing ihc ancient that hold De/*crw; the contrarie ofherefie,vvirh Aerius. Inftanr one Mi- iT i°T< cnac* Medina cited by Bellarmin. But the whole cur- " rent of divine & humane teftiir oiies are againft them. Having layd this foundation to come pun&uallie to the proof. M*.2i. It is fuflicient proofe ,of the unlawfulnes of their 24. 15- • calling,thatit is noT^/rom above, as the warrant of both ordinances and Miniftrie mud be.Otherwife the Lord threateneth to deftroy them. Mat. 1 3.1 j. Where by the plant not of Gods pimting , may be underftood all per- fons^cal lings & traditions not appointed and approved of by Gad (for fo the ancient expound it.) The calling

of

Agawjl the Prelacy. p

of tsfa e»yz type of chili , is nor onely thus approved Hebr.5.4. EutalfoChrift himfelfcputteth his calling upon this point of tryall; I com', m my fathers namey and ye rtceive me not ; if another fljall come in his oVcnt nutne, him Vu3 )e receive. Which wordes, fund rye of the Fa- j^tj.u thersapplye to thecomrning of Antichrift ; for he and his, came indeede in their owne name.

2. Where the Spirit rccountcrh by namc.all the forts of Miniftery, ordinary and extraordinary of hisownc appointement Eph.4. 1 1 .there is not one word of fuch a Lording Ministry % which the Spirit would nor have conccaled,but undoubrcdly fctt them out with al their tirles and prerogatives, if there had becne any fuch fu- perior offices of his appointment and approving.

Is it a like thing that God who appointed the Temple & Tabernacle , fhould be fo punftuall in evene particular of his fervicc vnder the law, and that he would concealc his more efpeciall officers and their offices vndcr the GofpelR would he re- member the tarn of the Arckt and palTe by the Tillers of his chunk? would be appoint the Ieaft fwofthehoufcand forgctt the OMass/er bnila, would hee there mention the f**ffer\ of the Litku , and here paiTe by the great Ltghts them- iclvcs t Or would hee there remember the befomsandafhpans, and here not once mention Bifliopps and Archbifhopps this were -m pJ 0 pan ki ra pt yaXa 7rcquqav. To look to final things and overlook the great things. Is it nue that a filly ignorant woman tells us in the Gofpcllr^:/ IM-afi V>hm the Uttcfii* cometh hee ^ouldtcUns all things f

C And

u Syons TUtu

Andyet he fpeaketh never one \#6rd of his fpe- ciall officcs/ure thefe can not agree.

3. From the fameptace oftheEphef. it willap- peare that fuch Bifiiops and their dependances an: fuperfliious.Therforethey (hould haueno place in Gods houfe. The confeqaent is cleere becaufe there is a neceflarie ufe of everie thing that hath anieufe in Gods houfe. Ambrof.Ad <Hihil tam rjeceffarium q-uatn cegnofcert quid fibi fir neceffariutn, There is nothing fo neceflarie (faith a father ) as id know what is neceflarie or of ufe, Now that there is no ufe of them it is cleared thus*

Thofe officers without the which the Church of God is fully built up andbrought to compleate per- feftion of unity, are not of anieufe in Godshoufe.

But without the fun&ion of Lord Bifhops, Arch- bilhops &c. the Church of God is fully built up and brought to compleat perfe&ion of vnity, witnes Ephe.4,11, 12, 13.

Therefore L. Bilhops Archbilhops &c. are of no ufe in Gods Church.

The learned have ufed rhe fame argument a- gainftrhePope, the Church of God being builte up and perfited without him , therfore hee Ibould not bee.

Theargu'mctis everie way as good againft thefe

Bilhops and everie fuch Officer in Godshoufe,with

but the which his houfe is compleat, as againft the

Pope, for it cannot be faid of thofe Bilhops as our

»*'"•*• Lord faid of the Affc : JhtLordbrthmtdotthtm.

The

tAgain si the T relacy. 1 1

The fame argument holds againft the Ceremonies, yeaasaknob,a wen, or any fuperfluous bonch of flifh, being no meber doth not onely overburthen the body, butalfodifrigureth thefearure , yeakilleth the body U length except it be cutjfo thefe Bilhops be the knobs & wens and bunchie popifh fljfh which bearcth down , deformeth &deadcth the bodie of the Church, that ther is no cure as wc conceive, bur cutting off. If any object that there be neceiTane Officers in Gods houfe, as Deacons and Elders , which arc not named in that forequoted place of the Ephefians, it maybe eafiliean- fwercd,that the Apoftle there onelie intends to make a perfect enumeration of fuch as labour in the word, for the perfecting of his Church.

Further if men may ad miniftcries to thofe whom God hath appoihted,thcn may they takeaway fuch mi- nifteries as God hath appointed, for both of thefe be- long to one and the felf-fame aathoruie.

But men may not take away fuch minifterics as God hath appointed. Thcrforc they mult not a<lde fuch as he hath not appointed.

As we have hitherto proved in general the calling of the Bilhops to beunlawfull , ^o wc come now to prove dirc&lic their calling and their depcndancies to be Antichriftian.

Thefe Govcrnours are juftlic called Antichriftian ^m.i. who arcalTiftant to the Pope in his univcriall govcr-

But Bilhops, Archbi(hops,Chancclcrs,&c. arc alii- ftams u> the Pope in his univcrfall government.

C 2 Thcr-

12 Syom Vleeu

Therfore BifhopSjArchbilhopSjChancders^Scc. ara juftlic called Amichriftian. Dtf. f.i$. The major Vrofofition is D. Downams , for the minor, let their praitife fpeake. For after the fame manner & by the fame Minifters do they Lord it and tyrannize over Dioceesand Piovinces in his Majeftics Dominions,as or her Popifh Prelates do in other do- minions. By the fame reafon that one is over a Dio- ceffe3 an other over a Province , the third may be over all.

2. They arrogate to themfelves folie and whollie Ar»um. i. the ordination of Minifters.

In thefe two D.Willet putteth a maine difFerece be- twixt Proreftanis & Papifts. Firft (faith he; that their Bifhops are over Minifters as Princes of the Clergie. 2. They take the right ofconfecrating or giving q£ orders wholly and foly to themfelves.

Let all men fpeake if our Bifhops do not this to an

Sj»0>. com. hair, and are they not by confequent Antichxiltian Bi-

4;* (hops ? For the further proof of this point we could

bring a full Iury of judicious learned and Godlie wit-

neffes.

M. Wickliff a man well in feen the myftery of ini- 4nic. io. qQitie, reckoned Lord Bifhops for one of the 12 Dif- ciples of Antichrift.

For the which Pighius writes a trcatife againft him, affirming this to be the main controvcrfle betwixt the Waldenfls, Wkkliffc and him.

The fame dodrine was maintained by Iohn Hufle & Hierom of Prage.

Luther

tAgainJi the Trelacy. 13

Luther called this Lordfhip, flainc tyrann'te , averring Tom. 1. further that Diocefan Bifhops Veere confronted by t/:eFa&- *# very author it ie of Sath.w.

M. Bullinger cills the fupcriormc of Bifhops #0 better Dccad. 5. than tyrannie, affirming truclie that the Apoftles them- **' 47' fclves excrcifcd no Rich tyraaic. To :his may be joyncd M.H >op?r, M. Lambert, M.Bradford,gloriotis martyrs. i\l. Bale in the Revel, (peaking of the brood of Aati- chrift , countcth the Lord Bifhops Anrichrittian ulur- pcrs3thc0^f«/r (faith he) of Diocefan Bijb.ps are ufurped of foes, and not appointed bj the Holy Gkojt, nor once mem t toned tn the Script ur es»

Now if anie Patron of the Prelacie Pod of all thefc 11 Rt. i.t, teftimonics ro the Prelacie in the time of Poperk. 1. c *' >' Let them know that overlording Prchcic,fittingin the Temple of God is Pop fh Prelacie. 2. The whole cur- rent of forequoted tcltimonics flriketh at all Dioce- fan Provincial! or Oecumenicall Prelacie5as an ufurped office, becaufe not appointed by the Holy Ghoft. The extent of the challenge mud be as large as the reafon of the challenge. If they bee not from the Holy Ghoft they arc ufurped Offices. But for the further clearing 1 of this,lct M.Gualtcr be heard, who taxing ckdifpro- ving the ufurped Offices of Lord Bifhops in Poperie, he applyeth it to ours, who though thty glory in the name of the Gojpe/I.and \K$<ldbe counted reformers of the Chunh by thrufJing out ?opi$> Bijhops rjr Monies cut cj their ufur- fedfojfefrtonsjet Jo they not reslore the Churches duey t~ke» tyrsnnjH'be from her , but at their fleafure admtntjier the fame things , Vthich in times pajl the Mohkct and Bijhops jn hk. 1. dtd9 Cyprian hold s jhc vcric title of an Archb,fhop

C 5 or

Uh. M.IT ,

*4 Syons 'Tie a~>

or Superior Bilhop , in whomfoever a prefumptuous thing.

Laftlie, the Papifts bring in the maintainers of Pre- lacieforafrnre,asfupporters of rheir ufurped prima- cic. The Proteftants (faith the RhemiftsJ othcr^ife de- nying the perheminencie of Peter^t* to uphold the Arch- bifhops, they avouch it againft the rttritancs. Hence ap- pcareth the trueth of that aiTertion , when thePrelacie difputeth againft rhe Puritanes3 they ufethe Popifh ar- guments,but when they difputeagainft the Pope,they ufe Puritanes arguments^ thus they ufe the trueth as E*4.4»s< Mofes ufed the rod, whilft it was*>W,Mofes could hold it in his hand , but when it became a Serpent ,hc fled from it,fo they ca ufe the rod out of Sion the word of trueth againft the ope adverfaric(though implicitlic they beat thefelves therwith)but whe the truethbegin- iieth to fting, they cannot endure it, & were it nor that the cunning Iefuitc loves not to touch this firing too much('thonow& ihehe dothjleaftby theevs reckoning upo this point true men (hold come to their good$,We areperfwaded they (hold beat the Prelates out of their trenches,& themfelvcs our of the field, but they know that they borh ftand & fall upon the fame ground, and a Kingdome divided againft 1? feift cannot Hand*

fArgm. They ingrofle that riame unto thcmfelves which

isduetoallgoodMinifters; which 9s the learned ob-

fcrvc is a perverting of the language of the Holy Ghotf>

fir***' ^ca a P°*nt °^ Pr°ph^n^ or heathenifh boldnes from

v. 1. this ( faith Beza ) beganne the devill to lay the founds

in ?Mi 1 **M uffi**t*H int^c c^urfh °f k& 1& rhe forehead 0.7. ft °f

^Against the T?YeLcy. 7

of this name beganncthat myflene of iniquitie to be ingnven, namely, that vaknowne name PAPA; The various etymologic whereof # wee will not nowcinfifton.

4. They lord it over Cods heritage wi h an intollera- 4.^»m>. bleTyrannie directly condemned by that unchang- 1 ?i1 5- »• able Canon of our (aviour Chrift, The Kings of the gen tils exercife lordfrip ovxr them &c. but ye (lull not bee Luk 21.14 Ji : but let thegrcatx(l Among you be as the lea '/. In which **^g* words three things be condemned in miniftcrs, fu- periority, lordly rule , and cities of LoudiTiip.

The leftiitcs confefle that that affected fupe- rioty is condemned in the difcipleS, Yea the very thoughts 'fay they ) of fuperiority.

Now all thefe things forbidden by our (aviour cone irrc in making up that mifhapen Monftcr of the Hierarchic This interdiction of fuperiority is renucd by the Apoftle Peter f upon whom his Lord foreknew that that man of Sinne would build his forg-cd and ufurped fuperiority) neither as being Lord; over Gods heritage &c. In which place the * Pft *' *' former ambitious or tyrannous Lordfh.p is not onc- ly forbidden (as the Prelates would have it) butall manner of fuperiority , as tbe fcopeof the (pirit > context,and very wordes prove. In a word their tvafionsfrom the true meaning of thefe places are the very fame with the forgeries of the Iefuites, wherin theycroffc both themfclves and the truth. As forthat power given by Chrift tothe Church U4.il.tl they have nothing to do with ir, as isclcare trothe text and by the cxpofuionofbothancientand mo

dci

\6 Syons Tlea^

dcrnc writers: yea by fome of their ownc , as I Bellarm. applyethitto the Pope, fothey to them- j (elves but againft all ground and reafon. joW.6. 5. They will not with Chrift putt their calling J

Cum 8 uPon trya^ °f tne word but by the contrary putt j the Anathema upon fuch as dare prefume to call their calling into queftion.

6. They have the fame, Titles, power prehemi- nence,officcs and Courts, that the papall prelacie had, \

LmEi*"^ (^ct"ngconclythcfupremacieofthcpopc afide)Ergo:

' Antichriftian: witnclTe that ad of Henry 8. affigning;

them all wfiatfoevcr they had of the Pope (thefu-

premacie referved to himfelfe) for which our Pre*

fyvt:mi. lats have given the name of Pope and PapiJJa to oun Princes. k_sft vna via. prohibitum ,&c. That which is forbidden one Veay ought not to he admitted another Vcay.

7. And laftly they arrogate to themfelvcs , (wc jur.i.4. may well fay blafphcmoufly ) thefe titles which are H^r.i;.2o onejy proper to Chrifte,namdy the cheife Jhpheard or

Archiijhopp , great fheaphtarJ or Achleader? which ti- tles the Apoftles,durft not take vnto themfclves, Ergoi Antichriftian. As for their defence from Conterfaitl Clement, orPaganifti i*slrchji*mim , it is ftuffe not worthy your Honours audience to conclude the uh" fj*°'proofe of this pofition , let Iohn Baptift fpeake, where haveingdenyedhimfelf, to the Pharifes to bt either Chrift, Elias, or that Prophet, hath this re- ply* ^hy Baptifefttbou then? inferring that he mufl either confirme his calling, to be of God , or not to meddle with the ordinance , neither had the Argument beene good if Ioha Baptift might have)

been

tAgainsl the Prelacy. \y

been offome other fun&ion then of Gods appointc- ment , and therefore he confirmcth his extraordinary calling from thcVtord, Thus it iscleare as theSunnc (runes that their calling is Anttchriftuti.

For to the Kingdome of Chrift, it belongeth not, as we have (hewed, to the civill Kingdome it can not be- long, for itwill be counted Ecclefiafticall, toaftrange Paganifh or Machomitan government it cannot be re- ferred,becaufe it is begun and maintained among thofe thatprofelTe Chrift, c\ under acoiour of Chrilts gover- nment it mud (it in the Temple of God , and iincc it is not of God, to what body or Regiment doth it be- long but to that goverment , whereof the Sunne of perdition is the head.' let us then as hath bcenefayd re- ceive with the Gofpcll fuch governing as Chrift hath appointed in his Gofpell , then have we fully and com- plcatly whatfoever belongeth to the Kingdome of the Gofpcll,without any L. Bilhops & their Oifkcrs,which could not be true if the Hierarchic belongeth to the Kingdome of Chrift. As for the ceremonies as none can deny them-, fo themfclvts do grant them to be Po- ?nJr c*m: pifh , Vchicb it fleufcd them to rrt<iy/e upon as good Mr.*C*r. grounds as themfclves do (tand. Finally, thisPofition R,P- t9 is imptcgnably proved by the learned. I have beenc j^pmt0D.D the more fuccinct in the proof of this evill,becaufe the h M Mm. learned have bene fo large in ir, yet it is the ground of ^/j.^' all the reft, and enough to cafhicr them. mi

As fortheir arguments obicdions & anfwercs, they olhni' are the very lame with the Papifts , cv are the tame way diilblvcd ; oncly we will diicover one marc, wherein they take a multitude of deluded people. What

D the)

Decret>.

18 Syons VU*u

thcyj will you have no order in the Church 5 fhall all be alike? Shall wee not have governours and fome head-powers among ft Minifters ro remove Scbtfme and to kcepe peace in the Church ? And for this they preflfc Hierome his words ; Let [ome bead be ordaynedfor removal/ of Sibifme. Foranfwer. 1. Shall man be wifer then God? or (hall the way and device of foolifh manbring more peace to Gods howfe then the way of the a'l-^ife God ? 2- Graunt that thiscourfe would bring in a Laodicean peace to the Church ( becaufe the Devil! wil be quiet when his Officers beare fway$J yet it is an execreable peace, and (as one fay th) worfe then manie contentions that is without truetb.

3. If there be fuch necefTitie of one LordBifhop overaDioceflc3andoneMatropolitane over a whole Province , for the keeping of peace and unity in the Church or Churches of one nation 5 is there not the like neceffitie for keeping of peace and unitie & avoy- ding of Schifme in the whole church, that there fhould be one Arch-B. over the Churches of Chriftendome.? 4. And laftlie, to anfwer the point dire&lie 5 we plead qued nefit veruwhty make people beleeve a lye3that by this ecciefiaflicall Monarchic of the Church, it is kept in order peace & unity; and that therby Schifm is avoy dedjthe cotrary whereof is true. For this hath been the mainecaufc of difcord and difuni5 of the Church, yea the Fountaine and welfpring of moll horrible fchifm & danable herefie^as is to be feene at lardge in the De- cretalls and is witneffed by manie of the learned Wor- thyes,& fully proved by too much woefull experience both of times paft,and of our prefent condition. Wee

will

tA pain H the Trelacy. ip

will fhutt np the point with that pregnant and perti- nent teftimony of Ah<fcultt*. If Hten-mt ^farh he, had fcene as much as they that fuccecded him , he would „ never have concluded that one amongft the Miniftery ,5 (hould have been above the reft , becaufe it was not ,, brought in by God to take away Schifme as was pre- » tended, bur brought in by Sarhan to waft 6c to deftroy » the former Miniftery that fed the flocke VVi:h which »> wee may joyne that evidence of learned Whirakers; c""Vm»- Eptfcopaae ( faith he J Vtas invented by men as a remedy mst. \cb. AgAinftfwne^hich remedy m.;nie Ktfc & holy men have judged to be Vtorfe then the dtfeafe itjeife , ahd Jo it bdtb f roved by ^oefull experience. But of this particular more afterward.

2. To/ition-. proved.

SEcond Pofition, namely, that//;/J ^AnttchrtttUn go- vernment cannot eonfijlwtb foundries of Dotlrtne,c;c . It is too too manifeft from reafon And experience ; for,

i. Can thatgovcrment which is oppofue to the Gofpell of Chriir fash harh beene proved ) endure the found Doctrine of the Gofpell >

No more then darkenes, can endure light , or fore eyes can endure the Sunnc. As a pol idled glaffc , and pure water, reprefenteth the filth and deformirie of the face; fo the purine and power of the Word of God makcth the LMontiJh deformitic of the Hierarchy f© to retLctupon it felfc, that (he will needs brcake the glalfc, and trouble the Water that reprefenteth hcr,and therfore (he loves to fifh in troubled Waters. A iwt- D 2 rend

io Syons T>lea^

rend worthiefas any lived in our timcybeing demanded an argument,-^ utili to confirme the government of Chrift in his Church) made anfwer, that thts our Nation undtr the government of ^fntichrilt for fome 55 yeares, had abounded 'ftitb herefies snd fsht fines , to the eating out of the heart of the V:ord , Vchere our neighbour nation, governed by the fcepter ofchri/l,for the /pace of 40 & odd yearesjwas cleare of ail fchifmes & herefies* Wee will deliver it in the Authors owne wordes :

Spgramma pro prefhiterio contra Epifiopatum.

SCotos lufira decern rcxit facer or do fenatus 7 Abfy not a htrefeosfchtfmatis abfifc not a. Et deUtaferd exterfit vefligia diray

Cut nomen triplex fenio dinumerat. Anglia pr<efulibus red a eftfeptennitfeptern,

HtrejibuffefrequenSifchifmatibufifefrequenSy At que impreffa fer& firvat ve/ligia dirt,

Cut nomen tri flex fenio dinumerat* Et dubitamus adhuc facrum auciorare fenatum,

ExauBorato prdfulis imperio.

CHrifts facred fcepter fiftyc yearcs had fwayed The Scotts, without rent fchifme or hsereficj Norelift there of that fowle bead difplayed, Whofe numerall name is with three fixes made : But England govcrnd fifticyeares and three By Prelates, fwarmes with hserefies and fchifmesj The great beafts reli&shatcfall foloscifmes

la

Agawji the Prelacy. 2r

.'n Gods true worfhip by her are reraynd, rhe number of whofe name, (as hath beenfaid,) Three fixes mike 666, is by them th»s maintaynd, rVhy put wee not Imperious Prelates downc, \nd fctt Chrifts facred Senate in its roome ?

2. As for Lawes and government , how can the go- vernment of an ufurping encmie confift with the Lawes and government of a lawfull, & native King.

3 . For holies of life ', nothing fo odious nor fo much pcrfecuted,asthat by theHierarchie, and that both by mockery & reall perfecution. So that he that ab/hi- \vethfrom the common courfe of the ttwW, maketh his life t prey y and he th.it Vcalketh W;//; God is too precife.

4. By breaking the barr e of Difciplinc 5 theyfet open the gate of impietie. As for their pretended Difcipline, :hc remedie is worfe than the difeafe , for by it the godly arc vexed, &thc wicked ftrengthened.

5. And laftly for the fafcty ofrfate^how ftiould tkeftate be fife, where Chrift is mftled out of his government, and his enemies raigncin his ftcad ? It is the true ob- fcrvation of a worthy Patriott ub'ifilent leges Chrift &c. V[1)ere the Lawes ofchrifl bgare not ftoay, the LaVres of the Landcan do nogood. A Kingdome devided agaiwft it Qlfe cannot fland. When Chrift ftandcth at the dore andknockethyMnd\^intichriftbearethf^ay Within , the Lord will turnc his riyycing to do them good , unto a rc- \oyctng to do them cvilL May it plcafe your I lonours to take further notice that this government is againft the kfeticoftheftate in thefc particulars.

D j It lup-

22 Syons Vletu

i. It fupporteth the hopes, of the PopeoiRome for his reenrry,for fo long as his Officers and houfhold fur- niture remaineth , fo long will he plead pojfefiion. And hence hath bcenc the treafons,and overturning plotts by the Popes againftrheroyallperlons of our Princes, and ftanding of our ftate for the fpaceof 68 yeares.

2. This ftrengtheneth the hands , and warmeth the hearts of the Papifts amongft us , ready upon allccca- lions to take part with the Pope & his Minifters.

3. This being the ftorehowfe of fuperflitious trinkcrts, as Ceremonies, Fafts, Feafts , and fuch like $ thefebemcate&drinketoftrengthenthcP/*/*/fr , and Cordialls to comfort them.

4. The Hierarchie do difgrace ( to the Papifts great joy) the iinccre forte of people, which are the Walls of the Land. As for the Papifts and Hierarchic, they agree pretty well : for the former do councell, and tkc latter executeth fuch defignes againft Gods people, witnefle Dolmam Watchword. The quodiibets 3 Spalato hisfecond mamfefto , Do&. Caryes Apologie, and the Prelats pra&ifc.

5. They nullify the lawes which are the fove- raigne fafeguard of the common- wcale, as (hall be farther manifefted.

6. And laftly, they beate the watchmen from the walls or vail them fo upon the walk, that howe can the city be fafe J

IN the next place we come to prove the pofition by experience. And

F$A

tAgsmsl the Tyelacy. 2}

I Vor vnfoundnes of ' doclrint , our ordinary pra<ft if e proclaimcth it, witnefle our fchoole commence- ments, fermons in Court, city, and country : abufeiug the Word, and rcvileing his Majcftics beftfubjc&s , alfo printed books by authority, and that from no fmall ones being theveric ftrcamcsof Popery, Arminianifme and fuch Pelagian Autre, with the particulars whereof ( being fo many and nianifelt ) we ncede not trouble your Honours.

2. As for the pollution of Gods rvorfrip , and pro fane- nejje of life , they cry to the verie heavens , it is true that the doore of the ordinances (not being clofe fhutte, but upon the hinges J Chriftcommcth in to manic, but what is this totheuniverfall profanenes, which isapattern toall other nations, andthefhime of our owne, and although Chrift ftand yet at the doore, when he hath fealed his owne, he will be gone,asfor thcglorieofChrifts government there isnoneat all.

To conclude the point, of Jafety by an inftance from the contrary ; be pleafed to take notice of the Nether Lands, which could never have been rid of the Spanifh tyrannic, nor flood fo long in profpe- ritie fafely,if they had not cafheired the Bifhops , as for Geneva let Bodine fpeakc ( no Puritan efure) yct"»i»- he commendcth them much, not for wealth, and greatne^but for wcxaxc peace and Godljnes , which he afenbeth to the power of Difcipline , whereunto they attayncd by abandoning Bifhops ; (hewing fur- ther the divine force of Difcipline , in bridling the

luih

24 Syons Itletu

lufts and countermanding the vices of men , which all the Lawcs and judgments of men were not able to effeft. And fo we come to the third point to be proved.

3, Tofinon^ proved.

THey hearetheCMultitude in h And that they Are jure divino, yet they are forced to confejfe that their calling is a fart of the Kings prerogative.

It is truly affirmed in that fupplication Anno 1609.

That the Prelats have no Warrant, either for the nature of

their offices or qua lit ie of their proceedings from the Lerd

/<?/A^ncither was it maintained by any of their fa&ion.

till they grew weary of houlding in capite , and then

they turned their tenure into Soccage quitting them-

felvcs of Knights- fervice. In this plea D.D*W#4W (hewed

himfelf more rafh than wife to appearc. For he is not

oneliecaft over the barre by the booke of God , by the

Jury of the learned , by the moft judicious judges and

lawes of the Land: but alfo by the verdid of his fellow

Bifhops and his owne confeflion. So that in fcanning

of this particular it (hall evidently appearc 3 that their

calling is oppofite to Gods trneth 5 to our Soveraignc

D. Br% Lord the King,they crofle his wholefomc lawcs, with

DfdnC ' °n f°rre,Snc jurifdittions , and they are at contradictory

m:nu' pig. opposition amongft themfeives.

J19. *** 1. Forthefirft, they oppofe the trueth of God in

b* u^it. affirming without (hame or feare , that their calling is

Vtf. inftef.jure divwo^ when it is nothing Icfle, fince there is not

&'**' one jote of all the word of God for it, ashathbeene

pro-

vtgairft the Trelacy. 2}

proved) but afmuch againft it as againft anicone thing , which the chdfefl of them cannot choofe but confeffe, and fo in this 5 they have con- fefTed the truth unt i , yea theire

iMdilftr peece and ;uments evinceth this,

which they take from the continuation of theire calling from 300. yeares after Chrift, and not be- fore which as they cir.rot prove , fo the challenge proveth clearly that ctcfCed: butoppofite

to his truth, ycaalearncd man /and a better B. the anienow, tells us plainly , tb&tfnmthe 1(4x607, tbt

Church began to be r: led by Bifliof-s which government (faith he )was tjpeciaBy aevijed and invented by the

rJMonke-. BalefcrtP. hrit. Ccnt.i. 37. which indeed is true; for till this age , every particular Church was governed by the Bifhops Elders and Deacons of the lame 5 witnefle the authors of the Cent. Mae, Cent J. 7. Col. )pr. & although feme before this were titular bifhops yet their fuperioriry the Church would not bear e, witnefle our Englifh Synod an. 674. Synod ILirford.

2. They are oppofitc to the King and Ait Laxvcs , in affirming their calling to be jure diiino , becaufe by his Laws they are laid to be apart of his prerogative, from whom all their power u md extenfn t h

conveyed to them ( though this cannot warrant them Witneffc the petition tothe Queen e, and judicious Bcza in his Epift. to Gr\ i fhop of

London, which is worthy the reading, But to the

point the refcript of Edw. the 6. cited By SSden run il neth

t6 Syons Plea.,

ncth on this manner Ed^ard.Dci gratia &c. ToThcmas De fihi/m. Arch-B. of Cant. &c. Since from the King allpo^ur and )u~ pu.zif!* rifdictionproceedeth&ZQ* "toe give thee po^er within thy Dtoceffe, to give orders &c. by theft preftnts to endure at curpleafure. So in the firft yeare of the faid Edward the fixt it is enacted , that thcyihouldexercife nojurif- di&ion in their Dioccfie5nor fend out writts but in the Kings namc,and under the Kings fealc, which ftatute was abrogated in the firft yeare of Quecnc Mary , and reeftablifhed by Qo. Eliz. & in the firft of King lames. So that by the continued tranfgreffion of this law,your Honours know that they and their Offices, are all over head and eares in a Proemunire -> of which a Bi* fhop in Edward the fixt his time was convi&ed and fubmitted himfelf to the Kings mercy.

3. They aredevided amongft themfelves in this *ef. of kii particular point : D.Downame not knowing how to sm»M. j^j£r t^e matter pitched at laft upon this , that it is jure Refit.p.91 Aposfoltcojdut not juris divini. M. Francis Mafon , in

his great book upon this fubieel: , dedicated to the •.11V/1J9 Arch-bilhop, andpublifhed by authoritie , affirmeih 820. & plainly and peremptorily, that they derive their F fifte- en. M. pay authoritie from the Pope. The fame doth the fuppli-

cantsaverre to the King p. 9. Whence your Hons. may

be pleafed to obferve , how this eftablifheth forraigne Bilfon It powcr,contrary 10 that a& of Parliament 1. Eliz. j. Gub. led. Doftor Bilfon B.of Winchefter affirm ethotherwife, PAte'oz terminS k plainly prtncipis prtrogativam , the Kings

prerogative. In the maintenance whereof his very ^4©;- heart fqandererh , if there be any fault faith be > let it be

laid

'sAgain si the T relacy. 27

laid np«n the Magifrrate, and not upon the B*. Where we may obferve,what a cup of could comfort they afford Kings for maintaining of them.

For further tcitimonie of truth , we might cite a cloud of learned witnefles both in rhc divine and hu- mane lawcs,as Hufie, Luther, WickliiT*,Zwinglius, La- timer , Cranmcr , Reformatio leytm fcsl. tit, ae divi/t, effic. D.Fulke & Whiraker in their anfwers to rhc Pa- pifts ufeing the fame arguments for the Hierarchir. It is the fcopc of Sl. Ed. Cook in his report de \ure Ecc, to prove that the functio of iheL.Bifliopi & their juril- diciion exercifed is from the Kings prerogative , who may 6c do:h grant to Lord Bifhops that RcdeJia/HcaU vo^eer, which they nowexercifc and alfo may take it . from them at his pleafure. The Cclf fame truth both by ancient and later Prelats is avouched : witnes the the judgment of the Clergic in the dayes of H:n. 8. cxprefled in a treatife intituled the inftimtion of a Clr:- fltan man. This was the judgment of the (late in the time of K. Edward 6. andHlizab. To this alfo gi- Pr'f,c- vcth witnefle Arch-Bifkop Whirgift and B. Hooper, ugt\$}< yeaD. Downham himfclf could not deny it , being prefledby that itatutc of a Parliament held at Carlile 26. Edw. 1. Hence firft the untruth of thefaid Do- ctors aflertion may evidently appcarc. That rpifco- ksB government is perpetua'/y ncctjjsrie , not onely for the Fil$; • ttW- beingybut aI(o for the biing of a VtCtble Church. 2 . It iifcovcrs their derogating from ihcKitn : their injuric to his Ufces : and their Tyrannic againft his fubjeds in committing men to prilbn for denying their autho- htic to beimmediatlic from GoJ.

E 2 To

23 Syons Tle^u

To conc!udc;this very Qucftion de jure divino W5S de- pn Siuvh bated in the Trent. Counfell, where they were like to Hitter go together by the eares for it Ltnetm (general! of Imt^n. :^e kftdrs) held every particular Prelate jure Canonic* vsge 687. to be rncerely from the Popes authoritie , by which he «»4 688. mjght remove them at his pleafurc j in an ether fence then {jM.Vafon.

The Bifhop of Taris oppofed this as a new devifed rricke , and broached by Ca')eta# for a Cardinalls hatt> which to hii ftnme the Sorbomfts oppofe 7 houldirg it as true in the Hyfethefi, namely, if they be true Officers of Chrifts Church, they muft be jure divino.

To conclude the point, you fee fright Honourable) how they would reft on many pillers,but their maine Supporter is the Pope. If to this that hath been laid, they aniwer that the fummc of all thefe things hath been fully anfwered,we reply , if their imprifoning, perfecuting and banifhing of the Lords worthies had been of no more force than their smfwers, their caufc had fallen long ago. Further , what anfwer hath M. Bucer,Bucanus,Patker ihe Damafcen Altar and others received?

Laftlie,whai Honour or rather difgrace have they gained by their anfwers and rcplyes , let the works of B.Whitgift,B.Downham, & B.Morton, B.Lindfey,& B.Spotfwoodipeake. To clofe up all, wedefirein all modefty, that they will bring their callings and evi- dences to the ftandaid of divine truth , and by com- paring matter with matter^and rcafon with reafon, let the truth cary it. And fo much for proofe of the third Pofirion.

tAgainsi theVnUcy. ip

4. FoJttioTL-, proved.

p*r*Tleir manifold and mdniftjt abufing of the Kings X Authority , by changing, adding , and taking a\\ay }t their pie a fur e ore. Appeareth in thcis particulars.

1. In the point of fubfeription urged. Canon. 36.

57. It is to be fecne what heavy things arc pre fled

upon the Confcicncc of every one that en trail upon

anyminiitcriall function , namely Tbdi nothing con-

d m 1 he put liq ic I. itu . 1 kt of ordination , or

the Articles of Religion in number, 39. Is contrary to ihc

jword of God. Yea that every thing contayncd inevciy

lone of the aforefaid Articles , u agreeable to the word

[of God. And this he muftdoe , adding every expref-

fion that miyavoydambiguitic. And in like manner

they mud fubferibe to the two bookes of Hcmilits*

Now what groffc , abfurJ ( if wee fay not ) blafphe-

mous vntruthes all thcis 5 bookes are fluffed with,

wee necdenot to dcmonflrate, fince by a judicious

tad true inquiry they arc made more then manifeft.

Efpechlly the lenice booke ; which they cannot deny

to be raked out of three Romifhe channel Is j Namely

the I it of which the common prayers arcta-

, out of the Ritual or UjLj of Rius the Admini-

((ration of che Sacraments, buryall, matrimony, \

tion p .. And out of the M

are the conlccration oi the Lords (upper , Colk

h lis and Epiftles. As for the bookcof* >tdioaiion of Arch-bifh >ps, Bifhops, Miniftcrj Sec, 11 the Fomanc !'■ n

30 Syons Tle<u

Now from this prefcript forme of Lciturgic , the Mi- nifter muft not go a jote,nor ufe any other in the ap- pointed fervice : Witnefle Canon. 3 8. which is not in- deed according to the mynde of the Prince , nor mea- ning of the Law. It is a wonder to fee, what adding, changing,and taking away , is in that Leiturgie. To which Engiifl) Majfe ffor fo his late Majeftie called it )\ it is not the intent of the law,that the Minifters fhouldl fubferibe, witnesthatftatute. U Elu Cap. 2. bynding them to ufe fuch prayers and order of adminiftration of the Sacraments, as are contained in that booke , au- thorifedby Parliament in the 5. and 6. yeares of£^- *V:ard.6. with the alteration or addition of fomelef- fons, and none other or other^ife. Againe the Law re- quircth no fubfeription , but barely to the Articles of Religion 5 which onely concerne the confepon oj true Chrifiian faith^andthe doctrine of the Sacraments , wit- neffc the very words of the Satute i3.£7/'.G^.i2.which Statute is nof yet abrogated nor contradi&ed. So that to the matter of Ceremony and of Church govern- ment, fubfeription is not by the law required. Fur- ther it is well knowne to judicious men now living, that it was not her Maj8.mynd3nor the meaning of the law to prefle thefe things upon the confeiences of her truly profefling fubj5- But the intent was only to bring Papifts &Popifhlyaffe&ed to a Church conformitie, condifcending to retayne fome Popifh paffages, till re- formation might be more fully made. Vpon which grounds the Honourable Court of Parliament would never have any bound to ic,fecing the things not only controverted 3 but alfo reie&ed by whole reformed

Chur-

*AgainU the ^Prelacy. 3 1

Churches. But we fccthc Prclats require fubfeription ;o all the aforefaid books $ Yea leaft vexation enough Tiould be warning ro Gods people they have hatched )Ur of their own brains,//.-/ hundred & ft f tie /j\to, called he Canons^s we may thinkc in apifhe immitatio of the he Pfalmes of David , whereunto though they exad M>tfubfcription,yet they tycmen ftrictly , and am4 id: hem greivouily.both in purfc & pcr(on for not obey- ngof rhem : which is a malapert countermanding of lis Ma jellies laws, and a haynous opprcilion of his l'ub- c&s , witnefie that statute of Henry the 8. forbidding ij.H.t. Mm nun to m.:ke or exert ifi Libs or Church orders , Cj-P lQ-

i>it to 1 he labs of the Retimes. But many of hole Canons and vifuation Articles ( to which they "orcc men tofwearcJ are repugnant to the laws. By his your Honours do fee and very well know that he laws arc made of nonecflfed rand that to the beft >f his Majcfties fubje&s) which may yet be further in- tanccd by divers particulars. 1 . It was the defire of fundry Mins. to fubferibe [iCundu

.\i/«f/,according to the form of the ftatutc.15./:"/. .i:;£ut they were not admitted. 2. Of that good law of \ppeale from the Prelacy to the Chancery (mactcd by Unr) 8; or rather renewed and continued by all our 2>- ll notetling Princes ) the greived and wronged fubicctb through the daunting pride of the Prelats ) can have 1 lc or no benetitte , wimeflo 98. Canon, tw hairing

a of God , nature, & nations, & the law of the Land. $. By venue of the Jaw no fubicct flullbc put rom his freehold, but by the verdict of 12. nun: wit- lcffc the great Charter of 1 n gland , which often and

3* Syons Pleat*

again hath bene confirmed by divers other ftatutcl as42. Edward. 3. c. 3. and making void by ftron| inforcements all fuch Statutes as might croffe cl contradid the fame. But miniftets are thruft frorl their benefices by the bare and peremptorie com mand of the Bifhops.The iniquitie & crueltie of thi their courfe was laid to heart by the States in Parli ament Anno. 1610. who inadtea againft it in efFec as follow eihffohere the Canons Would charge body gooa and Lands of the fubiect , that charge $ull be cf no fore except it Vvere confirmed by a Si of Parliament. 4. Wher by the law of the Land no free man fhould (but up< lawfull proceeding and juft ground) be imprifoned the Prelats againft the laws and libertie of the State andPriviledgeoftheSubjed,eredprifons, and co mitt men thereto at their pleafure, if they will nol breake the Laws. As for inftance in taking of th oath ex officio^ which is fas fhall be fhewedjagainft a!i P'fe9' Po' laws of Heaven and Earth. This tricke of imprifon p*g. 24;. ment (as chopping faith,) was taken up by Pope Luge nim the fecond. Anno 824. And as one faith well: it came out of the tayle of the Dragon, A punilhmen not befeeming a Minifter of the Gofpell to impofc; This tyranny rather then law had its firft original in England f as thelawes record,and learned of til land witneffe) from that ftatute 2, Henry 4. Cap. j$ whereby authority was given to the prelates an< their Ordinaries to imprifon andfynethe fubjed and to preffe the lawleffe oath upon them. Thi ftatute was procured by the prelates for fuppreflinj oftheprofeffors of the Gofpell, witneffe thetith

Againft the Prelacy". tf

in the record, fctittoderi contra harcticos y and was***5'*-, pafled as is (hewed without the confent of the com- Am t. mons, witneffe the record of the ftatute, yea our**""- 4. learned in difcovering the iniquity and bloudthirfiy cruelty of this law tell us, that it wanted not onely the confent of the commons, but they wonder- fully repined at it. But as evill means muft ever eft- ablilhan evilpurchafe , the King was forced by their importunity to lay the necks of his beil fubjeds un- der the feet of the blouddie beaft , of which more hereafter. But the date at length laying to heart the abundance of chrirtian blood that had been (hed by this blcoddte U^9 ( for fo it is called; and obfervin^ the judgment of God that had enfued on this bloodihed upon the State, as afterward (hall be made plain) with vnanimous and full confent made voyd and revoked that ftatute of imprifoning and the oath ex officio, leaving not the leait impreffion of any fuch power to t\\c Ordinary , betaufe it was a- gainft the Law of God3the Honour of the King, the law of the Land, the nature of Ecdefiafticke jurifdi- ftion , and the right of the Subject.

It is true that in the i .and 2. of Philip and Marie, a ftatute was framed according to that formerly re- voked ftatute of Henry. 4« But firft it doth acknow- ledge that the Church had no power of imprifoning butoncly the power of the kcyes.

2. They ina&ed this that by fiery and bloody

courfes they might fupplant the Gofpell , whci

the people being mindfull and exceeding fcnlible

in that Parliament ofthc 1. Elizabeth rcqucfted the

E (late

54 Syons "Tle^u

ftate to rcpeale,and make voyd that flatutc of Henr.4. concerning imprifoning, and the (tlfe-accufwg catb> which the ftatc did grant and eftablifhed in cxpreflc words before the annexing of the right of Ecclefia- fticke jurifdi&ion to the Crowne, rtfcaltng , making utter lie void, and of none effeff a/1 and every branche , ar- ticles\daufes andfentences in tie [aid flat utc>from the I aft day ofthut Parliament. So that we fee the imprifoning, fineing , and preffing of the oath by the high Com- miffion,hangeth notonely upon that bloudy aft for defence of Popery, repealed by theftatute kws of the Land, but is alfo dire&ly againft that very sdt of Parlia- ment or ftatute from which their commiflion is foun- ded,as (hall be more clcarely demonstrated in an other place. But this fufficicntly fheweth how egregiouflie they abufe the Kings authoritie, and wrong the fubjed notwithstanding of all this.

It is a wonder that B. Whit gift will fide with Pighi- us againft CMarciltus Patavint+s fin fetching aground from Peters killing of Ananias & Saphira J for their imprifoning of men 5 might they not afwell warrant the killing of them, for they kill many of them : For that aft of Peters was not done ( as the learned anfwer wellj by an ordinary power, but by that extraordinary power, which the Apoftle calletb Swetpiv , and other- 4.28. where a i?^/,that is an extraordinary />/*#/>/^/w<r by the venue of miracles,

5. And laftly, they inforce the Lawes of the Land rhatarefor thefubjeft , againft the very beftfubje&s, naruely/uch as gather themfelves together, to humble their ioules for the finnes of the times , for the fafetic

of

1 Cer.12

vigainjl the Prelacy. 35

of S ion , and the deliverance of the common weale. Againft fuch it is mod tmc^rhere is no LaVc. But thefc men will either huVe one or mike one against them, namely,they muft be charged wi h Conveitic.'es, where as they are neither fuch people as are meant in thefta- ruic. nor doth that law intend to them any moleftation- but rather prefervation , afvvcll as the prefcrvation of the Prince and Scare from the dangerous conventions and riotous aiTemblycs of plotting Papifts. If the inter- pretation of the La vV depend upon the mynde cf the law- giver fas indeed it dothj with what faces can men tame the lawagainlt the innocent for the guiltic ? May not &doenor the Papiftsmeetc & plort mifcheefe againft the Church and State, without the Tenth part of this molelktion? Yes it is too too true , but it is no new thingforthem , and the Prelars to Lappitup-. Yet is it not a wonder, why they fhould hate and oppofc fo much that which is the prefervation of the Church 8c State. Good reafons may be given why they doe fo : But of them afterward. To have the Dozes thus beaten and the Ravens & Pye-Maggorts to prey upon the State, what blefTing can it bring from Go J , what Honour to the King, what crcdite to the Laws, what high eftecmc to the Parliament, what comfort to the people > And fo to the fifth greivance.

F 2 <. Tofi-

$6 Syons TtezL*

5. To/ition^frcrveL

THe priv Hedges of the Laws , and the Hierarchical gt » vernment cannot confisi together.

The Laws of the Land (as hath been often fayd) arc «!f iVi"* ^c inheritance of the fitbjett.

ButthefePrelatspra&ifes, and forged or inforced Laws are «*T/v*px*or quite oppofite to-our Laws , as hath been formerly proved.

How can the libertieof a loyall fubjeft, and the un- juftreftraintof the fame confift together ? How can the difclayming of Soveraigne power , and the imbra- ting and obeying of ir ftand together > How can the fubfeription to the Articles of Religion ( which oncly coneeme the true Chriftian Faith and Do&rine of the Sacraments,! and the fubfeription to books, contayning many things contrary to the worctof God(as a number of Popilh Rites and mens devifes) confift together ? As unnatunll heate confumeth the inbred or naturall heatc and radicall rooifture of the bodie 5 So the un. naturall Laws of the Prelats, eateup and confumethc power of the Lawes of the Land. Yea their Laws are not onelyworfe then theCanon Laws fwhieharc badd enough ) but worfe then the laws and constitu- tions of the very worft times of our Nation under the high command of Popery , which will appeare by the! comparing of the Canons of that Counfell of Oxford houldcn by Stefhen Langton Archb.of Can. 28c. yeareii agoe. There it was decrced,that none fliould be ex- communicate

tAgainft the TreUcy. ty

communicate where the fault is not apparanf 3 Et won mfi Canonic a monitione precedent e , -jnlejfe they be Cano- nicallyjhat is thrice admemfrcd. But the Prelats and their Officers accompt none apparence at the firft to be a pregnant contempt , wirncfie the Oxford anfwer to pa,. -i# thePetirion : So that forthwith they excommunicate, yea fome times they fett a day of Appearance, and ex- communicate the partic before the day ; And this wc will avouch. There alfo it was decreed, neprefume?n judices ejfe ejr aclores , Thjt nor.efcould take upon them to be )f4dgc$yaBors>AKd accufers . But this they doe, when the judge dcaleth ex ef/tcto.Wc could inftance in many other of the like nature, but a raft is enough : yea doc they not exceede the height of Popery in this , that thcrc,an Appcale was allowed to every man^to that fu- preame courtc of the man of Gnne. But they op- pofe and hinder the juft Appeale of the Kings iub- lefts to a higher Courtc, without exception. And fo much for this point.

vv

<5. ToJitioTL-^ proved.

E have now to prove, //;*/ tke loyalty of obe- dience to the Kings Ma)effieandhts L>ws) cannot fofibly Hand Vitth the obtdteme to tie Hierarchies

Can a man ferve two Mafters or obey two Lords of oppofnc commands I As the Heavens conraync no Sunncs bur one; nor a Kingdom no Kings bur one: So a people cannot obey any Laws, but inch as arc at one •ajidunuie with thcmfclvcs. If the Pielats pridiic,

F J And

38 Syons Tlea^

and Injundions extort or enjoyne one thing, and the laws of the Land , and the good of the King require \ another thing oppofite to that , who can obey both ? Yea who can obey the Prelats , but he maketh himfeif a Tranfgyt(for to the King and the La fas ; As for in- ftance,it is ilrai&hily forbidden by the Laws of theLand (efpccially by that oath of allegeanccj whereuntoalL! the Kings fubjeds are fworne ^ either impiicitlic orex-- plicitlie)jT/W nofrraignepo^oer^auihoritie or yirifdiBton r.E'i&.i. (and more particularly of the Pope of Rome ) fra/l it efta- *• 4#<M ■ blifhedycoumenanced by ^ordjOuMtnance, preaching , pri- vi ledge jr any other Deed, under the Pajne of Praemunire. And if after con vidion any perfbn orperfons thus a- gair.c offend > then be or they fcxllinicurre the paines, for- feit ures , judgments and txecutions , due to high treafon. Now that they derive their aurhoritie from the Pope; carry thcmfelvcs as Popelinges; haveail the power (if not more then they had under the Pope ; ) exercife a full Popifh power over fubjeds in their meanes, per- I ions and confeiences ; and plead for the derivation of ] their Epifcop. authoritie in print from the Popetlt is as j clcareas the light. As for the chageof fupremacie,it can not make a body that is naught in it felfe,andc6tinuing the fame to be good. As for their writings and Sermons againft the Pope and his ufurped power , ic may beanfwered , quid verba au-diam, cum fa ft a vi- deam? Their words crofle their adions. Yea,itisto be feared,that the Popes fupremacie , if it could be as gainefull , would pleafe manie of their palats better then the Kings. Since then it is thus, it may invincibly be concluded, that dfabieft cannot both obey tbtmandtbi LaVcs. Fur-

tAgainfl the Trelacy. 5P

Furtberitisina&ed 'as we hauelhcwedby a<ftofg Uw 6t Parliament )Thatallthc Prel-tes tvrttts for exentjeof heir )urifdiliion JlxwU runne ( as hath bene fhcwecU ottntketr o^n naves and with their own feates y but in be Kings name and under the Kinp feafe. But they in heirowne names, and with their owne fealesfignc ite, attach , and imprifon, laying the burthen of :heir tirannie upon the1 King: if at art k time they eeme to be afteftcd with the miferks of the par- ies, whereof they are the onelic caufe. It can- lot ftand with the elemencie of a roiall heait to -exe or imprifon his loiall fubjedts for ferving of he fame God whom he fervcth , and for denying )bedience to the \ ciic ihings that are contranc to 3odslawes, the foveraigne power of the Kingand aws of the land. As it is then againft all law, rcafon nd cquitic, that the fub) efts are thus vexed and vrongedj lb the ferving of fuch writts and warrants >y purfuivants , and the alTiftancc by conftables and )thcrs y is injurie to the fubjeft , violence to helawes , and an crfront to the King. For the learing whereof, Stmfons Cafe is upon record, vho was cleared by the law, becaufe the Confhblc inder the prelates warrant, was adjudged by law to >e out of bis place but of4this more hereafter. And thus hepoint is claered,thatyealdtng obedience to fuch vrittsor warrants confiftteth not with obedience to he Kingand his lawes.

U is farther cleared by being flatlie oppofite to he Kings prerogative , thatanie Coutts Uouldbec? ** Uth'-9- wept Of jurifdidion excrcifed in his realm but in ihe

ngi

40 Syvns PletL*

Kings name , and by an efpeciall grant. Inftance theludgesCommiffions oioier and Terminer , and fo of the reft : but the Bilhops and their officers hold their Courts and exercife their jurifdi&ions not in the Kings name , nor byaniefpcciall grants but in their owne name intruding upon his Majefties prerogative roiall 3 inforcing Churchwardens an4 Sidemen to ferve as inftrumeats againft the fame.

Further no fubj eft can both obay the Kings laws*: and the Prelats Courts : becaufe they judge , 01 exercife jurifdi<5tion by deputies as Chancellours Officials , Arcdeacons. This is firft an intrenching upon, the Kings prerogative : for none but the Kingcan delegate, or fubftitute a judgein hisplace efpeciallie if the place of judicature be of a high nature ( as the Prelats is 3 if it were right ) but thefe Prelats committ their counterfeit Keyes often to fuch Cerberean Por/miaslhutt the gates upon Chrifts Freinds, aadini tertaine his foes.

2. This deputarion is againft the, nature of an office of confidence or trufi (as the Lord r*T#/<*/# fpeaks verie learnedlie to this pointj as it is ferfena//y inherent^ foitmuft be perfonally difcharged, & not tranfported to an other, as he inftanceth in the office of theism Ch&ncelL of England, or any other judge : who nevci madenorcanmakeadeputic j except they have fom< fpeciall claufe, contained in their original grauntj and then alfo it is verie doubtfull (faith he) that this is fo3ii

itfvHfM. isclearefrom.theftatuteofHenr.8*by which it is pro.

<4f>« *4* vided that the Archbifhop caunot take to himfelf ifof. fragAneot affiftantBifhop (much lefle can he depute an

infe

zAgamsi the Prelacy. yx

inferiour judge ) but by the Kings efpeciall graunr. Now whether are nor all thar fubmitt themfelvcs to the judicature of fuch courts (kept by the Prelats de- puties) rranfgrcflbrs agiinft the true nature of jurifdi- ftion,obfcrvcd in all orhcr courts of the Land, and at- fo againft the Kings fole prerogative ? Further who foevcrgivcth his body to the Prelats imprifonment or ycelds his goods to their fineing ( except it be upon ir- refiftablc violence, whereby he becoms a mcer pafllvc. i. He nullify cth many wholefom laws, whereby it */*** . A\u- decreedthat Ecclefu'tu lilyirifliBion rr.iy not itnprtfon or jf,^ jj nA[ \fttt Any fines ipon the t:h,gs fub'yefs , except it he vfpnvu.hit*. change of pen.ince. Yea they loofc not onely their owne JJgJl'V Privilcdgc, bur they quittc the inheritance of all their r 6. fellow-fubjerts,fo far as in them lyes, and keep ftill in force that curfed cruell ftatute, extorted from Henr.4. againft the people of God, which (2% wchave fhewed) hath beeneagaine and againe repealed , asunjuftand intollcrable. It' Naboth would not yceld his vineyard tttim.u. to his King,and that upon reafonable conditions, be- caufe in fo doing he fhould have broken a ftatute ; or if the Kings (iibjcdfa ftood our in the matter of Ioauc that they might ©bey the King in keeping of his laws intyrc, (for they made it appeare to all thar it was not want of love or unwillingnclTe to part with their mo- ny:) how far fhould fubjccls be from obeying fuch commands as countermand the laws , cftablifhe an ufurpxi jurifdittion> deprive the King of his loyall obedience, &: the people of th?ir right. As for thedan- Igcrof rcfiftingthis ufurped power, there is none*/** j*- re, howfocver theft men if *firpdtipn make it thcii

G trade

4* Syons Tlesu

trade to affii<5t the Kings fubj efts de facto ; but the laws which are the Privi ledge of the fub)e8s , the life of the Landed, true obedience to the King, fhould be more I precious to a true harted fubjed, then liberty or life; itfelf- and what a man would doe for the defence of his life , he fhould doe in the defence of thefe., For the lawfullnefle of this defence , we produce bothi the Laws of the Land, and the Counfell of the learned I according to the Laws. For the former, if the lawes ina&ed &fo ofteconfirmcd,do inhibittall fummons, afTaults,attaching of the body , imprifoaing or fineing but by due courfe of the law of the Land, then all the Prelatscourfes in the above -faid particulars , may and: mull: be tcRRcd quoad pojje (becaufe they are not legall, but againft the greatcharter)but the former is true,ther- fore the latter.For further proofe hereof, we commend: unto your Honours to review thefe noble ads am6gft many other decreed by that high Court of Parliament Anno 16 10. For this very particular asfolloweth.

1 . Whereas the temporal/ fword "toos never in the PreUts power till the 2. ofHcnr.*. and then ufurped by them Vcitb- out the confent of the commons (for fy^ they tyere truely Ecckjiafticall 5 yet it is again fl the Lawes of God and oj cftheLandjhat they flould meddle ^ith civill ]urifdiftionf therefore is an aB p >aft againft it , and the oath ex officio brought in at the fame time.

2. That ftature /. Elizab. c. 1. giving poVcer to the ^ueento^onslitute and make a Commifiion in caufes Ec* clejiafticall is found inconvenient , becaufe abufing that

power

tAgainft the prelacy. 4^

power given to one or more they wronge the fubjeft.

3 . Where .u by vert tie of the ft Mute poster, onely Fee le- ft a ft tea// is graunted; yet by Letters- Patents from the King, unsoundly grounded on the ^ords of the flat uie, they fine, tm- frtfon crt.^htch is a great grief and a ftrong to thefitb'ycl,

4. Where upon deprivation by tie ordinarie yirifdiction gn appeale lyeth ; the ^ords of the commiftion exclude it. For herds no traverfe^ior Vcritt of error after judgment.

5 . The) bind men not onely to appear e from time to time, but alfo to perform "tohat the Court jhafl appoint.

6. Whcre.ts the Canons Vcould charge body, goods, dnd Lands of the fubieB, the how fe tnacled against it, except it jhvuLl be confirmed by act of Parliament.

Thefe cvills and greivances were ferioufly pondered by that Honourableaflembly,and provided againft by theforcfaide acts , but the Remora.Prelats & L$gs of rheir laying, fo blocked up the way , that thefaidadts could not paflc : and rather then they would fuffer the plaguc-foarc of their oppreffing pride to be burft by the maturating cataplafmes ofwholcfem /.m%thcy made afhift to break the King andftate into pccces,a$ they did indeed, to the no fmall griefe of all good liibjccb, to the vexation ( yea allmoft killing ) of the two W//. K'f' ,l,r-

, the indemnifying & dishonouring of the date; for lincc that time what hath profpered with us, Of withthofe whom we have ayded.

U 2 Theft

44 Syons Plea^

Thefe a&s your Honours knowc tobc laVe it felf9 though killed in the (hell by the fiotef pride, and ther- fore we huinbly intrear juftice upon thefe Legicidjs or Law- killers.

Now come we to the latter peece of evidence in the behalf of this lawfull remittance, namely, the cafe avouched under the hand of learned counfell, as fol* lov/eth in his owne words :

TpH<? cafe is, whether the high commifion oftht*> •*" North ^have power to fend a purfitivant to axrefi the hodie of any man-** and hoW farreforth the She* rijfe or other of his 3\iajeflies Officers be bound to af fijlthenu, and Whether each fever all ^Bifhop bating a fever all commiffion , may {calling to him 3. or wot commiffioners} execute the commifion.

This learning U not to-be rubd upon-, tooboldlie , |

yet in my opinion^ the high commifion hath not fuf

f cient Warrant to fend a purfuivant toarreft , becaufe

thefiatmeofMagnaCbarta 5. 30. Nullus liber ho-

mo capiatur vel imprifonemr forbids {as I conceive j

fucharre&s. It Was Simfenscafe 42. €ii$. in which

4trreji the (fonftable in tfffting the pmfuivant Was

flame \ and the offn&er had bis clergie , whereas if

the

tAgainfi the TreLcy. > j 45 the arrejl had beene lawfuli , it had beene murder vide 42. Aft. p. 5- and 24. Edw. 3. Commifwns Br. 3, Whereacommifion "teas granted to diver fe to arrest the bodies of kA.'B. &c. who Were fUndred for felonie; it Wax ruled to be againft the laW: and by the common Uw the bodie of any mar^ Was fee from irnnrifonment- but onely at the fiat" of tbz_s King.

2. The Sberiffe u wife enouoh to infinite him- felfwhatisfitt to doe.

3. J conceive if a commifion be dire Sled to 20. or 20. of them-, at the leaH> and they fue x duplicate or fever all commifions 3. of them-, can- nor fit t in one place and 5. in mother by <vcr- tue of the commifion, Without adjourning the com- mifion to time and place , as one commifion and not to execute it as fever all commifwns.

i I You

4<5 Syons Tlea^

You fee how in clearing of this cafe the fmell of agoatmoketh this honed coilfeller fom what agueifli, but fuch is his ingenuity, & truth is Jo flronge that the cafe in our conceit is well cleared.

To proceede the people alfo ( being inforced to wait upon them J become acceflarie to their finne. ofdifobedience. If that claufeoftheftatutebeob- : jeited , where the King graunteth them authority in as ample manner as they had in the Popes time : it may beanfweredin the firft place; that that proclaimed! to the world , their being to be ^Antichrijtian , and their power to be forr eigne \ for they remaine the fame for matter and forme, that they did before; fu- premacieonely changed. 2. Befides that gcnerall; nullum tempus occrtrrit Regi-it is a lawe cafc,thztgeneralt' words cannot carry away any part of the right of the Crowne: and fuch are thefe words, without any /pe- dal/warrant to leadethem. 3* The grant is onely to rule over their inferionr brethren (meaning the Mi- nistry*.) Which rule (by the way) is dircftly againft* Gods ftatuts- howfoever with the laitie fas they call them) by this ftatute they have nothing to doe. It was truly averred by a Prime judge of the Land,that that, which binds Mlfiould be ajfentedto of alitor by the reprefentative body of all , but what private men do the Prelats call to their convocation ho wfe > or whatvoyce orafliftance have they to or in the con- futations or Canons of the Prelats?

The Prelacie, taking this to confideration 3 pro- cured a ftatute iJEdw.tf. enabling them ( as they,

con-

tAgainJi the Prelacy. 47

conceive) to keep their Courts & exercife jurifdi&ion; But firft , that was ro be done in the Kings name , and iiotin their owne.

Further , all fuch jnrifdiction , is annexed to the Crowne i.Eliz. 1. forbidding all exercife of fpirituall :>ower and jurifdi&ion, without a /pecu// Warrant from :he Crown, and all that doc the contrary, are declared :o be intruders.

The laft inftanccfthousrh \vc might abound; is from he oathes urged by the Prclats, cfpecially rharoath ex officio. By the law of the Land, rhey arc forbidden to put any to their oath, except in cafes matrimo?:ia!lvac\ leslamenury , witnciTe the learned and judicious law- fg^SJ^ yers of the Land. it mmi

As to the oath ex officio , whereby both MUte^141' nifters and people arc vexed and infnared , what pa/. j6. :an be faid, that hath not been laid againft it ? Heaven ^n,Al- tnd Earth is against it ; It is againft the law of God ^ :he law of the nature j the common law ; the Canon [aw,CounfclIs,and impcriall ftatuts. Though the vile- nclle of it , and the cvills enfuing are fufficientlic knowne to your Honours,and to all of undcrftanding; rat we make bold ( under favour ) to detect the c\ ills of it,for our owne and others information.

Firft then by thatroyall Law ofCod^ it is quite cafhei- [/r.4.1, red ; thou flu It /ft care in \udgment Sec. that is, a dz/fedh. '^••9. i^. And how fhoidd a man doe that, when he knowcth not what he fwcareth r Neythcr can he fwearc //; rigbfetafnesybcc&ufc he is forced to betray othcr.vwhich rather then inhoneH man jhou/d doc as a lather Wt- ndflfeth he frouM loofi- bis life.

Fur.

40 Syons 'TUju

Further, the matter is nor of Waight , nor of qualitk (for ir fhould be Criminal/^ ) not of neccflitie ( for j may be other wife cleared \) normaketh this oath rh< end of (Irife • and therefore it cannot be taken i\ yudqrnet dec. A worthy gcmlema being preffed with ar oath agaioft himfelf in an other cafe 5 made anfwer bj a pretty dilemma $ if the thing fuppefed to be doneybe j (innejhen muft I ?:ot accufe my felfe^ and if it be no 'Jitm there is no ground of an oath.

2.1tisagainftthe law of nature regiftred in thi Civill law , 1{emo tenetur prodtrc ftipfum^ if a ma« muft not betray another , much leffe himfelf.

3. The Canon law from the civill law taketh fa much light, as to fee and commend the equitie q the 2(01; cfaidmaxime. WitncfTe Gratian the Cancnij in the oath ofSixtus the 4.

4. Asfortheconconrfe of nations , they utterlitj abhorre this oath and avoid it, on ely fuch excepted, as live under the Beaft, groaning under the burther of this blooddic oath : neither doc moft of the Po- pifh fubjeft themfelves to it, witncfTe the State o; r*wV*,and the reft of Italy and others. A blood oath the learned trulie call it.

5. Without an accufer ( faith Trajan e ) there ism ApidPl'm. place for an accufation : for that is antvill example! hitl

Lib. 10. V a 1 j 1 r- *

£///J.9fr. he J and not heard of in our age.

6. How injurious it is to thelawesof the landt andlibcrtieofthe fubje<fts5 matter Fuller hath fullii difcovered in the defence of his clients. The be- giningofitamongft us, wasfromaftatutc ofHen. 4. for vexing and punifhing of the Lollards fo caller

beinj

tAgaintt the "Prelacy. 4^

being the true chriftians indecd,the urging whereof is by a Statute of H.8. juftly marked in the forehead £ Ht*T* 4> thus : K^in examination ■ pon captions interrogatories eye. Of the corinuance of h: oath,the Lord Vcrnlam late **• Krj,f» Chancellor of England did utterly diihke. It is contrary Jft*' (faith he; to the la'tos of the Land, and Cujionte of the bing- dome^that any man fo^uid be fo ctdto a.cufe him ft If ^ cfpe- biafly being surged w'whowx the grounds of accufation,de- clared in tpfo Can fe initio , \1\tbe1e \ entrance ef the iifc.4. fj*/ir}according to [he Canon ; noncH a quifiiontbus in- Tltu choandum , they mufl not begin tie plea Vcith quefttens. This was the complaint of that holy Martyr M. Lam- bertjhe greived to fee them call for a booke upon his firft appearance ; as though a man fhould no fooncr fpeake then fwearc. Further the aforefaid nobleman averrcth , that by the Lrvs of the Land , a man is not bound to accufe htmftlfin caps oftreafon. Qt eft ions and torments ( faith he) be put and inflitfed upon fjrne perfons, rather for fafeguard of the King tr flat r,/ hen diftovery of the Crime. In ether capitafl cafes , no oath is offered to 'the delinquent, nor yet permitted to lim ; As forC) imina/I 'caufes^ not 1 apita '/, or in t afii ofccnfcunce and 1 quit it \ de- 1 j in the flarre Chamber And Court (f ' 'hd 1 r jhae w an oa:h required , but how .? by lading of a li of \cm- pLi it, M t tin a legall accufation ts framed againfi the par- fnd the Which the plaint if cannot goe, t. or tl e dtf n- >'lbe urqed. But firfl to give an oath , andtbtn to $f upon flying fans or fecrett ^tttnCt 1 b no

' the civi 'I I l* $ J .dr* f. at He > epugnant to the com- mon La\\\ And thus farre that noble m in. In .1 f*rth* enUrjnquifttion (CmhCaniiiuv) articles Jb$M be < 1

// U

»iqmfiuon$ t0 ty defendant to he inquired of , and the names and Cre, Sum. . , J r , * * '. y ,.

lur. C4«M. cadences of the WitneJJes again ft him , permitting him f Lib .4 . make rep lye for himfelf

Tttul 19. 7# ^he imperiali ftatutes arc clearc againfl: \t\no man

Cod. Hb.4> is bound to give evidence against himfelfe.

c „ 8. ForCounfells and Fathers , they arc copious;

Bwcfci. Chrift (Tahh a Father,) dealt notfo with Iudas ; for, not

Cw/i. bci^gaccifed , he did not cast him out. And with that

Ambr.' woman in ihe Gofpell , Chriil did take a legall courfe;

iC#r. up.} ^here are thine accufers ? yea a Heathen judge , tookc

10m e. t^ls jCgajj courfc with Paul;U'/7^ thine accufers are come

Afoz;. I fyi/l htare thee. No example for it in fcripmrc , but

>uih. 25. r^at °^ Caiphas^djuxing Chrift in the name of the l.virg

4;. Cod : upon which Beza (heweth us how tjrannc** and

uri)ufl ' fuch an ad)uration is.

From all this, it is more then manifeft, that the take- ing of thefe oathes , and mere particulate of this „ oath ex effic to 5cannot pofliblie (tend with obedience ro the Laws. Yea, though u be guiloed and fugered with thefe daubing and deceiving t times , fo farre as it is agre- dole to the la^\ For h is altogether ( as hath becne (hewedjrepugnanttothe Law, to offer ir, or to take it. It hath fo often been call over the barrc of the com- mon law, that wc thinke *hey (hould now be afhamed to offer it.

To conclude, we may anfwer being preffed with if,

Vifau de as lhc Miniefters of AjfrUk did in the like cafe -, Hum-

ptrfequ: quid bruta irrdtionalia puteiis nos &c. What doe you

VmA. Mnke 1*5 to befavage and unreafonable Creatures , that Vtc

ftould faeare to a paper \not knowing Vehat it contayneth i

And fo much for this point.

7. P*fi-

Agamjl the Prelacy m 51

ySPofitioit^ prove}.

NOw we come to the 7. grievance, where we en- deavour to prove,//u/ of arlthe evills inflitleiy and of a/I the good lindrcd y(ince Anno 600. one or more of the Hierarchic hive been a principal! caufc.

The proofeof rhis point aauft be by induftion of particular inilances, fekcted from the Hiftories of the Kingdomc; wherein we may be the breifer, became we know your Honours, (by your owne induitrie and ex- periencej to be better acquainted with your owne Hi- ftorics then we can make you.

To begin with AuHme, of whom the Papifts boaft, that he tsthe Fat hi r of our Religion, called by the Lova- nisis,our Engltjk AfojHe. Of his Fatherhood or Reli- gion we have title caufe to boaft , nam hjtret lateri Lc~ thd/is arundo • the fpl inters of his plantation , fltcke yet ncurfdes.Hc may be called indcedc with Gregory his Vf. PdterCi'rcmontaruin.the Father ft <; which

xingfowne by him > like evillwttdes they g owe up with increaie , aud could ucver to 1 his time be rooted jp. Hiftoriesrelate,how upon hisarri\all he erected lis Matters cWrr.s namely, the banner of the Croflc, md having feated himfelf, would ncedes put his Popifll itesupon the Brifiifincs and Scotts forar rhat tunc hey were free from Romifli Crcmonies:;ttiit not | •ay ling with them, thou ;h thebufines were b.-K pith a legion of fai ned he insinuates him

mother way, by procuring wherein Ins Pi

11 j

yi Syans ?le*^

likepridc,beingonvnfivxtoall , was checked and re- « jc&cd of all , by which ( his choller being ravfed & \ inflamed with ddlre of revenge ) he threafned l| them with the devouring fwerd of the Pagan , and; Guliim ^C WAS as S°°^ as n^s word;#*/w accerfit adexdem Athel- - Wefmov. fiidumjhe called that PAgdn king cf Northumberland ^ to i the bloody maffacre of Gods Minifters , and poore: harmcles,& unarmed people. So it was not a Prophe- fie as fome would colour it, but a bloody projed ; for- ting very well with Romes new foundation in En- Gtrvdfw S^an<^e Sanguine Janfforum , dorobcrnenjis ecclefiafrima-* nibienfis it tiam obt inuit>thc Church of Canterbury faith one cb- otjjstmpenA- tayned her primacy, byfhcdding of the blood of the Sain&s,Romeislaydin blood, & mud bath andfwelll in bloodjtill her owne blood be given her to drinke, yet for all this it may be faid of him , wi h fome reftric-? tion as it was faid of his Mafter,^ ^as the be si cf thdt band that fucceeded him ,faue a very fcw,whofe eyes Gcd inlightened and whofe hearts God opened to fee and hate the fcarlett ^hooreyo{ whom fome did feale iheir hatred with their blood. This willevidently appearc if we take but a viewers wc meane to doe, of his fuc- celTorsthe very Firebrands cf the Si Me , what combi- nations whh forraigne powers, what v^iTalJing of ihc State to forraigne j u ri id <clion, what trcafons, whati1 toflingand banding of Kings and Crowneshave they been Authors of ? what civil! combuftions ? what bloody braules among ihemfelvcs ? what inftigation of the fubj efts again ft their Princes ?what alienation of Princes hearts from their fubjc£h? wrhat tirannyovej: Kings and paopk?what definition of ihe State, what

vexing

•Againjl the Trelacy. 53

*exing. pininge and bloody bouchering of rhe Saints.' vhat Terrs and impediments of- all good in Church nd common wealth hath growne and yet doc growe romthis/v/rr Rcote fycz what ofallthefe have not heir rife from \\Uo that it is verified of them.which is aid of rhe Egyptian Peach tree the brnnchs are firfe then the roote. For neither was his pompe fo gor- *ious; his attendance fo great, nor his furniture fo glo- ious,neither his fervants fuch roarers,his :n;ne fo car- ied,nor his letUm fo (turfed both for matter and man- ner friti Pipifr devtfes , nor die ordinances of God fo ovcrlaidc with the rubbifh of Romifh Ceremonies. So that verified is the Proverbc in an tviS genuattcn fit- ium LQtieth the better :yca our ownc times prochymc it that rhe UJfofthe Ffierarchie be the VearB* But to goc on with our proofe , wherein we muft be breifc to (hun tediouihes.

Thcodorus the feventh from Auftin in nothing naturing his name , being gotten into the chj)rey begin to play the Rex, or fas one faith J all his regies over his brethren , placing and difplacing at his plea- fure,in liefpight of the King , fuch as were placed by the King • here Homes right hand begun to workc again ft t,bc Kings of England; By this Theudort was fett afootc,*hc latin Service, Mattes., Ceremonies, Lcrtc- nics,wi(h all the reft of the Romifh trafh.

LAmbrigbr^YMfonbrtvfo, the 13. from Auftin fell U foulc of trcafon againft Offk the K.ng, upon which he ]fTfj. tranflated the Sea of ),XO Luhjttld% tluie be

the prankes of the Piclatcs.

H \ In

54 Syons Vlco->

In the times of the 7. Kings of the Saxons which be ly.it the beginingsof higher attempts: For when Egbert had made of all the forefaici kingdoms 5 one intire Monarchic , the Lord ftirred up the Danes a firey , barbarous and cruell nation ("after fome attempts)to feaze upo the kingdo which they brought to fuch a flaverie , as the like was ne- ver read off: and what was the caufe why God gaue: them up to fuch a fearfull judgment i the learned tell us for their idoUtrie , and fuperflition , batched* and tnereafed by the faelling f relates , whence tffued alt manner of ' profanejfe , yet in both thefe they came fhortof ours 3 tofhutte np this centurie : may your Honours be pleafed to obferve what a pickle this clergiehad put the State into,by that oration of king Edgar whom Dunttane that notorious jugler and forcerer by his lying drcames , and fained mi- racles feduced mightily, to the hurt of him and his. fubje&s.

Now let us take a fcantling of the Uft Centurie of Prelacy, from William the Conquerour to our times ; wherein for further demonftation of our propounded greivace, we can fhew them to bee the fewell, fire 3 and bellowes, ofallourgr£at«ft evills-

To begin with the Conqueft. As the idoldtru "and Superjlition (as bath bene (hewed ; of their prede- cdforswas the caufe why God gave-up this nation to the Danifh cruelty, fo hiftories witnefle toge- ther with thatvifion, of king Edward a litle before his death, how the idlenes , avarice, difiolute life , and overlording of the clergie ( whence pro- ceeded

%Againft the Prelacy. J 5

ceded all impictic, loofnefTe, andiniquitieofthe lity ) were the verie caufe why God gauc the nati- on up to the intollerable tyrannie of the Normans, thereby lawes, liberties , houfes of Nobility, ■nd all liau sand conditions were either raced, or pflaved ; and if a body may be known by the head , ft the pra&ife of Stigaadm and the men of his Sea :>eak in the firft place for all, who ben (ding

tch, and extreamly greedy invaded /as it is written) $e Sea of Canter bur it by S/wfl/J/^bein^both B. cf\}\n- befterz^d Abbot of another place: but from him to mq frank that cenqucrwg VrcUtc % for as a learned 'nttquartt faith wirnlv , and truly, He though it all rafost, t*at bejhould make a Conquest of the EtArh c ! i \ his UU aft ir bad made a conquest of the Ktng.

0 r ttJ .

His fucceflori^w/^jwrconfirming that Do&rine

f Dri'tlls 'd$;d\ni\ Mmiftcrs manage, affronted the

ling to his free, threatening tocxcomumcarchim in

isownequarrell,yeafor all the Kings wittandva-

^ur, he made him fceke all the corners of his faddle

itled him from his right , for which testes of

Sivitie.rhc Pope honoured htm highly , in giving

mi to rirtat his light foote , with this Encomte , ht~

ludamui hitnctn erbe noftro , lanquam alter tn^ orbis Pm-

yn ■ I t •! ;<clofethts manmlhtn ohromve f'fhcare^u

m nhtr World.

What diiicntion^wai^and bloodftied ovciflowcd

IC Land in the time of King Stephen , who invaded

ic Crown c contrary to his oath , given to Maude

Emprcflc daughter to King I km. i. and

own:

5<S Syons Tlcsu

owne Coufin, all this was from the advife of Williar Corveil, Atchbiihop of Canterbury , being backed b the Pope,rhe Farher of fuch Children , this flickelin Prelate contrary to his faiih given to the faid Em prcffe,ftoleaway the peoples hearts,from their Nativ Soveraigne;whence ilTued fo much evillof finnc an. judgmenr,as perjury, rapine,bloodfhcd,oppreffion , a made the Land a dktjp ofmifery.

Did not Tburjiane Archb.work the King a great dea of mifchcife 6c trouble > getting the Pope to threatcr the King with excommunication , if he were not ad mitted to the Sea of Yorke upon his owne termes And fo entered, maugre the Kings refolution.

What a deale to doe made that proud Popclinj Beckett to King Henry the fecond,and all the ftate$ Hi caufc fas his owne favorites affirme ) being no bette; then patrocinic of murtherers , and other vile male factors of the Clergic , whom he would not fuffc (contrary to his owne edicl: and oath)to be tryed by the Laws of the Land, having committed (as it is recorded; in one yeare a too. feverall murthers upon the King fubie&s. To fuch as were arraigned of thcm,he took* \ upon him to be afolum , or fan&uary , but as ht ' brought himfclf untodiferved dcftru&ionfthough the 1 form of his cxecutio is not to be approvedXo his piidt I and rebellion was tr -anfi.bfi&ntuit led by the Pope , ( whe ' can make every thing of any thing) unto an ldolatroui and blafphemous/*///-Jfc//>. This plagued the Lane worfe then all the reft , for as it is treafon againita King toenterrayne his rcbdl under the name of at Honourable and Lawfull fubjett , fo it is high tteafoa'

againfl

sAgainft-tbe Prelacy, yf

againft God, to mike an Idoll of a Trayter, (as Beckett was) whofe name of blafphemy fo refounded every where, (as one faith well) that the name cf Chiijl V?*/ quite forgotten.

Come we now to William B. of Ely ( ihe Popes Legate and Vicar , fitft Chanccllour of England, and then Viceroy in King Richards abfence J what port he kepr > whit tyranny he excrcifed over all the Kings fubie&s, not forbearing the Kings ownc brethren, Hi* (lories make plain, in fo much as one faith well, that the La'ttte found him mjre then a Kingy and the Clergie mere then a Pope. As he devoared all where he came wiih his *reat pompous trainefno fewer then a roco.or 1600. lorfc; fo he had undone the. Sure, if he had not been taken off.

Let Steven Langton take the next place , whom :he Pope made choice of, ut virum fitcnuitm (as [>ne faith) fuch a one as ^Kould beard Kings, rob churches, wd kcepe the people in f!.:jerie , whofe entrance being •cfifted by King Iohn, both he and his realm were rrterdifted by the Pope, who enarmed the French King, with the pardon of all his finncs, and the jCrOwnc of England for his paines,if he would invade fiim in this flrait.

The reft of the Popes lymbes ( like traytors as they were ) fided with the FrcnchKing ; the Nobilitic jhrunkc, and the commons wavered , not knowing vhat to do, whereupon the King(notwithftanding his Princely and magnanimious parts, was fo mated with

I that

jo zyons Tieiu

that mifcrcant and danted, partly with thcfearc of forraigncand domefticke foes, and partly with the jea- loufie of his fainting adherents, that he was forced to vaflal himfelf , and his Kingdom at the Popes foote, wherein though the King ihewed his weakenes , yet his heavy and many burdens plead hard for his excufe. And as we cannot read the ftory without much pitty- ing that worthy , ( though unhappy Prince) fo we can not but abhorre thefe treacherous Prelats, and blame exceedingly the inconftancie and difloyaltie of -his fubje&s. Hence bepleafed to obfervc (right Honou- rable) Vvhat an evillthhgit is for fubjefls tlwough their I fufillanimitie to leave their Soveraigne in the hands cf Vcickednes , it maketh them often doe what they nei- ther would nor fhould.

This inftance of this abufed and murthered King is the rather to be thought on,by reafon of the French Kings refolutionagainft the State , who unadvifedfy brought him in^ he refolved to deftroy all the nobilitie and their howfes that had taken part with him againft their native Soveraigne , befides the other tyrannyes, which the French would have pra<5fcifed , fo that we fhould take notice how that one brand out of the Popes Chimney had not onely fett on (ire , but had all- moft confumed the Kingdom to alhes, if the Lord had not by an extraordinary difcovery from a French #- cennt on his death bcd,delivered the Nation.

To come to Henry the thirds time , wherein that blsedy Bifap /for fo the ftory calleth him)Peter of Win- chefter, fct himfelf, with one Peter nivalis, the Kings

Minien

tAgalnft the TreLcy. fp

Minion , to plotr the ovenhrowe of the beft defcrve- ingfhtes-mcn yea of the King and (tare itfelf , in- stance his prz&ife againft the life and honour of that well defcrvcing worthy Ht&trtJEaAt of Kent, and Lord chcife Iuftice of England, the very fsord and fafeguard cf bis Prince , fas one calleth him) both againft for- rcigne and domefticke foes, yet becaufe he could not fndurc the pride & treachery of the Prelars by falfc <5c forged criminarionSjthey brought him under the Kings difpleafurc. By rcafon whereof he fufFered manygrci- vous things, and was often in danger of his life , but the good hand of God was with him in extraordinary deliverances. And at laft ( being rid out of the way into Wales ) that the Prelats might the more freely workc, they and others their Confederates 3 put the King upon fuch evill courfes , as had almoft undone himfelf,and the State of the Kingdome.

Concerning the aforefaid Peter of Winchefter, one Roger Bacon moved a pretty qucftion to the King, What things doe Sea-men mo ft feare ? Stormts and quiche- fands ffaidthe King, or fuch like. No ( faith Bacon ) but Petrus de Ruptbusjor they are the Roches indeed that make Shtp-Vvracke of the state.

Fd&ard thefirft alfo and his government, wanted not his (hare of hard meafurc from the Prelats, for(be- fides that univcrfall obedience which Robert Win- chelfey Archb. of Cant, ycaldcd to the Popes Edict, againft contribution to the King in his VVarrcs ) he ftood out with the King upon his owne termes of re- conciliation , pcrlwading abfolutc obedience to the

I 2 PopC

60 Syons TletL*

Pope,and not to the King. Alfo after much intolle- | rable tyranny excrcifed over the Kings people, and de- \ nyingtocall the King his Lord y in his letters, he plot- ted rreafon with fundryof thcnobles,againit the Kings perfon, intending to put him befides the Crowne , and tocaft him in prifon; whereof when he was accufedfi from the Kings owne mouth, and could not deny if, 1 he fell on his face with teares, begging pardon fronti the King.

In Edward the feconds time;the favourites had moft of the domineering power in their hands, yet we read thkt the Bifhop of Coventry was a great favourer and abetter of Gavefton.

As for Edward the third haveing great warres ifti. hand,and Handing in neede of ayde, he called a Par- liament at Yorke,wherunto/i?/w Stratford Archbifhop of Cantcrburie,denied to come : neither would he fuffer any of his Bi(hops,to make their appearance, &:. allforfeare thathelhouldnotbefuffered toered his croiTe^by which Popifli peevilh tricke and rebellious! part, the King was fruftrated of his ends , and the State therby endangered. It is true that this Edward was indeed fas he wascalledj Malleus Romanorum. Yet in his latter dayes that proud Courtney made litle ac- count of him: and fo difdainfuliy affronted his brother Duke of Lancafter, and the Earle of Northumberland fwho took the defence of Iohn WickliffeJ that he en- raged the maddc people againft the faid noble men^fo that they avenged themfelves upon their houfes and houflioldftuffe.

Thus your Honours may fee in what account tfcc

bran*

%Againfl the VteUcy. 61

branches of the blood Royal are with bloodic & re- bellious Prelats. Who will neither fparethem(if they maintainethe Gofpell)nor fpare that good commo- ditie,which fhould fave our foules.

Richard the 2, was no better iervedby thefaucie Bifhopof Norwcidge in levying fottldiers atthc chargeofthe fubjefts to fight the Popes ba: (contrarie to the Kings command) he was fent fO't by the King, but he refufed to obay , affirming th.xi fting on cr action were more nccc(fdrieytbdn to goe J: wi'.h the King D it might le to fmiU pnrpofe.

To £^oe on with Henry the-f.fuppoitcd 5c put on by thefe men to difthronc his matter a brave Pi:: but much abufed.

They laid hold on the occafion the rather, becaufe he hearkened fomwhat to wickliffcand was not for Romcs tooth. Theyfirft (lined up a rebel- lion in Ireland which the King went in perfon to fupprefTe, but before his return they had ftolnea- way the hearts of his fubjefts, and (et them upon hisfubjccl,the Earle of Darby, neither weighing the glorious mOTiorie of the grandfather, nor the theunrepayabledefert of the princely father; but thirfting for the blood of the fain efts they advanced the faid Earlc to the crown : that by this they n. both rid the King out of the way , and hauca I for ever obliged ro patronize their blooddie dcfigriS

ift Gods people. And this they did effect, alter the death of Richard they incited the King and prevailed with him to cnactthat blooddie inquifitid oath, which became the very (hambles & butchering hotife of Gods people. 'I his

6i Syons Fleas

Thus the fupreame Magiftrate ( who fhould have bcene the hreath cfhispecfie) was for the maintenance of an EarthlieCrowne, brought to bath in the blood' ofhisbeft people.

This he would never have done , were it not for pleafing of cruell Arundel Archb. of Cant, and his crew5who vowed &fware that herald not leave onec flip of Prof effort in this Land.

As fome of the famedifcent {to their title Laud) have faid litle leffe of the Puritanes fas they call them) th aforcfaid Arundel and his flnvelings,the King feared.1 more than God and his Word 5 And therefore it is an' heavie yoke for Kings to be yoked with them. He faw no way in his carnal apprehenfion to make the. Growne fticke to him and his , but by facrificeing the blood of Gods people to the perfecutors of the faints. But for all this his otone makers thought to have marred him. Fori?/VW^Archbi(hopof Yorkc waged vvarre againft him 3 and thought to have taken both Crowne and life from him^but he mift of his purpofc, and fo left his headinpawne.

From the time of Henr. the 4. the Prclats ( thus flefhed in the butcherie of Gods people ) went on to a greater height of tyrrannie , adding drunkennes to thirft.

They prevaird with Henr. the 5. to make antm- juft and mifcheivousftatute under pretence of trcafon againft the fervants of the molt High , whom they called Hereticket. That ftatute in regard of the frame may be called Monltrnom^nd blooddte in rclpcft of the end.

The

Agamft the Vrelacy'. £3

The preface of the ftatute ftandcth onely upon trea- ;>n : the bodie of the ftatute runnerh z\\onHereJie,2c'Af™'i' vholift to look the ftatute may at the firftvicwdif- erne the head or root difcording with the bodie, and ne branches of the bodie , oppofing one an other (as rdinarily wicked decrees confift of non-fence and Ifconfufion for fo the wife God taketh the foolifh 1 their owne Police : To go no further ; witnefle AnnoiSc;. ur late Non-fence Canons (to lay no more of them. 'Bur D the faidfhtute a little further, the purport and end thereof, was to infnare and calumniate the Profcfibrs f truth. For it is a common maxime amongft Ro- lifh forgers,^ make the pro f eft on of the true P*ith{wbhh fv> ca.V Lere//ey andtreafin to be convertible termes.

That the Prelates were the prime movers, yea

le inftigaters and procurers of this ftatute, it is clear

om the matter, manner, preface, and end of the

lid ftatute: for neither could they inftance anie

jch apparanccoftreafon, nor did the King feare

inie fuch trcafon • but onely their hatred of Lcl.irdy

as they called it and feare of the truths prevailing

^as the ground of it; and the thing itfelfe,a toade

igcndred in the Bifliops braines : witnefle that

laufe in the body of the ftatute , o^/ the inflance ry

vqttefttf theOrdtnarie &c. but what commodiric

r comfort hadthefetwo Kings from thofc fuggeft-

. dand inforccd cruelties, by thefe firic Biflior

J urelicthc evill overcame the foppofed good , for

, icy by thefe fimfter means , indevouring to make

tyc crown faft upon the heads of them and theirs,

rovoked the Lord in his blood- revenging- fud

mciu

64 Syqns Tletu

mcnt , to take of -their fucceflbrs with Fifheokei.

Asforthcmfelves, it may well be faidofthem, ( efpeciallie of Henrie the 4. ) that the (lormes of their troubles, and fires of fear es, were hotter and greater in life and death then the fires and fryings of the faincls wherein they wereconfumed toafhes.,

This maybe a good caveat to all chriftian Princes,, nottofaften their crownes, nor to fixe their tents; by the cords of the prelates counfells : for it is re- markable and obferved by fundrie , that never a King counfeBed nor State fxva^ed by them, could Jt and or con-< tinue long in good temper or etfeemes.

Aftronomers obferve and experience proves, that when Orion fetteth with the funnc,and the Hyades rife with him ( though it be in thebegining of May ) fuch nipping frofts , (harp haile, and tempeftuous. ftormsarife,thatthe feafon feemesto be changed, and that becaufe thefe ftarrs be of a tempeftuous na- ture,changing the ayre, and weakening the fweet &» powerfull Influence of the Sunne , which till he be ridd of their oppofition cannot manifeft his vigour* Iuft fo the malignant and tempeftuous power of the- Prelacy, doth fo impede and intercept thefw cet in* fluence of a Princely temperature and difpofition, that doe what he can, all is like to be undone, till he 1 leave Taurus or the houfe of the horned beatt^ which being forfaken, all diftempers vanifh & his gracious clemencie moves fweetly in the Gemini of the Church and common-wealth. Yea we can hardly < number how many States and Kings, (befidesour owne nationj they have brought either very lowc, or,, to utter ruine. To,

%Againfi the T re lacy. 6^

To go on then with Hcnr.6. Left an iafant , under the age of one ycare^upon whofe harmelelTe head God in hisaccuftomary jultice , laid the temporall judg- ment of the parents guilt. His very infancye , that Skarlert Cardinall Bifhpp of 'Winchester , befprinkled with the blood of Chrilts Martyrs. Yea, the more blood they drunkc,the more they rhirftcd , as appea- reth by the hott andcruell perfecution in that Henries raigne. Bin fo me what lay in their way, namely that good Duke of 'G/o'ce flerjhc Kings uncle , the very fword andihicld of the King and State , whom they mud of neceiliiy have removed.

The Bifliop of Winchefter intended to have mur- thercd him in the citty of London,but that not taking efFcd.a Parliament was called at Bury , where they ai- med at his head, and fo they had it ; but what was the caufc ? Surely nothing, (for all S*t Thomas \JMoores 'egging) but onely this , he was a juft man and a good Patriotr,hatcing the Prelats haughtines , and deceiving /illanics, loving the truth, and maintaining equity.

Where firlt may it pleafe your Honours to obferve :he mettle of the Prelats,in fcrching off fo quickly & fo :afily,not the head of a Catelin or Seunus of a Spencer or Gdisston ,but of a high and nigh Prince of the blood uchan one, as well might be called P.tter Putrid, , the •athcrofthc Country.

Secondly, all men may hence obferve that piety ft londhe, hath beenc,is, and fhallbe,matter enough fo* he Bifhops to make the belt fall, if they can rind opor- univ.But to the point this worthy ml being removed he Bifhops Went on with their fiery paiccutions, till K the

66 Syans Tktu

the Lord lent the fpirit of divifion upon the nation, ftirring up thefe bloody inteftine warrs betwixt the houfe ofTcrke & Lancafter, wherof the like hath fcarce been heard in any nation.

To omitt the particulars (as how many Princes of the blood,Nobles,Knights,Gentlemen , fell in that quar- rell ) In one Battle at Ferry Brigges were flainc ( as men fayj 30000. befides men of note. Thus the Lord inhisjuftice made them inftruments of his revenge one upon anothcr^and who but the pctfecuting Prelats brought all this evill upon the Land, namely the blood of Gods people>as the provoking caufejthe butchering one ofanotherjthe ruine of the King, and his racc3and the fhakeing of theftate in peeccs ? That the Prelats hands were farre in this Kings mifcarriagc, and bloodic broyles enfuing , it is manifeft by their never ccafling- defire,till the good Duke of Glocefter (th^Jvingspro- te&our indeed) was cut of. For it is their genuine di£- pofition, to endure no truftie freind to God , the King or the State.

By this both King and State were open to thofe long enduring , and incomparable evills , tumul- tuous rebcllionsjaifed by Cade & others.

In which troubles one thing is remarkable , as the very finger of God,that notwithstanding thisinteflinc bloodlhed in great abundance , gave fitt oportunity to fonaigne invafion ; yet that all- wife and juft God reftrainedaliforraignes from parting of them, till th*y had fully wrought the Loids revenge ., in flaughte- ring one another. Hence let a natioii addi&ed to Idolatrie and other Unties obferve. That tiie Lord will

make

lAgainfl the Trelacy^ 6f

makconeofthemdevoureancxber , fofa long time before he give them i* p to a forraigne enimie. And Z4k'4,,t6 fucha courfe the Lord kerne: h to keep with us. But rohaftenwhh the point from tho beginning of that ^looddic time , till the /a I Tcrke & Ltmcdster.

were uniied , ircre v.—/ is (4* en, Rtvti $ t

That is fomc fmall peace in the Church , -partlic trough ihe obfeuritie of Profcflbrs,and partlie by the ►nimics working one upon another. Notwithftan- ling the Prelats were Hill doing as they found occa- sion, inftance the murthering of Peav.oeke E:fhop of Jbichefter as it is recorded; after his recantation.

Now toHcnricthe7. in whole time the Lord had jo (boner given reft to the State, than they began to hake warre upon the Saints, making the King himfclf jn inftrument,to fubverr the faith of a poore Prieft,by iis awfull pretence, and mandatorie perfualions, with jhom the lcarncdft of their Clergic could not pre- aile. Immediatlic upon this they carried the mife- ably Educed man to i he tire and burned him. W\is ot thisafearfullcviJIagaintt God and the State , a- »infl the foule of the King, againft both the ibule 6c odicof the partie feduccd i Was not thij> King ( for 1 im great parts; much vailalledin the Honour of his hjcllie,that he could not lave fas wc may ituakfl he romifed his fuppoied convert ? 1 With their fine and bJooddiccourfes they went on, j> the ( IC trouble of the King and king-

■-jine/ik Hillones difcover at large. And howioc ut King heapvd up muv.h rrcaiurc , yet quicftUt after K 2 his

6% Syons Tteo-,

his death it melted as fnow againft the Sunne.

We goe on with Hcnr. 8. the former part, of Avhofc time they made an Aceldama or field ef blood.

How he and all his fubjects were abufed and over- \ runnc by the Prekus,as Gardwer,Bonnery&Woclfey , it | is fo obvious to e vcrie one , and fo fully laid downe in| a bill of con?plaint,calkd tfa beggers fetition, that it is not neceffarie to be infilled upon*

There it is made phine3 that they were too ftrongj -againft the King in Parliament , that no good lawesi eould pafle againft the wicked of the Land , nor nol wicked law againft the poorc Gofpellers could bet flopped.

Winchester gott the King to fitt at the arraignment of holy Lunbert , which he onelic did to humouf thefe blooddie beafts, and to ferve his owne ends.

To be breife , they made him exceedingly to tranf- grefle,fcrvingthemfelves with him , difturbing hia peace^inward and outward, caufing him undefcrvedlic to cut off hisbeit Freindcs, and truftieft fervants, in- ftance Cronftoell^ becaufe they fcrved God and him 3 a< gainft the Prelats pride and tyrannic

As for Jgueene CMary, who fet all in a flame, (he had the fewell from them ; that fed her diftempered difpo- fition againft Gods people. What Honours andPoC k&on3 (he loft , and how trcublcfojric her State anc

bur-

tAgainft the prelacy. tfp

jurdenfome her life was to her 5 it is more then evi- ient.

But what is all rhis to outBifhops mayfomefay, hefe were Popifh Bifhopps ? For aniwer :

Firlt , their doings have fo farre proved the point. j. Oars be no other for order (as wc have proved :hen Popifh Biftiops- They arc garments cut out of the very fame cloth; a paireof fhecrcs /as we fayj went but betweene them ; Onely divers hands have cut them our. And to fay that our Lord Bifhops with all thoit cffcntiall and integrall pans whereof ihey confif- aot Popifh Bs. is a contradidion in aduclc. Thev are inftalled after the fame manner, created with the moft of the fame Ceremonies they arc trimed up m the fame trappings , they have the like attendants , the likc*armcs and obfervancy,they ul'urp the fame power and jurifdittion , and excrcifc the like tyranny over Ministers* and people*

But for further proofe of the point concerning ihcir particulars, be plcafcd .right Honourable) to tak? avicw of their proceedings.

To begin with Edtosri the fixt ( a gracious plant, whereof our foyle was unworthy; who like an other lift* fetting himfelf with all his ftrength about refor- mation,did abhorrc and forbid , th.u gm Msffi fit* fcrmitted to bis o^tne fisier. Further, he was dciirous, not rolcavcahoofcofthc Romifhlkaft in his King- dome , as he was taught by fomc of the fmcercr fort.

K i But

yo Syms Pletu

But as he wanted Inftrumeuts to effed this good,il|| he was mightilieoppofed inallhisgooddefignes ., efr pecially by the Prelats , which caufed him out of a j godlie zeale in the very anguifli of his heart, to pourc i out his foule in tcarcs.

Their fuggcflion of falfcfeares to the King, and the feeking of their owne unlawful! {landing , brought* forth that revived fpawne of the bcaft 3 kneeling in rt\ ceiving of the Sacrament, for the greater reverence thereto* thereby the Paflfts had contcn.ment*

And certainly for this , and fuch like €ourfes , the Lord tooke him away in wrath to this nation, that he.; might make the furnace of his indignation feaveai times hotter againft it, whereby he opened the eye*of I fome good men, who with rcmorfe of heart confe&dji that fin of theirs againft God,againft the King, againlt. holy men (refitting Roomes Rehques) and againft them- felves.

To come at laft to Jgjttene Elizabeth ( ofhappie me- morte) who having fetled her eftate, and fubverted the profeffion of Popery, came in th'end to liften to a full reformation, whercunto (he was moved ( as we are credibly informed ) by the Lord Protector of Scotland, called the good Regent.

As fbe honoured him very much and held his words and a&ions to be of great waight ( whatfoever the mungrell Papifts affirm* to the contrarie ) fo flie

gave

Agawft the VttUty. Ji

lave good refpeet to thefe particulars, which he laid owne to her for grounds :

i. The unvaluable benefit ofafaithfull and free •« ftniftry.

2. The exccllcncie of the puritie of Gods ordi- " ance,&:c. "

3. The honour and happincs that would, attend 'J erCrowne and State, upon the eftablfhment of (< thrifts government.

4. And laftiy 'though theleaflin eftceme, yet,, f no fmall moment to the good of her (late ) fhc « light imploy the Prelates overfatteningpaftures to <f lanie gooa and profitable ufes , leaving the cc :iniftric enough rot their Honourable mainte- M ance. As for their glorious and lordly pomp " rhich was pretended much to honour a nation, it \( id notfo indeed 5 for it juftled out Gods honour ff 'hichfoould be dearer to Princes the their crowns « ;nd liuex. And grant that it were fome comple- a ient of true honour j yet the faveingof onefoulc «« y the preaching of a powerfull minifter was of lC :iore worth the all the pomp & glory of the world. <l

To this effect was his (peach , which the •Mrenc pondered well. But when the Prelates nderftood what an office he was about , they mur- mured exceedingly , and in revenge of thru moti- n, he had unjuft afpertionscaft upon him, and ath to lyiomc of their traine.

At a Parliament holdcn anno 1 3. of her M.ijefties c, fome Pi elates and others were fent from onvocation houfc to exhibit to her rfubfidic ,

accor-

yi Syons Vlex*

according to the cuftom, her Majefie fpake veric graciouflie concerning the good of Chrifts Church, affirming that fhc had heard of manie things in the^ Church needfull to be reformed, which if (he could butcometounderftand, fhe would not give fleepe to her eies till fhe fett upon reformation , and , would never give over till (he had doneitindeed; and if they, being the eies, would not revealethei truth, let the blameand blood be upon them.

But what was their anfwer to fo worthie amotion evenfuchas fuited with their owtie ends, feeking more than theire twnc ; and not- that which is chrijts : like falfe glaffes they prefented her Majeftie with, an OmnU bene. And thus they proved the bane o£ reformation fruftrating the defires of a Prince wor- thy of fo great a work.

After that , in proceflfe of time, they caufeda fubtileinfinuation of thedifgracc of difcipline to be fuggefted to the Queenc, affirming, if difcipline were fett oi) foot, thateverie fillie fellow, ox fir , Z^inaparifh Church, might at his pleafure raile on the Qeene, and alfo excommunicate her,. Whichfby the Bifhops leavejisa veriecalumnie,asif the government of Chriftftiould not both knowe, and ufc Kings better, than the government of Anti- . chrift. But envie never fpake well. Inthemeane time they neglc&ed no oportunity to perfecute i fuch godly miniftcrs as would notco»forme, and from citing, vexing, fufpending , and carting them out of their free-holds , they fell to pack With fomeathgiftlyludges -} fetting them fo againft the

good:!

r

nAgainsl the Prelacy* 73

good men,that they did not onely fcoffc them , belye them and revile them, but alfo ^rraigne them and conf demne them. Which when the Q^<me heard, it » greived her foule -, for file was fo farrefrom having ! that high injurie put upon Godi Miniftcrs,that fhe fig- i nified her mind in Parliament to the contrarie,nameIy \ that ft? fyould not have them vexed for non- conformity. What ever was mentioned in Parliament for the kce- 1 ping of the firft table, the Prelats ever crofled it. Wit- I neffc that motion for thefanctifying of the Sabbath in the 37. Eliz. the palling whereof they hindred. ': So they fett themfeives againft that courfe of Sabbai K- : keeping and reformation of abufes, undertaken by the \ Magiftracieofthecitie of London,till ar length ( to therr blamebeitfpoken ) partlie through their owne I indifpofition tothebufines , and partlie through the violence of the Prelats oppofing ; So high,neceflarie & : and acceptable a duetie, was quite given over. Since i which time, we may obferve, that the Lord hath fmit- ten us in Citic and Countrey feaven times more in all conditions and affaires D fo that things have profpered worfe then ever they did before. The like neceffity was laid upon the Citic in the raign of Richard thefecond,/* takethe funfyment of filthines ufon them\being rather increafed then curbed or restrai- ned by the clergies courfes,)zt which reformation they al- fo grumbled.

What (hall we fay of the attempts of Tome of them (whereof fome arc dead , and fome were lately alivcj againft his late Majefties fucceffion to this Crownc, upon conceived fcare* and jeaioufy of church rcfor-

L matton*

1 4 fy*ns Tit**

ptstiofywitncffc the inve&ives of fomc in Sermons,^ orher writings ; the difgracefull fpceches & affronting, paffages & oppofing pra&ifes of others againflhisroyall perfo Jn fo much that whe they heard he was proclaimed K.of Engl, they tore their hayre,being unable to refift,, and without all hope of pardo. Yet the King(but of his: his gracious clcmencye with much adoe , and afters much importunate mediation ) was content to pardon* it. Yea we make bould under your Honours favour to put this quart. Whether any of thePrelats for the time being, did affeft his fucceffion 5 Let them fpeake in confeience.

Come we further to confider the late Kings difpo- fition at his firft entry^for any thing we could perceive he was well affefted to the Anti-epifccpall government I (with which he was trained up from his cradle , and' which by word and writ he had maintained ) and pro— mifed to preferve at his comming out of Scotland.. His g©od thoughts alfo to fuch reverend men as thefe men fcornfully called Difciflinarians , were lively ex* preffed in his Bafilicon Boron. Yea can it ftand with na- turallreafon that a. King fhould gracioufly pardon his profeffed foes ; and not afFed his dcareft freinds , by whom fas by fecdndary meanes) he was kept and pre- ferved from his very infancie ?

But for all this fo fooneas they had him here , and had calmed the ftormy feares of rrelaufflttting,2%iin$ the rock of his difpleafure , they began to (hew him all1 the glory of the World , and to forge falfe accufations a- gainft the Brethren,as though they had been the trot* blcrs.tf lfr*eUyyi\m&}\ it wight be) bis mind was

fomc-

nAgainft the PreUcy. 75

Ibmcwhat exafpcrated : Yet nor fo, nor With fuch in- rcnr that the Miniftcrs fhould be opprefled as they *rerc indeed without any ytd*ment; Witneffe his ownc rouifeof reafoning, with the non-conforming Mini- sters, fecondedwirhcomrmndement given, to deal e :hem by reafon and difpute , and not wi:h ri- ;our. But how the Prclars obeyed, let the cviil and i>afc ufage^the fufpending, iilendng.thrufting out of heir livings,fo many hundred i\linifkrs,bcare witnefle lo the world. It is worthy your Honours obfervation har in Anno 1604. and 1605. 400. Miniftcrs were ilenccd fufpended, orthruft out by vcrtue of tfcofe vicked Canons,which were not concluded by the con- ocationTor D.Rud oppofed them by an oration j but Kiey were thePopifh dftcr-tjrrth of B. Bancroft then |, ofLondofl; Hatched as it is verily thought in the rainesof hisghucfts th: Seminaries. This was not inlike that praftifc of Trent, in prelling of the Interim ;pon the Germane Minifters and other Protectants, dt rcfufall whereof they were removed , and aaany rerc baniflied. Vcr Hitman B. of Cclen would rather- slnlim nouncc his Bifhops Sea, than be an Agent in it, C9™n<nt* ho may (land up as a witnes againftour Prelaw. ut what followed on this fylenceing of our Miniftcrs ren that Maffer-pecce of Rome , the gunpowder plott ought to the very period of accomplifhmenr. As jod might in jufhec have punifhed the former cvill yirh the Utter ( for our Kings and State have often marred for the Prelats plagucgy courics : ) lb if you •/ill be plcafcd to lookc further into the conduction of udc cvills,you may find them both to be poyfonablc L z fruitci

76 Syans Tletu

fruites of the fame tree of death. Yea happily it may probably appeare upon good inquiry, that he thar was the maine agent in the former had his finger in the later.

i. For the better clearing whereof; may your Ho- nours be pleafed to enquire, whether Bifhop Bancroft retained not Watfon thePrieft for his owne private plotts$ whom he fuffered to divulge dangerous books againft the State and right of the Crowne?

2. Alfo whether the faid Bilhop had not intelligence with the Popes Nuncio in Venice and the LoVt Court* tries? And whether Bhckwell the Arch-Prieft before his apprehenfion was not by the faid B. prote&ed ?

3. What was thecaufehepofted on thefilencelna of fo many Minifters,to the number of 400. (as hath}| beenfhewcd)immediatlie before the difco very of thej gunpowder trcafont After which difco very he wrote to the other Bifhops, that they fhould not hould that; courfc of filcnceing manie at once ^ but thar they, (hould be filenced by one and one. For it feemes if that grand bufines of Hell had taken effeft the blamfij Ihould have been laid on the harmleffe hcaji <fGodsMinu\ J?ersrzs though it had been doncbyPuritanes in revege*

4. Let it he inquired whether one of the Popes fpeciall intelligencers, confeffed to afeeming malecon- tent,that if the powder-plott had taken effeft, B. Banc. Ihould have been Pope^Sc Father #W/,Cardinal of all England? j Whc-

Agalnfi the Vrelacy. j 7

5. Whether B. Banc. & others his accomplices had not correfpondencie with the King of Spaine?

4. It is nor unworthy the inquirie what became of J?/*f/,after the difcoverie of the powder-treafon ? It's ccrtaine, that with B. Ba nckroft he was , but what be- came of him nobodieknowcs.

7. Whether B.Banc. his intimate confederates, were not fpcciall maiatainers of the Prelacie , oppofers of the Gofpell,& good Minifters of God, yea & no good frcinds to the State?

5. And laftlie,may your Honours bcpleafcd to inquire,whether fome of our prefent Prelats, ule not Iefuites in the habite of gallanrs.as their familiars: and whether (looking for a change; fomc of them aymc not to be 'hud, or at Jcaft to be as nigh the head as they can, that they may do their Mr. the morefervice >

1. For evidence of this , let their PopifliPofitions & pra&ifes,& maintaining of them in othersfof which we can give too manic inftancesjfpeak in thefirft place.

2. Their cruel perfecution of the Minifters doth evidence the fame.

3. Andlaftlic, thcirbreathing out of threatcnings againft confcionablc ft ho conforming Minifters ) and thefc rhcy mcanc to make good ( becaufc they cannot endure the GofpellJ except the Lord make you to the fame,a place of refuge & defence they mean to root it our. If they be left to the Prclats merciejthc woe- full event will (hew it to be no (launder.

L 3 For

7 a < Syons tltju

For i. as hath beenc (hewed they cannot fubfii with the continuance of a faithful! Miniftric.

z. They will provide forthemfelvesin their kind.

3 . They can do the Pope no greater fcrvicc , and the Kingdome of Chrift no greater injurie than in this particular.

If their places difpofed them not for the Pope, they would never difarrae the Kingdome of the States beft forces, and the Popes greatcft adverfaries. Its true that there be fome Prclats Rampant and fome Prclats Cou- chatjom your Honours know they be all the Popes ?re* fats. They have divers kinds of teeth , but all their teeth bite. In a word,as bath been fhewed,the members muftdoefor the head , and in this they doe but their kindc. Therfore if you would fave both them and us, alter the prof ertie from Lord Bi^ ops to Mimjlers fo fhall you fpoyle the Pope ; preferve the StatcanJ you fhali have the Honour through the world that they, are your converts.

But to go on a litle further with this difeafc of the Trelats <?T///,efpeciallie againfl; the Minifterie.

Befidcs the injuryc done to foules> it would make an heart of ftone to relent to heare related the infolcn- cies,fcofferies3outrages,revileings and barbarous cruel- ties by them , and theirs put upon the faithfull Mini- fters of God.and their poore families. Though many

Cuff*

tAgain ft the T relacy. yp

ifferer* in this bufines be with God ; yet there be >mr alive that can both relate.and witnefle the inju- es done to themfelves and others , by breaking into leir howfes ; by draging themfelves , Wives and Mnilics to prifon ( and that without any war- Int at all) the cafting of them, & theirs out of doores, ving them fcarcc a ragge of their owne Cloathcs to >vcr their childrens nakedncs. We humbly intreatc 3ur Honours , not to pafle by thofecr}'ing injuries, hich you will the rather obferve and be fenciblc of,if du take a view of the fearefull by-paft fequclls of lofe cvills.

At his late Majcftios cntry,thc Lord fore-knowing ow little fhould be done for him, and how much jainft himy lent an admonitory pcrfuing plague , for eat and continuance rarely matched, fpeaking to the pc of King and State , that there was fomc fpcciall fague to be removed j and what other and greater, id more worthy the care of a King and State ; then on//Jh rdol/s, in Gods woifhip,and Anttchrtfitan ?tr . nnW which cvills increaiifig , (though the Lord re- lovcd the plague,/>ct he hath (mitten us feuien tnncs lores, in bodyes, liates.and names, namely in the di- empcrof the ElemcntSjin the change of feafbns , in it la*guifliing, gtoaneingand dying of the Creatures nder the burthen of our funics.

And above all rcmpoiall punifhments , in taking way our Hcnr) ,that I* ay Agon of Princes , who fhould :iycbcen,and would have been, ( if our fumes had XKhindccd) Ma/lcas LpiftoptrHtn \ which wpikc nd

doubtc

80 Syons Itetu

doubt with Romes ruinc in England our Great Charles , will accomplilh , if his army of Princes , namely you great Senatours aft your part. Now to draw r'o an end of their by-pail mifcheifs, let the fubiefts take notice, what high indignity they of- ferredto his late Maiefty, by whofe perfwdions,, when fome minifters had conformed, they ufed the faid minifters ( onely for preaching the Gofpel I Jiaven times rvorfe than before, notwithftanding the Kings command to the contrary. Not unlike for cru- elty (for we parallel! not all ) to the burning of that prieft perfwaded by Henry the feaventh , for- merly fpokenof.

Since this greivance then, is made good byun- denyable proofs, give us leave ( right honourable) | by way of dutie, and by deferved retortion, to apo- logie for our f elves from the afperfion of the Pre- lates and their children , in their venemousfer- mons, railings, and writings; we are (fay they J feditiousy tumultuous, factious , disobedient ^rebellious , in a word the troublers of Ifrael : and they would gladly jve were cut off, becaufe^e trouble them. But give us leave in homely phrafc to fet the faddle on the right horfc, and to tell them, they and their fathers houfe^ are the troublers oflfracl. Let th em n ever tell us of ti- rannizing over magiftrates, by depriving them of; their rights , by excommunication Sec. Let them notobjeft to us CM. Vdall&CM. Cartwright ejre. as feditious fellowes, or traitours , if they had beenefuch,our late King would never have writtea his letters to Queen Elizabeth on their behalfe, a*

tAgainfi the ^Prelacy. St

ie verily did. Let them dirc& iheirfpcechestothc liftjfs ofLotfdo,i,Etyy,rrncbef/ery\ntQrdi&ors of theKing, nd the whole realme. Anfelme againft Rufus\ Beckctc 'exeing Henry the fecond- Langtcn cafting away King nd State; Arundell, unkinging Richard ihe fecondj In >laine termes3thefe men were the traytors, and yet no 'refbytcntn Brethren ,but Lord Bifipps, whefe brcthrem nd fuccefiburs our Prelaw arc.

The Bipiep of Hereford, preaching at Oxford on the ext: oh my head I oh my head ai-ethl fas the vulgar latin •iathit,2. Kings 4.19.) applyed it thus peremptorily igainft Ed. 2. That the Kings head mujl $fnecefjity be ta- ten fif,

1 He might better have collected , that that which nade the head ake5 fhould have been taken off , and :hcn he had hitt himfelf.

And fo much fortheproofc of this point, in the aterpart whereof wc have been iparing of particular names in the paflages of our proofes , becaufc we love not ro ftigmatife any particular perfon, fdead or alive,/ Gncc it is the evills of their callings, and not perfons0 ^rhich wc oppofc.

M %.?*&

A

ll

$2 Syons 7?lca-»

8. Pofttiox-, proved.

LL the fearefull evil/s of finne and)udgntnt , fir the pre fen t raigningamongH usf and threat ned &- gainst #j5&c. are from the Hierarchy&c.

■ Evills fas they deride themfelves ) are evills effznne; orevifcts of judgment. Though all evills of finne be a« gainfl: God, (for it is the tranfgreffion of the LaVo, ) yet|B finne is either dire&ly againft God 3 or againft man ; ' againft the firft Tabic, or againft the fecond.

Now give us leave ( right Honourable) for the ; proofc of our point,to touch upon the particular bran- \ ches of finnes againft particular precepts $ which (hall demonftrate, whether they flowe not from thefeasof1 Bifhopps.

The breaches of the firft precept , we contrive into' thefe h^Asjgnorance^Tnfdelitie^Atheifm, Herefte, Apofia- ciejnt email idolatrie^makeing a God of the Creature , ha- tred of God Jin^ard and outward pride, a bafe Love,fervile or favifl* feare of the Creature , car nail fee uritie , Jlupii henumednes, Hypocryfj\Dtfpaire , & Impenitencie 3 with others of this nature , oppofite to the feverall graces, & duties of the firft Commanderncnt.

All thefe overflowe , and are like to drowne our Nation,neirher have we time to enlarge ech of thefe, but the height of ech of them, crycth to the very hea- vens. But whence are all thefe, and the growth of them , but from withhoulding the keyes of Chrifts Kingdomc ? by "tohieb they Vtill neither enter themfelves,

n§r

tAgainft the prelacy. $l uk

tor fuffer others to enter , doth not the palpable ig- *J- \$Ntna of many Millions in this Land, arifefrom the «.' ~;" vanre of meanes, and rcmovcall of GodsfaithfullMi- iifters;placcing fuch over peoplc,as nre not Worthy to be ■■ s of the Vloekt , forbidding Gods mef- Higers, to deliver his riKfluage. The fearefullnes of vhich finne appearcth by the wirncfle of the Holy ; h ) ammaund the Trophets ^fyng Prcpbcjie net, Amosi.n.

vhich the Lord accounteth a very prcfllire to himfelf ^V'2Jf" n the verlc following : hehould I amprejfed under )ou> s a cart i<prejfcdthat hfnlloffteAves^ which is a weary- ig of God with fin , and God is wearied with no n more then with this. To this purpofc be the other laces in the marginc.

This forbidding to preach the Gofpell,is faid to be * l6; 2* ic very fifing up ofthefinnes of the Iewes.

The horrour of this flnnc of filcnceing Minifters >r not fubfcribing,& the fearfuli evills enfucing on it, . fet forth in afpeach of the Lower houfc ofP^rl.A#. 610. wherein they call it and that truely a crying fmne evoking Godtjnd most grew otts 1$ ihefub')cc~t. And ther- >reana& part the Houie, that rhcy fhould not fub- ribe any otherwife then according to that ihtute of j. of E/tzab. for if otherwife thcyfiotU be urged the \w of the church (as they fxid)cr Comnur.-ive*1 fkswUjarre*

So we may inflance in all the other finn*s, as Here- r,JVi//w*f;inrtancc Popery 7 KAtukdftifmt , SeftrJtifmey vfrminiintfmefc Fdmi/sfne.

Their upholding of Popifli grounds, lawcs,rires : tyranny in the Churches of England , and over the iiniftcrs and people, give the Papifts more then hopes M 2 of

84 Syons Tle^u

of returning to their pofTcffions, witb the overfoppiftgk authorise of the Pope,whofe homes keepe pofieiTion ! forhim,keepingChriftatthcdoore, and pufhing out the meanes , by which he fhould enter. For the fame! grounds and arguments that the former (land on, anil uie3are the very beftarmes,offenfive &defcnfive, thail the later have* I

Alfo the Anabaptifts, feeing the grofle abufe and for-j ced interpretations of the fcriptures, not onely delivc-t] red., but alfo prefled upon others , together with the] unfound Dodrine and eorrnptions of Minifter* , and] the Bumbe Do?ges> which be In manie places, they re- ject the word & other ordinances , and fall upon thekj ownc fmtajlickt revtktions and damnable fooleries.

They are alfo the Authors of the SeperAtiHs fcijmel

•which hath both the rife,& incrcafe from the Prelacid

With whofe fuperftitious corruptions the fmceral

people at firftdenyed to joyne ; and Co being driver i

from their Homes & Countries, into forraigne parts

manie of them tooke up ftrange and unfound conclu*

fions3 which to this day they hould of the Churches &

beft people thereof 5 and duties therein performed.

which pradife of their fepcration buttethfull upot

tfce unreafonable & unfound reafoning of the Bilhopi

in this manner :

Tuft!^'. tf difeifbM befo necejfarie, and alfo unehangable , // %

C */.i . ItCSofull tofeperatefromjiich Churches , 44 doe not ufe it (fo

p*^i" thtVtcfai$)bMtDifcipIiHe is unchangtbly necejfarie (fa

the SeperatiftsJ Ergo it is lwfu/1 to fepertte from fuel

Cbur

tAgainfl the Trelacy. 85

churches as doe not ufL^ it.

Your Honours fee clearlie,how the B.M*)ory&L the beperatifts Minor make up an in tire fiiogifme of Sepert-

But in the meanc time they both make a falfe cofi- tlufion,andtherforeonc ofthepremifes muft be falfe, tot the minor, (fordifcipline is both ntceflkrie & w,u 'htngab/e,) Ergo the md)ir , which is a fnare to the fe- peratifts of the Bifhops ownc making. B. MVhitgtft wrote the quoted trcatifc,whcrein he framcth the ar- ;ument3beforefcpcratifmc was lurched. Etntin&m Would to God (faith a learned man) he hdd never breached it. For being a falfe ground,it made a great rent in the Churchcs^ForWantof 4?; tnfrgra/Zpjrt cf tl. echoic ; or S •• tffome ejjentiatt part in it fe If (though not of the whole ) is J"*™* & no fufficient. ground for fepcranon. All the Prelats probers ply the Reformers fas they call them ) with iheaforcfaidinfnaring Propofition , as it were with warme Cloathes. Yet wc fee they fcalde their ownc hands,for they and Barrow to whom they compare us) ifort better together in the argument,thcn we <3c Bar- ro^to doc ; and thcrfore to charge men with fepcration, 'becaufe they iepcrate from thccorruptions,is but toaf- ^perfe with calumnic.

As for the aforcfaid argument, ownc it who will, "whether ScperatiftsorPrclatifts , it is no better, yea /nn;iJt'- the very fame which N$v*tU*sW&& DonatrJfs ufe in c^.t" lcffeft,againft joyning with our Churches,as M.cWv/// plainly aflirmeth,

XI 3 The

8<5 Syons Plea^

2. The feperatifts ftumblcat the "pride, rapine, and tyrannieof the Prelates, as alfoat theintollc- rable fervilitie and flaverie of minifters and people j attheir ungodly courfes , their illegall and crucllj proceedings , by all which they are forced ( for p want of better takehesde)»pon the quickfinds offeferati. on\ and that the rather, becaufe the Prelates argu- ments againft them are either poperieor prifon.

To folio we with Arminuntfme or bLnched Popery r LMountigue proclaim eth with open mouth : his en- tertainment, teftifieth, and a great number of the, Prelates themfelves profefTe; who be the fathers and abetters of it. This more plainly appeareth, that in both the laft Parliaments , it being earneftly, oppofedby the moft of the lower houfe and manic of thehigher houfe, the Prelacic rather did befreindl it (at leaft under hand) then oppofc it , which fincc j hath manifefted itfelfe by theaboundance of Pa- trons and pleaders for it.

Laftlie,for the Famslifh^hcy obfcrvc the fwelling pride,averice,fweareing , foriwearing and fimonic of the Prelats. Alio how theypra&ife andprof- pcr ; by which the Familifts do conceive,that the fhift walking in the ordinances is not required in the word.

They turneall thefcripture to allegories 3 and fo they have once thefpirit, & xheperftftion of lovejhty may do or not doe all things, as the time en/'oync of permitt, and this is their Qwnc brood 5 wherewith

fornc

%Againfi the Prelacy. 87

•me of their filthic tongues upbraid Gods people.

We might fay the like of profanefle & Atheifmc, itneflc a Bifhops cookc , who faid all the nob/emens ufes tb&t ever he h Ad former he Itved i/if Were rtnke Pu- tancs to his yM 'afters houfe.

For apoftafie, we will fay no more but this: how arc ipifts, Arminians, & all manner of Sectaries increafed late ? Yea to our fhime be it (poken. profeffburs arc owne from heat tolukewarmncs, and from that to y-coldncs.

To (hut up this particular, with a touch of that be. tmmtitgfeare that runneth through the joyntcs , and cevateththefpiritsof mc, whence is it, but fro thefc urt-like PreUtst6c Prelats-Courts^ot whom we may fay - ith the Pfalmifts,according to the origmil\,They dam vw isb tcmr forte man. Though more be faid here fir ay be) then the time & treatiic can admit j yet lefle a eat dcale then the thing it felfc requireth.

Now we com to the 2.Comandment both the parts hereof , namelic, the affirmative and negative , the :clats cfpcciallic, rranfgrcflc, and caufe to be tranf- cflediWhich (lull appearc cfpccially,by taking a (hort cw of the finncs forbidden, 6c duties commanded, herein to bebrcifc, all 'externa ' idol Attic is here f$r- iden^U 'Vti/t rY,<cr flippy rites And ceycm**ics oj m.ws de*

Ifal inGodsVrofjhip , and further everic calling oi imfiers or Elders that is not appointed & approved fGod. To

83 Syons TksL*

To begin with the laft firft fbecaufe in the efti blifhingofgood and lawfull officers confifteth tin fupreamc and principall good of the Church; Tli calling of L.Bifhops hath bene fufficiently demoit ftated^to be Antichriftian, and confequently corf demnedby this commandement.

emu*. Thclearned make mention of three forts of Bi Ten veritat. fhops, the firft wherof they call a diving or chriftii BeZjA- Bifrop-, becaufeithathitsinftitution from God, be Hto. ai ing all one (as the ancient fhow, at large> and thenn e«^. in felves very well know,) with a iMinittcr oxEldci &^'22' This ordinance of God and pra&ife Apoftolica!

continued,as the forefeid authorise obferveth> fo

the fpace cf 300. yeare and upward.

After this followeth that Humane Epifcopacie (A\ they term it ) wherein the pride of man began mi v£t itfelf in an affe&ed title oifuperior Hie 7ytt withoi * any overlording power over their brethren andfe!' low-Minifters3as doth plainly appeare by the place \ and cariages of the ancient Fathers , who looked not fo loftily upon their fefiow-kretbrei* , as feme (i our pontifieall Parfons doe upon their neighbor k Minifters 5 yea as great difference there is bctwu^ them and the prefent Lord Bifhops, as is between f Venetian Dukc^j and the great Duke of <Mufavicj> < b which, the former hath but the bare title of Superi % ritie , arid is guided and directed by the Senat , as h the later doth what he will againft all Law and re IM fon. Had the Fathers(as hath been (hewed from tt n

- lej

sAgainsl the Prelacy. 8j?

zitntd) obfrived thccnfuingevill of this Ankitious C*f#l. itfj, <tle> they would have ha^ed ir. This had the begin- ***** jng,as the learned affirm from Si vJltr th e firft, who aptifed fas they lay) Confiantint the Empcrour.

The Uft an1 worft is,rhat AntichriHidn or SttanicdB

relacicy((ovto they term it3 ! rift from 2fc-

yjQr//// the 3. in Anno 607. rhe branches of this root re our Lord Bifhops,(as hath been fully (hewed,) who y their very callings make the prime and main breach l this commandmenr, and what blcifmgcan men ex- c& ? or why fhould they intcnain fuch Officers in a motion of fo high a nature, as countermandeth the ommandment of God >

In the next place we come to mew how their devi- :s in Gods worftiip arejjft fuch as their calling, amcly , directly againft the tenure of this (aid com- landmcnt^ For that Godvwho will 5c fliould alone be ^orlhipped^lhouldby tllreafon onelie prcfaibc how e will be worlhippcd; whatfocver vrorfhip therefore

not of hisprefcription , is condemned under the meof/<&/rf*7;andfoitisiadeed,as Sc other .

•11 VLS'yJZ^'.dfer ido/xm^c. By in tfth i.9,

c) is me*M\ %bdtfitver in Religions* brd.i $*t

( riifG$d\ Iu ft with thit of a philician in

mCjNvho^though he had but a glimmering) could ice p4 id lay fo much : qutcquid frxter ni.i , idclttm "'*• •

tohtifeevfr is lfc[idc the Word m Gcds i 0 JV/V' *n v iu'.l ; Benould now (right Honourable it ubcfo, nw the Prtlats have ovcrlade the worfhip of God 'iih *M ^oijhjp zad Idolatrous rites.

N To

po Syons TlecL*

To begin with the Strvice-hcoke , whofe Pt&greeJk

wehavcalrcadiedrawne, it is nor onelic faoltie5 but a[

booke of faults , as we have partlie fhewed , and couldjl

more fullie fh:w if time would give us leave. But thall

isdoneabondantly by others. If there were no moral

Mr.Btw^- but the Vopittiftame or forme ofitizs a learned man obi

ton. fervedj that wore enough to remove it « but both foij

matter & manner, it pleafeth the Papifts fo well, that bm\

dcflreth no better if there were enough of it, witneffl ([

the pacification of thedevonffairs Papifts in the tim^ |]

of Edward the 6. when as they anderftood it was nc

other but the verieMaffe-booke in Englifh 5 witneffi 1

alfotheaffertionofl).Goy)'£r 3 a dangerous feducinj

Confident. Papift. The common prayer-book (faith he) and the C*

Ml 1 9 teGinfmc contayned in it Should no point of Doctrine expreftk \

cctrarie to antiquitie^that is(zs he explaineth himfclfjthet

Romifi fervicc; on;lie it hath not enough in it, Aad for thk

Doctrine of fridcftination^SacramentSy graeeftee ^iU% anm

ftnne,5cc, the mw Catechifmtyand Sermons eftbepiritantA

preachers, rannejtoholy in thefe againft the cowon pr^erboo\

and Catechifme therein contayned,&c. And thereupon:

MotiwPu- he comforteth himfeif upon hope of fupplie of thdl

fa. to the reft. To this effed fpeeketh BriftoVt & Harding; l}\

Anfw' thefe things be rigbt&hy not the relt ? fay they.

It (hall not be amifle to marke one aecurrencc in JM Elizabeths time , who being interdiftcd by the Popel Bull,Secrctarie Walftngbam, tryed a trick of ft an Pouical to reverfe the f«*me. He caufed two of the Popes inteu ligencer* at the Popes appointmet, to be broughtfas id were in fccretJinto£#g/. to whom he appointed a guidA

being!

Agalnjl the Prelacy! pi

being a ftate-intelligcnccrj who fhoul J (hew them in 'artterbury kLwdonfoxVicc folemnly/C** &fiiid with [1 their pompc & procofllon, which order, the Popifh itelligcncersfcing,& fo muchadmireing, ihcywon- crcd that their Matter would be founadvifed , as to

terdic* a Prince or State, whofc fervice and Cerono- ics fo ^/# W/^ with his owne. So rcturncingto the ope,thcy (hewed him his ovcr-fighr, affirming ihat icy fawc no fervice, Ceremonies, or Church-orders

England,bur they might vcric well have been pcr- irmed in Rome, whereupon the Bull was prefently illcd in.

From the book of the Ceremonies , which arc the rthc tis of the Church 5 the blemifu of Gods or din aihcs , tic iurgc of good Pi cAcbers ; the brood, and hopes of Poperte\ t* rc]oycing of the prof Ane^ the greivAnce of the good, And c veriefeede ofdiffention. Time will not fufrer to rip the rotten Ptd$tree9\htAutb0rstm4intaherstei Pestiferous ejfccls of them. Neither is it neceflaric re to demonftrate by way of di!putc,thc unlawfull- (Tc ofthem^fince whole volun : againfl

em, and cveric particular of rh m that can never be fwcrc-HIr is enough (aswv have Jh< • hey

jdirecilie agiinft thefecond Co.i ig

vciic deedc The th) ejhrkl, And posts o\ idolaters, ft up FtyfMj.l thctbnfrulJs And posts oj God.

This is the main ground of all t; tics and

liriesin Gods worfliip that tl i unifiers

> not or dare not teach, and the Prelates with the

N a fu-

p2 Syons Pitds

fuperftitiouflie prophane people will not fuffer to 1

be taught the pandect of thefecondcommandement ij

in the full and due extent ; everie one knoweth i

that is acqnaintcd with the frame of the fecondl|

commandement, that it condemneth all fuperftitioJj

and efpecialij, fupcrftitious ceremonies in Godsk

worflv:p,upon this ground3the learned both ancicntlj

&rnodernehavecondemnedallceremonics ofmanw

invention in Gods worfhip both de jure & de fade X\

C*til<* i^ftanceof the former from the oyte & holy ntterh

Ttft. Lib. i . 0 'leum quo inungfiuntur Epifcopi & aqua, luftralis cum flam

fine Dei ma'*dat$ idolatries & fttperfiitioft (tint 3 faith^i

the learned, the oyle wherewith the Bifhops aroi

annointed and the holy water, being things with- I

out the commsndement of God, are idolatrous

andfuperftitious : be not the ceremonies in our)

Liturgieby the fame rule and teuton foperftititus and\

idolatrous f Learned Beza commenting up-j

%m/ff%$. on that place to the Corinthians ye are bought wi$M

price be not thefervants of men , from the laid com-*

mandement condemneth thofethatprciTc^fr/?/^

cus rites upon the co.<fcience. of wen : (hewing furthei

from the (econd of the ColoflT. verf. 20. Thaij

mans corrupt nature is too prone to loofe their li-i

bertie, and to fubjefl: thcmfelves to fuperjfitton , the

sew*, verie heathen tell us3 quod fuperfiitiofit error infanus{

that fupersii Hon is a mad err our > and fo it is indeed, fo.

neither found reafon, nor divine authority, cat

rule it: but foi convincing of the iniquity offuchfu

perftitious rites. The faid authour produceth at

argument from that forequoted place of the Colof

Where]

tAgainfi the Prelacy. p 3

'herefore if ) t be dead * itb chrifi from the rudiments of h world 'why as though living tn the we, Id are ye fub)ecle ordinances or traditions* Whence he rcafoneth ius. Pugnat in quit i^slpoflolus adverfus fupersiitiofas aditiones argument an do a compar.itis. The Apoftlc amending againft fupcrftitious tradirions frameth 1 argument a majori thus , Ccjjant. . thus qui.

\is Deth iffe mundum erudivit , qtuenant ih-pudentid (fl ftmanas traditiones inculcate ?

Ifthofc rites did ccaffe by which God himfelfe id inftrudt the world: it is an impudet part to preffc thers in their place.But the former is true. Ergo the iter. Tor the later part of the evidence^ namely, e faiio there is proofe enough.

In thofe purer ttm:s (kith that catalogue of witnei- :s they appointed not ceremouics , but were conten: with tat pure dr/imple forme, namely ,/ hat God h.id appointed.

Tetrns Partjlenfij in his workc called Vcrbum abre- tAtum relateth, how one Arnulphus an ancient c- imie to Antichrift refitted the Pope and his PrelatS h the Latcrane Counfcll , determining to make .3 ore new Ceremonies : pot ius vcteres ad intends , nam nera/it cbrisfianos arc It were a better work (faith ic)to take away thofc that are extant, becaufc ley ovcrladc the people of God, to whom the word of Chriil fhould be a rule, nam tllud jerumior that is verified ' faith he) Thattho m.ikc 1 '< of God of none effett by the traditions

f nte . cloud of witneCei •

we will onely ailed er

fpraclofcrinhisccnfure ofthe EngliftiLitUi ^-45*.

1-ntauenm eflnt /nextctn/s omnibus remits nth uiltu lif/rornm c It

^4 Syons VlesL*

It is fitt aad convenient that in all outward things and a&ions of Gods worfhip as in Minifteriall garments,! we (hould accommodate ourfclvs tothefimplicirie of Chrifts appointmet & Apoftles praftife,/^ tefiari debe- mus $mnibm ynil nobis efie comunt cum Romanenjibus Ant'u ehrlsHs. Yea we (hould witnes to all men,that we will have no egbunion with thcRelicksoftheRomifhAn^ i tichrift : but our teachers (hould teach , and we (hould hearc , onely that which Chrift hath commanded Math 10. &Iohn.io.

To proceed for further fatiffa<5ttS,give us leave(rightt Honourable ) tolaydowne thofe Bafes or grounds of arguments , which we intreat your Honours to take into confiderati6,offcfingourfelves(withall modeftie,) to maintainc the fame againft all gainefayers.

I. The (jremonies are^ill^orjhip.

i . They are Jignificant and teaching Cere monies of mans invention, fiatedin GodsW>or/&ip.

3 . They are <tn addition to the Tt>ord>flatlit againji , the rule of the Word.

4. They are all mens inventions, & havebeenfilthit *?ofifh I dolls, impofftble to be clenfed > but muft b< JdollsfiiU in Cods l»orJhip%

5. Beit

- ■ tAgalnsi the Trelacy. P5

5. Heing mans invention , they nuke a conformity 'Ween hjs \£ idolaters in Cods TPorfaip.

6. They are occafions ofevill: appearances ofeViU.

a word : Tbtj are the veryftrangt fin & gamut

ottedVi'ithtbcflcfi , by their ownc interpretation of

lefe Scripture Phrafes : yea by the currant of all in- Ley. 10.1.

rpreters,thcy cannot, or do not deny , but that by1"

iefe places are condemned dUdcvifts ofmcn^iatcdm

ids Vwfit/p.

Bat became this tax may fecme too general!, may it eafe yourHonours,to give us leave todcale with the -and Ctrcmomt of the Crcffe, whole vilcnes being dif- fered , may make us like the worfc of all branches f the fame roote.

In our proceeding for our better information 5 we ill obfervc this mcrhodc. 1 . The place and cfteeme f the Crofle among us. 2. The ground of it. , The cvill effects of it. And 4. the arguments ;ainft it.

he firft of ihefr,namcly,tlic plicc and cftecnic. may bo faid uf us (in foinc fence; as Bellarmwe faith r ^ T f themfdva : Sumns cdora etiam c mti \ trima$lH tcri.oy.g

too manic i wect odors to it, in that it \th any place in worflup with us. Now that it hath high place and Honourable name in the Lords ordi- nances

p6 Syons *Ple<L>

nances,the daylie ufe ofit,theG//?0/*for theufeof ir.j

C4»««. ;o« and rfae teftimony of oul* writers verify : The Can$t

calleib it an Honourable Badge. UMr. Hooker calleth i-

a facred, or holy fgne , attributing great vertue to id

Df Potit affirming no meanes to be more fewer full to prcfin e a mti j

Lib. 5 . jfom defcrved frame y & tojlir up devotion, th c by this fig

?L i6q. ning of the forehead ^ith thefgne of the CroJJe. Yea,l|j

cherh Ciprian , that the Crcjje doth pur if e the for eh et

But what can fpeafce more emphatically for it then tli

very words,ufed in Baptifme, whieh giveth it the Vi

tueof a Sacrament,

Cmcmis The learned M*. Parker , the Crucify er of this Cn

proveth it according to the tenor of the words , ndcj

Pm. i. onely lobcfignficative&uttilfo effective. They makn

*a $l'69X* it a Sacrament in efFeft , as the Papifts make con

129,1 °' formation. By Baptifme they bring the infant int<

their Church 5 and by confirmation make it a Soul

dier of the Church. So we do the fame with Bam

tifme and the Croffe.

Further by making it a figne toaflure the Baptifw of the Strengthening grace of the fpirit againft theafj faults of Sathan, efpecially againft frame in per fecntion' do they not make it a Sacrament J

2. For the groemd of it, though fomc with Vdlenu \

nus have been fo (hamelefle as to cite fcripture for it

(as Efa. 49 22. Ier. 4. 6. Ezecfa. 9. 4. Ephe. 1. 13

Apoc.7. 3. ) yet the really learned of them dare not

vumT F°r r^e Popilh Canons tell us fo much ; J>)ha enii

Tavt. 1. Scripturafalutifera cruris fignacuiojideles docuit wfigniri

wfu1' Whatp.au ofthefaving ^ord hath taught that thefaitl

fk

tAgditift the Trelacy. p7

ull fcould be figned frith the fignt of the Creffe ? If they Ippealeto the Fathers 'as the 30. Canon doth,cnjoy- lingthe ufe of it,as they ufed it;) furcly it isa wonder hey blufh nor, fincc rhey know very well that the Fa- hers have not been fowler in any one particular then EpiHidDc- n this. As for a tart. Hitrem will have a man xo guard metT- El d is forehead Viitk the fignt cf the Goft in all his p.ffiges. hu-Aih' Neither wante'h he now fundry among us, to defend his abfurd opinion. So ^fmhrofi calleth the figncu>.;. >ftheCroiTe the perfection of things. \jA*fline houl- CJP 2- ieth nothing in cither Sacrament to be rightly done™/^" # mhout it. M\ Perkins difcourfes largely of this. The very trueth is,it had its firft beginning from Falen- ?r3^-l84. Wfthchcretiquc , as learned Fulke collected from Ire- ln Anna, ens, and fo Fpiphanius. m Luk 24.

Further D Fulke fheweth3 how the Devill did fow he feed of Idolatry by the Crofle in Valentmus 5 Mon- Mafiv.46. **/*/ nurfed ir, and got it credit in civill and religious fStSt fcs. But Tertuf/un was the firft of the Orthodox, whe ivrritt anything of ir , who was fowly tainted with ^' c'r<?*# vlontanifme. As for England j it had no erotic ar all IB Auftine the Monke brought in his filvcr Crolle. if&fc //,;.

; 3. For the cvill effects of ir. 1. Itmaketh the moft

iccount more of ir, then of Baptifmc it fclfe. 2. Some

cfufe to be witncflls,unleflc it be ufed. 3 . Some have

eft the Mniiilry or Parifh , where it hath nor been u-

ed. 4. Some have been rebapuicd, becauie they were p^'j^"''

>ap tiled without it*

O Now

p8 Syons TUtu

Now we come to the Arguments againft it, where-- in we defire to be as breif as we can. And firft from the ground fpoken of.

t. That which had no good beginning , noreveH any good ufe in Gods worfhip fhould not beappoinj] ted for a fignc of grace.

But the CrofTe in Baptifme had no good beginning! nor ever any good ufe in Gods worfhip ( as hath beew fhewed :)

Ergo it fhould not be appointed for a fignc of graci in Gods worfhip.

As the Minor of this argument is onely control verted ; So we defire the maintaincrs of the CrofTe, to (hew us fome good beginning or good ufe of it 3 if they can.

2. Every figneor Settle of an evidence, without the Counfell of the Lord or Owner , and every military badgo without the appointment of the grand Commander is counterfaitc.

But the figne of the CrolTe in Baptifme , is fuch figne or military badge. Ergo it is counterfaite.

For the Major : Reafon cleareth it. Neither cai that Diftin&ion of a figne fignificative & exhibitivi make any evafion. For i. the Diftin&ion hath nC ground from the word. z. They give the CrofTe n< final! part of exhibition , witnelTe the words. 3. W muft not add a figne fignificative 01 explicative in God, worfhip (take what termes they will :) for this is Go*

frero

lAgalnfl the prelacy. pp

erogathe. This Prof oft ion isalfo proved very lear- edly by D.Fu/ke^ :

That many fpeakt [faith he, of theSigntef the Crcffe, R{-M(r is true 5 but theyfpeake bejulcs the took* of Cod : i^And Am*, 1." Hrcfore tl en reafons are to be rc'yclecL Tor men mutt not ?Jl I44# mpareyor')Ojne the Crcffe . . . y for ke

pointed no fuch^hei

it onely B.ipttjme. Yea BelLxrmine acknowlcdirerh v. . „ ; much. Afo «nw laitn ne)fj/* pr//;j tn , 0r determine &i.Ii$m. y thing in a Law or Commcn-Weaic , I ut he that it the *£*•*' uthcrof the La\\, if the C\ mmc n-WeaU^hich *"-

: inftinceth in the legall Ceremonies. Bur did God

he author of his ownc law , and appointcr of his wne wotihip) bring in, or determine this figne ? No ire. Which fcrvcth alio for proofe of the Minor; For icy call it the figneofthe Croj/e inJUtftifimCj j they lake it a mtittan badg 5 and laftly it wanteth Gods 'termination : and therfore as a counterfeits to be pandoncd.

The third Argument followcth.

3. Every Image or limilirude for a religious ufe is )rbidden by the 2. Commandment.

But the fignc of the Croile in Baptifme , is a fimili* ide for religious u(e.

Ergo , it is forbidden by the fecoad CommaHdc- icnt.

With thisChardgc D.iM$Tt$n is lo pulled, that he cnycth any likenes $r Imager to be forbidden by the :cond Commandment, but ai

O a the

ioo Syons tktu

the Godhead, Which divinity fo learned^ man would!

never have vented, bur that he was at a ftand : For as

theanfwcr isagainft the Latitude of the Command*.! 3[C\ a»- ment^° lt is againft: the current of the learned. YcjJ "row. &c. if eftablifheth a great part of Popifh imagcrie. For form

dry Papifts hould ir a foolifh thing to make any image}! Dm^'lb' f°r reprefentation of the Godhead. But to the point* I O&i.z, ' All fuperftitious rites or mens intentions are foik

bidden by the 2. Commandment. WitnefTe Frfinus\ 0* t€inil Calvin. Zanch.

Ji.t.C.8 t

Dti7i& 4* ^at wkkk *s mans invention ,and hath been aif zlcJp.14. Idoll in Gods worftiip, muft ftill be an Idoll in Godi| worfhip3andtherforcto be aboiifhed.

But the Croffe in Baptifme is mans invention , ano hath been an Idoll in Gods worlhip. jj

Ergo it muft be an Idoll ftill in Gods worlhip, arm by confequence to be abolilhed.

We prove the Major by induction. Every Idoll in Heathenifh worfhip, was ftill an Idoll h i.K»Hg. *6 the worlhip of God •- As the Alter of Damafcus. Ws ■«*.•«*• nQt the idoll of Baal{ called the the idoll of lealoufr

in Gods howfej an Idoll ftill? *& 41- »• The Pofts and threfiolds of Bat'l fett up by Gods thrt holds and Pofts , were ftill the very fame. The Idol; aw. rt1- among lacobs family fhould ftill have betn Idolls i Gods worlhip, though it were true worfhip. And thei fore lacoh will have them utterly aboliftied. Sogrov were things very lawfull^nftance^r^w Gen.z uy yet becomming Idolatrous fas a.Kings 17.10. Icren 17,2. Efa, ,57. $. Hofea 4. 13. ) they are forbiddc

Dcu

Agaxnfi the Vrtlacy. ioi

)euM6. 21. And foof all the reft Deut.?. 5. Yea, hings appointed by God for a time , if they become dolls,or polluted with Idolatrous woifhip, theymuft le done away. Witneffethc Brafen Sir fern , and the \jj[!jaL zmeBaali. 16. 1-.

Now let our opponents give an inftancc f be fides be matter in hand) as the law of Logick rcquirerh3and ve will quit them all the reft.

As for the Minor, namely , that the Crtffi is Jidns i*~

:cnt unwind hath been an ldo//y wc thinkc no Protcftant vill deny. Witnefic their afcrtbwg cf Divine vertuc to r;yca thcyadoicir.

The venerable fignc of the Crofle ( faith Smart*) is \ , vorthic to be adored , though in a tranjient mittcr or fenHm criit' ic7tonybcc2uCc the figure and iignification is the fame, l^JnAUt hough the matter be divers. T#m.r .

Every figure orfrape of the Crofie , whether permanent ^(J* S*i tranfeuntyts to be adored ( faith I'dfques.) Yea this at- •eall CroflTc , was the very mother of the materiall De Adn. ^roffes,to which they creep ^ofYerincenfc, pray5adorc, jTlJj £* tnd fo make it boih mediator of intercefTion and IT pintm iemption, contrary to their ownccoyned dMKnAion, TJjMP* isD.-/v<rj/W^wellobicrvcth from the words of their *' Sreviary. Dt Lib.

J Aptch.

And fo much for tbii Argument.

A 3 The

10 2 SyonsTletu

The common an Aver to fuch Arguments as this, ill from the 30.Canon;Papifts(fay they) abufed it fowljfl but we ufe it better*

Foranfwer. i. Thisisnottoanfwet, forwehavm

proved, that it is not to be ufed at all. It is a commoqjif

excufe of corrupt pracltfe ( faith one of their owne J tli

ufe me tries Abufed by others in Gods ^orfluf.te a better cndl\

D.Uckfon. Tea it is a resolution too plan fible to lordly ^oifdome.

2. For ufe, is there not in word as much attributeif

to it by us (if not more,) as by the Papifts * Are not,bj|;l

the Prelats,the proper Offices of Baptifme afcribed ton

i2 the Croffe 3 as teaching and ftrengthcmng ? which b«j

Ex0.12.ij cheife parts of the nature of a Sacrament, as ScripturAl

inc.**. 19 commenters ,and the confent of Churches do tel

AmnJi. n.r deBoh. ftlfy.

Cbnfiixn. To conclude the Argument in a word : The Pre- 1 c%]n.m' lats Croffe is the hmz Jpecie,or in figure. It is the famc:| Lev. 4. alfofortheefpecialifignification, namely, tobeafigne\ 22. Umi. dr chrift.andthe efficacie of his death. So that (as oncl mm Ep\n. faithy he retaineth entirely his old Idolls omce. It > rtoJew" made way (faith.^; to that horrible fia of hyper dulia.

The laft Argument followeth well upon this namely:

It is the badge of the be aft , which is manifeft 1. bjll the Papifts challenging of it, to be the fpeciall marked and badge of their Idolatrous worihip $ witneflcU

%lh?'uo Supleton^ Bellarmine. An other calleth it the Chtraflem 2.6. 27.°' of their glory : The Croffe ( faith one J is a notable figne%

fthcrt*

tAgaintt the Trelacy. 10}

\ertby to know a Catholiqut^. How can we hould d< Sdtuu " \ our heads faith one) for frame of the beads mark, \^'tzz"'u hich our eareshcare by them thus extolIed:or with e,. lat forehead? can we fay that the Croffcis not tl. arts mark? 2. That it is a mark o.fthcbeaft3it isclearc HA thefe places of the Revelation Cap. 13. 17. &F*' 9. and v.i 1. & 15. 2. 1>6'

And that firfl by the cxpofition of the learned, lfl ^n^ mely, D JVi Yett>CM. Napier In (linger. Yea all o. :

rthodox writers confeue that our Ceremonies ai

>art of the mark of the Bead, of which Ceremo- r'l. it. in

:s the Croflc 1$ the fpeciall. As M. Fox, lo. di

do.

Dr. Abbot calls all the pric (Is garments vitrei) tie) km dififffgutfad from the re si ef the Cbw

U p.rt of tie ( haracler of thebeajl , and how mu<

ore the Crojfei

1. As this is theexpofion of the learned : fa this

ith may be from the places dcmonltatcd thus, to

nit other particulars )

yhst mark which is put upon men by thefecond Bfafiz 4

'he ma, k of the number of his namt , m 1 . Put upon

who ti[c traffck or trade; { §f the he.

But the ( 'rout in baptifmc is put upon men by the fee ijljti< tie mark of the number of his name , and ?.. upon all th.r, traff queer ir<

Ergo the ( ro/fcts the mat k of the /ieajl.

The argument is \[. Napi&i in 1

it of whofe medium , namely , the I PV«

ithecro(Tc,is well enough known

ic thin 1 , thatall, cveric where,

it>4 Syons ?lea->

or ending of their meate , fleepe , or affaires, croffe themfelves, Of whfch popifti pra&ife ou Englifh ^Armimus CMountigue verie well approveth, The omitting of their croffes incurred no lefll cenfure then thecurfe : neither were they permit ted without it to keepe houfe,or exercife any trade] witnes the Bull of Pope Martin. Dr. WilletfpeaMj eth exprefly to the confirmation of this argument^ Thefupersiittous marks of the Croffe f faith he ) arife o§\ ofthebeafls tyime ( to wit) from the number of it tl&\ expreffedintbe Creek Origmall ^* Of the fame mind is Mafter Brightman , expounding the meij ning of the beaftes making all to receive tk\ marke. I

Rev. i$,i6 This marke (faith \\z)doth conte^ne fummarily a$ tho few ayes ^ by which men an bound to obedience to tKi be aft. fi

Now wherein are they more fkvifhly bountf then to the marke of theCrofTe ?

5, Vpon the fame ground fnamely , that it is th<|r badge of the beaft, ) the learned write againft it rr^.Tbf^and the reformed Churches rejeftit; ) witneflt kg. voLz.Be^a.Siged/mus. Zanchius. D.Fulke. Reynold**. AlaL L#f! Com. r^an (fiuth on*) what is our fin , who not onely rc<L ?*gei69. ceive thecroffeourfelves foneof Antichrifts marjn DeReiempt.fe$] but aif0 put -t an(j <jrawe it as it were wit i

trAH 040. . r 1 "

hiuv w pullers upon others s p,

$6, dg*lrisl

m*ges%Agt 4- Wee defire to know , what things in poperfto 6o2* be themarkes of thebeaft ifthcfe benot *

W

0;

tAgamft the Prelacy. \^

Wee have been the larger upon this , becaufe ic a maine ftumbling blockc to manie , having j readines particular trearifes againft the red: of le particulars, which (balbe it your honours fcr ice. Fortheprefent we will conclude with this, lata great Court officer ambngft the Hierarchic, caring the vilencs of the Groflc hyd open and roved in difpute^onfcfled in plaint tcrmes, that <W2Safilthy [do'/y and he w:fh: it candemned U he!l gm whence it came B it to proceed. VVhogiveth life and breath to this and the reft of ic Ceremonies ) wbonfh isthem into Gods wor- lip f who arc the nnrfing Fathers and Members oftUm r ^ho be their Ckirmrghus c\r Pbifirioxs, with IveSy&z Pot:ous,to datvbe, curt, and Ptfltatt them, where ley cannot make a cure f who doc healc and Cica- *~rthelefeftred wounds of the b-jaft, but thc/V< "th-ir ajprenSifa 'who daubc with this unriptredmor- r? whomaketh warreagainlt the Sain<fts to keep le Dragons tA)U ofadiielnyh* The Bifliops onely id their dependants. In fo much that wc have more len caufe to renew the juft complain' of char learned : welldifpofed K.Frcder. ofSpainc A°. i joo. Ffifcopi \rcmonix3^ & omne id quod ad vu/jam gZ rum i debnti r cmovent quantum "jero ad Regimtn ammaruM inj m*tfrnampcsiifcrtfHr*t,&Qt As tor Ceremonies urh t) and fuch things as dofervc to :he advancing of the linglorie of the Prelacie , the Bs. take fokm Ca )rthcpromoteingofthefejbur oftbc government of mlcs,and their eternal lalvation , they ore the very .agues, &c. In a word,as N$ c et i i/un.t^ no B>ftop , to

P

Jh/rs.i*.

106 Syons Vhtu

No ft. no Cerewonie. Yea they have brought us to an I higher degree of Idolls, namely,the Maflein publique : pi which who would have thought f befide as manic it private iMaiTes as the Papifls will. I

t The keeping in cf that ftrange fire, hath made good

Gods threat enings upon us , becauje Ffhraim bath madt

manic A tars to (in, Aitars jhj/l be vntohimtojin, as i

the Spirit (hould fay : Since he will havcIdolls,hefhaf

not want enough of them,

Againe, no man knoweth how farre thisleproficjl may fpread : for Papifts fervants make great braggs,anct| offer monie out lo that day,when publiqueMaflb fhali be done in their Matters chappels.

Thofe Idolls in Gods worfhip beget and mainraincj other Idolls, as apptareth plainly fiom that place fore«J quoted, and alfo from too much wofull experience* y How doe cur rrenfuoifiy me amorphofed women rnaintaine the Idoll of their ftrange and abhominable apparrell 9 but from the Miniftcr his anticbe attiring ofi, himfelf in thecal! appaivl of the ^boore ? Yeahowdo, ufurers,fwcarcrs,and others rnaintaine their monihous finnes,but by preflmg on the reprovers of them,thofci Ceremonies, which crce being obeyed , they make a mock of the word ?

Purther,they doe not onely doe,and rnaintaine thefe things, but alfo they pretfc the practite of them upon1 the fub/eds, and that often maugre their conferences,

and

lAgainsl the Prelacy. 107

nd that by threatning.punifhirigof their purfe c< itn- rifonment. Moreover r hey force the Minifters and oung Schollers to fubferibe to «he aforcfaid 5. Books, vo of which, fcirce one amongft manie have feenc. "he matter of their fubfeription, as hath beenfaid be- )re} is this , That nothing co it din mrarit to the "bord<f ( od. Whence ir lnuft follow, tat Ceremonies and o:hcr things in q icftion , muft

• Warranted by the *ord. For as they canno: d enie : barfoever is bejidt : /he Wo; J , / $rd : fo hatfocver ( eipccially inGojs woifliip; is note; ary to the word.is warranted by the word. Dy which rduction the prcflburs of :1k fe things and fubferibers 1 them, put them upon the fecund Lornm ndment , for

• ir,ihey mild cither (land or fall. X >w thus to put

•on God the thing, that he never commanded, nor m#7 , rr came into his hi art to comm.wd,2S himfelf fpeaketh, >w high a fin it is , and how ncarc toi/.^^/»/o,wc ivcu to be judged.

Moreover,whercas all outward means of Gods wor- pby th'Arlirmarivc of this comnuiiKlir.cn; are cfta- ;vind the due performance thereof required, the datspcrfecute and thruft out the faithful! Mmiltcrs, aich be the LMeffingers rf tb$W$rd , vrs ifGod-, the Breakers of the bread of l C zi\dlJo//fl>rjpheard> (he ila\crs ot icy

1 up their places : how manic IikIi rh j rhrufl ta d keep io*WC cannot number. They are Fathers & Favourci ( * foul nuirthc-

ig finncs of Non-refidencU & , condem. u

P z I v

ioS Syons T>lea^

by all the Laws that can be named : Neither can thefc confift with the office of a Paftor.

We will give but a touch , becaufe wc have a whole trcatife againft thofe (nines , -which your Honours, may command.

Never Papift fofhamelene,as to plead or write for thefc iinnes (fo farr as we know ) yet fome among u$ are notafbamediodoe both. But this is no better then to plead and write for bhua-guiMneffe , and to warrant if by a law. The maine non-rcftients be t heir Lords <5c <JMaJttf$ $ by reafon whereof they become Patrons, to impropriate patrons 3 whom they have taught to fin,& maintayne (In by prefident.

Another fin againft the Ordinances,is the Iuftlingc out of the reading of the -word of God, to the number of J 96 chapters, or ihere about , yea & fome whoM Books of Scripture :in place whereof 134. Chapters o the Apocrypha are thruft in, as of more ufe^edificatior' and efteeme with them- witnefife, their making o Scripture3to give place to thcApocrypha,upon zj]>eci4k yV«*/?,thongh it fall on the Lords 4fJ* And this is done,©' to be done by thecvr/fW<7-20.fcvcral rimes in the year

Yet more finne againft the Ordinances: topafle b their Lemon fupcrftinous fa ft 3 Veith the cxft&Ation 0 Tcpifi Dififlirtc in that particular 3 they keep out an hinder true fading indeed, to the (name of this Nation & the balling on of inevitable deftru&io upa our head wit.nes that of Ii'aic: In that day I 'called for "beepn^&i

lAgaxnB the prelacy. iop

it btholJ.&c. Surety that iniquitie fha'l-net be f urged , cm)cu tiff )ottd\e fi\ih thcl.ord ofhoaftsrthisfpeech 14. :^cke our eares tingle and hearts tremble.

If a Fad at lenght be appointed , the Prelats ill beitireto watch foripoyling of the pot with neCclccjuintidA or other of riicir ow:ic invention. fore wcbcfcech your Honours , as you render iodsFionour3and defire his pitfettce ro your procce- ings,looketoyour Fafts , thai death be net ;, lat in ftead of pacifying of an aitgrit God \ yc provoke m nor more. For it is nor more narurali for Prelats ro at & drink,fhen from their hearts to hate * Taji 'tcdyto the 1

Manic reafons we might give, but we defire this one

0 be thought on. If this dutie were kept up , and fet

n foote upon all the right Limmes, & duclyplycc

odo & forma tupon every )hR. motive , they knor/ it

vouldfiiidctheai out robe nojir; fundi taiamita* , tic

Arte of our beit:^ \ yea this would blow them up,

nd all our iinncs ekenimies with them. In this their

latrcd and fear* of the duetie appeareih : if ante gather

bamjUvts taguher ( as the Lord commandcth ) to flay

if it be poifible ) the comming forth of the decree,

ley are watched wirh . ft .t eyes, and dragged along by

fiarim his hands, as it were in ddpitcfull oppofinon

o God and his lervicc , againft the Laws of the Land,

■ftinft the Crownc & Dignitic of the King , againil

aporalland ctcrnall good of the Stare.

P 1 Yet

no SyonsT?lea->

Yet this is not all,but if Gods people in their families upon the Lords day fall to chew the cud, by the repetij tion of a Sermon , helping fome neighbours that havij not fuch meanes j they are without regard of the dawj Gods ordinance3or God himfelf>halled or hurried bew fore a Prelate- fome are kept in purfuivants hands, fo»| bound over at no leffe coft then vf.or a noble a peecdf fome having Tcarfe fo much more in the world 11 O temp or a. ! O mores !

To fhut up the further profecution of the breaches of this precept; W^/y is the key ofDifcipline f

As Discipline >\s the foule of warrcjthc fpirit of Policic: fo it is the Scepter of ChriB , fwaying his owne houfe, according to his hearts defire.

And as a body without a fitile^ Camp or State with- out 'Policic are either dead carkaffes, or bodies fo be- nummed,that they either do nothing, or that which is worfe then nothing : fo a Church without DifciplineJ is a Lethargicaf/yOt Apoplectic all body, wanting that a»u\ maljpirit , which ihould open and expell the droflkj vapors of /&,and organife the faid body,

Difcipline is the cheife commandeun the Camp* Royall of God. It driveth the nayle into the temples of Rebellion it felf. This is the onely beft phyfitian , fot the purging out of peccant and pertinacious humours: theoncly Chirurgian for wounds and fettered foresj and an exq^ifite bone fetter for frs&ures or luxations, This is Chrifts owne Key, that fhutteth outenimies & entcnaincth freinds ; In a word, it is the beft guardv <5t forte$ muniment & munitions Notwithstanding of all

this

lAnainft theTrelacy. Ill

s excellencies-is the Symigogeot Rome, and all the mbsof rhar confuted Bdfill , like nothing worfe pn the Difciplineof Chriftscamp5forhe moftofour ion may f«y with forrow and grcife inhearrc,as :Difciples laid ro Paul of the Hohe Ghc{\ : Webdvt A\Hs. t$. 2, fo m veb jts heard whether there be a Holic Ghoft : fo all s time wc have fenrccly heard whether there be any h thing as rifapixe. Ami Is not this groflTc affc&cd orance , yea afearfull judgment ii -.flick d onus? ras (ureas Chrilt luih a houlc, fo lure hchn :hac houic , and r liar no moc , no fewer, nor other, n he hath appointed.

Thcfc, nun may not chop, change, or counterfaife their plcafure ( except they will turn: %6

irifts hjes are delivered in the word , namely, th< xer tndufc of 'theVcord and Dip tpltne > guiding and ]£'1Om*l0t irding all other ordinances , the ufe and authentic ° lereof, is alfo by pra&ifc manifefted in the fame. Ithar Diiciplineor Church -governmenr is a mainc \y of the Kingdomc of Heaven. C m nnic man Ink that Chnit would leave his houlc deflirure c fteforme of governm*. (betngfatthfa / in .ill his houfe n Mofes) Vcdstox that anie better forme of government lid be deviled by man ? ( for every change mould be the better ) yet the Prclats and their Champion • ■ ■ ire the people in hrttld , 1h.1t there is no ctr: a: ' "f FfiUcie or government i,

tlntrth to I .ile Scriptures : which 1

againtl Script u re, pn&ifc, and reafon, ns hath been '[', d in a work Daaniwcrabl ty nujr as

\vh3t Chnll hjth no ht>v* mc it ro

be

■=

in Syons- lletu

be changable which cannot be to the better, ther fore not at all. It is true the prelates ( cnimiest Chrifts government,) fpeake contumelioufly ofdii cipline, calling it a fancy or novelty \a metre hnmar devife , and they would beare the world in han that Calvin was the fir ft authourofit,zs D.Downhamj B. Bilfon, Saravia; & B. King : but they do. juftin this, as the Papifts doe with our religion who will hatie Luther to be the authour of it. 1 this the Prelates opinion and pra&ife , is muf like that of the Lacedemonians, defended by Plafl namely to haue no wills about their Cities^ but the citize i*&.?. de valour: but as their unfound opinion, and Plan opt .Rep. his defence are refuted by Ariftotle, as veryprefuntj tuous , dangerous andhlooddy to a common weak ; fo th want of the walls of difciplne, layeth a Church ( pen to all manner of mifchiefe, and danger, bot from forreinanddomeftick foes: but in this the difFerfromthe Lacedemonians; they flood upo the worth and valour of their citizens; but the Pr< lates doe not onely unmantle the walls, but ah cafliiere the verie bed forces , as though they meat to deftroy aud raze the foundation of the Utte c/Go, The utilitie and ncceflky of difcipline cannc enough be expreiTed. It is a fpeciall note of tf Chnrchy though not conftitutinga Church, y flowing properly from the effence of a Churc Itismoft neceiTaric for the externall [ubfifianct , < well being of the Chirch : Itisalfoaverie neceflf tiemeanesforthc obteining of the greateft goo qf the Church. .

The

r

tAgainfi the ^Prelacy. n$

They themfclucs confeffc that fome forme o* [Oyernmentisncceflirie as B. Whirgifr Bancroft, piJfon , Downham ; for they hold it as Keckcrman 3cakcrh a Cyclopieall, or confufed multitodc 'a*/* ,favtxhv&i 'a,KX$> wbrc n a J none obey.

that government is then like to the government f Chrift i

This is thegnard thdt kerpeth out errours tfdoQn nd corruptions of manners : this is the (> be that cutteth orvnc fin , this mskcth t be ulleh rei tto sioope ;

his firengthenctb tbr hands a>.d comtortcth the lean s of <ods people ; this muketb * [Vreete harmonic and concinne rder in the Church and cotnmon wealth , as appearcth >y thatcomon weal of Geneva formeily inftanccd^ dmircd by all nations that looke upon it with I ingle eie. By the contrary , where this is altoge- hcr wanting,or a bare empty cafk or mere fhew and xidow ofit rcmaincth,thercis nothing but the ( s ofc6fu(io,or (to fpeak with thefpirit) there is no- fling but Wretch d,ie ,x.\ut\sj*no>dcc of drown mifenet wgcM bwetjhtmdrtes fr ndJtednei. But we will not kacfti our Prelates will nothauc us ro know it.-This foldenfcepter they cannot endure, for it croifcihrhe i i ten fecpter > by which they rule all and do- ninierc overall, we meane A ttichrtjlun dsfiiplint vhich thegreatefl Champious of R.om< I gh-i

y commend, and in it cxceedi 'oritansfas rhrycail thcra Seal! inereforroed

witneile SlikUi \ i bis fh I

a es ( lav they weEngJjJh B fbet

jtji.pltnc of the Lathol. ./ tcs , m u / 4?»

^L v

W4 Syons Vletu

What impietie,injuftice and tyrannie is this , to waft k the vineyard of the Lord,to filence.fufpend,depofe 5c f imprifon the keepers and dreflers of the fame ? ta break downe the whiles and the hedges of ir f to rearqsl up an Antichriftian Fort in it, and to plant Popifh Caii nons upon it \

Is this to defend Sion ? or is it not to mixe the En£j Rcw). h s. glifh Sea with fire , to confume Sion ? Is this to maklA glad the harts , and to strengthen the Vreak- knees efcodt] people f Or is it not rather to fill the bofomes of thcJ FhiliHims with triumphant joye/and to fill with ftnmcH fib farre as they can) the faces of all reformed Chur-J ches?

By this all men may know, whofe fervantsthefe] Great Lords be.

Before we (hut up the difcourfe of the finning againft this commandmenr,it (hall not be amifle to lay the fin*] ger upon an old fore of theirs, newly feftered^name-, lie 3 the barring the printing of all books from the! preffe, which might iniighten the people wih lovC] of the truth of Chrifts government, and the puritit of his ordinances , and might make them hate their Antichriflian calling and impure devifes in Gods wor- ship.

In this they deale with us , as the Rc&ors of the id fuitesdo in their Societies, who ftraiiiie interdid botlj young and old the reading or having of Proteftan Books,which made their convert spa/ato ro fay 5 or ra- ther to diffemble , thai this was the prime and princi

pal.

tAgainfl the Trelacy. 115

•all caufe of his fufpe&ing of the Popifh religion. £$£

The Prelats doe nor onelie oppofefuch Books, as ppofe their tyrannic and trumperie , interdicting and nenacing people from the reading of them , but they Ifo imprifon > banifh , yea and kill the Authors of lem.

If any thing by God his good hand pafie the preffj, ither at home or abro.vWiieh croiTe'h rheir tenour, rfpenketh home for the tenour o< Chrift , it muft hher go through fnrgdt trj fit hroagh the/fre, fuchis icir cxpurgatoiy tryall. InftaocC D. Whittakers orkc, otheiwucpubljfhedaffer his death than in his fe. Alio Mr.Sprints CalTander , Spalato his fummc his 9. Bookc , concerning Mmifters mainte- ancc. Not to be tedious , be plcafed to view ucanus his inliirurions, tranfhtt d into Englifh , and rintcd in London Anno 1616. the yeare after that ficy were printed in Geneva. , in this they make him eake/nor through the fault of the tranilucrjbut by a iyn:ng and clipping amiioritic , the things he never ake indeed.

They invert the order , they rake away both quc- ionb and anfwers , they turne afiii matives into negft- ves.aiid negatives into affirmatives , a number of m- loceswccan give, bur let a tafte furlice. rhc qucdion fihemarrage of the innocent panic divoricd , is Hi c lef: out. De ionjugo q.tesf. 13.

So a great part of rhc queftion cf the orders of

rlliftctt,qucli*4j. Alio the queftion ot\ht fi'ine of the tL Croft

11(5 -Syons rPhoL*

Crojfe in Baptifme,/?//^/?. Je B.ipt f qmf.ig. and manic] others. What the leaving out of the mod part of the cm$.7*. anfwer to the queftion of Naboibs denying Ahab his vineyard meaneth, we leave it to your Honours judg- ment : but now they are growen to a further height3 for as they would ne\ cr iuffer the wall of discipline td be buflt,fo now they are like to ruinq. the cine, of thi 'foord it felf , by refervingofthe prefles, for the fet ting fonh^and trimming up their cwne projects anfl Arminianifme, thevene gatebcufe cj Poperiz^ , but a for co nut erf leas or pref'.rvaiives againit fuch poifon able drugges.they will fuffer none to paiTe, yea though there be no matter of controverfie 3 yet it iscontro verfie to them if it be the tructb.

And fo much for thisCommandment3againf1: whici we defire your Honours to obferve , what a world o finnes arife from the Prelacie.

As for the third Commandment ; to parte by thcii owne ordinary oaths ( which they accoum but pttth onesj and alfo the bloody oaths of their fwaggerin,: fervants and the roaring fpeeches of i\io\tJovia!t Chau lins , being a wondrous evill prcfident toallaboi' them jhow doth heir prophane cariage , theruffiai] like revelling behaviour of thcit Chaplins ( moi kingof JViiniftcis reproving fw*aripg,& other finnc j fee an edge upon ihc finneof fm*ring% whcnfwc, rers know how fuch reprovers ftull be dealth with J

Againe,hcw is the name of God prophaned by tb Uiegall extorted oath ex officio i by the bmologzes ax

urn

%Againft the VreLcy. I if

tohgies , lemon curfes;ard adjurations of the fcr- :c-bcoke and Letanie : bcfidcs the fcarfull roaring, ;king,and torturing of the word in their Cathcdrall lurches?

To the 4. Commandment. ;be fides their cxemplarie Dphaningof t Lie Lords day, by the ndfami-

$) it is a lamentable cafe to heare ! vin their

Dmmccements by Schoole difpincs,in t lair Sermons d Diicourfcs,:he moralitic of the Sa brought

Lqueflion , and to the great difhonotir of God, eife of his people, they maintaiocthi iofit. And notonely fo, but they oppofethem- lvestothc reformation and keeping of it 5 witnc icir hand again ft the Magiftiacie of the Citic ondon in that bufincs. And for that .ftingEooLcof f.crat;on,for prcph.mwg cj : \ the Oc lire of the

onftroufly prophane,and the procurement of fomc relate , concurred to the begctringof it, and brin- jng ir to be authoriied.

, La(tly,^hey take ofFthe leaders of Gods families in le fanttifyingof the Sabbath. And fo much fas brcif- as we could) for the (inncs of the firft tablcyakeing >oting and butting upon thePrelars.

0 come to the (inncs of the fecond Table: irft,tl with a high hand againft the K.Majeft.

: that fir ft in re fed of his/#*/r/g##^- they fpeakcvill > him of the ru< h of (jod & of the fcrvants of the Beth | where! hear r may bclct loofefrom

ic fcarcothisGi d,c\' giv€ over to fupinc negligence, eluding; plcalu! ill concckc of the prctious

iUth,<3cot Ins beft&lovingft fiends & lubjeftsluft ac- cording to

u3 Syons Tletu

that fpeech of the Prophet : They make the King glt U*f>1*$* Veith their^ickednes^and the Princes "frith then * lyes* ( which place the foregoing words explane the mranir (according to the fcope of the Spiti. , and the currei of Interpreters,) nam elie, by their corrup? lives &fal fuggeftions , they corrupt the King, forefhlling h! judgment againft the goody and goodnes. feccati ?u- Hence one well obferveth, that the finnes of Pre/a LepT'in corrupting Princes , hmdereth the good of the fub)ec~l\ hcnm. So that we force not the text.

For the further proofe ©f this , with what falfe fud geftions did the Prelats abufe their ingenuous & royaj Qjeene Elizabeth againft the true Offices and Officei] of t he Court of Heaven upon Earth ?

How was the late King prefled as a cart undol (heaves, to blanch and abandon the ordinances ; to dij| grace and difcountenance his Chariots and Horfenacnj in which lay more ftrengrh then in all his Counfels t\ forces ? How was he prefled to the putting downe cl le&urcs.

To give an inftance of thefe evill Offices t we hav heard that the King upon occafion given , inquired © the Venetian exraordinarie ^mbajfiideurs 9 wha meanes the people in their territories and other Iflcso Italie had for their feules ; They made anfwer to ihif effed,that their leiturgie and Booke of Homelics'pro portioned in number to the Sabbaths of the yearc were read in their Churches. Alas! f fud theKng] that is poore ftuffe. To the which a Prelate ( beinj by ) reply cd ; Tnat it fimld be better for hh Ma)eHm

Stat

'Agawji the Vrelicyl 11$

te.Mnd the State of his Kingdom es , if thert Vctrt mo mlies, and lejfc preaching: For there was more lore d he) among fubje&s themfelves , more loyaltie heir Prince,more profperitie to the State , "toben it 4 fo , then fince the time that nothing Vtould ferve but aching. At which fpeech the King looked hard an him, and (aid no more.

Jf the learned Iudges, and learned Counfellers at y3and all undcrftanding Statefmen doe hould ind )kiie it a principle of State, that SuggeBtmrs &:InJ/i- our sot i King, to cutt the coards of his ownelavvs, ; wor.hie of condignc punifhment in the higheft dc- X ; what arc thefe men worthic that incite trK King neglect or rcj £t the Commandments of his God f To it purpofc another of them, as we are informed, told : lame King : That all the church Jlwu/d never he at \till fuch tvfo^orthie CMmiJhrs ( vvhofc names we Lre) Vtere hanged up , one in the South, another in the '7th.

Secondly , they are againft the Honour of : King. For as it was a ftaine to the good Nngs of Iuda f notwithstanding all their carefull rc- rnurion and maintenance of true religion,; tb*; (kytookc not away the high places(inftancci^w«M u\ \leho^.:phat) which high places HtZMcbu 5: lofta re- 2 ^.t4.4

vcd.fo the great Honour of their names ; lo thefe !* !4- :n wonderfully edipfef if not deface) the Honour |our Sovcraignc, notonely in ftateing the Auit.tr rf m.fut ? that is their ownc or PopifliCcrcmonf vS

with

9tOV,2j.Z.

120 SyomTletL,,

with the Altar of Gods ordinances , but in iuffer Bsal-peor y\o fh w his face openly ; which muft of j cefihie make ihe wrath of God break in upon us.

It is the Kings Honour JfiXth. Salomon,) to f earth om matt :r from the bottom as the word fignifieth) which to be underftood in things concerning Gods gloi his owne Honour,and the good of ;he Stare : bur rl vaile ourSoveraigne inrhefirftofrhefejwhich indi fhould be the perjpective to the reft, ro bring tin, home in their due quantities how then fhould his h nourtruelyflouriih?

Thirdly , they tranfgrefle highly again ft his Roj Crowne and Dignirie ( as hath beene (hewed ,) in t maintenance of forraigne jurifdi&lon.

. Fourrhly 3 they are againft his prerogative roy* nor onely maintaining their calling to he)uredtvu but alio in keeping Courts in their owne name,

Rftly,thcy weaken the ftrength of the Kings ftatJ For as the hovering of the Ifraelires mindes after Sai.| houfe, weakntd the pillars of the houfe of Da\\ (though annoinred and citablifhed by the Lord,) fo|jj hovering of our Engli fl) RomAnifts^&izx Romes Prim cie , doth diftrad & enervate dangeroufly the ftrenjj of his Majeftics ftate. And who be the main poles the rent of their hope, but the Prelacie > encourage them funh.r by fupprcfling and difgracing Rofll| shdfeft udverfaries under the name of the P»riM

tAgaintt the ^Prelacy. ni

>that which is the weakening of his freinds , is the rcngthening of his foes. And that thus they doe,lct leir Canons, Advertifements,vifitation Articles, their pen clamours and calumnies from pulpits(comparing fiern with Iefuits, ) and laftly, their daylv proceeding ►ainfl them in their Courts bcare witnefle.

Sixtly, they devour the Kings wealrh , for as the ealthofthe fubje&,is the wealth cfthe King, fothc tipoverifhingandfpoylingof the fubjeft , isthcim- wcrifhing and fpoyling of the King. For exi&ing omthefubjeft :" Jet fir ft a jVuxrc be made, whether icy rake not out of the Mini iters vjs & tnodis compa- cts cemputandts an 100000. per Annum. And afmuch more out of the peoples purfes for Citation fees , pleas, and jangling matters, befides ic great fummes they raife forprobats of wills; what rablc of Officers , as Chancellours , Commifiarics, I rchdeacons, and others, keepc they for the emptying if the peoples purfcs,and filling of the land full of all lianncr of finnc,as Avcaring5drunkennes,whorcdomc, (ride, Idlen effc, &c. witnefie their filthic and rotten kechcs,indifgracc of Gods people, which we loathe bname , asalfothcirpatronifingof finnc, and pla- cing of Profefiburs in their Courts; what a number- f.flc number of A/o/£<7, drones, and CatcrpilLrs , they leepc in their Cathcdrall and Collegiate Churches, tt are not able to exprcfle. Some have i'ummed them p to the number of 22000. or thereabout , what a tigc deal of mcancs will fo many Sharks devourc.

R 7. And

in Syons Plea.*

7. And laftlie , they are againft thcfafetieof hisl Majefties perfon, in maintaining the hopes of Popilhf traytors,who upon all occafions are readie to attemper andcommitt treafon againfthim and the States wit- neffe the manie plotts and deepe treafons , contrived againft our Kings and State this 68. yeares j As they fin againft the King , fo they linne againft all his fub-l jects-Asfirft againft his Minifters , from whom andf whofe families (againft the laws of God and the landjl they have taken both liveiiebood arid life-fox fome havel fintfhed their lives in prifon j and fome at this day,be-f ingpoore and aged, have much adoe togctt bread to] eat, but worfe then all this,they ftoppe their Miniftrie, which is dearer to them then life and libenie. How bitterlie and bafelie have they abufed them in theii Courts and palaces $ what numbers have they at feve- .rail times ill encedi

It is extant in record that in anno i604.about 271, Minifters were queftioned,for not iubferibing or non- conforming , of which number about 70. were de- prived of their livings, about 113. not fuffered tc prcach^and about 94. under admonition $ All whicl cruelties are done upon them and theirs , for no; fubferibing to a booke, whereunto to fubferibe , is flai againft the law,as hath been difcovered.

Butinveriedeed their quarrell is againft the prea ching of the Gofpell; which cannot ftandfas we hav< (hewed) with the ftanding of the Hierarchy. For.it i; cleare both againft the ftatute 3 and the late King! sninde in his Conference at Hampton Court , tha

mu

tAgainsl the Prelacy. 12^

ten once admitted, JIkuU le ey&ed or cafl cut for not-fib- ribing. Citing that of the Poet:

Turpi us ejicitxrq*dm von admittiturkojpes* ■

2. They fin execedinglie againft the good eftatc id fandtimonie of the Kings beufold government y hereof the Miaifters ordinarilic arc men of their oulding,looking more for preferment then caring rthefoules ; they fcede them wirh fome froathic uftc fas noble Prince Henrie well obferved, where-

not onelie much loofencs,but alfo pcrplexitie (for ant of means, affault them. For as prof ufe giving cx- .ufteth thefountainc 5 fo except the fountaine of incelie liberalise be ever fending fome refreshing eams,to moiften the drinefleof their hott liverdfer- nts,they fall quicklic cither unto a confumption 5 or feintoadropficof indirect courfes , which cannot .t rcfleft upon their King and Mr. Nowfincchis lajcftic by rcafon of his mainc imployments, cannot lpcrhem as he would ( out of hisowne meanest th fome ofthcPrelatsnecdlcfle £c hunfullaboun- |nce, he may fupplie his fcrvants wants , and doc luch good with the rclt.

But to go on,theyfinucalfo againft all his Majertics jbjefts •

i: And that firrt: in tyrannifing over their foulcs anJ

indies, in the courfes of their unjuft Courts. Which

•as a noble man obfervcth ,} arc eppojitc to all the

of the lingdomc^> , by rcafon of tbccxercifi

R, z

124 Syons flex*

folt anther it ie. The Bijhop citeth alone, aceufeth alone\\\

cenfureth and excemmunicatetb alone-, But (faith hej Kingsl

And (JWonarcbes have their Counfel/s. ^All temporal^

Courts have more therein their author itie doth rest-, a* thct

high Court of Parliament , Kings Bench , common Pleas^

Chancery , Star chamber > and a/I the refi. <^Ar.d fo it is in\

forraigne Kingdomes^itneffe theParliaments in FrartccM

But the Prelate doth all him fe If , and that in matters a

higher nature then the highefi tempor-all affaires : y^hiM

is a thing (faith hcjpajl all example, and for Vchich they can]

render no reafon. That PopKh tyranny indeed whereil

by they exalt themfelves Above all that is called God^ is thll

very ground of it, and beft reafon they can render.

Out of their prefumption , they darecrofie by thei: Courts,thehjgheft Court of the Kingdoms 5 namel;j the Parliament 5 for which fawfycourfes, our King; have fecluded them the Court of Parliament. Inftanoj Anmntf* Edward the firfl, who called a Parliament of his NobL litie and commons, fecluding the Clergie bothfronl Parliament aud prote&ion.

2. They fi