Certaine arguments and motives of speciall moment propounded to the consideration of our most noble King and state tending to perswade them to abolish that unhappy and unhallowed government of our church by bishops, and in stead thereof to set up the government of the Lord Iesus Christ and his holy ordinances in their purity and power. 1634 Approx. 59 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A21016 STC 739 ESTC S5086 38160580 ocm 38160580 29256

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A21016) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29256) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1908:2) Certaine arguments and motives of speciall moment propounded to the consideration of our most noble King and state tending to perswade them to abolish that unhappy and unhallowed government of our church by bishops, and in stead thereof to set up the government of the Lord Iesus Christ and his holy ordinances in their purity and power. 36 p. s.n.], [S.l. : M. DC. XXXIV [1634] Signatures: A-D⁴, E². Imperfect: tightly bound, last p. torn. Reproduction of original in: Union Theological Seminary (New York, N.Y.). Library.

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eng Church of England -- Government -- Controversial literature. Church of England -- Clergy. 2008-01 Assigned for keying and markup 2008-02 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-03 Sampled and proofread 2008-03 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

CERTAINE ARGVMENTS AND MOTIVES, Of ſpeciall moment, propounded to the conſideration of our moſt noble KING and State: Tending to perſwade them to aboliſh that unhappy and unhallowed government of our Church by Biſhops; and in ſtead thereof to ſet up the government of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and his holy Ordinances, in their purity and power.

Iſaiah. 26.13.

O Lord our God, other Lords beſides thee have had dominion over us.

Lamenta. 5.8.

Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doeth deliver us out of their hand.

Math. 15.13.

Every plant, which my heavenly father hath not planted, ſhall bee rooted up.

Math. 5.13.

If the ſalt have lost his ſavour, wherewith ſhall it bee ſalted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to bee cast out, & to bee troden under foote of men.

ANNO M.D.C.XXXIV.

CERTAINE ARGVMENTS and Motives, of ſpecial moment, propounded to the conſideration of our moſt noble King and State: Tending to perſwade them to aboliſh that unhappy and unhallowed government of our Church by Biſhops; & inſtead thereof to ſet up the government of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and his holy Ordinances, in their purity and power.

THe Archbiſhops & Lord Biſhops of England are the maine hinderers of the free paſſage of the Goſpel, & of the growth of godlines in that famous & flouriſhing Realme.

1 They ſtop the mouthes of the faithfulleſt & fruitfulleſt Miniſters in the land; ſome one of which hath (by his labours in the Church) done God more good ſervice, & gained more ſoules to Chriſt by his Miniſtery, then al the Biſhops have done, that either now are, or ever have beene in the kingdome, ſince the Goſpel beganne laſt to be preached & publiſhed amongſt us. What a woful havock did they make in our Church, in the beginning of King Iames his raigne; when they turned out at a clap foure hundred of the ableſt & moſt conſcionable Miniſters in the land, for not yeelding to ſuch things as B. Ʋaghan ſome of themſelves then openly confeſſed to bee trifles & nifles, gewgawes & gamboles, fitter for children then for men of diſcretion? Howſoever the King caried the name of it, yet theſe wicked Prelats put him upon it, and did egregiouſly abuſe both him and his authority to countenance their owne cruelty. His commaundement & commiſſion was, that they ſhould firſt convince mens conſciences, before they proceeded againſt them. But they fall pell-mell upon them, and turned them out, leaving them to the wide world, to ſeeke for ſatisfaction where they could finde it; they knowing that they were able to give them none. How have they gone on ever ſince, though not altogether ſo boiſterouſly, and with ſo much violence, yet weeding out by degrees, one after another, the moſt painefull and profitable workmen in the Lords harveſt, & ſuch as did him the beſt & the faithfulleſt ſervice in this vineyard of his? And to what exigents and extremities are both the Miniſters & members of our churches at this day expoſed; who, as it is wel knowne, do dailie in troupes and great multitudes, not without much griefe, quitt the kingdome, to ſhelter themſelves in forraine countries from the unjuſt uſurpation, and merciles and matchles tyranny of theſe Antichriſtian Prelats, the tendereſt of whoſe mercies are cruell? Prov. 12.10.

2 They beeing, either all, or the moſt of them, corrupt and unſound in their iudgments, do favour none of their clergy, as they call them, but ſuch as go on in a plaine and direct way to Popery, or looke terribly a-ſquint towards Arminianiſme, & Pelagianiſme; either of which whoſoever oppoſeth (eſpecially if hee do it profeſſedly and in good earneſt) they will bee ſure to cruſh him, if they can, though he bee never ſo conformable, according to their owne helliſh Canons, and though he bee ſo painefull in the worke of his Miniſtery, & ſo vnblamable in the courſe of his life, that they have nothing to lay to his charge. How then is it poſſible that the Goſpel ſhould thrive and proſper amongſt us, and how can it bee expected that it ſhould run and bee glorified, when theſe Tyrants, who ſitt at the ſterne, & affect the Title of Fathers of the Church, countenance none but men of corrupt mindes, like themſelves, and cry downe, with might and maine, all ſuch as do but looke towards ſyncerity? In their devilliſh Canons (of which Hell it ſelfe would bee aſhamed if there were any ſhame there) they anathematize, and curſe with Bell, Booke, and Candle, all ſuch as miſlike and profeſſe againſt their Romiſh Hierarchy; they pronounce them excommunicate ipſo facto. O monſtrous wretches, that dare give ſuch uniuſt ſentence, and thunder out ſuch a direfull and dreadfull cenſure againſt thoſe faithfull ſervants of Chriſt, which beare witnes to the truth of his, which wil ſtand, when all they that oppoſe it ſhal melt away like ſnow before the ſunne: B. Bancroft. Some of them have growne to ſuch a height of impudency and impiety, that they have not ſtuck to ſay, that if S. Paul himſelfe were a Preacher in the land, or any other man as richly ſtored and furnihed with the graces of Gods Spirit, for that great worke of the Miniſtery, as S. Paul was, unleſſe hee would conforme himſelfe to the orders of the Church now eſtabliſhed, they would ſuſpend, and deprive, and degrade him, and caſt him out of their Synagogue; ſo little regard have they of any mans abilities and indowments! It is wonder that they do not expunge out of the Canon of holy Scripture ſundry of S. Paules epiſtles, which make ſo directly againſt them and their government. Moſt certaine it is that if that bleſſed Apoſtle were now, upon any complaint made againſt him, to give an account of his life and doctrine before them, he ſhould finde leſſe favour at their hands, then hee did at the hands of Felix, Act. 23.35. they would not ſtay till his accuſers came, but they would force him by their curſed oth ex officio (which was hatched in hell) to accuſe himſelfe, or elſe to priſon hee muſt, there to ly long enough, without baile or mainepriſe. What pity is it that ſuch ungracious wretches ſhould bee put into any place of eminency, which know no better how to uſe it? When the righteous are in authority, the people reioyce, but when the wicked beareth rule, the people ſigh, Prov. 29:2.

3 Their poyſoning of the fountaines, and thoſe violent courſes which they take againſt Miniſters, diſcourage Parents from ſending their children to the Vniverſities. How well would our Naioths and our Bethels, our ſchooles of the Prophets, be furniſhed with yong Students, which would bee ready upon all occaſions to bee called forth to ſerve God both in the Church and in the common wealth, if theſe wretched miſcreants did not nip in the bud, and cruſh in the ſhel, & ſtrangle in the birth the very beginnings of grace in thoſe young plants, which would otherwiſe increaſe with the increaſings of God, and would grow vp like Cedars in Lebanon? There is an evil eye caſt vpon them, if once they do but beginne to walke in the waies of God, and run not with others to the ſame exceſſe of riot. And of what ſtraine or garbe ſo ever they bee, there is a very ſtrict order taken, that vnleſſe they will both ſubſcribe, and take a moſt ſhamefull Oth, they ſhal take no degree in ſchooles, to teſtify their progreſſe and proceeding in humane learning. Nor is there any preferment to bee had, or to bee held, except men will yeeld to the corruptions of the times; which are now growne ſo great, that they are not to bee endured. Which maketh Parents many times to put the beſt and moſt towardly of their children upon other imployments; and if they ſend any to the Vniverſities; they bee ſuch, for the moſt part, as are good for litle but to ſerve the times. Wherein theſe Adverſaries of the grace of God bring ſuch a damage and detriment to our King and State, as they will never bee able to recompenſe, as that good Queene Heſter ſpeaketh in another caſe concerning their brother Haman, Heſt. 7.4.

4 They diſharten young Schollers from applying themſelves to the ſtudy of Divinity, by their denying admittance and enterance into the Miniſtery to all men, though never ſo ſingularly and extraordinarily qualified, except their conſciences bee made of cheveril, and will (like Kids leather) ſtretch every way; and vnleſſe they will by their practiſe of conformity iuſtify a great number of things, which they know to bee groſſely and palpably evill. And when men are in poſſeſſion of Paſtorall charges, they are put to ſo much drudgery in the execution of their Miniſteriall fuction, that they were better to rub horſe heeles, then, as the caſe now ſtands, to bee Miniſters in the church of England, and to live in ſuch baſe ſervitude and ſlavery vnder thoſe Antichriſtian & accurſed Prelats. No attire muſt ſerve their turne, when they come to diſcharge their duty in the Lords Sanctuary, but the habit of the whore of Rome, and the very maſſing garment it ſelfe of that filthy trumpet. They muſt croſſe, and crouch, and cringe at the command of thoſe their Lords and Maſters. They muſt admitt to the Sacramēt of the Lords ſupper whomſoever theſe Catercaps allow of, though never ſo unworthy; and they muſt reject and repell from that holy Communion and company all ſuch as wil not kneele in the act of receiving, though they know right well that they do refuſe it onely out of the tendernes of their conſciences, becauſe they dare not ſynne againſt their God in ſo doing; and albeit they are perſwaded in their very ſoules, that they bee in all other reſpects the fitteſt Perſons in their Congregations to come to the Lords Table. They muſt at their beck caſt out of the church, by the fearfull ſentence of Excommunication, many times the beſt Chriſtians in their Pariſhes for very triviall buſineſſes: as for not appearing in one of their Courts, when haply they had no warning; or for nonpayment of a fee of foure pence to a paltry Apparitour. They muſt reade in their churches, as Canonicall Scripture, thoſe Apocrypha-bookes, which are full of fables & fictions, of lies and of leaſings. They muſt baptiſe, if they bee required, in a houſe meerely private, which nouriſheth a ſuperſtitious opinion of the neceſſity of Baptiſme; and they muſt uſe conditional Baptiſme in the publike Congregation, after the childe hath beene privately baptiſed. They muſt houſle the ſick, mary with the Ring, Church women, and do a thouſand ſuch things, any one of which a man that maketh conſcience of his waies dare not adventure upon for a world. And yet all theſe things muſt a poore Miniſter do, if hee will hold his place, and enjoy his Miniſtery. Which maketh many of our beſt and fineſt wits to betake themſelves to the ſtudy of the law, or phyſicke, and to abandon & put out of their minds all thoughts of entering into the Miniſtery; which, as things are now caried, they hold to bee a calling not fitt for an honeſt man. What a heavy and dolefull account ſhall theſe Vermine one day give to our God for devouring his pleaſant plants? And what ſhall become of theſe Foxes, which thus deſtroy the Lords vines? Cant. 2.15.

5 They have had an intention a long while, if not wholly to put downe, yet at leaſt to diminiſh and leſſen preaching. Which though they durſt not aſſaile with open violence, for feare of the people, amongſt whom it would have made them more odious then they are already; yet have they theſe many yeeres beene ſecretly undermining it. About the beginning of King Iames his raigne, or the later end of Queene Eliſabeths of bleſſed memory, B. Bancroft. the Prelate of London called before him all the Miniſters of the City, and gave them expreſſe charge that they ſhould preach but once upon the Lords day: and if any of them would do any thing in the afternoone (which hee neither required, nor did greatly approve of) hee told them, that hee would have them Catechiſe. No Catechiſme hee permitted them to uſe, but the ordinary, What is your name, &c. for ſo hee expreſſed himſelfe. And if any amongſt them would needes explane and open the ſame, hee told them, that the leſſe paines they tooke for that which they delivered, it were the better: for, ſaith hee, it is not needfull that the people ſhould know too much. O horrible treachery and cruelty againſt the pretious ſoules of Gods people! Who would ever have looked for ſuch words out of the mouth of a very rakeſhame in times of ſo great light? Since that, they have had a project to ſuppreſſe Lecturers; which in ſome countries they did deſperately ſet upon, and proceede in with a rage that reached to heaven. In other places they have likewiſe attempted it, but ſomewhat moreley ſurely and inſenſibly. And doubtles they had prevailed in this plott had not the Lord himſelfe extraordinarily ſtirred up the hart of a noble man, who heard of it, to go to our gracious King, and to acquaint him with the vilenes and odiouſnes of the deſigne of theirs; and by that meanes they were diſappointed of their purpoſe, when they made no queſtion but they ſhould have gott it ratified by his Maieſties royall authority. If they had prevailed in that, it is to bee thought that their next attempt would have beene, to have taken the Bible out of mens handes, and ſo to have brought the people of this land back againe to that Cymmerian and Egyptian darknes, in which our forefathers for many yeeres together did heretofore ly buried. B. Ravis. One of that curſed crew lieth entombed in Paules church, with one booke at his head, and another at his feete. That at his feete is thought to bee the Bible, which theſe godles Prelats tread under foote. That at his head is ſuppoſed to bee the booke of common praier, which hee caried with him as a Crowne to the place whither hee is gone. But whither theſe monſters (which are neither Miniſters, nor members of any of our Congregations) I profeſſe I know not; unleſſe it bee to the place whither their fellow traitour Iudas is gone before, Act. 2.25. there to remaine among ſuch as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of, Phil. 3.19. For it can not bee imagined that there ſhould bee any place in heaven for theſe wretches: but as they hate Gods people here upon earth with a perfect hatred ſo it is to bee thought that the Lord will ſet a great gulfe, and make an eternall ſeparation between them, & the veſsels of his mercy, Luke 16.26. 2. Theſs. 1.7.8.9.10.

6 They have ſuppreſſed that famous & worthy worke of buying in, and reſtoring to the church Impropriations; which was a moſt charitable, and uſefull & hopefull buſines, and likely to have brought more advantage to the Miniſtery of England, then any one thing of that nature, which hath beene undertaken in any mans memory. Divers were brought in, & brought back againe to the Church, by thoſe men which were truſted with that buſines; who caried themſelves very faithfully in it; & many great ſummes lay ready, which would have beene frankly and freely given for the buying in of moe, if that worke had gone on as it began: whereby much glory would have redounded to God, as much comfort to thouſands of poore ſoules, which now are like to want it. In many places where the maintenance of the Miniſter was ſhort and ſcant, the feoffees did, out of thoſe Impropriations which they had in their hands, make a ſupply and addition, to make the living competent for an able and an honeſt man. In other places, where there was moſt want of preaching, they ſet up Lectures, and put in men of good abilities, and ſuch as would teach the people to bee obedient to God, and loyall to their Soveraigne. And where there were Lectures before, which had not a competency of meanes allotted to them, they increaſed their allowance, that ſo he Miniſters might go on the more confortably in the worke of their Minſtery. But this made our Biſhops ſick of the ſplene. They cried out that this would bee the ruine of the Church of England. The truth is they feared, but without cauſe, that this would in time have clipped their wings, & have abridged their authority, whereof they are much more jelous then of Gods glory; and that cauſed them to ſet the matter ſo much to hart. It is true that the fatall blow was given to that worke in another Court: but theſe ungratious Prelats kindled the coles, and blew that fire, which hath conſumed and brought it to nothing. Wherein they have ſhewed themſelves to bee like to their father the Devill, who, as a roaring Lion, walketh about ſeeking whom hee may devoure, 1. Pet. 5.8.

They have put downe the meetings of the men of ſeveral ſhires & counties, now dwellers in London, which were wont to aſſemble together once a yeere, & did a great deale of good to thoſe countries where they were borne. There they ſet up, and do to this day maintaine at their owne charge, Lectures in Market townes, and other places of greateſt reſort, where they ſuppoſed they might do moſt good, and where there was greateſt want of preaching; which was a great eaſe and comfort to the Chriſtians in thoſe parts: and more they would have done every yeere for the good of thoſe places, if theſe meetings of theirs had not beene thus unſeaſonably interrupted and broken off by theſe men which beare ill will to Sion. But the name of a Lecture is ynough to cruſh & quaſh any ſuch pious & good worke. I know well that the places, where they uſed to meete, were denied them by another authority: but the Prelats were the plotters and contrivers of this miſchiefe, out of that inveterate malice and hatred which they beare againſt preaching. Wherein they reſemble their Predeceſſours, the Scribes and Phariſes, which ſhut up the kingdome of heaven against men, & will neither go in themſelves, nor ſuffer them that are entering to go in, Mat. 23.13.

8 They urge and preſſe upon Miniſters a Subſcription not onely againſt reaſon, but directly against Law. The ſtatute of the 13. Elizabeth requireth of Miniſters no ſubſcription but to the Articles of religion, and that alſo no further then they concerne faith and Sacraments onely. But theſe troublers of Iſrael, and diſturbers of the peace of our church, wil have them ſubſcribe not onely to that whole booke, but to foure other bookes alſo, namely the booke of common prayer, the booke of Ordination, and two bookes Homilies; in ſome one of which ſaid bookes it is well knowne that there bee many hundreds of foule and groſſe corruptions. And if a man have ſubſcribed in his younger yeeres, when hee knew no better, and was unable, and it may bee unwilling alſo to examine, and try things by the true touchſtone, and to weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary; if afterwards hee renounce, or do but revolt from his ſubſcription, and ſhall refuſe to juſtify by his practiſe that to which ignorantly and unadviſedly hee did formerly ſubſcribe with his hand; though hee have done God faithfull ſervice in his Church for the ſpace of many yeeres, and have taken more then ordinary paines in his miniſtery, they turne him out with a great deale of wrath and indignation, and expoſe him, his wife & children, to miſery & beggery. And if in theſe caſes men bee content to leave their native ſoyle, & ſhall ſeeke to ſecure and ſafegard themſelves in other nations from the fury of theſe Tigers, yet thither will their malice follow them, and their armes are now growne ſo long, that even there alſo they can reach them. But there will a time come, when theſe wretches ſhall know to their coſt, and by miſerable and wofull experience, when it will bee to late, that it is the Lord Ieſus himſelfe whom they perſecute, and that they kick againſt pricks, Act. 9.5. And hee that hath thoſe ſtarrs in his right hand, Revel. 1.16. and accounteth of them as his Iewels, will one day render into the boſome of their Perſecutours, and that with more then ordinary ſeverity, all the wrongs which they have done to thoſe poore ſervants of his, & will then bee throughly avenged of all his and their malicious and deſpitefull enemies.

9 They thruſt Christ out of his chaire of Eſtate, and will not ſuffer him to rule & raigne amongſt us, according to his owne holy will revealed in his word, by Pastours, Teachers, and Elders; which hee hath ordained and appointed for the governing of his Churches, and for the perfecting of the Saints, &c. till wee all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the ſoone of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulnes of Christ, Rom. 12.7.8. and 1. Tim. 5.17. Epheſ. 4.12.13. Wherein they plainely profeſſe, and proclaime openly to the whole world, that they are fighters againſt God himſelfe, and maine oppoſers of his grace and goodnes. How would the Goſpel flouriſh in our land, & what glorious ſucceſſe and intertainement would it finde in the harts of men, if the Lord Ieſus might once bee permitted to rule in our Congregations, by his owne Officers & ordinances; and if that holy governement of his might bee ſet up amongſt us in perfect beauty? What a goodly ſight would it bee to ſee every Congregation of Chriſtians in this kingdome to bee a complete & entire ſpirituall body within it ſelfe, without having any dependance upon theſe Romiſh Prelats, and their Popiſh Canons? It is that which the great God of heaven looketh for at the hands of our State, to which hee hath vouchſafed ſo many and ſo great mercies. The Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who is a great King, and the Lord and Lawgiver of his Church, hath fitted & furniſhed men extraordinarily for this great worke & ſervice. And the harts of all the people of the land, which are any whitt well affected, tooke that way; as appeareth by their continuall labouring for it ever ſince the beginning of the raigne of Queene Elizabeth of pious and happy memory. Onely theſe wicked Biſhops oppoſe it, which never did good nor ever will do. They can not endure the name of Diſcipline, but have alwaies ſet themſelves with tooth and naile, and with might and maine, againſt the kingdome of our bleſſed Saviour, and his ſacred ſoveraignety. But let them looke to it, and remember what is like to bee their doome, if they mend not their maners: Thoſe mine enemies which would not that I ſhould raigne over them, bring hither, and ſlay them before mee, Luke 19.27.

10 They hinder, as much as in them lieth, the publiſhing of all bookes, though never ſo modeſtly written, in the defence of Christs holy cauſe, and that unalterable government, which hee in his laſt will and Teſtament hath preſcribed to his Churches. And if by their ſcoutes, which they have in every corner, they can diſcover & finde out the Printer of any ſuch Treatiſes, they deale very rigorouſly and roughly with him. Himſelfe they commit cloſe enough to Priſon, and there they let him ly as long as they pleaſe, even till they have ruined him, his wife, and children; they ſeize upon his Preſſe and letters, and ſell them away before his face for a ſong; they rifle and ranſack his houſe, and cary away, by thoſe helhounds their Purſivants, as much of his goods as they liſt, without ever making any reſtitution of that which they do ſo wrongfully & and feloniouſly take from him; when as in the meane while they ſuffer the Printers of popiſh Pamphlets to go on in their way with out interruption. Nay when ſuch notorious Offenders are brought to them, and put into their hands, they ſend them away, if not with a reward, yet certainely without any check or puniſhment; ſo well do many of theſe lazy lubbers and idle drones like of thoſe Romiſh varlets and their Religion. Yea, whereas printing by the bleſſing of God hath beene a ſpeciall meanes of ſpreading and divulging the Goſpel in the Chriſtian world in theſe later times; it is verily beleeved by many, that theſe wretches have a purpoſe, if they can handſomely and cleanly accompliſh it, wholly to ſuppreſſe that rare myſtery, and moſt noble and famous Art. Divers Printers complaine (and I ſuppoſe not without cauſe) that they can get nothing licenſed, They, who are authoriſed and appointed for that purpoſe, do not ſimply and abſolutely deny to do it; but they delay them extraordinarily, and beyond all meaſure. When they have attended them, and called upon them, moneth after moneth, and one yeere after another, their anſwere in concluſion is, that they are not at leiſure to reade over their treatiſes. Nay, it is reported by ſome, but how true that is time will ſhew, that they ſhall not bee ſuffered to print their old copies, which they have formerly printed with priviledge, till the Licenſer do certify a-new, under his hand, that hee hath carefully read over every paſſage both in the body of thoſe bookes, and in the Epiſtles prefixed before them, and that there is nothing in them repugnant to thoſe tenents, which theſe grand Clergy-maſters do now hold. Which if it bee true, it is high time both for Printers and Bookeſellers to go and learne ſome new Trade; for they will not bee able to live of the old. By this meanes theſe vipers do cloſely eate out the bowels of our church, and they run a courſe directly and pointblanck contrary to that of the holy Apoſtle, 2. Theſs. 3.1. whoſe deſire was, that the word of God might have free paſſage & bee glorified.

It were to bee wiſhed therefore that our King and State would turne out theſe Abbylubbers, & pluck thoſe fat morſels out of their mouthes, and cauſe them to get their living by the ſweate of their browes, as other poore Miniſters do, which labour in the word and doctrine. And it will manifeſtly appeare to bee a worke moſt fitt & neceſſary to be done, if theſe things following bee well weighed, and rightly and duely conſidered of.

1 Their places and callings are abominable, & accurſed, and Antichriſtian. Gods Biſhops, out of all queſtion, they are not. Hee knoweth no Lord Biſhops, nor will hee ever acknowledge and owne them for his. Mans Biſhops they themſelves confidently affirme they are not; though the B. Whitgift. diſcreeteſt and moderateſt of theirs Predeceſſours have heretofore ingenuouſly confeſſed, that their callings are of humane inſtitution, and that it in the power of the Magiſtrate to turne them all out at his will and pleaſure; & that hee may do it without ſinne againſt God: But this our Prelats now-a-daies diſclaime, and will not indure to heare of it. Beeing then neither Gods Biſhops, nor mans, they muſt of neceſſity bee ordained and ſet up by the Devill, whoſe eldeſt ſonne is the Pope of Rome, and theſe pety Popes, our Biſhops, are all younger brethren to him; there going but a paire of ſheetes betweene them. Their Lordly authority hath certainely no foundation nor footing in the Scripture, but is directly contrary to the inſtitution of Chriſt, & his bleſſed will and Teſtament; and it hath beene the ground of that Antichriſtian Hierarchy of the man of ſinne, whom God will conſume with the ſpirit of his mouth, 2. Theſſ. 2.8. Their civill power deſerveth rather to bee exploded then refuted. Chriſt expreſſely forbiddeth his diſciples ſuch Lordly dominion, Luke 22.25. Hee himſelfe refuſed to bee made a King, Iohn 6.15. profeſſing that his kingdome was not of this world, Iohn 18.36. Hee refuſed to part an heritage betwixt brethrē, Luke 12.14. Hee would not give ſentence againſt the woman taken in adultery, Iohn 8.11. What intolerable preſumption is it then for our Prelats to exerciſe ſuch authority, as our bleſſed Saviour neither practiſed himſelfe, nor permitted to his diſciples. Nor is the eccleſiaſticall Iuriſdiction, which they uſurpe over the Miniſters of the Goſpel, any whitt better, but is Antichriſtian and naught, as well as the other. Chriſt Ieſus tooke upon him the forme of a ſervant, Phil, 2.7. Hee came not to bee miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, Math. 20.28. (and the ſervant is not above his Lord, Math. 10.24.) Hee forbiddeth his diſciples all ſuch dominion & ſoveraignty, Math. 20.25. Marke 10.43. His Apoſtles receive equall power and authority from him, Math. 18.18. Iohn 20.23. They clayme no ſuperiority or primacy one above another, but ſtile themſelves ſervants, 2. Cor. 4.5. Miniſters & diſpenſers. 1. Cor. 4.1. and Ambaſsadours, 2. Cor. 5.20. They ſend Peter and Iohn as their meſſengers to Samaria, Acts 8.14. which argueth equality. Peter diſclaiming all ſuch ſuperiority equalleth himſelfe with the Miniſters and Elders of the Church, calling himſelfe their fellow elder, 1. Pet. 5.1. and forbiddeth Miniſters to uſurpe any Lordſhip over Gods heritage, ver. 3. S. Iohn rebuketh Diotrephes for affecting preheminence, Epiſt. 3.9. Nor did ever any man take upon him to bee a Paſtour of Paſtours, but that man of ſinne, and Lord Biſhops, which are his genuine ofſpring, & are lineally deſcended from him. As therefore their offices and functions were hatched in hell, ſo it would bee a very happy thing for this ſtate of ours, if it would pleaſe God and our King, that they might bee returned and ſent back againe thither; that our church, which theſe many yeeres hath borne them as a heavy burden, may bee no longer cumbred with them.

2 No man living upon the face of the earth may preſume to preſcribe a paterne according to which the Churches of Chriſt ſhould bee formed; nor may any creature in heaven or earth, without a commiſſion from the ſonne of God, appoint lawes for the guilding and governing of his houſe: that beeing a glory which the Lord Ieſus Christ hath reſerved in his owne hands, and wil communicate neither with man nor Angel; it belonging as properly to him to rule his church according to the good pleaſure of his owne will, as it belongeth to him to ſave it by the merit of his ſufferings. Hee by the appointment of his father is the onely head, King, Lord, Lawgiver, & ſupreme Governour of his Church, which hee hath waſhed and made white with his blond, Epheſ. 1.22. Iames. 4.12. Revel. 7.14. Hee hath not left his Church, which is his body, maimed or imperfect, deſtitute of lawes and Offices needfull for the governing of the ſame, but hath appointed a Miniſtery for it, with a calling thereunto, and with lawes limiting their function and governments, leaving nothing therein to the will of man, Col. 2.18. This government, with ail the offices & functions thereto appertaining, are ſet downe in the written word of God (the onely rule both of doctrine & diſcipline in the church) which is able to make the man of God perfect to every good worke. 2. Tim. 3.17. The offices appointed by Chriſt for the ruling of his churches are thoſe of Paſtours, Teachers, and Elders; whoſe ſeverall gifts, properties, and qualifications are diſtinctly and at large ſet downe in the Scripture. Theſe offices and miniſteries, and the lawes concerning the ſame, are ſufficient for the ruling of Chriſt his Church here on earth; and that forme and frame of government, preſcribed and left by our Saviour for the ordering of his houſe, is every way complete of it ſelfe, and needeth no helpe of man to make it perfect. Elſe Chriſt can not bee honoured as a perfect governour of his Church; and otherwiſe both the Scripture and Chriſts body are imperfect. And if theſe bee not perfect, then may man erect new offices, and adde new Miniſteries, and hee may alſo take away, and alter any of theſe at his owne pleaſure. Then alſo is the Church of the new Teſtament inferiour to that of the old, which received all the lawes & ordinances from God himſelfe. But to affirme all or any one of theſe it is impious and abſurd. And as this government appointed by Chriſt is ſufficient and moſt perfect, ſo is it perpetuall, and may not bee altered by men or Angeles. Timothie is commaunded to keepe this platforme, and all the ordinances concerning it, to the glorious comming of the Lord Ieſus, 1. Tim. 5.21. and 6.13.14. All the offices of this church mentioned Rom. 12.6.7.8. are called members of the body of the church, ver. 5. and 1. Cor. 12.27.28: which is the body of Chriſt, Eph. 1.22.23. If therefore the church of Chriſt, which is his body, muſt continue perfect till his comming, theſe offices and miniſteries muſt alſo continue; for if any one of them bee taken away, his body is maimed and mangled. And if Chriſt ſhall continue to bee governour of his churches, hee muſt continue to rule and governe in them by his owne Officers, and by thoſe lawes and ordinances which hee himſelfe hath preſcribed in his word; otherwiſe hee is not the governour of them. If his Officers bee refuſed, hee is rejected; and if the order of government appointed by him bee thruſt out, & another ſubſtituted in the roome of it, then is hee, upon the point, depoſed from his regency, & the ſcepter is taken out of his hands.

3 If this holy government inſtituted and ordained by the ſonne of God himſelfe might bee erected and ſet up in our churches, there would bee ſuch a confluence & concurrence of all good things, contributing joyntly to the happines of this kingdome, as our eyes have never yet ſeene. Gods bleſſing doth ever accompany his owne ordinance. But if that bee either ſleighted or neglected; though men take the wiſeſt and the moſt politike courſes, that their ſilly and ſhallow braines can deviſe, for the attaining of the ſame ends which God aimeth at the Lord bloweth upon them, and blaſteth them, & bringeth them all to nothing, that they do no good; as might eaſily bee exemplified in many other particulars, as well as in this of Church government, if neede required. For hee deſtroyeth the wiſdome of the wiſe, & bringeth to nothing the underſtanding of the prudent, 1. Cor. 1.19. the fooliſhnes of God beeing wiſer then men, and the weakenes of God ſtronger then men, ver. 25. But to keepe to the point in hand. This government of the church by Archbiſhops and Lord Biſhops was firſt brought in, and hath beene very unhappily continued in our land under a pretence of preſerving the peace & unity of the Church, & for the preventing of ſchiſmes and diviſions in the ſame. But the wofull experience of many yeeres ſheweth, that theſe ſtrange Lords, who by their places ſhould bee fathers and foſterers of the church, have beene, and are to this day, cruell and curſed Stepfathers to it, and in ſtead of preventing diſtractions and diſſenſions among us, they have beene from time to time the ſole cauſe and originall of all thoſe moſt lamentable diviſions, and of thoſe heavy preſſures, which our poore churches have groned under, ever ſince the Goſpel came into this kingdome. What errour and hereſies have they of late brought in & countenanced by their authority, to the harts griefe of many of the beſt affected people of the land? How do Arminianiſme and Bellarminianiſme prevaile by reaſon of that favour which theſe linſey-woolſey lukewarme Laodiceans ſhew to thoſe which ſet their faces that way? What a rent have they lately made in our church by their ſtrict preſſing of people to come to their owne Congregations when there is no preaching, and by their urging of crouching and cringing at the name of Ieſus, & before their Altars, and other ſuch like trumpery? What a number of our beſt and moſt judicious Chriſtians do they daily drive out of the land by their harſh, and baſe, and uncivill uſage of them? Sith therefore the Goſpel is ſo much oppoſed, and oppugned, & troden downe by theſe Antichristian Prelats, what a bleſſed and worthy worke would it bee, and how acceptable a ſervice to God, if it would pleaſe our moſt gratious King to depoſe & thruſt our theſe proud uſurpers, who have too too long domineered and tyranniſed over Gods heritage, and to ſet the Lord Ieſus Christ upon his Throne and to take order that hee may rule his churches according to his owne will revealed in his word? Which glorious and happy enterpriſe, if his Maieſtie would ſeriouſly ſet upon, and go through with, I dare be bold to ſay, that the Lord would make good to him, and this ſtate, as much as hee once promiſed and did accordingly performe to the people of the Iewes, upon their onſet and firſt beginning to ſett forward the building of his Temple, Hag. 2.18.19. Hee would from that very day remove all thoſe heavy judgments which have theſe many yeeres waited upon that curſed government of Biſhops, and in ſtead of them hee would ſhower downe ſuch abundance and variety of his choyſeſt mercies and bleſſings upon our King and his kingdomes, as would make all the world to wonder, and to ſtand amazed at it. Oh, that his Maieſtie would but try what the Lord would do in that caſe! England would then bee as Ieruſalem ſometime was, the praiſe of the world, the perfection of beauty, and the ioy of the whole earth. Then would the Lord dwel amongſt us, and bee a father unto us, and hee would rejoyce over us and delight in us to do us good. Then would our exiles returne, & the poore deſpiſed, and diſperſed, and diſtreſſed ſervants of God would ſing for joy of hart, and the voice of weeping would bee no more heard amongst us, nor the voice of crying, for theſe Wolves, and Leopards, & Lions beeing throwne out of thoſe places wherein they do daily ſuch a world of miſchiefe, there would bee none to hurt or deſtroy in Gods holy Mountaine: our land would then bee full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the ſea.

4 Whereas his Maieſtie hath at this time much uſe and many imployments for mony; if hee would bee pleaſed to turne theſe brute creatures a-grazing, and ſeize upon their Biſhopricks, and take into his hands the Cathedrall Churches (as King Henry the eighth ſometimes did the Abbies, and thoſe irreligious houſes) hee might, to his owne harts content, bee plentifully ſupplied at the preſent for all his occaſions, and have a large yeerly Revenue comming in, ſufficient to maintaine an Army in the field to ſuppreſſe & ſubdue all the enemies of his Crownes and Kingdomes, and to helpe downe with that man of ſynne, who is drunke with the bloud of Gods Saints. And why will our renowned Soveraigne ſuffer ſuch a happy and golden opportunity to ſlip out of his hands? It is thought by ſome, that if King Iames had lived, hee would have done it, and would have taſted their fleſh. And why ſhould not our noble and religious King (who in other things is an imitatour of his fathers vertues) effect that which his father ſo much affected, & had a good minde to do, if time had ſerved for it? What ſhould hinder him? I confeſſe freely, I know not. Theſe Lordly Prelats never did any good in the Church of God; nor do they any at this time; nor will they ever hereafter do any, but a great deale of miſchiefe. Idle they are above meaſure, and many of them groſſely and palpably ignorant: and they are growne to ſuch an extreme height of pride, and ambition, and tyranny, that it is a great wonder how the State can thus long beare them. Moſt odious they are both to God and man; and the very name of a Biſhop beginneth now to ſtinke in the noſethrils of all the people of the Land, that ſavour the things of God, or have any reliſh of Religion, though they looke not towards ſyncerity, nor beare any love to it: And for their Collegiate Churches, what bee they, for the moſt part, but dennes of theeves, and cages of uncleane Birds? There is a great deale of ſuperſtitious and falſe worſhip nouriſhed and maintained in them, to the diſhonour of Almightie God, to the ſcandall of that holy Religion which is profeſſed amongſt us, and to the reioycing & encouraging of Papiſts, who laugh in their ſleeves, and are in good hope to have their Roniſh religion one day ſett up againe in this Kingdome, ſeeing wee retaine ſuch monuments of their Idolatry and ſuperſtition ſtill in the midſt of us, and do re-edify & repaire them with ſuch zeale, as if therein wee did God good ſervice. What pitty is it that ſuch an infinite maſſe of mony, as is raiſed yeerely out of theſe Biſhopricks, and the livings belonging to thoſe Cloyſters, ſhould bee ſo vainely, and baſely, and irreligiouſly conſumed and devoured by ſuch uſeles, and worthies perſons, as are good for nothing but to cleave wood with their heads, when as in the meane while our deare and dread Soveraigne wanteth it for better purpoſes? What an advantage would it bee to our King, and what an advancement of the revenue of the Crowne, if the increaſe and profit which ariſeth & iſſueth out of theſe large and ample poſſeſſions (which is now meerely and wholly to no purpoſe waſted) might bee brought into his Maieſties Treaſury, there to bee preſerved to his uſe and to bee alwaies in a readines to bee diſpoſed of by him according to his godly wiſdome, to the glory of God, and in the ſervice of the State; and might bee there carefully ſtored up, as a meanes of ſupply, and as a ſtock of proviſion, for the accommodating of his Maieſty, when, and as often as hee ſhall have uſe of it, and for the fitting and furniſhing of thoſe many neceſſary and juſt occaſions which hee hath to imploy and expend the ſame upon?

5 It would bee a marvellous eaſe for this Kingdome, if by the mercifull goodnes of our God it might once bee freed from theſe Antichristian Prelats, & their Courts, which robbe his Maieſties ſubjects of an exceeding great ſumme of mony every yeere. One would not imagine how much they extort from Ministers, Churchwardens, and the reſt of the people of the land, for fees, and by meanes of thoſe unjuſt vexations which they put them continually unto. Many men are perſwaded that they, and their Chauncellours, Commiſsaries, Officials, Doctours, roctours, Registers, Purſivants, Apparitours, and others of that curſed crew, do rake and ſcrape from the Subject more then would ſuffice to pay to our King two or three Subſidies every yeere. And what becommeth of all this? It maintaineth a company of idle Belly-gods, and a number of ungodly and ungratious perſons, which are unprofitable burdens of the earth, and are onely whips in Gods hand to ſcourge and chaſtiſe his people withall: whoſe ſervice when the Lord hath uſed a while for that purpoſe, hee wil then moſt certainely throw his Rods into the fire, Eſay. 10.5.12: And if in the meane ſeaſon our moſt wiſe and judicious King would bee pleaſed to ſqeaze them, and to take from them that thick clay wherewith they are overladen; hee ſhould do a worke acceptable to God, and ſuch as wherein his ſoule might take a great deale of comfort here, and which would much further his reckoning in the day of the Lord Ieſus, when hee ſhall come with power & great glory to judge both the quick & the dead.

6 His Majeſtie ſhall do a worke of ſingular charity and mercy to the ſoules of theſe Bloudſuckers, if hee will bee pleaſed, in compaſſion and commiſeration of their deplored and deſperate condition, to pluck them out of thoſe peſtilentiall places, which they do unjuſtly uſurpe, and moſt tyrannouſly abuſe, to the provocation of the wrath & diſpleaſure of the great God of heaven, & to the opening of the mouthes of the enemies of the Goſpel; who by the exorbitancies and inſolencies of theſe proud men take occaſion to blaſpheme and ſpeake evill of that ſacred truth which wee profeſſe, and to traduce and maligne our government, to the diſhonour of our nation, and the diſgrace of our King and countrie, both at home and in foraine parts. Moſt certaine it is, that if they bee let alone in their courſe, they go on deſperately in a way that leadeth to death, the iſſue whereof will bee hell, and eternall woe and miſery in another world: whereas if their prefermets, with which they are even fatted and glutted above meaſure, might bee taken from them, and they put upon the worke of the Miniſtery, which they were bredde and brought up to, it might pleaſe God that that might bee a meanes to pluck them out of the fire, and to ſave the ſoules of ſome of them, if amongſt that curſed company there be any that belong to the election of grace; whereof I confeſſe there is a great deale of queſtion to bee made. For the moſt of them do maliciouſly and deſpitefully oppoſe the truth, and do with a high hand ſet themſelves againſt the good waies of God, & do moſt furiouſly and fiercely perſecute all thoſe poore Chriſtians that ſet their faces towards Sion, and indevour to walke with their God in the truth & uprightnes of their harts, & will not bee drawne for feare or favour to conforme themſelves to thoſe ſhamefull corruptions in doctrine and diſcipline, which they multiply daily, & preſſe hotely upon men, without either feare or witt, to the ruine of our Church, and the ſupplanting and undermining of our moſt holy & heavenly Religion, the bringing in of which not many yeeres ſince coſt a great deale of bloud. And as for thoſe few of them in whom there is any ſparke of goodnes, the eye of whoſe underſtanding is not yet quite put out, that which they in the courſe of their government do againſt the truth, and ſervants, and cauſe of God, they do it againſt the perſwaſion of their owne harts, and againſt the checks of their conſciences, which purſue them ſo cloſe, and do ſo terrify & affright them, that without all boubt they can have little or no peace at all, having ſuch an adverſary within them, as will never ſuffer them to bee quiet, but is ſtill accuſing & tormenting them whether they ſleepe or wake. Which made Sr. Francis Haſtings. one ſay wittily long agoe, that of our Biſhops the beſt were the worſt; becauſe that which they did, they did cleane againſt the haire, and knew right well that they ſinned againſt God in the doing of it; which is a fearfull aggravation of their iniquity. Hee that was B. Ʋaghan. Biſhop of London when that lamentable havock and ſpoyle was made amongſt our Miniſters about the beginning of King Iames his raigne, after that hee had in the Conſiſtory ſuſpended and deprived ſome of the Miniſters of London, was the whole night following in ſuch a heate and ſweate (it beeing then a cold ſeaſon of the yeare, about the beginning of February) that although there was a good fire in his chamber, & they which attended him plyed him with hote clothes, as faſt as they could poſſibly warme them at the fire, & bring them to him lying then in his bed, yet could they not all that night, with all that they could do, coole him, and dry up his ſweate; as ſome yet alive can teſtify, who then waited upon him in his chamber: Hee was ſo perplexed and terrified with the thoughts of that which hee had done, that hee could take no reſt; nor did hee ever claw it off, but died very quickly after it. Within a few daies after (for hee lived not many) hee ſaid openly at his table, that the Perſecutions of thoſe times were worſe then thoſe in Queene Maries daies. B. Morton. One who ſate at the table with him, then a Deane now a Biſhop, hearing him ſay ſo, ſpake to him in latine, & prayed him to forbeare ſuch ſpeeches, telling him that if they came to the Kings eare, they would bee ill taken. For anſwere whereunto hee ſaid againe in engliſh, with a great deale of vehemency and earneſtnes, that the preſent Perſecutions were greater and farre more grievous then thoſe in Queene Maries dates were; & hee gave his reaſons for it. For then, ſaith hee, men were quickly diſpatched out of the way, whereas now they are forced to live in miſery; and a languiſhing life every man knoweth to bee a lingering death. Then men were permitted to ſpeake freely for themſelves; whereas now at the firſt daſh, ſaith hee, the Oth is tendered to them, which if they refuſe, to priſon they go without any mercy or pity; no baile will ſerve the turne. What would this man have ſaid if hee had lived to ſee theſe times? A ſtrange kinde of creatures theſe Biſhops bee: they are neither fiſh nor fleſh, nor yet good red herring, as the old Proverb is. A man cannot tell what to make of them. Papiſts they would not bee thought to bee, & yet many of them are little better. Good Proteſtants ſurely very few of them bee. Thoſe amongſt them, which bee not downe-right Papiſts, looke ſhrewdly that way, & maintaine many of their groſſe and abſurd opinions, and make no bones to affirme openly, that there is not ſuch a diſtance betweene them and us, but that wee may meete them in the midway; nor ſuch a diſcrepance & difference betwixt their religion and ours, but that they may bee eaſily reconciled, if men were peaceably minded. And accordingly B. Mountague ſome of them have mediated moſt ſhamefully both in Pulpit and in Print for a Pacification. & have indevoured to make a hotch-potch and a Gallimawfrie of both religions mixed and blended together, to the utter ſubverting and rooting out of that glorious Goſpel of our bleſſed Lord and Saviour, which hath beene heretofore for many yeeres moſt couragiouſly & conſtantly profeſſed and maintained amongſt us againſt all adverſaries whatſoever. If the Lord bee not the more merciful to us, they will bring us back againe into Egypt before we are aware; for it appeareth plainely now to all the world, that that is the thing which they ayme mainely at; & it ſeemeth that they care not who knoweth it. Nor is it any new or ſtrange thing that Biſhops ſhould looke towards Popery; for ſo have their Predeceſſours done before them: An Blackwel. Archprieſt many yeeres agoe being priſoner in the Clinke, where divers Miniſters of the Goſpel were alſo priſoners at the ſame time, ſaid to one of them, that hee marvelled of what religion the Biſhops of England were. Vs, ſaith hee, they committ becauſe wee are Papiſts, as they terme us; and you they commit, becauſe you will not bee Papiſts. That they perſecute us, ſaith hee, it is not much to bee marvelled at, becauſe there is ſome ſeeming difference betweene them and us, though it bee not much: but that one Miniſter of the Goſpel ſhould perſecute another, & that one Proteſtant ſhould purſue another to bonds and impriſonment for religions ſake that is a ſtrange thing. But of the two, ſaith hee, they love us the better. A Papiſt they like well ynough, if they durſt ſhewit, but Puritanes they hate with their hart; and that all the world may ſee. Surely hee ſpake the truth. For Papiſts they love, and like, & hug in their boſomes in ſecret: but Puritanes, as they nickname them, & all purity & ſyncerity they do utterly abhorre. Are theſe wolves then fitt to have the government of the ſheepe of Chriſt? Nay is it not more then time that they ſhould bee unhorſed, and throwne violently out of their places, before they ruine and ſpoyle all, which they will do very ſpeedily if they bee let alone? They have already brought this Kingdome into a moſt lamentable condition; & if they bee not looked to the ſooner, it is to bee feared that they will put all into a confuſion & combuſtion; for they are deſperately ſet upon miſchiefe.

7 It is a matter worthy to bee conſidered of, how our State can quitt it ſelfe of guilt and ſinne againſt God, in that it tolerateth, and hath not in all this time with indignation caſt out theſe Antichriſtian uſurpers, which are ſo pernicious & prejudiciall both to our church and commonwealth. The Magiſtrate, by the ordinance & appointment of God, is to take care that both the Tables of Gods law bee duely kept. Now, theſe proud Prelats are delinquents againſt both of them; & they tranſgreſſe with a high hand. As their places are accurſed, ſo their demeanour and deportment in them is moſt tyrannous and cruel. They robbe God of his glory, and the Church of a great deale of comfort; and the commonwealth they pill & pole above meaſure. And yet theſe ſacrilegious & traiterous Time-ſervers are not onely tolerated, but countenanced alſo, and upheld amongſt us; the more is the pity. For moſt ſure & certaine it is; that when ſinne in a ſtate is not duely puniſhed, the land is defiled, and Gods wrath is provoked; which will not bee pacified but by inflicting due and deſerved puniſhment upon Tranſgreſſours. Numb. 35.33. In which regard there if good hope conceived, that our King & State will take this matter into ſerious conſideration, and will now at laſt execute the juſt vengeance of our God upon theſe enormous and agregious Malefactours, who have ſo long & ſo deſpitefully troden under foote the holy and bleſſed Ordinances of Chriſt, and in ſtead of them have advanced and ſet up the fond & fooliſh deviſes of their owne giddy braines; which is ſuch a high diſhonour to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ſuch a horrible indignity offered to him, as wee have good cauſe to hope that this Chriſtian State will no longer endure; eſpecially when all theſe things above-mentioned ſhall bee laid together, and well weighed in the ballance of Gods Sanctuary;

FINIS.