T [...]e Embleme which you see on the title of this Book, doth very fitly represent unto the view of all m [...]n, the present condition of the Church of England, as it now is full of distraction, and trouble. In the view whereof, whosoever pleaseth to [...] their eyes on the Bible; as it there stands opened (which is verb [...]m Dei, Gods o [...] world revealed unto us, to teach us, for the salvation of our soule) to be vei­led with so blacke a mist, that there is now great difficultie found in the true reading thereof; even as there was many dif­ficulties under the Law, till the [...] was taken away, so is there now so great a veile, or rather vanity, of humerous [...]n­ventions under the Gospell at this day in the Church of England, that (whi [...] they remaine) t [...]e true Protestant Reli­gion, is exceeding diffic [...] to be [...]uly pro [...]essed. Is it not [...] miserable thing that when England is at peace with all the world▪ she should th [...] quarr [...] with her selfe? and labour with the Spider to weave out her owne bowe [...]ls▪ what England that h [...]th the most absolute Prince of Piety in [...] the world! art th [...]u so ev [...] to be at enmi [...]y with thy selfe? thou that hast called the wi [...] [...] ever [...]ate; art tho [...] [...]ed? thou that h [...]st the [...] preac [...]d [...]o [...]rely to [...]e, art thou so rude! Oh E [...] the g [...]y of the world▪ [...] thou make thy se [...]e the [...] of [...] ▪ what wan [...] [...]ou (that o­ [...]her Na [...] [...] doe thee good! or [...] thou de­sire more o [...] God, th [...]n he hath done for thee▪ O then take heed poore Engla [...] [...]at t [...]u dost not pr [...]ke God to leave thee, and [...] [...]ove from thee: lo [...] [...]e tr [...] ▪ [...] peace, and learne [...] [...]rve God.

[Page] I. On the right hand at the bottome of the Picture, you may behold an Anabaptist, laying claime to the Bible with one hand, and holding an Olive branch in the other; his laying hold to pull the Bible to him, doth shew that he makes Reli­gion his pr [...]tence, and desires the Bible to be the judge of his cause: And the Olive branch in the other hand doth declare unto us that great Maxime of their doctrine: for the Anabaptists teach, that whereas they seeke to have a government of the Church in England, to be as it is in Holland, by Lay Elders independant to the Church of England, and that none but be­lievers shall be of their congregation; nor infants baptized untill they can give a reason of their faith &c. yet they hold it not lawfull to seeke it by the sword by blood, or by disobey­ing authority: but on [...]ly to use the lawfull spirituall armes and weapons of a Christian, namely faith and patience, and by prayers to call upon God that it may be so.

II. The Picture at the foot on the left hand of this Emblem doth likewise demonstrate unto us, that the Brownists do [...] al­so pretend Religion for all their tenents, actions, wayes, who are verily perswaded that they are the true Church and there­fore doe admit no unsanctified person to be of their congre­gation, they desire to have liberty of conscience, to serve God without Ceremonies, or precepts of men▪ & to the end they may not be hindred; they desire an independent Church where they may freely assemble, & exercise after their own dis­cipline, in the pursuit whereof▪ the club that is in his hand doth shew that he will fight for the Religion which he profess [...]th; and though he suffer never so much for his conscience, yet i [...] he no whit discouraged thereat▪ but counts [...]t [...] [...]our to suffer for Religion, being mightily perswaded that all who ar [...] not of his opinion▪ are ungodly and reprobates.

III. The great Ar [...]an, that stands on the left hand of the E [...]eme doth shew by his pulling of the Bible, that he [...] pretends to seeke to do all thing [...] according to the [...] [Page] God; and these tenents he stands out stoutly for, viz.

1 That Bishops, be they never so wicked, are Iure Divino.

2 That the government of the Church of England, as it now stands by Archbishops, Bishops, &c. is so holy a govern­ment, that it is a sin to alter it.

3 That the discipline which the Prelates establish, be it what it will, is Iure Divino.

4 That all the Ceremonies of the Church of England, bind the consciences of the people to be subdued under them.

5. That Christ is not originally God, some of them have taught.

6. That the Scriptures are not the onely meanes, concer­ning God, of all that profitably we know, and that therefore we must build our faith on that construction which the Pre­lates of the Church make of the Scripture, to prevent private construction thereof: as the Bishop of Yorkes Chaplaine, and divers others have affirmed.

7. That mans will is apt naturally, (without grace) to take or refuse any particular object, whatsoever presented unto it; and so consequently to beleeve, that mens naturall workes, or to do that which Nature telleth us (without grace) must needs be acceptable to God; as some of our Bishops have taught.

8. That the Word of God can not assure us, that it is the Word of God, and from thence to draw arguments to take all things upon trust from the Church, whatsoever they esta­blish. How dangerous this doctrine is to overthrow the Fun­damentals, and principles of a Christians faith, let all men judge?

9 That a man may doe workes, in themselves absolutely good, and acceptable in the sight of God, as they all main­taine.

10 That the Minister hath power to absolve sin verily, and indeed, where according to his judgement he finds a person, as he conceives to repent, and beleeve; a proud Arogan [...].

[Page] 11 That a Minister hath power to damne a man that is not conformable to the Ceremonies of the Church: as a Lecturer in Cornhill, and others have taught.

12 That to be preserved from all sin in this life, is not im­possible.

13 That the Church of Rome (as it now standeth) is the family of Christ, and some members of that Church amongst us, are the Kings best subjects, as Master Squire of Shore­ditch, and others have preached.

14 That Idolatrous wicked Hereticks are members of the visible Church, if they be not excommunicated, as it hath bin often taught in Pauls by some of the Arminians.

15 That there is in Orders given an indeleble Character.

16 That wee ought to receive the Communion upon an Altar, and not on a Table.

17 That the reall presence of Christ is visible in the Bread and Wine after Consecration.

18 That the Latin Service ought to be in Churches, as it began to be used in S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge.

19 That Sacraments doe give and conferre grace, and are instruments of Justification, that they are as necessary in their place, and no lesse required then beliefe it selfe; as they often have declared in their Sermons.

20 That Sunday is no Sabbath, as Doctor Poclington hath writ.

These and many other things have they laboured to bring into the Church, contrary both to the Scripture, and the true Protestant Religion, professed and taught in the Church England, Scotland, and all other Reformed Churches.

The Sword which the Arminian beareth in his hand doth shew, that hee is a man that delighteth in blood, who for the a [...]ncing of his owne humour, cares not how much blood is spilt. The Arminian in a word) is one, who having gotten both Swords into his hands over the Protestants; would [Page] soone fight for the Pope with the one, and against the Prote­stant with the other; he is like the Tartars, to the O [...] House amongst the Turks, and fights for Rome, expecting to be a Roman; I pray God roote them out of the Church of England, and grant us peace.

IIII. On the right side of the Picture you may see an ho­nest-hearted Protestant weeping; whose tender eyes send forth aboundance of teares meekly kneeling upon his knees▪ who being grieved to see Religion clouded thus by cavilling, [...]ee labours to know God truely out of his holy word, [...]nd therefore labours to remove the veyle, that obscures it from our eyes, he is not grieved for himself alone, but for the disho­nour done to God, neither doth he weepe because he is grie­ved, but because the Church of God is so distracted; hee [...]lies not to men, but to God, prayeth not for blood, but peace; being grieved to see poore England thus languish.

V. The Pope which you see behind the Bible, doth the [...] unto us what a danger the Church of God may be exposed to (if God doe not helpe us) for the Pope is glad of these di­stractions amongst us, and would now take the opportunity to snatch away the Bible from us; he would faine take our Re­ligion away; but we hope to send him backe againe to R [...]e with a powder; not like that in the Bishops Canons, [...] with nothing but Paper▪ but the sword of the Spirit of God, with which we hope he (both root and branch) will be utter­ly rooted out of the Church of England, which God grant. Amen.