A Looking Glass for All Lordly Prelates, Part 2
The second Parallel BETWEENE THE IEWISH HIGH PRIESTS And Lordly Prelates.
AS Lordly Prelates resemble their Father the divell in all the forenamed particulars, so doe they the Iewish high Priests in these ensuing Particulars.
1. The high Priests of the Iewes, were ordained of men, to offer gifts and sacrifizes on the Altar Heb. 8: 3. Exod. 40. Levit. 1. to. 22. So our high Priests the Lord Prelates, are and will bee ordayned and also ordaine others high Priests for this end, to offer Sacrifices and gifts at their new erected Altars (not to preach) the end why they every where erect, advance, consecrate, and bow downe to Altars, which now want nothing but a Masse to grace them withall.
2. The Iewish high Priests had their Miters, and brave costly pontificall Robes, ornaments, and attires, whereby they were differenced from other men Exod. 31. 1. to. 32. c. 28, 2. to 43. So have the Lordly Prelates, and that in imitation of the Iewish high Priests, from whence they derive them.
3. The Iewish high Priests went but once a yeare into the second Tabernacle to offer for the people. Heb. 9. 7. And our Lordly high Priests commonly goe but once a yeare, (and many of them scarce once in 3. or 4. yeares, witnesse both our present Arch-prelates; & some other unpreaching Bishops examples, into the Pulpit, to preach unto the people, or to offer sacrifice on the Altar.
4. The Iewish high Priests commanded the Apostles, not preach any more in the name of the Lord Iesus, to the people, that they might be saved; and apprehended imprisoned, and scourged them, for do…ng it. Acts 4 & 5. 1 Thess. 2. 16. Our Lordly Prelates heretofore, and at this very day, silence and suspend our best, our painfullest Ministers from preaching Gods Word unto their people, that they may bee saved (though God, the King, the Books of Ordination and Statutes of the Realme enjoyne them for to doe it,) and threaten to apprehend, imprison, and fine them if they preach contrary to their suspensions; as the Apostles did, Who in despite of all the high Priests threats, inibitions imprisonments, stripes, three times one after another, Daily in the Temple, and in every howse, (which now would bee a Conventicle) ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ- Acts 5. 41, 42. And so would and should our Ministers (now silenced against Law and Canon too) were they true successors of the Apostles, and not intoxic…ted with a base unworthy spirit of carnall feare and cowardize, which makes them betray their liberties, Religion, Flocks, Brethren to the will and rapine of these beastly ravening Lordly Wolves.
5. The Iewish high Priest granted out warrants or letters missive to Saul (brea…hing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,) that if hee found any of this way, whether they were men or women, hee might bring them bound to Ierus…em. Acts …. 2. Lordly Prelates heretofore, and now, grant the like letters missiue, warrants, and Attachments to their Pursuivants and other malicious wicked Informers (that breath out threatnings and slaughter against the Lords disciples) against divers godly Ministers, Christians, and all such as they please to stile, Puritans and Cowventicklers, wheither men o… women, to breaks open and ransacks their houses, take their bodies, bring them up Prisonners to London, Ye k…, or Durham, before their Lordships holynesses, to fine, censure, deprive, imprison and undoe them though Christ, his Apostles, and the primitive Bishops never claymed or exercised any such Lordly secular tyranny or Iurisdiction, but condemned it as unlawfull and unbeseeming Clergiemen.
6. The Iewish high-Priest Ananias, when Paul was convented before the Counsell and beganne to make his Apologie and plead his owne cause, commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth, and would not suffer him to speake in his owne defence Acts 33. 1, 2. Thus doe our Lord Prelates deale with Gods Ministers when they come before them in the High Commission or elsewhere; they will not suffer them to speake in their owne defence, or pleade their owne causes to the full; but when they offer to speake, enjoyne them silence, or else commaund the Pursevant or Iaylour to smite them on the mouth, or take them away to the Prison, So imperious are their Lordships growne. Take but one fresh memorables instance insteed of many others. One M. Snelling a graue Kentish Minister, was suspended ab Officio & Beneficio about a veare and halfe since by D. Wood, commissary to the Bishop of Rochester, and after that excommunicated, pursuiuanted and articled against before the High Commissioners, at Lambet…, only for not reading the Declaration for sports, fathered falsely upon his Majesty by the Prelates. To which Articles hee drawing up a full answer, shewing the reasons both in point of law and conscience, why hee conceived himselfe not bound to read it, and so not culpable of any crime; the Register refused to accept or receive his Answer though tendred to him in writing, saying, it was too long, and hee durst not take it. Hereupon hee contracted it into lesse then a sheet of paper and tendred it to him as his answer. He refused it the second time; and though he thus tendred his answer, yet an Attactment issued out against him, for not answering. The conclusion was, hee must put in onelyonly such an answer as the Register should prescribe, without any justification or defence, or mention of the reasons why hee refused to read the Booke, telling him that he might and should put in his reasons in court, by way of defence. Whereupon he gave in a short answer without any defence at all in a manner; which comming to bee repeated before one of the Commissioners; the Register and hee dashed out of his very answer (against all Law and Iustice) what they pleased: which M. Snelling perceiuing, professed hee would not acknowledged for his answer none of his, but their owne making; vet notwithstanding this answer must stand as his. This Hilary tearme hee tenders his defence; the Register and Court at Informations refused to accept thereof, telling him … came too l…te; though before the cause informed against: At Lambeth he tendred his defence in Court; the Archbishop referre the consideration of it to Sir Nathaniell Brent, and D. Guyn whether it were fit to bee received; only he told them, he would have no dispute of the point; which is all one, as if his Grace had said; I will have no defence at all: This the event hath manifested, For hee tendering his defence to these, Referres they refuse, to receive or allow thereof: telling him that the*See how these disloyall Officers most vniustly lay the blamt of all their tiranny, oppression, Innovations & iniustice upon his Maiesty: to rob him of his peoples hearts and affections. King & the Archbishop have decreed that the Booke shall and must be read, and therefore hee must submit and read it, and they can allow of no Defence against it. That the Archbishop hath decreed it shall be read, I believe it without an Oath; but that his Majestie hath made any such Dec…ee, they must give me and all others leave to demurre to it, till they shall be able to produce such a Decree as this under his Majesties great seale; which will be ad Grecas Calendas, loe here the desperate impiety and injustice of our Prelates, parallell to that of (h)Acts. 22. 1. 2.Ananias, when hee commanded Paul to be smitten on the face as …ee began to make his Defence. For first they will make and prejudge the not reading of this forged declaration, an heinous off…ce, though there be no law, canon or precept at all for the reading of it; nor any clause at all that it should be read; much lesse by the Minister, nor any power given them so much as to question, much lesse to suspend, excommunicate, fine or cenfure, any who refuse to read i…. When as the great question is, whether it be an offence at all? but this must not be disputed. What now is this but to prejudicate, and not judge mens causes.
2. No answer must bee given or received, but what themselves shall make and allow and alter at their pleasures. Is not this pretty iustice? Who then shall bee, innocent?
3. When the answer is in, no defence must be made or accepted: If so, then the most innocent man in the world may bee condemned. What, no defence made? Christ himselfe had liberty to make his defence before Pilate an Heathen Iudge: Paul the like liberty before Felix, Festus and Agrippa, …eere Pagan Infidell Magistrates. Yea the veryest Traytors and Rebels in the world, have liberty in all Courts of justice, to make their defence, and pleade the best they can for themselves, yet this godly grave Minister cmming for such a grand crime as this, before our Lordly Prelates, must make no defence at all: O divell, o Iewish High Priests, blush at this impudency, impiety and injustice of these your sonnes and successors: A drunkard, an Adulterer, a Symoniacke, any incarnate divell may put in what answer and defence he please before them; but this grave Minister every way unspotted in his life and doctrine must not doe it, because they hauehave decreed before hand to condemne him. Is not this right high Priests justic…?
7. This Iewish high Priest …te to judge Paul after the law, and commanded him to be smitten contrary to the Law. Acts 2…. 3. So our Lordly Prelates in their Consistories, Visitations, and Commissions, sit to judge Ministers and others his Majesties Subjects according to the Law, and yet imprison, fine, excommunicate, suspend, deprive, degrade, teare, fleece, and judge them, for the most part, contrary both to the Lawes of God, the Realme, and their owne Canons; as thousends of Presidents evidence of late.
8. The Iewish high Preist, by Tertullus his Orator, accused St. Paule before Felix the Governour, for a P… stilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens, Acts 24. 1. Io…. The selfe same accusation hauehave the Lord Prelates laid to our Ministers charge in former ages, and to our zealous godly Ministers and Preachers now adayes, accufing them to the King and his Counsell, and persecuting yea, suspending: imprisoning them every where as pestilent, factious, sediciousWitnes M. Henry Burton now charged by them, with sedition: with many others, as was B. Latimer, and all our Martyrs of old. persons, and ringleaders of Sects and Schisme; as many late examples, and some now in agitation evidence.
9. The Iewish his Preists, informed Festus the Governour against Paule, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Ierusalem, that there they might judge him themselves according to their owne law, or else murther him by the way Acts. 25. 23. c. 24. 6. Our Lordly Prelates (Especially his Archgrace of Canterbury and other our Cant Bishops) doe the like; informing the King, or temporall Majestrates against godly Ministers and people; and desiring not Iustice, but favour against them, that they would sent for them into their owne Courts or High-Commissions, or not suffer them to appeale, or be released thence by Prohibitions o… other meanes; that so they might judge them after their owne law and wills, and be both enemies, parties delinquents, and Iudges in their owne cause, contrary to all reason Iustice, equity, and law, both of God and man; of which we have manylate memorable Instances; and one thing verie observable, that they have caused his clause (derogatory to his Majesties royall Iustice and supremacy, to make themselves absolute supreme Kings and Iudges) (that there shalbe no Appeale or Provocation allowed or admitted from the high Commission…rs, to be inserted into their last Commission: A strange clause, to tie up his Majesties hands and soveraigne Iustice from being able to releive his oppressed or injured subjects, be their causes never so good, their Iudges their censures never so parciall mali…ious exorbitant or vnjust.
10. Saul, by authority received from the Iewish chiefe Preists, shut up many of the Saints in Prison, and persecuted them even unto strange Cit…es. Acts. 26. 10. 11. 12. Our Lordly Prelates Pursevants, Catchpoles, creatures and vermine, by like authority warrant and Commission from their Lordships, have done, and yet doe the like, breaking up mens dores and houses with open violence, as if they were traytors or felons by their High-Commission warrants, in which case if they be slaine they have no remedy, neither is it any felony or murther as all the Iudges of England resolved in one Simpsons case 42. Eliz.
11. The Iewish chiefe Preists came to Festus to Ierusalem Iudges of England resolved in one Smipsons case 42. Eliz.informing him against Paule, and desiring to have Iudgment against him without more adoe; To whom … gave this answere. It is not the man…er of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he which is accused, have the accusers face to face, and have license to answere for himselfe, concerning the crime laid against him Acts 25. 15. 16. The same doe Lord Prelates at this day; they informe Princes and temporall Majestrates and Iudges against godly Ministers and people, desiring to have present Iudgment against them. O that they would give them such an answere as this; Heathen Gouernour Festus did the Iewes high Preists; and not condemne them but by lawfull witnesses ever bringing both them and their accusers face to face, which would discouer many a false brother and slie informing knaue, who no… by meanes of ex Officio Oathes & procedings neuer appeares face to face to make good his accusation, and passeth vndiscouered.
12. Christ foretold his disciples, that he must suffer many things of the chiefe Preists. Math. 16. 21. And our go…ly Martirs and writers in all times, have foretold all godly Ministers and people, that they must and shal suffer many things of Lordly Prelates for Christs sake, as they hauehave done for many ages in al places where they hauehave borne any sway; yea Christ predicted, to his Disciples that he should be betrayed to the chiefe Preists, and that they should condemne him to death Math. 20. 18. The like hath beene predicted to his faithfull Ministers and seruants, concerning Lordly Prelates.
13. The Iewes chiefe Preists sent officers to apprehend Christ, because many of the people beleeued on him and harkened to his Doctrine; and were exceeding angry with the Officers because they did not bring him Iohn. 7. 30, 31. 32, 35. Lord Prelates in former times, and now adayes, have also vsually sent out Officers and Pursevants to apprehend Christs faithfull Ministers, because the people beleeue and harken to their Doctrine; and are exceeding angry with them, yf they …scape their hands and bring them not before them; as appeares by many late examples.
14. The Iewes chiefe Priests consulted how to put Lazarus to death, because that by reason of him, many of the Iewes went away and beleeved on Iesus Iohn. 12. 10, 11. So Lordly Prelates heretofore have consulted how to put Gods faithfull Ministers to death, and now how to s…lence, suspend, deprive, imprison and thrust them from their Ministry, because by reason of them many of the people goe away from them and their traditions and beleeve on Iesus; as hundred particular examples testify.
15. The chiefe Priests of the Iewes hired Iudas for 30. peeces of siluer to betray Christ his Master, & deliver him into their hands, sent a greate multitude with swords & Staves along with him, to apprehend him; which they did. Math. 26. 14, 15, 47, 48, 49, 50. Mark 14. 10. 43. to 47. Luke 22. 4. 5, 6, 47. to 52. Iohn. 18. 1. to 14. The same hauehave Lordly Prelates done in all ages, hiring and corrupting godly Ministers and Christians, false disciples, friends, seruants, yea sometimes their very Kings, wives and Children to betray them into their hands and sending Persevants and a great company of Sherifes, Constables and other Officers with them to apprehend breake open their houses, doores like theeves, and bring them before them, as the Bookes of Martirs, and present experience plentifully evidence, to their shame.
16. The high Preist sought for false witnesses against Iesus our Saviour, to put him to death Math. 26. 59. to 64. Mark 14. 52. to 62. and by their falfe testimonies seeke to contemne him, Ibidem. The same have done & yet doe Lord Prelates; (as Hi…ories and experience manifest) against Christs faithfull Ministers and servants.
17. When these false witnesses would not steed them, they endeavour to inforce him to accuse himselfe by captious questions First, they examined him concerning his disciples and doctrine; To which he gave them this answere; I spake openly to the world, I ever taught in the Synagogues and in the Temple, wheither the Iewes allway resort, and in secret have I said nothing, why askest thou me? aske them that heard me, what I have said unto them, behold they know what I said (refuting to accuse himselfe or his Disciples) Iohn 18. 19, 20, 21, 22. 23. After this, the high Preist said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us, wheither thou be he Christ, the Sonne of God. Iesus saith unto him, Thou hast said &c. Thou the high Preist rent his …lothes saying, hee hath spoken blasphemy, what farther need have wee of witnesses, behold now yee have heard his blasphemy; What thinke yee? They answered and said, he is guilty of death; Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him, & others smote him with the palme of their hand saying Prophecy unto us thou Christ, who it is that smote thee, &c. Math. 26. 63. to. 69. After which, they tooke counsell together to put him to death, and deliver him bound to Pilate the Governour, before whom they accuse him; And when Pilate would have released him to the people, they perswaded them that they should aske Barrabas and destroy Iesus, and to cry out let him bee crucified; And when Pilate yet pronounced him innocent, and would have discharged him; the chiefe Priests replied; If thou let this man goe thou art not Caesars friend, for hee speaketh against Caesar; Never leaving him till they had crucified, and sealed him up fast in his Sepulcher. Math. 27. & 28. Iohn 18. & 19. Thus have Lord Prelates formerly dealt with the godly ministers and Saints of Christ, and now deale with his faithfull Ministers and Servants; when they have no true or sufficient witnesses against them, they enforce them against Scriptures, Councells Fathers, Decretals Canon, Civill Canon law, the practise of the primitive Church for above 1300. yeares after Christ all which time there is not one precedent extant or story of any such Oathes or proceeding among Christians) by ex officio Oathes and Articles to accuse and entrap themselves, of purpose to catch matter of censure and condemnation out of their owne mouthes which when they have gotten, then they insult over them spit in their faces, buffet, reuile, deride, and jeare them; take counsell against them to silence, suspend, deprive, fine, imprison, or destroy them; never ending their malicious prosecutions, till they see them close prisoners in their grau…s; and if any temporall Majestrates pronunce them innocent, or are willing to discharge them at any ti…e then they accuse them as enemies to Caesar, as factious, sedicious, pestilent fellowes and tell them, Yf they let them goe, they are not Caesar, the Kings or Churches friends; Yea when any time of grace, release or Pardon comes they can, and doe perswade Kings and temporall Magistrates to pordon and release Barrabas, theeues murtherers, whores, bawdes Preists Iesuites, Adulterers, drunkards, and all other notorious malefactors, but yet Iesus his innocent Saints and servants must have no grace at all, no mercy enlargment, grace or justice, but be imprisoned, ruined, molested destroyed and by this meanes at last they most vnjustly Crucify, vex and ruine these pure innocent Saints of Christ, as they did Christ himselse. A… whizh our Booke of Martyrs and dayly experience witnesse to the full, in each particular; yea, many of our present Prelates doe as much as in them lieth to crucfiy Christ himselfe, and that in a farre more barbarous manner then ever the Iewes did: For First, they crucified and set him only unto many Crosses. 2. The Iewes crucified him but once, they oft times one after another. 3. They kept him no longer on the Crosse then till he was dead upon it, & then gaue Ioseph of Aramathea leave to take him downe, beseeching Pilate that he might not hange thereon till the next day Iohn 19. Our Lord Prelates keepe him allwayes hanging before their eyes, on the Crosse, and never take him downe, as if he had still continued on his Crosse till now, and never been taken off, buried, raysed againe from the dead, and carried into heauen. And why so I pray? First, to shew their cruell and bloudy disposition, it being their daily practise to crucify Christ in his Image and Saints, which makes them so much in love with the sight of the Crucifix. 2. To ma…st themselues to be the high Preist vndoubted Successors, who crucified Christ. 3. To testify, that they delight so much in the picture of Christs death, as they hauehave no care nor thought at all to imitate him in his paynefull preaching life. 4. To manifest to all men, that if Christ were now a live in the flesh, they would as certainely crucify him againe as the high Preists did. 5. To tax the Sacra…nt of the Lords Supper, & Scriptures of much imper…ction; as if they were not sufficient, to shewe forth Christ death till he came (without this additament of a Crucifix) to their Dull Lordships, who seldome receive the one, or seriously meditate of, & preach the other. 6. To manifest, that they desire not to have Christ to liue & ruleas a King or supreame living Lord in his owne Church, which he canot do as long as he hangs as a dead manon his Crosse; that so they themselues may Lord it and rule Christs Church at their owne pleasures according to their owne Canons, Lusts, and pleasures, not his word, as the Iewish high Preists did. 7. To testify, that their Lordships thinke there is litle neede to preach Christ crucified; &, that a dumbe blinde painted Crucifix, is a farre better preacher of Christ and his death then their Lordships. And if so, what neede of Bishops or Preachers, when we may hauehave store of Crucifixes at a farre cheaper rate?
18. Finally, so…e of the Iewes high Preists, were rebells and traytors to their Soueraignes; as Abi…thar was to Solomon, who there upon depriued him of his office, but spared his life though he deserued death 1. Kings. 1. 7. c. 2. 26. 27. So many hundred LOrd Prelates in forraigne partes, and aboue 60. of our owne here at some (Especially the Arch-Bishop of Canterbery, & Yorke) hauehave bene notorious Arch-Traytors, Conspirators & Rebells too against their Soueraignes, Especially those Emperors and Kings, who hauehave most fauored magnified and advanced their secular greatenesse, pompe, and power, A just Iudgment of God upon them, for aduancing these Prelates be Lords and temporall Princes, against Christs owne precept, Math. 20. 25.) and I pray God, all of them be now faithfull to their Kings and Soveraignes, which I have cause to feare. In all these regards then you see how the Iewish high Preists, and Lordly Prelates are direct Parallels, and so in verity, their vndoubted Successors; one mayne argument and pretence to support their Lordly Hierarchie over their Brethren, being deduced from the high Preists example.