A Looking Glass for All Lordly Prelates, Part 3

A Looking Glass for All Lordly Prelates · Part 3

p. 67The disparity or Antithesis, betweene Christs and Lord Prelates.

IF any now in these Prelates behalfe replie, that they are of our Sauiour Christs owne institution, his true Disciples, Sonnes, and followers, not the divells, (as the First Paralell manifests them;) To disprove this Cavill, let them a little consider the Antipathie, or disparity betweene our Saviour Christ and them, in these ensuing particulars.

First, our Saviour Christ was so poore, that hee had not so much as an house or kedde of his own whereon to rest his head. Math. 8. 20. Our Lord Prelates, (though in regard of their birthes for the most part very like our Saviour, borne in a stable, or some poore Obscure Cottage:) yet when once they become Lord Bishops they have many Manfions, Palaces, and stately princely habitations, wherein they wallow & take their pleasure, as if they were borne Prelates or Princes: and yet not content therewith, they still complaine their are poore Prelates, craving and hunting after farre more, farre greater Possessions, though not borne heires to one farthing by the grace, nor demeriting halfe so much for their paines or preaching, at the poorest ten-pound Curate in their Diocesse.

Secondly, Our Saviour Christ, had but one poore threed-bare-Coate without a seame, woven from toe to toe, for which the Soldiers cast lots. Math. 27. 35. Iohn p. 6819. 23. 24. … Iohn Baptist (the greatest Prophet that euer was borne of a Woman) hath his … of Camels haire (not silke or satin) and a leatherne (not a brave great silken) girdle about his loynes, Math. 3. 4. O…r Lordly Prelates have many silken, sattin, scarlet, G…nes, c…ssockes, robes, coapes, rochets, hoodes, patched up with …any sea…es and piebalde colours, with many new inuented Pontificall vestments, disguise and quadrangular ca…s and …rinkets peculiar to their Holinesses, which po…re C…rist never wore, saw, knew or dream'te of, and would have certainly disdained to looke on, much more to weare, being as unseemely for, as displeasing to him, as the purple scarlet …obe, and Crowne of Thornes that the Soldiers violently put upon him in derifi…, when they mocked and Crucified him.

Thirdly, Our Saviour Christ, had but course farre, and hard diet for himselfe and his Apostles and Guests; to wit, a few barly lo…ves and some small fishes …or the most part served in on the bare ground; it being his chiefest meate & drinke, to doe his Fathers will, and to finish his worke. Iohn. 4. 31. 34: c. 6. 5. to. 15. Math. 14. 17. to 22. c. 15. 34. to. 38. c. 16. 9. 10. Iohn. 21. 9. 10. 13, Yea, great Iohn Baptists ordi…y food, was nought else but Locusts and wild hony. Mith. 3. 4. Our Lordly Prelates have all variety of costly …, cates, iunkets, wines, drinkes, and Provisions, both for themselves, wives, children, guests, servants, equall to any Barons Lords or Earles of the Real…e, making commonl… as sumptuous, great if not more luxu… feastes then they. Witnesse the more then … royall excess…e feast of ((p)(p)Antiq. Ecclesiae Brit. p. 350. 351. 352. Godwins Catalog. p. 167.) Wi…liam Warham … of Canterbury; at which the great Duke of Buckingham with his 120; attendants, waited p. 69on this Archprelate, as his High-Steward and Butler, (too meane an office for the greatest Peere then living) going bareheaded before his Grace, ush ring in his first Service & bowing his body to his Holinesse, as to the Pope of this other world. Witnesse the((q)(q)Godwi. p. 611. to 614.) unparalleld monstrous Feast of George Ne…ell Archbishop of Yorke, the greatest that England ever knew or heard of; the particulars whereof you may read at large in Godwins Catalogue, with others, which I pretermit, of which Antiqui…tes … Brit: Godwin, and Sir George Paule in the life of Archbishop Whitgift, can informe you. And it is so farre from being their meate and drinke, that it is their least thought and care, their least desire and endeavour, their greatest trouble, paine and purgatory to preach Gods Word, and doe his will and worke, as Christ our Saviour did.

Fourthly, Our Saviour Christ was so poore, and so ill stored with moneves, that hee had not so much as a Didrachma (about fiften pence of our money to pay tribute money for himselfe and his followers, but was enforced to send Peter to the Sea to borrow it of a poore Fish, for want of a friend to lend him so much, hee and his whole retinue, not being able to make up so small a summe among them: Math. 17. 27. But Lordly Prelates, borne-not to a Didrachma, have not only their hundreds and thousands by the yeare, (and yet doe none, or little spirituall worke for it, most of them all put together, not preaching halfe so often as a poore Sti…endiary Curate that hath but eight or ten pound by the veare:) yea their hundreds or thousands lying by them in their bagges, besides, and yet are not contented. So like are they to our Saviour i… this particular.

p. 70Fifthly, Our Saviour Christ, and his Apostles too, went about on foote from village to village, preaching the Gospell throughout all Galilee and Iudea. Math. 4. 23. c. 51. 2. c. 10. 5, 6, 7, 9. 10. 14. c. 12. Iohn. 4. 6. Marke 1. 38, 39, Luke 9. 2, 3, 4, 5. c. 10. 3. to. 12. Acts 10. 38. Math. 14. 13. Marke 6. 33. Acts 20. 13. And when hee rode (in state) into Ierusalem (which was but once) hee rode but on an Asse. Math. 21. 1. to. 16. But our Prelates when they goe abroad to visit or preach before the King (for they seldome preach in any Countrey village in an age) or when they have any businesse to Court, to Parliament or any Citie, yea when they goe to their Cathedralls, or a Church that is necre them, are so farre from going a foote, that they seldome ride on horsebacke, (and then on a stately Palfray) but in a Coach or Chariot drawne with foure or six pampred horses, with many horses, horsemen and footmen environing them; and if they meete a poore cart or wagon by the way (or a lighter meete their Barges on the watter, where they ride in pompe to) if they stirre not presently out of the way to give their Lordships passage, they will lay the poore Carters and Lighter-men by the heeles for their paynes (as **His Archgrace of Canterbury.some of thē have lately done:) So like are they to our Saviour. And here I cannot pretermit a merry Story. ((p)(p)In an old Booke in H. the 8. his daies of the difference betweene) A certaine Germain Clowne or Boare (as they terme him) seeing the Bishop of Colen ride in state with a greate traine of horsemen before and after him, stood gaping on the Bishop as he passed by and smiled to himselfe; The Bishop perceiving it, made a stand, and demandedChrists & antichrists Bishops. of the Boare why he thus smiled, bidding him speake the truth freely without feare, for he should sustayne p. 71no dammage, Wherevpon the Boare replied, that he smiled to thinke with himselfe, whether St. Martin (Patron and First Bishop of …olen) ever rode in such state as he did now: The Bishop herevnto answered, that he was an ignorant silly fellow, for he did not ride in his state, as he was Arch-Bishop of Colen, but as he was the cheife Prince Elector of Germany: Where upon he wittily retorted; Suppose (said he) my Lord, the divell should come and fetch away the Prince Elector, I pray what would become of the Bishop, I feare me he would to Hell too: At which the Bishop being confounded went his way. Our Prelates may apply it to themselves without my helpe.

6. our Saviour Christ was meeke and lowlie in heart, full of compassion and mercy, and gaue rest to mens soules and bodies. Math. 11. 28, 29. c. 9. 36. Luke 10. 33. Heb. 5. 2. Ephes. 4. 32. Our Prelates (like men exalted from law degree) are for the most part feirce chollerick, furious, proud, haughty, insolent, arrogant, malicious, revengefull, implacable, full of mercilesse and barbarous inhumanity, vexing and disquieting both the bodies and consciences of godly Ministers and people; as the Booke of Martirs, and experience testifie.

Take but this one remarkeable fresh instance in leive of many. This last pestilentiall Somer, the Lord Brooke his Lady, was delivered of a child …t Dallam in Suffolke within Bishop Wrems D…ocesse of Norwich. The Earles of Bedford Doncaster, & 3. or 4. Lords more, were here upon invited to the christning; which being solemnized on the Lords day afternoone, these Lords earnestly pressed the Lord Brooke, that they might have a Sermon then preached upon this extraordinary occasion. He p. 72therevpon desired one Mr. Ash, his houshold Chaplaine to preach; who knowing the Bishops perversnesse, was vnwilling to doe it, till at last upon his Lords commaund to preach, he condesc…nded, and preached accordingly. Bishop Wren h…aring of it, some two dayes after sends his Apparitor with a Citation, to somon Mr. Ash to appeare before him: who being rode that morning to Cambridge, the Appa…itor after he had beene courteously entertained at my Lords house, defired to speake with my Lord Brooke himselfe, who comming to him; he acquainted his Lorship, that he had a Citation for his Chaplaine, who it seemed was rode abroad & therefore he would leave the Citation with his Lordship, to serve it on his Chaplaine when he returned: My Lord therevpon, demaunded of him, whether he tooke him to be an Apparitor, or intended to make him one? He replied, that the Bishop commaunded him to leave it with his Lordship, in case his Chaplaine was not within, and if is Lordship would not receive it, he would sue out an excommunication against his Chaplain and have it published in the Church the next Lords day. VponUpon which he tooke the Citation; and upon his Chaplaines returne rode over with him to the Bishop: who fitting in state like a great Lord, or demy Pope, my Lord Brooke acquainted him, how his Apparitor had left a Citation with him against his Chaplaine, and that he and his Chaplaine were therevpon both come together to his Lordship to know what the businesse was, and what his Lordship could object against him; His Lordship therevpon answered, that his Chaplaine had openly affronted him in his Diocesse in daring to presume to preach therein without his speciall license, and p. 73that on the Lords day afternoone, when he had expressely prohibited all Sermons within his Iurisdiction: telling Mr. Ash, that he would make him an example to all others, and that if he could not punish him sufficiently in his owne Court, he would bring him into the **The Court our Bishops now abuse to set up their owne Papall Hierarchie, and enforce their unlawfull commands.High Commission for this insolency, unto which my Lord Brooke answered, that his Chaplaine was vnwilling to preach, and that therevpon h… commaunded him to doe it upon this spe…iall occasion, being importuned by the Earkes and Nobles then present; defiring his Lordship not to be offended with his Chaplaine, for obeying his commaund, upon such an extraordinary occasion. The Bishop replied, that his Lordship did very ill to offer to maintaine his Chaplaine in this; that No Lord of England should affront him in his Diocesse in such a manner, and if he did his Majesty stould know of it, & that he would make his Chaplaine an example. My Lord Brooke demaunded, whether his Lordship could take any exception either against his Chaplaines l…fe or doctrine? He answered no: Then my Lord, said he, I hope the offence is not great, there being no Law of God, or the Realme, nor Canon of the Church, that inhibits Ministers to preach on the Lords day afternoone. (To which he might have added that the very declaration for Sports, much vrged by the Bishop on the Ministers of his Diocesse, as his Majesties, allowes of Sermons every where in the afternoone; Since it prescribes No Sports to be used but after the end of diuine Service, and AFTERNOONE SERMON: as Bishop white confesseth in his examination of A and B. p. 131. and p. 9. of the Declaration: our pleasure is, That the Bishop and all other inferior Church-men shall for p. 74their parts be carefull and Diligent, both to instruct the igno…ant, and co…vince and reforme them that are m…led in religion &c. Therefore that Bishops and Ministers sho… preach on the Lords day afternoone, as well as in the forenoone; & not be questioned, but commended for doing it:) The Bishop demaunded of Mr. Ash, how he durst presume to preach in his Diocesse, without his special License? (though his … could preach at Cambridge, as they say, in Paris his pulpit, without his license:) Mr. A… answered, that he had a Metropoliticall license fro… the Arch Bishop to preach over all his Province: the Bishop bad him produce it: My Lord, said he, I have it not about me; No, replied the Bishop, nor any such license, and for ought I know you are no Minister: where are your Letters of Order? My Lord, said he, I durst not be so bold or dishonest to informe you I had such a license, were I not able to produce it; and had I no letters of order, or were no lawfull Minister, I presume my Lord would not have entertained me for his Chaplaine: m… Lord, both my license and orders are at home, and I use not to carry them alwayes with me in my pocket. My Lord Brooke int…ed his Lordship to dismisse his Chaplaine and prosecute him no further, all would not doe; he would make him an example, and so after many threatning speeches to him and my Lord, they departed. The Bishop presently proceedeth with all violence against Mr. Ash in his owne Court, no Mediation of Lord and friends would pacify him; till at last the Earle of Doncaster told him, that if he would not dismisse him his Court, he would complaine to the King against him, since he preached only upon my Lord Brookes commaund, and his and other p. 75Earles importunity: Hereupon the Bishop leaving the Chaplaine, falls upon the Churchwardens of the Parish for permitting him to preach without his License; fines them (Quo iure I know not) forty shillings a pi…ce, enjoynes them to doe publike pennance in the Church with a white wand and a paper in their hands; to aske God, and his Lordship forgivenesse, to confesse, that their censure was just, and to desire all others to take example by them, not to offend in like manner; All which the poore men were enforced to doe. O pride! O tyrannie.

7. Christs very yoake is easie, and his burthen light. Math. 11. 30. Lord Prelates yoakes exceeding heavy and intollerable; witnesse those under which the whole Kingdome now lie groaning & languishing, with their many late new invented Ceremonies, Oathes, Articles, Injunctions and Innovations.

8. Christ, whiles he was on earth, went about continually doing good, and healing all that were oppressed with the Divell. Acts 10. 38. Lord Prelates when they ride about in circuite, or their vifitations, (not foot it, as our Saviour did,) doe no good at all, but only mischiefe; silence Ministers, set up Altars and new popish ceremonies, pill and poll both Ministers and p…ople with new extorted fees & procurations disquiet a… good men, and insteed of healing, wound and further oppresse those like divels that were spiritually oppressed by the divell before, by exactions, suppressing Gods ordinances especially powerfull pr…aching, which should cast out the divels that spiritually possesse & take them captives at their wills.

9. Our Saviour Christ went about all the Countrey p. 76preaching in every Synagogue where he came, Math. 4. 23. Mark. 1. 38, 39. Our Bishops ride sometymes about the Country in their trienniall visitations, to fill their guts and purses, and at other times hawking, hunting, feasting, and recreating themselues, but seldome or never goe or ride thus abroad to preach in any one Church or Synagogue; inhibiting those Ministers that would, to doe it.

10. Our Saviour preached daily and constantly in the Temple, beginning early in the morning, and continuing untill evening (and so preached morning and evening) Luke 19. 47. c. 21. 37, 38. Iohn 8. 2. But yet wee finde not that ever hee read any common Prayers or Homilies in the Temple or any other Synagogue. Our Lordly Prelates are so farre from preaching dayly in our Temples, that few of them preach monthly, or quarterly; some of them, scarce yearely; some, not once in three or foure yeares, yea in ten or twelve yeares together; and other not at all; and so farre are they from preaching, or approving morning and evening Sermons even on the Lords owne Sacred day, much lesse on others; that they have suppressed the Lords day early morning Lectures in London, and all afternoon… Sermons on the Lords day in many Diocesse in the Countrey, making it an high offence, deserving both suspension and excommunication, to preach on the Lords day after dinner. Yea they are not ashamed to license Shelfords Sermon of uncharitrble Charity, against often preaching, in direct opposition to our Saviours example, and the very established …omely of the right use of the Church. p. 3. 4. to which he & themselves have subscribed. Such undoubted Sons disciples and followers are they of our Saviour in this particular.

p. 7711. Our Saviour Christ when he preached, read only his Text, and then closed the Booke and gave it againe to the minister, & sate down & preached without book. Luke 4. 17. to. 22. Our Prelates, when ever they chance to preach, commonly read not onelyonly their Texts, but their who…e Sermons too, if not their very prayers; being so dull of memory, that whereas our stage-players can get their parts by heart though they act every day of the weeke, yet their stupid block-headed Lordships cannot conne one Sermon by heart in a yeare or two; their doctrine being so far from sinking into their owne hearts, that it never so much as enters into their heads when they preach it, but onelyonly into their books, where they leave & shut it up close prisoner into their lips, which presently vent it out againe: Are they not then very deuout Preachers, very much in …oue with Gods word, with which they will neither trouble their braines nor hearts; sweet followers of our Sauiours steps, in this particular?

12. Our Sauior Christ with fasting, praying, weeping & preaching was so leane, that he might tel al his bones. Psal. 22. 17. Our Lord Prelates with feasting, Lording, laughing, sleeping & loytering are so fat & plumpe (for the most part) that they or others can neither tell nor feele their bones.

13. Our Sauiour Christ was full of grace, goodnes and truth Iohn 1. 14. Lord Prelates are cōmonly …ul of gracelesnes, profanenesse, malice, enuy, pride, ambition, couetousnes, idlenes, di…imulation, and hypocrisy, hauing little reall, but only meere titular grace to adorne them.

14. Our Sauior Christ made both the deafe to heare, the blind to see, and the dumbe to speake: Math. 9. 33. c. 12. 22. c. 15. 30. 31. Our Lord Prelates make the hearers p. 78of Gods Word deafe for want of preaching, the seing blinde through ignorance and our preaching Ministers dumbe, by silencing and suspending them.

16. Christ sent forth his disciples, not to read Homilies, or divine service (which every clowne or schoole boy can doe as well as the learnedst Minister) but to preach the Gospell, Math. 10. 7. 10. 14. Luke 9. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. c. 10. 2. to. 15. and that as well in mens private houses as the publicke Synagogues, Ibid. and Acts 5. 42. c. 20. 20. which now (for sooth) our Lordly Prelates condemne and censure for a conventicle: yea hee bid and commanded his disciples goe into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature, teaching them to observe all things that hee had commanded them. Math. 28. 19. 20. M…rke. 16. 15. yea he enjoyned them earnestly to seed his flocke and Lambes. Iohn 21. 15, 16, 17. Our Lord Prelates silence and suspend Christs faithfull Ministers, prohibiting them (not only in private houses but in Churches to) to preach the Gospell to their people, send them about only to read divine service and homilies; and command them to observe and subscribe to whatsoever Canons, Orders, Articles, Ceremonies, and Injunctions they shall prescribe them, though con…rary to Christs; charging them; not to feed, but fleece their Lambes and Sheepe; And are they not then good Pastors?

16. Our Saviour Christ was the goo… Sheopard that laid downe his life for his Sheep…; hee knew his Sheepe, and was knowne againe of them, and they heard and knewe his voyce Iohn 10. 6. 11. to 16. Lord Prelates are rather Wolves then Sheopards, reddier to take away theire Sheepes lives then to lay downe their lives for p. 79their Sheepe; many of them being so farre from knowing their Sheepe by name, that they never so much as saw them, the most of their Sheepe never so much as seeing or knowing their faces, much l…sse hearing or knowing their voyces in the Pulpit, many of them (though they have thousands by the yeare, of purpose to preach to their Sheepe) not so much as bestowing on Sermon on them in 3. or 4. yeares space; receiving above 3. or 4000. pounds for every Sermon they preach, too greate a rate sor so little w…rke; Yt thesemen were Tankard-bearers and should sell their watter at that rare they take for their Sermons, our water certainely would be far…e dearer then the richest wine; Yet many of their Sermons for which they take so much, are scarce so good as ditch watter.

17. Our Saviour Christ, though he were equall with God the Father, yet he made himselfe of no reputation, but tooke upon him the forme of a Servant, & was made in the likenesse of men, …ubling himselfe for farre, that he became obedient to death even to the dreath of the Crosse Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8. Our Lord Prelats, though equal comonly in birth to the meanest Peasants, yet (in doubt in imitation of our Sauiour) make themselves of so greate reputation, that they take upon them not only the forme and title, but the pompe and state of Lords and Petty Princes, not servants; and as if they were not made in the likenesse of men, but borne Princes, Angels or demy Gods; they become disobedient to all lawes of God and man; and insteede of humbling themselves to death, and the Crosse for Christs sake, they tyrannically humble their brother Ministers and other Christians to the Prison, the Pillary, the Crosse, & Stocks for Christ. p. 80Witnesse our Bookes of Martires, and late experience.

18. Our Saviour Christ, though he were rich, yet for our sakes he became poore, that we through his poverty might be made rich. 2. Cor. 8. 9. Our Lord Prelates, though poore and beggarly at first, yet for Christs sake they are content to become greate and rich; that so others through their power, riches, avarice, tyranny, and extortion may be made poore, to enrigh themselves the more.

19. Our Saviour, when Peter drew his sword to cut of Malchas eare therewith, immediately healed it againe, commanding him to put up his sword into the Scabbard. Iohn. 18. 10, 11. Luke 22. 50, 51. Math. 26. 51, 22. Our Lord Prelates now ingrosse both swords into their sacred hands, and insteede of putting them into the Scabbard, draw them out like valiant men, smiting off some mens eares and noses with it, and now threaten to maine and mangle more in like manner, insteede of curing those allready maymed by them: Such swashbucklers and gladiaters are they growne. Yf we have warres with Spayne, we hope his Majestie will send these hacksters packing to those warres to mangle and hackle off the Spainards eares and noses, insteede of his loyall Subjects.

20. Our Saviour Christ, after he began to preach, refused to inter meddle with secular affaires, or to devide the inheritance betweene the too Brethren; refused the kingdomes, Pomde and glory of this world; affirming openly, that he and his kingdome were not of his world Math. 4. 8, 9, 10. Luke 12. 13, 14. Ioan. 6. 15. c. 17, 16. c. 18. 36. Our Lord Prelates, after they become Lords (forgetting their primitive base originall and pedigree, p. 77with that vow they made to God in Baptisme, to forsake the divell and all his workes, the vayne pompe & glory of the world with all covetous desires of the same, and al carnall desires of the flesh, so that they will …ot follow nor be ledd by them; and that … of St. Iohn. 1. Iohn. 2. 15, 16. Love not the world nor the things of the world, if any man love the wor…d, the love of the Father, is not in him. For all that is in the world, (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and pride of life) is not of the Father but is of the world) intangle themselves in worldly, secular state affaires and off…s, become Lords T…mporall insteed of Spirituall; …meddle with all … affaires, hunt after the Kingdomes, goverment, honour, pompe, state, and pleasures of this world with all greedinesse and diligence, i…steed of preaching the Gospell and converting soules to God: ing…sse all power and temporall Iurisdiction into their hands, smite with both swords at once like madde-men on every side, and though they pretend their Lordly calling to bee of God, y…t they and it are plainely of this world, and …ot o… Christ, as their actions manifest.

21. C…rist both …, and administred the Sacrament to his disciples, in his ordinary apparell, sitting at a Table, and that standing in the midst of the …me, Math. 26. 26, 27, 28, 29. Mar… 14. 18. 22, 23 24. Luke 22. 14. to: 21. I…n 13. 4. 25. 28. …or. 10. 21. c. 11. 23, 24, 25. Yea, when he sent abroad his disciples to preach he sent them in their usuall …, expressely …hibiting them, to provide them, either silver or gold in their purses, or to take or weare two Coates Math. 10. 9. 10. Marke 8. 8, 9. Luke 9. 3, 4, 5 c. 10. 4. (Therefore certainely they wore no cass…cks, hoods, gownes, coates p. 82or surpluses (alias surplusages) or rochets on their backs, or any such new, Massing, masking vestments, as our Prelates have since invented and prescribed, under the severest penalties, for Ministers to preach, to administer the Sacraments and read their divine Service in) our Lord Prelates when they preach, or administer the Sacrament themselves, or by others, preach and ad…inister it in their Pontificalibus, coapes, surplusses, hoods, cassocks, gownes, rochets, with other disguized extraordinary apparell; Yea, they administer the Lords Supper in these holy vestments, only at an Altar standing at the East wall not a Table, in the**Septem Diaconi subliuior gradu caeteris proxime circa aram Dei quasi columniae Altaris assisterent I…dor, & Concilium Aquisgra…se. midst of the Q…ire, as of of old, commanding all to receive the Sacrament of Christs Supper, kneeling, not sitting, (and why not Baptisme then as well as it?) the betrer to adore the Eucharist; condemning Christs and the Apostles gesture of sitting, as irreverend, unmannerly, and undecent; adoring the very Altar, and bowing to it even to the ground. when as they have the consecrated Bread & Wine in their hands, as if it were more honorable and worshipfull then that, for which they say they bow unto it. All, which antichristian Popish vestments ceremonies and …opperies Thom…s Becan hath learnedly refuted, in his display of the Popish Masse, to which I shall referre you; only I shall answer a Scripture or two, which they alledge for their white rochets and surplesses; To wit, Revel. 3, 4, 5. 18. c. 6. 11. c. 7. 9. 13. c. 19. 11. WhereIbidem. the Saints and Martyrs, are said to be clothed in white linnen robes; Therefore Bishops ought toweare white rechets, and Ministers white surplesses. A learned argument if well prosecuted.

1. For, these white linnen robes and garments mentioned p. 83in these Texts, were no rochets or surplesses (as these fond men dreame,) but the spotlesse white robes of Christs owne merits and innocency, wherewith these Saints (who had put on the Lord Iesus Christ, and made their robes white in his precious bloud) were inuested, as is obedient by Rev. 19. 18. c. 3. 18. 4. 5. c. 7. 13. 14. compared with Pom. 13. 14. Ephes. 5. 26, 27. which kinde kinde of sacred white rochet or surplesse, few Lord Prelates ever yet wore upon their backes, o… gown… eves.

2. These white robes were not worne only by Bishops, Ministers, Clergie, & Cathedrall men as rochets and surplesses are, but by all the Saints and Martirs of Christ alike. Yf these Tipes then prove any thinge, it is only this. That all men ought to weare rochets and surplesses not Bishops and Church men only.

3. These white robes were their ordinary daylie garments which they never put of upon any occasion, no not when they rode in …riumph upon white horses, …ev. 19. 14. Therefore no argument fo… rochets and surplesses wh…ch are put on only upon speciall occasions and not ever worne as ordinary apparell, These Lordly Prelates perscribing only blacke gownes and garments, wearing none but such out of the Church and their supplisses & rochets (to testify their spotlesse purity and holinesse) for the most part only in the Church, to testify that they are only white Saints in shew whiles they are in the Church and Quier, but blacke friendes and divells for the most part in all places else, in thei… lives and actions. The true significant reason, as I conceive, why they weare white robes and rochets only in the Church in time of diuine services (where they commonly leave and put them off with all their seeming purity and holinesses p. 80with their surplesses) but black coates & vestments under them and in all places else. A thing worthy observation.

4. These robes were not worne by these, or the Martyrs, on earth, whiles they lived; but put upon them in heaven, after they were dead. Therfore no argument for, but against the wearing of rochets and surplesses here.

5. The Disciples and Apostles when they were sent to preach had c…rtainely but o…e Coate and garment on the them, and that vndoubtedly no white rochet, nor surp…esse; These Scriptures therefore make nothing for both, or either of them.

6. These Saints are said, to ride upon white horses only, and in these their white linnen garments. Revel. 19. 14. I may therefore better argue hence; That Bishops and Ministers ought ever to ride upon white ho…ses and no other, and that in their rochets and surplesses, not th…ir Canonicall coates cloakes or halfe-gownes; then they thence inf…r: That they ought to preach & read prayers in their surplesses. But of these surplesages enough and too much: I proceed.

22. Christ professeth of himselfe, that he came into the world, of purpose for to preach the Gospell, Mark. 1. 38. Luke 4. 18. Lord Prelates professe, that they were not ordayned Lords or Bishops, to preach Gods Word, but to rule, governe, and Lord it over their fellow Brethren and their diocesse:

23. Our Saviour Christ maketh continuall prayer & intercession to his Father for all his chosen people, Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Our Lord Prelates, as they seldome preach, so they earely or never contend earnestly or make interc…ssion unto God in earnest hearty fervent prayer for their people that they may be saved and converted: p. 73Yea some of them (as Bishop Wren) contrary to the practise of all former ages, begin to prohibit Ministers under paine of suspension and excommunication, to make any conceived prayers before or after their Sermons, suspending, and excommunicating them if they doe it; ounparalleld impiety! o atheisticall Novelty! Wee know that Moses, David, Salomon, Ezra, Ieremiah, Daniell, with the Saints and Prophets in the old Testament used conceived, but no set formes of prayer, that we read of, the like did Christ and his Apostles in the New T…stament; prayer being a speciall gift of Gods Spirit, given to all his children, upon all their severall necessities and occasi…ns. 1 Kings 8. 38. 45. 49. 54. Neh. 1. 6. 11. Ps. 102. 7. Ps. 141. 2 Ezeh. 12. 10, 11. Acts 1. 14. c. 6. 4. c. 10. 31. c. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 5 Phil. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 11. Col. 4. 2 Iam. 5. 15. 16. Ephes. 6. 18. Rom. 8. 15. 26, 27. Iude 20. Thus did the Ministers & Preachers of Gods Word in Iustin Martyrs and Tertullians dayes, (as appeares by both their … ) both … and after their Sermons & love-feastes: Thus did the Fa…ers, as appeares b… th…ir works; & the Primitive Christians and Martyrs vponupon all occ…sions, as Ecclesiasticall Historians …. Thus did our Martyrs of old witnes M. Fox his Acts and M…uments. Yea, Archbishop Sandes of Yorke, be…ore & after his Sermons; & B. Pilkington of Durham before and after his Sermons on Nehemiah, Obadiah, &c. with other of our Bishops used conceived Pray…rs o… different for…es, according to the variety of their Texts, & the … occasions; wh…ch the… published in print, for others imitation. Thus have all our Ministers, generally done in all ages and places, especially from the beginning of reformation to this present, till a ge…eration of upstart unpraying Lordly Pre…ates and lasy Docto…s, p. 86(who know not how to pray, or mak a conceived prayer out of their owne heades and hearts upon any occasion, no more then a child that is newly borne,) have cryed downe all extemporary conceived Prayers, (as well as studied Sermons and frequent preaching,) endevoring utterly to extinguish this most heavenly gift of Prayer, not only in all private Christians, but also in all those godly Ministers whom God hath endowed with this eminent faculty, by confining them only to the very words of the Canon; which are no more a prayet then the Creed or ten Commandements, (which many ignorant people mumble over, as good prayers) and hath made many great Doctors unable for to pray without the helpe of a Common-prayer booke, upon any urgent occasion. For proofe whereof, I shall instance only in two late examples. When the Earle of Castle haven was to bee beheaded, there came two great learned Deanes & Doctors of Divinity, to his lodging, to pray with him before his death. Where calling for A Common-Prayer Booke they read over the Letanie to him, (which was all the Prayers (they could make) and so concluded their deuotions. The Earle much grieved and discontented therewith, brake forth into these speeches. Alas, what doe these Doctors meane to trouble themselves, or mee, in praying to God, to deliver me, from lightning and tempest, from plague, pestilence and famine, from battle and murther, and from sudden death, who am now presently to die and lose my head? Or, what doth their praying, to preserve all that travell by land or by water, all women laboring with child, all sicke persons and young children, &c. concerne either me or my present condition, who am now ready to perish and bee destroyed? Miserable comforters are p. 87they. This hee spake with teares in his eyes; and there upon desired the company there present with him to goe with him from these Deanes into another roome, where hee made such an heavenly fervent extemporary Prayer, pertinent to his present dying condition, as ravished all the Auditours, and drew rivers of teares both from their eyes and hearts, which these nonpraying Doctors Letany could not doe. When the honorable religious Lord Veere some two yeares since, was sodainely strucke with death arrow at Sr. Henry V…ne his table at White-hall, as he sate at dinner, and caried from thence into a with-drawing chamber adioyning where he dyed, a grand Dr. of Diuinity (one of his Majesties Chapplaines being there present, was upon this unexpected occasion desired to kneele and pray with the company. The Dr. Hereupon calls for a Commonprayer-booke, and answer being madde that there was none present; he replied, that he could not pray without a Booke. Whereupon a Knight there present tooke him by the gowne, and forced him to kneele downe telling him, that my Lord was dying, and he must needes say some prayer or other; vponupon this he begins Pater noster, for other prayer could he none: Which the Knight hearing, bads him hold his peace, for my Lord was dead, and he was but a dead Divine. Who knew not how to pray. Such woodden Doctors & Prelates have we now adayes, that know not how to pray upon any sodaine occasion; because (like little children) they ever confine themselves to a set forme of prayer, proceeding neither from their heads nor hearts but their lips only, which every Schoole-boy can read with as much devotion, as they. So vnlike are they to our Saviour Christ and his Apostles, p. 76who who were able to pray ex tempore, with all mann…r of supplications, and prayers upon all occasions, and would have all Ministers and priuate Christians, to be thus able too. Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Tim. 2. 1, 28. Phil, 4. 6. 1. Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 14.

24. Finally, our Saviour Christ whiles he was on earth, suspended, silenced, deprived, censured, imprisoned, and close imprisoned no Ministers or Christians, whiles he was on earth: (yea, he was so farre from this, that he was anoynted and sent by the spirit of the Lord God, to binde up the broken-hearted, to proclaime liberty to the captiues and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Isay. 61. But Lord Prelates silence, suspend, deprive, censure, imprison, and close imprison both Ministers and good Christians at their pleasures; but never binde up the broken-hearted, or proclaime liberty to the Captiues, or the opening of the prison to them that are bound, Take him Iaylor. Catch him Pursuiuant; Away with him to the Fleet, the Clinke or Gate-house; I set a thousand pounde fins upon his head; &c. bring their vsuall mercy, language, & Lordly tone. Christ had no Prisons, Counters, Gate-houses, Cole houses, to imprison and mue up Christians or Ministers in, for discharging a good consciences, or obeying God rather then men, or refusing to take an vnlawfull ex officio Oath: No consistory or High-commission to conuent men in, no visitation or ex officio Oaths Articles, Procurations, Dispensations, Tot-quots, Licenses to preach or keepe schoole; No Deanes, Archdeacons, Vicars generall, Chancellours, Commissaries, Surrogates, Officials, Registers, Pursuiuants. Apparitors, Informers, but only 12. preaching Disciples attending on him. Lord Prelates have all and every of p. 89these, and would not thinke themselves Bishop without them. Christ thought his written word & precepts, sufficient to gouerne and instruct his Church, to the end of the world, without any Prelates Canons. Math. 28. 19. 20. Lord Prelates thinke not so, but deeme their owne Canons and Injunctions without his word, the only lawes whereby to governe and direct the Church. Christ was persecuted, imprisoned, scoffed at, crucified by the high Priests, and yet prayed for his enemies, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps Ephes. 4. 32. 1. Pet. 2. 21, 23. Luke 23, 24. Lord Prelates are not thus persecuted, imprisoned, scoffed at, and crucified, but persecute, imprison, scoffe at, crucify, and burne others for Christs sake; and insteede of following Christs foot-steps in praying for their enemies, they excommunicate, banne, curse, anathematize them to the very pit of Hell, with Bell Booke and Candle, and sometimes offer this vnchristian violence to their very ashes, bones, and v…ines; as our Booke of Martires manifests. Since therefore Lord Prelates in these and infinite other particulars are so contrary opposite, & vnlike to our Saviour Iesus Christ, I may safely conclude them to be none of his institution, Sonnes, or followers: For hee that is truly Christs, and saith that he abideth in him, ought himselfe also to walke even as Christ walked 1. Iohn. 2. 6. But Lord Prelates walked but directly contrary to him in all these particulars: Therefore they are none of his, and abide not in him what euer vaunts they make to the contrary: And if they be none of Christs institution, Sonnes, Disciples or followers, then certainely none of his Apostles (the next thing I shall succinctly illustrate.