A Quench-Coal, Inquiry 2 · Part 5

A Quench-Coal · Inquiry 2 · Part 5

p. 288The fift Reason.

The fift reason, is that I find in the learned and reverend Prelate, Dr. Thomas Morton Bishop of Durham, in his Institution of the Sacrament. Edit. 2. London 1635. l. 6. c. 5. Sect. 15. p. 463. where I reade thus. The like difference may be discerned between your maner of reverence in bowing towards the Altar for Adoration of the Eucharist only, & ours in bowing, as well when there is no Eucharist on the Table, as when there is, which is not to the Table of the Lord, but to the Lord of the Table, to testify the Communion of all the faithfull Communicants there at, even as the people of God did, in adoring before the Arke, his footstoole. Ps. 99. 5. and 1. Chor. 28. 2.

p. 289As Daniels bowing at prayer in C…ald…a, looking towards, the temple at Ierusalem, where the Temple of Gods worship was, Dan. 6. 10. And as Dauid would be knowne to have done, Ps. 5. 7. I will worship toward the holy Temple. Which words againe are repeated for failing. Lib. 7. cap. 9. Sect: 2. Pag 551.

I ANSWER.

That I can hardly beleive, that this addition to the second is Bishop Mortons owne, but a tricke of Legerdemaine, thrust in by some other, without his privity, with purpose to blemish this incomparable peece of his, and draw a scandall upon him.

My Reasons are three.

First, because his judgment & practise formerly to my knowledge, hauehave been otherwise in this particular, and likewise in the point of bowing at the naming of Iesus; And not aboue three monthes before this second Edition published, …e writ a letter to Dr. Daniel Featly, wherein he declared his iudgment both against Altars, and placing of Lords Tables Altar-wise, and this Ceremony of bowing to or towards them.

Therefore I cannot belive his judgement and practice so soone altered, unlesse there be such infection in Bishops Rotchets, as to make them all turne-coates, as it hath made most of them.

Secondly, because the phrase and style are different from his savouring rather of some Disciple of Sheldfords, or of Bishop **Iust like his bowing not to the name of Iesus, but to the Sence; Serm. on Phil. 2. 9. 10. 11.Phil 2:9Phil 2:10Phil 2:11Andrewes streine, then his, as the invention, not to the Table, but to the Lord of the Table, &c. evidenceth.

p. 290Thirdly, because it is a contradiction to what himselfe professedly maintaines in other places against the Papists, and in the words immediately foregoing, as appeares by these two particulars:

First, the Bishop in the words immediatly preceding this addition, writes thus:

ccPag. 462That the Table of the Lord anciently stood IN THE MIDST OF THE CHANCLE, so that they might COMPASSE IT ROUND: This he proves in the marge…t by Eusebius Eccles. Hist. l. 10. c. 4. Forecited: By Coccius. Tom. 2. Tract. de Altar; Out of Athanasius in the life of Antonie, who writes thus: Altare, Domini multorum multitudine CIRCUMDATUM. By Chrysostom: l. 6. de Sacerdotio. foreign: where the Preists are said to stād in a circle about the Altar: By Dionysius Areopogita: Ecclesiast. Hierarch. c. 3. Pontifex quidem in MEDIO ALTARI col…ocatur: CIR CUNSTANT autem eum Soli cum Sacerdotibus Ministri Selecti: By Augustine de verbis Domini Sermo. 46. Mensa ipsius est illa in MEDIO constituta: Concluding thus.

These …estimonies verifie the same assertion of Dr., Fulke against Gregory Morton, c. 17. The Table stood so, that men might stand ROUND. ABOUT IT. Then comes in this addition, which begins thus: All this notwithstanding, you are not to thinke that wee doe hereby to oppose the Appellation of Preist & Altar, or yet the new situa…ion thereof in our Church as convenient, and for order more decent, &c. Where the Bishop is made to thwart both himselfe and the Primtive Church, in maintaining the placing of Lords-Tables Altar-wise against the East-end of the Church to be for use as convenient, and for order more decent, then the situation of them in the midst. A thing which the Bishop (who throughout his Booke pleades only for Antiquitie against Popish Noveltie) would never doe. p. 291Since in the very Table of his Booke…, …he hath this Reference: It was so anciently placed as to stand round about it.

And here by the way. I cannot but observe the desperate impudency and sottish…es of the times wherein we live.

Bishop Iewell and Dr. Fulke from the forecited Authorities in Queen Elizabeth dayes, pr…ved and affirmed that Communion-Tables in the primitive Church stood in the Midst of the Quire or Chancle, so as-men might stand round about them.

Bishop Morton here, in his learned Booke, from the same authorities positive affirmes the like, and that in both the authorized Editions of his Booke. The first An. 1631. and the second Edition. Anno 1635.

Yet notwithstanding these learned Prelates judgements in their most judicious eleberate writings, so oft and so newly printed, with publike approbation, Dr. Pocklington in his Sunday no Sabbath, and a nameless Colier in his ddPag. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57.Cole from the Altar (two ridiculous idle Pamphlets) within one yeare after, even by publike license too. must be set up to affront these learned Bishops, together with the Bishop of Lincolnes Letter to the Vicar of Grantham, and all the writers of our Church in this (& other particulars too) that Altars and Lords-Tables stood not in the Midst of the Quire in the primitive Church; And that these authorities these graue Bishops cite to prove it, are impertinent, and no wayes evidence that they contest for.

Good God, what age ever heard of such contradictions and confusions in print at the same time, in the same Church, by men of the same religion, and both by Authority! Certainly, the Licensers of these Bookes, and Prelates that give way to them, deserve to be made examples for it to posterity, for shaming both our Church & our Religion, and making us laughing stockes to all the world, by authorizing such contradictions. p. 292& idle Romish Pamphlets. But to returne to the point.

2ly. The Bishop in the immediate foregoing words writes: (p. 462.) That the Greekes and Latines more rarely called the Table of the Lord an Altar then a Table: Which they would not have done, had Altar, caried in in it, the true and absolute property of an Altar using therein the same liberty as they used to doe in applying the name Altar to Gods people and to a Christian mans faith and heart. And both before and after he shewes: (l. 6. c. 3. p. 417. 418. 419. c. 5. p. 461. 462. 463. 464.) That the Fathers generally call Christ our Altar, placing him as our true Altar only in Heaven, which he proves by Irenaeus: l. 4. c. 34. Nazianzen Orat. 28. Ambrose Com: in Hebr. 10. with other Fathers.

But here in the beginning of this addition he is made to approve both the name, the having use and situation of Altars in our Church, and of Priests too; From which he is so farre:eePag. 361. 462. That in the beginning of this very Section before the addition he writes in this maner: YourffBellarm. l. 1. de Missac. 2. dist. 5. Cardinall his objection is this: That Preist, Altar & Sacrifice are Relatives, and have mutuall unseperable dependance one of each other. So he, and that truely, &c.

But what if wee shall say of this point of Appellations, that it was not so from the beginning, here unto we claime but your owne common confessions. Viz. g That the Apostles did willingly absteine, from the words Sacrifice Sacerdos, & Altar: So your Cardinall & Durantus your great Advocate for the Roman Masse. Whereby they have condemned not only other your Romish disputers, who have sought a proofe of your proper Sacrifice in the word Altar, used by the Apostle Paule, Hebr. 13. But also, themselves, who from S. Luke, Acts. 13. (foreign) concluded a proper Sacrifice. As if the Apostles had both p. 293absteined, and not absteined from the words of Preist and Sacrifice.

And againe, your Iesuite Lorinus; (In Acts. 14. 22. de Sa…erdote. Ab hoc abstinet Novum Testamentum, ut magis proprio antiqui legis Sacrificij & Idolorum, concedo.) The New Testament (saith he) absteined from the word Sacerdos, as from that which is more proper to the Old Testament. So he, vvherefore this and the English word Priest, hauing a different relation, one to a sacrificing Minister, (which is proper to the Old Testament,) the other as it is derived from the word Presbyter, in the New Testrment, which is Senior, and hath no relation to a sacrificing function.

It must follow, that your Disputers seeking to urge the signification of a sacrificing office proper to the Old Testament, for proof of a sacrificing act proper to the New, performe as fond and fruitlesse a labour, as the patching of old vestments with new pieces, whereby the rent is made worse.

But the Apostles did indeed forbeare such tearmes in their speeches concerning Christian vvorship, whereof these your fore-named Disputers can give you a reason; Least that (sayggBellarm. l. 1. de Missa, c. 17. they) the Iewish Priesthood being as yet in force, might seeme by using Iewish Termes to innovate Iewish rit…s. Which is enough to shew, that you are persuaded they absteined from the use of these words for some Reasons.

Thus he and much more against Priests: And against Altars likewise he hath sundrie passages: p. 415. 416. 417. 419. both which this addition allowing, seemes not to be his.

Here againe I cannot but admire, that these tearmes of Priests & Altars thus shunned by the Apostles and denyed by our writers, together with Altars & Sacrifices themselves so notablie refelled by this Bishop both An. 1631. 1…35. should the selfesame yeares by doting Shelford, Widdowes p. 294& Reeve, and this yeare by Dr. Pocklington, and the namelesse Colier be publikely maintained point-blanke against the Bishop; And that they by publike authority should which the Rhemists and Bryelly expound that of Hebr. 13. 10. of a materiall Altar, which this Bishop out of Aqui…as, the Diuines of Colen, Bella…mine himselfe and Est…us, proves, … be ment of it, but only of Christ himselfe, or of the Altar of the Grosse; p. 416. 417.

I feare therefore that this Clause was added by some of those Bishops Chaplains, who licensed these New Pamphlets which point-blanke oppugne the B…shops booke; Or else by some of these New Writers or their Freinds.

These Reasons (I say) enduce me to beleeve, that this is not the Bishops passage. But that which doth must prevaile with me is this,**Fox Acts & Monuments. p. 1781. the sottishnes of the difference, reason and proofes therein alledged, which savours neither of his judgement, learning, nor acurenes; All which I shall now examine.

1. First, the partie here puts a difference betweene Protestants bowing to the Altar and Table, and Papists, which (sayth he) is three fold:

First, in the cause or reason of this bowing: Papists bow towards the Altar only to adore the Eucharist which is on it: Therefore by his owne confession they bow not to or towards the Altar, out of any relation to, or occasion dravvne from the Altar; Though Cardinall Pooles Visito…s in Cambridge enjoyned the Schollers to bow to the ALTAR, as well as to the Hostia in Queen Maries dayes.

But Protestants bow towards the Table, to testify the Communiō of all the fait… full communicants. there…t.

Secondly, in the Object, …apists bow to the Eucharist, Protestants to the Lord of the Table, not to the Table of the Lord.

Thirdly, in the time, Papists bow only when the Eucharist is upon it; Protestants when no Eucharist is thereon.

p. 295The second difference, makes Papists and Protestants bowing both one. For they bow not to the Eucharist, or consecrated bread and wine; (See Bishop Mortons Institution of the Sacrament, l. 7. c. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.) But as they apprehend and, beleeve it to be the very body & bloud of Christ, ye… Christ himselfe both God and man: And so to him which these Protestants termes, the Lord of the Tabl…; Therefore the object of their bowing (at leastwise according to the Papists Doctrine) is both one; And so in this respect no diversity in their genuflexions.

The first and l…st liversity makes Protestants worse then Papists, and that in these respects.

… Prot … make the Table or Altar the partiall, if not totall cause of their bowing to or towards it. Wi…nes the 3. first reasons alledged for this Ceremonie, all drawne from the Table, and M. Shelfords distinction, (See his Sermon of the Church p. 79.) that it is not terminativum cultus, sed MOTIVUM.

But, the Papists have so much piety and religion in them, as neither to make it one or other, bowing towards it, ONLY to adore the Eucharist.

Secondly, the Papists never bow to the Altar or Table but when the Eucharist and Ch…ist himselfe (as they beleeve) is really present on it; At which time both by their Canons and Doctrine they are enjoyned to bow towards it only to adore the Sacrament. A cleare euidence that no part of their bowing is either occasioned by, … or done unto the Altar.

But our Novellers (out stripping the Papists) how to or towards the Table even then when there is no Eucharist on it; When they both know and beleeve that Christ is not there really present neither in his person nor in his ordinances; And when …s neither the Doctrine nor Canons of our Church enjoyne them so to doe. (A plaine euidence that they bow not only or principally to the Lord of the Table, but to the Table p. 296and Altar it selfe;) Therefore their bowing is farre worse, more unreasonable & absurd then the Papists in these two respects.

3ly. The Papists bow thus (Bishop Morton Ibid.) only to adore their breaden God, terminating their worship intentionally only in Christ: But our Novellers make Christ only a stalking horse in this their adoration, bowing not to the Table but to the Lord of the Table: And why so? What to worship or honour him thereby… No such matter; But to testify the Communion of all the faithfull Communicants at the Table; Such a peece of new divinity, as J never read the like, except in some Popish Masse bookes, to witt, Officium beatae Mariae secundum usum sacrum, their Ladies Psalter, Primer, &c. which teach their Proselites, to pray to God to move the Saints to pray to him for them. For who ever read of any immediate bowing and adoration to God, to testify only a communion among men? A bowing to the Lord of the Table, not to terminate it selfe in him, but by and the through him, to signify the Communion of all faithfull Communicants at the Table? VVhat is this but to make Christ and his worship a stalking horse to our brainsick fantasies? to adore them by and through Christ? And to erect a kinde of new worshipping of him, not terminated in him, but given to him for some end, that is, out of him and beyond him.

In this regard therefore this bowing is farre more**Bishop Morton l. throughout. intollerable then the Papists: Theirs being at the most, a relative worship of God by or through the Hostia and our Novellers adoration towards the Table, and their owne fantasies in and through God himselfe, as this reason manifests, which I shall next examine.

And here, first I shall demaund, in what Scripture or authour this reason of bowing to or towards the Lords Table, is to be found, except in this: And what idle head was the first inventour thereof? Certainly, if there be any new thing under the Sunne, (Eccles. 1. 9. 10.) or any thing written of late p. 297that were never heard or thought off before, this reason is it.

Secondly, I shall demaund, where God requires this C… remony in Scripture for any such end as this? And whether he will not be angrie with us, for giving him such a worship as is neither required by him, nor terminated in him.

Thirdly, what authority any man hath to institute any such adoration or Ceremony upon his owne conceite, without asking either God or the King leave to doe it? Fourthly, what thing there is in this our bowing to the Lord of the Table, towards the Table, that can lively and significanly represent … to God or men the Communion of the faithfull Communicants thereat? The rather, because this is no joynt act of all the whole congregation together, but of some particul…rs only, and that severally by themselves.

F…f…ly, how our bowing when there is no communion celebrated, can testify that, which is only really and truely signified by the Communion it selfe?

Sixtly, whether it be not an high presumption in man, to dare of his owne head to institue a Ceremonie or externall gesture, to signify that, which he hath long before particularly ordered to be signified by a Sacrament of his owne institution? (l. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.) Seeing it imports a weaknes & insufficiency in the Sacrament instituted by God himselfe, (and that in bread where many comes, & wine where many grapes are united together) to signify our Communion: l. Cor. 10. 16. 17.

Seventhly, whether this bowing only towards the Table be not one great step towards the adoring of the Eucharist on the Table; And whether these who yeeld to the one, will not easily be drawne to proceed on to the other? And so safest to avoyd the first: for feare of being once taken with the second? which can hardly creep in among us if we withstand the first.

p. 298Eightly, whether God being omniscient, and knowing what was fir…st to advance his glory, reverence, worship and feare, knew not of these reasons produced by them for bowing to Altars and Lords-Tables, when the Scriptures were penned? If not, then he is not omniscient, and so not God. Jf he knew of them then, why did he not record them in Scripture, or prescribe this bowing, as necessary upon these new-coyned reasons? If he knew them, and yet thought them not sufficient upon which to require or prescribe any such vvorship or Ceremony, and therefore passed them both over in silence, vvhy should wee dust and ashes presume to give God a worship, upon such weake principles as were not prevalent enough to move him to require it at our hands, or to cause Christ himselfe or his Apostles to practise it for our imitation?

Wherefore let us …ot make our selves wiser then God, or more carefull of his adoration then himselfe hath been, for feare the reward of all our pragma…icall diligence in this nature, be but that of these who presume to adde to the written word of God, (D…utr. 4. 2. Prov. 30. 6. Rev. 22. 18.) or at least that of the prophet, (Isay, 1. 11. 12.) Who hath required these things at your hands?

I come now in the last place to examine the proofes of Scripture cited for this Ceremony, which being the same J have formerly answered, and all quoted to this purpose by doting Shelford (Se hi… Serm. of Gods house, p. 18. 19. 20.) J shall passe them by; Only affirming thus much, that neither of these Scriptures warrant the reason here alledged for this bowing, or end for which they are cited; For what sense are there in these arguments: The people of God worshipped before the Arke, Daniel prayed towards the Temple, and Dauid to; Therefore Christians ought to bow, not to the Table of the Lord, but the Lord of the Table, to testify the Communion of all the Communicants there at?

p. 299This Logicke and Divinity better beseemes a Colier then a Scholler, a bruite beast then a reverend Prelate; …erefore certainly none of his, but some mans who desired to Father this spurious frenticke passage upon him, to gaine it cred… & applause by his deserved fame, and to cast a scandall & blemish on this his worthy worke.

If therefore it be none of his conception, I hope he will now no longer Father it; If his in truth, (which few Schollers dare or can beleeve) I hope he will now correct it, both for his owne honour and the good of others, the very gros…est oversight of profound Schollers, being apt to pas…e current with Novices, and some times with men of gravity and judgemen, for want of examination or overweaning of the parties worth; As appeares by B…shop Andrews Sermon on Phil. 2. 9. 10. 11. Whose extrauagant reasons and false quotations, to prove the bowing at the name of Iesus a duty of that text, against the unanimous reasons of all Fathers, and expositours before him, but the Rhemists, Sorbenists, & 2 or 3 Iesuites (who never made this bowing a duty of the text, or a thing necessarily thēce inforced;) are so approved, that now all ou… Pulpits, Schooles, & late printed**Shelford, Reeve Rives, Pocklington, Dr. R…ad, Browne, Widdows, Adams, Wren, Page, and I know not how many more, who bring it in by head & shoulders into their Sermons and writings. Pamphlets …ing of nothing else but this his new-invented duty, & r…diculous childish reasons for to prove it, which well examined prove so irrationall and unworthy such a deepe-learned Scholler, that his greatest admirours in other things would blush at them, & disclaim him for ever in them; As the Answer to that Sermon by way of Quaeres, will in part discover to such as shall peruse it.

Having thus examined the Authorities and Reasons produced for this new bowing to Altars and Lords-Tables. I now proceed to the next poynt of the Question propounded; Whether it be a divine adoration, or only a civil worship? A divine adoration certainly it is; Being not done to the Table of the Lord but to the Lord of the Table, paralleled with worshipping towards Gods Temple, worshipping at his foote-stoole, Daniels prayer, &c. And so expresly determined by Mr. Shelford; p. 300(See the Serm: of Gods house, p. 18. 19. 20.) The fore-cited passage fathered on Bishop Morton, **In his devotions, the Prayer, when we are prostrate before the Altar.Mr. Cozens, Mr. Widdowes, Edward Reeve, aud Dr. Duncombe in his Determination, & Dr. Pocklington Suuday no Sabhath, p. 50.

C…ill worship it cannot be, because terminated they say in God, done in Gods owne house and presence, not in any civill but religious respect; Done towards the Altar or Table, not as civill, but as sacred and religions things, to which no civill worship at all is d…e… in any civill respect.

If then it be a divine worship, as they hold i…, it must be either a sincere and genuine worship, or Superstitious: Not the former.

First, because not instituted or prescribed by God in his word, no text so much as intimating, much lesse enjoyning it, nor any one example in the New Testament … it.

Secondly, because never practised by the Patriarches or Prophets in the Old Testament, who never thus bowed to or towards Altars: nor by Christ or his Ap…stes in the new, who never thus inclined their knees or bodies to or towards Lords-Tables, nor yet, for ought we finde, to God himselfe, unlesse it were in prayer only, Mat. 26. 39. Acts 20. 36. c. 21. 5. Ephes. 3. 14. Rom. 4. 10. 11. A thing worthie noting…, taking off all hare-adoration only fo the body, not accompanied with prayer or some so other religious duty.

Thirdly, Altars themselves under the Gospell, abolished by Christs death, are not of divine institution, but contrary to it; Therefore the bowing towards, them, to honour God or worship Christ thereby, is superstitious & unlawfull.

Fourthly, had it been a worship of divine institution, its probable, that the Saints of God in the Apostles dayes, the primitive Church, and all succeeding ages would both have conscionablie and constantly used it; And either fore-commaunded or enforced the observation thereof. But this they have not done. Therefore it is not of divine institution.

p. 301Fi…tly, no divine worship due to God or required by him, is arbitrary to be done or not done at mans election; Neither can it be omitted without mortall sinne; But this is arbitrary at mans election, and may be omitted without mortall sinne, as the stoutest Champions thereof will and must onselfe; Since no bbRom. 4. 15. 1.Rom 4:15Rom 4:1Law of God or man prescribes it as necessary; Therefore it is no divine worship.

Sxitly, no relative worship of God,Iohn 3. 4.John 3:4 in, through, or by reason of any other Creature is of divine institution, there being no pa…t …ne of any such worship in Scripture.

This the Homilie against the Perill of Idolatry plentifully proves. (See B…shop Mortons Institution of the Sacrament, l. 7. throughout; especially c. 8. Sect. 1. p. 547. 548.) But this (and so the bowing at the naming of Iesus) is a relative, not an immediate worship. Therefore not truely divine.

Seventhly, that which the most pious Christians, the most judicious & zealous Protestants in their writings and practise have censured & declined as evill & superstitious; And being only by the most igorant, blinde, superstitious and Popish Persons most practised and contested for, that certainly is not any divine institution, nor any syncere adoration approved by God: But this bowing is such, as the premises, & experience witnesse; Therefore not of divine institution, or any syncere adoration approved by God.

Eightly, that whose cheife, Patrons are inforced to flie to meere forged authorities, and absurd ridiculous reasons of their owne late invention, to justify and maintaine it, that certainly is not truly divine.

Such is this bowing to and towards Altars and Lords-Tables; As the premises testify. Therefore not divine. And so by consequence a meere**See Bish; Mort: Institution of the Sacrament, l. 8. c. 1. p. 557. Col. 2. 18.Col 2:18 superstitious will-worship of mans inuention, which God neither, approves of nor allowes, Isay. 1. 11. 12. And being not of faith it must be sinne, Rom. 14. 23.

All which I desire our new Maisters of Ceremonies to consider p. 302now at last, who perchance have not yet so much as ruminated on this point, but taken up this practise (as most men doe new fashions) without any examination either of its lawfulnes, decency, or conveniency; Contrary to the Apostles rule who adviseth us, (1. Thes. 5. 21. 22.) to prove all things, and to hold fast only that which is good; Abstaining from all appearance of evill; Whith this bowing certainly hath:

First, because it is a new upstart innovation, prescribed by by no Law of God or man.

Secondly, because it tends to erect, countenance and usher in a relative worship of God, in, by and through the Creature.

Thirdly, because it seemes to implie an actuall transubstantiation of the bread and wine into Christs very body, and tends to usher in this doctrine, together with an adoration of the Hostia; and reservation of it on the Altar or Table in a Pix, the maine ends for which it seemes and is now taken up. For as kneeling at the Sacrament, first ushered in adoration of the Sacrament, so this bowing to the Table or Altar, must reuiue it, the true end for which it is now …rged.

Fourthly, because it hardens Papists in their Idolatr…us superstition of adoring the Eucharist, and bowing to Crucifixes, Images, Crosses, condemned by us as most grosse Idolatrie. See the Homilie of the Perill of Idolatrie, Bishop Morton his 7. Booke of the Institution of the Sacrament.

Fiftly, because it gives generall offence and scandall to most, especially those who are pious and judicious.

Sixtly, because it tends to the erection of Altars, Priests and Sacrifices formerly abandoned, and gives Papists occasion not only in words but in writing also to vaunt and hope, that we are now apostatizing and revolting unto Rome againe.

Seventhly, because it advenceth the Table and Altar above the Font, Pulpit, Bible, Chalice, Paten, yea and the consecrated bread and wine, to neither of which any p. 303such genuflexion is given.

Eightly, because there is appearance of superstition and Idolatrie in it, which is or may be committed by it, as probablie as of the Papists adoring of the Eucharist; Upon these grounds therefore, all Christians should renounce it.**Bishop Morton, l. 7. through out, and p. 541. 542. 445.

I come now to the last clause of the Question to inquire how this bowing to,aaOf the Perill of Idolatrie. Bishop Mortons Institution of the Sacrament. l. 7. towards or before the Altar or Table differs either from the Pagans or Papists practise of bowing to or towards Images, Altars, Crucifixes, Crosses & the like, which our Homilies with all our Orthodox writers expresly define to be Idolatrie?

For the Pagan Gentiles, it is evident, that they bowed to or towards their Altars, over or under which the Images or Statues of their Idol-Gods, which they worshipped towards the Altars stood, as the Papists and we have now our Crucifixes standing on or over our Altars either in Arras, Glasse or Mettle, or in some Curious common Prayer-Booke standing on our Altars, only for a dumbe shew, adorned with two or three silver Crucifixes (in stead of Bosses) on the cover, in Imitation of these Pagans. That this of the Pagans is no fable, is evident first by Virgil.

bbAeneid. l. 4. p. 171. 172.Aut ante or a Deum pingues spaciatur ad Aras, &c.

Dicitur ante Aras media inter uumina divum,

Multa Iovem manibus supplex or asse supinis.

ccAeneid. l. 5. p. 213.Iamque dies epulata novem gens omnis & Aris FACTUS HONOS, &c.

ddAeneid. l. 8. p. 279.Hanc Aram luco statuit quae maxima semper

Dicetur nobis, & erit quae maxima semper, &c.

Secondly, by,eeDe Arctitectura, l. 4. c. 5 8. Dr. Raynolds d…ldololat. Romanae Ecclesiae. l. 2. c. 3. Sect. 46. p. 432. Vitruvius, who writing of the structure of Pagan Temples saith: That the Cells wherein the Images, of the Idol-Gods were placed, were built at the East end of the Temple, and that their faces looked westward; But the p. 304Altars ad Orientem versus towards the East (wher… … Novellers situate them:) ut qui … ad A…am … la…es, out sacrificia facientes, spectent ad simulacrum sublimius A a s…um: That so those who came to the Altar to Offer or Sacrifice, might looke toward the Jmage placed over the Altar ipsaque simulachra videantur exorien…a contueri supplicantes & saecrificantes. And might seeme to be…d the Images there set up both when they prayed and sacrificed.

Thirdly, by Clemens, Alex…nd…inus, who writes: That the most ancient. Temples looked towards the West; Vt qui vultu Imaginis tuents stabant ad Orientem verterentur; That so those who stood with their faces towards their Images, might be turned toward the East, when they worshipped: Which that of**Ezech. 8. 16.Ezek 8:16 Ezechi…l concerning the Idolaters of his age, well explaines.

And he brought me into the inner-Court of the Lords-house, and behold at the dore of the Temple of the Lord between the porch and the ALTAR were about 25 men with their bookes toward the Temple of the Lord, and THEIR FACES TOWARD THE EAST, and they worshipped the Sunne TOWARDS THE EAST.

Hence we may clearly discerne; VVhence this custome of placing Altars, worshipping, praying & bowing towards the East (now much contended f…r) had its originall, even from the Heathen Jdolaters worshipping the using Sunne, and placing their Images and Altars at the East end of their Temples, towards which they bowed and looked when they prayed or sacrificed.

De Origine Al…rium.Whence Hospinian writes expresly: At this day most Altars among the P…pists (marke it) are placed in prima Templorum parte, ET VERSUS ORIENTEM SPECTANT, in the forefront of their Churches, and looke toward THE EAST; Quod etiam AB ETHNICIS SUMPSERUNT, which they likewise tooke from the p. 305Et…uickes. For many of the Heathen adored the Sunne for a God, whence in their publicke sacrifices they turned their faces toward th…rising Sunne, &c. Wherefore the Lordin his Law commaunded, that the Sanctum Sanctorum, in which the mercy-seat was placed, should stand not toward the East, but toward the West, least the Israelites should seeme to worship him after the maner of the Ethnickes. VVhichWhich I wish**See his visitation-Articles. Bishop Wren and other who will have the Readers Pew & all other seates so placed, that the Minister and people when they pray, may all looke Eastward towards the Altar or Lords-Table (whereas the Rubricke in the Common-prayer fore-cited enjoynes the Minister to turne his face towards the people) would now at last consider: To avoyd which practise the primitive Christians, (as he there proves at large out of the Authorities quoted by Bishop Iewell, (yea and by Bishop Iewell himself, whom he recites with honour and approbation) placed their Altars and Lords-Tables in the Midst of their Churches or Quires; Out of which our Nouellers & Colier would now remove them to imitate the Papists, and these Idolatrous Ethnickes.

Fourthly, this is apparant by Prudentius:

Iam si sub Aris ad sigillorum ped…

Iaceatis, infra sectilem quercum siti,

Quid esse vobis aestimem proiectitius?

Fif…ly,ggEpist. 49 Quaest. 3. Tom. 2. p. 223. by S. Augustine, who writes, that the Pagan Idols were placed over their Altars honorabili sublimitate, in an honorable sublimity, ut a praecantibus atque immolantibus attendantur, that they may be minded, or looked upon by those that prayed or Sacrificed.

Sixtly, by Horace (in an Image)

hhEpist. l. 2. Epist. 1. p. 276. See Iuvenal. Satyr. 12. 13. p. 115. 119. 121.Praesenti tibi maturos largimur honores

I…r andasque tuum per nomen ponimus Aras.

p. 306Seventhly, by OuidiiFostorum l. 5. p. 88.

Nos quoque tangit honos festis gaudemus & Aris.

Turbaque caelestis ambitiosa sumus.

Eightly, by the expresse testimony of the Scriptures, 2. Chron. 34. 3. 4. In the twelfth years Iosiab began to purge Iudah and Ierusalem from the high places, and the groves and the carued Images, and the molten Images; And they brake down… THE ALTARS of Baalim, and the IMAGES THAT WERE ON HIGH ABOVE THEM, or over them.

Hence we finde Altars and Jmages of the Heathenish & Iewish Idolaters ever coupled together for the most part in Scripture both in point of erection and demolition, as Exod. 34. 13. Ye shall destroy their Altars and breake downe their Images, standing over or about them: So Deutr. 7. 5. c. 12. 3. there are the same words: 2 Kings 11. 18. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal: And brake it downe, his Altars and Images brake they in peeces, 2 Chron. 14. 2. And he tooke away the Altars of the strange Gods and the high places, and brake downe the Jmages, c. 33. 15. And he tooke away the strange Gods, and the Idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the Altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and cast them out of the City, Isay. 17. 7. 1. In that day shall a man looke to his maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the holy one of Israel: And he shall not looke to the Altars, the worke of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groues or the Images. Hose… 10. 1. 2. According to the multitude of the fruite he hath increased the Altars, according to the goodnes of the land they hauehave made goodly Images. He shall breake downe their Altars, he shall spoyle their Images.

So we read that Ahab reared up an Altar for Baal in the house of Baal, 1 Kings, 16. 32. And an Image of Baal p. 307which …horam put away: 2. Kings 3. 2. From all which texts, compared with 2 Chron. 34. 3. 4. it is apparant, that Pagan and Jewish Idolaters had the Images and Statues of their Jdols standing above or over their Altars, towards which they looked and bowed their bodies and kne…s both when they sacrificed and prayed: As is evident by Isay. 17. 7. 8. Exod. 20. 4. 5. c. 23. 24. Levit. 26. 1. Numb. 25. 2. Iosh. 23. 7. 16. Iudg. 2. 17. 19. 1 Kings 19. 18. 2 Kings 5. 18. c. 17. 35. 2 Chron. 25. 14. Isay. 2. 9. Rom. 11. 4. This our famous Dr. Reynolds testifieth and proves at large… De Romanae Ecclesiae Idelolatriae, l. 2. c. 3. Sect. 46. proving likewise that the Altars at Athens dedicated to the unknowen God had an Image over it, Acts. 17. which he manifests from. v. 16. 23. 24. 25. 29.

1. Which being a cleare undenyable truth; I would first know what difference at all there is, between those Idolatrous Pagans, Papists, and our late Innovatours? (See Francis de Croy his three-fold Conformity, part. 1. and Ormered his Pagano-Papismus.) These Ethnickes had Altars: So have the Papists and wee: They had the Images of the Idols, they worshipped in their Temples, and these standing in the East end of their Temples above and over their Altars; And we have the Image of our Saviour on the Crosse (which our Homilies hold unlawfull to be made, much more unlawfull to be sett up in Churches) standing either upon our Altars, or above them, in Tapestrie, or Glasse-windowes, or both, just as have the Papists.

They when they worshipped, prayed or Sacrificed to their Idol-Gods, bowed and turned their faces towards their Altars and Images; So doe the Papists towards their Altars and Crucifixes, and so doe wee: Where then lies the difference? If they replie, that the Paga…s terminated their worship only in their Altars and Images, adored the Altars and Images themselves, not God in, by, or through them.

p. 308Our owne Homilies will take away this euasion both of the Papists and our Novellers, (See the Perill of Idolatrie, part. 3. p. 50.) where we read thus. Furthermore in that they say, they doe not worship their Images (or Altars) as the Gentiles did their Idols (or Altars) but God and the Saints whome the Images (& Altars) doe represent, and therefore that their bowings before Images (& Altars) be not like the Idolatrie of the Gentiles before their Idols (& Altars:) S. Augustine, Lactantius and Clemens doe prove evidently, that by this there answer they be all ONE with the Gentiles Idolaters: The Gentiles (saith S: Augustine. in Psal. 135.) which seeme to be of the purer religion, say: Wee worship not the Images, but by the corporall Image, we doe be hold the Signes of the things we ought to worship. And Lactantius saith: (Instit. l. 2. c. 2, 3.) We feare not the Images, but them after whose likenesse the Images be made, and to whose name they be consecrated.

And Clement saith, that Serpent the devill uttereth these words by the mouth of certaine men; Wee to the honour of the invisible God worship visible Images: Which surely is most false. See how in using the same excuses which the Gentiles Idolaters pretended, they shew themselves to joyne with them in Idolatrie. For notwithstanding this excuse S. Augustine, Clemens & Lactantius prove them Ido-Iaters.

Thus thekkOuid. Fastorum. l. 4. Macrobius Saturn. l. 1. c. 7. Iuvenal: Satyr. 12. Virgil. Aeneid. l. 8. p. 230. l. 11. p: 353. Copa. p. 563. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 16. c. 37. Su…tonij, Caligula. Sect. 13. Tatianus Orat. adv. Graecos. Baruch. 6. 10.Bar 6:10 Homilies; And Dr. Reynolds, De Idolat. Rom. Eccles. l. 2. c. 3. Sect. 86. &c. Dr. Iohn White his way to the Church: Sect. 51. n. 7. 8. p. 207. 208. Bishop Iewell, Bishop Alley, Bishop Abbot, Bishop Usher, Dr. Fulke, Dr. Wille, Dr. Field, and all other of learned writers, in their Tracts concernng Images and their Adoration. out of these and other Fathers.

p. 309VVhere then is the difference between Pagans, Papists, and our late Novellers in these particulars? (To which I may adde the Tapors on our Altars, used by the Pagans, and condemned by our llPart. …. p 50. 51. 75. Par…. 1. p. 38. Francis … Croy his first Conformity, c. 25 Orm… rod. Pag…. no-papismus semb. 37. 123. 124. 125.Homilies and Writers, as Heathenish and Superstitious;) Certainly I can yet finde none. If they replie; That they can only worship before the Altar, Table and Crucifix, but doe not worship the Altar, Table or Crucifix it selfe, as the Pagans and Papists did & doe.

I answer: That as bowing, kneeling, and worshipping before God; Is the same in Scripture phrase, with bowing, kneeling, praying to, and worshipping God himselfe: witnesse, Deut. 26. 10. 1 Sam. 1. 12. 15. 19. 2 Chron. 20. 18. Psal. 2. 27. Ps. 72. 9. Ps. 86. 9. Ps 95. 6. Ps. 96. 9. 15. Ps. 98. 6. 9. Isay. 6. 23. Dā. 6. 10. 11. 26. Mich. 6. 6. Rev. 3. 9 c. 4. 10. 5. 8. c. 7. 10. c. 15. 4. compared with Isay. 45. 23. c. 49. 23. c 60. 1…. Rom. 14. 1…. Hebr. 11. 21. Gen: 24. 26. 4. c. 47. 31. Exod. 4. 31. c. 12. 27. c. 34. 8. 1 Chron. 29. 10. 2. Chron. 7. 3. c. 29, 29, 30. Neh: 8, 6. Ps. 72. 9. with other texts. And as bowing, kneeling and falling downe before men, is all one with bowing, kneeling and falling downe to men; Gen: 49, 8. 1 Sam: 25, 23. 2 Sam: 14, 33 c. 24, 20. 1 Kings 1. 16. 23. 2 Kings 2. 15. Prov: 14. 9. paralleld with Gen: 27. 29. Exod: 11. 8. 1 Kings 2. 9. 1 Chron: 21. 21. So bowing, kneeling, worshipping, or falling downe before or towards Images or Altar, the very same in Scripture language & account, wit… bowing, kneeling, worshipping, or falling downe to Images, or Altars, 2 Caron. 25. 14. Isay. 44. 15. 17. 19. (which Iunius renders, Procumbit CORAM EO:) Dan: 3. 3. 5, 6. Luke 4, 71. If thou therefore wilt fall downe or worship BEFORE me, all those shall be thine; Compared with Exod: 20, 5. Levit. 26. 1. Matth. 4. 9.

This is the resolution of our Homilies, p. 20. and 44. to 75. of William VVraghton in his Rescuer of the Romish p. 310Fox (where this is excellently cleared) and generally of all our Writers against Images, and, mmSee Bishop Morton Institution of the Sacrament, l. 7. and Dr. Reinolds de Idolot. Eccles. Rom.Adoration of the Eucharist, the thing novv clearly a… med at in this Ceremony, as Dr. Heylyn in his late History of the Sabbath intimateth, if not in the Coale too.

This Cloake therefore is to short to cover their nakednes, neither will it serue the turne.

If they say, they have no eye at all at the Altar in this their bowing, nor yet at the Crucifix over it; And that neither of these are the termina…iōs, or total or particular object of their bowing towards them; All which they must affirme and make good to acquit themselves from relatiue worship and Idolatrie.

I answer; That this is but a meere forgery and pretext.

For first, Shelford in his Authorized Booke (Page 19.) faith; That the Altar or Table is motivum cultus; The mouing cause of this their worship & …doration towards it; Therefore certainly it hath some Influence into it, and some share in it.

Secondly, as it is the object that stirs up this worship (for were nnSee the Homily against the Per…ll of … d latrie, part. 3. which argues thus on case of Images.there no Altar or Table, …here would not be any such bowing to to or towards the place where it stands, a plaine evidence that it is both the o…igin…ll cause, if not the object of this worship,) so it is the only visible object to which it is directed, in which it is terminated, their eye, minde, and bodily incuruation being all leuelled at it alone; Else why should they not as well bow toward the Font, Pulpit, or any other part of the Church indifferently, but to and towards it alone; God being everywhere alike present, (as Honorius Augustodunensis formerly shewes,) and no more confined to the Altar or Table, then to any other part of the Church.

Thirdly, it is not terminated objectively in God or Christ, because done to them, only to … the Communion of all the faithfull Communicants at the Table or Altar to which we p. 311bow, as the Passages fatl…red on Bishop Morton (Page 403.) witnesseth: Therefore terminated only in the Table or Altar.

Fourthly, all the reasons produced to appropriate this bowing to or towards the Altar and Table, & to justify the lavvfulnes thereof, are only drawen from the Altar it selfe. The reasons therefore of its use and lawfulnes being drawen only from the Altar and Table; This bowing without question must have relation to them, as its Object & Termination.

Fiftly, the situation of the Tables Altar-wise, and eleuating and raysing the ground in some places higher then before, the gracing of it with Crucifixes, Altarclothes, Arras hangings, Candlestickes, Basons, Cushions and other Massing furniture, the better to induce men to adore and bow unto it, is a stro…g argument in my judgement, that they bow directly to it, making it the immediate object of their bowing, and worship not God, whose presence they now confine to the Altar, and never adore in this maner but in, by, through, on or towards the Altar or Table.

Sixtly, the bowing to it when there is no Sacrament at all on it, nor cause to deeme God specially present at or on it, (See Bishop Mort on, p. 463.) is an invincible argument, that they doe i… to the Table or Altar, and not simplie towards it.

And to put this out of further doubt.

1. First, I have heard many of them confesse, that they doe bow vntounto the Altar.

2. Secondly, J have heard them exhort and perswade others to bow to it.

3. Thirdly, I have heard them preach for bowing not towards but To the Altar and Table; And fevv Sermons have there been of late times either at Court, Paules Crosse, or our Universitie Churches, vvherein there have not been some Passage either to justify, presse, excuse, or persuade the bovving p. 312To Altars & Lords-Tables. If any man thinke this a slaunder, vvhichwhich thousands can vvitnesse, then heare in the last place Bookes printed by Authority, confessing it in direct tearmes.

Giles Widdowes in his Lawlesse kneelesse Schismaticall Puritan, p. 89. printed at Oxford by License An: 1632. And that Popeling Thomas Browne in his Sermon at S. Maries, Oxford 1634. plead not only for Altars and bowing towards them, but for bovving AT & TO them: So that by the judgement of Oxford-Scriblers and Licensers; This bowing is to the Table & Altar.

Mr. Robert Shelford in his 5. Treatises printed by License … Cambridge (to his eternall infamie) p. 17. 18. 19. 20. though in words he minseth the matter; That he would not have them give divine worship to gods Table, but to worship God towards it; Yet he confesseth, that the Altar is motivum cultus, and bids vsus direct our aspect TO it, and bow our bodies towards it; And makes it at least a partiall object of this genuflection. Edward Reeve in his Exposition on the Catechisme in the Common-prayer-Booke is downe-right, for removing Tables Altarwise, and bowing TO them.

If these crack-braind writers have not weight enough; Then heare one since them all, in stead of all. Dr. Iohn Pocklington, a greet learned Dr. of Divinity, late President of a Colledge in Cambridge, Chaplaine to a great Bishop, and that in a Visitation-Sermon (the most prophane and scurrilous ever yet printed, if not preached) entitled Sunday no Sabbath; Licensed by that Apostate William Bray, Chaplaine to the now Archbishop of Canterbury (a great zelot and Precisian, heretofore an earnest preacher against Altars and prophane Sabbath-breakers whiles a Lecturer) March. 15. 1635 and twice printed in the yeare of our Lord 1636. who as in his first Edition, p. 48. seemes to inferre; That the Sacrament can not be consecrated without an Altar; So p. 50. he concludes his Sermon thus: And if we doe not only bend or bow p. 313our body TO his blessed Boorde, or HOLY ALTAR (so he oft times cals it) but fall flat on our faces so soone as ever we approch in sight thereof, what Patriarch, Apostle; blessed Martyr, holy or learned Father would condemne us for it? or rather would not be delighted to see their … so honoured, and their devotion so reverently imitated, and so good care taken to have it continued in the Lords house, on the Lords-day, by the Lords Saints, unto the Lords comming againe.

This bowing therefore being not only towards, but TO the Table, (which is made at least the partiall Termination & Object of it, if not the totall or principall) how it differs from the Pagans or Papists relative worship of Idols, Images, Pictures, Altars, or how it can be excused from impiety and most grosse Jdolatrie (as bad as that of the …aplanders who worship a red cloute upon a sticke, to use the comparison of the I…suite Coster) I cannot possibl…e discerne.**Enchiridion: De Sacraem. Eucharistiae, c 8: …. Decimo…Bis: Morton Institution of the Sacrament, l 7. c. 8. Sect. 2 p. 549.

And that it is the same in all respects with the Papists der…ved from them, set up to reduce us backe to Rome, and harden Papists in their Jdolatrie, give me leave to relate a late story to you. On**An. 1636 Munday, Thursday last, some Citizens of Londō of good quality went with other of their friends to VVhitehall, to see the Ceremonies of the Munday and washing of the poore mens feet: VVhichWhich when they had beheld some of the company desired to see his Majesties Chapple at VVhite-hall: They did so; And in the Chapple found one of the Queens women of their acquaintance at her prayers before the Crucifix: VVho seeing them dravving …eer her, left off her devotions, and came & saluted them. W…s they were vewing the Chapple and talking together, in comes a Gentleman, a Papist, and makes a low Congie to the ground almost, and after that a second, the one to the M…ar… the other to the Crucifix, and so departs. Whereupon one of the Company spake thus to the Popish Gentlewoman … Lord will you never see and give over your most p. 310duplicate page p. 311duplicate page p. 312duplicate page p. 313duplicate page p. 314grosse Idolatrie of worshipping Images, stockes and stones; With other words to like purpose,

The Popish Gentle-woman defended this practise the be… shee could and whiles they were discoursing about it in one side of the Chapple in came Dr. Browne of S. Faithes, then newly made Dea…e of Hereford; and as soone as ever he entred in at the Chapple doore, he bowed 3. seuerall times together downe to the ground to the High Altar, on which he fi…d his eyes; After which coming up into the midst of the Chapple he fixeth his eyes upon the Crucifix, and boweth downe to the ground to it: Which they all beholding & wondring at; Law you now (quoth the Popish Gentle-woman, to the Citizen who discoursed with her) this is done of your owne men, a great Dr. and one of his Majesties owne Chaplaines; See you how he bowed to the Altar and Crucifix, farre lower and oftner then the Popish Gentleman did; And cā you blame that in us which your owne Doctours doe? I tell you, you must and will all come to this ere long. In truth replied the Citizen, you have No…plussed me, J can not tell what to say, I never thought to have seene Dr. Browne doe such an Act as this.

By this time the Dr. was come hard by them, and most of them being his familiar acquaintance, one of them steps to him, and saith O, Mr. Dr. wee little thought to have mett, you here. The Dr. not seeing them before, and knowing that they obserued this his bowing, like one deprehended in the very act of spirituall adultery, wa…ed as pale as ashes, and was in such a perplexity for the present, as if he would have fallen downe dead in the place, having not a word to replie; Which they per… lying, … into some other discourse, that he might recollect his spirit.

This I shortly after received by accident from the parties thee … eye-witnesses of the fact, being people of no meane … it to divers.

What then may we conclude from this, … that we are p. 315now in this particular more Idolatrous and Popish then the Papists themselves, that we have many a Papist mas…ed under… Protestants hood, who are not ashamed to be Papists, but only that they are so soone and sodenly discovered to be such at unawares, and that it is high time for his most Excellent, Majesty our most Gracious Soveraigne Lord King Charles, Defender of our faith and Religion, with all his faithfull Officers and Subjects to looke about them; To prevent these Romish Innovations, Rel…pses and grosse, Back slidings to P…perie in time, (expresly prohibited by his Majesty, both in his royall Declaration before the 39. Article, and concerning the Dissolution of the last Parliament, p. 21. 22. 42.) When as his owne advanced Chaplaines (and I would he had no more such of them but this one) are growen such Popelings, as to commit such notorious Idolatrie in his owne royall Court and Chapple, to the encouraging and confirming of Papists in their most grosse superstition and Idolatrie, and greiving of the Soules of all his true-hearted loyall Subjects, whose love will prove his strongest guard against all those treacherous Romish Ianizaries Ies…ites & Assinates, whose faith is faction, whose very religion is rebellion; whose practise the murthering of mens soules and bodies, especially of Christian Princ…s, as many of our Writers, and the Booke for the 5. of November, (miserablie guelded and corrupted in this very particular in the last impression, 1635. it were worth the inquiring by whom and whose authority, to discover a new n…st of Traytours, at leastwise to our religion, if not our King and State:) at large relate. See Mr. William Tyndall his Practise of Popish Prelates, Obedience of a Christia…man. Dr. Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8. Henry Stalbridge his exhortatiory Epistle, Dr. Iohn White his Defence of the. Way, c. 6. 9. 10. 11.

Since then there is now no ma…eriall sollid justifiable difference at all between the Pagans, Papists, and our Romanizing Novellers bowing to Altars, Images, Crucifixes & Lords-Tables, p. 316as the premises witnesse, needs must we now not only passe lentence against it, but abandon and abhor it, as most gro…e Jdolatrie; Yea as that which no doubt (among other several particulars of our late backsliding to the Church of Rome) hath been one cause ooSee the Homilie of the Time and place of Prayer, The secōd part of the Perill of Idolatrie: The exhortation for the fast: The last great plague.of drawing downe that Plague and Pestilence, which now spreades it selfe every where among us, with these other spirituall & temporall judgements which now we languish under, and are likely to increase upon us to our utter ruine.

And have we not all cause to feare the very extremity of Gods wrath to be powred on us, of which he hath given us visible prognostickes from heaven? I shall name but one of many, upon the 23. day of February last past in Sussex and sundrie places of the Kingdome, from 8, till 9… of the Clocke in the morning there was seen by many persons of good quality (who have testified it under their hands) three Sunnes n…are together (a thing ve…y rare) and at the same time a Raine-bow (such as was never seen the like but once) differing from ordinary Raine-bowes in these 7. remarkable particulars:

1. First, where as all other Raine-bowes are inppIris est inflectio solis in nube. Magyrus Keckerman & others. some watry thick cloud, this was in no cloud at all ou… in the cleare open ayre.

2. Secondly, where as other Raine-bowes are ever in direct opposition to the Sunne, so as he that turnes his face to the bow, turnes his backe on the Sunne, this stood directly South-east in the same quarter that the Sunne the… was.

3. Thirdly, other Raine-bowes are commonly lower then the Sunne, and one end of them seemes almost to touch the earth; This vvas farre higher then the Sunne goes in the Sommer-solstice none being ever seen so high by many degrees.

4. Other Raine-bovves are seen only at a certaine distance, 5. or 6. miles about, and that but one vvay vvhethervvards it p. 317is reflicted; This seemed above 30. miles distance every way.

5. Fiftly, other Raine-bowes continue but a short space, and then vanish: This a full houre from 8. till 9. of the clock, as long as the 3 Sunnes continued.

Sixtly, other Raine-bovves are flit…ing and moue vvith … cloud vvherein they are: This vvas fixed, continuing in the same place a full houre.

Seventhly (vvhichwhich is the strangest of all, principally to be considered) whereas all other Raine-bowes stand with the … downeward in this maner … this appeared all the while with the hornes upward thus… which makes it the more terrible; The bow as all know (and we of this Nation especially who have wonne so many battles by it) is a Military or warlike instrument; Now as long as the backe of their bow is towards the Archer and the hornes from him towards his enemie, it is a Signe of peace and safety, that he hath no intent at all to shoote, hurt, or slay him; But when once the Archer tur…es his bow the contrary way with the …tring and hornes toward himselfe, and the backe of the bow towards his enemie, then its a signe he is angrie and intends to shoote and slay him: The application is obvious, God hath a bow, (a warlike Instrument) as well as man, which Scriptures often mention: (See Ps. 7, 12. Lam. 2. 4. c. 3, 12.) This bow immediately after the flood, when he out of his infinite goodnes entred into a covenant of mercy and peace, with Noah and his posterity, placed in the cloud for a token of this Coveuant between him and the Earth: (See Gen. 9. 13. 14. 15. 16.) And becanse it was a token only of love, grace and peace, he placed it with the hornes downeward, and the backe towards Heaven, to testify and proclaime peace and mercy to the world; Now when God shall thus in a…unusuall miraculous maner invert this bow of his, turning the hornes of it towards Heaven and the backe upon us in such a visible and notorious fashion, that many Counties of the Kingdome at p. 318once might & did take notice of it (though few such serious notice as they should,) what can we thence in all probability conclude; But that we having so long waged warre against Heaven with our prodigious sh…meles manifold open sinnes, (See Ier. 3. 8. 9. Ier. 3. 3.) and so farre broken our covenant and long continued league with God m the … and … of his ordinances, he hath now a resolution to breake off his covenant of peace & of grace with us, and to denounce open warre against us from Heaven; And therefore hath bent his bow, turned the string of it towards Heaven; and the backe of it upon us, and made ready his arrowes upon the string to discharge them against the faces of us his on gracio…s rebels & enem…ies, who proceed to provoke him dayly more and more. Psal. 7. 12. Psal. 11. 2.

And hath not God himselfe (if I may so speake) made this very Comentary on this text and Prodigy? Hath he not shot abrode his (Psal. 95. 5. 6.) Arrows of the Plague and Pestilence among us, and made them in Newcastle, London and other places (where they have wounded thousands to death) even (Ier, 46. 10.) almost drunk… with our bloud? Yet (Isay. 5. 25. c. 9. 12. 17. 31. c. 10. 4.) for all that his anger, (this bow and arrow of his) is not turned away, but still str…t…hed aut and full bent against us: Neither can wee either Imagine or divine when the arrowes of this his pestiferous qui…er wilbe spent, since they fall thicker among us every day, and wee have not yet put on the armes of publike fasting, prayer, humiliation and repentance, (bu… rather of feasting, dancing, masking, playing, chambring, da…lying, and what not,) the only armour of proofe that can ward off their deadly stroke. But when God hath short out this …heefe of Plague Arrowes at us with this bow of his; Shall we then thinke he haith no other arrowes to let flie against us? O! I Cannot but with feare and troubling suspect the contrary.

Never was there any such Raine-bow as this seene before in any age, (for ought I can finde in storie) but one, and that p. 319vvas here in England too, pertending the heaviest woefull dayes and tidings to it, that ever it heard or saw before; For th… Month, time of the day, forme & continuance, it was the same with this, only differing in the day of the month and …pparition of two Sunnes then, whereas now there were three. Which Mr. Fox thus relates (See Acts & Monuments Edit. 1610. p 1333.) and Dr. Hackewell out of him, (See … for the government of the worldy l. 2.) who accounts it one of the strongest prodigies that ever he read off: Upon the… 5. day of February An. 1555. that was seene (saith Fox) within the City of London (where some saw this last sight too) about 9. of the clocke in the fore-noone strong sights. There was seen two Sunnes both shining at once, the one a good pretty way distant from the other (as these 3. now seene were.) it the same time was also seene a Raine-bovv turned contrary, and a great deale higher then hath been a…customed. The common standing of the Raine-bovv is thus…. But this stood this…, with the head dovvneward and the feete as it vvere upvvard. Both these sights vvere seen as vvell at West-minster, in Cheap-side, on the south-side of Paules as in very many other places, and that by a great number of honest men. Also certaine Aldermen went out of the Guld hall to behold the sight: What these prodigies did then protend, the subsequent story of Queen Maries blo…dy unhappy dayes (at large recorded in the Acts & Monument…, and other histories of our ovvne) can vvitnes; And Mr. Fox his marginall Note annexed to this passage (strong sights seene before the comming in of King Philip & Subversion of Religion) can testify.

God forbid J should he so presumptuous as peremptorily to determine that these late Apparitions should bode us any such blacke ominous euents; The piety of our most gracious Soveraigne, his zeale and care for religion, manifested both in his ovvne private practise and in his fore-mentioned Declarations; Together vvith his most admirable clemency, prohibit p. 320me from the very thoughts of any such unluckey Divination. But were it not for this confidence and full persuasion of his Majesties incomparable goodnes, clemency, zeale and love to our Religion, for which all succeeding ages will adore his memorie; And were it not for those many godly Christians of all sorts and rankes of men, which are every where scattered up and downe among us (though many by our Bishops tyranny have beene forced to flie the Realme, & more like to follow) through the open desperate designes and practises of some swaging domine…ing Prelates, who doe what they list on the one hand; And the secret …reacheries of the Iesuites, Priests & Papists on the other hand to undermine our Religion, and ruine both it, Church, State & all else at once are such, and our backslidings toward Rome within these 4 yeares past, so great and manifold, that I should not only feare, but expect the selfesame consequents now, which then ensued. But blessed be our good God, our gracious King is safe (and for ever may he be so) and so our Religion and wee seeme in despite of all the hellish powderplots now prepared to blow up us and it at once; Which Plots being here in part discovered, and layd more fully open in some other new printed Troatises, I doubt not but his most royall Majesty and honourable Lords, (who hitherto (out of State policy and abundant clemency) have convinced all these late dangerous Innovations, the better to discover, and more justly to proceed against the plotters and fomenters of them, sufficiently detected by name in the last Parliaments remonstrance to this purpose) will now at last when the Romish Priests and Projectors are growen so open insolent and notorious, provide a speedy remedy to the eye of all good subjects, to wit, the extirpation of that generation of Vipers, which hath long been gnawing out their owne mothers bowels; The prosperity and florishing of our Religion, Church, State, the diversion of all gods inflicted & menaced judgments, and their owne eternall honour. To p. 371which blessed worke, as I have here contributed my poore … on deavours, so I hope all true English hearts that have … sparlie of loyalty in them to their Soveraigne, love to … Country, or zeale to the established Religion of our … Which in their breast, will now without more delay … most assistance, (it being now high time or …) thus to doe.

… no man say these things stood now upon are but triuiall, … they either are or make way for that which is the maine …. That which Chrysostome writes in a like rase, (See … Cor. 3.) I may truly apply to this: Hoc parum non … Imò vero est fere …tum; Ci…o eum neglectum sit … Parva itaquè nunquam despiciamus, ne in magna in….

It is a true saying of Pope Gregory the first, (See Maral. … 13.) and we have found it experimentally true in these … here debated. Qui modica spernit paulatim … … curare parva negligimus, inseusibiliter seducti, au… … majora perpetiamus. Esus quippe potusque ad Lu… … L…sus (as our playing with Popish novelties, Ceremonies and royes hath done) ad idololatriam traxit: Quia s…in vanitatis culpa nequaquàm cau…è compescitur, ab iniquitate pro… men… incauta deuoratur.

I. shall therefore desire all those who deeme these things …rifles, to ruminate on these two Fathers words; And diligently to consider whether they tend; Then J presume they will change their judgments.

Much more might be sayd concerning these Questions & matters here debated; Bnt this J hope will suffice for the present, I shall therefore close up all with the words of Dr. Edward Chulouer in his Sermon entitled Pauls Peregrinations, delivered at Pauls Crosse Anno 1617. London 1623. p. 316. to 329. Let us now travell from Athens into England, from the world under the Law, to the world under the Gospel, and consider what it is, wherein we are to imitate p. 372these Gentiles; Concerning their Altars, and what it is vvherein we must leave and forsake them. Altars, as they are properly so taken for those on which the typicall or supposed reall Sacrifices were offred, are novv ceased and taken away. Our Saviour vvhen he vvas lifted up upon the Crosse, bad Altars to be beaten dovvne; When he rent the veile of the Temple, the Earth-quake shooke their foundation; VVhen he died, their parts were acted and vvent out. The Papists that they may scrue the Pope farther into the mistery of iniquity, vvill have him maintaine one Lesson, vvhichwhich themselves confesse to be a note of Antichrist, and that is, that Ievvish Ceremonies are not yet ceased, at the least in matters of Sacrifices and Altars. But perhaps they had rather be beholden to the Gentiles for them. For if vve vvould beleive Cardinall Baronius, vve may see their lustrall vvater,Baron. Auval. ann. Dom. 44. and sprinkling of Scpulchres, in Iuvenall sixth Satyre, Lights in Scpulchres, in Suetonius & Octavius, Lamps lighted on Saturday, in Geuecas. 96. Epist. Distribution of Tapers amongst the people, in Macrobius his Saturnals. But more lively may vve see it in their Altars:

1. First,Brush… de Monast. Germano, fol. 129. Virgil. in multiplying the number of them in every Church; God allowes but two Altars to the Temple, and Bruschius reckons 51. in one Church in Vlmes, taking their patterne belike from Venus Temple, of which the Poet; Ubi Templum illi centumque Sabeo thure calent arae: But God teacheth no such Arithmeticke, as to multiply Altars, because Ephraim (saith he) hath made many Altars to sinne, Hos. 8.

2. Secondly, they imitate the Gentiles in dedicating their Altars to such as it is unknowne, or at the least uncertaine if ever any such were in the world, as to S. George, S. Catharine, and S. Christopher, doing no otherwise then did the Romans, who consecrated Altars, Dijs incertis, to their uncertaiue Gods, or these Athenians, who built them p. 373Deo ignoto, to their unknowne God. But we need not much seeke to know whom they follow in these devotions, vvhen as it is a maine Argument urged by Bellarmine, that Altars and Sacrifices were used by the Gentiles, therefore they must still be retained by Christians: I know not vvhat antiquity they pretend, nor vvhat they can finde in the Primitive Church, to prove the lawfulnes of them, we denie not, but that the Fathers might tearme the Table of the Lords supper an Altar:

And that first, in respect of the similitude it hath to the Altar of the Ould Testament, for that on it are placed the Sacraments of Christs body, which before was figuratively offered up by the Priest upon the Altar.

Secondly, because on it vvere laid the Oblations and Offerings, which vvell disposed people vvere vvont to bestovv upon the poore, & this vve vvill grant them; But that there vvere any such Altars in use in the Primitive Church as they pretend vve absolutely deny. VVe have an High Priest (saith the Authour to the Hebrevves) vvho needeth not daily as those Priests to offer Sacrifice, nor that he should offer himselfe as often as the High Priest entreth into the Holy place, every yeare vvith the blood of others, for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the vvorld, but novv once in the end of the vvorld, hath he appeared to put avvay sinne by that Sacrifice himselfe Chap. 9. v. 25. 28.

VVell then, Altars of Stone and Metals are nov**Note. banished the Christian vvorld, by the decree of our Lord Christ Iesus, and herein vve must observe that Precept of our Saviour to his Disciples; Goe not into the vvay of the Gentiles in these things imitate them not; But vvhat doe vve, therefore altogether shunne Altars, & Jmages, & Temples? Jt vvas an old imputation indeed of Celsus & others, against Christians in the Primitive Church, as it is novv of the Romans against us, that vve abandon these p. 374Ceremonies, & relinquish them, to which my answer at this time shalbe no other then what Origen gave Celsus; Celsus affirmes (saith he) that we shune Altars and Images, because he takes it to be the beleife of that invisible & inexplicable Communion we maintaine; When in the meane time he perceives not, that to us the mindes of the just are for Altars & Temples; From which doubtles are sent forth these most sweet odours of Incense, vowes I meane, and Prayers from a pure Conscience: We are not therefore ambitious in mouing Altars, or framing Images, which heretofore have been the Tabernacles of Devils, and C…ges of uncleme Spirits; But rather embrace such living Altars, as one whom we see to burne the true fire of zeale, kindled not by vestall Virgins, but by the Spirit of God.

Let any man (addes that Father) make an inquiry into those Altars which we expound, and compare them with those which Celsus (I will say which the Pope would bring in,) or the Images which are fixt in the mind of them which worship God with Phydias's or Policletus's, or whom he ever men list to select of cunning Artisicers, and he shall plainly see, that these inanimate and sencelesse Colosses shall decay and corrupt with time, whereas these living Sanctuaries shall be immortall, and continue for ever.

Shall we feare (Beloved) least Altars & Images be taken away, or Churches loose somewhat of their Grace and Government.

I must tell you with S. Ambrose, that neither our Prayers nor Sacrifices stand in need of such trimming, the best adorning of Sacraments, is not Tissues & Silke, or embroidered Canopies, or spangled Crucifixes, or painted Poppets, or any the like faceings,**… our … their High Altars note this. Popery sets forth her Altars, more like Pageants then places which favour p. 375of Christs simplicity, but the redeeming of Captions, &c.

But now what should we admire those Altars whose covering our Saviour Christ pronounced to be but untighteous Māmon, or those Cēsers whose metal S. Peter was not ashamed to confesse that he had none … Crie not therefore, Templum Domini, &c. The Temple of the Lord, &c. as did sometimes the Iewes, Ier. 7. Hee is the Temple of the Lord, in whom true faith dwelleth, who is clothed with Iustice as with the vaile of the Tabernacle, in whom not Temperance alone, or Abstinence sing their parts, but in whom the whole set of vertues make a compleat Quire; Wouldest thou therefore like the Gentiles build an Altar, and yet not as did these Athenians to the unknowne God? VVhy, see matter and stuffe prepared to thine hand, the Prophets and Apostles for the foundation, Christ himselfe for the chiefe Corner-stone:

Wouldest thou lay it over with pure & refined metall? VVhy, see the word of God, it is like Gold 7. times purified in the fire.

VVouldst have a Beast to slay? Mortify and kill thy beastly affections, which otherwise would kill thee.

VVantest thou a knife to kill them; Take the Sword of Preaching not into thine hand, but into thy heart, that is, it which is sharp…r then a two-edged sword, & cutteth to the dividing and separating of soule and Spirit.

Are all these things prepared, and lackest thou yet fire to consume them? VVhy zeale must be that fire, without which all these will profit thee nothing.

O beloved! if these were the Sacrifices of the Romanists, or these the Altars of Papisme, I vvould change my speech, and most heartily request you to joyne hands with them, and let the seamelesse coate of Christ to suffer rupture and division no more between us.

p. 376No longer should thy blessed name (sweet Iesus) beare reproach among the uncircumcised infidels for our seperation, but if their Altars be but the Popes Exchequers, and the Priests but like the Publicanes, which sit there at the receit of custome; Goe out of Babylon, let us treate no longer with her upon Articles of agreement.

What Erasmus saith of the Altars of our time, the same verdict**Ad Gulcel. Absasem Apol… S. Bernard gives of the Altars of his time, by the hight of such sumptuous and wonderfull vanities (saith he) men are more incited to offer then to adore. Thus riches are swallowed up by riches, thus mony drawes in mony, because I know not by what meanes (but so it is) where men see most, there are they most willing to give.

On Altars therefore is presented the beautifull portracture of some Saint, and it is thought so much the more holy, by how much the more beautifull. Men runne to kisse it, they are invited to enrich it, and more are astonished at things curious, then inclined to adore things religious; O vanity of vanities, and yet not greater vanity then madnes, the Church abounds in the Walls, and wants in her poore; She cloathes her stones with gold, and leaves her Sonne naked, to the cold, the maintenance of the poore serve to satisfie the eyes of the rich, the curious find matter to delight them, the distressed find no bread to sustaine them.

But are these the devotions which Rome so vaunteth of? Well might S. Austin (in Psalm. 43. 49.) then wish those of his time to forbeare Sacrificing & Altars, if this be all the fruit of them.

Alas! he shewes himselfe farre from alowing such impostures, (saith he) If thou hast a fat Bull, reserve him not for the Altar, as if Iewish or Gentilish Sacrifices were in use, but kill him for the poore, though they cannot drinke the bloud of Goates, yet they cā eate the flesh of Bulls, and he which said unto thee. If I hunger, I will not tell it thee, p. 377will then tell thee I was hungry, and thou gavest me to eate.

But what Altar then would he have us to erect to God? What Sacrifices, thinkes he, ascend best pleasing in his sight? Why, he turnes us to the Psalmist. Offer unto the Lord, the Sacrifice of praise, an humble and a contrite heart shalt thou not dispise.

So then wouldest thou build an Altar? VVhy, the loftiest Altar thou canst build, is a lowly heart: VVouldest thou have something to offer, see an oblation passing the bloud of Goates and Calves, and Sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

VVell might we heare, least God should have required something without us, something in the house that the M…thes had corrupted, something in the Garner, which the Mice or vermine had consumed; Something in the Field, which the Fox or Wolfe had devoured; But he sends us to our selves, and to our immodest Closet, which none but God can unlocke, (saith Austin) thine Altar is thy conscience, offer thereon the Sacrifice of praise.

We are secure, we goe not into Arabia for Frank incense, neither doe we rip up the bowels of the earth for Stories to beautifie our Altars, If Paul could find an Altar abroad; Know. Christians have it at home, within their owne breasts.

If all these Authorities be not sufficient, take but one more for all, past all exception fresh in memory; To wit, the testimony of the reverend learned Prelate D. Thomas Morton Bishop of Durham in his Iustitution of the Sacrament set forth by publike Authority and approbation Anne 1631. and since … Anne 1635. with enlargements. Where L. 6. c. 3. S…ct. 8. p. 416. 417. and c. 5. Sect. 15. p. 463. (if the latter be his Addition) where thus he writes: If furthermore wee speak of the Altar you will have it to be rather on earth below, and to that end you object that Scripture Heb. 13. 10. VVe have an Altar p. 378(saith the Apostle) whereof they have no right to eate, that serve at the Tabernacle; This some of you greedily catch at, for proofe of a proper Sacrifice in the Masse, (See the Rhemists in their Annot. upon the place, & Mr. Breerly in his Booke of the Liturgie, Tract. 3. Sect. 3. Sub. 4.) and are presently repulsed by your Aquinas, expounding the place to signify either his Altar upon the Crosse, or else his body, as his Altar in Heaven; Mentioned Apocal, 8. and called the golden Altar. Aquinas, istud Altare vel est Crux Christi …

If we our selves should tell you, how some one affirmeth, that this Altar, spoken of by … the Apostle… is the body of Christ himselfe in Heaven… upon which and by which all Christians are to… often up their Spirituall Sacrifice of Faith Devotion, Thankfulness Hope and Charity; You would presently answer, that this one cea…ainely is some Lutheran or Calvinist… the words are so contradictory to your R…mish Gatbe not with standing you may find all this in the Antididagma of the Divines of …. Antididagm: … de Miss…, Sacrificie Post … (Habemus Altare) Heb. 13. Et Apoe. 8. (Aure…m Altare) in que & per quod omnes Christiani universa Sacrifitia fid…i devotionis, gratiarum actionis, Spei, & Charitatis De… Patri debent offerre. Atque it a sit ut Christus sit Altare, Sacerdos, & Sacrificium. August. … de …

Besides your Argument drawne from the word Altar, in this Scripture is so feeble and lame a Souldier, that your Cardinall was content to leave it behind him, because many Catholikes (saith he) interpret it otherwise. Bella… Quia non desunt …, qui interpretantur … vel de Cruce, vel de Christo ipso, … L. 1… de Missa. c. 14.

p. 329And indeed, who is of so shallow a braine, as not to discerne notorious conconscionablenesse of your disputers, who confessing that the Apostles in their times did Abstain frō the words Sacrifice, Priest & Altar, doe notwithstāding alledge the word, Altar, in the text to the Hebrews, for proofe of a proper Altar in the Masse. Will you be contented to permit the decision of this point to the judgement of your Jesuite …stius. Estius Comment. in 13. ad Hebr. (Habemus Altare) Thomas Altare his interpretatur C…u…m Christs, …l i…sum Christum, de quo edere, inquit, est fructum passionis percipere, & ipsi tanquam Capiti incorporari. Crucem Christi pr…prie vocari Altare nulla dubitatio est. Vnde Ecelesia …cat A…am, Cru…is Arbitror Expositionem Thoma magis esse Germanam, quam innuit Apostolus cum paulo post dicit (Iesum extra p…rtam passum esse) ire in ara Crucis obiatum; Vt taceam, quod toties in hae Epistola, atqu… ex institute per Antithes…m comparat Sacerdotem ministrantem Tabernacul…, cum Christe … ipsum offerente Cruoem Sane cum nullam facere voluerit mentie…m Sacrific… incruenti nonae legis, non multum verisimile est, eum … aliud agentem, velut ex abrupto noluisse de Sacrifici… incru … Sermonem jungere; Sed potius cruenti in Cruce oblate memoriam ex antedictis remeare hu… pertines quod Corpus Christ in Cruce oblatum, Panis vocatur, fide manducandus. Vt Ioh. 6 P…nis quem …g… dabe.

Hee adhereth to the Jnterpretation of Aquinas, which is that here by Altar is meant the Crosse of Christs sufferings Which hee collecteth out of the text of the Apostle, wher… he saith of the Oblation of Christs Passion, that it was with out the gate, and observeth, for confirmation-sake, that th… Apostle often, of purpose, opposeth the Sacrifice of Chri… upon the Crosse to the bloody Sacrifice of the Old Testa…ment, so farre as never to make mention of the Sacrific… of the New Testrment, So hee, what is, if this be not ou… Protestantiall profession, concerning this word Altar, t… prove it to be taken improperly for the Altar of Christ… p. 330Crosse; And not for your pretended proper Altar of the Masse.

But we are cited to consult with the auncient Fathers be it so, if then we shall demaund where our High-Priest Christ Iesus is, to whom a man in fasting must repaire; Orig…n resolveth us, saying: He is not to be sought here on Earth at all, but in Heaven. Origen Iejunans debes adire Pontificem tnum Christum qui vtiqu… non in terris quaerendus est, sed in Coelis. Et per ipsum debes offerre Hestiam Deo. In Levit. c. 16. Hom. 10.

If a Bishop be so utterly hindred by persecution, that he cannot partake of any Sacramentall Altar on Earth, Gregory Nazianzen will fortifie him, as he did himselfe, saying: I have another Altar in Heaven, whereof these Altars are but Signes; A better Altar to be beholden with the eyes of my mind, there will J offer up my Oblations; Gregor Nazianzen. Si ab his Altaribus me arcebunt, ut aliud habeo, cujus figurae sunt ea, quae nec oculis …ernimus, super quod nec ascia, neo manus aseenda…, nec ullum Artificum instrumentum auditum est, sed mentis totum hec opus est buic quae per contemplationem estabo, in hec gratum immolabe Sacrificium, Oblationes & Holocausta, tanto praestantiora, quanio veri…as ambrā Orat. 28. p. 484.

As great a difference (doubtlesse) as between Signes and things, &c. For your better apprehension of this truth, if you will be pleased to observe that Christ in the time of the first Institution and Celebration of this Sacrament, propounded it, in the place where he with his Disciples, gave it unto them, to be Eaten and Drunken; Then tell us where it was ever knowne, that any Altar was ordained for Eating and Drinking? In Gods Booke we finde Levit. 9. that the Priests themselves were not permitted to eate their Oblation on, but besides the Altar. Neither may you thinke it any Derogation to this Sacrament, that the place whereon it is Celebrated, is not called an Altar of the Lord, p. 331seeing the Spirit of God, by his Apostle hath dignified it with as equivalent Attributes; For the Apostle, as he called this Sacred Banquet purposely, The Supper of the Lord, & the vessel prepared for the Liquid: The Cup of the Lord; So did he name the place whereon it was set: The Table of the Lord, and the contemners thereof, Guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord; And thereupon did denounce the vengeance & Plague, which fell upon prophane Communicants, the judgement of the Lord and all these in one Chapter. 1. Cor. 11.

Thus this learned Bishop point-blanke against Pocklington, Shelford, Reeve & the Colier, who in the point of Altars, and wresting of Hebr. 13. 10. to materiall Altars or Lords-Tables, are more Popish then the very Iesuites and Papists themselves, who as the Bishop here proves, disclaime this most grosse sottish interpretation of the text: I wonder therefore of the strong impudencie of those two Apostates, Bray & Baker, (very zealous Puritans, and eager men heretofore against Altars, Images, bowing to Altars or the name of Jesus, Images, Sacrifices, Sabbathbreaking, &c. but now are hote against them) since Bishops Chaplaines, as eager against them, when they were Lecturers, who dare license such Popish trash, in direct opposition to Bishop Iewell, yea Bishop Morton printed but one yeare before, by publike license; And more I marvell at the carelesnes of their two great Lord Prelates, who permit them thus to doe without controll.

But perchance their Bishops may here be pardoned, because they are so wholly taken up with the world and wordly affaires, belonging not to their functions, that they have no time at all to thinke of God, Religion, or any part of their Episcopall function, & so suffer their Chaplaines to doe what they please; Who deserve a Tiburne-Tippet in stead of a Deanery or Bishopricke (which they gape after) for their p. 332paines, in licensing such Romish Pamphlets, at these in publike affront, not only to the Articles, Homilies, most eminent writers, and establish…d Doctrine of our Church, but even of his Majesties most religious Declarations both before the 39. Articles, and after the last Parliaments dissolution, and the eternall infamie & scandall of our Church, which they cannot expiare with their lives.

Well, how ever they brave it out for the present, a time of reckoning I hope will come ere long, to ease our Church of such viperous Apostates, the mildest tearme, that charity itselfe (if regulated by truth) can give them for their treacherie in setting not only their licenses but names also to such Bookes as these; which act plainly manifests, that having so lōg maintained the Arminian Doctrine of the Apostasie of the Saints, that themselves are both turned Apostates, to make good their Doctrine by practise and example.

But of this enough. Only let me conclude of them & the new English Priests & Altar-Patrons in the words of old Gildas, who thus Caracterizeth them:**De Excidio & Conquest. Brit. Rerum Brit: Script. p. 134. 135. Sacerdotes habet Britania, sed insipientes; quam plurimos Ministros, sed impudentes; Clericos, sed raptores subditos: Pastores, ut dicuntur, sed occisioni animarum lupos paratos; (quippe non commoda plebi providentes sed proprij plenitudinem vontris quaetentes:) Ecclesiae domus habentes, sed turpis lucri gratia eas adeuntes; rar… sacrificantes, & nunquam puro corde inter ALTARIA stantes: Praecepta Christi spernentes, & suas libidines rebus omnibus implere curantes: Sedem Petri Apostoli immundis pedibus usurpantes, sed merito cupiditatis in Iudae traditoris pestilentem Cathedram decidentes: Veritatem pro inimico odientes, ac mendatijs ac si charissimis fratribus faventes: Iustos innopes immanes quasi angues torvis vultibus consicantes, & sceleratos divites absque velo verecundiae respectu sicut coelestos Angelos venerantes, &c.

p. 333Cuius … CARBONE IGNITO DE ALTARI forcipe Cher… advc…o …abia, & Isai…, inundata su…?