A Trial of Private Devotions, Preface · Floating text 1 – Floating text 5

A Trial of Private Devotions · Preface · Floating text 1 – Floating text 5

The Preface.

NOt to intangle our selues with perplexed questions, a… whither all prayers, other then set prayers, and those either the Lords prayer, or the Churches publicke formes ▪ of this Authors priuate formes, bee denyed to Gods people, or Ministers, as vttered from priuate spirits and Ghosts of their owne (they are the words of the Preface) wherein perhaps the Author takes the liberty to bewray his malice, or ignorance, or want of experience of the supply of the spirit of Christ, helping our infirmities in prayer, Rom. 8.26. Phil. 1.19. as not hauing his wits exercised that way: we hauehave occasion giuen in the first place to touch vponupon the second reason of these his houres: the words are, To let the world vnderstand, that they who giuegive it out and accuse vsus here in England to hauehave set vp a new Church, and a new faith, to hauehave abandoned all the ancient formes of piety and deuotion, to hauehave taken away all the religious prayers and exercises of our forefathers, to hauehave despised all the old Ceremonies, and cast behind vsus the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholick Church, &c. Is not here a sound reason, for the bringing in of old Popish Ceremonies and superstitions, and such trumperies into our Church, to the end that Popish mouthes may be stopt, who slander our Church in this behalfe, for antiquating all old Ceremonies, whereof the obseruation of the seuen Canonicall houres, is one? Then, belike we must set vp Popery againe, at least in a good part, onelyonly to appease the clamours of Papists, accusing vsus for Nouelists. But take heed what you doe; for vnlesse you meane thus by degrees to reare vp the whole tower of Babylon again in England, you striue in vaine to stoppe their mouthes, who will hauehave all or none. But in the meane time remember what your Mother the Church of England (if ye be indeed her true bred sonnes) saith, Of such Ceremonies, as be vsed in the Church, and hauehave had their beginning by the institution of man. Some at the first were of godly intent and purpose deuised, and yet at length turned to vanity and superstition: some entred into the Churh by vndiscreet… deuotion, and such a zeale as was without knowledge; and for because they were winked at in the beginning, they grew dayly to more and more abuse, which not onelyonly for their vnprofitablenesse, but also because they hauehave much blinded the people▪ and obscured the glory of God, are worthy to be cut away▪ and quite r…i…cted, &c. Heere consider, whether your seuen Canonicalls be not of the number of those Ceremonies, which hauehave had their beginning by the institution of man▪ by Pope Gregory 9. as we hauehave shewed, and perhaps for a good intent and purpose, yet at length hauehave turned to vanity and superstition, as is manifest both by the doctrine and practise of the Church of Rome; or such, as hauing entred into the Church by vndiscreet deuotion, and zeale without knowledge, and for because winked at in the beginning▪ and growing dayly to more and more abuses, our Church not onelyonly for their vnprofitablenesse, but because of their much blinding of the people, and obscuring Gods glory, hath thought worthy to cut away and cleane reiect. Consider it, I say. For hath, not our Church among many other superstitious ceremonies, quite casheered this of your Canonicall houres? But thereupon she heareth, A nouellist, a setter vp of a new Church, and a new faith, to hauehave abandoned all the ancient formes of piety and deuotion, to hauehave taken away all the religious …xercises and prayers of our forefathers, to hauehave despised all the old Ceremonies &c. But of whom doth our Church heare this? Of the Church of Rome. And can she blame Rome for it? But charity would, or Christian prudence, or I wot not what tender care of her owne reputation, being thus exposed to the obloquy of her enemy, she should salue the wound againe, which the venemous tongue hath made, How? The Authors of this booke, her pregnant young sonnes, though no small babies (I wis) can tell their old Mother, shee must now after threescore yeares and more (seing there is no other remedy) in her old age turne ouer a new leafe, begin to renew her old acquaintance with her stepmother, or elder sister at least, the Church of Rome, intertaine some of her old ceremonies againe as religious, which long agoe she abandoned as superstitious; receiue, reuiue that faith, and religion as the Old, which earst she reiected as the New; thus after shee hath begun, yea so many yeares continued and growne vp to a ripenesse in the spirit, she must with the foolish Church of Galatia be made perfect in the flesh. But we hope better things of our reuerend Mother,Ci…. dese…ectute. that with aged Sophocles, accused by his sonnes of carelesse improuidence in gouerning his family, she will vindicate her wisdome, and motherly authoritie ouer her darling, but ouerdaring sonnes.

As for that other clause▪ of hauing it cast in our dish, that we cast behinde vsus the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholicke Church; which cannot be obiected to our Church, but onelyonly because we allow no more Sacraments, but two (a point not a little materiall, if well weighed) of this we shall hauehave occasion to speake more, when we come to▪ his Sacraments of the Church. OnelyOnly by the way this is a faire inducement to draw on his 7. Sacraments; for otherwise how shall he thereby acquit vsus (forsooth) of the grieuous scandall and imputation, which the Church of Rome layes to our charge, of our reiecting the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholicke Church? As if he should say (as in effect, and almost totidem verbi… he doth say) They charge vsus falsely, in saying that we cast behind vsus the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholicke Church; The Authors owne words in is Preface.alas, silly simples: these men do little else, but bewray their owne infirmities, and hauehave more violence or will, then reason or judgement, for what they say: the common accusations, which out of the abundance of those partiall affectious that transport them the wrong way, they are pleased to bring so frequently against vsus, being but the bare reports of such people, as either doe not, or will not vnderstand vsus, what we are. Doe we cast behind vsus the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholicke Church; Who told you so, I pray you at Rome? No; I would yée well wist it, we hold seuen Sacraments, the same Sacraments that the Church of Rome, Christs Catholick Church holdeth; as shall appeare by good proofe anon. But leaue we his proofe to the fit and proper place, and prosecute we the rest.

His third reason for his 7. Canonicals, is, for the ease of those, whom earnest lets and impediments doe often hinder from being partakers of the publick; here they may hauehave a dayly and deuout order of priuate prayer &c. First what an incongruitie is this, to prescribe th…se his houres to men earnestly imployed in worldly affaires? Indeed the obseruation of these houres is proper (if for any) for such as liue a Monasticall life, Abbey Lubbers, as we say, such as hauehave nothing else to attend, but to be busied with their beads. And againe, for all sorts of persons in our Church, blessed be God, we hauehave plenty of Psalters, and Testaments, wherein they may as profitably (I trow) exercise their vacant houres, as in these consarcinated and new moulded prayers. And in the third place, doth not this new Rubrick of our Author trench & intrude vponupon those formes of prayer both publicke and priuate▪ which by our Church are generally prescribed for all persons in the daily practise of their Deuotions? And are not **In the end of the Preface before the booke of Cō mon prayer.Ministers in particuler admonished to read the Morning and Euening Prayer priuately eueryevery day▪ in case (at least) if hee bee not hindered by his studies, and other imployments of his calling?

Againe, in the same Clause, he glancingly giues a sound by-blow to those, that stand vp in maintaining the quarrell of Gods truth against Popish perturbers, and Pelagian innouators; the continuall and curious disquisition of many vnnecessary questions among vsus, being nothing else, but onelyonly the new seedes, or the old fruits of malite, and by consequence the enemy of godlinesse, and the abatement of true deuotion. This man would willingly fold his hands, and wrap vp all his Deuotion in the mantle of ignorance, the Mother of his Deuotion. Like to the glowo…me, or rotten post, that shines not but in the night, so shines his deuotion, without light, or heat. Or at the best, like a wandring ignis fatuus. And how should the lampe of true Deuotion flame forth and burne in holy feruency of effectuall prayer, if it be not fedde with the oyle of sauing knowledge, being pressed forth more copiously by the ventilation of errours, and dissipation of mysts▪ which would dampe and extinguish all. Nor is he content herewith but this blind Deuotion of his he dare call that true deuotion wherwith God is more delighted, and a good soule more inflamed, then with all the subtilties in the world: when at one dash he interesseth God, as an approuer of his superstitious, and blind Deuotion, and a disallower of his owne fundamentall diuine Truthes, as busy needlesse subtilties, yea as new seedes or old fruits of malice, and as the enemy of Godlinesse, and abatement of true Deuotion.

His last reason is, that this his booke of Canonicall houres, might stirre vp all those, who are coldly affected to the like heauenly dutie of performing their daily Christian deuotions, &c. Thus this man hopes to conuert all England at a cast, and bring them within the circle of his Canonicall houres, wherein they may trauerse and turne round their Beads, as a blind mill-horse in the …ound. Impius ambula… in Circuitu.

As for his exact and compleate Calender of Saints, we omitt it, as too tedious, and fitter for the Almanack-maker to examine. OnelyOnly we cannot but touch vponupon his times, wherein Mariages are not solemnized: as, from Aduent sunday vntill 8. dayes after the Epiphanie: from Septuag. sunday vntill 8. dayes after Easter. From Rogation Sunday vntill Trinity Sunday. All which times summed vp together, according to the computation of his owne Calendar, take vp aboue 19. weekes from the yeare. Now (vnderunder Benedicite be it spoken) where doth Gods sacred word suspend or prohibite any times from sacred & solemne nuptiall rites? I remember it warnes vsus of the perillous times of the last dayes, 1. Tim. 4.1 Tim 4wherein men should giuegive heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Deuils. And what be those? The Apostle there tels vsus, Forbidding of marriage, and abstaining from Meates. Now God blesse the Church of England from such seducing spirits, and Doctrines of Deuils. And is not the prohibiting of marriage for some certaine times in the yeare (and those no small times neither, as incroching vponupon aboue a third part of the yeare) as well as forbidding of marriage to certaine persons, as Priests, a branch (at least) of that very forbidding of marriage, which the Apostle calleth a doctrine of Deuils? And might not the same Church, which prohibited aboue the third part of the yeare, hauehave also, with the allegation of a few more plausible pretences of holinesse, or so, brought all marriages to secke and sue for lic…nces in the Court? Bu… blessed be God, that these prohibited times are not any where set downe either in our booke of Common Prayer, or any other bookes containing the Doctrines of the Church of England, wherevnto Ministers subscribe; least all should either hauehave cause absolutely necessary not to subscribe, or, subscribing to such a Decree, they should proue a very packe of spirits of Frrour, teaching, or at least subscribing to Doctrines of Deuils.

But let vsus heare the Authors reasons, why in such times marriages are not vsually solemnized? Some of these (saith hee) being times of solemne-fasting and abstinence, some, of holy festiuity and ioy. Both fit to be spent in such sacred exercises, without other vnnecessarie auocations. So he. Alas! Neither times of fasting, nor times of feasting, for marriage. Indeed for time of fasting and prayer something may be said; Yet with qualification.

The Apostle saith (speaking to the man and wife) Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, 1. Cor. 7.5.1 Cor 7:5that yee may giuegive your selues to Fasting and Prayer, and come together againe, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. A respect then might be had to fasting and prayer, euen to them that are married. But how? Doth the Apostle inioyne them by some Apostolicke Constitution or Canon, to abstaine for such, or so long a time, vnlesse they will purchase their liberty with a Licence? No such thing. He leaues that to their owne liberty, and referrs it to their mutuall consent, not limiting themselues to any set time, least in the meane time Satan tempt them for their incontinency. Much lesse doth he confine them to mutuall separation ten leauelong weekes together. A shrewd … for Satan haply to worke vponupon. Yea and this ten weekes limitation from … (by the Authors allegation) falls vnhappily (if wee goe according to the course of Natures rules) vponupon the most dangerous … of the ye…re, the Springtime, wherein the blood and spirits are most stirring. But our Authour takes order for that, hee will hauehave them well macerated and mortified, tempered and tamed with Nine wéek…s …. The which had need to be full strictly imposed vponupon young people not married, to discipline and keepe them in order, especially such as hauehave not the gift of continencie, and cannot without danger stay till those ten weeke be expired. And we know, that our Communion Booke alledging the authoritie of the Apostle, saith expresly, That such persons, as hauehave not the gift of continencie might marrie, and keepe themselues vndefiled members of Christs Body; where also no time is limitted, or excluded.

But whatsoeuer our Authour may pretend for the time of solemne fasting and prayer, as not seasonable for marriage: Yet to restraine men from marriage in times of Festiuitie and ioy, may seeme to be verie vnreasonable. For what times fitter for Solemnizing the Rites of Marriage, then times of Festiuitie and ioy? Yea, but the Authour doth not exempt all, fast of festiuall times, but onelyonly such as are Solemne and Sacred, holy times. That's somewhat to the purpose. Holy times. Alas poore Marriage, art thou now become so vncleane, vnholy, as to be shut out from holy times? Thou wast wont to be Honourable among all, and the bed vndefiled; If wee may belieue the Apostle. And our Church calls it; The holy estate of Matrimonie. Yea, and if we may belieue our Authour, and if hee hauehave not forgotten himselfe, he placeth Matrimonie among his Seuen Sacraments. And if it be a Sacrament, is it not holy? And if Holy, is the celebration of it vnsutable for Holy times? But Marriage (it seemeth) is an vnnecessarie auocation, as our Authour termes it. An vnnecessarie auocation? And is it not a necessarie vocation? How then an vnnecessarie auocation? But why should Marriage (if rightly vsed, according to Gods Ordinance) be either a necessarie or vnnecessarie auocation? Was the Marriage in Cana, whereat it pleased CHRIST himselfe to be present, any impediment, or auocation to him from working a gracious Miracle, whereby all the guests had abundant cause and occasion to prayse GOD, and his Disciples especially to belieue more firmly in their MESSIAS? And I pray you, when was this Marriage in Cana? When? Not (I hope) within any of the holy times exempted from Marriage. And least of all within Fourtie dayes of the Passeouer, the Holy time of Lent. Yet if wee may belieue all those that hauehave written and calculated the verie time of that Marriage, they say all with one vnanimous voyce, for the most part, that it was within a little of the Passeouer, or Easter, yea within lesse then 40. or yet twentie dayes. But we hope then, that the married couple had procured a Licence out of the High Priests Court. Alas, they were a poore couple, not able to prouide Wine, as the vsuall manner of the Countrey required, but water onelyonly; and scant of that too: For there were sixe water-pots of Stone, but wanting filling vp: But no Wine at all. And ten shillings, or more, for a Licence, would hauehave said well to the filling of those Pots with Wine, as Wine went in that plentifull Countrey. But neither doe we read, that on any such time, or times, Holy, or Sacred, or call them what you will, were marriages euer prohibited to bee celebrated, no not in that present corrupt state of the Church of the Iewes, where notwithstanding the verie High Priests office was ordinarily bought and sold; enough to hauehave put them to their wits to improue all meanes to scrape vp their disbursments again by hooke and by crooke, by pilling and polling as well the people, as the inferiour Priests. But this particular improuement was not hatched in those dayes, as bad as they were. Antichrist was not yet knowne, not yet ascended out of the Bottomlesse-pit, to bring into the world such a Doctrine of Diuels.

Ob. But it may be obiected, How then is this practise crept into the Church of England?

Answ. It is an easier matter to find which way it crept in, then (it seemeth) how it may be swept out. It lurked among some rubbidge of Romish Reliques, and so escaped shipping away with other of Romes trinkets. Yea, it may well (in my iudgement) be answered, That it is not professed or auowed in the Church of England: but in certaine Courts onelyonly. And it were to be wished, that the Authour with all his Deuotion could perswade those Courts, that forasmuch as the times prohibited for Marriage are holy and sacred, fit for fasting or festiuall ioy, they would by these reasons disswade their Suters from taking Licences, Marriages also being an vnnecessarie auocation, and the like. Thus by putting a difference betweene the times sacred, and common, the Courts may either disswade from Licences for the time, or pully vp such Licences to a higher rate, so putting a pecuniarie mulct vponupon such Delinquents. But a light gaine makes a heauie purse. And Licenciâ sumus omnes deteriores. And Auri sacra fames can easily dispence with the most Sacred times, whether of Fasting, or solemne Festiuitie.

Ob. But though the Ministers of the Church of England find it not as a Decree or Doctrine to subscribe to, yet they conforme to the practise of it. They doe not marrie in any prohibited times without a Licence.

Answ. This is a thing but taken vp of a fashion, as I imagine, and so, practised, as a Tradition, not well thought of. They (I am sure, I) know no more reason or authoritie for this in the expresse Rubricks, or Rules of our ministeriall Order, then either by Tradition; or from the anniuersarie Almanacke, and now at last from our Authours Canonicall Booke of Deuotion. And certainly there is no other law for it, that I know, but the Popes Canon Law. I dare say it is not in all the Common Law of England, nor yet in the Statute Lawes of the Land. And whether the Popes Canon Law bee cancelled in England to be frustrate de iure, at least, though not, de facto, I cannot say. But enough, if not too much, of this matter.

But come wee to the body of the Booke, wherein we purpose not to insist, but to touch vponupon some points and passages lightly, according to the moment of each.

VponUpon the Second Commandement hee glosseth no otherwise, in some particulars, then a Iesuite may safely doe for the defence of Romes Doctrine of the worship of Images. Offenders of the second Commandement (saith he) are they, that make any other Images (to wit of the Creatures) or the likenesse of any thing whatsoeuer (be it of Christ and his Crosse, or be it of his blessed Angels) with an intent to fall downe and worship them. Now a Iesuite with a distinction can easily make this good for his Doctrine, to wit, not to worship those Images with the worship of Latria, nor otherwise simply, but with relation to the Prototype. So that, for ought we know, the Authour implyeth, that some kind of adoration may be either giuen to the Image respectiuely to the Prototype, or at least before the Image, to the Prototype. Againe he saith, They that are worshippers of Idols, or representments of false Gods. This clause is wholly Iesuiticall. See the Doway translation on Exod. 20. where the Iesuites allow none other Images to bee forbidden in the second Commandement, but onelyonly Idols, and those forsooth are (say they) the Images of false Gods. Iust so our Author here. As if Angels or Saints, being worshipped in and by their representations, were not turned into false Gods? Or as if foreign, Idolum & Simúlachrum, an Idol and Image were not all one. See Polyd. Virgil. de Inuent. rerum. Lib. 5. Cap. 13.

Againe, They that are worshippers of Saints Images, and out of a false opinion of promeriting the protection of the blessed Uirgin, or any other Saint of God, doe giuegive a religious adoration to those vsuall representments, which be made of them. Now in all this, he speakes nothing against Poperie, and so all his flourish is but a meere froth, while he would seeme to say something against it. For howsoeuer Popish practise is, yet they teach not that Adoration of Images, or Saints in them, is meritorious. So that the Authour leaues it as granted, that a man may vse Images in their Saint-inuocation, so he account it not meritorious. Thus he is rather for Poperie in this point▪ then against it.

VponUpon the fourth Commandement, he saith, They offend vnderunder a pretence of seruing God more st…tly, then others (especially for hearing, and meditating of Sermons) doe by their Fasts, and certaine Iudaizing obseruations condemne the ioyfull festiuitie of this high Holy-day, which the Church allowes as well for the necessarie recreation of the body in due time, as for Spirituall exercises of the Soule. Here we come more plainly to discerne the Wolfe in the Sheeps skinne, or in the Sheepherds cloke. For here he breakes down a gap, and whistles out the Sheepe, that straying, hee may deuoure them. Yea in this speech, he goes about to set open the verie Flood-gate of all profuse prophanesse. First, All truly religious and conscionable seruing of GOD he makes to be but a pretence, Hypocrisie and dissimulation. But the maine marke his enuie and malice shootes at, is, especially, Hearing and meditating of Sermons. By this verie speech, a man that neuer saw nor knew the Authour, may easily conclude, whether he be a Resident vponupon his Cure, or no, a faithfull Sheepherd, or no. Hearing and meditating of Sermons hee cannot away with; they are a burthen vntounto him. These he ranketh with I w…t not what Fast, and some certaine (but vncertaine what) Iudaizing obseruations. But the worst is, that by such exercises, as hearing and meditating of Sermons especially, such persons condemne the ioyfull festiuity of this high and holy day, which the Church allowes as well for the necessary recreation of the body, as the spirituall exercises of the soule. Well, yet he acknowledgeth the Sabbath, or Lords day, to bee an High and Holy day. Let him hold him to that. But what be those ioyfull Festiuities of this High and Holy-day? He mentioneth not. But seeing he shuts out none, we may well conclude, hee meaneth all kinde of Festiuity, and iollity, and iouialty, such as hee …e…nes necessary recreations: for example, Rush-bearings, Whitsun-Ales, Morice-dances, setting vp of May-poles, hearing of a play, or seeing of a Maske, or Dicing and Carding, or bowling or bowsing, or whatsoeuer other Glosse the carnall vulgar may make of this vnlimited ioyful Festiuity or necessary recreation. But he saith, that this ioyfull Festiuity the Church allowes. What Church? surely none other (as throughout his whole Booke) but his holy mother Church of Rome. Indeed that Church allowes a most li…entious vnlimited latitude of all such ioyfull Festiuity, and especially on the Lords day, as may feed the humours of the carnall and prophane multitude. That Church indeed reckoneth, hearing and meditating of Sermons, among Iudaizing obseruations. But the Church of God doth not, neuer did allow such ioyfull Festiuity as the Author allowes. … S. Aughstine saith, aaIudei seruillter obseruant diem Sabbati ad luxur…am, ad ebr…etatem: guanto meliù… …emina eorum …nam facerent, quàm eo die in Neome…iis Sa…taren…? Al si… …raties, vt illos dicamus o…serua…e Sabbatū &c. Agu. Tract. 3. …n Iohan.Iudaei, &c The Iewes do seruilely obserue the Sabbath day to luxury, and drunkennesse: how much better were it for their women to spin wooll, and vponupon that day in their New-Moones to dance? Farre be it my brethren, that we should say, they keepe the Sabbath. And againe,bbSermo. 95. de T…mp. tom. 10. Qui in obseruatione Sabbati, &c. They who keeping the Sabbath doe not continue in good workes and prayer, which is to sanctifie the Sabbath (and sanctification is, where the holy Ghost is) are like to those little Flies, ingendred in the mud, which disquitted the Egyptians. And De Consensu Euang. lib. 2. cap. 77. speaking of that flight in winter, and on the Sabbath day, mentioned Luke 21. by Winter he vnderstands the Cares of this life, and by the Sabbath, surfeiting and drunkennesse, (agreeable to Christs admonition, ver. 34.) Quod malum Sabbati nomine, &c. Which euill is therefore signified by the name of the Sabbath, because this was, as now it is, the impious custome of the Iewes vponupon that day to flow in delights, (all one with our Authors ioyfull Festiuitie, or necessary recreation) while they were ignorant of the spirituall Sabbath. And de Genesi contra Manichaeos, lib. 1. Iudaei carnaliter obseruando, Sabbatum non nouerunt. The Iewes by keeping the Sabbath carnally, knew not the Sabbath. But our Author allowes of ioyfull Festiuity, and necessary recreations, in their due time onelyonly; not in time of diuine seruice. Neither did the Iewes omit their diuine seruice in their Synagogues, both Ma…ins and Euen…ong. And yet spending the rest of the day afterwards in such ioyfull Festiuity as the Author allowes, as done in due time: S. Augustine cals them prophane and impious, and that they might better spend the rest of the day in spinning. For the worke of a mans honest and lawfull calling is at all times to be preferred before the workes of the Diuell, that come not within the compasse of any Christian mans Calling, being renounced and disavowed in our Baptisme.

And because the sanctification of the Lords day is so mightily impugned and cryed downe, not onelyonly by such Ministers of Sathan as are Popishly affect…d, by their precept and precedent, by the prophane rabble rout, especially in those places, where there is not a settled Ministry of the word: Let me adde a word or two more in Gods cause, that we may not so easily suffer prophane wretches, like swine to trample the Orient pearle of Gods glory (so prophaned on his owne day) in the mire▪ S. Augustine saith againe,Aug. Epist. 86. Casi…lano Prasbytero. Pr…ponitur Dies Dominicus &c. The Lords day is preferred befode the Iewes Sabbath, in the faith of the Resurrection, and not in the fashion of Refection … in the Licentiousnesse of drunken Songs, And ibid▪ It is questioned, whither a man must not fast on the Sabbath, but▪ not, whither he must not reuell it on the Sabbath which neither is done on the Lords day, of those, that feare God▪ although they fast on that day. And deuout Bernard: Obserue the Sabbath, Sermo super salue Regina.which is, to exercise thy selfe, in the Holy-dayes, so as by the R…st present, thou mayest learne to hope for that which is eternall. And that a prophane person may not flatter himselfe, as though his voluptuous keeping of the Sabbath, may teach him to hope for those eternall and true ioyes in heauen: Heare the same Bernard, or rather Gillibert, whose Sermons are added to fill vp Bernards vponupon the Canticles, inserted in Bernards workes: where mentioning Esay 58. hee saith, Non dicit, &c. He saith not onelyonly, that the Sabbath is a Delight, but he addeth, And Holy and Glorious to the Lord, that these things may not bee in the confusion of thy Glory. Non sit desidiosum Sabbatum tuum, operare in Sabbato tuo opera Dei. Let not thy Sabbath bee idly spent, Domini Resurrectio promisit nobis …ternum diem et consecraui… nobis Dominicum diem. De …erbis Apost. ser. 15but in thy Sabbath worke the workes of God. Opus Dei in die si…o. And surely the Lords day is not called so for nought. If it be Christs day, sanctified and founded in his Resurrection, as S. Augustine saith: then what workes are proper for that day, whereby it may bee sanctified of vsus, and wee of it, but such as are the fruits of those that are risen with Christ from the graue of sin, to newnesse of life, and not those, which with the swin… would lead vsus backe to our wallowing in the mire? And is not the hearing and meditating of Sermons, a speciall part of the sanctification of the Lords day? How come we to be sanctified, but by the word of God? Sanctify them with thy truth, thy word is the truth saith Christ. And as we noted before, that Deuotion is blind, whose lampe is emptie of oyle to supply the light. A plaine argument that the Authors whole booke of Deuotion is but a meere counterfeit. And to inuy or inueigh against the due sanctification of the Lords day, what is it but to raze the very foundation, whereon all true religion is built? To heare Sermons, and not to meditate of them, is to receiue water into a Sieue: to be an vncleane creature, that chowes not the cudde: to receiue the seed vponupon the highway side: Math 13▪Matt 13where it being vnharrowed, and vncouered, is, by the fowles of the ayre, that fowle spirit, that raignes in the ayre, and in the vnsetled hearts of aery and windy braines, to be deuoured. The Lords day is the Esa. 55, 1, 2.3.Isa 55:1Isa 55:2Isa 55:3Marketday of our foules. He that stands idle in the marketplace, is justly reproued. Or he that buyes those spirituall commodities needfull for his soule, in hearing of the word, and goes presently and squanders it away, and brings it not home to dispose of it for his weekely vses, is an vnprouident housekeeper, a prodigall vnthrift of grace, because he heares not for afterwards, Esa. 42.23.Isa 42:23for the time to come. Such are they, that either are carelesse of hearing the Word, or when they hauehave heard, goe and dance it away about the May-pole, or walke and talke it away in idle prate, or any kind of prophane or profuse recreation. Those are like the Wolfe, who neuer attaine to any more learning of God, then to spell Pater: but when they should come to put together, and to apply it to their soules, in stead of Pater, they say, Agnus, their mindes and affections running a madding after the profits and pleasures of the world. Such are enemies to all Godlinesse, and expresse their enmitie in nothing more, then in their pro…anation of the Lords Holy-Day. If any man would know of … estate and condition of any Parish in generall in … Land, whether it bee religious or no, let him bu… … quire what conscience they make of the due sanctification of the Lords day. That's the true touchstone of a truely religious man. And although all are not that sincerely, whereof they make outward profession, (for there will euer be some hypocrites among sound Professors) yet none can be a true and sound Christian, who makes not speciall conscience of a religious and sober keeping of the Lords day. For this day well kept, sanctifies to a man the whole weeke. The seuenth day sanctifieth our six, as the tenth of our goods doth all the other nine. As Elias his meate made him strong to trauell forty dayes, and forty nights, to Hor…b… so the hearing and meditating of sound Sermons on the Lords day, ministers strength to our soules to serue God all the weeke in our particular Callings. But I may not transgresse the bounds of my proposed breuity.

For Conclusion of the Commandements; among other offenders against the sixt Commandement, he reckoneth those, that be sowers of strife and sedition among any men whatsoeuer, Now how farre the Author is guilty hereof, or whether he may not merit to be put in the forefront with the most grand Authors of strife and sedition, not onelyonly to set priuate men together by the eares, but the whole Church and state of England in a most fearefull hurly-burly and combustion, I referre to all wise men to judge, that doe but read this most **As I told my reuerend Ordinary, whē I was called before him the second time of my Examination about Is…aels Fast.pernitious, pestilent, and Popish Booke.

As it followeth: Of the Sacraments of the Church. What Sacraments, trow we, are these. The Sacraments of the Church? This is written, I am sure fiylo …. This title is no where learned, but from the Church of Rome, from the Councell of Trent, and from the shop of Iesuiticall Catechists. He learned not this of his Mother Church of England (if so he account her his Mother, and not rather that other Church, to which he intitles his Sacraments) for the Church of England sets downe the title simply. Of the Sacraments, saying also, Sacraments ordained of Christ. Attic. … ▪So that she intitles the Sacraments vntounto Christ, the sole Author of them.

But let vsus heare what those Sacraments of the Church be, or how many? Namely, Two and Fiue: which put together (as eueryevery Arithmetician can tell) make seuen. Now England thou art come to thy seuen Sacraments againe. This eueryevery Papist can now bragge off. And hauehave they not reason? for there is more in it, then the bringing of vsus backe to the seuen Sacraments againe: he would hereby knit vsus fast againe to be one Church with the Church of Rome. For these seuen Sacraments he calls the Sacraments o… the Church. O… what Church? surely no Church euer held seuen Sacraments, but the Church of Rome; nor doe I read of seuen Sacraments, be…ore Peter Lombard set them downe. All the ancient Fathers knew but two. Saint Ambrose writing six bookes of the Sacraments, could find but two. The Cathol. Tradition q. 20. P. 119.Greeke Church neuer held but two; yet, saith our Author, the Church holdeth them, yea the Catholicke Church of Christ, as before in his Preface. Whereupon here he concludes, that the Church of Rome is Christs Catholick… Church. For the Sacraments of the Church, and of Christs Catholicke Church, being seuen: and no Church euer holding seuen Sacraments, but the Church of Rome, and that of late dayes too: it followeth necessarily, that the Church of Rome must be The Church, yea the Catholicke Church of Christ. But how will …e proue, that the Church of England holdes these seuen Sacraments?In his Preface in the 2. reason. Because she hath not despised nor cast behind her the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catholicke Church. How proues he that? Namely out of the Catechisme of the Sacraments, and out of the 25. Article, which hee hath alledged in the Margent. Now let vsus for more cleernesse compare his proofes with his owne text.

The Authors words.

The Sacraments of the Church.

The principall and truely so called (as generally necessary to saluation) are Baptisme, and the Lords Supper.

The Catechisme.

Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church?

Ans. Two onelyonly, as generally necessary to saluation, that is to say, Baptisme, and the Supper of the Lord.

Article. 25. Of the Sacraments.

Sacraments, ordained of Christ, bee not onelyonly badges or tokens of Christian mens profession: but rather they be certaine witnesses and effectuall signes of grace and Gods goodwill towards vsus, by the which hee doth worke inuisibly in vsus, and doth not onelyonly quicken, but also strengthen and confirme our faith in him.

Let the judicious reader but well obserue, and compare the Church of Englands doctrine of the Sacraments, with this our Authors, and he shall find the differen…e to stand vponupon tearmes mainely opposit. For first, is it all one to say, The Sacraments of the Church: and, the Sacraments which Christ hath ordained in his Church? And betweene the Church, that which the Author expresly meaneth▪ and Christs Church, His Church, there is (I wis) no small difference. Againe, The principall, saith our Author; implying, there are other besides: but, Two onelyonly, saith the Church of England, excluding all other. And as for the words of the Article, cited, they so set downe the nature of the Sacraments, as that they exclude all other Sacraments, from hauing any fellowship with them. And therefore hath the Author cautelously suppressed the definition of a Sacrament.

But yet hee findes fiue other Sacraments, following in the Article, which he quotes ouer against his fiue in the Margent. Let vsus therefore paralell them.

The Authors words.

The other fiue, that is to say; Confirmation, Penitence, Orders, Matrimony, Uisitation of the sicke, or extreame Unction; though they bée sometimes called, and hauehave the name of Sacraments, yet hauehave they not the like nature, the two principall & true Sacraments hauehave.

Article 25. Ibid.

Those fiue, commonly called Sacraments, that is to say; Confirmation. Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extreme Vnction, are not to bee counted for Sacraments of the Gospell, being such as hauehave growne partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scripture: but yet hauehave not like nature of Sacraments with Baptisme and the Lords Supper, for that they hauehave not any visible signe or Ceremony ordained of God.

Note here the vast difference betweene the sincerity of our Church, and the egregious sophistry of this our Author. Those fiue, saith the one, as pointing to those which now the Church of England in the beginning of the blessed Queenes Raigne (newly then purged from Popery, as in 1562, when those Articles were compiled) had cut off from the number of the Sacraments, although those fiue were euen then in high esteeme still with too many, not yet powred from their Le…s: but the Author comes roundly with, the other fiue, inducing necessarily Seuen Sacraments of the Church, Two, and, the other fiue. His Conclusion is this in effect, and forme: We hold the Sacraments of the Church: But the Sacraments of the Church are two, and, the other fiue, to wit seuen: Therefore wée hold the seuen Sacraments.

Againe our Church saith, Those fiue, to wit, Confirmation &c. are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gosp…ll: But our Author saith, They are the Sacraments of the Church, and that no lesse then the other; they all tunne vnderunder one title, The Sacraments of the Church. Thirdly, our Church saith, these are such, as hauehave growne partly from the corrupt following of the Apostles: but saith our Author, in his Preface, They are the blessed Sacraments of Christs Catho…icke Church, receiued from our forefathers (a good argument to proue the lineall descent of Popery) so farre is he from say…ng or assenting with the Church of England, that they hauehave growne partly from the corrupt vse of following the Apostles. In a word the Church of England saith, These hauehave not any visible signe, or Ceremo…ie or … of God: but our Author saith no such thing, but in generall shuffling them vp vnderunder the ti…le o… the Sacraments of the Church, he will needs hauehave them to be Sacraments. But Sacraments must hauehave a visible signe ordained of God, or else they are no Sacraments. And these hauehave no visible signe ordained of God, saith our Church. Therefore our Author crosseth the doctrine of our Church expresly. OnelyOnly he confesseth that these, the other fiue hauehave not (in generall) the like nature, that the two principall and true Sacraments hauehave. If in this his speech their lurke no equiuocation (for he may closely meane by The like nature, that these are not generally necessarie to saluation, as the first two) hee must needs inferre that these his other fiue are no true Sacraments; therefore false and bastard Sacraments. And if we take the word Sacrament in the largest sense, as those fiue are, then according to that reckoning, the number of Sacraments will quickly amount from other fiue, to fiue hundreth. For as Saint Chrisostome obserueth, in his 11. Hom. on Luke, Omnia quaecun que fecit Christus. Sacramenta sunt, siue ambulauit, &c. All things, whatsoeuer Christ did, are Sacraments, whither hee walked, or eate, or dranke, or fasted, or wept, &c. All these saith Chrysostome, Sacramenta nostra sunt, they are our Sacraments.

To conclude this point of difference, there is some oddes betweene their naming of these Sacraments: Our Church calls them, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreame vnction: Our Author is pleased to call his fiue, thus, Confirmation, Penitence, Orders, Matrimony, and visitation of the sicke, or Extreme vnction. In two of his fiue hee varies; hee calls Penance, Penitence, and Extreme vnction, he calls, Visitation of the sicke. In which two new names of his new Sacraments there lurkes not a little of Serpentine poyson. For first, he would bring Penitence to be all one with popish Penance. For doth h…e not meane by Penitence, Repentance? I trow so Repentance then hee will make to be Penance, as the …esuites in their Rhemes, and Doway Tra…s…ation turne the word for Repentance, Penance.

Now Penance is a Popish word, and implyeth the Popish practise in this their Sacrament. Their practise is to inioyne Shrift, or Confession, to wit, a strict and exact enumeration of all a mans sins in the eare of the Priest, like the streame of a puddle or kennell, emptying it selfe into a common sinke or Sewer. Hereupon he receiues his Absolution, which is a broome to sweepe the kennell, to make it fit for more puddle water, though sweet (I wis) to the Priests palate. For Dulcis odor luchri ex re qualibet, as the Emperour said of his Doung: Gaine smels sweet though is come from a Dunghill. The second of his misnamed Sacraments is, for extreame vnction, visitation of the sicke; all is one with him; Visitation of the sicke, or Extreame vnction, which yee will. So that if our Author doe at any time goe to visit the Sicke (as I feare he doth seldome, at leastwise hio sicke flocke) it happly someone desire his Ghostly father-hood, in cafe when the Priest or Iesuite is not in the way: I hope he carries his annointing or annealling bottle at his girdle, like a carefull Shepheard with his tarre Bot…le.

In the meane time, it would diligently here bee weighed, what a mistery of iniquity is wouen and wrapt vp in these Sacraments of the Church, mentioned by the Author. The summe whereof is, to reduce vsus all, euen the C…urch of England to one Church, the Church of Rome, the onelyonly Church, which maintaineth …, which Church he calleth the Catholic…e Church of Christ. Which summe doth … and naturally …olue it selfe into these particular … conclusion…. First, that the Church of … reformation, and repurga… …, chismaticall Church, as … Church of Rome to be the …, nor her selfe a member of the Romish Church. Secondly, that these being but one Church, and that the Church of Rome, and this Church of Rome hauing but one supreame Byshop, the Pope, and this Pope challenging a supremacie of headship ouer all other Churches, as the Head ouer the Members; and the Church of England being no otherwise distinct from the Church of Rome, but as a member is distinguished (not diuided) from the Head, or as a branch from the Tree, or as a daughter from the Mother: therefore it followeth, that the Pope must be supreame Head of the Church of England. Thirdly, Jf the Pope be supreame Head ouer the Church of England, he comes ouer our gracious Soueraignes Head, and with his foote striketh off his crowne: Fourthly, hereupon it followeth, that the Author, and his Abbetors and Approuers, doe impinge vponupon, and most impiously infringe and violate that sacred and solemne Oath, which eueryevery Deacon, Minister and Bishop doe take at their ordination and consecration; in which they sweare, to renounce, refuse, The Oath of the Kings supremacie, in the booke of Ordering of Deacons.relinquish and forsake the Bishop of Rome, and his authoritie, power and jurisdiction: neuer to consent or agree, that the Bishop of Rome shall practise, exercise or hauehave any manner of authoritie, jurisdiction or power within this Realme, or any other within the Kings Dominions, but shall resist the same at all times to the vttermost of his power: to accept, and repute and take the Kings Maiestie to be the onelyonly supreame Head in earth, of the Church of England: yea to his cunning, wit, and vttermost of his power, without guile, fraud, or other vndue meane, to obserue, keepe, maintaine and defend the whole effects and singular Acts and statutes made, and to be made within this Realme in derogation, extirpation and extinguishment of the Bishop of Rome, and his au…horit…e, …nd all other Acts and …, made or to be made … and corr…boration of the King… pow…r, … this to doe against all manner of persons, of what estat…, dignity or degree, or condition they be, and in no w…se to doe, nor attempt, nor to his power suffer to be done or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things, priuily or apertly, to the let, hinderance, damage or derogation thereof, or any part thereof, by any manner of meanes, or for any manner of pretence: &c. So helpe him God. But our Author (who set him a worke, or subornd and animated him therein, let them looke to it, and let them be well lookt vntounto) contrary to the contents and tenure of this sacred and solemne Oath (which how many times he hath taken, I know not) hath published a booke bearing Authority in the front, wherein this whole Oath is crackt from the top to the bottome; for all along speaking of the Church, one Church, the Catholicke Church of Christ, which hee markes out in all points for the Church of Rome, making and taking it for the Catholicke Church, wherevpon the Pope makes himselfe the sole supreame Head ouer all particular Churches, which acknowledge themselues members of that his Catholicke see: he necessarily not only not renounceth, refuseth, relinquisheth, and forsaketh the Bishop of Rome with his authority, power, and jurisdiction: nor only consenteth and agreeth, that the Bishop of Rome shall practise, exercise or hauehave, authoritie, jurisdiction or power within this Realme, and other the Kings dominions without resisting the same to the vttermost of his power: nor doth accept repute and take the Kings Maiestie to be the only supreame Head on earth, of the Church of England (if this Church be a member of the Church of Rome, as his whole booke mainely driues at, and so the Pope will come in for the best share in the Headship) nor only to his cunning, wit, and vttermost of his power, doth obserue, keepe, maintaine and defend the whole effects and contents of all and singular Acts and statutes made within this Realme, in derogation, extirpation, and extinguishment of the Bishop of Rome, and his authority, and all other Acts and Statute▪ made in reformation and corroboration of the Kings power, of the supreame Head in earth, of the Church of England: but with guile, fraud, cosening, and vndue meane goeth about to defeat and frustrate the same, and to bring in the Popes authoritie againe, by the Head and shoulders: yea, and led no doubt with personall respects to some great ones of some high estate, dignitie, degree, and condition, he and his abbettors partly attempt to his and their power, by such meanes and pretences, as this his booke of priuate Deuotions, a faire pretence to couer a whole packe of villany; and partly suffer to be done and attempted directly and indirectly, not onelyonly priuily but apertly (if not most malapartly past all shame or feare in their audacious daring) the let▪ hinderance, damage and derogation of all the said singular Acts and statutes, for the corroborating of the Kings Maiesties sole supremacie of the Church of England, and for the perpetuall extirpating and extinguishing of all Papall pretence or interest in this Church and State: and therefore the author with his Abbettors, how will they not be found most notorious violators of this most sacred Oath, and so, guilty at least of periury in a high degree? In the fift and last place, it is lest to the wisedome and judgement of his Maiesties learned Councell, and Iudges of the Land, whether thus to go about to bring in Popery and the papacy againe into this state and Church, from which Antichristian religion and Tyranny we hauehave bin through Gods incomparable mercy to this Land now so many yeares deliuered, hauing thus long inioyed the light of the Gospell, attended with all outward blessings of a peaceable and happy Gouernment, till now of late a generation of vipers, eating to themselues away out of their spirituall Mothers bowels, that they may turne tayles▪ and joyne with the great Beast of Babylon against the Lambe and those of his side, the called, and chosen and faithfull, hauehave made a fearefull breach in this beautifull Body, like to be vtterly wracked, if it be not all the sooner made vp againe: Whether to goe about with a high hand to frustrate and make void▪ to violate and breake in sunder all those sacred and religious lawes, which hauehave bin made for the firme establishment of the Gospell (the truth whereof, hath beene sealed with the blood of so many Martyrs, and is and will be witnessed by Millions of faithfull Confes…ours) of his Maiesties Crowne and Scepter, and religious gouernment of vsus his people, and the rest of his Dominions: whether (I say) to go about to bring in a new forme of Papall religion and dominion in this Church and state of England, be not more then matter of periury to cost a mans eares, but of high Treason, and that in a high degree against God and th… King▪ the Church and State. Who would euer hauehave thought, that in this shining of the Gospell, any Romish owles hoodwinckt with the vaile of superstitious Deuotion, durst attempt s…ch things, as the bringing backe of the Church of England to the captiuity of Babylon? What Achitophel du…st counsell all-daring young Absolon, thus to offer to goe lye with his fathers Concubines on the toppe of the house, in the sight of the Sunne, and all Israel? And wherefore? But in Policy, thereby to fasten the fickle false hearts of those traiterous Israelites to the Crowne▪ aspiring Absolon, when they should see him become an open abomination to the King, and be at an vnreconcilable defiance with him. And what made Achitophel so confident, and Absolon to take such wicked counsell, but the great strength, wherein they presumed? But is the Popish faction growne so great and strong, as already to aduance their crest and colours in defiance of Religion and Lawes, and with strong hand to suppresse and beare downe Dauids Kingdome? It should seeme their confidence is arriued at a high pitch. But God bring it downe, as he did that subtil-headed, and shag-haired conspiracie against the King and state. He can send Achitophel to his halter, and Absolon to his fatall Tree. He can? Nay assuredly he will. For,Psal. 50.Ps 50 as Dauid saith, The wicked and blood thirsty men shall not liue out halfe their dayes; but my trust shall be in thee, O Lord. And againe, God shall wound the hai…ie scalpe of such a one, as goeth on still in his wickednesse. O consider this yee that forget God, least I plucke you away suddainly, and their be none to deliuer you.

Proceede we to other particulars· In his later, and corrected edition, Pag. 17, he bewrais a peece of old superstition, as formerly about his Houres, so here about the place of Prayer, where he hath one special saying of Scripture for a man to vse, at his entrance into the Church, and another for the Chancell. Thus by his Jgnis fatuus ▪ Deuotion he will leade simple m…n through a maze of superstition, that they shall no… know where they are, if they will but follow him.

He quoteth the decrees of the Church for his third houre. Those are the Decretals of the Church of Rome,Pag. 86. for, with our Author, no other Church, but the Church of Rome is, The Church as he often in this booke giues vsus occasion to remember, that we may not easily forget a matter of such importance. But of the Decrees of that Church of Rome, concerning the seuen Canonicall houres we spake in the second Title-page. So that here remaines no more for vsus to reioyne but to oppose and preferre the formes of priuate prayer prescribed in the end of our Communion booke against and before the Decrees of the Church, which he expresly meaneth, or before those cu…ious formes which the Author hath deuised for all his 7. houres, Our Church hath set downe very good formes in the Communion booke, both for morning and euening▪ and some of them such, as I dare say our **And i… … (see … of it) … lately to …ee at a … Printing house an old Communion booke, …cored and no…ed all along with this Authors owne …, where …mong other …h…n…s, which he …ould hauehave …, hee …, that … p…iu…t… …a…ers … …ett…r … …hen there … i… the Cō munion …Author could wish were cancelled. As that for the whole estate of Christs Church, in the end of the singing Psalms wherin is this prayer: Roote out from hence (O Lord) all rauening wolues, which to fill their bellies, seeke to destroy thy flocke, &c. What would then become of our Author, and a great many of his Consorts, if all such rauening wolues were rooted out of this land? And that morning prayer for priuate houses a little before, wherin are these words: And forasmuch as they cannot belieue, except they heare, nor cannot heare▪ but by preaching, and none can preach except he be sent: therfore O Lord, raise up faithfull Distributers of thy Mysteries, who setting apart all worldly respects, may both in their life and doctrine only seeke thy glory. Contrarily, confound Satan, Antichrist, with all Hierlings, whom thou hast cast oft in a reprobate sense, that they may not by sects, schismes, heresies & errors, disquiet thy litle …ocke. And because O Lord we be fallen into the later daies, and dangerous times, wherein ignorance hath **…gotten the vpper hand, and Satan by his Ministers seeketh by all means to quench the light of the Gospell: we beseech thee to maintaine thy Cause against these rauening wolues, and strengthen all thy seruants, &c. I dare say, this pra…er doth not relish well in the palate of our Authors Deuotion. He could w…sh it either expunged or at le…st excused to be vsed, by interposing his owne priuate for…. For this prayer was not fitter for those … was first composed then for these of ours. … s…ands vp for Preaching of the … who in these times would cry … with their long prayers shoulder it out of the Church. This prayer is against all worldly respects in Ministers, against the shamelesse ambition of this age. It prayes against Antichrist, contrary to those, that would raise vp againe the throne of that Beast in this our Church. It prayes against all hirelings, such as in these dayes for preferments will sell soule and body to the Diuell, turne time-seruers, and mens seruants. It prayes against men possest with a reprobate sense, who are Authors of sects, and schismes, heresies and errors, whereof this present age is full. Although the ring-leaders of sects and schismes, who make a pitifull and rufull Rent in the Church of England, by Siding with Popery & Arminianisme, yet forsooth cry out vponupon the true Ministers and Professours of the Gospell, as the onelyonly sectaries and schismatickes. And if this were true then, no lesse now, when Ignorance, if not hath, yet at least striues to get the vpper hand, seeking to cast the blacke mantle of blind Deuotion ouer all mens eyes, and that by Satans Ministers seeking by all meanes to quench the light of the Gospell? Therefore, what great need hauehave we euer to take in our mouthes this worthy prayer, recommended vntounto vsus by our reuerend Mother-Church of England, and to pray heartily, Wee beseech the O Lord to mainetaine thy cause against all rauening wolues, and strengthen thy seruants, &c.

And so much the rather, because our Author (and he goes not alone) hath also in this his booke patched vp a prayer of his owne head, which he intitles, A prayer and thanksgiuing for the whole state of Christs Catholicke Church: wherein he prayeth for the holy Catholicke Church, the mother of vsus all, that beare the name of Christ: and that all may become one fold vnderunder one shepheard Iesus Christ. Now comparing this holy Catholicke Church with that Church, which all along his booke he recommends, and would obtrude vponupon vsus, as our Mother, which is no other Church, but that Church of Rome: what doth he here p…ay for else, but that we may all become one with that Chur…h, to be one flocke vnderunder one shepheard, Iesus Christ, and consequently vnderunder the great Antichrist, who challengeth the title of sole head of the Catholicke Church, and …ole Vicar generall of Iesus Christ.

But to the rest, Pag. 232.233. &c. He comes with his Septuagesima, and therein, and thenceforth thoroughout Lent, …e by a suddaine motion brings men vponupon the knees of their most solemne Deuotion to expiate all their mad gamballs and Reuels in the Christmas time at least. As Saint Chrysostome saith, Men thinke to expiate the whole yeares excesse and sinne,**Hom… …7. …. with forty daies humiliation: and then the weeke following they fall afresh to their lusts. Only suddainnesse here from one extreame into another is dangerous▪ except it be of our true conuersion from sin vntounto God, and then the more speedie and suddaine, the better and safer. Otherwise, the saying here may be verified, Dum vitant stulti vitia, in contraria currunt. Yet this suddainnesse from Christmas reuels, to Lent-rel…ntings, may seeme to be like that strange and suddaine alteration in those men, that being mad, liued among the Tombes, and kept a pitifull rule, to whom Christ comming, he cast the Diuell out of them, and …oorthwith they came to their sober and right wits, sitting and Christs feete cloathed, and hea…ng his word. But heere is the difference, commonly▪ out of those mad men the Diuell was who…y c…st out: But in our ordinarie Lent-obseru…s▪ hee is but at the least wise bound to goo… … for the time, but not cast out, when after …ster (at the furthest) hee breakes loose againe: Such Obse…uants and selfe-castigators returning to their excesse of riot a fresh. These, for the most part, being much like to the Images in Popish Churches, which all the Lent are all vailed ouer in blacke, as mourning that they hauehave beene Idol-obiects to Idolators: But beginning on Easter-Eue to peepe out, oh how doe the people begin a fresh to be rauished with a glimpse of their glittering Gods, so long clouded and ecclipsed from their deuout Adorers! But on Easter-day morning, no sooner is the Vaile with-drawne by the Priests dexterous hand, but down they fall on their Maribones beating their brests more eagerly now, then euer, as imputing it to their most grieuous sinnes, that they hauehave been so long withheld from their prettie pettie-Gods. For euer, Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimus que negata. And this abstinence from their Images all the Lent, makes the people the more to dote vponupon them all the yeere after, as accounting them the more precious, the lesse familiar. And such are the most strict obseruers of Lent: If there be any sinne, or pleasure, whereof out of blind superstition they impose and inforce a restraint vponupon themselues, for Lent-sake while they demurely goe in blacke: It giues them but occasion to affect and pursue the same sinne or pleasure with greater desire all the yeere after. The affections, for the time, being but as waters stopt with the Sluce, which the longer pent vp, breake out againe with greater violence. Although in the meane time all the Lent long, they abate nothing of their Pride, of their Couetousnesse, of their Ambition, and other habituall Lusts. He that will eat no Flesh in Lent, will not intermit his ordinarie Swearing, and vaine wicked Oathes, though he remit some-what of his Eating, yet will not abate an ynch of his Drinking and good-fellowship, will take no lesse Vse-mony, then at Christmas, will not abate an ace of his poore Tenants Rackt-rent, will stretch the strings of his Simon Magus pouch as much now for a lustie preferment, as he will doe any time out of Lent. Though IOHN the Patriarch of Constantinople were for his much fasting called Iohannes Ieiunator, IOHN the Faster, yet he wanted for no pride and ambition to aspire to be vniuersall Head of the Church, that which GREGORY of Rome cryed out against, as Antichristian, but BONIFACE the Third a little after got that Title wholly to himselfe, suffering none to be that Antichrist, but the Pope, and Bishop of Rome. And it is vsuall, that as fasting breeds wind in the stomacke: So the opinion of fasting, specially when it is a part of Will-worship, and humane inuention, fills the stomacke of the Soule full of windy pride and hypocrisie. As Pope VRBAN the Second, to make the better speed for the recouerie of the Holy Land, ordained that no Cleargie or Lay man should eat Flesh from Shrouetyde to Easter. [Guil. Malmes…ur. Lib. 4. Misterie of Iniquitie.] A meritorious matter (I wis) so to fast all Lent long, as to eat no Flesh. For as nothing displeaseth God more, then the worship which we frame to him out of our owne fancifull braines: So no deuotion is of more value with vsus, doth more please our humours, then such as we inuent our selues. So that it fareth with our Lent deuotion, as with the young Ape; we so dote vponupon it, so claspe and hug it, as, being the barne of our own braine we strangle it, so that such Lenten deuotion seldome suruiueth the time of Lent, but is dead all the yeere after. And what I pray you is all the Lent-fast, as it is generally vsed, but a meere apish imitation and mocke-fast? The example of CHRISTS Fast fourtie dayes and fourtie nights is brought by our Authour for vsus to imitate. Well. Let our Authour begin to imitate CHRIST: Let him fast fourtie dayes, and fourtie nights, without eating and drinking, as CHRIST did; & if he be able to endure such a Fast, … see no reason, but others may brooke it as well, who haply are more acquainted and inured to fasting at other times, then himselfe is. Nor doe I see any reason, why such a keeping of Lent, as our Authour prescribes, should hauehave the name of a Past. For a Fast, is to eat nothing, and drinke nothing during the Fast. Nothing at all. If our Fast be for a day, we are to eat nothing till night, when the Fast is ended. Such was Nineueh's Fast. Nor can that be a Fast of fourtie dayes, in which space any thing is eaten or drunke. But is that a Fast, to eat no Flesh, and to fill the stomacke with good Fish, and the best Wine? To eat no Butter, but the purest Oyle?Ierom. ad Ne…ot…an. Epist. 7 To eat no Egges, but the most restoratiue Figges? Sint tibi I…iunia pura, casta, simplicia, moderata, & non superstitiosa, saith S^t IEROME. Quid prodest, &c. What auailes it not to eat Oyle, and to seeke out meats hard and troublesome to be gotten? As dryed Figges, Pistacke nuts, Almonds, Dates, Meale, and Honey? Tota hortorum cultura vexatur, vt cibaria non vescamur pane: & dum delicias sectamur, a regno Caelorum retrahimur. All the Gardens and Orchards must bee troubled, to serue our palate: And while wee follow such delicacies, wee are haled away from the Kingdome of Heauen.

And why should our Authour impose vponupon vsus such a Lent-Fast, as a matter of Religion, and a speciall part of his Deuotion? Whereas this Noble and Religious STATE doth not prescribe or inhibite the vse of any Creatures, but out of a ciuill regard, and for a ciuill end. In that case doe not men take Licences from the Exchequer? And doth not the KINGS Proclamation inioyne forbearance of Flesh during that time of the Spring, and that expresly for the increase of Cattle? But if our Authour will needs vrge the Authoritie of the Church for the Lent-Fast, I doe but referre him to the Order of Pope VRBAN the third afore cited. We know no such constitution in the Church of England. Neither after CHRISTS Resurrection, wherein all Iewish ceremoniall obseruation of dayes was abolished, remained in Scripture any one day in the weeke, or weeke in the monethmonth, or monethmonth in the yeere, to be religiously and yeerly obserued of Christians, but onelyonly the Lords day.Gal. 4.10.Gal 4:10 The Church of Galathia intangling herselfe in Iewish Ceremonies, the Apostle sharply reproueth them, saying, Ye obserue dayes, and moneths, and times, and yeeres. I am in feare of you, least I hauehave bestowed on you labour in vaine. This was, as he tells them, to begin in the Spirit, and to end in the Flesh. And Col. 2.16, 17. Let no man iudge you in meat or in drinke, or in respect of an Holy-day, or of the new Moone, or of the Sabbaoth-dayes,; which are a shaddow of things to come; but the Body is Christ. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ, from the Rudiments of the World: Why, as though liuing in the world, are ye subiect to Ordinances? (Touch not, tast not, handle not, which all are to perish with the vsing) after the Commandements and Doctrines of men, &c. But now, they that goe about to destroy, or at least to defalke from the due obseruation of the Lords-day, consisting in all religious exercises, both publicke and priuate, excluding all prophane pastimes, and licentious mad mirth, so as Christians being thereby inured to a religious conformitie of life in all seemely sobrietie, hauehave the lesse need of superstious obseruations to be imposed or obtruded vponupon them, for their priuate humiliation, seeing the whole tenure of their life is a constant walking in a sober and moderate course, not mad to day, and sad to morrow for fashion, so adding drunknesse to thirst, and neuer well (as we say) full nor fasting, whereas, euerie day to a true Christian is a day of sobrietie, and all his life a Lent, while all along his life is seasoned and sanctified with a conscionable keeping of the Lords day, wherein he prouides his store for euerie weeke: I say, they that goe about to cut away a a great part from the religious and sober keeping of the Lordsday, no maruel, if they would fill vp the want of true Religion with some satisfactorie Superstition of mans deuising; and so to expiate all the yeeres prophanesse with the seeming sanctitie, and superstitious solemnitie of a pretended Lenten Fast, which indeed is no Fast, as men doe vse it. And yet, for all it is so abused, it hath monopolized and ingrossed to it selfe all other true Fasts, wherein Gods people in time either of any present publicke calamitie, or eminent danger ought to be humbled, in making their peace with God, deprecating as the sinne, so the punishment, the consequent fruit of it. But theAs the Pharisee, who will neither enter into Heauen himselfe, nor suffer those that would to enter in. Lent-Fast must keepe out all, beat downe all other Fasts. Good Lent, either, fast as thou pretendest, thou shouldest, or giuegive place to other Fasts, which being performed as they ought, may stand in the gap to turne away that wrath, which thy Superstition and Hypocrisie is like to bring vponupon vsus.

But the Authour cites S^t IEROME, to proue the Quadragesimall Fast to be an Apostolicke constitution.Cent. 1. lib. 2. c. 10. De vitis Doctorum. Indeed we read of one ABDIVS, who tells strange Tales of S^t MATHEVV the Euangelist, and among the rest, that he taught that Saints must looke to goe into Heauen by their Merits: That the time of Lent must be kept with abstinence from Flesh, from coniugall beneuolence, or else a man becomes polluted, and commits a haynous offence, which must be washed away with many teares. These, and other the like, be so likely to be true, as it may be lawfull for vsus to belieue S^t MATHEVV wrot one thing, and spake another. But we must know, that the Misterie of Iniquitie began to worke euen in those prime times, while Satan wanted not his Instruments to lay the foundation thereof in superstitious Deuotions, the strongest supporter of Antichrist. As for S. IEROME, and other of the Ancients, who knowes not that many things of this nature hauehave been foysted into their Workes? Neither is it necessarie, that we should either labour in all things to cleare the Fathers, nor in euerie thing to follow them. But howsoeuer our Authour would draw down the Lent-Fast from the obseruation of the Church: although he still meanes the Church of Rome, yet wee know that the ancient Churches, which were no members of the Church of Rome, but as all then were, ioynt members of the Catholike, did obserue their Quadragesima after a different sort, both for the time and manner. Socrates, Socratis Hist. Eccl. lib. 5. cap. 21. Also Zorom. Hist. Eccl. lib. 7. cap. 19.who was much about the time of S. Ierome, saith that in those dayes, Qui sunt Roma, &c. They that are at Rome, do Fast three weekes before Easter, the Saturday, and the Lords day onelyonly excepted. In Illyria, and all Greece, & at Alexandria, they begin their Fast 6 weekes before Easter, and call that time Quadragesima. Others begin their Fast 7. weekes before Easter, although they keepe their Fast but 15. of those dayes, scattered …mong the rest; and yet they call that time Quadragesima too: Nor differ they onelyonly about the time, but about the maner of abstinence. For some eate Fowles and Fishes, as both comming of the water; Others abstaine from shel-fruits, and eggs; some feed onelyonly vponupon drie bread: and others not that. Some after they hauehave fasted till nine of the clock, vse sundry meates: And others otherwise. And because none can shew any precept vponupon Record concerning Lent, it is euident that the Apostle therein left free power to eueryevery mans mind & will, that eueryevery one might do that which is good and honest, being induced thereto neither by feare, nor by necessity. Thus Socrates. And Eusebius before him saith, that some thought one day sufficient for fasting,Eusebu. Eccl, Hist. lib. cap. 23. some two, some moe, others in reckoning 40. continued houres day and night, do determine that the time of their Fast. This being so, what is become of the Apostolicall Constitution for 40. dayes Fast, when it was left free for eueryevery Church, or Christian, to fast as few or many dayes as they thought fit? And therefore neuer let our Author obtrude vponupon vsus the authority and practise of the present Church of Rome, to impose a necessity of a religious, if not a superstitious 40. dayes Fast, when notwithstanding the old Church of Rome in her purer times, fasted but three weekes, yet two dayes in eueryevery weeke excepted. And besides, in those times, Easter being a generall time for publicke Baptisme, as also Whitsuntide: for that cause they thought fit to humble themselues with fasting and prayer, for the better preparation thereunto. But enough of this.

Pag. 246. of the last impression, Hee mentioneth Christs Rest in the graue, and his Descen… also into Hell, as vponupon Easter Euen. The Author is very skilfull to tell vsus the punctuall time of Christs Descent into Hell. Of the manner of it, or how the Article in the Creed is to bee vnderstood, he makes no question, but comes with an actuall downe right Descent. But he grounds this his time of Christs Descent into Hell, vponupon the Epistle and Gospell for Easter Euen. Indeed the Epistle is taken out of 1 Pet. 3.27, &c. where the words of Peter are thus translated, according to the corrupt vulgar Latin, In which spirit hee also went and preached to the spirits that were in prison, &c. Now, the Author hereupon inferreth, that this place of Peter is to be meant of Christs Descent into Hell; contrary to all sound Interpreters; the Text it selfe no way bearing it. And vponupon the same ground, according to the corrupt translation, wherein is added (contrary and besides both the Originall Text, and our last and best English Translation) these words, That were: whereas the Text is, To the spirits in prison, that is, now, still in prison; not, that were in prison, as if vponupon Christs descent into Hell, and preaching vntounto them, hee had deliuered them thence, as out of some Limbo; which the Author (if well examined) must needes meane. And indeed he is too much helped by the corrupting of the Text; so that it were to be wished, that vulgar English Translation of the Epistles and Gospels in the Communion booke were corrected, yea and wholly made vniforme to our last Translation of the Bible, that so no Popish spirits may hauehave any such starting holes for their lurking and sly old Popish and mopish doctrines.

In the next place (pag. 291.) he setteth downe sundry sayings, prayers, Psalmes, Hymnes, before the receiuing of the Sacrament, to pag. 301. In all which it should seeme … …rescribeth a new solmne seruice for the Sacrament. For else what time is there allowed for any mans priuate deuotion, while hee is present at the publike administration of the Sacrament? Or would he hauehave a man busied about his priuate deuotions, while the Minister is in the publicke seruice? Or would he hauehave the Minister to be mute vntill eueryevery man present hauehave said ouer such lessons, as our Author teacheth? Indeed if it were at a Masse, which the people vnderstand not, these formes of priuate deuotion were good to exercise eueryevery man, while the Priest is mumbling ouer his Masse. But blessed bee God there is no such need.

Pag. 298. he sets downe a new forme of prayer, but taken either from the Bull of Pope Clement 8. where hee commands the Angels, &c. or rather hee borrowes it from the Romane Missal in the Cannon of the Masse, restored by the Decree of the Councell of Trent, and published by the Commandement of Pope Pius 5. printed at Antwerp, 1574. Cum priuilegio Pontif. Max. et Regis Cath…l. pag. 272. where the Masse Priest, Profundè inclinatus iunetis manibus dicat. Lowly ducking with his hands ioyned let him say: Supplices te rogamus Omnipotens Deus, iube h…c perferri per manus Sancti A…egli tui in sublime Altere tuum in conspectu diuinae Maiestatis tuae, vt &c. that is, We humbly beseech the Omnipotent God, command these things to be conuayed by the hands of thy holy Angel into thy high Altar, in the presence of thy diuine Maiestie, that &c. But what a presumption is this in our Author to prescribe God a new way of conueying our prayers into the presence of his Maiesty by such a meane, as he hath no where reuealed in his word? Where hath God commanded his Angels to bee our Mediators betweene vsus and him? Yet see how slily this Author would foyst in, the mediation of Angels. Is not the onelyonly name of Christ our Mediator, in whom we offer vp all our Seruice and Sacrifice of Prayer and Prayse, sufficient to bring them vp into the presence of his Father, yea and to make both vsus and them acceptable to his Maiestie? But what promise of acceptance hath our Authour of such Mediation of Angels, if they should presume to present our Prayers? Much more, when they doe it without warrant. And warrant they hauehave none in GODS Word. And without the Word we hauehave no warrant for any seruice we doe to GOD. But contrarily the Word alloweth vntounto vsus but one onelyonly Mediatour as well of Intercession, as of satisfaction. 1 Iohn 2. If any man sinne, we hauehave an Aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the Righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sinnes. The same must be our Aduocate and Intercessor, who is also our Propitiation. Therefore our Authour here commits high Sacriledge, if not Blasphemie against the Sacred Maiestie of GOD, and the honour of IESVS CHRIST, to assigne GOD the appointing of a new way, whereby we may come vntounto him, namely another way, then by IESVS CHRIST.

But proceed we to Page 388. where he sets downe, The manner of commending the Soule into the hands of GOD at the verie point of time, when it is departing from the Body. Before yee hauehave his Forme of Prayers at the houre of Death; now, another Forme at the point of Death: Nay (which ought diligently to be marked) at the verie point of time, when the Soule is (not about to depart, but) departing from the Body. Surely a man would thinke his prayer had need to be verie short, onelyonly a jaculatorie breath and away, least the Soule bee departed from the Body, before hee make an end of his prayer, and so he shall pray for the dead. Yet for all this he sets downe a farre longer prayer, then can be said at the verie point of time, when the Soule is departing from the Body. Yea and among the rest to lengthen it out, he sets downe thirteene eiaculatorie Meditations and Prayers, which he will hauehave said plainly, distinctly, and with some pawses. So that of necessitie the Soule must bee departed, before his prayers be halfe ended. And what then? Is that so great a matter thinke you? His first printed Booke, which is yet extant, and walkes abroad, wherewith Iesuites are mightily helped to draw on Disciples after them, blusheth not to make a solemne prayer for the Soule, and that expresly and distinctly after it is departed from the Body. For after his Eiaculatories, ending with, Lord Iesus r…ceiue my Spirit; He putteth these words of direction next vnderunder,Pag. 104. see his first impression. And these (to wit, the foregoing eiaculatorie Meditations and Prayers) to be repeated, vntill the Soule be departed. Well: The Soule being now departed, What then?

Then,

O Lambe of God, that takest away the sinnes of the world, grant him thy peace.

With this Prayer.

O Lord with whom doe liue the Spirits of them that dye, and by whom the Soul…s of thy Seruants, after they be deliuered from the burthen of this Flesh, bée in perpetuall ioy and felicitie: Wee most méekely beseech thée for this thy Seruant, that hauing now receiued the absolu…um from all his sinnes, which he hath committed in this world, he may escape the Gates of Hell, and the paynes of eternall darkenesse: That he may for euer dwell with Abraham, Isaack and Iacob, in the Region of Light, and thy blessed Presence, where there is neither wéeping nor heauinesse. And that when the dreadfull day of the generall Iudgement shall come, he may rise againe with the Iust, and receiue this dead Body, which must now be buried in the Earth, to be ioyned with his Soule, and be made pure and incorruptible for euer after in thy glorious Kingdome, for the merits of thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ, Amen.

Thus runs the Prayer for the Dead, word for word. But here the PRINTER steps in, and setting forth a second Impression, he in an Epistle before the Booke, styled, The Printer to the Reader, Excuses the Authour, and verie courteously takes all the blame vponupon himself. Which he is the bolder to doe, because this Booke is Censured (as he t…rmeth) rather through false reports, and mistakings in them, that either iudge before they see, or out of disaffection make sinister construction of that which deserueth better vnderstanding, and so good intentions are wrested, and truth impeached. Note here the fruit of the Authours Deuotions, how soone they hauehave blindly led him into Errour, which he desireth may be excused by his good intentions; howsoeuer it goeth, he meant no harme good man. Which also the most ignorant Papist is able to plead for himselfe. You must take his good meaning. Well: Let vsus heare out his Apologie. So hath it befallen this Hand-full of Collections for priuate Deuotions, which was compiled out of sundry warranted Bookes, &c That's something. But out of what warranted Bookes could he collect or compile Prayer for the Dead? That, he might expile from Popish warranted Booke, as out of the Romane Missal, and the like, wherewith the Authour seemes to be better acquainted, then with GODS Booke. So that I feare me some hath taught the PRINTER here to equiuocate a little. But what followes? It was for the priuate vse of an honourable well-disposed Friend. He, or She? Protestant, or Papist? Or betweene both? Or one, whom the Authour by the vertue of this Booke was about to conuert to be a Roman Catholike? yet being an honourable person, it deserues some pardon for their honours sake: Nay rather it is the more censurable, that the author should dare to attempt to seduce any honourable personage vnderunder the colour of his painted-popish Deuotions. But what more? without any meaning to make the same publicke to the world. This is one part of his good intentions. Published it is, but it was not his meaning. How then? Though (to saue the labour and trouble of writing Copies, to be sparingly communicated to some few friends) a certaine number of them, by leaue and warrant of the Ordinary, were printed at the charge of the partie, for whose onelyonly vse the same was collected. Good. Pitty, but such a Booke, with such deuout prayers collected, should be copied out, and rather then faile, for more expedition, to be printed; but to be sparingly (O warily spoken) to some (and but some) and those but a few friends. One of the best reasons you gaue hitherto, to extenuate the fault: for the fewer were printed, and the more sparingly, and to the more few communicated, the better. But how comes it to be printed againe and againe, and so lauishly communicated and dispersed eueryevery where? Is it not, but by leaue and warrant of the Ordinary? I assure you the author had extraordinary fauour to get the Ordinaries leaue and warrant for such a Popish Booke; for beleeue me, Orthodox Bookes, and such as impugne Popery and Heresie, and propugne the established Doctrine of the Church of England, cannot hauehave the fauour to obtaine ordinary leaue and warrant to be printed, but vponupon (to speake mildely) extraordinary tearmes. But goe on. It hath therefore seemed good to AVTHORITY to giuegive leaue to the reprinting thereof, and permitting the same to be sold, to such as please to buy it, onelyonly for priuate vse, as in former times way hath beene giuen to the printing of priuate Prayer-Bookes. Stay there, Me thinkes, M^r Printer, you begin to gather a great deale of confidence already. I pray you (if I may be so bold) what authority is that, which you so boldly build vponupon, and which you put in such Capitall Characters, as if you would affright the Reader withall. But good Subiects, and honest men obey, honour, reuerence, louelove Authority, are not terrified with it. It is for such Printers, that are so ready to print Mountebanke Arminianisme, and cos…ning Popery, as you hauehave done, to be frighted with Authority; for it carrieth not the sword for naught. But if thou dost euill, feare. Did you neuer heare of one Tucker a printer in Queene Elizabeths raigne, who, for printing a Booke of Popish Deuotion, was arraigned, and though the Queens mercy saued his life, yet he was confined to perpetuall imprisonment? Yet you feare not, not only to print, & reprint, but to sell your booke to eueryevery buyer, & to some who exchange it also for all other bookes, which a little before was thought fit onelyonly to communicate and but sparingly to some few friends, being set forth at first onelyonly for the vse of the party, that bore the charge. But do you make no more difference betweene this Popish booke of priuate Deuotions, and other priuate prayer bookes formerly printed by Authority (and as good Authority, as you can bring any) in this Church? I pray you how long hauehave you beene a M^r. Printer? But a Young one I da…e say. Or how many such bookes hauehave you printed by Authority? Not many I am su…e of it, though too many by any. Surely it is but newly the change of the Moone, si…ce such Bookes hauehave cropen vnderunder the wing… of Authority to fly abroad. If you reckon but from seuen yeeres agoe, there was then no such Authority extant in this Church, that would appeare to giuegive allowance to such base bookes as this of your printing. Therefore you see the case is altered. But I trust, his Maiestie, when he comes to vnderstand how much his Authority, transferred vponupon others, is dishonored, will take order for the suppressing of such wicked bookes, which you are so ready to reprint. But all this while (for I cannot but bee iealous of the honour of mine Ordinary in this kind) I pray you in what maner was the Licence giuen? Speake the truth: For I heare, that you had onelyonly a loose Paper for your warrant, not affixed to the booke, much lesse (as the ordinary maner is) the Licencers hand to the booke. So that, were ye not deceiued? Was it not some other booke of priuate Deuotion, mentioned or meant in the Approbation? Or if this were meant, yet hath not the Author added or altered at his pleasure. For the loose paper, did it set downe how many sheets it contained? A loose Approbation it was. And I suspected that your Authority was none of the best, or most authenticke, you doe so braue it out in your capitall Characters. But yet forasmuch as you had no other Approbation of this booke, but onelyonly an Indiuiduum vagum written in a loose Paper; who (I pray you) gaue you Authority to set it so fast vponupon the booke, with the whole strength and waight of your Presse? Doe you know what you hauehave done? you hauehave hereby affixed and impacted such an Aspersion of dishonour vponupon our Reuerend Dioc…san and Ordinary, as cannot be easily clawed off againe. Therefore if you had had such a reuerend regard to the Ordinary, as you ought, you might both hauehave fauoured his honour, and saued your owne stake, keeping the loose Paper by you in your box, as your acquittance or discharge. But goe on with your learned Apologie M^r Printer. Whereby it is presumed, all well disposed Christians may receiue satisfaction that there is not in it such cause of dislike, as it seemeth hath beene rumored. But what if any, yea a great many receiue not satisfa…tion? Then it is to be supposed, they are not of the number of well disposed. But is there not in your Booke such cause of dislike, as it seemeth hath beene rumored? Wh…? Is it purged from all that Popish dr…sse wherewith i… so aboundeth? It is imagined no, because it hath not yet felt the fire. Or is it growne better now, or brighter, as Iron, with wearing? Or what I pray you is done to the Booke, that all well disposed Christians may receiue satisfaction? Now truely (I confesse) till now my dull pate did not apprehend your far fetcht reason. But at last I perceiue it is AVTHORITY you build vponupon for giuing satisfa…tion. I promise you it is a strong argument to conuince the gain-sayer. Therefore I pray you goe on. And for the auoiding of all mistakings hereafter, ca…e is had to amend such escapes, as either by the Printers haste, or the Correctors ouersight were committed. This clause ioyning close vponupon the former, confirmes me, that I hauehave not mistaken your meaning in the point of satisfaction by Authority. But if this your sentence had begun with [For] as, For, for the auoiding▪ &c. we should hauehave expected some sp…ciall repu…gations of your booke, as reasons to induce all well disposed Christians to receiue satisfaction. But it is, And; which puts vsus out of hope of any reason, but downe-right Authority, for satisfaction. Well, we must be faine to make the best of it, and instead of expecting the correcting of your booke, so backed with Authority, begin to correct our owne mistakings. What? was it rumored, that among other exorbitances, this booke contained prayer for the dead? Alas! it was but a mistaking. On whose part? On the Printers; or on the Correctors; or on the disaffected Readers: altogeth…r. But though disaffected Readers hauehave beene mista…en, y…t for the auoyding of all mistaking hereafter; **To wit, that the old l…aues may yet be had for money.care is had. That's well. I pray you good M^r Printer hauehave a speciall care, that simple meaning m…n may not be mista…en hereafter. But what meanes or care will you vse, for this preuention? Care is had to amend such escapes, as either by the Printers hast, or the Correctors ouersight were committed. Well. I see y…t you are so i…genuous (though your m…desty …usheth to speak all you know) as to acknowledge your selfe and your Corrector (if it be your selfe that speakes all this while) to be in some fault. Although it were but an Escape, or so, and that committed either by the Printers haste, or the Correctors ouersight. It is wel yet, that it proues not all this while some escape committed by the ouersight of the Collector, vnlesse you hauehave here misprinted (being full perhaps of perplexed thoughts) howsoeuer you set a good face on it) Corrector, for Collector. But for your part M^r Printer, what needed such haste? There was no feare, least the Wardens comming to search, should take your Canonicall houres n…pping; for you had at least leaue and warrant from the Ordinary, for your first edition, though not as yet Authority in Capitall letters, wherby this your second correction was set forth. Nor were you printing then Burtons second part against Mountagu…, or the like, that you should be in such haste. Or what haste was ther… of that Booke? It might well hauehave beene spared hitherto, for ought I know. As though the Jesuites seduce not fast enough without it? But of all things, good Master Printer, beware of haste. Did you neuer learne so much in your Latine Schoole (for I am sure you hauehave learned to speake vnhappy English) Canis sestinans caecos parit eatul…s. And desire your Corrector to beware of ouersight; for I hauehave knowne that betweene the Printers haste, and the Correctors ouersight, soule escapes hauehave beene committed: as in the great Bible (and I beshrow them for committing the least escape in that blessed Booke, one tittle whereof shall not passe away, nor escape vnfulfilled) Iudas, was printed for Iesus. But I easily beleeue, that was in good earnest either the haste of the Composer, or the ouersight also of the Corrector, without any circumstances, or circumlocution. Well, an escape or ouersight acknowledged, and corrected, and withall a care had to preuent the like for afterwards, makes a full amends for all. Well: for the care you promise, we must take your word. Yet forasmuch as you seeme here to speake in your owne defence, that all the rumours about your printed Booke was but vponupon some escapes of the Printer, or ouersight of the Corrector: you must giuegive vsus leaue a little to examine the truth hereof, by comparing your first and second Impressions. Now reading ouer diligently both the Bookes, I find no difference at all betweene them, but only about Prayer for the Dead, which we last touched. And there we cānot come to discerne your escapes better, then by setting downe so much of both the Copies one against the other, as is requisite at least for the more full satisfaction of all well disposed Christians.

The first Impression.

Lord Iesus receiue my spirit. And these to bée repeated vntill the soule be departed.

Then,

O thou Lamb of God, &c.

The second Impression.

Lord Iesus receiue my spirit. And these (with the prayers following) to be repeated, vntill the soule be departed.

O thou Lamb of God, &c.

Here wee obserue a huge difference betweene your Impressions. And is this but an Escape, or ouersight? Certainly it is a very monstrous one, and such as a man in his right wits could not easily commit, vnlesse in some sit eyther of drunkennesse or madnesse. But I spare you. Let vsus compare the rest.

With this Prayer.

O Lord with whom doe liue the Spirits of them that dye, &c.

O Lord with whom d…e liue the Spirits of them that dye, &c.

And a little after towards the end.

And that when the dreadfull day of the generall Iudgement shall come, he may rise againe with the just, and receiue THIS DEAD BODY, which must now be buryed in the earth to bée joyned with his soule, and …e made pure and incorruptible for euer after in thy glorious Kingdome, &c.

And that when the dread-day of the generall judgement shall come, he may rise againe with the iust, his body being reunited to his soule, pure and incorruptible, and be receiued into thy g…orious Kingdome, &c.

Now Mr. Printer, I will not alone take vponupon me to judge of these your escapes; but rather I referre you to the whole Bench of the most judicious and learned, yea and those graue and honourable Sages of the Councell-board. OnelyOnly this I dare say peremptorily, that in the first impression there is an expresse and formall prayer for the Dead: but in the second it is qualified and corrected, and the case quite altered. And yet is all this but an escape of the Printer, or ouersight of the Corrector; But was not the Author himselfe the Corrector? was not his naturall affection earnestly busied in licking his young Beere while it past the Presse, and receiued the perfect forme. Or being an escape of the Printer, how came not the Author himselfe, or some of those his neere and deare friends for him, first to espy the faults, and so to hauehave them corrected, before they came to be found out by others? For surely he and his had reason first to read ouer that priuate first impression, before it should come to open view; it being a booke not of an ordinary stampe, and which for the admirable ouerdaring of it, was like to runne a most desperate hazzard. But it seemeth they would put it to a hazzard. They imagined, that haply it might passe vnespied; and then all would hauehave beene well enough, and you might hauehave spared your labour of printing your Epistle Apologeticall before the second Impression.

But yet, Mr. Printer, you should hauehave done well (which would the more hauehave cleered the credit of your excuse, taking all the blame from the Author) to hauehave cancelled all that Paper, beginning, O Lord with whom do liue, &c. VntoUnto these words, Wee most meekely &c. Putting all those first six lines among your Errata,See the Cō muniō booke, at the Buriall of the Dead. or Escapes. For so much is a part of a gratulatory Collect vsed in the Communion Booke at the Buriall of the dead. So that vnlesse this prayer stand still in force for a prayer for the Dead, as it was in the first Impression: it is very improper for your second and corrected Booke. For euen your owne reason, Mr. Printer, may induce you to thinke, that it is improper to vse a Collect for a mans buriall, for him that is yet aliue, vnlesse you would bury the man quicke. And therefore me thinkes you were very ill aduised, and seeme to hauehave for hast committed another fowle escape, in that you did not thorowly aduise with your Author about a more exact correction of your escapes, that so the booke, vponupon second and more mature cogitations, might hauehave passed currant, aboue all exception, to the better satisfaction of all well disposed Christians. But did you consult with your Author, before you set vponupon your correction? It may be feared noe. Otherwise it is hoped that the Author and his learned friends would hauehave thought better of the matter, then to hauehave suffered such an absurdity to stand still in the Booke, and that vponupon a solemne correction. And therefore, what if they come vponupon you, and disauoning it themselues, lay a further blame vponupon you, then hitherto you hauehave taken to your selfe? For besides, that such an improprietie brings their judgement in question, they may seeme to take vponupon them to be Innouators, turning the Collects, which the Church of England hath appointed for the publike buriall of the dead, to the priuate visitation of the liuing sicke. So that, Mr. Printer, for all your Apologies and Protestations, it is to be feared, that your Author will disclaime this your correction, as not done by his direction, but of your owne head, it being left so full of Non sens…s and Non sequiturs. And what if he shall call in this your corrected Booke, and either put out those six lines, or else bring his Authoritie for the first to stand in full force, and then all will hold a due …immetry and proportion? It will then be the more tollerable to borrow a peece of the Church Collect, being a thankesgiuing at the buriall of the Dead, & turne it into a prayer (priuate at least) for the dead, then to vse it for the liuing. But how it was shuffled vp among you, you can best tell.

But tell me in good sadnesse, Mr. Printer, are you perswaded, that any man but of common sense giues any credit to your Epistle? Or do you thinke your selfe euer a whit the wittier, or learneder, that like a Parrot you hauehave powred it out, being infused into you: But Dignum patellâ Operculum. Will any, trow you, take these grosse alterations, and cobled breakes, for Escapes of the Printer? Neuer so befoole your selfe.

Notwithstanding one thing remaines vnaltered: that in the same prayer he placeth the soules of Abraham, Jsaac, and Jacob, in a certaine place, which he calls, the region of light, but at the resurrection he allowes them Gods glorious Kingdome. This Region of light, in his prayer for the dead vnaltered: may well be taken for some Limbus patrum, different from Gods glorious Kingdome, in the resurrection; And Limbus, and prayer for the Dead will well sort together.

But to returne to the rest of your Epistle, I pray you goe on where we left. You see what a trouble your Escapes hauehave put vsus too. **The words of the Printers Epistle.OnelyOnly the Collector hereof, and others that were therewith acquainted before the printing of the Booke. Stay a little I pray you; for my memory is bad, if your period be long: who were those, that were acquainted with the booke before the printing of it? Were they Iesuites, or of what profession were they? But I will not presse you too farre, least I loose my labour. OnelyOnly goe on with your sentence (**The Prin…r goes on. who are as ready to ingage their credits and liues in defense of the faith of the present Church of England, by Law established, and in opposition of Popery, and Romish superstition, as any others) doe with griefe obserue the maleuolencie of some dispositions of these times▪ with whom a slip, or misprision of a word, or two, as liable to a faire and charitable vnderstanding, as otherwise, doth not onelyonly loose the thankes, due for all the good contained in the worke: but also purchase to the Author a reprochfull imputation and way-making to Popish Deuotion, and apish imitation of Romish superstition. Nay I pray you Mr. Printer, continue out your speech to the end. And howsoeuer he may be requited for his paines herein, he shall neuer depart from his good intention and wishing, that the reader may at all times, and for all occasions be assisted with diuine grace, obtained by continuall prayer. And for the misdeeming Censures and detractions of any, hee feareth them not, but rather hopeth, that his prayers to God for them wilbe more beneficiall to them, then any their Censures or detractions can be any way preiudiciall to him: who doth in this and all things else humbly submit himselfe to the judgement of the Church of England, whereof he is a member, and though inferiour vntounto most, yet a faithfull Minister. HaueHave you said all Mr. Printer? Now surely I cannot but smile, to see how pretily and smoothly you can plough with anothers he yfer, what an infinite disproportion there is betweene your style, and your person, and yet both you and your leare-father are strongly conceited, that you are able to cosen all the world, by making them beleeue that you are the man that framed this Apologeticall Epistle. Alas, you doe but dance in a net all this while. Do not you thinke I smelled your cunning conueyance till now? Or doe you thinke the world is so simple as to prayse or applawd you for the Author of this your pretty witty Epistle? And now by the Epistle it selfe will I conuince it to be a very packe of knauery. And to put you out of conceit, that you are the Author of this Epistle, Mr. Printer, I will goe no farther, then the last words of it. Dare you be so bold with the Author (who is no small man, and hopes yet to be greater, at least for his good seruice in this booke) as to say he is inferiour to most? I know this neuer came out of your lips, though it went through your presse▪ Ex vngue leonem. This could not come but from the modesty of the Author himselfe, or from some frend to help… out at a dead lift. But be it his▪ or yours, or whose i… wilbe, I wilbe bold to go ouer the rest, where I l…t.

You say, your Authors are as ready to ingage their credits and liues, in defence of the faith of the present Church of England, by law established, and in opposition of Popery, and Romish superstition, as any others. Hoe there. Here Master Printer, I must tell you, you take a greater ingagement vponupon you, then your credit wilbe taken for. If they should openly by word, as here you hauehave set downe in print, ingage themselues in this point, euen the principals if they, should hauehave as little credit giuen them, as the surety, they may blame themselues. Verba quid audio, cum facta videam? Let this booke speake for them, whence a Iesuite may conclude farre stronger arguments to assure the Church of Rome of these her sonnes: Then the Authors themselues with all their powerfull eloquence can …uer perswade vsus, that they are the true br…d sonn… of the Church of England. The Iesuites hauehave the A…ors booke to shew a proo…e vponupon Record, but we hauehave nothing to shew, but a poore Epistle, and that written in the Printers name. And how shall they euer ingagage their credits and liues in defence of the faith of the present Church of England, by law established (a clause of some waight, had we any better authoritie for it, then the single assertion of a Printer) who hauehave beene both so For, … fundo parsim… niapunc;prodigall of their Credit, aduen…urous of their liues (if the lawes established be of any force) and all to win countenance and credit to the holy Catholicke Church of Rome? and who will belieue that they will oppose Popery, that labour to aduance it, and to suppresse the truth of the Gospell, by law established in the present Church of England? Or how shall they oppose Romish superstition, that tooth and naile would haile it in by head & shoulders, in a most superstitious forme of Romish deuotion?

But you proceed, and say, They doe with griefe obserue the maleuolency of some dispositions of these times; with whom a slip, or misprision of a word or two, as liable to a faire, and charitable vnderstanding▪ as otherwise, doeth not onelyonly loose the thankes due for all the good contained in the worke, but also purchase to the author a reprochfull imputation of way▪ making to Popish Deuotion, and apish imitation of Romish superstition.

O good God. What a packe of hypocrisie, and senselesse absurdities, and shamelesse impudencie is here; All their damnable foysting in of popery, and that no lesse then infidell prayer for the dead, must be excused (for sooth) and all the blame laid vponupon the maleuolency of some dispositions of these times. And who are those, and why maleuolent? surely those, that espying the craft of Iesuited spirits in these our dayes in broching grosse and palpable Popery, dare oppose themselues, and cry out against such bold attempts. These be the men of a maleuolent disposition in these times, and all because these times doe breed such Iesuited spirits. And therefore no maruaile if the author of this booke cannot but greeue, that his Popish booke cannot finde a generall approbation. But they are maleuolent, as with whom a slip, or misprision of a word or two, &c. But a word or two, at the most, misprinted, or misplaced, the matter of all this maleuolency. Nay, but a slip, or misprision of a word, or two. Why, we know that in Coyne, he that is the author of a slip, and would vent it for the Kings Currant Coyne, is guilty of treason. Now much more a slip, or false doctrine foysted in for Gods Currant siluer? such a slip once broched is an errour: but stiffly maintained, it becomes an heresie. And is not this such a slip here? A most wicked Popish doctrine was published by the Author, or Authors, in print; namely Prayer for the Dead, against the Faith and Doctrine of the Church of England: and yet the Authors will not acknowledge it an errour, but put it vponupon the Printer. But the thing it selfe cryes shame vponupon the authors of such iuggling tricks. And if there had not beene some maleuolent dispositions in the world, to quarrell such impious affronts giuen to Christ and his blessed truth maintained in the Church of England, there had not beene so much as one word amisse, being all so exactly waighed in the Goldsmiths ballance, before it came to bee minted for currant; then, prayer for the dead would hauehave passed for a doctrine of the Church of England. But maleuolent dispositions hauehave troubled and marred all.

But it was nothing but the misprision of a word or two, a… liable to a fai…e and lawfull vnderstanding, as otherwise. Indeed if so, such dispositions cannot bee excused from maleuolency, if they judge not chari…ably, where there is no cause to the contrary. Euer take a mans meaning rather with the right hand, then with the left, if it bee capable of a good instruction. But …ere, the quarrell is not about the slip of a word▪ but of a positiue false doctrine. The question is, whether prayer for the dead may not be taken as well in a good sense, as in a bad, Charity being judge. Yes, if blind & popish Charity may be judge. Nor is it a word or two, but a whole solemne prayer, of many words and sentences, wherein the state of the dead is deuoutly prayed for, and that in expresse words: After the soule is departed, Then ▪ O LAMBE OF GOD, &c. and, That he may receiue this body. How are these things as liable to a faire and charitable vnderstanding, as otherwise? Vnlesse it bee a charitable worke, to pray for our deare brother, after his soule is departed from the body, that in his passage betweene earth and heauen, which is a farre journey, he may not misse or mistake his way, by falling into the Pit of Hell or Purgatory? Or what faire and charitable vnderstanding are these words liable to, when after our dead brother hath receiued a formall absolution from all his sins, which he hath committed in this life, yet he hath need to be prayed for▪ that he may escape the gates of Hell and the paines of eternall darkenesse? What other construction can be made of …hese words (if Charity her selfe were the judge) but …hat, according to the doctrine of that Church which …olds Purgatory after this life, and after absolution from a mans sins (which Church our Author all along this booke of Deuotions, graceth with the name of the one and onelyonly Holy Catholicke Church, the Mother of vsus all, &c▪) the soule being in danger to go into purgatory for all his Absolution, shadowed heere out by the **For the Pontificians say that Purgatory is in the suburbs of Hell, and that must needs be close to the gates of Hell, and that the paines of Purgatory are, for the time, no whit inferiour to the paines of eternall darknes. Nor let any man think, the Author would be so grosse to name Purgatory here in plaine termes, no more then he doth Limbus Patrum, when he sayth the Region of …ight ▪ disti…ct from Gods glorious kingdome.Gates of hell, and the paines of eternall darkenesse, close vntounto which (as it seemeth) the soule passing, may be in danger to fall therein: Therefore the Author deuoutly prayeth, that in his pa…age to heauen he may escape the gates of hell and the paines of eternall darkenesse.

Nor need the Authors impute it to a maleuolent disposition, to expound the gates of Hell, and the paines of eternall darkenesse, of Purgatory▪ especially of finding them wrapped vp mistically in an expresse prayer for the dead. But if the Author, or any of his consorts can make a more …haritable vnderstanding of this prayer for the dead▪ we will giuegive them a charitable hearing.

But being vnderstood in the worst sense, it doth (say you) not onelyonly loose the thankes due for all the good contained in the worke: but &c. That were great pitty, that so much good, as is contained in this worke, should be all lost, by loosing the due thankes, and all by the mistaking of a word or two, let fall too, but by a slip, or misprision. But for all that, let not the Pretence or good opinion of the good contained in this worke so farre charme our affection to it, as thereby to be drawne to take downe withall the poison contained therein, as in a mingled golden Cup. It is Scaligers note, that Malum non▪ est, nis… bo…o. The originall nature of the Deuill is good▪ wherein all his wickednesse subsisteth. But is eueryevery booke to be inrertained for the much good (though the Printer say, All the good; as if it were all good, except the slip or misprision of a word or two, as liable (notwithstanding) to a faire and charitable vnderstanding, as otherwise) contained in it? Why? The Roman Missall, or Ma…le▪booke hath much good contained in it; in so much, as when a motion was made to the Pope to hauehave it translated into the Mother tongue, for all countries, he answered, Not so, least the …lies (to wit, the common people) should come to taste of the good ointment. Yea the Turkes Alcaron hath much good contained in it. Are these bookes therefore to be approu…d in the true Church of God? When one highly commended the Cardinall Iulian to Sigismund, he answered, T…en Rom…nus est ▪ And though the Authors predicate neuer so much good to be contained in this booke of priuate Deuotions, yet we may answer Tamen Romanus est. It is a Romish booke for all that. And let me tell you, Mr. Printer, and so tell your Author, that the more he commends all the good contained in this worke, the more pernicious and perilous he makes it to our simpler people. Satan is neuer more dangerous▪ then when he comes transformed into an Angell of …ig…t. And that poyson proues the most speedingly mortall, that is administred in a cup of the best wine, which being of a more penetrating and searching nature, then other duller liquor, conueyes the poyson into eueryevery vaine of the body, spurring the spirits post to their finall period? A booke of Deuotion is a golden cup of sprightfull wine, pleasant to eueryevery palate; but if it be mingled with poison, it is the more dang…rous, especially to vulgar palates, who want the quicke and acute judgement o… …ast and relish, to discerne it primoribus labris, at the first touch, taste, or sent, which, as the best and safest antidote may preuent the taking of it downe. And so the case standeth with this worke, Mr. Printer, that the better it is, the worse it is; …ith vnderunder the colour o… venerable Devotion, that execrable strumpet of Rome (vai…ed and ho… ded vnderunder the name of The Church, The Church, The Holy Catholicke Church, the Mother of vsus all; which is the maine summe and scope of the Authors Deuotion) is obtruded and thrust vponupon vsus, to inchant and charme euen those▪ who should be most vigilant and most oculated A…gusses among vsus.

But besides the good, los…: it doth also (say you) purhcase to …he … nor a reproachfull imputati… of way m…ki…g to Popish Deuotion, and apish imitation of Romish superstition. If the Author hath purchas…d to himselfe such an Imputation, it is all at …is owne cost; he hath payd or it, and who shall deny it to be due vntounto him, as his peculiar chattell? Yea he hath bought it at a deare rate no doubt, much sweat, much oyle hath beene spent in this laborious Collection of priuate Deuotions. Such a worke as this may be a rich price for such a purchase. But Mr. Printer, are you sure the Author accounts it a reproachfull imputation to be a way-maker to Popish Deuotion? Is not that your bare imagination, as perhaps not discerning the Serpent lurking vnderunder the greene leaues of Deuotion, or perhaps hauing some sparke of louelove to your Mother Church left, as to judge your Author in t…is case, by your selfe, if it were your owne? Nay, doth not your Author account it an honour to him, to be a deuout instrument among others, to bring in again, and re-e…ect the Religion of Rome in England? OnelyOnly, it may be, two or three words doe not well relish with him: to wit, Popish, Apish, Romish superstition, and perhaps imitation too. All these put together, in this forme, the Author may account it a reprochfull imputation, as to be a way maker to Popish Deuotion, and Apish imitation of Romish superstition. But let Popish, be turned into Catholicke; and, apish imitation, into absolute refoundation; and Romish superstition, into, Religion of the see Apostolicke: Then set the sentence in more handsome tearmes, thus and for a reproachfull imputation, will he not trow you account it, an honourable commendation of way-making to Catholicke Deuotion, and an absolute refoundation of the Religion of the Apost…licke see?

You goe on: And howsoeuer he may be requited for his paines herein, he shall neuer depart from his good intention of wishing▪ that the Reader may at all times, and for all occasions be assisted with diuine grace, obtained by continuall prayer. It seemes you are very intimously priuie to your Authors good intentions, and no lesse solicitous of his rich requitall for his paines herein. And pitty but he should be requi…ed to the full, as he hath deserued: and if not in this world, he may looke for it in the world to come. But hath he but a good intention of wishing? &c. But this good intention (it seemeth) bath relation to his worke, wherein his intention was good to occasion vntounto the reader at all times, and for all occasions assistance of Diuine grace, obtained by continuall prayer; namely by continuall prayer out of this booke of priuate Deuotions, in obseruing his 7. Canonicall houres. Neuer will he depart from th…s his good intention of well-wishing.

And as for the misdeeming censures, and detractions of any (say you) he feareth them not, but rather hopeth that his prayers to God for them will be more beneficiall to them, then any their censures or detractions can be preiudiciall to him. He that durst publish such a popish booke as this, was armed before hand from top to toe, not to feare any mans censure or detraction; when not euen the armed lawes of the Land could deterre him from aduenturing vponupon such a bold attempt, as to go about to bring England backe againe to Popery. But yet he hopeth that his prayers to God for his Censures wilbe more beneficiall to them, then any their Censures or detractions can be preiudiciall to him. You know, that the Fox, the more he is cursed, the more he thri…eth. Their Censures and detractions cannot preiudice the Authors rising higher and higher to preferments, for his good demerits to the Church. But yet he hopeth his prayers will be beneficiall to his Censurers. No doubt, but the Author hath learned the Art of Deuotion to a haire. But what prayers hath he in that kind? He must not pray of his owne head, but what the Church puts in his mouth. And surely I find but one praye… in all his booke, (except the repetition of it in sundry Letanies, a prayer borrowed from the Church too, and not from his owne bowells) for such as he calles his censurers and detracters; as, That it may please thee▪ to forgiue our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and to turne their hearts. But s…ing his hope of doing t…em good by his p…ay…rs, stands rather vponupon comparatiue; then positiue tearmes (for he rather hopes good to them by his prayers, then feares euill from them by their Censures) therefore we leaue his prayers, as doubtfull of their successe; it being rather to be hoped for by his Censurers, that his prayers shall doe them as little harme, as good. In the meane time let him looke, that he wrong not his Censurers, in miscalling their Censures, Misdéeming Censures.

For Conclusion, Hee doth in this, and in all things else, humbly submit himselfe to the judgement of the Church of England, whereof he is a member, & though inferior vntounto most, yet a faithfull Minis…er. I like your conclusion well yet, that your Author doth in this, and in all things else humbly submit himselfe to the Church of England· But I hope that he doth not meane, that the Church of England is pend vp in a corner, or ingrossed by Monopoly to this or that man, or that any one man hath a Papall definitiue voyce, to determine the doctrines of the Church of England▪ for I remember your former apology. That he will defend the faith of the present Church of England by law established … oppose Popery, and Romish superstition. Well; I hope then, that the Church of England, whose body representatiue is now happily assembled …n Parliament, (I meane, not onelyonly the representatiue body Ecclesias…i…k, but ciuill, both together ioyntly representing the Church of England) will take such order with this booke of Deuo…ion, as he shall hauehave no just occasion to complaine he and his booke are vniustly dealt withall censured, or iudged: but that he will be as good as his word, in humbly submitting himselfe· OnelyOnly two things I heartily pray for, as fruits and effects of his humble submision: that he may henceforth approue himselfe a better member of the Church of England; and a more faithfull Minister: and that hee may striue as much to excell others in the best indowments, as he is not inferiour to most in temporall preferments. Which that he may be, and doe, a more ingenuous and humble confession is requisite, then is made vnderunder your name, of a slip or misprision of a word, or two.

Now to conclude all in a word with his owne Conclusion, pag. 417. The blessing: there he is not content with the peace of God, &c. The blessing of God Almightie, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: but he addes, the vertue of Christs blessed Crosse, &c. This forme of Blessing he hath no where learned out of the Communion booke. The vertue of Christs blessed Crosse is of his owne addition. But the Crosse …u…ts well with his Deuotion. He both begins, and ends it with a Crosse. And seeing you, Mr. Printer, hauehave so well appologised for your Author, there is one Crosse for you, and another for him, whereon you may crucifie (at least) your sl…p and misprision. But pray rather, that laying aside all disimulation, and daubing ouer of your rotten booke; and that dealing ingenuously with God and Man, in the humble confession of your grosse faults, and true repentance of the same, you may find that Mercy of God, which followeth vponupon all true belieuers through the only soueraine vertue of Christ Crucified.

Now the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ, and the louelove of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with all them that louelove the Truth in sincerity.

Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Henry Burton, A Trial of Private Devotions (1628)