A Short View of the Prelatical Church of England 2, Treatise 3 – Dedication 2
A Particular of the manifold Evils, Preſsures and Grievances, cauſed, practiſed and occaſioned by the Prelates and their Dependants.
I. FIrſt, the ſubjecting and inclining all Miniſters under them and their Authority, and ſo by degrees exempting of them from the Temporal power, whence follows.
II. The faint-heartedneſs of Miniſters to preach the truth of GOD, leaſt they ſhould diſpleaſe the Prelates, as namely, the Doctrine of Predeſtination, of Free-grace, of Perſeverance, of Original ſin remaining after Baptiſme, of the Sab…ath, the Doctrine againſt Ʋniverſal Grace, Election, for faith fore-ſeen, Free will, againſt Antichriſt, Non reſidents, humane Inventions of GODS worſhip: All which are generally with-field from the peoples knowledge, becauſe not reliſhing to the Biſhops.
III. The incouragement of Miniſters to diſpiſe the Temporal Magiſtracie, the Nobles, and Gentry of the Land, to abuſe the Subject…, and live contentiouſly with their nighbours, knowing that they being the Biſhops Creatures, they ſhall be ſupported.
IV. The reſtraint of many godly and able men from the Miniſtry, and thruſting out of many Congregations their faithful, dil…gent and powerful Miniſters, who lived peaceably with them, and did them good, only becauſe they cannot in conſcience ſubmit unto, and maintain the Biſhops needleſſe divices; nay ſometimes for no other cauſe but for their zeale in preaching, or great Auditories.
V. The ſuppreſſing of that Godly deſign ſet on foot by certain Sects, and ſugred with many great gifts by ſundry well-affected perſons, for the buying of Impropriations, and placing of able Miniſters in them, maintaining of Lectures, and founding of Free-ſchooles; which the Prelates could not endure, leaſt it ſhould darken their glories, and draw the Miniſters from their dependance upon them.
VI. The great increaſe of Idle, lewd, and diſſolute, ignorant and erroneous men in the Miniſtry, which ſwarme like the Locuſts of Egypt over the whole Kingdome: and will they but weare a Cononical Coate, a Surpliſſe, a Hood, bow at the Name of Jeſus, and be zealous of Superſtitious Ceremonies, they may live as they liſt, confront whom they pleaſe, preach and vent what errours they will, and neglect preaching at their pleaſures, without controule.
VII. The diſcouragement of many from bringing up their Children in Learning, the many ſchiſmes, errours and ſtrange opinions which are in the Church; great corruptions which are in the Univerſities; the groſſe and lamentable ignorance almoſt every where among the people; the want of preaching Miniſters in very many places both of England and Wales, the loathing of the Miniſtry, and the general defection to all manner of profaneneſs.
VIII. The ſwarming of laſcivious, idle, and unprofitable Books and Pamphlets, Play-books, and Ballads, as namely, Ovids fits of Love, the Parliament of Women came out at the diſſolving of the laſt Parliament, Barnes Poems, Parkers Ballads in diſgrace of Religion, to the increaſe of all vice, and withdrawing of people from reading, ſtudying, and hearing the Word of God, and other good Books.
IX. The hindring of godly Books to be printed, the blotting out or perverting thoſe which they ſuffer, all or moſt of that which ſtrikes either at Popery, or Arminianiſme, the adding of what or where pleaſeth them, and the reſtraints of reprinting Books formerly licenſed, without relicenſing.
X The puniſhing and venting of Popiſh, Arminian, and other dangerous Books and Tenets, as namely, that the Church of Rome is a true Church, and in the worſt times never erred in Fundamentals; that the Subjects have no propriety in their Eſtates, but that the King may take from them what he pleaſeth; that all is the Kings, and that he is bound by no Law, and many other; from the former whereof hath ſprung,
XI. The growth of Popery, and increaſe of Papiſts, Prieſts and Jeſuites in ſundry places, but eſpecially about London ſince the Reformation, the frequent venting of Crucifixes and Popiſh pictures both engraven and painted, and the placing of ſuch in Bibles.
The multitude of Monopolies and Pattents, drawing with them innumerable Perjuries, the large increaſe of Cuſtomes and Impoſitions upon Commodities, the Ship-monys and many other great burthens upon the Common wealth, under which all groan.
XIII. Moreover, the Offices and Juriſdictions of Arch-Biſhops, Lord-Biſhops, Deanes, Arch-Deacons, being the ſame way of Church-Government which is in the Romiſh Church, and which was in England in the time of Po…ery, little change thereof being made (except only the head from whence it was derived) the ſame Arguments ſupporting the Pope, which do uphold the Prelates and overthrowing the Prelates, which do pull down the Pope, and other reformed Churches having upon their rejection of the Pope, caſt the Prelates out alſo as Members of the Beaſt: Hence it is, that the Prelates here in England by themſelves or their Diſciples plead and maintain that the Pope is not Antichriſt, and that the Church of Rome is a true Church, hath not erred in Fundamental points, and that Salvation is attainable in that Religion, and therefore have reſtrained to pray for the Converſion of our Soveraign Lady the Queen. Hence alſo hath come,
XIV. The great Conformity and likeneſs both continued and increaſed of our Church to the Church of Rome, in veſtures, Poſtures, Ceremonies and Adminiſtrations; namely, as the Biſhops Rotchets, and Lawn-ſleeves, the four corner'd Cap, the Cope and Surpliſſe, the Tippit, the Hood, and the Canonical Coat, the Pulpit clothed, eſpecially now of late with the Jeſuites badge upon them every way.
XV. The ſtanding up at Gloria Patri & at the reading the Goſpel, praying towards the Eaſt, bowing at the Name of JESUS, the bowing to the Altar towards the Eaſt, Croſs in Baptiſme, kneeling at the Communion.
XVI. The turning of the Communion Tables Altar-wiſe, ſetting Images, Crucifixes and conceits over them, and Tapers and Books upon them, and bowing, and adoring to or before them, the reading of the ſecond Service at the Altar, and forcing people to come up thither to receive, or elſe denying the Sacrament to them, terming the Altar to be the Mercy-ſeat, or the place of God Almighty in the Church, which is a plain device to uſher in the Maſſe.
XVII. The Chriſtening and Conſecrating of Churches and Chappels, the Conſecrating Fonts, Pulpits, Tables, Chalices, Church yards, and many other things, and putting holineſs in them; yea, reconſecrating upon pretended pretended pollution, as though every thing were unclean without their Conſecrating, and for want of this, ſundry Churches have been interdicted and kept from uſe as polluted.
XVIII. The Liturgy for the moſt parts framed out of the Romiſh Breviarie Retualium Maſſe-book, alſo the Book of Ordination, for Archbiſhops and Miniſters, framed out of the Roman Pontifical.
XIX. The Multitude of Canons formerly made, wherein, among other things, Excommunication ipſo facto, is denounced for ſpeaking of a word againſt the devices aboveſaid, or ſubſcription thereunto, though no Law enjoyned a reſtraint from the miniſtry without ſuch ſubſcription and Appeal is denyed to any that ſhould refuſe ſubſcription or unlawful conformity, though be never ſo much wronged by the inferiour Judge, alſo the Canons made in the late Sacred Synod, as they call it: wherein are many ſtrange and dangerous devices to undermine the Goſpel, and the Subjects liberties, to propagate Popery to ſpoyl Gods people, inſnare Miniſters and other Students, and ſo to draw all into an abſolute ſubjection and thraldome to them and their government, ſpoiling both the King and the Parliamant of their power.
XX. The countenancing pluriality of Benefices, prohibiting of Marriages without their licenſe at certain times, almoſt half the year, and licenſing of Marriages without Banes asking.
XXI. Prophanation of the Lords day pleading for it, and enjoyning Miniſters to read a Declaration, ſet forth, as it is thought, by their procurement for tolerating of ſports upon that day, ſuſpending and depriving many Godly Miniſters for not reading the ſame only out of Conſcience, it was againſt the Law of God ſo to do, and no Law of the land to enjoyn it.
XXII. The preſſing of the ſtrict obſervation of Saints Dayes, whereby great ſummes of Moneys are drawn out of Vens purſes for working on them, a very high burthen on moſt people, who getting their living by their dayly imployments, muſt either omit them and be idle, or part with their money, whereby many poor families are undone, or brought behind hand, yea m…ny Church-wardens are ſued or threatned to be ſued by their troubleſome Min…ſters, perjured perſons for not preſenting their Pariſhioners who fayled in obſerving Holy dayes.
XXIII. The great increaſe and frequencie of whoredomes, and Ad…lterers, occaſioned by the Prelates Corrupt adminiſtration of juſtice, in ſuch caſes, who taking upon them the puniſhment of it, do turn all into monies for the filling of their purſes, and leaſt their Officers ſhould defraud them of their gain, they have in their late Canon, in ſtead of remedying their vices, decreed that the Commutation of Penance, ſhall not be without the Biſhops privity.
XXIV. The general abuſe of that great ordinance of Excommunication, which GOD hath left in his Church to be uſed as the laſt and greateſt puniſhment the Church can inflict upon obſtinate and great offenders, and that the Prelates and their officers, who of right, have nothing to do with it, do daily excomunicate men either for doing that which is lawful, or for vain, idle and trivial matters, as working or opening a ſhop on a Holi-day, for not appearing at every beck upon their ſummons, not paying a fee or the like, yea they have made it, as they do all other things, a hook or inſtrument wherewith to empty mens purſes, and to advance their own greatneſſe, and ſo that ſacred ordinance of God, by their perverting of it, becomes contemptable to all men, and ſeldome or never uſed againſt notorious offenders, who, for the moſt part, are their favorites.
XXV. Yea further the pride and ambition of the Prelates being boundleſſe, unwilling to be ſubject to either man or Laws, they claim their Office and Juriſdiction to be Jure divino, exerciſe Eccleſiaſtical authority in their own names and Rights, and under their own Seals, and take upon them temporal dignities, places, and offices in the Commonwealth that they may ſway both ſwords.
XXVI. Whence follows the taking Commiſſions in their own Courts and Conſiſtories, and where elſe they ſit in matters determinable of Right at Common Law, the putting of Miniſters upon Pariſhes, without the Patrons and peoples conſent.
XXVII. The impoſing of Oaths of various and trivial Articles yearly upon Church-wardens, and Side-men, which without perjury, unleſſe they fall at jars continually with their Miniſters and neighbours, and wholly neglect their own calling.
XXVIII The exerciſing of the Oath ex Off…io, and other proceedings by the way of Inquiſition, reaching even to mens thoughts, the apprehending and detaining of men by Purſivants, the frequent ſuſpending and depriving of Miniſters, fining and impriſoning of all ſorts of people, breaking up of mens houſes and ſtudies, taking away mens Books, Letters, and other writings, ſeizing upon their Eſtates, removing them from their callings, ſeparating between them and their wives againſt both their wills, the rejection of prohibitions with threatnings, and the doing of many other out-rages, to the utter infringing the Lawes of the Realm, and the Subjects liberties, and arraigning of them and their families; and of later time the Judges of the Land are ſo awed with the power and greatneſſe of the Prelates, and other wayes promoted, that neither prohibition, Habeas Corpus, or any other lawful remedy can be had or take place for the diſtreſſed Subjects in moſt caſes, onelyonly Papiſts, Jeſuites, Prieſts, and ſuch others as propagate Popery or Arminianiſm are countenanced, ſpared, and have much liberty, and from hence followed among others theſe dangerous conſequences.
I. FIrſt the general hope and expectation of the Romiſh part, that their ſuperſtitious Religion will ere long be fully planted in this Kingdom again, and ſo they are encouraged to perſiſt therein, and to practice the ſame openly in divers places, to the high diſhonour of God, and contrary to the laws of the Realm.
II. Secondly, the diſcouragement and deſtruction of all good Subjects, of whom all multitudes both Clothiers, Merchants, and others being deprived of their Miniſters, and over-burthened with theſe preſſures, have departed the Kingdom, to Holland and other parts, and have drawn with them a great part of manufacturé of Cloth and Trading out of the land into other places, where they reſide, whereby wooll, the great ſtaple of the Kingdom, is become of ſmall value and vends not, trading is decayed, many poor people want work, Sea-men loſe employment, and the whole land much impoveriſhed, to the great diſhonour of this Kingdom, and blemiſhment to the government thereof.
III. The preſent wars and commotions hapned between his Majeſty and his Subjects of S…otland, wherein his Maieſty and all his Kingdom are indangered, and ſuffer greatly, and are like to become a prey to the common Enemy, in caſe the wars go on, which we exceedingly fear will not onelyonly go on, but alſo encreaſe to an utter ruine of all, unleſſe the Prelate… with their dependancies be removed out of England, and alſo they and their practiſes, who, as we, under your Honours favour, do verily believe and conceive, have occaſioned the quarrel.
All which we humbly refer to the conſideration of this honourable Aſſembly, deſiring the Lord of Heaven to direct you in the right way to redreſſe all theſe evils.
FINIS.
THE ANATOMIE OF THE Common Prayer-Book, Wherein is Remonſtrated the Unlawfulneſs of it: and that by Five ſeveral Arguments.
Namely,
From the Name of it,
The Riſe,
The Matter,
The Manner, and
The Evil Effects of it.
John 9.31. Now we know that GOD heareth not Sinners; but if any man be a Worſhipper of God, and doth his Will, him he heareth.
foreign.
A pure Prayer is Gods Temple.
By DWALPHINTRAMIS.
Printed in the year, 1661.
TO The Well-affected READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
OUt of a Reſpect to the Glory of the great God, who is a God that will he worſhipped by true Worſhippers in Spirit and in Truth, as alſo with a Deſire of thy eternal good; here is preſented this following Treatiſe, which was formerly Penned by ſome Eminent Orthodox Divines, Late Non-Conformiſts, wherein are many ſolid Arguments, and Reaſons, declaring, and clearly proving, the Book of Common-Prayer, or Liturgie, to be wholly taken out of the Maſſe-book; As firſt, The Common-Prayers are taken out of the Breviary; Secondly, The Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, Burial, Matrimony, Viſitation of the Sick, are taken out of the Ritual, or Book of Rites; Thirdly, The Conſecration of the Lords Supper, Collects, Epiſtles and Goſpels, are out of the Maſſe-book: Fourthly, The Ordination of Archbiſhops, Biſhops, and Miniſters, is out of the Roman Pontifical: So that the Service-book being thus unmasked, is plainly evinced, to be a rank Impoſtor in Gods Worſhip; and, notwithſtanding its long Poſſeſſion, it is even a violent intruder in the Houſe of God.
Then a Word to you Readers, which are of Three ſorts, either doubtful in ſuſpenſe, vvho by this Treatiſe may be fully reſolved; or ſuch as uſe it, and Idolize it, by ſtrength of Reaſon may be brought off, and that ſuch as cannot brook it, may be encouraged, not only (as a Learned Author obſerveth) becauſe many of Gods People are of the ſame mind, but chiefly becauſe God is of the ſame mind: Laſtly, How much doth it concern all ſuch, who have lifted up their hands to the Moſt High God, in a Solemn League and Covenant, for the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superſtition, Hereſie, Prophaneſs, and the Reformation of Religion, in Doctrine, Worſhip, and Diſcipline, according to the Word of God, and the beſt Reformed Churches, to contend earneſtly for the Truth, and for purity in Gods Worſhip? This being the prime work of the day, and of this Book, to inform thee of the Truth, and (as the Scripture ſaith) if the Truth make us free, we ſhall be free indeed.