The Gentle Lash, Manifesto
The Doctors Manifesto and CHALLENGE.
Whereas a false and scandalous report is bruited by the Semi-separatists and Anabaptists, and readily entertained by divers Zelots of the new Reformation; that I, who have preached and printed so much against Popery heretofore, now in my old dayes being ready to leave this world, have fallen away from my holy profession, and am in heart a Papist, there being found very many popish bookes in my study. And because I have learned from the mouth of S. …erome, that though other wrongs may be put up and answered with silence, committing the revenge thereof to the righteous Judge, injustissime judicato justissime judicaturo: yet, that in suspitione haereseos r…eminem oportet silere, that no man ought to be silent when he is charged with Heresie. I have thought fit to make knowne to all whom it may concerne, that being chosen Provost of Chelsey Colledge, I have under the broad Seale of England, a Warrant to buy, have, and keepe, all manner of popish bookes, and that I never bought or kept any of them, but to this end and purpose, the better to informe my selfe to refute them; and for my judgement and resolution in poynt of Religion. I professe before God and his holy Angels, and the whole world, that what I have heretofore preached, written, and Printed, against the errors, heresies, Idolatry, and manifold superstitions of the Romish church, is the truth of God, and that I am most ready and willing, if I be called thereunto, to signe and seale it with my blood.
And whereas I am certainly informed, that divers Lecturers and Preachers in London and the Suburbs, who have entred upon the labours of many worthy Divines, and reaped their harvest, doe in their owne Pulpits, after a most insolent manner, insult upon them; demanding, where are they now that dare stand up in defende of Church Hierarchy or booke of Common Prayer, or any may oppose or impugne the new intended Reformation, both in doctrine and discipline of the Church of England? I doe here protest, that I doe and will maintaine by disputation or writing, against any of them, these three conclusions.
First, that the Articles of Religion, agreed upon in the yeare 1.of our Lord, 1562. by both houses of Convocation, and ratified by Q. Elizabeth, need no alteration at all, but onelyonly an Orthodox explication in some ambiguous phrases, and a vindication against false aspersions.
Secondly, that the Discipline of the Church of England, established 2.by many lawes and Acts of Parliament; that is, the government by Bishops (removing all late innovations and abuses in the execution thereof) is agreeable to Gods Word, and a truly, ancient, and Apostolicall Institution.
Thirdly, that there ought to be a set forme of publike prayer, …3and that the booke of Common Prayer (the Calendar being reformed, in poynt of Apochryphill Saints and Chapters, some Rubricks explained, and some expressions revised, and the whole correctly Printed, with all the Psalmes, Chapters, and allegations out of the old and new Testament, according to the last translation) is the most compleat, perfect, and exact Liturgie now extant in the Christian world.
DANIEL FEATLEY.
FINIS.
End of the text · Daniel Featley, The Gentle Lash (1644)