News from Ipswitch, Report
NEWES FROM IPSWICH: Discovering certaine late detestable practises of some domineering Lordly Prelates, to undermine the established doctrine and discipline of our Church, extirpate all orthodoxe sincere Preachers, and preaching of Gods Word, usher in Popery, supestition and Idolatry; with their late notorious Purgations of the new Fast book, contrarie to his Majesties Proclamation, and their intolerable affront therein offered to the most Illustrious Lady Elizabeth, the Kings only Sister, and her Children (even whiles they are now loyall entertained at Court) in blootting them out of the Collect; and to his Majestie, his Queene, and and their Royall Progeny, in blotting them out of the number of Gods Elect.
Printed at Ipswich.
JEREM. 23.1.
Woe bee unto the Pastors; that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord.
ACTS 20.28, 29.
Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feede the Church of God, which hee hath purchased with his owne bloud. For this I know, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Newes from Ipswich.
CHristian Reader, this is the deploreable News of our present age, that our presses formerly open only to Trueth and Piety, are closed up against them both of late, and patent for the most part, to nought but errour superstition, and profanesse. Witnesse thoseaShelford 5 Treatises, Rheeve Cōmunion book Catechisme expounded. Chounaeus Collect, A Coale from the altar, the female glory. Studly D. Lawrence, and Browns Sermons, with others. Apparatusad hist. Eccles. many prophane erroneous, impious books, printed within these three years by authoritie (point-blanke against the established doctrine of the Church of England, and his Majesties pious bBefore the 39 articles, and concerning the Parliaments dissolution. pag. 202. l. 22.42.Declarations) in defence of Arminianisme, Popery, and Popish ceremonies, and which is yet more impious and detestable, against the cThe treatise historie, doctrine, and discourse of the Sabbath; A soveraigne Antidote. Dr. Primrose Rhieve Shelford, and Powel, in the life of King Lue.very moralitie of the Sabboth, and fourth Commadement: the divine institution, title and intire religious sactification of the Lords day Sabbath, and the necessitie of frequent preaching, (exceedingly pressed in our dPreface to them, of the right use of the Church.Homilies, and booke of Ordination) which some of our unpreaching, domineering secular Prelats (out of their Arch-piety towards GOD, and Arch-charity to the peoples soules which they seek to murder, (now so far detest, that they not only give over preaching themselves, as no part of their function, and suppresse most weekday Lectures in diverse Countries: but have likewise lately shut up the mouthes of sundry of our most godly, powerfull, painefull preachers (who have woon more soules to GOD in a year, than all the Lords Bishops in England, or the world have done in diverse ages) out of meere malice to Religion and the peoples salvation, contrary to the very Lawes of GOD and the Realm; strictly prohibited, under pain of suspension, in sundrie Diocesse, all afternoone Sermons on the Lords own day: that so the prophane vulgar might have more time to dance, play, revell, drinke, and prophane God Sabbaths, even in these dayes of plague and pestilence eExhortation to those that are to be made Ministers.to draw downe more plagues and judgements on us, for this sin of Sabbath-breaking, fBishop Latimers 1.4, 5, 6. Sermons before King Edward, and his Sermon of the Plough. 1 Nehem. 13.18. Levit. 26.46. to 55. Ierem. 17.17. Ezok. 20.13. to 22. the Fastbook. Iacobi & Caroli, and the examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers.when as not only the hSessio 14.Synod of Dort, butiApud Bochel Decreta Ecclesiast. Gal. l. 1. Tit. 3. c. 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18 37, 52 & l. 4. Tit. 7. c. 26. sundry Popish Synods and Bishops have beene so religious, as to prescribe Two Sermons every Lords day at least, in every parish Church, to keepe the people from such prophanations of this sacred Day. Alas, what couldkMatth 12.24. Belzebub the Prince of Devils had he bene an archbishop or Lordly Prelate heere in England (as there were many Divels Bishops, at least, Bishops Divels, in lSermon 33. in Cant. & in Concil. Rhemensi.Bernards age, and most far there are too many now,) have done more against the strict intire sanctification of the Christian Sabbath day tomHom. 3. against rebellion. q. 293. & of the time and place of prayer. make it the Divels day in stead of the Lords day, and to advance his own kingdome and service on it: or against the frequent powerfull preachers, and preaching of Gods word, and salvation of the peoples soules, then some Luciferian Lord Bishops have lately done? Whose impietie in this kinde transcends all presidents whatsoever in former ages. And yet these profane, atheisticall gracelesse persecutors of all holinesse, piety, sincerity, godly Ministers, and preaching of Gods word (yea in these pestilentiall times, as meanes to spread the plague, though then2 Chron. 6.28, 29, 30. c. 7.13, 14. Numb. 25.6. to 10. Ioel 1 and 2. Zeph. 2.1, 2, See the Fastbook. 1 Iacobi & Caroli Scripture, andoB Bancrofts Sermon, and B. Whites. Treatise of the Sabbath day, Epist. dedic. all former ages have prescribed fasting, preaching, and praying, as the chiefe antidotes and and cure against it) will needs be Lord BishopspAct. 20.28. 1 Tim. 3.2. c. 4.11.…0.17. 2 Tim. 4.1. to 51. Tit. 1.9. c. 2.1.10.13. c. 3.1. to 12. 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. Jure divino, by the holy Ghosts own institution (who never yet instituted any qB. White Epist. dedic. to his treatise of the Sabbath; and Rheeve epist. dedic. before his exposition of his catechism in the Communion book p. 2.in preaching, rare preaching Prelates or persecutors and suppressors of preaching) and shame not to stile themselves, the rZeph. 2.1, 2, 3. Numb. 16.46godly holy fathers of our Church, and pillars of our faith, when as their fruits and actions manifest them to be nought else but the very Step-fathers, and Caterpillars, the very pests and plagues of both. Take but one fresh instance for an example: these desperate Archagents for the Divell, and Pope of Rome, and Master underminers of our Religion as they were the only instruments of delaying the present generall fast in the beginning of the pestilence,sB. Latimers 4, and 6. Srmons before K. Edward, which I wold our Prelates would now peruse, and his sermon of the Plough. when it was most acceptable and requisite; So to shew their inveterate malice against preachingtDeclaration before the 39 articles, and of the dissolution of the parliament. p. …1. 42. the thing that the Divell wrastleth most against all, whose study hath beene to decay the office of preaching, which should not be deminished, they contrary to his Majesties pious intention who hath so uZeph. ….…, 2 3. Isay 58. to 8. Ier. 25.29 c. 36.6. to 11. Acts 16.18: Heb. 1.2.13. 2 Tim. 2.25, 26.oft protested against all innovations) have cunningly caused all sermons (the very life and soul of a Fast, as being the only meanes to humble men for their sins, and bring them to repentance) to be prohibited on the fast day both in London and the Suburbs, and in all other infected places, during the time of the infection in them; in parishes not infected, (as if preaching only of all Gods ordinances were pestilenciall, and that on the Fast day, and not on others) contrary to the presidents of all former ages, and theyAmos 8.11, 12. Orders for the generall fasts in the two last great plagues, which prescribed two sermons of one houre long a peace, forenoone and afternoone every fast day, and that as well in parishes infected as others: even in the Summer season, when in the infection was more contagious and raging than now. By which device they have not only made this fast distastfull to all*Who stile it a dumb fast and mockfast. sorts of men in infected places, who have little heart unto it, robbed the poore of much charitable reliefe, and deprived the people of the spirituall foode and Physicke of their souls, when they need and desire it most, to their intolerable grief and discontent, but quite suppressed all settled Wensday Lectures in London, and other infected Townes, as long as the infection shall continue in any one parish, though it should last these seventh years the thing they principally aimed at:) forced many Ministers and people to flie out of infected places to the Countrey, to keep their fasts, where there is preaching brought in axOrder 6. for the Fast. famine of Gods word, the greatest plague of all others, to the increasing and further spreading of the present Pestilence, and drawing down of Gods wrath upon us to aSee the proclamation.the uttermost, by inhibiting Ministers in the time of greatest need to preach unto the people that they may bee saved. O heavens stand amazed at this unparreled practise of impious popish prelats! But is this all? No verily. For where as his MajestiebThe Collect for the Queene, &c. commanded, that the booke of common prayer for the fast, *1 Thes. 2.15, 16. Isay 30.9. to 17. 2 Chron. 34:16.formerly set forth by his authoritie upon the like occasion should be reprinted; these Romish Inquisitors have miserably gelded it, after it was new printed, in sundry particulars. First, they have purged out the prayer for seasonable weather, one cause of the shipwracks, and tempestuous unseasonable weather, ever since its publication. Secondly, they have dashedc2 Tim. 4.1 to 5. Luke 19.47.21:37. Iohn 18.2…. Acts 2.46. c. 5.4. the Lady Elizabeth and her children, in the old Collect, quite out of the new; as they have expunged both them with our gracious King, Queene, and their children out of the catologue of Gods elect, by bloating out this clause (who art the father of thine elect and of their seed) out of the Collect for them in this and all new Common prayer books, as if they were all reprobates, and none of the number of Gods elect, either to a temporall or an eternall crown. O intolerable impietie, affront, and horrid treason. Thirdly, they have left out this Collect, It had beene best for us, &c. in the new booke (though the most effectuall prayer of all) because it magnifies continuall, often preaching of Gods word, and the Scriptures, and calls our powerfull preachers Gods servants. A signe these Prelats have conspired together like so many execrable traytors, to extirpate our frequent powerfull preachers, and continuall preaching of Gods word (as they have done in many places of late (though prescribed by God dOf the right use of the Church.himself and eNumb. 25.1: to 1…. c. 3.16. Ioh. 22.17.1. Chron. 21.13, 14. Psal. 106.28, 29. Ezek. 3.11, 12:17. c. 6:12.13. c. 12:16. c. 14.35:19, 21. Amos 44.10.our Homilies Fourthly, they have dashed this remarkable clause out of the first Collect, Thou hast delivered us from superstition and idolatrie (two graund causes both of many former, and our present plagues no doubt) wherein wee were utterly drowned, and hast brought us into the most clear and comfortable light of thy blessed word: by which we are taught how to serve and honour thee, and how to live orderly with our neighbours in truth and veritie: the rest of the Collect remaining as before. Now what can be the cause of this strange purgation, but a resolved professed conspiracy of these Romish Prelats, even now againe utterly to drown us in *Witnesse their altering of the Gunpowder treason book, their pleading for the Pope and Church of Rome, & setting up Altarsimages, Crucifixes, & bowing to them in all Cathedralls, and elsewhere & in their own chappells.popish superstition and idolatry (which have now drowned us in Gods judgements, by their stupendious late increase among us) and to remove us out of the most cleare and comfortable light of Gods word, whereby we are taught how to serve and honour him, the true cause why they now suppresse Lectures, preaching and suspend our powerfullest Preachers every where; that so we may walke on in romish hellish darknesse, serving and honouring the Pope and Devill in stead of God, and live in all disorder with trueth and veritie. Fifthly, in the sixt order for the fast, they have pared away this passage. To avoide the inconvenience that may grow by the abuse of fasting; Some esteeming it a meritorius worke, others a good worke, and of it selfe acceptable to God without due regard of the end, OnelyOnly to gratifie the Papists, whose gBelar. de Bonis O. peribus. c. 11. Bonavent, dies fac. 15.doctrine is this, and to place some merit in this present fast: adding this clause to it, in places where Sermons are allowed by the Proclamation; of purpose to put downe Wednesday Lectures, and preaching in London and other places where any Parish is infected. If these Prelates then be thus disperately wicked and Popish, as to take advantage of Gods judgements, to suppresse the Preaching and Preachers of his Word, when it is most necessary and usefull, and to countenance, justifie, and set up Popery, superstition, idolatrie, errour and disorder (the chiefe causes of our plagues) even in these dayes of pestilence, and that is the very Fasbooks to abuse andhIob. 13.9. Gal. 6.7. mock God to his face, to dishonour his Majestie and grieve his peoples soules; how transcendently impious and popish will they prove, when God shall stay this plague if they be not now deservedly punished for these their notorious impieties? And is it not high time then for his Majestie to hang up such Archtraytors to our faith, Church, Religion, and such true-bred sons to the Romane Antichrist, (from whomiSunday to Sabbath, 22. and 44. Dr. Pocklington boasts they are lineally descended) and to execute judgement on them for these strange purgations, and other their Romish Innovations, whereat the whole Kingdome cry shame, which breed a generall feare of a sudden alteration of our religion? Certainly till his Majesties shall see these purgations rectified, superstition and idolatrie removed Gods Sabbaths duly sanctified, the suppressed Preachers and *The honour and safetie of the Kingdome. 2 Chron. 7 7.8.9.10.preaching of Gods word restored, and hang up some of these Romish Prelates and Inquisitors before the Lord as the kSam. 2.1 Num. 25.4Gibonites did the seven sons of Saul, we can never hope to abate any of Gods plagues, or draw downe any of his blessings on us bylEsay 58.3 4, 5, &c. such a fast, and Fastbooke as this, but augment his plagues and judgements more and more, which have strangely increased since this fast begun, contrary to all humane reason and probability, whereas it much decreased before; the totall number dying of the plague, the week before the fast being but 458. and 58. parishes infected, and the very first weeke of the fast 838 (treble the number the second last greatest plagues) and 67 parishes infected mAnd that the very next weeke after an order there published, that every Scholler should bow to the Altar, and at the name of Jesus under paine of expulsion out of the university after two admonitions, an idolatrous and superstitious order.Cambridge, Norwich, Hamton, Bath, and other eminent places cleare before, being likewise visited since this fast begun; a cleare evidence, that GOD is much offended with these purgations, and the restraint of preaching on the fast day, against which some Prelats are so mad, that they have silenced, and persecuted divers Ministers since the fast proclaimed, there being now so many suspended in our Norwich Diocesse, only for not yeelding to popish innovation, that in sundry Churches they have neither prayers, preaching, nor fasting, which hath brought the plague among them, and made the people at their wits ends, many Ministers and people there having left the Kingdome, and thousands more being readie to depart the Land, there being never such a persecution or havock made among Gods Ministers since Q. Maries dayes, as a lecherous proud insolante Prelate hath there lately made against all Lawes of God and man, to the astonishment of the whole Realme. What then can we expect but plague upon plagues, till such desperate persecutors be cut off, and Gods Word and Ministers restostored unto their former liberty, by our most gratious Soveraigne, persecution of Gods Ministers and people being on chiefe nEze. 18.23, 24, c. 38.28.22 Eze. 14 12 Euzebius Eccles. Hist: l. 9. c. 8 Cent Mag. 3. c. 3. p. 31 32. cent. 4 c. 3. p. 15.6 H. Holland his Spirituall preservative against the Plague.cause of plagues? Wherefore O England, England, if ever thou wilt be free from pests and judgements, take notice of these thy Antichristian Prelates, desperate practises, innovations, and popish designes, to bewaile, oppose, redresse them withall thy force and power: O all yee English Nobles, Courtiers and other, who have any love or sparke of religion, piety, zeale, and tendernesse of his Majesties honour, or care for the peoples, the Church, or kingdomes safety yet remaining within your generous brest putt to your helping hands and prayers, to rescue our Religion, and faithfull Ministers, now suspended, from the jawes of these devouring o wolves, qBefore the 39. Articles and of the dissolution of the Parliament p. 21 42.and tyrannizing Lordly Prelats (raised from the dunghill) who make havock of them both. O our most pious King Charles, as thou hast in two severallpAct. 2. c. 29. Declarations, protested before God to all thy loving Subjects, That thou wilt never give way to the licensing or authorising of any thing, whereby ANY INNOVATION IN THE LEAST DEGREE may creept into our church, nor never connive at ANY BACKSLIDING TO POPERY; and that it is my hearts desire, to be found worthy of that title which thou esteemest the most glorious in all thy Crowne, Defender, of the faith, so now behold these desperate innovations, purgations, and Romish practises of thy Prelats, in open affront of these thy Declarations; and now or never shew thy selfe (as we all hope, believe, and pray thou wilt) a Prince more worthy of this glorious Title, than any of thy royall progenitors, by rooting all Popery, superstition, idolatry, errours, innovations, out of this Church and Kingdome, by restoring the Preaching, the Preachers of Gods word, and purity of his worship, andqRom. 13 4. taking vengeance on these perfidious Prelats, who have thus gelded thy Fast-booke (and intend to make an Index expurgatorious upon all other ancient English Writers, ere they be reprinted, a thing conconsiderable) thus openly abused thy onelyonly Sister, and her Children, now present with thee: oppressed and grieved thy faithfull Subjects, dishonoured thy God, betrayed thy religion, increased the plague among thy people, and as much as in them lyeth, robbed thee both of thy Gods and peoples loves, and pulled thy Crowne off thy Royall head, to set it on their own trayterous, ambitious pats, by exercising all ecclesiasticall power, yea Papall jurisdiction over thy Subjects in their own names, and rights alone: and by trampling all thy lawes and Subjects liberties like Cobwebs, thy Subjects like Dogs and dirt,rPs. 106.30 under their tyrannicall Papall feet. If thou thus execute judgement on them, and ease thy people from their intollerable tyrannie, no doubt this plague shall be eased, and this fast be pleasing to the Lord: else he will not except it, but proceede to plague more and more: O blessed Soveraigne, that thou didst but heare the severall cryes and outcryes of thy people against these persecuting Prelats in many places, especially in our Norwich Diocesse, where little Pope*It signifies both a little King, a Wren, & likewise a Serpent, called a Basilick, so called, because like a tyrant he killeth men with his very scent. Regulus hath played such Rex, that he hath suspended above 60. of our sincerest painefullest conformable Ministers, both from their Office and Benefices, so as many of our Churches (as the like was never since King Johns dayes) are quite shut up and Lord have merciemercy upon us may be written on their dootes: the people cry for the bread of their souls, and their Ministers are prohibited to give it them; This not only wounds, but breaks their hearts, and makes them amazed. O therefore Gracious Soveraigne helpe now, and heare the Petitions, Cryes and Teares of thy poore people, and hang up these Popelings for these and other their innumerable oppressions, extortions, innovations, and harmes, who suspend, imprison, and ruine others for meere toyes and trifles, yea for defending your royall Prerogative against their Papall usurpations.
This is all the newes I shall not impart in this Coranto, the next weeke God-willing yee shall heere of Mr. Dade his excommunicating of Ferdinando Adams, a Church-warden in our Towne, for not blotting out of this sentence of Scripture written on Mr. Wards Church-wall over his bawdy theevish Court. Mat. 21 13.It is written, My house shall he called an house of Prayer, but yee have made it a den of theeves; which excommunication is of record in Starchamber; of our Bishops, commanding.o1 Cor. 9 16. Woe is me if I preach not the Gospell, out of Mr. Scots Church, and of the strange proceedings at Colechester against Mr. Samuel Burrowes, for inditing Parson Necoman for railing in the Communion Table Altar-wise, and causing the Communicants to come up to the raile to receive, in a new accustomed manner, contrary to the Statute of 1. Eliz. c. 2. and his Majesties Declarations, this last Machealmas Sessions: which Indicement the Grand-Iury hath found, but his Majesty yet can get no judgement. In the meane time, I shall conclude my Newes with the words of Patrick Adamson, archbishop of St. Andrews in his publick recantation in the Synod of Fiffe, Aprill. 8. 1591. That the office of a Diocesian bishop hath no authority at all to support it in the Word of God, *Patrici… Adamsoni Palinodia, p. 55.that it is onelyonly founded on the politicke device of men; that the primacy of the Pope or Antichrist sprung from it, that it is worthily condemned, and that it hath beene for 50. yeares, and more, the chiefe originall and Instrument of suppressing the Preaching of Gods Word in all Kingdomes, as all Ecclasiasticall Historians testifie: I therefore shall close up all with the Collect on St. Matthias day; Almighty God, which in the place of the traytor*Act. 1.20 Bishop Judas did chuse thy faithfull servant Matthias, to be of the number of the 12. Apostles: Grant that thy Church, being alwayes preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithfull and true Pastors, through Iesus Christ our Lord. And with the Collect on St. Peters day, Almighty God, which by the Son Jesus Christ hath given to thy Apostle St. Peter many excellent gifts, and commandest him earnestly to feede thy Flocke: make (wee besecch thee) all Bishops and Pastors *Which few Bishops now doe.diligently to Preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the Crowne of everlasting glory, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From Ipswich November, 12. Thine in the Lord, Matthew White.
End of the text · William Prynne, News from Ipswitch (1636)