Gospel Public Worship, Petition – To the reader 2
TO THE Right Honourable, the LORDS of the Upper-Houſe of PARLIAMENT. The Humble Petition of Thomas Brewer, cloſe Priſoner in the Kings-Bench,
Sheweth,
FIrſt, that the Petitioner was Anno Dom. 1626. October the 18. impriſoned by the Prelates, and their ſecond Court-Day after fined one thouſand pounds, and condemned to be cloſe impriſoned, till he at Pauls Croſs ſhould recant his Legal, Loyal, Reaſonable and Seaſonable ſaying, That Becauſe the Prelates did not derive their Offices from his Majeſty as they ought, therefore he durſt not partake with them, nor the Derivers of their Offices from them, in the proper Works of their Offices.
II.
That that Fine and Impriſonment, hath been extended without mitigation to all extremity in their power, to the near ruining of his Life and Livelyhood ever ſince, onelyonly for the ſaid ſaying, on due occaſion, by their long-laboured Project, without hope of relief but by Parliament, which is the ſum of what enſueth.
III.
That that ſaying was Legal by the Law of God, and by many Statutes, and the Common-Law; and that their ſo Fining, Impriſoning, and extream Preſſures, were Illegal, the Petitioner is ready to prove; and alſo that they profeſs that their Illegal Derivation, in their Treatiſe of Conſecration of Biſhops, Page 10. to the 140.
IV.
That it was Legal, is manifeſt by King James his Approbation of that the Petitioners ſaying, Anno Dom. One thouſand ſix Hundred and Eighteen, on, or near the like occaſion; and by his Protection of Him all His Raign after; and by His now Majesties ſeconding of the ſame upon his own notice, and other ſufficient Teſtimony thereof, at the Petitioners firſt Impriſonment, who therefore charged the Motioner thereof (being of His Majesties Bed-Chamber) to ſee the Priſoner freed, ſince he was for His Supremacy, and the Laws for it; though all was fruſtrate by the private endeavours with HIM of the now chief Prelate; who, and his like, and Inſtruments, have to their utmoſt perſecuted the Petitioner ever ſince, both by ſtopping all Legal courſes of Judicature in the Common-pleas, and Kings-Bench, and in all Appeals to His Majesty; and by aggravating his Impriſonment, with laying the ſaid Fine on his body, beſides the extent of his Goods and his Lands, rated by the Jury at 140 l. per annum; and many other extream ways, above theſe 14. years, eſpecially theſe 5. years by cloſe Impriſonment, Though the former was reverſed by the Common-pleas, and though he was not of any illegal Religion nor behaviour.
V.
That it was alſo reaſonable, is apparent by the great penalties on the breakers of thoſe Statutes; that is of High-Treaſon, in the Derivers of their Eccleſiaſtical Offices from the See of Rome, and Felony in the partakers with them, and praemunire on the not Derivers of their Offices from the King, being confeſſed, and profeſſed by themſelves, in their Treatiſe of the Conſecration of Biſhops, Lib. 1. Cap. 2. to Lib. 3. Cap. 8. p. 8. to 140. Dedicated to the then Archbiſhop of Canterbury; Eſpecially becauſe that was proceeded in by his Graces Fatherly direction and encouragement. Epiſt. Ded. in the end, and printed by the Kings Printer, Anno Dom. 1613. not yet revoked, but much dignified by its enlarging and publiſhing in Latine, Anno Dom. 1626. by Sir Nathaniel Brent, and by the conſtant profeſſion of all the Prelates in their own Courts, and in the Star-Chamber, and in all their Courſes ever ſince.
VI.
That it was alſo the more reaſonable and ſeaſonable by their betraying Inſtrument the ſaid Sir Nathaniel Brent, his proteſting it ſhould be for the Petitioners great good, to inſiſt upon his former ſaying to King James, which therefore the Petitioner did; But that hath been ever ſince extended to the contrary with all the extremity in their and his power, in all kind of diſtreſſes aboveſaid, and leaving 2000 li. Debts, eating on his lands ever ſince; with many other exorbitant preſſures, too large and troubleſome for this time and place.
VII.
That the Petitioner having endeavoured by all fit and requiſite ways and means, for a Legal Hearing of his good cauſe, and bad caſe for it, hath been always delayed, or denyed that courſe of Juſtice, and the legal liberty of the Priſon, and hath no hope of Relief, but by this Honorable Houſe, to whom he is ready to aver and prove the Premiſes.
May it therefore pleaſe your Lordſhips to vouchſafe a Hearing of your Petitioners Cauſe in the Premiſes, and to grant him his liberty to inſtruct his Councel, and prepare his Proofs, and to command the Regiſter of the Eccleſiaſtical Commiſſion to bring his Books, to ſhew the cauſe of the Petitioners Commitment, and Fine of 1000 li. Or to account theſe long, many, and great ſufferings ſufficient for this firſt and onelyonly fault (if any) for which in all theſe 65. years of his age, he hath been cenſured.
And your Petitioner ſhall pray, &c. Tho. Brewer. Novem. 24. 1640.
A Star to guide the Reader: Or, a Key to the enſuing Treatiſe.
READER,
FOr thy Direction in, and more ready uſe of, the Marks (and Letters) in the Analyſis and Tables enſuing; Obſerve, that every firſt, or number 1. hath its ſecond, or number 2. and ſo are like Iachin and Boaz, the two Pillars in the Porch of the Temple (and not a third, except pag. 19. line 12. where this Mark * before 3. ens ſhould be ſupplyed; whoſe ſecond is pag. 16. line 3. and its firſt, page 15. line 26. Or where a head is preſently branched forth, as page 11. and the like) For inſtance, page 7. there are theſe Marks, ¶ [*] [†] (:) * † () whoſe ſeconds follow with the ſame Marks; and the laſt mark is ſtill anſwered firſt, as this mark () p. 7. l. 20. hath its ſecond mark (and head) p. 8. l. 16. this mark † p. 7. l. 19. hath its ſecond p. 8. l. 22. this mark * p. 7. l. 18. its ſecond, p. 9. l. 5. And the like, when a ſecond head is branched into divers parts; and the ſame order is to be obſerved throughout.
And where the firſts have their ſeconds, in the ſame page (or in view) equal Indentions (viz. the ſtanding even of the ſecond under its firſt) together with the ſenſe, will guide thee: therefore (oft-times) in ſuch places, marks are omitted.
The Tranſlation, Metaphraſe, Analyſis, and Expoſition, of Romans the 12. the 1. to the 8. Deſcribing, and Preſcribing the compleat Pattern of Goſpel Publike-Worſhip. Rom. the 12. the 1. to the 8.
1. I Beſeech you therefore brethren, by the Mercies of God, to preſent your bodies a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, even your Scripture (Word) Worſhip.
2. And be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed in the Renovation of your minde, that ye may approve what that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is, (or willeth.)
3. For I, by the (Apoſtolike) Grace given me, charge every one among you, that ye arrogate (or over-mind) not beſide what ye ought to minde, but minde ye unto ſobriety, or (ſound-mindedneſs) each one as God hath apportioned to him the Portion of Faith.
4. For as we have many Members in one Body, and all Members have not one (the ſame) function;
5. So we being many, are one Body in Chriſt, and each one anothers Members.
6. Having then Gifts (according to the Grace of God) diſtinct, whether propheſie, according to the proportion of Faith:
7. Or Ministry, (i. e. An Office of Miniſtry or Service) within that Office, whether the Teacher within teaching,
8. Or the Exhorter within exhortation; the Diſtributer with ſimplicity; the Ruler with diligence; the Pityer (Mercy-ſhewer) with cheerfulneſs.