News from Ipswitch 2, Treatise
NEVVES FROM IPSWICH: Diſcovering certaine late deteſtable practices of ſome dominiering Lordly Prelates, to undermine the eſtabliſhed Doctrine and Diſcipline of our Church, extirpate all Oxthodox ſincere Preachers and preaching of Gods Word, uſher in Popery, Superſtition and Idolatry.
VVoe be unto the Paſtors that deſtroy and ſcatter the ſheep of my Flocke, ſaith the Lord.
Ierem. 23. 1.
Only Canonicall prayers no afternoon ſermons
Alter Cringing Prieſt.
Church wardens for Articles.
Firſt printed at Ipſwich, and now reprinted for T. Bates. 1641.
Newes from Ipſwich.
CHriſtian Reader, this is the deplorable newes of our preſent age, that our Preſſes, formerly open onelyonly to Truth and Piety, are cloſed up againſt them both of late, and patent for the moſt part, to nought but error, ſuperſtition, and prophaneſſe; witneſſe many prophane, erroneous, impious bookes, printed within theſe 3. years by authority (point blanke againſt the eſtabliſhed doctrine of the Church of England and his Majeſties p…om declarations) in defence of Arminianiſme, and Popiſh ceremonies; and which is yet more impious and deteſtabl…, againſt the very morality of the Sabbath and 4. Commandement: the divine inſtitution, title and intire religious ſanctification of the Lords day Sabbath, and the neceſsity of frequent preaching (exceedingly preſſed in our Homil…es and book of Ordination) which ſome of our unpreaching, dominiering ſecular Prel…ts (our of their A…ch-piety towards God, and Archcharity to the peoples ſoules which they ſeek to eradicate) now ſo far dereſt, that they not only give over preaching themſelves, as no part of their function; and ſuppreſſe moſt wickedly Lectures in divers countries: but have likewiſe lately ſhut up the mouthes of ſundry of our moſt godly, powerfull, painfull Preachers (who have won more ſoules to God in a yeare, then all the Lord Biſhops in England or the whole world have done in divers ages) out of meere malice to religion, and the peoples ſalvation, contrary to the very lawes of God and the Realme; ſtrictly prohibited, under paine of ſuſpenſion, in ſundry Dioceſſes, all afternoone Sermons on the Lords own day, that ſo the prophane vulgar might have more time to dance, play, revell, drink, and prophane Gods Sabbaths, even in theſe dayes of plague and peſtilence, to draw downe more plague, and judgements on us for that ſin of Sabbath-breaking, when as not only the Synod of Dort, but ſundry Popiſh Synods and Biſhops have been ſo religious, as to preferre the two Sermons every Lords day at leaſt in every Pariſh Church, to keep the people from ſuch prophanations of this ſacred day. Alas! what could Belzebub the Prince of Divels, had he been an Archbiſhop or Lordly Prelate here in England (as there were many ſuch Biſhops in Bernards age, and moſt ſure there are too many now) have done more againſt the ſtrict intire ſanctification of the Chriſtian Sabbath day, to abuſe the Lords day, and to advance Popiſh innovations on it; or againſt the frequent powerfull Preachers, and preaching of Gods word, and ſalvation of the peoples ſouls, then ſome Luciferian Lord Biſhops have lately done? whoſe impiety in this kind tranſcends all prefidents whatſoever in former ages. And yet theſe prophane Atheiſticall perſecuters of all holineſſe, piety, ſincerity, godly Miniſters, & preaching of Gods word (yea in theſe peſtilentiall times, as meanes to ſpread the plague, though the Scripture and all former ages have preſcribed faſting, preaching and praying, as the chiefe antidotes and cure againſt it) will needs be Lord Biſhops Iure divine, by the holy Ghoſts own inſtitution (who never yet inſtituted any unpreaching, rare preaching Prelates, or perſecuters and ſuppreſſors of preaching) and ſhame not to ſtile themſelves the Godly holy Fathers of our Church, and pillars of our faith, when as their fruits and actions manifeſt them to be nought elſe but very Stepfathers and Caterpillers, the very peſts and plagues of both. Take 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 onelyonly inſtruments of delaying the preſent generall Faſt in the beginning of the peſtilence, when it was moſt acceptable and requiſite: ſo, to ſhew their inveterate malice againſt preaching (the thing that the Divell wraſtleth moſt againſt, all whoſe ſtudy hath been to decay the office of preaching, which ſhould not be diminiſhed) they (contrary to his Majeſties pious intention, who hath ſo oft proteſted againſt all innovations) have cunningly cauſed all Sermons (the very life and ſoul of a Faſt, as being the only means to humble men for their ſinnes, 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 peſtilentiall, and that on the Faſt day, not on others) contrary to the preſidents of all former ages, and the orders for the generall faſts in the two laſt great plagues, which preſcribed two Sermons of one houre long apeece, forenoon and afternoon every faſt day, and that as well in Pariſhes infected, as others: even in the Summer ſeaſon, when the infection was more contagious & raging then now. By which device they have not only made this faſt diſtaſtfull to all ſorts of men in infected places, who have little heart unto it, robbed the poor of much charitable relief, and deprived the people of the ſpirituall food and phyſick of their ſouls, when they need and deſire it moſt, to their intolerable griefe and diſcontent, but quite ſuppreſſed all ſetled Wedneſday Lectures in London and other infected townes, as long as the infection ſhall continue in any one Pariſh, though it ſhould laſt theſe 7. yeares (the thing they principally aimed at:) forced many Miniſters and people to flye out of infected places into the Countrey, to keep their Faſts where there is preaching; brought in a 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 the uttermoſt, by inhibiting Miniſters in the time of greateſt need, to preach unto the people, that they may be ſaved. O heavens! ſtand amazed at this unparalel'd practiſe of impious Popiſh Prelates. But is this all? No verily: for whereas his Majeſty commanded, That the book of common prayer for the faſt formerly ſet forth by his authority 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 ſince its publication. Secondly, they have daſhed 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, Queen, and their children, out of the catalogue of Gods elect by blotting 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 bookes, as if they were all reprobates, and none of the number of Gods elect, either to a temporall or an eternall Crowne. O intolerable impietie, affront, and horrid treaſon! Thirdly, they have left out this Collect: It had been 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 c…lls our powerfull Preachers, Gods ſerv…nts. A ſign… theſe Prelates 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 himſelfe and our Homilies. Fourthly, they have daſhed this remarkable clauſe out of the firſt Collect: Thou haſt delivered us from ſuperſtition and idolatry (two grand cauſes both of many former, and our preſent plagues no doubt) wherein we were utterly drowned, and haſt brought us unto the most cleare and comfortable light of thy bleſſed word by which wee are taught how to ſerve and honour thee, and how to live orderly with our neighbours in truth and verity: the reſt of the Collect remaining as before. Now what can be the cauſe of this ſtrange purgation, but a reſolved profeſſed conſpiracie of theſe Romiſh Prelates, even now again utterly to drown us in 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, by the which 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 Divell in ſtead of God, and live in all diſorder without truth of verity. Fifthly, in the ſixth order for the faſt, they have pared away this paſſage: To avoid the inconvenience that may grow by by the abuſe of faſting; Some eſteeming it a meritorious worke, others a good work, and of it ſelfe acceptable to God, without due regard of the end, OnelyOnly to gratifie the Papiſts, whoſe 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; on purpoſe to put downe Wedneſday Lectures, and preaching in London, and other places where any Pariſh is infected. If theſe Prelates bee thus deſperatly 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, idolatry, error and diſorder (the chiefe cauſea of our plagues) even in theſe dayes of peſtilence, and that is the very Faſt-book to abuſe and mocke God to his face, to diſhonour his Majeſty, and grieve his peoples ſoules; how tranſcendently impious and Popiſh will they prove, when God ſhall ſtay this plague, if they be not deſervedly puniſhed for theſe their notorious impieties? And is it not high time then for his Majeſty to puniſh ſuch Archtraytors to our Faith, Church, Religion, and ſuch true-bred ſonnes to Roman Antichriſt (from whom Dr. Pocklington boaſts, they are lineally diſcended) and to execute judgement on them for theſe ſtrange purgations, and other Romiſh innovations, whereat the whole kingdome cries ſhame, which breed a generall feare of a ſudden alteration of our Religion? Certainly, till his Majeſty ſhall ſee theſe purgations rectified, ſuperſtition and idolatry removed, Gods Sabbaths duly ſanctified, the ſuppreſſed Preachers and preaching of Gods word reſtored, and purge out ſome of the Romiſh Prelates and Inquiſitors, wee can never hope to abate any of Gods plagues, or draw downe any of his bleſſings on us by ſuch a Faſt and Faſtbook as this, but augment his plagues and judgments more & 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 weeke before the Faſt. being but 458. and 58. Pariſhes infected, and the very firſt weeke of the faſt 838. (treble the number the two laſt greateſt plagues) and 67. Pariſhes infected, in Cambridge, Norwich, Hampton, 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 Prelates 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, onelyonly 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 ready to depart the Land, there being never ſuch a perſecution and havock made among Gods Miniſters ſince Q. Maries daies, as a proud inſolent 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 plagues upon plagues, till ſuch deſperate perſecuters be cut off, and Gods Word and Miniſters reſtored to their former liberty by our moſt gracious Sovaraigne? Perſecution of Gods Miniſters and People, being one chiefe cauſe of plagues. Wherefore, O England, England, if ever thou wilt bee free from peſts and judgements, take notice of theſe thy Antichriſtian Prelates deſperate practices, innovations, and Popiſh deſignes, to bewaile, oppoſe, redreſſe them with all thy force and power. O all yee Engliſh Nobles, Courtiers, and others, who have any love or ſpark of religion, piety, zeale, any tenderneſſe of his Majeſties honour, or care for the peoples, the Church, or Kingdomes ſafety, yet remaining within your generous breaſts, put to your helping hands and prayers to reſcue our Religion and faithfull Miniſters now ſuſpended, from the jawes of theſe devouring Wolves, and tyrannizing Lordly Prelates, who make havocke of them both. O our moſt pious King Charles, as thou haſt in two ſeverall Declarations, proteſted before God, to all thy loving Subjects, that thou wilt never give way to the licenſing or authorizing of any thing whereby any innovation in the leaſt degree, may creep into our Church; nor never connive at any Backſliding to Popery: And that 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 practices of thy Prelates, in open affront of theſe thy Declarations; and now or never ſhew thy ſelfe (as wee all hope, beleeve and pray thou wilt) a Prince more worthy of this glorious Title, then 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, and taking vengeance on theſe perfidious Prelates, who have thus gelded thy Faſt-booke (and intend to make an Index Expurgatorius upon all other ancient Engliſh Writers ere they bee reprinted, a thing conſiderable) 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 owne ambitious pares, by exerciſing all Eccleſiaſticall power; yea, Papall juriſdiction over thy ſubjects in their owne names and rights alone: and by trampling all thy lawes and ſubjects liberties like Cob-webs, thy ſubjects like Dogges and dirt under their tyrannicall feet. If thou thus execute judgement on them, and eaſe thy people from their intolerable tyranny, no doubt, this plague ſhall bee ceaſed, and this Faſt bee pleaſing to the Lord; elſe hee will not accept it, but proceed to plague more and more. O bleſſed Soveraigne, that thou didſt but heare the ſeverall cries and out-cries of thy people againſt theſe perſecuting Prelates in many places; eſpecially in our Norwich Dioceſſe, where little Regulus hath played ſuch Rex, that hee hath ſuſpended above threeſcore of our ſincereſt, painfulleſt, comfortableſt Miniſters, both from their Office and Benefice, ſo as many of our Churches (as the like was never ſince King Iohns dayes) are quite ſhut up, and Lord have mercy upon us, may bee written on their doores. The people cry for the bread of their ſoules, and their Miniſters are prohibited to give it them. This not onelyonly wounds, but breakes their hearts, and makes them amazed. O therefore! Gracious Soveraigne, help now, and heare the petitions, cryes and teares of thy poore people, and puniſh theſe Popelings for theſe and other 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 now impart in this Coranto; the next week God willing, you ſhall heare of Mr. Dade his excommunicating of Ferdinando Adams, a Church warden in our Town, for not blotting out of this ſentence of Scripture written on Mr. Wards Church wall over his Court; It is written, My houſe ſhall bee called an houſe of Prayer, but yee have made it a den of Theeves: which excommunication is recorded in Star-chamber, of our Biſhops commanding. Woe is me if I preach not the Goſpel; out of Mr. Scots Church: and of the ſtrange proceedings at Colcheſter againſt Mr. Samuel Burrowes for inditing Necoman for railing in the Communion Table Altarwiſe, and cauſing the Communicants to come up to the Raile to receive, in a new unaccuſtomed manner, contrary to the Statute of 1. Eliz. c. 2. and his Majeſties Declarations this laſt Michaelmas Seſſions: which inditement 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. Andrewes, in his publicke Recantation in the Synod of Fyff, Aprill 8. 1591. That the office of a Dioceſan Biſhop hath no authority at all to ſupport it in the Word of God: That it is onelyonly founded on the politicke device of men: That the Primacie of the Pope, or Antichriſt ſprung from it: That it is worthily condemned: And that it hath been for five hundred year and more, the chiefe originall and inſtrument of the ſuppreſsing the preaching of Gods Word in all Kingdomes, as all Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtorians teſtifie. I therefore ſhall cloſe up all with the Collect on St. Matthias day; A mighty God, which in the place of the traytor, Biſhop Iudas, didſt chuſe thy faithfull ſervant Matthias, to bee of the number of the twelve Apoſtles, grant that thy Church being alwayes preſerved from falſe Apoſtles, may bee 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 thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, hath given to thy Apoſtle S. Peter many excellent gifts, and commandeſt him earneſtly to feed thy flock; make (we beſeech thee) all Biſhops and Paſtors 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 and Saviour.
AMEN.
From Ipſwich, November 12. 1636. Thine in the Lord, Matthew White.
End of the text · William Prynne, News from Ipswitch 2 (1641)