A looking-glasse for all lordly prelates Wherein they may cleerely behold the true divine originall and laudable pedigree, whence they are descended; together with their holy lives and actions laid open in a double parallel, the first, betweene the Divell; the second, betweene the Iewish high-priests, and lordly prelates; and by their double dissimilitude from Christ, and his Apostles.

A LOOKING-GLASSE For all LORDLY PRELATES .

THERE is nothing now more rife in the mouthes of many great domineering Lordly Prelates , then , that their Lordly Episcopall Iurisdiction , Pompe and Soveraignty , is of divine Institution , and that their Sacred Lordships , are undoubted , Sonnes , Successors , heires of Christ , and his Apostles Which men might well enough believe , did not their lives and actions most apparantly contradict these their ambicious windy words ; But if men may judge of a Tree by the fruits , ( as our Saviour concludes they may , Math. 7. 16. ) or of mens true Fathers , and Pedigrees by their works ( as hee also resolves Iohn . 8. 44. ) I hope these arrogant lofty Prelates , will not bee offended with me , if I make it apparant to them ( and others ) by their fruites and workes , that they are so farre from being the Sons or Successors of Christ and his Apostles , or of divine Institution , that , they are of their Father the Divell ( for his workes and lusts they doe ) the successors from the Iewish high Priests , who crucified our Saviour , Persecuted , silenced , imprisoned , excommunicated his Apostles , And so , of Diabolicall ordination ; not Divine .

This I shall plainely and briefely demonstrate , in two distinct Parallers . The first , betweene the Divell and Lordly Prelates . The second , betweene the Iewish high Priests and them .

The 1. Parallel betweene the Divell and Lordly Prelates .

1. First , the Divell ( for his condition and quality ) is an Apostate Angell , who kept not his first estate and 〈◊〉 , and abode not in the truth . Iude 6. Iohn . 8. 44. Such are all Lordly Prelates and Bishops , both by their own exposition of Rev. 2. 1. 5. 6. (a) (a) William Bishop of Rochester his first Sermon before K. Iames at Hampton Court Sept. 21. 1606. Where they interpret , B. Downham his consecration Sermon and the defence thereof : with B. Bancrofts Sermon & others . the Apostate Angell of the Church of Ephesus , to bee the Lord-Bishop of that Church alledging this Text as the principall Scripture , to prove their Hierarchie of Divine Institution ; ) and by common experience : For as Lord Bishops are fallen from the pietie , holinesse , humility , poverty , zeale , meekenesse , laboriousnesse , heavenly mindednesse , charity , and equallity with other Ministers , that was in the true Christian Bishops of the Primitive Church and now openly avow the Popish and Arminian Doctrine of The Totall and Finall Apostacy of the Saints from grace . So most of them B. Mountague in his Appeale to Cesar : B. White in ●…rabounces 〈◊〉 . being made Lord Bishops , ( to prove this doctrine of Apostacy true by their practise ) fall away from the pietie , zeale , holinesse , meekenesfe , diligence , frequency in preaching , and most other vertues which they had or used in verity or pretence , before they were made Bishops ( in case they had any vertue or goodnesse in them before , of which too many of them were never guiltie , ) and become farre worse Christians , ●…arre greater Persecutors and enemies to God , his truth , his people , and more unholy , coveto●…s , lasie , vicious in their lives then ever they were before ; as all histories and experience manifest , beyond all contradiction .

And how many of our present Lord Prelates are turned open Apostates from the established doctrine and discipline of this Church of England to Poperie , Arminianisme and Romish superstition , and all the zeale , the honesty , the piety and goodnesse they had or seemed onely to have before they were Lord Bishops , I leave to every mans experience to determine , some of the best of them being so strangely warped of late , that it made a great Popish learned Lord confesse openly at the Table this last summer , That if ever hee altered ●…is Religion , hee would turne Puritan ; for Puritans ( saith hee ) are constant to their owne Religion and Tenets , but the Bishops so fable and wavering with the times , that wee know not where to have them , such Apostate Angels are they .

Secondly , the Divell is an uncleane spirit , void of holinesse , full of all filthinesse and impiety , and is hardly ●…ast out of those he once possesseth , Math. 10. 1. 6. 12. 43. Marke 1. Godwins catalogue of Bishops : The Acts of English Votaries by Bale Centur . Mag. 4. 10. 13. c. 7. & 10. 23 , 26 , 27. c. 5. 2. 8. c. 7. 25. Luke 4. 33. 36. c. 6. 18. Acts 8. 7. Such are most Lordly Prelates in all respects , witnesse their (b) (b) Balaeus & Platina de vitis Pontificum . u●…cleane , profane , voluptuous , impious , godlesse lives and actions in all ages . Of which all histories stincke and surfet ; to omit the present filthin●…sse of many of them : And how hard they are to be cast out where once they get but footing , our owne histories and instant experience too well demonstrate .

Thirdly , the Divell is a dumbe and deafe spirit , making some m●…n dumbe , yet never any Preachers that I read of , except Prelates or thos●… that ●…ould be such ) d●…b , that they cannot speake , and oth●…s 〈◊〉 that they cannot h●…re , till Christ dispossessed them of these Divells , Marke 9. 17 25. Luke 11. 14. Such are Lordly Prelates for the most part ; they are not only d●…be themselves , very seldome or never preaching in their Diocesse , or opening their mo●…thes in the Pulpit to teach the people , whom they of●…er bite and ●…eare with their teeths , then instruct with their toungues . And also deafe , in turning the deafe care to the cries , petitions and lamentable complaints of those many godly faithfull painfull Ministers and people now most injuriously oppressed , persecuted , silenced imprisoned vexed ruined , and deprived by them , both of the foo●… of their soules & bodies : ( such inexorable mercilesse deafe Devils are they , to these , and all good motions else . But likewise by their ill examples , make divers other preaching Ministers dumbe and mute , and by their illegall suspensions inhibitions Iniunctions or Excommunications , close up the mouthes , and muzzle up the tongu●…s of sundry other the most powerfull , frequent constant preachers whom their examples cannot silence , ( as late woefull experience every where manifests , Especially in Norwich Diocesse ) By meanes whereof ; as also by suppressing most weeke-day Lectures , with all afternone Sermons on the Lords Day in most Countries , and prohibiting people that have no preaching at home , to goe out of their Parishes to heare Gods word abroade , they make thousands every where so deafe , that they cannot heare the sweete vovce of the Gospell preached though they desire it : Such dumbe yea deafe Devills are many Lord Prelates now become , whom Christ himselfe ( no ●…oubt ) & that by miracle will shortly cast out , that so our dumbe silenced Ministers , may once more speake , and our d●…afe people heare his s●…cred word , to the vnspeacable comfort and salvation of their soules .

Fourthly , The devill is an evill spirit , who doth nothing else but vex , torment , teare , torture and disquiet men , of purpose , to destroy them Math. 15. 22. Mark . 9. 18 , 20 , 22. Luc●…e . 6. 18. And have not domineering Lord Prelates beene like the Divell , in this respect , in all ages heretofore , ( as the Acts and Monuments of our Martyrs , collected by Master Fox , sufficiently demonstrate ? ) Yea , What else doe many of them at this day , ( but like so many tormenting Divells ) vex , torment , teare , torture , pill , pole , Pursevant , tosse up and downe from Court to Court , prison to prison and disquiet all kindes of people , Especially godly Ministers and Christians ( whom they brand with the name of Puritans ) with their daily Citations , Excommunications , Suspensions , Pursevants , Apparitors , Chancellors , Officials , Visitors , Archdeacons , Visitation-Oathes , Articles , Injunctions , new minted Ceremonies , Innovations , Slauders , false accusations , fines , Sequestrations , Censures , Exactions , Procurations , Extorted , ●…es &c. Of purpose to fleece , Flay , and destroy them ? So like are they in this particular also , to their Father the diuell .

Fifthly , The divell casteth same of Gods Saints , and Ministers ofttimes into Prison . Rev. 2. 10. Yea , into the fire sometimes , and sometimes into the water , to destroy them , Mark . 9. 22. The Lordly Prelates have done the like in all ages , Witnesse the French and English Acts and Monuments : of Martirs , Which record , how many of Gods Saints and Ministers they have imprisoned , cast into the fire & water burned , drowned ; This they still proceede to doe in forraigne partes ; And though they neither burne nor downe them , as yet , here at home , ( not so much for want of will , as Law to doe it ) Yet like so many Furies , they now daily silence , excommunicate , deprive , pursivant , imprison , fine , bannish , and ruine them , as much as in any age whatsoever , And if they cannot burne them at a Stake , they will sure to crop of their ●…res , & shed their bloud on some Pillary , and then mue them up in a Prison all their dayes , A lingring la●…ing tyranny , farre worse then present Mar●…irdome .

Yea in this particular instance they farre outstrip the very Divell himselfe ; in two things : For where as , he●… cast but some only of Gods Saints and Ministers into prison and that , but for ten dayes , Revel. 2. 10. They commonly cast not some , but many of them into prison , and that not onely for ten dayes , weekes , nay months , and yeares , and ofttimes during life : And whereas Paul though imprisoned under that most b●…oody Divell and Tirant Nero in Pagan Rome , had so much liberty , as to dwell two yeares space together in his owne hired house , and 〈◊〉 receive all that came in unto him : Preaching the Kingdome of God , and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Iesus Christ with all confidence NO MAN FORBIDDING them , Act. 28. 30. 31. Neither the Divell , nor Nero shutting him up close prisonner : Yet these Lord Prelates to shew themselves more cruelly barbarous and Tyrannicall then either the Divell or Nero , have anciently , and yet daily doe shut up divers of Gods Ministers and people close prisonners , restraining all free accesse of friends , or company to them , and are so far from permitting or not prohibiting them to preach in prison , that they inhibit and forbid them to preach even when they are at large , such is their fatherly piety , pittie , love , and charity , their very tender mercies ( just like the divils ) being nought else but cruelties . Pro. 12. 10.

Sixthly . The divell i●… an exceeding feirce and furious spirit , who desires to have nothing to doe with Christ , whose sacred presence torments him before his time Math. 8. 28. 29. And when he leaveth his howse for a time , and then returnes and findeth it swept and garnished , he taketh with him 7. other spirits more wicket then himselfe , and they enter in and dwell there , and so the last estate of that man , in whom●… they reside , is worse ●…hen the first . Math. 12. 23. 24. 25. Luke 11. 24 , 25. So most Lord Prelates are exceeding fiery , fierce , and furious spirits , who will not be crossed or affronted in any thinge be it never so impious See Bishop Whites Treatise of the Sabbath : 7. 266. or vnjust . Noe Kinges , Lords , Nobles , being so violent , vnreasonable , outragious malepart , feirce , chollericke peremptorie , or furious in their designes , or pursuite of their ends as they ; moreover they desire to have little or nothing to doe with Iesus Christ , or his sacred Ordinances which the sincere and diligent reading , preaching discoursing and meditation of his Pocklington , Heylyn , & others . word , the due administration of his Sacrements , the strict sanctification of his sacred Sabbaths ( which they count 〈◊〉 heavy Iewish yoake of bondage &c. ) the ●…tation of his 〈◊〉 , imprisoned or disconsolate afflict●…d mebers &c. ( a thing Math. 25 ●…6 . 42. 〈◊〉 . 1. ●…7 . from which they are so farre themselves , that they make it a piac●…lum in others , to visit godly prisoners . ) These petty ●…riviall things and Christian duties are belowe their Pompe & State , it beseemes not their Lordships honour 〈◊〉 See B. L●…timers Sermon of the Plough . to stoope so lowe as our Saviours ( f ) Plough-tayle ; or to enter into a poore cottage or Prison to visite a poore me●…ne Christian.

These things they put off to the meanest Curates , as overmeane for their Lips ; who scorne to bus●… themselves with lesser matrers , then managing the greatest State Offices and affaires , wayting at kings owne elbowes , following the heeles of rheit Courts to gett more preferments ; Lording it over their whole Diocesse yea over whole Kingdomes at their pleasures , and that over Lords and knights if not Kings themselves aswell as Ministers , and the meanest Curate●… ; sitting as Iudges not only in their Consistories , visitations , and High commission Courts , but at Assizes , Sessions . Yea in Star chamber , and Exchequer-chamber to , (g) (g) See Bishop ●…rens B. Mountagues B. Laudes . Bishop Perces Oathes & Printed visitation A●…icles . M●…king of new Canons , Iniunctions , Oathes , Articles , and Printin●… enforcing them on the subjects with all violence , in their o●…e names alone , like absolute Monarkes , Popes , and Parliaments : These , and such like , are the things that Lord Prelates busy thems●…lves with all , and in advancing their Iurisdictions , Revenues , Wealth , Pompe , State ; But they will have nothing or very little at all to doe with Christ , whose sacred presence ( Either by the powerfull preaching of his word , the Purity of his Ordinances , the reprehension of their sines , the approach or meditation of the day of death or Iudgment , or by the growth or progresse of his true spirituall Kingdome under their noses , ) is so irksome to them , that it ●…ments them before the time , & make them frett , fume , rage , vex , chafe , and play about them like madd men , as appeares by the Booke of Martirs , yea , by present experience with out further evidence . And if at any time after they are made Bishops , they leave their former habitations , and repaire to their Diocesse , or bee translated from one See to another ; they commonly take with them seaven other spirits as bad , ar more wicked themselves , ( to wit , * * See Fox Acts and Monuments p. 114. Archdeacons , Chauncellors , Registers , Appariters , howshold Chaplaines , Secretaries , and private Informers against good men ) who reside either neere or with them in their Diocesse ; which are so vexed , pilled , polled , spoyled , corrupted , by these Horseleaches , and Caterpillars , that the last estate of them , when they leave them , is commonly farre worse then the first , when they repaired thither ; yea their Bishopricks too , are usually so pared by the sale of woods , renewing of leases , granting of offices , Reversions , and such other usuall devices of these Ghostly Fathers , before their deathes and translations , that they leave them commonly in farre worse estate then they found them ; So like are they to the divell , to make all things worse and worsethey meddle with ; The reason ( I take it ) of our usuall English Proverbe , when any Milke or Broth on the fire is burnt , and thereby marred ; that the Bishop hath been in the Pot ; Because they commonly marre all things where they come , as the divell doth .

Seaventhly , The divell takes men captive at his will , and few that are taken by him recover themselves ( but with great difficulty ) out of his snares , 2 Tim. 2. 26. So domineering , tyrannizing , Prelates , imprison , pursivant , and take men captive at their pleasures , against all Iustice , equity , piety , pitty , Lawes of God and man , against Magna Charta , the Petition of Right , and all other Acts of Parliament for the Subiects liberties . Take but one fresh instance ; for an example , insteed of hundreds more : on the 26. of this instant Ianuary , one Knight , a Glasse-man in London , for repeating a Sermon in Norfolke , was conuented before the Archbishop and other High-Commiffioners at Lambeth , and tend●…ed an Ex Officio oath ( not warranted by any Law of God or man , and in direct termes for ever exploded , and not warrantable by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme in the late Petition of Right 3. Caroll : ) hee thereupon answered , that he was not fully satisfied in conscience of the lawfulnesse of that oath , and therefore humbly desired his Grace , that he might be satisfied , first , in point of conscience errehe tooke it . The Archbishop hereunto replied like a learned Prelate ; You shall bee satisfied I warrant you , take him laylor to ●…he Fleet , where he now is : Alas , is this the learned satisfaction , the argumentation , and sole Logicke of our Prelates , to quiet mens consciences , and remove their doubts . Take him laylor , away with him Purfevant to the Fleet , and that against the expresse Petition of Right , which enacts , that no man hereafter shall be compelled to take SVCH AN OATH , or be confined or molested , or disquieted concerning the same , or for refusall thereof ? Was ever such language heard out of our Saviours or his Apostles mouthes ? Take him Iaylor , to Prison with him , &c. or did they ever give such satisfaction to mens conscience as this ? No verily ; This onely is the divels language , law and spirituall satisfaction , Who takes men captive at his will ; as these Lord Prelates now daily doe , by his example . And as those who are taken captive by the divell , can hardly recover themselves out of his snares againe : So those who are thus uniustly imprisoned and apprehended by them , can hardly recover themselues out of their snares ; Such tenacious divells are they .

Eightly , The Divell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devoure . 1 Pet. 5. 9. Iob. 1. 7. c. 2. 2. So doe Lordly Prelates , their Officialls , Commissioners , Pursevants , and Apparitors , especially when they ride about to visit , pill and poll their diocesse ; only this is the difference , that the Divell goeth and they ride , and coach it about in state .

Ninthly , The divell layes snares and trappes to entangle and catch men , 2 Tim. 2. 26. Rev. 2. 23. So doe Lord Bishops lay baites , snares , and spies in every corner , especially to intrap and catch , betray or informe against godly Ministers & Professors of Religion , with all other sorts of men of whom they may gaine mony or advantage to themselves , or Officers .

10. The divell is , and hath been a murtherer of mens soules and bodies , from the beginning till this present , Iohn 8. 44. Such have Lord Prelates beene in all ages from their very beginning to this instant as a●… histories , our Bookes of Martyrs and present experience manifests .

11. The divell is a lyar , yea the Father of lyes , and there is no truth in him , yea when he speaketh a lye , he speaketh of his owne Iohn . 8. 44. Such are all Lorly Prelates , in raysing up a false enormous , schandals , tales , reports , accusations , and forged calumnies , of all good Ministers and people , in broaching false Doctrines , Errors , Heresies , and forging many fabulous stories , false glosses , miracles , tales , and spurious Antiquities , to support their tottering Hierarchies and vsurped Episcopall Iurisdictions ; in being trecherous yea perfideous in all their wordes and actions both towards God and men , Especially to their Princes , and those who have most relied on them , as all the Italian , German , and English Stories , Writers of the lives of Popes and Prelates , and Mr. Tindals practise of Popish Prelates , testify at large , and present experience much complaines of , there being no such grosse Hypocrites , Machiavils , Equivocators & perfideous faithlesse persons breathing , as some Prelates shewe themselves ; and that aswell in Divine as temporall affaires and transactions .

12. The divell is an accufer , ( a false Ruducing calumniator of the Brethren , ) & true Saints of God Reb. 12. 10. whence , false accusers , are stiled divells , in the Originall Greeke . 2. Tim. 3. 3. Such have malicious Lordly Prelates been in all ages ; and never more then ( (h) (h) See Bishop Whites Treatise of the Sabbath , Epistle Dedicatory . ) now ; accusing all godly , faithfull Christians , Preachers and Ministers of the Golpell ( whom they and the Papists now terme Puritains ) to Kinges and greate Officers of State , of seditions , rebellion , disobedience , disloyalty , treason , schisme , inconformity , conspiracy , vnlawfull conventicles and assemblies , false dangerous Doctrines , puritanisme , and the like ; only for their godly , holy , just , and blame lesse liues , their powerfull , Zealous , freq●…ent , preaching , praying , the discovering of , or declayming against their idlenesses , lordlynesses , luxury , persecutions , tyranny , covetousenes , secularity , Superstitio is Popish Doctrines , Innovations , and intollerable enchroachments both Superstitio●…s his Majesties Ecclesiasticall Prerogatives , and the Peoples liberties , consciences , and estates . All this their owne and that sworne creatures daily s●…ditious Court Sermons , and Treatises , evidence past all denyall .

13. The Divill envied and maligned holy Iob , stripped him of his Children , Cattle , Servants , estate , health , and all earthly comforts ; tormented him with botches and blaines from top to toe , and persecuted him with the most extremity of his malice and power ; Only because he was a iust man that feared God , Neither was there any like him for goodnes in all the earth . Iob. 1. & 2. & 3. Thus likewise have done and yet doe the Lordly Prelates serve many of the ●…minentest , best , yea most godly faithfull Ministers and Christians , whose families and estates they have vtterly ruined , depriving them of their Benefices , freeholds ; Iectures , Ministry , lawful callings ( contrary to the fourth Commaundment ) stripping them quitte naked of altheir estates by Fines , or costly Suites , and then casting them into a nasty Prison , there to rot and perish , or banishing them the Land , and troubling all such godly Christians who out of piety or charity dare contribute any thinge to there releife , witnesse the Mayer , Tounclerke and Aldermen of Gloster , not long since convented by the now Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , as most notorious offenders before his Majesty and the high Commission to , only for granting an annuity to their ancient Preacher Mr. Workeman , which they were inioyned by his Lord-ships Grace to Cancell . Such cruell , mercilesse , barbarous , inhumane divells are they degenerated into , as to make charity and mercy itselfe to godly Ministers , a grievous crime .

14. The divell is full of venome , poison , rankor , wiles , devices , craft , and subtelty , to mischeife and destroy men , seeking and taking all advantages to hurt them . 2. Cor. 2. 11. Ephes. 6. 11. Whence he is called a 〈◊〉 , and an olde Sarpent . Isay 27. 1. Cor. 11. 3. Rev. 12. 2. 14. 15. c. 20. 2. Soe are the Prelates , as Ecclesiasticall Stories , the Booke of Martyrs , the History of the Counsell of Trent te●…ifie and experience evidenceth beyond all contradiction , in our presente serpantine , venemous malicious Prelates ( (k) (k) Ier. 4. 22. ) wise only to d●… evill , but to doe good they have yet no knowledge ; for ought appeares by their daily practises .

15. The divell is the Prince of the world , by vsurpation & tyranny . Iohn . 12. 37. c. 14. 30. c. 16. 18. Ephes. 2. 2. Yea the Prince of the darkenesses of this world . Ephes. 6. 12. So are Lord Prelates , who beare cheife rule and sway in al Churches and States where they are , dominering like absolute Pri●…es , Kings , Tyrants in most Christian Realmes , exercising all temporall , all Ecclesiasticall Dominion at their pleasure , and Lording it over al men , yea , over Lords themselves contrary to our Saviours expresse inhibition Math. 20. 25. 26. 27. Luke 22. 25. 26. 27. Mark . 10. 42. 43. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 23. Yea which is very observable . Bishop , White , in his late Epistle to the 〈◊〉 of Canterbury , before his Treatise of the Saboath , London 1635. is not ashamed to appropriate that Text of Psal: 45. ( inste●…d of thy Father shal be thy children , whom thou ma●…st make Princes in all the earth , ) to Bi●…ops only ; who ( it seemes ) haue now ioyntly conspired togeather in all Countries , to make themselves Princes in all Kingdomes of the earth ; and to engrosse the sole goverment of them and the whole worldinto their spirituall hands , as they conspired in this Manner of olde both at home and abroade ; ●…itnesse 37. Hen. 8. c. 17. 28. H. 8. c. 10. M●… . Tindalls Practise of Popish Prelates , and his Obedience of 〈◊〉 Chri●…ian man . Moreover they are certainly the Princes of the 〈◊〉 darkenesses of this world ; both by putting out the glorious lights and Preachers of Gods word ; and sweeping downe the brightest stars of our Church from heaven which their dragonlike tayles , in every place ; by degrees , and by purging this very passage out of the first Collect in the last Fast-booke : Thou hast delivered us from superstition and idolatry wherein wee were utt●… drowned , and hast brought us into the most cleare and comfortable light of thy holy word , &c. of purpose to bring us backe againe into superstitious , Romish Hellish darkenesse , utterly to drowne both our soules and bodies in it . And are they not then pretty Princes , starres and Angels of darkenesse ?

16. The Divell challengeth all the Kingdomes of the world , and the glory of them , as his owne , and by a 〈◊〉 and grant of them , tempteth Christ himself●… to full dow●… and worship him , Math. 4. 8 , 9 , 10. Luke 4 , 5 , 6 , 7. This not only the Pope doth , in direct termes , ( as 〈◊〉 Crakenthorpe proves at large , in the first Chapter of the Popes temporall Monarchie , ) But the Lordly Prelates likewise ; who anciently have , and now againe attempt , to sway and dispose of all Kingdomes of the world with all dignities , offices , and promotions in them at their pleasures ; and by promise of them , or of Bishopricks , Benefices , Deaneries , and other preferments to them creatures and agents , tempt divers both of the Laity and Clergie , even against their knowledge and conscience , to fall downe , obey feare , serve , and worship them more then God , then Christ , their Soveraignes or their lawes , as woefull experience manifests at this day , wherein most men in authority , feare and worship our Prelates more then God or the King , and are more carefull to obey , more fearefull to offend their Injunctions , Articles , Edicts , pleasures , then either Gods or the Kings lawes , as I could instance in sundry particulars , in Prohibitions , habens corpora and other actions against the Lord Prelates , their officers and creatures which I spare to mention .

17. The divel adventured to tempt Christ himselfe by severall successive temptations , to drawe him to his beck . Math. 4. 1. to 12. Luke 4. 1. 10. Soe doe Lordly Prelates , adventure by several wiles Stratagems , flateries , promises and faire pretences , ( yea and by perverting the Scripture it selfe , as the divell did here with Christ ) to tempt Kings , Princes , Nobles , great officers of estate , Schollers , Lawyers , and all men of note , ( especially the eminent Preachers and Professors , ) to take their parts , to prostitute themselves to their Papall Institutions , Superstitions , Decretalls , pleasures , Ceremonies , Innovations and commaunds ; and to protect , uphold , aduance their Antichristian tottering Hierarchie , ( as ancient Histories , with present experience , and Mr. Tindalls Practise of Popish Prelates testifie .

18. The divell would have Christ himselfe to fall downe and worship him notwithstanding Gods expresse Commaundement to the contrary , Math. 4. 8. 9. 10. Luke 5. . 6. 7. Soe our Prelates would have all men euen against the lawes of God and the Realme to fall downe and submit to them and their antichristian novell Ceremonies , Articles , Injunctions Oathes , Vsurpation , Extorsions , encroachments to bowe and cringe to Altars , Images , Crucifixes , Crosses , the Sacramentall Bread & wine , the ver●… name of Iesus &c , and to publish theire Declaration ●…or sportes and pastimes on the Lords day , coloured only by them with his Maiesties name , though really none of his in their Parish Churches , as if it were Gods owne 〈◊〉 & Law , to spurre up yea precipitate the people to al manner of disorder , & the profanation of Gods owne sacre●… day , to the ruine both of their soul●…s and bodies . ( Yea the ouerthrowe of all pietie and Religon , ) silencing , suspending , excommunicating , yea suing such in theire Consistories , and high Commissions , who refuse to puplish it , ( though there be no Law or Canon for it , ) notwithstanding Gods Commaundements , and many late examplary Iudgments from heauen , ( ●…or which , some Prelates threaten to binde God Allmighty himselfe to the peace and good behauiour at the next Quarter Sessions and Assizes , expressly prohibit it : Soe like are they in this particular to their Spirituall Father the divill in perswading , enforcing men to fall downe and worship them and their Commandments against Gods owne heauenly Precepts .

19. The divill is a great enemy to the purity of Gods word and ordinances , and whiles men sleepe soweth Tares among the wheate and good seede to corrupt and mar●…e them Math. 13. 24. 25. 38. 39. So doe Lord Prelates , who sophisticate , pollute , depraue , yea marre the purity of Gods word , worship . Sacraments , and other Ordinances with their Idolatrous , Superstitious Antichristian Ceremonies , vestments , genuflexions additaments , mixtur●…s and humane inuentions , And whiles many of our Spirituall Watchmen are a sleepe and silenced , they have sowne so many Popish Tares among our wheate that little else but Tares appeare now upon the ground , & by that time Harvest comes , If men awake not the sooner , we are like to reape nothing but a crop of these pernitious Tares insteed of wheate , being already ledd by some leading Prelates ( like the Sirians by the Prophet Elishah into the midst of Samaria 2. Kings . 6. almost into the uery midst of Roome like persons hoodwinckt , before we are aware of it ; as all whose eyes God hath opened plainely se.

20. The divell hinders Gods Ministers to goe and preach the Gospell to the people that they may be saued 1. Thess. 2. 8. So doe the Prelates now by suspending , silencing , excommunicating , imprisoning most of the best and powerfullest Ministers , and forbidding them to preach unto the people , that they might be saved ( Yea even in the times of Pestilence and mortallity ) to fill np their sinnes allway , ●…or the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost . 1. Thes. 2. 16.

21. Where the divill cannot hinder the preaching of Gods word altogether , there he comes and steales it away presently out of mens harts and mindes , as soone as it is sowen , that so it may take no roote , and bring forth no fruit at all . Math. 13. 19. So Lord Prelates , where they cannot altogether suppresse the preaching of the word , doe ( just-like the divell ) indeavour pr●…ntly to catch and steale it out of mens hartes , by giuing them liberty on the Lords owne day , as sone as ever the Sermon is ended , to fall to their May-games , Morisses , dancings , sportes , and pastimes , ( practise condemned in expresse termes long agoe by Clemens Alexandrinus , Pedagogil. 3. c. 11. Tertullion de spect●… lib. & Chrisostom H●…m. 5. in Math. and by all Divines of note since their age tot his , as Hellish , Heathenish , Diabolicall , impious , and pernitious , depriving mens soules of the benefit of all Gods Ordinances ) and by prohibiting them to meete together to repeate their Ministers Sermons with their freinds , neighbors , and families punnissing them for Conventicles if they doe it , contrary to St. Paules , St. Chrisostoms , Theophelacts , Caesarius Arelatensis , Bishop Iewells , Dr. Boyes , Mr. Iohn Sprintes , Bishop , Baglies , and all other Diuines Doctrine that I ever read or heard of , ( Yf not to the Canons , 1571. p. 16. & 1602. Can. 13 & 79 ) who much vrget his Repetition of Sermons as a necessary dutie on all Christians , though of divers families ) A stupendious straine of Atheisticall profanenes , and desperate impeity which no Prelates ever aspired to , before these of this last impious age , in affront of al the Prelates and Clergie of England in H. 8. his dayes , who prescribe and vrge it much to these Nouellers eternall shame .

22. The divi●…l to worke his owne divellish ends and designes , will sometimes transforme himselfe into an Angell of light , though he be still a divell in truth 2. Cor. 11. 14. So the Prelates ( the archest Hypocrites breathing ) will sometimes doe the like , putting on a counterfeit vizard of pietie and holinesse , to cloak their divelish designes , seeming , Angells of light in shewe , when as they are still meere Divells incarnate in verity : as appeares by seuerall Popes , by Thomas of Becket , Anselme , Edward , Thomas , and William , of Canterbury , with divers of our anuncient English , and late out landish Prelates , whose lives are at large related in Antiquitates Ecclesiae Britanicae , Malmesbury & Godwyn , in the 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Centuries of Magdeburg ( cap. 6. 7. 10. of each ) in Crantzins ●…is Metropolis , Catalogus Testuum veritatis , Auealini An : Boiorum , & others ; who manifest Lordly Bishops in all ages , to have been the greatest Pypocrites , dissemblers , Schizmatickes , Atheists , Traytors , Rebells , Villaines , and Monsters of impiety , under the pretence of Sanctity , that ever had existence in the world ; as you may there read at leisure ; and in Doctour Iohn White his way to the true Church Sect. 55. n. 9 , 10. Sect. 57. n. 9 , 10 , 11. Sect. 38. n. 45 , 6. and Defence of the way , c. 6.

23. The divell is a proud insolent domineering spirit , falling ( as most hold ) by this sinne of pride and arrogance 1 Tim. 3. 6 , 7. Isay. 14. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Such and no other are the Lordly Prelates , witnesse all stories present unanswerable experience , and the common Proverbe . As proud as a Prelate they being the most arrogant , insolent , domineering , proud , ambitious , Luciferian generation of all the Sonnes of men , trampling all others under their Lordly feet ; when as if they were Christs members or disciples , they should bee the lowliest and humblest of all othes both in heart and conversation , as hee was Math 11. 29. An infallible Character that they are none of his institution , but the Divels , whose pride they imitate , equall , if not transcend , and which sinne ( no doubt ) will shortly ruine them , Prov. 16. 18. as it did their father the divell .

24. The divell entred into Iud●…s ( Christs Lord Treasurer . Iohn . 12. 6. 13. 29. ) and moved him for 30. peeces of silver to betray his M●…ster Math. 26. 14 , 15. Marke 14 10 , 11. Luke 22. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. Iohn 13. 17 , 18 , 19. c. 18. 3. So these Lordly Prelates , for hopes of honour , money , or preferments sell and betray even Christ himselfe , his Word , truth , Gospell , Saints , members , to the Pope , yea the divell himselfe , or any that will hire them to doe it : Nay hundreds of them ( both at home and abroad ) have for lucre , honour and money , betrayed , murdered , deposed , conspired , and rebelled against their owne Soveraignes , ( Emperours , Kings , and Princes ) ( such notable treacherous varlets have they beene in all ages ) as sundry Stories manifest at large ; yea in former ages , and this present too , they insinuate into mens heates , with p●…omises and rewardes , causing Servants to betray their Masters , Wives their Husbands , Children their Parents , People their Pastors , Nay one Minister , one Professor ( at least in 〈◊〉 ) another , and cause one friend , one neighbour to accuse , intrappe , and betray another , whom they malice for their grace and goodnesse , or any other occasion ) that so they may persecute , hamper , ruine them in their ecclesiasticall or high Commission Courts , or crush them by their temporall power and greatnesse at their pleasures , by putting them from their freeholds , and lawfull callings , confining them to some prison , or forcing them to flie the land , in case they stoope not to their lusts in all particulars ; as hundreds of late Presidents , manifest a●…●…ull .

25. The divell doth buffet and binde Gods servants , till Christ by his infinite power doth loose them 2. Cor. 12. 7. Luke 13. 16. So have done , and yet dayly doe Lord Prelates buffet and binde Gods people by their Censures , Excommunications , officers , Pursevants , Iaylo●…s , till Christ by his omnipotent power shall rescue and deliver them from this their tyranny .

26. The diuell filleth mens hearts to lie to the Holy Ghost Acts 5. 3. So Lord Prelates with promises and perswasions do the like , by suborning their instruments in their writings and Sermons before Kings , Princes , Vniversities , and the most eminent assemblies , to maintaine their Episcopall Iurisdiction , Lordlinesse , pompe and power , their superstious Popish Ceremonies , Altars , Crucifixes , Tapers , genuflexions , Conservations , adorations , &c. to bee all Iure divino warranted an●… prescribed by Gods Law and word , of purpose to deceive the Auditors ( when as their consciences know t●…e contrary to bee true , and that they lye against the Holy Ghost in what they preach and write ) and to forge divers notorious fables and calumnies of Puritans Precizians and godly Christians out of their owne poeticall braines ( as false as any figments in the golden Legend ) to bring both them , the practise , power , and profession of Religion into publike scorne ; that so Popery , Atheisme , and Profanenesse may overflo●… the world , A dangerous ( yet now a common ) sinne and practise , which I wish the guilty would reforme by Ananias and Saphirahs exemplary punishments for this very sinne , Acts 5. 3. to . 10.

27. The divell tempts and encourageth men to all kindes of sinne , of wikednesse , and to disobey all Gods Commandements , Gen. 3. 1. to . 7. to ●…cleanenesse . 1 Cor. 7. 5. to cruelty and implacablenesse 2 Cor. 2. 11. to wantonnesse , worldlinesse , lasciviousnesse , profanenesse , and fleshly lusts Ephes. 2. 2 , 3. 1 Tim. 5. 15. besides murther , treachery , lying , and other forenamed sinnes . So doe the Prelates ; witnesse their many late vngodly , Superstitious , licentious Bookes and practises , to spurre men on to Popery and superstition , but especially to profane the Saboath , to use dancing , Morrisses , May-games , erect Ales , May-poles , Bacchavalls , drinke , swill , and play the Epicures , the Pagans , even on Gods owne sacred day ( and that whiles we lye all under Gods scourge & plagues for this very sinne ) to tumble them headlong into hell , and draw downe all Gods wrath and plagues upon us from heaven at once , to our speedy certayne ruine . Take but one fresh instance of this kinde : Master Skinner the Bishop elect of Bristoll , this last S●…mmer even in the heate of the Plague , invited one Sir Garret Ramsford ( a prisonner in the Kings Bench ) with his Lady , to dine with him at his Countrey house on the Lords day , and charged them not to fayle him , for they would bee very merry ; They came accordingly , and his elect Lordship , according to promise was so merry , that hee called for Bristow milke ( strong Sacke ) to season him for that diocesse , and sucked it up so freely , that hee had almost got the Staggars ; and his men seeing their new Lord set upon so merry a pinne , plied him so fast with it , that at last he bad them take away the Sacke for feare they should kill him with it , and what then should his Majestie doe for a new Bishop ? ( as if enough would not bee reddy to succeed him , if hee were gone ) : Well , their company was so good , that they must stay at Supper with him too ; they did so , and they were very merry ; Supper ended , his Lor●…ship cals for a paire of Cardes , and to play they must all goe ; Sir Garret thereupon answered , My Lord I thinke you are of their opinion who hold , that the Saboath endeth at six of the clocke , that you will now goe to Cardes , for I hope you will not play upon the Saboath : No ( saith hee ) I am not of that opinion ; but his Majestie commandeth us to play on this day . A notorious untruth ; For where ( I pray ) commandeth his Majestie , or alloweth B●…shops or Ministers to play at Cardes , or Dice , or Tables on the Lords day , when as he commands ; that nothing bee done against the Lawes and Canons of the Church , in that very Declaration they would father on his Highnesse , and the 73. and 74. Canons expressely pro●…ibit Bishops and Ministers to play at Cardes , Dice or any other unlawfull games on any day , Much lesse then on the Lords day , which the 13 Canon , and the Homilie , of the time and place of prayer , with 5. & 6. E. l. c. 3. and his Majesties prime Act. 1. Carolic . 1. will inf●…rme them ought otherwise to be spent then in Carding , Playes and pastimes . Sir Garret replied , that hee conceiued , it was against the fourth Commandement : and that his Majestie neither would nor could command any thing against Gods Law ; or if he did ; we were not to obey in such cases . His Lordship replied , that the fourth Commandement was ceremoniall and abrogated long agoe . So ( said Sir Garret ) you may say as well of all the rest ; and if his Majestie should command any thing against the other 9. Would you obey it ? That ( said his Lordship ) wee must dispute when there shal bee occasion , ( intimating , that if his Majestie should command any thing against a●…y of Gods Commandements ( which wee trust hee will never doe ) the Bishops would obey it without any great dispute . ) Well , Sir Garret would not play at that time , and thereupon the Cards were sent backe againe . And is not this a man ( thinke you ) like to make a very ho●…y Prelate ? It may be so , for hee hath since beene consecrated ( and that with some new Popish Ceremonies as is reported . ) And in truth he needed a Consecration , for I remember well , when hee was fellow of Trinity Colledge in Oxford , hee after pretty Bes Bauger so long , that he begate a strong kinde of spurious tympany in his belly , for which I never heard , hee did any pena●…ce , or made any purgation ; But his Consecration ( doubtlesse ) hath purged this and all other his sinnes cleane away : Such holy examples are Lord Prelates , whose doctrine had need convert mens soules , for few of their lives will doe it .

28. The divell stirreth up Kings to offend God , to the destruction and prejudice of their subjects 1 Chron. 21. 1. and rayseth discordes and dissentions and disaffections betweene Kings and their subjects Iudges 9. 23. And haue not Lordly Prelates aunciently , yea lately done or endeavoured at least to doe the like in Germany , France , that I say not in England too ? Their chiefe practise 〈◊〉 allwayes bee●…e to ali●…nate subjects affectiens from their Kings , by putting them upon unjust Taxes , 〈◊〉 , Projects , Monopolies , oppressions , In●…ations ; by giving them evill counsell , by ●…opping the course of lawes , of common Right and Iustice , of the preaching power and progresse of the Cospell , by advancing Idolatry , popery , 〈◊〉 , with their owne intollerable 〈◊〉 and Lordly iurisdiction , by fathering all their unjust 〈◊〉 u●…on Kings , &c. and on the contrary to estrange the Ki●…gs hearts ●…om their Subjects , by false Calumnies , by sedicious Court-Sermons and by infusing jealousies and discont●…nts into their heads and hearts against their best and loyallest Subjects without a cause ; A divellish practise never more used then in these our dayes .

29. Satan will not bee devided against Satan for feare his Kingdo●…e should not stand Math. 12. 10. So these Lordly Prelates wil never be devided one against another in point of their Antichristian Iurisdiction Pompe , and Hierarchie ( which they all concurre i●… , though they have oft many deadly personall and particular fendes one with another ) nor yet against the Pope or Devells Kingdo●…s ; for then their o●…ne kingdome ( a branch and me●…ber of the P●…pes and divells , as many of our godly M●…rtyrs and Writers have reso●…ved ) should soone fall to ruine .

30. The divell ( that Red-Dragon ) had seven crownes upon his head Revel. 12. 3. to shew his royall power . So have the Popes and other Prelates , Crownes and Miters o●… their pates , to testify their royalty and Lordly do●…inion over Kings and others , as they vaunted in D. Ba●…twicks Censure .

31. The Divell had a seate and Throne in the Church of Pergamus , wherein hee sate in state Revel. 2. 13. So have the Prelates in their Cathedralls and Chappells ; ( as they then also boasted : ) yea their great Cathedralls are but ch●…ires for these great two legged Foxes Lordly tayles to sit in ; 〈◊〉 a lesser meaner Chayre did then c●…ntent the divell , who now sits in greater state , and is farre better served and attended in our Cathedrals then ever hee was in the Church of Perga●…us .

32. The divell ( that Red-Drogon ) with his tayle drew the third part of the Starres from heaven and cast them to the earth , Revel 12. 4. So have Lordly Prelates ( the tayle of that fell Dragon ) anciently , and of late times swept downe the third part or more , of our starres ( to wit , of all our faithfull , powerful , pain●…full , zealous Ministers ) f●…om heaven ( to wit , from their Pulpits and ●…hurches ) and by their suspensions , excommunications , imprisonments , deprivations , suppressing of Lectures , persecutions , &c. have cast them to the ground , nay trampled them under their dragon-like pawes , depriving them of their office and Benefices ; thereby robbing God and Christ of the glory , the poore peoples soules of the fruit and comfort of their Ministry , to their greatest griefe .

33. This greate Red Dragon , ( the divell ) stoode before the Woman ( the Church ) which was reddy to be delivered of a man-childe , for to devoure her Childe ( her spirituall regenerate Children ) as soone as it was borne . Rev. 12. 4 , 5. Thus those Lordly Prelates doe ; No sooner can the Church be reddy to be delivered of a man-childe , of a godly faithfull Pastor , new Minister , or zealous Christian , but these great redd scarlet Dragons , ( w●…o can suffer dumbe Dogges , deboist , licentious , dissolute drunken , scandalous Ministers and supersticious Popelings to sit still and doe what they list , without danger or countroll ) are at hand ( like P●…aroah , and the divell ) to devoure , silence , suppresse , pers●…cute , and destroy th●…m as s●…one as they are borne , or ●…ginne but once publiquely to appeare in the world ; as experience too well ●…ifieth in most places , where a godly Minister or Christian can no sooner shew his head or beginne to doe God faithfull service but they presently lay trappes and snares to hamper , or send Apparitors , Pursevants , with such other Hellish Furies , to seize upon them , that so their Lordships may swallow them all up at a bit ; Yea if any good Booke shall beginne to peepe out against their tyranny , Prelacy , and Innovations , Howses , Shipps , Studdies , Trunks and Cabinets must be broken up and ransacked for them : Such ravenous red●… Furious Dragons are they , and such open wide Sepulchers are their devo●…ring throates to swallow 〈◊〉 all things that any way make against them .

34. This Dragon , and his Angells make ware in heaven fi●…hting with Michaell , ( to wit , our Saviour Christ ) and his Angells Rev. 12. 7. Soe the Lordly Prelates and their Angells ( To wit , their Deanes , Arch-deacons Officialls , Chauncellors , Commissaries , Surragates , Advocates , Proctors , Registers , Pursevanst , Sum●…ers , Apparitors , & Howshold Chaplaynes too for the most part ) have in al ages to this very moment , made warre in heaven ( Gods Church militant ) with Christ and his Angells , To wit , his faithfull , po●…erfull , godly Ministers ; Preachers , Saints , and Servants ; as all Histories , ages witnesse , And now this Battaile seemes to be at the hottest , here amongst us , More godly Ministers h●…ving been silenced , suspended , deprived , driven from their Ministry , & chased out of the Realme within these 5. yeares , though conformable to the established doctrine and discipline of our Church , then in many ages before .

35. When the divell co●…es downe among the inhabitants of the earth , and of the Sea , then woe be to them Rev. 12. 12. Soe woe be to the kingdomes , Churches , and people , where Lord Prelates come and beare most sway amongst them , witnesse our Booke of Martyrs , and Chronicles of England ; & to these Diocesse wherein they domineere ; Witnesse Norwich Diocesse and others at this present .

36. When this Dragon , and the Divell was cast out to the earth , he persecuted the Woman ( the true Church of God ) Rev. 12. 13. So have these Lord Prelates in all ages ; ( as the Bookes of Martyres record at large ) since they were cast out of heaven ( Christs true spirituall Church ) for their Lordly pride .

37. When the Dragon saw the Woman had such swift winges given her , that Shee escaped his hands , and fledd into the wildernesse , out of his reach and danger , where Shee was nourished for a time , then he cast out of his mouth a floud of water after her , to devoure & drowne her Rev. 12. 14 , 15 , 16. So these Lord Prelates , when any godly Ministers or Christians have escaped their Lordships , their Apparitors , Pursevants , or other Cathpoles hands by flight , or otherwise ; power out of their mouthes a floud of Execrations , Excommunications , Intimations , Suspensions , Maledictions , reproaches , obloquies , and outragious Censures against them , to devoure and over whelme them ; Yea Excommunications with agravations , that no man shall buy , sell , trade , eate , drinke , or have any conversation with them ; An Hellish Antichristian , tyranny lately practised , and revived ( against all lawes and Statutes of the Realme ) against 4. men in Norwich , Only for not bowing at the name of Iesus ; and against Mr. Samuell Burrowes of Colchester , for Indicting Parson Newman for enforcing the people up to his new rayle to receive .

38. The divell , if stoutly and manfully resisted , will flie from us , ever raging ( like a coward ) over those with greatest extremity , that make the least resistance 1 Pet. 5. 9. Iames 4. 7. Thus doe these Lordly Prelates ; where they are stoutly and manfully withstood in their tyrannicall exorbitant procedings vsurpations , and incroachments , by men of courage , there they ( for the most part ) flie , & giue over ; these ever fareing best , that most manfully oppugne them : Where they are crowched , bowed , and basely submitted to , or faintly resisted , or not opposed ( as late experience too well manifesteth ) there they rage , tyrannize , triumph most , and make strange havock in the Church . Yf Ministers , or people then will ever be free from the tvranny , bondage , insolency , rage , or desperate oppressions , the unjust illegall Excommunications , Suspentions , exacted Fees , Visitation Oathes , Articles , Ceremonies , Innouations , Citations , Procedings of these outragious divells , made in their owne names and rights alone , under their propper Seales , without any Patent or Commission from his Majesties authorizing them ( Contrary to the expresse Statutes of 25. H. 8. c. 19 , 20 , 21. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 31. H. 8. c. 9 , 10. 32. H. 8. c. 26. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1 , El. c. 1. 2. 5. El. c. 1. 8. El. c. 1. 13. El. c. 12. ) or from their high Cō nission ex officio Oathes , Pursevants , imprisonments and Fines , contrary to Magna Carta c. 29. the Petition of Right . 1 Eliz: c. 1. ( on which their commission is grounded 3 ●…oli . and the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme ( as their very last High Commission it selfe expressely resolves ; and therefore add a non obstante , these their ex officio oathes , imprisonments . fines , and censures bee contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme ; Such is the Prelates Iustice , conscience , piety , fatherly charity , and obedience to his Majesties Lawes , to foist such a desperate Papall non obstante into their High Commission ) : Let then them manfully , couragiously , unanimously resist and withstand them to the uttermost of their power , by all just , warrantable , lawfull meanes that may bee ( as loyalty to their King & Countrey , Charity to themselves and their posterity , and Conscience towards God , enioyne them ) and then these base-borne , ignoble , cowardly , mushrom Lords and divells ( animated , flushed , enraged , only by mens former cowardise , faint-hartednesse , and strange unchristian sordid basenesse ) will flee away shortly from them , and never assault or oppresse them more , in such a tyrannicall , uniust , illegall manner , as they have lately done ; as Phil: 1. 27. Iam. 4. 7. resolve and certifie us for comfort and encouragement .

39. There is , and hath been from the fall of Adam , to this present , a bitter , perpetuall , implacable enmity and warre , betweene the old Serpent ( the divell ) and his seed , and Christ the seede of the Woman , his Church , and her seed , the elect and regenerate Saints of God : Genes. 3. 15. So hath there beene betweene the Lordly Prelates , their officers , spawne , and generation , and Christ and his true spirituall seede and faithfull members , even from their first originall , till this present ; witnesse the desperate enmity , the implacable malice , and horrid cruelty of the ancient Lordly Arrian Court-Bishops towards the orthodox Christians of old ; Of the Popes , and popish Prelates to the true Ministers , Professors of the Gospell , and Protestants ; and of the ceremonious ; pompous , Lordly English Lord Prelates towardes the Puritans , and Precisians ( as they ) nickname them ) the powerfull , painefull , zealous , godly Preachers , Ministers , and Christians since ; Of all which , our Bookes of Martyrs , with other Ecclesiasticall Histories , and late Treatises give ample testimony , which present experience cannot but subscribe to .

40. The divell is a malicious malignant spirit whose malice is never satisfied , ended , mittigated , or appeased , but with the ruine of the parties maligned : as appeares in Iob. 1. 13. to 22. c. 2. 1. to 8 : Where he could not be satisfied with the destruction of Iobs Children , Oxen , Asses , Sheepe , Camells , Servants , and estate , but he would have had his life too ; and when that could not be obtayned ; Yet he would torment his body with sore painefull boiles from the Crowne of his head to the sole of his foote . So Lordly Prelates malice and rankor against Gods faithfull Ministers , is endlesse , boundlesse , implacable , they cannot be content to vex , molest , and trouble them with causelesse suites , vnlesse they silence & stop their mouthes : when that is done , they are never quiet till they have quite deprived them of their livings and Ministry , stripped them of all their lively-hood , cast them into some nasty Prison , or bannished them the Realme : When this is acco●…plished , Yet is not their rage abated , nor their malice extinguished ; euen in Prison they will keep an hard hand against them , use them with all de●…pit and rigor , depriue them as much as may be , of all releife , resort , and comfort , seeke out new occasions to vex and persecute them , But if perchance they escape beyond the Seas , and get out of their clutches ; then they persecute them ( as the high Preists did the primitive Christians ) euen into strange Cities and Countries Acts 26. 11. raising up fresh troubles and stormes against them by their Catholike agents , even there , to destroy them ; as they did against Mr. Tindall , and other Martyres of olde ; and against some of our godly Ministers of late , being never at rest or peace , till they have either sucked their bloud , or seene them dead in their graves ; A truth too apparant by many present Examples fresh before our eyes .

41. The divill hath his Angells , his Ministring spirits , and spirituall Sonnes to doe his service , advance his kingdome , and execute his Commandements Math. 25. 41. Iohn . 6. 70. c. 8. 44. 1. Iohn . 3. 8. 10. Yea , to perswade men to worship the divill and Idolls of gold and silver , and brasse , and stone , and of wood , which neither can se , nor heare , nor walke Rev. 9. 20. Math. 4. 8. 9 , 10. Luke 4. 5 , 6 , 7. 1. Kings 22. 28 , 29 , 30. So have Lordly Prelates their Angells , their spirituall Sonnes , and Ministring spirits , to execute their severall Injunctions & Commandments : Their Angells , ( To wit ) their howshold Chaplaines ( now knowne (h) (h) Rev. 2. 5. 6. Apostate Angells from their first faith love and workes ) and their spirituall Sonnes , To wit , their Preists serving at their ●…ew erected Altars , ( as themselves now pray , write and preach , who now call themselves the Sonnes of the Church ; to wit , of the Bishops ) who like an Oven heated by the (i) (i) Hose●… . 7. 4. 6. Baker , send out nothing but black fiery (k) (k) A Coale from the Altar . printed An. 1636. Coales from the Altar , with which , their owne tongues , and others (l) (l) Isay. 6. 6. 7. lips being touched , by these greate Seraphins Commandments ( according to their usuall formes of prayer , before their Sermons ) insteed of crying out against the Idolatrous Altlas of Bethell ( as the man of God once did by Gods speciall Commandment in the very presence of K. Ieroboam 1. King 13. 2 , 3 , 4. ) they doe nothing else but preach and cry out for Altars , setting up of Altars , Images , Crucifixes , Tapers , with other Altar-trinkets , even before our most gracious King himselfe ; and (m) (m) Iob. 6. 5. See Pocklingtons Sunday no Sabbath . Bray like a wild Asse , or rayle and scolde like Oyster women , against those who preach for Lords Tables ( which they beginne now againe to terme (n) (n) Acts and Monuments . Edit. 1631 vol. 3. p. 85. 95. 497. Oysterboardes , as that turne coate , Dr. White with other Papists did in ●…u . Maries dayes , when they did set up Popery afresh ) or oppose their Popish Idoll-Altars , and the turning of our Tables Altar-wise : And not contented to set up Altars , and Crucifixes , against our Statutes , Articles , Homilies , Canons , Injunctions , established Doctrine of our Church , to which they have subscribed , Yea against the very Booke of common prayer itselfe ; ( which prescribes only a Table , not any Altar ) they crease not to preach continually at Court , Paules-Crosse , in both our Vniversities , and else where , (o) (o) Shelford his Sermon of the Church Sunday no Sabbath . p. 46. ●…heeue , & others . that men 〈◊〉 and ought to bow downe and worship the golden Images , the stately guilded Altars , Cru cifixes , Images , which their greate (p) (p) Dan. 3. 5. 6. 7. Nabucadonozer , the Lord Prelates , have set up in their owne Chappells , Cathedralls , and other Churches , ( as if one Stone , Stock , Image , or dumbe Idoll , might not fall downe and worship another alone , but all else must imitate their example , as the Rule of faith and worship ( and themselves bow downe and worship before them , as the Idolatrous Isralites and Pagans did before their Idolls and Altars 1. Kings 12. 30. 2. King●… . 18. 22. 2. Kings 5. 18. Besides these Angells , and spirituall Sonnes ) who preach nothing now all most but their Lordships (q) (q) Math. 15. 9 Commandement●…●…de of Gods ) they have divers Ministring spirits ; as Arch-Deacons , Commissaries , Pursevants , Apparitors , ●…ilors , Registers , Informers , Aduocates , Proctors , Spies , and Notaries in all places , to set up Al●… , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , impose and prescribe n●…w Ceremonies , Injunctions , Oathes , orders , Articles , to suspende silence , excommunicate , imprison , intrap , wailay , betray , persecute , fleece , and ruine all godly Ministers and people , and advance their Lordships Monarchie , Honour , Pompe , State , Raveuewes , Kingdome , and cause al men to fall downe and worship them , like som●… petty Gods descended from heaven , and their Antichristian fond Injunctions and Popish Innovations , as Gods sacred Oracles : So like are they to their Father the divell in this resemblance .

42. The divell was a lying spirit in the mouth of Aha●…s Prophets ; to perswade him to what they pleased , against Gods word & true Prophets , &c. to advance his owne designes : 1. Kings 22. 22 , 23. So our Lord Prelates anciently were , & now are as much as ever , lying spirits in the mouths of many false Prophets ( and I would wee could not say , in most of his Majesties Chaplaines in ordinary , and others that preach before his highnesse , and in other publike places ) who preach nought else but their (r) (r) Math. 15. 9. Lordships pleasures , and those words , those precepts , they cunningly put into their mouthes , ( as the (s) (s) 2. Sam. 14. 2. to 22. Woman of Tekoah spake Ioabs words to David ) to accomplish their owne Antichristian designes , advance their owne power and Hierarchie , and cause all men to adore them as the only Gods , Lords , and Oracles on the earth . (t) (t) 〈◊〉 : and Dr. Iohn White his Epistle Dedicative to K. Iames before his De●…te of the Way . Maximus Tirius records , That one P. Sapho dwelling in the parts of Libia , desirous to be canonized a God , tooke a sort of prating Birds , and secretly taught them to sing , P. Sapho is a great God : and having their lesson perfectly , hee let them flie into thee Woods and Hills adioyning , where continuing there long , other Birds also by imitation learned the same , till the hedges rang with nothing but P. Saphoes dittie , Great is the God P. Sapho : The Countrey-people hearing the Birds , ( but ignorant of the ●…raud ) thought Sapho to be a God indeed , and beganne to worship him . This ●…ame not only hath beene , but now is , both the Popes , and Lord Prelates practise ; Who desirous to effect their owne ambicious ends , advance their owne pretended divine power , Iurisdiction , Hierarchie , and to bee adored and obeyed in all their Antichristian Innovations , Injunctions , and designes , as Gods , with sweet promises of preferments ( which they have now for the most part monopolized into their owne hands ) they procure a company of bold audacious prating Birds ( or Bussards rather ) in our Vniversities , and elsewhere , with their owne domesticke Chaplaines , to learne these notes by heart , That the Calling of Lord Bishops is Iure Divino ; that the holy Fathers the Prelates are to order all Church-affayres , and to bee (v) (v) Shelford his Sermon of Gods house A Co●…e from the Altar . p. 1. 2. 3. &c Rheene his Communion Booke 〈◊〉 expounded Epi●… . Dedicatory p. 20. &c. obeyed in all their Injunctions and Commands without dispute : that they have power to decree Rights and Ceremonies , and authorities in Controversies of faith , a clause lately foysted by them into the 20 Article of our Church , ( being not in the Latine , or English Articles of King Edward the fixt , Queene Elizabeth ; Nor those of Ireland , taken Verbatim out of the English , that we must have Images , Crucifixes , Altars , Preists , Sacrifices ; that men ought to set their Altars and Tables Altarwise at the East end of the Church , & to bow downe vnto them and worship them : that they ought to bow at the naming of Iesus , Stand up at Gloria Patri , the Gospell , Athanasius , and the Nicene Creede , read , the 2. service at the Altar , pray with their faces to the East , submit to the Lord Prelates in all matters of faith and discipline , beleeving as they beleeve , and doing as they doe : that they must allwayes declayme and crie out thus against Puritans ( as they now doe in all their Sermons ) that they are sedicious factious persons , enemies and rebells to the King and his lawes , ( when as the Bishops themselves meere hildebrands ●…oth in Church and state , are such ) meere Hipocrites and imposters , men farre more dangerous and vnsufferable in the State then Preists or Iesuites : that they must magnify auricular confession , extreme vnction , and absolution , as things fitting to be received in the Church : Maintayne a reall presence in the Sacrament : Deny the Pope to be Antichrist , or his Ceremonies to bee Antichristian : Crie up the use of dancing , sports and pastimes on the Lords day : Crie downe the strickt ●…anctification of it as Iewdaisme , superticious , and puritanicall : Preach against lectures , lecturers , often preaching , and Sermons on the Lords day afternoone , as meere babling , pratling , and * * So Dr. Corbet B. Bwrens Chancellor Iately termed preaching and said he had Scripture for it . foolishnes ; with a world of such like Songes , all which these their prating Iayes having perfectly learned some two or three yeares since , they sent them abroade , not only into the Woods , Hills , and Dales in the Country , but also vnto the Court , Citie , Vniversities , and places of greatest refort , to chaunt , and ●…oare out these their Episcopall Ditties ; where these singing Birds ( or Decoyes rather ) have so well playd their parts of late , by preaching , printing , and chanting out these their lessons , in Citty , Court & Country , that other Birds also ( by imitation ignorance , or hopes of like preferments as some of these first Decoyes ha●…h attayned to , ) fall to ●…nge the self same ditties euery where , as fast as they ; So that now our Cathedralls , Chappells , Churches , Pulpits , ringe of little else but these Episcopall tunes and songes : which the people daylie hearing every where ( being ignorant , of the Prelats fraud and practise herein who taught those Birds these tunes , of which I now desire all to take publique notice , ) begin to thinke Lord Prelates , and all these their Romish Doctrines , Ceremonies , and Innovations , to be of divine Institution , and that their Lordships are to be obeyed in all things without dispute , as if they were Gods indeede ; wherevpon , they now fall downe & worship them as some petty , yea the greatest Gods ; and these their antichristian doctrines , C●…monies , Innovations , as Gods sacred Oracles and Institutions , they being farre more happy then P. Sapho , in this their stratagem ( worthy most serious consideration and discovery . ) That hee deceived only the , simple Country people with this policy , but they , not only Country-clownes , but Citizens , Schollers , Courtiers , and some great nobles too I feare ; who upon the discovery of this their diobolicall fraud ( they speaking in these prating Birds , though Dumbe for the most part themselues , and singing the self same ditties when they speake , as the (x) (x) Gen. 3 1. 2. 3. 4. divell spake of old in the serpent ) will no doubt vndeify them againe , and esteeme them but as men , or heathenish Idolls , not worthy adoration or any longer credit ; and all these their Innouations , Romish Doctrines and Ceremonies , as meere Iesuiticall Impostures .

43. The Divell desires to have all faithfull Christians in his clutches ( especially the eminentest Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell ) that he may fift them like Wheate to the very Branne , to finde an hole in their Coates , or an occasion to destroy them . Luke 22 , 31. So have Lordly Prelates desired and done the like in all ages , and still persist to doe it ; wee need not goe farre for Presidents to exemplify it , there being never an eminent sincere Minister of England whom the Prelates have not thus winnowed , and laid traps for ; and persecuted more or lesse .

44. The Divell wo●…keth most of all , and beareth greatest sway in carnall fleshly men , and in the Children of disobedience . Ephes - 2. 2 , 3. * * See this Answer to the great Turkes letter An●… 1542. & Bale de vitis Pontificium . Soe doe the Prelates worke most in , with , by , and upon meere Formallists , licensious , dissolute , carnall men and Ministers , and those who are most disobedient to the lawes of God , of Christ , of Kings and temporall Majestrates , whose Iurisdictions they have ever laboured to ecclipse abolish & tread quite under foote , as one of our Kings , and our whole Parliaments have resolved in 2. publique Acts. 37. H. 8. c. 17. & 28. H. 8. c. 10.

45. The divell commeth armed with all power , and signes , and lying wonders , and with all deceiveablenes of vnrighteousnes 2. Thess. 2. 9 , 10. So doe the Popes , and whole ●…able of Lordly Prelates , ( as the Apostle there resolves , ) who came armed against Gods Church and people both with the temporall and spirituall Sword ; with Ecclesiasticall and civill Officers , Pursevants , Somners , Censures , punishments , ter●…ors , and vexations of all sortes ; with signes and lying wonders ( of which we have many Instances in Popish legends Postils and Stories old and new ) and with all deceiveablenesse of vnrighteousnesse ; As costly Ornaments rich apparell , guilded Images , Stately Churches , Pallaces , Altars , Altar-clothes , sweete sounding Organs , and Church musike , gay 〈◊〉 , specious pretences , superstitious hipocriticall devotions &c. apt to cheate and ensnare all ignorant carnall people , The only deuices by which they maintaine , support , and increase their pompe , wealth , State and Lordly power as Bernard longue since resolved , in his Apology to William Abot .

46. The divell doth by himselfe and his instruments endeauor to enchaunt and bewitch men , to worke them to his will Levit , 20. 6 , 27. 2. Sam. 28. 1. to 12. 2. Chron. 21. 6. 2. Chron. 33. 6. Thus he bewitched the people of Samaria for a long time by Symon Magus his Sorceries Acts 8. 9 , 11. Thus he bewitched the Gallatians by false Prophets , that they should not obey the truth Gall. 3. 1. Thus he permitted the Emperor (y) (y) Mr. Tyndall his Practise of Popish Prelates . p. 350. Charles the greate to be bewitched by a notable Strupet with an enchanted ringe , having a pearle with some strange imagery graven thereon , so that he could never be out of her company , or deny her any request whiles Shee lived , nor yet suffer her corps ( embalmed wrapped up in lead and carried about after him whether ever he went ) to be out of his chamber or presence , when she was deed , till the ringe was pulled of her finger , in such sorte hath the Antichrist of Rome the (z) (z) Platina & Bale de Vitis Pontificum . Dr. Ioh. Wite his Way to the true Church . Sect. 57. n. 9. 10. Pope , and Popish Prelates , heretofore enchanted divers kinges and others with their sorceries and conjurations , to cause them to give up their royallpower & prerogatives to these Beasts , as Rev. 17. 2 , 17. c. 18 , 9. 28. H. 8. c. 10. Mr. Tindall ●…n his practice of Popish Prelates and Officers . relate . Thus did the (a) (a) p. 368. Antiqu. Ecclesiae Brit. in the life of Arch-bishop Warh . p. 357. 3. 358. greate Cardinall , Favorite Woolsey , with Negromancy , and an Image made by sorcery , which he wore about him , enchant King Henry the 8. to bringe him to his beck , which made the King to doate upon and run haunt after him , more then ever he did on any Lady or gentlewoman , so as the King after that , began to follow him , as he before followed the King , By meanes whereof , he ruled all things at his pleasure , till his blacke Arte did faile him ; Hereupon perchance ) it was , that this King afterward made an Acte against Conjuration , witchcrafts , Sorcery , and enchantments to procure vnlawfull love &c. An. 33. H. 8. c. 8 , This Arte hath been practised by many Preists and Iesuites here in England of late yeares , upon diuers of their Proselites to seduce them to their faith , of which (b) (b) Foote out of the same London 1624. p. &c. M. Gor , regords two stories practised upon a couple of seduced Maydes , I could add two later , practised upon two gentlemen ( the one a young Devonsher man , of good estate , so bewitched with an enchanted Crucifix hing by a Preist about his neck , above 9. yeare since , that as long as it continued about him , al his frinds could neither perswade , nor force him either to goe to Church , or stay at home , or continue in the Realme , or to discourse or converse familiarly with them ; but no sooner was it espied , and cut of his neck by his Mother ( who beleeved it to be a Charme , ) but he was presently another man , & wondred how he could bee so strangely bewitched as he was for above 3. monthes space before ; Wheither any of our great Lord Prelates have learned this Arte from their familiars , Preists and Iesuites ( who haue charmed all their zeale and prosecutions against them , and turned the whole streame of it against the godlyest Ministers and people , whom they revile and persecute under the name of Puritans , ) I leave to others to inquire after , who are more priuy to their secrets then my selfe ; Yf they have , I shall only desire them to remember , that Surely there is no enchantment against Iacob , Neither is there any divination against Israell . numb. 23. 23. and if they have bewitched any men with any their sorceries , flatteries , misinformations , false delusions , or enchauntements , to up hold their Lordly pompe and greatenesse or Superstitious Romish Innouations , Yet this infernall craft ( like vntempered morter ) will vndoubtely fayle them ar the last , and them shall they ( like their Father Satan ) fall suddainely and fearefully from heaven to earth , like Liteninge Luke 10. 18. yea the●… , with all their vsurped power , lordlynes , po●…pe , State , glory , and multitude , shall forever descend into Hell . Isay 5. 14. as to their propper place . Acts. 1. 25.

47. The divell is an importunate suitor , who will hardly take any refusall or denyall of his suite ; A diligent so●…icitor and vigilant prosecutor of his designes , overslipping no oportunity or meanes to atcheive ●…is ends , and an impudent shamelesse miscreant , who will never bee shamed , daunted , terrified by any detection , discovery , or publique dislike of his mischievous wiles , plotts , and attempts against the Ministers , people , O●…dinances , Gospell , Kingdome of God and Christ ; as appeares by Iob 1. 13. to . 22. c. 2. 1. to . 10. Math. 4. 1. to . 10. Ephes: 6. 11 , 12 , 16. 1 Pet: 5. 8 , 9. So the Lordly Prelates are importunate suitors to Princes , and others , for the advancement & preservation of their Hierarcie , usurpations , Iurisdictions , Ceremonies , and the suppression of the purity and power of Religion , in which they will have no denyall or foyle ; they are most vigilant , diligent , and earnest solicitors , loosing no 〈◊〉 , sp●…ring no cost or paynes , or promises , to effect any thing that may make for the advancement of their proffit , honour , power & Iurisdiction , or suppression of the Puritans ( as they terme them now ) as their late encroachments upon his Majesties prerogative , the subjects liberties , the Common Lawes , and other Officers witnesse , yea , they are impudent , shamelesse , most audacious brazen-faced creatures , who will neither blush at , give over , nor desist the prosecution of their impious Popish designes , though publickely detected to all the world ; witnesse our present experience : For though the execrable Romish , ●…esuiticall practises of some of our Lord Prelates to usher in Popery , Superstition and Idolatry , ( as by licensing Popish and s●…perstitious Bookes , purging and altering the Common Prayer-booke , ●…ast-booke , and Gun-powder-treason-boo●…e in a most g●…osse and shamelesse ( that I say not traytorly ) manner , by erecting Altars , Images , Crucifixes , Crosses , ( as the Archbishop of Canterbury , the Arch-Irnovator both in Church and State affaires , though hee will not bee thus reputed , hath erected Altars and Crucifixes in the Chappells of Lambeth , Croydon , London-house , Fu●…ham , &c. The Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield D. Wright , this last pestilentiall Sommer blotted out Gods Ten Commandements in the Cathedrall at Litchfield , a●…d set up a giont-like monstrous Crucifix , as bigge and large as any three men , with an Altar under it , and also raysed the Chauncell ; and set up an Altar at Coventry , as one Knightly , a knowne Popish Priest in those parts directed ; as that Good-man , S. Godfrey of Gloster hath also erected a Crucifix and Altar in his Cathedrall at Gloster , and solemnly consecrated Altar-clothes for them . And likewise hath set up a new Crosse at ●…inzor , with a large glorious Crucifix on the one side , and the picture of Christ arising out of his grave , with his Body halfe in and halfe out of his Sepulcher in goodly colours , on the other , not fearing to write thereon in Capitall letters , and to give publique notice to all the Realme : That this Crosse was repayred and beautified at his costs Anno Domini 1635. contrary to the expresse Doctrine of (c) (c) Of the Perill of Idolatri p. 41. 42. 61 , It is wickednes for a Christian to erect such an Image to God in a Temple , &c. our Homelies , which condemned the very making of the picture of Christ , or a Crucifix as Idolatrous wicked , and a meere lye , to which , hee , and all other our Crosse erecting Prelates have ofte subscribed , and therefore are worthy of no painted , but a reall Crosse themselues , for tollerating and erecting such Crosses and Crucifixes , contrary to their owne subscriptions , only to set Popery : ) by silencing , suspending , and persecuting godly Ministers , Suppressing lectures and powerfull preaching in many Diocesse , encouraging people to neglect and profane Gods Saboathes with all Heathenish sportes and impieties , imposing new visitation O●…thes , Articles , Ceremonies , and the like , setting up the Popes Canon law , rayling upon godly Ministers and people , & suppressing them under the name of Puritans , Magnifying Popish writings , and vilefyinge Protestant Authors , endeavoring to bring in the Gregorian account , punishing all those that oppose their Romish Innovations , or indicte or molest them for it in the high Commission , now made a meere Spanish Inquisition to suppresse our Protestant Religion , and set Popery with an high hand against his Majesties Lawes and publique declaration , and by sundry other such Iesuiticall tricks and stratagemes prescribed long since by the Iesuite Contzen Politiq . liber . 5. which their Lordships follow to an haires bredth . Since some , or all these their execrable practises I say ( at which the very divell himselfe might blush and hide his head ) have been * * See looke about you . laid open to all the world of late , in such an apparant undeniable manner , that all the people both cleerely see , declayme against , and abhorre their treachery , villany , and wicked Romish designes , and themselves ( had they any conscience , shame , ingenuity , grace , or modesty in them ) would be ashamed to shew their faces either in citty , or countrey , Much more at Court , having so notoriously abused his Majestie and affronted his Lawes and Declarations in all these particulars , and injured his Highnesse in his Royall Issues , Sister , Nephewes , in blotting them out of the Collect , late Fast-booke , and Catalogue , of Gods Elect ; Yet these audacious holy Fathers ( as blushlesse as their Gownes , their Rochetts or the divell ) are so farre from being ashamed , or reforming these their enormities and impieties , that they proceed on with as great or greater rage and violence in them then before , silencing more Ministers every day ; yea breaking open the houses , committing close Prisonners and questioning those with an high hand , as seditious persons and offendors , M. Henry Burton D. Burges , M. White , and others . who dare preach or write against , or finde fault with those their perfidious , traytorly , disloyall , impious practises , Purgations , Innovations , Crucifixes , Altars , Tapers , and proceedings , execrable both to God and man ; So like to the Divell are they growne , in their affronted shamelesse impudency .

48. The divell hath great wrath , b●…cause hee knoweth hee hath but a short time : Revel: 12 , 13. So have Lord Prelates no●… , great wrath , and ●…xercise strange unusuall rage , persecutions , exorbitances against Gods faithfull Ministers and people , hunting after them with their blood-hounds the Pursevants , and ri●…ing and breaking up their howses , Studies , Coffers , with unheard of violence , as if they were the archest Traytors breathing , witnesse their late proceedings against Master Burton in clapping him up close prisonner , and convicting his wife and Clarke to severall prisons onely for obeying his commands in presenting his Appeales and Sermons to the Lords , For God and the King , which makes people stand amazed at their tyranny , and causeth the Papists to triumph as if the day now were theirs : whereas Preists and Iesuites ( meere Traytors by our lawes ) are favored of late , as their darling Sonnes , and not molested by them . Therfore doublesse the time of their vsurped tyranny & raigne wil be but very short , and their sinnes now growne ripe withall for the Sickle of Gods Iudgments ) the fica●…l ruine of their antichristian Hierarchie and more then b●…barous tyrannie , neere at hand .

49. When the great redd Dragon and his Ange●…ls were cast out of heauen ( Gods Church ) the heauens , and those that dwelt therein , by Gods commandments , did reioyce , Rev. 12. 12. So when those Lordly Prelates and their forenamed Angels shall bee ca●… quite out of the Church of God , Shee and all her faithfull members will exceedingly rejoyce , they being now her greatest griefe and grievance , of which shee is so weary and sicke at heart , that shee groanes to bee delivered from , unb●…thened of them , being now intollerable for her to sustayne : Such is their present divellish insolency , pride and open tyrannie : especially of that Arch-wolfe , and madde red Dragon of Canterbury , who now makes open havocke of Gods Church and Ministers ; like another furious power , against all Lawes of God & the Realme , to the amazement of the people .

50. Hell and everlasting torments are prepated for the divell and his Angels , reserved now in chaines of darknesse ●…nto the Iudgment of the great day , when they shall be all cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever : Math. 25. 41. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Iude 6. Revel. 20. 20. So are they prepared likewise for all proud Lordly , persecuting , * * Oh that a man had but the view of hell ; ( saith ●…ather Latymer in his Sermons , Hee should see on one side of it a row of unpreaching Prelates in their square caps as farre as betweene this and Dover , I warrant you , as farre as betweene this and Dover . unpreaching , oppressing , tyrannizing Prelates , who suppresse the preaching and progresse of the Gospell , with the Preachers , Ministers , and Professors of it , and hate them to the death : And if there be any place or torments in Hell , hotter , deeper , greater , or mo●…e insupportable , ●…orrid , and loathsome then other , certainly that shall bee reserved for these ungodly Lord Bishops and false Prophets ; who shall have the same condemnation and torments in●…icted on them as the divell himselfe shall vndergoe . 1. Tim. 3. 6 , 7. Rev. 20. 10. O that our proud persecuting Lording Prelates would now at last consider this , o that they would repent and amend in time before they fall downe headlong * * It is reported of his Arch-Grace of Canterbury , that when he was a poore Scholler in Oxford hee dreamed , that he should first be a Bishop , then Archbishop of Canterbury , and a great persecutor of Gods Ministers and people : ( which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 ) and that at last hee si●…cke do●…ne into hell , 〈◊〉 he awaked , and then and since oft related this dreame enough to terrify and a●…ake his Lordship , if true , in the midst of his present furious ●…ersecutions . quick into Hell , Some of them ( as their late actions manifest to all the world ) being growne as insolent , as impudent , as desperate professed publique enemies to purity , piety , holynes the syncere preaching and Preachers of Gods word and power of Religion , as the very divell himselfe ; and some of them I ●…eare ) worse then any divells . For first all the divells beleeve Gods threats , word , Iudgments , and tremble at them Iames. 2. 19. but they ( as their atheisticall , vnjust , vnconscionable , tyranicall lives and actions proclayme to all men , ) doe neither beleeue , nor tremble at them .

2. The divell confessed Paule & his fellow preachers , to be the servants of the most high God , which shew unto us the way of saluation Acts. 16. 16 , 17 , 18. Lordly Prelates will not confesse our godliest faithfullest Preaching Ministers to be such witnesse there expung of the Collect in the last fast-booke begining thus : It had beene good for us &c. Only because it magnifieth often preaching , and call such preachers , Gods servants .

3. The divell is exceeding diligent night and day , but Lordly Prelates very lasie & negligent in following of their spirituall Plough , ( as B. Latimer shewes at large in his Sermon of the Plough : ) & so in those three respects are worse then hee : When as they are parallels and checkmates with him in all and every of these 50. Particulars . From all which I shall frame this Argument , discovering the office and calling of Lordly Bishops and Prelates , not to be from God , nor of divine institution , but from the Divell , and his invention ; which I challenge all great Lord Bishops to answer , if they can .

Those who are altogether like the very Divell , tread in his footsteps , doe his workes , and bring forth his propper fruits in all the forecited particulars and that principally by reason of their function ; those ( questionlesse ) are none of Gods institution , but of their Fathers the Divell , of and from whom they are Christ himselfe so expressely resolving : Iohn 8. 44. 1 Iohn 3. 8. Math 7. 16. 20.

Such have Lordly domineering Pontificiall Bishops and Prelates in all ages beene , and that principally by reason of their Lordly functions , as the premises , all Stories and experience manifest .

Therefore they , and their Lordly function , are none of Gods institution , but of their father the divells , of and from whom they are .

Yet mistake me not , I pray , as if I concluded every Bishop to bee like the divell in all these particulars , or to bee damned ; Such uncharitablenesse and impiety , bee farre from me and all good Christians ; I know some Bishops have beene godly men , and Gods deere Saints , & I doubt not but there are some few such now : though their cowardise and silence in Gods cause , in which they now dare not publikely appeare , bee inexcusable .

1. But yet this I say withall . First , that they were such before they were made Lord Bishops .

2. That their Bishoprickes never made any of them better or more laborious or couragious sor the truth then before , but many of them far worse fearefuller and lasier .

3. That since Bishopricks were endowed with Lordly riches , Iurisdiction , power , and pompe , I never read of any one man that was ill before , who grew a good and godly Christian by being made such a Bishop ( a thing remarkable ; ) nor of any good man before , that ever grew better , more painefull , hol●… zealous , heavenly minded and laborious , but most of them al much ●…orse , more idle , worldly , covetous , proud , luxurious , malicious , oppressive petulant , selfe-willed , and unjust .

4. That most Lordly Prelates ( especially those who have beene most pontificiall , powerfull , Lordly , domineering , active and stirring in the Church and state ) have in all ages since they were made Lords , Peeres , and B●…rons , beene like the divell in all or most of the forecited particulars ; and if any proved good , or became not such , it was only from the overruling sanctifying grace of Gods spirit in their hearts before and after they were made Lord Prelates , not from this very Lordly office , pompe , power , and function it selfe , which otherwise would have made them such , as it hath made most other Popes and Prelates , as all sto●…ies evidence .

5. Finally , I affirme ; that if to bee a Lord Bishop , bee such a thing onely as many now define and make it ; Namely , to manage temporall offices , and state-affaires , to give over preaching , except one Leuten Court-Sermon in a yeare or two , not in their proper Dioc sse to their people , to follow and hunt the Kings Court , to get and dispose o●… Ecclesiasticall ( and so 〈◊〉 civil ) osfices and preferments ; to suppresse Lectures , Lecturers , and often preaching of Gods Word ; Suspend , excommunicate , persecute , imprison , deprive godly Ministers and Professors for toyes and trifles , ( yea for their zeale and piety , ) against all Lawes of God and man ; to consecrate Chappels , Churches , set up Crucifixes . Altars , Tapers , Crosses , Organs , Images , ●…oyle in Communion-tables Alta●…wise , set up Superstition , Popery , and Idolatry ; License Popish and Armenian Bookes , Corrupt and purge the Common-Prayer-Booke , the Gunpowder treason Booke , the Fast Booke , yea the Articles of Religion , ad normam Romanae fidei , to make and impose new visitation Oathes , Articles , 〈◊〉 Orders , Innovations , to make Mini●…ers & Churchward●…ns 〈◊〉 ; to keepe visitations and Consistories without any Patent or Commission from his Majestie , in their owne names and rights alone ; to graunt out Citations , Proces Excommunications , Probate of wills , Commissions of administration , &c. in their owne names , under their owne Seales , not his Majesties to fine , imprison censure , and 〈◊〉 his Majesties good Subjects , &c. their fellow brethren at their pleasures ; to bee coached and barged up and downe from place to place ( I am sure seldome to the pulpit ) to bee courted , capped , attended , cloathed like petty Kings and Princes , to fare deliciously every day , to have stately Pallaces , great possessions , Knights and brave Gentlemen to attend them , Lords and Earles to crowch unto them , all to feare them , flatter them , none to rebuke , oppose or control them , ( no not in their oppressing and unjust courses ) to bolster out their encroachments upon the Kings Prerogative and Lawes , and on his Subjects Liberties with might , threats , and violence ; to tramp●…e all Lawes of God and man under foot , and doe all things by will & power , not Law or Canon ; to bee implacable , unmercifull , pittilesse , proud , stately , cruell ; to shake up , terrifie and b●…ow-beate , imprison , Excommunicate deprive , degrade , presents their fellow-brethren , and eate them like their Curres ; to set forward all profanenesse , disorders , sports and E●…hnicke pastimes even on Gods own day , and make no conscience of it ; to doe all things like absolute Law-givers , Lords , Popes , and Monarks , or rather professed Atheists , fearing neither God ●…or man , and breaking all their lawes , to bolster up base , drinke , idle , scandalous clergie men , exempting them fro●… secular power & jurisdiction , to maintaine their Officers in 〈◊〉 open exortions , oppressions , abuses , exhorbitant misdemeanor & the like : Which is now only to be and play the Bishop in point of Doctrine and practise : Then thus to bee and act the Bi●…hop , is in truth to 〈◊〉 and play the very divell , and to parallell him in all forecited respects ; let those who are such Lordly . Prelates deny it if they can or dare .

The second Parallel BETWEENE THE IEWISH HIGH PRIESTS And Lordly Prelates .

AS Lordly Prelates resemble their Father the divell in all the forenamed particulars , so doe they the Iewish high Priests in these ensuing Particulars .

1. The high Priests of the Iewes , were ordained of men , to offer gifts and sacrifizes on the Altar Heb. 8 : 3. Exod. 40. Levit. 1. to . 22. So our high Priests the Lord Prelates , are and will bee ordayned and also ordaine others high Priests for this end , to offer Sacrifices and gifts at their new erected Altars ( not to preach ) the end why they every where erect , advance , consecrate , and bow downe to Altars , which now want nothing but a Masse to grace them withall .

2. The Iewish high Priests had their Miters , and brave costly pontificall Robes , ornaments , and attires , whereby they were differenced from other men Exod. 31. 1. to . 32. c. 28 , 2. to 43. So have the Lordly Prelates , and that in imitation of the Iewish high Priests , from whence they derive them .

3. The Iewish high Priests went but once a yeare into the second Tabernacle to offer for the people . Heb. 9. 7. And our Lordly high Priests commonly goe but once a yeare , ( and many of them scarce once in 3. or 4. yeares , witnesse both our present Arch-prelates ; & some other unpreaching Bishops examples , into the Pulpit , to preach unto the people , or to offer sacrifice on the Altar .

4. The Iewish high Priests commanded the Apostles , not preach any more in the name of the Lord Iesus , to the people , that they might be saved ; and apprehended imprisoned , and scourged them , for do●…ng it . Acts 4 & 5. 1 Thess. 2. 16. Our Lordly Prelates heretofore , and at this very day , silence and suspend our best , our painfullest Ministers from preaching Gods Word unto their people , that they may bee saved ( though God , the King , the Books of Ordination and Statutes of the Realme enjoyne them for to doe it , ) and threaten to apprehend , imprison , and fine them if they preach contrary to their suspensions ; as the Apostles did , Who in despite of all the high Priests threats , inibitions imprisonments , stripes , three times one after another , Daily in the Temple , and in every howse , ( which now would bee a Conventicle ) ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ - Acts 5. 41 , 42. And so would and should our Ministers ( now silenced against Law and Canon too ) were they true successors of the Apostles , and not intoxic●…ted with a base unworthy spirit of carnall feare and cowardize , which makes them betray their liberties , Religion , Flocks , Brethren to the will and rapine of these beastly ravening Lordly Wolves .

5. The Iewish high Priest granted out warrants or letters missive to Saul ( brea●…hing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord , ) that if hee found any of this way , whether they were men or women , hee might bring them bound to Ierus●…em . Acts 〈◊〉 . 2. Lordly Prelates heretofore , and now , grant the like letters missiue , warrants , and Attachments to their Pursuivants and other malicious wicked Informers ( that breath out threatnings and slaughter against the Lords disciples ) against divers godly Ministers , Christians , and all such as they please to stile , Puritans and Cowventicklers , wheither men o●… women , to breaks open and ransacks their houses , take their bodies , bring them up Prisonners to London , Ye k●… , or Durham , before their Lordships holynesses , to fine , censure , deprive , imprison and undoe them though Christ , his Apostles , and the primitive Bishops never claymed or exercised any such Lordly secular tyranny or Iurisdiction , but condemned it as unlawfull and unbeseeming Clergie-men .

6. The Iewish high-Priest Ananias , when Paul was convented before the Counsell and beganne to make his Apologie and plead his owne cause , commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth , and would not suffer him to speake in his owne defence Acts 33. 1 , 2. Thus doe our Lord Prelates deale with Gods Ministers when they come before them in the High Commission or elsewhere ; they will not suffer them to speake in their owne defence , or pleade their owne causes to the full ; but when they offer to speake , enjoyne them silence , or else commaund the Pursevant or Iaylour to smite them on the mouth , or take them away to the Prison , So imperious are their Lordships growne . Take but one fresh memorables instance insteed of many others . One M. Snelling a graue Kentish Minister , was suspended ab Officio & Beneficio about a veare and halfe since by D. Wood , commissary to the Bishop of Rochester , and after that excommunicated , pursuiuanted and articled against before the High Commissioners , at Lambet●… , only for not reading the Declaration for sports , fathered falsely upon his Majesty by the Prelates . To which Articles hee drawing up a full answer , shewing the reasons both in point of law and conscience , why hee conceived himselfe not bound to read it , and so not culpable of any crime ; the Register refused to accept or receive his Answer though tendred to him in writing , saying , it was too long , and hee durst not take it . Hereupon hee contracted it into lesse then a sheet of paper and tendred it to him as his answer . He refused it the second time ; and though he thus tendred his answer , yet an Attactment issued out against him , for not answering . The conclusion was , hee must put in onely such an answer as the Register should prescribe , without any justification or defence , or mention of the reasons why hee refused to read the Booke , telling him that he might and should put in his reasons in court , by way of defence . Whereupon he gave in a short answer without any defence at all in a manner ; which comming to bee repeated before one of the Commissioners ; the Register and hee dashed out of his very answer ( against all Law and Iustice ) what they pleased : which M. Snelling perceiuing , professed hee would not acknowledged for his answer none of his , but their owne making ; vet notwithstanding this answer must stand as his . This Hilary tearme hee tenders his defence ; the Register and Court at Informations refused to accept thereof , telling him 〈◊〉 came too l●…te ; though before the cause informed against : At Lambeth he tendred his defence in Court ; the Archbishop referre the consideration of it to Sir Nathaniell Brent , and D. Guyn whether it were fit to bee received ; only he told them , he would have no dispute of the point ; which is all one , as if his Grace had said ; I will have no defence at all : This the event hath manifested , For hee tendering his defence to these , Referres they refuse , to receive or allow thereof : telling him that the * * See how these disloyall Officers most vniustly lay the blamt of all their tiranny , oppression , Innovations & iniustice upon his Maiesty : to rob him of his peoples hearts and affections . King & the Archbishop have decreed that the Booke shall and must be read , and therefore hee must submit and read it , and they can allow of no Defence against it . That the Archbishop hath decreed it shall be read , I believe it without an Oath ; but that his Majestie hath made any such Dec●…ee , they must give me and all others leave to demurre to it , till they shall be able to produce such a Decree as this under his Majesties great seale ; which will be ad Grecas Calendas , loe here the desperate impiety and injustice of our Prelates , parallell to that of (h) (h) Acts. 22. 1. 2. Ananias , when hee commanded Paul to be smitten on the face as ●…ee began to make his Defence . For first they will make and prejudge the not reading of this forged declaration , an heinous off●…ce , though there be no law , canon or precept at all for the reading of it ; nor any clause at all that it should be read ; much lesse by the Minister , nor any power given them so much as to question , much lesse to suspend , excommunicate , fine or cenfure , any who refuse to read i●… . When as the great question is , whether it be an offence at all ? but this must not be disputed . What now is this but to prejudicate , and not judge mens causes .

2. No answer must bee given or received , but what themselves shall make and allow and alter at their pleasures . Is not this pretty iustice ? Who then shall bee , innocent ?

3. When the answer is in , no defence must be made or accepted : If so , then the most innocent man in the world may bee condemned . What , no defence made ? Christ himselfe had liberty to make his defence before Pilate an Heathen Iudge : Paul the like liberty before Felix , Festus and Agrippa , ●…eere Pagan Infidell Magistrates . Yea the veryest Traytors and Rebels in the world , have liberty in all Courts of justice , to make their defence , and pleade the best they can for themselves , yet this godly grave Minister cmming for such a grand crime as this , before our Lordly Prelates , must make no defence at all : O divell , o Iewish High Priests , blush at this impudency , impiety and injustice of these your sonnes and successors : A drunkard , an Adulterer , a Symoniacke , any incarnate divell may put in what answer and defence he please before them ; but this grave Minister every way unspotted in his life and doctrine must not doe it , because they haue decreed before hand to condemne him . Is not this right high Priests justic●… ?

7. This Iewish high Priest ●…te to judge Paul after the law , and commanded him to be smitten contrary to the Law . Acts 2●… . 3. So our Lordly Prelates in their Consistories , Visitations , and Commissions , sit to judge Ministers and others his Majesties Subjects according to the Law , and yet imprison , fine , excommunicate , suspend , deprive , degrade , teare , fleece , and judge them , for the most part , contrary both to the Lawes of God , the Realme , and their owne Canons ; as thousends of Presidents evidence of late .

8. The Iewish high Preist , by Tertullus his Orator , accused St. Paule before Felix the Governour , for a P●…stilent fellow , a mover of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world , and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens , Acts 24. 1. Io●… . The selfe same accusation haue the Lord Prelates laid to our Ministers charge in former ages , and to our zealous godly Ministers and Preachers now adayes , accufing them to the King and his Counsell , and persecuting yea , suspending : imprisoning them every where as pestilent , factious , sedicious Witnes M. Henry Burton now charged by them , with sedition : with many others , as was B. Latimer , and all our Martyrs of old . persons , and ringleaders of Sects and Schisme ; as many late examples , and some now in agitation evidence .

9. The Iewish his Preists , informed Festus the Governour against Paule , and desired favour against him , that he would send for him to Ierusalem , that there they might judge him themselves according to their owne law , or else murther him by the way Acts. 25. 23. c. 24. 6. Our Lordly Prelates ( Especially his Archgrace of Canterbury and other our Cant Bishops ) doe the like ; informing the King , or temporall Majestrates against godly Ministers and people ; and desiring not Iustice , but favour against them , that they would sent for them into their owne Courts or High-Commissions , or not suffer them to appeale , or be released thence by Prohibitions o●… other meanes ; that so they might judge them after their owne law and wills , and be both enemies , parties delinquents , and Iudges in their owne cause , contrary to all reason Iustice , equity , and law , both of God and man ; of which we have manylate memorable Instances ; and one thing verie observable , that they have caused his clause ( derogatory to his Majesties royall Iustice and supremacy , to make themselves absolute supreme Kings and Iudges ) ( that there shal be no Appeale or Provocation allowed or admitted from the high Commission●…rs , to be inserted into their last Commission : A strange clause , to tie up his Majesties hands and soveraigne Iustice from being able to releive his oppressed or injured subjects , be their causes never so good , their Iudges their censures never so parciall mali●…ious exorbitant or vnjust .

10. Saul , by authority received from the Iewish chiefe Preists , shut up many of the Saints in Prison , and persecuted them even unto strange Cit●…es . Acts. 26. 10. 11. 12. Our Lordly Prelates Pursevants , Catchpoles , creatures and vermine , by like authority warrant and Commission from their Lordships , have done , and yet doe the like , breaking up mens dores and houses with open violence , as if they were traytors or felons by their High-Commission warrants , in which case if they be slaine they have no remedy , neither is it any felony or murther as all the Iudges of England resolved in one Simpsons case 42. Eliz.

11. The Iewish chiefe Preists came to Festus to Ierusalem Iudges of England resolved in one Smipsons case 42. Eliz. informing him against Paule , and desiring to have Iudgment against him without more adoe ; To whom 〈◊〉 gave this answere . It is not the man●…er of the Romans to deliver any man to die , before he which is accused , have the accusers face to face , and have license to answere for himselfe , concerning the crime laid against him Acts 25. 15. 16. The same doe Lord Prelates at this day ; they informe Princes and temporall Majestrates and Iudges against godly Ministers and people , desiring to have present Iudgment against them . O that they would give them such an answere as this ; Heathen Gouernour Festus did the Iewes high Preists ; and not condemne them but by lawfull witnesses ever bringing both them and their accusers face to face , which would discouer many a false brother and slie informing knaue , who no●… by meanes of ex Officio Oathes & procedings neuer appeares face to face to make good his accusation , and passeth vndiscouered .

12. Christ foretold his disciples , that he must suffer many things of the chiefe Preists . Math. 16. 21. And our go●…ly Martirs and writers in all times , have foretold all godly Ministers and people , that they must and shal suffer many things of Lordly Prelates for Christs sake , as they haue done for many ages in al places where they haue borne any sway ; yea Christ predicted , to his Disciples that he should be betrayed to the chiefe Preists , and that they should condemne him to death Math. 20. 18. The like hath beene predicted to his faithfull Ministers and seruants , concerning Lordly Prelates .

13. The Iewes chiefe Preists sent officers to apprehend Christ , because many of the people beleeued on him and harkened to his Doctrine ; and were exceeding angry with the Officers because they did not bring him Iohn . 7. 30 , 31. 32 , 35. Lord Prelates in former times , and now adayes , have also vsually sent out Officers and Pursevants to apprehend Christs faithfull Ministers , because the people beleeue and harken to their Doctrine ; and are exceeding angry with them , yf they ●…scape their hands and bring them not before them ; as appeares by many late examples .

14. The Iewes chiefe Priests consulted how to put Lazarus to death , because that by reason of him , many of the Iewes went away and beleeved on Iesus Iohn . 12. 10 , 11. So Lordly Prelates heretofore have consulted how to put Gods faithfull Ministers to death , and now how to s●…lence , suspend , deprive , imprison and thrust them from their Ministry , because by reason of them many of the people goe away from them and their traditions and beleeve on Iesus ; as hundred particular examples testify .

15. The chiefe Priests of the Iewes hired Iudas for 30. peeces of siluer to betray Christ his Master , & deliver him into their hands , sent a greate multitude with swords & Staves along with him , to apprehend him ; which they did . Math. 26. 14 , 15 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50. Mark 14. 10. 43. to 47. Luke 22. 4. 5 , 6 , 47. to 52. Iohn . 18. 1. to 14. The same haue Lordly Prelates done in all ages , hiring and corrupting godly Ministers and Christians , false disciples , friends , seruants , yea sometimes their very Kings , wives and Children to betray them into their hands and sending Persevants and a great company of Sherifes , Constables and other Officers with them to apprehend breake open their houses , doores like theeves , and bring them before them , as the Bookes of Martirs , and present experience plentifully evidence , to their shame .

16. The high Preist sought for false witnesses against Iesus our Saviour , to put him to death Math. 26. 59. to 64. Mark 14. 52. to 62. and by their falfe testimonies seeke to contemne him , Ibidem . The same have done & yet doe Lord Prelates ; ( as Hi●…ories and experience manifest ) against Christs faithfull Ministers and servants .

17. When these false witnesses would not steed them , they endeavour to inforce him to accuse himselfe by captious questions First , they examined him concerning his disciples and doctrine ; To which he gave them this answere ; I spake openly to the world , I ever taught in the Synagogues and in the Temple , wheither the Iewes allway resort , and in secret have I said nothing , why askest thou me ? aske them that heard me , what I have said unto them , behold they know what I said ( refuting to accuse himselfe or his Disciples ) Iohn 18. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. 23. After this , the high Preist said unto him , I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us , wheither thou be he Christ , the Sonne of God . Iesus saith unto him , Thou hast said &c. Thou the high Preist rent his ●…lothes saying , hee hath spoken blasphemy , what farther need have wee of witnesses , behold now yee have heard his blasphemy ; What thinke yee ? They answered and said , he is guilty of death ; Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him , & others smote him with the palme of their hand saying Prophecy unto us thou Christ , who it is that smote thee , &c. Math. 26. 63. to . 69. After which , they tooke counsell together to put him to death , and deliver him bound to Pilate the Governour , before whom they accuse him ; And when Pilate would have released him to the people , they perswaded them that they should aske Barrabas and destroy Iesus , and to cry out let him bee crucified ; And when Pilate yet pronounced him innocent , and would have discharged him ; the chiefe Priests replied ; If thou let this man goe thou art not Caesars friend , for hee speaketh against Caesar ; Never leaving him till they had crucified , and sealed him up fast in his Sepulcher . Math. 27. & 28. Iohn 18. & 19. Thus have Lord Prelates formerly dealt with the godly ministers and Saints of Christ , and now deale with his faithfull Ministers and Servants ; when they have no true or sufficient witnesses against them , they enforce them against Scriptures , Councells Fathers , Decretals Canon , Civill Canon law , the practise of the primitive Church for above 1300. yeares after Christ all which time there is not one precedent extant or story of any such Oathes or proceeding among Christians ) by ex officio Oathes and Articles to accuse and entrap themselves , of purpose to catch matter of censure and condemnation out of their owne mouthes which when they have gotten , then they insult over them spit in their faces , buffet , reuile , deride , and jeare them ; take counsell against them to silence , suspend , deprive , fine , imprison , or destroy them ; never ending their malicious prosecutions , till they see them close prisoners in their grau●…s ; and if any temporall Majestrates pronunce them innocent , or are willing to discharge them at any ti●…e then they accuse them as enemies to Caesar , as factious , sedicious , pestilent fellowes and tell them , Yf they let them goe , they are not Caesar , the Kings or Churches friends ; Yea when any time of grace , release or Pardon comes they can , and doe perswade Kings and temporall Magistrates to pordon and release Barrabas , theeues murtherers , whores , bawdes Preists Iesuites , Adulterers , drunkards , and all other notorious malefactors , but yet Iesus his innocent Saints and servants must have no grace at all , no mercy enlargment , grace or justice , but be imprisoned , ruined , molested destroyed and by this meanes at last they most vnjustly Crucify , vex and ruine these pure innocent Saints of Christ , as they did Christ himselse . A●… whizh our Booke of Martyrs and dayly experience witnesse to the full , in each particular ; yea , many of our present Prelates doe as much as in them lieth to crucfiy Christ himselfe , and that in a farre more barbarous manner then ever the Iewes did : For First , they crucified and set him only unto many Crosses . 2. The Iewes crucified him but once , they oft times one after another . 3. They kept him no longer on the Crosse then till he was dead upon it , & then gaue Ioseph of Aramathea leave to take him downe , beseeching Pilate that he might not hange thereon till the next day Iohn 19. Our Lord Prelates keepe him allwayes hanging before their eyes , on the Crosse , and never take him downe , as if he had still continued on his Crosse till now , and never been taken off , buried , raysed againe from the dead , and carried into heauen . And why so I pray ? First , to shew their cruell and bloudy disposition , it being their daily practise to crucify Christ in his Image and Saints , which makes them so much in love with the sight of the Crucifix . 2. To ma●…st themselues to be the high Preist vndoubted Successors , who crucified Christ . 3. To testify , that they delight so much in the picture of Christs death , as they haue no care nor thought at all to imitate him in his paynefull preaching life . 4. To manifest to all men , that if Christ were now a live in the flesh , they would as certainely crucify him againe as the high Preists did . 5. To tax the Sacra●…nt of the Lords Supper , & Scriptures of much imper●…ction ; as if they were not sufficient , to shewe forth Christ death till he came ( without this additament of a Crucifix ) to their Dull Lordships , who seldome receive the one , or seriously meditate of , & preach the other . 6. To manifest , that they desire not to have Christ to liue & ruleas a King or supreame living Lord in his owne Church , which he canot do as long as he hangs as a dead manon his Crosse ; that so they themselues may Lord it and rule Christs Church at their owne pleasures according to their owne Canons , Lusts , and pleasures , not his word , as the Iewish high Preists did . 7. To testify , that their Lordships thinke there is litle neede to preach Christ crucified ; & , that a dumbe blinde painted Crucifix , is a farre better preacher of Christ and his death then their Lordships . And if so , what neede of Bishops or Preachers , when we may haue store of Crucifixes at a farre cheaper rate ?

18. Finally , so●…e of the Iewes high Preists , were rebells and traytors to their Soueraignes ; as Abi●…thar was to Solomon , who there upon depriued him of his office , but spared his life though he deserued death 1. Kings . 1. 7. c. 2. 26. 27. So many hundred LOrd Prelates in forraigne partes , and aboue 60. of our owne here at some ( Especially the Arch-Bishop of Canterbery , & Yorke ) haue bene notorious Arch-Traytors , Conspirators & Rebells too against their Soueraignes , Especially those Emperors and Kings , who haue most fauored magnified and advanced their secular greatenesse , pompe , and power , A just Iudgment of God upon them , for aduancing these Prelates be Lords and temporall Princes , against Christs owne precept , Math. 20. 25. ) and I pray God , all of them be now faithfull to their Kings and Soveraignes , which I have cause to feare . In all these regards then you see how the Iewish high Preists , and Lordly Prelates are direct Parallels , and so in verity , their vndoubted Successors ; one mayne argument and pretence to support their Lordly Hierarchie over their Brethren , being deduced from the high Preists example .

The disparity or Antithesis , betweene Christs and Lord Prelates .

IF any now in these Prelates behalfe replie , that they are of our Sauiour Christs owne institution , his true Disciples , Sonnes , and followers , not the divells , ( as the First Paralell manifests them ; ) To disprove this Cavill , let them a little consider the Antipathie , or disparity betweene our Saviour Christ and them , in these ensuing particulars .

First , our Saviour Christ was so poore , that hee had not so much as an house or kedde of his own whereon to rest his head . Math. 8. 20. Our Lord Prelates , ( though in regard of their birthes for the most part very like our Saviour , borne in a stable , or some poore Obscure Cottage : ) yet when once they become Lord Bishops they have many Manfions , Palaces , and stately princely habitations , wherein they wallow & take their pleasure , as if they were borne Prelates or Princes : and yet not content therewith , they still complaine their are poore Prelates , craving and hunting after farre more , farre greater Possessions , though not borne heires to one farthing by the grace , nor demeriting halfe so much for their paines or preaching , at the poorest ten-pound Curate in their Diocesse .

Secondly , Our Saviour Christ , had but one poore threed-bare-Coate without a seame , woven from toe to toe , for which the Soldiers cast lots . Math. 27. 35. Iohn 19. 23. 24. 〈◊〉 Iohn Baptist ( the greatest Prophet that euer was borne of a Woman ) hath his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Camels haire ( not silke or satin ) and a leatherne ( not a brave great silken ) girdle about his loynes , Math. 3. 4. O●…r Lordly Prelates have many silken , sattin , scarlet , G●…nes , c●…ssockes , robes , coapes , rochets , hoodes , patched up with ●…any sea●…es and piebalde colours , with many new inuented Pontificall vestments , disguise and quadrangular ca●…s and ●…rinkets peculiar to their Holinesses , which po●…re C●…rist never wore , saw , knew or dream'te of , and would have certainly disdained to looke on , much more to weare , being as unseemely for , as displeasing to him , as the purple scarlet ●…obe , and Crowne of Thornes that the Soldiers violently put upon him in derifi●… , when they mocked and Crucified him .

Thirdly , Our Saviour Christ , had but course farre , and hard diet for himselfe and his Apostles and Guests ; to wit , a few barly lo●…ves and some small fishes ●…or the most part served in on the bare ground ; it being his chiefest meate & drinke , to doe his Fathers will , and to finish his worke . Iohn . 4. 31. 34 : c. 6. 5. to . 15. Math. 14. 17. to 22. c. 15. 34. to . 38. c. 16. 9. 10. Iohn . 21. 9. 10. 13 , Yea , great Iohn Baptists ordi●…y food , was nought else but Locusts and wild hony . Mith. 3. 4. Our Lordly Prelates have all variety of costly 〈◊〉 , cates , iunkets , wines , drinkes , and Provisions , both for themselves , wives , children , guests , servants , equall to any Barons Lords or Earles of the Real●…e , making commonl●… as sumptuous , great if not more luxu●… feastes then they . Witnesse the more then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 royall excess●…e feast of ( (p) (p) Antiq. Ecclesiae Brit. p. 350. 351. 352. Godwins Catalog . p. 167. ) Wi●…liam Warham 〈◊〉 of Canterbury ; at which the great Duke of Buckingham with his 120 ; attendants , waited on this Archprelate , as his High-Steward and Butler , ( too meane an office for the greatest Peere then living ) going bareheaded before his Grace , ush ring in his first Service & bowing his body to his Holinesse , as to the Pope of this other world . Witnesse the ( (q) (q) Godwi . p. 611. to 614. ) unparalleld monstrous Feast of George Ne●…ell Archbishop of Yorke , the greatest that England ever knew or heard of ; the particulars whereof you may read at large in Godwins Catalogue , with others , which I pretermit , of which Antiqui●…tes 〈◊〉 Brit : Godwin , and Sir George Paule in the life of Archbishop Whitgift , can informe you . And it is so farre from being their meate and drinke , that it is their least thought and care , their least desire and endeavour , their greatest trouble , paine and purgatory to preach Gods Word , and doe his will and worke , as Christ our Saviour did .

Fourthly , Our Saviour Christ was so poore , and so ill stored with moneves , that hee had not so much as a Didrachma ( about fiften pence of our money to pay tribute money for himselfe and his followers , but was enforced to send Peter to the Sea to borrow it of a poore Fish , for want of a friend to lend him so much , hee and his whole retinue , not being able to make up so small a summe among them : Math. 17. 27. But Lordly Prelates , borne-not to a Didrachma , have not only their hundreds and thousands by the yeare , ( and yet doe none , or little spirituall worke for it , most of them all put together , not preaching halfe so often as a poore Sti●…endiary Curate that hath but eight or ten pound by the veare : ) yea their hundreds or thousands lying by them in their bagges , besides , and yet are not contented . So like are they to our Saviour i●… this particular .

Fifthly , Our Saviour Christ , and his Apostles too , went about on foote from village to village , preaching the Gospell throughout all Galilee and Iudea . Math. 4. 23. c. 51. 2. c. 10. 5 , 6 , 7 , 9. 10. 14. c. 12. Iohn . 4. 6. Marke 1. 38 , 39 , Luke 9. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. c. 10. 3. to . 12. Acts 10. 38. Math. 14. 13. Marke 6. 33. Acts 20. 13. And when hee rode ( in state ) into Ierusalem ( which was but once ) hee rode but on an Asse . Math. 21. 1. to . 16. But our Prelates when they goe abroad to visit or preach before the King ( for they seldome preach in any Countrey village in an age ) or when they have any businesse to Court , to Parliament or any Citie , yea when they goe to their Cathedralls , or a Church that is necre them , are so farre from going a foote , that they seldome ride on horsebacke , ( and then on a stately Palfray ) but in a Coach or Chariot drawne with foure or six pampred horses , with many horses , horsemen and footmen environing them ; and if they meete a poore cart or wagon by the way ( or a lighter meete their Barges on the watter , where they ride in pompe to ) if they stirre not presently out of the way to give their Lordships passage , they will lay the poore Carters and Lighter-men by the heeles for their paynes ( as * * His Archgrace of Canterbury . some of them have lately done : ) So like are they to our Saviour . And here I cannot pretermit a merry Story . ( (p) (p) In an old Booke in H. the 8. his daies of the difference betweene ) A certaine Germain Clowne or Boare ( as they terme him ) seeing the Bishop of Colen ride in state with a greate traine of horsemen before and after him , stood gaping on the Bishop as he passed by and smiled to himselfe ; The Bishop perceiving it , made a stand , and demanded Christs & antichrists Bishops . of the Boare why he thus smiled , bidding him speake the truth freely without feare , for he should sustayne no dammage , Wherevpon the Boare replied , that he smiled to thinke with himselfe , whether St. Martin ( Patron and First Bishop of ●…olen ) ever rode in such state as he did now : The Bishop herevnto answered , that he was an ignorant silly fellow , for he did not ride in his state , as he was Arch-Bishop of Colen , but as he was the cheife Prince Elector of Germany : Where upon he wittily retorted ; Suppose ( said he ) my Lord , the divell should come and fetch away the Prince Elector , I pray what would become of the Bishop , I feare me he would to Hell too : At which the Bishop being confounded went his way . Our Prelates may apply it to themselves without my helpe .

6. our Saviour Christ was meeke and lowlie in heart , full of compassion and mercy , and gaue rest to mens soules and bodies . Math. 11. 28 , 29. c. 9. 36. Luke 10. 33. Heb. 5. 2. Ephes. 4. 32. Our Prelates ( like men exalted from law degree ) are for the most part feirce chollerick , furious , proud , haughty , insolent , arrogant , malicious , revengefull , implacable , full of mercilesse and barbarous inhumanity , vexing and disquieting both the bodies and consciences of godly Ministers and people ; as the Booke of Martirs , and experience testifie .

Take but this one remarkeable fresh instance in leive of many . This last pestilentiall Somer , the Lord Brooke his Lady , was delivered of a child ●…t Dallam in Suffolke within Bishop Wrems D●…ocesse of Norwich . The Earles of Bedford Doncaster , & 3. or 4. Lords more , were here upon invited to the christning ; which being solemnized on the Lords day afternoone , these Lords earnestly pressed the Lord Brooke , that they might have a Sermon then preached upon this extraordinary occasion . He therevpon desired one Mr. Ash , his houshold Chaplaine to preach ; who knowing the Bishops perversnesse , was vnwilling to doe it , till at last upon his Lords commaund to preach , he condesc●…nded , and preached accordingly . Bishop Wren h●…aring of it , some two dayes after sends his Apparitor with a Citation , to somon Mr. Ash to appeare before him : who being rode that morning to Cambridge , the Appa●…itor after he had beene courteously entertained at my Lords house , defired to speake with my Lord Brooke himselfe , who comming to him ; he acquainted his Lorship , that he had a Citation for his Chaplaine , who it seemed was rode abroad & therefore he would leave the Citation with his Lordship , to serve it on his Chaplaine when he returned : My Lord therevpon , demaunded of him , whether he tooke him to be an Apparitor , or intended to make him one ? He replied , that the Bishop commaunded him to leave it with his Lordship , in case his Chaplaine was not within , and if is Lordship would not receive it , he would sue out an excommunication against his Chaplain and have it published in the Church the next Lords day . Vpon which he tooke the Citation ; and upon his Chaplaines returne rode over with him to the Bishop : who fitting in state like a great Lord , or demy Pope , my Lord Brooke acquainted him , how his Apparitor had left a Citation with him against his Chaplaine , and that he and his Chaplaine were therevpon both come together to his Lordship to know what the businesse was , and what his Lordship could object against him ; His Lordship therevpon answered , that his Chaplaine had openly affronted him in his Diocesse in daring to presume to preach therein without his speciall license , and that on the Lords day afternoone , when he had expressely prohibited all Sermons within his Iurisdiction : telling Mr. Ash , that he would make him an example to all others , and that if he could not punish him sufficiently in his owne Court , he would bring him into the * * The Court our Bishops now abuse to set up their owne Papall Hierarchie , and enforce their unlawfull commands . High Commission for this insolency , unto which my Lord Brooke answered , that his Chaplaine was vnwilling to preach , and that therevpon h●… commaunded him to doe it upon this spe●…iall occasion , being importuned by the Earkes and Nobles then present ; defiring his Lordship not to be offended with his Chaplaine , for obeying his commaund , upon such an extraordinary occasion . The Bishop replied , that his Lordship did very ill to offer to maintaine his Chaplaine in this ; that No Lord of England should affront him in his Diocesse in such a manner , and if he did his Majesty stould know of it , & that he would make his Chaplaine an example . My Lord Brooke demaunded , whether his Lordship could take any exception either against his Chaplaines l●…fe or doctrine ? He answered no : Then my Lord , said he , I hope the offence is not great , there being no Law of God , or the Realme , nor Canon of the Church , that inhibits Ministers to preach on the Lords day afternoone . ( To which he might have added that the very declaration for Sports , much vrged by the Bishop on the Ministers of his Diocesse , as his Majesties , allowes of Sermons every where in the afternoone ; Since it prescribes No Sports to be used but after the end of diuine Service , and AFTERNOONE SERMON : as Bishop white confesseth in his examination of A and B. p. 131. and p. 9. of the Declaration : our pleasure is , That the Bishop and all other inferior Church-men shall for their parts be carefull and Diligent , both to instruct the igno●…ant , and co●…vince and reforme them that are m●…led in religion &c. Therefore that Bishops and Ministers sho●… preach on the Lords day afternoone , as well as in the forenoone ; & not be questioned , but commended for doing it : ) The Bishop demaunded of Mr. Ash , how he durst presume to preach in his Diocesse , without his special License ? ( though his 〈◊〉 could preach at Cambridge , as they say , in Paris his pulpit , without his license : ) Mr. A●… answered , that he had a Metropoliticall license fro●… the Arch Bishop to preach over all his Province : the Bishop bad him produce it : My Lord , said he , I have it not about me ; No , replied the Bishop , nor any such license , and for ought I know you are no Minister : where are your Letters of Order ? My Lord , said he , I durst not be so bold or dishonest to informe you I had such a license , were I not able to produce it ; and had I no letters of order , or were no lawfull Minister , I presume my Lord would not have entertained me for his Chaplaine : m●… Lord , both my license and orders are at home , and I use not to carry them alwayes with me in my pocket . My Lord Brooke int●…ed his Lordship to dismisse his Chaplaine and prosecute him no further , all would not doe ; he would make him an example , and so after many threatning speeches to him and my Lord , they departed . The Bishop presently proceedeth with all violence against Mr. Ash in his owne Court , no Mediation of Lord and friends would pacify him ; till at last the Earle of Doncaster told him , that if he would not dismisse him his Court , he would complaine to the King against him , since he preached only upon my Lord Brookes commaund , and his and other Earles importunity : Hereupon the Bishop leaving the Chaplaine , falls upon the Churchwardens of the Parish for permitting him to preach without his License ; fines them ( Quo iure I know not ) forty shillings a pi●…ce , enjoynes them to doe publike pennance in the Church with a white wand and a paper in their hands ; to aske God , and his Lordship forgivenesse , to confesse , that their censure was just , and to desire all others to take example by them , not to offend in like manner ; All which the poore men were enforced to doe . O pride ! O tyrannie .

7. Christs very yoake is easie , and his burthen light . Math. 11. 30. Lord Prelates yoakes exceeding heavy and intollerable ; witnesse those under which the whole Kingdome now lie groaning & languishing , with their many late new invented Ceremonies , Oathes , Articles , Injunctions and Innovations .

8. Christ , whiles he was on earth , went about continually doing good , and healing all that were oppressed with the Divell . Acts 10. 38. Lord Prelates when they ride about in circuite , or their vifitations , ( not foot it , as our Saviour did , ) doe no good at all , but only mischiefe ; silence Ministers , set up Altars and new popish ceremonies , pill and poll both Ministers and p●…ople with new extorted fees & procurations disquiet a●… good men , and insteed of healing , wound and further oppresse those like divels that were spiritually oppressed by the divell before , by exactions , suppressing Gods ordinances especially powerfull pr●…aching , which should cast out the divels that spiritually possesse & take them captives at their wills .

9. Our Saviour Christ went about all the Countrey preaching in every Synagogue where he came , Math. 4. 23. Mark . 1. 38 , 39. Our Bishops ride sometymes about the Country in their trienniall visitations , to fill their guts and purses , and at other times hawking , hunting , feasting , and recreating themselues , but seldome or never goe or ride thus abroad to preach in any one Church or Synagogue ; inhibiting those Ministers that would , to doe it .

10. Our Saviour preached daily and constantly in the Temple , beginning early in the morning , and continuing untill evening ( and so preached morning and evening ) Luke 19. 47. c. 21. 37 , 38. Iohn 8. 2. But yet wee finde not that ever hee read any common Prayers or Homilies in the Temple or any other Synagogue . Our Lordly Prelates are so farre from preaching dayly in our Temples , that few of them preach monthly , or quarterly ; some of them , scarce yearely ; some , not once in three or foure yeares , yea in ten or twelve yeares together ; and other not at all ; and so farre are they from preaching , or approving morning and evening Sermons even on the Lords owne Sacred day , much lesse on others ; that they have suppressed the Lords day early morning Lectures in London , and all afternoon●… Sermons on the Lords day in many Diocesse in the Countrey , making it an high offence , deserving both suspension and excommunication , to preach on the Lords day after dinner . Yea they are not ashamed to license Shelfords Sermon of uncharitrble Charity , against often preaching , in direct opposition to our Saviours example , and the very established ●…omely of the right use of the Church . p. 3. 4. to which he & themselves have subscribed . Such undoubted Sons disciples and followers are they of our Saviour in this particular .

11. Our Saviour Christ when he preached , read only his Text , and then closed the Booke and gave it againe to the minister , & sate down & preached without book . Luke 4. 17. to . 22. Our Prelates , when ever they chance to preach , commonly read not onely their Texts , but their who●…e Sermons too , if not their very prayers ; being so dull of memory , that whereas our stage-players can get their parts by heart though they act every day of the weeke , yet their stupid block-headed Lordships cannot conne one Sermon by heart in a yeare or two ; their doctrine being so far from sinking into their owne hearts , that it never so much as enters into their heads when they preach it , but onely into their books , where they leave & shut it up close prisoner into their lips , which presently vent it out againe : Are they not then very deuout Preachers , very much in ●…oue with Gods word , with which they will neither trouble their braines nor hearts ; sweet followers of our Sauiours steps , in this particular ?

12. Our Sauior Christ with fasting , praying , weeping & preaching was so leane , that he might tel al his bones . Psal. 22. 17. Our Lord Prelates with feasting , Lording , laughing , sleeping & loytering are so fat & plumpe ( for the most part ) that they or others can neither tell nor feele their bones .

13. Our Sauiour Christ was full of grace , goodnes and truth Iohn 1. 14. Lord Prelates are commonly ●…ul of gracelesnes , profanenesse , malice , enuy , pride , ambition , couetousnes , idlenes , di●…imulation , and hypocrisy , hauing little reall , but only meere titular grace to adorne them .

14. Our Sauior Christ made both the deafe to heare , the blind to see , and the dumbe to speake : Math. 9. 33. c. 12. 22. c. 15. 30. 31. Our Lord Prelates make the hearers of Gods Word deafe for want of preaching , the seing blinde through ignorance and our preaching Ministers dumbe , by silencing and suspending them .

16. Christ sent forth his disciples , not to read Homilies , or divine service ( which every clowne or schoole boy can doe as well as the learnedst Minister ) but to preach the Gospell , Math. 10. 7. 10. 14. Luke 9. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. c. 10. 2. to . 15. and that as well in mens private houses as the publicke Synagogues , Ibid. and Acts 5. 42. c. 20. 20. which now ( for sooth ) our Lordly Prelates condemne and censure for a conventicle : yea hee bid and commanded his disciples goe into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature , teaching them to observe all things that hee had commanded them . Math. 28. 19. 20. M●…rke . 16. 15. yea he enjoyned them earnestly to seed his flocke and Lambes . Iohn 21. 15 , 16 , 17. Our Lord Prelates silence and suspend Christs faithfull Ministers , prohibiting them ( not only in private houses but in Churches to ) to preach the Gospell to their people , send them about only to read divine service and homilies ; and command them to observe and subscribe to whatsoever Canons , Orders , Articles , Ceremonies , and Injunctions they shall prescribe them , though con●…rary to Christs ; charging them ; not to feed , but fleece their Lambes and Sheepe ; And are they not then good Pastors ?

16. Our Saviour Christ was the goo●… Sheopard that laid downe his life for his Sheep●… ; hee knew his Sheepe , and was knowne againe of them , and they heard and knewe his voyce Iohn 10. 6. 11. to 16. Lord Prelates are rather Wolves then Sheopards , reddier to take away theire Sheepes lives then to lay downe their lives for their Sheepe ; many of them being so farre from knowing their Sheepe by name , that they never so much as saw them , the most of their Sheepe never so much as seeing or knowing their faces , much l●…sse hearing or knowing their voyces in the Pulpit , many of them ( though they have thousands by the yeare , of purpose to preach to their Sheepe ) not so much as bestowing on Sermon on them in 3. or 4. yeares space ; receiving above 3. or 4000. pounds for every Sermon they preach , too greate a rate sor so little w●…rke ; Yt thesemen were Tankard-bearers and should sell their watter at that rare they take for their Sermons , our water certainely would be far●…e dearer then the richest wine ; Yet many of their Sermons for which they take so much , are scarce so good as ditch watter .

17. Our Saviour Christ , though he were equall with God the Father , yet he made himselfe of no reputation , but tooke upon him the forme of a Servant , & was made in the likenesse of men , ●…ubling himselfe for farre , that he became obedient to death even to the dreath of the Crosse Phil. 2. 6 , 7 , 8. Our Lord Prelats , though equal comonly in birth to the meanest Peasants , yet ( in doubt in imitation of our Sauiour ) make themselves of so greate reputation , that they take upon them not only the forme and title , but the pompe and state of Lords and Petty Princes , not servants ; and as if they were not made in the likenesse of men , but borne Princes , Angels or demy Gods ; they become disobedient to all lawes of God and man ; and insteede of humbling themselves to death , and the Crosse for Christs sake , they tyrannically humble their brother Ministers and other Christians to the Prison , the Pillary , the Crosse , & Stocks for Christ . Witnesse our Bookes of Martires , and late experience .

18. Our Saviour Christ , though he were rich , yet for our sakes he became poore , that we through his poverty might be made rich . 2. Cor. 8. 9. Our Lord Prelates , though poore and beggarly at first , yet for Christs sake they are content to become greate and rich ; that so others through their power , riches , avarice , tyranny , and extortion may be made poore , to enrigh themselves the more .

19. Our Saviour , when Peter drew his sword to cut of Malchas eare therewith , immediately healed it againe , commanding him to put up his sword into the Scabbard . Iohn . 18. 10 , 11. Luke 22. 50 , 51. Math. 26. 51 , 22. Our Lord Prelates now ingrosse both swords into their sacred hands , and insteede of putting them into the Scabbard , draw them out like valiant men , smiting off some mens eares and noses with it , and now threaten to maine and mangle more in like manner , insteede of curing those allready maymed by them : Such swashbucklers and gladiaters are they growne . Yf we have warres with Spayne , we hope his Majestie will send these hacksters packing to those warres to mangle and hackle off the Spainards eares and noses , insteede of his loyall Subjects .

20. Our Saviour Christ , after he began to preach , refused to inter meddle with secular affaires , or to devide the inheritance betweene the too Brethren ; refused the kingdomes , Pomde and glory of this world ; affirming openly , that he and his kingdome were not of his world Math. 4. 8 , 9 , 10. Luke 12. 13 , 14. Ioan. 6. 15. c. 17 , 16. c. 18. 36. Our Lord Prelates , after they become Lords ( forgetting their primitive base originall and pedigree , with that vow they made to God in Baptisme , to forsake the divell and all his workes , the vayne pompe & glory of the world with all covetous desires of the same , and al carnall desires of the flesh , so that they will ●…ot follow nor be ledd by them ; and that 〈◊〉 of St. Iohn . 1. Iohn . 2. 15 , 16. Love not the world nor the things of the world , if any man love the wor●…d , the love of the Father , is not in him . For all that is in the world , ( the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eye , and pride of life ) is not of the Father but is of the world ) intangle themselves in worldly , secular state affaires and off●…s , become Lords T●…mporall insteed of Spirituall ; ●…meddle with all 〈◊〉 affaires , hunt after the Kingdomes , goverment , honour , pompe , state , and pleasures of this world with all greedinesse and diligence , i●…steed of preaching the Gospell and converting soules to God : ing●…sse all power and temporall Iurisdiction into their hands , smite with both swords at once like madde-men on every side , and though they pretend their Lordly calling to bee of God , y●…t they and it are plainely of this world , and ●…ot o●… Christ , as their actions manifest .

21. C●…rist both 〈◊〉 , and administred the Sacrament to his disciples , in his ordinary apparell , sitting at a Table , and that standing in the midst of the ●…me , Math. 26. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29. Mar●… 14. 18. 22 , 23 24. Luke 22. 14. to : 21. I●…n 13. 4. 25. 28. ●…or. 10. 21. c. 11. 23 , 24 , 25. Yea , when he sent abroad his disciples to preach he sent them in their usuall 〈◊〉 , expressely ●…hibiting them , to provide them , either silver or gold in their purses , or to take or weare two Coates Math. 10. 9. 10. Marke 8. 8 , 9. Luke 9. 3 , 4 , 5 c. 10. 4. ( Therefore certainely they wore no cass●…cks , hoods , gownes , coates or surpluses ( alias surplusages ) or rochets on their backs , or any such new , Massing , masking vestments , as our Prelates have since invented and prescribed , under the severest penalties , for Ministers to preach , to administer the Sacraments and read their divine Service in ) our Lord Prelates when they preach , or administer the Sacrament themselves , or by others , preach and ad●…inister it in their Pontificalibus , coapes , surplusses , hoods , cassocks , gownes , rochets , with other disguized extraordinary apparell ; Yea , they administer the Lords Supper in these holy vestments , only at an Altar standing at the East wall not a Table , in the * * Septem Diaconi subliuior gradu caeteris proxime circa aram Dei quasi columniae Altaris assisterent I●…dor , & Concilium Aquisgra●…se . midst of the Q●…ire , as of of old , commanding all to receive the Sacrament of Christs Supper , kneeling , not sitting , ( and why not Baptisme then as well as it ? ) the betrer to adore the Eucharist ; condemning Christs and the Apostles gesture of sitting , as irreverend , unmannerly , and undecent ; adoring the very Altar , and bowing to it even to the ground . when as they have the consecrated Bread & Wine in their hands , as if it were more honorable and worshipfull then that , for which they say they bow unto it . All , which antichristian Popish vestments ceremonies and ●…opperies Thom●…s Becan hath learnedly refuted , in his display of the Popish Masse , to which I shall referre you ; only I shall answer a Scripture or two , which they alledge for their white rochets and surplesses ; To wit , Revel. 3 , 4 , 5. 18. c. 6. 11. c. 7. 9. 13. c. 19. 11. Where Ibidem . the Saints and Martyrs , are said to be clothed in white linnen robes ; Therefore Bishops ought toweare white rechets , and Ministers white surplesses . A learned argument if well prosecuted .

1. For , these white linnen robes and garments mentioned in these Texts , were no rochets or surplesses ( as these fond men dreame , ) but the spotlesse white robes of Christs owne merits and innocency , wherewith these Saints ( who had put on the Lord Iesus Christ , and made their robes white in his precious bloud ) were inuested , as is obedient by Rev. 19. 18. c. 3. 18. 4. 5. c. 7. 13. 14. compared with Pom. 13. 14. Ephes. 5. 26 , 27. which kinde kinde of sacred white rochet or surplesse , few Lord Prelates ever yet wore upon their backes , o●… gown●… eves . 2. These white robes were not worne only by Bishops , Ministers , Clergie , & Cathedrall men as rochets and surplesses are , but by all the Saints and Martirs of Christ alike . Yf these Tipes then prove any thinge , it is only this . That all men ought to weare rochets and surplesses not Bishops and Church men only . 3. These white robes were their ordinary daylie garments which they never put of upon any occasion , no not when they rode in ●…riumph upon white horses , ●…ev . 19. 14. Therefore no argument fo●… rochets and surplesses wh●…ch are put on only upon speciall occasions and not ever worne as ordinary apparell , These Lordly Prelates perscribing only blacke gownes and garments , wearing none but such out of the Church and their supplisses & rochets ( to testify their spotlesse purity and holinesse ) for the most part only in the Church , to testify that they are only white Saints in shew whiles they are in the Church and Quier , but blacke friendes and divells for the most part in all places else , in thei●… lives and actions . The true significant reason , as I conceive , why they weare white robes and rochets only in the Church in time of diuine services ( where they commonly leave and put them off with all their seeming purity and holinesses with their surplesses ) but black coates & vestments under them and in all places else . A thing worthy observation . 4. These robes were not worne by these , or the Martyrs , on earth , whiles they lived ; but put upon them in heaven , after they were dead . Therfore no argument for , but against the wearing of rochets and surplesses here . 5. The Disciples and Apostles when they were sent to preach had c●…rtainely but o●…e Coate and garment on the them , and that vndoubtedly no white rochet , nor surp●…esse ; These Scriptures therefore make nothing for both , or either of them . 6. These Saints are said , to ride upon white horses only , and in these their white linnen garments . Revel. 19. 14. I may therefore better argue hence ; That Bishops and Ministers ought ever to ride upon white ho●…ses and no other , and that in their rochets and surplesses , not th●…ir Canonicall coates cloakes or halfe-gownes ; then they thence inf●…r : That they ought to preach & read prayers in their surplesses . But of these surplesages enough and too much : I proceed .

22. Christ professeth of himselfe , that he came into the world , of purpose for to preach the Gospell , Mark . 1. 38. Luke 4. 18. Lord Prelates professe , that they were not ordayned Lords or Bishops , to preach Gods Word , but to rule , governe , and Lord it over their fellow Brethren and their diocesse :

23. Our Saviour Christ maketh continuall prayer & intercession to his Father for all his chosen people , Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Our Lord Prelates , as they seldome preach , so they earely or never contend earnestly or make interc●…ssion unto God in earnest hearty fervent prayer for their people that they may be saved and converted : Yea some of them ( as Bishop Wren ) contrary to the practise of all former ages , begin to prohibit Ministers under paine of suspension and excommunication , to make any conceived prayers before or after their Sermons , suspending , and excommunicating them if they doe it ; ounparalleld impiety ! o atheisticall Novelty ! Wee know that Moses , David , Salomon , Ezra , Ieremiah , Daniell , with the Saints and Prophets in the old Testament used conceived , but no set formes of prayer , that we read of , the like did Christ and his Apostles in the New T●…stament ; prayer being a speciall gift of Gods Spirit , given to all his children , upon all their severall necessities and occasi●…ns . 1 Kings 8. 38. 45. 49. 54. Neh. 1. 6. 11. Ps. 102. 7. Ps. 141. 2 Ezeh. 12. 10 , 11. Acts 1. 14. c. 6. 4. c. 10. 31. c. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 5 Phil. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 11. Col. 4. 2 Iam. 5. 15. 16. Ephes. 6. 18. Rom. 8. 15. 26 , 27. Iude 20. Thus did the Ministers & Preachers of Gods Word in Iustin Martyrs and Tertullians dayes , ( as appeares by both their 〈◊〉 ) both 〈◊〉 and after their Sermons & love-feastes : Thus did the Fa●…ers , as appeares b●… th●…ir works ; & the Primitive Christians and Martyrs vpon all occ●…sions , as Ecclesiasticall Historians 〈◊〉 . Thus did our Martyrs of old witnes M. Fox his Acts and M●…uments . Yea , Archbishop Sandes of Yorke , be●…ore & after his Sermons ; & B. Pilkington of Durham before and after his Sermons on Nehemiah , Obadiah , &c. with other of our Bishops used conceived Pray●…rs o●… different for●…es , according to the variety of their Texts , & the 〈◊〉 occasions ; wh●…ch the●… published in print , for others imitation . Thus have all our Ministers , generally done in all ages and places , especially from the beginning of reformation to this present , till a ge●…eration of upstart unpraying Lordly Pre●…ates and lasy Docto●…s , ( who know not how to pray , or mak a conceived prayer out of their owne heades and hearts upon any occasion , no more then a child that is newly borne , ) have cryed downe all extemporary conceived Prayers , ( as well as studied Sermons and frequent preaching , ) endevoring utterly to extinguish this most heavenly gift of Prayer , not only in all private Christians , but also in all those godly Ministers whom God hath endowed with this eminent faculty , by confining them only to the very words of the Canon ; which are no more a prayet then the Creed or ten Commandements , ( which many ignorant people mumble over , as good prayers ) and hath made many great Doctors unable for to pray without the helpe of a Common-prayer booke , upon any urgent occasion . For proofe whereof , I shall instance only in two late examples . When the Earle of Castle haven was to bee beheaded , there came two great learned Deanes & Doctors of Divinity , to his lodging , to pray with him before his death . Where calling for A Common-Prayer Booke they read over the Letanie to him , ( which was all the Prayers ( they could make ) and so concluded their deuotions . The Earle much grieved and discontented therewith , brake forth into these speeches . Alas , what doe these Doctors meane to trouble themselves , or mee , in praying to God , to deliver me , from lightning and tempest , from plague , pestilence and famine , from battle and murther , and from sudden death , who am now presently to die and lose my head ? Or , what doth their praying , to preserve all that travell by land or by water , all women laboring with child , all sicke persons and young children , &c. concerne either me or my present condition , who am now ready to perish and bee destroyed ? Miserable comforters are they . This hee spake with teares in his eyes ; and there upon desired the company there present with him to goe with him from these Deanes into another roome , where hee made such an heavenly fervent extemporary Prayer , pertinent to his present dying condition , as ravished all the Auditours , and drew rivers of teares both from their eyes and hearts , which these non-praying Doctors Letany could not doe . When the honorable religious Lord Veere some two yeares since , was sodainely strucke with death arrow at Sr. Henry V●…ne his table at White-hall , as he sate at dinner , and caried from thence into a with-drawing chamber adioyning where he dyed , a grand Dr. of Diuinity ( one of his Majesties Chapplaines being there present , was upon this unexpected occasion desired to kneele and pray with the company . The Dr. Hereupon calls for a Common-prayer-booke , and answer being madde that there was none present ; he replied , that he could not pray without a Booke . Whereupon a Knight there present tooke him by the gowne , and forced him to kneele downe telling him , that my Lord was dying , and he must needes say some prayer or other ; vpon this he begins Pater noster , for other prayer could he none : Which the Knight hearing , bads him hold his peace , for my Lord was dead , and he was but a dead Divine . Who knew not how to pray . Such woodden Doctors & Prelates have we now adayes , that know not how to pray upon any sodaine occasion ; because ( like little children ) they ever confine themselves to a set forme of prayer , proceeding neither from their heads nor hearts but their lips only , which every Schoole-boy can read with as much devotion , as they . So vnlike are they to our Saviour Christ and his Apostles , who who were able to pray ex tempore , with all mann●…r of supplications , and prayers upon all occasions , and would have all Ministers and priuate Christians , to be thus able too . Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Tim. 2. 1 , 28. Phil , 4. 6. 1. Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 14.

24. Finally , our Saviour Christ whiles he was on earth , suspended , silenced , deprived , censured , imprisoned , and close imprisoned no Ministers or Christians , whiles he was on earth : ( yea , he was so farre from this , that he was anoynted and sent by the spirit of the Lord God , to binde up the broken-hearted , to proclaime liberty to the captiues and the opening of the prison to them that are bound . Isay. 61. But Lord Prelates silence , suspend , deprive , censure , imprison , and close imprison both Ministers and good Christians at their pleasures ; but never binde up the broken-hearted , or proclaime liberty to the Captiues , or the opening of the prison to them that are bound , Take him Iaylor . Catch him Pursuiuant ; Away with him to the Fleet , the Clinke or Gate-house ; I set a thousand pounde fins upon his head ; &c. bring their vsuall mercy , language , & Lordly tone . Christ had no Prisons , Counters , Gate-houses , Cole houses , to imprison and mue up Christians or Ministers in , for discharging a good consciences , or obeying God rather then men , or refusing to take an vnlawfull ex officio Oath : No consistory or High-commission to conuent men in , no visitation or ex officio Oaths Articles , Procurations , Dispensations , Tot-quots , Licenses to preach or keepe schoole ; No Deanes , Archdeacons , Vicars generall , Chancellours , Commissaries , Surrogates , Officials , Registers , Pursuiuants . Apparitors , Informers , but only 12. preaching Disciples attending on him . Lord Prelates have all and every of these , and would not thinke themselves Bishop without them . Christ thought his written word & precepts , sufficient to gouerne and instruct his Church , to the end of the world , without any Prelates Canons . Math. 28. 19. 20. Lord Prelates thinke not so , but deeme their owne Canons and Injunctions without his word , the only lawes whereby to governe and direct the Church . Christ was persecuted , imprisoned , scoffed at , crucified by the high Priests , and yet prayed for his enemies , leaving us an example , that we should follow his steps Ephes. 4. 32. 1. Pet. 2. 21 , 23. Luke 23 , 24. Lord Prelates are not thus persecuted , imprisoned , scoffed at , and crucified , but persecute , imprison , scoffe at , crucify , and burne others for Christs sake ; and insteede of following Christs foot-steps in praying for their enemies , they excommunicate , banne , curse , anathematize them to the very pit of Hell , with Bell Booke and Candle , and sometimes offer this vnchristian violence to their very ashes , bones , and v●…ines ; as our Booke of Martires manifests . Since therefore Lord Prelates in these and infinite other particulars are so contrary opposite , & vnlike to our Saviour Iesus Christ , I may safely conclude them to be none of his institution , Sonnes , or followers : For hee that is truly Christs , and saith that he abideth in him , ought himselfe also to walke even as Christ walked 1. Iohn . 2. 6. But Lord Prelates walked but directly contrary to him in all these particulars : Therefore they are none of his , and abide not in him what euer vaunts they make to the contrary : And if they be none of Christs institution , Sonnes , Disciples or followers , then certainely none of his Apostles ( the next thing I shall succinctly illustrate .

The opposition and contrariety betweene Christs Apostles and Lordly Prelates .

FIrst our Saviours Apostles yea Peter ( the Prince of all the rest , as the Papists vaunt ) had neither silver nor gold Acts 3. 6. Lord Prelates have plenty of both : yea doe little or no worke for it , and lesse good with it , vnlesse it be out of a vaineglotious humor to get themselues applause by some Pontificall stately structure , or monument of their ambicion pompe and pride .

2. These Apostles were poore , and vet made many rich , as having nothing and yet possessing all thing 2. Cor , 6. 10. Lord Prelates are rich , and yet by their oppression , tyranny injustice , great Fines , imprisonments , extortions and griping Officers make many Ministers and good Christians poore ; they have all things their hearts can wish , and yet through covetous ambicion and desire of more , and il●… use of what they have , truly possesse nothing .

3. The Apostles were made a spectacle unto the world unto Angells , and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9. Lord Prelates are not made but make others such for Christs sake .

4. The Apostles to their dying dayes , did both hunger & thirst & were naked , buffeted , despised , accounted fooles , defamed , reviled and persecuted , Yea they were made the very silth of the world and the ofscouring of all things for Christs sake , being in stripes often , in imprisonments , perills , and death often , in watchings often , in labours more abundant for Christ 1. Cor. 4. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. 2. Cor. 6. 5 , c. 11. 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. Lord Prelates are in no such condition at all , they sustayne no such hardship for Christ ; but they eate and drinke of the best , are gorgeously clad , courted , yea flattered , honoured and accounted great Lords , praysed above measure , feasted , promoted and made the greatest Peeres the most swaying overruling Lord controllers of the world , & Primates of all others for Christs sake ; being never in stripes &c. But only in voluptuous pleasures , stately Palaces , Princes Courts , downe beds , and lazy idlenesse for Christ ; and when persecution or affliction for the Gospell come ; they either turne chiefe persecutors , or turne-coates , rather then they will vndergoe any stripes , imprisonments , perrills , or deaths for Christ , by whom they enioye so much honour , pompe , wealth and worldly pleasures .

5. The Apostles had no certayne dwelling place and laboured , working whith their owne handes , and yet never gave over preaching for want of maintenance 1. Cor. 4. 11 , 12. Acts 20. 34. 1. Thess. 2. 9 , 2. Thess. 3. 8. Lord Bishops have divers certaine Palaces , Sees , Mannors , & Pontificall Mansions ; their hundreds and thousands by the yeare ; neuer labour with their hands ( and seldowne with their tongues or braines ) to get their livings ; and yet preach not so oft in 2. or 3. yeares , as Paul and other Apostles did in a weeke , when they labored to .

6. The Apostles were troubled on every side , for Christ , yet not distressed ; perplexed , but not in despaires persecuted , but not forsaken ; cast downe , but not destroyed ; alwayes bearing about in the body the marke ; of the Lord Iesus , and being alwayes delivered unto death for Iesus sake : 2 Cor. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Lord Prelates never were in such extremities , never suffered such things , as all or any of these for Christ , but have usually brought others into the Apostles condition far specified for Christs sake ; As the Booke of Martyrs , and experience manifest .

7. The Apostles were called from the receipt of custome , from all other secular imployments , and seperated for the Gospell of Christ ; forsaking all other things to preach and propagate it alone as soone as they were called to bee Christs Apostles and disciples , Math. 4. 18. to . 23. c. 9. 9. Marke 10. 28 , 29. Rom. 1. 1. Acts 13. 2. Lord Prelates when they are made such , intrude themselves into secular offices and imployments , call themselves back againe to the receipt of custome shouldring themselves into Lord Treasurerships Lord Chancellorships & other such great temporall offices , tosupport and maintaine their part , power and antichristian throne ; erect Popery and Romish superstition , and rule all things at their pleasures : yea they almost wholly seperate themselves from Christ , and the preaching of his Gospell , lay aside and give over their Ministry , &c. Preaching , that so they may wholely addict themselves to the world , the pleasures honours and preferments of it , to Court and State affaires , and Lord it over all men both in Church and State .

8. Christs Apostles , were all equall among themselves , and Lorded it not one over the other , nor yet over their fellow brethren , or the Lords inheritance never Pursevanting , imprisoning , fining , banishing or depriving of them like Pagan Princes , they being expressely prohibited so to doe , Math. 20. 25. 26. 27 Luke 22. 25 , 26. 2. Cor. 1. 24. 〈◊〉 . Pet. 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Lord Prelates Lord it one over another and are not equall among themselves , witnesse their Popes , their Patriarkes , Cardinall , Bishops , Metropolitanes , Arch-Bishops , Bishops , and Bishops Suffragans , al subordinate unto another ; they clayme a superiority Iure diuino over their fellow Presbiters ( their equalls , and all one with themselves by diuine law & institution Acts 26. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 〈◊〉 . 1. 7 ●…m. 3. 1 , 2 , 3. c. 5. 17. Titus 1. 5 , 7. 1. Pet. 5. 1 , 2 , 3. Math. 20. 25 , 26 , 27 , c. 28. 19 : 20. ) Yea they Lord and tyrannize it over their fellow Ministers , Diocesse , and the Lords inheritance suspending , silencing , excommunicating , pursevanting , fining , imprisoning reviling , depriving them , prescribing new Ceremonies , Injunctions , Articles , Oathes , Orders , and fining and punnishing them for the violation of them at their pleasures , like absolute Popes , Kings , Monarks , Parliaments , against all lawes of God , and the Realme ; as ancient , and ( above all others ) present experience testifieth ; So like are their Lordly Sanctities to the Apoftles , or rather to their holy-Father the Pope & divell .

9. The Apostles preached daylie the Lord Iesus , and his Gospell , to the people , because Christ , & God himselfe enioyned them to doe it , notwithstanding the high Priests & whole Counsels suspencions inhibitions , threats , imprisonments , and scourgings to hinder and deterre them Acts 4 & 5. 1. Thess. 2. 15 , 16 , 17. Lords Prelates ( on the contrary ) are so farre from imitating their examples , that they every where against the lawes of God and the realme , yea contrary to the very Booke of ordination and charge there given them when they were ordavned , ) suspend & prohibit Ministers from preaching Christ & his Gospell to the people , that they may be saved , threatning to imprison deprive and ruine them if they doe it ; notwithstanding Christ and his Apostles have expresly commanded them , ( and their Lordships to if Christs Ministers , or their Successors ) to doe it under payne of eternal woe ( which Bishop wren commaunded to be blotted out of a Church wall in Ipswich Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark . 16. 15. Acts. 20. 281. Cor. 9. 16 , 17. 1. Tim. 4. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. 1 Tim. 4. 13. c. 5. 17. The very highth of al iniquity and impiety 1. Thess. 2. 15 , 16. Yea , money base fainthearted Ministers forgetting this President of the Apostles , set now silence under these illegall impious suspensions , and some of them , like hirelings f●…e from their flocks , and leave them to be devo●…vred of these raging wolves , as full experience manifests , whereas if they were true Sheopards and faithfull Ministers , they would rather lay downe their lives then flie or give over preaching upon such vngodly , vnjust Suspentious , meerely void in law , which of Common , Civill , Canon or Diuine .

10. The Apostles dayly in the Temple ; and in every howse ( which now fotsooth were a Conventicle ) ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ Acts 5. 42. ( and that notwithstanding all the high Priests inhibitions , suspensions and imprisonments ) Nay S. Paul as he spread and preached the Gospell of Christ almost over all the world ever from Ierusalem round about to Illyricum and where Christ was not once so much as named before , Rom. 15. 19. 20. So hee disputed and preached daily in the Schoole of one Tyrannus for two yeares space , Acts 19. 9. 10. Yea for three yeares space together , he ceased not day and night to warne every one at Ephesus , with teares , teaching them publikely and from house to house , ( now a dangerous unlawfull conventicle in our Lord Prelates judgement ) Acts 20. 20. 21. 31. he , and the rest of the Apostles , by their daily preaching and holy lives , converting thousands unto God & planting and watering many eminent Churches ; as the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles , witnesse . Our Lordly Prelates are so farre from not ceasing thus to preach dayly , themselves , that few of them preach monthly , or quarterly , and it is much if they preach annually , and then only at Court : Others of them ( as our great Archprelates ) not in three or foure yeares space or more ; some not at all , ( as the dumbe Bishops of Oxford , Landaffe , and others : ) yea , they doe all they can to preach , write and cry downe frequent preaching , as hurtfull and superfluous ; suppressing all or most weeke●…day Lectures , with Sermons on Lords dayes afternoone in many Diocese , ( o impiety ! ) inhibiting all painfull , godly Ministers from preaching , some totally , other at least halfe so often as they desire to doe , or more : and , ( which is a thing almost incredible , and most impious ) suppressing Lectures and preaching in all infected places , and that on the solemne Fast-day , as a meanes to spread the pestilence , even then , when all former ages , and an eminent ancient Popish Councell , have cried them up as most necessary and usefull ; the sicke having farre more need of spirituall physicke and Physitians , then the whole : Math. 9. 12. 13. As for preaching from house to house ( bee it by a Minister in his owne parish only ) our holy Lord Prelates are so farre from practising or approving it , though Apostolicall , that they most unchristinaly prohibit , most impiously condemne , most severely punish it , and the repetition of Sermons for a dangerous Conventicle , deserving imprisonment , excommunication , fining , deprivation and what not , is a clowd of late examples testify . Such holy successors of Christs Apostles are these ghostly Lords spirituall ; I will not say , carnall , worldly , and diabolicall , as some too truly stile them : This being one of Satan the great dragon his * * An Answer unto a letter sent by the Great Turke &c. compiled & imprinted by Iohn Mayler , an . 1542 , principall instructions to the heard-men of his goates , Bishops and Archbishops ; to see that they hate , despise and blaspheme both the word of God , and the true Preachers and lovers thereof , and not to suffer the truth and freedome of Gods Law to be knowne , but to keep it under as much as they can : to suffer no true Preachers to abide in their Diocesses , but quickly to bring them into great thraldome , charge and penury ; and never to cease till they have driven them away and set up in their roomes and places Doctor Ignorance Domine drunkard , Sir Iohn Lacke-latin , with Sir William Wilde-oathes that hunteth after whores , and such also as can play dissembling hypocrites , whereby the divels empire of darkenesse doth exceedingly flourish , which much decayed in all places by the true and frequent preaching of Gods Word . As for their planting or watering of Churches , and converting store of soules to God , by their diligent frequent zealous preaching and pious lives , Alas , which of our great Archprelates can truly say , that hee ever yet truly converted one soule to God by his life or doctrine ? Which of all our Lordly loyterers can shew mee one man that he thoroughly convetted to Christ or reduced to an holy life since he became a Prelate ? ( scarce one or two , I feare , of the whole paeke . ) Or what men are they this day living in England who can say with comfort , that a Lord Bishop was the meanes of their true conversion ? Such converts doubtlesse are so rare , that all their names , I feare , ( like the good Roman Emperors ) may bee ingraven in one ring ; whereas the soules they have murthered and tumbled into Hell by their ill examples , unjust , ungodly , tyrannicall , atheisticall lives , supressing of preaching Lectures , godly Ministers , repetition of Sermons , private Fasts , and Christian private assemblies in all places ; declamations against purity , Puritans , piety and precisenesse , making and countenancing ungodly , unworthy scandalous Ministers ; stirring men up to prophane the Lords owne day by Dancing sports , &c. As wofull experience witnesseth past all deniall . O that these unprofitable Lord Prelates would consider that excellent saying of Pope Gregory the first . Pensemus ergo &c. Let us therefore diligently consider , who have ever been converted by our preaching ; who being reprehended for their perverse actions , have repented upon our reprehension : who out of our instruction hath for saken his luxury ; who declined his covetousnesse , who his pride ? Let us consider what gaine wee have brought into God , who receiving a talent are sent by him to negociate with it . For he saith ; Occupis till I come . Behold hee now commeth ; behold hee requireth gaine out of our negotiation What gaine of soules shall wee shew unto him out of our negociation ? How many sheaves of soules shall wee bring before his sight out of the croppe of our preaching ? Let us set before our eyes that day of so great distresse , wherein the Iudge shall come and exact a strict account of those servants to whom he hath committed talents . There , shall Peter appeare with converted Iudaea , which hee hath drawne after him : There , Paul , leading , that I may so speake the converted world . There , also Andrew shall lead Achaia after him ; there , Iohn Asia , Thomas India converted by them , and present them to the view of the Iudge . There all the Rammes of the Lords flocke shall appeare with the gaines of soules , who by their holy Sermons draw a converted subdued flocke after them . When therefore so many Shepheards shall come thus with their severall flockes before the presence of the eternall Shepheard , what shall wee poore wretches ( what shall cur unpreaching , unprofitable Lord Prelates ) say , who after our negociation returne empty to our Lord ; who have the name of Pastors , and yet have no sheep at all to shew whom we have nourished and converted . Here were wee are called shepheards , and yet thus we lead no flocke at all●… therefore we shall then be reputed 〈◊〉 hireling and murtherers , not as Pastors . A speech which should make all our Lordly Prelates humble and give over their Lording , loytering and secular imployments , to fall a preaching & winne some soules to God .

11. Paul , ( Christs most laborious Apostle ) preached not only in the morning , but also in the evening on the Lords day , and continued his Sermon untill midnight . Acts 20. 7. Our godly devout Lord Prelates , not onely give over preaching themselues on Lords day evenings , but professedly prohibit it as vnlawfull , by their printed visitation articles , suspending those that dare to preach , ( though they catechize also ) on the Lords day evening , that so the profane vulgar may haue more liberty , and spend that time in dancing and playing , which this Apostles spent in preaching . And are they not then his vndoubted Successors .

12 Finally , the Apostles had no quadrangular Ca●…s for their round pates , no stately Miters for their heads , no rochets , Surplesses , Stoles , or other Pontificall disguised vestments for their backs or armes , no rings or Crosiers for their hands and fingers , no Altars for their Sacrament of the Lords Supper no Tapers , vestment Images , Crucifixes Altar clothes , Organs , or Arras hangings , Singing men , Cheristers , Prebends , Petty Canons , Canons , Deanes or Chapters for their Cathedralls or priuate Chappells ( which they wanted ) no Vicars generall , Commissaries , Officialls , Registers , Purseuants , high Commissions , visitation Oathes , Articles , Orders , Injunctions , Canon lawes or Canonists for their Diocesse , no Coaches , Chariots , pamper●… Palfreys , Footmen , Horsmen , Cookes , Butlers , Keepers Hunters Falkners , & traine of attendants for their pleasure , State , iournies , or hospitallity ; no cringings and bowings to Altars , Tables , Crucifixes , or the name of Iesus , no standing up at Gloria Patri , Athanacius and the Nicene Creede , no kneeling at the Sacrament , no Procurations ; Letters of Ordination , licenses to preach , or keepe Scholes , Probate of wills , Commissions of administration , Seales of armes , Tit'es of your Grace , your Lordship , your Holynesse , your Father hood , Primate , Patriarke , Metropolitan , Arch-bishop , most reverend Father in God &c. Alas poore silly Fishe●…s and Michaniks , they neither had , nor knewe , nor euer dreamed of all these Pontificall Inuentions , ceremonies , vestements , Ornaments , Titles , which our Lord Prelates claime , enioye , enforce by diuine authority as their Successors , in which they place the very honour , luster , life and essence of their Episcopalities and Lotdlyresse ; They ; poore men , thought the Canon of the Scripture ( as did their Master Christ ) sufficient to rule and guide the Church to the end of the world Math. 28. 19 , 20 , Gal. 6. 16. Sufficient to make them wise to salvation , to build them up , to give them an inheritance among them that are sanctified , and to bring them safe to heaven Acts 20. 32. Gal. 6. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Yea all sufficient for doctrine , reprooffe , correction , instruction inrighteounesse , that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes 2. Tim. 3. 16 , 17. without any other Canons , Decretalls , Articles , Injunctions &c. Lord Prelates are of a quite contrary faith and judgment . They , poore silly Creatures , in their First generall Counsell at Ierusalem , would impose no Ceremonies at all upon the Gentiles , nor lay no other but these necessary things , as a burthen on them , to abstayne from fornication , and from bloud , and things strangled Acts 25. 28 , 29. And Paul himselfe , without expresse Commaund from God , would not enjoyne or single vnmarried life to any , but only advise it , Yet so , as to leave every man to his owne free liberty and discretion 1. Cor. 7. 8. 9. 25. 26. 27. 28. to 40. Yea else where ; Hee beates downe all humane Traditions and Constitutions as no wayes obligatory in diuine , or Ecclesiasticall matters . Col. 2. 20. 21. 22. 1. Cor. 7. 23. 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Gal. 1. 10. c. 2. 9. to 20. c. 3. 1. 2. c. 5. 1 , 2. But our Lordly Prelates farre wiser and statelier then they , who were no Lords nor Peeres , of their severall divided heads without advise of Kings and Parliament , by their owne Lordly authorities in their owne names , can forge , prescribe enioyne , and that upon Oath and subscription , many hundred unnecessary Ceremonies , Articles and injunctions , not any where commanded by Christ ; and impose them upon Ministers and people under paine of suspension , excommunication , imprisonment , deprivation , and what other penalties their royall Papall Majesties please , to inflict , enforcing Church-wardens ( contrary to Gods Law , by the very Rhemists If thou bee put to an Oath to accuse 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 they ought to doe , or to utter any innocent man , to Gods enemies and his , thou oughtest to refuse such unlawfull Oeaths : but if thou have not constancy and courage so to doe , yet know , that such oathes binde not at all in conscience and law of God , but may and must bee broken under payne of damnation . For to take such vowes or oathes is one sinne and to keep them is another farre greater . Rhenists Notes on Acts 23. v. 12. A shrod blow to all visitation and ex officio Oathes . owne doctrine ) to present the infringers of them upon Oath , ( whereas they enioyne them not to present the violaters of Gods owne Ten Commandements , Or any of Christs , or his Apostles precepts ( as they are such upon oath , which God himselfe never enforced to b●… enquired or presented upon oath ; a thing considerable ) Such Gods , Popes , Kings , Tyrants , and absolute Lords are they now growne over mens consciences , soules , bodies and estates , all now made captive to their more then divine , Imperiall , Papall , pleasures ; as experience every where testifieth to our griefe and payne .

Iudge now even you Lordly Prelates , and all ye people of the realme , by all the premised Parallels ; wheither these great Lords and th●…ir Prelacie bee of diabolicall or divine institution , wheither they are of Christ or the divell ; the impes and spurious beats of the one ; or Sonnes and genuine Children of the other ; the successors and followers of the I●…wish High Priests , or of the Apostles : Iudge , I say , of these things , not with passion or affection , but with imparciallitie and conscience ; not by opinion or fancie , but by experience and truth ; not with malice or prejudice eyther way , but with downe-right sincerity , as you desire CHRIST shall Iudge you at the day of Iudgement , and as your selves then shall judge . And when you have done his , then let our Lordly Prelates give up that verdict of themselves and others of them , as their soules and consciences shall sincerely dictate ; And then I doubt not , but their pretended Ius diuin●…m for their Lordly Hierarchie , will be a non est inuentus , and all their Lordlynesse , pompe , power , state , Pride , Canons , Articles , Oathes , Ceremonies , Titles , Innovations , Suspensions , and present fore-specified practises , cast and sentensed for ever to the pit of Hell , from which they sprung , if my poore weake Iudgment doth not misinforme me .

Iohn Rupescissa ( a bold propheticall preaching Friere ) told the Ro●…ish Cardinals and Prelates some 300. yeares since , that they were the Peacocke whom all the birdes had enriched with their feathers , whereby shee was growne so proud , that shee would never know herselfe , till the Kings and Princes of the earth that had decked and enriched her , should come , and taking every one of them his owne feather , leaue her as bald and naked as they found her , and then as their pride & wealth was the begining of all the errors , Schismes and corruptions in religion that troubled the world , so their humiliation and fall should be the end of them . I may apply his Prophecie to our Lordly Prelates now : they are the only proud Peacockes of the world so adorned and swolne with worldly honour , power wealth , pompe , pride and greatnesse , that they will ne-ver know either God or themselves till the King & temporall Lords who have decked and enriched them with these gorgeous plumes , shall come , and taking euery one of them his owne feather , leave them as bald and naked as they found them . And then as their pride , pompe , Lordlinesse , powre and worldy wealth hath beene the errors , Schismes , Innovations , corruptions in Religion that have troubled our Church and the whole world ; ( yea , of all the grievances , oppressions , Tallayes , and mischeifes , that have insteed our state of later yeares ) so their humiliation and fall shall bee the end of them . Vp therefore o most gracious Soveraigne Lord King Charles , & all yee English Nobles , without more delayes , and unp●…ume these luciferian proud Peacocks of all those royall Lordly feathers , they have unjustly stollen and usurped from you : and since they claime all of them from a divine Right and Title , ( without any shadow or ground of truth , as I have been demonstrated in the preceeding Parallels , beyond all contradiction , ) and will no longer enjoy or claime them as from your grace and bounty , leave them not one feather more to hide their nakednesse , but what Gods word hath clearly indowed them withall ; then certainely they will be so bald and naked , that they will never play the divels , Lords or high Priests more . And that this dunghill generation of Lordly Peacockes may no more inf●… either our Church or state ; beseech you , follow the Counsell , that one Curghesis once gave to the King of Meth , when hee demanded of him , hom hee might destroy certaine noysome birdes then lately came into Ireland , where they did much harme to the Countrey ? Nidos eorum ubique destruendos : Let their Nests bee every where destroyed , I meane , their pompous , papall unprofitab●…e , unuseful Sees and Cathedralls , ( now their very chaires of pestilence , the Seminaries of Popery , superstition , idolatry , pride , lasines , Nonresidency , Epicurisme and prophanesse , ) or else turned to some better uses , as were our Abbies , Priories , Monasteries , Nunneries and Chauntries hertofore ; else though they be cast out for a time , yet they will ( as Popery now doth ) creep in againe by degrees , and hatch more Lordly Peacockes , Ravens , Rookes noysome birdes , as bad , as ravenous and pernicious as themselves , to the utter subversion both of our Church and state , which now lie gasping out their last breath under their Papall pride and tiranny without some speedy rescue .

FINIS .