The fyrst Article.

First, that the booke commonly called the booke of common prarers for the church of England, aucthori­sed by Parliament, and all & euery the contents therin be such as are not repugnant to the worde of God.

Albe [...]t, righte honorable & dearly beloued, we haue at all times borne w ^t that, which we could not amende in this boke, and haue vsed the same in our ministerie, so farre sorth as we might: reuerencing those times & those persons, in which and by whom it was first au­thorised, being studious of peace, and of the building vp of Christes churche, yet nowe being compelled by subscription to allowe the same, & to confesse it, not to be against the word of God in any poynt but tollera­ble: We must nedes say as foloweth, that this boke is an vnperfect boke, culled & picked out of that popishe dunghil, the Portuise and Masse boke ful of all abho­minations. For s [...]me, & many of the contentes therin, be suche as are againste the worde of God, as by his grace shalbe proued vnto you. And by the way, we cā not but much maruel at the crafty wilines of those mē whose partes had bene fyrst to haue proued eche and euery cōtent therin, to be agreable to the word of god, seing that they enforce men by subscription to consent vnto it, or els send them packing from theyr callings.

1 They shuld fyrst proue by the word, that a reading seruice going before, and with the administration of the sacraments, is according to the word of God, that priuate Communion, priuate baptisme, baptisme mi­nistred by women, holydayes ascribed to saincts, pre­script seruices for them, kneeling at communiō, wafer cakes for theyr breade when they minister it, surplesse and coape to do it in: churching of women, comming in vailes, which is not commaunded by lawe, but yet the abuse is great, by reson that superstition is grown therby in the hartes of many, and others are iudged y ^• vse it not, Psalm. 121. abusing the Psalme to her, I haue lifted vp mine eyes vnto the hilles, &c. and suche other fool she [Page] things, are agreable to the wryttē word of the almigh­ty. But theyr craft is plain. Wherin they deceiue them selues, standing so much vpon thys word repugnant, as thoughe nothyng were repugnant; or agaynste the word of God, but that whych is expresly forbiddē by plain commaundement, they knowe wel inoughe and wold confesse, if eyther they were not blinded, or else theyr harts hardned, that in the circumstāces eche content wherewith we iustly fynde faulte, & they too con­tentiously for the loue of theyr liuings maintain, sinel­ling of their old popish priesthode, is against y ^e worde of God. For besides y ^• this prescript forme of seruice as they call it, is full of corruptions, it maintayneth an vnlawfull ministerye, vnable to execute that offyce.

By the word of God, it is an offyce of preachyng, they make it an offyce of reading: Christe sayde Mat. 28. 1 [...]. Mar. 16. 15 goe preache, they in mockery giue them the Bible, and au­thoritie to preache, and yet suffer them not, except that they haue new licences. So that they make the chefest part which is preching, but an accessory y ^• is as a thing without which theyr offyce may and doth consist. In the scriptures there is attributed vnto the ministers of God, the knowledge of the 1. Cor. 4. 1 heauenly mysteries, & therfore as the greatest toke of theyr loue, they are en­i [...]yned to Ioh. 21. 16. 17 fede Gods Lambes, and yet with these, suche are admitted and accepted, as only are bare rea­ders that are able to say seruice, and minister a Sacra­ment according to theyr appoyntment. And that thys is not the feeding that Chryste spake of, the scriptures are plain. For reding ministers, viewe these places. Mala. 2. 7 Esay. 56. 10 Zach. 11. 15 Mar. 15. 14 1. Tim. 3. 6 For bare reading of the word and single seruice saying, is bare-feeding, yea it is as euil as play­ing vpon a stage, & worse too. For players yet learne theyr partes wythout boke, and these, a many of them can scarsely read w ^tin boke. These are emptie feeders, Math. 6. 22 darke eyes, Math. 9. 18 Philip. 3 ill workemen to hasten in the Lords haruest Luk. 14. 17 messengers that cannot call math. 23. 34 Prophets y ^• cannot declare the wil of the Lord, Math 5. 13 vnsauery salte, Math. 15. 14 blinde guides, Esay. 56. 10 sleepie watchmen 1. Cor. 4. 1. Luk. 16 1. &c vntrustie [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] dispensers of Gods secretes, 2. Tim. 2. 15. euill deuiders of the worde, Tit. 1. 9. weake to withstand the aduersary, 2. Ti. 3. 15. 16 not able to consute, m 1. Cor. 4. 1. Luk. 16 1. &c and to conclude, so farre from makyng the man of God perfect to all good works, that rather the quite contrary may be confyrmed.

By this booke, bare reading is 1. Cor. 3. 9 good tilling, and single seruice saying, is excellent 1. Cor. 3. 9. building, and he is sheapheard good inough, that can as popishe priestes coulde, oute of theyr Portuise, say fairely theyr diuine seruice. Nay, some in the fulnesse of their blasphemie haue sayde that much preaching bryngeth the woorde of god into contempt, and that fower preachers were inoughe for all London, so farre are they from thin­king it necessary, and seeking that euery congregation should haue a faithfull pastor. Paule was not so wise as these politique men. When he sayde, we Rom. 10. 14 can not beleeue except we heare, and we can not heare wyth­out a preacher. &c, seing we may heare by reading, and so beleeue without a preacher. Folishly he spake, when he saide he 1. Tim. 3. 2 must be apt to teache, sith euery man of the basest sort of the people is admitted to thys func­tion of such as 2. Chro. 13. 9 Ieroboam did sometimes make hys priestes. We wil say nomore in this matter, but desire you to consider with vs what small profyt and edify­cation this seely reading hath broughte to vs these. 13. yeres paste (except perhaps by some circumcelion or newe Apostle, we haue had now & then a fleeing ser­mon) surely our synnes are growne ripe, our ignorance is equal wyth the ignorance Esai. 24. 2. 5 of our leaders, we are lost Zach. 11. 15. 16. 17. &c. they cannot fynde vs, we are sicke, they can not heale vs, we are hongry, they cannot feede vs, except they leade vs by other mennes lights, and heale vs by saying a prescript forme of seruice, or else fede vs with homilies, that are too homely, to be set in the place of Gods scriptures: ☞ are not the people wel nodifyed thinke you, when the homily of sweping the church is red vnto them? ☞ But drunken they are, and shewe theyr owne shame, that striue so egarly to defend their [Page] doyngs, that they wyll not only not acknowledge their imperfections: but wyll enforce other men to allowe them.

2 In thys booke also, it is appointed that after the Creede, if there be no sermon, an homilie must folowe eyther already set out, or hereafter to be set oute. Thys is scarse plaine dealing, Homilies. that they wold haue vs cōsent vnto that which we neuer sawe, and which is to be set out hereafter, we hauing had such cause already to di­strust them, by that which is already set out, being corrupt and straunge, to maintain an vnlearned and rea­ding minysterie: and syth it is playne that mennes woorkes oughte to be kept in, and nothing else but the voyce, of God and holy Scriptures, in which only are contained 2. ti. 3. 16. 17. 2. Pet. 1. 19. 20. 21. Rom. 1. 16. 1. Cor. 1. 18. & all fulnesse and suffyciencie to decide controuersies, must soūd in his church, for the very name Apocrypha testifieth that they were red in secrete and not openly.

3 In thys booke, dayes are ascribed vnto Saintes, and kept holy with fastes on theyr euenes, & prescript seruice appointed for them, which beside that, they are of manye superstitiously kepte and obserued, are also contrary to the commaundement Exod. 20. 9 Exo. 23. 12 Deut. 5. 13. Esay. 1. 10. 13. 14. Leui. 23. 3. 2. Esra. 1. 13 Rom. 16. 6 Gal. 4. 10. 11 of God. Sixe dayes shalt thou laboure, and therefore we for the su­perstition that is put in them, dare not subscribe to al­lowe them.

4 In thys booke we are enioyned to receaue the Communion kneeling, Mat. 26. 20 Mar. 4. 1 [...]1 Luk. 22. 14. Iohn. 13. 28. which beside that it hath in it a 1. Thes. 5. 22 Exod. 12. 11 shew of popish idolatry, dothe not so well expresse a supper, neyther agreeth it so well wyth the insti­tution of Chryste, as sitting dothe. Not that we make sitting a thing of necessytie belonging vnto the Sa­crament, Gala. 4. 10 Galath. 5. 3. 4. 5. Hebrewes in manye places. neyther affyrme we that it may not be recey­ued other wyse, but that it is more neare the Institu­tion, and also a meane to auoide the daunger of Ido­latry, whiche was in tymes past too common, and yet is in the hearts of many, who haue not forgotten their bread god, so slenderly haue they bene instructed? [Page] Agaynst which we may set the cōmaundement. Thou Exo. 20. 5 Halfe Cō ­munion. shalt not bow downe to it, nor worshyp it.

5 As for the halfe Communion, whych is yet ap­poynted like to the commemoration of the Masse, we say little of it, sauing that we may note, how neare the translator bounde himselfe to the Masse booke, that wold not omit it. We speake not of the name of priest wherwith he defaceth the minister of Christ (bicause the priest y ^• translated it, would perhaps fayne haue the ministers of Christ to be ioyned with him) seeing the offyce of Priesthode is ended, Christ being y ^e last priest that euer was. To call vs therefore priestes as touching oure offyce, is eyther to call backe agayne the old priesthode of the law, which is to deny Chryst to be come, or else to keepe a memory of y ^e popish priest­hode of abhomination stil amongst vs. As for y ^e fyrst, it is by Heb. 5. 1. 6 Hebr. 9. 11 Christ abolished, and for the second it is of Antichrist, & therfore we haue nothing to doe with it. Such ought to haue Eech. 44. 10. 12. 13 [...]erem [...]. 23 Hebr. 5. 4. no place in our church, neither are they ministers of Christ, sent to preach his gospel, but priests of the Pope to sacrifyse for the quick & the dead, that is to creade vnder theyr feete the bloude of Christ. Suche ought not to haue place amongst vs, as the scriptures manifestly teache. Besides that we ne­uer read in the newe Testament, that this word priest as touching offyce, is vsed in the good parte, except it speake of the Leuiticall priesthode, or of the priest­hode of Chryste.

6 Sixthly, in this boke three or foure are allowed for a fyfte number to receiue the communion, and the priest alone together wyth one more, or wyth the sicke man alone, may in tyme of necessytie, that is, when there is any common plague, or in time of other visy­tation, minister it to the sicke man, and if he require it, it may not be denyed. This is not I am sure like in ef­fect to a priuate masse: that scripture [...] drinke ye all of thys, maketh not againste this, and priuate communi­on, is not agaynst the scriptures.

[Page] 7 And as for priuate baptisme, that wil abide the touchstone. Mat. 28. 19 Goe ye (sayth Christe and teache, bap­tising them. &c. Now teaching is deuorsed from com­munions and sacraments. They may goe alone w ^tout doctrine. Women that may 1. Cor. 14. 24 1. Tim. 2. 11 not speake in a congre­gation, may yet in tyme of necessytie, minister y ^e sacra­ment of baptisme, and that in a priuate house. And yet, thys is not to tie necissitie of saluation to the Sacra­ments, nor to nowsell men vp in that opinion. This is agreable w ^t the scriptures, & therfore when they bring the bapti [...]ed childe, they are receiued with this special commendation. I certefye you, that you haue don wel, and according vnto due order. &c. But now we speake in good earnest, when they answer this: Let them tell vs, howe thys geare agreeth wyth the scriptures, and whether it be not repugnant or agaynst the worde of God? But some will say that the baptisme of women is not commaunded by law. If it be not, why doe you suffer it, and wherfore are the children so baptised ac­cordingly? common experience teacheth that it is vsed almost in all places, and fewe speake agaynst it. And thys I am sure of, that when it was put in the booke that was the meaning of the most part that were then present, and so it was to be vnderstande as common practise without controlment doth plainly declare.

8 The publique baptisme, that also is full of chil­dishe & superstitious toyes. First in theyr prayer they say y ^• God by the baptisme of his sonne Iesus Christ, did sanctify the floud Iordan, and all other waters, to the mysticall washing away of synne, attributing that to the signe whych is 1. Iohn. 1. 7 Act. 20. 28. Rom. 3. 24 propre to the [...] worke of God in the bloud of Christe, as though vertue were in wa­ter, to washe away sinnes. Secondly, they require a promisse of the godfathers and godmothers (as they term them (whych is not Rom. 7. 15. 18. 21. Rom. 9. 16. in theyr powers to per­form. Thirdly, they prophane holy baptisme, in toying foolishly, for that they aske questions of an infante, whych can not answere, and speake vnto them, as was [Page] wont to be spoken vnto men, and vnto suche as being conuerted, answered for themselues, & were baptized. Which is but a mockery Gala. 6. 7 of God, and therefore a­gaynst the holy scriptures. Fourthly, they do supersti­tiously and wickedly institute a new sacrament, which is proper to Christ only, marking the childe in the for­head with a crosse, in token that heereafter he shall not be ashamed to confesse the fayth of Christe. We haue made mention before of that wycked deuorse of the worde and sacramentes. We say nothing of those that are admitted to be witnesses, what ill choyse there is made of them, how conuenyent it were, seing the chil­dren of the faythfull onely are to be baptized, that the father should and might, if conueniently, offer & pre­sent his child to be baptized, making an open confession of that faith, wherin he wold haue his childe bap­tized, as is vsed in well reformed churches.

9 As for Matrimonie, that also hathe corruptions too many. It was wonte to be compted a sacrament, and therfore they vse yet a sacramental signe, to which they attribute the vertue of wedlocke. I meane the wedding ring, which they fowly abuse and dally with all, in taking it vp, and laying it downe: In putting it on, they abuse the name of the Trinitie, they make the newe marryed man, according to the Popish forme, to make an idol of his wife, saying: with this ring I thee wedde, with my body I thee worshippe. &c. And bi­cause in Poperie, no holy action mighte be done with­out a masse, they enioyne the marryed persones to re­ceiue the communion (as they do theyr bishoppes and priestes when they are made. &c.) other p [...]rtie things oute of the booke, we speake not of, as that Abuses accidental. women contrary 1. Cor. 11. 5 to the rule of the Apostle, come, and are suffered to come bare headed, with bagpipes and [...]id­lers before them, to disturbe the congregation, and that they must come in at the great dore of the church, or else all is [...]arred. With diuers other heathnish toys in sondry countries, as carying of whea [...]e she affes on theyr heads, and ca [...]ing of corne, with a nūber of such [Page] like, wherby they make rather a Maie game of marry­age, then a holy Institution of God.

10 As for confyrmation, which the papists and our m [...] say was in times past Apostolical, groūding their opinion perhaps vpon some dreame of Hierome, yet as they vse it by the bishop alone, to thē that lack both discretion and faithe, it is superstitious & not agreable to the word of God, but popish & peuishe. As though baptim were not already perfect, but neded confyrma­tion, or as though the bishop coulde giue y ^• holy ghost. [...] They appoynt a prescript find of seruice to bury the dead: And that which is the duety of euery christian, they tie alone to the minister, wherby pr [...]ier for y ^• dead is maintained, and partly gathered out of some of the prarers, where they pray y ^• we with thys our brother, & all other departed in the true faith of thy holy name, may haue our perfect cons [...]ation and blisse, bothe in body & soule. We say nothing of the threefold peale bicause that it is rather licensed by iniunction, then commaunded in theyr boke, nor of theyr straūge mourning by chaunging theyr garmentes, which if it be not hipocritical, yet it is superstitious & heathnish, bicause it is vsed only of custom, nor of burial sermons, which are put in place of trentalles, wherout spring many a­buses, and therfore in the best reformed churches, are remoued. As for the superstitions vsed bothe in coun­trey and citie, for the place of buryall, which way they must lie, how they must be fetched to churche, the my­nister meeting them at churche stile with surplesse, w ^t a companye of greedie clarkes, that a crosse whyte or blacke, must be set vpon the deade corpes, that breade muste be gyuen to the poore, and offrings in Buryall tyme vsed, and cakes sent abrode to frendes, by cause these are rather vsed of custome and superstition, then by the authoritie of the boke. Small commaundement will serue for the accomplishyng of suche things. But great charge will hardly bryng the least good thyng to passe, and therefore all is let alone, and the people as blinde and as ignorante as euer they were. God be [Page] mercyfull vnto vs, and open our eyes that we may see what that good and acceptable will of God is, and be more earnest to prouoke hys glory.

12 Churching of women after childbirthe, smelleth of Iewish purifycation: theyr other rytes & customes in theyr lying in, & comming to churche, is foolishe and superstitious, as it is vsed. Shee muste lie in wyth a white sheete vppon her bed, and come couered wyth a vaile, as ashamed of some folly. Shee must offer, but these are matters of custome, and not in the boke: But thys Psalme (as is noted before) is childishly abused, Psalm. 121 I haue lift vp mine eyes vnto the ly [...]ls, [...]rō whence commeth my helpe. The sunne shall not burne th [...]e by day, nor the moone by nyght.

13 In all theyr order or seruice 1. Cor. 14. 16 there is no edifi­cation, according to the rule of the Apostle, but confu­sion, they [...]osse the Psalmes in most places like [...]ennice balles. They pray that al men may be saued, & that they may be deliuered from thundering & tempest, whē no dāger is nigh. That they sing Benedictus, Nūc dimit­tis and Magnificat, we knowe not to what purpose, except some of them were ready to die, or excepte they would celebrate the ine [...]ory of the virgine, and Iohn Baptist. &c. Thus they prophane the holy scriptures. The people some standing, some walking, some tal­king, some reading, some praying by themselues, [...]tēd not to the minyster. He againe posteth it ouer, as fast as he can galloppe. For eyther he hath two places to serue, or else there are some Games of Sodom. games to be playde in the afternoone, as lying for the whetstone, heathnishe dauncing for the ring, a beare or a bull to be baited, or else Iacke an apes to ride on horssebacke, Standing at the gos­pel came [...]rō Anastatius the pope, in An. 404. or an enter­lude to be plaide, & if no place else can be gotten, this enterlude must be playde in the church▪ &c. Nowe the people sit and now they stand vp. When the old Te­stament is read, or the lessons, they make no reuerēce, but when the gospel commeth, then they * al stand vp. For why, they thinke that to be of greatest authoritie, [Page] and are ignorante that the scriptures came from one spirite. When Iesus is named, then of goeth the cap, and downe goeth the knees, wyth suche a scraping on the ground, that they cannot heare a good while after, so that the word is hindred, but whē any other names of God are mentioned, they make no curtesie at all, as though y ^e names of God were not equal, or as though all reuerence oughte to be giuen to the syllables. We speake not of ringing, when Mattens is done, and Accidental abuses. other abuses incident. Bicause we shalbe answered, that by the boke they are not maintayned, only we de­sire to haue a booke to reforme it. As for organes and curious singing, thoughe they be proper to Popyshe dennes, I meane to Cathedrall churches, yet some o­thers also must haue them. The Queenes chappell, and these churches, (whych shoulde be spectacles of christia [...] reformation) are rather paternes and presi­dents to the people, of all superstitions.

14 Their pontificall (which is annexed to the boke of common prayer, and whereunto subscribing to the Articles, we must subscribe also) whereby they conse­crate Bishops, make ministers & deacons, is nothing else but a thing woorde for woorde drawne out of the Popes pontifycal, wherin he sheweth himselfe to be Antichrist most liuely. And lit. 22. 25. 26 1. pe. 5. 3. 4. 5 Math. 20. 25. 26. Mat. 23. 8. 11. 12. Gala. 2. 6 Heb. 5. 4. Luk. 16. 25 Ezech. 34. 4. 2. Cor. 1. 24. as the names of Arch­bishops, Archdeacons▪ Lord bishops, Chancelers. &c. are drawne out of the Popes shop togither with theyr officers. So the gouernement which they vse, by the life of the Pope which is the Canon law is Antichri­stian & deuillish, and contrary to the scriptures. And as safely may we, hy the warrant of Gods worde sub­scribe to allow the dominion of the Pope vniuersally to raigne ouer the church of God, as of an archbishop ouer an whole prouince, or a Lorde bishop ouer a dio­cesse, which containeth many shyres and parishes For the dominion that they exercise the archbyshop aboue them, & they aboue the rest of theyr brethren, is vnlawfull, and expresly forbidden by the word of God.

[Page] 15 Againe, in that they are honoured with the Math. 23. 8. &c. Ioh. 13 15 16 Iohn. 5. 44. 2. Cor. 10. 16. 17. 18. titles of greate rulers, as Lord, Lords grace▪ Metro­politane, primate of al England, honor. &c. it is against the worde of God.

Moreouer, in that they haue Lu. 9 60. 61 Luk. 12. 14 Rom. 12. 7 1. Tim. 6. 11. 2. Tim. 2. 3. 4 ciuill offyces, ioy­ned to the Ecclesiasticall, it is againste the woorde of God. As for an Archbishop to be a Lord president, a Lorde bishop, to be a countie Palatine, a Prelate of the garter, who hath much to do at S. Georges feast, when the Bible is caryed before the procession in the crosses place, a iustice of peace, or iustice of Quorum, an highe Commissioner. &c. and therefore they haue theyr prisonnes, * Bishops prisons, po­pish Euge­nius the fyrst bryn­ger of them in. as clinkes, gatehouses, colehouses, towers and castles, whych is also againste the scryp­tures. This is not to haue keyes but swordes, & plaine tokens they are, that they exercise that, whyche they woulde so faine seeme to want, I meane dominion o­uer theyr brethren. ☞ And which of them haue not preached againste the Popes two swordes: Nowe whether they vse them not them selues▪ mat 18. 17. 18 Act. 11. 30. Act. 15. 2. 4. 6. &c.

16 In that the Lorde Bishops, theyr suffraganes, Archdeacōs, Chācelers, Officials, proctors, Doctors, sumners, and such rauening rablers, take vpon them, which is moste horrible, Rom 12. 7. 8 Philip. 1. 1. 1. Cor. 12. 28. 1. Th. 5. 12. 13 1. Tim. 4. 14 1. Tim. 5. 17. the rule of Gods Churche, spoyling the pastor (t) of his lawful iurisdiction ouer hys own flocke giuen by y ^e word, thrusting away most sacrilegiously that order which Christ hath left to hys church, & which the primatiue churche hath vsed, they shewe they holde the doctrine with vs, but in vnrigh­teousnesse, with an outward shewe of godlynesse, but hauing denyed the power therof, entring not Iohn. 10. 1. in by Christ, but by a popishe and vnlawfull vocation. We speake not Act. 6. 3. 4. Act. 14. 23 Actes. 20. 28. 30. &c. Ro. 12. 6. 7. 8 1. co. 9. 16. 17 howe they make Ministers by them­selues alone, and of theyr sole authoritie, and that in secrete places, of theyr election and probation, that it is of him, to whom by no right it belongeth. And that when they haue made them, either they may tariye in theyr Colledge, and leade the liues of loytering losels, [Page] as long as they liue, or else gad abrode w ^t the bishops bulles like to Circumcelions, to preache in other mens charges where they li [...]t, or else get benefices by frend­ship or mony, or flattery where they can catch them, or to conclude: If all these faile, that they may go vp and down like beggers, & fall to many follies: or else as many haue don, set vp bils at Paules, or at the Royall ex­change, & in such publike places, to see if they can hear of some good maisters, to entertain them into seruice. Surely, by the Canon law, by which y ^• bishops raigne & rule, they ought to keepe those ministers, which they make as long as they haue no liuings and places. We know three or foure Bishops in this realm, wold haue kept such houses, as neuer none did in this lād, if this rule had beene obserued. They clapt them out so fast by hundreds, and they make them pay wel for their or­ders, and surely to speake the truth they were worthy, for the Bishops (what ods so euer there were of theyr gifts) yet in theyr letters gaue them all a like commen­dation. They put on their surplesses, or else subscribed like honest men. Fie vpō these stinking abominatiōs.

17 We should be too long to tell your honoures of Cathedrall churches, the dennes of or sayde of all loyte­ring lubbers, wher master Deane, master Vicedeane, master Canons or Prebendaries the greater, master pettie Canons, or Canons the lesser, master Chancel­ler of the churche, master treasurer, otherwyse called Iudas the purssebearer, the cheese chauntor, singing men specyall fa [...]ourers of religion, squeaking quere­sters, organ players, gospellers, pi [...]telers, pentioners, readers, vergeries. &c. liue in great idlenesse, and haue theyr abiding. If you woulde knowe whence all these came, we can easely answere you, that they came from the Pope, as oute of the Troian horses bellye, to the destruction of Gods kingdome. The churche of God neuer knewe them, neither doth any reformed churche in the world know them.

18 And birdes of the same fether, are couetous [Page] patrones of benefices, persones, vicares, readers, pa­rishe priests, stipendaries, and riding chaplaines, that vnder the aucthoritie of theyr maysters, spoyle theyr flockes of the foode of theyr soules. Philip. 2. 21 Suche seeke not the Lord Iesus, but theyr owne bellies Iude. 12. clouds they are without raine, trees without frute Mat. 23. 27. pa [...]ted sepulchres full of dead bones, fatted in all aboundāce of iniquitye, and leane locustes in all feeling, know­ledge, and sinceritie.

19 What shoulde we speake of the Archbyshops court, To proue y ^• the regimēt of y ^• church shoulde be spirituall, read Caluin in hys com­mentaries vpon these places. syth all men knowe it, and your wisedomes can not, but see what it is. As all other courts are subiecte to this, by the Popes prerogatiue, yea, and by statute of this realme yet vnrepealed, so is it the fylthy quaue mire, and poysoned plashe of all the abhominations that doe infect the whole realme. We speake not of li­censes graunted out of this courte, to marry in forbid­den times, as in lent, in aduent, in the gang weke, whē the priest in hys surplesse, singing gospels, & makyng crosses, rangeth about in many places vpon the Em­berdayes, and to forbidden persons, Ephe. 11. 23. & in exempt pla­ces. We make no mention of lycences, 1. Thes. 5. 13. to eate whyte meat, 1. Tim. 5. 2. and flesh in Lent, & that wyth a safe conscience, for ryche men that can buy them wyth money, Heb. 10. 30. nor we say nothing how derely men pay for them. As for dis­pensations wyth benefyc [...]d boys, tollerations for non residents, bulles to haue two benefyces, to haue three, to haue more, and as many as they list or can get, these are so common, that all godly and good men are com­pelled wyth grefe of heart, to cry out vpon such abho­minations. We omit excommunication for money, ab­solution for the same, and that by absoluing one man for another, which how contrary it is to the scriptures the complaints of many learned men by propositions in opē scholes proposed, by wrytings in printed bokes set oute, and by preaching in open pulpits, haue beene suffyciently witnessed. To conclude, this fylthy courte hath full power together wyth the aucthoritie of thys [Page] pettie pope, Metropolitane and primate of all Eng­lande, to dispense in all causes, wherein the pope was wont to dispence, vnder whych are contained more ca­ses and causes, then we are able to recken. As for the Archbyshop of Yorke, we deale not with him. We re­ferre him to that learned Epistle, which Beza wrote vnto hym about these matters.

20 And as for the commissaries court, that is but a pettie little srinking ditche, that floweth oute of that former great puddle, robbing Christes church of law­full pastors, of watchfull Segniors and Elders, and carefull Deacons. 1. Cor. 5. 4. In thys court as in the other, * one alone doth excommunicate, one alone sitteth in iudge­ment, and when he will, can drawe backe the iudge­ment whych he hath pronounced, hauing called vpon the name of God, and that for money which is called the chaunging of penaunce. In this courte, for non paiment of two pence, a man shall be excommunicated if he appeare not when he is sent for, if he doe not as hys ordinarie would, from whome he had his popishe induction & institution, and to whom he hath sworne, Canonicam obedientiam, Canonicall obedience, if he learne not hys Catechisme like a good boye wythoute booke, when it were more meete he shoulde be able to teach others. To conclude: if he be not obedyent to all these Lord bishops officers, by and by he must be cut of by excommunication. And as it is lightly graunted and giuen forthe, so if the money be paide, and the court discharged, it is as quickly called in again. Thys courte poulleth parishes, scourgeth the poore hedge priestes, ladeth Churchwardens wyth manifest per­iuries, punysheth whoredomes and adulteryes wyth toyishe censures, remitteth without satisfying the con­gregation, and that in secrete places, giueth out dispensations for vnlawful mariages, and cōmitteth a thou­sand such like abhominations. God deliuer al Christi­ans out of this Antichristian tyrannye, where the iud­ges, aduocates, and proctors, for the most part are pa­pists, [Page] and as for the scribes and notaries as greedy as cormorantes, and if they all should perhappes see this wryting, they wold be as angry as waspes, and sting like hornets. Three of them would be inowe to sting a man to death, for why they are highe commissioners. All this we say springeth out of this pontifical, which we muste allowe by subscription, setting downe oure hands, y ^t it is not repugnant or against y ^e word of god, we meane this antichristian hierarchie, and popishe ordering of ministers, strange from the word of god, and the vse of all wel reformed churches in the world.

21 We haue almost let passe one thing worthy the remēbrance, It contay­neth mani­fest blasphemie, as may appeare. which is, that they take vppon them blas­phemously, hauing neither promise nor commaunde­ment to say to theyr newe creatures, receaue the Holie ghost. As though the holy ghost were in their power to geue without warrant, at theyr owne pleasure.

And thus much be spoken as touching this booke, Ephes. 1. 17. a­gainst which to stād, is a wonder to two sortes of mē, the one ignorant, the other obstinate. The Lorde geue those that be his, 2. Tim. 2. 7 vnderstanding in al things, that they may haue iudgement: 2. Cor. 4. 4 as for the other whome the god of this world hath blinded, least they Math. 13. 15 shuld see and confesse the truth and so be saued, and that doe in the full growth of wickednes, maliciously resist the truth. God confound them, that peace may be vpon Israell, and his sauing health vpon this nation. Amen.

The .2. Article.

That the manner and order appointed by publique authoritie about the administration of the sacraments and common prayers, and that the apparell by suffici­ent authoritie appointed for the ministers wythin the church of England, be not wicked nor against y ^e word of God, but tollerable, and being commaunded for order and obedience sake, are to be vsed.

For the order of administration of Sacramentes and common prayer, enough is said before, all the ser­uice and administration is tyed to a surplesse, in Ca­thedrall [Page] churches they must haue a coape, they receiue the Communion kneelyng, they vse not for the moste part common bread Act. 2. 46. according to the word of god, and the statute, Act. 20. 7 but starch bread accordyng to the In­iunction. They commonly minister the Sacramentes wythout preaching the worde.

And as for the apparell, Apparell. though we haue bene long borne in hande, and yet are, that it is for order and de­cencie commaunded, & yet we know and haue proued that there is neither order, nor cumlines, nor obedience in vsing it. There is no order in it, but confusion: No [...]mlines, but deformitie: No obedience, but disobe­dience, both against God and the Prince. We maruell that they could espie in their last Synode, that a gray Amise, which is but a garment of dignitie, shoulde be a garment (as they say) defyled with superstition, and yet that copes, caps, surplesses, tippe [...]s and suche lyke baggage, the preaching signes of popishe priesthode, the popes creatures, kept in y ^• same forme to this end, to bryng dignitie and reuerence to the Ministers and Sacramentes, shoulde be retayned styll, and not abo­lyshed: But they are as the garments of the Idole, to which we should say, h Esai. 30. 22. 1. Thes. 5. 22. auant and get thee hence. They are as the garments of Balamites, of popishe priests, enemies to God and all Christians. They serue not to edifycation, they haue the shewe of euyll (seeing the popish priesthode is euyll) they worke discorde, they hinder the preaching of the Gospel, they kepe the me­morie of Egipt still amongst vs, and put vs in minde of that abominatiō whervnto they in times past haue serued, they bryng the ministerie into contempte, they offend the weake, they encourage the obstinate. Ther­fore can no authoritie by the woord of God, with any pretence of order and obedience commaund them, nor make them in any wise tollerable, but by circumstan­ces, they are wicked, and against the word of God.

If this be not playne enoughe by that whyche is already set forth, we mynde by Gods grace to make it [Page] playner, and should doe it better, if it were as lawfull for vs (as for our aduersaryes) to publish our mindes in Printe. Neyther is the controuersie betwixt them and [...]s as they wold beare the world in hand, as for a cap, a tippet, or a surplesse, but for great matters con­cerning a true ministery and regiment of the churche, according to the word. Which things once established the other melt away of them selues. And yet consider I pray you, whether theyr owne argument dothe not choke them selues, for euen the verye name of trifles dothe plainly declare that they oughte not to be main­tained in Christes church. And what shal our bishops win by it? Forsothe, that they be maintainers of tri­fles, and trifling bishops, consuming the greatest part of theyr time in those trifles whereas they shoulde be better occupied. We striue for true religion & gouern­ment of the churche, and shewe you the righte way to throw out Antichrist both head and taile, and that we will not so much as communicate with the taile of the beast: but they after they haue thrust Antichriste out by the head, go about to pull him in again by the taile, cunningly colouring it, least any man should espie his foote steppes, as Cacus did when he stole the Oxen, For if it might please her maiesty, by the aduise of you righte Honourable, in thys hyghe Courte of Parlia­ment to heare vs by wryting or otherwise, to defende our selues, then (suche is the equitie of our cause) that we would trust to fynde fauor in her maiesties sight: then should appeare what slender stuffe they bring to defend themselues, that are so impudent by open wry­ting to defend it: then those patched pamphlets made by suddaine vpstartes, and new conuerts, shoulde ap­peare in their cullours, and truth haue the victory, and God the glory. If this can not be obtayned, we wyll by Gods grace addresse our selues to defend his truth by suffring, and willingly lay our heads to the blocke, and thys shall be cure peace, to haue quiet consciences with our God, whome we wyl abyde for, with al pa­cience, vntill he worke our full deliuerance.

¶The .3. Article.

That the articles of Religion which only concerne the true christian faith, and the doctrin of the Sacra­ments, comprised in a boke imprinted: Articles, wher vpon it was agreed by both Archbishops. &c. and e­uery of them containe me & godly christian doctrine.

For the Articles concerning y ^• substance of doctrine vsing a godly interpretation in a point or two, Doctrine. which are either too sparely, The righte gouernmēt of y ^• Church can not be seperated from the doctrine. or els too darkely set downe, we were & are ready according to dutie, to subscribe vnto them. We wold to god that as they hold the substāce together with vs, and we w ^t them: so they would not denye the effect and vertue thereof. Then shoulde not our w [...]rdes and works be deuorsed, but Christ shuld be suffred to raigne, a true ministerie according to the worde instituted, 1. Timot. 3. 2 Discipline exercised, Sacramentes purely and sincerely ministred. This is that we striue for, and aboute which we haue suffred 1. Pet. 3. 17. not as euill doers, but for resisting Poperie, and refusyng to be stong with the tayle of Antichristian in [...]ection, readie 1. Pet. 3. 15. to render a reason of oure faith, to the stopping of all our enemies mouthes. We therfore for the churche of Gods sake, which ought to be most dear vnto you, beseeche you for our Soueraignes sake, vpon whome we pray, that all Gods blessyngs may be powred a­boundantly, we pray you to consyder of these abu [...]es to reform Gods church according to your duties and callynges, that as with one mouthe wee confesse one Christe, so with one consent, this raigne of Antichrist may be turned out headlong from amongest vs, and Christe our Lorde may raigne by his worde ouer vs. So your seates shal be esta [...]lished and setled in great assurance, you shall not neede to feare your ennemies: for God wyll turne away his threatned plagues from vs. Which he in mercie doe, for his Christes sake. Amen.