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/fhsyy^i^. /o^-'r. 
 

 £/ 
 
 sc* *w 
 
APPEAL 
 
 To the 
 
 PARLIAMENT 
 
 O R 
 
 SionsT>letu again/i the <r Prciacit^. 
 
 The furamc whereoff is delivered in a DECADE 
 of POSITIONS. 
 
 Jn the handling Tvhcwoff y the Lord Hifoops , and 
 their appurtenances are manifcfi lie proved , both by di- 
 vine and humane Larves^to be intruders vpon the Pri 
 ledges of Chnfl>of the King, and of the Commonweal : 
 Kyind therefore vpon good evidence given , Jlte hartelie 
 dejireth a ludgement and execution. 
 
 Lament. 1. 12. 
 
 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pafie by - x 
 behouldandrec,6cc. 
 
 LVC. 19. 27. 
 Tfofe mine enemies, y^hich Vrou.'d not that I fiould raignt^ 
 $z,er them,hring hetker 7 andjly thtm before wc; 
 
 On*tn. in IfiU. id Rom. 
 r ludicandoi fe poiius^uata j u Jicacuros ItfllHIII. 
 
 Ztntc.mJl^H.Ali.S' Ul 
 
 Nec abnuendnm 5 Ji det imperium Deus. 
 Printed the year & monetJi wherein fecfotlvns k 
 
Ncutrt cedet* 
 
 Omnibus int enfant " per vis txtinguere verbi 
 LamfAditfoccurrat mptd vejlra manus : 
 
 Prevailing Prelats drive to -quench- onr Light, 
 Except your facred power quafh their might* 
 
 Angutt in jOuttieshominibHs pratfe dt{ider$l 
 
 pf.jromc Totics Deo mte prrircj emends 
 
 Dam licit jwuft f u ]& r Ak 4 ^ 'Wl 
 
Sfttu udt* 
 
 Sic fprtta Utinpttnt bf/wj, cenbri 7 
 
 Vt ftabilts fn^iavi ma Deti 
 
 The tottering Prclats, with their frumpryalJ, 
 Shall moulder downc, like Eider from the wall. 
 
 Si id diving tradmcnis ap*r , 
 V.t enqtnem r(iCrf<wur^tfAt 
 Qmms error hum Anus % 
 
 ro 
 
<fe>^^> 
 
 
 T O 
 
 7^ right Honourable & high Qown f 
 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 Right Honorable and High Senators 
 
 ( ZJcb hath beene the care &i:d I 
 Jlrie of that Panacxan or tu 
 (^ourt of Parliament-* , th.n to give 
 inftrutlicns to it Voeve to teach ah haglc ■'* 
 to flyc,or a Dolphin ro fwimmc yerfch ■*»« 
 bath beene the gracious difpofit'wn of the golden head, 
 tj loving affeftion of that Blvci body repre/entative, 
 that they have bent their eares to the grievances of the 
 lolvejl members y efpecially if they "Xoere gru-Ved 7»itb 
 the grievances either of( hurch cr comrnorffre alt •/•> 
 That greate State fman l^lato VpouU have a St 
 eheareful/y and lovingly to inter taine the motitn of the 
 nteancftJubietffoY the good oj the commonTtcai' 
 Tbife general! of a fedd dejpijetb not the advice rj tie 
 meanefl fouldter in matters of greate fl Waigbt, 
 Grecians u fed to lay their e dejptrately i ) the 
 
 
 
AN EPISTLE TO THE HIGH 
 
 highway fide, that everie pajfenger might deliver what 
 he kn:W or heard to be good for fuch a difeafe >finn* & 
 judgment {the difafrs ofourfate^are not hid hut open 
 to the eye of everie pajfenger. *As the greate Phyfitian 
 faid of nature diflemperedy^M it is all but one ficknes : 
 Jo our diffi'amtdj i$ dijiempered fate y from head to 
 joote is all but one fore. J n this cafe /be compUincth 
 as though there Were none tofuccour her. Is it nothing 
 10 all you that paffe by} Behold & fee my forrowes,&c. 
 Not to mourne "Kith and for our mother Were unna- 
 turally all that Wee can doe is to mourne for ber(yea 
 Would to God We could doe that as Weefbould , our 
 fate-medicines aremeerely empyricall- but your Ho* 
 nours being the methodical! phyficians of out fate can 
 make a right ufr oft hem. Wee reade that marvailoui 
 cures have beene done by 6 mpyricall medicines > ejpe- 
 cully in dejperate cures. To your Honours Weeprefent 
 one ,not of our oWne invention , but of an ancient and 
 fiver aigne Probatum eft: fuchaone as never yet fay led 
 (as Wee conceive) it Wanteth nothing, but giving out of 
 the phyfitians hand. That golden apothegme of out 
 gracious Soveraigne, that all is in aftion, is the ntery 
 be si theame for your meditation and ground , and mo- 
 tive for your heroicke accomptifhments. The Laconic^? 
 vTxvft'Mv brevitie of Kings /peeches y as Homer faid of \5Wenelaut* 
 *^*f**- is njery acute and full of matter > and fo they Would \ 
 V" have themfelves underjlood. ForaWordis enough front • 
 
COVRT OF PARLIAMENT. 
 
 f be Wife and to the Wife: As Cod bath fetyou fortb(rigbt 
 H onourable) for this greate Worke of re format ion ;Jo your 
 choyce and place requiretbyou to bee nqco of adtiviric, 
 as the Spirit ffeaketb, that is inwardly and outwardly 
 comple ate With prudence , froWcJJe , Valour and di- 
 Iwn.e.Gen^-jA. Exod.16 21. ifTharaob Would 
 have p'cb beardfrnen-, What neede fUnJktkmr Abirne- 
 lecb of fucb fhcepbearc.es fr the JJxcpz of bis people, 
 ftj fitch JbjapbeardyoumiJ} bee indeede. Tourionours 
 kpoWe that confutation , yea or bumdiation can doe no 
 good Without reall ( and in fome things eradicating 
 reformation) fofhua didwelltopray, but lee n.uji n p 
 (£? doe. When ^Mofes (efr *Aarw are prayinge ,fo- 
 fhuamufibefmitingeof Amalecke. Wo at danger the 
 flate is in byfinne Within us judgment njpon njs, and 
 over njSyCvillmen amonge <vs > and the Wrath of God 
 again/lnas, is better knoWne to your honours then Wee 
 can exprefje. Butr Wee may be bold to fay of religion, 
 f£ flate, as Dauidfaid of bin fife , there is but aftep 
 betWetne them fj death. Intbisacpnie of death With l h 
 fares {yoroanes Wee cry to you right Honourable M^ c 
 us,or wccpcnlh. Let not the tall future of the 
 tAmhms; nor the combination of the i domuesjior the 
 coutflls of <Abitopbells;nor tbeproudc lookes ftj I 
 Wordes of Ama^iubs dcterre you,cr deteyne you. Let 
 not the overtopping growth of the fnnes oj Zerviah Eio 
 feme too hard for you. r But let every md* ffti 
 tA 1 
 
AN EPISTLE TO THE HIGH 
 
 f?Pord ofjufiice -vppor. bis thiph , and doe execution 
 accordino to defen Feare nor, have not 1 commanded 
 >'° 11 (faith our Kiri'j) Be cotcragious tybe valiant, yea 
 the God oflfrael hath bidyou doe it. M ake Way then 
 for religion andrwbteoufies , by removal! of all run - 
 godly mes andunrighteopfnes^and Cod frill be With you, 
 Wee neede not tell you of the Komane Tatriots,or the 
 ^itheman Kings ; who Were WiUinge to dye that the 
 Gen 41.14 glorie of their nation might live, lacob Wi!^ fend his be- 
 loved fonne to Sgipt in cafe ofneceffttie , and if hce be 
 robbed,ler him be robbed. So Hefier Will interpoje 
 her felfe for her Countrey , andiflheperifhfhcperi- 
 
 nendus &? ftlcth : <As ^ at man (fa' ^ )e Oratour) is Worthy all 
 
 Tui. contempt that Would rather fave himfelf then the Jhip 
 
 ad Hcrcn. wherein hee is^aud all that are with htm So hee is an 
 
 unfrorthyman that pre ferreth his oWne particular fafe- 
 
 tie to the faveinoe of the common Weale : But there is 
 
 no fuch danger : Let the righteous be as bold as Lyons 
 
 Prov 28 1 an d lne w ^ c ^ c< ^ wi ^ % c when none periiieth them. 
 
 Fenny -Bitters in their bolloWe canes make a terrible 
 
 noyfe to the amazement uftbofe that are not acquainted 
 
 With their Jpir its ;but they dare not looke <v dour in the 
 
 face;nor holdnjp their he ad in theaffembly of thejufie 
 
 Vice is ever a coWard where yertue is in place : Only 
 
 this Wee intre ate your honours t that you Would not be 
 
 Hofi;.i;. ltlze€phraim,of 'whom the Lord complayneth && of an 
 
 *vn- 
 
COVRT OF PARLIAMENT. 
 nanWife fonne; bccaufc hee ftaied too long in the place 
 of the birth • that is , bee ^u too long in refofoi 
 Without re all performance. Bee yon eyes, fares , a$d 
 bands to our SoV?rargne,as yourpUce authors to, & 
 bee by you/hall ' (cattterthc Vptik$d>&bri'tg the Vrbeelt 
 over tbtm-,: 1 be fire of God* W rath is alreadu brokf 
 in njponus , and if the fuel/ offline , and eff?ecully 
 our domineering national! finne be not removed ; the 
 Wrath ofCcdwili never ccaffe till it bath confimed Hi 
 from beir.g a nation to himfelfe . Jhoidd not every 
 one (unlejfe Lee be aviper) bring fame Water to que 
 this fiie : heboid right Honourable Wee bring one Buc- 
 ket full taken out of the CbrtfidtBne pa and fiver 
 ftreames of divine and humane LaWes (as Wee con- 
 ceive)a medicinahle and quenching Water. Water unap - *&?« 
 plyed cannot quench the fyreiScmeWaters incre.fi the 
 fire <u cyly fulpburioiu & 'pitchie Waters. An unpropor [ U: \ Q ^ ' 
 tionable mixture maketh the fiie the fiercer. Lafl ! ic, 
 it is no timt-s tofiino Water wben all is confimed to 
 ajhes. Wee mtre ate leave therefore (right Honour.? 
 to importune you aoaine and again-: to fly the fun Wa 
 ters from the higher places ; bar and abandon alltbe 
 pitchie Waters of the ^abdomjb Lake , whuh 
 jgnis fomentum , the very life and fpiril <»t ' iju- tire. • 
 There be nuny artificial! iiuflingcrs, who/e fii Aa/ * 
 
 tA 3 [ " rlt 
 
AN EPISTLE-TO THE HIGH 
 Ardent in the Water 's,confumingefi>ipps, bridges ,and aff 
 "vpon the Waters. Take beede of tbefe- y and fling Water 
 enough : and let not that proverbe of delay be verified 
 in your &0»<wrj,aquaminfiindcre incineres; to cafi 
 Water njppon the afhes. Wee intre ate your Honour s> to 
 reprefent to your [elves by imagination 3 that fire Were 
 kindled at home in your bowfes, you lookmge on {which 
 fire could not but confume ft ate, Wives and children, if 
 it Were not quenched } and that be time) how Would you 
 bejiirre you ? hoW much more Jhould you batten to five 
 Syonfrom being confimed: Tor Zionsfikc Wee cannot 
 bold our peace , Wee cannot but complaine <u the chil- 
 dren^ doe to their Tarents. Tbaraohes fervants are 
 Very homely With their Kinge, to fett Gods people free* 
 Eiod.j© 7 When they Were all like toperifk. KnoWeftthou not yet 
 that ggipt is deftroyed ? how much more may Wee your 
 Honours ferv antes complaine to you of our defy er ate 
 condition ^better knoWne then thougbtr on. Hence alfoe 
 your Honours may bepleafed toobfeive hoW faithfull 
 and plaine you fbouldbe With bisroyall Majeftie both 
 in the difcoverie , end the remcd:e of the eminent and 
 imminent deftruftion. What mxy be found amijje in 
 this poor e fame ^either for manner or matter ^Wee hum- 
 bly i rave pardon^ ; as for jreedome cfjpeech^wherein 
 Wee Would nor Wronger any) Wee hope your Honours 
 Will impute it to theprefent danger: Forwho Wili?wr 
 cry {if bee can doe no more ) When his mother is like tc 
 be numbered before his eyes ? 
 
eAnd ilooktd^and ' there Vms none to he/p^and IVoondred 
 that there ^as none to vphold. Efa.63 . 1 . 
 
 But thofe mine enemies , ^hich^could not I ftouldraigne 
 over them , bring them hither > and Jlay them before 
 me. Luc.19^27. 
 
 Ynum vos pofcimus omncs. 
 

 The ijiU to the Reader. 
 
 EllaffeccioncdRea 
 
 If ever fonndncflc of mindc and Bh< 
 cere uprlght&elTe of heart were robe 
 manifcflcd for the Lord ; now is the time 
 eif ccially,bfftaufe rhis is ihc adulterous^ 
 wfull generation^ that the Spirit fpeaketh off; whici 
 ometo fuchahightof impiety, iniquity , and- pro- 
 >hancfle, thatbyfinnc nfhreth heaven in the face, 
 k: dalheth Gods people out of countenance^ that they 
 nay be aihamed of the Gofpcll : we doc not readcof 
 ;reatec pcrfecution, higher indignitie and indemniric 
 lone uppn Gods peoplejin any nation p refilling ihc 
 ;ofpcll,than in this our Ilandicfpecially lince the death 
 >f QueeneKIizabcfh) uirneile, the iikneing, fining, 
 ^communicating , and calling our of the Mmftciic; 
 ca the pining of iome pf them , and fundry goo J. 
 >cople to death, whole blood we mull know ciyerh 
 ■ct for. revenge* for frc&om in tkt fight <; \ 
 leath cf his &&»&$ : yea in fo me mcalurc wc: 
 cacfy payed for it • for how much Bri in-blood hath 
 he Lord lould for no price , within ti<: 
 ad what for all our paincs > mcancn J and It I 
 mjhcftdiQumouiiha! could be thoi 
 A 
 
The ffifile to the Reader. 
 
 knowesyet whatadeepo/rt/^w4,or field of bleod, 
 our Land may be 5 if that blood be not expiated } but 
 who is the main Impulfive caufe of thefe evills of 
 finne,and judgement? Even ikofe men of bloods , the 
 Prelacie,as we have proved, whofedig'nitie fas the late 
 King hath it in the preface of his Bafilicon ) fmelleth 
 vildlie of Pcpelike pride $ yea they are a main part of 
 him j Lone of his hone , and Jit ft of his fletyu Againft 
 this Hierarchie we do not commence , but renew our 
 fuite,forthe recovery of the KCyes tfcbriH , and the 
 Tt)le of h\$JJ?o$ife: In the profecution whereoff'We 
 intreat the help of all that love the Lord : jRrjl 
 agree with God, by reforming at home 5 and then 
 looke upon them,as they are clearly convinced , to be 
 enemies to God,and the States and fo katetbern^hh 
 aperftel hatred^ be not ajhamedof Chnsi t and bis Word $ 
 that is , of ftanding for the Priviledges of his King- 
 dome,no,not among an adulter tth & ftnftill gertrati&n^ 
 that is, when Chrifts entmies are in their tuff, left 
 Chrift be afhamtd of you. As for their fwelling 
 pride,feare it nor. There are more ^ith vs, then againft 
 vs.: yea it isenougfr, that xhtLordcf tiottes is againft 
 them. . 
 
 We may fay truely of them,as an ancient faid of 
 the Prelates of his time : Ommbis terrors, amantur a 
 mdlo: they are a terror to all,and loved by none, ex- 
 cept by fuch as Hand too nigh them in a contiguitic of 
 profitt 5 Poperie,Oi Prophanesi thefe indeed cannot fee; 
 becaufc they will not fee. 
 
 v 
 
 As 
 
The fyiftle to the Retder. 
 
 As for their traditions, whereby they fupport them- 
 fdves,they are branches of the fame root, condemned 
 by the Word, Councils, Fathers ; by all ancient, and 
 modern, Orthodox writers : yea, and by thetofitions 
 of the Papifts. But it is enough, (as D. Whittaker ob- 
 ierveth; : quedaChriiio damn Amur : that they are con- C '^ 
 demned by Chrift. The matter is of no lefie weight 
 then ihc Kir gdomt of cbrift ; in the fupprcfling , or 
 advancing whereofT,(fandc:h theruinc, or revising of 
 ourKingdomcs : and therefore we commend it to 
 your la lous consideration : wc have endevoiired to 
 clear Chrillstiile , .ind ihc uueth of the Potitions 
 from the Word efpccialiic 3 as for other testimonies, 
 let' rhem have their owne weight : by that />?//> e_>> 
 Vccrd , as the Pfalmilr fpcakeih , and for it, we doc 
 contend , PC 19. 8. 'For it hath in it felf *'?<*$* 
 tetchy Lie. 1.4. That infallible certaintic , w...ch 
 is S-tSiTHwros ki aur07HfG$ , by divine infpiration, and 
 onely of itfclf to be bclccvcd : Though in regard 
 of our danger wc have ufed freedomcof fpecch , wc 
 neither hate their perfons , nor envic their pomp, 
 but wc wifh their conversion, and fate tic of the 
 State. 
 
 If in rtead of entcrtaynrtnent, or of a legall tryall, 
 they turnc againc 3 to tcarc this treatife , and 
 trouble the mainrayners of ir , let rhem take heed, 
 for by this tructh hecr maintayncd , they (lull one 
 day be judged : if they fhould aifo go about , to 
 incenfe the Kings Majeftie wiih a prcjudicatc 
 ion of this iuftc APPEAL , wc hope ic 
 
 fa 
 
The tpiftleto the Reader. 
 
 (hall plead for it fclf four infirmities excufed.J That ia 
 uprightneffc of confcience we could not doe him 
 better fcrvice : yea we are confident , if all that love 
 the Lord fefpeciallie men of placed will do their part, 
 we (hall have our Ki»g,as an Ange/l of God in this pxr- 
 ticulanthough Rome muft fall by the fword, yet the 
 word muft both inftruft Princes,that Babe/'cz no other 
 wife be healed,&alfo inarm them for her mine. We 
 thought the volume (hould have been farre leffer then 
 it is, and therefore we made no chapters,nor Indcx,buc 
 confideringthefubjed, it required both longer timc 5 
 and a greater volume $ An other edition may come 
 forth iabetter order. Cenfure not a part,beforeye 
 have perufed the whole , becaufe divcrfe parts of the 
 the fame matter, have their divcrfe places in feverall 
 Tcfitions. Part not with a good title, though it be in- 
 cumbered. Labour hard, by prayer,and pra&ife, that 
 God may have his honourjthc King his right; and the 
 Enemies of both their defert ; and the Lord 
 W/// cfocell Among vs. It is not our intent in 
 this trcatife , to difputc at large every particular pro- 
 pounded and proved i for the fubjeft wowld not fuffer 
 it; the volume would have beene too large ; and the 
 tructh of divcrfe particulars , is alrcadie vendicated by 
 whole voIumcs,from al! gainfayers : But if any lift to 
 be contentions in contradicting any point aflcrted,and 
 proved, either direftIie,or by eonfequence • we fhall be 
 readieatali times by Godsaftulance further to make 
 it good- 
 
 A DE- 
 
DECADE OF 
 
 GRIEVANCES; 
 
 Trefented and proved to the right Hononubk 
 and High C ourt °f 
 
 PARLIAMENT, 
 
 Againft: 
 The Hierardje, orCorvtrrncnt oftkeLordHifhoffs 
 
 dr. d their dependent Offices 9 by imuUUuii of jmb as 
 are [enable of the mine of religion , the /inking of the 
 Jlme y and ef the flotts and tnfult&tions of enevna 
 againjl both. 
 
 Ight Honourable and High Scftftt 
 you arc not unacquainted, howc th< 
 
 &nujmn£and turmoyling trout I 
 heart i^cakc in the faces of all tiuc b< 
 
 ncd iubieds , exprcllcd often bv then 
 
 iusand ^roancs , andaUb vcoscd 
 tkcirpathcticall complaints; the r»cvingt4nfe \ 
 
 D 
 
 B 
 
 IS 
 
2 Syons ?lc<L* 
 
 is our Calamitie y pm\ic alreadye feized,& partlic making 
 hast (as it is further threatned) to feize upon us. But to 
 our flume and confufion of faces , wee mtf ft confeffe, 
 that of the provokinge caufe of this calamity ( namely 
 finncj wee are nothing fo fencible as weeflnuldbc; 
 Or if wee cornplaine of finne , yet wee find not out 
 that L^Jhurotb or maine nationill finne , which is the 
 Coriyiinft or immediate working ciufeof all the evill 
 thatisuponus. When a bodye politique is runne all 
 into oncfeftercd fore of fin <5c one benamming bruifc 
 of iudgnent,thcn the univcrfall and painefall diftempec 
 taketh awiye the difcerning facuhie of the Mtfter fore 
 that hath bred and fed all me relt, watch indeede muft 
 . . eyther be foueht out and removed , ( as z\\z principall 
 
 Rom. fit J r ?„ _///./ 
 
 caufej or it will never prove a cure. Though the ^ratv 
 efGod be revealed agatnfl all rjngodlines and vnrighteouf- 
 nes y yet for fomc one capitall finne,efpecially the Lord 
 
 H0C4 17. departeth from a ftatc,& turneth it upfide downe.This 
 
 *•"• might be inftanced in Ifraell \oyning himfelfe vntohis 
 
 idolls^hicb made the Lordvnto him as a moth , andvnt* 
 
 the hoVofe of luda as rottenejfe. This principall Ifracl 
 
 Itidg.io. underfoot when he fought againe & againe; & found 
 out the caufe 'toby be fell before Benjamin. The fame 
 courfetooke/tfjfr;^ in humbling himfelfe, to find out 
 Aehan , and the excommicate thing. He might have 
 found out, and alfo removed manie other finnes,yet if 
 he had not found out the thing of the curft , he might 
 have mourned his heart out , before he had prcvayl ed 
 with the Lord againft the enemie. Howe to find out 
 our Achan y or golden Voedge and Babilonijh garment , hoc 
 opus,&c. For it is not obvious to every man. Yea this 
 
 Spirit 
 
tAgainJi the Trclacy. 3 
 
 Spirit is neythcr found out nor caft out , but by faffing 
 and frayer. Yet wocfull experience, the common 
 fchoolmafter hath formerlie diicovered xoihcchartotts 
 and Horfemen of ifraell, & now doth difcover this vcryc 
 fame to be the veryc chiefc caufe of our Calamine that 
 wee pitch upon. Wee doe not fecludc our ownc finnes, 
 nor others finnes , for manie finnes, and manic indite- 
 meHts are again ft us; bnt this is the Mafier finne (as wee 
 conceivej And that upon thisground,ihat the capitall 
 finne of a nation is not thchigheft finne, abounding 
 in the higheft meafure, againft which there is any la^e 
 ejtab/ijh:d' y )but that i« the maine &.Mas7er Jinn e^whkh is 
 cftabltfiud by 4 laVc. And 1 his is t hat ftameing of mtfhufe 
 byalaVcc, that the Prophet fpeakeih of , called in anf/- 94,20 - 
 
 11/ 1 «•«.«./■ Hoi. j. 11. 
 
 other place, the Cemandtment of man eltablifhing linne : 
 Now give us lcave(rightHo:)todcmad,what iinis efa- 
 b/iPh-d bfa lofto in this comon weale 5 but the Hierarchyc 
 & their acoutrements? And therefore we verilic bclccvc 
 by the grievances following , offer to demonftrate that 
 the Hicr archie and their hefofroldfluffe , is the capttalt 
 finne and maine caufe Vthy all this evil/ is come vpon vs. 
 
 I. 
 
 FIrft,may it pleafe your Honours to take notice, that 1. p fici«» 
 the calling of the Hierarchye ,fhcir dependent Offices 
 and Ceremonies , whereby they iublift arc all unlawfull 
 and Anttchrtjlian. 
 
 B a 
 
4 Syons PL<£*- 
 
 II. 
 
 i. Poflt^cm Hpflfc Hierarchicall government cannot confift in % 
 
 X nation 'toith foundries of doclrine, fiuccrhie of Gods- 
 
 ^^J»//>, holines of life , the glorious power of Chrifl* 
 
 government , nor with the profperitie and fufette of the 
 
 common wealth. 
 
 III. 
 
 itPofitiea T^Hc prefenthierarchie are not afliamed,ro beare the 
 X multitude in hand, that their calling is )uredivino* 
 But they dare not but confefle when ih.y are put ro it, 
 that their calling is a part of the Kings prerogative. So 
 that they put upon God what he abhorrerh , and will 
 hold of the King when they can doe no other. 
 
 IV. 
 
 4. Pefition npHcy abufe manic wayes that power from the King, 
 
 X by changing, adding & taking away at th<ir plea- 
 
 forego the greivous vexation of the fubieft , the difho- 
 
 nouringofhis Majeftie, and the making of theLawcs 
 
 of none effecl. 
 
 V. 
 
 f, ?*&&& HpHe priviledges of the Lawes and tke Hierarchicall 
 X goverment cannot confift together. 
 
 The 
 
tApmsl the Prelacy. 5 
 
 VI. 
 
 THc loyalrie of obedience to the Kings Mi jeftie <$; s. Blfittei 
 hislawes , canno: poillbhe lland whhthc obe- 
 licncc to the Hierarchic. 
 
 A 
 
 vir. 
 
 LL the unparelelled changes, bloudye troubles, de- 7.Po(m«* 
 ^vaftations, defolations, perfecutions of the trueth, 
 from forraines or domed ickes, fine the rare of our 
 Lord 600. Arifing in this Kingdome 5 and all the good 
 interrupted or hindred , h.uh had one or more of the 
 Hierarchies principall caufesof them. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ALL the fearcfull evills of finne <5c jndgement,for 1. Prft&i 
 he prefenr raigning among us, and threatened 
 igainft us , (to omitt the blacke dciohrion of our 
 lifter Churches ) 'wee conceive xohzthe lir.h of the 
 toimbe Andthcnurflingi ofthebrca/lscfthe Hierarchic. 
 
 IX. 
 
 I? the Hierarchyc be not removed, and the [center of 9 .v % b\*m 
 ids government, tt2tXtclfDiprt v i to 
 
 its place, there an be no healing ofourfofc no ..'king 
 bpofourcontroverfic with God. Yea oar dcfoIaUonsj 
 Dy his rareft judgments , arc like to be ihcaftoniflv 
 ncmafalliuiioas. LalUie. 
 
6 Syons Tic*** 
 
 X. 
 
 **£**' T Aftlicj right Honourable^ you ftrikc at this rootc 
 JL/of the Hierarchic \ removing that Af troth ox grand 
 /<afc//,and creft the puritic of Chrifts ordinances , wee 
 arc confident that there Ihall be aceaffing from exor- 
 bitant finnes^ arcmoveall of judgment^ recoverye of 
 Gods favour,a repayringof the breaches of the church 
 and common wealth, a redeeming of the Honour of 
 the ftate , a dalhing of Babclh brans againfr the ftoncs. 
 Yea this (hall remove the kicked from the Throng ftrikc 
 a terror and aftonifhment to the hearts of all forrcigne 
 and domeftickc foes. In a word 5 God will goe forth 
 "Kith w 3 and fmite our enemies. Yea a glorious prof- 
 peritic (hall reft upon Zion, King, ftate and common- 
 wealth. 
 
 THus having laid downe a decade of evills , arifing 
 as fo manie corroding <vlccrs out of the bodyc of the 
 Hierarchic , wee come to fome proofe of the particu- 
 lers,as they lye in order ; and that as punctually and 
 brieflie as wee can. 
 
 I. Tojition-* proved. 
 
 i. A Nd firft, to the firft,namclyc,^<tf the Hier archie, 
 f\their dependent offices and ceremonies arc <^sfnti- 
 chrtttian. For making way for the proof of this point 
 wee are to confider with the learned both auncient & 
 : -lodernc what ftate of *~ "erment Chxift hath appoin- 
 ted 
 
%4gainSl the Trclacy. 7 
 
 ted in his Church and whit kind of govcrnours hec 
 hathchofen togovcrne the fame. For the former 
 they tell us from the word,that the Church in refpect 
 of her policic and outward government appointed her 
 by Chrift, is no: a Monarchielike unto the Kingdomes 
 and DDminionsof temporall Princes, as that of the 
 Afl)Tians,Perfnns,or the like , in and over which cer- 
 taine men as Princes have and exercife Soveraigne au- 
 thoritie,but in regard of the choice of govcrnours,by [Vt DU , 
 common content it is a free commonaltie, andinrel-10 n. 
 peel of the govcrnours fo chofen and governing accor- Din * 
 ding to Gods appointment it is an A^hlocracie, as lH/JU$ . 
 A- hens, Venice, or the like , as this is the judgment of CI**** 
 the lcarned,fo it is clcere from the prefcript of Chrilt. ^huulk. 
 Mat. 18. 17, and from the continued pra&ifc of the 
 government ofCbri(lsChnrch,tillfasthelearncd true- 
 lie affirm: ) it cam: to b:eopprcffjd with tyrannic. As 
 for the latter viz. the governours, they were & fhould 
 be fuch Bifhops as God ordained together with ruling 
 Elders, which B.fli >ps (as the Scripture proclaimeth.Sc 
 the Orthodox learned betcevcj are no o:her than Mi- 
 nifters or teaching Eiders witnes 1 Tim. u x , com- . 
 pared with Tir. i . ? ,.ind 7.verf. which trucrh is not one tu i. 
 lie maintained by the Orthodox ancient , as Auguftin, Al 2t - 
 Hicrom: & Ambrof: but alfoby Papifts,asHug Cardi- 
 nal-Anfelm. Limtnrd-Cufan Iohan: Paniictif. and lift. 4 
 others , who hould this diitinttion to bee but joy^'-m- 
 fo/i/rua,$c that it is not of Gddsappoiirmenr,bo.li Ca 
 non Law Sccivill Law djwunes. Thence nwasdc \, 
 creed and maintained by ancient councells from A\: 
 \V0rd.A6t15, that all Miniften (hould have voices w 
 
 coun m 
 
8 Syons Tlc^ 
 
 n'm' a con councc * ^oth deliverathe & dr. ifive Cnr hag-Can. 3^ 
 d.Ttident. S 5 >all edging ilfb .Nice Cajceciaq and others. 
 
 Lnftlicourlearnedeftof later times have-given full, 
 evidence to the poinre,\vitnes D.Raynoldsin hisletten 
 to Sir Francis Knowls, wherein he proves fufricient- 
 lie rhar God never made , nor doth the fcripture wit- 
 nes anie fuch d.ftinClion, bat that Bifhop and Miniftcn 
 were all one : taxing and difproving D.Banc. for hol- 
 ding the comrade. The very fame trueth was con- 
 cluded by D.Holland , the Kings Prof effor in Oxford., 
 At the act luly the 9. 1608. J>hiod Eptfcopus nonjitordo 
 disrinchis a frcfbiteriatu^oquefiipcrior'yire divixo. That 
 a Bifhop is no diftinft order from a Minifter, nor fupe- 
 riourtohim by divininftitution. The felf fame did 
 3k. Bosfe. Cranmer 6c Latimer teftify to H. the 8. It is true that 
 fome fervile and fhameles Papifts to flatter the Pope,, 
 as fome amongft us to flatter Prelats do averre: 
 the fuperiotie of Bifhops , taxing ihc ancient that hold 
 De/*crw; the contrarie ofherefie,vvirh Aerius. Inftanr one Mi- 
 iT i°T< cnac * Medina cited by Bellarmin. But the whole cur- 
 " rent of divine & humane teftiir oiies are againft them. 
 Having layd this foundation to come pun&uallie to 
 the proof. 
 M*.2i. It is fuflicient proofe ,of the unlawfulnes of their 
 24. 15- • calling,thatit is noT^/rom above, as the warrant of both 
 ordinances and Miniftrie mud be.Otherwife the Lord 
 threateneth to deftroy them. Mat. 1 3.1 j. Where by the 
 plant not of Gods pimting , may be underftood all per- 
 fons^cal lings & traditions not appointed and approved 
 of by Gad (for fo the ancient expound it.) The calling 
 
 of 
 
Agawjl the Prelacy. p 
 
 of tsfa e» y z type of chili , is nor onely thus approved 
 Hebr.5.4. EutalfoChrift himfelfcputteth his calling 
 upon this point of tryall; I com', m my fathers name y and 
 ye rtceive me not ; if another fljall come in his oVcnt nutne, 
 him Vu3 )e receive. Which wordes, fund rye of the Fa- j^tj.u 
 thersapplye to thecomrning of Antichrift ; for he and 
 his, came indeede in their owne name. 
 
 2. Where the Spirit rccountcrh by namc.all the forts 
 of Miniftery, ordinary and extraordinary of hisownc 
 appointement Eph.4. 1 1 .there is not one word of fuch 
 a Lording Ministry % which the Spirit would nor have 
 conccaled,but undoubrcdly fctt them out with al their 
 tirles and prerogatives, if there had becne any fuch fu- 
 perior offices of his appointment and approving. 
 
 Is it a like thing that God who appointed the 
 Temple & Tabernacle , fhould be fo punftuall in 
 evene particular of his fervicc vnder the law, and 
 that he would concealc his more efpeciall officers 
 and their offices vndcr the GofpelR would he re- 
 member the tarn of the Arckt and palTe by the 
 Tillers of his chunk? would be appoint the Ieaft 
 fwofthehoufcand forgctt the OMass/er bnila, 
 would hee there mention the f**ffer\ of the 
 Litku , and here paiTe by the great Ltghts them- 
 iclvcs t Or would hee there remember the 
 befomsandafhpans, and here not once mention 
 Bifliopps and Archbifhopps this were -m pJ 
 pan ki ra pt yaXa 7rcquqav. To look to final things 
 and overlook the great things. Is it nue that a 
 filly ignorant woman tells us in the Gofpcllr^:/ IM-afi 
 V>hm the Uttcfii* cometh hee ^ouldtcUns all things f 
 
 C And 
 
u Syons TUtu 
 
 Andyet he fpeaketh never one \#6rd of his fpe- 
 ciall officcs/ure thefe can not agree. 
 
 3. From the fameptace oftheEphef. it willap- 
 peare that fuch Bifiiops and their dependances an: 
 fuperfliious.Therforethey (hould haueno place in 
 Gods houfe. The confeqaent is cleere becaufe 
 there is a neceflarie ufe of everie thing that hath 
 anieufe in Gods houfe. 
 Ambrof.Ad <Hihil tam rjeceffarium q-uatn cegnofcert quid fibi fir 
 neceffariutn, There is nothing fo neceflarie (faith a 
 father ) as id know what is neceflarie or of ufe, 
 Now that there is no ufe of them it is cleared thus* 
 
 Thofe officers without the which the Church of 
 God is fully built up andbrought to compleate per- 
 feftion of unity, are not of anieufe in Godshoufe. 
 
 But without the fun&ion of Lord Bifhops, Arch- 
 bilhops &c. the Church of God is fully built up and 
 brought to compleat perfe&ion of vnity, witnes 
 Ephe.4,11, 12, 13. 
 
 Therefore L. Bilhops Archbilhops &c. are of no 
 ufe in Gods Church. 
 
 The learned have ufed rhe fame argument a- 
 gainftrhePope, the Church of God being builte 
 up and perfited without him , therfore hee Ibould 
 not bee. 
 
 Theargu'mctis everie way as good againft thefe 
 
 Bilhops and everie fuch Officer in Godshoufe,with 
 
 but the which his houfe is compleat, as againft the 
 
 Pope, for it cannot be faid of thofe Bilhops as our 
 
 »*'"•*• Lord faid of the Affc : JhtLordbrthmtdotthtm. 
 
 The 
 
tAgain si the T relacy. 1 1 
 
 The fame argument holds againft the Ceremonies, 
 yeaasaknob,a wen, or any fuperfluous bonch of flifh, 
 being no meber doth not onely overburthen the body, 
 butalfodifrigureth thefearure , yeakilleth the body U 
 length except it be cutjfo thefe Bilhops be the knobs & 
 wens and bunchie popifh fljfh which bearcth down , 
 deformeth &deadcth the bodie of the Church, that 
 ther is no cure as wc conceive, bur cutting off. If any 
 object that there be neceiTane Officers in Gods houfe, 
 as Deacons and Elders , which arc not named in that 
 forequoted place of the Ephefians, it maybe eafiliean- 
 fwercd,that the Apoftle there onelie intends to make a 
 perfect enumeration of fuch as labour in the word, for 
 the perfecting of his Church. 
 
 Further if men may ad miniftcries to thofe whom 
 God hath appoihted,thcn may they takeaway fuch mi- 
 nifteries as God hath appointed, for both of thefe be- 
 long to one and the felf-fame aathoruie. 
 
 But men may not take away fuch minifterics as God 
 hath appointed. Thcrforc they mult not a<lde fuch 
 as he hath not appointed. 
 
 As we have hitherto proved in general the calling of 
 the Bilhops to beunlawfull , ^o wc come now to 
 prove dirc&lic their calling and their depcndancies to 
 be Antichriftian. 
 
 Thefe Govcrnours are juftlic called Antichriftian ^m.i. 
 who arcalTiftant to the Pope in his univcriall govcr- 
 
 But Bilhops, Archbi(hops,Chancclcrs,&c. arc alii- 
 ftams u> the Pope in his univcrfall government. 
 
 C 2 Thcr- 
 
12 Syom Vleeu 
 
 Therfore BifhopSjArchbilhopSjChancders^Scc. ara 
 juftlic called Amichriftian. 
 Dtf. f.i$. The major Vrofofition is D. Downams , for the 
 minor, let their praitife fpeake. For after the fame 
 manner & by the fame Minifters do they Lord it and 
 tyrannize over Dioceesand Piovinces in his Majeftics 
 Dominions,as or her Popifh Prelates do in other do- 
 minions. By the fame reafon that one is over a Dio- 
 ceffe 3 an other over a Province , the third may be over 
 all. 
 
 2. They arrogate to themfelves folie and whollie 
 Ar»um. i. the ordination of Minifters. 
 
 In thefe two D.Willet putteth a maine difFerece be- 
 twixt Proreftanis & Papifts. Firft (faith he; that their 
 Bifhops are over Minifters as Princes of the Clergie. 
 2. They take the right ofconfecrating or giving q£ 
 orders wholly and foly to themfelves. 
 
 Let all men fpeake if our Bifhops do not this to an 
 
 Sj»0>. com. hair, and are they not by confequent Antichxiltian Bi- 
 
 4; * (hops ? For the further proof of this point we could 
 
 bring a full Iury of judicious learned and Godlie wit- 
 
 neffes. 
 
 M. Wickliff a man well in feen the myftery of ini- 
 4nic. io. q Q itie, reckoned Lord Bifhops for one of the 12 Dif- 
 ciples of Antichrift. 
 
 For the which Pighius writes a trcatife againft him, 
 affirming this to be the main controvcrfle betwixt the 
 Waldenfls, Wkkliffc and him. 
 
 The fame dodrine was maintained by Iohn Hufle & 
 Hierom of Prage. 
 
 Luther 
 
tAgainJi the Trelacy. 13 
 
 Luther called this Lordfhip, flainc tyrann'te , averring Tom. 1. 
 further that Diocefan Bifhops Veere confronted by t/:e Fa &- *# 
 very author it ie of Sath.w. 
 
 M. Bullinger cills the fupcriormc of Bifhops #0 better Dccad. 5. 
 than tyrannie, affirming truclie that the Apoftles them- **' 47 ' 
 fclves excrcifcd no Rich tyraaic. To :his may be joyncd 
 M.H >op?r, M. Lambert, M.Bradford,gloriotis martyrs. 
 i\l. Bale in the Revel, (peaking of the brood of Aati- 
 chrift , countcth the Lord Bifhops Anrichrittian ulur- 
 pcrs 3 thc0^f«/r (faith he) of Diocefan Bijb.ps are ufurped 
 of foes, and not appointed bj the Holy Gkojt, nor once mem 
 t toned tn the Script ur es» 
 
 Now if anie Patron of the Prelacie Pod of all thefc 11 Rt. i.t, 
 teftimonics ro the Prelacie in the time of Poperk. 1. c *' >' 
 Let them know that overlording Prchcic,fittingin the 
 Temple of God is Pop fh Prelacie. 2. The whole cur- 
 rent of forequoted tcltimonics flriketh at all Dioce- 
 fan Provincial! or Oecumenicall Prelacie 5 as an ufurped 
 office, becaufe not appointed by the Holy Ghoft. The 
 extent of the challenge mud be as large as the reafon of 
 the challenge. If they bee not from the Holy Ghoft 
 they arc ufurped Offices. But for the further clearing 
 1 of this,lct M.Gualtcr be heard, who taxing ckdifpro- 
 ving the ufurped Offices of Lord Bifhops in Poperie, 
 he applyeth it to ours, who though thty glory in the name 
 of the Gojpe/I.and \K$<ldbe counted reformers of the Chunh 
 by thrufJing out ?opi$> Bijhops rjr Monies cut cj their ufur- 
 fedfojfefrtonsjet Jo they not reslore the Churches due y t~ke» 
 tyrsnnjH'be from her , but at their fleafure admtntjier the 
 fame things , Vthich in times pajl the Mohkct and Bijhops j n hk. 1. 
 dtd 9 Cyprian hold s jhc vcric title of an Archb,fhop 
 
 C 5 or 
 
Uh. M.IT , 
 
 *4 Syons 'Tie a~> 
 
 or Superior Bilhop , in whomfoever a prefumptuous 
 thing. 
 
 Laftlie, the Papifts bring in the maintainers of Pre- 
 lacieforafrnre,asfupporters of rheir ufurped prima- 
 cic. The Proteftants (faith the RhemiftsJ othcr^ife de- 
 nying the perheminencie of Peter^t* to uphold the Arch- 
 bifhops, they avouch it againft the rttritancs. Hence ap- 
 pcareth the trueth of that aiTertion , when thePrelacie 
 difputeth againft rhe Puritanes 3 they ufethe Popifh ar- 
 guments, but when they difputeagainft the Pope,they 
 ufe Puritanes arguments^ thus they ufe the trueth as 
 E*4.4»s< Mofes ufed the rod, whilft it was*>W,Mofes could 
 hold it in his hand , but when it became a Serpent ,hc 
 fled from it,fo they ca ufe the rod out of Sion the word 
 of trueth againft the ope adverfaric(though implicitlic 
 they beat thefelves therwith)but whe the truethbegin- 
 iieth to fting, they cannot endure it, & were it nor that 
 the cunning Iefuitc loves not to touch this firing too 
 much('thonow& ihehe dothjleaftby theevs reckoning 
 upo this point true men (hold come to their good$,We 
 areperfwaded they (hold beat the Prelates out of their 
 trenches,& themfelvcs our of the field, but they know 
 that they borh ftand & fall upon the fame ground, and 
 a Kingdome divided againft 1? feift cannot Hand* 
 
 fArgm. They ingrofle that riame unto thcmfelves which 
 
 isduetoallgoodMinifters; which 9s the learned ob- 
 
 fcrvc is a perverting of the language of the Holy Ghotf> 
 
 fir***' ^ ca a P°* nt °^ P r °ph^ n ^ or heathenifh boldnes from 
 
 v. 1. this ( faith Beza ) beganne the devill to lay the founds 
 
 in ?Mi 1 ** M uffi**t*H int ^ c c ^ urfh °f k& 1& r he forehead 
 0.7. ft °f 
 
^Against the T?YeLcy. 7 
 
 of this name beganncthat myflene of iniquitie to be 
 ingnven, namely, that vaknowne name PAPA; 
 The various etymologic whereof # wee will not 
 nowcinfifton. 
 
 4. They lord it over Cods heritage wi h an intollera- 4 .^»m>. 
 bleTyrannie directly condemned by that unchang- 1 ?i1 5- »• 
 able Canon of our (aviour Chrift, The Kings of the 
 gen tils exercife lordfrip ovxr them &c. but ye (lull not bee Luk 21.14 
 Ji : but let thegrcatx(l Among you be as the lea '/. In which **^ g * 
 words three things be condemned in miniftcrs, fu- 
 periority, lordly rule , and cities of LoudiTiip. 
 
 The leftiitcs confefle that that affected fupe- 
 rioty is condemned in the difcipleS, Yea the very 
 thoughts 'fay they ) of fuperiority. 
 
 Now all thefe things forbidden by our (aviour 
 cone irrc in making up that mifhapen Monftcr of 
 the Hierarchic This interdiction of fuperiority is 
 renucd by the Apoftle Peter f upon whom his Lord 
 foreknew that that man of Sinne would build his 
 forg-cd and ufurped fuperiority) neither as being 
 Lord; over Gods heritage &c. In which place the * Pft *' *' 
 former ambitious or tyrannous Lordfh.p is not onc- 
 ly forbidden (as the Prelates would have it) butall 
 manner of fuperiority , as tbe fcopeof the (pirit > 
 context,and very wordes prove. In a word their 
 tvafionsfrom the true meaning of thefe places are 
 the very fame with the forgeries of the Iefuites, 
 wherin theycroffc both themfclves and the truth. 
 As forthat power given by Chrift tothe Church U4.il.tl 
 they have nothing to do with ir, as isclcare trothe 
 text and by the cxpofuionofbothancientand mo 
 
 dci 
 
\6 Syons Tlea^ 
 
 dcrnc writers: yea by fome of their ownc , as I 
 Bellarm. applyethitto the Pope, fothey to them- j 
 (elves but againft all ground and reafon. 
 joW.6. 5. They will not with Chrift putt their calling J 
 
 Cum 8 u P on tr y a ^ °f tne word but by the contrary putt j 
 the Anathema upon fuch as dare prefume to call their 
 calling into queftion. 
 
 6. They have the fame, Titles, power prehemi- 
 nence,officcs and Courts, that the papall prelacie had, \ 
 
 Lm Ei *"^ (^ ct " n g conc ly t hcfupremacieofthcpopc afide)Ergo: 
 
 ' Antichriftian: witnclTe that ad of Henry 8. affigning; 
 
 them all wfiatfoevcr they had of the Pope (thefu- 
 
 premacie referved to himfelfe) for which our Pre* 
 
 fyvt:mi. lats have given the name of Pope and PapiJJa to oun 
 Princes. k_sft vna via. prohibitum ,&c. That which is 
 forbidden one Veay ought not to he admitted another Vcay. 
 
 7. And laftly they arrogate to themfelvcs , (wc 
 jur.i.4. may well fay blafphcmoufly ) thefe titles which are 
 H^r.i;.2o one jy proper to Chrifte,namdy the cheife Jhpheard or 
 
 Archiijhopp , great fheaphtarJ or Achleader? which ti- 
 tles the Apoftles,durft not take vnto themfclves, Ergoi 
 Antichriftian. As for their defence from Conterfaitl 
 Clement, orPaganifti i*slrchji*mim , it is ftuffe not 
 worthy your Honours audience to conclude the 
 uh " f j*°'proofe of this pofition , let Iohn Baptift fpeake, 
 where haveingdenyedhimfelf, to the Pharifes to bt 
 either Chrift, Elias, or that Prophet, hath this re- 
 ply* ^hy Baptifefttbou then? inferring that he mufl 
 either confirme his calling, to be of God , or not 
 to meddle with the ordinance , neither had the 
 Argument beene good if Ioha Baptift might have) 
 
 been 
 
tAgainsl the Prelacy. \y 
 
 been offome other fun&ion then of Gods appointc- 
 ment , and therefore he confirmcth his extraordinary 
 calling from thcVtord, Thus it iscleare as theSunnc 
 (runes that their calling is Anttchriftuti. 
 
 For to the Kingdome of Chrift, it belongeth not, as 
 we have (hewed, to the civill Kingdome it can not be- 
 long, for itwill be counted Ecclefiafticall, toaftrange 
 Paganifh or Machomitan government it cannot be re- 
 ferred,becaufe it is begun and maintained among thofe 
 thatprofelTe Chrift, c\ under acoiour of Chrilts gover- 
 nment it mud (it in the Temple of God , and iincc 
 it is not of God, to what body or Regiment doth it be- 
 long but to that goverment , whereof the Sunne of 
 perdition is the head.' let us then as hath bcenefayd re- 
 ceive with the Gofpcll fuch governing as Chrift hath 
 appointed in his Gofpell , then have we fully and com- 
 plcatly whatfoever belongeth to the Kingdome of the 
 Gofpcll,without any L. Bilhops & their Oifkcrs,which 
 could not be true if the Hierarchic belongeth to the 
 Kingdome of Chrift. As for the ceremonies as none 
 can deny them-, fo themfclvts do grant them to be Po- ?n Jr c * m: 
 pifh , Vchicb it fleufcd them to rrt<iy/e upon as good Mr.*C*r. 
 grounds as themfclves do (tand. Finally, thisPofition R, P- t9 
 is imptcgnably proved by the learned. I have beenc j^p mt0 D.D 
 the more fuccinct in the proof of this evill,becaufe the h M Mm. 
 learned have bene fo large in ir, yet it is the ground of ^/j.^' 
 all the reft, and enough to cafhicr them. mi 
 
 As fortheir arguments obicdions & anfwercs, they olhni ' 
 are the very lame with the Papifts , cv are the tame way 
 diilblvcd ; oncly we will diicover one marc, wherein 
 they take a multitude of deluded people. What 
 
 D the) 
 
Decret>. 
 
 18 Syons VU*u 
 
 thcyj will you have no order in the Church 5 fhall all 
 be alike? Shall wee not have governours and fome 
 head-powers among ft Minifters ro remove Scbtfme and 
 to kcepe peace in the Church ? And for this they 
 preflfc Hierome his words ; Let [ome bead be ordaynedfor 
 removal/ of Sibifme. Foranfwer. 1. Shall man be 
 wifer then God? or (hall the way and device of foolifh 
 manbring more peace to Gods howfe then the way of 
 the a'l-^ife God ? 2- Graunt that thiscourfe would 
 bring in a Laodicean peace to the Church ( becaufe the 
 Devil! wil be quiet when his Officers beare fway$J yet 
 it is an execreable peace, and (as one fay th) worfe then 
 manie contentions that is without truetb. 
 
 3. If there be fuch necefTitie of one LordBifhop 
 overaDioceflc 3 andoneMatropolitane over a whole 
 Province , for the keeping of peace and unity in the 
 Church or Churches of one nation 5 is there not the 
 like neceffitie for keeping of peace and unitie & avoy- 
 ding of Schifme in the whole church, that there fhould 
 be one Arch-B. over the Churches of Chriftendome. ? 
 4. And laftlie, to anfwer the point dire&lie 5 we plead 
 qued nefit veruwhty make people beleeve a lye 3 that by 
 this ecciefiaflicall Monarchic of the Church, it is kept 
 in order peace & unity; and that therby Schifm is avoy 
 dedjthe cotrary whereof is true. For this hath been the 
 mainecaufc of difcord and difuni5 of the Church, yea 
 the Fountaine and welfpring of moll horrible fchifm 
 & danable herefie^as is to be feene at lardge in the De- 
 cretalls and is witneffed by manie of the learned Wor- 
 thyes,& fully proved by too much woefull experience 
 both of times paft,and of our prefent condition. Wee 
 
 will 
 
tA pain H the Trelacy. ip 
 
 will fhutt np the point with that pregnant and perti- 
 nent teftimony of Ah<fcultt*. If Hten-mt ^farh he, had 
 fcene as much as they that fuccecded him , he would „ 
 never have concluded that one amongft the Miniftery , 5 
 (hould have been above the reft , becaufe it was not ,, 
 brought in by God to take away Schifme as was pre- » 
 tended, bur brought in by Sarhan to waft 6c to deftroy » 
 the former Miniftery that fed the flocke VVi:h which »> 
 wee may joyne that evidence of learned Whirakers; c""Vm»- 
 Eptfcopaae ( faith he J Vtas invented by men as a remedy mst. \cb. 
 AgAinftfwne^hich remedy m.;nie Ktfc & holy men have 
 judged to be Vtorfe then the dtfeafe itjeife , ahd Jo it bdtb 
 f roved by ^oefull experience. But of this particular 
 more afterward. 
 
 2. To/ition-. proved. 
 
 SEcond Pofition, namely, that//;/J ^AnttchrtttUn go- 
 vernment cannot eonfijlwtb foundries of Dotlrtne,c;c . 
 It is too too manifeft from reafon And experience ; for, 
 
 i. Can thatgovcrment which is oppofue to the 
 Gofpell of Chriir fash harh beene proved ) endure the 
 found Doctrine of the Gofpell > 
 
 No more then darkenes, can endure light , or fore 
 eyes can endure the Sunnc. As a pol idled glaffc , and 
 pure water, reprefenteth the filth and deformirie of the 
 face; fo the purine and power of the Word of God 
 makcth the LMontiJh deformitic of the Hierarchy f© to 
 retLctupon it felfc, that (he will needs brcake the 
 glalfc, and trouble the Water that reprefenteth hcr,and 
 therfore (he loves to fifh in troubled Waters. A iwt- 
 D 2 rend 
 
io Syons T>lea^ 
 
 rend worthiefas any lived in our timcybeing demanded 
 an argument,-^ utili to confirme the government of 
 Chrift in his Church) made anfwer, that thts our Nation 
 undtr the government of ^fntichrilt for fome 55 yeares, 
 had abounded 'ftitb herefies snd fsht fines , to the eating 
 out of the heart of the V:ord , Vchere our neighbour 
 nation, governed by the fcepter ofchri/l,for the /pace of 
 40 & odd yearesjwas cleare of ail fchifmes & herefies* 
 Wee will deliver it in the Authors owne wordes : 
 
 Spgramma pro prefhiterio contra 
 Epifiopatum. 
 
 SCotos lufira decern rcxit facer or do fenatus 7 
 Abfy not a htrefeosfchtfmatis abfifc not a. 
 Et deUtaferd exterfit vefligia dira y 
 
 Cut nomen triplex fenio dinumerat. 
 Anglia pr<efulibus red a eftfeptennitfeptern, 
 
 HtrejibuffefrequenSifchifmatibufifefrequenSy 
 At que impreffa fer& firvat ve/ligia dirt, 
 
 Cut nomen tri flex fenio dinumerat* 
 Et dubitamus adhuc facrum auciorare fenatum, 
 
 ExauBorato prdfulis imperio. 
 
 CHrifts facred fcepter fiftyc yearcs had fwayed 
 The Scotts, without rent fchifme or hsereficj 
 Norelift there of that fowle bead difplayed, 
 Whofe numerall name is with three fixes made : 
 But England govcrnd fifticyeares and three 
 By Prelates, fwarmes with hserefies and fchifmesj 
 The great beafts reli&shatcfall foloscifmes 
 
 la 
 
Agawji the Prelacy. 2r 
 
 .'n Gods true worfhip by her are reraynd, 
 rhe number of whofe name, (as hath beenfaid,) 
 Three fixes mike 666, is by them th»s maintaynd, 
 rVhy put wee not Imperious Prelates downc, 
 \nd fctt Chrifts facred Senate in its roome ? 
 
 2. As for Lawes and government , how can the go- 
 vernment of an ufurping encmie confift with the 
 Lawes and government of a lawfull, & native King. 
 
 3 . For holies of life ', nothing fo odious nor fo much 
 pcrfecuted,asthat by theHierarchie, and that both by 
 mockery & reall perfecution. So that he that ab/hi- 
 \vethfrom the common courfe of the ttwW, maketh his life 
 t prey y and he th.it Vcalketh W;//; God is too precife. 
 
 4. By breaking the barr e of Difciplinc 5 theyfet open 
 the gate of impietie. As for their pretended Difcipline, 
 :hc remedie is worfe than the difeafe , for by it the 
 godly arc vexed, &thc wicked ftrengthened. 
 
 5. And laftly for the fafcty ofrfate^how ftiould tkeftate 
 be fife, where Chrift is mftled out of his government, 
 and his enemies raigncin his ftcad ? It is the true ob- 
 fcrvation of a worthy Patriott ub'ifilent leges Chrift &c. 
 V[1)ere the Lawes ofchrifl bgare not ftoay, the LaVres of the 
 Landcan do nogood. A Kingdome devided agaiwft it 
 Qlfe cannot fland. When Chrift ftandcth at the dore 
 andknocketh y Mnd\^intichriftbearethf^ay Within , the 
 Lord will turnc his riyycing to do them good , unto a rc- 
 \oyctng to do them cvilL May it plcafe your I lonours to 
 take further notice that this government is againft the 
 kfeticoftheftate in thefc particulars. 
 
 D j It lup- 
 
22 Syons Vletu 
 
 i. It fupporteth the hopes, of the PopeoiRome for 
 his reenrry,for fo long as his Officers and houfhold fur- 
 niture remaineth , fo long will he plead pojfefiion. And 
 hence hath bcenc the treafons,and overturning plotts 
 by the Popes againftrheroyallperlons of our Princes, 
 and ftanding of our ftate for the fpaceof 68 yeares. 
 
 2. This ftrengtheneth the hands , and warmeth the 
 hearts of the Papifts amongft us , ready upon allccca- 
 lions to take part with the Pope & his Minifters. 
 
 3. This being the ftorehowfe of fuperflitious 
 trinkcrts, as Ceremonies, Fafts, Feafts , and fuch like $ 
 thefebemcate&drinketoftrengthenthcP/*/*/fr , and 
 Cordialls to comfort them. 
 
 4. The Hierarchie do difgrace ( to the Papifts great 
 joy) the iinccre forte of people, which are the Walls of 
 the Land. As for the Papifts and Hierarchic, they agree 
 pretty well : for the former do councell, and tkc latter 
 executeth fuch defignes againft Gods people, witnefle 
 Dolmam Watchword. The quodiibets 3 Spalato hisfecond 
 mamfefto , Do&. Caryes Apologie, and the Prelats 
 pra&ifc. 
 
 5. They nullify the lawes which are the fove- 
 raigne fafeguard of the common- wcale, as (hall be 
 farther manifefted. 
 
 6. And laftly, they beate the watchmen from 
 the walls or vail them fo upon the walk, that howe 
 can the city be fafe J 
 
 IN the next place we come to prove the pofition 
 by experience. And 
 
 F$A 
 
tAgsmsl the Tyelacy. 2} 
 
 I Vor vnfoundnes of ' doclrint , our ordinary pra<ft if e 
 proclaimcth it, witnefle our fchoole commence- 
 ments, fermons in Court, city, and country : 
 abufeiug the Word, and rcvileing his Majcftics 
 beftfubjc&s , alfo printed books by authority, and 
 that from no fmall ones being theveric ftrcamcsof 
 Popery, Arminianifme and fuch Pelagian Autre, 
 with the particulars whereof ( being fo many and 
 nianifelt ) we ncede not trouble your Honours. 
 
 2. As for the pollution of Gods rvorfrip , and pro fane- 
 nejje of life , they cry to the verie heavens , it is true 
 that the doore of the ordinances (not being clofe 
 fhutte, but upon the hinges J Chriftcommcth in to 
 manic, but what is this totheuniverfall profanenes, 
 which isapattern toall other nations, andthefhime 
 of our owne, and although Chrift ftand yet at the 
 doore, when he hath fealed his owne, he will be 
 gone,asfor thcglorieofChrifts government there 
 isnoneat all. 
 
 To conclude the point, of Jafety by an inftance 
 from the contrary ; be pleafed to take notice of the 
 Nether Lands, which could never have been rid of 
 the Spanifh tyrannic, nor flood fo long in profpe- 
 ritie fafely,if they had not cafheired the Bifhops , as 
 for Geneva let Bodine fpeakc ( no Puritan efure) yct"»i»- 
 he commendcth them much, not for wealth, and 
 greatne^but for wcxaxc peace and Godljnes , which he 
 afenbeth to the power of Difcipline , whereunto 
 they attayncd by abandoning Bifhops ; (hewing fur- 
 ther the divine force of Difcipline , in bridling the 
 
 luih 
 
24 Syons Itletu 
 
 lufts and countermanding the vices of men , which all 
 the Lawcs and judgments of men were not able to 
 effeft. And fo we come to the third point to be 
 proved. 
 
 3, Tofinon^ proved. 
 
 THey hearetheCMultitude in h And that they Are jure 
 divino, yet they are forced to confejfe that their calling 
 is a fart of the Kings prerogative. 
 
 It is truly affirmed in that fupplication Anno 1609. 
 
 That the Prelats have no Warrant, either for the nature of 
 
 their offices or qua lit ie of their proceedings from the Lerd 
 
 /<?/A^ncither was it maintained by any of their fa&ion. 
 
 till they grew weary of houlding in capite , and then 
 
 they turned their tenure into Soccage quitting them- 
 
 felvcs of Knights- fervice. In this plea D.D*W#4W (hewed 
 
 himfelf more rafh than wife to appearc. For he is not 
 
 oneliecaft over the barre by the booke of God , by the 
 
 Jury of the learned , by the moft judicious judges and 
 
 lawes of the Land: but alfo by the verdid of his fellow 
 
 Bifhops and his owne confeflion. So that in fcanning 
 
 of this particular it (hall evidently appearc 3 that their 
 
 calling is oppofite to Gods trneth 5 to our Soveraignc 
 
 D. Br% Lord the King,they crofle his wholefomc lawcs, with 
 
 D fd nC ' °n f° rre, S nc jurifdittions , and they are at contradictory 
 
 m:nu' pig. opposition amongft themfeives. 
 
 J19. *** 1. Forthefirft, they oppofe the trueth of God in 
 
 b* u^it. affirming without (hame or feare , that their calling is 
 
 Vtf. inftef.jure divwo^ when it is nothing Icfle, fince there is not 
 
 &'**' one jote of all the word of God for it, ashathbeene 
 
 pro- 
 
vtgairft the Trelacy. 2} 
 
 proved) but afmuch againft it as againft anicone 
 thing , which the chdfefl of them cannot 
 choofe but confeffe, and fo in this 5 they have con- 
 fefTed the truth unt i , yea theire 
 
 iMdilftr peece and ;uments evinceth this, 
 
 which they take from the continuation of theire 
 calling from 300. yeares after Chrift, and not be- 
 fore which as they cir.rot prove , fo the challenge 
 proveth clearly that ctcfCed: butoppofite 
 
 to his truth, ycaalearncd man /and a better B. the 
 anienow, tells us plainly , tb&tfnmthe 1(4x607, tbt 
 
 Church began to be r: led by Bifliof-s which government 
 (faith he )was tjpeciaBy aevijed and invented by the 
 
 rJMonke-. BalefcrtP. hrit. Ccnt.i. 37. which indeed 
 is true; for till this age , every particular Church 
 was governed by the Bifhops Elders and Deacons of 
 the lame 5 witnefle the authors of the Cent. Mae, 
 Cent J. 7. Col. )pr. & although feme before this were 
 titular bifhops yet their fuperioriry the Church 
 would not bear e, witnefle our Englifh Synod an. 
 674. Synod ILirford. 
 
 2. They are oppofitc to the King and Ait Laxvcs , in 
 affirming their calling to be jure diiino , becaufe by 
 his Laws they are laid to be apart of his prerogative, 
 from whom all their power u md extenfn t h 
 
 conveyed to them ( though this cannot warrant 
 them Witneffc the petition tothe Queen e, and 
 judicious Bcza in his Epift. to Gr\ i fhop of 
 
 London, which is worthy the reading, But to the 
 
 point the refcript of Edw. the 6. cited By SSden run 
 il neth 
 
t6 Syons Plea., 
 
 ncth on this manner Ed^ard.Dci gratia &c. ToThcmas 
 De fihi/m. Arch-B. of Cant. &c. Since from the King allpo^ur and )u~ 
 pu.zif!* rifdictionproceedeth&ZQ* "toe give thee po^er within thy 
 Dtoceffe, to give orders &c. by theft preftnts to endure at 
 curpleafure. So in the firft yeare of the faid Edward the 
 fixt it is enacted , that thcyihouldexercife nojurif- 
 di&ion in their Dioccfie 5 nor fend out writts but in the 
 Kings namc,and under the Kings fealc, which ftatute 
 was abrogated in the firft yeare of Quecnc Mary , and 
 reeftablifhed by Qo. Eliz. & in the firft of King lames. 
 So that by the continued tranfgreffion of this law,your 
 Honours know that they and their Offices, are all over 
 head and eares in a Proemunire -> of which a Bi* 
 fhop in Edward the fixt his time was convi&ed 
 and fubmitted himfelf to the Kings mercy. 
 
 3. They aredevided amongft themfelves in this 
 *ef. of kii particular point : D.Downame not knowing how to 
 sm»M. j^j£ r t ^ e matter pitched at laft upon this , that it is jure 
 Refit.p.91 Aposfoltcojdut not juris divini. M. Francis Mafon , in 
 
 his great book upon this fubieel: , dedicated to the 
 •.11V/1J9 Arch-bilhop, andpublifhed by authoritie , affirmeih 
 820. & plainly and peremptorily, that they derive their F fifte- 
 en. M. p a y authoritie from the Pope. The fame doth the fuppli- 
 
 cantsaverre to the King p. 9. Whence your Hon s . may 
 
 be pleafed to obferve , how this eftablifheth forraigne 
 Bilfon It powcr,contrary 10 that a& of Parliament 1. Eliz. j. 
 Gub. led. Doftor Bilfon B.of Winchefter affirm ethotherwife, 
 PAte'oz termin S k plainly prtncipis prtrogativam , the Kings 
 
 prerogative. In the maintenance whereof his very 
 ^4©;- heart fqandererh , if there be any fault faith be > let it be 
 
 laid 
 
'sAgain si the T relacy. 27 
 
 laid np«n the Magifrrate, and not upon the B*. Where we 
 may obferve,what a cup of could comfort they afford 
 Kings for maintaining of them. 
 
 For further tcitimonie of truth , we might cite a 
 cloud of learned witnefles both in rhc divine and hu- 
 mane lawcs,as Hufie, Luther, WickliiT*,Zwinglius, La- 
 timer , Cranmcr , Reformatio leytm fcsl. tit, ae divi/t, 
 effic. D.Fulke & Whiraker in their anfwers to rhc Pa- 
 pifts ufeing the fame arguments for the Hierarchir. 
 It is the fcopc of S l . Ed. Cook in his report de \ure Ecc, 
 to prove that the functio of iheL.Bifliopi & their juril- 
 diciion exercifed is from the Kings prerogative , who 
 may 6c do:h grant to Lord Bifhops that RcdeJia/HcaU 
 vo^eer, which they nowexercifc and alfo may take it . 
 from them at his pleafure. The Cclf fame truth both 
 by ancient and later Prelats is avouched : witnes the 
 the judgment of the Clergic in the dayes of H:n. 8. 
 cxprefled in a treatife intituled the inftimtion of a Clr:- 
 fltan man. This was the judgment of the (late in 
 the time of K. Edward 6. andHlizab. To this alfo gi- Pr 'f ,c - 
 vcth witnefle Arch-Bifkop Whirgift and B. Hooper, ugt\$}< 
 yeaD. Downham himfclf could not deny it , being 
 prefledby that itatutc of a Parliament held at Carlile 
 26. Edw. 1. Hence firft the untruth of thefaid Do- 
 ctors aflertion may evidently appcarc. That rpifco- 
 ksB government is perpetua'/y ncctjjsrie , not onely for the Fi l$; • 
 ttW- being y but aI(o for the biing of a VtCtble Church. 2 . It 
 iifcovcrs their derogating from ihcKitn : their injuric 
 to his Ufces : and their Tyrannic againft his fubjeds in 
 committing men to prilbn for denying their autho- 
 htic to beimmediatlic from GoJ. 
 
 E 2 To 
 
23 Syons Tle^u 
 
 To conc!udc;this very Qucftion de jure divino W5S de- 
 pn Siuvh bated in the Trent. Counfell, where they were like to 
 Hitter go together by the eares for it Ltnetm (general! of 
 Imt^n. : ^ e kftdrs) held every particular Prelate jure Canonic* 
 vsge 687. to be rncerely from the Popes authoritie , by which he 
 «»4 688. m jght remove them at his pleafurc j in an ether fence 
 then {jM.Vafon. 
 
 The Bifhop of Taris oppofed this as a new devifed 
 rricke , and broached by Ca')eta# for a Cardinalls hatt> 
 which to hii ftnme the Sorbomfts oppofe 7 houldirg it 
 as true in the Hyfethefi, namely, if they be true Officers 
 of Chrifts Church, they muft be jure divino. 
 
 To conclude the point, you fee fright Honourable) 
 how they would reft on many pillers,but their maine 
 Supporter is the Pope. If to this that hath been laid, 
 they aniwer that the fummc of all thefe things hath 
 been fully anfwered,we reply , if their imprifoning, 
 perfecuting and banifhing of the Lords worthies had 
 been of no more force than their smfwers, their caufc 
 had fallen long ago. Further , what anfwer hath M. 
 Bucer,Bucanus,Patker ihe Damafcen Altar and others 
 received? 
 
 Laftlie,whai Honour or rather difgrace have they 
 gained by their anfwers and rcplyes , let the works of 
 B.Whitgift,B.Downham, & B.Morton, B.Lindfey,& 
 B.Spotfwoodipeake. To clofe up all, wedefirein all 
 modefty, that they will bring their callings and evi- 
 dences to the ftandaid of divine truth , and by com- 
 paring matter with matter^and rcafon with reafon, let 
 the truth cary it. And fo much for proofe of the 
 third Pofirion. 
 
tAgainsi theVnUcy. ip 
 
 4. FoJttioTL-, proved. 
 
 p *r* T leir manifold and mdniftjt abufing of the Kings 
 X Authority , by changing, adding , and taking a\\ay 
 } t their pie a fur e ore. Appeareth in thcis particulars. 
 
 1. In the point of fubfeription urged. Canon. 36. 
 
 57. It is to be fecne what heavy things arc pre fled 
 
 upon the Confcicncc of every one that en trail upon 
 
 anyminiitcriall function , namely Tbdi nothing con- 
 
 d m 1 he put liq ic I. itu . 1 kt of ordination , or 
 
 the Articles of Religion in number, 39. Is contrary to ihc 
 
 jword of God. Yea that every thing contayncd inevciy 
 
 lone of the aforefaid Articles , u agreeable to the word 
 
 [of God. And this he muftdoe , adding every expref- 
 
 fion that miyavoydambiguitic. And in like manner 
 
 they mud fubferibe to the two bookes of Hcmilits* 
 
 Now what groffc , abfurJ ( if wee fay not ) blafphe- 
 
 mous vntruthes all thcis 5 bookes are fluffed with, 
 
 wee necdenot to dcmonflrate, fince by a judicious 
 
 tad true inquiry they arc made more then manifeft. 
 
 Efpechlly the lenice booke ; which they cannot deny 
 
 to be raked out of three Romifhe channel Is j Namely 
 
 the I it of which the common prayers arcta- 
 
 , out of the Ritual or UjLj of Rius the Admini- 
 
 ((ration of che Sacraments, buryall, matrimony, \ 
 
 tion p .. And out of the M 
 
 are the conlccration oi the Lords (upper , Colk 
 
 h lis and Epiftles. As for the bookcof* >tdioaiion 
 of Arch-bifh >ps, Bifhops, Miniftcrj Sec, 11 
 the Fomanc !'■ n 
 
30 Syons Tle<u 
 
 Now from this prefcript forme of Lciturgic , the Mi- 
 nifter muft not go a jote,nor ufe any other in the ap- 
 pointed fervice : Witnefle Canon. 3 8. which is not in- 
 deed according to the mynde of the Prince , nor mea- 
 ning of the Law. It is a wonder to fee, what adding, 
 changing,and taking away , is in that Leiturgie. To 
 which Engiifl) Majfe ffor fo his late Majeftie called it )\ 
 it is not the intent of the law,that the Minifters fhouldl 
 fubferibe, witnesthatftatute. U Elu Cap. 2. bynding 
 them to ufe fuch prayers and order of adminiftration 
 of the Sacraments, as are contained in that booke , au- 
 thorifedby Parliament in the 5. and 6. yeares of£^- 
 *V:ard.6. with the alteration or addition of fomelef- 
 fons, and none other or other^ife. Againe the Law re- 
 quircth no fubfeription , but barely to the Articles of 
 Religion 5 which onely concerne the confepon oj true 
 Chrifiian faith^andthe doctrine of the Sacraments , wit- 
 neffc the very words of the Satute i3.£7/'.G^.i2.which 
 Statute is nof yet abrogated nor contradi&ed. So that 
 to the matter of Ceremony and of Church govern- 
 ment, fubfeription is not by the law required. Fur- 
 ther it is well knowne to judicious men now living, 
 that it was not her Maj 8 .mynd 3 nor the meaning of the 
 law to prefle thefe things upon the confeiences of her 
 truly profefling fubj 5 - But the intent was only to bring 
 Papifts &Popifhlyaffe&ed to a Church conformitie, 
 condifcending to retayne fome Popifh paffages, till re- 
 formation might be more fully made. Vpon which 
 grounds the Honourable Court of Parliament would 
 never have any bound to ic,fecing the things not only 
 controverted 3 but alfo reie&ed by whole reformed 
 
 Chur- 
 
*AgainU the ^Prelacy. 3 1 
 
 Churches. But we fccthc Prclats require fubfeription 
 ;o all the aforefaid books $ Yea leaft vexation enough 
 Tiould be warning ro Gods people they have hatched 
 )U r of their own brains,//.-/ hundred & ft f tie /j\to, called 
 he Canons^s we may thinkc in apifhe immitatio of the 
 he Pfalmes of David , whereunto though they exad 
 M>tfubfcription,yet they tycmen ftrictly , and am 4 id: 
 hem greivouily.both in purfc & pcr(on for not obey- 
 ngof rhem : which is a malapert countermanding of 
 lis Ma jellies laws, and a haynous opprcilion of his l'ub- 
 c&s , witnefie that statute of Henry the 8. forbidding ij.H.t. 
 Mm nun to m.:ke or exert ifi Libs or Church orders , Cj - P lQ - 
 
 i>it to 1 he labs of the Retimes. But many of 
 hole Canons and vifuation Articles ( to which they 
 "orcc men tofwearcJ are repugnant to the laws. By 
 his your Honours do fee and very well know that 
 he laws arc made of nonecflfed rand that to the beft 
 >f his Majcfties fubje&s) which may yet be further in- 
 tanccd by divers particulars. 
 1 . It was the defire of fundry Min s . to fubferibe [iCundu 
 
 .\i/«f/,according to the form of the ftatutc.15./:"/. 
 .i: ; £ut they were not admitted. 2. Of that good law of 
 \ppeale from the Prelacy to the Chancery (mactcd by 
 Unr) 8; or rather renewed and continued by all our 2 >- ll 
 notetling Princes ) the greived and wronged fubicctb 
 through the daunting pride of the Prelats ) can have 
 1 lc or no benetitte , wimeflo 98. Canon, tw hairing 
 
 a of God , nature, & nations, & the law of the 
 Land. $. By venue of the Jaw no fubicct flullbc put 
 rom his freehold, but by the verdict of 12. nun: wit- 
 lcffc the great Charter of 1 n gland , which often and 
 
3* Syons Pleat* 
 
 again hath bene confirmed by divers other ftatutcl 
 as42. Edward. 3. c. 3. and making void by ftron| 
 inforcements all fuch Statutes as might croffe cl 
 contradid the fame. But miniftets are thruft frorl 
 their benefices by the bare and peremptorie com 
 mand of the Bifhops.The iniquitie & crueltie of thi 
 their courfe was laid to heart by the States in Parli 
 ament Anno. 1610. who inadtea againft it in efFec 
 as follow eihffohere the Canons Would charge body gooa 
 and Lands of the fubiect , that charge $ull be cf no fore 
 except it Vvere confirmed by a Si of Parliament. 4. Wher 
 by the law of the Land no free man fhould (but up< 
 lawfull proceeding and juft ground) be imprifoned 
 the Prelats againft the laws and libertie of the State 
 andPriviledgeoftheSubjed,eredprifons, and co 
 mitt men thereto at their pleafure, if they will nol 
 breake the Laws. As for inftance in taking of th 
 oath ex officio^ which is fas fhall be fhewedjagainft a!i 
 P'fe 9 ' Po ' laws of Heaven and Earth. This tricke of imprifon 
 p*g. 24;. ment (as chopping faith,) was taken up by Pope Luge 
 nim the fecond. Anno 824. And as one faith well: 
 it came out of the tayle of the Dragon, A punilhmen 
 not befeeming a Minifter of the Gofpell to impofc; 
 This tyranny rather then law had its firft original 
 in England f as thelawes record,and learned of til 
 land witneffe) from that ftatute 2, Henry 4. Cap. j$ 
 whereby authority was given to the prelates an< 
 their Ordinaries to imprifon andfynethe fubjed 
 and to preffe the lawleffe oath upon them. Thi 
 ftatute was procured by the prelates for fuppreflinj 
 oftheprofeffors of the Gofpell, witneffe thetith 
 
Againft the Prelacy". tf 
 
 in the record, fctittoderi contra harcticos y and was*** 5 '*-, 
 pafled as is (hewed without the confent of the com- Am t. 
 mons, witneffe the record of the ftatute, yea our**""- 4. 
 learned in difcovering the iniquity and bloudthirfiy 
 cruelty of this law tell us, that it wanted not onely 
 the confent of the commons, but they wonder- 
 fully repined at it. But as evill means muft ever eft- 
 ablilhan evilpurchafe , the King was forced by their 
 importunity to lay the necks of his beil fubjeds un- 
 der the feet of the blouddie beaft , of which more 
 hereafter. But the date at length laying to heart the 
 abundance of chrirtian blood that had been (hed by 
 this blcoddte U^9 ( for fo it is called; and obfervin^ 
 the judgment of God that had enfued on this 
 bloodihed upon the State, as afterward (hall be 
 made plain) with vnanimous and full confent made 
 voyd and revoked that ftatute of imprifoning and 
 the oath ex officio, leaving not the leait impreffion of 
 any fuch power to t\\c Ordinary , betaufe it was a- 
 gainft the Law of God 3 the Honour of the King, the 
 law of the Land, the nature of Ecdefiafticke jurifdi- 
 ftion , and the right of the Subject. 
 
 It is true that in the i .and 2. of Philip and Marie, 
 a ftatute was framed according to that formerly re- 
 voked ftatute of Henry. 4« But firft it doth acknow- 
 ledge that the Church had no power of imprifoning 
 butoncly the power of the kcyes. 
 
 2. They ina&ed this that by fiery and bloody 
 
 courfes they might fupplant the Gofpell , whci 
 
 the people being mindfull and exceeding fcnlible 
 
 in that Parliament ofthc 1. Elizabeth rcqucfted the 
 
 E (late 
 
54 Syons "Tle^u 
 
 ftate to rcpeale,and make voyd that flatutc of Henr.4. 
 concerning imprifoning, and the (tlfe-accufwg catb> 
 which the ftatc did grant and eftablifhed in cxpreflc 
 words before the annexing of the right of Ecclefia- 
 fticke jurifdi&ion to the Crowne, rtfcaltng , making 
 utter lie void, and of none effeff a/1 and every branche , ar- 
 ticles \daufes andfentences in tie [aid flat utc>from the I aft 
 day ofthut Parliament. So that we fee the imprifoning, 
 fineing , and preffing of the oath by the high Com- 
 miffion,hangeth notonely upon that bloudy aft for 
 defence of Popery, repealed by theftatute kws of the 
 Land, but is alfo dire&ly againft that very sdt of Parlia- 
 ment or ftatute from which their commiflion is foun- 
 ded,as (hall be more clcarely demonstrated in an other 
 place. But this fufficicntly fheweth how egregiouflie 
 they abufe the Kings authoritie, and wrong the fubjed 
 notwithstanding of all this. 
 
 It is a wonder that B. Whit gift will fide with Pighi- 
 us againft CMarciltus Patavint+s fin fetching aground 
 from Peters killing of Ananias & Saphira J for their 
 imprifoning of men 5 might they not afwell warrant 
 the killing of them, for they kill many of them : For 
 that aft of Peters was not done ( as the learned anfwer 
 wellj by an ordinary power, but by that extraordinary 
 power, which the Apoftle calletb Swetpiv , and other- 
 4.28. where a i?^/,that is an extraordinary />/*#/>/^/w<r by 
 the venue of miracles, 
 
 5. And laftly, they inforce the Lawes of the Land 
 rhatarefor thefubjeft , againft the very beftfubje&s, 
 naruely/uch as gather themfelves together, to humble 
 their ioules for the finnes of the times , for the fafetic 
 
 of 
 
 1 Cer.12 
 
vigainjl the Prelacy. 35 
 
 of S ion , and the deliverance of the common weale. 
 Againft fuch it is mod tmc^rhere is no LaVc. But thefc 
 men will either huVe one or mike one against them, 
 namely,they muft be charged wi h Conveitic.'es, where 
 as they are neither fuch people as are meant in thefta- 
 ruic. nor doth that law intend to them any moleftation- 
 but rather prefervation , afvvcll as the prefcrvation of 
 the Prince and Scare from the dangerous conventions 
 and riotous aiTemblycs of plotting Papifts. If the inter- 
 pretation of the La vV depend upon the mynde cf the law- 
 giver fas indeed it dothj with what faces can men tame 
 the lawagainlt the innocent for the guiltic ? May not 
 &doenor the Papiftsmeetc & plort mifcheefe againft 
 the Church and State, without the Tenth part of this 
 molelktion? Yes it is too too true , but it is no new 
 thingforthem , and the Prelars to Lappitup-. Yet is 
 it not a wonder, why they fhould hate and oppofc fo 
 much that which is the prefervation of the Church 8c 
 State. Good reafons may be given why they doe fo : 
 But of them afterward. To have the Dozes thus beaten 
 and the Ravens & Pye-Maggorts to prey upon the State, 
 what blefTing can it bring from Go J , what Honour to 
 the King, what crcdite to the Laws, what high eftecmc 
 to the Parliament, what comfort to the people > And 
 fo to the fifth greivance. 
 
 F 2 <. Tofi- 
 
$6 Syons TtezL* 
 
 5. To/ition^frcrveL 
 
 THe priv Hedges of the Laws , and the Hierarchical gt » 
 vernment cannot confisi together. 
 
 The Laws of the Land (as hath been often fayd) arc 
 «!f iVi"* ^ c inheritance of the fitbjett. 
 
 ButthefePrelatspra&ifes, and forged or inforced 
 Laws are «*T/v*px*or quite oppofite to-our Laws , as 
 hath been formerly proved. 
 
 How can the libertieof a loyall fubjeft, and the un- 
 juftreftraintof the fame confift together ? How can 
 the difclayming of Soveraigne power , and the imbra- 
 ting and obeying of ir ftand together > How can the 
 fubfeription to the Articles of Religion ( which oncly 
 coneeme the true Chriftian Faith and Do&rine of the 
 Sacraments,! and the fubfeription to books, contayning 
 many things contrary to the worctof God(as a number 
 of Popilh Rites and mens devifes) confift together ? As 
 unnatunll heate confumeth the inbred or naturall 
 heatc and radicall rooifture of the bodie 5 So the un. 
 naturall Laws of the Prelats, eateup and confumethc 
 power of the Lawes of the Land. Yea their Laws 
 are not onelyworfe then theCanon Laws fwhieharc 
 badd enough ) but worfe then the laws and constitu- 
 tions of the very worft times of our Nation under the 
 high command of Popery , which will appeare by the! 
 comparing of the Canons of that Counfell of Oxford 
 houldcn by Stefhen Langton Archb.of Can. 28c. yeareii 
 agoe. There it was decrced,that none fliould be ex- 
 communicate 
 
tAgainft the TreUcy. ty 
 
 communicate where the fault is not apparanf 3 Et won 
 mfi Canonic a monitione precedent e , -jnlejfe they be Cano- 
 nicallyjhat is thrice admemfrcd. But the Prelats and 
 their Officers accompt none apparence at the firft to be a 
 pregnant contempt , wirncfie the Oxford anfwer to p a ,. - i# 
 thePetirion : So that forthwith they excommunicate, 
 yea fome times they fett a day of Appearance, and ex- 
 communicate the partic before the day ; And this wc 
 will avouch. There alfo it was decreed, neprefume?n 
 judices ejfe ejr aclores , Thjt nor.efcould take upon them to 
 be )f4dgc$ y aBors>AKd accufers . But this they doe, when 
 the judge dcaleth ex ef/tcto.Wc could inftance in many 
 other of the like nature, but a raft is enough : yea doc 
 they not exceede the height of Popery in this , that 
 thcrc,an Appcale was allowed to every man^to that fu- 
 preame courtc of the man of Gnne. But they op- 
 pofe and hinder the juft Appeale of the Kings iub- 
 lefts to a higher Courtc, without exception. And 
 fo much for this point. 
 
 vv 
 
 <5. ToJitioTL-^ proved. 
 
 E have now to prove, //;*/ tke loyalty of obe- 
 dience to the Kings Ma)effieandhts L>ws ) cannot 
 fofibly Hand Vitth the obtdteme to tie Hierarchies 
 
 Can a man ferve two Mafters or obey two Lords of 
 oppofnc commands I As the Heavens conraync no 
 Sunncs bur one; nor a Kingdom no Kings bur one: So 
 a people cannot obey any Laws, but inch as arc at one 
 •ajidunuie with thcmfclvcs. If the Pielats pridiic, 
 
 F J And 
 
38 Syons Tlea^ 
 
 and Injundions extort or enjoyne one thing, and the 
 laws of the Land , and the good of the King require \ 
 another thing oppofite to that , who can obey both ? 
 Yea who can obey the Prelats , but he maketh himfeif 
 a Tranfg y t(for to the King and the La fas ; As for in- 
 ftance,it is ilrai&hily forbidden by the Laws of theLand 
 (efpccially by that oath of allegeanccj whereuntoalL! 
 the Kings fubjeds are fworne ^ either impiicitlic orex-- 
 plicitlie)jT/W nofrraignepo^oer^auihoritie or yirifdiBton 
 r.E'i&.i. (and more particularly of the Pope of Rome ) fra/l it efta- 
 *• 4#<M ■ blifhed y coumenanced by ^ordjOuMtnance, preaching , pri- 
 vi ledge jr any other Deed, under the Pajne of Praemunire. 
 And if after con vidion any perfbn orperfons thus a- 
 gair.c offend > then be or they fcxllinicurre the paines, for- 
 feit ures , judgments and txecutions , due to high treafon. 
 Now that they derive their aurhoritie from the Pope; 
 carry thcmfelvcs as Popelinges; haveail the power (if 
 not more then they had under the Pope ; ) exercife a 
 full Popifh power over fubjeds in their meanes, per- I 
 ions and confeiences ; and plead for the derivation of ] 
 their Epifcop. authoritie in print from the Pope t lt is as j 
 clcareas the light. As for the chageof fupremacie,it can 
 not make a body that is naught in it felfe,andc6tinuing 
 the fame to be good. As for their writings and 
 Sermons againft the Pope and his ufurped power , ic 
 may beanfwered , quid verba au-diam, cum fa ft a vi- 
 deam? Their words crofle their adions. Yea,itisto 
 be feared,that the Popes fupremacie , if it could be as 
 gainefull , would pleafe manie of their palats better 
 then the Kings. Since then it is thus, it may invincibly 
 be concluded, that dfabieft cannot both obey tbtmandtbi 
 LaVcs. Fur- 
 
tAgainfl the Trelacy. 5P 
 
 Furtberitisina&ed 'as we hauelhcwedby a<ftof g Uw 6t 
 Parliament )Thatallthc Prel-tes tvrttts for exentjeof 
 heir )urifdiliion JlxwU runne ( as hath bene fhcwecU 
 ottntketr o^n naves and with their own feates y but in 
 be Kings name and under the Kinp feafe. But they in 
 heirowne names, and with their owne fealesfignc 
 ite, attach , and imprifon, laying the burthen of 
 :heir tirannie upon the 1 King: if at art k time they 
 eeme to be afteftcd with the miferks of the par- 
 ies, whereof they are the onelic caufe. It can- 
 lot ftand with the elemencie of a roiall heait to 
 -exe or imprifon his loiall fubjedts for ferving of 
 he fame God whom he fervcth , and for denying 
 )bedience to the \ ciic ihings that are contranc to 
 3odslawes, the foveraigne power of the Kingand 
 aws of the land. As it is then againft all law, rcafon 
 nd cquitic, that the fub) efts are thus vexed and 
 vrongedj lb the ferving of fuch writts and warrants 
 >y purfuivants , and the alTiftancc by conftables and 
 )thcrs y is injurie to the fubjeft , violence to 
 helawes , and an crfront to the King. For the 
 learing whereof, Stmfons Cafe is upon record, 
 vho was cleared by the law, becaufe the Confhblc 
 inder the prelates warrant, was adjudged by law to 
 >e out of bis place but of 4 this more hereafter. And thus 
 hepoint is claered,thatyealdtng obedience to fuch 
 vrittsor warrants confiftteth not with obedience to 
 he Kingand his lawes. 
 
 U is farther cleared by being flatlie oppofite to 
 he Kings prerogative , thatanie Coutts Uouldbec? ** Uth '- 9 - 
 wept Of jurifdidion excrcifed in his realm but in ihe 
 
 ngi 
 
40 Syvns PletL* 
 
 Kings name , and by an efpeciall grant. Inftance 
 theludgesCommiffions oioier and Terminer , and 
 fo of the reft : but the Bilhops and their officers 
 hold their Courts and exercife their jurifdi&ions 
 not in the Kings name , nor byaniefpcciall grants 
 but in their owne name intruding upon his Majefties 
 prerogative roiall 3 inforcing Churchwardens an4 
 Sidemen to ferve as inftrumeats againft the fame. 
 
 Further no fubj eft can both obay the Kings laws*: 
 and the Prelats Courts : becaufe they judge , 01 
 exercife jurifdi<5tion by deputies as Chancellours 
 Officials , Arcdeacons. This is firft an intrenching 
 upon, the Kings prerogative : for none but the 
 Kingcan delegate, or fubftitute a judgein hisplace 
 efpeciallie if the place of judicature be of a high nature 
 ( as the Prelats is 3 if it were right ) but thefe Prelats 
 committ their counterfeit Keyes often to fuch Cerberean 
 Por/miaslhutt the gates upon Chrifts Freinds, aadini 
 tertaine his foes. 
 
 2. This deputarion is againft the, nature of an 
 office of confidence or trufi (as the Lord r*T#/<*/# fpeaks 
 verie learnedlie to this pointj as it is ferfena//y inherent^ 
 foitmuft be perfonally difcharged, & not tranfported 
 to an other, as he inftanceth in the office of theism 
 Ch&ncelL of England, or any other judge : who nevci 
 madenorcanmakeadeputic j except they have fom< 
 fpeciall claufe, contained in their original grauntj and 
 then alfo it is verie doubtfull (faith he) that this is fo 3 ii 
 
 itfvHfM. isclearefrom.theftatuteofHenr.8*by which it is pro. 
 
 <4f>« *4* vided that the Archbifhop caunot take to himfelf ifof. 
 fragAneot affiftantBifhop (much lefle can he depute an 
 
 infe 
 
zAgamsi the Prelacy. yx 
 
 inferiour judge ) but by the Kings efpeciall graunr. 
 Now whether are nor all thar fubmitt themfelvcs to 
 the judicature of fuch courts (kept by the Prelats de- 
 puties) rranfgrcflbrs agiinft the true nature of jurifdi- 
 ftion,obfcrvcd in all orhcr courts of the Land, and at- 
 fo againft the Kings fole prerogative ? Further who 
 foevcrgivcth his body to the Prelats imprifonment or 
 ycelds his goods to their fineing ( except it be upon ir- 
 refiftablc violence, whereby he becoms a mcer pafllvc. 
 i. He nullify cth many wholefom laws, whereby it */*** . A\u- 
 decreedthat Ecclefu'tu lilyirifliBion rr.iy not itnprtfon or jf,^ jj nA [ 
 \fttt Any fines ipon the t:h,gs fub'yefs , except it he vfpnvu.hit*. 
 change of pen.ince. Yea they loofc not onely their owne JJgJl'V 
 Privilcdgc, bur they quittc the inheritance of all their r 6. 
 fellow-fubjerts,fo far as in them lyes, and keep ftill in 
 force that curfed cruell ftatute, extorted from Henr.4. 
 againft the people of God, which (2% wchave fhewed) 
 hath beeneagaine and againe repealed , asunjuftand 
 intollcrable. It' Naboth would not yceld his vineyard tt tim.u. 
 to his King,and that upon reafonable conditions, be- 
 caufe in fo doing he fhould have broken a ftatute ; or 
 if the Kings (iibjcdfa ftood our in the matter of Ioauc 
 that they might ©bey the King in keeping of his laws 
 intyrc, (for they made it appeare to all thar it was not 
 want of love or unwillingnclTe to part with their mo- 
 ny:) how far fhould fubjccls be from obeying fuch 
 commands as countermand the laws , cftablifhe an 
 ufurpxi jurifdittion> deprive the King of his loyall 
 obedience, &: the people of th?ir right. As for thedan- 
 Igcrof rcfiftingthis ufurped power, there is none*/** j*- 
 re, howfocver theft men if *firpdtipn make it thcii 
 
 G trade 
 
4* Syons Tlesu 
 
 trade to affii<5t the Kings fubj efts de facto ; but the laws 
 which are the Privi ledge of the fub)e8s , the life of the 
 Landed, true obedience to the King, fhould be more I 
 precious to a true harted fubjed, then liberty or life; 
 itfelf- and what a man would doe for the defence of 
 his life , he fhould doe in the defence of thefe., 
 For the lawfullnefle of this defence , we produce bothi 
 the Laws of the Land, and the Counfell of the learned I 
 according to the Laws. For the former, if the lawes 
 ina&ed &fo ofteconfirmcd,do inhibittall fummons, 
 afTaults,attaching of the body , imprifoaing or fineing 
 but by due courfe of the law of the Land, then all the 
 Prelatscourfes in the above -faid particulars , may and: 
 mull: be tcRRcd quoad pojje (becaufe they are not legall, 
 but againft the greatcharter)but the former is true,ther- 
 fore the latter.For further proofe hereof, we commend: 
 unto your Honours to review thefe noble ads am6gft 
 many other decreed by that high Court of Parliament 
 Anno 16 10. For this very particular asfolloweth. 
 
 1 . Whereas the temporal/ fword "toos never in the PreUts 
 power till the 2. ofHcnr.*. and then ufurped by them Vcitb- 
 out the confent of the commons (for fy^ they tyere truely 
 Ecckjiafticall 5 yet it is again fl the Lawes of God and oj 
 cftheLandjhat they flould meddle ^ith civill ]urifdiftion f 
 therefore is an aB p >aft againft it , and the oath ex officio 
 brought in at the fame time. 
 
 2. That ftature /. Elizab. c. 1. giving poVcer to the 
 ^ueento^onslitute and make a Commifiion in caufes Ec* 
 clejiafticall is found inconvenient , becaufe abufing that 
 
 power 
 
tAgainft the prelacy. 4^ 
 
 power given to one or more they wronge the fubjeft. 
 
 3 . Where .u by vert tie of the ft Mute poster, onely Fee le- 
 ft a ft tea// is graunted; yet by Letters- Patents from the King, 
 unsoundly grounded on the ^ords of the flat uie, they fine, tm- 
 frtfon crt.^htch is a great grief and a ftrong to thefitb'ycl, 
 
 4. Where upon deprivation by tie ordinarie yirifdiction 
 gn appeale lyeth ; the ^ords of the commiftion exclude it. 
 For herds no traverfe^ior Vcritt of error after judgment. 
 
 5 . The) bind men not onely to appear e from time to time, 
 but alfo to perform "tohat the Court jhafl appoint. 
 
 6. Whcre.ts the Canons Vcould charge body, goods, dnd 
 Lands of the fubieB, the how fe tnacled against it, except it 
 jhvuLl be confirmed by act of Parliament. 
 
 Thefe cvills and greivances were ferioufly pondered 
 by that Honourableaflembly,and provided againft by 
 theforcfaide acts , but the Remora.Prelats & L$gs of 
 rheir laying, fo blocked up the way , that thefaidadts 
 could not paflc : and rather then they would fuffer the 
 plaguc-foarc of their oppreffing pride to be burft by 
 the maturating cataplafmes ofwholcfem /.m%thcy made 
 afhift to break the King andftate into pccces,a$ they 
 did indeed, to the no fmall griefe of all good liibjccb, 
 to the vexation ( yea allmoft killing ) of the two W//. K ' f ' ,l,r - 
 
 , the indemnifying & dishonouring of the date; 
 for lincc that time what hath profpered with us, Of 
 withthofe whom we have ayded. 
 
 U 2 Theft 
 
44 Syons Plea^ 
 
 Thefe a&s your Honours knowc tobc laVe it felf 9 
 though killed in the (hell by the fiotef pride, and ther- 
 fore we huinbly intrear juftice upon thefe Legicidjs or 
 Law- killers. 
 
 Now come we to the latter peece of evidence in 
 the behalf of this lawfull remittance, namely, the cafe 
 avouched under the hand of learned counfell, as fol* 
 lov/eth in his owne words : 
 
 TpH<? cafe is, whether the high commifion oftht*> 
 •*" North ^have power to fend a purfitivant to axrefi 
 the hodie of any man-** and hoW farreforth the She* 
 rijfe or other of his 3\iajeflies Officers be bound to af 
 fijlthenu, and Whether each fever all ^Bifhop bating 
 a fever all commiffion , may {calling to him 3. or wot 
 commiffioners} execute the commifion. 
 
 This learning U not to-be rubd upon-, tooboldlie , | 
 
 yet in my opinion^ the high commifion hath not fuf 
 
 f cient Warrant to fend a purfuivant toarreft , becaufe 
 
 thefiatmeofMagnaCbarta 5. 30. Nullus liber ho- 
 
 mo capiatur vel imprifonemr forbids {as I conceive j 
 
 fucharre&s. It Was Simfenscafe 42. €ii$. in which 
 
 4trreji the (fonftable in tfffting the pmfuivant Was 
 
 flame \ and the offn&er had bis clergie , whereas if 
 
 the 
 
tAgainfi the TreLcy. > j 45 
 the arrejl had beene lawfuli , it had beene murder 
 vide 42. Aft. p. 5- and 24. Edw. 3. Commifwns 
 Br. 3, Whereacommifion "teas granted to diver fe to 
 arrest the bodies of kA.'B. &c. who Were fUndred 
 for felonie; it Wax ruled to be againft the laW: and by 
 the common Uw the bodie of any mar^ Was fee 
 from irnnrifonment- but onely at the fiat" of tbz_s 
 King. 
 
 2. The Sberiffe u wife enouoh to infinite him- 
 felfwhatisfitt to doe. 
 
 3. J conceive if a commifion be dire Sled to 
 20. or 20. of them-, at the leaH > and they fue x 
 duplicate or fever all commifions 3. of them-, can- 
 nor fit t in one place and 5. in mother by <vcr- 
 tue of the commifion, Without adjourning the com- 
 mifion to time and place , as one commifion and 
 not to execute it as fever all commifwns. 
 
 i I You 
 
4<5 Syons Tlea^ 
 
 You fee how in clearing of this cafe the fmell of 
 agoatmoketh this honed coilfeller fom what agueifli, 
 but fuch is his ingenuity, & truth is Jo flronge that the 
 cafe in our conceit is well cleared. 
 
 To proceede the people alfo ( being inforced to 
 wait upon them J become acceflarie to their finne. 
 ofdifobedience. If that claufeoftheftatutebeob- : 
 jeited , where the King graunteth them authority in 
 as ample manner as they had in the Popes time : it may 
 beanfweredin the firft place; that that proclaimed! 
 to the world , their being to be ^Antichrijtian , and 
 their power to be forr eigne \ for they remaine the 
 fame for matter and forme, that they did before; fu- 
 premacieonely changed. 2. Befides that gcnerall; 
 nullum tempus occrtrrit Regi-it is a lawe cafc,thztgeneralt' 
 words cannot carry away any part of the right of the 
 Crowne: and fuch are thefe words, without any /pe- 
 dal/warrant to leadethem. 3* The grant is onely 
 to rule over their inferionr brethren (meaning the Mi- 
 nistry*.) Which rule (by the way) is dircftly againft* 
 Gods ftatuts- howfoever with the laitie fas they call 
 them) by this ftatute they have nothing to doe. It 
 was truly averred by a Prime judge of the Land,that 
 that, which binds Mlfiould be ajfentedto of alitor by the 
 reprefentative body of all , but what private men 
 do the Prelats call to their convocation ho wfe > or 
 whatvoyce orafliftance have they to or in the con- 
 futations or Canons of the Prelats? 
 
 The Prelacie, taking this to confideration 3 pro- 
 cured a ftatute iJEdw.tf. enabling them ( as they, 
 
 con- 
 
tAgainJi the Prelacy. 47 
 
 conceive) to keep their Courts & exercife jurifdi&ion; 
 But firft , that was ro be done in the Kings name , and 
 iiotin their owne. 
 
 Further , all fuch jnrifdiction , is annexed to the 
 Crowne i.Eliz. 1. forbidding all exercife of fpirituall 
 :>ower and jurifdi&ion, without a /pecu// Warrant from 
 :he Crown, and all that doc the contrary, are declared 
 :o be intruders. 
 
 The laft inftanccfthousrh \vc might abound; is from 
 he oathes urged by the Prclats, cfpecially rharoath ex 
 officio. By the law of the Land, rhey arc forbidden to 
 put any to their oath, except in cafes matrimo?:ia!lvac\ 
 leslamenury , witnciTe the learned and judicious law- fg^SJ^ 
 yers of the Land. it mmi 
 
 As to the oath ex officio , whereby both MUte^ 141 ' 
 nifters and people arc vexed and infnared , what pa/. j6. 
 :an be faid, that hath not been laid againft it ? Heaven ^ n , Al - 
 tnd Earth is against it ; It is againft the law of God ^ 
 :he law of the nature j the common law ; the Canon 
 [aw,CounfclIs,and impcriall ftatuts. Though the vile- 
 nclle of it , and the cvills enfuing are fufficientlic 
 knowne to your Honours,and to all of undcrftanding; 
 rat we make bold ( under favour ) to detect the c\ ills 
 of it,for our owne and others information. 
 
 Firft then by thatroyall Law ofCod^ it is quite cafhei- [/r.4.1, 
 red ; thou flu It /ft care in \udgment Sec. that is, a dz/fedh. '^••9. i^. 
 And how fhoidd a man doe that, when he knowcth 
 not what he fwcareth r Neythcr can he fwearc //; 
 rigbfetafnesybcc&ufc he is forced to betray othcr.vwhich 
 rather then inhoneH man jhou/d doc as a lather Wt- 
 ndflfeth he frouM loofi- bis life. 
 
 Fur. 
 
40 Syons 'TUju 
 
 Further, the matter is nor of Waight , nor of qualitk 
 (for ir fhould be Criminal/^ ) not of neccflitie ( for j 
 may be other wife cleared \) normaketh this oath rh< 
 end of (Irife • and therefore it cannot be taken i\ 
 yudqrnet dec. A worthy gcmlema being preffed with ar 
 oath agaioft himfelf in an other cafe 5 made anfwer bj 
 a pretty dilemma $ if the thing fuppefed to be done y be j 
 (innejhen muft I ?:ot accufe my felfe^ and if it be no 'Jitm 
 there is no ground of an oath. 
 
 2.1tisagainftthe law of nature regiftred in thi 
 Civill law , 1{emo tenetur prodtrc ftipfum^ if a ma« 
 muft not betray another , much leffe himfelf. 
 
 3. The Canon law from the civill law taketh fa 
 much light, as to fee and commend the equitie q 
 the 2(01; cfaidmaxime. WitncfTe Gratian the Cancnij 
 in the oath ofSixtus the 4. 
 
 4. Asfortheconconrfe of nations , they utterlitj 
 abhorre this oath and avoid it, on ely fuch excepted, 
 as live under the Beaft, groaning under the burther 
 of this blooddic oath : neither doc moft of the Po- 
 pifh fubjeft themfelves to it, witncfTe the State o; 
 r*wV*,and the reft of Italy and others. A blood 
 oath the learned trulie call it. 
 
 5. Without an accufer ( faith Trajan e ) there ism 
 ApidPl'm. place for an accufation : for that is antvill example! hitl 
 
 Lib. 10. V a 1 j 1 r- * 
 
 £///J.9fr. he J and not heard of in our age. 
 
 6. How injurious it is to thelawesof the landt 
 andlibcrtieofthe fubje<fts 5 matter Fuller hath fullii 
 difcovered in the defence of his clients. The be- 
 giningofitamongft us, wasfromaftatutc ofHen. 
 4. for vexing and punifhing of the Lollards fo caller 
 
 beinj 
 
tAgaintt the "Prelacy. 4^ 
 
 being the true chriftians indecd,the urging whereof 
 is by a Statute of H.8. juftly marked in the forehead £ Ht * T * 4> 
 thus : K^in examination ■ pon captions interrogatories eye. 
 Of the corinuance of h: oath,the Lord Vcrnlam late **• Krj,f » 
 Chancellor of England did utterly diihke. It is contrary Jft *' 
 (faith he; to the la'tos of the Land, and Cujionte of the bing- 
 dome^that any man fo^uid be fo ctdto a.cufe him ft If ^ cfpe- 
 biafly being surged w'whowx the grounds of accufation,de- 
 clared in tpfo Can fe initio , \1\tbe1e \ entrance ef the iifc.4. 
 fj*/ir } according to [he Canon ; noncH a quifiiontbus in- T ltu 
 choandum , they mufl not begin tie plea Vcith quefttens. 
 This was the complaint of that holy Martyr M. Lam- 
 bertjhe greived to fee them call for a booke upon his 
 firft appearance ; as though a man fhould no fooncr 
 fpeake then fwearc. Further the aforefaid nobleman 
 averrcth , that by the Lrvs of the Land , a man is not 
 bound to accufe htmftlfin caps oftreafon. Qt eft ions and 
 torments ( faith he) be put and inflitfed upon fjrne perfons, 
 rather for fafeguard of the King tr flat r,/ hen diftovery of 
 the Crime. In ether capitafl cafes , no oath is offered to 
 'the delinquent, nor yet permitted to lim ; As forC) imina/I 
 'caufes^ not 1 apita '/, or in t afii ofccnfcunce and 1 quit it \ de- 
 1 j in the flarre Chamber And Court (f ' 'hd 1 r jhae 
 w an oa:h required , but how . ? by lading of a li of \cm- 
 pLi it, M t tin a legall accufation ts framed againfi the par- 
 fnd the Which the plaint if cannot goe, t. or tl e dtf n- 
 >'lbe urqed. But firfl to give an oath , andtbtn to 
 $f upon flying fans or fecrett ^tttnC t 1 b no 
 
 ' the civi 'I I l* $ J .dr* f. at He > epugnant to the com- 
 mon La\\\ And thus farre that noble m in. In .1 f*rth* 
 enUrjnquifttion (CmhCaniiiuv) articles Jb$M be < 1 
 
 // U 
 
»iqmfiuon$ t0 t y defendant to he inquired of , and the names and 
 Cre, Sum. . , J r , * * '. y ,. 
 
 lur. C4« M . cadences of the WitneJJes again ft him , permitting him f 
 Lib .4 . make rep lye for himfelf 
 
 Tttul 19. 7# ^he imperiali ftatutes arc clearc againfl: \t\no man 
 
 Cod. Hb.4> is bound to give evidence against himfelfe. 
 
 c „ 8. ForCounfells and Fathers , they arc copious; 
 
 Bwcfci. Chrift (Tahh a Father,) dealt notfo with Iudas ; for, not 
 
 Cw/i. bci^gaccifed , he did not cast him out. And with that 
 
 Ambr.' woman in ihe Gofpell , Chriil did take a legall courfe; 
 
 iC#r. up.} ^here are thine accufers ? yea a Heathen judge , tookc 
 
 10m e. t ^ ls j C g a jj cour f c with Paul;U'/7^ thine accufers are come 
 
 Afoz;. I fyi/l htare thee. No example for it in fcripmrc , but 
 
 >uih. 25. r ^ at °^ Caiphas^djuxing Chrift in the name of the l.virg 
 
 4;. Cod : upon which Beza (heweth us how tjrannc** and 
 
 uri)ufl ' fuch an ad)uration is. 
 
 From all this, it is more then manifeft, that the take- 
 ing of thefe oathes , and mere particulate of this 
 „ oath ex effic to 5 cannot pofliblie (tend with obedience ro 
 the Laws. Yea, though u be guiloed and fugered with 
 thefe daubing and deceiving t times , fo farre as it is agre- 
 dole to the la^\ For h is altogether ( as hath becne 
 (hewedjrepugnanttothe Law, to offer ir, or to take it. 
 It hath fo often been call over the barrc of the com- 
 mon law, that wc thinke *hey (hould now be afhamed 
 to offer it. 
 
 To conclude, we may anfwer being preffed with if, 
 
 Vifau de as l hc Miniefters of AjfrUk did in the like cafe -, Hum- 
 
 ptrfequ: quid bruta irrdtionalia puteiis nos &c. What doe you 
 
 VmA. Mnke 1*5 to befavage and unreafonable Creatures , that Vtc 
 
 ftould faeare to a paper \not knowing Vehat it contayneth i 
 
 And fo much for this point. 
 
 7. P*fi- 
 
Agamjl the Prelacy m 51 
 
 ySPofitioit^ prove}. 
 
 NOw we come to the 7. grievance, where we en- 
 deavour to prove,//u/ of a r lthe evills inflitlei y and 
 of a/I the good lindrcd y (ince Anno 600. one or more 
 of the Hierarchic hive been a principal! caufc. 
 
 The proofeof rhis point aauft be by induftion of 
 particular inilances, fekcted from the Hiftories of the 
 Kingdomc; wherein we may be the breifer, became we 
 know your Honours, (by your owne induitrie and ex- 
 periencej to be better acquainted with your owne Hi- 
 ftorics then we can make you. 
 
 To begin with AuHme, of whom the Papifts boaft, 
 that he tsthe Fat hi r of our Religion, called by the Lova- 
 nisis,our Engltjk AfojHe. Of his Fatherhood or Reli- 
 gion we have title caufe to boaft , nam hjtret lateri Lc~ 
 thd/is arundo • the fpl inters of his plantation , fltcke yet 
 ncurfdes.Hc may be called indcedc with Gregory his 
 Vf. PdterCi'rcmontaruin.the Father ft <; which 
 
 xingfowne by him > like evillwttdes they g owe up 
 with increaie , aud could ucver to 1 his time be rooted 
 jp. Hiftoriesrelate,how upon hisarri\all he erected 
 lis Matters cWrr.s namely, the banner of the Croflc, 
 md having feated himfelf, would ncedes put his Popifll 
 itesupon the Brifiifincs and Scotts forar rhat tunc 
 hey were free from Romifli Crcmonies:;ttiit not | 
 •ay ling with them, thou ;h thebufines were b.-K 
 pith a legion of fai ned he insinuates him 
 
 mother way, by procuring wherein Ins Pi 
 
 11 j 
 
yi Syans ?le*^ 
 
 likepridc,beingonvnfivxtoall , was checked and re- « 
 jc&cd of all , by which ( his choller being ravfed & \ 
 inflamed with ddlre of revenge ) he threafned l| 
 them with the devouring fwerd of the Pagan , and; 
 Guliim ^ C WAS as S°°^ as n ^ s word;#*/w accerfit adexdem Athel- - 
 Wefmov. fiidumjhe called that PAgdn king cf Northumberland ^ to i 
 the bloody maffacre of Gods Minifters , and poore: 
 harmcles,& unarmed people. So it was not a Prophe- 
 fie as fome would colour it, but a bloody projed ; for- 
 ting very well with Romes new foundation in En- 
 Gtrvdfw S^ an< ^ e Sanguine Janfforum , dorobcrnenjis ecclefiafrima-* 
 nibienfis it tiam obt inuit>thc Church of Canterbury faith one cb- 
 otjjstmpenA- tayned her primacy, byfhcdding of the blood of the 
 Sain&s,Romeislaydin blood, & mud bath andfwelll 
 in bloodjtill her owne blood be given her to drinke, 
 yet for all this it may be faid of him , wi h fome reftric-? 
 tion as it was faid of his Mafter,^ ^as the be si cf thdt 
 band that fucceeded him ,faue a very fcw,whofe eyes Gcd 
 inlightened and whofe hearts God opened to fee and 
 hate the fcarlett ^hoore y o{ whom fome did feale iheir 
 hatred with their blood. This willevidently appearc 
 if we take but a viewers wc meane to doe, of his fuc- 
 celTorsthe very Firebrands cf the Si Me , what combi- 
 nations whh forraigne powers, what v^iTalJing of ihc 
 State to forraigne j u ri id <clion, what trcafons, whati 1 
 toflingand banding of Kings and Crowneshave they 
 been Authors of ? what civil! combuftions ? what 
 bloody braules among ihemfelvcs ? what inftigation 
 of the fubj efts again ft their Princes ?what alienation of 
 Princes hearts from their fubjc£h? w r hat tirannyovej: 
 Kings and paopk?what definition of ihe State, what 
 
 vexing 
 
•Againjl the Trelacy. 53 
 
 *exing. pininge and bloody bouchering of rhe Saints.' 
 vhat Terrs and impediments of- all good in Church 
 nd common wealth hath growne and yet doc growe 
 romthis/v/rr Rcote fycz what ofallthefe have not 
 heir rife from \\Uo that it is verified of them.which is 
 aid of rhe Egyptian Peach tree the brnnchs are 
 firfe then the roote. For neither was his pompe fo gor- 
 *ious; his attendance fo great, nor his furniture fo glo- 
 ious,neither his fervants fuch roarers,his :n ; ne fo car- 
 ied,nor his letUm fo (turfed both for matter and man- 
 ner friti Pipifr devtfes , nor die ordinances of God fo 
 ovcrlaidc with the rubbifh of Romifh Ceremonies. So 
 that verified is the Proverbc in an tviS genuattcn fit- 
 ium LQtieth the better :yca our ownc times prochymc it 
 that rhe UJfofthe Ffierarchie be the VearB* But to goc 
 on with our proofe , wherein we muft be breifc to 
 (hun tediouihes. 
 
 Thcodorus the feventh from Auftin in nothing 
 naturing his name , being gotten into the chj)re y 
 begin to play the Rex, or fas one faith J all his regies 
 over his brethren , placing and difplacing at his plea- 
 fure,in liefpight of the King , fuch as were placed by 
 the King • here Homes right hand begun to workc 
 again ft t,bc Kings of England; By this Theudort was fett 
 afootc,*hc latin Service, Mattes., Ceremonies, Lcrtc- 
 nics,wi(h all the reft of the Romifh trafh. 
 
 LAmbrigbr^YMfonbrtvfo, the 13. from Auftin fell U 
 foulc of trcafon againft Offk the K.ng, upon which he ]fTfj. 
 tranflated the Sea of ),XO Luhjttld % tluie be 
 
 the prankes of the Piclatcs. 
 
 H \ In 
 
54 Syons Vlco-> 
 
 In the times of the 7. Kings of the Saxons 
 which be ly.it the beginingsof higher attempts: 
 For when Egbert had made of all the forefaici 
 kingdoms 5 one intire Monarchic , the Lord ftirred 
 up the Danes a firey , barbarous and cruell nation 
 ("after fome attempts)to feaze upo the kingdo which 
 they brought to fuch a flaverie , as the like was ne- 
 ver read off: and what was the caufe why God gaue: 
 them up to fuch a fearfull judgment i the learned 
 tell us for their idoUtrie , and fuperflition , batched* 
 and tnereafed by the faelling f relates , whence tffued alt 
 manner of ' profanejfe , yet in both thefe they came 
 fhortof ours 3 tofhutte np this centurie : may your 
 Honours be pleafed to obferve what a pickle this 
 clergiehad put the State into,by that oration of king 
 Edgar whom Dunttane that notorious jugler 
 and forcerer by his lying drcames , and fained mi- 
 racles feduced mightily, to the hurt of him and his. 
 fubje&s. 
 
 Now let us take a fcantling of the Uft Centurie 
 of Prelacy, from William the Conquerour to our 
 times ; wherein for further demonftation of our 
 propounded greivace, we can fhew them to bee the 
 fewell, fire 3 and bellowes, ofallourgr£at«ft evills- 
 
 To begin with the Conqueft. As the idoldtru "and 
 Superjlition (as bath bene (hewed ; of their prede- 
 cdforswas the caufe why God gave-up this nation 
 to the Danifh cruelty, fo hiftories witnefle toge- 
 ther with thatvifion, of king Edward a litle before 
 his death, how the idlenes , avarice, difiolute 
 life , and overlording of the clergie ( whence pro- 
 ceeded 
 
%Againft the Prelacy. J 5 
 
 ceded all impictic, loofnefTe, andiniquitieofthe 
 lity ) were the verie caufe why God gauc the nati- 
 on up to the intollerable tyrannie of the Normans, 
 thereby lawes, liberties , houfes of Nobility, 
 ■nd all liau sand conditions were either raced, or 
 pflaved ; and if a body may be known by the head , 
 ft the pra&ife of Stigaadm and the men of his Sea 
 :>eak in the firft place for all, who ben (ding 
 
 tch, and extreamly greedy invaded /as it is written) 
 $e Sea of Canter bur it by S/wfl/J/^bein^both B. cf\}\n- 
 befterz^d Abbot of another place: but from him to 
 mq frank that cenqucrwg VrcUtc % for as a learned 
 'nttquartt faith wirnlv , and truly, He though it all 
 rafost, t*at bejhould make a Conquest of the EtArh c ! i 
 \ his UU aft ir bad made a conquest of the Ktng. 
 
 r ttJ . 
 
 His fucceflori^w/^jwrconfirming that Do&rine 
 
 f Dri'tlls 'd$;d\ni\ Mmiftcrs manage, affronted the 
 
 ling to his free, threatening tocxcomumcarchim in 
 
 isownequarrell,yeafor all the Kings wittandva- 
 
 ^ur, he made him fceke all the corners of his faddle 
 
 itled him from his right , for which testes of 
 
 Sivitie.rhc Pope honoured htm highly , in giving 
 
 mi to rirtat his light foote , with this Encomte , ht~ 
 
 ludamui hitnctn erbe noftro , lanquam alter tn^ orbis Pm- 
 
 yn ■ I t •! ;<clofethts manmlhtn ohromve f'fhcare^u 
 
 m nhtr World. 
 
 What diiicntion^wai^and bloodftied ovciflowcd 
 
 IC Land in the time of King Stephen , who invaded 
 
 ic Crown c contrary to his oath , given to Maude 
 
 Emprcflc daughter to King I km. i. and 
 
 own: 
 
5<S Syons Tlcsu 
 
 owne Coufin, all this was from the advife of Williar 
 Corveil, Atchbiihop of Canterbury , being backed b 
 the Pope,rhe Farher of fuch Children , this flickelin 
 Prelate contrary to his faiih given to the faid Em 
 prcffe,ftoleaway the peoples hearts,from their Nativ 
 Soveraigne ; whence ilTued fo much evillof finnc an. 
 judgmenr,as perjury, rapine,bloodfhcd,oppreffion , a 
 made the Land a dktjp ofmifery. 
 
 Did not Tburjiane Archb.work the King a great dea 
 of mifchcife 6c trouble > getting the Pope to threatcr 
 the King with excommunication , if he were not ad 
 mitted to the Sea of Yorke upon his owne termes 
 And fo entered, maugre the Kings refolution. 
 
 What a deale to doe made that proud Popclinj 
 Beckett to King Henry the fecond,and all the ftate$ Hi 
 caufc fas his owne favorites affirme ) being no bette; 
 then patrocinic of murtherers , and other vile male 
 factors of the Clergic , whom he would not fuffc 
 (contrary to his owne edicl: and oath)to be tryed by the 
 Laws of the Land, having committed (as it is recorded; 
 in one yeare a too. feverall murthers upon the King 
 fubie&s. To fuch as were arraigned of thcm,he took* \ 
 upon him to be afolum , or fan&uary , but as ht ' 
 brought himfclf untodiferved dcftru&ionfthough the 1 
 form of his cxecutio is not to be approvedXo his piidt I 
 and rebellion was tr -anfi.bfi&ntuit l ed by the Pope , ( whe ' 
 can make every thing of any thing) unto an ldolatroui 
 and blafphemous/*///-Jfc//>. This plagued the Lane 
 worfe then all the reft , for as it is treafon againita 
 King toenterrayne his rcbdl under the name of at 
 Honourable and Lawfull fubjett , fo it is high tteafoa' 
 
 againfl 
 
sAgainft-tbe Prelacy, yf 
 
 againft God, to mike an Idoll of a Trayter, (as Beckett 
 was) whofe name of blafphemy fo refounded every 
 where, (as one faith well) that the name cf Chiijl V?*/ 
 quite forgotten. 
 
 Come we now to William B. of Ely ( ihe Popes 
 Legate and Vicar , fitft Chanccllour of England, and 
 then Viceroy in King Richards abfence J what port he 
 kepr > whit tyranny he excrcifed over all the Kings 
 fubie&s, not forbearing the Kings ownc brethren, Hi* 
 (lories make plain, in fo much as one faith well, that the 
 La'ttte found him mjre then a King y and the Clergie mere 
 then a Pope. As he devoared all where he came wiih his 
 *reat pompous trainefno fewer then a roco.or 1600. 
 lorfc; fo he had undone the. Sure, if he had not been 
 taken off. 
 
 Let Steven Langton take the next place , whom 
 :he Pope made choice of, ut virum fitcnuitm (as 
 [>ne faith) fuch a one as ^Kould beard Kings, rob churches, 
 wd kcepe the people in f!.:jerie , whofe entrance being 
 •cfifted by King Iohn, both he and his realm were 
 rrterdifted by the Pope, who enarmed the French 
 King, with the pardon of all his finncs, and the 
 jCrOwnc of England for his paines,if he would invade 
 fiim in this flrait. 
 
 The reft of the Popes lymbes ( like traytors as they 
 were ) fided with the FrcnchKing ; the Nobilitic 
 jhrunkc, and the commons wavered , not knowing 
 vhat to do, whereupon the King(notwithftanding his 
 Princely and magnanimious parts, was fo mated with 
 
 I that 
 
jo zyons Tieiu 
 
 that mifcrcant and danted, partly with thcfearc of 
 forraigncand domefticke foes, and partly with the jea- 
 loufie of his fainting adherents, that he was forced to 
 vaflal himfelf , and his Kingdom at the Popes foote, 
 wherein though the King ihewed his weakenes , yet 
 his heavy and many burdens plead hard for his excufe. 
 And as we cannot read the ftory without much pitty- 
 ing that worthy , ( though unhappy Prince) fo we can 
 not but abhorre thefe treacherous Prelats, and blame 
 exceedingly the inconftancie and difloyaltie of -his 
 fubje&s. Hence bepleafed to obfervc (right Honou- 
 rable) Vvhat an evillthhgit is for fubjefls tlwough their I 
 fufillanimitie to leave their Soveraigne in the hands cf 
 Vcickednes , it maketh them often doe what they nei- 
 ther would nor fhould. 
 
 This inftance of this abufed and murthered King 
 is the rather to be thought on,by reafon of the French 
 Kings refolutionagainft the State , who unadvifedfy 
 brought him in^ he refolved to deftroy all the nobilitie 
 and their howfes that had taken part with him againft 
 their native Soveraigne , befides the other tyrannyes, 
 which the French would have pra<5fcifed , fo that we 
 fhould take notice how that one brand out of the 
 Popes Chimney had not onely fett on (ire , but had all- 
 moft confumed the Kingdom to alhes, if the Lord had 
 not by an extraordinary difcovery from a French #- 
 cennt on his death bcd,delivered the Nation. 
 
 To come to Henry the thirds time , wherein that 
 blsedy Bifap /for fo the ftory calleth him)Peter of Win- 
 chefter, fct himfelf, with one Peter nivalis, the Kings 
 
 Minien 
 
tAgalnft the TreLcy. fp 
 
 Minion , to plotr the ovenhrowe of the beft defcrve- 
 ingfhtes-mcn yea of the King and (tare itfelf , in- 
 stance his prz&ife againft the life and honour of that 
 well defcrvcing worthy Ht&trtJEaAt of Kent, and Lord 
 chcife Iuftice of England, the very fsord and fafeguard 
 cf bis Prince , fas one calleth him) both againft for- 
 rcigne and domefticke foes, yet becaufe he could not 
 fndurc the pride & treachery of the Prelars by falfc <5c 
 forged criminarionSjthey brought him under the Kings 
 difpleafurc. By rcafon whereof he fufFered manygrci- 
 vous things, and was often in danger of his life , but 
 the good hand of God was with him in extraordinary 
 deliverances. And at laft ( being rid out of the way 
 into Wales ) that the Prelats might the more freely 
 workc, they and others their Confederates 3 put the 
 King upon fuch evill courfes , as had almoft undone 
 himfelf,and the State of the Kingdome. 
 
 Concerning the aforefaid Peter of Winchefter, one 
 Roger Bacon moved a pretty qucftion to the King, 
 What things doe Sea-men mo ft feare ? Stormts and quiche- 
 fands ffaidthe King, or fuch like. No ( faith Bacon ) but 
 Petrus de Ruptbusjor they are the Roches indeed that make 
 Shtp-Vvracke of the state. 
 
 Fd&ard thefirft alfo and his government, wanted 
 not his (hare of hard meafurc from the Prelats, for(be- 
 fides that univcrfall obedience which Robert Win- 
 chelfey Archb. of Cant, ycaldcd to the Popes Edict, 
 againft contribution to the King in his VVarrcs ) he 
 ftood out with the King upon his owne termes of re- 
 conciliation , pcrlwading abfolutc obedience to the 
 
 I 2 PopC 
 
60 Syons TletL* 
 
 Pope,and not to the King. Alfo after much intolle- | 
 rable tyranny excrcifed over the Kings people, and de- \ 
 nyingtocall the King his Lord y in his letters, he plot- 
 ted rreafon with fundryof thcnobles,againit the Kings 
 perfon, intending to put him befides the Crowne , and 
 tocaft him in prifon; whereof when he was accufedfi 
 from the Kings owne mouth, and could not deny if, 1 
 he fell on his face with teares, begging pardon fronti 
 the King. 
 
 In Edward the feconds time;the favourites had moft 
 of the domineering power in their hands, yet we read 
 thkt the Bifhop of Coventry was a great favourer and 
 abetter of Gavefton. 
 
 As for Edward the third haveing great warres ifti. 
 hand,and Handing in neede of ayde, he called a Par- 
 liament at Yorke,wherunto/i?/w Stratford Archbifhop 
 of Cantcrburie,denied to come : neither would he 
 fuffer any of his Bi(hops,to make their appearance, &:. 
 allforfeare thathelhouldnotbefuffered toered his 
 croiTe^by which Popifli peevilh tricke and rebellious! 
 part, the King was fruftrated of his ends , and the 
 State therby endangered. It is true that this Edward 
 was indeed fas he wascalledj Malleus Romanorum. Yet 
 in his latter dayes that proud Courtney made litle ac- 
 count of him: and fo difdainfuliy affronted his brother 
 Duke of Lancafter, and the Earle of Northumberland 
 fwho took the defence of Iohn WickliffeJ that he en- 
 raged the maddc people againft the faid noble men^fo 
 that they avenged themfelves upon their houfes and 
 houflioldftuffe. 
 
 Thus your Honours may fee in what account tfcc 
 
 bran* 
 
%Againfl the VteUcy. 61 
 
 branches of the blood Royal are with bloodic & re- 
 bellious Prelats. Who will neither fparethem(if they 
 maintainethe Gofpell)nor fpare that good commo- 
 ditie,which fhould fave our foules. 
 
 Richard the 2, was no better iervedby thefaucie 
 Bifhopof Norwcidge in levying fottldiers atthc 
 chargeofthe fubjefts to fight the Popes ba: 
 (contrarie to the Kings command) he was fent fO't 
 by the King, but he refufed to obay , affirming th.xi 
 fting on cr action were more nccc(fdrie y tbdn to goe J: 
 wi'.h the King D it might le to fmiU pnrpofe. 
 
 To £^oe on with Henry the-f.fuppoitcd 5c put on 
 by thefe men to difthronc his matter a brave Pi:: 
 but much abufed. 
 
 They laid hold on the occafion the rather, 
 becaufe he hearkened fomwhat to wickliffcand was 
 not for Romcs tooth. Theyfirft (lined up a rebel- 
 lion in Ireland which the King went in perfon to 
 fupprefTe, but before his return they had ftolnea- 
 way the hearts of his fubjefts, and (et them upon 
 hisfubjccl,the Earle of Darby, neither weighing 
 the glorious mOTiorie of the grandfather, nor the 
 theunrepayabledefert of the princely father; but 
 thirfting for the blood of the fain efts they advanced 
 the faid Earlc to the crown : that by this they n. 
 both rid the King out of the way , and hauca I 
 for ever obliged ro patronize their blooddie dcfigriS 
 
 ift Gods people. And this they did effect, 
 alter the death of Richard they incited the King and 
 prevailed with him to cnactthat blooddie inquifitid 
 oath, which became the very (hambles & butchering 
 hotife of Gods people. 'I his 
 
6i Syons Fleas 
 
 Thus the fupreame Magiftrate ( who fhould have 
 bcene the hreath cfhispecfie) was for the maintenance 
 of an EarthlieCrowne, brought to bath in the blood' 
 ofhisbeft people. 
 
 This he would never have done , were it not for 
 pleafing of cruell Arundel Archb. of Cant, and his 
 crew 5 who vowed &fware that herald not leave onec 
 flip of Prof effort in this Land. 
 
 As fome of the famedifcent {to their title Laud) 
 have faid litle leffe of the Puritanes fas they call them) 
 th aforcfaid Arundel and his flnvelings,the King feared. 1 
 more than God and his Word 5 And therefore it is an' 
 heavie yoke for Kings to be yoked with them. He 
 faw no way in his carnal apprehenfion to make the. 
 Growne fticke to him and his , but by facrificeing the 
 blood of Gods people to the perfecutors of the faints. 
 But for all this his otone makers thought to have 
 marred him. Fori?/VW^Archbi(hopof Yorkc waged 
 vvarre againft him 3 and thought to have taken both 
 Crowne and life from him^but he mift of his purpofc, 
 and fo left his headinpawne. 
 
 From the time of Henr. the 4. the Prclats ( thus 
 flefhed in the butcherie of Gods people ) went on to 
 a greater height of tyrrannie , adding drunkennes to 
 thirft. 
 
 They prevaird with Henr. the 5. to make antm- 
 juft and mifcheivousftatute under pretence of trcafon 
 againft the fervants of the molt High , whom they 
 called Hereticket. That ftatute in regard of the frame 
 may be called Monltrnom^nd blooddte in rclpcft of the 
 end. 
 
 The 
 
Agamft the Vrelacy'. £3 
 
 The preface of the ftatute ftandcth onely upon trea- 
 ;>n : the bodie of the ftatute runnerh z\\onHereJie, 2 c ' Af ™'i' 
 vholift to look the ftatute may at the firftvicwdif- 
 erne the head or root difcording with the bodie, and 
 ne branches of the bodie , oppofing one an other (as 
 rdinarily wicked decrees confift of non-fence and 
 Ifconfufion for fo the wife God taketh the foolifh 
 1 their owne Police : To go no further ; witnefle AnnoiSc;. 
 ur late Non-fence Canons (to lay no more of them. 'Bur 
 D the faidfhtute a little further, the purport and end 
 thereof, was to infnare and calumniate the Profcfibrs 
 f truth. For it is a common maxime amongft Ro- 
 lifh forgers,^ make the pro f eft on of the true P*ith{wbhh 
 f v> ca.V Lere//e y andtreafin to be convertible termes. 
 
 That the Prelates were the prime movers, yea 
 
 le inftigaters and procurers of this ftatute, it is clear 
 
 om the matter, manner, preface, and end of the 
 
 lid ftatute: for neither could they inftance anie 
 
 jch apparanccoftreafon, nor did the King feare 
 
 inie fuch trcafon • but onely their hatred of Lcl.irdy 
 
 as they called it and feare of the truths prevailing 
 
 ^as the ground of it; and the thing itfelfe,a toade 
 
 igcndred in the Bifliops braines : witnefle that 
 
 laufe in the body of the ftatute , o^/ the inflance ry 
 
 vqttefttf theOrdtnarie &c. but what commodiric 
 
 r comfort hadthefetwo Kings from thofc fuggeft- 
 
 . dand inforccd cruelties, by thefe firic Biflior 
 
 J urelicthc evill overcame the foppofed good , for 
 
 , icy by thefe fimfter means , indevouring to make 
 
 t yc crown faft upon the heads of them and theirs, 
 
 rovoked the Lord in his blood- revenging- fud 
 
 mciu 
 
64 Syqns Tletu 
 
 mcnt , to take of -their fucceflbrs with Fifheokei. 
 
 Asforthcmfelves, it may well be faidofthem, 
 ( efpeciallie of Henrie the 4. ) that the (lormes of 
 their troubles, and fires of fear es, were hotter and 
 greater in life and death then the fires and fryings of 
 the faincls wherein they wereconfumed toafhes., 
 
 This maybe a good caveat to all chriftian Princes,, 
 nottofaften their crownes, nor to fixe their tents; 
 by the cords of the prelates counfells : for it is re- 
 markable and obferved by fundrie , that never a King 
 counfeBed nor State fxva^ed by them, could Jt and or con-< 
 tinue long in good temper or etfeemes. 
 
 Aftronomers obferve and experience proves, that 
 when Orion fetteth with the funnc,and the Hyades 
 rife with him ( though it be in thebegining of May ) 
 fuch nipping frofts , (harp haile, and tempeftuous. 
 ftormsarife,thatthe feafon feemesto be changed, 
 and that becaufe thefe ftarrs be of a tempeftuous na- 
 ture,changing the ayre, and weakening the fweet &» 
 powerfull Influence of the Sunne , which till he be 
 ridd of their oppofition cannot manifeft his vigour* 
 Iuft fo the malignant and tempeftuous power of the- 
 Prelacy, doth fo impede and intercept thefw cet in* 
 fluence of a Princely temperature and difpofition, 
 that doe what he can, all is like to be undone, till he 1 
 leave Taurus or the houfe of the horned beatt^ which 
 being forfaken, all diftempers vanifh & his gracious 
 clemencie moves fweetly in the Gemini of the 
 Church and common-wealth. Yea we can hardly < 
 number how many States and Kings, (befidesour 
 owne nationj they have brought either very lowc, 
 or,, to utter ruine. To, 
 
%Againfi the T re lacy. 6^ 
 
 To go on then with Hcnr.6. Left an iafant , under 
 the age of one ycare^upon whofe harmelelTe head God 
 in hisaccuftomary jultice , laid the temporall judg- 
 ment of the parents guilt. His very infancye , that 
 Skarlert Cardinall Bifhpp of 'Winchester , befprinkled 
 with the blood of Chrilts Martyrs. Yea, the more 
 blood they drunkc,the more they rhirftcd , as appea- 
 reth by the hott andcruell perfecution in that Henries 
 raigne. Bin fo me what lay in their way, namely that 
 good Duke of 'G/o'ce flerjhc Kings uncle , the very fword 
 andihicld of the King and State , whom they mud of 
 neceiliiy have removed. 
 
 The Bifliop of Winchefter intended to have mur- 
 thercd him in the citty of London,but that not taking 
 efFcd.a Parliament was called at Bury , where they ai- 
 med at his head, and fo they had it ; but what was the 
 caufc ? Surely nothing, (for all S* t Thomas \JMoores 
 'egging) but onely this , he was a juft man and a good 
 Patriotr,hatcing the Prelats haughtines , and deceiving 
 /illanics, loving the truth, and maintaining equity. 
 
 Where firlt may it pleafe your Honours to obferve 
 :he mettle of the Prelats,in fcrching off fo quickly & fo 
 :afily,not the head of a Catelin or Seunus of a Spencer 
 or Gdisston ,but of a high and nigh Prince of the blood 
 uchan one, as well might be called P.tter Putrid, , the 
 •athcrofthc Country. 
 
 Secondly, all men may hence obferve that piety ft 
 londhe, hath beenc,is, and fhallbe,matter enough fo* 
 he Bifhops to make the belt fall, if they can rind opor- 
 univ.But to the point this worthy ml being removed 
 he Bifhops Went on with their fiery paiccutions, till 
 K the 
 
66 Syans Tktu 
 
 the Lord lent the fpirit of divifion upon the nation, 
 ftirring up thefe bloody inteftine warrs betwixt the 
 houfe ofTcrke & Lancafter, wherof the like hath fcarce 
 been heard in any nation. 
 
 To omitt the particulars (as how many Princes of the 
 blood,Nobles,Knights,Gentlemen , fell in that quar- 
 rell ) In one Battle at Ferry Brigges were flainc ( as 
 men fayj 30000. befides men of note. Thus the Lord 
 inhisjuftice made them inftruments of his revenge 
 one upon anothcr^and who but the pctfecuting Prelats 
 brought all this evill upon the Land, namely the blood 
 of Gods people>as the provoking caufejthe butchering 
 one ofanotherjthe ruine of the King, and his racc 3 and 
 the fhakeing of theftate in peeccs ? That the Prelats 
 hands were farre in this Kings mifcarriagc, and bloodic 
 broyles enfuing , it is manifeft by their never ccafling- 
 defire,till the good Duke of Glocefter (th^Jvingspro- 
 te&our indeed) was cut of. For it is their genuine di£- 
 pofition, to endure no truftie freind to God , the King 
 or the State. 
 
 By this both King and State were open to thofe 
 long enduring , and incomparable evills , tumul- 
 tuous rebcllionsjaifed by Cade & others. 
 
 In which troubles one thing is remarkable , as the 
 very finger of God,that notwithstanding thisinteflinc 
 bloodlhed in great abundance , gave fitt oportunity 
 to fonaigne invafion ; yet that all- wife and juft God 
 reftrainedaliforraignes from parting of them, till th*y 
 had fully wrought the Loids revenge ., in flaughte- 
 ring one another. Hence let a natioii addi&ed to 
 Idolatrie and other Unties obferve. That tiie Lord will 
 
 make 
 
lAgainfl the Trelacy^ 6f 
 
 makconeofthemdevoureancxber , fofa long time 
 before he give them i* p to a forraigne enimie. And Z4k ' 4,,t6 
 fucha courfe the Lord kerne: h to keep with us. But 
 rohaftenwhh the point from tho beginning of that 
 ^looddic time , till the /a I Tcrke & Ltmcdster. 
 
 were uniied , ircre v.—/ is (4* en, Rtvt i $ t 
 
 That is fomc fmall peace in the Church , -partlic 
 trough ihe obfeuritie of Profcflbrs,and partlie by the 
 ►nimics working one upon another. Notwithftan- 
 ling the Prelats were Hill doing as they found occa- 
 sion, inftance the murthering of Peav.oeke E:fhop of 
 Jbichefter as it is recorded; after his recantation. 
 
 Now toHcnricthe7. in whole time the Lord had 
 jo (boner given reft to the State, than they began to 
 hake warre upon the Saints, making the King himfclf 
 jn inftrument,to fubverr the faith of a poore Prieft,by 
 iis awfull pretence, and mandatorie perfualions, with 
 jhom the lcarncdft of their Clergic could not pre- 
 aile. Immediatlic upon this they carried the mife- 
 ably Educed man to i he tire and burned him. W\is 
 ot thisafearfullcviJIagaintt God and the State , a- 
 »infl the foule of the King, againft both the ibule 6c 
 odicof the partie feduccd i Was not thij> King ( for 
 1 im great parts; much vailalledin the Honour of his 
 hjcllie,that he could not lave fas wc may ituakfl he 
 romifed his fuppoied convert ? 
 1 With their fine and bJooddiccourfes they went on, 
 j> the ( IC trouble of the King and king- 
 
 ■-jine/ik Hillones difcover at large. And howioc 
 ut King heapvd up muv.h rrcaiurc , yet quicftUt after 
 K 2 his 
 
6% Syons Tteo-, 
 
 his death it melted as fnow againft the Sunne. 
 
 We goe on with Hcnr. 8. the former part, of Avhofc 
 time they made an Aceldama or field ef blood. 
 
 How he and all his fubjects were abufed and over- \ 
 runnc by the Prekus,as Gardwer,Bonner y &Woclfey , it | 
 is fo obvious to e vcrie one , and fo fully laid downe in| 
 a bill of con?plaint,calkd tfa beggers fetition, that it is 
 not neceffarie to be infilled upon* 
 
 There it is made phine 3 that they were too ftrongj 
 -againft the King in Parliament , that no good lawesi 
 eould pafle againft the wicked of the Land , nor nol 
 wicked law againft the poorc Gofpellers could bet 
 flopped. 
 
 Winchester gott the King to fitt at the arraignment 
 of holy Lunbert , which he onelic did to humouf 
 thefe blooddie beafts, and to ferve his owne ends. 
 
 To be breife , they made him exceedingly to tranf- 
 grefle,fcrvingthemfelves with him , difturbing hia 
 peace^inward and outward, caufing him undefcrvedlic 
 to cut off hisbeit Freindcs, and truftieft fervants, in- 
 ftance Cronftoell^ becaufe they fcrved God and him 3 a< 
 gainft the Prelats pride and tyrannic 
 
 As for Jgueene CMary, who fet all in a flame, (he had 
 the fewell from them ; that fed her diftempered difpo- 
 fition againft Gods people. What Honours andPoC 
 k&on 3 (he loft , and how trcublcfojric her State anc 
 
 bur- 
 
tAgainft the prelacy. tfp 
 
 jurdenfome her life was to her 5 it is more then evi- 
 ient. 
 
 But what is all rhis to outBifhops mayfomefay, 
 hefe were Popifh Bifhopps ? For aniwer : 
 
 Firlt , their doings have fo farre proved the point. 
 j. Oars be no other for order (as wc have proved 
 :hen Popifh Biftiops- They arc garments cut out of the 
 very fame cloth; a paireof fhecrcs /as we fayj went but 
 betweene them ; Onely divers hands have cut them 
 our. And to fay that our Lord Bifhops with all thoit 
 cffcntiall and integrall pans whereof ihey confif- 
 aot Popifh B s . is a contradidion in aduclc. Thev 
 are inftalled after the fame manner, created with the 
 moft of the fame Ceremonies they arc trimed up m 
 the fame trappings , they have the like attendants , the 
 likc*armcs and obfervancy,they ul'urp the fame power 
 and jurifdittion , and excrcifc the like tyranny over 
 Ministers* and people* 
 
 But for further proofe of the point concerning 
 ihcir particulars, be plcafcd .right Honourable) to tak? 
 avicw of their proceedings. 
 
 To begin with Edtosri the fixt ( a gracious plant, 
 whereof our foyle was unworthy; who like an other 
 lift* fetting himfelf with all his ftrength about refor- 
 mation, did abhorrc and forbid , th.u gm Msffi fit* 
 fcrmitted to bis o^tne fisier. Further, he was dciirous, 
 not rolcavcahoofcofthc Romifhlkaft in his King- 
 dome , as he was taught by fomc of the fmcercr 
 fort. 
 
 K i But 
 
yo Syms Pletu 
 
 But as he wanted Inftrumeuts to effed this good,il|| 
 he was mightilieoppofed inallhisgooddefignes ., efr 
 pecially by the Prelats , which caufed him out of a j 
 godlie zeale in the very anguifli of his heart, to pourc i 
 out his foule in tcarcs. 
 
 Their fuggcflion of falfcfeares to the King, and the 
 feeking of their owne unlawful! {landing , brought* 
 forth that revived fpawne of the bcaft 3 kneeling in rt\ 
 ceiving of the Sacrament, for the greater reverence thereto* 
 thereby the Paflfts had contcn.ment* 
 
 And certainly for this , and fuch like €ourfes , the 
 Lord tooke him away in wrath to this nation, that he.; 
 might make the furnace of his indignation feaveai 
 times hotter againft it, whereby he opened the eye*of I 
 fome good men, who with rcmorfe of heart confe&dji 
 that fin of theirs againft God,againft the King, againlt. 
 holy men (refitting Roomes Rehques) and againft them- 
 felves. 
 
 To come at laft to Jgjttene Elizabeth ( ofhappie me- 
 morte) who having fetled her eftate, and fubverted the 
 profeffion of Popery, came in th'end to liften to a full 
 reformation, whercunto (he was moved ( as we are 
 credibly informed ) by the Lord Protector of Scotland, 
 called the good Regent. 
 
 As fbe honoured him very much and held his 
 words and a&ions to be of great waight ( whatfoever 
 the mungrell Papifts affirm* to the contrarie ) fo flie 
 
 gave 
 
Agawft the VttUty. Ji 
 
 lave good refpeet to thefe particulars, which he laid 
 owne to her for grounds : 
 
 i. The unvaluable benefit ofafaithfull and free •« 
 ftniftry. 
 
 2. The exccllcncie of the puritie of Gods ordi- " 
 ance,&:c. " 
 
 3. The honour and happincs that would, attend 'J 
 erCrowne and State, upon the eftablfhment of (< 
 thrifts government. 
 
 4. And laftiy 'though theleaflin eftceme, yet,, 
 f no fmall moment to the good of her (late ) fhc « 
 light imploy the Prelates overfatteningpaftures to < f 
 lanie gooa and profitable ufes , leaving the cc 
 :iniftric enough rot their Honourable mainte- M 
 ance. As for their glorious and lordly pomp " 
 rhich was pretended much to honour a nation, it \ ( 
 id notfo indeed 5 for it juftled out Gods honour ff 
 'hichfoould be dearer to Princes the their crowns « 
 ;nd liuex. And grant that it were fome comple- a 
 ient of true honour j yet the faveingof onefoulc «« 
 y the preaching of a powerfull minifter was of lC 
 :iore worth the all the pomp & glory of the world. < l 
 
 To this effect was his (peach , which the 
 •Mrenc pondered well. But when the Prelates 
 nderftood what an office he was about , they mur- 
 mured exceedingly , and in revenge of thru moti- 
 n, he had unjuft afpertionscaft upon him, and 
 ath to lyiomc of their traine. 
 
 At a Parliament holdcn anno 1 3. of her M.ijefties 
 c, fome Pi elates and others were fent from 
 onvocation houfc to exhibit to her rfubfidic , 
 
 accor- 
 
yi Syons Vlex* 
 
 according to the cuftom, her Majefie fpake veric 
 graciouflie concerning the good of Chrifts Church, 
 affirming that fhc had heard of manie things in the^ 
 Church needfull to be reformed, which if (he could 
 butcometounderftand, fhe would not give fleepe 
 to her eies till fhe fett upon reformation , and 
 , would never give over till (he had doneitindeed; 
 and if they, being the eies, would not revealethei 
 truth, let the blameand blood be upon them. 
 
 But what was their anfwer to fo worthie amotion 
 evenfuchas fuited with their owtie ends, feeking 
 more than theire twnc ; and not- that which is chrijts : 
 like falfe glaffes they prefented her Majeftie with, 
 an OmnU bene. And thus they proved the bane o£ 
 reformation fruftrating the defires of a Prince wor- 
 thy of fo great a work. 
 
 After that , in proceflfe of time, they caufeda 
 fubtileinfinuation of thedifgracc of difcipline to be 
 fuggefted to the Queenc, affirming, if difcipline 
 were fett oi) foot, thateverie fillie fellow, ox fir , 
 Z^inaparifh Church, might at his pleafure raile 
 on the Qeene, and alfo excommunicate her,. 
 Whichfby the Bifhops leavejisa veriecalumnie,asif 
 the government of Chriftftiould not both knowe, 
 and ufc Kings better, than the government of Anti- . 
 chrift. But envie never fpake well. Inthemeane 
 time they neglc&ed no oportunity to perfecute i 
 fuch godly miniftcrs as would notco»forme, and 
 from citing, vexing, fufpending , and carting them 
 out of their free-holds , they fell to pack With 
 fomeathgiftlyludges - } fetting them fo againft the 
 
 good:! 
 
r 
 
 nAgainsl the Prelacy* 73 
 
 good men,that they did not onely fcoffc them , belye 
 them and revile them, but alfo ^rraigne them and con f 
 demne them. Which when the Q^<me heard, it 
 » greived her foule -, for file was fo farrefrom having 
 ! that high injurie put upon Godi Miniftcrs,that fhe fig- 
 i nified her mind in Parliament to the contrarie,nameIy 
 \ that ft? fyould not have them vexed for non- conformity. 
 What ever was mentioned in Parliament for the kce- 
 1 ping of the firft table, the Prelats ever crofled it. Wit- 
 I neffc that motion for thefanctifying of the Sabbath 
 in the 37. Eliz. the palling whereof they hindred. 
 ': So they fett themfeives againft that courfe of Sabbai K- 
 : keeping and reformation of abufes, undertaken by the 
 \ Magiftracieofthecitie of London,till ar length ( to 
 therr blamebeitfpoken ) partlie through their owne 
 I indifpofition tothebufines , and partlie through the 
 violence of the Prelats oppofing ; So high,neceflarie & 
 : and acceptable a duetie, was quite given over. Since 
 i which time, we may obferve, that the Lord hath fmit- 
 ten us in Citic and Countrey feaven times more in all 
 conditions and affaires D fo that things have profpered 
 worfe then ever they did before. 
 The like neceffity was laid upon the Citic in the raign 
 of Richard thefecond,/* takethe funfyment of filthines 
 ufon them\being rather increafed then curbed or restrai- 
 ned by the clergies courfes,)zt which reformation they al- 
 fo grumbled. 
 
 What (hall we fay of the attempts of Tome of them 
 (whereof fome arc dead , and fome were lately alivcj 
 againft his late Majefties fucceffion to this Crownc, 
 upon conceived fcare* and jeaioufy of church rcfor- 
 
 L matton* 
 
1 4 fy* ns Tit** 
 
 ptstiofywitncffc the inve&ives of fomc in Sermons,^ 
 orher writings ; the difgracefull fpceches & affronting, 
 paffages & oppofing pra&ifes of others againflhisroyall 
 perfo Jn fo much that whe they heard he was proclaimed 
 K.of Engl, they tore their hayre,being unable to refift,, 
 and without all hope of pardo. Yet the King(but of his: 
 his gracious clcmencye with much adoe , and afters 
 much importunate mediation ) was content to pardon* 
 it. Yea we make bould under your Honours favour 
 to put this quart. Whether any of thePrelats for 
 the time being, did affeft his fucceffion 5 Let them 
 fpeake in confeience. 
 
 Come we further to confider the late Kings difpo- 
 fition at his firft entry^for any thing we could perceive 
 he was well affefted to the Anti-epifccpall government I 
 (with which he was trained up from his cradle , and' 
 which by word and writ he had maintained ) and pro— 
 mifed to preferve at his comming out of Scotland.. 
 His g©od thoughts alfo to fuch reverend men as thefe 
 men fcornfully called Difciflinarians , were lively ex* 
 preffed in his Bafilicon Boron. Yea can it ftand with na- 
 turallreafon that a. King fhould gracioufly pardon his 
 profeffed foes ; and not afFed his dcareft freinds , by 
 whom fas by fecdndary meanes) he was kept and pre- 
 ferved from his very infancie ? 
 
 But for all this fo fooneas they had him here , and 
 had calmed the ftormy feares of rrelaufflttting,2%iin$ 
 the rock of his difpleafure , they began to (hew him all 1 
 the glory of the World , and to forge falfe accufations a- 
 gainft the Brethren,as though they had been the trot* 
 blcrs.tf lfr*eU y yi\m&}\ it wight be) bis mind was 
 
 fomc- 
 
nAgainft the PreUcy. 75 
 
 Ibmcwhat exafpcrated : Yet nor fo, nor With fuch in- 
 rcnr that the Miniftcrs fhould be opprefled as they 
 *rerc indeed without any ytd*ment; Witneffe his ownc 
 rouifeof reafoning, with the non-conforming Mini- 
 sters, fecondedwirhcomrmndement given, to deal e 
 :hem by reafon and difpute , and not wi:h ri- 
 ;our. But how the Prclars obeyed, let the cviil and 
 i>afc ufage^the fufpending, iilendng.thrufting out of 
 heir livings,fo many hundred i\linifkrs,bcare witnefle 
 lo the world. It is worthy your Honours obfervation 
 har in Anno 1604. and 1605. 400. Miniftcrs were 
 ilenccd fufpended, orthruft out by vcrtue of tfcofe 
 vicked Canons,which were not concluded by the con- 
 ocationTor D.Rud oppofed them by an oration j but 
 Kiey were thePopifh dftcr-tjrrth of B. Bancroft then 
 |, ofLondofl; Hatched as it is verily thought in the 
 rainesof hisghucfts th: Seminaries. This was not 
 inlike that praftifc of Trent, in prelling of the Interim 
 ; pon the Germane Minifters and other Protectants, 
 dt rcfufall whereof they were removed , and aaany 
 r erc baniflied. Vcr Hitman B. of Cclen would rather- slnlim 
 nouncc his Bifhops Sea, than be an Agent in it, C9 ™n <nt * 
 ho may (land up as a witnes againftour Prelaw. 
 ut what followed on this fylenceing of our Miniftcrs 
 r en that Maffer-pecce of Rome , the gunpowder plott 
 ought to the very period of accomplifhmenr. As 
 jod might in jufhec have punifhed the former cvill 
 yirh the Utter ( for our Kings and State have often 
 marred for the Prelats plagucgy courics : ) lb if you 
 •/ill be plcafcd to lookc further into the conduction of 
 udc cvills,you may find them both to be poyfonablc 
 L z fruitci 
 
76 Syans Tletu 
 
 fruites of the fame tree of death. Yea happily it may 
 probably appeare upon good inquiry, that he thar 
 was the maine agent in the former had his finger in 
 the later. 
 
 i. For the better clearing whereof; may your Ho- 
 nours be pleafed to enquire, whether Bifhop Bancroft 
 retained not Watfon thePrieft for his owne private 
 plotts$ whom he fuffered to divulge dangerous books 
 againft the State and right of the Crowne? 
 
 2. Alfo whether the faid Bilhop had not intelligence 
 with the Popes Nuncio in Venice and the LoVt Court* 
 tries? And whether Bhckwell the Arch-Prieft before 
 his apprehenfion was not by the faid B. prote&ed ? 
 
 3. What was thecaufehepofted on thefilencelna 
 of fo many Minifters,to the number of 400. (as hath}| 
 beenfhewcd)immediatlie before the difco very of thej 
 gunpowder trcafont After which difco very he wrote 
 to the other Bifhops, that they fhould not hould that; 
 courfc of filcnceing manie at once ^ but thar they, 
 (hould be filenced by one and one. For it feemes if 
 that grand bufines of Hell had taken effeft the blamfij 
 Ihould have been laid on the harmleffe hcaji <fGodsMinu\ 
 J?ers r zs though it had been doncbyPuritanes in revege* 
 
 4. Let it he inquired whether one of the Popes 
 fpeciall intelligencers, confeffed to afeeming malecon- 
 tent,that if the powder-plott had taken effeft, B. Banc. 
 Ihould have been Pope^Sc Father #W/,Cardinal of all 
 England? j Whc- 
 
Agalnfi the Vrelacy. j 7 
 
 5. Whether B. Banc. & others his accomplices had 
 not correfpondencie with the King of Spaine? 
 
 4. It is nor unworthy the inquirie what became of 
 J?/*f/,after the difcoverie of the powder-treafon ? It's 
 ccrtaine, that with B. Ba nckroft he was , but what be- 
 came of him nobodieknowcs. 
 
 7. Whether B.Banc. his intimate confederates, were 
 not fpcciall maiatainers of the Prelacie , oppofers of 
 the Gofpell,& good Minifters of God, yea & no good 
 frcinds to the State? 
 
 5. And laftlie,may your Honours bcpleafcd to 
 inquire,whether fome of our prefent Prelats, ule not 
 Iefuites in the habite of gallanrs.as their familiars: and 
 whether (looking for a change; fomc of them aymc 
 not to be 'hud, or at Jcaft to be as nigh the head as they 
 can, that they may do their M r . the morefervice > 
 
 1. For evidence of this , let their PopifliPofitions 
 & pra&ifes,& maintaining of them in othersfof which 
 we can give too manic inftancesjfpeak in thefirft place. 
 
 2. Their cruel perfecution of the Minifters doth 
 evidence the fame. 
 
 3. Andlaftlic, thcirbreathing out of threatcnings 
 againft confcionablc ft ho conforming Minifters ) and 
 thefc rhcy mcanc to make good ( becaufc they cannot 
 endure the GofpellJ except the Lord make you to the 
 fame,a place of refuge & defence they mean to root 
 it our. If they be left to the Prclats merciejthc woe- 
 full event will (hew it to be no (launder. 
 
 L 3 For 
 
7 a < Syons tltju 
 
 For i. as hath beenc (hewed they cannot fubfii 
 with the continuance of a faithful! Miniftric. 
 
 z. They will provide forthemfelvesin their kind. 
 
 3 . They can do the Pope no greater fcrvicc , and 
 the Kingdome of Chrift no greater injurie than in this 
 particular. 
 
 If their places difpofed them not for the Pope, they 
 would never difarrae the Kingdome of the States beft 
 forces, and the Popes greatcft adverfaries. Its true that 
 there be fome Prclats Rampant and fome Prclats Cou- 
 chatjom your Honours know they be all the Popes ?re* 
 fats. They have divers kinds of teeth , but all their 
 teeth bite. In a word,as bath been fhewed,the members 
 muftdoefor the head , and in this they doe but their 
 kindc. Therfore if you would fave both them and 
 us, alter the prof ertie from Lord Bi^ ops to Mimjlers fo 
 fhall you fpoyle the Pope ; preferve the StatcanJ you 
 fhali have the Honour through the world that they, 
 are your converts. 
 
 But to go on a litle further with this difeafc of the 
 Trelats <?T///,efpeciallie againfl; the Minifterie. 
 
 Befidcs the injuryc done to foules> it would make an 
 heart of ftone to relent to heare related the infolcn- 
 cies,fcofferies 3 outrages,revileings and barbarous cruel- 
 ties by them , and theirs put upon the faithfull Mini- 
 fters of God.and their poore families. Though many 
 
 Cuff* 
 
tAgain ft the T relacy. yp 
 
 ifferer* in this bufines be with God ; yet there be 
 >mr alive that can both relate.and witnefle the inju- 
 es done to themfelves and others , by breaking into 
 leir howfes ; by draging themfelves , Wives and 
 Mnilics to prifon ( and that without any war- 
 Int at all) the cafting of them, & theirs out of doores, 
 ving them fcarcc a ragge of their owne Cloathcs to 
 >vcr their childrens nakedncs. We humbly intreatc 
 3ur Honours , not to pafle by thofecr}'ing injuries, 
 hich you will the rather obferve and be fenciblc of,if 
 du take a view of the fearefull by-paft fequclls of 
 lofe cvills. 
 
 At his late Majcftios cntry,thc Lord fore-knowing 
 ow little fhould be done for him, and how much 
 jainft him y lent an admonitory pcrfuing plague , for 
 eat and continuance rarely matched, fpeaking to the 
 pc of King and State , that there was fomc fpcciall 
 fague to be removed j and what other and greater, 
 id more worthy the care of a King and State ; then 
 on//Jh rdol/s, in Gods woifhip,and Anttchrtfitan ?tr . 
 nnW which cvills increaiifig , (though the Lord re- 
 lovcd the plague,/>ct he hath (mitten us feuien tnncs 
 lores, in bodyes, liates.and names, namely in the di- 
 empcrof the ElemcntSjin the change of feafbns , in 
 it la*guifliing, gtoaneingand dying of the Creatures 
 nder the burthen of our funics. 
 
 And above all rcmpoiall punifhments , in taking 
 way our Hcnr) ,that I* ay Agon of Princes , who fhould 
 :iycbcen,and would have been, ( if our fumes had 
 XKhindccd) Ma/lcas LpiftoptrHtn \ which wpikc nd 
 
 doubtc 
 
80 Syons Itetu 
 
 doubt with Romes ruinc in England our Great 
 Charles , will accomplilh , if his army of Princes , 
 namely you great Senatours aft your part. Now to 
 draw r'o an end of their by-pail mifcheifs, let the 
 fubiefts take notice, what high indignity they of- 
 ferredto his late Maiefty, by whofe perfwdions,, 
 when fome minifters had conformed, they ufed 
 the faid minifters ( onely for preaching the Gofpel I 
 Jiaven times rvorfe than before, notwithftanding the 
 Kings command to the contrary. Not unlike for cru- 
 elty (for we parallel! not all ) to the burning of 
 that prieft perfwaded by Henry the feaventh , for- 
 merly fpokenof. 
 
 Since this greivance then, is made good byun- 
 denyable proofs, give us leave ( right honourable) | 
 by way of dutie, and by deferved retortion, to apo- 
 logie for our f elves from the afperfion of the Pre- 
 lates and their children , in their venemousfer- 
 mons, railings, and writings; we are (fay they J 
 feditious y tumultuous, factious , disobedient ^rebellious , in 
 a word the troublers of Ifrael : and they would gladly 
 jve were cut off, becaufe^e trouble them. But give us 
 leave in homely phrafc to fet the faddle on the right 
 horfc, and to tell them, they and their fathers houfe^ 
 are the troublers oflfracl. Let th em n ever tell us of ti- 
 rannizing over magiftrates, by depriving them of; 
 their rights , by excommunication Sec. Let them 
 notobjeft to us CM. Vdall&CM. Cartwright ejre. 
 as feditious fellowes, or traitours , if they had 
 beenefuch,our late King would never have writtea 
 his letters to Queen Elizabeth on their behalfe, a* 
 
tAgainfi the ^Prelacy. St 
 
 ie verily did. Let them dirc& iheirfpcechestothc 
 liftjfs ofLotfdo,i,Etyy, r rncbef/er y \ntQrdi&ors of theKing, 
 nd the whole realme. Anfelme againft Rufus\ Beckctc 
 'exeing Henry the fecond- Langtcn cafting away King 
 nd State; Arundell, unkinging Richard ihe fecondj In 
 >laine termes 3 thefe men were the traytors, and yet no 
 'refbytcntn Brethren ,but Lord Bifipps, whefe brcthrem 
 nd fuccefiburs our Prelaw arc. 
 
 The Bipiep of Hereford, preaching at Oxford on the 
 ext: oh my head I oh my head ai-ethl fas the vulgar latin 
 •iathit,2. Kings 4.19.) applyed it thus peremptorily 
 igainft Ed. 2. That the Kings head mujl $fnecefjity be ta- 
 ten fif, 
 
 1 He might better have collected , that that which 
 nade the head ake 5 fhould have been taken off , and 
 :hcn he had hitt himfelf. 
 
 And fo much fortheproofc of this point, in the 
 aterpart whereof wc have been iparing of particular 
 names in the paflages of our proofes , becaufc we love 
 not ro ftigmatife any particular perfon, fdead or alive,/ 
 Gncc it is the evills of their callings, and not perfons 
 ^rhich wc oppofc. 
 
 M %.?*& 
 
A 
 
 ll 
 
 $2 Syons 7?lca-» 
 
 8. Pofttiox-, proved. 
 
 LL the fearefull evil/s of finne and)udgntnt , fir 
 the pre fen t raigningamongH us f and threat ned &- 
 gainst #j 5 &c. are from the Hierarchy&c. 
 
 ■ Evills fas they deride themfelves ) are evills effznne; 
 orevifcts of judgment. Though all evills of finne be a« 
 gainfl: God, (for it is the tranfgreffion of the LaVo, ) yet| B 
 finne is either dire&ly againft God 3 or againft man ; ' 
 againft the firft Tabic, or againft the fecond. 
 
 Now give us leave ( right Honourable) for the ; 
 proofc of our point,to touch upon the particular bran- \ 
 ches of finnes againft particular precepts $ which (hall 
 demonftrate, whether they flowe not from thefeasof 1 
 Bifhopps. 
 
 The breaches of the firft precept , we contrive into' 
 thefe h^Asjgnorance^Tnfdelitie^Atheifm, Herefte, Apofia- 
 ciejnt email idolatrie^makeing a God of the Creature , ha- 
 tred of God Jin^ard and outward pride, a bafe Love,fervile 
 or favifl* feare of the Creature , car nail fee uritie , Jlupii 
 henumednes, Hypocryfj\Dtfpaire , & Impenitencie 3 with 
 others of this nature , oppofite to the feverall graces, 
 & duties of the firft Commanderncnt. 
 
 All thefe overflowe , and are like to drowne our 
 Nation,neirher have we time to enlarge ech of thefe, 
 but the height of ech of them, crycth to the very hea- 
 vens. But whence are all thefe, and the growth of 
 them , but from withhoulding the keyes of Chrifts 
 Kingdomc ? by "tohieb they Vtill neither enter themfelves, 
 
 n§r 
 
tAgainft the prelacy. $l uk 
 
 tor fuffer others to enter , doth not the palpable ig- *J- 
 \$Ntna of many Millions in this Land, arifefrom the «.' ~ ; " 
 vanre of meanes, and rcmovcall of GodsfaithfullMi- 
 iifters ; placcing fuch over peoplc,as nre not Worthy to be 
 ■■ s of the Vloekt , forbidding Gods mef- 
 Higers, to deliver his riKfluage. The fearefullnes of 
 vhich finne appearcth by the wirncfle of the Holy 
 ; h ) ammaund the Trophets ^fyng Prcpbcjie net, Amosi.n. 
 
 vhich the Lord accounteth a very prcfllire to himfelf ^V' 2 Jf" 
 n the verlc following : hehould I amprejfed under )ou> 
 s a cart i<prejfcdthat hfnlloffteAves^ which is a weary- 
 ig of God with fin , and God is wearied with no 
 n more then with this. To this purpofc be the other 
 laces in the marginc. 
 
 This forbidding to preach the Gofpell,is faid to be * l6 ; 2 * 
 ic very fifing up ofthefinnes of the Iewes. 
 
 The horrour of this flnnc of filcnceing Minifters 
 >r not fubfcribing,& the fearfuli evills enfucing on it, 
 . fet forth in afpeach of the Lower houfc ofP^rl.A # . 
 610. wherein they call it and that truely a crying fmne 
 evoking God t jnd most grew otts 1$ ihefub')cc~t. And ther- 
 >reana& part the Houie, that rhcy fhould not fub- 
 ribe any otherwife then according to that ihtute of 
 j. of E/tzab. for if otherwife thcyfiotU be urged the 
 \w of the church (as they fxid)cr Comnur.-ive* 1 fkswUjarre* 
 
 So we may inflance in all the other finn*s, as Here- 
 r,JVi//w*f ; inrtancc Popery 7 KAtukdftifmt , SeftrJtifme y 
 vfrminiintfmefc Fdmi/sfne. 
 
 Their upholding of Popifli grounds, lawcs,rires 
 : tyranny in the Churches of England , and over the 
 iiniftcrs and people, give the Papifts more then hopes 
 M 2 of 
 
84 Syons Tle^u 
 
 of returning to their pofTcffions, witb the overfoppiftgk 
 authorise of the Pope,whofe homes keepe pofieiTion ! 
 forhim,keepingChriftatthcdoore, and pufhing out 
 the meanes , by which he fhould enter. For the fame! 
 grounds and arguments that the former (land on, anil 
 uie 3 are the very beftarmes,offenfive &defcnfive, thail 
 the later have* I 
 
 Alfo the Anabaptifts, feeing the grofle abufe and for-j 
 ced interpretations of the fcriptures, not onely delivc-t] 
 red., but alfo prefled upon others , together with the] 
 unfound Dodrine and eorrnptions of Minifter* , and] 
 the Bumbe Do?ges> which be In manie places, they re- 
 ject the word & other ordinances , and fall upon thekj 
 ownc fmtajlickt revtktions and damnable fooleries. 
 
 They are alfo the Authors of the SeperAtiHs fcijmel 
 
 •which hath both the rife,& incrcafe from the Prelacid 
 
 With whofe fuperftitious corruptions the fmceral 
 
 people at firftdenyed to joyne ; and Co being driver i 
 
 from their Homes & Countries, into forraigne parts 
 
 manie of them tooke up ftrange and unfound conclu* 
 
 fions 3 which to this day they hould of the Churches & 
 
 beft people thereof 5 and duties therein performed. 
 
 which pradife of their fepcration buttethfull upot 
 
 tfce unreafonable & unfound reafoning of the Bilhopi 
 
 in this manner : 
 
 Tuft!^'. tf difeifbM befo necejfarie, and alfo unehangable , // % 
 
 C */.i . ItCSofull tofeperatefromjiich Churches , 44 doe not ufe it (fo 
 
 p*^i" thtVtcfai$)bMtDifcipIiHe is unchangtbly necejfarie (fa 
 
 the SeperatiftsJ Ergo it is lwfu/1 to fepertte from fuel 
 
 Cbur 
 
tAgainfl the Trelacy. 85 
 
 churches as doe not ufL^ it. 
 
 Your Honours fee clearlie,how the B.M*)or y &L the 
 beperatifts Minor make up an in tire fiiogifme of Sepert- 
 
 But in the meanc time they both make a falfe cofi- 
 tlufion,andtherforeonc ofthepremifes muft be falfe, 
 tot the minor, (fordifcipline is both ntceflkrie & w,u 
 'htngab/e,) Ergo the md)ir , which is a fnare to the fe- 
 peratifts of the Bifhops ownc making. B. MVhitgtft 
 wrote the quoted trcatifc,whcrein he framcth the ar- 
 ;ument 3 beforefcpcratifmc was lurched. Etntin&m 
 Would to God (faith a learned man) he hdd never breached 
 it. For being a falfe ground,it made a great rent in the 
 Churchcs^ForWantof 4?; tnfrgra/Zpjrt cf tl. echoic ; or S •• 
 tffome ejjentiatt part in it fe If (though not of the whole ) is J"*™* & 
 no fufficient. ground for fepcranon. All the Prelats 
 probers ply the Reformers fas they call them ) with 
 iheaforcfaidinfnaring Propofition , as it were with 
 warme Cloathes. Yet wc fee they fcalde their ownc 
 hands,for they and Barrow to whom they compare us) 
 ifort better together in the argument,thcn we <3c Bar- 
 ro^to doc ; and thcrfore to charge men with fepcration, 
 'becaufe they iepcrate from thccorruptions,is but toaf- 
 ^perfe with calumnic. 
 
 As for the aforcfaid argument, ownc it who will, 
 "whether ScperatiftsorPrclatifts , it is no better, yea /nn;iJt '- 
 the very fame which N$v*tU*sW&& DonatrJfs ufe in c^.t" 
 lcffeft,againft joyning with our Churches,as M.cWv/// 
 plainly aflirmeth, 
 
 XI 3 The 
 
8<5 Syons Plea^ 
 
 2. The feperatifts ftumblcat the "pride, rapine, 
 and tyrannieof the Prelates, as alfoat theintollc- 
 rable fervilitie and flaverie of minifters and people j 
 attheir ungodly courfes , their illegall and crucllj 
 proceedings , by all which they are forced ( for p 
 want of better takehesde)»pon the quickfinds offeferati. 
 on\ and that the rather, becaufe the Prelates argu- 
 ments againft them are either poperieor prifon. 
 
 To folio we with Arminuntfme or bLnched Popery r 
 LMountigue proclaim eth with open mouth : his en- 
 tertainment, teftifieth, and a great number of the, 
 Prelates themfelves profefTe; who be the fathers 
 and abetters of it. This more plainly appeareth, 
 that in both the laft Parliaments , it being earneftly, 
 oppofedby the moft of the lower houfe and manic 
 of thehigher houfe, the Prelacic rather did befreindl 
 it (at leaft under hand) then oppofc it , which fincc j 
 hath manifefted itfelfe by theaboundance of Pa- 
 trons and pleaders for it. 
 
 Laftlie,for the Famslifh^hcy obfcrvc the fwelling 
 pride,averice,fweareing , foriwearing and fimonic 
 of the Prelats. Alio how theypra&ife andprof- 
 pcr ; by which the Familifts do conceive,that the 
 fhift walking in the ordinances is not required in 
 the word. 
 
 They turneall thefcripture to allegories 3 and fo 
 they have once thefpirit, & xheperftftion of lovejhty 
 may do or not doe all things, as the time en/'oync of 
 permitt, and this is their Qwnc brood 5 wherewith 
 
 fornc 
 
%Againfi the Prelacy. 87 
 
 •me of their filthic tongues upbraid Gods people. 
 
 We might fay the like of profanefle & Atheifmc, 
 itneflc a Bifhops cookc , who faid all the nob/emens 
 ufes tb&t ever he h Ad former he Itved i/i f Were rtnke Pu- 
 tancs to his yM 'afters houfe. 
 
 For apoftafie, we will fay no more but this: how arc 
 ipifts, Arminians, & all manner of Sectaries increafed 
 late ? Yea to our fhime be it (poken. profeffburs arc 
 owne from heat tolukewarmncs, and from that to 
 y-coldncs. 
 
 To (hut up this particular, with a touch of that be. 
 tmmtitgfeare that runneth through the joyntcs , and 
 cevateththefpiritsof mc, whence is it, but fro thefc 
 urt-like PreUts t 6c Prelats-Courts^ot whom we may fay - 
 ith the Pfalmifts,according to the origmil\,They dam vw 
 isb tcmr forte man. Though more be faid here fir 
 ay be) then the time & treatiic can admit j yet lefle a 
 eat dcale then the thing it felfc requireth. 
 
 Now we com to the 2.Comandment both the parts 
 hereof , namelic, the affirmative and negative , the 
 :clats cfpcciallic, rranfgrcflc, and caufe to be tranf- 
 cflediWhich (lull appearc cfpccially,by taking a (hort 
 cw of the finncs forbidden, 6c duties commanded, 
 herein to bebrcifc, all 'externa ' idol Attic is here f$r- 
 iden^U 'Vti/t r Y,<cr flippy rites And ceycm**ics oj m.ws de* 
 
 Ifal inGodsVrofjhip , and further everic calling oi 
 imfiers or Elders that is not appointed & approved 
 fGod. To 
 
83 Syons TksL* 
 
 To begin with the laft firft fbecaufe in the efti 
 blifhingofgood and lawfull officers confifteth tin 
 fupreamc and principall good of the Church; Tli 
 calling of L.Bifhops hath bene fufficiently demoit 
 ftated^to be Antichriftian, and confequently corf 
 demnedby this commandement. 
 
 emu*. Thclearned make mention of three forts of Bi 
 Ten veritat. fhops, the firft wherof they call a diving or chriftii 
 BeZjA - Bifrop-, becaufeithathitsinftitution from God, be 
 Hto. ai ing all one (as the ancient fhow, at large> and thenn 
 e«^. in felves very well know,) with a iMinittcr oxEldci 
 &^' 22 ' This ordinance of God and pra&ife Apoftolica! 
 
 continued,as the forefeid authorise obferveth> fo 
 
 the fpace cf 300. yeare and upward. 
 
 After this followeth that Humane Epifcopacie (A\ 
 they term it ) wherein the pride of man began mi 
 v£t itfelf in an affe&ed title oifuperior Hie 7 ytt withoi * 
 any overlording power over their brethren andfe!' 
 low-Minifters 3 as doth plainly appeare by the place \ 
 and cariages of the ancient Fathers , who looked 
 not fo loftily upon their fefiow-kretbrei* , as feme (i 
 our pontifieall Parfons doe upon their neighbor k 
 Minifters 5 yea as great difference there is bctwu^ 
 them and the prefent Lord Bifhops, as is between f 
 Venetian Dukc^j and the great Duke of <Mufavicj> < b 
 which, the former hath but the bare title of Superi % 
 ritie , arid is guided and directed by the Senat , as h 
 the later doth what he will againft all Law and re IM 
 fon. Had the Fathers(as hath been (hewed from tt n 
 
 - lej 
 
sAgainsl the Prelacy. 8j? 
 
 zitntd) obfrived thccnfuingevill of this Ankitious C*f#l. itfj, 
 <tle> they would have ha^ed ir. This had the begin- ***** 
 jng,as the learned affirm from Si vJltr th e firft, who 
 aptifed fas they lay) Confiantint the Empcrour. 
 
 The Uft an 1 worft is,rhat AntichriHidn or SttanicdB 
 
 relacic y ((ovto they term it 3 ! rift from 2fc- 
 
 yjQr//// the 3. in Anno 607. rhe branches of this root 
 re our Lord Bifhops,(as hath been fully (hewed,) who 
 y their very callings make the prime and main breach 
 l this commandmenr, and what blcifmgcan men ex- 
 c& ? or why fhould they intcnain fuch Officers in a 
 motion of fo high a nature, as countermandeth the 
 ommandment of God > 
 
 In the next place we come to mew how their devi- 
 :s in Gods worftiip arejjft fuch as their calling, 
 amcly , directly againft the tenure of this (aid com- 
 landmcnt^ For that God v who will 5c fliould alone be 
 ^orlhipped^lhouldby tllreafon onelie prcfaibc how 
 e will be worlhippcd; whatfocver vrorfhip therefore 
 
 not of hisprefcription , is condemned under the 
 meof/<&/rf*7;andfoitisiadeed,as Sc other . 
 
 •11 VLS'yJZ^'.dfer ido/xm^c. By in tfth i. 9 , 
 
 c) is me*M\ %bdtfitver in Religions* brd.i $*t 
 
 ( riifG$d\ Iu ft with thit of a philician in 
 
 mCjNvho^though he had but a glimmering) could ice p 4 
 id lay fo much : qutcquid frxter ni.i , idclttm "'*• • 
 
 tohtifeevfr is lfc[idc the Word m Gcds i JV/V' *n v 
 iu'.l ; Benould now (right Honourable it ubcfo, 
 nw the Prtlats have ovcrlade the worfhip of God 
 'iih *M ^oijhjp zad Idolatrous rites. 
 
 N To 
 
po Syons TlecL* 
 
 To begin with the Strvice-hcoke , whofe Pt&greeJk 
 
 wehavcalrcadiedrawne, it is nor onelic faoltie 5 but a[ 
 
 booke of faults , as we have partlie fhewed , and couldjl 
 
 more fullie fh:w if time would give us leave. But thall 
 
 isdoneabondantly by others. If there were no moral 
 
 Mr.Btw^- but the Vopittiftame or forme ofitizs a learned man obi 
 
 ton. fervedj that wore enough to remove it « but both foij 
 
 matter & manner, it pleafeth the Papifts fo well, that bm\ 
 
 dcflreth no better if there were enough of it, witneffl ([ 
 
 the pacification of thedevonffairs Papifts in the tim^ |] 
 
 of Edward the 6. when as they anderftood it was nc 
 
 other but the verieMaffe-booke in Englifh 5 witneffi 1 
 
 alfotheaffertionofl).Goy)'£r 3 a dangerous feducinj 
 
 Confident. Papift. The common prayer-book (faith he) and the C* 
 
 Ml 1 9 teGin f mc contayned in it Should no point of Doctrine expreftk \ 
 
 cctrarie to antiquitie^that is(zs he explaineth himfclfjthet 
 
 Romifi fervicc; on; l ie it hath not enough in it, Aad for thk 
 
 Doctrine of fridcftination^SacramentSy graeeftee ^iU % anm 
 
 ftnne,5cc, the mw Catechifmt y and Sermons eftbepiritantA 
 
 preachers, rannejtoholy in thefe againft the cowon pr^erboo\ 
 
 and Catechifme therein contayned,&c. And thereupon: 
 
 MotiwPu- he comforteth himfeif upon hope of fupplie of thdl 
 
 fa. to the r eft. To this effed fpeeketh BriftoVt & Harding; l}\ 
 
 An f w ' thefe things be rigbt&hy not the relt ? fay they. 
 
 It (hall not be amifle to marke one aecurrencc in JM 
 Elizabeths time , who being interdiftcd by the Popel 
 Bull,Secrctarie Walftngbam, tryed a trick of ft an Pouical 
 to reverfe the f«*me. He caufed two of the Popes inteu 
 ligencer* at the Popes appointmet, to be broughtfas id 
 were in fccretJinto£#g/. to whom he appointed a guidA 
 
 being! 
 
Agalnjl the Prelacy! pi 
 
 being a ftate-intelligcnccrj who fhoul J (hew them in 
 'artterbury kLwdonfoxVicc folemnly/C** &fiiid with 
 [1 their pompc & procofllon, which order, the Popifh 
 itelligcncersfcing,& fo muchadmireing, ihcywon- 
 crcd that their Matter would be founadvifed , as to 
 
 terdic* a Prince or State, whofc fervice and Cerono- 
 ics fo ^/# W/^ with his owne. So rcturncingto the 
 ope,thcy (hewed him his ovcr-fighr, affirming ihat 
 icy fawc no fervice, Ceremonies, or Church-orders 
 
 England,bur they might vcric well have been pcr- 
 irmed in Rome, whereupon the Bull was prefently 
 illcd in. 
 
 From the book of the Ceremonies , which arc the 
 rthc tis of the Church 5 the blemifu of Gods or din aihcs , tic 
 iurgc of good Pi cAcbers ; the brood, and hopes of Poperte\ 
 t* rc]oycing of the prof Ane^ the greivAnce of the good, And 
 c veriefeede ofdiffention. Time will not fufrer to rip 
 the rotten Ptd$tree 9 \htAutb0rs t m4intahers t ei 
 Pestiferous ejfccls of them. Neither is it neceflaric 
 re to demonftrate by way of di!putc,thc unlawfull- 
 (Tc ofthem^fince whole volun : againfl 
 
 em, and cveric particular of rh m that can never be 
 fwcrc-HIr is enough (aswv have Jh< • hey 
 
 jdirecilie agiinft thefecond Co.i ig 
 
 vciic deedc The th) ejhrkl, And posts o\ idolaters, ft up FtyfMj.l 
 thctbnfrulJs And posts oj God. 
 
 This is the main ground of all t; tics and 
 
 liriesin Gods worfliip that tl i unifiers 
 
 > not or dare not teach, and the Prelates with the 
 
 N a fu- 
 
p2 Syons Pitds 
 
 fuperftitiouflie prophane people will not fuffer to 1 
 
 be taught the pandect of thefecondcommandement ij 
 
 in the full and due extent ; everie one knoweth i 
 
 that is acqnaintcd with the frame of the fecondl| 
 
 commandement, that it condemneth all fuperftitioJj 
 
 and efpecialij, fupcrftitious ceremonies in Godsk 
 
 worflv : p,upon this ground 3 the learned both ancicntlj 
 
 &rnodernehavecondemnedallceremonics ofmanw 
 
 invention in Gods worfhip both de jure & de fade X\ 
 
 C*til<* i^ftanceof the former from the oyte & holy ntterh 
 
 Ttft. Lib. i . 'leum quo inungfiuntur Epifcopi & aqua, luftralis cum flam 
 
 fine Dei ma'*dat$ idolatries & fttperfiitioft (tint 3 faith^i 
 
 the learned, the oyle wherewith the Bifhops aroi 
 
 annointed and the holy water, being things with- I 
 
 out the commsndement of God, are idolatrous 
 
 andfuperftitious : be not the ceremonies in our) 
 
 Liturgieby the fame rule and teuton foperftititus and\ 
 
 idolatrous f Learned Beza commenting up-j 
 
 %m/f f %$. on that place to the Corinthians ye are bought wi$M 
 
 price be not thefervants of men , from the laid com-* 
 
 mandement condemneth thofethatprciTc^fr/?/^ 
 
 cus rites upon the co.<fcience. of wen : (hewing furthei 
 
 from the (econd of the ColoflT. verf. 20. Thai j 
 
 mans corrupt nature is too prone to loofe their li-i 
 
 bertie, and to fubjefl: thcmfelves to fuperjfitton , the 
 
 sew*, verie heathen tell us 3 quod fuperfiitiofit error infanus { 
 
 that fupersii Hon is a mad err our > and fo it is indeed, fo. 
 
 neither found reafon, nor divine authority, cat 
 
 rule it: but foi convincing of the iniquity offuchfu 
 
 perftitious rites. The faid authour produceth at 
 
 argument from that forequoted place of the Colof 
 
 Where] 
 
tAgainfi the Prelacy. p 3 
 
 'herefore if ) t be dead * itb chrifi from the rudiments of 
 h world 'why as though living tn the we, Id are ye fub)ecle 
 ordinances or traditions* Whence he rcafoneth 
 ius. Pugnat in quit i^slpoflolus adverfus fupersiitiofas 
 aditiones argument an do a compar.itis. The Apoftlc 
 amending againft fupcrftitious tradirions frameth 
 1 argument a majori thus , Ccjjant. . thus qui. 
 
 \is Deth iffe mundum erudivit , qtuenant ih-pudentid (fl 
 ftmanas traditiones inculcate ? 
 
 Ifthofc rites did ccaffe by which God himfelfe 
 id inftrudt the world: it is an impudet part to preffc 
 thers in their place.But the former is true. Ergo the 
 iter. Tor the later part of the evidence^ namely, 
 e faiio there is proofe enough. 
 
 In thofe purer ttm:s (kith that catalogue of witnei- 
 :s they appointed not ceremouics , but were conten: with 
 tat pure dr/imple forme, namely ,/ hat God h.id appointed. 
 
 Tetrns Partjlenfij in his workc called Vcrbum abre- 
 tAtum relateth, how one Arnulphus an ancient c- 
 imie to Antichrift refitted the Pope and his PrelatS 
 h the Latcrane Counfcll , determining to make 
 .3 ore new Ceremonies : pot ius vcteres ad intends , nam 
 nera/it cbrisfianos arc It were a better work (faith 
 ic)to take away thofc that are extant, becaufc 
 ley ovcrladc the people of God, to whom the 
 word of Chriil fhould be a rule, nam tllud 
 jerumior that is verified ' faith he) Thattho m.ikc 
 1 '< of God of none effett by the traditions 
 
 f nte . cloud of witneCei • 
 
 we will onely ailed er 
 
 fpraclofcrinhisccnfure ofthe EngliftiLitUi ^-45*. 
 
 1-ntauenm eflnt /nextctn/s omnibus remits nth uiltu 
 lif/rornm c It 
 
^4 Syons VlesL* 
 
 It is fitt aad convenient that in all outward things and 
 a&ions of Gods worfhip as in Minifteriall garments,! 
 we (hould accommodate ourfclvs tothefimplicirie of 
 Chrifts appointmet & Apoftles praftife,/^ tefiari debe- 
 mus $mnibm y nil nobis efie comunt cum Romanenjibus Ant'u 
 ehrlsHs. Yea we (hould witnes to all men,that we will 
 have no egbunion with thcRelicksoftheRomifhAn^ i 
 tichrift : but our teachers (hould teach , and we (hould 
 hearc , onely that which Chrift hath commanded 
 Math 10. &Iohn.io. 
 
 To proceed for further fatiffa<5ttS,give us leave(rightt 
 Honourable ) tolaydowne thofe Bafes or grounds of 
 arguments , which we intreat your Honours to take 
 into confiderati6,offcfingourfelves(withall modeftie,) 
 to maintainc the fame againft all gainefayers. 
 
 I. The (jremonies are^ill^orjhip. 
 
 i . They are Jignificant and teaching Cere monies of 
 mans invention, fiatedin GodsW>or/&ip. 
 
 3 . They are <tn addition to the Tt>ord>flatlit againji , 
 the rule of the Word. 
 
 4. They are all mens inventions, & havebeenfilthit 
 *?ofifh I dolls, impofftble to be clenfed > but muft b< 
 JdollsfiiU in Cods l»orJhip % 
 
 5. Beit 
 
- ■ 
 tAgalnsi the Trelacy. P5 
 
 5. Heing mans invention , they nuke a conformity 
 'Ween hjs \£ idolaters in Cods TPorfaip. 
 
 6. They are occafions ofevill: appearances ofeViU. 
 
 a word : Tbtj are the veryftrangt fin & gamut 
 
 ottedVi'ithtbcflcfi , by their ownc interpretation of 
 
 lefe Scripture Phrafes : yea by the currant of all in- Ley. 10.1. 
 
 rpreters,thcy cannot, or do not deny , but that by 1 " 
 
 iefe places are condemned dUdcvifts ofmcn^iatcdm 
 
 ids Vwfit/p. 
 
 Bat became this tax may fecme too general!, may it 
 eafe yourHonours,to give us leave todcale with the 
 -and Ctrcmomt of the Crcffe, whole vilcnes being dif- 
 fered , may make us like the worfc of all branches 
 f the fame roote. 
 
 In our proceeding for our better information 5 we 
 ill obfervc this mcrhodc. 1 . The place and cfteeme 
 f the Crofle among us. 2. The ground of it. 
 , The cvill effects of it. And 4. the arguments 
 ;ainft it. 
 
 he firft of ihefr,namcly,tlic plicc and cftecnic. 
 may bo faid uf us (in foinc fence; as Bellarmwe faith r ^ T 
 f themfdva : Sumns cdora etiam c mti \ trima$lH tcri.oy.g 
 
 too manic i wect odors to it, in that it 
 \th any place in worflup with us. Now that it hath 
 high place and Honourable name in the Lords ordi- 
 nances 
 
p6 Syons *Ple<L> 
 
 nances,the daylie ufe ofit,theG//?0/*for theufeof ir.j 
 
 C4»««. ;o« and rfae teftimony of oul* writers verify : The Can$t 
 
 calleib it an Honourable Badge. UM r . Hooker calleth i- 
 
 a facred, or holy fgne , attributing great vertue to id 
 
 Df Potit affirming no meanes to be more fewer full to prcfin e a mti j 
 
 Lib. 5 . jf om defcrved frame y & tojlir up devotion, th c by this fig 
 
 ?L i6q. ning of the forehead ^ith thefgne of the CroJJe. Yea,l|j 
 
 cherh Ciprian , that the Crcjje doth pur if e the for eh e t 
 
 But what can fpeafce more emphatically for it then tli 
 
 very words,ufed in Baptifme, whieh giveth it the Vi 
 
 tueof a Sacrament, 
 
 Cmcmis The learned M*. Parker , the Crucify er of this Cn 
 
 proveth it according to the tenor of the words , ndcj 
 
 Pm. i. onely lobcfignficative&uttilfo effective. They makn 
 
 * a $ l' 6 9X * it a Sacrament in efFeft , as the Papifts make con 
 
 129,1 °' formation. By Baptifme they bring the infant int< 
 
 their Church 5 and by confirmation make it a Soul 
 
 dier of the Church. So we do the fame with Bam 
 
 tifme and the Croffe. 
 
 Further by making it a figne toaflure the Baptifw 
 of the Strengthening grace of the fpirit againft theafj 
 faults of Sathan, efpecially againft frame in per fecntion' 
 do they not make it a Sacrament J 
 
 2. For the groemd of it, though fomc with Vdlenu \ 
 
 nus have been fo (hamelefle as to cite fcripture for it 
 
 (as Efa. 49 22. Ier. 4. 6. Ezecfa. 9. 4. Ephe. 1. 13 
 
 Apoc.7. 3. ) yet the really learned of them dare not 
 
 vumT F° r r ^ e Popilh Canons tell us fo much ; J>)ha enii 
 
 Tavt. 1. Scripturafalutifera cruris fignacuiojideles docuit wfigniri 
 
 wfu 1 ' Whatp.au ofthefaving ^ord hath taught that thefaitl 
 
 fk 
 
tAgditift the Trelacy. p7 
 
 ull fcould be figned frith the fignt of the Creffe ? If they 
 Ippealeto the Fathers 'as the 30. Canon doth,cnjoy- 
 lingthe ufe of it,as they ufed it;) furcly it isa wonder 
 hey blufh nor, fincc rhey know very well that the Fa- 
 hers have not been fowler in any one particular then EpiHidDc- 
 n this. As for a tart. Hitrem will have a man xo guard metT - El d 
 is forehead Viitk the fignt cf the Goft in all his p.ffiges. hu - Aih ' 
 Neither wante'h he now fundry among us, to defend 
 his abfurd opinion. So ^fmhrofi calleth the figncu>.;. 
 >ftheCroiTe the perfection of things. \jA*fline houl- CJ P 2 - 
 ieth nothing in cither Sacrament to be rightly done™/^" # 
 mhout it. M\ Perkins difcourfes largely of this. 
 The very trueth is,it had its firft beginning from Falen- ?r3 ^- l8 4. 
 Wfthchcretiquc , as learned Fulke collected from Ire- ln Anna, 
 ens, and fo Fpiphanius. m Luk 24. 
 
 Further D Fulke fheweth 3 how the Devill did fow 
 he feed of Idolatry by the Crofle in Valentmus 5 Mon- Mafiv.46. 
 **/*/ nurfed ir, and got it credit in civill and religious fStSt 
 fcs. But Tertuf/un was the firft of the Orthodox, whe 
 ivrritt anything of ir , who was fowly tainted with ^' c ' r<? * # 
 vlontanifme. As for England j it had no erotic ar all 
 IB Auftine the Monke brought in his filvcr Crolle. if&fc //,;. 
 
 ; 3. For the cvill effects of ir. 1. Itmaketh the moft 
 
 iccount more of ir, then of Baptifmc it fclfe. 2. Some 
 
 cfufe to be witncflls,unleflc it be ufed. 3 . Some have 
 
 eft the Mniiilry or Parifh , where it hath nor been u- 
 
 ed. 4. Some have been rebapuicd, becauie they were p^'j^"'' 
 
 >ap tiled without it* 
 
 O Now 
 
p8 Syons TUtu 
 
 Now we come to the Arguments againft it, where-- 
 in we defire to be as breif as we can. And firft from 
 the ground fpoken of. 
 
 t. That which had no good beginning , noreveH 
 any good ufe in Gods worfhip fhould not beappoinj] 
 ted for a fignc of grace. 
 
 But the CrofTe in Baptifme had no good beginning! 
 nor ever any good ufe in Gods worfhip ( as hath beew 
 fhewed :) 
 
 Ergo it fhould not be appointed for a fignc of graci 
 in Gods worfhip. 
 
 As the Minor of this argument is onely control 
 verted ; So we defire the maintaincrs of the CrofTe, 
 to (hew us fome good beginning or good ufe of it 3 if 
 they can. 
 
 2. Every figneor Settle of an evidence, without the 
 Counfell of the Lord or Owner , and every military badgo 
 without the appointment of the grand Commander 
 is counterfaitc. 
 
 But the figne of the CrolTe in Baptifme , is fuch 
 figne or military badge. 
 Ergo it is counterfaite. 
 
 For the Major : Reafon cleareth it. Neither cai 
 that Diftin&ion of a figne fignificative & exhibitivi 
 make any evafion. For i. the Diftin&ion hath nC 
 ground from the word. z. They give the CrofTe n< 
 final! part of exhibition , witnelTe the words. 3. W 
 muft not add a figne fignificative 01 explicative in God, 
 worfhip (take what termes they will :) for this is Go* 
 
 frero 
 

 lAgalnfl the prelacy. pp 
 
 erogathe. This Prof oft ion isalfo proved very lear- 
 edly by D.Fu/ke^ : 
 
 That many fpeakt [faith he, of theSigntef the Crcffe, R{ - M(r 
 is true 5 but theyfpeake bejulcs the took* of Cod : i^And Am*, 1." 
 Hrcfore tl en reafons are to be rc'yclecL Tor men mutt not ?J l I44# 
 mpare y or')Ojne the Crcffe . . . y for ke 
 
 pointed no fuch^hei 
 
 it onely B.ipttjme. Yea BelLxrmine acknowlcdirerh v . . „ 
 ; much. Afo «nw laitn ne)fj/* pr//;j tn , 0r determine &i.Ii$m. 
 y thing in a Law or Commcn-Weaic , I ut he that it the *£*•*' 
 uthcrof the La\\, if the C\ mmc n-WeaU^hich *"- 
 
 : inftinceth in the legall Ceremonies. Bur did God 
 
 he author of his ownc law , and appointcr of his 
 wne wotihip) bring in, or determine this figne ? No 
 ire. Which fcrvcth alio for proofe of the Minor; For 
 icy call it the figneofthe Croj/e inJUtftifimCj j they 
 lake it a mtittan badg 5 and laftly it wanteth Gods 
 'termination : and therfore as a counterfeits to be 
 pandoncd. 
 
 The third Argument followcth. 
 
 3. Every Image or limilirude for a religious ufe is 
 )rbidden by the 2. Commandment. 
 
 But the fignc of the Croile in Baptifme , is a fimili* 
 ide for religious u(e. 
 
 Ergo , it is forbidden by the fecoad CommaHdc- 
 icnt. 
 
 With thisChardgc D.iM$Tt$n is lo pulled, that he 
 cnycth any likenes $r Imager to be forbidden by the 
 :cond Commandment, but ai 
 
 O a the 
 
ioo Syons tktu 
 
 the Godhead, Which divinity fo learned^ man would! 
 
 never have vented, bur that he was at a ftand : For as 
 
 theanfwcr isagainft the Latitude of the Command*.! 
 3 [ C \ a»- ment ^° lt is againft: the current of the learned. YcjJ 
 "row. &c. if eftablifheth a great part of Popifh imagcrie. For form 
 
 dry Papifts hould ir a foolifh thing to make any image}! 
 Dm ^' lb ' f° r reprefentation of the Godhead. But to the point* I 
 O&i.z, ' All fuperftitious rites or mens intentions are foik 
 
 bidden by the 2. Commandment. WitnefTe Frfinus\ 
 0* t€ inil Calvin. Zanch. 
 
 Ji.t.C.8 t 
 
 Dti 7 i& 4 * ^ at w kkk * s mans invention ,and hath been aif 
 zlcJp.14. Idoll in Gods worftiip, muft ftill be an Idoll in Godi| 
 worfhip 3 andtherforcto be aboiifhed. 
 
 But the Croffe in Baptifme is mans invention , ano 
 hath been an Idoll in Gods worlhip. jj 
 
 Ergo it muft be an Idoll ftill in Gods worlhip, arm 
 by confequence to be abolilhed. 
 
 We prove the Major by induction. 
 Every Idoll in Heathenifh worfhip, was ftill an Idoll h 
 i.K»Hg. *6 the worlhip of God •- As the Alter of Damafcus. Ws 
 ■«*.•«*• nQt the idoll of Baal{ called the the idoll of lealoufr 
 
 in Gods howfej an Idoll ftill? 
 *& 41- »• The Pofts and threfiolds of Bat'l fett up by Gods thrt 
 holds and Pofts , were ftill the very fame. The Idol; 
 aw. rt 1 - among lacobs family fhould ftill have betn Idolls i 
 Gods worlhip, though it were true worfhip. And thei 
 fore lacoh will have them utterly aboliftied. Sogrov 
 were things very lawfull^nftance^r^w Gen.z uy 
 yet becomming Idolatrous fas a.Kings 17.10. Icren 
 17,2. Efa, ,57. $. Hofea 4. 13. ) they are forbiddc 
 
 Dcu 
 

 Agaxnfi the Vrtlacy. ioi 
 
 )euM6. 21. And foof all the reft Deut.?. 5. Yea, 
 hings appointed by God for a time , if they become 
 dolls,or polluted with Idolatrous woifhip, theymuft 
 le done away. Witneffethc Brafen Sir fern , and the \jj[!jaL 
 zmeBaali. 16. 1-. 
 
 Now let our opponents give an inftancc f be fides 
 be matter in hand) as the law of Logick rcquirerh 3 and 
 ve will quit them all the reft. 
 
 As for the Minor, namely , that the Crtffi is Jidns i*~ 
 
 :cnt unwind hath been an ldo// y wc thinkc no Protcftant 
 vill deny. Witnefic their afcrtbwg cf Divine vertuc to 
 r ; yca thcyadoicir. 
 
 The venerable fignc of the Crofle ( faith Smart*) is \ , 
 vorthic to be adored , though in a tranjient mittcr or fe nHm criit ' 
 ic7ton y bcc2uCc the figure and iignification is the fame, l ^J n AUt 
 hough the matter be divers. T#m.r . 
 
 Every figure orfrape of the Crofie , whether permanent ^(J* S*i 
 tranfeuntyts to be adored ( faith I'dfques.) Yea this at- 
 •eall CroflTc , was the very mother of the materiall De Adn. 
 ^roffes,to which they creep ^ofYerincenfc, pray 5 adorc, jTlJj £* 
 tnd fo make it boih mediator of intercefTion and IT pintm 
 iemption, contrary to their ownccoyned dMKnAion, TJjMP* 
 isD.-/v<rj/W^wellobicrvcth from the words of their *' 
 Sreviary. Dt Lib. 
 
 J Aptch. 
 
 And fo much for tbii Argument. 
 
 A 3 The 
 
10 2 SyonsTletu 
 
 The common an Aver to fuch Arguments as this, ill 
 from the 30.Canon;Papifts(fay they) abufed it fowljfl 
 but we ufe it better* 
 
 Foranfwer. i. Thisisnottoanfwet, forwehavm 
 
 proved, that it is not to be ufed at all. It is a commoqjif 
 
 excufe of corrupt pracltfe ( faith one of their owne J tli 
 
 ufe me tries Abufed by others in Gods ^orfluf.te a better cndl\ 
 
 D.Uckfon. Tea it is a resolution too plan fible to lordly ^oifdome. 
 
 2. For ufe, is there not in word as much attributeif 
 
 to it by us (if not more,) as by the Papifts * Are not,bj|;l 
 
 the Prelats,the proper Offices of Baptifme afcribed ton 
 
 i2 the Croffe 3 as teaching and ftrengthcmng ? which b«j 
 
 Ex0.12.ij cheife parts of the nature of a Sacrament, as ScripturAl 
 
 inc.**. 19 commenters ,and the confent of Churches do tel 
 
 AmnJi. n.r 
 deBoh. ftlfy. 
 
 Cbnfiixn. To conclude the Argument in a word : The Pre- 1 
 c%]n.m' lats Croffe is the hmz Jpecie,or in figure. It is the famc:| 
 Lev. 4. alfofortheefpecialifignification, namely, tobeafigne\ 
 22. Umi. d r chrift.andthe efficacie of his death. So that (as oncl 
 mm Ep\n. faithy he retaineth entirely his old Idolls omce. It > 
 rtoJew" made way (faith.^; to that horrible fia of hyper 
 dulia. 
 
 The laft Argument followeth well upon this 
 namely: 
 
 It is the badge of the be aft , which is manifeft 1. bjll 
 the Papifts challenging of it, to be the fpeciall marked 
 and badge of their Idolatrous worihip $ witneflcU 
 
 %lh?'uo Supleton^ Bellarmine. An other calleth it the Chtraflem 
 2.6. 27.°' of their glory : The Croffe ( faith one J is a notable figne% 
 
 fthcrt* 
 
tAgaintt the Trelacy. 10} 
 
 \ertby to know a Catholiqut^. How can we hould d< Sdtuu " 
 \ our heads faith one) for frame of the beads mark, \^' t z z "' u 
 hich our eareshcare by them thus extolIed:or with e,. 
 lat forehead? can we fay that the Croffcis not tl. 
 arts mark? 2. That it is a mark o.fthcbeaft 3 it isclearc 
 HA thefe places of the Revelation Cap. 13. 17. & F *' 
 9. and v.i 1. & 15. 2. 1>6 ' 
 
 And that firfl by the cxpofition of the learned, lfl ^ n ^ 
 mely, D JVi Yett>CM. Napier In (linger. Yea all o. : 
 
 rthodox writers confeue that our Ceremonies ai 
 
 >art of the mark of the Bead, of which Ceremo- r'l. it. in 
 
 :s the Croflc 1$ the fpeciall. As M. Fox, lo. di 
 
 do. 
 
 Dr. Abbot calls all the pric (Is garments vitrei) tie) km 
 dififffgutfad from the re si ef the Cbw 
 
 U p.rt of tie ( haracler of thebeajl , and how mu< 
 
 ore the Crojfei 
 
 1. As this is theexpofion of the learned : fa this 
 
 ith may be from the places dcmonltatcd thus, to 
 
 nit other particulars ) 
 
 yhst mark which is put upon men by thefecond Bfafi z 4 
 
 'he ma, k of the number of his namt , m 1 . Put upon 
 
 who ti[c traffck or trade; { §f the he. 
 
 But the ( 'rout in baptifmc is put upon men by the fee 
 ijljti< tie mark of the number of his name , and ?.. 
 upon all th.r, traff queer ir< 
 
 Ergo the ( ro/fcts the mat k of the /ieajl. 
 
 The argument is \[. Napi&i in 1 
 
 it of whofe medium , namely , the I P V« 
 
 ithecro(Tc,is well enough known 
 
 ic thin 1 , thatall, cveric where, 
 
it>4 Syons ?lea-> 
 
 or ending of their meate , fleepe , or affaires, 
 croffe themfelves, Of whfch popifti pra&ife ou 
 Englifh ^Armimus CMountigue verie well approveth, 
 The omitting of their croffes incurred no lefll 
 cenfure then thecurfe : neither were they permit 
 ted without it to keepe houfe,or exercife any trade] 
 witnes the Bull of Pope Martin. Dr. WilletfpeaMj 
 eth exprefly to the confirmation of this argument^ 
 Thefupersiittous marks of the Croffe f faith he ) arife o§\ 
 ofthebeafls tyime ( to wit) from the number of it tl&\ 
 expreffedintbe Creek Origmall ^* Of the fame mind 
 is Mafter Brightman , expounding the meij 
 ning of the beaftes making all to receive tk\ 
 marke. I 
 
 Rev. i$,i6 This marke (faith \\z)doth conte^ne fummarily a$ 
 tho few ayes ^ by which men an bound to obedience to tKi 
 be aft. fi 
 
 Now wherein are they more fkvifhly bountf 
 then to the marke of theCrofTe ? 
 
 5, Vpon the fame ground fnamely , that it is th<|r 
 badge of the beaft, ) the learned write againft it 
 rr^.Tbf^ an d the reformed Churches rejeftit; ) witneflt 
 kg. voLz.Be^a.Siged/mus. Zanchius. D.Fulke. Reynold**. AlaL 
 L#f! Com. r ^ an (fiuth on *) what is our fin , who not onely rc<L 
 ?*gei69. ceive thecroffeourfelves foneof Antichrifts marjn 
 DeReiempt.fe $] b ut a if put - t an( j <jrawe it as it were wit i 
 
 trAH 040. . r 1 " 
 
 hiuv w pullers upon others s p, 
 
 $6, dg*lrisl 
 
 m*ges%Agt 4- Wee defire to know , what things in poperfto 
 6o2 * be themarkes of thebeaft ifthcfe benot * 
 
 W 
 
 0; 
 
tAgamft the Prelacy. \^ 
 
 Wee have been the larger upon this , becaufe ic 
 a maine ftumbling blockc to manie , having 
 j readines particular trearifes againft the red: of 
 le particulars, which (balbe it your honours fcr 
 ice. Fortheprefent we will conclude with this, 
 lata great Court officer ambngft the Hierarchic, 
 caring the vilencs of the Groflc hyd open and 
 roved in difpute^onfcfled in plaint tcrmes, that 
 <W2Safilthy [do'/ y and he w:fh: it candemned U he!l 
 gm whence it came B it to proceed. 
 VVhogiveth life and breath to this and the reft of 
 ic Ceremonies ) wbonfh isthem into Gods wor- 
 lip f who arc the nnrfing Fathers and Members oftUm r 
 ^ho be their Ckirmrghus c\r Pbifirioxs, with 
 IveSy&z Pot:ous,to datvbe, curt, and Ptfltatt them, where 
 ley cannot make a cure f who doc healc and Cica- 
 *~rthelefeftred wounds of the b-jaft, but thc/V< 
 "th-ir ajprenSifa 'who daubc with this unriptredmor- 
 r? whomaketh warreagainlt the Sain<fts to keep 
 le Dragons tA)U ofadiielnyh* The Bifliops onely 
 id their dependants. In fo much that wc have more 
 len caufe to renew the juft complain' of char learned 
 : welldifpofed K.Frcder. ofSpainc A°. i joo. Ffifcopi 
 \rcmonix3^ & omne id quod ad vu/jam gZ rum i debnti r 
 cmovent quantum "jero ad Regimtn ammaruM inj 
 m*tfrnampcsiifcrtfHr*t,&Q t As tor Ceremonies urh 
 t) and fuch things as dofervc to :he advancing of the 
 linglorie of the Prelacie , the Bs. take fokm Ca 
 )rthcpromoteingofthefejbur oftbc government of 
 mlcs,and their eternal lalvation , they ore the very 
 .agues, &c. In a word,as N$ c et i i/un.t^ no B>ftop , to 
 
 P 
 
Jh/rs.i*. 
 
 106 Syons Vhtu 
 
 No ft. no Cerewonie. Yea they have brought us to an I 
 higher degree of Idolls, namely,the Maflein publique : pi 
 which who would have thought f befide as manic it 
 private iMaiTes as the Papifls will. I 
 
 t 
 The keeping in cf that ftrange fire, hath made good 
 
 Gods threat enings upon us , becauje Ffhraim bath madt 
 
 manic A tars to (in, Aitars jhj/l be vntohimtojin, as i 
 
 the Spirit (hould fay : Since he will havcIdolls,hefhaf 
 
 not want enough of them, 
 
 Againe, no man knoweth how farre thisleproficjl 
 may fpread : for Papifts fervants make great braggs,anct| 
 offer monie out lo that day,when publiqueMaflb fhali 
 be done in their Matters chappels. 
 
 Thofe Idolls in Gods worfhip beget and mainraincj 
 other Idolls, as apptareth plainly fiom that place fore«J 
 quoted, and alfo from too much wofull experience* y 
 How doe cur rrenfuoifiy me amorphofed women 
 rnaintaine the Idoll of their ftrange and abhominable 
 apparrell 9 but from the Miniftcr his anticbe attiring ofi, 
 himfelf in thecal! appaivl of the ^boore ? Yeahowdo, 
 ufurers,fwcarcrs,and others rnaintaine their monihous 
 finnes,but by preflmg on the reprovers of them,thofci 
 Ceremonies, which crce being obeyed , they make a 
 mock of the word ? 
 
 Purther,they doe not onely doe,and rnaintaine thefe 
 things, but alfo they pretfc the practite of them upon 1 
 the fub/eds, and that often maugre their conferences, 
 
 and 
 
lAgainsl the Prelacy. 107 
 
 nd that by threatning.punifhirigof their purfe c< itn- 
 rifonment. Moreover r hey force the Minifters and 
 oung Schollers to fubferibe to «he aforcfaid 5. Books, 
 vo of which, fcirce one amongft manie have feenc. 
 "he matter of their fubfeription, as hath beenfaid be- 
 )re } is this , That nothing co it din 
 mrarit to the "bord<f ( od. Whence ir lnuft follow, 
 tat Ceremonies and o:hcr things in q icftion , muft 
 
 • Warranted by the *ord. For as they canno: d enie : 
 barfoever is bejidt : /he Wo; J , / $rd : fo 
 hatfocver ( eipccially inGojs woifliip; is note; 
 ary to the word.is warranted by the word. Dy which 
 rduction the prcflburs of :1k fe things and fubferibers 
 1 them, put them upon the fecund Lornm ndment , for 
 
 • ir,ihey mild cither (land or fall. X >w thus to put 
 
 •on God the thing, that he never commanded, nor m#7 , 
 rr came into his hi art to comm.wd,2S himfelf fpeaketh, 
 >w high a fin it is , and how ncarc toi/.^^/»/o,wc 
 ivcu to be judged. 
 
 Moreover,whercas all outward means of Gods wor- 
 pby th'Arlirmarivc of this comnuiiKlir.cn; are cfta- 
 ; v ind the due performance thereof required, the 
 datspcrfecute and thruft out the faithful! Mmiltcrs, 
 aich be the LMeffingers rf tb$W$rd , 
 vrs ifGod-, the Breakers of the bread of l 
 C zi\dlJo//fl>rjpheard> (he ila\crs ot icy 
 
 1 up their places : how manic IikIi rh j rhrufl ta 
 d keep io*WC cannot number. 
 They are Fathers & Favourci ( * foul nuirthc- 
 
 ig finncs of Non-refidencU & , condem. u 
 
 P z I v 
 
ioS Syons T>lea^ 
 
 by all the Laws that can be named : Neither can thefc 
 confift with the office of a Paftor. 
 
 We will give but a touch , becaufe wc have a whole 
 trcatife againft thofe (nines , -which your Honours, 
 may command. 
 
 Never Papift fofhamelene,as to plead or write for 
 thefc iinnes (fo farr as we know ) yet fome among u$ 
 are notafbamediodoe both. But this is no better 
 then to plead and write for bhua-guiMneffe , and to 
 warrant if by a law. The maine non-rcftients be t heir 
 Lords <5c <JMaJttf$ $ by reafon whereof they become 
 Patrons, to impropriate patrons 3 whom they have 
 taught to fin,& maintayne (In by prefident. 
 
 Another fin againft the Ordinances,is the Iuftlingc 
 out of the reading of the -word of God, to the number 
 of J 96 chapters, or ihere about , yea & fome whoM 
 Books of Scripture :in place whereof 134. Chapters o 
 the Apocrypha are thruft in, as of more ufe^edificatior' 
 and efteeme with them- witnefife, their making o 
 Scripture 3 to give place to thcApocrypha,upon zj]>eci4k 
 yV«*/?,thongh it fall on the Lords 4fJ* And this is done,©' 
 to be done by thecvr/fW<7-20.fcvcral rimes in the year 
 
 Yet more finne againft the Ordinances: topafle b 
 their Lemon fupcrftinous fa ft 3 Veith the cxft&Ation 
 Tcpifi Dififlirtc in that particular 3 they keep out an 
 hinder true fading indeed, to the (name of this Nation 
 & the balling on of inevitable deftru&io upa our head 
 wit.nes that of Ii'aic: In that day I 'called for "beepn^&i 
 
lAgaxnB the prelacy. iop 
 
 it btholJ.&c. Surety that iniquitie fha'l-net be f urged , 
 cm)cu tiff )ottd\e fi\ih thcl.ord ofhoaftsrthisfpeech 14. 
 :^cke our eares tingle and hearts tremble. 
 
 If a Fad at lenght be appointed , the Prelats 
 ill beitireto watch foripoyling of the pot with 
 neCclccjuintidA or other of riicir ow:ic invention. 
 fore wcbcfcech your Honours , as you render 
 iodsFionour 3 and defire his pitfettce ro your procce- 
 ings,looketoyour Fafts , thai death be net ;, 
 lat in ftead of pacifying of an aitgrit God \ yc provoke 
 m nor more. For it is nor more narurali for Prelats ro 
 at & drink,fhen from their hearts to hate * Taji 
 'tcd y to the 1 
 
 Manic reafons we might give, but we defire this one 
 
 be thought on. If this dutie were kept up , and fet 
 
 n foote upon all the right Limmes, & duclyplycc 
 
 odo & forma t upon every )hR. motive , they knor/ it 
 
 vouldfiiidctheai out robe nojir; fundi taiamita* , tic 
 
 Arte of our beit:^ \ yea this would blow them up, 
 
 nd all our iinncs ekenimies with them. In this their 
 
 latrcd and fear* of the duetie appeareih : if ante gather 
 
 bamjUvts taguher ( as the Lord commandcth ) to flay 
 
 if it be poifible ) the comming forth of the decree, 
 
 ley are watched wirh . ft .t eyes, and dragged along by 
 
 fiarim his hands, as it were in ddpitcfull oppofinon 
 
 o God and his lervicc , againft the Laws of the Land, 
 
 ■ftinft the Crownc & Dignitic of the King , againil 
 
 aporalland ctcrnall good of the Stare. 
 
 P 1 Yet 
 
no SyonsT?lea-> 
 
 Yet this is not all,but if Gods people in their families 
 upon the Lords day fall to chew the cud, by the repetij 
 tion of a Sermon , helping fome neighbours that havij 
 not fuch meanes j they are without regard of the dawj 
 Gods ordinance 3 or God himfelf>halled or hurried bew 
 fore a Prelate- fome are kept in purfuivants hands, fo»| 
 bound over at no leffe coft then vf.or a noble a peecdf 
 fome having Tcarfe fo much more in the world 11 
 O temp or a. ! O mores ! 
 
 To fhut up the further profecution of the breaches 
 of this precept; W^/y is the key ofDifcipline f 
 
 As Discipline >\s the foule of warrcjthc fpirit of Policic: 
 fo it is the Scepter of ChriB , fwaying his owne houfe, 
 according to his hearts defire. 
 
 And as a body without a fitile^ Camp or State with- 
 out 'Policic are either dead carkaffes, or bodies fo be- 
 nummed,that they either do nothing, or that which is 
 worfe then nothing : fo a Church without DifciplineJ 
 is a Lethargicaf/yOt Apoplectic all body, wanting that a»u\ 
 maljpirit , which ihould open and expell the droflkj 
 vapors of /&,and organife the faid body, 
 
 Difcipline is the cheife commandeun the Camp* 
 Royall of God. It driveth the nayle into the temples 
 of Rebellion it felf. This is the onely beft phyfitian , fot 
 the purging out of peccant and pertinacious humours : 
 theoncly Chirurgian for wounds and fettered foresj 
 and an exq^ifite bone fetter for frs&ures or luxations, 
 This is Chrifts owne Key, that fhutteth outenimies & 
 entcnaincth freinds ; In a word, it is the beft guardv <5t 
 forte$ muniment & munitions Notwithstanding of all 
 
 this 
 
lAnainft theTrelacy. Ill 
 
 s excellencies-is the Symigogeot Rome, and all the 
 mbsof rhar confuted Bdfill , like nothing worfe 
 pn the Difciplineof Chriftscamp 5 forhe moftofour 
 ion may f«y with forrow and grcife inhearrc,as 
 :Difciples laid ro Paul of the Hohe Ghc{\ : Webdvt A \Hs. t$. 2, 
 fo m veb jts heard whether there be a Holic Ghoft : fo all 
 s time wc have fenrccly heard whether there be any 
 h thing as rifapixe. Ami Is not this groflTc affc&cd 
 orance , yea afearfull judgment ii -.flick d onus? 
 ras (ureas Chrilt luih a houlc, fo lure hchn 
 :hac houic , and r liar no moc , no fewer, nor other, 
 n he hath appointed. 
 
 Thcfc, nun may not chop, change, or counterfaife 
 their plcafure ( except they will turn: %6 
 
 irifts hjes are delivered in the word , namely, th< 
 xer tndufc of 'theVcord and Dip tpltne > guiding and ]£' 1Om *l t 
 irding all other ordinances , the ufe and authentic ° 
 lereof, is alfo by pra&ifc manifefted in the fame. 
 Ithar Diiciplineor Church -governmenr is a mainc 
 \y of the Kingdomc of Heaven. C m nnic man 
 Ink that Chnit would leave his houlc deflirure c 
 fteforme of governm*. (betngfatthfa / in .ill his houfe n 
 Mofes) Vcdstox that anie better forme of government 
 lid be deviled by man ? ( for every change mould be 
 the better ) yet the Prclats and their Champion • ■ ■ 
 ire the people in hrttld , 1h.1t there is no ctr: a: 
 ' "f FfiUcie or government i, 
 
 tlntrth to I .ile Scriptures : which 1 
 
 againtl Script u re, pn&ifc, and reafon, ns hath been '[', 
 d in a work Daaniwcrabl ty nujr as 
 
 \vh3t Chnll hjth no ht>v* mc it ro 
 
 be 
 
■= 
 
 in Syons- lletu 
 
 be changable which cannot be to the better, ther 
 fore not at all. It is true the prelates ( cnimiest 
 Chrifts government,) fpeake contumelioufly ofdii 
 cipline, calling it a fancy or novelty \a metre hnmar 
 devife , and they would beare the world in han 
 that Calvin was the fir ft authourofit,zs D.Downhamj 
 B. Bilfon, Saravia; & B. King : but they do. 
 juftin this, as the Papifts doe with our religion 
 who will hatie Luther to be the authour of it. 1 
 this the Prelates opinion and pra&ife , is muf 
 like that of the Lacedemonians, defended by Plafl 
 namely to haue no wills about their Cities^ but the citize 
 i*&.?. de valour: but as their unfound opinion, and Plan 
 opt .Rep. his defence are refuted by Ariftotle, as veryprefuntj 
 tuous , dangerous andhlooddy to a common weak ; fo th 
 want of the walls of difciplne, layeth a Church ( 
 pen to all manner of mifchiefe, and danger, bot 
 from forreinanddomeftick foes: but in this the 
 difFerfromthe Lacedemonians; they flood upo 
 the worth and valour of their citizens; but the Pr< 
 lates doe not onely unmantle the walls, but ah 
 cafliiere the verie bed forces , as though they meat 
 to deftroy aud raze the foundation of the Utte c/Go, 
 The utilitie and ncceflky of difcipline cannc 
 enough be expreiTed. It is a fpeciall note of tf 
 Chnrchy though not conftitutinga Church, y 
 flowing properly from the effence of a Churc 
 Itismoft neceiTaric for the externall [ubfifianct , < 
 well being of the Chirch : Itisalfoaverie neceflf 
 tiemeanesforthc obteining of the greateft goo 
 qf the Church. . 
 
 The 
 
r 
 
 tAgainfi the ^Prelacy. n$ 
 
 They themfclucs confeffc that fome forme o* 
 [Oyernmentisncceflirie as B. Whirgifr Bancroft, 
 piJfon , Downham ; for they hold it as Keckcrman 
 3cakcrh a Cyclopieall, or confufed multitodc 'a*/* 
 , fav t xhv& i 'a,KX$> wbrc n a J none obey. 
 
 that government is then like to the government 
 f Chrift i 
 
 This is thegnard thdt kerpeth out errours tfdoQn 
 nd corruptions of manners : this is the (> be that cutteth 
 orvnc fin , this mskcth t be ulleh rei tto sioope ; 
 
 his firengthenctb tbr hands a>.d comtortcth the lean s of 
 <ods people ; this muketb * [Vreete harmonic and concinne 
 rder in the Church and cotnmon wealth , as appearcth 
 >y thatcomon weal of Geneva formeily inftanccd^ 
 dmircd by all nations that looke upon it with I 
 ingle eie. By the contrary , where this is altoge- 
 hcr wanting,or a bare empty cafk or mere fhew and 
 xidow ofit rcmaincth,thercis nothing but the ( 
 s ofc6fu(io,or (to fpeak with thefpirit) there is no- 
 fling but Wretch d,ie ,x.\ut\sj*no>dcc of drown mifene t 
 wgcM bwetjhtmdrtes fr ndJtednei. But we will not kacfti 
 our Prelates will nothauc us ro know it.-This 
 foldenfcepter they cannot endure, for it croifcihrhe 
 i i ten fecpter > by which they rule all and do- 
 ninierc overall, we meane A ttichrtjlun dsfiiplint 
 vhich thegreatefl Champious of R.om< I gh-i 
 
 y commend, and in it cxceedi 
 'oritansfas rhrycail thcra Seal! inereforroed 
 
 witneile SlikUi \ i bis fh I 
 
 a es ( lav they weEngJjJh B fbet 
 
 jtji.pltnc of the Lathol. ./ tcs , m u / 4?» 
 
 ^L v 
 
W4 Syons Vletu 
 
 What impietie,injuftice and tyrannie is this , to waft k 
 the vineyard of the Lord,to filence.fufpend,depofe 5c f 
 imprifon the keepers and dreflers of the fame ? ta 
 break downe the whiles and the hedges of ir f to rearqsl 
 up an Antichriftian Fort in it, and to plant Popifh Caii 
 nons upon it \ 
 
 Is this to defend Sion ? or is it not to mixe the En£j 
 Rcw). h s. glifh Sea with fire , to confume Sion ? Is this to maklA 
 glad the harts , and to strengthen the Vreak- knees efcodt] 
 people f Or is it not rather to fill the bofomes of thcJ 
 FhiliHims with triumphant joye/and to fill with ftnmcH 
 fib farre as they can) the faces of all reformed Chur-J 
 ches? 
 
 By this all men may know, whofe fervantsthefe] 
 Great Lords be. 
 
 Before we (hut up the difcourfe of the finning againft 
 this commandmenr,it (hall not be amifle to lay the fin*] 
 ger upon an old fore of theirs, newly feftered^name-, 
 lie 3 the barring the printing of all books from the! 
 preffe, which might iniighten the people wih lovC] 
 of the truth of Chrifts government, and the puritit 
 of his ordinances , and might make them hate their 
 Antichriflian calling and impure devifes in Gods wor- 
 ship. 
 
 In this they deale with us , as the Rc&ors of the id 
 fuitesdo in their Societies, who ftraiiiie interdid botlj 
 young and old the reading or having of Proteftan 
 Books,which made their convert spa/ato ro fay 5 or ra- 
 ther to diffemble , thai this was the prime and princi 
 
 pal. 
 
tAgainfl the Trelacy. 115 
 
 •all caufe of his fufpe&ing of the Popifh religion. £$£ 
 
 The Prelats doe nor onelie oppofefuch Books, as 
 ppofe their tyrannic and trumperie , interdicting and 
 nenacing people from the reading of them , but they 
 Ifo imprifon > banifh , yea and kill the Authors of 
 lem. 
 
 If any thing by God his good hand pafie the preffj, 
 ither at home or abro.vWiieh croiTe'h rheir tenour, 
 rfpenketh home for the tenour o< Chrift , it muft 
 hher go through fnrgdt trj fit hroagh the/fre, fuchis 
 icir cxpurgatoiy tryall. InftaocC D. Whittakers 
 orkc, otheiwucpubljfhedaffer his death than in his 
 fe. Alio Mr.Sprints CalTander , Spalato his fummc 
 his 9. Bookc , concerning Mmifters mainte- 
 ancc. Not to be tedious , be plcafed to view 
 ucanus his inliirurions, tranfhtt d into Englifh , and 
 rintcd in London Anno 1616. the yeare after that 
 f icy were printed in Geneva. , in this they make him 
 eake/nor through the fault of the tranilucrjbut by a 
 iyn : ng and clipping amiioritic , the things he never 
 ake indeed. 
 
 They invert the order , they rake away both quc- 
 ionb and anfwers , they turne afiii matives into negft- 
 ves.aiid negatives into affirmatives , a number of m- 
 loceswccan give, bur let a tafte furlice. rhc qucdion 
 fihemarrage of the innocent panic divoricd , is 
 Hi c lef: out. De ionjugo q.tesf. 13. 
 
 So a great part of rhc queftion cf the orders of 
 
 rlliftctt,qucli*4j. Alio the queftion ot\ht fi'ine of the 
 tL Croft 
 
11(5 -Syons rPhoL* 
 
 Crojfe in Baptifme,/?//^/?. Je B.ipt f qmf.ig. and manic] 
 others. What the leaving out of the mod part of the 
 cm$.7*. anfwer to the queftion of Naboibs denying Ahab his 
 vineyard meaneth, we leave it to your Honours judg- 
 ment : but now they are growen to a further height 3 
 for as they would ne\ cr iuffer the wall of discipline td 
 be buflt,fo now they are like to ruinq. the cine, of thi 
 'foord it felf , by refervingofthe prefles, for the fet 
 ting fonh^and trimming up their cwne projects anfl 
 Arminianifme, thevene gatebcufe cj Poperiz^ , but a 
 for co nut erf leas or pref'.rvaiives againit fuch poifon 
 able drugges.they will fuffer none to paiTe, yea though 
 there be no matter of controverfie 3 yet it iscontro 
 verfie to them if it be the tructb. 
 
 And fo much for thisCommandment 3 againf1: whici 
 we defire your Honours to obferve , what a world o 
 finnes arife from the Prelacie. 
 
 As for the third Commandment ; to parte by thcii 
 owne ordinary oaths ( which they accoum but pttth 
 onesj and alfo the bloody oaths of their fwaggerin ,: 
 fervants and the roaring fpeeches of i\io\tJovia!t Chau 
 lins , being a wondrous evill prcfident toallaboi' 
 them jhow doth heir prophane cariage , theruffiai] 
 like revelling behaviour of thcit Chaplins ( moi 
 kingof JViiniftcis reproving fw*aripg,& other finnc j 
 fee an edge upon ihc finneof fm*ring % whcnfwc, 
 rers know how fuch reprovers ftull be dealth with J 
 
 Againe,hcw is the name of God prophaned by tb 
 Uiegall extorted oath ex officio i by the bmologzes ax 
 
 urn 
 
%Againft the VreLcy. I if 
 
 tohgies , lemon curfes ; ard adjurations of the fcr- 
 :c-bcoke and Letanie : bcfidcs the fcarfull roaring, 
 ;king,and torturing of the word in their Cathcdrall 
 lurches? 
 
 To the 4. Commandment. ;be fides their cxemplarie 
 Dphaningof t Lie Lords day, by the ndfami- 
 
 $) it is a lamentable cafe to heare ! vin their 
 
 Dmmccements by Schoole difpincs,in t lair Sermons 
 d Diicourfcs,:he moralitic of the Sa brought 
 
 Lqueflion , and to the great difhonotir of God, 
 eife of his people, they maintaiocthi 
 iofit. And notonely fo, but they oppofethem- 
 lvestothc reformation and keeping of it 5 witnc 
 icir hand again ft the Magiftiacie of the Citic 
 ondon in that bufincs. And for that .ftingEooLcof 
 f .crat;on,for prcph.mwg cj : \ the Oc lire of the 
 
 onftroufly prophane,and the procurement of fomc 
 relate , concurred to the begctringof it, and brin- 
 jng ir to be authoriied. 
 
 , La(tly,^hey take ofFthe leaders of Gods families in 
 le fanttifyingof the Sabbath. And fo much fas brcif- 
 as we could) for the (inncs of the firft tablcyakeing 
 >oting and butting upon thePrelars. 
 
 come to the (inncs of the fecond Table: 
 irft,tl with a high hand againft the K.Majeft. 
 
 : that fir ft in re fed of his/#*/r/g##^- they fpeakcvill 
 > him of the ru< h of (jod & of the fcrvants of the 
 Beth | where! hear r may bclct loofefrom 
 
 ic fcarcothisGi d,c\' giv€ over to fupinc negligence, 
 eluding; plcalu! ill concckc of the prctious 
 
 iUth,<3cot Ins beft&lovingft fiends & lubjeftsluft ac- 
 cording to 
 
u3 Syons Tletu 
 
 that fpeech of the Prophet : They make the King gl t 
 U*f>1*$* Veith their^ickednes^and the Princes "frith then * lyes* ( 
 which place the foregoing words explane the mranir 
 (according to the fcope of the Spiti. , and the currei 
 of Interpreters,) nam elie, by their corrup? lives &fal 
 fuggeftions , they corrupt the King, forefhlling h! 
 judgment againft the goody and goodnes. 
 feccati ?u- Hence one well obferveth, that the finnes of Pre/a 
 LepT'in corrupting Princes , hmdereth the good of the fub)ec~l\ 
 hcnm. So that we force not the text. 
 
 For the further proofe ©f this , with what falfe fud 
 geftions did the Prelats abufe their ingenuous & royaj 
 Qjeene Elizabeth againft the true Offices and Officei] 
 of t he Court of Heaven upon Earth ? 
 
 How was the late King prefled as a cart undol 
 (heaves, to blanch and abandon the ordinances ; to dij| 
 grace and difcountenance his Chariots and Horfenacnj 
 in which lay more ftrengrh then in all his Counfels t\ 
 forces ? How was he prefled to the putting downe cl 
 le&urcs. 
 
 To give an inftance of thefe evill Offices t we hav 
 heard that the King upon occafion given , inquired © 
 the Venetian exraordinarie ^mbajfiideurs 9 wha 
 meanes the people in their territories and other Iflcso 
 Italie had for their feules ; They made anfwer to ihif 
 effed,that their leiturgie and Booke of Homelics'pro 
 portioned in number to the Sabbaths of the yearc 
 were read in their Churches. Alas! f fud theKng] 
 that is poore ftuffe. To the which a Prelate ( beinj 
 by ) reply cd ; Tnat it fimld be better for hh Ma)eHm 
 
 Stat 
 
'Agawji the Vrelicyl 11$ 
 
 te.Mnd the State of his Kingdom es , if thert Vctrt mo 
 mlies, and lejfc preaching: For there was more lore 
 d he) among fubje&s themfelves , more loyaltie 
 heir Prince,more profperitie to the State , "toben it 
 4 fo , then fince the time that nothing Vtould ferve but 
 aching. At which fpeech the King looked hard 
 an him, and (aid no more. 
 
 Jf the learned Iudges, and learned Counfellers at 
 y 3 and all undcrftanding Statefmen doe hould ind 
 )kiie it a principle of State, that SuggeBtmrs &:InJ/i- 
 our sot i King, to cutt the coards of his ownelavvs, 
 ; wor.hie of condignc punifhment in the higheft dc- 
 X ; what arc thefe men worthic that incite trK King 
 neglect or rcj £t the Commandments of his God f To 
 it purpofc another of them, as we are informed, told 
 : lame King : That all the church Jlwu/d never he at 
 \till fuch tvfo^orthie CMmiJhrs ( vvhofc names we 
 Lre) Vtere hanged up , one in the South, another in the 
 '7th. 
 
 Secondly , they are againft the Honour of 
 : King. For as it was a ftaine to the good 
 Nngs of Iuda f notwithstanding all their carefull rc- 
 rnurion and maintenance of true religion,; tb*; 
 (kytookc not away the high places(inftancci^w«M u \ 
 \leho^.:phat) which high places HtZMcbu 5: lofta re- 2 ^.t 4 . 4 
 
 vcd.fo the great Honour of their names ; lo thefe !* ! 4- 
 :n wonderfully edipfef if not deface) the Honour 
 |our Sovcraignc, notonely in ftateing the Auit.tr rf 
 m.fut ? that is their ownc or PopifliCcrcmonf vS 
 
 with 
 
9tOV,2j.Z. 
 
 120 SyomTletL,, 
 
 with the Altar of Gods ordinances , but in iuffer 
 Bsal-peor y \o fh w his face openly ; which muft of j 
 cefihie make ihe wrath of God break in upon us. 
 
 It is the Kings Honour JfiXth. Salomon,) to f earth om 
 matt :r from the bottom as the word fignifieth) which 
 to be underftood in things concerning Gods gloi 
 his owne Honour,and the good of ;he Stare : bur rl 
 vaile ourSoveraigne inrhefirftofrhefejwhich indi 
 fhould be the perjpective to the reft, ro bring tin, 
 home in their due quantities how then fhould his h 
 nourtruelyflouriih? 
 
 Thirdly , they tranfgrefle highly again ft his Roj 
 Crowne and Dignirie ( as hath beene (hewed ,) in t 
 maintenance of forraigne jurifdi&lon. 
 
 . Fourrhly 3 they are againft his prerogative roy* 
 nor onely maintaining their calling to he)uredtvu 
 but alio in keeping Courts in their owne name, 
 
 Rftly,thcy weaken the ftrength of the Kings ftatJ 
 For as the hovering of the Ifraelires mindes after Sai.| 
 houfe, weakntd the pillars of the houfe of Da\\ 
 (though annoinred and citablifhed by the Lord,) fo|jj 
 hovering of our Engli fl) RomAnifts^&izx Romes Prim 
 cie , doth diftrad & enervate dangeroufly the ftrenjj 
 of his Majeftics ftate. And who be the main poles 
 the rent of their hope, but the Prelacie > encourage 
 them funh.r by fupprcfling and difgracing Rofll| 
 shdfeft udverfaries under the name of the P»riM 
 
tAgaintt the ^Prelacy. ni 
 
 >that which is the weakening of his freinds , is the 
 rcngthening of his foes. And that thus they doe,lct 
 leir Canons, Advertifements,vifitation Articles, their 
 pen clamours and calumnies from pulpits(comparing 
 fiern with Iefuits, ) and laftly, their daylv proceeding 
 ►ainfl them in their Courts bcare witnefle. 
 
 Sixtly, they devour the Kings wealrh , for as the 
 ealthofthe fubje&,is the wealth cfthe King, fothc 
 tipoverifhingandfpoylingof the fubjeft , isthcim- 
 wcrifhing and fpoyling of the King. For exi&ing 
 omthefubjeft :" Jet fir ft a jVuxrc be made, whether 
 icy rake not out of the Mini iters vjs & tnodis compa- 
 cts cemputandts an 100000. per Annum. 
 And afmuch more out of the peoples purfes for 
 Citation fees , pleas, and jangling matters, befides 
 ic great fummes they raife forprobats of wills; what 
 rablc of Officers , as Chancellours , Commifiarics, 
 I rchdeacons, and others, keepc they for the emptying 
 if the peoples purfcs,and filling of the land full of all 
 lianncr of finnc,as Avcaring 5 drunkennes,whorcdomc, 
 (ride, Idlen effc, &c. witnefie their filthic and rotten 
 kechcs,indifgracc of Gods people, which we loathe 
 bname , asalfothcirpatronifingof finnc, and pla- 
 cing of Profefiburs in their Courts; what a number- 
 f.flc number of A/o/£<7, drones, and CatcrpilLrs , they 
 leepc in their Cathcdrall and Collegiate Churches, 
 tt are not able to exprcfle. Some have i'ummed them 
 p to the number of 22000. or thereabout , what a 
 tigc deal of mcancs will fo many Sharks devourc. 
 
 R 7. And 
 
in Syons Plea.* 
 
 7. And laftlie , they are againft thcfafetieof hisl 
 Majefties perfon, in maintaining the hopes of Popilhf 
 traytors,who upon all occafions are readie to attemper 
 andcommitt treafon againfthim and the States wit- 
 neffe the manie plotts and deepe treafons , contrived 
 againft our Kings and State this 68. yeares j As they 
 fin againft the King , fo they linne againft all his fub-l 
 jects-Asfirft againft his Minifters , from whom andf 
 whofe families (againft the laws of God and the landjl 
 they have taken both liveiiebood arid life-fox fome havel 
 fintfhed their lives in prifon j and fome at this day,be-f 
 ingpoore and aged, have much adoe togctt bread to] 
 eat, but worfe then all this,they ftoppe their Miniftrie, 
 which is dearer to them then life and libenie. How 
 bitterlie and bafelie have they abufed them in theii 
 Courts and palaces $ what numbers have they at feve- 
 .rail times ill encedi 
 
 It is extant in record that in anno i604.about 271, 
 Minifters were queftioned,for not iubferibing or non- 
 conforming , of which number about 70. were de- 
 prived of their livings, about 113. not fuffered tc 
 prcach^and about 94. under admonition $ All whicl 
 cruelties are done upon them and theirs , for no; 
 fubferibing to a booke, whereunto to fubferibe , is flai 
 againft the law,as hath been difcovered. 
 
 Butinveriedeed their quarrell is againft the prea 
 ching of the Gofpell; which cannot ftandfas we hav< 
 (hewed) with the ftanding of the Hierarchy. For.it i; 
 cleare both againft the ftatute 3 and the late King! 
 sninde in his Conference at Hampton Court , tha 
 
 mu 
 
tAgainsl the Prelacy. 12^ 
 
 ten once admitted, JIkuU le ey&ed or cafl cut for not-fib- 
 ribing. Citing that of the Poet: 
 
 Turpi us ejicitxrq*dm von admittiturkojpes* ■ 
 
 2. They fin execedinglie againft the good eftatc 
 id fandtimonie of the Kings beufold government y 
 hereof the Miaifters ordinarilic arc men of their 
 oulding,looking more for preferment then caring 
 rthefoules ; they fcede them wirh fome froathic 
 uftc fas noble Prince Henrie well obferved, where- 
 
 not onelie much loofencs,but alfo pcrplexitie (for 
 ant of means, affault them. For as prof ufe giving cx- 
 .ufteth thefountainc 5 fo except the fountaine of 
 incelie liberalise be ever fending fome refreshing 
 eams,to moiften the drinefleof their hott liverdfer- 
 nts,they fall quicklic cither unto a confumption 5 or 
 feintoadropficof indirect courfes , which cannot 
 .t rcfleft upon their King and Mr. Nowfincchis 
 lajcftic by rcafon of his mainc imployments, cannot 
 lpcrhem as he would ( out of hisowne meanest 
 th fome ofthcPrelatsnecdlcfle £c hunfullaboun- 
 |nce, he may fupplie his fcrvants wants , and doc 
 luch good with the rclt. 
 
 But to go on,theyfinucalfo againft all his Majertics 
 jbjefts • 
 
 i: And that firrt: in tyrannifing over their foulcs anJ 
 
 indies, in the courfes of their unjuft Courts. Which 
 
 •as a noble man obfervcth , } arc eppojitc to all the 
 
 of the lingdomc^> , by rcafon of tbccxercifi 
 
 R, z 
 
124 Syons flex* 
 
 folt anther it ie. The Bijhop citeth alone, aceufeth alone\\\ 
 
 cenfureth and excemmunicatetb alone-, But (faith hej Kingsl 
 
 And (JWonarcbes have their Counfel/s. ^All temporal^ 
 
 Courts have more therein their author itie doth rest-, a* thc t 
 
 high Court of Parliament , Kings Bench , common Pleas^ 
 
 Chancery , Star chamber > and a/I the refi. <^Ar.d fo it is in\ 
 
 forraigne Kingdomes^itneffe theParliaments in FrartccM 
 
 But the Prelate doth all him fe If , and that in matters a 
 
 higher nature then the highefi tempor-all affaires : y^hiM 
 
 is a thing (faith hcjpajl all example, and for Vchich they can] 
 
 render no reafon. That PopKh tyranny indeed whereil 
 
 by they exalt themfelves Above all that is called God^ is thll 
 
 very ground of it, and beft reafon they can render. 
 
 Out of their prefumption , they darecrofie by thei: 
 Courts,thehjgheft Court of the Kingdoms 5 namel;j 
 the Parliament 5 for which fawfycourfes, our King; 
 have fecluded them the Court of Parliament. Inftanoj 
 Anmntf* Edward the firfl, who called a Parliament of his NobL 
 litie and commons, fecluding the Clergie bothfronl 
 Parliament aud prote&ion. 
 
 2. They finne againft the fubje£b,in bereaving thefl 
 oftheirfaithfnlfheepheards -, in removing the Boggt] 
 that fhould keepe 3 & the watchmen that fhouldwatd 
 the Flockes: fo they are left a prey to the Wolves & Foxti\ 
 of which loflejimplying danger ; if the people wet 
 feniible , they would make more adoe then Michi\ 
 made for his idolatrous Levitt. 
 
 But they are now as men forgotten , and their caifl! 
 is fo litle in rcqueft , that all the Ministers allmoft giv 
 wiy,yet Vvitb bowing do^ne bet^eene tVcff bur t hens $ wfc 
 
 a prcl 
 
tAgainB the Trclacy* 125 
 
 preflure of ftrvitude they put upon honeft andfaith- 
 lMiwifters;theirfiIent forrowes and abrupt com- 
 linrs ( for fcrvice put upon them fore againft their 
 arts) doe tcflify. As for fuch in rhe Minillrie as 
 : their devoted fervants $ they rt^ejee-intbeJU^ by 
 aking the peoples burthens heavier. 
 
 ThcPrclatsfctt fome as the EgfytidmitfteMdBm 
 
 er the people,to fee them doc their workc, wherein 
 :he people fail e, never fo litle,witli the T.ij'kemasiers 
 ij are pun/pud. Our Minilters are ufed as the Romans 
 cdihc P'ejta//k r irgh/s ; they are beaten if they keepe 
 3t in the Rcmtp)hety fhc^j. 
 As for the peoples Z€*te } finUritk y kolines, and Lxbour 
 
 The fmoke out of the bottomlcflc pitt hath bla- 
 edthem execedinglie : For as the ftricl: keeping of 
 icfirft tabic, bindeth on the dueties of the fecond 
 ble,fo remiilencs or mixture in the firft ; maketh us 
 )ofc in thedticticsof the fecond. And if they yeild 
 ot to all, or be fomewhat more ftrict in life and duc- 
 es,whata hurrying to thcirCourts, what apolcingof 
 ricir purics,and whata poudering with their execra- 
 ons,doc they keepe againft them ? which according 
 b the Scripturs,CouncelIs, and Fathers fhould oncly 
 
 inflicted for Otmimtt ctufes. As the Apoitlc Tl ■;.»•• 
 jrtaketh concerning anhcrickc : Lifter §me or r^ue 
 
 dfHoHitivt^rc'ycl him J oi CrimMdles tdfltum CdUpti 
 
 t/de gravesifoi great and waigluie, fed bdin$nsmemces cowl. a%*. 
 
 faith rhc CounfellJ ihej fall be melk t.xi 1 
 
 R 3 They 
 
nu. 
 
 116 Syons Vle<u 
 
 They abufe alfo egregiouflie the writt de exccmm* 
 nicato capiendo ; which fhould runne onelie upon crl* 
 minali eaufes,as hereja ^denying to com at church, incontu* 
 nencie y uferiefimonie^er\urie^ldolatrie. But for any ot f 
 thofe, they neither cite nor cenfure Gods people ( b&] 
 caufe they have nogrounds ) and therfore they are ns 
 liable to this writt. Yet what cafe Gods people are; 
 in , by reafon of this unjuft proceeding , itisnotun- 
 knowne to your Honours. 
 
 To make up the full cup of affli&ion ; by warrant* ' 
 and commitments from the bighcommiftion, people 1 
 be cad into a blacke melancholike Go/gatha or filthic 1 
 prifon,ere&ed in the midle of the Citie > again/} the l+\ 
 her tie of the fame. This is likethe Lions denne , out of 
 whieh verie few are delivered with their lives 3 except 
 it be upon veric ill termesjwitnefle the yet Crying blood' 
 offtoo honeftmen, within or about thefe three yeares, 
 and a third had his deadlie wound, befides the death of 
 others in the other prifons. Inftancc thefe twowor- 
 thie and famous men , facricificed to the prifon of the 
 gatehoufe , together with fundry worthies of the 
 Scottifh natio, whofe blood by their means was dryed 
 up 3 and drayned out in the prifon. 
 
 This cruell courfe is abfolutlie againft his Majefties 
 laws, and the Priviledge of afubjeft: For the ftatute 
 for the Prelates imprilbning and lawleffe oath, tooke 
 place in the height of Poperie , as hath been (hewed in 
 the time of Henrie the 4. whereto the commons fas it 
 is wfAW.tfkdJ never consented. 
 
 For 
 
tAgalnJl the prelacy. \VJ 
 
 | : or the further difcovcry of the evill of the Prelats 
 rbns, and their imprifoning, give us leave to com- 
 ind to your view from the learned , the unhappie 
 fa hcllifh) beginning of it, when the Myftericof l 
 tie wasdrawcn to a head , then began the fcarlet 
 joretoputout the black flag of imprifonment a- 
 ift the people of God, that would not receive the 
 ark of the Z>^//;witneffc the colic&ions of the lear- Cttohg. 
 emus primus po'stvacatio^cm Rom. nut fedis,&:c t ufi*vm. 
 renins the 1 . after the vac an tie of the Sea if Rome , for ** * 6 ' 
 
 t of 4. monthcsjtoju made Pope, Vr-ho not regarding 
 
 Jejiaslica// affairs, or the furtherance of the GofptffgAVt 
 
 \barge about the jeare of our Lord 6>6. that hi [hops 
 
 iidhave their prifons bereaving ( fay they ) fhi M.i 
 
 \te of the SVcordyiiot for the pumjhing of idolaters, Adul* 
 
 rSy&c. cf Ve/jtch there Were great aboundance, but to 
 
 ifi and pine Hercttcks ( as they called them ) Who 
 
 lid not heart and adore the throne of the Beafl. 
 
 Vpngorie thefirfl (faith the Author) hath left a 'Written 
 
 ymoniCyVvhat the judgment of the ancient Canons /> 5 of 
 
 Btflwps as Vii 11 have men to fear them for tleir prifons, 
 
 r fatherhood flould know ( faith he,' that thy fl'tuld be 
 
 ores non-percuJJores y feeders notj/rtlcrs, nova predica- 
 
 qux verberibuscxigit fidem. // is a neW ktndc if 
 
 n>iv,to make men beleeve With blorwes:but Fugenius & 
 
 s utcef]uurs ( faith the Author) f owed and contemned 
 
 Bdivinttie. 
 4avc not our Prelats cunncd their Fathers lefture 
 ttitwell v, for whoieel the fmarr of their 
 
 > "t nor the idolater or vile pcrfon, yea not the 
 cd Athiiljthc canker fretting Arminian,or ihtc- 
 
 bctrajr 
 
x*8 Syons Ptea^ 
 
 berraying Iefuite, for with all of thcfe they ar 
 
 haile fellow well mette^But the grand tranfgrefjoui 
 
 the puritans (hall be fure of the very eft dog-hole i 
 
 all the Bifhops denne, though the Iefuites had wor 
 
 to haue the rougher words, with thefe their prifor, 
 
 they fo terrifie Gods people, that they often fay 3 i, 
 
 fweare 5 and doe they know not what. Thefe an 
 
 their Herculean arguments wherewith they con 
 
 c.Htnr.i.dudcallinBoc'ardo, that dare denythe dungofthe 
 
 Cap. 15. jiHgeMffAbie tobegoodgouldforthealtar of God 
 
 but the law is cleare, we needenot informe yoi 
 
 Honours that none fhould be imprifoned, nifipi 
 
 mama legale )udicium> parium^ ant per legem terra. Thati:; 
 
 Can (.19. Fpon a juditious procejfe, by a legal trjaH^orby the law \ 
 
 ^^^ the land. Neither doth that aft, from whence the 1 
 
 would ground their commifiion, giue anypoweiji 
 
 but rather a reftraint to their imprisoning andfyn 1 
 
 ing 3 for if it did, it fhould crofle the law of til 
 
 landryea the power of the Commiffion, fo expoui 
 
 rk^namt, ded, croffeth the ftatutc itfelfe , as by judicious lav 
 
 *</# 5 ' u y ers k at h ^ een l earne< % obferved. Befides, the: 
 
 c<?.6.' isaftatuteflatlyagainft it. 
 
 Further if they had fuch power > to what ufe fc 
 veth that writte de Excommunicato -capiendo ? Soth 
 it is more than evident, their fyningand imprifo 
 ing, are altogether againft thelawesofthcland,t) 
 tenourofthc power by which they hold , andtl 
 courfe of their owncproceedings, 
 
 }\ 
 Th 
 
-* 
 
 Againft the TreUcyl up 
 
 4. They fin highly agitinu the Nobility &gea- 
 rie, forbefides their fining againft their foulcs 3 in 
 :eeping out a powerful! miniftrie, they intrude 
 pon fecular offices due to the nobility and gentry, 
 nd thatagainft the law of God, the nature of cal- 
 ngs, the Cannon law, and the law of nations* 
 
 Hubert was Archb.of rant. Lord Chancellotir of E'g. 
 nd Lord cheife jufticc all at oner, [nftances there 
 e too manic,and that of our ownc rimes \ contrarie 
 o the Act of the Cotinfell at Oxford , holden by 
 
 even Langton; ne cleric; \urifd16H9nes exerccantfecu- 
 ms, that is: no Clirgiememfitu/Jexerciji Ante tempo- 
 it! function. 
 
 uMath. rarifienfis makcth mention of the Popes 
 iijund'on here in England , to take the great fealc 
 oma Bifilop,bring Lord keeper for rhe time. 
 
 It is obicn* ed I V OtlCjbdt it never ^ent WcltViihtfiat 
 t.ue, Wbtn '? hath !>orne Temporal! offices , or 
 
 Mere they tr+ ( Om f- f h*r$ if S'ate^j. 
 > It is a dKgr; cefull affront to the Nobility, Judges & 
 entry , as though they were not worthy or fitt for 
 he places The like may be laid of Miniftcrs , being 
 
 lattices of peace. 
 
 : That this their temporal] jurifdiftion is oppofitc to 
 M Law of God,it if mamtcit from ihelc words : The 
 ifUgi of the pennies twn.fc J.o>Jjh/p 01 er fhem,&LC.baf ye 
 tat! not die f . Luke 22.2s.2f>. Math. 2 O. *J ■ by the 
 vhich places the Prelacy is lb confounded t that h y 
 All in whh the i by wrangling to Wfefl 'he 
 
 S mca- 
 
meaning of the Spirit. The places fay the PreUts ind 
 Rlcmifts) forbid Tyrannous Lordjh/p and Government, 
 but not a'yifi a?:d upright oovernment. 
 
 In which cavill your Honours may juftly wonder 
 that men will be fo fhamelefic. For firft we muft con- 
 fider,that our Saviour anfwereth his Difciples to their 
 que/Iion^ccotding *o their defire. Now could theybe ; 
 fo impudent, as to defire to play the Tyrants? No fure/ 
 It is Tyranny fo to expound the place. But their defire 
 was of alawfull prchcmmcnce in ideneofubjedlo , in a 
 fubjed capable of it, and tells them plainly,they muft 
 have no fuch Office. 
 
 It is moft true ("as it is noted ) that he barreth in his 
 anfwer^all ambitious Prelaty ,being the greatcft tyranny: 
 which the Difciples defired not, but further he denyes 
 to them all temporall preheminence Utfull in it feife y 
 but not for them t as he cleareth by the inftance of the 
 Dominion of wordly rulerss and the more to difwadc 
 them from it,he prefleth his owne example, Luke 22, 
 37. And thus he anfwers the queftion. All Orthodox 
 expofitors both "ancient andmoderne accord in this 
 trueth. 
 
 Indicitur mhist, atiojnterd'tcitur deminatio : Bernard* 
 de Confid. Ltb.z. The Miniitry commanded, but Do- 
 minion forbidden. 
 
 We jhould ve free (fairh H\Qxomz)from fecnlar affaires, 
 that w-* m^y pkafe Chrift , It is not for a mimsler /faith 
 Ambrofe ; tob.,v? two offices. Ejher Latimer afkctk 
 the Vn lj ts 9 ifit ftere their offices to he Courting //^Sermon I 
 5. to Ldw. 6. In 1. Cor. 0.4. AV/? utrum^gladium Petro^ 
 
 faith 
 
 i 
 
tA^amjt the Prelacy] 13 1 
 
 '■££? , he gaze >etlcththe /v .; I Teter or any 
 I: , In armor. i.Cor.6. Bellarmine the 
 Cardinal! is cxpn fly for this trueth , commenting on 
 Cur Saviours woids Luke 12. 14. v. ho made me a 
 jitdge^&cc. Admonct E f:\ct.fum ut he index in tarn , uec 
 arbiter facultatum fit, hcwirncrha Bifhop, neyrher to 
 be judge in terrene conrroveiiies, nor a determiner of 
 mens righr, de Pontifi. Lib.$. Cap. 1 o. 
 
 To the fame cffcft, upon the fame place, Franctfctis 
 Turyuuius fpeakcth prettily and pithily : ^Qnd duluri 
 r unt Fpifcopi ad iffttd Clrisit , qms iOr.su/ /at me \udi- Lib. 9. ct, m 
 cem\&c. Whin BifimM talc ficu/ar poVcer upC). them , W; at **• ^r° n - 
 "hill they at. ftoer to that ofchrtft , "toko made me a j udge or 
 Jevider among// )cu> In doing fo faith he : S.tpfos ex 
 fitmmts mimmosfactmht , they m.ike t b mdftht ti to become 
 \htlcAJK Not unlike to that of the Corinth : fttt them , Cor.6.4 
 to Indge , Viho are lea// efc t m cd in 1 he C hutch : Neither 
 aence can it be collc&ed as the Papift would force ir, 
 ;hat the Spiritualty as they c.U it) or the Mmiltcry is 
 in place above the Mag'frracic, but that oneJy the ob- 
 cct of their ailing is higher and thcrforc their rjkioa 
 jpon them, atemporali judicature is an abtijing of 
 the Miniftery. 
 
 To the fame purpofe, theforefaid Author applyeth 
 the Parable of the TV/f^choofmgaKmg: A'-r/r^J *cnt 
 Carth on a time to anoint a 'cm 5 and the ) (aid 
 
 into the Olive- tra : Rugne thou n er it> ,&c. / 
 m plant conremt. Ir Itttcth the fitjhrp > tght % ;'l.uth he) 
 Ifir they Uave the faert inl: ,;ingV;o>d 
 
 Htahe the m ft foes to 'dig** i officii la t 
 
 ?< t a»d ft tl. ty become n Fig- trees y i 
 
 S : / 1 ' 
 
131 SyonsTka* 
 
 but very br able s for why as the ApoftlejjW/^ they le&vtU 
 ' *' the V;ord to ferve at Tables, andif(zs the Spirit fpeakethj | 
 no man that Garret h int angle: h himfelf^ith the affaires of\i 
 this lifc^j 5 that he may pleaje him , Vrbo hath cbofen \ 
 aTJm.2.4. }j tm t0 be aSouldter : Ergo Eptfcopi qui lites^five res fecu*> 
 lares ^c A Etfoip therfore that taketh upon him the judgJt- 
 tnent of fecular things , foe weth plainly that he garret h notY* 
 for God,andfo he cannot pleaje him. 
 
 V 
 The Canon Law condemnes exprefly %Kpix.&\ 
 P(>ovTi$cig. Secular cares in the Atinifters. For this 
 trueth alfo Counfclls are current,/?*? offuin habtant.&Gl 
 Let not any Minifters have the office of a fecular go 
 vernour 5 Confil.Toller. 
 
 As for the laws of nations: as the callings are of a di 
 RinQ nature, foall nations have ordinarily had a car< 
 to keepe them diftinft. 
 
 Fab 1 us kM animus is commended for oppofing th< \ 
 choofing of JEmilius Regulus to be Confull, became b< 
 wjzsajgnirina// Prieff. But it is obje&ed that gocxM 
 zifiji) 'ncn p f j nccs doe p Ut t j iat dignity upon them* lumu 
 *dl Pomif. anfwereth : Though they Vtere goodjhey did not ^9elL 
 
 Lit. 5.^.4- 
 
 ww. 12. x| Secondly, the grcateft Monarch cannot put thing 
 together that God hath diftinguifhed. 
 
 3 . As good Princes out of good affection, wit-hou 
 
 judgment (as the forefaid judicious man obferves^ pu 
 
 this auihoritie upon them ; fo other good Princes fc 
 
 . the Tyranny pride and opprfs)on , that thereupon en iue 
 
 **%4-$9\ t0 °k eit quite away from them; upon the eviljgrounl 
 
 an 
 
%4gainsi the Prelacy. 1 3 3 
 
 d finfull effe&s of drill jurifdi&ion in the Prelacy. 
 Petrus Terrariencis is bould to call the mifphcers of c 
 Is power Stultos Cafares, Foolifh Empcrours. r ^ 
 
 2. Some may further object the antiquity of this 
 
 ixed government, or third Statc,as they call ir. For 
 
 fwer. 1. Cuftomc aggravates finnc. 2. Thistcm- 
 
 >rall dignirie of ihcirs from our Kings 10 be Barens, 
 
 d to have place in Parliament, c\;c. is as the learned „,.. * 
 
 jtneilein,not much above 400. -.e.r.cs ihndi:. . n p 
 
 The author of iheabilrsft , is cf that mind that "^ *4»* 
 
 cnrythez.W2s the firlt that purr this dignity upon °' 11 
 
 e PrcIatS; to fit in Parliament , and the ftarr Cham- 
 
 r, taking his ground from Math. Parif. Stent CMteri tJ .. - . 
 
 j 1 7 rt / ft r £,: "' 
 
 yyyyfJ detent tntcrtljt^ <xc. .:»# ^sfrehbijinvs mmt if g. 
 
 they hive their poffefi on s 9 .fe fia/J ihej have their Faron- *£'*7i 
 \esjrom the Kmgjtod Jitl in Courts of ytdgment, 46 other 
 \ron$)i:Utt con.t to matter cf life or fncttAer. There 
 norceitall hereof former graunts , as apparently 
 ,cic would have beeuc, if there had beehe any Inch. 
 , A ccrainc writer of the Feck iiafticall Hifiory fhews ?4 . l6jt 
 ndry in fiances of Parliamentary Laws without e: 
 icr prcfencc or conftnt of the Prelats. Yea King 
 . i the fi:ft,as we have (hewed, /.W.///0 c/ero^s one 
 hrufting out the Prelats) enacted laws with I 
 < mptonK 
 j lu the Raigne of fbilif , the Firncl 
 
 !w»ci rttuPHeJferEi 
 
 the Parliament , or 
 ires of Stdte flw/d he determined or treated. 
 
/' 
 
 )r 
 
 1:4 $>W $P&*i 
 
 The rcafun is penned :ilfo. Becaufe they fhould w , 
 upon their SfititmdfunSidns By all this (wherein \ , 
 could have been much Lrger; your Honours may co 3 
 fider what wrog this Amphibian b-ocd doth to the C \ 
 fice of the Minijlrj^h^t indignity to your felves^wh : 
 hurt to the Churtb^Kingfr State. 
 
 The words of a glorious martyr, are like to be ttj 
 TmM in truly verifyed of us : Woe to that Kingdome^.heretlS 
 hhticatife are either of the Counfell or of the Parliament. Yea th«1 
 Iflchrmn counfell faith he , is a* profitable to King or State > as 
 mmp.i}i t fox to the Gee fe , or the Wolves to the She ep. 
 
 2. Further,they pofTeffe too much of that where 
 the Nobility hath too little 5 For nobility withof 
 meanes,is as Colours without armes , for which cau 
 Henry the 5. determined in Parliament to have tab 
 fome part of the Prelats meanes, and given to the n< 
 bility. 
 
 But cunning KstrundeU found a triefce to turne hi I 
 offsetting his martial! fpirits upon the warrs of Tram 
 whereunro the Clergie contributed very largly, 
 keepe their coates undivided* 
 
 To draw to an end of ripping up thisendlefle fit 
 ning , they fin more particularly againft their offict 
 and Inftruments , by whom they are ferved and u 
 hoi den ; as Chancellours, Archdeacons y Offetais y ( hurc 
 ^avder:s^ PanJh.cleriSi of all thofe.or of any one I 
 them,is there any ground from Gods word , or infi 
 ration from Chrift^ yea are ihey not all the chips of th. 
 
 ou 
 
tdgainft the prelacy. 135 
 
 \\ block KjfnttchriH > Were it nor a farcie part 
 
 hny fubjed whomfoever, tothrtift out theOffi- 
 
 jof he Kujgshoufc,or Stare, cftablifhcdby thean- 
 
 fhws of ch,* land,withoiu cofulting with the King, 
 
 vitbout any order from him f Yes fure,for com- 
 
 I fence would condemne it; how much more im- 
 
 ent bouldnefie is it, to thrult out the Officers of 
 
 Is houfc,appointed exprefiy in his word , and to 
 
 t in fuch asferve for nothing , but tomainuinc 
 
 Kingdome of Antichrift , and to bring finne and 
 
 lament upon a nation ? 
 
 or further clearing of the evill condition of their 
 ices, give us leave to prefent you with a (hurt view 
 'heparticulars. 
 
 '. Por ChdnceIlottr 7, Archdeacons , & Ofirtiah , let us 
 
 .kc to them under the name ofoftnf*Vs ; For they 
 
 tall lubordinatc in evill offices to the Prelats: If the 
 
 I/4I place and cafe be naught, fo muft the fuperfour 
 
 Ires and cafes of fuch be, to whom , and which, 
 
 \u arc deputed : now for the wofull condition of 
 
 ^i4//,lct them heare v\ hat Petrus Elccenfes, a learned 
 
 I devout man, ( about the yearc 1150. ) fpeaketh. 
 
 k Epiftk to a certain '<///>/.///, whom he dcfired to 
 
 1 as zbrttndout if tit fire.) He writeth thus : I xr.es 
 
 i*l$n,& vr ch.t'deorum ; Get thee out ('faith he' out 
 
 abilon,or Vrof theChaldeans,meaning his place. 
 
 wtflerittm emm ■ H limnAttfitmA vilHcstii nis\ It is an 
 
 tce(faithhc < t a mod damnable ftcwardftiip. F7fr« 
 
 *$nnt 4 norrnnc officii , fedtvtibo The 
 
 word 
 
1^6 Syons fletu 
 
 wordffctkh hejisnot from the nmn officium^ or a phi 
 of fomc ufefull charge , but from officio to hurt or | 
 fend. And hence he maketh fuch verfes as the till 
 would afford,yea they may well fcrve ; for the placdj 
 worfethen the verfes. 
 
 Nam genus efihominum quod didtur cffici-pcrda i 
 Officio eft verbum crudele mrnis, o~ act), bum 
 D1810 plena malts 5 hinc dicitur offidalis, 
 A kinde of Inofficious men there be, 
 
 Derived from a (harp and cruell fteai 
 
 Officio to hurt , fo hence we fee. I 
 
 The word official is a wicked name, | 
 
 Vice Epifcopi ovts tondct,emungit & excoriat , fie Ej\ 
 
 copi longA manubona aliena dirimuntfoc. Vifiimulant p^ 
 
 car a - y Ergo relinque efficiale officium Minifitrium dumky 
 
 tioms* 
 
 Being viie-Bifiops ffayth he ) they fheer and fque<; 
 yea and pull the Akin offthe people. Give over ther 
 fore that official tffice, being a fervice reje&ed of Go 
 m vdicuto Yea lett all Biftiops, Archdeacons and Officials hea 
 $0 ub. 5. w jj at johtmes SanfbuYtenfis (of the fame rimej faith 
 them, and rheir places : Peccata poptili commedunt 
 vefiiuntur. They eate 6c are cloathed with the fins 
 toe people. 
 
 As for Chancellours they are the after- birth of t.i 
 Frelats Lordftip y wherein they have overtopt all oth 
 Earls and Barons,for none but Kings, Princesand Vr 
 verfitics have their Chancellours. 
 
 Eurther for Churchwardens 3 they finne moft agaii 
 them , and caufe them to Anne irioft of any of t 
 
 peop! 
 
tAgainfi the Trefacj. \yj 
 
 *eople,they make them the inftrumcrs of much fin. If 
 hey be wicked men the it is their meat & drinke,to in- 
 faarc afaithfull Minifter, & to r-fflid Gods people-buc 
 f they be good men, they mull eiiher fhift their dwcl- 
 ings , tofhun that unlawfull and harmefull office to 
 he undoing fit may be) of their calling and family; or 
 hey mult ly in prifon ; or w hich is word of all, under- 
 ,o the office with a relutlAmie in confiiencc , being in- 
 laved to Antichriftian governourVlaowfocver they do 
 I jo more hurt to Gods people J We fpeake what we 
 now ;fo me of Gods people have fclr hcavic pangs of 
 onfeience for it upon their deathbeds. If the calling 
 krere of God , good men would hould it (being Iaw- 
 iilly called; rather an honour, then a burthen to their 
 'On fci en ce, na m res bona nemtnem bonum [lAndjilizAt , 2 
 pod thing gives offence to no good men , but by rhe 
 office they become in very deed the Counteyfatts of 
 Gods Orficers,and the Popes promoters. They fweare 
 inddoc,they know not what , yea they infringe the 
 aws of rhe Land 3 being made inftrumen.s to afflict 
 3ods people : By ferving of forraigne jurifdiclion, 
 hey (in againll the Kings Majefty. All thele be more 
 :hcn manifel\ by iheir ferving of the finfhll courfes of 
 he Prelacy , in all which they arc infl ruments and ac- 
 xflbryes. 
 
 The great nclfe of their fin will appeare by a view of 
 : he particulars wherein they ferve > being directly i« 
 junft :hc ftmc laws which the Preljit rranfgrille. 
 
 Morcover.they (inncagainft the P.u ifli GMrfci *ho 
 arc the righi eye oiihtxtjptte full Courts, lor their ofl 
 what arc ih. \: jc it with reverence fpoM crew 
 
 T oi 
 
138 Syons Tletu 
 
 of Holy Water-dijhrfouts. There be (no doubt) honcft 
 men amongft them 3 and the more pittie they fhould v 
 fervefinne, but for the greater part, they avctkornstn 
 the e)es &prtckes in the fide* of Gods Mi nifters & good : 
 people: thefebe the Knights of 'the Croffe, the ketpers of R 
 the Popes Wardrobe , the Lords of Mi [rule ^ and in a word,' ; 
 x\\c great Maislers of the Rivel/s 3 as for Purfuivants and< Hl 
 Summoners,they make them nothing, but the ftrvants 
 of Jinnee. 
 
 Thefe Prelats finne alfo againft all the tricked of the 1 
 Land , of whofe wickednefle and profanefle they arc | 
 the very Tent ^Tabernacle , and by oppofing all good 
 meanes,they ftrengthen the hands of the kicked. 
 
 Laftly , they finne againft themfelves , their owru 
 foules & consciences efpecially. 
 
 Firft,for wordly pompe and wealth,they enter upon 
 anunbwfull call. 
 
 2. They caufe others to finne. 
 
 3. They bring the blood of many good men, and 
 their families upon their heads. 
 
 4. 1 h, y hazard ( if not loofe ) all comfort in time 
 of .h irgrc\iKftneede , when they come to give up 
 their accomptsf 
 
 Some Jying like Naba//( their hearts being dead , be- 
 fore ihey are dead.,j Some never cafting about for any 
 comfort - Some crying out > they have made a bad 
 exchanges* 
 
 One 
 
tAgaintt the Trelacy. i$p 
 
 One in terror of confcicncc told his wife,that he << 
 vould not endure one of rhefe pangs ( which he had << 
 jfFrcd for that wofull calling; for a world- And ther- << 
 ore charged her , not ro refcrveany thing of the revc- (t 
 lUeofthe Bifhoppricke , but to give it to the Poorc. ' f 
 or if (he put any of itin:oher ftockc, it would bring " 
 curfe upon it,andcontume it. 
 Wc<:ould further relate what horrible plights they 
 ave putr good men into, upon truir death beds, by 
 Drcing them to conformc,crying out that to lave their 
 neansin their fervi ce, they hid ttpt their ogus, ox but 
 jods people,for which they fmartcd. Others wiihia 
 ew dayes after their fubfeription, upon more ferious 
 onference with their owne confeiences , difcove- 
 mg their errour have langmfhed to the death. Humble 
 upphcat. P. 41. YaVcedoujtnot ( faith the fame Au- 
 ior . that V.htn it fb.i/i plcjfe the Lord to Honour his 
 I hut cher Vitth the fee liber tie of hts o> di nances , that the ' 
 
 : trs and co) i formers Vet ft then cry out Voith the Ft flops 
 VAiia : A T s t.onnonra'voluntate fed nccrfna:e adu . 
 
 mus.non ammo, fed verbis tantum confenjimus. L*'B***9* 
 Ve (>t l flribed not wilt <i'^ly but upo iOjl saint, not with heart, 
 pt vmbhand, the tint coyncd dil'indio will not hold, 
 q fnbfcn'i e anai (I b mi idjfut not d^ai/ifl the conftic 
 , But fo modi may (office to have laid of our linncs, 
 vhervof vvc have (hewed at large , them to be the 
 
 ,11 caufe. 
 Now wc come to our judgment* , whereof we af- 
 irmcallb them to be thccaule,according tothat n 
 \hatfoever ts t'> e caufe of a idufe, is alfo the Caufe of the ef 
 ett pra ecdwi fern that cauft-j. 
 
 T 2 bid 
 
140 Syons T>le<L, 
 
 Iudgments are either fpuituall or temporall , fpiri-i 
 tuall, as departing of Gods prefaces 5 and thztwfen/iblie, 
 we not lament wgafcr him avVeefiiWid. 
 
 2. ^yi breaking oftheflaffe or forcer of the mcanes : 
 for all the plenty we enjoy, yet the right arme andright\ 
 eye , that is the convincing & comroleing power oti 
 the Vifion is cutt off. 
 
 3 . A decay of Graces. 
 
 4. Abenummed 3 fencelefTe,andg™/*W/^ fcurilit 
 from the Spirit of Slumber, which is upon us. 
 
 5. Fear full O^W//?, andbardnes of heart , Co that 
 w cannot mourne. 
 
 6. Self love in every one feking his o^ne , and nom 
 that ^buh is the Lord Itfus Cbrifls. 
 
 7. A withdrawing of the right hand of felloe ftip. 
 And laftly,a bold contempt of Gods Iudgmcnts. 
 
 Whence are all thefe, but from the Prelats,keepinp 
 Chri/lat the dorei They abandon him , and will no 
 fuffcr him to dwell with us. They vafiall us fo at thei: 
 pleafure,that Godtaketh nopleafureinus. They wil 
 have what they will , and we muft gi\ e God no mor< 
 then they will. 
 
 The Minifiers are in bonds, and the Vcord in bonds^ then: 
 are none to cutt the cordes of their Tyranny , and t( 
 few Chrift at liberty. How fhould ihc iren or meane' 
 bepowerfull among us f How fhoula we thrive ii 
 grace , when the enimyes of grace and Gods glory com- 
 mand us ? How (hould wc be mlarged in our hearts 
 when they keepe us ftreight in our bowells toward 
 Chrift i How fhould we be (tout in our owne caufe 
 when we dare not be feene in Chrifts caufe: And hov 
 
 fhoulc 
 
%AgalnJt the TreUcy. 1 4 1 
 
 fould wclovc God,and one an other , when wc hare 
 Dtvvirh zferjeel l.Atrtdihttn ihatbc hisgreateft cne- 
 
 iyes ? 
 
 1 Many more great and fearfull fpitituall judgment 
 ierflowing this Land,wc might relate, if nmc would 
 
 Kus leave. hsfurtiflntigjinai Vtithfwne , which in- 
 isthegrearcii punifhment that ever God inflicled 
 is people, Thr.e oVcne InckidlKs Jforf cored thee, i:(tnZtl9 
 \id thy turning bulc flu/1 reprove thee y Lno^o therefore and 
 it it ts an eviu thing And bitter , that thou hast for* 
 gentle Lord^nd lurelv it mult be fo , becaulc this 
 jnnc of the Hierarthie is ihe oacly finne of the Land, 
 lum \ whofeauthontieispreft upon 
 ;ople,who cither without conscience, or againft con- 
 :icncejmbraccit 5 And therefore jufl it is with God 
 > punifh this high and capitall finne, with other finns 
 da high nature. 
 
 Now we come to temporal judgments , whereof (to 
 ur fhime, we are more ienlible then of the fttritu.i//. 
 ind yet in very deed lefle fcniiblc , then we flnould be. 
 : is too true of us, t/jj; t -ut'lrntn under ft and not )tid<;?>tet % rja, -5' 
 hat is to fay, in the true nature if ' tt } in the fling of if, 
 nd in the caules of it. The rcafon is well implycd in 
 ne fame place, bectufc tocfeeke not the Lordtn it. Wc 
 tttnd not Vbdt ixfttdketb 1* )*deme*t , and what he 
 yould have us to doe by 1 
 
 fieri 
 
 -/.Seven wc wiio profciic our iclvcs to 
 
 Ac a deceiving [ena our judge in 
 
 if the /mart be Rot one; riches im- 
 
 •cdiatl) 5 wc underhand not the judgmttiswcotigbr« 
 
 Wife 
 
14* Syons Pltou 
 
 Wife David w&s of another mould : L^lltby'utdtL} 
 z . ments (iaith ncj Vcere before wo. 
 
 It is an aftoniftiment to rhinke on our ftupiditie,thi, 
 Lord may cry to the Heavens and Earth to heare^ for w ^ 
 will not he are nor under/land. 
 
 The Earth fhikctbdnd trembleth. The foundation; 
 of the Heavens move and frnke above our heads 3 ar% 
 all becaufe of the ^orath of the Lord. 
 
 The very Heathen Centurion, and they t hit watche^; 
 Ghrift , when they heard the CVy*,and fawe the Ea^th* 
 quake , were terrified at the judgments of God, Matrix 
 
 27.54. I 
 
 U&a 16 ^e Ptophct Habakuck telleth us, when he heard th I 
 ' voyee ( namely of Gods judgments , ) Rottems enirtl 
 into his bones t and he trembled m himfe/f that he wight bi ( 
 fafe in the day of the Lord. The might ie God hath fpokenh 
 yea and roared to the eare^and difcoveredto tbeeye 7 all th^ 
 judgments Written in his booke. I 
 
 Yea all thefe have beene or are in fome meafur<n 
 upon us. Iudgments on our Petfons>States,Names y Fa 
 milyes,ca/lings, and what not ? 
 ^*EnL h Are no * ^Foundations ( as the Prophet fpeakerh 
 cafldorvnef where the word fignifieth : The grounds 
 L&^s y EcclefiaJticafl or Temporal, of Counfell of Vvarre , 
 State government, of making and managing Voarre de fen- 
 five or offenfive^ of trading and trafficking. In a word 
 the foundations *f all our frames & attempts ,( fox all thef 
 the word carrieth ) are Jhjken in peeces at home am 
 abroade. 
 
 It is true that this truth from the pulpitis and towers* 
 State is dayly dif covered. But who in his place laboured 
 
 ash< 
 
 rown 
 
tAgalnfi the Prelacy. 1 43 
 
 ihe mould to underftand it and avert it i Now 
 
 \ o be the great Engimeres in undermyning of our 
 
 nidations ? Directly the Prelats , and our finnes 
 
 pught out of the Saltpcctcr 6c Sulfhur of thefefye- 
 
 j^/#;/vi//>,arethemynes and gunpowder to blow 
 
 all up. No tongue of man can expreffewhat 
 
 v .li\\2xbU(l from tli cTowr would have done , if 
 
 id in mercy had not prevented it. Vet theblo- 
 
 ng up of all the Towers and Caftles in the Land, 
 
 ild not fo fluke and roine the foundations of 
 
 brch and State, as they have done. For the for- 
 
 r,how great and fearful! foever it-were, could be 
 
 yutanevi/ of ftmfmtm , but the later is both an 
 
 [11 of (innewndptwijhment , and therefore muft be 
 
 irtfulJ. lhat had beene imrnediatly from 
 
 owne hand ; but they have partly brought us, 
 
 Lare like further to bring us into the hands of 
 
 ds Scorpion feu? t lor if we have not Chrift 
 
 raigne ovtrutjhe r odd of his wrath muH rulers ns, 
 
 3ut breifcJy to the proofe of the Aflertionjctt us 
 Ic a fhort iurvey of our particular judgments. 
 
 ence are the itrange c onJit»<i>jg fickntffti^ and bodi- 
 mhaHiliti- s toperiorme and holdout in fcrvices? 
 
 t Atrophic , or waxing ldVc or the mcmbciSjThc Uv.t6, 
 
 i icing away of our lives and (pints infenfibl 
 t either from the keeping backe of the food of 
 (0 nit ^01 from their mixing it with the foulcktl- 
 \ poyion ot their ownc precepts and drcmomes > 
 
 whence 
 
144 SymsTUtu 
 
 c 
 
 Whence is the ficknes of the head ( of which we 
 2. Tings 4» out ^ muc j 1 . fo\ m y /, ea j\ m y i oeA( i\) but from the m 
 
 lignant and contagious fpirits of the rotten and naugh 
 heart of the Prelacy. And from the noyfome and co 
 rupting vapours of fuch bad Jiomads , as overcharj 
 the head? 
 
 How comerh the breath of our State to be ivfiffc 
 but by the tainting breath of x^intichrifi > So that v 
 cannot runne,yea nor walke with God freely , as* 
 ought to doe ? 
 
 How commeth the fruit of our bodyes toproue : 
 cviilrbutfrom the Prelats vafialling of them ( too 
 flume and finne be it fpoken that are Parents ) to rl 
 tJAiarkeofthe Beaff,** Crojfe and confirmatio>?,&LC agaii 
 which the Lord threatned fearfull Iudgmcnts in I 
 Booke of the Revelation, Chap. 14. 9. 10.11. whi 
 places we defire might be well confidered , and o 
 proofe thence againft the CrofTe:If the parents of Mi 
 fes would rather expofc the infant to the immedia 
 providence of God ( wifhout any mediate meant 
 able to preierve life) and themfelves to the hazard 
 Pharaohs wrath, then to admitt or commnt the le; 
 finne,in committing their Child to the wrath of a 3 
 rant ( which wr,s ro the Child but a temporall dange 
 what fliould wc nor doe, rather then to cxpofe 1 
 Children to a ipirituall danger. 
 
 Further , if our Children proueSchollers, attf 
 ftrft entry to the Vniverfity , they muft be matrtculaii 
 
tAgaintt the T re lacy. 143 
 
 lith an unlaVrfu// oath , and be nufledup in Popifii 
 j:aftifc$ > or no proceeding for them ? l r ^* 6 - 
 
 Dent. 25. 
 
 Why doc wc fow and the ennimics reapt ) f * 
 
 Why care they what we Uhonr fori but beciufc that 
 
 e Prclats make the Land ro Ubom of (nine , and our 
 
 hours in Gods fervice ire (o fl ghr, lb vainc, fupcrfti- 
 
 bpa and fruitlefle ro Go i,and fo pleafing to the man 
 
 f" finnc,that it is juft , our labours (hould be fo fruit- 
 tic to our felvesj and lb profitable to our enimies. 
 
 Why breaker h out the fearful 1 wrath of God and 
 Sguyc fores among us, but becaufe of Fa^Pcot his 
 \ering Ctrtmomcs^ and our gMgteens of Heielies ? ail 
 Iving life and breath from the Prelacy. 
 
 Why hath our earth becneas/hw, and the heavens 
 
 ibrajji , but from the br*fcn ftatntes , and brafca Set- 
 fan of the Pi cti 
 
 Why have ftrange fires fas from unknownc caufes) 
 out,and.oniumcd us ? And waters overflowed 
 , but bcciufc of \\\zi (Irdnge /in in Gods woi flu pa- 
 ind the waters of Nilus y mixed wi h the 
 rdiiunccs , let in, and kepi 
 >pilfa profane croc that depend upon themi 
 
 1 rhc&tonang of Ac bmte and 
 5ft us, und< 1 muri 1 
 but from our fiuncs, suiting from the 
 
 V Whj 
 
146 Syons Pletu 
 
 Why under aboundance of fire 8zfood y is there fuc i 
 cxtreame death and want of the one, and no profortir 
 nable price upon the other > but becaufe the warmin \\ 
 and actuating he&t of Gods Ordinances fnotwithftan | 
 ding of the plenty,) is fo weakned and quenched , an I 
 xhtftajfe of that bread fo broken,or bruifed by the Pr«!j 
 lats,that wc eate and are not fed, we have muck ftrcJt 
 yet wc are not farmed. 
 
 Why be our attempts againft our enimies fo frui .]! 
 lefle and ridiculous i 
 
 Why is out peace ,0x11 ^wr^&our tyarre outflamt 
 
 Why fall we,and flyc we with fuch high dilhonot 
 before our Enimies ? 
 
 Whyarcourformeriie feared Seamen , and man 1 
 Marchantes taken by the Dogges ofDunkirke, and ufi 
 worfe then Dogges, ("which to thinkc on , we thinl 
 ourEnglifli hearts fhould bleede with pittie and ij| 
 dignationj even from our Vajfala^e at home, to the 
 Enimies and adverfaries of Chrift \ 
 
 Why is the curfe of ludas made good upon X 
 Um*?.t.' nw\t\\z ) fe>v*nts fett over us ? Sub dtgnitate Ldmt 
 t>chu 28. minus turf is eft conditio firvi. It is the leffe (hame to 
 4; * fervant to a worthie Mafter ? 
 
 Why are the strangers within us gett up above us ( 
 the fpirit fpeaketh) ( namelie befides others ) a fort 
 
 ru: 
 
Agalnjl the Vrelacjl 147 
 
 fdc, Barbarous, needlefTe,and ufeleflefouldiers'with- 
 cit Example in a free na. ion: who commanded and 
 c voured in mens howfes , as if all were their ownc, 
 tufing their families, reviling themfelvcs, and now 
 j.d then killing his Majefties iubjecb. Is not this a 
 
 (irfull and heavie Iucigment in a free State ? and yet 
 ft it is with God, becaufe we will not have chri/1 to 
 igne overns^bm wc are content to march under An- 
 t.htiftian leaders, who have quartered c • 
 'jff Colours of Rome : The Lord therefore phgueth us 
 pith a fort #f Romifh Icfuited Irifll brans, whole in fo- 
 
 »nt outrages, together with the hcilifh roaring car- 
 age of thoie of our owne nation was the very finger 
 kjou. 
 
 Why are we become the taile of contempt, and 
 \me of nations y where we were once the bead of L'o- 
 rur, 5c glorieof the nations , but becaufe the taile of 
 tc Dragon hath laid us fo lowe ? 
 
 Laftlic,to finifh the point : why doth the Lords f$*U 
 
 j hath us , that he will not fme/hhc fmellof our fer- ' 
 
 iccsordinaric or cxtraordinaric , but becaufe we 
 
 hrnc i*f**fi to him of the Prelats making, which 
 
 as a Itnfie ^o$ifie garment was net to 
 
 nor plowing with an Ose.and an isfje, (o the 
 
 ,ordcannotcnJurea mixture inhisicrvicc. 
 
 I But fomc will objeft , thcPrclacicdid bcarc iway, 
 «/hcn none of theic plagues or judgments - 1 
 ped us , but wc had peace and plcnuc at home with 
 V 2 ft* 
 
148 Syons Vle<u 
 
 fucceffe and triumph abroad. For anfwer: 
 
 1. By wayofconceffion, the vcrie fameobje&ioii \ 
 
 c ZAt in effeft makcth that Godlcfle people to Paul in the eI-I 
 
 piftle to the Romans. For Pauls anfwer implieth by \ 
 
 anticipation^ox prevention fo much , as if they fhould lj 
 
 fay thus : "toe have pro fpend y and doe pyofptr* What tell l % 
 
 . you us of finne, or ofludgmem defpifejl thou ('faith Paul ) tbA si 
 
 riches of his goodncs, not knowing that the goodnes of GoMm 
 
 leadeth to repentances. As if he fhould fay, it is-trae,flW|*j 
 
 bonntie of God in all outward blefiings ,his patiences inlj 
 
 bearing with your finne, his longanimitie in defferringj i 
 
 to punifli ; is exceeding large and wonderfull j For , by!' 
 
 three emphaticall words the Apoftle cxpreffeth thisL 
 
 Sgfcta? conceffion. 
 
 *fet v*»°- B ut i s t his the beft ufc you make of it ? fhould it 
 
 n*t rather worke remorfe in you? 
 »amz.;6 To applie th\$,theugh ^epractifed & proffered,** ty/^y 
 faid of i^fntachus, yet doth it argue tfm God is not dif-j- 
 pieafed with us in this particular ? No; No more theitji 
 itr.44. 17. the Iewes profpering when they baked Cakes to tbe\ 
 Jgueene of Heaven. 
 
 2. That old proverbe is verified in them , nen 
 reptntt ft malu- , nothing evi 11 of i: felfe comes to I 
 monftrous evill but by degrees, fo it is with ther 
 Sathan at the firft,laying of the foundation of his An 
 tichriftian Kingdome , began to crcepe in by bare An* 
 tichriftian titles of fuperioritie,the evill whereof, nor| 
 tjieepfuing mifcheife ? good men did not obferve, yea 
 
 Satha* 
 
%Agalnfi tbe r Prelacy. j 45, 
 
 I than watched along time for his opportunitie of 
 j ttingon of this Kydrtes head 5 For till the time of 
 )peSiIvciter,about theyearc 520. Rome it fclf was 
 ithout any Lordfhip at all^upon which Lordfhip fol- 
 wed that blafphemous Arianifme , which afrcrward 
 ade all the Church of God to grcancs under it: 
 ith thole Antichriftian titles were joyncd wordlic 
 Qmotions^vhich with the fwelling pride of fupe- 
 btie, brought the Hierarchic to a full height, not on- 
 : in Romes Dominions , but alio here in Britannic, 
 which that forefaid Monkc ^^Austmc^> was the 
 rft beginner. 
 
 Thismifterieof iniquitie that the Apoftle fpeakes . j 
 pf,had its beginning in Diotrepbes , called by the Spirit 
 i^OT^rivcdij a love cffrtmAcic , in whole per fon | (ai ih^ 10 '' 5 ' 
 ttd) ihe Apoftlc condemns avarice (5c ambincus foe* j^ ViriJum 
 l*ri//r,the vcrie worft plagues of the Miniftcric , this 
 >rungupin£.#//Jj#/>/ &^;</^/A^and Patriarks , till" im ^ c - 
 tat Alonfter the Pope was fully formed, who as he 
 ad his rife from thofe wicked Ofiiccs; lb itill he is 
 )hcld by them, and maintained in hisKingdomc of 
 arkenefle. 
 
 1 As for Cardinals,they arc but a new invented foy 
 ftcr Romes quite departure from Chrift, maintai- 
 jing rather the pompe of Antichrift then his power; 
 tie Pope and Prclacie could not build Rome en the 
 
 but everic one tookc his turnc u »irpearcs 
 1 Grcgorit 1. and his Prcdcccilburs. 
 
 V i 
 
: 
 
 ij o Syons Tle&j> 
 
 But Rome by his Succeflburs being made a tdbih. 
 and receptacle of Devilis, made the Hierarchies the 
 fervants,more vile and cruell, (if it were poflible) tta 
 their Matters, witneffe their related pra&ifes in this n 
 tion. 
 
 Now to apply this to the anfwer of thequeftion. / 
 the beginning of Reformation , our Bifhops di 
 not fee the evill of the things. Manie of them we: 
 painfull in labours, rich in worksof mercie,and in tr 
 end fome of thefe fcaled their Repentance with the 
 blood : yea further in the beginning, the Lord w; 
 content to beare with fome beginnings of Reform? 
 tion. In £)ueene Elizabeths time; howfoever they be; 
 thefervants of chrift^xxA interrupted the courfe of th 
 Gofpell by the Antichriftian power , yet her Majeftf 
 and the State would not beare,that they fhould be did 
 klinge with the State • that by packing "frith Iefuits an 
 P^/^they fhould countenance and maintaine eith< 
 clderne^ Poperic-, that they fhould affront the Nobiliti 
 and lcaft of all, that ever they fhould fee the grand rdi\ 
 of their iJMafe eftablifhed : But upon evcrie Informs! 
 tion madejfc<f curbed their tyrannie, and rebuked theJ 
 vilenejft 5 Alfo fome well effededStatef-men ofthl 
 Nobilitie & others, were now and then hocking theti 
 over the fly/nnes^fo that they could not exercife the firfl 
 power of their head, but (as a learned man prophefiedi 
 f© foone as the Qneene was removed by death I 
 wickeder men, more infe&ed with Popme, woull 
 creep into their places, who being moreliveliemem] 
 bers of the head then the former , would defire anf; 
 indeauour more powerfully to be joyned to the head. 
 
 cither 1 
 
\Againsi rie Prelacy. 151 
 
 Jther by bringing thcChnrch,ovcr which they tyram- 
 lc fe, fro the obedience of Chrift,to the tyrannie of An- 
 ]e :hriftj or bymurthering and pining to death , fuchas 
 'ouldnotyealdto their Slavish Ordinances 5 thetrueth 
 f this predication fpeakes in their pra&ifes againft the 
 dticth,and tiucProfefiburs ; even juil as they did in 
 jjic time of K.Edward and Q^Mary , fo now thefc 
 cl >okc for their time, that if Idolatrie,come to bemore 
 ijublick, they would adhere to their head , and bring 
 ^oththe Kings Crcfane^ the Crvwuc of Christ in fub- 
 r *ftion to the Popes 'jMittr - y fo that whofocrer 
 j/ere King (the Lord preferve our King; hefhould 
 D c but Viceroy, as it were to our Iefuited Prelates. 
 J. The reafon is , the members will never hould 
 •ncmfclves fully inlrvened andaCtivated,till they be 
 ^oyned to their head y aor their functions well dif- 
 ^harged till they have done the very fcrvice, where- 
 ((into by their head thcyareappointed. 
 
 J If it beobje<5ted,thatfomcof them be quiet harm- 
 |cflc men : give them eafc & bclltc-timbtr , and they 
 jjjvill doe no hurt ; yea fomc of them be of the better 
 Ide, md ftand with the State, and for the Privilcdge 
 jf the fubjett , yea fome of them fuller , as it is 
 bought for the State. 
 
 To the firft of thefc , let Johannes S*rifh*rie*fii 
 nfwer : Noccutftpius, cy in eo ddmonis imitdntur iju$d 
 un> prodc/Jt'putant.o cum noccrc deji ft tint ^xhey hurt lor 
 [the molt part, but in this they gain the commenda- 
 tion ol devills; they are thought to do-c good when 
 they ccafe to do evill, In Polycrat. Lib. C.24. 
 
 Simla 
 
152 Syons Plettj 
 
 Simia fernper eritfimia, a Monkey will ever be a Moti'tf 
 key. Noyfome Beafts , cruel 1 mea , and Official 
 of enmitie to the offices of Chrift , upon ever 4 
 occafion they are readie toexpreffe r heir difpo (Irion in 
 though it be not alwayes in *ttu exercito 5 in the attiqj id 
 extent. 
 
 For the fecond,you know that maximc, aliudeft ^ 
 & aliud /ipparere$ It is one rhing to feem , and anothe 
 thing to be. If SanbafUt & Tobiab put in for butldm 
 of the ^//,they will daub with intempered morter, an 
 it will prove a rotten peece of work : it were far* 
 better (as Nehemias faith) that they fhould have n* 
 portion in the bujinejfe 3 they who can not endure the jc 
 walls of Sion to be built upfbur are as many way^ s op 
 pofue as ever Tobiah & Sanballat were to the reedi- 
 fying of Ierufalem,,) fhall never do good to the walls ol 
 the commo wealth: they who can not fufFer Chrift tc 
 have hu rights will never help the fubje&s to theiijw 
 right. 
 
 As for the fuffering offomc fas it may be thought} 
 forehoofing the better p. rt^ may it not rather be, becaufc 
 fomc would give more for the pUce , or becaufe they 
 might be more ferviceablc in the place in fome Popifli \ { 
 or Arminian Policies 
 
 Nonfdiis femper inter fe tonvenit vrfis, though Sam 
 fons Foxes be tyed tatle to taile ., yet they joyntly fett 
 on fi e^and burne up the bar/y field. 
 
 Wc fpe^knot thus, as though we envyed or would \ 
 extenuate any good that might be in any of them ( for 
 
 wc 
 
tAgaintt the Trelacy. ijj 
 
 ve heartily wifh, that they were both freinds to Chrift 
 nd to the ftare indeed,) but we intimate the trueih of 
 hat facred pofition:.* man cannot oathergr rfes of thorns, 
 mdFigt$f ThiUles , ofTfom .indeed they 
 
 (light prove Ceddrs S^Palmes^ if rhc\ were tranfplan- 
 ed,butfo long as they rem.iin in thai a>r\cd fetid , as a 
 cverend man iaid well : rhebeft proves buxzlranible* 
 ti our later and worfcr times we fee few or none 
 ut brdiibiLS phnred in thirfeild. If there be / wi«of 
 ufcbeifcy* m \A railcron ?he s'tare^ maintaincr uf I 
 r>,and A mi.iimfme wi.hfomencw front ij}i(e , af- 
 •onting by his infolenr cariagc the great tribunal of 
 f the K-ngdome; this man (hill bo \ Lo>d L'/fojp, and 
 ood enough roo , for it p matter of lamentation, 
 lowfocver tn-my thinkc orhcrwifc,J that a good man 
 loukt be fpoyled by the place. 
 
 Hcnrie the 8. molt admired the life of that fubj eft, 
 ho never was fo /oft as to be a C**flable y nor never 
 > high as to be a 'uftae of peace , fo we may fay that 
 C is the bappielt Church-maxStteris pa it '«, ihat never 
 as fo low, as to be a fa ifh clerk , nor came never fo 
 gh.as to b>; a Lord ft/ fo p 
 
 It is jtI with God thar *w?»** (hoa Id dwell in 
 \c Patatis of fta- ! >c",p-m\y that they may the r 
 ray their enmitie againft rheKingdomt i 
 inly that men may fee , and hate the evill i 
 aces • For wlun they fee plainly nothing but thurns 
 m thirties to grow in the ground, the) will prodaunc 
 openly tu be a curfei^r$und t 
 
 X 
 
154 SyonsTletu 
 
 Let us not then deceave our felves with that PopiC 
 and Foppifh argument of thriving, but let us rather b 
 humbled for fo long defpifing of his mcrcie : nam ta> 
 
 ditatem )udicij gravitate f up j,licij cewpenfat , hepayet 
 home for all together when he punilheth. 
 
 Laftlie, the more perfpicuous difcovetieof a finnc 
 * joined with a ovge continuance of the fame , bringetl 
 the more heavier and fearfull judgments in the end. 
 
 And fo much for this point , wherein we have nc 
 taken all this paines (prefumingof jour Honours ps 
 ticncejto charge all finne and judgment upon the Pre! 
 lates,to difcharge our (tl\es,as gutltlejfe, bui ing^nuou 
 ly we charge our felves not onelie with our own 
 finaes , but to be alfo accefiarie to theirs, in obeyin 
 of them. 
 
 We acknowledge that God hath a fpeciall Conti 
 U$fi.+*%. ver fi e with hispeople,(whichifitwcrc taken up , I 
 mould quicklic dij}atcb Lis Emmies.) But our poii 
 was to prove our fmnes and judgments to have the 
 rife from the Hie a die , and them to be the Capiu 
 finne : fo in fome meafure we hope we have done : | 
 for judgments threatened a litlc of them, in handlix 
 the jiext point. 
 
 9. Pojiti 
 
tAgainJi the VreLcy. 155 
 
 p. fPvfiifak* proved. 
 
 F the Hierarchie be net rcmo e{ , and the Scepter of 
 Chrifts Kingdomt n.mdte It. t rv./e V>ifftplirit y adv. meed 
 to this phi e, there can be no healing if i>nr fo; r ,cf c 
 
 If there were no more ro prove this, bat the former 
 
 Dint well ppovcd.ii were enough ; For if their calling 
 
 Handing be the cauie of all 1 he e\ ill of our fiflne & 
 
 dgment (as luth been proved then no removall of 
 
 iem,no removall of finne and judgment, but rather 
 
 1 incrcaic of bo.h. For ir is the maine National/ Jinne 
 
 a: keepeth up and maintaincth the controvcrfic 
 
 irh God v ind id hat ceafle nor, God cannot in lufticc 
 
 a(Tc from pttniflung^nW he have made an end. 
 
 The point ihen is made good from the former Po- 
 
 ion, which (till mull be our medium or mcane , for 
 
 c proofe of this. Y< ur Honours may be veric acute 
 
 d kciulous in id rng up & redrefSimg of (tare gravan- 
 
 repayring bptnges, in cenftir ng wripltmfant$r9 9 
 
 preventing the plotts of the Emmies , in learching 
 
 it,and pumping our domci\\^kc undcrmincrs , in pro- 
 
 forees againft the Emmutfot our fclves and our 
 
 uiis , in taking courfc with tbc mothes hgrnuts Be •- 
 
 >pi!/ar;o( the itatc. 
 
 I All thefe are to be done.but the former is not to be 
 lone, for if all our owne ( - be re- 
 
 i , and that which is (, - ince 
 
 louUiiun be done away, whai by 
 
 X 2 ^ 
 
V)6 Syons Vlesu 
 
 xO. but making a way to a heavier judgment. 
 
 For Co God might go back to fetch a greatei! 
 blowe. 
 
 h is houldcn dangerous of feme Phyfirians u 
 give Phyfick when thcSunne is in any ruminant o 1 
 horned fgne^% they call it , in (lance Aries or Taurus\ 
 howfoever all the^/4/^w^/V/W/c3ndoenogood,i 
 log as the ftate movs in rhe horntdfigne of the Hierarchy 
 And the reafon is, becaufe the humor being mcvedi 
 not remozed ragethmore fiercelie. As God hath nc 
 bleft any Parliamentary indeavours, becaufe as we tak 
 it (under corre&ionjthey went not this way to work< 
 fo it is hkelie,he will not be with you now , if youg 
 not this way to worke; For God is more tender of h 
 owne Honour then of all the States and Churches i 
 the World. Tea he Will abhorre fas he fai xh)his o^ne ex 
 Anu. *.£. celltnckyfXndhiite his Palacesjf the thing dijpleafing to 
 CM a) t fie be not removed. 
 
 If you ftrike not at this roote , (give us leave rigl 
 Honourable to fpeake freely in Godscauiq; The Loi 
 may anfwer your defiies of peace, and indeavours c 
 reformation^ Ithu aniw"red/i/>*w, af king him 3 if 1 
 came in pt^c^hatpeaie (faith \\c)fi long as rhe Vchon 
 *.tjnn 9. domes of >hy UMoiher Iefakel 7 .a»d her Witchcrafts be 
 
 /- 
 
 22. 
 
 mantel 
 
 So what peace can we lookeibr, Co long as tr 
 Sonncs o( thecoma?? rejabe* rewaize • Their Mothe 
 namc 3 thcy^4///r^ indeed, for they are the Vcoe top 
 ho^fi^y (as the word is commonly taken.) Or after 
 more pxoper fignificaiion , ihey zie\\^Seattercrsi. 
 
 G01 
 
Againji the Vrelacy. 157 
 
 iods people: it may well be faid of that Ambitious 
 ood,as Euripides faid of ihc lying, and vain- glorious 
 ftrologians of his time , to [utfrrtrt ttccv <p<Acr;juev j 
 Ilk* , all that kindc is an Ambitious evill of vain- 
 pry. 
 
 It is true , that with the mod , namely 5 
 theith , Papills , Arminians , openlic pro- 
 lane , Tgnorants 3 and Proteflants at large , 
 lis trueth will hardly lindc acceptance , yed if 
 Ace^mercie , and fe jets , and all flicuid forfake us, 
 icy will not bclccvcic , becaufe they arc Hnimies to 
 hrift and hisKingdome, but all men of inliglucncd 
 idgment , and impartiall affi&ion , both ice this 
 ucth , and fcare,forcfeeing the iequell. 
 
 It is further true ; that if all the Miniftersin Eng- 
 
 nd would averrc the tructh of this , the Prclatrs 
 
 ould thru ft downc everic man from their places, 
 
 /id doc them a worfe turnc if they could , becaufe 
 
 icir Kingdomc lyes upon it. 
 
 Bifiof Cocfir maketh the abolishing of Lord Bifhops m.C.a?*. 
 : v OVenbrOWC of the Church- It is true nu^ :8 -- ; - 
 ccd of the ilomifh Church: But faMtbi ttfc- 
 
 id of none 1 fifi (God 
 prbid)> 
 
 X 1 
 
158 Syons tUju 
 
 We know fright noble Senatours) that you bcler 
 this Hier&rchie to be the roote of all our evill , the 
 will neceflarie follow that it mud be rooted out 3 oi 
 will roore us our. 
 
 It is rcmarkeable what God fpake by the mouth * 
 that Honourable Protomarty Mr. Rogers , that sn\\<M 
 rhe Gofpell fhould be reeftablilhed in England, if th b 
 Kingdomeof Antichriit were not utterlie tjh:.red,ih 
 tot alt reformation made in Gods worfhip , that our pert: 
 fecutions fhould be greate , and our triall hotter, theil 
 in the dayes when he and others fuffered ; he fpake tap 
 this effecl,and fo it is like to fall out, except God pre-ii 
 vent it ; For if we remove not the Canaanits : It is juf | 
 with God,rhat the Cana&rits fhould remove us 5 Tha 
 thrice noble T(Jex>\vho died in Ireland 5 on his deathji 
 bed forefaw,and proclaimed a fearfull ^fcoe to England* 
 becaufe they turned a 7 their Religion into Polirie, i 
 
 It is too true, for this hath beene and is the LMafteA 
 peece of our wordly Vcifdome^s appeareth by our ABs \ 
 to make Policie ride Religion , and to make JRe/zgion J 
 ferve Poluie on foote. 
 
 But this is juft to fctt the ajfe upon cbrifi 3 and n 01 
 chrifiupon the afie. 
 
 That Counfcll of Daniel to Nab*chadne%er may well 
 
 D0M.27, herebe apiphcd'.Rreal'e of tbj finne Vrf/h rigbteoufnes. For 
 
 npivns t ^ e worc j s are f m t ^ c originall , where we muft un-i 
 
 derftand efpecially,/;// &<?pw - ftmt$,pride y tjrannie, and] 
 
 oppression, fo this is the Eingiie fwne 3 which muft be 
 
 Woken of, or elfe no peace to be obtained. 
 
 It 
 
tAgainsl tie Prelacy. l)$ 
 
 I kf Tacob go up to Bethett , to build an ^AitArfor Cads g 
 4*jfe//>,if he will be free frcm the fcAieofhts Emmies y 
 i will firft remove all the idolls out of his howfc. 
 Bo will Iofua have the people doc , for he tclleth 
 tm plainlie,they could not fervc that Jealous Co J,no: 
 >fpcr in any thing,except they f* 
 aei was in a \vofullc2ie through fubjcction to the 
 thUtnts, and want of Godsprefencc in the iArki ot 
 ; ordinances. 
 
 In this cafe it is faid, thev lamented after the Lord \\ 
 it Samuel told them , that would not fhve /■ 
 7/r,exccpt they put not onelie away their Jao.7j y but t j 
 h yljh^jreth.ihcir beloved Jdo/l. 
 Where by the way, it is to be wondred , that this 
 :ople>givcn by God into the hands of the P 
 )uld have the Enimics y fpecia// Jdo/J for thchMi**** 
 
 9(1. 
 
 Now that it was the fbiliftim ftecUll idctl , it is 
 
 ;are, i.Sarn.jO. 10. Where it is laid , they put Sauls 
 
 mour inthekevsfe vf A^tcroth. What is to be laid in 
 
 |is cafe? except the Lord jmitc theheartc^no afriiclion 
 
 \vet b utderjidftdmg. 
 
 f But to compare our felvs with them, is it no matter 
 if wonder in us, who have layen lo long under Romes 
 Vvene \ in v. hole blood fi. U fo deep: , who 
 
 ujkeredDragod itandeth yet gaping under great R _ 
 jopts to devourc the difhcifed man child tie g!o- 
 UttsGijpeit 3 who mcanerh rather to naflaac us,thcn 
 b be at any more coft^'ith burning (f Mi I 
 I Is it no wonder wc fay, that we fhould rctainc 
 icii U/J: > ixAiMiftersoi their Ceramwmi Let us 
 
 then 
 
k 
 
 160 Syons Tle<L* 
 
 then both for Jh me dndfea-'e, put away this /fjhteroth 
 the Hierarchie $ It may very well be called Ajhem 
 Carnaim^ two horned Idoll , puftiing boihthe Cfc** 
 & Common-Health* . 
 
 What King or Stare found ever any good fuccefTe,! fc 
 toyliog themfelves with n forming of the Popes inim 
 piety and tyranny, till they made utter extirpation < 
 his Idolatrie,and unlawful! authorities So no rcformijo 
 tion of the evills of the PreLcieJom by a tot all or abfc 
 lute rtmovatt of their unlawfull authoririe 5 As w 
 have great caufe with Ifraell , to lament after the Lorii 
 (for his glorie h dafied,) and we defire to doe it heac i 
 tilie. So this Idoll of the Hierarchy muft be don 
 away, or no difcomfiting of the Phihfiim- 
 
 The Lord of Hoftes , fince your laft meeting , hatlju 
 made that great Goliah to fall unexpectedly: And furel;; 
 wemayfay ( with reverence relerved tothePhrafe 
 it is Wonderful/ in our eyes ; As the Sea is called (JWor 
 omnium undarumfo he was the death of all our fprings 
 He was the Gamahn (zsParacelfians call irjin whom I 
 & from whome 5 all our malignant fiarrs ban. e them 
 Ttrengtb and m tion. He was our shebna chat the Spi- \ 
 ritfpeakethoffj who was not onely Treafurerandi 
 Steward of the howfe, to take in all, and itjf f of all ii 
 but he wis the great Pa;dora:d\\ Offices in him , al 
 fuitesbyhim , and all the means to him and lor him.'i 
 Indeed the word tranflated Treafurer , is taken in the I 
 originall by the learned, to fignify one thar nounfcethi 
 Qxchtriflitthi whereby they would intimate that wic-J 
 feed mans entertaining of.fecret plotting with tht' 
 
 m\ 
 
tAgainft the Trelacy. \6i 
 
 ^flyrians,& Egyptians, to betray the Church and State > 
 intending in the mean time , to make a great hand for 
 iimfelf,andby the danger, &deftru<ftion of the State 
 oprovidc,for himfelf,againft all danger : Itismani- 
 fclt, that our Shcbna went beyond him in this , for he 
 nade Rome of England^ fctting all things to fale , and 
 buld the fec-flmple of England to Rome f that he 
 night have rhe tenent right. 
 
 | As in Athaliah wereobferved , Ambition ofraig- 
 iing,lovc of her Idolls,and defire of revenge \ fo the 
 ntollerablc pride of lYiZtvnfar defied evM , did evi- 
 iently demonftrate wirh other paflages, that he aymed 
 t the garland. As for his devotion to Baled \ and the 
 >ittcr fruits thereof, together with his defire , to re - 
 juite your A*n**dvtrfs$m upon his life , your He. 
 nd the whole State (hould have felt it, if he had no: 
 Ukn. 
 
 i Se]d*u5 was never fo ungrarefull , nor perfidious to 
 II Matter, as he was , nor never did the State that in 
 jgnitie and indemnitie , that he hath done to us, nor 
 ever trucked with forraignes,to berray fo many dates 
 s h« hath done, when one of the Amienis of Rome faw 
 hegovcrnoursgrow carclcfli of the publick good, 
 nd following of their ptivatc gain, he laid Rome **•*- 
 \d nithwg t* -vndoBc tr y but a <bdpmA t j te buy it : What :\ 
 angerous cafe then were we in ? who have Rome ? 
 tie iimperoiir^Sp.iinc.and Auftria, yea andallthcBa- 
 ilon'fherew in France Italy, and Gernunie, as fomany 
 $mffmen i hyingthtitfst4 tofurfis together, to nuke 
 archaic of us; Specially having fad) a Coopfmatc, 
 Y 
 
m 
 
 i&i Syons Tltu 
 
 as he with fo many Iefuited Faffors, and brokers ,. as ' 
 would afford the a rich penniworth. For a// his graving \$ 
 ef his habitation for kimfetf, in the ief of a reck D the Lord [li 
 bath brought him dotvne, and covered him. 
 
 k 
 Humanifts relate how the Ancients had wont to 
 
 hang a Wolves head upon the gaies, to avoyd and e* 
 
 pdl the mchantment, or bewitching of their Cities fro] 
 
 con agious vapours , itirredup by inchanters. The 
 
 truth of the evill, or remedie, we will not argue 3 but 
 
 furely^the fprinkling of the blood of the Wolf, (if we 
 
 can follow the Lord in it, ) may be a means to fave 
 
 our King , and us, from thefe fearfull and imminent . 
 
 jualgments,that he ( for our finnes ) might have hafte- 
 
 ned 5 and hailed upon us by his Iefuited tricks; as Majfes, 
 
 Murthers y Poyfins,Treafi'iS J P r eneri'.,6c Vinifices. 
 
 The Lord fmote but in time, for furely fome great 
 
 Monfte? of that JEgjftun Nilus was come to the place 
 
 of the birth 5 for God never taketh olT fuch an high 
 
 and Arch-enimie to his name,but upon the vctypinacti 
 
 of fonje high exploit $ Inftance Shtbna , Haman, 
 
 Guife,Demain,Dancre, and Francis the 2. of Fiance. 
 
 we leave others ro rake in hisaftics,it is not our work: 
 
 as his name rotteth y we w^(h his linne might dye with 
 
 him ; But give us leave ( right Honourable^ tofignify 
 
 what we cocdve^wc f ar tne body of the Retort be too 
 
 too found., and the ma, erjat/s 100 too fafejthe Iefuits & 
 
 their Co fin- PreUts^uhAl the Duhfud crew,will make 
 
 a fhrewd fhift to .u e the Limbeck with fome neV;head 9 
 
 Sc then, the wor*; is not mwedfcui hindered for a time. 
 
sAgainft tbeTrelacy. \ fa 
 
 To cur matter then in hand , the Bifhops are the 
 attorn of the bufinc ffc , and that bottom is our bine. 
 They tell us indeed , that the high Comtxificn hath no 
 >ottom * but asaCounklkr anfwered t firefy ithada 
 wttom till they I eat it rat. There is no way ( according 
 oourPofition, to mak^ good the work began , but 
 :o beat the bottom out of the Prelacy , and then Rentes 
 work,and Spaines Mark* is quite undone. To fpeake 
 (under corrc<5Hon)if Parliaments had taken thcmin(as 
 Elifha (aid ro ihc Elders) &handl>.dthcm /<?tf/;tf/y, name- 
 ly cafhicrcd their places, and rid Gods Church of their 
 tyrannic, the wicked had never come to that height^ 
 nor it may be to fuch a deftsratc^> and vnh Appier 
 :nd. 
 
 It was ofren agitated in the Counfell of Spainc, 
 whether they fhould bed all their forces firftagainft the 
 
 o:ujfru\-,&: the againft *'#*/.*/; J,or firft again ft 
 & the agiinft the L. Count . fince they were notable to 
 deal wirh both at once: It was caried and concluded 
 that the later was the better , & that upon thisground; 
 that if they would take the A'/. rr 5 they mud firft: make 
 themfclvs UtTafters of the Sea thatflftoes tntot' 
 that is, if they would regain the Low Countries, they 
 mu ft firft makethefe/mrj and means tin ar ownc, that 
 maintain rpholdcth the Low Countries. 
 
 So to apply Tor we may borrow wit of our euimies) 
 if you will deliver the King and Starr of corrupt, and 
 titrruptttg men Jadits be abufers oi th< K 
 proplunc Be Hi c.Gods $ timc-fi ies to the 
 
 Y z 
 
1^4 -Syons Tito-* 
 
 Gofpell 3 whether profefied Papists^ nmtuh. or mun> 
 grih, yea if you mean to make Dagon fall in Court 01 i 
 Counrry;Or to clear e the ay re of thofe Crowing plaguy tb 
 frogs & undermining iccuftsjhc IefuitS; then flrike neithem 
 /it great nor [maH^hut at the Hierarchies For it is the trou* % 
 bier of lfrae// 9 tke Cenfer ofallfirangefire.xht Fort of Gods u 
 enimies,the Jlrenght of 'fane , and the ijfrlegazin of al! (I 
 mifcheife. 
 
 If you had by your reprefenfathe power taken oft 
 that Hydra his head , it had been an Heroick part , 
 and worthie of To high a judicature ; For fofhould 
 the King have been delivered from thefnare , and hi* 
 ftate from an unfupportable burthen $ yea fundrj 
 evill events,both at home and abroad might have been 
 prevented : but frequent experience rrwkcth good 
 this pofition , if Baruck sland upon terms Viitb his 
 Office Joe loofeih the Hcvtur of the day : If you had re- 
 moved this Evr'i-onefrcm the throne (as y oar Predeccf 
 fours have done divers , though not fo bad as hc 5 ; and 
 fuffered this titter root of the Hier archie to (land 5 and 
 prcad; out of it 3 as out of a Qorgcns beadmorc monfters 
 fhould arife.and the laft fhould be the word. He was 
 their Creature at /fry? > and became their Creator at I 
 laft:thatitmuftbefo, fo.longasthey fubfift , take a 
 pregnant inftance, from the removeall of his Prede- 
 sejjour-ldou' , whofe fanes yet cry to the Heavens | 
 being managed out with the hjgh hands of two 
 pandenng Prelats. But as he was but a fubce/taneattj 
 and a verie Page in comparifon of the man of tht 
 
 chair 9 
 
Agmji the Vrelacyl i#7 
 
 f4/>. So Of his favorite frip there was quickly a 
 u/Iitit : And what a jolliric were the moft in , 
 lat he was caft over the barre , and we (hould 
 avc a ne^o favorite ? but as corrupt:* unius esl gene- 
 mo alterius^fic generatio vnius eft arruptio tot ins , 
 \ the corruption of one is the generation of an 
 thcr ; So out of the ajhes of that former en// a- 
 Dfe an other cvilljthatv.as like toconfumc us ail to 
 thes. 
 
 I Litlc knew we what the Lord meant us in it; 
 [e juftly plagued us with one , whole title finger 
 ras heavier then all the others body : It may very 
 ■rcll be applied to ns that Cedrenus wrirethof are- 
 giousMan, in theraignc of rhocas the wicked Fm- 
 tt$ur y the Mandidcxpoflulatc the matter with God, 
 y way of complaint , why he would fctt fuch a 
 kicked Tyrant over his Christian people ; It is faid 
 aat he was anfwered by a voyce , ( not feeing 
 ny thing , ) al/um deter tor em invemri pojfe nullum 
 lr bunc mcruijji Constant inopolttanoyum V$t$4 \ a wor- 
 zt then he was not to be found , and him they had, 
 tccaufc by their iinncs they had defcrved him ; 
 ftut lettus know that if the fountaine of rhefe bit- 
 er waters be not (hut up , the Lord hathaworfc 
 hen he, (if worfc may be) in florc for OS, 
 
 Y 3 Lea 
 
\66 Syons Vle<t* 
 
 Lett us fuppofe, that by the vertuc of yonr pow< 
 you had taken him off, becaufe either he or the Stains 
 mult fall,and you and yours lay all a* ftake for it; yet 
 you fmite not at the roote of this Tree, you and your 
 and all we are like to perifh for it. 
 
 It may well befail us that befell Henriethej.c 
 France,who having cutt off the Duke of Gui^e , wh 
 intended to Cloifter the King, and to take the Crowl 
 to himfelf : His Mother af ked him what was bek 
 come of fr/^///, and whether or no he had madehir 
 fure ? he anfwered that he was efcaped and gone; the 
 replyed the Queen ; your life is gone $ fo notwithftan 
 ding,if their Patrons fail, yet if their places fubfift, the 
 will be our ruine^ and the rather for this > that ye lei 
 ting them alone ( he being removed ) will proclaim j 
 to all the freinds of God , that you feeke onely you 
 owne ftfety , fuffcring the Lords Honour to ly ii 
 the dujle. 
 
 Without all controverfy thefe be the homes tha 
 icatter lfrae/f. But you fright Honourable ) rauft,o. 
 ihould be the Carpenters ,to law off thefe homes > and tc 
 fett up the home of Dtfcipltne , the Lords ownc Ordi- 
 nance. 
 
 Since God himfelf hath begun the Voork , and hatfc 
 
 chalked out the way by rcmovall of him that letted 5 Ii: 
 
 were great difhonour for you , not to follow the Lord 
 
 in his worke r The Lord icoketh, and is there none to help's 
 
 *A 6 S'$* He may \ufily bonder that there is none to uphold. 
 
 Two things we defire to commend to yourHonours,i 
 worthy your obfervation > the former is this : 
 
 When 
 
^Againjl the Prelacy. \6f 
 
 When the Lord is compelled by the Magiftrates 
 glcft to take the matter of the execution of his eni- 
 les into his owne hand • in the midil of that mcrcie 
 cofing him, and his people,of feme of his adverfa- 
 .<,he ictteth a Cifit of his ytd: merit , if Magiftrats in 
 cir place follow nor their Copic , the vcrie for- 
 trance of the Lords cnimies, thoiow liar, or favour, 
 delireof cafe, or hope of gain , becotnmerh the 
 ne of \\\<:ferbcarer>Jox the jult God ofttimes by fom 
 
 rhofe that they fparc , and whom they fhouldhave 
 ucktup , plu^kcth them or theirs up without any 
 
 tie : for initances we need to go no further then 
 : wherein we live : Have not feme of our No- 
 fit te dicentric, yea ibmc \ay,o\\tUte King perifhed 
 
 fuch,as they mould not hiw ip.tyed, the Lord made 
 is good in former times againft his owne people, 
 he Lord telleih them in the a. of the Iudgcs , that 
 ^ouid not breAK etvenant Vritb them , but they mufl 
 (blooke to keep covenant with him in this very 
 niailar.ihat we have in lmul. y$t$ fuSmukt no league 
 ub i he inhabitants of the Land 
 
 rir Atarsjjut )t b.,ze net oboed^why havt^t doneth: ? 
 herefvre I aififatd : I W/ / 999 1 drive them out from be- 
 e )c*J»t they ]l>a// be m thorns in your ftdc^tnd their ' '* 4 * 
 ids \^*!l be 4 jnAre unto y$u 
 The gunpowder plotters were cu fumed by 
 eir own makiivj! nti mating to u5 D t hat wc fhouldhave 
 d out, and fared out namely by due COUrfc of 
 w the reft of rh t fiery crew , and all their ftrange 
 Mjthat we (hou Id have broken all their J/tsrs Be I 
 Ij into chalkJlone$ } \hzX wefhould have pluckt up r$$f 
 
 arid 
 
i 
 
 aad br4nch,dc(ktoycAhead y and taile 5 fwept all aw 
 and made a clean hoVvfe : but we did nor, nor have n 
 yet obeyed, and will not the Lord fay to us : Vehy ha 
 ye done this f Yes, he hath us in qucftion , and ha 
 made good the threatening upon us 5 For now th 
 arc fo farrc from being driven out, that they are like 
 drive us and ours out 5 yea they and their agents, tl \ 
 Ksirminians fo ga /I our fides y and gretve our joules, th 
 we know not how to bellow our felvesj yea we hat 
 all caufe with that people forenamed to lift up 01 * 
 wyce,and ftw/yill we can weep no more. 
 
 1 
 Another inftance may be taken from that dead 
 blo?(>e y give by Gods owne handjo Balaams /V/>/7 3 an 
 his Idolatrous auditorie,in the Black-Friers of London 
 where he caufedthe ruins of an howfe, to cover an 
 revenge that Idolatrie in blood , and rubbifh , whic 
 polluted the Sabbath , outfiartd the Heavens holy due 
 ties, yea affronted GWhimfelf, without controulmer 
 of any man y As this was the veric extraordinarie fin 
 ger of God 3 laying his enimies in the dufbfo it poinj 
 ted out the duetie of Miniflers & CMagi/i rats, thut the 
 fhould have followed thch/o^e, domgexecutton witl' 
 the word,and with ;he fword : But as the executior 
 of this Iudgment wrought nothing.on the Papifts,bu 
 fretting, defire,^. threatening of revere on Gods people; 
 with a peremptorie refolution , to manage oui Idola- 
 trie with a higher hand; fo it wrought nothing on us, 
 but a gating jtupditte for the time ; for what man ol 
 place ha'h conceived , what the Lordfaid to him in 
 that execution 5 or hath followed home the Lord in 
 
 his 
 
tAgahft the Prefacy. 1 69 
 
 iris wot k,by putting to his hand , to fhake any filth cf 
 ?offrj\ yea have not for the mine of one howfefull 
 many howfefulls . yea icwrfulls ) riien up fince that 
 time? whom God in judgment may fuffer tofhake 
 our churches inheres , becauie we would wot learn 
 [when God was readie to gmde our har.d, to write by 
 1 Prt/ident. 
 
 It is further worth the noteing , that as the French 
 illotcd them an ho^fe to that diimall work,con'rarie 
 
 the Law of God 6c Nations & was never called to 
 naccopt for the difhonour done to God ,the undoing 
 >f fouls,& the loile of the Kings fubjccts 5 So the French 
 uth plagued & pcftered us iince worie then before, & 
 hat both in owr Jlttes ck religion j For by that urn quail 
 watch (which we lay not to heart as we (hould; they 
 Bvcfct upBaulptorin publickamogft us, by the which 
 CpCcidWy, ftc provohng God to anger the plague $f the VfiLft 
 crd b?A L c in upon u -which though it be removed, yet 
 
 : we remove not that plague of ihc Mafic, the wrath 
 f the Lord will never leave us, till it hath quite con- 
 imcd us. 
 
 Let the lift inftance be from tht PrcUcy , being the 
 
 win fubjut of our treadle. It is cleared that all our 
 
 ills of iinnc and judgment arc from them, and butte 
 
 ill upon them , and therefore the Lord hath 01 
 
 nanv of the in remarkable }sdgn9e*tft)CWing I 
 
 their places to be the g* I the Land j yet for 
 
 1 this. what man of note or place hath lent the I < 
 thand > to ihc calling dowrrc of then ihong hou! 
 
 Z 
 
170 Syons Pleau 
 
 and notwithftanding that men now with half au i 
 eye can fee, and fay, that their ftanding (meaning iheii 
 places) muft be the ruine of the national the prcphani 
 favour th em ,and the Profefiorftareth them-, fo that then 
 is nor a man of any place to come forth, and fay ; Com 
 and fee ho ft zealous I Veill be for the Kingdom of chrijf 
 againft thofe his enemies, that ^ill not have him to raigm 
 over them j which is a ffirewd evidence, if we gett nc 
 better heart to the bufineffe , that they (hall plague u 
 and ours feaven times more. 
 
 To conclude the point, it is a great fault in men d 
 place, both Minifters and M*giftrars , that they wout 
 have God to doe all the hardVeorke byhimfelf , ant 
 they would come, and gather up the Jpoyie : but the 
 who will raigne with God , even in the glory of an 
 good ftork 3 mu{i do for him , and fuffcr "ftttfi htm in th 
 doing of the Work. 
 
 The later main remarkeable thing is this: That a 
 the things that we have looked for,effe<fted,and relye 
 npon,ha;h proved to us as broken reeds. 
 
 For the better clearing of this obfervation we wi 
 firft give fome inftances of it , and then (hew th 
 grounds, and laftly the ufe of it. 
 
 To begin with our expc&ation andiffue : after tl 
 death of Queen Elizabeth , all the good, had gre 
 hopes of a conformttte of Church- government to tl 
 rule of Chrifi^ a great many Miniftf r« and people ft 
 
 then 
 
'tA'gnnsi the Prelacy. \j\ 
 
 ^hemfelves to maintaine , and follicirc the caufc of 
 
 Chrift. Bur the Tub i\c Tempter^ namely the Hierarchy, 
 
 ., lid fo winde itfelf like the/ vie about the vine, that 
 
 ^fhcy drained out all his fpirit of reformation^ (if he 
 
 ^brought any with hinvyea they fuggeited to the eye 
 
 pf hisapprehenfion > iuch a bewi ching fhantafm of 
 
 llcafu c^f y profit, honour, -fp: mJ n ,ad -ratten , ahfohte 
 
 Zp f vernmtnt^&.abfolut< It fcr//r 3 to do what he lift ; toa- 
 
 rife from the maintenance of an Honourable ciergie- y 
 
 that he conceived ihem to be thebraveft Cr.amentf, 
 
 and fitted Instruments for King crafty that were in the 
 
 world. 
 
 Again, they filled his cares with forged reproches 
 of the government of Chrift, raking opporrunirie, to 
 ftrike upon that Iarring firing of his fomctimes exaf- 
 pcrated conceit. 
 
 They further buzzed into his cares the danger of ex- 
 pfperating Papifts , if he fhould comply with refor- 
 matio. 
 
 Laftly,they fo plyedhisdclud' d difpofition with 
 cvill Inftruments,and mereenarii men , that he mult 
 hear nothin g, nor bear nothing, but : he \\t Idcgrapes of 
 Jptfcofati conformttie 5 Whereupon they grew fo info- 
 lcnt,that they added violence to their malice , abuling 
 the King;in thar fbefides his pleafure and command,) 
 they tooke away thcjhjephe.trd', & fatter ed thtji 
 ,and fo to our great grcifc wo were diLippointcd of 
 this point of our expectation. 
 
 Z 2 *»* 
 
<lji Syons Pled* 
 
 An other ground of our hope was that nwgnani* k 
 mious Hcnne (whom we do not name to minor ate the 
 parts of our prefent Soveraigne) whofe Heroick parts 
 and Princely cariage,were no; only a terror & &dmir&~ I 
 tton to forrains, but they were alfo both feared and en- 
 vyed by Papfts>& Prelats , whom he could never en- [ 
 dure. But our/&/?^,and our enimies malice,caufed the 
 Summer fett upon our fatre Rofe^j before we .were a- 
 ware,and fo that. Anchor came hornet. 
 
 A third thing w r e looked for^was the removal! ol 
 the former Favorite, which the Lord cffe&ed : But in 
 ftead of a Thiftle he fitt us with a bramble^ 3 becaufe 
 we were no better worthie. 
 
 A fourth thing that we much importuned God for, 
 was the breaking of the fyaptjh ma ch y and our Princes 
 fafe returnefrom Spaine : God in mercie graunted 
 both,but we were fo unthankfull for both thefe in a 
 right manner 3 and brake up our watching over him for 
 abetter helper > that God fuffered him , to our heav'u 
 V!fW,to match with the Daughter of Heth , though he 
 ,mift an RLgyptian. 
 
 5. When all things were fofarre out offrame,that 
 we are becom the prey of our enimies, the mockerie of 
 our freinds,aftume to ouriclves,and the fotcftoolc oi 
 % favourite : tfren nothing out a Parliament , Ohi a 
 Parliament would mend ail j But Parliament we had 
 after Parliament, and what was amended/* Your Ho- 
 nours can bed' tell who departed the howfe/at the pro- 
 rogation^ foheavic a moodc, as though ye had been 
 \<i captive bv feme conquerour of the ftate ; For that 
 
 over- 
 
tAgalnft the Trelacy. 17? 
 
 verfwaying mitt f on whom all reformation rren- 
 hedj caried all oppofition with fo flrong a hand, that 
 ic& his rhc bafeft of whom durft brave the Parlia- 
 ment,; were thought too hard for the flare : But him 
 lib hath God cutt ofT,and what would w: ha\ c morc: 
 urely, wc jw<; lookt t ■: cut 
 
 ^$m th^frefenceofihe Lord ^ till wchit the right vein , 
 sour fervices are like cloudes, wiihou; rainc , fo the 
 ,ords favours will prove to u^ as the morr.iiujdew. 
 Bin what is the ground of all iliis frjJingofouf Hofe& 
 :vcn the buffering of this txrfcJ pound of try 
 ■&/c_j, to bring forth fo many brambles: under favo 
 
 had begun at this ground,your work in all rcafon 
 \ad gone better with von. Therefore to inch 
 
 the laft particular of this point; trifi no\\ , and do tt . 
 fhc right way to the work of rdbr*r;auon,is to begin 
 vith the SA*8uati<\%& Czechia & Ioiia did ; the iv/icr 
 t^«// 9f Chrifls Temple is firft robe meafu red, before 
 • ,.d Court of Pclicj. Give us leave toinforcc 
 luetyfrom fomcmouyes,bcfidcs thereafons,rifing 
 . ihcPoii.ions , wc will contrive ihcicafo;, 
 y ns may be. 
 The lirft reafon may be taken from the cvill,which 
 with,namev.,uJ» a I w then as the Lord 
 .otanv longer bear, but you mull cither eafchim 
 of it, or he will nfe ihc.Land olYuch 2fi are u\p!*ce y and 
 will Jo nothing foi him. ]f anyobjal that Bs.bc not 
 Ijfocvillj there be many good men anions ft then: 
 anfwer, a* hath bee,. . ./ouusto 
 
 determine or their pcrfons- for many are willing to dc 
 c themfclvcs with this foj md*. 
 
u 
 
 174 Syons Fletu 
 
 Ergo tgood Lord Btfiop , a* though goodne/fe and Wflof 
 being both in one fuojeft were convertible terms , 
 where it (hould rather follow , he is a Lord Bifrp, Ergo 
 no good man- becaufe it is vcrie hard to be *go*dman\ 
 in a bad W//>j,inftancc in zplaytrjbt the like. But for; 
 their good we will fay no more ; bur let their corn-in 
 mon pra&ife fpeake in thefe two particulars ; nameliefe 
 their hatred and crueltie againft Gods M'nifters andh 
 people,and their blafphemous fcoffing at the Language ,{ 
 of Canaan , or Scripture Phrafe ; as if a msn (hall, 
 name the S alof his 'Mimftrie 5 glorifying of God '• far/fti-it 
 fying the Lords day ; or talking "toith God y they will if 
 houpe and hout at a man , as though he were a Barb a* 1 
 rian to them. 
 
 2. The Tecond reafbn is from your authoritic and, 
 , . place. Parliamentum habet in fepotejiatem tqtius R€gm, , 
 Jtiip.iingl. imo capitis & corporis : The Parliament hath in it the 
 power of the whole Kingdome , yea both of the 
 head and of the body : Then power muft be put ihi 
 ufe,or it loofeth the po^er. You are the Elders oj\ 
 ifraefl ; you are an armie of Generals ; that fupream 
 Court,that may call any place, or perfon to an account, 
 whether they be for the glorie of God , the good of 
 the King and State, or no $ you are the Fhyfitians of 
 Statejup and doeyourcurejlnaword^it werehappie 
 for our King and us , if you knew your power prafti- 1 
 cal/ie. They are thedevife of man , contrarie to Gods I 
 commandment >and man muft remove them. 
 
 A third i 
 
lAgainft the Prelacy. I f 5 
 
 A third reafon is from that precious pi edge, thai 
 ney keep (as it were,) incarcerated to their will (name- 
 j the Kings Majeftie ,) for where they bearefway, 
 lere the King (as Wooljey wrote is their King. 
 
 We have (hewed, how they have vexed Kings to 
 le verie death. But is not the King *-*r^ av^Tvre 
 i«*rre,the Father of i\lagiftrats,and private men * Or 
 
 t> ufe Scripture Phrafe, the breath of our Nostrils , or as 
 ic people faidof Dazid, Vtortb 10000. of us. 
 Confiderthen what a pittic it is to all,and an tndc- 
 blc dilhonour it will be to you , the ftate rcprcfenta- 
 Lve,that fo tngenucus ktrattablc a King fhould be fo 
 nonftrouflyabufed by the bane of Princes y to the un- 
 loingofhimfclf,& hisfubje&s. 
 
 It was truely faid of a wife Volttitian: if be f*>feu ^J^l] 
 ts bead, ( faith he, ) or be Vtortbie of manic puntfrments, W» & 
 bat cltppeth or corrupted tbc Kings coyne , or poyfonetb a [ 
 omrn on amduiH ; bow much more punijhment art they 
 \0)t> tejhat corrupt e a King W///; tv ill Court fell , tottic 
 vndoing ofbtmff y and a!! under him. ^sfurfme in i hat 
 reatife of the Corrtftion $f tbc Donat/its, the cheifc 
 *nimics of the Church , hath a prcttic obfervation, 
 concerning Aifol$n , not impertinent toourpurpofc. 
 Si aliter non potnit D*m*is David picem babere mji 
 L^folcnyCTt. If the howfc of Da\id could have no 
 bat by the removall of /tf/^/Wz/noiwithflanding 
 of Davids command, out of hisftate-indangcring in- 
 dulgence to thecontranc:) fa no peace , proipcritie, 
 nor (landing to the Church , but by the removall of 
 the Preladcjfor the danger and cnmitic of the Dc 
 
 rifts 
 
^6 Syons Plea^ 
 
 tills to the Church,were not of Co high a nature as- j 
 p ^ ? . the danger & enmitie from t he Prclafs are. Then tail 
 1 *. $* S 4 ^ a J f ^ e dr°ft e fro™ the Si her, and there Jha// come firth 1 J 
 , Vefie/lfor the finer, take aft ay the Wicked fo before the Kin M ♦ I 
 and his Throne ffi ill be efabl/Jhed in his righteoufoefte* Bui ;! 
 we mean to preffe this particular a litle further, when 
 we come to fpeake of the means. 
 
 4. A fourth reafon is,from Gods offering of himfelfl 
 to guide you by the hand, ( as we have (hewed -J who! 
 by giving of the firft blow hath in mercie removed j 
 the greateft nay I in all their tent^andftill not you follow | 
 hvme f 
 
 5. The fifth reafon is from our not-profiting by any | 
 mzxciCiprivative, or pofttive^thnt God hath afforded us:\\ 
 we do not thrive or gaine by anything , and where ! 
 lyes the faults even in this,as we have (hewed, in that J 1 
 we lay not the axe to the root of the right tree : Wedo 
 not undermine that which undermineth us : We fight 
 notagainft that which fightethagainft cbrifr. There- I 
 fore to ufe the word of the Pfalmift, be *ftife at length ' 
 great Senatiars^nd in thefcare of the Lord break the \ 
 bands of thefe that are like to break us in peeces. Whatjj 
 good (hall we gett by removall ofxhzt pocks of theftate 7 
 if the radicated humor in the evill liver of Rome be not 
 followed with the power of eradicating tJWinerals. To 
 move the humor , and not to remove tt , is to doable 
 the Ftrengtb of the difeafe^j. As we have alreadie given •' 
 fome inftances of this 5 fo we feare from this very par- 
 tkular,the proofe of wofull experience. The Lord 
 
 hath 
 
AguUfl the Prelacy. vjj 
 
 hath broake the cnimies Limbeck. Even no doubt 
 when fome fpint of mifchetfi was corre to the veric 
 belm^fo that he hath marred the Devils labour , ever! 
 when he was to be delivered of feme monjirom mif- 
 cheife to the ftatc. But ( notwithstanding al! 
 as hath been faid ) if we thinkc the /'</<>// to be quite 
 broake , and their Ojl&Pahies , and all loft, wedc 
 ceive our fclvcs exccedinglic; for the menstrua** mat- 
 ter , and the body of the work remains in the bot- 
 tom :if you give them leave thorow delay.but to lute 
 on a new neck , they will (how you a new Svint,\n 
 an ould work, and if you ftand not up in the breach , 
 for a furnace of brick , they will make one of marble, 
 andforatfir/'ofg/f/^thcy wjll make one of fleet , fo 
 that the laftto* will prove worfe then the fir ft , and 
 the dayc of his death (hall bring forth more bitrerncflc 
 then the day of his life: For know thisforacenaintie 
 that RQme^SfabieJrAncc&^uJlria \ the Prelate, Ar- 
 minians,and all the crackling Thorm&fire-Viok men in 
 the former work will fctt all they have,andthemfelvcs 
 to upon a reft, rather then they will not make good 
 the wicked work they have begun. Arifc then in 
 the name of God,and difperfe them, or lookc for no- 
 thing but fearfull defolation from tlicm. 
 
 6. The fixt reafon is from the prcfent evill condi- 
 tion wherein we ftand,and the danger whereunto wc 
 are lyiblc. 
 
 Pint for our ftatc, as the Phyfi'ian faid of natunyhat 
 it **t but 4ll $»eji(foes, fo our ftatc indeed is but all one 
 A a 
 
178 Syons Tletu 
 
 distemper ; Or with the Prophet: There is nothing feurfc 
 fern the Groyne of the head ^ to the fo!e of the foot 3 the \ (l 
 
 /•< 
 
 at 
 
 U 
 
 heart is fick,& the head is heaviest* ourconfciencesafa^ 
 more dominiered over within 3 & our ftate more pla-i I 
 gued by forrains without, then any free nation profef- 1 
 fing rhe Gofpell in the world, and for our religion and | 
 worfhipof God, it is ib overlaid with the rubbifi <a| 
 idolatrie, and fuperslitton that the facrifice in amanr 
 ner is mixed with fr;, and groans-, and if it be not re- 
 medied, they will raze the verie foundations of Re- 
 ligion 5 For they hivcfiooke ihcm (hrewdlie alreadic 
 by their Popi(h and Arminian tenets and pra&ifes. / 
 for IudgmentSjbefides thefe alreadie feafed, if we return 
 -fc/4 9 1?. mt ^ % l ^ e *-ord threateneth by his Prophet \Ue ^illcutt 
 14. jffi headland tailjoranch, and rufl) in one day. Is it not 
 time then to looke to it f 
 
 Can Chrift endure in ftead of the Sacrament of his 
 body and bloody c cor ding to his o'wne inftituticn , a Po- 
 pifh Altar to be ereded? CoafsjCloaihs, & Lights befit- 
 ting the ft me, Wafers^ Viinemv t^nh^ater , and the 
 Crucifix upon the '^Altar'i with this rot xzvijiuffe , and 
 fhfehng Leiturgie hath that corrupt crew pranft up. 
 their Majfe. Inftancc r ot)Mwnats t^inns^ lannts and 
 Umbra L. & N. the former of which have braved in 
 thefe oflat e, as i* were to affront ihe Parliament^ yea 
 and Chnit Aimfdf. 
 
 7.* 
 
tAgainft the TreLcy. I7p 
 
 A fcavcnth motivc,to prcvailc with you,may be 
 aken from your owne particular ; it is laid in that 
 brcquotcd place of Efti, that the Ancient 49 
 ibie is that head, which the Lord will cuttoff* You arc 
 jhe Elders of ifae^thc Ancient 6c 'fonoura* le 5 whom 
 " he Lord will curt offby them , if you cut not them 
 fj\ We have (hewed and proved how they haveftuick 
 it root,and branch of the ^yfnmnts of E*g/a*J , and 
 low they have caufed many to fall. You and yours 
 if you be right; theyaymar. How diflionourable & 
 >afcly have they dealt with (he Xobilitic , &; Gcnrric, 
 jtriking foms hats from their Iliads , threatening o 
 ,crs 5 nukingibme Daunce their attendance. 
 The Iciuiic ncedcth, neither the force of y.tine^noi: 
 ^Hsiri4 y not Iiaiie^xo the ruining of our Religion and 
 "t4te,thcAf wisjia ;ifcd,or right-down Pop/JhPn/.i/t^hr 
 >ellie-fervingMachivcll,the (tate-bctraying Faptfi will 
 nakc it rcadie meat for his mouth. 
 
 from \\vsfelf vndcrmtfnng courfe rhe wifeft of the 
 ^ounfellot Spainehavc prevailed with the red , to 
 ake this for a pnn. ip.t'1 -, not to alViyle our nation, rill 
 >y home-bred [edition, and diforder of Church 6c State, 
 r bcreadie to tall in their mouth, <5c fo they rmy hive 
 t cheap enough.ln the mean rime your ftarecVifam. 
 hall be but j prey to the P/eLuy , and to huh as the 
 > lupport j For all the ove> turners o( the 
 Kingdome turr.eth upon the hw?es yf thfC 
 he ftorni may overblow the poorer /'V 1 we 
 
 md our Cedar- Itki families may be blowcfl up by 
 Aa 2 
 
I 
 
 i3o Syons T>kju 
 
 oots. Curia Rcmana non captatovem fine Una \ 
 
 The Prelates will not prey on fleeflcfle fhcep. J iff 
 Remove then this deadly cup^ovyour portion of it one 
 day may make you cry out: O ! ho^o bitter it is ! 
 
 8. The eight motive rifeth from the generall defire 
 of all the well affe&ed ; yea the meerly civili longeth, 
 for their downfall : Sions Plea againft them hath ever 
 been maintained,fince the beginning of reformatio!; ftl 
 witneffe both the doings & the fuffcrings of the Saints 
 in that behalf,but now their tyrannic, & treacherie in 
 betraying of the trueth ? to Poperie and Arminianifmc 5 
 together with the prophaneffe of them and theirs> 
 unvaileth more fully to men of ail ranks , fas Nobili- 
 tie,Magiftracie,Minifterie, Gentrie,and Cominaltie,) 
 the iniquitie of their place , and the ruinc thence en- 
 fueing,whidi maketh them cry with one voyce,<^*w 
 Veitb the Babellcf Prelacy For the which they may juftly 
 allcdgc that reafon , that the Phililtine Princes ailed- 
 ged againft David 5 that he(houldnot go to battlcwith 
 xhQvn^leafihe be(hy thcy)an adierfirte tous y fir ^berwith 
 (hpuldhe reconcile bitnfelfunto his Mali er\ jKuld it not be 
 Vtith the beads cfthefe mch.Sam.i^.^So whatfoever ye 
 atteptfor the good of Policyot religion , for the diver- 
 ting of evili 3 for the releef of the affli&ed Churches 
 abroad^will be hut as Matter Jfilt upon the gtound,for 
 all attempts have proved no better. In every good 
 thing they will be your reM adverfaries , yea ^herc» 
 With ^i/ithey reconcile them fe Ives to their <JMaifler the 
 Top<^> 7 but with the mine of Religion and State-, 
 
 and 
 
iAgainsi the Prelacy. i£i 
 
 ,id more particularly it may be ; with the huds or 
 *arts of you and yours. 
 
 The 9. and laft motive,* from the excellency and 
 reightof the work in hand namely the advancing of 
 ic Scepter of the Kingdom of Chrift Ieftts , which is 
 O other thing, bur a reflcring or cftablifhing of the 
 ue Officers of Chrilt ; the puritic of his ordinances. 
 nd the power of his owne Diicipline. 
 
 Of the excellency and neceifityof Diicipline we 
 ave fpoken fomewhat. 
 
 Standeth it with cquitic or rcafon, that the Popes 
 4W, which is the Popes <.wnc mouth , (hould fpeake or 
 ule in chrifts church ? And that it is fo wiih us, the 
 tiirarcby it Felf can not deny , for it is the very fame 
 'opifh government , that is pounrayed out in the 
 J opcs Canons,for the which our Prelacy ftandcth as D(lHb(Tn 
 litle as any pontificall of them all , wirncfle Bifhop up. 14/ 
 ;ilfon , Bifhop Whitgift , and others. But this' 4 * -5if- 
 ;overnment ( as all knew that arc acquainted with TnAt. 
 : ) is ■*« •• 
 
 1. Corrupt. ***** 
 
 z. Burthcnfomc. 
 
 3. Tyrannous. 
 
 .. It fpoylcth the Church of her Libcnle. 
 
 A a * j. ft 
 

 i8i Syons?lea_> 
 
 5. Ir hath condign e ccnfure and condemnation,^ 
 put upon it by Iuries of the learned/witneffe Luthcr ; J 
 libX'c. 1© Cal vine,& Morney. 
 
 Let Do&or Whitaker fpeafce for all : The Canon La\L 
 
 J M /? 4 " An $ Pmttfician Decrees foouldhave no fl.iceVtith us j R|L 
 
 Lib. de which markc his reafon,b:cau(c it is ( faith he ) s^ntm* 
 
 CmjHt. chri/rian, and an enimy to all religion and piety \ 
 
 ^ e ' Hence it will follow that Chrift muftneedes HL< 
 
 angry with us, and fpeake to us in his hott wrath 3 ami 
 
 fmireusalfpy_et7.//>»««wr , if the Scepter of Antf h 
 
 chrift may be (till fuflfered to iuftle oat the Scepter oih 
 
 Chrift Iefus. What is the breaking of the Lords bands^L 
 
 And catling his c oar ds from u$> (fpoken off in the fecondl ; 
 
 v.;-4 5. Pfalme;) but the reie&ing of his government 3 againflL 
 
 which,how fearfull a threatning there is denouncedX 
 
 the fame place alfo doth wirneffe: y 
 
 Vp then ( right Honourable ) and he firong in thi^ 
 
 Lord,andfor the Land , fince you fee the danger* // isll n 
 
 * C $T. , '°' f ear Ju!l thing to fall into the binds of the- (ruing God.\ Q 
 
 And how can we efcape unlefie this evfll be re*L 
 
 moved 5 ■ . m 
 
 We cannot but difcover a d.ecejptfuli : conceiptL 
 that pofieffeth,and ftealeth away the hearts of mani 
 Profeflburs among us. It is true (fay they) we havq 
 amongft us the evill of Btjh ^the corruption of fome 
 idle Ceremonies , we would with all our hearts 5 they 
 were awayjwe alio want Difcipline, which we earneftj , y 
 ly defire. £ut when ic commeth to an overwhelming) * 
 
 judg- 
 
tAgainJi the Prelacy. 183 
 
 I dgment, we hope cur ciife talking ^ub Cod in put) 3 
 
 vclitiesndcqkitie(vi\\\ through Gods raercie) guard 
 
 againft it, when your Re famed Clinches may be led d 
 
 ! l rough fire And fttf^and layd dcfolare , becaule of 
 
 I cLibertinifmc,and profane loo feneile of 1 he bed of 
 
 1 eir peoplc^waiking nothing worthy of the purine of . 
 
 ods ordinances. We fpeake what we know , for 
 
 e have often heard ir. 
 
 But foranfwer. 1. Good delires aiegoou,ir tfa 
 ijoyned with good endevours ; otherwile they - 
 k ni(hing vapours. 
 
 1. Tor fur clofe Vw/trrtg y l( it befiieltrcd from coil- 
 
 [ion,it mud refpect a'l Gods Comm.tndtmints \ and f 
 at both for Ccrimony and liibftance: wit net! C Zatba- , 
 ,5c F.ltzabetb talking in a'/ the Commandments and ft * 
 nances of the Lord. So were they blamelcife. The y '\ du ^ 
 ^o words in boih tongues, dofignirie the jgg** r % **'* 
 
 ecepts and Catmome ,which both mull be (f Qfd ; in 033 
 3th we mull walke. This their prariiJe, laketh 
 way that unlbund and groundlcflidiitinCtion \ that 
 ;e mud walke in Gods precep:s for the fubfiance^ 
 id we may in mans precepts for the Ceremct. 
 
 all the learned in Th.ologie do d;! cover this 
 inclion to be counterfeit : So it (hall never hould 
 
 ea for the rcmovall of judgment. 
 
 1. The Lord hath fmittcn them | indeed for their 
 
 nworthie Walking, as ibmc with that jmAc *&& . 
 
 iyfed out of the bottomletjc \>ut. initancc , our /; 
 
 neigh* 
 
■'/ 
 
 184 Sycns?letu> 
 
 neighbour nation of Scotland. Some he caftethin 
 
 ahottbathof blood, as the French, Oher fome I 
 
 hathexpofedtodeftru&ionand defolation or to fl 
 
 vifh captivitie in their. owne Land, As Bohemia , tl 
 
 Palatinate, the Auftrians,& other Germains,of who 
 
 la.t.14. wemay fay Js ifrae/i a fonne) or is hee a, /kz>e t Veby 
 
 hcefpojUdl or in another fcripture phrafe, Vceretk 
 
 Inks i;.j. greater finners , becaufe they fufFred fuch things ? I i 
 
 you naj,but except jou repent ^ you frail all likeWi/e perm 
 
 let vs not then deceive oar felvcs$ our one finne \tt 
 
 fpoyling God of his glory , and barring cbrift front 
 
 his Kingdom ( if wee had no more predominant k 
 
 finnes) will weigh downe in the ballance all the it 
 
 great and crying (Innes, for which they are puniftiec a 
 
 and it is to bee feared ( wee pray God avert iv) th fu 
 
 when or judgment cometh into the ballance, it (hat to 
 
 weigh downe the judgment of all the former nan 
 
 tions: yea wecfeare ("as wee often heare it out id! 
 
 pulpits ) as they have drunke the brimme $ fo wc pi 
 
 fhall drinke the bottom, onely the dregge fhalbe la G 
 
 for xht^boore: whom hee fmiteth laft hee plaguet k 
 
 worft: Becaufe their impenitency is of the gr«ate**i 
 
 height againft both mercy and judgment , precept , an! h 
 
 example: woe to vs, for fuch is our cafe , if wcttli 
 
 amend not by removeall of our evill upon thefe mofc 
 
 tives. n 
 
 b 
 
 When Gods owne Ifraell returned not being fmi to 
 
 ten , hte fmote her feaven times more ; yea he* h 
 
 threateneth her not onely with fuch plagues *s a# iq 
 
 Verim 
 
r 
 
 zAgaifitt the Prelacy. 185 
 
 Written in the Loolc of God ( which arc abundantly 
 enough ) but alfo with every pfagiu that is not Written 
 inthe fiookc cf the La^f -> that is fuch as ther for thefcar- Dc v> l8 -^ 
 iillneffeof them could not conccirc 5 and fuch as the 
 Lord in his juft judgment would not make them ac- 
 quainted with. 
 
 Wc have great caulc to tremble at thefc fpeeches. 
 ror it is to be feared thdt the Lor J. I as he fpeaketh *i / ^ 
 naLe our plagues marvellous, arid mike us an ajfompment 
 all peoples. We have juft caufc to bring home 
 hat to our (elves , that is fpoken of Ephefus 5 l*Yf* ** 
 have againfl thee ( for fo arc the words ) inti- TA *"*• 
 Tiating to us in them, that he will bring fomc great n 2 ' 4 ' 
 cvill upcu us, that he will not esprejfe • no way fee we 
 funder favourjto efcape thefc terrible things threatned 
 >ut by removing of this f J\U. cvi/I. It is not lopping, 
 lor pruning , nor (having , and trimming , nor pairing 
 >f the nailcs of this cvill (as fomc of great note have 
 ►romifed ) that will fcrvc the turne. As the 
 Sitae Turkc faid of the loflc of his men ) 
 ut a jluving • it ~\\ill quicklie groto againes. So 
 vill it be juft in this , except you ftrikear the rootc. 
 [xcept you remove thefc Metrites , thcrcforming o: 
 he Minorites will do Jitlc or no good. Bclccvc us 
 ight Honourable, unlcfle yc pluck up thefc flumps of 
 )*gon by the very roots; their Xajls will grow ranker 
 aen ever they were, and tlrry will frareh moi 
 ifhly then ever they did. Except this fh J be 
 
 smovcd,the Lord muft make the ccnfumir.g fn of hi? 
 
 rth breakout upon us. 
 lib He 
 
t: 
 
 i85 Syons Vlttu 
 
 Heufualliemakethapeople to read thdt Jtnne U ,)[ 
 great Chara&ers in their judgments. Will any daube or ^ 
 rrimmc,or put a new cover upon an ould rotten hoVefc* . 
 that will fall about their eares : or will they not ra w 
 ther rf£&/^>fe/>A/>,ridde away the mbbifh, and build 
 new one? 
 
 Will a Chirurgian cicatrize , or f kinnc a puruleni ^ 
 ibre,or feitered wound ? Or will he not rather fearcll p, 
 to the bottom , and make a found cure , by purgingfc 
 out the filthie matter,and eating out the dead fkfh ig 
 Or will any adventure to cure a member thatmuftb< 
 cutt off* If they do thus,thcy kill the partie. So in thi 
 cafe, the ^hitingydauhing^ox pa//iating , will not fervi 
 but cutting offmuk make the cure. As aGentleman faid 
 to a great ma, complaining to him, that his howfe was 
 all out of order,&he could not well difcerne the caufe 
 if he would put away halting Tom , he ftiould foone 
 fee what was the caufe. And fo it was indeed. So if 
 the halting Hierarchic ,betweene God& Batlfoould hap- 
 pilie be removed 5 truth would quicklie difcover th< 
 neceflitie of it. 
 
 us ,, 
 
 •1 
 
 That comfortable fpeech of Samuel to the people, 
 mourning for choofing Saul their King 5 is verk re 
 *" ao?' 1 *' markeable : Tee have dene this Vtickednes , butfearc-. 
 not^&c. As if he would lay, the Loui will paidon : 
 Jet turne not afide to vaine th trigs ,b ut fervc the herd* 14, 
 if you do 9 ycu Jhalbe deftrtyed btth you And ywr King 
 Where obferve that the Lord wilbe mcrcifull to then 
 
 fa 
 
tAgainft the prelacy. \ 87 
 
 »r manie finnes, but if they lurwt to idolls , the Lord 
 HI make havocke of all. 
 
 We have notonclie turned afidc , but we never 
 rned wholly from laine things. And wc turr.e afidc 
 \ore and mo; e. 
 
 If then this Hierarchic be fo deadlic an cviil, that as 
 great one faid of his wicked wife; if it live , the com- *)* ™* 
 ion-health mujl dy. Then arc they inofficious pica- m ' 
 crs 'how great foevcr; thai hould thcmaincaltera- 
 ion 3 or total reformation, to be a perilous operation in .1 
 \hurch. But they go upon falfe grounds : Firft , that 
 9 cert aine wound of government is prefcrtbed by God for 
 js ciu/ch. The conrrarie whereof is proved , and 
 hat to be unalterable. 
 
 Fonhe further clearing of the unfoundnciTc of this 
 V////£«againftthe Law of God, the order of nature, vS: 
 heftrcnght of rcalbn • let us go yet a lit lc further, 
 tecaufc it is delivered by a yrcat one 3 that thought 
 limfelf agtcat ftatill ; yea wc wifh ir had not fallen 
 rom the pen of fomc cJW/niJ/erof note. 
 
 What can be morceiprefly and precifely laid do v 
 :han DifcipHne is clifcovcrcd in that place of the Goi 
 xll,fo often quotcd,and fo well knownc,Math 1 s. 1 8. 
 lvhere(as it is obferved by the learned arc all the parti 
 
 .lplincjiiamely reprehenfion 8lCt*/irt. Alio I 
 true and Lawfull Officers: Kcmpcfr ( ( 
 ommiffi non Pomints-, To witt the I 
 is connrfttcd.not to Lords; Neither mufl itbc U 
 Bb 2 
 
iB3 SyonsTletu 
 
 any other w-ayes ( faith the learned) then chriflhatl 'j 
 appointed $ni ejl caufaefficiens,&c % Who is the effieien ion! 
 caufc of Difcipline. The Elders arc the Insirumcntai p 
 caufe., ufeing the ad vife,approbation, andprefenceo m 
 the pcopkyn the laft aft of Cenfure^ namely excowmu 
 nication. The materia// caufe is faith and manner* m 
 The formal/ caufe , debit us exercendt modus, a due man fe 
 aer of proceeding. From, thefe particulars the lean ta 
 ned deduce t\ii$ y defmtiop. Difciplina eft faculty Eccleji is 
 /* cbns/o tradita } 6ic». Difcipline is a power given br (r 
 Chtift to his Church , to teach v admoni(h, reprove 
 corredjyea ro in&ft the higheft punilhmcnt ofgivin; 
 men over to Sathan > if they fo defer vc. 
 
 i 
 
 For the further iiluftratlon , they apply that Pa 
 rable in the Gofpeli , where (Thrift is faid to be like 
 hive 13. man f a f,j n g a far re journey^ ho left his ho^.fe , andgai* 
 authoritie to hisfervants, and to every man his ^ork, con 
 manding the porter to^catcb. Where be plcafe^ to ot 
 ferve no authoritie , but that which is given \ and n 
 Tftw£,but that which is left 5 and over rhefe the Porte* 
 muft watch,that no other authoritie be intruded 3 nc 
 other work be done. To the fame effcft , they cit 
 that of the Apciile to the Corinthians , that lie w< 
 bould after a holy manner to boaft according to the men 
 ' jj t * ' jure of the rule which God had distributed vnto him, an 
 not of the things V.bich Gcd had not meafured to him 
 Since by this then, and fundry other proves,by us pre 
 duced,it appeareth plainly, that Chrift hathappointe 
 inhishowfeonedirjeft perfeft and unalterable fori 
 
tAgainft the "Prelacy. i8p 
 
 ^government (.otherwife as the Learned obfcrvc, it £*Sf' u ~ 
 
 1 beworfe with Chrilt hishowfe , then vith 
 
 -nnshowfes.) How calumnious, (if not blafphe- 
 
 n us; are they againft the truth of God* How 0^/0. 
 
 xt^fM to his ^ifdvme ? How in'ytrtou* xoSoulcs I H 
 
 ^mrdfincus over men of all cftares ? Who force a 
 
 a;tee,byword 5 writ, and praftifc , to maintaJnc«that 
 
 -Grift hath left no certain form of government in 
 
 li hOwfc. Thefc men are the /W^agimft whom 
 
 fbcially learned Calvine direftcth his fpeech in his 
 
 dirourfeof Dilciphne , wheie ho tcllcth os : quod .... 
 
 •>.t(itanimx KccUftx , ey DtfciplinA nervus • that srA. 1. 
 
 Ire Doctrine is the Svu/e of the cburcb^vai Difciplinc 
 
 she Swedes of the Church. Yet there arc faith he) 
 
 : tt.t hate Diiiplinc to , at * tumtHeDijiiplind Micrrc.u.t, 
 
 1 Tat they abhor the v eric name of Difciplinc, they 
 
 \i Anttdtfctplintrians* Tiien why fhould men of gifts, 
 
 m fcarc or favour,maintaine thole Prelats , in giving 
 
 i: Wc would have men ro COOfider why they broach 
 tls untruth, and would have others to maintaine it; 
 •nmely that they may dung and dtcflc , and dill bear 
 ;at that bitter root,&c rotten ftmmf of their Antichri- 
 BCtriftian government 5 thcdcnyall of good govern- 
 in C" hi ill hishowfe nukcth way for all the bad 
 1 pvernment of the Bcaft, and inch is the Hierarchical! 
 nment, which hath as much to doc with the go- 
 -Vrnjncntc \ c hath with the S.i 
 
 , : ;.:/;/ : it hath none of the , concurring pans, 
 
 Jut ljukct blip the definition of Dhaplinc. 
 
 B b h 
 
ipo Syons Pletu 
 
 It hath not chrift for the efficient caufe ; nor the Et I 
 ders for the inHrnmentall^ox faith or manners fwhatfol \ 
 ever they pretendj for the matter , but rather the cm 
 fingof them,whom God hath blefied 5 and for th. 
 manner it is nothing but mif order it felf 
 
 $ 
 That complaint of an ancient Author Anno 1 1 50 
 concerning corrupt Difciplinejtnay well be applyedti 
 Jfc* d'J* the Prelates Difcipline. B8 in omni crdine.&profefu 
 wnsVa. latexs Difciplind figment urn ^ Spirit ui Sainclo inimicun 
 innocent 1 a ac fi mp licit at i, va/de contrarium : There 
 in everie profeffion (faith hej a (how of order, and the 
 counterfeit of Difcigjine, but it is enmitie to the HoL 
 Ghoft, and altogether adverfe tohoIinefie,and fimpl 
 citie 5 Evenjuft fo is this their Difcipline , of whk 
 varus bU~ a learned ancient of the fame time giveth this reraarl 
 M- '" E P- able tcftimonie : Corrumpit y non corrigit, cxajferat , m 
 *' cmendaf. It corrupteth ; but corre&ethnot , it rathe 
 hardencrh men in finne, then reclaimeth them fro* 
 fmne. 
 
 2. They dreame of as many formes of governmer, 
 as of State Politic, which is nothing fo. For God hatj 
 not prefcribed any particular unalterable forme c 
 government to this or rhit commonwealth (except t 
 the Iewcs J but hath left it various to the varictie c 
 States j fo it be according to thcgenerall rules ofpieti 
 and cquitie. But no fooncr ordained God a Church 
 cither under the Law or Gofpe/I , but fo foone he pre \ 
 Ex#i.i$, bribed a platform* of government for it, 
 
 Fc 
 
*Againft the VreUcy. ip I 
 
 1 For clearing of this doubt, let D. Whittaker fpeake : 
 
 hQJs & Etcleju. difimiiis eJlrAtio^AuthoiUdi fcgtm con- d« &*\'co- 
 0! iid.xrum Regis esl> ac latds ty promulgates abrcgare p$- ***-/£ 
 $tf 5:c. at Eccltfta Script uris^&c* lm$ duo ego nee leges l w & adv(f{ 
 (crc psteft in Demo Det^alictin S.ytp;u>Ae;Jet iMperftBa: Sufktm. 
 nftiere is not (faith he; a iikc rcafon of the Kin^ , and C - 9 *M ,<5 * 
 ye;« the Church , The King and State may make and 
 ^fc forth Lawes>and abrogate ihc lame, making others 
 * i their place (as the neccffitic of the time , and good 
 ::.*' the State (hall require,; bur the Church hath her 
 •t hws from the Scriptures, neither may any King make 
 : )awes in the howfe of God , for if they might the 
 c: ^ripture foduld be imperfest. 
 
 1l ' 3. For that pretended dinger of tot all reformation it An * . 20 - 
 jvourcth Altogether of the fie fr^nd nothing ofthefpirir. Ttfuu 
 
 i h it dangerous to remove a deftroying evill t 
 
 Is it dangerous to do what God commandcth , and 
 t » remove that which he hateth ? 
 
 Is it dangerous to remove the government of Ati- 
 ichrift, and to plant in the place thereof th* govcrn- 
 
 r nentofChrifl ? 
 
 I i Now that the 'Fpifcopall government is AntkbrifiiiMj 
 ; wdoppofue to the government of Chnfl hath been 
 Ormcxlie proved. 
 
 Wc 
 
, 
 
 ipz Syons VUtu 
 
 We fedre where we fiiould not feare : and we 
 not wkere wc fhould feare. Should we feare tol 
 that which would flay us 5 or to maintaine that whio 
 willfaveus? 
 
 It is true, thatPhyfitianshould it defperate rafiy- 
 to put hand to a deadlie ma ladie : but there the bock 
 is given for dead : fo if there be nothing but a refiv 
 Hon to perifli, then an evill confequent will forte wit! 
 defperate fuppofalL 
 
 But we looke for better things from your Honou I 
 {for fecret things belong to God, ) but you the Pbj/itia, 
 of the commonwealth muft apply , and ply your M 
 dicines,and God will worke the cure. 
 
 The remoraes of reformation 3 and all the bclly*Gc» 
 crew will certainly cry out with open mouth , th 
 Cup. 1.4. &£& ^formers are troublers of our State. But was Zeph< 
 me a troubler of the State , in putting on Iofiah to n 
 move the chemarim Priejls&nd all the reliques of Baai 
 Did Chrift himfelf difturb the Church when h 
 ^hift the buyers and fellers out of the Temple ? whic 
 pra&ife the learned apply as a prefident for reform; 
 tion of Church Difcipline 5 witnefle uMichael Deck 
 mangisdtzd to thateffeft by iMorney. 
 
 Chad* 
 
 M*».2I,X2 
 
tAgtinH the T>iteUcy. 193 
 
 Charles the great, and Lewes his fonne ( both //'for. P*- 
 Emperours) acknowledged rhemfelves bound, and qJH*? 1 * 
 ilfo endeavoured tafollow Iofiah in Church rcforma- uol. tic 
 ion. Finally did Beza difturbe the Church in wri- :c>; ; • 
 ing an Epiftle to Qijeene Elizabeth for the quite |-a»#i<7j, 
 jandoning all the high place;, &lz plenary reformation 
 of Church difcipline? though Bancroft Roimcd at him 
 br this, becaufehec touched the Coppichould of his 
 icily ; yet the good Quccne tookc him for nodiftur- 
 ^er of the peace. 
 4» And laftly fuch as write for reformation in part; 
 W ! ret upon carnall rcafon refill: a totall reformation ; arc 
 f winced by their owne grounds^asy?***?*/)^ in the m*yig s imm.6.1 > 
 ll nd afte for the ould fathes, Where is the good Way, and 
 valke therein. The word there muft fhew the way 
 xrf. 17. now a man muft not go halfc in one way, & 
 f'G ulfe in another fwitnes the fame Prophet, the belt 
 ^ Expounder of himfclfc ) What hail thou to do in the rv.ty c z ^ 
 L f£gtp r > f0 dnnLc the Waters of Nilus , &c. Againe they 
 
 ice that place from the beginning it Was not fo : which >u ' h ' * 9 * 
 <■ I the learned both ancient & moderne apply to the 
 y. aving recourfc to Gods firft institution \ ad onginem, 
 n 'jminic am ,Ez .angelic am ejr Apojlolicam faith a Father > p : 'f^ mm 
 Ml lr/ us goe to Gods grounds y t» Evangelic, ill cr K-Apoflolical 
 rutheseyc. As for that Popifh Prclatical objection 
 :hat it is not yet time^ as the Icwcsfaid of building of'^'- a- 
 tds hoWf'e.) Or as Pope Hadrian aniweied Sjgilinond -. n ^ 
 Or as DodorSoame of the fame particular fox his fittmum vj 
 U imc ) that ic was not poili We & fife. 
 
 Ce I his 
 
Ip4 Syons T?lccu 
 
 iThis we fay is out of date : For it is either hig 
 time now or never. So we earneftlie clefire ( as Pai 
 wifhed to Agrippa) that not onelie almefifrux. altgetht 
 reformation may be perfe&edrTo the effe&ing where 
 of,let the terrible fequeleof negled perfwadeyou. Bc< 
 ftirre your zeale and courage fright Honourable ) fc 
 preventing of that black day , which may come upoi 
 us unawares. 
 
 Can a body live without a Scftole) Or a fowle in 
 fenfate or aftivate a body without Sinews ? As * 
 have heard the puritie of Dodxine to be the Sowl of th 
 Church, whereby it liueth, fo alfo Difcipline hath bee 
 fhewed to be the sinews of the Church,by which fern 
 and motion is conveyed and maintained in tl 
 Church. 
 
 It is impoffible that our ftate fhould continue , bl 
 muft of neceffitie fall into defclation , before we I 
 aware , if reformation be not haftened in this pari 
 cular. 
 
 MafterCalvine flieweth what enimies they are i 
 the State that hinder Difcipline , and that from tl 
 intlitM.f, d e fp erate condition they bring it to ; <j)ui Difcip/ina 
 im^ediunt extremam dcjjerAtionem&Qx They who hi. 
 der Difcipline, bringe .the State at length toane: 
 treamly defperate point. 
 
 Heath< 
 
ttA^ainsl the Pretacy. I p 5 
 
 Hcarhcn writers obferve ; and fo dorh Tctcr Martyr 
 £011 the Kings , rhar fo long >:r /':c Remans olfervcd l ^^i' 
 j*-icl DtfcipltneVutb a competent feveritie , fo long they ^ 2 ~o. 
 
 cd y <wd enlarged tiny bomipiotis ; ..d lalente 
 jjeiptina • Difciplinc decaying, the Empire came to 
 nthing. 
 
 How then can wc chufe burpcrifh, whoprofefle 
 ^hrift,and ycr reject the government of Chrift. 
 
 Orcm in his Oration before P^ the 
 
 fheweth this to be one of the forerunning figncs of 
 tie ruinc of Church and common-weal, when Difci- 
 ]iinc perifheth. 
 To draw ton conclusion of the proof. I 
 
 at that which the Lord thrcateneth againft the 
 ng of this his Ordinance : // Wiii come to paffe'Rrj.i. if. 
 v/// fpeVt tfiec cut of my mouth. A Loathfomc 
 •, and afcarfull & unrcverfiblc judgment. 
 
 .ing intimatcth iliat he can not bear 
 
 \ he wil! cart us out into defpicablc places ; and 
 
 nt he will never lookc any more after us • what is 
 
 in cauie of all thefc 5 Even our keeping thrift v.;o. 
 dwrts , that is : \be Ht/t not bat t him to m 
 v. 
 
 • not then the people and S:a:e, our peace and 
 
 1**fp 6c jl>rfphe.trds y o\u ( 
 
 ■i , 
 
 ;rownc noble and lv our 
 
 d pofTcfllons, ai ch is 
 
 Cc 1 worrh 
 
ip6 SyonsTletu 
 
 worth all:) give not thofe (wc intreate you) as loJ?e,to ih 
 the pitt of defolacion. j Li 
 
 
 Before we conclude the point, it fhall be verie ma d 
 tcriall to anfwer one doubt that may arife,and is moft 
 obje&ed from the difficultie of the bufinefle. 
 
 rrfo 
 We verilic beleevc , that all the well affe&ed to :: 
 State,or Religion,upon the perufall of this Decade (hall hei 
 be really and fully pofTefled of the truth of this Pofi« 
 tion, namely the alfolute necejfitic of the removal/ oi ? 
 , the Pr^^jand that as the Prophet fpeaketh: a Vcwde tt 
 fl ii i . ,,? f* n cr toclenfe, will not fcrve the turn; butitmuftbc 
 a fuller mightie ^inde to root up ; and carie away the P 
 verie foundation of their being. 
 
 \j4ft of us egregium quis, ejrc* 
 But who (hall, do this great work , and by whai * 
 means may it be accompliihed ) yea who dare bell tht 
 Cat? Or where is that Spirit that will dafh the brains ol 
 * that Babilonijh Prelacy (we mean their place)againft the i 
 ftones ? Or who hath that hand to bring thofe ens. 
 mies of- thrift {"toho ^illnot have him to raigne over them) 
 before him^ndjUy thtm \ We mull confefle here goeth \ 
 the Bearea^aj; for as evills are eafier difcovered then I 
 cured , fo duties are fooner difcerned then difcharged. ! 
 The difficulty of the duety,the fecming danger in the 
 means^nd want of valour to give the onfett , weakc« 
 neth the force of the ftrongeit reafbns. But as thrift 
 inuxm. 6. noble Nebemiax faid to that falfe Bellic-Gid, betraying 
 i i. Priefi Semaiahpjhculd fuch a man a4 Jftie* 
 
 Se 
 
\Aga\nfl the Prelacy. 1^7 
 
 J^hould you incounter aIIdifcouragements,& fright- 
 r^ alarms thus ; fhould fuch men as wc fear to doc 
 |{ for our King, and Countric , which is of more 
 MfsflTitic then lift itfe/f? 
 
 J'o come then to a direft anfwer - and firft for the 
 bns who muft effect this , wc fay this evill muft be 
 w Aoved by the CMagtstrate & Mintjhr > according to 
 w : feverall places and flat ions. 
 
 . The Miniftcr muft remove the wicked by the fwom 
 vdt :hc Spirit ( namely the word, ) and if that cannot: 
 :;m\C)thcCe>;furcof Difciplinc muftbeufed, accor- 7flV u fa 
 ;;:iigto that of Paul : rut arvay from among yetsr felzts 
 K Wukedone^nd this muft bedoneffaith theApoftlcj r cot./.ii 
 nsbout pArtUlttie^p referring none before another^ by vcr- : *h !• *•• 
 WtUiof the fame power were Hymen eus & Alexander 
 
 ereduf t* Satbdnjbit they mtght leame not to bUf i Timxh. t 
 e. But in this thebeft may lay their hand upon 10 * 
 irmouth,and charge themfehci with thefinncof 
 ccaling this main part of Gods Counfell. As for the 
 ~w>T([,/he Prophets prophefte fifty , and the Priests bejr 1 "'*'**' 
 
 their means y (trmy people love to have ttfo,but what 
 tjfi? Vee do w the end 4 hereof: Yea for our parts we can 
 r: iH tell how the vcriebeft wilJanfwerit , for be fid cs 
 • h Scripture the Fathers tell us , that Dtfctplin* tit c ^ 
 jM CuUos^ren diiy&tC* It is Gods keeper; 
 
 fjtfc bond of fairh , the wholibmc guide of a happic 
 
 Cc j Of 
 
Bm?. 
 
 jpS Syom VletL* 
 
 Of which an other: T&fZylir* )ugo omnis infolemh 
 dammwda : By the yoke of Difcipline is all infolenck j, 
 fupprefTcd. 
 
 This being commanded in the Word fas hath been 
 flicwcd) Math. 18. 18. having authoritie and ratifc§\\ :: 
 tion from above Math. 16. 16. being a main principdl 
 of Religion; Heb. 6. 2. being the praclife both ui. . a 
 dcrtheLaw,and under the Gofpell in all ReformedU 
 Churches ; this being taken away (Taith Guilt Qv)mhi, [{, ;1 
 mficonfufio & ava^la: There i$ nothing but confu- $ 
 flon <5c Anarchic . :0 
 
 Muft Miniftcrs not medle with it, nor with the eni ^ 
 mies of it ? God forbid ; for this were, for fear o r 
 men 3 toomittamainpartof Gods Counfe//. This is tc 
 croffe divine precept , it isagainft the threatening 
 of Gods vengeance , and againfl: the pra&ife of th< 
 Saints, witneffe thefe places which we commend td 
 theperufing of Minifters, Deut.iS. is. Math. 2 8. 20 
 ler. 1. 17. where obferve the fearfull threatening, leaf. |j) 
 Iconfume jou before them. Where he clearly intimateth 
 that vengeance is prepared againfl: them , who dan 
 notfaithfullie,and fuilie deliver their charge, for the 
 feare of mans face , or any other caufe. This made 
 
 1C0r.9~.16 Pauleaffiire himfelf of a ^oe^tf he preached net the Gofi 
 pell. Yea ifhe preached nor all the Gofpell, for fo was 
 
 M. 20. 22 his pra&ifc : / kept back nothing, as he would fay, neith et 
 (or feare, nor Lusre. So Micaiah would fay nothing to 
 
 1 Reg. a. the King , but whit the Lord had (aid to him , and all 
 «;.*4- that he \*wldfay, whatfoe/wrftiDuldcome of it. 
 
 Wc 
 
Agamjt the Prelacy. ipp 
 
 |We know what Fig-leave defences are made in 
 
 behalf. As fo,they may leefe their Minifterie: 
 
 my may preach the moft and profitable^ truths : 
 
 **y may fave fome fovvlcs : and by linking on this 
 
 fling they fhould doc no good. 
 
 ■ Allthefe doth learned and rigbt-doVwe <JU\Pa<> 
 Afwer in hisPolicic,thus to argue is to Le V.//5 tn ■ 
 tcb is Written, God nccdeth to no mans Mi- 
 e,ivith any difadvanrage of iinne ; and \vh2t 
 formic hath the Miniftcnc without fifi/itiir* This ('as 
 pc learned obferve;is to oifcr iLamefatiftce^ndcm- 
 ■M.Levit. 22.20. wheretheword doth intimate, the 
 jjying the thcef with rhciacriike. 
 
 This is (as one faith) tohidea part of the talent pro- ( - Mi ; £ M ^ 
 \it»rto jdentio ; by a betraying filencc, which the Lord *3.ii 
 •ucateneth fearfully Math.2> Yea ihc Lord (m that Lhc ' 19 * 
 ..uthorobfcrvctb) expofeth them often to the ha- 
 lf fuch as they have plcafcd by their proditorious 
 .lence. 
 The fame in cftcfl: doth the Lord fpeakc by his 
 wnc mouth in that quoted place of Icremic c.i.v.17 
 
 ,o/jfume z/^oras the original! bcarcthit : DS/.Y .^^ 
 
 hit 10 jirar 3 | as if the Lordfliould lay:' HP thou 
 
 of man, thow (halt be a 
 
 1 it ftandeth not with my honour 
 
 obcar thecout : 1 his fear was a it cyn in the face of 
 
 .11 Mclandhons excellencies , and what e\tgtu:s it 
 
 >uthim to they who read know, 
 
 m$ 
 
20O Syons Plesu 
 
 u E/>ifl. tt& Nemo modeslior quid&m , fed nemo timidior , fayth Za, 
 2 * fl * chie of him : None more modeft I confefTe, but not | 
 
 more fearfull. It is a fure maxime>no way to be Jaj 
 
 but: to be z.ealou/Iy faith full. 
 
 MU P4r/wcaIleththis,hookftering of the word,r 
 
 plain teatms : Flagellar* Chriftum, vt vita fervetur : i 
 
 whipping of Chnft,that his life might be faved. The 
 
 up yc men of God. Nolite con [entire tamfceleHi vocabui 
 
 Endure not to keep filence , according to that chan 
 
 m.ez. given you by God : I have fen Watchmen upon u 
 
 v.6.7. ^alls O lernfalem I Vshich Jhall never keep filence, & 
 
 nor night, and give him no reft till he eftabltfi , ejre. ] 
 
 EM( 13.5. the name of thcLotd,rife up in the gappe , make up tl. 
 
 breach fox fo did not the falfeProphets. In the like cal 
 
 Exa.10.26. Mofes Vvould not, tot the greateft appearance ( 
 
 T>amt.6. zdvsLtitzgCjleavt Co much <u one boofe. Dirndl woul 
 
 &drc.6.i8 not boudge one heares-breadth. Iohn Baptift ftrook 
 
 ukt 1? at theroote, and Chrift himfelf went on with h 
 
 52. if. work^notwithftanding of the threatenings of Hem 
 
 the Fox. Downe then with the colours of the Bn 
 
 gon; trample the Scepter of the man of finne in th 
 
 duftj advance the jlandard of Chrift , and fay : youd 
 
 notprcvaile , your labour (hill not be in vain in th 
 
 Lord. Non minus mercedis vobis debetur lavantibus Ethio 
 
 pem t &c. You fhall be as well payed for trimming -o 
 
 a blackamoore Bifhop , as though you made bin 
 
 white asfnowe. 
 
tAgtinH the Prelacy. 201 
 
 ^ |! Thus as the Minifter mul do his part with the 
 toi hiritua/l pbord , fo the Magiflratc mud do his part in 
 b fcmoving this evill with rhe Sward of ' Iusiuc-s , and 
 pith this more particularly , you the rre.it Count 'I of 
 WMtCy 9r High Co.trt of P< r t ment fhnd charged;which 
 ro f-ueth,give us leave to demonftrate to your Honours 
 '« nrcefeverallwayes : 
 
 i. From precept. 
 
 2. From pradtife, or prefident. 
 
 3. From impregnable rcafon. 
 
 j 
 
 ■ For the firft is that place of the Proverbs : Take? r tv.z} t 
 i (bay the drojfe from the Silver > and there flu/I come forth ♦•! y - 
 UVefch for the finer. 
 
 : Tdke dwjy the kicked from before the Ktng^ and his 
 Throne Jhj//be ejlah/tfied m righreoufnefscs. 
 
 Here we are to underftand what is menr by the 
 irofle, namely evill men,and evill Officers ; indwho 
 worfe then the Prelars and their places : They areas 
 [Triihemiusdreth it from Arnulphus; Bono mmmdM t 
 the verie hunmers,io beat the good and goodnefle to 
 rowJ. r,r e> tdtfimH , and they dre do rtbfdVntb fwne, 
 IS w< hai c (hewed In a word , they nuke up a very 
 }U 4 of nnnc. 
 
 D d 
 
E/4. 1.22, 
 
 
 20 1 SyonsTUa^ 
 
 %. Here is to be confidered the dangerous nature 
 this droJfc.itoierUjCtb.iirrtipteth.fiettetby & cenfimii 
 xhzjifovr extetltom of a 1 Xwg,Stati 7 &. Ktltpcn j an 
 what elf? doe the Prelats , as we have (hewed at larai 
 That Phtafe of the Spirit fitteth juft their dealing wit. 
 our King and State : they have made ourjilver to becom 
 drojfcydndour^irie they have mixed ^toith VcAter t> tor til 
 latter of thefe L.D. or D.L, made it lirerallie good, ; 
 we hear in the Sacrament latelie in his Chappell. Ot 
 King,CounfcIl,Noble$,Minifters 3 & al! (orrof peopl ( 
 are wofully corrupted by that Romijh drojf^j. 
 
 3* Hence we plainly iee that except xhisdroftl 
 idkena^ay^ there is no eftablifhing of the Throne i 
 righteoufnefle 5 So that this rnuft be done , all rcafbn 
 able men will graunt; but what Magiftrate fhould do 
 it,whether the fupream or others , (if by the fuprean 
 it be not done ) there ftillrifet ha doubt. For th 
 clearing whereof, as well as we can, give us leave 
 litle. 
 
 It is the Kings Honour indeed with David, Ezechia, 
 and lo(ia,to purge tiie ho^fe of the L$rd : and ro purg 
 out thefe Pymagate cAemirims (\ he very drofts of hi. 
 throne,) with thefyrie zeal-confuming love of God 
 howfCjwere a duty worthie of fo Kingly a dignity. 
 
 Th< 
 
 
sAgainft the "Prelacy. toy 
 
 The Philofopher out of nature and experience 
 f:\vethus, thnr a^.t^,.*, or happinelYeof a King- 
 ome,confiftcth in the w Jl o r thefe three 
 
 i . « • k / ArlTi.fcl: 
 
 Mngs ; namely to ircKifjuK'v ; to 6ikwa.iv ; to no a- j 
 jjfjut • that is, in marters of Warre ; in matters of Iu- 
 fee; and matters of the Minifterie ,'and of Gods 
 '<r>rfhip. 
 
 TFor the ordering of the iaftcf thefe there is an mi- 
 serable platform in the word, in the which bufn 
 - } ni?s muft neither adde,diminifh,nor tak£ away , -but 
 filany thing be not according to this rule, w;:h the 
 f r e(iid Kings , he muft remove it ; becaulc he i* 
 index Hiriufy tabnU , and God will require it at his 
 
 *• 'The truth of this David eleareth in his la ft Will and 
 ^"rftament to his ionne : I-oiheW.iy (faith he) of ' a'1\ 
 
 .mhjoe thefoflrorg therefore^ and jfcrY; thy (elf a, man: ' M " 
 
 3t how fhould he ftrengthen himfclf ? Keep the charge 
 the Lord thy Cod, to >fcj/ke in his Wjyes, to heepe hisjU- 
 es^je smmumdm eMiSy *md\* , that is, luch w^r- 
 
 /^,fuch com e/f.it i un^ & fuch execution of UtHut^j , as 
 t e Lordcommandeth; for all thefe he callcth his te- 
 Rfmomes. 
 
 at of the which one of the Learned well ob- 
 th, hat befeniethbtm*9tuC9Mnfell$ x 
 
 >r Rjbbtn ,but to the word of 
 ir is written ( faith he m the 
 •u* ef <J\!'j(S, Dcut.29.9- lofu. 1.7. 
 
 Dd 2 
 
N 
 
 V.xo.ii. 
 
 Yea the Fathers alfobear jvitnefic of this truth $ 
 
 r lit 41"" 9r6 f / ™~ v •9" fi * ft,v *** *y"*v W iririw pvrtjgluv pv^i * 
 
 Cafffk. * to%Ov avtv delav ;r ^<ateY<5cac9-«J y^dpoov : In maters < 
 
 faith or Myfterics of religion, men muft nor inftitut 
 
 any thing without the authoririe of the facre 
 
 word. Augnfrine upon thefe words of the 2. Pfalm:; 
 
 ^toife therefore ye Kings $ be inflrucled ye judges of ti 
 
 Earthy ferve the Lord^tth feate , drc. commenteth V 
 
 ric prettily : Jj)uomodo Rcges ferviunt.^&c. N;fi ea qt 
 
 contra luff'a Domini funt Religicfa frier itate prohtbean 
 
 atque pLftantur. ^Aliter fervit qti* homo, aliter qua Re, 
 
 qua heme vivendo fideliterfiua Rex]uVa p £cipiendo y < 
 
 contraria prohibendo, ficut ferzieruht Etyhias & Ufu 
 
 Luces & Templa idolcrum, & exceifa icn;ra preceptaL 
 
 diruendo: How doe Kings ferve tht Lordwnhfea 
 
 ( faith hej but by forbidding and puiiifhing with 
 
 Religious feveritie fuch things , as are zontrarie 
 
 Gods commandment. A King mud ferv*. riie Lo< 
 
 one way as he is a Man 3 and an orher w y as he is; 
 
 King .: as-a^vlan by beleevhg wc T l , and iivihg Vie 
 
 as a King , by commanding that which is goo 
 
 and forbidding and removing that which is evi 
 
 So ferved Fzechi s and lofiah the Lord , by d 
 
 molifhing he Temples , Groves , and high plac 
 
 of the idoicuers , yea and iheir Officers too. 6 
 
 that we fee there is neither precept nor prefide: 
 
 wanting to Kings in this particular. 
 
 T 
 
Agamfi the Prelacy. 205 
 
 The King further inforceth this Counfell upon 
 is Sonne from thebenefi: enfuing; that tbewmdyst 
 -offer in a'l that thoto do est j which Counfell, faith 
 me Author 3 if it had been obferved by Kings, 
 ic Church of God had not been pcftered ^tth 
 tch a heap cf mens traditions ; ad qu.is turn principes 
 ergunt,&c. To which when Princes begin to incline, 
 icy grow inccrtaine , and fleeting in their Re- 
 gion. 
 
 Hence we fee what danger thefc Lords of Mifrule y 
 nd Great \J\l.jIers of Ceremonies bringe our King 
 nd State into, which fhould make us all (and you 
 ipcciallie, right Honourable, and the faithfull Mini- 
 tcrsj on the knees of our hearts , to importune our 
 yrcd Kine^n the words of David : be thow Jtrong > 
 r fteengthenea, King,cr fl&to tlj fetf a n.an y heepe the 
 forge of the Lord'm this main 5c weightie particular of 
 cmoving the Pfehiy- t Or ( as Abimelech in an other 
 afc : ) Gratious i T . take an axe in your hand , and air- 
 ing downe, fay to your Sciu:c,what je fee me dee 7 l ^i 9. 
 Mt hdfte^nd d 
 
 What hath the drofie to do witji x\\c gok!d> Or the 
 ijrone.of ' lntquitte withtiu f thrift* 
 
 A more neccflarie wort for all Gods Church \ a 
 note Princely and profirable aft to your Highneffe^ 
 ppie thing for the Scare , and more 
 4cafing to God, could not be thought upon. 
 
 Dd i That 
 
20 6 SyonsVkau 
 
 . That thefe be the dro/Te y or perfidiously immorigem 
 
 -t Obv~ ^f or f Q t he Septuagint rendereth it ) befides all ou 
 
 proofes,wofuli experience proclaimesir^ And gracm 
 
 a*, you know it better then we can tell you 5 It is thci 
 
 apifti condition infenfibly to abufe :they are as Worm 
 
 & Moths unto Kings ,%&& their States , one applyertrtlji 
 
 UvAtet re ^y f bat place of the Proverbs to their abufing c 
 
 Kings : Epifcopi qui Reges fdpiunt eos contra pur an. 
 
 religionem accendunt , & caveat ne quis ad co lie qui an 
 
 admit t at ttr , &c. ^fhops f faith he) who hedge ii* 
 
 Kings , do incenfe their mindes againft the puri 
 
 tie of Religion , and block up the way , that nc 
 
 good man can have accefle or fpeech to them. Thi 
 
 5J is very true, witnefie the bloody pra&ifeof the French 
 
 " Prelats againft the Waldenfes, whom they accufed tc 
 
 9i Le^oes the 12. of many fowle, but forged crimes $ bar 
 
 „ ring all accefTe to the King, whereby they might deal 
 
 „ themfelves •> till at length that good King tould thoft 
 
 » Foxes , that if he were to condemn e the Devil , he 
 
 •>> would give him a hearing. Whereupon he fent his 
 
 » Confefior and Secretarie of State to try the matter- 
 
 ; ' who returning to the King,cleared their innocencic, 
 
 n & commended fo their pictie 5 and integritie , that the 
 
 " King affirmed by his ordinarie oath , that they were 
 
 „ better then himfelf , or the Prelates that accufed 
 
 them. 
 
 We need nor go fo farre for inftances to your High- 
 neffejwe have too many at home; witnefle the (hut- 
 ting up of accefle from poore women 5 and their peti* 
 tions,for the deliverie of their hufbands , imprifoned 
 
 againft 
 
 
tA&ainsl the Prelacy. 107 
 
 gainft f he Law of God , and your Majcfties Laws by 
 
 tic Prelates. They arc ever as a bl.uk clcudbctwccn 
 
 vur Majefties pious fubje&s, and the Princes favour . 
 
 F r the which 5>/>/g///^compareth them to theWrff- 
 
 rw Wagon , that kept the golden Fleece 
 
 ifur \h\s drojje being taken away by your Majcfties 
 
 >Wfimt\g poVccr, and this cloud being difperfed by the 
 
 ^We/l/fab/c heat of your Sunfhining zeal; the beams of 
 
 *»urgracious favour (hall warnic the hcarts.and cheer 
 
 4 tc countenances of all yourtraelic religious fubje&s; 
 
 tat Heaven and Earth (hall blcflc you , honouring 
 
 ;Cirift with the overthrow of his enimies , and the 
 
 •ablifhingof his Scepter in this nation ; which \va< 
 
 a Jvcr yet done by any of your prcdeceflburs : The 
 
 " 13rd will honour you , by making your Creftmi faft 
 
 ;: ix>n your bead; by confounding your foes at home & 
 
 ; r afroad,yea he will fettyou as a Signtt on hisyfog^and 
 
 a Seal upon his hand. In a word, great King ( as 
 
 \th been faid; joajhal/ projper in all that you doe , And 
 
 hcther feever )ou turne jour f elf. Yea this tranfeen* 
 
 tntpecceof fcrvicc to your God, (hall make you far 
 
 ore glorious then all your ancients with all their 
 
 cat conquefts. 
 
 With thefe , or the like fpceches , our Soveraignc 
 ould be plyed, Vebofe he.irt ts in Gods band , and who 
 iowcs , but by frtjm and fuch fpceches wcmijht 
 rcvaJlc? 
 
 Bui 
 
 
io8 Syons Plea^ 
 
 But put the cafe that the good Hdrmlefie King ! 
 a captivated loafi, by Athaliahs '^i v minu:tifed^ ftj 
 ted crew. Or a milled Henrie the 6 difpoiTeifedof 
 faithfulleft Friends^nd beft Council by the pride of t 
 French. Or a Henrie the 3. overawed by a divcll 
 dominering/47^m*v Or an Edward the 6. over po 
 fed and born downe from his good purpofes to Go 
 glorie,and the good of the Srate , by the halting a 
 FaMhoodof the Prelats, and their Romifli confedei 
 ciesjfo that fuch a King , though he bould the Sceptt 
 yet he ffrajeth not the <ft*/>/^r, neither can he free hit 
 fclf,nor execute his defignes,becaufe the Sonnes of t 
 man of finnezxe: to hard for him : Shall the Count 
 of State leave a geodhead{ though itake^ in thchaa 
 of the wicked > God forbid. 
 
 TocutthcmfelvesofFfrom the head v is to (ho 
 themfelvcs no members , but either rebels or (tar 
 cowards^ & not to help the head in fuch danger of c! 
 ftru&ion , both to head and members, is to proclac 
 themfelves to all the world, to be dead,dijhoncurablc, 
 unprofitable members. 
 
 Then you the great Counfell of State muftrawf 
 the kicked ^omthe head, and take aVeay the corruptiij 
 and corroding d ofie from rhe fLver-exce/Zenae^ndcn 
 cellenr ingentric of the King ; fo (hall ye have of f 
 a refined VefielL What can the head do when the ha 
 deliver not? cfpeciallie if the animal fpirits arec* 
 
 ftrua I 
 
 
tAgalnJl the Trelacy. iop 
 
 ftru&ed by the foggic vapours of fuch an Fpbialtes or 
 Incubus ; as the Bifhops are. As one in that difeaie 
 would gladly fpeake and doe , yet can nor poiTiblc for 
 he weight of thofe Clogging zapours, overlaying both 
 Spirits and nerves \ So good Kings born downe, 6c 
 overlaid with a drojft e creVr ,znd feared with the black 
 /apours of their Chitting fears thence arifing, would oft£ 
 xnhcxprelTe their defires of reformation, and reform 
 ndeed,but they can not, or dare not vent themftlves, . 
 ;>ecaufe they fee fo few hearts to affeft the bufincflc, 
 tndfofew hands to help in it,cfpcciallic amongft rhe 
 :reatoncs; where on thecomrarie the enemies of re- 
 ormation will lay all their lottcs together , yea they 
 .vifl fett up cftatc , and life,yca fowl c, and all upon one 
 ;eft,forthe fafeguard of thcDivcJs Kingdome i the 
 norefhameforus , that wc dare doe no more,thcn 
 lowadayes we dare, for the Kingdome of Chriit. 
 
 xJttAfUb the Sonne of Jmadah is much commen- . 
 led, that he did uprightly in the fight of the Lord^accordtng 
 '^alithdt his Father AmdzJdb did , bin for this he is 
 Mam ed, even when he was at bed, that the high places 
 *erc not put Aftay^but tbt people yet offered, and burnt in- 
 enfein ihim. 
 
 A learned Commcntcrgivcth areafonof this \ his 
 
 "AAi» ! ncie , (as hccalleth it, ) ttfiejSH opt:* ?tt, ft 
 
 nnm/fc, hoc non tetavit quodfortajfe put. net m\ i ttnUi 
 
 i error es dtfjic alter cvc//tp off c:\houg total rcforma- 
 
 :0 w* the bcft ( faith the author & he knew it to be Co^ 
 
 E 9 yet he 
 
210 
 
 Syons Ple<t* 
 
 durft not attempt it , becaufe he thought that th 
 people would hardly be brought from their invetc 
 rate errors. 
 
 It is juftfowithus ; for how many good motion] 
 of reformation, in fundry of ourKings^ave mifcaricd 
 thorow feares, anting from the pcrfiUie y & reheltitn c,| 
 the F/f/rff)/ 7 wehavepartliefiiewed,and might furtl 
 enlarge our felves,but that your Honours know then | 
 well enough, 
 
 Vndermining PreUus^nA dominicring Fsv$riM\ 
 have caft our braveft Kings into many cold fweats. 
 
 Henric ihe 3 .as wife and well governing a Prince a j 
 any we had,after that he was rid of evill Jp*/its 5 bcin\ 
 in danger of drowning upon Thames , he was for 
 whst tranfported with feare • and being come 
 flioare; Mountford bad him be of good cheer, now ti 
 danger was paft : The King replyed^ihat he was mor< 
 afrayd of him , then of drowning , or any other dan I 
 ger : and of all the feares, and cares , & defperatp 
 flraits,of this King, who were the prime caufc , " 
 the proudc Prelates . ? 
 
 Yea a Trigfcall ihftahec of our late King mig 
 ferve for proofc enough , if there were no mor 
 If ever Prince defcrvea the name of the Bijhofs King 
 and Father of favorites, that did he 5 but how was I 
 requited of both ? Surely for the reverence that 1 
 owe to Kings, we are alhamed to fay bow grofiy the; 
 abufed him, in life and in death ; yea he found himfei 
 
tAgaintt tht Trelacy, 2H 
 
 3 deluded to his face,and fall rhings going head long 
 :> wrack,) that h g-oaned in his fowle to be rid of 
 lis burthen;and if he had had as mettle men about him, 
 : fome times ho had, who would have broke the fiarc 
 nd delivered his /^tv/^wcfhould havefeene that he 
 J >ould have owned the fa& , and thanked ihem 
 
 )0. 
 
 Yea with grecfe in hcartyo come to the verie day es 
 •herein we now live : Have not the Prelates, & their 
 
 • \tc Champto Co hedged in our new Soveraignc, that he 
 ould fcarfe looke but at their appointment 5 to the no 
 nail difhonour of his Majeftic , the undoing of the 
 
 1K rate,andthe wounding of the hearts of all his loyall 
 
 ; : nd loving fubjeds. 
 
 on ' 
 
 ( Hence you fee.great Senators, what need Kings have 
 v: f fuchaCounfcllof State, as will deliver their^w/r/ 
 ® torn the fnare of the Hunter. 
 
 m The late Lord VeruUm gives a verie prettie morall 
 b pon that fiftionof the contention of the infenom 
 <vd> with lu\tter - y wherein it is feigned they were to 
 sf lard for him 5 till Brtarem came in, and made them 
 fc cnow/htv were but Rebell-Gods. He compaicth the 
 r t *Vi/f of commons to Rrureus h\s hands , whofc office 
 u: In i place is to vendicate the ft he 
 
 lit i;ood of Sute government , and the Horic of 1 Mis vor- 
 i% hip f'.oin pi//utton % ruined Indtgnitie : your Honours 
 $ licuic ent /[^Jjwhichmuil, or fhould,wo'k our dc- 
 £c 2 incrancc, 
 
in Syons PtttL, 
 
 liverancc,in Religion,King,and State : Let flatterers., 
 and enemies to King,State,& Religion , fay what the; 
 will, you muft be to them,that which <^4ntigonus faid o I 
 Zenojfat great Philofopher: Gejferum Regis Tbertrum 
 The verie Theater of the Kings a&ions:Or as the Philc 
 fophcr fayth of the hand : It is the htttrument of Ik*\ 
 Jhuments. So muft you be eyes , ad difcernenda Regt\ 
 fericula , to difcern the prefent danger of the King 
 and hands to him and us , to deliveralloutof dan 
 ger. The ancknts give for an Hieroglipb of a wil' 
 S?nat<Lj , and able Courfe// , a litle fifi going befor 
 the great ^4/^difcoveringfnallowcs and othrcr dan 
 gers,and (hewing the way by the motion of it f clt 
 This living the whale is fafe, but being dead > h 
 kno weth not what to do; fo muft you provide for th 
 eJtab/zflhg oftheTkronejhc rectifying of governmen; 
 or. he may fplitt upon the recks of malicious'Counfell 
 or finke in the quickfands of bafe flatteries , and 
 your hands his mifcariage will be required. 
 
 . This courfe have flout and wife Counfellers take 
 for the deliveries both of Kings and States,as we ma 
 read at large, both in facred and prophane Hiftories. 
 
 The Counfcll of State delivered loop from th 
 blooddy tyrannic oiL^tbaliab , Gods worfhip ftor 
 Idolatrie,and the Kingdomc-from dsftruftion 5 whei 
 Ff any object that Atbahah was an ufurper , andth; 
 leajh was kept.befidestheCrowne; we anfwer, it 
 as great a mifcheife to a State ( if nor greater ) for 
 
 goo 
 
\AgainsitbtTrelacy, \v$ 
 
 f»od King to be manacled & fwayed by the wicked in 
 s throne,as to be be fides his throne. As it is an evid6t 
 t ken of Gods wrath, to be without Counfell ; as the 
 Miit witneflethof his ownc people : A nation vo)d 
 tCounftU % Deut. 32. i%. that is, never a whit of 
 . iounfell at all amongft them $ io kicked CounfelUn 
 <is the fame Spirit fpeaketh ) are the very Chatr of 
 
 ■ Itciti , Proverb. 12. 5- to caric Kings sndKmdomes 
 ■wdlong to dcfhuction. 
 
 We read of VzzJUh his proud aucmpr, whofe heart 
 
 ■ ting lifted up with profperitie , and forgetting that 
 tod had brought a/I his ^crks for him , he will burn 
 
 ; lirenfe upon the Altar of the Lord. Bur Azariah, and 
 
 jncvaltant men of the Lord , withftood him , (hewing 
 
 om the Law > that it fertayncd not to h/m, i.Chron. 
 
 v 6. xi. 17. &c. Yea though he was Vtroath , be- 
 
 mfc he might thinkc his good intent might cary 
 
 imout , yet they would nor furterhim V. 19. 
 
 Why then fhould ye, great Conn ft/! of States , and 
 iiir vdlunt men of Gcd , fuffcr the CMtniJIcrs ofK^inti- 
 htili 1 to ofiQiJirange/i) o> on the Altar of the Lord, 
 vhich will caufc the tire of Gods indignation,(if it be 
 lot removed J to confumc us all. 
 
 Ee 3 That 
 
214 Syons rleA* 
 
 to 1 
 Thttpaffag^ofthePhilifHmPrinces, is vcric remark to 
 able: They feeing David with his Hebrews marching ri- 
 tSam.i?. on with the King , fall to expoftulate the matte fl' 
 with the King : Vehat do thefe Hebrews here'k The Kin} i 
 apologied Davids fidelitie to the Princes , from thai i\ 
 good and faithfull deportment, that he had found ii t\ 
 him ever,fince the time of his being with him : bui is 
 with this the Princes were not fatisfied , but wer< ^ 
 wroth , faying to the King : fend this felloe back to biw, 
 place 9 &c. They render a reafon $ that he would be 4/fc 
 adverfarie to them • for Vehere^ith Jhould he obtain faW\ 
 vour of his CM aster i fiottld it not be Veitb the headw> 
 of thefe men ? 
 
 In this fame pafTage, there be many ufcfull, and ol> 
 fervable things : 
 
 Firft,that Gods people in their ftraits fhould beware 
 how they caft themfelves upon the enemies of God $ 
 for that may bring them into greater ftraits. 
 
 2. Asa learned Author faith well : Politia mnma- 
 la y 6zc. It was notanevillPolicie amongft the Phili- 
 ps. Man. ftims, utRex admuneretur y im$ libere reprehederetur afuis^ \ 
 vt non femperpnjfet qmcqmdve/let: To admonifhthe ! 
 King, (faith he,jyea ana frcelie to reprove him > (ejpe- 
 eiallie in matter of no Icjfe height than the faving 
 or leeflng of himfiif and his ftbjeffs % ) for Kings 
 may not alwayes doc what they lift. As if 
 
 (-faith 
 
sAgainft the Prelacy. 115 
 
 faith the faid Author,) they fhould further enlarge 
 temfelves to the King, by way of expoftulation. 
 Ithis toguide your affayres by Counlell ? to take a <• 
 ran to battle with you; and give him achccfc com-" 
 randers plaee,who hath been a heavie encmie to vou '* 
 *d yours : thefhedding of our blood hath won him ] c 
 te hearts of his people $ he hath a fair puli for the (t 
 ilingdome^nd now you will putt a prife in his hand, Cf 
 : lamely all our lives , by which he may bring himfelf « 
 i greater favour with Saul than ever he was before; <* 
 Hecve ir,thatmuft not be ; you (that are worth all i{ 
 t;)we,and ours, and all ly at flake , wemuftnotlecfe " 
 ;3u,andthe Kingdome, by preferring your fancic or '"' 
 jirowndlefTc affection before found rcaion. 
 
 tc 
 
 j. The grownds of their oppofirion were verie 
 
 ood • For what wife man could thinkc that a man 
 
 bliged by fo many bonds to his Country , and of fuch 
 
 • lire hopes to the CroWne^ would bathe in the blood of 
 
 ; is brethren, and vaiTall the Crownc toanuncircum- 
 
 fedenemic , of wliofc crueitie they had often 
 
 lftcd, which if he could not do, then of neecfiiry he 
 
 •xuftbetray them i and in very deed, if the Lord had 
 
 or brought David (trangely off, he had neverbcen in 
 
 greater lhair. As for the Kings reply upon the expe- 
 
 icnce of 1), ids good behaviour, it might cafily be 
 
 nfwcuJ : ;lrt as there is nothing Yikctfi/rfirt.-e then 
 
 jf^rz/usfo there is nothing hkcrfihfrtic then Vrhited 
 
 sunder truft. 
 
 For 
 
n6 SyonrT&a^ 
 
 For application:/**/**/** eft drab hofte doceri, for w 
 may learn of our enemies : is not our King and Scat 
 in as great danger as Lsfchijij and his Kingdome was 
 Yea fure , and greater. Love you not your Sovereign 
 and your Country,as dearly well, as the Philiftim Prin 
 ces did their King and Country? Ye can not chufe 
 but love both better ; then be as faithfully free witi 
 him,as they were with ^fchifit. 
 
 Why fliould the PreUcie be Domini fac /0to/»,thati: 
 Dondodll y Q* grand commanders in church & State. 
 Pclicie? Since, i. theyoppofe with tooth and nayl 
 every thing that is good. 
 
 2. They have had their hand fas hath been proved 
 in all the great evils , that hath befallen the Churci 
 and State. 
 
 gt Never any good thing profpered that they put 
 their hand too. 
 
 4. The King & State flood never need, but theyal 
 wayes deceived them., 
 
 5. And laftly,fas the Princes CM) if opportunity 
 ferve, they will make peace with their head ^ if it bj 
 with the loffe of zllout heads, if they continue thci 
 places. 
 
 That which Tntlie objetteth to renes^ is the ordi« 
 narie pra&ife of the Prelacie t Confulem fuum deferuit 
 ejr ixnit ad $y!Um: He forfooke his Confull (faith he. 
 & went to Syffa i Co if the Pope com to ytoinde his h$rn a 
 lick higher here amongft us, theiww of the Btaft wil 
 
 pufl 
 
 ; 
 
tA gain ft the Prelacy. 2 vj 
 
 pufhAownc Kivg & c^/^andall, to make way for 
 their Matter. 
 
 If once the Pope with lehu cry : Vsho is on my fide : 
 .hen all his train will be too too rcadie to fling Gods 
 :iowfe out at windowes 
 
 For evidence whereof; take their prefenr actions , as 
 ifcamlrng of rhcir furu re attempts: if joulooke not 
 o them , they may well ferve us, as a Crxcian Fu'^op 
 d( Mudla/m the Province of Tepta, ferved his Coun- 
 ty. The Citie was beleagered by Machumct Sonne 
 
 ' ' :o Amurathcs : he fent one of his nobles to Afirtts^ 
 ;'i brave commander and governour of the Citie, foli- 
 
 J fating him partly by promilcs , and partly by threate- 
 | k iings 3 to give up the Citie \ who anfwered , that the 
 place was ftrong enough , and mantled with a three- 
 r old wall , beftdes other muniments, and ftore of mu- 
 nition ; therefore it were afhame,togivca place of 
 
 : 'hat ftrcngth for loh\if the great Turk were refol ved to 
 iflaulr , ihey were refolvcd to maintain their honour, 
 
 ' by death or by life. Bur the Bifhop knowing that 
 "hey could not long houldout, for want of victuals, ktr . triC ^ 
 
 L; [ent aprivic Meflcngcr to the Turk , fhowing bkmtmU$U dt 
 
 /What (trait they were in, and that he might have lh< ' 
 
 : blaccas cheap ashe could defireit. By this meancs 
 :he Citie was betrayed ; wherefore the Author blaieth 
 him inthemarginc of the Hiftoric for rhe Ttdjttr 
 
 1 lifljf. But this is but a pcttie matter to that which 
 bmc of ourownc have done , who have betrayed 
 
 1 Kholc King»iomes,bcfides their ftirring up the fub- 
 ofts to rebellion. 
 
 i i Bcfida 
 
 . 
 
2i8 Syons Pletu 
 
 Befides the forefaid in(Unces from Scripture ,* what 
 abundance of examples have we in humain Hiftories 
 of grave Counfels prevailing with their Princes, te 
 the great good of King and State. 
 
 
 It is written of Antomus Pius the Roman Hmpc 
 rour, that he debated wirh his Counfell a bufineffe of I 
 great weight, fo that he would have it according to his : 
 W/7; But ScavoL the great Lawyer , and fairhfull 
 Counfeller,with others of the like fidelitie , would 
 have it according to his beetle ,and fo indeed they caried 
 it i I fee Masters (quoth the Empcrour ) it mufi be & 
 _ H4 you "toill have it. Yeelding this reafon : JEqniuseJi 
 &h*'.i. ut e$o tot talmm% amkerum Confiium fiaUar' y quam at tot 
 talefy amiei meam unius <volur4atcmfiquantHr: It is fitter 
 (faith he) thai 1 fhould follow <he Counfell of fo ma- 
 ny, and fofaithfuli friends; then that fo many fuch^ 
 fhould follow my wil!,beingbutone, 
 
 The like is related of Lerves the xi i. of France, who' 
 thanked his Counfell much for their faithfull and con* 
 •ftant refolution. 
 
 But to go no further 3 have not your AnceftourS 
 botbfcepr fundryKings,fora great while out of the 
 pittof dcftriiction,andpu!ledfome tsBrwdsoutefthe^ 
 Jiref Infiace, Uenrie the u i . whofe hiftorie you know., 
 who after that he came so-h-mfeif was as good a King 
 asthebeft. It* is related of him, that he would ofre* 
 layjthat had his fubjc&s followed his will > bath he < 
 
tAgutnJI the Prelacy. lip 
 
 they hid peri(hed ; but he thanked God,that if he knCto 
 aothow to yule, yet they/vs*tt how to obey. 
 
 Confider thofe things, and the Lord give yjuvrtdtr- 
 Unding. Let not men have juft catifc to fay to the 
 ?ody reprefentativeof the sV.r* : whit ts become of 
 he activities , right-downc fidelities , and loves, 
 Df Englifli Parliaments to their Princes ? Let i: not 
 ->z faid of you , as God upbraidctli that proud , but 
 I :owardly people the Icwef. That ye are not valiant Lr.g.j. 
 \ r or thetrueth. Or as an other Prophet hath it , that 
 \ bill not contend for the truetb , that is.palTjthby with- ******* 
 out regard , or removing the Arch-enemies of the 
 I rructh. 
 
 Give us leave to fpeake : Yc know how ye went 
 lway at the Iaft riling , hanging downe your heads,yea 
 forte with tears in your eyes, fas though,) yc had been 
 !ed in Triumph after the Dukes Clnriot : and what 
 i deal of Triumph and tantoft was there in the nber- 
 VidcUs of the wicked ? 
 
 It grieved the fowles of fdtne, to feci he Kings pale 
 lookes, and hcavie countenance, howfbevcr the title- 
 good Prelate, and bisfaftion, were alwiyes prompting 
 Vtith 2i\ omnia bc/e.or ha.ba^fo^oald^e hivi it : But 
 Godhathbroke the /\t/r, break you the Treb/t-o: 
 trouble of ih>: / hen the black Sinftoi of their 
 
 Mufkk is marred: But if you fuffcrfl ill thefe grand 
 enemies of Scire, with rherr confederate favorites, to 
 ttuac oaiJ.lvcr into dro/se^and our V;tr;€ itJo Water * all j 
 
 I : aations 
 
no Syons Pleau 
 
 nations will blame you exceedingly,bccaufc they doe * l 
 conceive, if any other nation had our King that they C0D 
 Jhouldhaveof btmz refined Fe/ft//: Yea take heedein 
 this cafc,that it be not faid to you by the Lord, as Da 
 vidfaid ro Abner,and other of Sauls Courtiers , for 
 the negligent watch they kept over the King* perferi,! ^ 
 t.Sw.iG* r ^fre you not valiant men , and Vrho are like to youh, 
 15.15. jf rae // > wherefore then have you not kef t your Lord tk 
 King 5 This thing is not good that ye have donzs* 
 
 
 :0l\ 
 
 h 
 
 Befidcs Minifkrs 2nd Magiftrates, all private partiej 
 that love God, and their Coumrie, flScmld harea hano 
 in Babels overthrow 5 as the benefite tendeth toall,| 
 fo the dutiebelongerh to all. The Counfell of Hu 
 toAbfolon forteth well wirhthiibufincfie , that at 
 2,S4w.x7- lfra$U flou/d he gathered from Dan toBeer-Jh'ba., as th\ 
 " •!#• sand of the Sea in number , who may with the rtpes 1 
 their prayers ^ joy ned to the power of your hands ^ dra^ 
 the Citiecf their Babett into the River of defltu&ion | 
 vnti/l there be not one fmallfione found. 
 
 Put more .of this when wc come to thrj 
 -meanest 
 
 jk.We come in the n^xt place to the fecondpoim 
 of proof; namely the pra£Uzeof nations , or the prefi-j 
 dent of all reformed Churches, Approvablepra&ife : 
 especially of Gods people,ina thing of high, and 
 ccflarie nature , isbothagood warrant and indue 
 
 file 
 
%Againtt the Tnlacy, vii 
 
 \\ flent to others in the like cafe. Yea it ferveth to 
 t ondemnc them , if they do not follow. 
 
 ;], ', To begin then with the Vnitcd Provinces , when 
 
 , (hilif thell.of Spaine , contrarie to the nature of a 
 
 i* ,3ng;theCoHnfcll,&: mtreatieof hisFathcr,hisownc 
 
 ;, Dlcmne oath, 6c covenant, made at his entrie, had rc- 
 
 •i plved in his heart, by theinftigation and cvill Coun- 
 
 (■ell of the Duke desAtvA, to make fiavesof the Nether- 
 
 finders ; Cardinall Granvcli , and the black Coun fell 
 
 y\)( ffe/I dcvifcdfot the effecting of this , and for to 
 
 tt'fddc to their burthens , the bringing in of 15. new 
 
 MSifiops , together with the Sfanijh lnqufition , both 
 
 £l 7 vhieh the Duke de Alva eftabhfhed , to the fpoyling 
 
 jlpf their goods, the tormenting of their body es,and un- 
 
 z ioing of their fowlcs 5 the prifons were lb full, they 
 
 Afcre forced to crett more, upon which crucll courfes 
 
 ooooo. families left their places, and meanes, to fave 
 
 ; heir lives, by living other where, but by this fitric 
 
 nail the Lord did not onely purge the dr\>ft* , and 
 
 S leavic difpoiition of that/^/^and made them mote 
 
 accidie for Armn ; but he alfo thereby made the 
 
 laics to fall from their eyes , that in the miditof the 
 
 fornacc, they law the light of the Gofpell , which 
 
 with all thole dangers they imbraccd and maintained 
 
 with their blood- they gathered themf elves into com- 
 
 '• panics.as in Zealand there were 60. companies : they 
 
 Jkuilt Churches , which the CQXtM D*kc dcmolifheu, 
 
 in their place let up Gallowcs , executing all that 
 
 : found. 
 
 Ff 5 Yn 
 
m Sy<ms rplett* 
 
 Yet for all this they vrent on,tiIl thorow Gods mercit 
 and the afliftance of neighbouring Princes ( bot, 
 with their purfes,and the blood of their fub)e€ts) the 
 grew to an united body ; and having broake the band 
 both of Spanifh and Popilh tyrannie, they tooke a wa 
 the droffe of that overlaying,^, tyrannizing PreUcie , 2 
 the grownd of all their wo, and as the onely way tfl 
 cftablifh the puritie of Chrifts ordinances. 
 
 They caftnered the Biffiops oCrtrick t 6c oiHaerlem ir 
 Holland. ThcBifhopof Midkbourgh in Zealand. Th 
 BilhopsofZ^W/* , & Groening in Frizeland. Th 
 Kfhopof Deventer inOveryflell , after which thej 
 profpered exceedingly againft the enemies, for this i 
 the Wayindeed 3 / L <? catch the ould one. 
 
 If this had not been a good courfe , or if any thing 
 would have ferved but this, then notwithftanding 01 
 their refitting of the Spanifh tyrannic , they might 
 and (hould have kept thefe Holy Fathers y the Prcla?es y ai 
 their chafe builders of the howfe of God : But God 
 taught them, and heavie experience cleared this prin-i 
 cipall ; that there is no building of Gods ho^fe , after 
 his owne Patern , fo long as the Fillers of Antichriffr 
 bcarefwaye in the howfe: there is no (hutting of the 
 dore,whilft the thief is in the howfe :fo long as rhey 
 had kept pojfepcn, Spaine, & R< me could never fullie 
 have loft their pojjcfiton , and therefore they tooke the 
 right courfe^both for reformation^ libertie , to (hutte 
 them quite out atdores > neither did ever any trut 
 
 (head 
 
"Agamft the Prelacy. 223 
 
 :iend to the Gofpcll to this day condemne themjnot 
 tie King of France , being a Papift , nor his brother. 
 Me ic Anguc, their governour . thoirgh alfo a Pa- 
 ll 
 
 , Vpoft this their dcliverie from Spaine 3 and Rome, 
 ley gave this devifeto theirarmc?;a coller about the 
 Ijions neck, with this Vcord : Rofis Leorjem, l>ms tnus 
 \i>crat : The bands being broken , the moufefetteth 
 lr<r the Lion. Andon the other fide againft it > the 
 ]mg of Spairte^ and the Pope, with this devife : Liber 
 bio sevinctrt perncgAt : The Lion being once free-will 
 aotagaincbe bound. 
 
 The fummc of all that hath been faid , concerning U* 
 uis particulate pleafed to fee in the Hiftorie of the Pd + 4 >-*J 
 "fetherlands. Onely give us leave to apply thede- jo 5 , 
 
 lies* 
 
 J (Our Prelates keep nor oncly the Lion,out SoierAigne y 
 
 i bands^bur even the Lion of the tribe cf Iudth ; and 
 
 ; the Pope & Spwurd counted no more of xhcBel- 
 
 ickftrcesyZnd their confederate helpuhcn of fo many 
 
 uce ; even fo the proud Prelates partly thorow their 
 
 **nc ambirion^and partly thorow the carelefnefle, of 
 
 :are 3 or part-taking of others , aregrowen with all 
 
 ncirrable, fo to outbrave the Parliament j that they 
 
 Jonnt no more of them then fo many mice : they 
 
 wenfo pack now with tht ft drecrtVt-ctirfkrH 
 
 fthcS:a<c, ffoi they count Uicm no better,/ that they 
 
 e no more afrayd of that terrible TribunsU , then 
 
 the 
 
zi4 $y onf &**-> 
 
 the frags Were of the log, that Iupiter is feigned to le 
 fall amongft them : Yea as the Hungarian goeth no 
 ordinarily with his weapon , nor is not reputed; 
 brave Gentlcman,till he have killed.a7/*r£ , fo amom 
 that crew,he is not a fellow ingrain^ till he have brave< 
 the Parliament : But let them know whom they del 
 ride; and as theBelgidc ntices teeth , or rather thi 
 noble Brittam blades freed this Lion(though now toe 
 forgetfull of his deliverer^ ) fo cut you the c$rds ( fo 
 that is better then to unloofe them) fet free theJL/a 
 of States and Religion* and yon (hall be more preciou 
 to God,and better metall to the ftate , then the gouli 
 whereof the Philiftims mice were made , which thej 
 fent home in the Ark. Yea your devifetoatt be this % con 
 fpicuoufly glorious to all the world, ingrave in goukfc 
 Charters ,zbo\it the neck of King 6c Chureh. Hie Se> 
 n at us eft medicus buius Leonis : This Parliament hatl 
 cured this Lion of the Kings evil!, 
 
 G 
 
 E 
 
 1 
 
 A fecond inftance of pra&ife may be taken frotr 
 the North* Brttans or Scots,out neighbour nation; wh< 
 did vendicate the libertie of the Church, and State 
 to fo high analay , that in everie particular it wai 
 w ; hout paralell : fo that the laft King gave this tefli 
 monie of it,tbar it was as pure a Ghurch ( if not pu« 
 rer) as any, fincerhctimeof Chrift .$_ and therefore 
 he thanked God, that it was his lott to live in it $ anc 
 how came they to theexcellencie of that puritie ? but 
 by taking aV&ay the droffe , namely the P:xUc ; cj..wxh 
 all the train of ihe trumperie^ Co that ihey kfr uot one 
 
 Hoofi 
 
 to. 
 
 i 
 
aAgainft the Prelacy. 22c 
 
 tioofi of the Bcaft. But who did this } even the 
 I Counfcll of State 5 but by what authoritie , command^ 
 or concurrence from the fupream Migiftrate ? Surely 
 by none at all , but rather againft the demand cruel 1 
 ,oppofition of three Popijh Princes , all raigning over 
 I them with an high hand ; namely, Frjncis, & Marie?, 
 King,& Queen of France ex Sxttltnd, & Queen <J\i other 
 i Regent for the time , Siller to thchoufe of Guile. 
 I Thefe thee ? rimes were devoted fowlc and body to 
 . the Pope 3 & the two women were as rcfolme and Po- 
 litick foratchicving of their malicious ends , as any 
 i ©f their Sex. Bendes they had all the power and 
 Ccunfell of the howfe of Guife , ( who fwayed all 
 ' France) to further their attempts. They fent greac 
 1 forces into Scoilid, with a number of the fierceft fpirit s 
 /hrewdeft pates , and beft foldiers, that were aitio 
 them j that with fire and fword they might deftroy 
 ihofe rcformers 5 with their pofteririe , and root out 
 theGofpell. We will trouble youbut*ith one in- 
 : fiance. 
 
 One Labrofie^ great Counfelfer, (5c Soldier, thought 
 i it was fittcrt to deitroy all the nobilitie , and to billet 
 i Tome thoufands of the French Horlc upon their 
 
 meancs \ and as for the cominaltie to make vaflais 
 sandflavesef them : his letters dircded into France 
 
 to this purpofc were intercepted, which ftirrcd up the 
 , ftatc to (land for reformation, as much as for their 
 
 lives. To thefe fierce ckrfignes the Bifhopswcre F)jl. 
 •MBetfeVH ; witiKflc, one of them in thefe blooddie 
 G g bro\ 
 
nt' 
 
 2z6 Syons Ttetu 
 
 zp.Ambiift. broyls,who railed and curfed the Soldiers, becaufc thej 
 
 5«w ' Uf ' di( * not burne » rob ^ a y3 and ra ^i^ all right dfcwne bo 
 fib. io. fore them. Efpccialliehe was vexed, that they did not ip 
 i , - I 74. murthcr one WiUum Mat/an,* brave Gentleimn>andfc 
 goodaSchoiler,that he was to hard for ail the learning 
 of Sorbon : Therefore the Bifhop would have the SoU f : 
 dierstocut his throat, and that (hould bean unanf^e^ 
 rable argument: but the Lord quenched all their fiery 1 
 darts, and fo {lengthened the hearts , and guided thcler 
 hands of the ftate ; with the affiftance of Qaccn Eliza* k 
 beth, that they prevayled mightily agaimt their, anc 
 Gods enemies, and never gave over the work, till thcy|l 
 layd ( as one faid ) the verie Coup/tone of reformation. 
 
 It is true indeed, that our Engltfh Eurccl.dtn , 01 
 fulphurious South- burning winde of B«bell, together 
 with fomc rotten \J\4-.U9rs of ineofed vapours ai 
 mongft themfelves,have like an earthquake ftuken the i 
 howfe, and uncovered the roof of ir: but Leiuslooke 
 to it ; we are the unwholefome point , from whena 
 this tnfccJwgWinde hath blowen upon them^forif wc 
 doe not , it is like not onely to fplitt our Ship upon 
 the rock , but alfo to rent the vcyle of tbret King 
 
 We could relate at large more inftances , as thej 
 frencl^Svouz.ey^Bohcmian^G^rwaneSy & Geneva, (whe . 
 prefently upon their reformation removed this 
 ground of deformation , >*but the truth is fo wel 
 kaowne, we (hould but take up time > onely obfcrv< 
 
 thij 
 
Against the Prelacy. vty 
 
 • his point of refornnrion, obfervcd by the Bifcayxs to 
 
 • his day.as fome write : this b:ing a Province of 
 '< >paines Dominions , the people can nor endure a 
 •'< ^ord Btfhop ro tread upon their ground j wimclTc, 
 
 hat tna /that Ferdinand the Catholike m ide, by brin- 
 ing a Bifhop with him , guarding him in the midle of 
 > .11 his great trayn 5 but the people not able to en- 
 k iure him , the King fent him presently out of their 
 . erritories, and they digged up the ground, whereon 
 « he Brfhops Mule ftood,and cait it into the Sea. 
 
 kj l I recite this the rather , becaufc it is cited by that 
 •a ttybing Geographer , who relleth the Puritanes i that 
 hat were a fine place for them to dwell in; but 
 ' here is a better way then that , root fuch Bilhops out 
 fc )f England , and it will be a finer place for the Puri- 
 »i ans to dwell in , and let the Bifhops and their favo- 
 i f itcs go make their peace with Bifcay. 
 
 
 % 1 To conclude the point,you fee ( right Honourable) 
 ire what other States have done for the deliverance of 
 0, hem,and theirs, and clearing the title of CbriJfs king- 
 iome ; and that with more refiftance,and le/Te concurr- 
 ence then you (hall have 5 therefore you (hall do well 
 it length to follow in that which is good , lead they 
 lad their a&ions rife up againft you. 
 
 Gg* The 
 
22& Syons Ple^u 
 
 The 3 . and laft poynt of proofe is from the reafam 
 ingageing you to thcfervice.Wc have alreadie in foroe 
 Seftions foregoing urged the matter from 9. feverali 
 reafons,or motives/now give us leave briefdy to addct|wl 
 thefe foure r nam ahundamia non neat; Plentic is Hot 
 often five. 
 
 It I 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 i\ 
 1. Conftrayntor command is iayd upon you from «o 
 the word, as we conceive,namely from that place of w 
 the Proverbs, fo much beaten upon. Compared with 
 p^.i 7 .i 4 other places of Scripture > zs,(koVcjhalt take away evil! 
 fiom Israeli ; where be pleafed toobfervc 5 that everie 
 evill( without exception) muft be taken away , and 
 the greater eviS\ the greater neceflitic of removall, 
 and who muft doe this I onely the fupreame Magi- 
 ftrate ? Not fo j but alfo the Senate , yea every Mini* 
 7&r,orIudge,appointedbyGod 5 for 10 the word tel- 
 leth us. 
 
 In divers places the Lord complaineth 3 yea anil 
 wondereth, that men of place ilar.de off from the 
 „ r mts d Lordinthis imployment: and 'token he fato thereto?' 
 no man , bt Pondered that none ^tu.acjjcr mnjtl^&c* 
 Again: 
 6 j. I looked, and tkere toaswonetfi keif ; aud 7 Pondered 
 there tow none to if bold,® c. An othes Prophet to the 
 fame effeft : 
 i&e,M.jo 'I fought for a wan among tkcm^ thatjhould mate uf 
 the kedge 7 and Hand in the g*lp> he fore me for tfo Land, 
 
 tht* 
 
xAgalnfi the Trelaey. 2 1 j> 
 
 isSSl^outd^OtdeJlroje it , but I found notice* 
 
 In all thefe places it is a wonder that the great Tc- 
 ovah fhould ftand "toendring, That there were none to 
 ead a hand,to the faring of the Church and common 
 veal : that there was no Phyiitian to Minifter one 
 )ram to that deadlic difeafed Sratc : in the travels of 
 he people in the wildcrnciTe^notwithftandmg ofthfc 
 [leoples tranlgrcffions, they had Mofes (oxzFbj/itum. 
 in the promifed Land, they had many good Iudgcs.In 
 -;/; his time, they had Samuel!, and aher him fundry 
 *ood Kings : But at this time not one What not 
 \)nt i Was there not Icrcmiah,Baruch,Ezcchicll,and 
 I good rem nam, that mourned in Sron, and Were mtrkid Lz _, 99& 
 . n she fotehead? Yea furejbut lercmic was imprifoncd 
 xatcn,and put in thcjlocks ,and to Ezekiell they were 
 isScorpions^hc greater fort, as Princes, Nobles^Mn^i- 
 ! .tratcswerc either like the Buls of Bafan, & the / ftig cfi: 
 I ?4/»*j/7.j, trampling alt under foot ;or like the noble men 
 }f Tckoa, the) Vtould not pus their nttks to the Work of the schem.?.,. 
 Lord; ox they were like t\\Q prudent Vrvfeflors of thefe 
 mies , whofc cautcloufneite ^sfmos diicovereth, that 
 weft their fiUme in that time , for is tt4S .in evill times % Ajn934.su 
 Or if there wcrcarcmninuhat could nothould their 
 but for Sions fake they mud fpcake ; they were 
 rhouiden , as Ldvjsei well obferveth : Hosies Rctpnb. 
 Up* : the enemies of the Church and common 
 weal > tumultuous and factious fellows 3 they are 
 never quiet j the Land can not bear* them. 
 
 The 
 
sp Syons PlesL,.- 
 
 Theforefaid Author commenting, on Ezechiel , ap- ) 
 plyeth this to his time , and fo may wc to our times 5 
 for there are fome of all forts , bat that xhepudent in 
 place of authoritic efpeciallie (hould keep (ilence , or 
 not ftand up in the gappe, that is the verie matter of 1 he \ 
 Lords bonder: for it is no wonder that the wicked in 
 regard of their enmitie to God fet their face npainft 
 God , for in this they doe but their kinde. butfori 
 fuch as have taken Gods prefe-mony , weare his live* 
 y/V,gi-ven up their names to fight his battjiles,z#d have 
 inroulcd themfelvcs for his houfhold Servants fox fuch - 
 (we fay/ 1 to have neither hand nor tongue , for Gods 
 caufe, and the removing of Gods enemies 3 it is a prodi- 
 gious bonder indeed. In the originall, the Lord is faid 
 to caufehimfelf to bonder , as if he could nor wonder 
 enough. He fpeaketh to ourcapacitie , and hereia 
 taxeth our ftupiditie j (hall all the hoftc of Hell , as 
 A^heiTh t PafiHs y loofe Libertins^ Timeprvers, Neutrals; 
 CarnatlGcJj>e(krs& Hypocrites , band themfelvcs to the ! 
 defperate fervice of the Divell , whofe end is damna- 
 tion , and (hall not thefervanas of themoft high, 
 whofe wages is life eternall,lay all at the Lords foote, 
 for the deli verie of Sion : what a wonder is this? 
 
 This threatcneth fas the Lord fpeaketh in that place 
 of EzechielU a^aJUng of the vineyarie 5 yea further 
 a particular Judgment to fuch asareirvauthoritic,and 
 ftande not up in the gappe: I fought for a man among 
 them^hatfliouldmakittpthehedge 7 a»dfiand in the gappe 
 
 fef- 
 
Agamfi the Prelacy. 231 
 
 icfore me fcr the Land, that I fheuldmt delhoy it , hut 
 found none^>. Obfervc what followeth. 
 
 Therefore have 1 powred out mine indignation 
 
 - iponthem, I have confawed them ^hh the f reef my 
 
 / \rathjbetr efcr/eWay have I reumpcnced upon then o\Sne 
 
 wd, faith the Lord God. Where we intreate y6ar Ho- 
 
 tours , to obfervc Hieroms obfervation upon the 
 
 :)lacc , Ivhobythe heads underftandeth ihe miagi- 
 
 hates, that howfocver the Lord will deftroy that na- 
 
 ton, where there is none ro take his part again]} the 
 
 , picked , yet he will plague the heads , cfpecially who 
 
 7 houldftandup before th^ Lord m the Land y toiavcihe 
 
 rcit. 
 
 if for further encouragement you would be further 
 
 itisfyed.to what comrnandement the duty fhouM be 
 
 rcduced,fince everie ad mud be warranted by a Law ; 
 
 wcanlwcr to the 2. comrnandement , which as it 
 
 . condemneth all unlawfull go: emeu s , and go-on- 
 
 11 ment , with all mens devifes in Godswoifhip , fa ir 
 
 cnarmeth men of place 'as Magiftnitcs and Miniikrs) 
 
 to abandon all counterfeit go\ crnmenr, and fupcrfti- 
 
 >!t ; tious worihip. And fomuch foithe hrft rcafon. 
 
 he 2. reafon or motive added to inforce this duty 
 upon you. is from the Kings gracious fpecch,at the la ft 
 confim priviledgea , in Parliament; 
 
 ..arc oftheitar cup- 
 lb you; iignifung.that if youhad not a happie /'*//- 
 Mmnr^on might blame yom fit vet : now what happic- 
 
 ncfTc 
 
xp Syons 1?U<l* 
 
 neffe can be to King or ftatc, except ye pluck up th 
 plants of all our unhappinefTe.As a word to the wife j 
 enough, fo a "toordhom billing King is enough. You 
 aflions of reformation,by fupplanting oimightit tvitii 
 flull be the beft comment to the Kings Jfiaches. , 
 
 Kings are not onely content , but alfo defirous t 
 have divers things done, that they would hardly b 
 feen in,tillthey be done, and then they are willing^ 
 ownethcm$ the reafonis : they love to try wha 
 Jiewards of State they have, and whether they anfwc 
 their places, in daring to remove the silver from th 
 
 .It is worthic the obferring,that the State of Silid 
 prefented once a petition to Caefar,againft oneD.Ca 
 phurnius , a lewd Favorite , and opprefling Deputii 
 Lucius Calphurmus , fur , /atro, & mtchms eft : quid tit 
 videtur ? Calphurnius isatheef,a robber, & a hoorc 
 monger; what thinke you? To which Caefar anfwerc 
 no more but thus : Videtur: it feemes fo^and fo (as the 
 meant to doe) they tooke an order with him, when 
 ■with Cadar was well content, 
 
 3. The 3. reafon, which we adde,is takea from th; 
 ufe , which all the prefejj'ed enemies of State an 
 Church make of this Prelaeie> to effeft their CTill end 
 as David faid of Goliahs fword , there is none t$ thai 
 fo faith the Pope, Spaniards Arminian , for ovei 
 turning of a State, and making havock of a Church 
 
 ther 
 
 
 : 
 
lAgainsi the Trelacj. 233 
 
 there is none to a. Bi$*of y give them that : that we do not 
 J flander them,Icr their owne actions witneffe, wherein 
 |» though wc might be large,yct we will dear the proofc 
 
 in oneortwoinltanecs, that we may draw to an ejnd 
 
 of rhe Pefitiort. 
 
 When Cardinall Granvcl as we havefhtwed dc- 
 vifcdto inflave, and fack the Netherlander , b\ the 
 Spanifhlnquifition , thconcly ineancs to bring it in, 
 and to keep it on faote , was to put upon them i>. 
 more Bifhops, (making 3-Archbifhops,) under pretence 
 of better government ; and for their maintenance,, 
 they turned the Abbeys into Bifriopricks, to the great 
 difcontentement of all forts of people 5 but what Was 
 the rcafon ? the ftoric telleth us , that they might fur- 
 ther the bringing in,& keeping up of that blooddy In- 
 quifition^fo that they were the naaddeft lads that could 
 be found, for confuming Church and State, with tire 
 and fword. 
 
 Dukcde y*/iu, the Popes fecond Sonne, did cflablifh 
 fas wc have fhcw«d) boihrhcfe Bifhops, and tlaelnqui- 4I-4J- 
 fition -j for the which lm$m$> the V« lent him arich ^ 5 . " 
 Sword, with a hilt all of gould , and an imbroydered 
 Hauc , decked with precious (tones. 
 
 Ht Ur 
 
L24 SyonsVlco-* 
 
 Let the projects of the k_4rmimam ferve for an 
 other inftance. Armintinifme we know is the verie 
 Elixir of Pcperie , the Myfhrie of the Aiyfterie of /#/« 
 quitie ; fo fine a //;w;/ , that fcarfly it can be feen , or 
 felt : the quwteflens of Equivocatien : the oracle of 
 Delpbos; the Cabinat of the Popes fecret ? and Spaines I 
 neVc-found pAjfagLJ for Brit an, and the 1^ Countries. 
 As this plaguie G?wf* had its matter from theaduft 
 iierie vapours of that Popifh Pre/act?, fo the PreUcie is 
 meat,drinke , and apparell for the maintayning of it. T 
 Things live by the fame things that thvj nre bred off' : now 
 we have (hewed and proved r that Lslrminidnifme, and 
 all other Schifmes, and Herefies, have their rife from 
 the Prelacie 5 and fo by the Prelacie it muft be main, 
 tained. 
 
 With this principall the Netherlands Arminians 
 were well enough acquainted,about twelve yeareago, 
 when they dn w to an head : and after much deba- 
 ting by armes and tearmes , they plainly exprcfled 
 themfelves, that they defired no morc,but that Lord 
 Biftiopsfhould be eroded, who might fct all thing in 
 order 5 and keep the: C»M»*ch in peace ; To that end 
 they had caft their thoughts upon Vtevbogard , to be 
 the man, tvho with Barnevelt Jhould have vatialled all 
 to their owne wiil ; fo th~t they knew, that peace 
 mould have beene the 'toarre of the Church: for the 
 ^^Arminian^L the ^Antichrijlian Bifhops 3 are as the Fa- 
 ther and the Sonne relatives, which mutuaJlie fubfiftj 
 
 yea 
 
t/fgaitift tie Prelacy. 235 
 
 yea the veyns and arteries of the Prclacic , caricd both 
 bUod & fiirtts from fit/gland ,2nd other parts , to the 
 maintenance of the Bclgick Arminianifme,the poyfon- 
 able root, whereof lay lower at tjiat time rhen we yet 
 well conceive ; and hadfo fprcd itfelf over the Low 
 Countrics^and England cfpcciallie ; that we may fay 
 of the V apt (Is & tjkr?nini arises the Britans faid of the 
 Vanes, and the Sca : reliant bar ban ad Mfitf % rtfellil /-Lire 
 ad barbaros : Wc are tolled bctwecne the Dcvil/^nd 
 the decpe Sca $f Rowcs. As it is ordinarilie now ; no 
 Papift 5 or blancher with Papift,no Stttcfmwtfo no Ar* 
 mtman, no Bififyot fatte parfon. 
 
 As the Netherlander then had belt looke to ir, thit 
 their monilruous Rebellions bring not back againc 
 upon them thofe pragmaticall Fathers of Armima- 
 mfme.xo the lofle of thcmfclves , and what they have 
 : gained- fo ncceffitic is laid upon you the valiant men oj 
 ifraett , to fct both the Fathers and the Children on 
 packing;for if all our enemies , forrain and Domiftick 
 life the as the only fitted I*Jh*m€*Hy\Q undo us-r. \ 
 remove not them, the State (lull be required of you: 
 hands j and the pra&ifeof the wicked fhallcondemnc 
 you,but wchopc better things of you. 
 
 v Thc4. and iaft motive is this, that if the Lord 
 awaken not your hearts^, ftrcnghthc not yourhai 
 to ftand up before the Lotd y in delivery of the L.i 
 then iris both a wufjp, & a fignc,that the Land jsgiven 
 \\\\ z for 
 
z$6 Syom Pita* 
 
 for loft ; witnefle, the fore-cited place of Ezechiell: 
 
 I [ought a man among them>that fconldfiand upj&jz* But If n 
 I found n&K-j+ itf 
 
 Therefore have I fewred out mine indication upon 
 them , aud have consumed them ^kh the fre of my ; jjy 
 ftrath^lkc. ii 
 
 Tothisalfo the Prophet Ieremic beareth witnefle, ! 
 
 Where fpeaking of the vineyard of the Lord, thej have w 
 
 C4f.iiti\UiditiltfoUte or^&fle, (TaitkheO andbeingdefolate , it [ti 
 
 znenmeth to me^orover not $ and what is the caufe of this iec 
 
 dtfolation.ox laying wafte. , becanfe m man layeth it to fcl 
 
 heart i That is : no man rcgardeth it, nor cadevouretli jjj 
 
 to remedi* it* ^ 
 
 To the fame effeft , the Lord /pcaketh in an other 
 place by the fame Prophet : 
 
 The 'helioses are burnt , the kadis eonfumed ofthefrt* 
 the founder melteth in vain ; That is to fay : All painefc 
 and coft were fp em upon that people in vain : what 
 wasthereafon . ? the kicked n-ere not taken a\\\y , rhai 
 was a manifest token , that the Lord had rt)ecled ibem 9 
 for they were but r.ef rebate fiver, As this is clcare from 
 the word > fo Cominevs 3 and other great Statefmen, 
 giveththU foranunfallible token of enfuing ruinc 
 wtien none ftandeth up to deliver a State from the 
 inbred devouring empties of it. 
 
 A 
 
tAgatnjt the Yreticy. 237 
 
 But fome among us befotred in fecuritie, may ptfrti* 
 ly reply : you are very peremprot ie , ye are no Pro- 
 lets ; God is not fo r cadi e to deftroy, as event Hot- 
 re out of the pulpit,or every prognofticating Scribler 
 /ould make him to be^ and if deftruftion do con: c 
 ay be we fhall never fee it ; or if it come in our 
 ae>we can (hit! for our felvcs 3 as well as others. 
 
 For anfwer, the more warning the Lord givcth 
 
 >m the mouthes of his Mtfengars.ot from the pennes 
 
 hbC/mv,the nigherhandisdeftruftion : Further 
 
 I defire thole Sbtfters , to take notice what the Lord 
 
 iitfa to them by the Propket Amos : i^fff the fitmirs if C^.u^ 
 
 njpccplefu/ldje by thtfworJ, Schick [*) the tvi&fuM net 
 
 Vffuertakc rrtrprezcfitus. 
 
 Others will reply , God hath taken off fome of eur 
 
 xch-enemies , and will not he in their deitru&ion 
 
 iftablifhourprefcrvation ? Yea fiut,aj tilth been laid, 
 
 if we had hearts to follow home the l/ob - but other* 
 
 ile as the Lord gave us fuch in Wrath fo he may juft- 
 
 I ly take them away in ^rath^ & give us worfe in their 
 
 jjftcad. 
 
 If we make not vcrie good ufe of Gods execution, 
 & do for God,as he hath do«c for us^he may juflly deal 
 with as, as he dealt with Juchh , when the K*c->of foaitj; 
 fffed is broken., he may make us one of %rov* 
 
 Hhi A 
 
Ctpj.z. 
 
 238 Syons PkiU> 
 
 A third fort will objed , though our Land hath all 
 figncs & fytnptonts of a deadly difeafe 5 yet we ar<p' 
 the Lords oVene peoples ^nd he will be our Phyfitian t( kKSy 
 heal us,according to his proraife,Exod. 15. 26. ^ai 
 
 Foranfwer,we muftlooke fo to the performances 
 of the condition, that we may chalenge the promife i 
 if tbo^to ^oilt diligently hearken to the voyce of the Lon 
 thy God, and ^ilt do that ^fchich is right in his fight , ant w 
 Veilt give eare to his commandements^ and keep all his ft a* 
 tut es, then Vni/J I put none of thofe difeafe s upon tbee } &c, 
 Tor I am the Lord that Ualeth the earthy Phyfitian. 
 
 u 
 
 in 
 n 
 
 But if they will not hearc and obey,then he threate- 
 nethmoft of all, topunifh them : who ever fcape 
 they (hall not efcape - y witneffe y his owne mouth,by 
 the Prophet Amos: 
 
 Tou onely haze Iknowne of all the families of thi Earth, 
 therefore IVeillpunijh you , for all your iniquities. 
 
 And it muftbefo , becaufe they raoft dilhonour 
 God-thcy caufe the wicked to blafpheme; they grieve 
 the Spirit in the Godlie 5 and they leave the Land de- 
 flimte of all defence* 
 
 Some yet will further reply 3 there are many fincere 
 and upright in the Land , who keep themfelves from 
 the evill of their owne hearts } and the iniquitie of the 
 
 timed 
 
vigainsl the Prelacy. 23P 
 
 {m$ j yea they moume foi the finnesof Sion. 
 Poranfwer b 1. They fhew not thcmfclvcs in their 
 aces,zealous of Gods v^on^eontenatng for the tnteth y fat*;.] 
 ey arc not «?^ in the ftrests 9 (as the Prophet fpcakcrhj 
 iey do not quitte themfdves iullie of thefe mcn,and 
 ings that ate moft oftenfivc to God. 
 
 2. If thexe beafew that by vj*& have laid 
 
 >wnc themiclus, and all that they have at thefoote 
 f the Lords caufe, are they not counted zsfig*€s&t 
 onder> \ and left a!ott€ to the deft royr^s a ships niAjl 
 wn the top of thcmoM*Une\ who comes forth to help 
 *cm u^::?j>: then 
 
 mL All the mourners in Sion (hall have their life' 
 r a ^r^which may well content them 5 but i f the 
 reat and CMaistcr-tv:llb<z not ttken dVcayJrom [ft 
 :ftandethnot with Gods honour, nor rhecr///of the 
 Hclybred; that the Lord for their, fhould ftillfpare 
 mation ; who fparcth and raaintaincth that cvill, that 
 e moil hatcth. 
 
 To come to a conclufion of the point, webefeech 
 on right Honourable; againe and againe> and that by 
 he mercies of ti I God : 11 there be in you 
 
 ro your Court trie , any 
 we to your Soui , ;^;onyonr/w. 
 
 rr/,andU5 , any looking tor cotifoUtioi^ that you take 
 way the drojie from the fUvtr \ io flail WC have a 
 
t^o Syons T>letu 
 
 refined veplL Wcare bould toufetoyot* thewor< 
 of the Prophet leremie : Behould Vee fet before you ti 
 Veay of /ife 7 and the Vtay of death : Therefore doc t\ 
 Lords work,and je fhall live. Thefe fifrie yeares , ar 
 upward, the Lord hath pleaded by his agems 3 attt 
 bar of your Parliament , for his owne priviledges, ; 
 gainfttheintrufionof the Hierarchie , yet he coal 
 never have right, yea fcarfe a good hearing ; it is tim 
 to looke to it > and to give fentence on his fide ; fc 
 if he be forced to take the matter into his owne hanc 
 he will firft caft the ftatc over the bar , and then fls 
 thofe that would not have him to raigne over them 
 
 Looke ftedfaftlie up on thefe things. All Jycthj 
 flake. You are the ordinarie meanes , or none v* 
 fee to redeeme them. At anie rate ( then ) ftri\ 
 neither at great nor fm&Ujout at thefe troublers of lfratH % 
 
 Smite that Ha%te//inthc fifth ribbe : Yeaiffatk 
 or Mother ftand in the way, away with them $ fwe be 
 feech you 3 ) Nam fotius pereat <vnns quam vnitm 
 Make rather a rotten Tree fall , then that the rottin 
 droppes thereof fliould kill the Sheep. 
 
 The mcanes whereby our deliverance from thi 
 cvill may be wrought, fhall be difcovered in the hand 
 ling of the laft Fejitiw* And fo much for this point 
 
 • 
 
 iq, Pojitim 
 
 { 
 
 
 
 L 
 
 It 
 
 fc 
 
Agatnji the Frelatyl 5 S41 
 
 ■ 
 
 10. Fojklon-* proved. 
 
 NOw followcth thelaft pointc,bur not the leaTL 
 motive of pcrfuation to the worke i namely, 
 I the fir/hinge at this roore of the Hierarchic, :' 1 
 
 i%fthiilioll.\ and the erecting of the pu>itye of Clrisis or- 
 dtnjnces(as we conceive upon good ground 
 the courf'c of Jin j remove judgment j RCi over Ctdsi. 
 • wake up the breaches of the church , and common wea/tlj-, 
 ' redecme the honour of our Hate i remove the \K icked from 
 the throne j D.ijh cut the tr dines of our enemies hepts; and 
 mdny btefjings upon cur ling j ( 
 
 The ciiidence of this pointc will undenyablie 
 followe upon the proofe of the former. There be 
 twoc ordinary meancs to inforce t he performance of 
 anydutie , namely ; fc Are of puntfi went , *5c hope of rem 
 Vrard, Wee are bold to prclle them both. But wee 
 hope your generous and nolle minds like bertcr to be 
 led then driven ; to be perfuaded then inforced- The 
 r/caufe being removed ; the effect muft ceafc, 
 and contrary eft fits muft fcliowc : lor there is no 
 
 VACUlt>C. 
 
 If* we will fhy the courfc of fin 3 we muft goto 
 the fountaias head. . The I'ra'.uie is the mother of 
 'all finne , and the daughters maintainc the mcthtr- y 
 Take awcy the mother > and the datfghtCJ 
 
 I 1 findc 
 
 
242 Syons T>(e<u 
 
 finde fo manic hufbands. The fythc to mowc downe 
 finne fas hath beene lhewedj isDifctfline , which the 
 Prelates can not endure, and that argueth and plaineljr 
 convinceth their Kindome,to fubfift by finne. 
 
 Some of their Champions fcoffing at the defires of 
 Gods people , for removall of thcm 3 and erecting of 
 j . Bil/wi Difcipline, bidde them firft fit doVvne, and prcftuad an 
 degub. 14. other government; Fact lias ett } (jrc. It is e after ( faith 
 pg s?9. ixeJ to fab vert f or cast do^cne a thing then to tytB it. 
 Let them firft finde out an other government, ere 
 they remove this. His Fellow pro&er Sculttngm 
 1 hath the very fame in effect , for the Popifii govern- 
 ment againft the Calvinifts. 
 
 It 
 
 DO 
 
 b 
 
 ti 
 
 :c 
 
 This fcoffe relifherh but of a Leofe hart^c will not 
 fay of blajphemie ; as if the government of Chrifts 
 houfc were to feeke. Oppofers of the trueth fhoukL 
 have good memories. For he knoweth and confefTeth 1 
 that there was fach a government as we plead for> and ! 
 fo is it yet ftill in readinefle , if ufurpation were re- 
 moved. Every one knoweth , that an ould rotten or 
 plaguie houfe muft be removed 3 or confumed with fire 
 • before a new Frame be fet up : Remove that Vvbich With 
 honldcth,& chrift tyhojfandeth at the doore 9 readte to come 
 infill bring his government With him. 
 
 The foule mouthed Cenfurers of the petition for 
 reformation, would perfwade the State, that Dtfcif line 
 can notfuite nor forte With the fubjljling of a iMowrchie. 
 
 And 
 
lAgatnfl the Trelacy. 243 
 
 ^nd why? Becaufe they putt lying afpertions upon 
 r,as excommunicating of l /^/jprocecding againft them 
 s tyrants, robbing them of ihcir right. 
 
 It is an ufuall rhingwith vrhoores tocallhoneft 
 
 vomen lb, at the very fidt boute. They feeke the Pnf- 
 \ksertans where themfelvesdoe lye \ ji accufare fat eft, 
 
 vds erit innccens 5 if it is enough to accufe Vthojha/lbe 
 Vleares i Hath it not beenc their ownc ordinary courfe 
 r'asharh bcene (hewed; to interdict Kings , to dcpofe 
 i hem , and caufe their lives to be taken from them, doe 
 \ hey not now ufurpe the Kings right , ( as hath beene 
 proved J And where they grant that a&ions Matn- 
 
 nomall of Tithes, and Testamentary a&ions doe belong 
 ro the King dejure 5 yet they take them all to their 
 
 iwne Courts de facto. But what profit or priviledgc 
 ) an they (hew the prefbyterians to have robbed Kings 
 
 >ff> yea have they not rather parted with their ownc, 
 }br the advancement of the Gofpell ? 
 r But toanfwcrdireftly,to fay that the government 
 1 )f a Kingfii the good of his State canot (land with the 
 ;pvernment of Chnjl, jumpcth fully with that im- 
 pious conccipt of Herode , who hearing of Chrifts MJifca u 
 
 ommingin therle(h , was exceedingly troubled \ but* TI 'g*&^f 
 
 without caufe,for Chrift had no eye to his Kingdomc. 
 
 f pon this conceite one wiitcth thefe pritty Iambicks : 
 
 Bo fits H 'erodes impie, 
 Chrijtum venire y qu?d times? 
 
 n er/pst mortalU 
 
 LCi 
 
244 SyonsTletu 
 
 £>^}regnat datcoelejlia,. 
 
 Mfious Herode y emmy to Chrifr, 
 
 What makes thee fear e Ghrtsts cewmmg in eur meulds P { 
 
 Will he from Earthly Kings tlntr Scepters Vereft i i 
 
 Who gives Kings Crcwnes^more glorious then of gculd. %'- 
 
 In a word,none but enemies to Chrift, are enemies k 
 to the government of Chrift, and if Chrift were here ,ac 
 on Earth , they that cannot endure his government,, 
 would not endure himfelf. 
 
 j,crc 
 
 But to go on with the point of removing judge* 
 ment,and the blefiingenfuing upon reformation: be- 
 fides the grounds from the former Portions 5 it is as 
 cleare a trueth, as any in Gods bookejfrom promifCf 
 Inftances of Examplcs^and reafon : 
 
 F6r the firft>the Scripture is abundant 5 it preffeth 
 no thing more '• witneile firft , that place of Sa- 
 muell : and Samucll fpake to all the houfc of Ifraeli 1 
 1 Sam . 7 . j> ut a yp 4 y the ft range Gods frc m among you , and Lsffitc* 
 roth^and f re fart your hearts vnto the Lord , and fervt 
 him onely > andhe^i//de/herjou out, of the hands of tbt 
 Philiftims. Here a people over head and eares in cala« 
 mitiejthere was in them humiliation^ but they wanted 
 reformation 5 the Prophet biddeth them joyne refor- 
 mation with humiliation, and they fliould have what 
 jhey defired, 
 
 Tc 
 
Zigalnst the Trelacy. 247 
 
 To the fame effect, the Lord fpeaketh by ibc Pro- 
 Lhct Efaia : though the Hhclites Siho W* be om c - z - v > 11 ' 
 'rc([<-s y and their ^finc mixed frith Vcatc>\ thai is • they 
 vere becora glittering hypocrites , and they cfcricd 2 
 «arc (how and fcmbtance of Religion, as droffe ca- 
 .iesafhowof filvcr , and wine, mixed wir! ^ ter,a 
 i:oIourof wine ; For this tfpcciallic the Lord rnieth 
 jfhem,hovvibever they pleated rhcmfclves in thofc de- 
 luding fhowes; yea their Princes & P/wfr v rhat(hould 
 jnave reformed others, both by Oucipiine & Example, 
 I were Reit e.^Dez'ouiers^T Rubbers, and com- 
 
 Ipanions of fuch , crfta , ^ittio^cl , toiot y$i> fc^i-rcti* 
 ividit- fuch Mlitrcfle 3 fuch Maidc. Yet for all' this ; 
 •Though thefe their linncs were of a (drier, orcrimfen 
 Ikiic^it they will but heare and obey • if they will elenfe 
 their hearts,and rake away from before the Lord the 
 1 evill of their workes, and doe good in ftead of evil!, 
 he will not oncly forgive them , but alio blefle them, 
 \\they fra// eat e the good things of the Land y V.\g» Yea 
 Ifae promifcth to tumc his handupe-n them^dnt is,ro turn 
 ifrom fmitine of thcm.'.mdhc Vci/lburne out the J**fiLs 9 
 till it (c pure y and t.ike a toaj a// the tihtie, V .2 «. ObferVC 
 I whatfolloweth : HeVu//reJ/ore their )ndgts , as at tU 
 J their CtMnfeiti , ■ %i fi fall it 1 1 
 
 | called a Citie of right c V/ Citie, V. 2 6. 
 
 1 Obfcrvcthefruires*of reformation , which though 
 the Lord himfclf efteclcth, ( for without him wc can 
 doc nothing, yet he reformcth by iecundarie means, 
 where in he honourcih man much, and makcih him 
 manifcft hu> obedience. 
 
 I i 3 This 
 
246 Syons Tien* 
 
 This W.Zanchie witnefleth inatreatife of the're- 
 formation of the Church 5 fpeaking of the forefaid |w 
 place of Efaia : l^oillbum eut the drofie , &c. guid per 
 JtajfnHMy&c. What is ment here by the drofleand 
 t'mnc?/;ew Doftrine^zll-worfriptand all iuch things as 
 have not their foundation from Chrift & his Apoftles. u 
 Sunt igitur omnia stanna ncvarum DoBnnarum , ejr no- 
 vo um cuhuum to lien da^ & Ttatuenda qn<£ tempore chrisii 
 rjr Apoftolorum&cJmo Ceremonta & Difciplina ad prima i 
 °" principia y fy primos fontes redigantur^ut profligatur omnis ' 
 mvitasytjrc Thetianeof new Do&rines , and new 
 invented worfhip are to be removed , and things are 
 to be eftabliftied, according to the inflitution of Chrift ; 
 and his Apoftles > yea all Ceremonies and DifcipJine 1 
 are to be reduced to the firft principals and fountancs 1 
 head of Chriftsinftitution, that all noveltie may be 
 abandoned. 
 
 Where he alfo obfervetlvthat our Saviour Chrifte 
 bringeth all things to the fame ftaricbfdLr. ia-fhefe 
 M4ik if .8 words,from the beginning it ^as notfo, rejedingeveric 
 ordinance,that hath not his institution from God. 
 
 Thisfaid Author prefleth further this point of re- 
 formation from that place of Ieremie> which ofFereth 
 *7, itfelf for an other proofe : i^isaFuuntainecaJletbont 
 her Vtaters,fifie cajleth out htrVtkkedheJk.j. 
 
 To what a corrupt and corrupting habite of finnc 
 *« , a v m arowen \ like a poyfonablc wclfpring it 
 
 - yea they wext 
 growe0 
 
 ti 
 
 bi 
 w 
 p 
 frit 
 po< 
 rii 
 01 
 
tAgainfl tbe Prelacy, 2 47 
 
 powtnjhsme/ejjein their abominations , and therefore 
 he Lord thrcatencth to flay them V.is. Yetforali 
 his the Lord biddeth them : St.md in the Wayes , anu 
 *ehouid,and afke for the ouidVray, X\huh is the good ^ ay ^ 
 \nd ^toalkt thertia , tnd ye fiu// finde reji fcr jour 
 M&r,r.i6. As if the Lord (hould fay: Looke bur 
 ipon my wayes $ compare them with the wayes of 
 inne, that feemc fo fwcete unto you , and wherein 
 our deceiving Prophets footh you up ; confidder 
 vhethcr my wayes be not both more equall , & more 
 >rofitable then the wayes of finnc ; for in them 
 'e (hall finde refefljtng, that is both comfort and prof- 
 critic, where in the Waves of iinnc, there is nothing 
 w *ut woandforrow. So that (asZanchieobfervethjhc 
 dlureth,or inforccth them to reformation. Arguments 
 %b utilt : From an argument of commodity. 
 
 So in the fourth of the fame Prophefic : O lfracll\ P.t. 
 if ' thaw returnc unto vn\ 'faith the Lord, J and if tho^to 
 )ut a\\ay thine abominations out of my fight j hen fjj/t tboVt 
 tot remove. 
 
 One place more from the Prophefic of Ezechicll : c 
 albeit they fet thtir thnjholds by my threfiolds , and 4 *' 9 
 their f$stes by my po/Us, ( that is, their Idolis by my wor. 
 fhip,as indeed we have done, ) they ban* defiled my hoiy 
 name Vtitb their abominations, Vihnh they bavi 1 MM 
 
 \yet iet them fut May their fomuanun y and the car- 
 taffes of their Kinqj f arte from me t That is, monuments 
 of ldolutric, creeled to Ammon and Manaflcth : Anil 
 
24$ Syom ?leju 
 
 ^toill AtoeR among them. Innumerable places from 
 Gcncfis to the Revelation, we might quote to this 
 purpofe ; but the point is fo preffed dayly from the 
 pulpits,and you are fo well acquainted wirh the Scrip- 
 tures 3 that we ncede but to give a tafte. If Ephefus ^ill 
 ref extend doe her firftV&orke ; and Szx&is ftrengtben the 
 things that are like to dye. Yea if our Laodicea will be 
 zealous and amend , the Lord will take up thecontrO- 
 verfie betwixt us and him- he will fet his favour upora 
 usjin ftead of judgment we (hall have mcrcie ; in Head 
 oflgnomineglorie j infteadof want,plentie 5 valour 
 and magnanimifiej for faint-heartedneffe; our Church 
 (hell bcbuetifitf/^ our common-wealth/^r/^^, and if 
 ye remove the drojje from theJ/her^.Q have the promifc 
 of a glorioufly refined. King., 
 
 The fecond fort of proofe is from the never-failing 
 pra&ife of Gods performances, with all fuch as doe re- 
 forme : hath the Lord failed, or come fhort in any 
 thing that he hath promifed? 
 
 Didnotthelfraelites upon their mourning &put* 
 ting away their Idolls, (efpecially Afhteroth ) finde de- 
 1 sm.7. liverance from the yoke of the Philiftims 3 and that by 
 a gloriousand marvelous victory over them, from the 
 Lords own c hand, without ordinary meanes ? What 
 was At before Iofi.ta , when the curfed thing was r& 
 moved ? What was Benjamin before Iuda> when by 
 humiliation their Jpeciafl Jinne was done away > In a 
 word ? can any give an inftance P that ever Gods people 
 
 wer& 
 
tAgalnft the T'relacy, 24P 
 
 weje denyeu theic fuite, when rhcy -tooke aright 
 courfe before the Lord? Ho is ftili the fame God , and 
 wilbe fo to us, if we doe as they did for our breaches 
 'of Church, and common wealth. 
 
 The third fort of proof is taken from the reafon., 
 why it fhould befo; namely , from the nature of 
 GodspromifTes; which are djf.y'cd and Amtn : from 
 his end and intent in his threatcniug,v.'hich is not to 
 deftroy ^ but to reclaim: and laftly from his order of 
 proceeding, namely he inviteth alwayes to return, 
 9 before he overtumeth. Return, retur//,&c Why Vrill 
 \ed/e? 
 
 When God proclaymed his Ifiuel to be nothing but 
 a wellfpring of ^ickednefte\ yet hpw loath is he to caft 
 him off. Be thoxv inflrttcTed Ierufxlem ffeith he J left Ufa s. 
 my foVele depart from thce y left I trnhe thee defcUte in 
 a Land that KOncyinhablieth ; were tha rebellions and 
 abominations of Iudah fo great , and fo grievous that 
 he hounded on the enimies tobefeege her, and fack 
 her V. 4.5. and yet was his fw!e ^ith her? yes furc 
 or h©w (hould he threaten that his fowle,or affctficn 
 Ihould depart from her; yea his fowlewas loath to 
 dtpart.and would not depart at all if {he w f ouldbuc 
 hearken to inHruBion: here the Lord fhovveth the 
 carcfull defire of a parent, and the powerful! pre- 
 vayling love of an hnfband , & that towards a re* 
 btlliws child?) and an Adulterous tyomw. 
 
 Xk The 
 
fa 
 
 250 SyonsVkti* 
 
 The like affection we fee in God towards that Re- 
 bellious & Hypocriticall Ifraell and Iudah , whofe 
 goodnejse Vtas as the morning cloud , going ftoay m the 
 morning DeVo 3 that is they feemed to have a cei> 
 tain holineffe and repentance in them, but it was 
 but forma// and HyfMriticall • a cloud withour rain, 
 a vaporous matter, quickly diffolved , and as the: 
 morning Dew quickly diryed up. Of all things God 
 can not endure thofe fea-ftd- eonterfeit apilh fins 
 and yet for all this, when nothing could reclaim 
 them,the Lord breaketh out for them fas we may fay) 1/ 
 Ho/:*. 4- ln a mother-like paffion : O ! Bfhraim Vikat fall / b; 
 doe *vnt$ thee \ ludah b&'to fiaff l tntrut thec .? aS' di 
 if the Lord fhould fay,alJ poffible means have beea 
 ufed to caufe yow ifrae/I and ludah to return 5 but 
 nothing hath prevailed, and what (hail I doe more ? 
 Olthat there were any way, or meanes , to recover 
 yow s fo that the Lord bearerh, rill he can bear 
 no longer. Ah (faith the Lord J / ft/// etfe me rf 
 -£/*. i. 24- my adze- furies , and aveng me of myne enemies , 'vox 
 tridigna- 10,45 & cofrmife rat 10ms (as. one faith,) avoyce 
 of indignaiion , againfl: fin '; and yet a voyce of 
 comrnifcraiion' toward the finner ; he muft in 
 Iuftice reveng , and yet his mercie is Joath to 
 doe it. 
 
 Sine 
 
c tyutifl the Prelacy. 25 \ 
 
 Since then the promife , and praftizc of the 
 
 - Lord , and reafbn from the Lord make all good 
 
 ^ J the trueth of this pofition • why Jhouldwc cither 
 
 ■• j doubr of it, or give our fclvs reft, til we enjoy 
 
 thchappie eypenencc of it ? wicked mon purting 
 
 Ll far from them the cvill day, lett their ofebe ncvet 
 
 r 4;fo defperat , they never fay there is no hjpe \ but 
 
 '« Gods people fall fowle on the contrarie ; when 
 
 they fee a ftate in a forlorn condition ; the wicked 
 
 advanced, and the abfteyncr from cvill made a prey 
 
 to the wicked'-, they are dimrarrcned from vfing means, 
 
 i fbccaufe there is litk likelihood of prevayling ;hol- 
 
 t *dihg it their only hope, to have no hope : thas, 
 
 :• '7.1 on faid the Lord hath forfakik me , a»d my Lord hath ^ 
 
 forgotten me : not fo^for if thow forget not hirnand 
 
 thy dewtie , and indevor, God can not forget thy 
 
 ; labor : qbferve how the Lord preventerh thisob- 
 
 I*j?&i6n , Lett the VctcLed , for fake bis Veajes , and the vo- 
 
 m righteous his oVcue Imaginations , aid ret urn vhu the 
 
 I Lord) and he ^pi 11 have mercie upon him, and 1$ ou> 
 
 wfGodjor he is veriereadie to forgive. But they might have 
 
 I: obje&ed^can God ever be reconciled to us, who have 
 
 I tranfgreflcd all his lawes, and broken covenant fo 
 
 A often with him ? no fure, no man will do fo, true 
 
 I faith the Lord , nor would yow do fo to any , but 
 
 lam not 1^ man , my thoughts are not your thoughts, E 
 Wmkeithfr your frames my ftajes ; for as the hc.iv . - *' 9 
 
 thin the earth, fo are my Vtajes higher then your 
 
 K k 2 v^ b 
 
Where obferve the condition « if wickednefle be for- fc 
 faken 5 and removed by ihofe that are in place; then the DP 
 Lord can not chufe,but fenda blcffing. 
 
 This fame Argument ab utiti y ot profit, hath prcvai- oil 
 led much in the matter of ReformatiGn^ with people oik 
 orftates,meeerly fceking themfelves, arid their ownc 
 ends 3 without any conference of obedience to the 
 commandement j and if they pretended any zcall,ii 
 v?zsbutJ?rangeJfrc-> } ' a temporarie , and timeserving 
 hear, was the mod, and the befh So felf-feeking Iehu 
 reformed to a great hight,in removing of the cvill>& 
 * reftoring and eftablifhing of the good • Hedid exeefr 
 tion upon all Ahabs feed , the Prophets, Servants^anid 
 Priefts of Baall to a man $ he burnt BaaiLhis Nolgg 
 •*«*?*' threw downe the Temple ,., and mad£ a lakes of it* 
 he boafted much of bis zeal , and uprightneffe Qi 
 hearmheLord giveth ihisreftimonyof hiG^La; hehad 
 executed that "which ^as right in his tya^ & had dupe i*ii 
 the he^fe cf^hah tilth* things ^hai Vpiere -n Girish<irr. 
 v.jo. And thejefore the Lord promifcth 3 that hh 
 Some ftould fit on the Throne *f l[r~e!l , i/nro the j * 
 generation. 
 
 The Lord made alfo this good-bin was rhere eithex 
 right eje,ov right heart in Ichu for all this ? No fure/ci 
 :tio}.t. he departed not from Ieroboam his finne , and ttw 
 Lord punifhedhispofleritie for the very aft 3 that he 
 approved, becaufe he did it for a Ki/]gdome,and not tc 
 the Lord i yet we fet how farre this temporarie rs. 
 
 ward 
 
 \o 
 it v 
 
 fc( 
 0/1 
 
 iit 
 id 
 
tAgainft the Prelacy, 15 3 
 
 . ward prevailed inthematt€r of Reformation* with a 
 meer timc-fervcr* 
 
 1 The Iefuits having got footing in the great Kingdom 
 lof/*/>*#,by their hellifh plotts,6c undermining of great 
 ['ones , they fctt all the State on fire 5 the Princes and 
 ('Nobles againft the King,and oncagainft an other, till 
 lit was come to blood 5 but fomc wifer then the reft, 
 ■difcovenng that infernal brood to be the ground, and 
 fccaufe of that(Utc-confuming/W///*# i called thele- 
 liuitcs to an account ^executed fomc,and banifliedihe 
 remand inacted thereupon , that it fhould beprefent 
 Ideath for any Iefuice, to enter the Kings Dominions, 
 f which vcruaincih in force to this day. 
 
 i: . 
 
 By this reformation they are rid of that crew , who 
 : are the curfcof u$,againft whom we have Lawes as 
 ; good as may bc>but no execution. 
 
 Vpon this fame point of enfuinggood , the Bil- 
 caines arc at a deadly camitic 5 and naturall Antipathic 
 with the brood of Prclats. 
 
 Vp<m this ground VcnicCjMillanCjand Naples, will 
 fa 1 .pot endnre to hcarc of the admit ring of an hu]mjition\ 
 for ihcicby^Hc/Jcur^eaitJj, peace, & prQjperous juccefle, 
 (hould be utter! \ cuihirrcd, and they their m canes, and 
 Lies fhouid be woric then Ca^< . 
 
 ty 
 
i54 SyonsTtcd* 
 
 . 
 
 By force alfo of this ftronglie prevayling argu- 
 ment , the Netherlander rid themfelves, and rhdfr 
 State of that bitter root of Lord Bifiops ; whom they 
 knewtobetheftrength,& leaden of the Popes faces, 
 and chiefe Pillers, fas we have, proved,), for fupporting 
 that great AntichriU. 
 
 For a dofer of this poinr^be pleafed to obferve one 
 inftancefrom the prefenr pra&ifcof the Hollanders. 
 Since that nation is marked of all the world,tobe 
 the procreant & confervant caufe of all mixtures of Re- 
 ligion's that /Egyptian Nilus y is the mother of all forts 
 of monfters ; it is matter of fome wonder > why they 
 are fo farre from tolerating that ould Pelagiauifme^ni 
 ntvtk^frminiamfme [ that they fiipprefle it with all 
 their main; executing fome 3 bani(hing other lbme,ofF6- 
 ring meanes and lives,and all in oppofiuon of it ; yea if 
 the Arminians meat in private, their houfe & meansare 
 like tb be ruined & fpoyled by the multitud, the people 
 perfevved to the danger of their lives , fo as they love 
 nothingfomachas^?^«&^r/wfW>sg ; fo they hate 
 no thing fo much as the Spainyard & Armimamfme : 
 but what is the caufeof all this indignation agairilt Ar- 
 minianifme? Isitbecaufe it is the Popes Be^mi^xht 
 neeteft fpun threed of fV/w*,thelaft and greateft mon* 
 Jier of the man of (inne 5 (for as the liker a Moxnkie is to 
 2.man,\\\z greater monfter it is i fo the liker impieric 
 is to pietie the more monjiroas it is ? ) Or is it becaufe 
 they lo ve,& longe to be ingrafted in thatAatichriftian 
 
 ftem 
 
tAgainjl tk^elacy. 25$ 
 
 $em of the Prelaae > Or becaufe h drayneth the verie 
 i life out of Religion 3 and cbangcth all Religion into 
 a Protean form of Religion f Or laftly, becauie it dero- 
 ; ;gateth from the veife^*** , and aitrilutes of. God, 
 f exalting man againil his maker ? No> not for all thefe*, 
 ! yea dircftly for none of theic ; for then they would 
 I fupprefle Popcrie fnllie^then would they not with ShL 
 1 tanSoljmanpi blanched Atheifts,make fo much of tha(t 
 \\JMachintilian principall ; that a St Ate may tolerate any 
 Reltgwn,fo it be for its profit ; which is directly fas one Mmm. 2. 
 obfervethjagainft the nature of God i and true Reli- 
 gion, ffortheremuftbebutone, ) the venue of the spml BtM 
 commandement ; the Office of the Magiftrate > the/"*- «•;». 
 -dealing of Idolaters with their falfc worlhip, confir-^ 2 * 2 * 
 -me this truth : and iaflly^it is againft the true profit of 
 the State, 
 
 Againe , if in confidence they obeyed the com- 
 manderoent in one particular , they would alfo in an 
 other, efpeciallie of the fame (peaes^oi kinde : But 
 finccnone of all thefc be the verie moving caufe of 
 their thus plying of the Arminians j what is the caufe ? 
 Anfwerjthis is the very marrow of the matter $ they 
 /care their wppie hould 5 namely, left theArminian 
 grow fo ftrong, that he overtop the State, and get the 
 ftaffe out of their hand , fas indeed he is like to doe,) 
 left lik&uMwvfctt ( which caries the free of a man,& 
 yet is a groat encmie to the Mounkic^ he fnonldlearn a 
 trick beyond all their tricks ; to ovejturnc their tra- 
 dings or left out of defire of reveng,for the fuppofed 
 wrong done to their feet 5 like tji« Arabian Monfter 
 
2$6 SyonJ Tied* 
 
 Caccu^they ftiould fcr all on fire with their breath , # 
 yet live themfelves like the Salamander in the flame, 
 but if they can keep them under from all place of go* t 
 vernmentjboth in Church and common wealrhjboth.j 
 in amies and civil! judicature, (though in fome ofthefe t 
 places the Arminian prevayleth^J and if they can ex-!/ 
 pofe the to the indignation of the people^and keep His|{ 
 horns fo fhort,that he can not pufh ; then they thinke 
 they (hall projper in^hat they put thtirhand to $ fo that 
 it is clear$that Iibertie, prosperous fucccfle, glorious re- 
 noun,plentie,prevailing againft thcenemie , and the 
 enlarging of their tents, maketh them lookewellto 
 the Arminians water > that this bird of divers tolotm 
 grow not to big in her nefh 
 
 Then if we fet apart Religion, (which God forbid,) 
 yet let gloria, profperitie , and good fuccefle, at home: 
 vi&orie over our enemics,abi 5 oad ; the removall of all 
 evill -the enjoying of all good 3 all attending upon the 
 downefall of the Prelacies , prevaile with you, to the 
 abandoning of the flinch of thefe Harpies, which hav« 
 madeourlfraell like a bird ] of * divers colours , fas the 
 Lordfpeaketh,J that is in fteadof the Lords liveriz~> % 
 (he is all ftuck full of the gaudie Feathers of fuperftition, 
 which caufeth the Lord to fet ths beasJs & birds of all 
 nations about her, to eat her up* They ftand gazing 
 indeed at her gay Feat bers^but they flout her,and devout 
 her , becaule flie hath quite fpent all he* Bugle- 
 ffirits.. 
 
 Tc 
 
lAgainst the Prelacy. 257 
 
 To concludcjbe pleated ( right Honourable ) to take 
 a patern out of the Prelats owne pra&ife,for the con- 
 firmation of rhis point. What is the reafon , that the 
 Prelats can rather fuffer divers forts of Hcreticks , and 
 dangerous Schifmaticks,to live by them, then the Re*> 
 formers, or Dtfiifltnarians^s they call them ? Is if nor 
 becaufe they meddle with the great Diana of their 
 Lord/} pomp? Thefe would have the Prelates bring their 
 callings to the tryall of the Sanftuarie : Thefe would 
 have the lay away their Lording^ do the worke of the 
 Minifterie; yea to beconrentof the portion of the 
 Minifteric : Thefe would have them to put away 
 their abominations from the Lords eyes ; wherewith 
 they breake the backs, and overburden the confidences 
 of many thoufands : Thefe would have them to fuffer 
 ChriftjWhom they have kept fo long at the doore, to 
 come in, and reigne among us : But thefe are faucie 
 fellows : Thefe the Land can not bear : Thefe muft bt 
 (mitten on the cheek , and put in the word place oi 
 Golgotha, or banilhcd rhe Land 5 and why good men > 
 ^chat bath the righteous dorc^ ? A dangerous thing in- 
 deed • they have fpoken again ft the prop of the flier ar. 
 Uucs, and as one of the ancients faith well : Si fetrus JjJjJjJ'* 
 refurgeretejrc If Peter fhould rife from the dead , and/, t w. 
 ftiould meddle with their linnes, & profits cfpecial lie ; Cc 
 they would fpare him no more , then they doc the 
 faithiiill of our times. 
 
 L I 
 
258 SyonsVlea^ 
 
 It was a niain£ motive of the Pharifics hatercd to- 
 ward Peter and Iohn , that they had been c ^toith hfus % 
 A&.4.13. So the Prelates hate thefemen , bccaufc 
 they plead for Iefus. 
 
 One of the Prelates Watchmen , preaching before J 
 the King, out of the 11. of Numbers, uponMoyfes ! 
 painstaking, and the people his murmuring : In his 
 Uttifapplication 3 came firfttogirdat the loan-mony 
 recufants; and then bitterly to envey againft the Prefi 
 bjterians % oi Difciptwariws, (as it pleafed him to tearm 
 them ; ) but why againft them ? becaufe they could 
 not endure that either due obedience, or Honourable | 
 maintenance , fhould be given to the Bifhops i and ! 
 therefore ffaid he) they had beftlooke to them j for 
 if they have rhecuriing of the Bifhops Cl&atb y their 
 trayns will! be ihort enough, 
 
 But to leave him in his Spiders Web y zn& to follow 
 thepointalitle further : Intruders upon other mens 
 right,can endure any men (how bad fb everj rather to 
 live by them,then thefervantsof him , whom they 
 
 w intrude upon 5 andthence \t is, that thefe wicked hut 
 
 „ bandmen killed the fciv.:ms , v 2% it is in the GofpellJ. 
 
 , 5 that came ts receive then Maiftera, rent,Mat,2i.33, &c. 
 
 » They did not kill the theeves, or the robbcrs,and fpoy- 
 lers of the vineyard ; but the Servants } yea and the 
 Seme too 5 And the end of all was, that they might 
 take the inheritance^. 
 
 Divers 
 
i> 
 
 Agaxnfi tfa Prelacy. 2)p 
 
 * Diycrs lateral I or fide windes may blow together- 
 but windcsdircdlyopporircxan not blow togerher: 
 Herode & Pilate did agree to the crucifying of Chrift, 
 becaufethat windc might poffibly blow lorn e profit 
 to them both; fas they fuppofed by thcpleafuring of 
 Caefar.j The Pharifees , Saducecs , and Herodians 
 /though all at ods one with an other J could yet con- 
 currcto the infnaringof Chrifl: : Since all thefe ha\ e 
 out of their love to profit,looked io cloffelie to fuch as 
 were againfl: their profit 5 whether they were friends 
 or foes to God j whether their actions or ends were 
 good, or bad 5 ir will be great imputation to you , not 
 to remove that, which hath ever hindered , and (hall 
 hinder, till it be removed, all the Honour,and welfare, 
 that can be thought on D for the good of Church and 
 State : and alio not to eftablifh the Scepter of ChrtH ; 
 which being cftablifhed, all honour, and happicneiTc, 
 fhould attend us and ours ; yea God (hall dmu tmong 
 us ; and then what good thing can be wanting 
 to us. 
 
 I Stand \o. I (fore the Lord • lend God your 
 
 'hand, ;as we may fpeakc with reverence, ) and he ac- nxa ,, z ^ 
 .cording to his promife, w ill bcour Phj/hian , and will 
 put no more thefe hear) defe.festtpon vs ; If we return 
 to him by true reformation,//^ Lotd yntttttfht to vs t 4itd™'* % * %Xt 
 Vci/t healc vf y Ai he hath Vcou I ltricke you but the 
 
 hgbtwfoc^, and God will doe the aire. As for Ho- 
 nour if you will IlonourGod in this particular, ( as 
 hcihcrto he hath not bcenc honoured in this nat;^ 
 
 LI he 
 
16 o Syons Tltiu 
 
 he will not onclic make our ancient honour id i& ; 
 turne, but he will heape more honour upon our head, 
 then ever heretofore he harh done j Cut upon the Kings 
 Majeftieefpeciallic,and you the Inftrumentall reftorers 
 of all t kings ,you have Gods promife for it, and he will 
 i Sam. 2 j f ur ely make it good : thtm that honour mejVrill honour; 
 As for our enemies > forraigne and domeftique $ this 
 will be to them as the thunder cbppe, which difcomfit* 
 ted the Philiftims. This will be the onely homett to 
 firikc terrour to the hearts of all our Row/ft Cananitcs. 
 All the prophane crue,and enemies of State, will be 
 glad to hide their heads,at the fall of this Fdbe?l;Spaine, 
 Rome, &AuJlria. AndailourEngli(h£^w//^ will be 
 attired in mourning; crying out alas \ alas ! the hel- 
 met of our hope is fallen 5 yea , if you doe it indeed, 
 your Honours (hall fee , that none but Babells friends 
 will either helpc them, or pittie them. And for this) 
 efpecially,they arc to be looked unto. If this be effec- 
 ted, the hearts of all that plaguie crcwe of Dunkerke,] 
 and the hearts of all their abetters will faile them. 
 This will be more matter of rcjoycing to all the Re- 
 formed Churches in the world , and efpecially to i 
 Chrifts diftreficd people , then ever asyet they heard 
 off from us •, For to fpeake the truth, ibme Reformed 
 Churches dare not truft us , and all expe& litle good 
 of us , whileft the Hierarchic overtoppeth the 
 State> neither is this in themagroundleffeconceite. 
 
 For flrft, how can the Scepter carreers of \Antichritt 
 affeft and further a State^or Church governed by the 
 
 Seep- 
 
lAgainfttheTreUcy. 161 
 
 Scepter of Chrift , quite oppofitc to their fubfi- 
 dance ? 
 
 2. How can they helpcthcra^ when they hate their 
 
 t,caufe? 
 
 $. How can they vvifh ihcm well , and doe them 
 .good abroad, when i hey pcrfecute and kill at home 
 thcii own brethren, and Countrymen, yea not fparing 
 their kindred in their flefh , for the very fame caufe, 
 which thefc forraignes mamcaine, and for which they 
 ; fuller ? 
 
 4. They are no friends to iuch people, for they re- 
 pine much they (hould have any fupply > witneflc, 
 that Arr>azia y oi burden of the Lord , that in the time 
 of collection called the French fDeffendors of the 
 Gofpeil ) by the undefcrved name of Tray tors from 
 the Pulpir. This lt.i]utfitjon-rmfejb\uxta fomem <y- fon- 
 
 ; tifiicm , hard by the Pope , and the foote of the 
 bridge* whofe blafphcmous icoffing of the word , rc- 
 
 : viling of Gods people s profeiling of Poperic , and 
 iclorung to Gondomars howfe , requires that 
 you fhould rather cenfure him as a Woif \ than 
 
 . fuffer him to bcovcraflock. To this particular alfo 
 
 ihe Prelates bear witnciTe,callins;of the Mi*$Btr*VQU* 
 
 1 li ion, for mem collc&ed toiheirpoorc brethren, 
 
 iMsmf/erj of the PalLrinare. As for the Uft col- 
 
 }|||eilici^no thankes to them. 
 
 LI 3 1. And 
 
i6i Syons Plea* 
 
 5. And laftiy $ They oppqfe bitterly, by, fpeech 6c 
 writing,the Learned,& worthy maintainers of the pu- 
 ritie of Chrifts ordinances,or oppofers of the Romifli j 
 trafh,and Hierarchical! government 3 zsBeza, Ca/vine- 
 Cart^right 7 &c. 
 
 As the Papifts have newly printed a thing againft! 
 the Calviniftsjfor rooting of them out of all places, 
 where they refide 5 fo the Prelates are not wanting 
 to fecond them here v/hhpen, & pikc,fov their utter ex* 
 tirpation,yea they and theirs deliver it , as a maxime ; 
 If the Prcfbyterians or omniparians be not taken a courfe 
 Vpith; they can not ftand. Therefore all religious pro- 
 feffcts (whether confor/xers or non-conformers) had need 
 to looke to themfelves : For with them and the Pa- 
 pifts, all thefe are 0/^/>//fr • witneffe that Sack-butt^ 
 that bid a plague on all conforming PuritaneSi 
 
 As for ftate-profeffors they hould them their friends. 
 Smqe then the good of Ghrifts caufe : the glading 
 of all Gods people : the ruine- of Antichrift, and the 
 ftiaming of his friends faces, calleth for fo worthie and 
 noble a worke, Ne vettr* occafioni defitis y nec fuam hotti 
 Metis : Loofc not fo fain An oportunhie , give no advantage 
 n four enemie. Strike this bajilike-veine: For nothing 
 but this will cure the Pleurifie of our State. Which if 
 younegled , they may fperhappes one day) tan t you 
 to your faces,with this difgracefull proverbe : Phyfittan 
 heali thy felf 
 
 Take 
 
tAgalnfi tk && 263 
 
 Take of then .this, JEfa lib and fenfc,lifc, 
 
 £tion, and motion of all j,and wickednefle^ 
 
 nail pcfifh/ 
 
 LaiiliC,xo drawc :o an end - 1 much forth t 
 
 >roipcritic,and peace of ihe State it wc make warre 
 >n Gods enemies ; becaufe thev arc Cods enemies.: 
 ind diiburden the Laiici of that » hich h 
 aim ^ he v* 
 
 hall go well with us. !■■ .inve 
 
 watrijl vs '• As for th'incrcafe of the Kings citate,and 
 upply for hU affaires .- whac can make more then 
 hisr 
 
 For fuft, if the King be with God in this • he v. rill 
 3C with him, and what can he want r 
 
 2. The wealth of the fubjeft (hall be mucri increa- 
 fed,bothby Gods blelTingon their labours 5 by realon 
 Df their better 6c more holy cariage>and further, by ipa~ 
 ring aoocoo. pound per annum,at lcaft ; which the 
 Prelates rake out of them. 
 
 5. Being governed by the guidance of theGcJpef/of 
 
 teacc. They flull nor be fo prone to law fuits 5 whcre- 
 
 _h monie is ill fpent, and much idlcnes <5c other 
 
 cs do enfue by attendance from their ncceflarie af- 
 
 ; : and by corifequcncc much povertic fol- 
 
 Ifewch, 
 
 . The 
 
a^>4 &>'*& *2k** 
 
 4. The Minifterie (hall fave by this mcanes 1 00000. 
 pound per annum , extorted from them by thePrc« 
 lates. 
 
 In caufes and braules about matrimonie , the people 
 fpend not fo litlc as 50000. pound per annum , befides 
 the great fummes which they have for probates 
 of Willes , being the Kings proper due, which might 
 inrich his coffers iooooo.pound per annum , and fave 
 them from abufing the will of the defunft, under a 
 colour of fuppofed pious vfe. To omitt the unlaw- 
 full gaines of their Soul- centres y with a great (hare of 
 this; yea or all (i£ the King and State flood in needj 
 would the fubje&s be readie to fupply for fervice : For 
 as the wealth and honour of a King ftandeth in the 
 wealth,and love of his fubje&s,fo what will they not 
 give or do where their love is fixed. 
 
 Laftlie,thc Prelates Lord-like meanes * arifing to 
 23217. pound,or there about, per annum , (as we con- 
 ceive, ) befides their commendames, andotheremo- 
 lumcntsj might ferve his Majeftie for manie good 
 ufes, where it doth no good now,but much hurt. 
 
 By this Princelie revenew ( as one of rheii owne 
 mntmht friends obferveth ) put upon them by the prodigalitie of 
 JUbjefc of Princes y tlky are turned Jrom religious Pr lefts to temporal 
 Princes : IntoVehofe hands by this mcanes the Princes have 
 put the verie fame fowrd, ^here^ith to this day they doe 
 
 not 
 
 Scotland* 
 
lAgainit tht Prcfacy. 2^5 
 
 \Mtmliecut the throat of King' andthe'tY dulhrntie^hut 
 \have alfo Jpoyted the purine,' and piety 'of thfc Church <$ 
 I God ; and in -place thereof have introduced this pollution \ 
 
 pridc y avar:ce dnd fupcrjiiuon^ which (hall never have an 
 I end,fo long as th? y rem zinc fo rich as they Are. Be \ 
 I peperit divttixs^ fy filta devora vit matrem : Devotion 
 [ brought our wcahh , and- the nxpthe* devoured the 
 
 daughter, wc ufe his owne verie words. 
 
 Thus we fee that b>d they arc by their calling 5 >a 
 made worfe by theirfevenew , which to remove inro 
 his Majcftics hands, would be profitable for all , and 
 hurtful! to none. In this refpeft they may well be 
 called Kh»ooi , as Ariftotcle callerh f*ivorump;Iics : the 
 i plaguie confumers of hives; they cat up theiweat, and 
 poyfon the reft. . 
 
 By removing of this Antichriftiancallingy andhis 
 Majefties taking the meancs ro himfclf, he ftuil do two 
 good Offices in one; namelic^elhall fupply the wants 
 of the State, and pull them as brand* out of the fire of 
 their dangerous, and unlawfull condition. Try hwr 
 the withdrawing of their temporall emoluments, and 
 they will prefently forlakc their leaden argument*. 
 
 It is cleare by the former tefiimonic and others 
 produced to that effect, how they fpo> 1c all borU tem- 
 porall and Ecclcfiafticall junidiftton : If they fparc 
 * Hot Chrift, ttiey will (pare nothing. They that would 
 ' make taul co/>formc+> f cannot choofc but deform 
 Al in 
 
 
266 Syons rplecu 
 
 Andthetcfore M.Bullinger calleth them Harfyes ,ihat ' 
 
 ismonftruofisbyrdes with maiden vifages , but raze* tt 
 
 )?otn t a II ants Jewing an ill fine R upon all that they Utah* t 
 
 They are compared by one to the Devili, and Scamo- ! c 
 
 ny, which al waves leaveth an evill difpofition behinde ^ 
 
 them. \\ 
 
 For our pans we will fay no more of them 3 but 
 that which a learned Antiquarie faid oiRhumney Marfl; \ 
 Hyeme mali^&Hate woieJti- % nunquam boni: Bad in Win- I 
 ter : hurtfull in Sommer : never good. 
 
 And fo much for the proafe of the Pofitions* 
 
 It will not be amifle before we (hilt up the treatifej 
 to fay fome thing concerning the meanes, whereby the 
 Prelacie may be removed. 
 
 Mafcukms refolution, and ilreuuoos adior are the 
 
 two twins of an Heroick Spirit : as arraes ate ne*er 
 
 wanting to mainuune.true fortitude^ fo *oo,fhefe two 
 
 brought forth by true vaiour,and mature deliberation^ 
 
 meanes can noi be warning • If out of the fride mi 
 
 feare of the he Art 3 they be not neglected 3 or quarrtUei^ 
 
 the worke fhall be done • but if all the meanes that 
 
 poiliblie could be thought on, were laid open to the 
 
 eye of a itate.yet if the Princes ($$ the Lord fpeaketh) 
 
 Limnt,t. 6 fo/^ t Ham t'Mtfafc m pAfiure 4 or fas he fpeaketh of 
 
 .»*/?. 7 . " . Ephrairti; if they be al c tj/fy done without j heart • that 
 
 is without refolution & courage- there ctfn be ha good- 
 
 done 
 
tAg&i&H t!x Ttelacy. 
 
 % 
 
 .done, nor honottrcchir.ee 1 
 
 jtoken , that the Lora ir- ha purpofe to flay fuch a 
 people : but we defire ahd pray to ice better thing* c 
 yDu,& from vow, & that 'hcLord woulJ give you eyes 
 
 . harts,and hands, to ufc a li good m . ^r^qgyotr 
 
 appointed worke to pafle. 
 
 Thrife noble Nehemiah undertooke agrCLi: 
 
 d very weake mcanes,much oneiric; 
 by the enemies without 5 bur even b' 
 god betraying pricft Sctmiah, he was 
 cowardly forfakeing of the work ; but c hlin 
 
 Another heart. Sfould fuJ) am.: infer*. #. 
 
 muft you (right Honourable , reJulvc to l 
 diloouragcments , difficulties, and fright 
 thus : Slwuld fucb men as \v<r feafe to 
 
 j9 % And Countrie, Vvhich is efm^re nect&it . 
 
 It were enough that we have proved punch:.. 
 tyorke to belong to you , and to be of io arbfoliii : 
 ncceflfiheias the avoyding of God* difptcafurCj if 
 protfttftgof his favoufjlf wc left ihcmcan'cs : 
 ^ifedbme,5c experience; able t( ridall that v/c 
 
 can fay : yet we hope it Qui) not be o&nfi 
 gatorie to your judicious invention ; if w ig 
 
 :.arping ibmc tooles , wherewith jqU may 
 v»oike. 
 
 Mm t 
 
2&i SyonfrpietL* 
 
 Bur before we com to the particulars } •ifce-'pleafticl 
 agfin to rem ember, thai: all the. means wilt b£ 
 planted , and difcharged dire&lie a^ainf this grand 
 cvill of the Prelacie: reformation muft begin at the 
 
 It is a gotfd acimonhlouof Peter Martyr : in Zedefa 
 \* s,3t%.v. reformed* Eli&i cxemplum miurdfiTtufi^fentem iffum 
 &c. inthe reforming of rhe Chtirch 3 the praftife 
 ofElizeus is to be iqiitated ; and the- fountain is firft 
 to behealed.from whence ail. the poyConaWe conta- 
 gion, and corruption comeih. Theft be they (asi 
 learned man complained to theEmperour,) a quthtu 
 Ecclefia Uctutnr ; by whom the Church is torn iu 
 peeces. 
 
 D.Downam would make the world beleeve that 
 the contempt of thefe Bfjhop^is the caufe of the grcatefi 
 iviBy if not ofallth cvill among us ^ for which he citetib 
 Chtyfoflome in 2, Timcth.2. But 3. Downare 
 -doth know verie well, that Chrylbftam knew nc 
 fuch Bifhops as he fpeakcth off; indeed the contempi 
 ofBjfhops, of Gods making , is -no fmall caufe o 
 the evflisthat are upon us,and yer are further threa 
 tened against us 5" but all this contempt cometh, 
 upon themby thePrelats Tyrani^iog over thtm^whc 
 can not, but by removal of the P.ilacie attain the ho- 
 AQ'r due to th.em. Now to the means, 
 
 Q1&0 ad 
 inno s$qq 
 
 In tpif. 
 
 ?< 
 
'Again/l the VnUrf. ~*4$ 
 
 TO begin tften with information. /tor we muftfirft 
 know before wfe do^wc uad all in n$cd from the 
 | King to the beggar DO be av/ased, and made fenfiblc of 
 file ncccfliue of this ftari; to be doty : we arc deadly 
 fecure under the preflurc of Gods wrath i we arc nei- 
 Bthtr fcniible of Gods honour troad onder foot , nar 
 I b( his gloric depaa^d from us , nor of the indignitie 
 I and indemmtic, that is upon us, and all that we put 
 our hand too: d/ithatpjfcbyjpuylc us > andwefpoyle 
 •all chat rely upon us : to omit: rtiany inftances , which 
 being too wel known, makcrh us odious to the world^ 
 let us touch upo the laft,namely,the black pining death 
 of the famifhed Rochtforsjo the number of i;aoo.in 4. 
 Mojvhcs, fbclldes thofe that had formerly pcrifhed,) 
 proclaimeth to the world the vanity , if nor the falf- 
 •ioodofotKhclp. It may juftly be laid of us, & them 
 as it was laid of Uracil waiting, for fuch help as de* 
 I ceived them , their eyes failed for our vain help, in cuy Ummt : 
 Earthing Wehwe Pitched fer u nAtson that could /#tfive. 
 Vndcr correction, rt was a poorc part of our State \ to 
 leave the rclccf *>f Gods diftrcllld people to a mo*- 
 tallicdcvonrcd encroic to God and his people : his 
 plots yet take place • wc fpeake what wc hearc, that he 
 ind his damnable confederate, after that Mailer pe^ cfc 
 of {he taking in of Rochcli \ htd determined a pence 
 among thcrxiiclves, that he might with hi* Prc^res 
 arid the tzt\ ai'hisCounfeJjiiniflihis worfceupoi us 
 a<vl ike GofpclJ. 
 
 Mm The 
 
C. i. ii. 
 
 270 oyons rieau. 
 
 The tongues ami pennes of forraigne proclaime o 
 infamie:It grieves a truety bred Coun trie-man to h 
 it ; and yetforallthis,asitisfaidin2acharie: We all 
 (from thehigheftto the lowed;///////, and Are at reft,, 
 
 The caufe of all this Is our houldiqgof chrittfo 
 lon^ at the doore^ho though behath knocked this 69. 
 yeares and upward ,* yet we would never under/fond 
 hisftroke. His enemies by ftrong hand have kept him 
 out,and his friends would never ixlp him againft the 
 wigbtie to bring him /#:Some have fett their foote upon 
 his government , and fought for the Seafl, againft t,he 
 Ange/l: Seme with Gailio count it but a quillet ; and 
 fo they care not for it : Some raile upon the thing 
 though they know it not ; and others will be wilfully 
 ignorant of it* 
 
 But let us all labour to he ; ingrufied y cvcn in this par- 
 ticular,. or the foVek of the zW-muft of neceffityde* 
 part from us. 
 
 Awake & know this you great Senators, who are the 
 Semes &foV>ue of the King 6c Stale. Awake you watch* 
 men -upon the walls,and awaken'others* you are thefc 
 Spirits that {hould carie vitall heat unto the head , and 
 all the members : you (hould complaine to the heart, 
 that the head is much diftempered \ and fo {hould you 
 to the head that the heart is verie fick : and to each of 
 thefc of their particular difeafes , whether they be by 
 tonfent, or from the fir/ it felf : By howmuchKings 
 
 are 
 
tAgainfl tU Trefaey. rj\ 
 
 It more precious then others , by To much the more 
 k muft deal plainly with them : Hear the Veord of the 
 \ord, o King of Iudah\ ( faith the Prophet) that futeji 
 fun the Throne of T)ai>i4,tbo\\ and rh fcrrants , and the 
 eop-e that enter in b) thefe gate< ''re. 
 
 W dee no nv/^tfr.And then v/lut honour or hippie- 
 icflc (hall cot atrend the throne; but if)** VttB n$t i 
 \eart thefe VnrdsJ faeare h my ft fjiitk tht J W . i 
 ^rishsrfc $i(lkelaidfta>tc\ And what was thecaufc 
 )t*thisi* }zenthefor' hi covenant of the Lad 
 
 heir God. This was the manner of Iercpaies prea- 
 ! fting; • 
 
 You mnft tclt the Ktog^tbat-A? 'the commandements rf s>». 
 ///// ki "frith htm-Ahey mujl be the me/; of his Cottnfc//; y „. 
 ifitaShe he^iferthcn his enemies \ But if he follow the 
 Counfcll of Chrills enemies , as the Prelates and 
 xhers, then chrtH will be his encmic. You mull 
 uouldiy with Iercmie fay to the Wing and to the Qwttne i c.15. i», 
 hml/eyourfelzes , Jiti do\\,;C) or fyedflHtcJl fas the 
 word beareth,) not to put their neck under the yoke 
 of Babell • as that King and his mother was comman- 
 ded 5 but by heartic humiliation & reformdtionjo free 
 themfclvcs and'us from the yoke and bondage of Ba- 
 af ke the King in plain tearmes, if the cyill (yea 
 .ric evill be not removcd 3 how hefhall give an 
 accompt o^ his f,ock,whcn the deftroycrconaeth. To 
 the fame efl time jpeakcth to ;lu I j / up 
 
 wjneejes , it 
 
 that which the King could not fry 5 and what 
 
f.2-0. 
 
 further : "tohereitthefl^kthatVotsgivertthee? &#& thi 
 Jheep of thy btWte .<\ 
 
 It is true fas one fpeaketh on the pltcc ) ghtoA Reget 
 Cato. fuUnt fe fingaUri frivilegio mnniri.&ct That Kings 
 thinkcthemfelvesbyapriviledge exempted from the 
 command of thewordv* and that it i* a debating ot 
 their ftate , to humble themfelvcs under the 
 mightie;hand of God • but God will have it fo ; and 
 gteat Kiqgs have done.fo , that had but litle.know* 
 ledge of God, 
 # 
 To footh up Princes in this their mifconcek, there 
 are to many Fleflrfiees s who fpawne out their corrupt 
 flatteries upon the eares of Kings $ to the undoing of 
 the King.and State ; yea thefe twinge, and bite fuch as 
 doe deal faithfully with Princes 5 but let them know, 
 they^rebuttraytorstoGod , a*nd to the King in the 
 higheft degree • Tor miferable is that Prince^ (&Qqi* 
 dianus hid) from Vcfom the trucih is conceded, ■, 
 
 Tell his Majeftie,:hat7)4gi*r and the Arke- cannot 
 fhnd together 5 God and the Devill cannot both be- 
 ferve4 ^ his Palaces -, and this alfb (hould you 
 great Statefmen found in his eares > Backing and 
 countenancing the faithful! dealing of the Minifterie ; 
 be plain with his Majeftie, in difcovering to hioa tho - 
 rowlie the evill . of the Hierarchie , who with Elymas 
 ce*femt,tt fubv^rttbe^ayestfrightcoufnejp^^ . 
 
 Make 
 
*A gainst the Vrclacy. 273 
 
 l ' : ( „ Mak* it plain, as we ha\ r e proved, that their Ami. 
 
 chijftianaurhoniie;thebcaw^v of Chrifts. Church, the 
 
 glory of his Crown, and the good of his people can 
 
 ■Vf not fubfiit together. Bur if he will remove that drofle, 
 
 '' • [ and make the goulden fcepter of Chriir oncly to (way, 
 
 r J:and fet thcciowneof pure woifhip upon hibhead; 
 
 :, :|) Chrift fhall make hiscrounsheer faft upon hjs hew) 
 
 r t; crowne him afterward with immortall glory; l.rua/., 
 
 'm andall Gods people fhall rc)oycciS/ia:^Rcme 9 Fra»ce y dc 
 
 5 *1 ^«/?r/4 ; flull mourn; die fiecpe cfbis-be'Wtte (hall then 
 
 I be his ornament idWfaxW be new i we (hall have a u- 
 
 fincd churchy refined Ktng\ 2 penned people • refined SpN 
 
 iw l rits, refined conditions , and with all thefe a refined fucN 
 
 flf ceill\ 
 
 ?° 
 
 \i j As for Princes Counfelleis, and other great ones, 
 
 )w "by office or honour , tell them that Ieremiehis in- 
 
 (k quiric,for the knowledge of the Lords Vsdjes kludge. 
 
 iff ments , is returned with ./;/«;, they ha. 
 
 Altogether Iroken the )okc ,a>..- bonds : Some 
 
 open enemies to Chrift , and the State , by Poperic, 
 
 l0< FrophaneSjAthifme^c. Some clofe enemies , fome 
 
 M neutrals, not regarding what become of Chriltscaufe, 
 
 :ofl and fomewifh all were well • but they will be at no 
 
 tost or patnes with reformation : they would gladly 
 
 countenance gooodncflc ; but thcyfeareit fhall dif- 
 
 f countenance them : For they will go no further ' 
 
 A Gods caufe, then it will carie their ownc ca 
 
 \ T n 
 
IV 
 
 zy\ Syons Vhtu 
 
 ki 
 It is true that the mod of the great ones know tht «.| 
 
 Vwtrchit-j , but they partly want hearts tohateit 
 wif h a perfect hatred ; and partly they caunot fubmirt 
 to the power of Difciplinc ; but if any great ones be re- 
 iblutc for Chrift and his caufe; they are left, as a maft 
 upon ihetopof amountaine , and the enemies of 
 Chrift hould them to rurd meat. And what is the , fc 
 eaufe of all this their Iniquitie , and pufillanimitie ? | 
 The Hierarchic is the ground of all i For (is We have 
 (hewed) where Honours arc erected and maintained 
 againft the honour of Chrift, there true honour cannot 
 long floorifk Their Lording over the Land, hath rob- 
 bed the Nobilitie of honour , bleffing to their State, 
 of their families , yea and of their fowles ; and that 
 not onely by giving evill example^bBt alfo by keeping 
 out the power of the mesnes , by which they fhould 
 have beene moulded,and the true Difcipline of Chrift, 
 by which they (hould have beene kept in compafle : 
 Give them therefore an Alarm ; Make them fee their 
 miferie , and the Bifhpps to be the main caufe of it ; 
 caufe them to caftoffthe yoke of /tnne,zn<S to put their 
 necks to the Lords ^orke ; defire them, and charge them 
 to lend the Lord their hand, efpeciallie now when 
 it is come to a dead lift, or the Loidin judgement will 
 let them grow to. fuch a hight at length, that they wiltl. 
 vaffall,and finke, both nobilitie and others , under in* 
 tollerable burthens. Proclaime to all fortes of people 
 from the word , the Impiety, and Iniquitie of the Pre- 
 lates places , and prattifes i Difcover to the Prelates 
 
 their 
 
ft / n 
 
 tAgAinji the Vreiacy. 275 
 
 heir dangerous condition, will them to come out of 
 Jabell ; and ro caft off their Anrichriftian pomp. 
 Jhowthem & the people the fearfull fin of peftering 
 3ods worfhip, and overljydingpeoplesconfcienccs, 
 vith the inventions of meri yea with the tromperie of 
 Antichrifl. 
 
 In all this fas vou know better then we can tell 
 •on ; you mufl be veric free fairhfull , and impartial! ! 
 he face of man you muff not feare y Icr.1.17. You muft 
 hale all that the Lord commandtth > either diredtly, or by 
 :onfequence,and not keep back ont^ord , as you will C.i#,i* 
 nfwer it; as the Vrtm^ti Thummm of the Lord is upon 
 ou , fo you mufl fay to fathers y Frethren y 6c Children, 
 whether nafttra// or poind/?, I knnv you not i that is, 
 icither ntghnefe nor highncjfe fhall make me play the 
 luckflcr with the word : you muft have your portion; 
 llafFcflion of feare,love, ordefire, mufl give place 
 thefreedomeof the Ambaffic • and the glorie of 
 jod,Deut.3 3. 8.j. 
 
 Was raptman the Lawyer plainc with Caracal!* j 
 ykeftify free with \^ilexander- y and Mrcaw/tsfo faith- 
 ml Wwh^^uguitus t what a difgrace will it be , and 
 ianger too,foryou the men of God, to halt , or be 
 nealie mouthed in a matter of fo great weight; as the 
 -ord faid of rebellious andknobbielfraell : he heVsed u %fi.t.f. 
 hem by the Prcpheis , fo you muft l.iy the axe to the ro$t 
 \f this tree^nd hew it downe • for as // is not of the Lords 
 Untmg, fo it tronklelh the ground & you mutt make , 
 ording to the fame place) the word and judgements of 
 N T n 2 the 
 
2?6 
 
 Syonr^nlefu 
 
 the Lord,as the light that is dcare and confpicuGUs-fo 
 
 if ihey keep their trenches dill againft the Lord ,' ye 
 
 Wjtstfay thpn^iththe Vecrd, according to that of thfc 
 
 aOr.10.5 Apoitle': I&VWQ4H veadiruju a revenge againfl dtl dip- 
 
 Tell Biotrephes , if he leave not his Lardingrt over 
 Gods /;<Afr/if,and beating of his hg^g^old fettfants^ if h$ 
 give not over hishould , Chrift will fee execution 
 done upon him. 
 
 Tell all th e fopporters of the PrcUcie , wkofocvej 
 
 they bc^and all that fhould pur away the will 'toe, anc 
 
 n c - br0 2 -Will not ; that the Lord batk determined t$deflroytbi 
 
 ~ 1 j . Landjotcdufe ^e have done evilly And ^:tf not hearken t\ 
 
 the Cowfcllof God* 
 
 As theinverie Trumpet, that founda retreat Whcr 
 they fhould give the Alarm , are the betrayers of tto 
 Stare, s gents for th,*tnemie,ar.d 1 he baneof the Mini 
 fterie, fo we ih-nkv they are much to blame tofay n< 
 worfc,that turne the mou the of the. Canon in revilini 
 thofe that feeke and Hand for reformation. 
 
 Is it not enough fhatHa.naniah will not fuffer Icremi 
 to Prophecy* that P^Ihur finite him, and thar Amazia 
 con jureAmos from the courrjbutalib one of the hoy 
 muft beat his fell^Jervaht^imt it muit be fo,for if a 
 benotright,the nigher the line with any oppofitioi 
 the greater Eclips. Ieremie his familiars Watched/* 
 
 h 
 
 C»ao. i©< 
 
xAgainfttbtTYeUcy. 277 
 
 bis hailing;, and Davids companion & acquAtntancc did 
 him thegreateft hurt, Pf.55.15 '-> anci Paul was worjfl 
 ufcd by hisKinfmen the Lwes^ Aft. 20. 19. With 
 fuch cvill requitall , let not good Sonldiers be difcou- 
 raged j for fo they may with Icremic in a fitt , to 
 % fiinga\\ay their armes ; but let them leokc about a litlc C.ie. 
 with the fame Prophet,and they fhall fee that the Lord 
 isViiththcm, lim a might ic terrible one ; the,, fore their 
 ferfecntors ft*// Humv<.c,andthf, tyallnot frtvaUe j they v * Ir « 
 flu// be greatly aflumyd , for ifk] pull not frefper. A re- 
 markable place it is , and foil of confort. As it is an 
 cvill thing to be fct againft a good caufe i fo the fpeak- 
 ing evulof good t &.gcodof ezi/l is liable to a feaj 
 ^ce. Contumelia non est ird CxQris iignd: that uvt'i^oi- 
 $QOLct,oz requitall of rayiing, ispufillanimitici&ifyou 
 can do it never fo handfomiy; you can but come even 
 with him ; but by bearing and making ulc of it, you 
 may have the better of him. 
 
 Naturalifts tell us,howa litlc bird,called cbarddrea y by 
 lecrctattra&ive quality, curcrh a ma of the Iandifconly 
 by looking on him , for a time • fo Chrirtian patience, 
 and magnanimious contempt , will u\ rime, cither 
 duyn the gall out of bitter fpirirs ; or make it more 
 overflow totheixovmedifgrace. 
 
 Nn 3 To 
 
vfi Syons Tlctu 
 
 To conclude the clearing of this point , that all 
 fortes may be fully poffeft of this trueth , give the Se- 
 cond commandement the due extent : This yron,if it 
 be well plyed , will bow downe the back of the Pre- 
 Iacie 3 and break the yronfweVo of all fuperstithus Vtorjhrpi 
 this hammer handled well, and thislaw well obeyd, 
 
 Ep. 27.9- foill purgout tbe Inicpuitie of "pacob x bj b-'Q l inga/l } the [dolls 
 cfRcm* y as Chalkftonesinpeeces. The negative of this,. 
 
 Fum. in 1. as ail expofiters w\tne:Re,forbiddetb the ufe of any rite, 
 
 Cow - or outward mean in Gods ^ortynp^ Vchicb himfelf hath not 
 commanded. 
 
 Ritibus fine Ceremonijs a Deo ipfo prefiriptis, &t. Let US 
 
 w*w- content our felvesffaith one) with the rites & eercmo- 
 nies,prefcribed by God fiimfelf : We give but a touch 
 here, where we could be large 3 & we fpeak to thofe that 
 underftand; yea we have theteftimony of a Prelate, 
 for the confirmation of this trueth , in his catechifing 
 
 D.Andrfo. upon this commandement: God hath left (faith he) his 
 
 » word, the preaching of ir 5 the Spirit, and his works, to 
 
 " inflrud us ; But all this will not fcive , but men rauft 
 
 " have their ownedevifes in Godsworfhip, 
 99 
 
 Further,the affirmative part of this commandement 
 inarmeth and commandeth the iMwifier^nA Magi* 
 Ttrate y xo make reformation ; witnefTe,that place fore- 
 quoted out of Efaia : He jJb//fthatisIfraellj make all 
 thejhnes ofche Altar 4s ChalkHones, &c. The curting , 
 minfing,&manuclingof Gods will in this command- 
 r :u. 26.;. ment mdeth fas the Prophet fpeaketh) ether lords be- 
 
 fides 
 
vigainfi the Trelacy. i?p 
 
 Gdes our Lordjt rule ever hs : That is,that neither rule 
 by au/baniie,nov £4 #. As Tome fpeake mernlie of the 
 common Law, that it is ail LaVc , and no CMfcieate y 6c 
 that the C/MMcerie is all corfcunctfxA no La*, fo we 
 mayfpeake fcnouCy uponcortiy L^cncnce 3 thauhcir 
 fpttef:iJciU.:s arc neither Ld$\ nor itufcu 
 
 To bind this precept the cioiTcr to our fowks , let 
 t usebfetve but the reafoiii of 1:. 
 
 1. The Iealouiie of God,thaf un endure no com- 
 ( petition in the ordering or his howfe,i$ threatened as 
 [a fire, co confumc the breakers of it, 
 
 2. He houldeth them L&tets of him, that dare ap- 
 point hiniany other fervicc 5 or order inhishowfe, 
 thenhimfclf hath appointed , and fo they aie indeed; 
 for they that will appoint a Law to God, they can not 
 
 1 endure him to be thcic Law-giver, 
 
 3 . The Judgement again.! the breach of this com- 
 mandement ejaendeth to the poftcritie. This parti- 
 cular much concerneth us j for we thinke that the 
 grholc nation (fave a _■■/. >#/<•&; have contented ii felf 
 with the form of government, and woifhip pre/cubed 
 in the Church > and they have lived , and d>cd good 
 Chriftians, with much coiifott ; yea have nut d, 
 worthie men among us,aftcr long (landing our . 
 procd with peace enough , toimbracc and plead foi 
 
 ionics and ; cut? 
 
 Well 
 
280 'fyo** *£{&& 
 
 Well this fame threatening of vifiting thefinnesof the. 
 Fathers vpon the children^ will fright lis out of the clijt 
 of this rcck y ii it be well thought on ; for what know:' 
 we, but we are the men with whom the Lord of the 
 howfe will reckon, vifiting the Idolatri£,and fuperfti- 
 tion of our predeceflburs up6 us,efpeciallte we follow- 
 ing their fteps : and put the cafe, we be taken away be- 
 fore the day of vifitation come ; yet firft we know 1 
 not what it may coft us in our confeiences , ere we de- 
 part , either for never rnanifefting fuch love , as we 
 (hould,in keeping of this commandement; or for lea- 
 ving our firft love once had to this commandement. 
 2. We muft know for a certain 3 if we reforme not thaty 
 our pofteritie muft pay for it- <Sc thus what great cruel- 
 tie do we joyne with impiette .<* 
 
 4. And laftly* Let that rich and abundant love of 
 Godvpromifed to the keepers of that commandement 
 conftraine our hearts ( if .there be any love of Chrift 
 in us) to manifeft our love to him, and our pofteritie, 
 by keeping of this commandement* We have been 
 the larger in the difcoverie of this mean of informa- 
 tion, i. Bccaufe an evill muft be known c before it 
 can be avoyded,or removed, 2. Becaufein the midft 
 of much knowledge ^e are Ithe to be led C4pftve, fas the 
 Prophet fpeakethj for want of knowledge of this 
 particular* , 
 
 /; 
 
 TfeH 
 
tAgainji the Prelacy. tSi 
 
 The 2. LMeav of rem will % 
 
 THe fecond mean of removall of this great cvill, 
 is for Minifters and Magiftrates, to fet themfelves 
 againft this fuperftitious worfhip , and Antichriftian 
 government; teaching,and exhorting others , for to 
 do« the fame: they muft labour ., and caufeorhcrs la- 
 bour for a holy hatred of the Prelates , and their 
 burthens , as they are enemies and enmitie to God; 
 Of which that Godly King a*d Prophet gives a good 
 prefident : I hate vain invcntions> or imaginations , but p,\ 119. ij 
 tby L**> do I love. The word doth fignifie properlie 
 the.branehof a tree; intimating thereby the /c7ion,or 
 frame of the hart ; or other wife a thing , that by 
 growth would overtop God. With the knowledge 
 of thiscvill , there muft be a hatred of i: in the heart ; 
 andaforfaking of it. 
 
 (Some will not know, that the}' may not doe; & fomc 
 know, and yet will not doc , or dare not doe : but 
 knowledge of finne, and forfaking of iinnc , muft go 
 together i If we looke to profper , yon muft refolvc 
 and draw others on ro abandon afl the abemmattons tut. 10 t j. 
 
 w eyes , wherewith Vi°e have defiled our (ifa 
 you muft labour, and caufc others to be like Ephraim \ 
 \tho in his returning to God, laid to his Idolls : rVhdi m ^ % r4 f 
 have [to doe any mere "hub idolL : Yea as an other Pro- 
 phet faith : Vic muft defile the covering cf the Images^ ' 
 (that is ; count them, and ufc them asfilthic things : ) 
 O o 
 
z2t Syons Pica* 
 
 thorvfia/lt caft them aVvay a* a menfiruous death, then ft di 
 thiwfay vuto it : get\ thee hence .In a word,if we wiM puU 
 ourfelves and others eta of the jfre , wemuft hate the 
 garment fyotted^tth the flefc : under which all the Or- 
 i*<Uj« thodox nndcrftand all mans inventions inGodsftorfiip. 
 Thus we feparate not from the Churches , but from 
 the ewilb of them , and alfo from obedience to Anti- 
 chriftian Lords over them. We have fhowed this 
 feparation to be neither Herefie, Schifme, nor Rebel 
 lion, but good divinity, and loyall obedience : Or 
 othcrwife the Scots, Hollanders, and Prcnche Prote- 
 ftants,beallRebells,orHcreticks ; which no friend 
 ro the Gofpeli will averre : how fliall ye ever deliver 
 the Land , or Chrift himfeif, of them, and their bar- 
 thcns,if ye obey them I 
 
 Tor all the reformation that good Iofiah made* yet Ze~ 
 phanie will not content himfeif , till the chemarim- 
 C. i. *>.4- p r j e tf s ^ n( \ a ll t he remnants of Baal be removed : Sure- 
 lic,if he had lived in our Land , he had been counted 
 ; as others arej an unreafonable man,made for nothing 
 but to trouble the State, by fti'rring up of contention. 
 
 Why fcould ye the Meffengers of tfr£ great God 
 be the Servants of men ? 
 
 It is a good note of Iohan* Sarifburienf to this put> 
 
 ?«JicT4:. P°^ c : Servicndum non Bomwandum^ niji quit forte feif - 
 
 >k^,i.io. fam dignnm crtdat^vt i^ngclis debeat Dominari : Mioi- 
 
 fters f faith he) muftferve in their callings ? anil not 
 
 Lord 
 
IsifH the Tretacy. ifj 
 
 Lord it over o;. s; except they thinke themfelves 
 WOrthic, tobeare rule over the Angells. 
 
 Afkethem forthefubjeftion which they challeng; 
 if they can fay 5 as Paulefaid : Doe I per ft ade men dr G*.i.io. 
 Cod ; and if they can not fay fo, thencvericfaithfull 
 fullMiniftcrmuft hould the reft that followeth , for 
 hlsdevife: If I )et pleafe men , I Jhoutd not be the fer~ 
 zdntefpfjrij?.. 
 
 And why (hould Gods people, of what degree fo- 
 cver,fubje& their necks to a Babtlomfr yokes f Should 
 they not ftandfajl tn the lihertic ^herein Christ hathfett GiM ' * ,f ' 
 s&tjfrec> If they fitt not in Mofes chajr^hy (hould they 
 hear them ? that is,if they bring not a lawfull warrair 
 of their calling, why (hould they be obeyed ? 
 
 To heare and obey Chriftcomming in his Fathers 
 name , and Antichriftian Prelates comming in their 
 ewnc name , cannot fubfift together. 
 
 That which the Spirit fpcaketh tothcfaithfull in 
 Thyatira.he fpeaketh to us all. l^i'i put upon you »oXru.i.i+ 
 tther burthen,!. M that Vchichyt have already, hcnldfajljill 2 * ' 
 / come. 
 
 A moft pregnant place 3 againft fubjc&ing of our 
 fclves 5 to any power^or religious pra&ife , howfpe- 
 cious^nd fpanglcd , with depth of divellifh learning, 
 focvei k be. 
 
 Oo z Thii 
 
i&4 Syons Tlefo) 
 
 This mean of removall may be further fbllowecl by ^ 
 the execution- of DifcipHnarie Cenfure, or caHing <mt> 
 if no other thing will fetye. Every Prelate , ( we 
 know,) or his deputed officer, will take upon hint >' tp 
 excommunicate God his people , upon no better 
 ground ( though not with Co good authorities then 
 the Pharifies had to caft the blinde man out of the 
 Uh.9. M» synagogue ; yea all the good rhen in England that ftand 
 for reformation of worlhip and Difcipline, by the 2.' 
 4.6.7. and 8. Canon ftand, (after their Popifli manner,,, 
 excommunicat ipf9f*$o 9 
 
 To lay open the fowleabufing and prophaning of 
 
 this facred ordinance , as by the Prelates fole au- 
 
 thoritie ; the committing of the power to mem 
 
 uncapable ; denouncing it againft the good > 
 
 Abuiing of it to babies , and trifles 5 We 
 
 have no time : Let this fuffice that their pra&ife 
 
 in thefe,and other particulars 5 is againft the word of 
 
 God; thepra&ife of the Apoftles; all reformed Chur- 
 
 ches,from the beginning to this time \ againft Fathers, 
 
 Councils, all Orthodox Authors j and in fome things 
 
 againft thaSr owne conftitutions j witneiTe 3 Conftitut. 
 
 Anno 1371. but to the poinr-whereas againft all Laws 
 
 this they do, where they Jiave no authorities fo the 
 
 Churches of Chrift by thai power committed to them, 
 
 may andfhould exercife rhis jurifdiction of Cenfure 
 
 againft them (if otherwife they will not be reclaimed 
 
 from tyrannizing over Gods ho wfej and that this is 
 
 n© 
 

 lAgainfi the Tnlacy. 1 85 
 
 no new Do&rine to any that love , and know the 
 tructh , we are able to make good, from the word, rea- 
 sons, confentof Popifh and Proreftant writers , and 
 from praotife. D.Dbwnam indeed, with ojhers of the 
 Hierarchie,layethabonr him cganift this tructh , and 
 the maintained thereoff, as though they touched the 
 apple of his eye : he hculdeth it an unwonhie fpcedl 
 in holy Lambert, that Honourable martyr j ihxt a Pa L,& - 4' 
 (iorm&y be Cenptrcd by his Church, after ward; he come: h 
 with this Cenfurc overall the Reformed of that Judg- 
 ment j that tofiibjeft Paftors to their Churches , is 
 phanrafticallJrnagmarie,ridieuloiis, and abfurd ; yea 
 he calleth it a BrowmfticalI;Or Anabapriflicallfrcntie:" u 9 , 4 . 
 But let all the above- faid evidences ipeak, whether D. f-'-M- 
 Downam,and men of his minde, or the reformers be 
 the Schifmaticks- and herein we will be brcef : 
 
 Firft,for the word : Ufithe church, ('faith the Spirit,; M«b.is. 
 where to omirt others. D. Andrews undcrftandeth I7 * 
 the words, of ezcrie pMrticuUr cA///^//,having power & 
 commandement to put this power in praftife • He in- Taf.Tm. 
 ftanceihinthc Chnrch of Cormih \ Where we mud' -42 ' - 
 underftand this power not Xo\%k^di%Jifii& in membris, 
 fc everie particular member divided • but vnithi in^.imtH) 
 vi /*/j,joyntly united in the whole i as Gcrfon well ob- ; * i62# 
 fen Mvei non vni ,jed vnitati : the K eyes arc 
 
 one, but toiinitiCjfaith Aug. 
 
 1 I o 1 To 
 
i%6 Syons ?Ua~+ 
 
 To come to rcafons : the fi$ is from that principle 
 of nature , wherewith everil Childe is acquainted*. 
 Omnt tot urn ma jus eft fua farte : The whole is greater 
 then the part; yea,as it containeth everie part in it , xo 
 it hath power over every part. Now a Bifhop ("make 
 the beft of hirnjis but a parr,or member of a Church; 
 therefore he muft ke fubjeft to the Cenfure of a 
 Church : This Enthymem the Pope cannot evade, 
 being preffed with it , by our writers from the tefti- 
 £*■ 4- monie of Gregorie,againft lohn of Conftantinople $ 
 *' **** but our Hierarchie will out thi$ argument, if they can 
 tot unty it : For over the Church they will be , and 
 notfubjed to it. 
 
 Afecondreafon may betaken from that Sonn- (hip 
 that they profeflc to the Church : they are often up- 
 braiding others. Non habebit Deum Patrem,&.Q*\htj have 
 n©t God for theit Father , that have not the Church 
 for their Mother : They are beaten here with their 
 owne rod 5 for they beate and fpwrn their Mother , and 
 yet like ungratious Children they difpife their Mo- 
 thers correction : If they bQ.Vrithin , will they not be 
 judged i 
 
 hib. f< ^* ^ e ^ would make us bcleeve, that a BlfroftnuJi 
 C17. not be )udgeibf Elder $\ But the Apoftle is of another. 
 1 Cor 1% lninc * c : Joy**'* j*d& e thefts, that Are within) 
 
 Other 
 
tAgainH the Prelacy. 287 
 
 Other arguments we might ufe , as from the dignitie 
 -of the Church ; from the end of the Churches Cen- 
 fuje j which is to full men as brands out of the firt - y aud 
 from the danger of fuch,as Kick agamft this prick ; but 
 we name them oneiy, fince in every particular lyeth, 
 the force of an argument : as for thefe that will be af- 
 fe&edlv ignorant, let them be ignorant rtill :but one 
 thing wcintreat you toobferve , and we defire the 
 Hierarchic toiake nonce of it - that this exalting of 
 themfelves above the Church reilifhcth ftrongly of the 
 groffeft Poperie-and with Popifh Arguments they doc 
 maintain ir.The groffer Papiil houldcth the Pope to be 
 above the Church > as Iohannes Saracenus 3 Bellarm, M. putf 
 and Baronius • but the more moderate Papifts tcach^' 42 ' 
 the contrane; wirnefle, Thomas Corlellis,in his difpu- 
 tation at the Counfell of Bafill , cited by i£neas Syl- 
 vius : Dicimus vniverft EccleJI* potiflitim cmmmod*m 
 efe etneefam; Rcmanum^pontifiam Hit fubyedum 3 poj/i 
 per tpfam dcpont 9 abuct 9 exeommumcan : We fay that all 
 power is given unto the Church i and that the Pope is 
 thereunto fubjeft , and by the Church he may be de- 
 pofed, rejected, and excommunicated. The fame 
 queftion was debated , and concluded affirmativeln; 
 nanielic^hatthePopcisfubjecttoa Councill- witneflc 
 Gerfon 3 citcd by Saravia 3 will it nor then follow un- Ctr±Gu. 
 deny ablie, that aPrelate,orapcttic Pope, isfubjeft to M67% 
 rhc Ccnfurc of a Church i both Hierarchie and Pa- 
 pids grant the antecedent: Potett.is J 'aUfix Juprj Pa- 
 hoi. rhe power of the Chutch is above the Pope, 
 
 This 
 
28S Syons tletu 
 
 Apt. p.*. This doth D.Morton cite from Sylvius • and why 
 * 4 ' ' l ' hath not a Congregation, or Church, power over a 
 Prelate ? 
 
 Some would faine wrangle with the confequear 
 thus j that there is not the fame reafon from the 
 power of a Church uftiverfall overthePope; and of a 
 particular Church in controverfie with a Bilhop : one- 
 of 'their, owne Bifhops taketh away this inftance 5 pro- 
 Andrtw ving that our Saviours words : tell the church; are to be 
 Tin. Tm. undcrftood de Ecclefia qtta^particulari : of every par- 
 P •**• ticular Church ; giving an inftance thereof in the. 
 Church of Corinth. 
 
 SoD.Whitak.of that place of Mathew 18. Particular!;' 
 qtttvis Ecclefia , &c. Every particular Cburch hath* 
 greater authoritie^then Peter* or any particular perfon. . 
 
 The trueth of this confequent is alfo clear fronr 
 reafon, for by what power is a Council! fuperior > or 
 dorh exercife its power , but becaufc it is a Church re- 
 prefentative ? and from which ground,both Pdpi(h,&r 
 Protefiant writers, preffe the Popes fubje&ion to the 
 Cenfureof it j In witneffe whereoffj D.Andrews ti- 
 teth Cardinall Cameracenf. Cufan. and the whole 
 Schoole of Sorbon- concluding it againft the Pope, in 
 theCouncillof Conftanc: If that man of finne then 
 fhould benotonelydepofed j but alfo caft out, if on 
 formall proceeding , he would not repent him of his 
 exalting himfelf againjl God^Vzx letteth,but the limbes 
 
 of 
 
tAgxintt'the Trefacy. 28 <? 
 
 of the mancf finne flioul A be fo p:oceededagainu\if 
 they perfiftin their tyrannic and contumacie? If any 
 objeft the Magiftrates intcrpofed authoritie > it is 
 qutekli'e anfwercd : q uo 1 q us f ttivd, 
 
 jcdcmnnUtha: that his power is no! to abate , or 
 weaken any ordinance of God ; but rather for 
 ding , and making good all i he ordinances of God, 
 punifhing with thefword theoppolers. 
 
 Vpon this particular M'.Zanchic writeth both larg- \ h 
 lic,and learnedlie,anfwering all objections of hinde- f '/ r M4T 
 ranee from the Magittracie • and giving many good 
 reafons,why the M^giftratefhould rather further 3 then 
 hinder this ordinance of God. As from the perpetuity 
 of the GofpelI,this being a part of it : From the ex- 
 ccllencie of it : From the ncceffitie • ends, and effects 
 of it. 
 
 One remarkable argument he ufeth : that the Ma- 
 giftratehimfelf being a member , and fubjedttothe 
 ordinance, cannot exempt any man from this ordi- 
 nance : For this he cucth the Churches practize upon 
 Gzias,2.Chron.26 16. and that inllanceol Theodo- 
 fms related by Thcodoret Lib. j.iS. 
 
 D. Whirtaker conrrrveth this argument into fcw D , Cm 
 Words : J? tmentern tt , ts cu ?f*M"**t 
 
 If rhc Church bring him under, that is over rhec- (hall 
 it not alio bring thee under, meaning the lope or Pic- 
 
 Pp 
 
2po Syons Tletu 
 
 For a clofer of the proofe of this point; we produce 
 the judgement of that World oj '"frit, in his halcyon dayesy 
 who in a generall affembly , with much admiration 
 difputcd acutelie this point pro 5c con: whether male- 
 factors in life or religion , againft the firft,or fecond 
 Table 3 might be caft out , notwithstanding they were 
 ^lyableto tcmporall punifhment : He concluded affir- 
 \ y matively, that herctieks,blafpheamers, refa<ftarie fchif- 
 .„ maticks^bloodguilticperfons.and the like of what de- 
 >>gree foever they were, ought to becaftout, by the 
 » ChurchjFor they might efcape the Kings hands 5 but 
 35 the hand of God they could not efcape. His La^es 
 " muft itand,faidhe;and we n^uft all obey , though the 
 " the Lawes of man be often made of none effeft. 
 
 Thus, or to this effe&,the King fpake ; yea we could 
 make it appeare , that awfull (haking blade of the 
 Spirit > was more terrible to thofe rebellious fpirits, 
 both to God and man , than the power of many 
 
 Kings. 
 
 By thisitappeareth, who be the Schifmaticks in this 
 point. The Sorbonifts in their Booke, called the Ec- 
 clefiafticall Polide,chargefh Bdlarmine,and Barenius, 
 to be Schifmaticks $ becaufe againit the Councill of 
 Conftance & BafiU 5 they rmintaine the Pope to be 
 above a Councill ? We require judgement , whether 
 D.Downam,and D. Bridges, with others of the Hie- 
 rarchic, maintaining Fr elites 7 to be above the Chur- 
 ches 
 
^/oainsi the Prelacy. l£* 
 
 j ches,defervc not ihe liveric of Schifmaticks,that they 
 'would put upon others i 
 
 Laftly,we want not approved pra&ize for this par- 
 ticular : Inltanccrhat Ccnfure pur defervedlvf as him- 
 felf acknowledged) upon M T Adamion, Bifhop of S. 
 AndrewS;for taking that AntLhnttian title upon him 
 ( for litle other fell to hii (hair bur iinne andfhame.) 
 
 The effe&s of excommunication, which the Apoflle 
 calleth ^giving up to Satban y wxc heavily and fearfully 
 Upon him^namelie, inward pangs , outward paines,and 
 much penurie : No forraigne abfolution could eafc 
 him, till the Church, who had impofed the Ccnfure, 
 upon his humble confcfllon and fupphcation,relcafed 
 him. 
 
 The Godlic, and Learned of the Real mc, relate 
 this at large ; we mud give but a touch : onelie this 
 we wiuVhat they had ftill fo uicd the ftafe in driving 
 aftay the fogies , that their fun/ice ftill might have 
 been of asfwectca fmcll as formcrlie : but let thera 
 and us up and recover our ground ; taking Chryfo- 
 ftomesadvicc in this vcrie particular : Xon p? fi 
 nenfafts^frt. Fcare not the fcarlet hood • the myter> 
 rochcr,nor the cruder ftafe ; ye have greater power 
 thanthelc - y He binderh this on with good rcafons : 
 St hvtni/icm tiwetis y a'L\ If ye fearc man \ rhar vcric* 
 man fhall mo^k you > bur if ye fcare God, you (hall 
 be rcvcrcoccd of men. Yea further, the negk 
 Pp z 
 
2p2 Syons flea* 
 
 this dueriefhali caufe their blood , to be required of 
 your hands. 
 
 But heer fkfh and blood will beginnc to ftartle; and 
 turne the back on this honourable fcrvice : It will ei- 
 ther lay or finde abundance of Burs , and Lyens in xh.% 
 way$oratleaft their fkins fluffed with ftraw# 
 
 As the faint-hearted fpies could notchufe , but 
 
 commend the fweetnefle of the foyle , and fruit- 
 
 fulneffe of the promifed Land > but they were 
 
 Fumb.t}. daunted with the ftrength of. the people, the height of 
 
 *7,<H their walls $ the Gyantlirke ftature of the Sonncs of 
 
 L*4nack\ the Amalakites, and the reft of their curfed 
 
 confederacie,dwelling in the mountaines ^ So all that 
 
 , have any hearts for God, muft of neceffitie confefle 
 
 hoc cxtermwium maliflbSs rooting out of this evill,to be 
 
 the mod honourable, and profitable bufineffe, that 
 
 ever was undertaken 5 but Vobo is fuffciem for it* 
 
 They are the Sonncs of Anack for ftrength, fand 
 
 fo they are indeed the fonnes of that irtonftrous GiAm 
 
 xhc mdnoffinne-J they are deeply roo'cd, and ftrongly 
 
 guarded with Amalahte ^fHtttte$\ rebufites,drc t that is, 
 
 Jibeifls,! ap Hs,Atmir:iavs,CarnallGofpellers> Pr$1efta»ts 
 
 Atlarge^\Yx oferiliefttift)Ani 5 and with all the enemies 
 
 .of the Church, and Common-wealrh • and with all 
 
 the Be/lie fetiirtg crfto 1 hat depend upon them. They 
 
 have further whh ihem theCounfefl of Achitopbe//* 7 
 
 the courting of sbebna 5 the roaring and braving of 
 
 Goliah 5 the cruell pride andvanitic of Human > the 
 
 fouterieof Amt&ab 5 the fatfhocd of Stmaiab* and 
 
 the 
 
%Aga\nfl the TreUcy. 2£3 
 
 ItTie blooddy cunning of Dag ; and if in this height 
 j and might they beincountercd , they will rage like 
 the roaring of the Sea,and teare like aBear,robbed of 
 [Tier whelps ? 
 
 For anfwer toallthis^graunt it be fo/for it may bt, 
 al thefe will be up©n their flumps. ) Should ye not the 
 l rather refift by all good meancs this xoA^^ok; or yoa* > P*r I i 
 I ring monjltr jhat he may flee from yu. 
 
 Confider, if you be not able to runne with a foote- 
 *rr.M^ how willye houldout with a Horfiman ? that 
 Isjif you cannot teil how to ekale with a mortall man, 
 being Gods encmit , hew will you dcale with God, 
 being provoked 5 that ye come not out, to help him 
 dgainrt his enemies ? If the Chriftalinc humor of 
 the bodihe eye be never fo litle removed by a blow 
 ©r cutt to the one fide, or other , it maketh one thing 
 feeme two. So by falfe fcares , the Chriftalinc hu- 
 mor of the eye of faith being never fo litle oblique, 
 from direttlic looking upon God, 6c our commiflion, 
 maketh ourfoc fcemc ftronger, and our fcrvicc fecmc 
 harder, than they arc indeed , or in verie rrueth. Pro- 
 d'gious things upon proportionable diftance , fcemc 
 more fcarfulljthan if they were nigh hand • fodrawe 
 you to your colours, and march on to the chargejand 
 youfhall with Alexanders (pics, difcovcr them to be 
 i . kics,marchingovcr the mountains ofBabcll, 
 
 :nof Armu. 
 
 Con: 
 
2^4 SyonsTktL* 
 
 Confider what the Lord faithjand it will ftrengthcS-. \ 
 £$,40 ji. your heart : They that Voait upon the Lord, frail renege 
 
 ' their fir ength f they frail mount vp "faith the Vpings of am \ 
 
 Eagle ,&c* 
 
 C . 4 .1. Feare tho"fa me, forlorn "faith thee ; be not di[mayed,for> l 
 *• **• / am thy. God 5 / "failt strengthen thee \yea I "faill help thee\ 1 
 
 yea I "faiH vphould thee "faith the right hand of my right e. ffl 
 
 otfieffe* 
 
 y.ti,iz. 
 
 should all they that "faere increafed againfi thet , frail 
 be tfrawed^and confounded* they frail be as nothing j and 
 they that Hiwe 'faith thee, frail per ifr. 
 
 Doe as thofe brave Spirits, tofuah 5 and Caleb, coun« 
 felled faint hearted Ifraell , to doe with theCanaa- 
 K«w.x4.9 nires. Feart them not, they are bread for vs- y their de- 
 fence is departed from them ) and the Lord is "faith vs,< 
 feare them not. Can you read thofe places, and gather 
 no courage ? 
 
 The Lord will do by you, as he did by Achaz j If ye 
 tfkh 7. 4. Vtill not fear, dr be faint hearted-^* furc as the Lord hath 
 fpoken , yen frail cut off the talks of thefe two fmo^hng 
 fire brands from the head of Babell $ namelie , Pcpifr 
 Prelacies Arminianifm • and then all the reft mull 
 fall : But if thorow feare of danger, you feekea hole 
 in your commiffion $ and turne of the fervice 5 then 
 the Lord may impute it to you for rebellion, as he did 
 
 to 
 
lAgdintt the Trtltcy. *P5 
 
 tolfraell his dcnyall to enter the Land : Onely nb<// y ' *• 
 not ye Agtinjlthe /W,faith iofuah to them. As the fre- 
 quence of a Diarie , or light fever , may grow to a 
 He&ick ; fo that fathltjfc feare of the Ifraelites, caft 
 them intoadcadlieeonfumption > yea from one de- 
 gree of finne,and judgement , to an other ; As from 
 tea re, they fell to murmuring j from murmuring to re- 
 bellion 5 from rebellion to the murthering of their 
 guides, If God had not hindcid them • but this did 
 provoke the Lord, that had not Mofes ftood up,bc- 
 ixt God and them 5 he would have cut them off 
 xom being a people; and becaufe fil Mofes faid) they 
 y urneda^dyJrom the Lord, he gave them over to go up 
 gainft (heir enemies , without hisadvife ; neither 
 ould he be with them $ and io they Veerc con- *-44pO* 
 med. 
 
 2. Some will make a flop, that the Kings authoritie 
 fupporting of them , ftandeth m the way of reforma- 
 Ition. 
 
 For anfwer. 1. If they could fay with the Apoftlc, 
 that tkey were 'atpdiwpuet hs tvocyyixicv 6t8, fepa- n m , UMt 
 rated , or fett apart for the Goipcll of God , they 
 would not mcdle with the authoritie of Kings. D^z/r- 
 fdfunt ^Itera Id gum gent tumult era Difcipalorumthnfli. 
 Virga II ominaUoms^ vtrgd Difafnloum 
 
 Chrifli I here be two rods 'faith RupertusrJ U:i 
 
 one of tlu Kings of the Earth i another of thcDif- 
 cipiesor Chnft; the former is a rod of Princehc fu- 
 ;pcrioritie • the latter a rod of direction : the one is 
 
 over 
 
: 
 
 iptf Syons Tlcau 
 
 over the body ; the other over the fow^e, 
 
 2. As we have proved,they have no fuch authoritii 
 (as they doe ufurpej over either fowles, bodyes,OL, 
 goods of men > and therefore they may be juftly? 
 called Regis % Legis, & gregis.excidium : The very un«^ 
 doing of King,& Law,and people. 
 
 3 . Say authoritie were graunted,in things incompa* 
 tible ; it werenoauthoritieatall. Virgadominationh\ 
 non est etnetfia, xjhliniHris Evangelij pads ("faith the fore* • 
 faid Author :) that rod of Princely dominion's not 
 given tothe Minifters of the Gofpell of peace. 
 
 The fame argument our Saviour ( whom they now 
 and then call Maifter,) ufeth^to avoyd thedivifion of 
 the brethrens inheritance: <JAtan , ^bo nude me a \udgt 
 or a divider over you I As if thrift would fay : 1 have 
 no calling to it 5 and who can give them a calling ta 
 doe what they doe ? we may ufc to them the words 
 D* confid. of Bernhard : £)md fines alienos invaditts ? quid fdU 
 lib. s. c.6, ccm veftrttm in atienam Meffkm extenditis ? Why do ye 
 invade others offices , and caft your fikle in others- 
 Corn. Cur ma]or vis efte Domim^&c. Why will ye 
 be greater then your Maifter , who anfwered the bro- 
 ther in matter of divifion 5 who made me a judge,&c. 
 then it behoveth you all, according to your places , to 
 vendkate the King,and Kingiie authoritie, the Law,6c 
 the fubjed; yea,and the Gofpell, (which i$ more thea • 
 all,j from abufe > and tyrannic. 
 
 3> And: 
 
Agamft the Prefacyl ijpy 
 
 £ And laftIy,fome wiM ot>k4 » w w e caftoff their 
 bandstand oppofe their tyrannic, weflnll be called tu- 
 multuous • they will cry a CanfepkratU . profit- will 
 foifake us , we (hall loofeour Miniflerie, or \ lace of 
 governmenr; our court-countenance j our.cr.edit > we 
 may be banifhed , or impnfbncd ; and foour places 
 fhould w^nt us , where we might have done much 
 good ? 
 
 For anfwerj firft: you mud make a counr/whar it may 
 coftyou. Nu!tnm periculurn <vtncitur fine fericulo : No 
 danger is overcome without danger. And refolve upon 
 fclf-dcnyal 3 if you follow Chrift. Thefearfull'are nei- 
 ther good Soldiers, nor good Logicians : as God laid to 
 the Prophet : though they fay a eotiftdcracie , fay not j€ K*> ** X2 «" 
 * confederacies fifh not tofarre before the nett ? Sit 
 <vtftri Cura cferis,& Vet enra ezentus : Do ye the work^ 
 and leave ye tkcfucceffc ro God, May ye not rather 
 reafon,thar honour,and fuccefle,fhall attend you, and 
 yours ? Is not God plentiful! in promifes of alfifhr.ee 
 in the worke • and a bl effing upon the worke i 
 
 Behould '(faith the Lord of Babel I J lam again/} thee Ict.ji 
 O ! destroying mcuntatne, Vebub di'siroycth all tJje E.ir:h. 
 
 ;ft:fietbe Lord $f ' Hottes . and let him be jeurf i i/, 
 
 and jour ditud 5 andheftulllt to ycu for tfanftuAric* x ** 
 
Bat fa); that the evill,which you fcai;e,fliculd come 
 upon vou^and us, fas indeed it mighf \ Becaufe we have 
 fo long flood off" with God , and feared man more 
 than him;) yet why (hould your places of Magiftraeie, 
 or Miniiterie be redeemed with the'ieaft detriment, or 
 difhonour to'God?is not'Thyatira, being (as one 
 faith ) a Type of the Church, high in Poperie , from 
 Wickieeff ro Luther, threatened for fuffering of Ie- 
 p*rfc.te.i. fabell? that is v£)iwd Romam fer rent: that they fuffered 
 ap*?2.2o Komc % .As one faith ^ Iefabell no doubt was re- 
 pro ved' 5 but (he was not roundly dealt with; (hefhonld 
 not have beene fuffered at all : But we take not up 
 our Armes at alt againft the brood of Iefabell. Turfc 
 Chftftiakes Paffores non in f relic Leones^fed fotiusferves 
 effe: It isfh?raeYfaithorie) forMinifters , or men of 
 place,not to (how themfelves like Lions , but as harts 
 in the hatle. 
 
 What it is to beaLyOn , Satamon "tellethus : hi 
 Ftmo.jo. turnttb not aVeay for any. As for your places, libertie, 
 peace,and paines in the Lords harveft 3 God will fay 
 pf.50.12. thus : If I be hungnej %oiild not xeflthee^ thatis, what 
 need Iro thee > or anything thow canft deeM am 
 allfufficient,&c e Mens places and paines muftfervc 
 Gods appointment 5 but Gods appointment muft not 
 ferve mans Policie. If you (tend not up for God> you 
 are fare to loofc your places , and your conforttoo. 
 Pure obedience, without going to the right hand , or 
 to the leftjis the fruite of true love to Gods command- 
 ment. 
 
tAgd*' key. 2fp 
 
 mcnt. ' Hath il t i uell ; fo ye At pleafurc ' *"*> tf ♦ 
 
 in facrifice,4sin obi^ in^ of 
 
 We know that Farthlie Kings hould it their greatcfi: 
 gloric , to be prccifcly obcyecT in their peremptcrie 
 commandes,though they be many rimes dirf rent , or 
 dire&lie oppofire to the rales of State ; and men of 
 no meane qualitie , devoured to thoicepmmandts, 
 hould it their greateft honour pnnctuaJlie to obey, 
 though it be with danger of their head • Inir/.ncc, 
 that man,who upon the command of Henry he YIIL 
 threw, downe the Fort in France • for which the 
 Gouncill thought him wortbic of death. 
 
 A like inftance we have in Duke de Mtdina.Gcne- 
 rallof thcSpanifh Armado, in 38. he was comman- 
 ded by the King, not to Land his forces, in England, 
 before the Prince of Varme 6c his forces were come to 
 joyne with hirmwhich he precifely obeying, when he 
 might have landed^It was conceived by rheCounfell of 
 Spaine , that that nc^kct overthrew their attempt. 
 ThcDuke being called to an account, dicfingenuemfly 
 confeiTe , that in his judgement he might notoneiy 
 have landed fafelie 3 but done fome great and honou- 
 rable fervce againft the Enghfh \ but the Kings com- 
 mand was of more weight with him , then gaine, or 
 i rea or lifeitfcJf , for which the King com- 
 mended h .\a!lnming,t/ut he had honoured 
 him more in his punduall obedience, in a thing good 
 to the i ye of judgement , than he had gamed i 
 
 Q^ 2 King- 
 
Kingdoms by a contraric courfc. If it be thus witk 
 obedience to Kings , that may,and doc errc , though 
 their intention be good ; how ftri&lie without alte- 
 ring or deminiftung, .(hould we obey thcd/J-wfe God? 
 -whofe cornmaruteuiQnts , both for matter & manner ■, 
 arc exceeding ju ft. 
 
 To conclude the point in the words of one of the 
 lih Ancients,againftufurped authorise. State fortes j State 
 
 Eo.^e! ' * JecuriyOfcrttt enirn^vt conjlanter^c. Stand faft, and be 
 -ftrong • beTecure in (landing for the Lord \ keep the 
 Churches of Chrift , as ye have received them from 
 the Apofttes. Ft nihil fibi in nobis luce tentatio Diabolic*, 
 ujurpitionisafcribai . Xet not that tentationof divclifti 
 ufurpation,finde any place in us ; or let the ferious,ot 
 fincere exhortation of a reverend-Patriot, and Cham- 
 pion of Chrift his Kingdorne prevaile with you. 
 <JMediciJEcclcf!& 4nglicana omnes fro viyibu: ejfe debe* 
 mus\ prof ana Eptfcoporumwfurpaiione^imo & favitia ea 
 jam vmneratur : qui igitur Medic am manum adhibere 
 .eeffant^avt defipunt nefaentes^aut falutem E cc left* per fidi 
 prodnnt : we Ihould all be Phy (mans to the Church of 
 Englandjby thecrueltie , and prophanc ufurpatien of 
 Eiibops it is fore wounded $ they then that are negli- 
 gent to put to their healing hand , are either unwife, 
 
 pi. TAk. or perfidioufly,they betray rbe fafetie of the Church* 
 
 M^i*'* 9 ponder the words well we pray you. 
 
 The 
 
T 
 
 tAgfiinB the prthey. *oi 
 
 The 3, iMew of removal/. 
 
 He *. Mean of removall of this evilUsconceaved 
 by fomcto be a Councill called ,• wherein the au- 
 .horitieof the Prclacic, their rupcrioritie,their Offices, 
 and fubftiruted Officers, their leiturgie, and mainte- 
 nance,!^}' be thorowly examined, and judged accor- 
 dinglicrBut before we com to the particular appiicatio 
 of this Mediin,it fnall not be amifle, to give a tafie of 
 the fr£cogmta y ot generals of a Councillor the better 
 clearing of the particular. 
 
 TfacPapacieandPreiacie are at ftrong opposition 
 now and then among themfclvcs^bout the necelfiry, 
 authoritie,and calling of a CoancilI;yet bo»h joyneia 
 oppofition againft the /V/^/r/v'rf/?*, or Reformers, as 
 they call them; ) and this may appearc in divers parti- 
 culars. 
 
 Hrft,(hey charge the Prffbyerians with difliking of 
 Ow^;/A-andagainc,thcy braulle,& keep a wondering, 
 if at any time they call for a Councill j How can thefc 
 bang together ? That they do both thefe, let the / //>- 
 rarcb/e^nd their Soldiers bcarc witnefle againft them- 
 fclvcs. 
 
 Forthefirft , V:e di^le cfr.otlin<imcrc (fait hone of S* 
 themj thd n that divers Dffrtf . i * no Councilh . 
 
 a* though they could nor endure CouncilJs. $.94 
 
 Qq ; The 
 
The untruth of this is manifcfted by the current: 
 of the learned i the pra&ife of all Reformed Chur— 
 ches,and the confeflion of their owne writers, ; 
 
 Bogermanagainft Grotius teftifyeth from Iunius 5 3c 
 
 others, what love and good liking the Reformed beare 
 
 A . toCouncills : So D.Morton 3 citing Cal vine. J>>nod 
 
 jum. ' nullum certius fit remedium : there is no betrerremedie 
 
 than a Councill. So Saravia of Beza: Be necefnatt \ 
 
 e>. T.Vi! Synodorum fasile Bez<e cofentio: as for the neceflity of Sy. 
 
 g.j. nods, I willinglie agree with Beza. Concilia, coguntur 
 
 p vt reformentur Ec cleft a ad form Am opt imam, quam Chrtftm 
 
 €ltfi* rcfoi- & t-slpeftoli, &Cc Gouncills are to be called ( faith 
 
 mxt. Reguk Zanchie,) that Churches may be reformed , both in 
 
 Difcipline,and Ceremonies,to that form, which Chrift 
 
 and his Apoftles have left ; that all new Do&rine, 
 
 WorIhip,and Ceremonies may be done away. 
 
 To this purpofe heciteth that promife or Prophefie 
 from Gods owne mouth , Eta. 1.25. / ^iil purge thy 
 drcfttdrc. And fo he citeth Ier. 6. 16. Stand m the 
 Vtay,fjrc Where we fee the Reformed make Coun- 
 cils the meanes,to purge the Churches , and to finde 
 out the good way. 
 
 It is true w e doe not with the Papift,or fome of the 
 mifled ancients,extoll Councillor equall them to the 
 Scripture ; as Gregorie efteemedof the 4. generall 
 Gouncills,asof the4,Euangelifts j but we anfwer,as 
 
 Au-- 
 
Against the Prelacy. 503 
 
 lAuguftine did Maximinus the Heretick , willing to 
 •heare'nothing but Councills. Nee ego NycenAm y nee tu ^J; id< 
 
 Arwtntnfem Synodunt^ &c. Let us not contend by Sy- mudm* 
 
 nodes, but by the authoritie of Scripture, 
 
 There have been divers wicked Councills^both un» 
 der the Law and the Gofpcll. 
 
 Foure hundred falfe Prophets were aflembled mv lK;,,; ' 2; ' 
 dcr Achab,to condemne Aiicaiah. 
 
 The high Prieft,and the Pharifies , gathered a Conn* W n.47 
 ////againft Chrift. Yea when Councills began to be 
 corrupt. Gregore Nazianzen faid : H e never did fee &i^ 2^ 
 gad end of any §f them, " r*»i 
 
 Neither cite we thefe as Calvinc fpeakerh for us : 
 J^od Concilia mtnoris fcimas , vel quid Concilia met hi ~ J™ -"Mfc 
 mm: Out of any difeftccme of Councills,or that we 
 fcare Councills, but that Councills being- fubjedi to 
 err, We belecvc them fo farre,as they are ordered and 
 uided. Per lydeum laftdem , ej nenper lefbidm Reguiun 
 wnani jiidici/ - y (asZanch. fpeakerh ) by the touch - 
 ftonc of the word; & not by the leadin rt wle of mans 
 corrupt judgement -and therefore faith Junius: Res Con- 
 tihfs non debent determtnari : Things muft not be de- Aninu^ 
 tcrmined by Councills, without the guidance of thCjjiJj 
 word. M „; 
 
 In 
 
304 SyonsPtea* 
 
 In the next place, the Hier archie forgetfull of thcii 
 former challenge, cryeth out on reformers for defiring, 
 a Councill; witnefle>D. Bridges his reply, to one defi- 
 ring tryall,and reformation of things by a Councill : 
 Is net this (faith he ) to take away the authoritit o/Bifiops, 
 f .12*57. a *?d Archbifhops,by Vtbom, as by & compendious Vtay 3 things 
 may be determined f 
 
 The famequarrell picketh D.Whitgift to M r . Cart- 
 Ti4B.1.e.} wright,defiring a Councill : The calling of a Coun- 
 cill (Taith he) is a way full of grievous, and intolerable: 
 confequ en ceso 
 
 The fame fong doe the Papifts fihg to all Proteftants/, 
 defiring.a CouncilL Iunius citeth Bcllarmine thus, 
 upbraiding the Lutherans : efflagitant Lutherani Con* 
 Cwtrov. 4 cilit0n y &c.' The Lutheranes would gladlie have a 
 Councill; but D> Morton (he werh us how Bellann. 
 and his fellowes. Excludunt necefiitatem Concilij: they 
 do abandon thencceflitie ©fa Councill. But upon 
 what ground/* Vpon the very fame ground, in effe<3: 
 with the Hier archie. Vta maxime cowpendiaria extin* 
 guendi H<erefes,nen per Conciliated per [idem Apofiolicamr 
 The rooft compendious way, (fay th^y J to quench He- 
 . refiesjis not by Councils > but by the power of the 
 
 To 
 
tAgamJlthcTreUcy. 30 J 
 
 To the fame effeft Per ten us ; Fuji r a fit per v/ura^ quod 
 fieri pot ell per pauciorA : It is labour loft , to doc a thing 
 by greater paincs , when it may be done by lclTer : 
 Obfcrve how the Hierarchie and Papacie jump toge- 
 ther,in the fame Pofitions and grounds i For as D, 
 Morton further witnelTerh of the Papacie , that they 
 exclude Councills .* Vt catbed** pipilis prer eg..:, 
 adferdnt : that they may eftablifh the prerogative of 
 the Popes chayrc j the famedoth the Hierarchic^wit- 
 nefle therefelves, that they may eftablifh the indifpu- 
 tablc prerogative of an i*4rchbtjhof $ or Pope tJAlinouic. 
 As in this they arc like one to another ; fo they are 
 both like to the great enemies of State , or Bankrupt 
 Politicians 3 who leaft they fhoula be called to an ac- 
 count, are ever beating on this Matchiviilian principle. 
 In' flat u Mondrchico cxpedit r*ir>i ej/e commit 1* : Ifla 
 Monarchical! ftate, Parliaments fhould be verierare^ 
 which is both againft reafon,and the fafetie of thcftatCi 
 efpecially, if the wicked finde place about the throne, 
 whom the power of a Parliament (hould,and muft 
 remove; fince this high Court is fett in the midle, 
 betweene the King, and State , yet pertaking of both; 
 that they may redrefle the grievances of both; juft lo , 
 the inrruHon and violcnr Keeping of poflcfllon by the 
 Prciacic, cannot endure a Council, 
 
 Rr 
 
 11 
 
$66 Syons Tien* 
 
 But to come to the application of the particular; 
 caufc them joyne yflew with us , andputthecaufe 
 upon rhetryallof a lawful! Councill \ vbi caufa cum 
 caufa,&re$ enmre , & rati* cum ratione comparetur : 
 Where caufc with caufe^ and matter with matter -> and 
 ground with ground may be compared, and determi- 
 ned. 
 
 But in calling of this Councill, the Hierarchie muft 
 
 be content to part with their Romifli principle, name- 
 
 Hc^no \JMetrapolitan y no Councill. It is D.Bilfons Position 
 
 in more words delivered,c.6.p.453, &c. Saravia, the 
 
 Prelates Convert , but like a cake not turned* pi eadeth 
 
 thus for Mammon ; that the affemblies of the Prelbi- 
 
 B« tjipUt. terians are not Synodcs 9 b\it conventicles, beeaufe he rea- 
 
 %p.q.3. deth nor of any Synode, without an Archbifiop. It is 
 
 ' ,9 °* the verieplcaof Bellarmine for the Pope : Jguomodo 
 
 convocabuntur Concilia abf/fe vno,in quo omnes^&c \ How 
 
 fhall Councils be called without one, in whom all the 
 
 Ve Cond. reft mult confift ? Or hifto can Bijhps be affemlUA 
 
 ilu without a head f 
 
 Si nuHus Metrapolitanm in qnalibet Trovincia • nultuffe 
 
 LiM-p'S- pastor in totaEcclefja^&c. If there be no Metrapoli- 
 
 II4# tane in everie Province , and no univerfell Paftor in 
 
 the whole Church , how can a Councill bt called, or 
 
 kept. 
 
 The argument for the one, is everie way as good as 
 for the other;if a Provinciall,or particularCouncill can 
 not be kept without a Metrapolitaae $ then a gcnerall 
 
 can 
 
lAgahsi the Tnlacy. $oy 
 
 cannot be kept without a Pope : But the untruth 
 of this Papall and Hierarchicall aflertion appeareth 
 many wayes. 
 
 1. It isagainft that place of Scripture , which both 
 they, and we, and all that profefle Chrift , alledge for 
 the warrantable calling of a Counall : Wbete tVeo or M*r.iM* 
 three are gathered together in my name , thee I \\ifl he tn 
 the midfl of them . 7^4 / fiy *jn:& you , if tto$ of you V. 19. 
 fht/l agree zfon Earth tn any //;/*£, &c. which phrafe is 
 taken from that Symphonic, or Harmonic that is in < VU P& 
 Song } %'bi communt conftnfu , non jIschihs imperio ^W** 
 whereitisfignified to us , that by the common con- 
 fcnt,and not by rhc imperious edift of any, a Councili 
 is to be gathered, fas one faith veriewdl) : and if by 
 the nameefchrtft , they underftand authorise, given 
 from Chrift $ by the veric fame the Metrapolitan 
 authotitic is rejected \ which is proved fas we have 
 (hewed; andconfeffed byalltheingenuous,to be but 
 a humane tn/ittutio 1. 
 
 Tot* titer arch/a mHituta eft , c/ in Ecc/efij unit**, rjr Di Z** lf - 
 tranquillttas ferictur fayih Dudrenus the Civilian, and a 
 great friend to Prelats priviledgcsrthc whole Hierarchy 
 was ordayncd , that the unitie,and tranquillitie of the 
 Church might be kept; But what Lord-keepus th;y 
 have bcenc, and are to the Church , wc have partly 
 fh.Wvdyou; for we cannot tell you all : Fur for the 
 poiuf;that they arc of mans pofitivc authon ie , let 
 th^irowiicfpcakc-asD.FycldjSutcliv.D.BiIibnjScc. 
 
 Rr: Was 
 
z. Was there any Metropolitan in thatApoftoli* 
 call Councill,Act.i5 ? Where if they anfwcr , that 
 the Prelates fucceeded the Apoftles fas fome doj then 
 they aofTe their owne confefiion j that a Metropolitan 
 is ameer humane institution. But they know well 
 enough,and are forced to confefTe; that there was no 
 Metrapolitan for the fpace of 300* yearcs aftct 
 Chrift ; and will they fay there were ao Councils 5 
 and if there were, they muftbe null in their judge- 
 ment, for want of a Metrapolitan. Fide Us per Afiam 
 UKf . *.i6 cwvenichant ac nufer natt* Dtftrinas&c* the faithfull 
 ones (faith.Eufeb.j afiefrbled thcmfelves thorow all 
 Afia,rooting out new Do<3rine5,and all things repug- 
 nant to the word; in th<Je 10 Metrapolitan. Tha 
 fame author witnciTeth, that Conftannne,commingto 
 theCrowne, byadecree, rtfhbUfiKd the libertie of 
 .calling Synodes^orChriftianySocicrics together; which 
 vwereformerlie fupprciTediby the tyranny of the Dra- 
 gon. Sothatyefeeihefrequtncie of Synodes before 
 any Metrapolitan. Yea a Synod wai kept at Antioch, 
 as D. Reynolds witncffeih againft the minde of c 
 Metrapolitan. 
 
 3 . What fay they to all Synods that have-becne kept 
 by Reformed Churches 3 iince the time of reformation i 
 Surely,they dare not fay,they are no Synods. Yea they 
 will be founde to be the Synods indeed 5 For all the 
 Synods kept in Britan by Prelates upon tryall 3 by the 
 gouldea rcwle of Gods word, (ball prove but Pfeudo- 
 
 fpedst 
 
tAgainfi the PrrUey. 30 j 
 
 'fynods^ Or asNazianzcn. fpeaketh to be haSnw taTv 
 iccoc&v iT 5 <$f avaAvrtc ruv tceta^ : the fixing of cvill, 
 not the diflblving of evil 1. 
 
 Take for irrftance (logo no further) that Provinciall 
 Synod 3 houhicii Anno iCc*. the firftycarc of King 
 -lames^which was all that washoulden from A\i$97. 
 which a Learned wonhiccalleth : Flagcffumfiornm.cr Pirfc i(Pj _ 
 fandoram ifUm c cuius tixidc, &c* the fcourge oCthefc. ft.f, 
 'Godly; and the boxjOat of which a muhi rude of mil- 
 •chiefes have overflowed the Church of England. 
 
 But in theie Reformed Synods, were rhere any Pre- 
 lates ? For rhe clofer of this conrrovcrfic, let a learned 
 • Cardinal! fpeake : Eius authont.u n$n it a pndct * *'*- ^ fcrfjKJf * 
 gregarttc^crc- The aurhoritie of a Synod ( faith Cafinjc.xj. 
 dependeth not fo on a Metrapolitan , or Pope , that 
 it is null without them ; For then the eight gene- 
 tall- Coimcills had been null , becaufc they were not 
 by a Pope. 
 
 Bur what is the reafon, the Pope , or Metropolitan 
 pcttie Pope will beare fuch afway in Councill > or 
 they will have no Councill at all f D. Whutaker 
 h Bellarminc the reafon : Catum eft rcum nolle 
 Arc Concthum y i quo'yidnctur : a Malefador will 
 never call an Aflyze; except he may be judge himfclf. 
 But as Iunirs citcth Auguflin- is it any reafon, zivngs 
 \udtcx ftt } fr dcCufdter? that one Ihould be both judge 
 ,md accufcr t Imo vt quijfum de alio )uJiurt vcllct , cr **•* 
 voUctfi' \kdicari ? yea that he will judge others 3 and 
 not be judged himfclf. 
 
 1U 3 lnrfgc 
 
3io syons *fu*u 
 
 Cmm.4. Iud 8 c y e x ^ cn witfl Luther, cited by Iunius : Exptti* 
 
 ' mus Cbriftianorum liber um Concilium 9 &c. We defire 
 
 a free Council! , as Chriftians fhould have ; For 
 
 of their Councills under the Prelates , we may 
 
 Lib. dt fay, as Luther faid of the Popes : quod porrigttur panis 
 
 Cmu. i n mucrone glady\at prop us ac cedent es manubrio ferimur : 
 
 They hould us out bread on the point of a fword, but- 
 
 when we comie nigh,they beat us with thehilt. 
 
 Be pleafed then to let us have a Councill in the name, 
 
 ofchrisl ; that is, with authoritic from the word, 
 
 Dmt.4.z which they rejeft , ( as M. Calvine well obfervethj 
 
 Mddch 2. 7 that ad, ordiminifli, from the word ; and then we 
 n<v. i2.i8 doubt not by the hdp of God ^ bm tkc Pre i atcs ftaI ] 
 
 nor onely be in danger of a Council! • but they (hall be 
 cjuite extind hy a Councill. 
 
 For the evidence of this hope, let them but appear 
 to thefe particulars : 
 
 i . What Council! called and guided by the warrant 
 of the word, can chufe,butcondemnctheunlawfull 
 calling of the Hierarchie, not having one jote of war- 
 rant from the word > yeadire&lie condemned by the 
 word ; For mattet incompatible with the ^Minifierie^ 
 For ground.^fnt/cbri/lan authoritie > Conferred onely 
 by our Kings,for want of better information $ who .■ 
 are not able, nor any human power, to change the na- 
 ture of it : and laftly, for manner meerely Popilh, 
 and Hiftrionicall 5 as we could Ihew from the Cere- 
 monies 
 
^AgainU the Prelacy. 3 u 
 
 monies ufed,but they are not worth the time. 
 
 2, What Council! will approve that feudataric 
 T^ecdg-iMfilUdge of Miniftcrs , with their oath of Ho- 
 \mAge,ot ticminittm y (zs fomecallitj that is y Mj»-fc) 1 . 
 Whereby they intangle,and tyc themfelves to Miltt&ne L< & >1# , t?# 
 <Qrvut_s- y TentnturmilttArt: They arc tyed to ferve *"• »• 
 in vrarre,fay th Spalato. Tellentcs !ibcrtdtem,& numera cc ** 
 propbanantes, (fayth that Learned, and much honoured Alur. d*. 
 .P/^/#r/rfx'/«j,)undoingtheliberticof the Church, and "^M 1 * 
 >prophaning the function of the Miniftcrie. 
 
 What Councill will approve of their Lordlic and 
 rfupcreminent titles,of L0rd,Ejr/e,6t Grace, and of the 
 
 molt honourable order of Gartyr Or will they rhinkc 
 . it right, that they (h#uld take place of all the Nobilirie, 
 
 5c lome of ail the officers of ftatc fave the Lord Chan- 
 (;elour-asthe Archbifhopof Torke ? Some take place 
 pf the LordChancelour too \ as the Archbifhop of 
 \ Canterbury. 
 
 It is worth the obferving, when the Bifhops were 
 inhibited the Parliament by Edward. 5. that proud 
 Prelate lohn St rauford,camc to the doore 3 and preiTcd 
 
 [to be in , affirming that tic was the grand PFO R rftk.f£S? 
 Land,and next vnto tit Kings per/on, to bdvt his i^cc^p. 157. 
 
 t [ and fo faith he, 1 1 challenge the right ef rnj Clurch^tjr 
 mrdftce into the hvvefej. 
 
 Laftly, 
 
G#M». 
 
 312 Syons^ktu 
 
 Laftly;in this particular of honour, will aCouncill 
 thinkc it fitre,that the orphanes of the Nobilitie and 
 Gcntrie , being feudataries to the Bi(hops,ffiiould as 
 Vaflals,do homage or Knights fervice to them, though 
 they hould other Lands in capite of the Crowne? Our 
 Antiquaric (he wet h us,how the Earle of Glofter held 
 Camden, the Mannor of Tunbridge,of the Bifhop of Canter- 
 bury on condition , that he fhould be the Bifhop his 
 Mfcrfhall at his inftalment. So the Earle of Warwick 
 was Marfhall at that great and fumptuous inftalment. 
 of Georg Nevcll, Archbifhop of Yorke. 
 
 3 . How can they hould up their face in ConncilI,to 
 make good that power conferred on them , or abufed 
 by them in the high commiffion. Is it firtc, that Mi 
 nifters, by vertue of a fecular power,fhould take upoit 
 thetrijto cenfure men in the matters of the fervice of 
 their God- and other points of faith ? and not onely 
 fo,bur alfo to excommunicate, fin e,imprifon, break up 
 their doores, andclofets ; takeaway their goods, &c; 
 Contrarie to the Law of God$thc Lawes of the Land, 
 and Priviledge of the Subjeft ; as we have proved at 
 large i Or would a Councill ever agree, to put two 
 fwords inco the hands of mad men , or fuffer them,to 
 rack the Kings fubje&s upon that damnable oath $f in~ 
 qutfition ? Yea they infringe the power of the com? 
 mi (Hon it felf - by vertue whereoffjas they are to in- 
 quire for Hi / cfies& Errors among other things , fo are 
 they not to condemne that for Berefie^ or Emr, which 
 is not determined fo to be, by CanomcdU Serif turts ; 
 
 wit* 
 
tAgainfl the T telacy. 3 r 3 
 
 witnefle that aft of the 1. Elizabeth, C. 1. 
 
 4. What Godly Councili will admitt of their di- 
 ftindions of degrees of Archbifhbps,Bifliops, Deans, 
 Priefts, and Deacons ; not onely conrrarie to Gods 
 word, butalfo rejetfed by all Orthodox, Ancienr, and 
 modeme writers, except a vcrie few of their 
 grain. / lures gradus jiu or dines Minijlrcrum n$n /<- 
 gimus in fieri s Uteris , quam quos Apostolus in Eft/!* i'/r./>. 7J2. 
 ad Fplefi expreJSn : We read not ffiuth Zanchie 
 more degrees, or orders of Miniftcrs in holy vv: 
 than the Apoftle hath exp relied in the 4. of Ephcf. 
 V.n. 
 
 What Councili could endure their Court Canons, and 
 multiplicitic of Popifh oflkers,both inEcclefiafticall 6c 
 Lay functions (as they do diftinguifh:) with the num- 
 ber, varieiie, and iniquitie of their Courts , wc meane 
 not to trouble you \ fince they arc to well knowne : 
 onely be plcafcd to take a vcw of that Court of A 1 
 or Faculties, fas they tearmir,) whereby theArch- 
 bifhop hath power under his feal from himielf, or 
 his coramifllencr of the faid Court , to give, and to 
 graunt Li(e*ccs > diJbCnf4tio*Sy&<, rtfenpts in all and every 
 caufe,whercin theJBifhopof Rome did give Os: gnuini 
 the lame. And thismiilhiefcis cftablsfied dlfi 
 buthowlawfullic, let Heaven and Earth judge: lor 
 by this roc a learned worthie rcplycih, We hi. \ 
 
 :L;ci of the I'ofcs , onely i> 
 the Kings ed. 
 

 314 SyomVktu 
 
 This beaftly Romifli Coort (faith an other Ancient 
 DeX>if^l worthiej had its ground from the Canon Law , in 
 FiU*. which that filthie Marchandiie of Lawleffe difpen- 
 fationsis excrcifed to the undoing of the Church, 
 
 The monition to the Parliament ccmplaineth, (aaa 
 p 'I-*« that juftlyj that in this Court, as at Rome, all things 
 are to be foulde. This Romifh Mercate fas one faith 
 prettily : ) nee modum % nec fundum.nec finem>nec fndorem 
 habet : hath neither meafure, nor bottom, nor end, 
 nor fhame $ For they difpenfe not onely with humane 
 Laws,but alfo with divine,as mn-reCidtn$ie i flHraliti€ i & 
 SjmoMC^ii&c. The which difpenfations are legum vuU 
 nera.y the wounds of the LaweSjthcrobbing ofpurfc 
 and the bain of fowles* 
 
 As for their Officers,we have alreadie laid them out 
 in their colours, onely a word or two more to<Church 
 wardens , and Sydmen $ becaufe fundry very honeft 
 men wrong, both themfelves,and others , by this in- 
 fnaring^and inflaving office. They are fworn 5 not to 
 fuffer any man to preach , except he come with the 
 Prelates licence. To prefent fuch,as come not duely to 
 divifed fervice, or divine fas they falfly call it 5 ) though 
 There be no more but that Egyptian Garlick , yet that 
 they muft not leave to heare a Sermon. They muft 
 alfo prefent to the Prelates Courts, all fuch as will not 
 kneele at the Sacrawen ; nor have their Children crof- 
 fed,andBifhopped- nor their Wives<]hurched \ nor 
 
 witl 
 
tAgainst the Prelacy. 5 15 
 
 Will not joynewhh ihc Lit ante ^ unholy Ceremonies* 
 nor will not obfervefeftival! d herritesjyeaif 
 
 good & holy men be under he unji ftecenfureofthc 
 Prelates,they mud barr them from he Sad irrmr, dif- 
 fering unwonhiewicked men to be admitted o the 
 Sacramcn^by the Minifters.at their pleaiure 5 Whom 
 fayth D. Mucker, if they prefenr not rotheordiru 
 Nefaricfuntferiurijhcy are wicked lie fori worn j ye;, 
 further their painfulkand holy Payors , ind teachers, P' 1 * 4 * 
 they mu ft unnaturally, and perfidioufly e*. o!e,by pre- 
 fentment to the tyranny of the Prelates j if they punc- 
 tually obey not thofe impure, and plaguie Canons: 
 and (ay they could buy out their oath f which is unlaw- 
 ful to doe ' yet this is their untoward worke. 
 
 They arc fas we have faid; the Cottnterrfits of Gods 
 true Officers, namely Elders & Deacons , whom they 
 keep out of place , by ferving of the tyranny of the 
 Hterarchie^'ho cannot endure tohearc of Gods true 
 Officers indeed : In a word, they Minifter matter of 
 filthie Lucre, to the Harpies of the Prelates Courts; yea 
 they grecve and wrong Gods people,and doe the wor- 
 fcr fort no good • wc with for their good , that they 
 might ice their fcrvice weighed at the beam of the 
 word 3 (which indeed is. or fhould be the true lcileof a 
 Councill, J and then (hey would hate their fcrvice , 6c 
 iove ihcmfelves theworfc 5 yea wc are vcrilfe per- 
 fwacled, that never a true honcft man would underrakc 
 the fcrvice 5 were it not forfearc of the Preh 
 Ifhich ftrongly argtrcfh, thatbeing an Office In Gods 
 Si 4 ho. 
 
%i6 Syons Vktu 
 
 howfc , it is counterfeyt, and ftaric naught. 
 
 6. And laftlie$Dare they bring their Leiturgic and 
 Ceremonies into the true Scale of a Councill : both 
 thefe and their Patrons fliall be found light , as va- 
 nitie itfel£ 
 
 Firftjfor the Leiturgic we have fhewedyou (though 
 briefly ) the paltcrly pedigree of it; and could (If time 
 would fervej anatomize ir intus, & in cute \ from the 
 bowell to the fkin (as we fay 5 ) but that is done in4 
 treatife by it felf. 
 
 What an apilh Imitation of theLevitkallPrieftis 
 
 in the Minifters going into the Chancell ; praying 
 
 with his face turned from the people,as though there 
 
 were fome diffention betweene him, and the peqple \ 
 
 ^ . As the Prieft under the Law went into the fanttuaric, 
 
 LHf.i. ' the people being without; fo the rubrick prefcribeth 
 the Minifter 5 to put a partition.betweenc him , and the 
 people, where he may as well curfe, as blefle ; he may 
 fpeak what he will in a tongue knowne or unknowne, 
 for the people know not : from that fame pra&ife Bel- 
 
 p# Verb, larmine defendeth prayer in an unknowne tongue. 
 
 As for the Litanie well naturing the name of a 
 
 ^£ Tm ' Vm laborious fiwicciii.ihc BuH atul Durt (for fo Homer 
 
 ims* anc * or h crs ufeth the name J it is borrowed from 
 
 thepractife of the Heathens , as Caufabon obfer- 
 
 ixitdt. TCih out of Dionyfius Habkarnaff. And is inverie 
 
 - - deed 
 
tAgainfi the FreUey. 5 \y 
 
 deed nothing , but an impure Mafle of conjuring 
 And chaimtngkzttologtes ; whereby the name of God 
 is highly prophaned 5 his howfe and worftiip abu- 
 fed • Gods people by it abandoned ihe fan&uarie; 
 and the Prophanc love no worfhip Co well as it. 
 Polybius ufetha prettie phrafe to difplay the nature 
 fsatyymiiUh rtos m; Sus with a multitude of 
 inticcing fiatrcring fpceches (to fay no worfe, to 
 allure the Gods : but not to trouble your cats 
 with the particular blafphemies of it • is it not 
 matter of wonder , that they pray to be delive- 
 red from lightening, bailey tempest , eye t Yet not 
 one word of that which is prefcribed in the 
 Litanie of Edward. VI. namelic to be delivered 
 from thcTjrxxm of the lifoop of Rome , which is 
 worfc than all the fire and lightning that can be- 
 fall us. But they know well enough that that prayer 
 ftrickcthat the root of their being • and therefore 
 they have cutt it of by their c.xpitrgAtencus Index; 
 and in ftcadofihis, they prefle the Miniftcrs to pray 
 for ihcirLordfr/ps, which in effect, is to pray for the cfta- 
 blifhing of Antichriftc , & keeping Chrift ftill out 
 of his Kingdome. 
 
 Thence it is that it ftiketh on the ftomsmcksof 
 good men , and puttcth them divers times to a itand : 
 but compelled friers "as we fpeakc ) doc neither panic 
 good. 
 
 Vet 
 
3*8 SyonsTleOL, 
 
 Yet for all this Romifh ftuffe, every Miniftcr is ftri&Iy 
 tyed by the Canons , to fay or fing all the whole fer- 
 vice.not omitting any thing, notwithftanding of Ser« ■ \ 
 mons,ot any other motive to the contrarie , and that 
 Crf«o».i4. upon pain of Ju$en/ton,excowMunication y 5c deprivation, 
 t%. ' as he (kill double,or triple the offence :fo that we fee 
 the breaking of the bread of life rnuft give way to the 
 drawing of the Waters ofNilus* 
 
 To come from the inacling of -the fervice , to the 
 rites and ceremonies contayned in the fervice booke; 
 they areas ftri&ly injoyned upon the fame penalties, as 
 the faying of feruice is ; witneffe the fayd Canons 
 in that behalf 5 which is not onely contrarie to the 
 law of God, but alfo to the lawes of the land , efta- 
 blifhingfas we haue fhewedj that feruice booke of Ed- 
 ward the V I. which exprefly thus fpeaketh,concer- 
 ning the ceremonies, ^^sfor kneeling^ the Signe of the 
 crojjey the lifting up of the hand, andfmitingefthe breafi, 
 andgejlures of the like nature^ it Jha/l be lift free to everit 
 one to doc a$ he list . fo that you fee by the preffure of 
 thefe latter Pi elates, it is worfe with us , then it was in 
 the beginning of reformation. In the proofe of the 
 firft Position we haue (hewed thefe ceremonies to be 
 trtnkets out of the Topes cookercotne, and haue layd im- 
 pregnable Pofitions againft them • but that their Im- 
 pietie,in perfecuting for fuch ftuffe,may appeare, f for 
 that is their onely argument, ) and that all may fee how 
 thefe things (honldbe liked by a Councill 5 let us lay 
 
 them 
 
Againft the Frclacyl 3 rp 
 
 encm o«t yet a litle in tkcir colours, and that as breefly 
 as may be. 
 
 They are dire&ly againft the word of God $ againft 
 
 the PofmonsoftheFachersi the ads of the Cotincills; 
 the current of the modern Orthodox- the 1 rath of un- 
 dcnyablc principles; and againft the lawes of the land. 
 A touch of cachof thefe , tkough wc might be large, 
 uufc we defire to keep within bounds. 
 
 For the firft ; all Addition in Gods wor(Tiip,as well as 
 1 taking 4frwj,is dire&ly forbidden in Gods word , both 
 : in the ould and new Teftamcnt; witncffc,thofe places, 
 )eut,i2.$2. Rev.22.it. 
 
 But thefe Ceremonies arc an addition in Gods 
 worfhip to the word,as they do not deny. 
 
 Ergo,thcy arc dircflly forbidden by the word, 
 
 Bafil. upon the forcfaid places of Dcut. giveth an ex- A M * a 
 cellent reafonof the Major Propofition of fhc argu- < ^ 7ITa , - 
 ment: Infidelitatts Momentum crjign urn fapcrbtt c tr- ^ 
 
 »um,Ji q»is coram qttd ftrtftj font altqutd vi/ii re]i- ^ Q ^ 
 cerc y Aut inrtm que non fcripta font tntrodnceri^ : It is 
 an argument of infidclitic (faith he^ & an undoubted Snm. 4rf» 
 evidence of great pride; if any man reject anything" 
 that is written s or bring in that which is not written : d,/-^, e / 
 As for D. Morton his difiinftion of addition corrupting < b < Cmm* 
 
 and""''* 29 ' 
 
pfy Syons Tlea^ ' 
 
 and perficffag: he hath both the word of the diftin&ion 
 
 and the illuftration of it,by way of fimile, from Bel- 
 
 larmine , in defence of all the rubbifh of Rome 5 to 
 
 iii.4^17 whom they mud be behoulding for their anfwers and 
 
 arguments fas we have fhewed] when they are put to a 
 
 (land, byforceof the truth 5 but the diftin&ion is 
 
 corrupt, and taxeth the Scriptures of imperfe&ion, if 
 
 any thing can be added to the perfe&ing of them ; yea 
 
 fas one obfesveth) it is fetitio principy 3 or a begging 
 
 Ttlen, of the queftion in hoc ipfo contrarium , quod du 
 
 vim legi additur 5 In the verie fame it is againft 
 
 the Word , in that it is added to the Word. 
 
 Ve pm- Scrtptura facra divinitus perfetla , &c-~ Eo£ «ec comri 
 
 I1b.4-c.17- ipfam^nec prater ipfam 9 &c. The w^>rd is divinelie per- 
 
 m * l9 ' fe&jand therefore neither any thing againft it, or be- 
 
 fidesitj may be added, (faith -Junius, ) the. fame we 
 
 might fay of that diftin&ion of effentiall,and accident 
 
 tall addition ; the Pope,and Prelates, will adde to the 
 
 word,that it may be kept 5 and God wil have nothing 
 
 ddded,th2Lt it may be kept \ are not then thcy,and their 
 
 additions Antichriftian ? 
 
 As for the Fathers, they make the word thetryaftl 
 of all traditions. 
 
 Befides Bafil, whom we have quoted 5 and others s 
 
 ' . Cyprian is very exad. Vndt eft ifta traditio.ejrc^ whence 
 
 rily. is that tradition : (faith he J Is it from Chrift his Evan- ' 
 
 gelicall authoritie > or the Apoftles appointment? 
 
 Then is it to be done,becaufeGod will have that done, 
 
 which is wiittcn ; as«God faid to Iofua : the booke of the I 
 
tAgainft the Prelacy. yi\ 
 
 Law 'frill not depart Jrcm th) month. Witare he flatlie 
 condemncth all unwritten traditions. 
 
 Augnftine , fpcaking of the Indulgence of God 
 toward his people 3 unocr he new Tcitamen r . Ltvi v 
 )ttgonos Jubdidit : he hath p trt us under 3 light yok\ 
 ( faith he ) now If the t gall Ceremonies being rc- 
 mofcd 3 men might inftiture others, then | as the lame 
 Father faith : ) Tolerabilior efftt conditio ludenrum , cr 
 The ftatc of the Icwcs was better then ours > btca 
 they were under Gods ordinances , we arc under mans 
 preemptions (as hecalleththem ) the Ceremonies of 
 the Lawfas the Learned often ob!'crve)wcrc not taken 
 away^that men might fuoitrute others. Nam ft ijs fit. 
 lAtts&c. If thefe being taken away, uith D.Whitrak.) c I' 
 others might be btought in » where were the bcncri.t 
 of freedom e by Chi ift ? According so that Ipecch : 
 
 d fijl then fore in the li bcri > , Vi herewith Chrijl hath c.. ',*. i . j . 
 made is Jrec y aiid he not int angled agame W///; the yoke cf' 
 hond»gt-j. 
 
 M r . c*/~.;/;^calicth the recalling of Ccremonics,nor 
 1 bunging againe of the njatle , & bin tall of Chrift 
 Sed fetid* f-Aiui Ufr($t4 9 ffaJThcy bringtarbet in <tin- 
 
 ' dunghi Is i qui bus obruta e/t fimirafidt , in AS. «;. 
 
 by wnich iinccrc faith, & Religion, are overlaid j and 
 they who talu , or gi\c libertie to ule :!um,imuch 
 
 :hcv w lio mforcc them, ) give more to « 
 then Qod did graklAl to lus ownc Law , \ca the Pre- 
 bcietakc more upon them, then they will graum to 
 
 Ti 
 
pi Syons Tletu 
 
 God • For by their Canons, they ftri<ftly enjoyne the 
 pun&uall obferving of all the Scrvicebookjwith everic 
 rite and Ceremonie therein contayned, and without 
 addition^ diminution >bw\\ fox matter & form , fab no- 
 mine pee n* , on no (mall penaltie Canon. 14. Yet they 
 will adde ac their pleafure in Gods worfbip. 
 
 As for Councils, they argue ftronglie againft all 
 mens devifes in Gods worfhip, from the negative $ 
 namelie, that they are not approved by the word $ 
 So the Bracarenfes decreed againft Milk in the Sacra- 
 ment j and the Antifidiorenfes, againft LfrLulfe or Me- 
 thcglin in it 5 upon this ground; that they had no War- 
 rant from CbriH his infiitution : Cejfat ergo lac , quia 
 VuLpiUr. widens excmplum Evangelic* veritatis illud offerri non 
 finit : Let Milk be no more in the Sacrament , becaufe 
 the inftanceof that Evangelicall truth .will not fuffer 
 it. Yea, as the Learned obferve, the v eric Sacra* 
 fArk decme ments (hould be condemned by the fecond Com- 
 fm.i.p.61 mandemcntjUnder the name Imager, if Chrift had not 
 inftitutedthem. 
 
 For the current of the modern Orthodox, we could 
 alfo be large, but we muft givebut a tafte. 
 
 Befides Iunins,&others already cited, Beza obfervethfas 
 we have formcrlie (hewed) an Argument a comfaratu % 
 from thefecond of the Coloflians. If the rites of the 
 Law, God his owne ordinances , be taken away , be- 
 caufe they were (hadowes of Chrift to come , what 
 
 impu- 
 
%4gw& the Prelacy. 322 
 
 impudentie isit,to iubfluute in their place mens fu- 
 perftitions ? 
 
 M f .Calvinc callcth thefc humane inventions 5 La- 
 qneos ad flrangulandts animai : Snares, to ftrangle the 
 Sowles of men. Adulterant ctdtum Bet, c Deum ipfum, 
 quivnicus ltgiflatort$l>fuo \ureJpoltant ; they corrupt the 
 worfhipof God,andfpoyle God of his right > who is 
 the onely Law-giver, Inft. 1.4.0 1 o. f. 1 . 
 
 Bcfides all this cloud of witnefles againft the Cere- 
 monies > they are oppofitcalfo to impregnable Pofi- 
 rions of truth. 
 
 It flandcth not with the nature of true Ceremo- 
 nies , that thefc (hould haue anyplace in Godswor- 
 fhip ; For a Certmomc as the Learned obferve, as well 
 Popilh as Orthodox J is a [acred a3ion , or ordt- _ vj 
 nance ^having its excellencte fas Bellarm. witneflcth; c. i/» 
 from no other ground , but in that it is appoynted to the 
 Vurfijp of God. He inftanceth from kneeling at the 
 Sacrament. To the fame effect fpeaketh Iunius : 
 I* jure Politico Keif, fuifunt Imperatt, o~ fo/emtes ritus ; Dc Pfht 
 Ceremonia vero frofrte , non nift faCrx obfervationes k 
 tultu dtvino afpellantnr : Politick government hath 
 power, to appoint its owne rites , but Ceremonies 
 properlic,arc facred obfervations in divine worfhip : 
 Since fo it is , what mortall man (hould dare to take 
 upon him , to appoint Ceremonies, or iacrcd ordi- 
 nances in Gods worfhir. 
 
 Tt 2 
 
324 SyonsTlctu 
 
 We wifhfrom our fowles, that men would pofleffe 
 themfelves of that difference betweene Ceremonies , & 
 civil 1 circumftances of order; the want of which obfer* 
 vation breadeth much diforder. 
 
 1. Civiil circumftances in Gods worfhip have then 
 ground from nature ; as there mud: be a place to teach 
 in , a cup for the communioRiand fo of the like ; but 
 fohavenotCeremonies^but from God his owne In- 
 ftitution. 
 
 .2. Thefe circumftances of order and Comlinefle 
 may be ufed in r/i^as well as in /*,oW things • bur 
 fo may not Ceremonies 3 witnciTe, the Prelates courfing: 
 of a Minifter/or wipeing his nofe on the firp/icc. 
 
 A fecondPofition 3 eroded by the Ceremonies , ii 
 this : That all neceffarie Ccremonies^underthe Gojpell^ 4trc 
 ccntayned to the ne^t Testament. 
 
 Thefirft argument for proofc of this Pofirion may 
 be taken from the nature of a C^tfw^difcovered in 
 the fir ft Pofirion to be a matter of faith 5 Ergo 3 it muft 
 be contayned in the Gofpell. 
 
 2. Wc may prpve it by indu&ion. 
 
-Agawjt the Trclacyl 325 
 
 \\sQht1C1infthatcd ihc SJtranent? i foihtCeremc- 
 ,n'. in the Sacraments ; as braking of bread, difirihution 
 of it ; and of the cup ( though now removed by 
 that Ico'?.!iousgeltureof JtnteUxgr) tt •':: it c.uens 5 
 andfo of the reft. 
 
 ErgOj&c. If this induction be not goc d is an 
 
 tnceagatafi ^» 
 
 For the truth of this Petition, Chemnicius ipea 
 exprcily : J%uos ritu. 
 
 mix : What Ltrctnomti Chrift would have in the Gof- 
 pell,hc appointed the ume, 
 
 3. We may prove it alto acompanuis, by com- 
 paring the Cr/^//with the Ittfc 
 
 AH ncceflarie Ceremonies under the Law , were 
 
 ■uaynedin thcLaWjExod^^cve. 
 
 Ergo, all nccciVauc Ceremonies under the Gofpell 
 
 are contayncd in the Gofpell • otherwile the LiW 
 
 (hould be more perfect then the Gofpcl, which none 
 
 willaftirmc. 
 
 .4. And laftiv; we lift this argument a difrunctis. 
 Either the Goipell mud conuyne all ncceflarie Cere- 
 monies of Gods wotmip ; or Chrift hath left to the 
 Churches powcr,ro appoint Ceremonies : But Chrift 
 hflth lefr no power to the Churches, to appoint Cere- 
 monies. Ergo, the Gofpell contayncsallneceflaric 
 Ceremonies in Gods worfiiip. The proof e of the Mi- 
 nor is thus: All that Chrift hath left to the Churches 
 appointments to order things by Chrifthimfelf ap- 
 poiEtfd3i.Cor.j4.40, 
 
 But 
 
2i6 SyQ.is'l : !;*u, 
 
 But to appoint new. Geremonies , is not to order 
 things by Chrift himfelf appointed. 
 
 Ergo, he left it not to the Churches tppoint- 
 nient. 
 
 For the laft particular, that thefe Ceremonies (land 
 in oppofition to the Lawes- ; it is clcare,as we have 
 (hewed from that Leiturgie of Edw. VI. to the which 
 the Law requireth fubfeription, and the booke leaveth 
 the things arbitraric. 
 
 By this which hath been faid , it may appeare to - 
 your Honours, how the Prelates , and their apurte- 
 nances,(hall never be able to ftand in a Council!, which 
 being guided by the word, cannot brooke that which 
 is enmitie to Chrift,and the State. 
 
 In thefe things we have becne the larger \ that all 
 may fee how they invade , as M r . Calvine fay th , the 
 liberties of chrift , bereaving his fervants of the 
 fame. 
 
 2. How their ljrannie ( as the fame Author faiths 
 exceedeth the Lawcs of other tyrans j becaufe they 
 tyrannize over the confeienctu. 
 
 To 
 
lAgalnsi the Prelacy. py 
 
 3. To (how bow by theft courfes of their tradi- 
 tions thcydo notoncly tranfgrcfje the commandements 
 of God, Math. 1 5.?. but they make zoyd ,'as the Spirit 
 fpeakethJ/A* Vwrfirp of God , fry the comm&ndetrtcnt* ef 
 men ; namely > in regard of the power of H ; and 
 the honour due to it, V.9. 
 
 Ler the Prelates difefteeme of Gods ordinance 
 witnellc this | notonely iri preferring the !ca(t 5 and 
 vileft patch of their Letturgtejo peaching 'as their 
 Canons wimeflej but alfo by their phrale of fpcech 
 in their Canons; where they (carfe,or do not at all 
 eftccmc fre achtng tobeapartof^tw^Jft/^whncfie 
 the 19 Canon, where, m the time of dii in: fervice^ or 
 preaching(fzy theyjwhere obferve,they make- the word 
 divine ,t main difference , to diiringuifh their Leiturgie 
 from preaching • Yea one of their proctors,inplainc 
 tearmes^atfirmeth preaching to be no part of divine 
 W or(hip. *jj£ 
 
 Mi- 7*. 
 
 4. And laftlyjthatwe may all awake, tobcfenfible 
 of the fcarfull evill that is toward us, except we purge 
 the Lord his howfe , and worfhip of this i upcrftition, 
 and the Patrons of it. Witnefle £(3.29. 14. Therefore 
 behotild , I 'Vci/I proceed to doe a marvelous Vrorte among 
 
 tgte* a marvelous ^orke , and a bonder ; For the 
 ne of theViife men fia/Iferifr ■ and the vnderjtan- 
 ■ . $f prudent men ftall be hid. 
 
 Where 
 
328 SyonsPlca^ 
 
 Where be pleafed to obferve the matter of judgement; 
 namclie , the penfhing of ^ifdome & vnderftanding 
 from the Vetfe men • that is from the Governours ia 
 Church Sccomnon^eal^ho fhould be light toothers- 
 and if the light ^that is in men be darkenejfe , hew great is 
 that darken* \fj c^, Math. 6.23. 
 
 Obferve alfo the manner: it (Kali be a marvelous Vvorke. 
 And laftly, the degree of it, expreifed ii* the ingemi-r 
 nation,or doubling of the wordes,a marvelous W-orke- a j 
 bonder yk% if a man could not wonder enough* 
 
 Certainely 3 we arefarre overcome in jhis judgment. 
 we have all knowledge , as the Apoftle fpeaketh ; but 
 that ^ifdome y 6cfrudence 5 that applicative power 3 that 
 fhould a&uate,& order this knowledge in the proper. 
 Sphere of his adtivitic, is perifhed from our "toift men* , 
 Wifdome is the heart of knowledge 5 from whofc* 
 due temperature cometh the bewtie^and ftrength of a- 
 State. 
 
 Zealoi the Lords houour is as the aftuallheat , com- 
 rning from the heart, inltvening and a&ivating ail the 1 
 members of the body Politick j confuming the fupcr- 
 fluous humors of benumming., ©r deadnjg finne 
 difpelling the vapours of deluding.errors, and abando 
 ning all the unnaturall heat of fnperftition, Scldoiatrie; 
 Bur the want of this forking Vcifdw* hath brought us 
 to a Lethargical Epdepjicj* 
 
 All 
 
s/tgafitst the Frelacy. jrp 
 
 All men wonder, ani thnd amazed aryour fupinc 
 negligence,in hastening toqaench the fire , that hath 
 allmoll confumed us : Th very out , where are ye } 
 what are ye doing ? What i* become of that (pi ri r of 
 valor • and true love to he Lords honour , and your 
 Countries deliverance r They rh.it are arquaintcd with 
 the Councill of God , conceive this to be thecaufc- 
 that the feirit of ftifdome is allmoit penflkd. 
 
 It is with us.in (bme meafure, as it was with Ephraun : 
 Pphratm is 'pprtfjed^ and broken in \tigment • becatfe l.e tttff, ii, 
 Vitllinghe Vrad-ed after the Co n*m.\ndt merit. So becaufe 
 \v: have willinglie obeyed the Prelates Commandement 
 we are oppreflcd within, and without ; and judgment 
 isasa fnare to us \ Yea, if thefe Coinmandements be 
 not countermanded, the Lord will looke on , till they 
 beate us to powder. 
 
 If there be any fpirit therefore of Vesfdome left in 
 you; (Jirrcup the gift that is tnjea i And if you mcanc 
 to hvc,abindon both them , & their Comm udements. 
 Aud fo much for this Mcan,of calling of a CounctH. 
 
 Vv Mi 
 
330 Syons Tlesu. 
 
 The 4. tJMcdn. 
 
 NOW we come to the 4. Mean : The cafe may 
 foftandjthat a general! Councill cannot be had; 
 as Beza writeth to C^far/or Charles the 5. It were a 
 happie thing by * Council! , to reform what is amifTe, 
 and fo to pacific God ^ but as the fame Author : If 
 thorow the Iniquitieof tirne,and height of difordcr, 
 it be not poflible to have a Councill ; yet reformation 
 mutt not ceafe > For in all the reformations of the 
 reformed Churches, wc doe not read, that they had any 
 Nvitionall Councill , till they had cafhiered the Hierar- 
 r/;^,the verie bain of Councils y as we could (how by 
 divers inftanccs in our owaelland , and otherwhere 
 but we cannot enlarge everie thing. 
 
 The Mean then of removall is to gather yonrfefocs 
 V * n,2,z together \x\ fexlous hum t'taf ion, & reformation , before 
 the Lord 5 in knitting your hearts together, in the band 
 of love; everie one lending his helping hand ( accor- 
 ding to hisplacej to the breaking downe of Babel!, 
 
 We meanenot to infill in the difcoverie of this 
 powcrfuli prevayling duetie of Humiliation ; becaufe 
 theThcorie hath been excellently taught, Stwritte off, 
 by our Learued divines ; and fome of Gods people 
 haveplyedthepra&ifeof it > We will onely there- 
 fore give a touch of the generall ? with forae briefc 
 dircSion for our particular. 
 
 As 
 
\Agatnjt tie Prelacy. 33 1 
 
 As?holy,and valianrf^, ui h h;< people , being iti 
 danger of thecncrrie, ufed this, as a rpeciail remeuie ; 
 namelie,/? lumbie tienfeL e before God ', to feekih right E " f ' ; *« 
 Vtay firth em j elves ; their children, and Sqhjfance ; So 
 itftandeth us upon iVodocforus^and ours, 211 J whit 
 we have; For all is like to be loft ; bur if in licking 
 of the Lord , we would have Ezra his fucccfle , 
 whom the Lord \\\i< intreated, we muft with Ioiu 
 move that tiring of the curfe \ namclie,thc Prcl 
 from having any power over it ; for wofull ex peri. 
 hath taught us,thatthe Prelates finger is like the //.;;- 
 fie his claw , it fpoyleth every thing , itcomcthin. 
 
 An able Paftor,fome two ycares,gonc in auguft,in a 
 gcnerall fait in London. pleading for reformation, un- 
 der Iufaa his removall of die excamm imcAe thing$o\xl& 
 us in plain tearmes that the main thing was th.tt d 
 
 ,who made no matter of the finking of 
 the Church, and State- fo tbey itaigni iwinime in .. 
 honours fit fLaJmcs. 
 
 As lehofophat wis fharplie rebuked , and much 
 ..rolVcd^for h< finteftbt Wftked ; So In having them to 
 l>c he'pers or ringleaders in this ducne , is to bring a "' 
 curfc, and not a blcfllng upon it. How can they doc 
 
 in humiliation , that arc enemics,both ton 
 re firm 1 > I W n tfe , their perfecuting of G 
 people hen g tbemplpes together j Or as an 
 
 c h for (ptdtingom 
 
 11 ftrcngrh together , to 
 i 2 
 
2}i. Syons Ptetu 
 
 the Lord - y which is a pra&ife warranted from the 
 V*0r</,the practife of the Saints , and rhecuflom of the 
 
 Church*-, as i* fully proved in a particular Treatife. 
 
 In the reformation of ihc State of Scotland , the 
 Nob1es,3nd oihers of the congregation , were put to 
 great (traits , by the overtopping pow rof Queenc 
 JMother.andher French forces > but having with rhem 
 a mighueman of God ; who could Hand up in the 
 .gappe,and tell the Nobles, and orher of their particu- 
 lars,!!! the controverfie with God , every min-bumble* 
 & reformed him(elf,fo that the Lord was inrrcated,and 
 at length they were rid of the PreUcie , and all their 
 (xeiwmumc ate things • yea great feare fell upon tht 
 Qtieene,6cPrelafes,and all their Pop*lh forces , by the 
 frequent,and fervent humiliations of Gods people ; in 
 lb much,that the Queen confefled 5 thatfhe feared more 
 the prayer & falling of M*. Kn,x, & his affiftantsj than 
 an armie-of.2QOGO.men. 
 
 We have heard, that fome 7.yearess ago , two faith- 
 full Minifters were committed to a itrongcafile, upon 
 a rock, where their fervencte was fuch with God , that 
 the Captains ladie (being a Papift; fewed for their en- 
 largement j for (he (aid (he was affray d, they fhould fhake 
 the foundation of the Caftle , by their prayers , our 
 God is the vcrie fame. O ! that we had but fuch hearts. 
 
 Weareperfwaded, that if your Honours would but 
 clear this fervice of the Lefrefie of the Prelates , and 
 
 caufc 
 
t-igainfl tie Prelacy. 
 
 c aufc Miniftcrs and people go roundly to work, char- 
 ging the Miniitery , as thev v/ould anfwerit before 
 the Lord , to dcale plamelie in this particular of :he 
 Prelxrk^ , and with fiifrcfcrjrdticn to flrike neither 
 at §reat nor fmall fo ni>uch as at that y The P?€- 
 litcs hearts wou!d faile :h: m, their knees fhouldfmite 
 oneagainft an orhcr j and as the found of Rums io-as 
 fi»ooke the walls of UrM \ fo this one pcccc of /;«- 
 nidation , being of a right bore , and well plyed , 
 would (h kc the Pielac.e all in pecces ; yea by this 
 mcanes lomeof them happily might give over their 
 hould,and make their peace with God. 
 
 But Gods people t w ith all , mud labour to be of 
 one minde, and of one heart ; and by entering cove- 
 nant with God , againft thofc his enimies , and all 
 that is enmitic to God , rcfolvc to hould them at 
 ftaves end , till God give the vidorie. 
 
 Vv 5 
 
 Tk< 
 
THe 5. convenient Mean, ro take them off will be 
 the removall of their furfirring , & fowle-ftarving 
 Meanes , which maketh them adventer upon their 
 o wne bain,and maketh them the bain of the nation. 
 
 One of the ancients difcovcreth wcll,the caufe of the 
 break-neck-hafte to be Bifoops. Proper dapes , **#/-.' 
 turn , Comitaium, &C. Cufiuntejfe Fpifcopi 5 & Ec- 
 clefiarum Prelatiyvt Eeclefa Dei magts pr&fint , q nam pro* 
 fint: For delicious fairc,gorgeous apparell 3 and pom- 
 AmM. P ous train, they fecke to be Bifhops, and Prelates over 
 M. Churches,that they may rather rule over the Church, 
 
 than benifite the Church. 
 
 As theDivellfaidof lob calumnioufly : Doth he 
 feareGod fornothirg ? So it may be truely faid of the 
 Prelates,doe they ferve the man of finne for norhing * 
 Thzfleft pots of Egypt , maketh them fuch devouted 
 enemies to the government of the Jpirit. 
 
 We have (hewed from the penneof one of their 
 owne howfe, how their great revennews have undone 
 htg^Stuts & Religvon : Yea we have for this the 
 Aftipulation of Romes Champion- Cardinally name- 
 lie Belllarmine ; who pleading for Conftantines fup- 
 pofed donation of the Lateran Palace , and other 
 emoluments $ confcffeih 3 that fazfiiinmU VocM/h 
 
 de- 
 
tAgainJi the Trelacy. 
 
 <iccrcafedas the temfora/I^ealth^ increafed lib.2. c.17. 
 dePontif As by the Munificence of Princes , this 
 poyibn was poured into the Church ; So from the ac- 
 cumulative bountie of other Princes , the Ambition 
 and Avarice of Prelates , grew into Iter a'qU,&. mpttdile, 
 tiii at length fupcrftition overtopt Religion ; and a 
 Lording Tyrannic inppreffed the power of the Mi* 
 nifteric,and raflkllcd rempoiallauihoritie. 
 
 The cutting ot the large Trains of their Bilhopricks 
 out of other mens cloath , maketh all the nations 
 where they raignc, to go tattered and torn , boih in 
 fowlc,and ftarc i Yea, and fome they make to go ltark 
 naked. 
 
 It is well obicryed by one, that if Henriethc VIII. 
 had taken the Bifhopricks all In peeecs,after the fup- 
 preiTion of the Abbics ; and made evene mans bur- 
 then proportionable to his portage, it had been e more 
 honourable to the Miniitrie , and more profitable to 
 the State, Bur leaving them laden with to much rem- 
 potall honour , and reveoew : as men ovrrgrowen 
 with ikfhaudfaue.trKy became unweeldie 5 difllonot> 
 ruble, and unfopporrable burthens to the State. 
 
 I ritte, that oncfhould have the poicnder of fo 
 many llbouriwgoxtn , for lying like a doggc in the 
 manger, hindering the P4J?#r,t0 teed , and ihchungcr- 
 fid} vedSfkles to cate ? Yca,fhcy malic up the mouthes 
 rfthi and ty up tke tongues of the faithful] la- 
 
 bo 
 
3j<5 SyonsTle^ 
 
 bourcrs, both from treading out the corne, and eating 
 of the corne. 
 
 Is it firre,or polTible^hatonenun fhould rule over 
 lo many places, fo many miles diftant from his perfon i 
 as though he were a Metaphificall entirie,or of fuch aa 
 infinite being,that he had Jpirit enough for them all t 
 But what man is fufficient for one rtock ? 
 
 For a fpecdic redreffe then of thofe evills, wc in- 
 neat your Honours.ro remove this fewell, and the fire 
 (hall ceafe ; takeaway the Canon, and the Kites will 
 be gone. 
 
 We need not tell you againe , what neede the State 
 hath of thefe Meancs * and how well they might 
 be imployed ,- onely this 3 we are bould to commend 
 unto you, that as our nation (to our fhame) is growen 
 the Ape 3 and Monftcr of ail ftrange fa(hions> So if you 
 will bring the Prelates in fuch a cuttjthat their cloarhs 
 may fi r te clofTe to their bodyes ; Ic will be the onely 
 beft fafhion,that ever cime into the Land. Yea fo that 
 iinnc of ftrange fafhion* fhould fall with others. 
 
 the 
 
Agamfithe Prelacy. 337 
 
 The <5. (JWeav, 
 
 THc 6. and iaii Mean of removall, is the conti- 
 nuance of a Parliament , till the tenets of the 
 Hierarchic be rrycd,by God,znd the Countries that is, by 
 the Lawcsof Gotland the Land, 
 
 The Kings royall word ; the confirmation of rhe 
 Lawcs, and giving of lubficiics , imply a nccc fir 
 redreiTc of grievances ; which cannot irand with the 
 diflblving of a Parliament, nil reformation be eftl ( 
 bur if the common adversaries fhould inforce a d:ilb« 
 lu:ion , becaufc all reformation 1 if they be weil uar- 
 ched; intrenchcth upon them , Can U (land with the 
 wifdomc, valour, and fid^Ii.ic.of jroo.thegJY* Matfters 
 of Starc,ro quire ihc fhi.'Vjpon the tempcfluous hard- 
 Wowir.j of a Cabilcn fh un s'efure; for as 
 
 Paulc lnidro ih C Dturioii and rh-* Souldiers : £)tcff$ 
 ye Abtdt in the fl>/p 5 >r cannot be [\icd • So except yc ** 27;i 
 keep the fliip , till yc have beaten the Dunlirkers of 
 State • neither Kurg, <?//, nor Vie can be faved. 
 
 Your Honours know,that cveric difiblution of a 
 Parliamcnr,vvithour reall reformation, is ag«unft r 
 fcafeft.&c record. Is it nor the right of the State, t 
 disburdened of C*tc>pi:Lr>,moAthcs, Sc Car/kerWormtS; 
 and of fuch Lions, Sc Bejies^s devour Religion,^. Stjfr- 
 PoltLie' What reafbn is xr , (hit the Srarc 3flcmblcd 
 from all the parts of the Kingdomc,fliouM w 
 
333 
 
 Victu Syons 
 
 and meanes \ and when they pitch upon the point,thcy 
 fhould be biowen vrp with the Romilh breath of the 
 enimic ? fo that , as Ioab faid to David, concerning 
 Abfolon : Let them live, and if "toe all die jt matters not* 
 
 Laftly ; forRecorde, there is an ancient tmc^ the 
 fight whereof your Honours may command, though 
 we cannot. The Tcnour whereoff is this > that this 
 Court ftiould continue fitting fo long, as there were 
 any matters belonging to this high Court to be deter- 
 mined , and for the more cxaft < ffeefcing of this $ it 
 wasopenlie publiflrd by proclamation ; fomc conve- 
 nient time before thdr rifing v that the fubje&s Ihould 
 appeare, if they had anymore matter of grievance 
 determinable in thai Court. 
 
 This was confirmedfas we are informedyby Wiliiath 
 the Couquerour , notwuhftauding that he came to 
 the Crowne by the fword. Then (land your ground, 
 and q-'ite jourfekes like men in this matter of refor- 
 mation ; wherein fas we have fhiwedj you muft be- 
 ginne at the head, or ye cannot profper. 
 
 As we may fay with Z>#<w/,therc is but a Jitlc lertoun 
 our life & ctsAih ; fo it (hall become you with the fame 
 F/. 119. 60 p r ophet to make hail e , and net to delay the keefing of 
 Gods Cowmmdement in this particular* As the fame 
 Prophet vowed that he would not come int* the Ta~ 
 bemacle of bis ho^bfe ; nor go vp to his bed $ that is, hf 
 would give himlclf no reft,or take no other thing to 
 
 hit 
 
%Agabn& the T relay. %$p 
 
 his thought ; U c undent d pUtt far tht LorJ i 
 
 So(hoald yenottar.eanyprivacie , Co much to your 
 thoughts, at home , or abroad , in your bed,or in the 
 fHdcs , as the making way for rhc Lords d^tRing z- 
 tnong m i which cannot be done but by the remo 
 of his enimi«s. 
 
 We hare made bould to be the larger, becaufcthe 
 mattei is weightie,& wedefired to prove aspunftua! 
 lie as we could. 
 
 We might have becne larger, if the time and State 
 would have permitted. But we know your Honours 
 arc^perlwaded of thefc things a (or as Paule faid to 
 Agrippa : Vtt knoVQ you bclcevt-j. ) The pondering 
 and maintenance whereof wc humblie intveat at your 
 hands. We doe acknowledge that it is an inveterate 
 cvill , and by cuftorac and continuance hach much 
 prevailed, as tyrannous Lawes ufe to doe. Yea like 
 theldollof S'.Rumbati , with their ginnes & pinnes^'-^ 
 they have made it fo heavie, that me thinke it no; poy- fmm^nL 
 fable, with all the ftrcng'h of the State. But pull our ;-' K ™ : ' 
 ihcil fl>/fue ptnnt of pompe,and revenews, and then 
 they arccafilie removed from their place. Si nullum 
 itmput occurnt Regt : if there be no prefcriprion to the 
 lung. It Itandcth with leiTcr rcak>n,that any prefcrip- 
 . .on of time (hould prejudice the right of the kine 
 It is moft true, trdua pram \ > , t . c?r. 
 the entrance will be Ibmewhat hard,but the b.gir* 
 rhc way is vene Acepc : bu; 
 
 Xx 2 glo: 
 
34° SyonsVhxa 
 
 glorieof the a&ion , is of force enough to effeft itC 
 Remember that gracious, and incourageing fpeech <rf 
 God , concerning Zcrababelsflnifhing of that great 
 Z4fb. 4.7. workifelw art tbw> O ! great monnt aint ^before ZerubahH: t 
 thoujbalt become aflame, and he ft .ill 'bring forth the head- 
 Hone thereof, %ith fliontir.g and crying, grat e y grace , vnto 
 v- 5. //. if your hands beginne it (as it follow eth therej^<w 
 hands fiallfinijh it 5 ^Andthcy fcxltknoVi^ that the Lord of 
 Hoajis hath fent yott. 
 
 But what need all thofe arguments , let this ouc 
 plead for all: aut hoc,&ut nihil: either this,or nothing, 
 Thenegle&of this one thing together with that 
 main mean of true humiliation, maketh us more and 
 more adoc 5 for as it weakencth us, and ftreng'heqcth 
 theenemie; fo it enarmeth the Lord in zeal daylie,' 
 to giv e us more and more matter of humiliation; wit- 
 neflcjhishea vie hand in finking that hopefull plant, 
 the Prince of Bohemia, juft at that time when this 
 worke was a finishing. As all the enemies of Sion will 
 rcjoyceatit- fo it is more matter of mourning to us, 
 than we are aware orfj yea (it may bejwe may mourne 
 more for it many yeares hence. Alafe ! why was he 
 fmitren but for our finnes? which bhfteth in the vc- 
 rie bud all the hopes of Sions deliverance. The Lord 
 imite the hearts of his Pnncclie parents 5 our Royall 
 SoveraignC;of you,theStare reprcfentaave, and the 
 hearts of us ail,to lay it to heart>as we fhould-for if we 
 .make not a right ufe of it, he hath a heavier rod for all 
 and everieoneof us i he will never leave fmiting, till 
 we finite that which fmitech athib Honourtlf wc love 
 
 fisne 
 
tAgainfi the Trelacy. 5 4 1 
 
 finne better then our firft born,he will nor only (A 
 our firft boru , ( that is our darling, whatfoevcr it bej 
 but he will at length corrfume us. 
 
 With hcavic hearts, and mournful! eyes, we fpeakc 
 ir^ The like ominous thing hath nor befallen our King 
 and State , fince the much like lamentable calling 
 away of the two Sonius,and one Daughter, of Henty 
 the ririt, whole fhip, by the carelefncs of the fhippcr, 
 was fplittupon arockj where of 1 joperfons,one one- 
 ly was laved, by laying hould on the mail 3 and was 
 broughc to Land rhe next day after. 
 
 Thislofle proved after, the ground of great trouble, 
 to the State ; of ihe demoiifhing or many (aire 
 how'fts.and noble families , and of the cftlilion of 
 rivers of blood. 
 
 The Popes for Prelates) Penmen, would make the 
 Kings harflineflc ro the Clergie,a ipeciall caufeof this; 
 bur our Hiftories wimefle , that he fuffercd more ol 
 the Hicrarchie,than wasfi:ring for a King • wimefle 
 that monflrous proud affront offered him by that 
 tottering Prelate, Rudo'ph of Canterburie , in for- 
 bidding the Kings mariagc, with the Duke of Lorains 
 Daughter , becaufe another than he was tojoyne 
 them. Yea, further at Barkley , at the Queencs 
 coronation , he malapertly afked the Ktns» , who 
 fctt the Crowne upon his head 5 The King re 
 plyed : he remembred not well • neither was it 
 iuateriall. The Prelate ( in a great rage ) tould 
 Xx 5 him 
 
34 2 °> 
 
 him , that whofoever did it , ht had done more then 
 could be juftified; and therefore \fiid he) to the King: 
 Tou foa/l cither leave off * the Cre^cne , or I fltall leave off 
 faying of\jftt*ffe. The King, without change of counte- 
 nance 3 faid no more , but if I have it not by right,doe 
 With it as you pleafe ; whereupon he ftept toward the 
 Kingj& began to unty the button, to take the Crovvne 
 off the Kings head ; but the Nobilitie , and others 
 . . waxing wrath,at the impudencie of that faucie (have- 
 
 hrluwL** li»g,caufed him, by crying out on him, to leave off his 
 
 M*4« attempt with (hame enough. 
 
 Is it not a v/onder, that Kings & Queens ihould either 
 affecT:,or endure fuch a viperous generation rSome 
 would make us beleeve , that the King ( being ftruck 
 with fome panick terrors ) repented his rough ufage of 
 that furly crew; but we are of that rninde 3 that Kings, 
 Q*iecnes3& others , have greater caufe to repent that 
 they either maintaine them, or have anything to doe 
 with them at all. For folong as they are the unhappie 
 hufbandmen of the vineyard, there is not a flip of any 
 good like to grow in it j but either they fpoyle it 3 or 
 the Lordplucketh it up , that it may not be fpoyled- 
 witnelTe fbefidesothci inftanccs,) the prefent dolefull 
 inftance of ourloofing the rareft Ievvell of his age. As 
 we all defire in the band of duetie, and the bowels of 
 compaffion,to condole in foule, with that mournfull 
 King and Queene? fo let us all defire the Lord,roj>ut 
 it into their & our hearts , to joyne reformation wirh 
 humiliation $ and that in particular they may hate 
 this Hierarchie , and their inft&ious Leiturgie,with a 
 petfed hatred /for they (h<*H never profper by corre* 
 fpondencie with them. As 
 
lAgainfi tit TuUcy] 
 
 •• A* for the Kings admirable deliverance y ttc ma? 
 fav> though the on* hjtnd cf the l*rd Vc*j ciscrhim, >tt 
 the other ■* wvndcr him : And wc wi(h hisfongmay 
 be of mercic,andot ' jadgrnent ; and that he may pro- 
 clairac to a!! the world, by amendment ,thar his greateft 
 loffehithpTOveci n:sgrearctt game. 
 
 To make an end of our prclenr Subject. Weu-iih 
 your Honours might prevails with the Prelares 
 by fairc meanes , ro caftorV tharovcrch ung. 
 
 If they would goe by prcfident that is not wanting: 
 GregoricN.iziJ>;ze/2 rejected 1 his calling ro ftay conten- 
 tion. Herein England lohnof Beverley, Schoole- & m 
 mailter to Bead forfookc Ins Prelacie, for the conten- 
 tion raifed by the monkes and others about the Cere- 
 monies, and bcrookehimielf ro BcvetJey, where hce 
 preached the word conftantlie,till his denrh, and thus 
 hec became a Bifkf i*Accd. If they object that rheie 
 men forfookc their places occationallic upon the cor- 
 ruptions of contentious people, & not for the unlaw- 
 fullnesof their calling i weanfwcrfirft, that by reafon 
 of the Popifh Ceremonies , and their tyrannousgo. 
 vernmenr, there is now as much mifchicfe & conten- 
 tion's was then : And who is in the fault, but they 
 that doe,andprclTc filch things which it they would rc- 
 lioqwbj thefe things fhould ceaic. But to anfwer 
 • ):cdirectlie,lcc them take Hicrax , for a prefidenr, 
 without exception. Who forfooke the Prelacie (as 
 Kidorc witnt fleth mecrelie for the vtiU^futhics of ibt Zf 
 CAtfing. Which calling was not then come to that 
 height of unlaw fullncs by many degrees that now it is. 
 If ttuy will not thiu be perfuaded, from the prutti/c of 
 
 the 
 
344 '*^jtemf. e Pkdj 
 
 thclmrg , wc could by relation bring them evident 
 from the dzadUtfiiachus e 'eel us EpifcopuSy&c.z certain 
 Monfce being chofen Bifhop,refufed the burthen, who 
 ■ after his death fas they fay) appeared to his friend fpca- 
 Ctfa. Wng to him thus :// Epi(copttsfiM$epemfjem;\i\ had bee 
 imerb. IL cl Bilhop faith he I had beendamnedjbut if they will noc 
 L. s'.T.^p! bcleve the living word;// ^ one jhoxld rife 'from \ the dead they 
 ^ould not heleve htm. VVe feare they are like fleurhicke 
 pttients that cannor^/V/ , whom nothing but wfeifien 
 will curefwe meane of their callinges,not ©f their per- 
 fons,J to whom we have no quarrel!, but wiflhthem 
 better than ihey either wifh to us, or to themfelvcs.Ons 
 of their defperate mount e-banks our of the pulpitt could 
 flnde no cure for us, ('their fuppofed enimies) but pric- 
 ktKgin the bladder: but we have not fo learned chrift. To 
 conclude, wedefirc to fay no more to your Honours 
 but iip-&doir:for the Lord hath bidden you. Your 
 priviledgcs boih from divine & humane lawes are both 
 impregnable.and irrefilhble:then give us leave to dclire 
 your Honours to doe no more tha Heaven 6cEa?th; tiikg\ 
 Churchy Srate\-you&. yours require at your hands. So rc- 
 mebringyet once more that high Commiflion & fafe 
 condud of your God, with which in al dutie we con- 
 clude : The Lord thy God Vet// hold thy right ht/jd, faying 
 *jM»-i* vnto thee y feare not.,1 %i// help t bee.. 
 
 cjfrtagnum iter tfeend/s-Jed dattibi gloria vires. 
 
 Non eft e terns mo //is *d Affra via. 
 High muft you foare,but glory giv's thee wings. 
 No low attempt a ftarr-like glorie brings. 
 f 1 n 1 s. 
 
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 feme StftionsnotmR div;dcd,ntbr>Qf#e could give yon divers can, eu 
 
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