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    Fielde, John Author Profile
    Author Fielde, John
    Denomination Nonconformist
    Admonition to the Parliament Text Profile
    Genre Controversial Treatise
    Date 1572
    Full Title An admonition to the Parliament
    Source STC 10847
    Sampling Sample 1
    Text Layout
    The original format is quarto.
    The original contains new paragraphas are introduced by indentation,contains footnotes,contains comments and references,and ispartly illegible: close binding,
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    A view of Popishe abuses yet remaining in the
    Englishe Church, for the which Godly
    Ministers haue refused to
    subscribe.



    Abyde patiently the Lordes leasure. Cast thy
    care vppon the Lorde, and he will bring it to
    passe, he will do it.

    The ieopardous time is at hand, that the wrath
    of God shalbe declared from heauen vppon all
    vngodlynesse of those seducers that withholde
    the truthe in vnrighteousnesse, and set his commaundementes
    at naught, for their owne traditions.

    WHereas immediatly after the laste Parliament,
    holden at Westminster, begonne in
    Anno. 1570. and ended in Anno. 1571. the
    ministers of Gods holy word and sacramentes, were
    called before her Maiesties highe Commissyoners, reenforced
    to subscribe vnto the articles, if they woulde
    kepe their places and liuings, and some for refusyng
    to subscribe, wer vnbrotherly and vncharitably intreated,
    and from their offyces and places remoued: May
    it please therefore this honourable and high courte of
    Parliament, in consideration of the premisses, to take
    a view of such causes, as then did withholde, & nowe
    doth the foresaid ministers from subscribing and consenting
    vnto those forsaid articles, by way of purgation
    to discharge the~selues of all disobedience towards
    the church of God and their soueraigne, and by way
    of most humble intreatie, for the remouing away and
    vtter abolishing of all such corruptions and abuses as
    withheld them, through which this long time brethre~
    haue bene at vnnaturall warre and strife among them
    selues, to the hinderance of the gospel, to the ioy of the
    wicked, and to the greefe and dismay of all those that

    B.iij.

    1

    professe Christes religion, and laboure to attain Christian
    reformation.

    The fyrst Article.



    Firste, that the booke commonly called the booke of
    common prayers for the churche of England, aucthorised
    by Parliament, and all and euery the contentes
    therin, be suche as are not repugnante to the worde of
    God.
    Albeit, righte honourable and dearely beloued, we
    haue at all times borne with that, which we could not
    amend in this booke, and haue vsed the same in oure
    ministerie so farre forthe as we might: reuerencing
    those times and those persones, in which and by who~
    it was fyrst aucthorised being studious of peace, and
    of the building vp of Christes church, yet now being
    compelled by subscription to allowe the same, and to
    confesse it, not to be against the worde of God in any
    pointe but tollerable: We must nedes say as followeth,
    that this booke is an vnperfecte booke, culled and
    picked out of that popishe dunghill, the Masse booke
    full of all abhominations. For some and many of the
    contents therin be suche as are againste the woord of
    God, as by his grace shall be proued vnto you. And
    by the way, we can not but much maruell at the craftie
    wilynesse of those men, whose partes it had ben fyrst
    to haue proued eche and euery content therin, to be agreable
    to the worde of God, seing that they enforce
    men by subscription to consent vnto it, or else sende the
    packing from their callings.
    1 They shoulde fyrst proue that a reading seruice
    by the woorde of God going before, and with the administration
    of the sacramentes, is according to the
    woorde of God, that priuate Communion, priuate
    baptisme, baptisme ministred by women, holydayes
    ascribed to sainctes, prescript seruices for them, kneeling
    at communion, wafer cakes for their breade when
    they minister it, surplesse and coape to doe it in: churching
    2

    of women comming in vails abusing the psalm
    to her. I haue lifted vp mine eyes vnto the hilles. &c.
    and suche other foolishe things, are agreeable to the
    written woorde of the almightie. But their crafte is
    plaine. Wherein they deceiue themselues, standing so
    muche vppon this woorde repugnant, as thoughe nothing
    were repugnaunt, or against the word of God,
    but that which is expressely forbidden by plaine commaundement,
    they knowe well inoughe and woulde
    confesse, if either they were not blinded, or else theyr
    heartes hardened, that in the circumstances eche content.
    Wherwith we iustly fynde fault, and they to contentiously
    for the loue of their liuings maintain, smelling
    of their olde popish priesthod, is against y=e= word
    of God. For besides y=t= this prescript forme of seruice
    as they call it, is full of corruptions, it mainteined an
    vnlawful ministerie, vnable to execute that offyce.
    By the worde of God, it is an offyce of preaching,
    they make it an offyce of reading: Christe said goe
    preache, they in mockerie giue them the Bible, and aucthoritie
    to preache, and yet suffer them not, except that
    they haue newe licences. So that they make the cheefest
    part preching, but an accessorie that is as a thing,
    without which their offyce may and doth consist. In
    the scriptures there is attributed vnto the ministers
    of God, the knowledge of the heauenly misteries,
    and therefore as the greatest token of their loue, they
    are enioyned to fede Gods Lambes, and yet with
    these, suche are admitted and accepted, as onely are
    bare readers that is able to say seruice, and minister a
    sacrament. And that this is not the feding that Christ
    spake of, the scriptures are plaine. Reading is not
    feeding, but it is as euill as playing vpon a stage, and
    worse to. For players yet learne their partes wythout
    booke, and these, a manye of them can scarcely reade
    within booke. These are emptie feeders, darcke
    eyes, ill workemen to hasten in the Lordes haruest
    messengers that cannot call. Prophets that can
    3

    not declare the will of the Lorde, vnsauery false,
    blinde guides, sleepie watchmen vntrustie
    dispensers of Gods secretes, euill deuiders of the
    worde, weake to withstand the aduersarie, not
    able to confute, and to conclude, so farre from making
    the man of God perfect to all good works, that rather
    the quite contrary may be confyrmed.
    By this booke, bare reading is good tilling, and
    single seruice saying, is excellent building, and he is
    sheapheard good inough, that can as popishe priestes [prieste*]
    coulde, oute of their Portuise, say fairely theyr diuine
    seruice. May some in the fulnesse of their blasphemie
    haue sayd it, that muche preaching bringeth the word
    of God into contempt, and that fower preachers were
    inoughe for all London, so farre are they from thinking
    it necessary, and seeking that euery congregation
    should haue a faithfull pastor. Paule was not so wise
    as these politique men. When he sayde, we can not
    beleeue excepte we heare, and we can not heare without
    a preacher. &c. seing we may heare by reading, and
    so beleue without a preacher. Foolishly he spake, when
    he saide he must be apt to teache, sith euery man of
    the basest sort of the people is admitted to this function
    of such as Ieroboam did sometimes make his
    priestes. We wil say nomore in this matter, but desire
    you to consider with vs what small profyt and edifycation
    this seely reading hath broughte to vs these [illegible]
    yeres paste (except perhaps by some circumcelion or
    newe Apostle, we haue had nowe and then a fleeing
    sermon) surely our sinnes are growen ripe, oure ignorance
    is equall with the ignorance of our leaders
    we are lost they cannot fynde vs, we are sicke, they
    can not heale vs, we are hongry, they cannot fynde vs
    except they leade vs by other mennes lights, and hear
    vs by saying a prescript forme of seruice, or else feed
    vs with homilies, that are to homely, to be sette in the
    place of Gods scriptures. But drunken they are, and
    shewe theyr owne shame, that striue so egarely to defend
    4

    their doyngs, that they wyl not only not acknowledge
    their imperfections: but wyl enforce other men
    to allow them.
    2. In this booke also, it is appointed that after the
    Creede, yf there be no sermon, an homilie must folow
    either already set out, or hereafter to be set oute. This
    is scarse plaine dealing, that they wold haue vs co~sent
    vnto that which we neuer sawe, and which is to be set
    out hereafter, we hauyng had such cause already to distrust
    them, by that which is already set out, being corrupt
    & strange, to maintayne an vnlearned & readyng
    ministerie: and sith it is playne that mennes workes
    ought to be kepte in, and nothyng els but the voice of
    God and holy Scriptures, in which onely are contained
    all fulnes and sufficiencie to decide controuersies
    must sound in his church, for the very name Apocrypha
    testifieth that thei ought rather to be kept close
    then to be vttered.
    3. In this booke dayes are ascribed vnto Saintes,
    and kept holy with fastes on their euenes, & prescript
    seruice appointed for them, which beside that, they ar
    of many superstitiously kepte and obserued, are also
    contrary to y=e= comma~ndement of God. Sixe dayes
    shalt thou laboure
    , and therfore we for the superstitio~
    that is put in them, dare not subscribe to allow them.
    4. In this booke we are enioyned to receaue the
    Communion kneeling, which beside that it hath in it a
    shew of papistrie, doth not so wel expresse y=e= misterie
    of this holy Supper. For as in the old Testament
    eating the Paschal lambe standing, signified a readinesse
    to passe: euen so in receauyng it now sitting
    accordyng to the example of Chryst, we signifie rest,
    that is, a ful finishing thorow Chryst of al the ceremonial
    law, and a perfect worke of rede~ption wroght
    that geueth rest for euer. And so we auoide also y=e= danger
    of Idolatrie which was in times past too co~mon,
    and yet is in the harts of manie, who haue not yet forgotten
    their breaden God, so slenderlie haue they ben

    C

    5

    instructed. Against which we may set the commandeme~t.
    Thou shalt not bow down to it, nor worship it.
    5. As for the halfe Communion, which is yet appointed
    like to the commemoration of the Masse, we
    say little of it, sauing that we may note, how neare the
    translator bounde himselfe to the Masse booke, that
    wold not omit it. We speake not of the name of priest
    wherwith he defaceth the minister of Christ (bicause
    the priest that translated it, woulde perhappes faine
    haue the ministers of Christe to be ioyned with him)
    seeing the offyce of Priesthode is ended, Christe being
    the last priest that euer was. To call vs therefore
    priests as vouching oure offyce, is either to call backe
    againe the olde priesthode of the law, which is to denie
    Christ to be comen, or else to kepe a memory of the
    popishe priesthode of abhomination still amongste
    vs. As for the fyrst, it is by Christe abolished, and
    for the second it is of Antichrist, and therfore we haue
    nothing to w=t= do it. Such ought to haue no place in
    our church, neither are they ministers of Christe, sent
    to preach his gospell, but priests of the Pope to sacrifyce
    for the quicke and the dead, that is to tread vnder
    their feete the bloude of Christe. Suche oughte not to
    haue place amongste vs, as the scriptures manifestly
    teache. Besides that, we neuer reade in the newe Testament,
    that this woorde prieste as touching offyce
    is vsed in the good parte.
    6 Sixthly, in this boke three or foure are allowed
    for a fytte number to receiue the communion, and the
    priest alone together with one more, or with the sicke
    man alone, may in time of necessitie, that is, when
    there is any common plague, or in time of other visitation,
    minister it to the sicke man, and if he require it,
    it may not be denyed. This is not I am sure like in effect
    to a priuate masse: that scripture drink ye all of
    this, maketh not againste this, and priuate communion,
    is not against the scriptures.
    7 And as for priuate baptisme, that will abide the
    6

    touchstone. Goe ye (sayth Christ and teache, baptising
    them. &c. Now teaching is deuorsed from communions
    and sacraments. They may goe alone without
    doctrine. Women that may not speake in a
    congregation, may yet in time of necessitie, minister
    the sacrament of baptisme, & that in a priuate house.
    And yet this is nor to tie necessitie of saluation to the
    sacramentes, nor to nowsell men vp in that opinion.
    This is agreable w=t= the scriptures, and therfore when
    they bring the baptized childe, they are receiued with
    this speciall commendation. I certefye you, that you
    haue done well, and according vnto due order. &c.
    But nowe we speake in good earnest, when they answer
    this: Let them tell vs, howe this geare agreeth
    with the scriptures, and whether it be not repugnante
    or against the worde of God?
    8 The publique baptisme, that also is full of childishe
    and superstitious toyes. First in their prayer
    they say that God by the baptisme of his sonne Iesus
    Christ, did sanctifie the floude Iordan, and all others
    waters, to the misticall washing away of sinne, attributing
    that to the signe which is propre to the
    worke of God in the bloud of Christe, as though vertue
    were in water, to washe away sinnes. Secondly,
    they require a promisse of the godfathers and godmothers
    (as they terme them) which is not in their
    powers to performe. Thirdly, they prophane holye
    baptisme, in toying folishly, for that they aske questions
    of an infante, whiche can not answere, and speake
    vnto them, as was wont to be spoken vnto men, and
    vnto such as being conuerted, answered for the~selues,
    & were baptized. Which is but a mockerie of God,
    and therefore against the holy scriptures. Fourthly,
    they do superstitiously and wickedly institute a newe
    sacrament, which is proper to Christe onely, marking
    the childe in the forheade with a crosse, in token that
    hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith
    of Christ. We haue made mention before of that wicked
    7

    deuorse of the worde and sacraments. We say nothing
    of those, that are admitted to be witnesses, what
    ill choise there is made of them, howe conueniente it
    were, seeing the children of the faithfull only are to be
    baptized, that the father should and mighte, if conueniently
    offer and present his child to be baptized, making
    an open confession of that faithe, wherein he
    would haue his childe baptized, and how this is vsed
    in well ordered churches.
    9 As for matrimonie, that also hathe corruptions
    to many. It was, wonte to be compted a sacramente
    and therfore they vse yet a sacramental signe, to which
    they attribute the vertue of wedlocke. I meane the
    wedding ring, which they fowly abuse & dally withall,
    in taking it vp, and laying it downe: In putting it
    on, they abuse the name of the Trinitie, they make the
    newe marryed man, according to the Popish forme, to
    make an idol of his wife, saying: with this ring I thee
    wedde, with my body I thee worshippe. &c. And bicause
    in Poperie, no holy action mighte be done without
    a masse, they enioyne the marryed persones to receiue
    the communion (as they do their bishoppes and
    priests when they are made. &c.) other pettie things
    oute of the booke, we speake not of, as that women
    contrary to the rule of the Apostle, come, and are
    suffered to come bare headed, with bagpipes and fidlers
    before them, to disturbe the congregation, and
    that they must come in at the great dore of the church,
    or else all is marred.
    10 As for confirmation
    as they vse it by the Bishoppe alone to them that
    lacke both discretion and faithe, it is superstitious and
    not agreeable to the word of God, but popish and peuish.
    We speake not of other toyes vsed in it and how
    farre it differeth, and is degenerated from the firste
    institution, they themselues that are learned can witnesse.
    8

    11 They appointe a prescripte kinde of seruice to
    burie the deade: And that which is the duety of euery
    christian, they tie alone to the minister, wherby prayer
    for the dead is maintained, and partly gathered oute
    of some of the prayers, where they pray that we with
    this oure brother, and all other departed in the true
    faithe of thy holy name, may haue oure perfecte consummation
    and blisse, bothe in bodye and soule. We
    say nothing of the threefolde peale, bicause that it is
    rather licensed by iniunction, the~ commaunded in the
    booke, nor of their straunge mourning by chaunging
    theyr garments, which if it be not hipocritical, yet it is
    superstitious and heathenishe, bicause it is vsed onely
    of custome, nor of buriall sermons, whiche are put in
    place of trentalles, wherout spring many abuses, and
    wherefore in the best reformed churches, are remoued.
    As for the superstitions vsed bothe in Countrey and
    Citie, for the place of buryall, whiche way they muste
    lie, howe they must be fetched to churche, the minister
    meeting them at churche stile with surplesse, wyth a
    companye of greedie clarkes, that a crosse white or
    blacke, must be set vpon the dead corpes, that breade
    muste be giuen to the poore, and offrings in buriall
    time vsed, and cakes sent abrode to frendes, bycause
    these are rather vsed of custome and superstition, then
    by the authoritie of the boke. Smal commaundement
    will serue for the accomplishing of such things. But
    great charge will hardly bring the least good thing to
    passe, and therefore all is let alone, and the people as
    blinde and as ignorante as euer they were. God be
    mercyfull vnto vs.
    12 Churching of women after childbirthe, smelleth
    of Iewishe purification: theyr other rytes and customes
    in theyr lying in, & comming to church, is foolishe
    and superstitious, as it is vsed. She must lie in
    with a white sheete vppon her bed, and come couered
    with a vaile, as ashamed of some follie. She muste
    offer, but these are matters of custome, and not in the

    C.iij.

    9

    booke: But this Psalme (as is noted before) is childishly
    abused, I haue lifte vp mine eyes vnto the
    hilles, from whence commeth my healpe. The sunne
    shall not burne thee by day, nor the moone by nighte.
    They pray that all men may be saued, & that they may
    be deliuered from thundering and tempest, when no
    daunger is nighe, that they sing Benedictus, Nunc
    dimittis
    and Magnificat, we know not to what purpose,
    except some of them were ready to die, or except
    they woulde celebrate the memory of the virgine, and
    Iohn Baptist. &c. Thus they prophane the holy
    scriptures.
    13 In all theyr order of seruice there is no edification, according to the rule of the Apostle, but confusion,
    they tosse the Psalmes in most places like tennice
    balles. The people some standing, some walking,
    some talking, some reading, some praying by themselues,
    attend not to the minister. He againe posted
    it ouer, as fast as he can gallop. For either he hath
    two places to serue, or else ther are some games to be
    playde in the after noone, as lying for the whetstone
    heathnish dauncing for the ring, a beare or a bull to be
    baited, or else Iacke an apes to ride on horssebacke, or
    an enterlude to be plaide, and if no place else can be
    gotten, it must be done in the churche. &c. Nowe the
    people sit, and now they stand vp. When the old Testament
    is read, or the lessons, they make no reuere~ce
    but when the gospel commeth, then they al stand vp.
    For why, they thinke that to be of greatest authoritie
    and are ignorante that the scriptures came from our
    spirite. When Iesus is named, then of goth the cap,
    and downe goeth the knees, with suche a scraping on
    the ground, that they cannot heare a good while after
    so that the word is hindred, but whe~ any other names
    of God are mentioned, they make no curtesie at all, as
    though the names of God were not equall, or as thoughe
    all reuerence oughte to be giuen to the syllables.
    We speake not of ringing, when Mattens is don, and
    10

    other abuses incident. Bicause we shalbe answered;
    that by the boke they are not maintained, only we desire
    to haue a booke to reforme it. As for organes and
    curious singing, thoughe they be proper to popishe
    dennes, I meane to Cathedrall churches, yet some others
    also must haue them. The Queenes chappell,
    and these churches, must be paternes and presidents
    to the people, of all superstitions.
    14 Their po~tificall (which is annexed to the boke
    of common prayer, and whereunto subscribing to the
    Articles, we must subscribe also) whereby they consecrate
    Bishoppes, make ministers and deacons, is nothing
    else but a thing worde for worde drawne out of
    the Popes po~tifical, wherin he sheweth himself to be
    Antichrist most liuely. And as the names of Archbishops,
    Archdeacons, Lord bishops, Chancelers. &c.
    are drawne out of the Popes shop togither with their
    offices. So the gouernement which they use, by the
    life of the Pope which is the Canon law is Antichristian
    and deuillishe, and contrarye to the scriptures.
    And as safely may we, by the warrant of Gods word
    subscribe to allowe the dominion of the pope vniuersally
    to raigne ouer the church of God, as of an Archbishop
    ouer an whole prouince, or a Lord bishop ouer
    a diocesse, which co~taineth many shyres and parishes.
    For the dominion that they exercise the Archbyshop
    aboue them, and they aboue the rest of theyr brethren,
    is vnlawfull, and expresly forbidden by the woorde
    of God.
    15 Agayne, in that they are honoured with the
    titles of kings and greate rulers, as Lorde, Lordes
    grace, Metropolitane, primate of all Englande, honor.
    &c. it is against the word of God.
    Moreouer, in that they haue ciuill offices, ioyned
    to the Ecclesiasticall, it is againste the woorde of
    God. As for an Archbishop to be a Lord president,
    a Lorde bishop, to be a countie Palatine, a Prelate of
    the garter, who hath much to do at S. Georges feast,
    11

    when the Bible is caryed before the procession in the
    crosses place, a iustice of peace, or iustice of Quorum
    an highe Commissioner. &c. and therefore they haue
    theyr prisonnes, as clinkes, gatehouses, colehouses,
    towers and castles, whiche is also againste the scriptures.
    This is not to haue keyes but swords, & plaine
    tokens they are, that they exercise that, whiche they
    woulde so faine seeme to want, I meane dominion ouer
    theyr brethren.
    16 In that the Lorde Bishops, theyr suffraganes
    Archdeaco~s, Cha~celers, Officials, proctors, Doctors,
    sumners, and such rauening rablers, take vpon them,
    which is most horrible the rule of Goddes churche,
    spoyling the pastor of his lawful iurisdictio~ ouer
    hys own flock giue~ by the word, thrusting away most
    sacrilegiously that order which Christ hath left to hys
    church, & which the primatiue churche hath vsed, they
    shewe they holde the doctrine with vs, but in vnrighteousnesse,
    with an outward shewe of godlynesse, but
    hauing denyed the power therof, entring not in by
    Christ, but by a popishe and vnlawfull vocation. We
    speake not howe they make ministers by themselues
    alone, and of other sole authoritie, and that in
    secrete places, of theyr election and probation, that it
    is of him, to whom by no right it belongeth. And that
    when they haue made them, either they may tarrye in
    theyr Colledge, and lead the liues of loytering losels,
    as long as they liue, or else gadde abrode with the Bishops
    bulles like to Circumcelions, to preach in other
    mennes charges where they lifte, or else get benefices
    by frendshippe or money, or flatterie where they can
    catche them, or to conclude: If all these faile, that they
    may goe vp and downe like beggers, and fall to many
    follyes: or else as many haue don, set vp bils at Pauls
    or at the Royall exchange, and in such publike places,
    to see if they can heare of some good maysters, to entertaine
    them into seruice. Surely, by the Canon law,
    by which the Bishops raigne and rule, they ought to
    12

    kepe those ministers, which they make as lo~g as they haue
    no liuings and places. We knowe three or foure bishops
    in this realme, would haue kept such houses, as
    neuer none did in this lande, if this rule had bene obserued.
    They clapt them out so fast by hundredes, and
    they made them pay wel for their orders, and surely to
    speake the truth they were worthy for the Bishoppes
    (what oddes so euer there were of their giftes) yet in
    theyr letters gaue them all a like commendation. They
    put on their surplesses, or else subscribid like honest
    men. Fie vpon these stinking abominations.
    17 We should be to long to tell your honoures of
    Cathedrall churches, the dennes aforsaide of all loytering
    lubbers, wher master Deane, master Vicedeane,
    master Canons or Prebendaries the greater, master
    pettie Canons, or Canons the lesser, master Chanceller
    of the churche, master treasurer, otherwise called
    Iudas the purssebearer, the cheefe chauntor, singing
    men speciall fauourers of religion, squeaking queresters,
    organ players, gospellers, pistelers, pentioners,
    readers, vergerirs. &c. liue in great idlenesse, and haue
    their abiding. If you woulde knowe whence all these
    came, we can easely answere you, that they came from
    the Pope, as oute of the Troian horses bellye, to the
    destruction of Gods kingdome. The churche of God
    neuer knewe them, neither doth any reformed churche
    in the world knowe them.
    18. And birdes of the same fether, are couetous
    patrones of benefices, persones, vicares, readers, parishe
    priests, stipendaries, and riding chaplains, that
    vnder the aucthoritie of their masters, spoile theyr
    flockes of the foode of their soules. Suche seeke
    not the Lord Iesus, but theyr owne bellies, clouds
    they are without raine, trees without frute, painted
    sepulchres full of dead bones, fatted in all abounda~ce
    of iniquitie, and leane locustes in all feeling, knowledge,
    and sinceritie.
    19 What shoulde we speake of the Archbishops

    D

    13

    court, sith all men knowe it, and your wisedomes can
    not, but see what it is. As all other courts ar subiect to
    this, by the Popes prerogatiue, yea, and by statute of
    this realme yet vnrepealed, so is it the filthie quaue
    mire, and poysoned plashe of all the abhomination
    that doe infect the whole realme. We speake not of licenses
    graunted out of this courte, to marrye in forbidden
    times, as in lent, in aduent, in the gang weke, with
    banners and belles, with the prieste in his surplesse
    singing gospels, and making crosses, rangeth about
    in many places, vpon the ember dayes, and to forbidden
    persons, and in exempt places. We make no mention
    of licences, to eat white meate, and fleshe in lent
    and that with a safe conscience, for riche men that can
    buy them with money, nor we say nothing how derely
    men pay for them. As for dispensations with beneficed
    boyes, tollerations for non residentes, bulles to
    haue two benefices, to haue three, to haue more, and
    as many as they list or can gette, these are so common
    that all godly and good men are compelled with grefe
    of hart, to cry out vpon such abominations. We omit
    excommunication for money, absolution for the same
    and that by absoluing one man for another, which
    how contrary it is to the scriptures, the complaints
    of many learned men by propositions in open scholes
    proposed, by wrytings in printed bookes set oute, and
    by preaching in open pulpits, haue beene sufficiently
    witnessed. To conclude, this filthy court hath full power
    together with the aucthoritie of this pettie popish
    metropolitane and primate of all Engla~d, to dispence
    in all causes, wherin the pope was wont to dispence
    vnder which are contained more cases and causes, then
    we are able to recken. As for my Lords grace of Yorke
    we deale not with him. We refer him to that learned
    epistle, which Beza wrote vnto him aboute these matters.
    20 And as for the commissaries court, that is but
    a pettie little stinking ditche, that floweth oute of that
    14

    former great puddle, robbing Christes church of lawfull pastors, of watchfull Seniors and Elders, and
    carefull Deacons. In this court as in the other, one
    alone doth excommunicate, one alone sitteth in iudgement,
    and when he will, can drawe backe the iudgement
    which he hath pronounced, hauing called vpon
    the name of God, and that for money which is called
    the chaunging of penaunce. In this courte, for non
    paiment of two pence, a man shall be excommunicated
    if he appeare not when he is sent for, if he doe not as
    his ordinarie would, from whom he had his popishe
    induction and institution, & to whom he hath sworne,
    Canonicam obedientiam, Canonicall obedience, if he
    learne not his Catechisme like a good boye withoute
    booke, when it were more meete he shoulde be able to
    teach others. To conclude: if he be not obedyent to all
    these Lord bishops officers, by and by he must be cut
    of by excommunication. And as it is lightly graunted
    and giuen forthe, so if the money be paide, and the
    court discharged, it is as quickly called in again. This
    courte poulleth parishes, scourgeth the poore hedge
    priestes, ladeth Churchwardens with manifest periuries,
    punisheth whoredomes and adulteryes with
    ioyishe censures, remitteth without satisfying the congregation, and that in secrete places, giueth out dispe~sations
    for vnlawfull mariages, and comitteth a thousand
    such like abhominations. God deliuer al Christians
    out of this Antichristian tyrannie, where the iudges
    aduocates and proctors for the most part are papists,
    and as for the scribes and notaries as greedy as
    cormorantes, and if they all should perhappes see this
    wryting, they would be as angry as waspes, & sting
    like hornets. Three of them would be inowe to sting a
    man to death, for why they are highe comissioners.
    All this we say springeth oute of this pontificall,
    which we must allowe by subscription, setting downe
    our hands, that it is not repugnaunte or againste the
    worde of God, we meane this Antichristian hierarchie,
    15

    and popish orderyng of ministers, strange from
    the worde of GOD, and the vse of al well reformed
    churches in the worlde.
    21. We haue almost let passe one thyng worthy the
    reme~brance, which is, that they take vpon them blasphemouslie,
    hauyng neyther promise nor commandment
    to say to their new creatures, receaue the Holy
    ghost. As though the Holy ghost were in their power
    to geue without warrant, at their owne pleasure.
    And thus much be spoken as touching this book
    agaynst which to stand, is a wonder to two sortes power of
    men, the one ignorant, the other obstinate. The Lord
    geue those that be his, vnderstandyng in all thynges.
    that they may haue iudgeme~t: as for the other whom
    the God of this worlde hath blynded, least they
    shoulde see and confesse the truth and so be saued, and
    that doe in the full grouth of wickednes, maliciously
    resist the truth. God confound them, that peace must
    be vpon Israell, and his sauyng health vpon this nation.
    Amen.
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