A LOOKING-GLASS for all LORDLY PRELATES.  
WHEREIN THEY MAY Clearly behold the true divine Original and laudable Pedigree, whence they are descended; together with their holy lives and actions laid open in a double Parallel, The first, between the Devil; The second, between the jewish High-Priests, and Lordly Prelates; and by their double dissimilitude from Christ, and his Apostles.  
ESAY LI. I. Look unto the Rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.  
JOHN VIII. XXXXIV. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do; He was a Murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  
MATH VII. XV. XVI. Beware of false Prophets which come unto you in Sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves; ye shall know them by their fruits.  
Printed Anno M. DC. XXXVI.   

To the PONTIFICIAL LORDLY PRELATES of England.  
MY LORDS,  
Being put by your pieties from my Ministry & function, contrary to the fourth Commandment and Gods sacred Word, To keep myself from idleness, o●… worse employments, I have adventured to draw up and present this Lookingglass, for a New years gift, to your Lordships, not to defame you (God is my witness) but to inform, and so reform you (if possible) by the Parallels therein comprised. If any of the comparisons therein specified, seem odious, (as commonly most do) to your holiness, you must blame yourselves, not me, who relate only your actions (and compare them with the devils, the jewish high Priests, Christ's and his Apostles) but was not the author, nor occasion of them, And if you amend them and become new men, the Parallels will soon grow out of date: Neither do I involve you all 〈◊〉, but coniuctim in these Parities and disparities; All of you are not alike culpable, But some more, some less, and some of you (perchance) altogether innocent: I desir●… therefore every of you, to apply so much of it (and no more) to himself as his own conscience (upon serious examination) shall ascertain him doth appertain to him. Sure I am, that the whole concerns you all (as united.) And the greater part, many of you (as divided) God grant you grace to make good use of it. It is the first degree of reformation, to discover your enormities to you; (This is my part, not yours; Lo I have here performed it.) The next degree is, to repent and amend all things amiss; and not to relapse; That is your part (by Gods concurring grace) I trust, you will speedily execute it; If not, As it was no railing or slander in Christ, to call judas a devil john 6. 70. and to tell the jews that they whereof their Father the Devil john. 8. 44. So it will be no reviling, or Scandalum magnatum in me, to say as much to your Lordships, If your actions prove you such; or to tell you, that you are none of Christ's Disciples, Sons; or followers, but the devils; None of the Apostles successors, but the jewish high Priests, really (though not morally) ceased in Christ, of whom they were a Type. Consider therefore seriously what is here written, and view your lives and actions in this impartial Glass, and the Lord give you both understanding, and reformation in all things amiss, (which now are many) that so you may be Christ's and his Apostles followers and Disciples in verity, as you are now only in pretence, (as is here in brief discovered, I hope without offence.  
Now lest your Lordships should take any just exceptions against any thing I have written: be it known to you, and all men, by these ptesents, that I am both able & read●… to make good every particular Parallel against all gainsayers, by Histories, testimonies, and examples of Lord Prelates, in all ages, which for brevity sake, I have omitted; the rather, because yourselves, (at leastwise some of your Holinesses) have experimentally ratified all and every of them past all contradiction. But yet to stop your months, I shall only acquaint your Lordships what some of our Martyrs have written of Lord Bishops 
(a) In his works p. 217. 211. . Dr. Barnes, our Learned Martyr, recites. That their was no great Clerk in the Church of God this 400. years, but he complained vehemently against the pride and lewd living of the Bishops. etc. They say they be ●…he successors of Christ and his Apostles, but I can see them follow none but judas. For they bear the purse and have all the money. And if they had not so great possessions, I am sure an hundred would speak against them, where now dare not one, for lofse of Promotion. As for this Article, I will overcomme you with the witness of all the world, you may well condemn it for heresy, but it is as true, as your Pater noster: judas sold our Master but once, and you sell him as often as he cometh in your hands. But I would it were, you could prove me a liar, and that you followed any of the Apostles saving judas only. Yea, I would that you were in certain points as good as judas was, etc. Take it to you and make the best you can of it. Yea he goeth one strain higher. 
(b) Page 284. 198.  I do reckon (saith he) of our English Lord Prelates your Lordship's Predecessors) that you are ten times worse than the great Turk: for he regardeth no more, but rule and dominion in this world? and you are not therewith content, (and I shall say the same to you my Lords) but you will also rule over men's consciences, yea and oppress Christ and his holy word, and blaspheme and condemn his word. They call themselves in words, the servants of servants; but in very deed, they will be Lord over all Lords, and desire to be taken as Lords and King over all Kings. These truths he sealed with his blood.  

(c) In his works p. 116.  john Frith our godly Martyr, writes thus: After that the office of a Bishop was made so honourable & profitable, they that were worst both in learning & living, most laboured for it: For they that were virtuous would not entangle themselves with the vain pride of this world. And in conclusion it came so far, that whosoever would give most money for it, or best could flatter the Prince (which he knew well all good men to abhor) had the pre-eminence and got the best Bishopric: and then instead of God's word, they published their own Commaundments, and made Laws to have all under them, and made men believe they could not err, whatsoever they did or said. And even as in the rooms and steed of Moses, Aaron, Eliazer, josua, Calib, & other faithful folk, came Herode, Annas, Cayphas, Pilate and judas, which put Christ to death: So now in steed of Christ, Peter, Paul, james and john, and the faithful followers of Christ: we have the Pope, Cardinals, Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and proud Prelates with their Proctors, the malicious Minister of their Master the devil; which notwithstanding transform themselves into a likeness, as though they were the Ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. So that the body is cankered long ago, & now are left but certain small members which God of his puissant power, hath reserved uncorrupted: and because they see that they cannot be cankered as their own flesh is, for pure anger they burn them, lest if they continued there might seem some deformity in there own cankered carcase, by the comparing of these whole members to their scabbed body. So he.  
Mr. William Tyndall, our must devout Martyr; as he terms, 
(d) Practise of Popish Prelates p. 343.  the Pope and Lordly Prelates (Especially those who thrust themselves into, or meddle with temporal Offices and affairs,) Wolves in a Lambs (Sr. john Lambs) skin; calling themselves in the title of 〈◊〉 Cham Seruus Seruorum, servants of all servants, and are yet found, tyrannus tyrann●…rum, of all tyrants the most cruel. So he determines thus of Lord Bishops. 
(e) Obedience of a Christian man p. 114. 138. 135.  Bishops they only can Minister the temporal sword, their Office the preaching of God's word laid apart, which they (as your Lordships now) will neither do, nor suffer any man to do; but slay with the temporal sword (which they have gotten out of the hand of all Princes) them that would. The preaching of God's word is hateful & contrary unto them 
* Why it is; that B. put down preaching.  why? For it is impossible to preach Christ, except thou preach against Antichrist, that is to say, them which with their false doctrine and violence of sword enforce to quench the true doctrine of Christ. And as thou canst heal no disease except thou begin at the root, even so canst thou preach against no mischief (mark it) EXCEPT THOU BEGIN AT THE BISHOPS. Kings they are but shadows, vain names and things idle, having nothing to do in the world, but when our holy Father needeth their help. The Emperor and Kings are nothing now adays but even hangmen unto the Pope and Bishops, to kill whomsoever they condemn, without any more ado, as Pilate was into the Scribes and Pharisees and the high Bishop to ●…ange Christ. What Realm can be in peace for such ●…urmoilers? Bishops that preach not, or that preach aught save God's Word, are none of Christ's, nor of his anointing; but servants of the Beast, whose mark they bear, whose word they preach, whose Law they maintain clean against Gods Law. 
(f) Acts and Monuments edi. 1610. pag. 462. 463.  The Prelates with the rabble and multitude of their ceremonies, have put away preaching: and as ignorance made us servants to ceremonies; so ceremonies are the chief cause of ignorance. Thus and much more, Tyndall. Now because I have Paralleled your Lordships and the devil together, lest this should seem harsh, or a great Scandalum magnatum to your Honours.  
I shall conclude this my Epistle to your Lordships, with that notable Epistle of Lucifer Prince of darkness, written to your noble Progenitors, by William Swinderby, or some other Lollard, (as they termed them, and you now call us Puritans in the selfsame malicious scornful manner,) transcribed by our laborious Mr. john Fox, out of the Bishop of Hereford his Register, into his Acts and Monuments in these very words, which suit as pat with your Lordships as if it had been purposely penned for yourselves alone.   

The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a certain letter feigned u●…der t●…e name of Lucifer Prince of darkness, writing to the persecuting Prelates of the Popish Clergy.  
I Lucifer Prince of darkness and profound 
The Epifile of Lucifer, to the proud Prelates of the Pope's Clergy.  heaviness, Emperor of the high Mysteries of the King of Achar●…nt, Captain of the dungeon Erebus, King of hell, and controller of the infernal fire: To all our children of pride, and companions of our Kingdoome, and especially to our Princes of the Church of this latter age and time (of which our adversary jesus Christ, according to the Prophet, saith: I hate the Church or congregation of the wicked) send greeting, and wish prosperity to all that obey our commandments, as also to all these that be obedient to the Laws of Satan alrea●…y enacted, and are diligent 〈◊〉 of our behests, and 
To difference between the Bishops of primitive Church & of the latter Church  the precepts of our decree. Know ye that in times past eertaine vica●…s or vicegerents of Christ, following his steps in miracles and virtues, living and 〈◊〉 in a beggarly life, converted (in a manner) the whole world from the yoke of our tyranny unto their doctrine and manner of life: to the great de●…ision and contempt of our prison house and Kingdom●…, and also to the no little prejudice and hurt of our jurisdiction and authority, not fearing to hurt our fortified power, and to offend the Majesty of our estate. For than received we no tribute of the world, neither did the miserable 
Humility edifieth.  sort of common people, rush at the gates of our deep dungeon as they were wont to do, with continual 
Pride destroyeth.  pealing and rapping, but then the easy, pleasant and broad way, which leadeth to death, lay still without great noise of trampling travellers, neither yet was ●…rod with the feet of miserable men. And when all our Courts were without suitors, Hell then began to howl. And thus continuing in great heaviness and anguish, was robbed and spoiled. Which thing considered, the impatient rage of our stomach could no longer suffer, neither the ugly reckless negligence of our great Captain general could any longer endure it. But we, seeking remedy for the time that should come after, have provided us of a very trim shift: for in stead of these Apostles and other their adherents which draw by the ●…ame line of theirs, as well in manners as doctrine, and are odious enemies to us: we have caused you to be 
Placing of all mischief.  their successors, and put you in their place, which be Prelates of the church in these latter times, by our great might & subtlety, as Christ hath said of you: They have 
Thechurch never well governed since the devils ●…ere taken of the Churchmen.  reigned, but not by me. Once we promised unto him all the Kingdoms of the world; if he would falldowne and worship us; but he would not, saying, My Kingdom is not of this world, and went his way, when the multidudewould have made him a temporal King. But to yo●… truly which are fallen from the state of grace and that serve us in the earth, is that my promise fulfilled: and all terrene things by our means which we bestowed upon you, are under gov●…rment. For he hath said of us ye know: The Prince of this world cometh, etc. And hath made us to reign over all children of unbeleese. Therefore our adversaries before recited, did patiently submit themselves unto the Princes of the world, and did teach that men, should do so, saying: Be ye subject to every creature for God's cause, whether it be to the King as most chiefest. And again: Obey ye them that are made rulers over you, etc. For so their Master commanded them saying: The Kings of the heathen, have dominion over them, etc. But I think it long till we have poured our poison upon the earth, and therefore fill yourselves full. And now be ye not unlike those fathers, but also contrary unto them in your life and conditions, and extol yourselves above all other 
Pride in Prelates noted.  men. Neither do ye give unto God that which belongeth to him, nor yet to Caesar that which is his: but exercise you the power of both the swords, according 
Popish Pre lates neither give to God no●… Caesar that which belongeth to God and Caesar.  to our decrees, making yourselves doers in worldly matters, fight in our quarrel, entangled with segular labours and business. And climb ye by little and little from the miserable state of poverty, unto the highest seats of all honours, and the most princely places of dignity by your devised practices, and false and deceitful wiles and subtlety: that is, by hypocrisy, flattery, lying perjury, treasons, deceits, simony and other greater wickedness than which our infernal suries may dev●…se. 
Thedouble jurisdiction of the Pope's tw●… s●…ords cometh of Lucifer.  For after that ye have been by us advanced thit●…er where ye would be, yet that doth not suffice you, but as greedy starvelings more hungry than ye were before, ye suppress the poor, scratch and rake together all that comes to hand, perverting and turning every thing topsy 〈◊〉: so swollen, that ready ye are to burst for pride, living like Lechers in all corporal dilicatenesse, 
Dominus. Sanctus. Sanctijimus.  and by fraud directing all your doings. You challenge to yourselves names of honour in the earth, calling yourselves lords holy, yea and most holy fathers.  
Thus, either by violence ye raven, orelse by ambition, subtly ye pi●…ter away and wrongfully wrest, and by false title possess those goods which for the sustentation of the poor members of Christ (whom from our first ●…all we have hated) were bestowed and given, consuming them as ye yourselves list, and wherewith 
The lascivious and 〈◊〉 life of the Romish Clergy.  ye cherish and maintain an innumerable sort of whores, strump●…ts, and 〈◊〉 with whom ye ride pompous●…ie like mighty princes, far otherwise going, than those poor beggarly Priests of the primitive Church. For I would ye should build yourselves rich and gorgeous palaces: ye farelike princes, eating and drinking the most daintiest meats, and pleasantest wines that many be gotten; ye hoard and heap together an infinite deal of treasure, not like to him that said, Gold & silver have I none; ye serve & fight for us according to your wages. O most acceptable society or fellowship, promised unto us of the Prophet, and of those father's 
Vhe whorish latter Church of Rome.  long ago reproved: whilst that Christ called thee the Synagogue of Satan, and likened thee to the mighty whore which committed fornication with the Kings of the earth, the adultero is spouse of Christ, and of a chaste 
Pope Successor not of Simon Peter, but of Simon Magus.  person made a strumpet. Thou hast left thy first love & haste cleaved unto us, O our beloved Bab●…lon, O our citizens, which from the transmigration of jerusalem come hither: we love you for your deserts, we rejoice over you, which contemn the Laws of Simon Peter, and embrace the Laws of Simon Magus our friend, and have them at your finger's ends, and exercise the same publicly 
Wicked & unworthy Ministers admitted in the Pope's Church Unworthy bestowing of benefices.  buying and selling spiritual things in the Church of God, and against the Commandment of God. Ye give benefices and honours by petition, or else for money, for favour, or else for filthy service. And refusing to admit those that be worthy, to Ecclesiastical dignity, you call unto the inheritance of God's sanctuary, bawds, liars, flatterers, your nephews, and your own children, and to a childish boy, ye give many prebends, the least whereof ye deny to bestow upon a poor good man: ye esteem the person of a man and receive gifts, ye regard money and have no regard of souls. Ye have made the 
Extorsion.  house of God a den of thiefs. All abuse, extorsion, is 
Perverting of justice.  more exercised, a hundreth fold in your judgement seats, then with any secular tyrant. Ye make laws and keep not the same, and dispense with your dispensations as it pleaseth you; you justify the wicked for reward, 
Acception of person.  and take away the just man's desert from him. And briefly, ye perpetrate or commit all kind of mischief, 
Bribery.  even as it is our will ye should. And ye take much 
Love of lucre.  pains for lucre's sake in our service, and especially to destroy the Christian faith. For now the lay people are 
Dstructio of true faith.  almost in doubt what they may believe, because if ye preach any thing to them at sometimes (althouhg it be but seldom seen, and that negligently enough, even as we would have it) yet notwithstanding they believe you not, because they see manifestly that ye do clean contrary to that ye say. Whereupon the common 
The life of Papists contrary to their teaching.  people doing as ye do, which have the government of them, and should be an example unto them of well doing: now many, of them leaning to your rules, dye run headlong into a whole sea of vices: and so continually a very great multitude flocketh at the strong & well fenced gates of our dungeon. And doubtless, ye send us so many day by day of every sort and kind of people, that we should not be able to entertain them, but that our insatiable (Choas with her thousand ravening jaws is sufficient to devour an infinite number of souls. And thus the sovereignty of our empire, by you hath been reform, and our intolerable loss restored. 
The Pope increaseth hell.  Wherefore, most specially we commend you, & give you most hearty thanks; exhorting all you, that in any wise ye persevere and continue, as hitherto ye have done: neither that you slack henceforth your enterprise. For why? by your helps we purpose to bring the whole world again under our powe●… and dominion. Over and beside this, we commit unto you no small authority, to supply our places in the betraying of your brethren; and we make and ordain you our vicar's, and the Ministers of Antichrist our son, now hard 
Antichrist  at hand, for whom ye have made a very trim way and passage. Furthermore, we counsel you which occupy the higest rooms of all other, that you work subtly, and that ye (feignedly) procure peace between the princes 
The Pope a feigned procurer of peace between princes.  of the world, and that ye cherish and procure secret causes of discord. And like as craftily ye have destroyed and subverted the Roman Empire: so suffer ye no kingdom to be overmuch enlarged or enriched by tranquillity and peace; lest perhaps in so great tranquillity (all desire of peace set aside) they dispose themselves to view and eonsider your most wicked works, suppressing on every side your estate: and from your treasures take away such substance, as we have caused to be reserved and kept in your hands, until the coming of our well beloved son Antichrist. We would ye should do our commendations to our entirely beloved daughters, pride, deceit, wrath, avarice, bellicheere, and lechery, and to all other my daughters; and especially ho lady Simony, which hath made you men, and 
Simony the Pope's nurse  enriched you, and hath given you suck with her own breasts, and weaned you, and therefore in no wise see that ye call her sin. And be ye lofty and proud, because that the most high dignity of your estate doth require such magnificence. And also be ye covetous, for what soever ye get and gather into your farthel, it is for St. Peter, for the peace of the Church, and for the defence of your patrimony and the Crucifix; & therefore ye may lawfully do it. Ye may promote your Cardinals 
Promoting of proud and rich Cardinals  to the higest seat of dignities, without any let in all the world, in stopping the mouth of our adversary jesus Christ, and alleging again, that he preferred his kins folks (being but of poor and base degree) unto the Apostleship; but do not you so, but rather call, as 
Cloaked holiness.  ye do, those that live in arrogancy, in haughtiness of mind, and filthy lechery, unto the state of wealthy riches and pride; and those rewards and promotions, which the followers of Christ forsook, do ye distribute unto your friends. Therefore as ye shall have better understanding, prepare ye vices, clocked under the similitude of virtues. Allege for yourselves the glosses of the holy Scripture, and wrest them, directly for to serve 
Wresting of Scripture.  for your purpose. And if any man preach or teach otherwise then ye will, oppress ye them violently. With the sentence of excommunication, and by your censures heaped one upon another, by the consent of your brethren; let him be condemned as an heretic, and let him be kept in most straight prison, and there tormented 
Tyranny and cruelty by the P pe.  till he die, for a terrible example to all such as confess Christ. And setting all favour apart, cast him out of your temple, lest peradventure the engrafted word may save 〈◊〉 souls, which word I abhor as I do the souls of o her saithful men. And do your endeavour, that ye 〈◊〉 deserve to have the place which we have prepared for you, under the most wicked dw●…lling on of our dwelling place. far ye well with such felicity as we desire and intend finally to reward and recompense you with.  
Given at the centre of the earth, in that dark place, where all the rabblement of devils were present, specially for this purpose ca●…led unto our most dolorous Consistory, under the the Character of our terrible seal, for the confirmation of the premises.  
Ex Registro Herefordensi ad verbum 
Ex Registro Hereford.   
This letter of Lucif●…r to your Lordly Predec●…ssors, then, will I trust, excuse my Epistle and Parallels here dedicated to your Lordships, now; both from the unjust imputation of calumny, slander, or reviling. And so leaving your Lordships to Ve●…we and reveiw yourselves in this new Lookingglass made purposely for your sweet holy faces, I take my leave of you (as I trust you will now do of all your lordliness, worldliness, pride, and other vices, here discovered) till you have exactly trimed yourselves thereby, to make yourselves more amiablc both to God and man, than now you are.   

A notable Jesuitical Policy of some Lordly Prelates, worthy consideration.  
SOme great domineering Lord Prelates to advance their own power, and draw all men to their party, have of late endeavoured to engross into their hands, the disposal of most Ecclesiastical dignities (as Bishoprics, Deanneres, Prebendaries, Headships in the Universities, presentations to most great Benefices, and the like) and of many temporal preferments; together with the Custody of his Majesty's Treasury. By this policy: First, they keep all men from preferment (how deserving, learned and pioussoever) but those of their own faction and creatures. Secondly, they make their own party very great and strong in all Courts of justice, and places of the Realm, so as none dare oppose them in the least measure, no not in cases which highly concern both GOD, the King, Religion, and the whole Realm. Thirdly, they are more feared and crouched to then the King himself, or all his Nobles. Fourthly, they would win all men to their own opinions, humours and superstitions, out of hopes of preferment, which else they have no way to attain. Fiftly, they have many Clergy men so wholly at their command, that they will write, preach, practice, defend, any errors, false Doctrines, Innovations, Superstitions or popish Ceremonies, their Lordships shall command or desire them, to obtain their favours and advancement. Sixtly, by this means they gain scouts and spies in every corner of the Kingdom, in Court, City, Country, and in most Nobleman's, and gentlemen's families; (whose Chaplains are now for the most part, nought else but these great Prelates agents and Intelligencers;) so that nothing can be done or spoken against them, or intended for their prejudice, but they have present information of it. Seventhly, by this policy, they keep all men under their girdles, crush all that dare oppose them, stop the current of justice; bolster out all their popish agents and opposing officers, setup Popery again without much noise or opposition, oppress his Majesty's good Subjects, extirpate piety and Religion, rob his Majesty, his Nobles and officers of their Authority, Privilidges and power to prefer well-deserving men, (and so by consequence, deprive them of much honour, service, respect, observance and thankfulness for benefits to be received;) advance their own Episcopal power, jurisdiction, Cours, beyond all moderation and bounds, and in a manner do and say what they list without opposition or control. This jesuitical stratagem of theirs (prescribed by Conc' in his Politics, as one of the chief means to undermine Religion, and all protestant States and Churches,) is worthy his Majesties and his Nobleses most serious consideration, and prevention in due time; for fear it enslave them and the whole Kingdom to the Pope and Prelates, before they are aware of it.  
Great Reverend Lord Prelates are like to that we call a Sir Reverence; the more they stir and are stirred, the worse, the more they stink. They are like David's mountains, Ps. 144. 5. If men do but touch them and their vices, they will smoke, yea storm and rage like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest, whose waterscast up mire and dirt, Isay. 56. 20. Hence they labour to suppress, seize and call in all good Books, (yea the Palsgraves' New-printed Declaration in affront to his Highness and his Churches, because it censures some of their idle Ceremonies and Arminian Doctrines, though tacitly and moderately by way of Apology;) our Saviour himself gives us the true reason, Why: john 3. 20. For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be discovered and reproved; as their Lord ships now are pretty well, if not to their amendment, yet doubtless to their shame.   

Gentle Reader, ere thou read this Treatise be pleased with thy pen to correct these Presse-errors.  
Page 2. line 2. read Parallels: p. 3. l. 17. for fable, r unstable l. 6. p 4. jowne; c drown l. 9 be sure: l. 19 but weeks. p. 8. l 3. mak●…s. p. 10. l 7. and not, r. as not. p. 12. l. 11. traducing: l. 30. that, r. their. p. 14. l. 22. Father's: p. 15 l. 24. them, r. their p. 16. l. 3. habe●…s: p. 17. l. 8 publish: p. 18. l. 25. a practice: p. 19 l. 5. Bayli. l 7. urge this. l. 25. ancient. l. 29. Crantzius. l. Testium, Aventimus. l. 32. Hypocrites p. 21. l. 9 heart. p. 22. l. 17. bruise, r. bring. p. 23. l. 3. Bacchanals. l. 12. Rainsford p. 24. l. 13. Ed. 6 p. 25. l. 3. ransant: Banger. l. 5. his: r. her. p. 26. l. 7. fends. r. feudes. p. 29. l. 25. Newman. r. Nucoman: p. 30. l. 25. odds. p. 33. l. 37. Altars. p. 34 l. 13. cease. p. 37. l. 30. have. p. 39 l. 28. Postils. p. 40. l. 15. strumpet. p. 41. l. 1. haunt, r saunt. l. 12. Gor. r Give. l. 16. hung. l. 19 home. p. 42. l. 9 them. r. then. p. 44. l. 15. 29 set up: p. 46. l. 8. committing. p. 47. l. 3. power. r. Boner. p. 48. l. 15. their expunging. p. 51. l. 27. presents, eat, r. persecute, rate. p. 52. l. 2. drink: r. drunken. p. 55. l. 28. memorable. p. 56. l. 25. this for any answer of bisp. 59 l. 16. Cant. 〈◊〉. Court. p. 62. l. 13. Kings. r. 〈◊〉. l. 23. condemn. p. 63. l. 8. Thou. r. then: p. 64. l. 2. r. upon one Cross, but the Bishop's nail him again unto. p. 66. l. 13. Archbishops. l. 19 to be. p. 67. l. 11. bed. l. 22. grace: r. year. p. 83. l. 6. obedient, apparent. l. 13. Tips. r. texts. l. 27. friends. r fiends. p. 80. l. 9 bletout, the. l. 30. early. r. rarely. p. 87. l. 10 deaths. p. 79. l. 22. no doubt. p. 80. l. 8. every. l. 28. pomp. p. 89. l. 26. r, walk directly p. 97. l. 5. for. r. fore: p. 92. l. 23. etc. and. p. 96. l. 10. money. r. many. l 12. illegal. l. 15. woeful. l. 19 which of. r. whether. p. 97. l. 20. Occupie. 98. l. 10. thus. r. there. l. 11. birelings. l. 9 blot out are: l. 13. humble, r. tremble. p. 100 l. 14. or r. 2. 101. l. 18. beats. r. brats. p. 102. 1. his, r. this. p. 103. l 5. instead. r. infested. l. 13. been. r. beire. l. 22. 1 beseech.  
In the Margin.  
P. 9 l. 5. r. 414 p. 82. l. 3. 9 sublimiori, columnae. p. 97. l. 24. p. 14. this is omitted.   

A LOOKING-GLASS For all LORDLY PRELATES.  
THERE is nothing now more rife in the mouths of many great domineering Lordly Prelates, then, that their Lordly Episcopal jurisdiction, Pomp and Sovereignty, is of divine Institution, and that their Sacred Lordships, are undoubted, Sons, Successors, heirs of Christ, and his Apostles Which men might well enough believe, did not their lives and actions most apparently contradict these their ambitious windy words; But if men may judge of a Tree by the fruits, (as our Saviour concludes they may, Math. 7. 16.) or of men's true Fathers, and Pedigrees by their works (as he also resolves john. 8. 44.) I hope these arrogant lofty Prelates, will not be offended with me, if I make it apparent to them (and others) by their fruits and works, that they are so far from being the Sons or Successors of Christ and his Apostles, or of divine Institution, that, they are of their Father the Devil (for his works and lusts they do) the successors from the jewish high Priests, who crucified our Saviour, Persecuted, silenced, imprisoned, excommunicated his Apostles, And so, of Diabolical ordination; not Divine.  
This I shall plainly and briefly demonstrate, in two distinct Parallers. The first, between the Devil and Lordly Prelates. The second, between the jewish high Priests and them.  

The 1. Parallel between the Devil and Lordly Prelates.  
1. First, the Devil (for his condition and quality) is an Apostate Angel, who kept not his first estate and 〈◊〉, and abode not in the truth. jude 6. john. 8. 44. Such are all Lordly Prelates and Bishops, both by their own exposition of Rev. 2. 1. 5. 6. 
(a) William Bishop of Rochester his first Sermon before K. james at Hampton Court Sept. 21. 1606.  Where they interpret, 
B. Downham his consecration Sermon and the defence thereof: with B. bancroft's Sermon & others.  the Apostate Angel of the Church of Ephesus, to be the Lord-Bishop of that Church alleging this Text as the principal Scripture, to prove their Hierarchy of Divine Institution;) and by common experience: For as Lord Bishops are fallen from the piety, holiness, humility, poverty, zeal, meekness, laboriousness, heavenly mindedness, charity, and equality with other Ministers, that was in the true Christian Bishops of the Primitive Church and now openly avow the Popish and Arminian Doctrine of The Totall and Final Apostasy of the Saints from grace. So most of them 
B. Montague in his Appeal to Cesar: B. White in ●…rabounces 〈◊〉.  being made Lord Bishops, (to prove this doctrine of Apostasy true by their practice) fall away from the piety, zeal, holiness, meekenesfe, diligence, frequency in preaching, and most other virtues which they had or used in verity or pretence, before they were made Bishops (in case they had any virtue or goodness in them before, of which too many of them were never guilty,) and become far worse Christians, ●…arre greater Persecutors and enemies to God, his truth, his people, and more unholy, coveto●…s, lazy, vicious in their lives then ever they were before; as all histories and experience manifest, beyond all contradiction.  
And how many of our present Lord Prelates are turned open Apostates from the established doctrine and discipline of this Church of England to Popery, Arminianism and Romish superstition, and all the zeal, the honesty, the piety and goodness they had or seemed only to have before they were Lord Bishops, I leave to every man's experience to determine, some of the best of them being so strangely warped of late, that it made a great Popish learned Lord confess openly at the Table this last summer, That if ever he altered ●…is Religion, he would turn Puritan; for Puritans (saith he) are constant to their own Religion and Tenets, but the Bishops so fable and wavering with the times, that we know not where to have them, such Apostate Angels are they.  
Secondly, the Devil is an unclean spirit, void of holiness, full of all filthiness and impiety, and is hardly ●…ast out of those he once possesseth, Math. 10. 1. 6. 12. 43. Mark 1. 
Godwins' catalogue of Bishops: The Acts of English Votaries by Bale Centur. Mag. 4. 10. 13. c. 7. & 10.  23, 26, 27. c. 5. 2. 8. c. 7. 25. Luke 4. 33. 36. c. 6. 18. Acts 8. 7. Such are most Lordly Prelates in all respects, witness their 
(b) Balaeus & Platina de vitis Pontificum.  u●…cleane, profane, voluptuous, impious, godless lives and actions in all ages. Of which all histories stink and surfeit; to omit the present filthin●…sse of many of them: And how hard they are to be cast out where once they get but footing, our own histories and instant experience too well demonstrate.  
Thirdly, the Devil is a dumb and deaf spirit, making some m●…n dumb, yet never any Preachers that I read of, except Prelates or thos●… that ●…ould be such) d●…b, that they cannot speak, and oth●…s 〈◊〉 that they cannot h●…re, till Christ dispossessed them of these Devils, Mark 9 17 25. Luke 11. 14. Such are Lordly Prelates for the most part; they are not only d●…be themselves, very seldom or never preaching in their Diocese, or opening their mo●…thes in the Pulpit to teach the people, whom they of●…er bite and ●…eare with their teeth, then instruct with their tongues. And also deaf, in turning the deaf care to the cries, petitions and lamentable complaints of those many godly faithful painful Ministers and people now most injuriously oppressed, persecuted, silenced imprisoned vexed ruined, and deprived by them, both of the foo●… of their souls & bodies: (such inexorable merciless deaf Devils are they, to these, and all good motions else. But likewise by their ill examples, make diverse other preaching Ministers dumb and mute, and by their illegal suspensions inhibitions Injunctions or Excommunications, close up the mouths, and muzzle up the tongu●…s of sundry other the most powerful, frequent constant preachers whom their examples cannot silence, (as late woeful experience every where manifests, Especially in Norwich Diocese) By means whereof; as also by suppressing most weeke-day Lectures, with all afternone Sermons on the Lord's Day in most Countries, and prohibiting people that have no preaching at home, to go out of their Parishes to hear God's word abroad, they make thousands every where so deaf, that they cannot hear the sweet vouce of the Gospel preached though they desire it: Such dumb yea deaf Devils are many Lord Prelates now become, whom Christ himself (no ●…oubt) & that by miracle will shortly cast out, that so our dumb silenced Ministers, may once more speak, and our d●…afe people hear his s●…cred word, to the unspeacable comfort and salvation of their souls.  
Fourthly, The devil is an evil spirit, who doth nothing else but vex, torment, tear, torture and disquiet men, of purpose, to destroy them Math. 15. 22. Mark. 9 18, 20, 22. Luc●…e. 6. 18. And have not domineering Lord Prelates been like the Devil, in this respect, in all ages heretofore, (as the Acts and Monuments of our Martyrs, collected by Master Fox, sufficiently demonstrate?) Yea, What else do many of them at this day, (but like so many tormenting Devils) vex, torment, tear, torture, pill, pole, Pursuivant, toss up and down from Court to Court, prison to prison and disquiet all kinds of people, Especially godly Ministers and Christians (whom they brand with the name of Puritans) with their daily Citations, Excommunications, Suspensions, Pursuivants, Apparitors, Chancellors, Officials, Visitors, Archdeacon's, Visitation-Oathes, Articles, Injunctions, new minted Ceremonies, Innovations, Slauders, false accusations, fines, Sequestrations, Censures, Exactions, Procurations, Extorted, ●…es etc. Of purpose to fleece, Flay, and destroy them? So like are they in this particular also, to their Father the devil.  
Fifthly, The devil casteth same of God's Saints, and Ministers ofttimes into Prison. Rev. 2. 10. Yea, into the fire sometimes, and sometimes into the water, to destroy them, Mark. 9 22. The Lordly Prelates have done the like in all ages, Witness the French and English Acts and Monuments: of Martyrs, Which record, how many of God's Saints and Ministers they have imprisoned, cast into the fire & water burned, drowned; This they still proceed to do in foreign parts; And though they neither burn nor down them, as yet, here at home, (not so much for want of will, as Law to do it) Yet like so many Furies, they now daily silence, excommunicate, deprive, pursuivant, imprison, fine, banish, and ruin them, as much as in any age whatsoever, And if they cannot burn them at a Stake, they will sure to crop of their ●…res, & shed their blood on some Pillory, and then mue them up in a Prison all their days, A lingering la●…ing tyranny, far worse than present Mar●…irdome.  
Yea in this particular instance they far outstrip the very Devil himself; in two things: For where as, he●… cast but some only of God's Saints and Ministers into prison and that, but for ten days, Revel. 2. 10. They commonly cast not some, but many of them into prison, and that not only for ten days, weeks, nay months, and years, and ofttimes during life: And whereas Paul though imprisoned under that most b●…oody Devil and Tyrant Nero in Pagan Rome, had so much liberty, as to dwell two years' space together in his own hired house, and 〈◊〉 receive all that came in unto him: Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord jesus Christ with all confidence NO MAN FORBIDDING them, Act. 28. 30. 31. Neither the Devil, nor Nero shutting him up close prisoner: Yet these Lord Prelates to show themselves more cruelly barbarous and Tyrannical then either the Devil or Nero, have anciently, and yet daily do shut up diverse of God's Ministers and people close prisonners, restraining all free access of friends, or company to them, and are so far from permitting or not prohibiting them to preach in prison, that they inhibit and forbid them to preach even when they are at large, such is their fatherly piety, pity, love, and charity, their very tender mercies (just like the devil's) being nought else but cruelties. Pro. 12. 10.  
Sixthly. The devil i●… an exceeding fierce and furious spirit, who desires to have nothing to do with Christ, whose sacred presence torments him before his time Math. 8. 28. 29. And when he leaveth his house for a time, and then returns and findeth it swept and garnished, he taketh with him 7. other spirits more wicket than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and so the last estate of that man, in whom●… they reside, is worse ●…hen the first. Math. 12. 23. 24. 25. Luke 11. 24, 25. So most Lord Prelates are exceeding fiery, fierce, and furious spirits, who will not be crossed or affronted in any thing be it never so impious 
See Bishop Whites Treatise of the Sabbath: 7. 266.  or unjust. No Kings, Lords, Nobles, being so violent, unreasonable, outrageous malapert, fierce, choleric peremptory, or furious in their designs, or pursuit of their ends as they; moreover they desire to have little or nothing to do with jesus Christ, or his sacred Ordinances which the sincere and diligent reading, preaching discoursing and meditation of his 
Pocklington, Heylyn, & others.  word, the due administration of his Sacrements, the strict sanctification of his sacred Sabbaths (which they count 〈◊〉 heavy jewish yoke of bondage etc.) the ●…tation of his 〈◊〉, imprisoned or disconsolate afflict●…d mebers &c. (a thing 
Math. 25 ●…6. 42. 〈◊〉. 1. ●…7.  from which they are so far themselves, that they make it a piac●…lum in others, to visit godly prisoners.) These petty ●…riviall things and Christian duties are below their Pomp & State, it beseems not their Lordship's honour 
〈◊〉 See B. L●…timers Sermon of the Plough.  to stoop so low as our Saviour's (f) Ploughtail; or to enter into a poor cottage or Prison to visit a poor me●…ne Christian.  
These things they put off to the meanest Curates, as overmeane for their Lips; who scorn to bus●… themselves with lesser matrers, then managing the greatest State Offices and affairs, waiting at kings own elbows, following the heels of rheit Courts to get more preferments; Lording it over their whole Diocese yea over whole Kingdoms at their pleasures, and that over Lords and knights if not Kings themselves aswell as Ministers, and the meanest Curate●…; sitting as judges not only in their Consistories, visitations, and High commission Courts, but at Assizes, Sessions. Yea in Star chamber, and Exchequer-chamber to, 
(g) See Bishop ●…rens B. Mountagues' B. Laudes. Bishop Perces' Oaths & Printed visitation A●…icles.  M●…king of new Canons, Injunctions, Oaths, Articles, and Printin●… enforcing them on the subjects with all violence, in their o●…e names alone, like absolute Monarches, Popes, and Parliaments: These, and such like, are the things that Lord Prelates busy thems●…lves with all, and in advancing their jurisdictions, Revenues, Wealth, Pomp, State; But they will have nothing or very little at all to do with Christ, whose sacred presence (Either by the powerful preaching of his word, the Purity of his Ordinances, the reprehension of their sins, the approach or meditation of the day of death or judgement, or by the growth or progress of his true spiritual Kingdom under their noses,) is so irksome to them, that it ●…ments them before the time, & make them fret, fume, rage, vex, chafe, and play about them like mad men, as appears by the Book of Martyrs, yea, by present experience with out further evidence. And if at any time after they are made Bishops, they leave their former habitations, and repair to their Diocese, or be translated from one See to another; they commonly take with them seven other spirits as bad, are more wicked themselves, (to wit, 
* See Fox Acts and Monuments p. 114.  Archdeacon's, Chauncellors, Registers, Appariters, household Chaplains, Secretaries, and private Informers against good men) who reside either near or with them in their Diocese; which are so vexed, peeled, polled, spoilt, corrupted, by these Horseleeches, and Caterpillars, that the last estate of them, when they leave them, is commonly far worse than the first, when they repaired thither; yea their Bishoprics too, are usually so pared by the sale of woods, renewing of leases, granting of offices, Reversions, and such other usual devices of these Ghostly Fathers, before their deaths and translations, that they leave them commonly in far worse estate than they found them; So like are they to the devil, to make all things worse and worsethey meddle with; The reason (I take it) of our usual English Proverb, when any Milk or Broth on the fire is burnt, and thereby marred; that the Bishop hath been in the Pot; Because they commonly mar all things where they come, as the devil doth.  
Seaventhly, The devil takes men captive at his will, and few that are taken by him recover themselves (but with great difficulty) out of his snares, 2 Tim. 2. 26. So domineering, tyrannising, Prelates, imprison, pursuivant, and take men captive at their pleasures, against all justice, equity, piety, pity, Laws of God and man, against Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and all other Acts of Parliament for the Subject's liberties. Take but one fresh instance; for an example, instead of hundreds more: on the 26. of this instant january, one Knight, a Glasse-man in London, for repeating a Sermon in Norfolk, was convented before the Archbishop and other High-Commiffioners at Lambeth, and tend●…ed an Ex Officio oath (not warranted by any Law of God or man, and in direct terms for ever exploded, and not warrantable by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm in the late Petition of Right 3. Caroll:) he thereupon answered, that he was not fully satisfied in conscience of the lawfulness of that oath, and therefore humbly desired his Grace, that he might be satisfied, first, in point of conscience errehe took it. The Archbishop hereunto replied like a learned Prelate; You shall be satisfied I warrant you, take him jailer to ●…he Fleet, where he now is: Alas, is this the learned satisfaction, the argumentation, and sole Logic of our Prelates, to quiet men's consciences, and remove their doubts. Take him jailer, away with him Purfevant to the Fleet, and that against the express Petition of Right, which enacts, that no man hereafter shall be compelled to take SUCH AN OATH, or be confined or molested, or disquieted concerning the same, or for refusal thereof? Was ever such language heard out of our Saviour's or his Apostles mouths? Take him jailor, to Prison with him, etc. or did they ever give such satisfaction to men's conscience as this? No verily; This only is the devil's language, law and spiritual satisfaction, Who takes men captive at his will; as these Lord Prelates now daily do, by his example. And as those who are taken captive by the devil, can hardly recover themselves out of his snares again: So those who are thus unjustly imprisoned and apprehended by them, can hardly recover themselves out of their snares; Such tenacious devils are they.  
Eightly, The Devil goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. 5. 9 job. 1. 7. c. 2. 2. So do Lordly Prelates, their officials, Commissioners, Pursuivants, and Apparitors, especially when they ride about to visit, pill and poll their diocese; only this is the difference, that the Devil goeth and they ride, and coach it about in state.  
Ninthly, The devil lays snares and traps to entangle and catch men, 2 Tim. 2. 26. Rev. 2. 23. So do Lord Bishops lay baits, snares, and spies in every corner, especially to entrap and catch, betray or inform against godly Ministers & Professors of Religion, with all other sorts of men of whom they may gain money or advantage to themselves, or Officers.  
10. The devil is, and hath been a murderer of men's souls and bodies, from the beginning till this present, john 8. 44. Such have Lord Prelates been in all ages from their very beginning to this instant as a●… histories, our Books of Martyrs and present experience manifests.  
11. The devil is a liar, yea the Father of lies, and there is no truth in him, yea when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own john. 8. 44. Such are all Lorly Prelates, in raising up a false enormous, schandals, tales, reports, accusations, and forged calumnies, of all good Ministers and people, in broaching false Doctrines, Errors, Heresies, and forging many fabulous stories, false glosses, miracles, tales, and spurious Antiquities, to support their tottering Hierarchies and usurped Episcopal jurisdictions; in being treacherous yea perfidious in all their words and actions both towards God and men, Especially to their Princes, and those who have most relied on them, as all the Italian, German, and English Stories, Writers of the lives of Popes and Prelates, and Mr. Tindals' practice of Popish Prelates, testify at large, and present experience much complains of, there being no such gross Hypocrites, Machiavils, Equivocators & perfidious faithless persons breathing, as some Prelates show themselves; and that aswell in Divine as temporal affairs and transactions.  
12. The devil is an accufer, (a false Ruducing calumniator of the Brethren,) & true Saints of God Reb. 12. 10. whence, false accusers, are styled devils, in the Original Greek. 2. Tim. 3. 3. Such have malicious Lordly Prelates been in all ages; and never more than (
(h) See Bishop Whites Treatise of the Sabbath, Epistle Dedicatory. ) now; accusing all godly, faithful Christians, Preachers and Ministers of the Golpell (whom they and the Papists now term Puritains') to Kings and great Officers of State, of seditions, rebellion, disobedience, disloyalty, treason, schism, inconformity, conspiracy, unlawful conventicles and assemblies, false dangerous Doctrines, puritanism, and the like; only for their godly, holy, just, and blame less lives, their powerful, Zealous, freq●…ent, preaching, praying, the discovering of, or declaiming against their idlenesses, lordlynesses, luxury, persecutions, tyranny, covetousenes, secularity, Superstitio is Popish Doctrines, Innovations, and intolerable enchroachments both Superstitio●…s his Majesty's Ecclesiastical Prerogatives, and the People's liberties, consciences, and estates. All this their own and that sworn creatures daily s●…ditious Court Sermons, and Treatises, evidence past all denial.  
13. The Devil envied and maligned holy job, stripped him of his Children, Cattle, Servants, estate, health, and all earthly comforts; tormented him with botches and blains from top to toe, and persecuted him with the most extremity of his malice and power; Only because he was a just man that feared God, Neither was there any like him for goodness in all the earth. job. 1. & 2. & 3. Thus likewise have done and yet do the Lordly Prelates serve many of the ●…minentest, best, yea most godly faithful Ministers and Christians, whose families and estates they have utterly ruined, depriving them of their Benefices, freeholds; jectures, Ministry, lawful callings (contrary to the fourth Commandment) stripping them quit naked of altheir estates by Fines, or costly Suits, and then casting them into a nasty Prison, there to rot and perish, or banishing them the Land, and troubling all such godly Christians who out of piety or charity dare contribute any thing to there relief, witness the Mayer, Tounclerke and Aldermen of Gloster, not long since convented by the now Archbishop of Canterbury, as most notorious offenders before his Majesty and the high Commission to, only for granting an annuity to their ancient Preacher Mr. Workman, which they were enjoined by his Lordship's Grace to Cancel. Such cruel, merciless, barbarous, inhuman devils are they degenerated into, as to make charity and mercy itself to godly Ministers, a grievous crime.  
14. The devil is full of venom, poison, rancour, wiles, devices, craft, and subtlety, to mischief and destroy men, seeking and taking all advantages to hurt them. 2. Cor. 2. 11. Ephes. 6. 11. Whence he is called a 〈◊〉, and an old Sarpent. Isay 27. 1. Cor. 11. 3. Rev. 12. 2. 14. 15. c. 20. 2. So are the Prelates, as Ecclesiastical Stories, the Book of Martyrs, the History of the Counsel of Trent te●…ifie and experience evidenceth beyond all contradiction, in our present serpantine, venomous malicious Prelates (
(k) jer. 4. 22. ) wise only to d●… evil, but to do good they have yet no knowledge; for aught appears by their daily practices.  
15. The devil is the Prince of the world, by usurpation & tyranny. john. 12. 37. c. 14. 30. c. 16. 18. Ephes. 2. 2. Yea the Prince of the darkenesses of this world. Ephes. 6. 12. So are Lord Prelates, who bear chief rule and sway in all Churches and States where they are, domineering like absolute Pri●…es, Kings, Tyrants in most Christian Realms, exercising all temporal, all Ecclesiastical Dominion at their pleasure, and Lording it over all men, yea, over Lords themselves contrary to our Saviour's express inhibition Math. 20. 25. 26. 27. Luke 22. 25. 26. 27. Mark. 10. 42. 43. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 23. Yea which is very observable. Bishop, White, in his late Epistle to the 〈◊〉 of Canterbury, before his Treatise of the Sabbath, London 1635. is not ashamed to appropriate that Text of Psal: 45. (inste●…d of thy Father shallbe thy children, whom thou ma●…st make Princes in all the earth,) to Bi●…ops only; who (it seems) have now jointly conspired together in all Countries, to make themselves Princes in all Kingdoms of the earth; and to engross the sole government of them and the whole worldinto their spiritual hands, as they conspired in this Manner of old both at home and abroad; ●…itnesse 37. Hen. 8. c. 17. 28. H. 8. c. 10. M●…. Tindalls' Practice of Popish Prelates, and his Obedience of 〈◊〉 Chri●…ian man. Moreover they are certainly the Princes of the 〈◊〉 darkenesses of this world; both by putting out the glorious lights and Preachers of God's word; and sweeping down the brightest stars of our Church from heaven which their dragonlike tails, in every place; by degrees, and by purging this very passage out of the first Collect in the last Fast-booke: Thou hast delivered us from superstition and idolatry wherein we were utt●… drowned, and hast brought us into the most clear and comfortable light of thy holy word, etc. of purpose to bring us back again into superstitious, Romish Hellish darkness, utterly to drown both our souls and bodies in it. And are they not then pretty Princes, stars and Angels of darkness?  
16. The Devil challengeth all the Kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, as his own, and by a 〈◊〉 and grant of them, tempteth Christ himself●… to full dow●… and worship him, Math. 4. 8, 9, 10. Luke 4, 5, 6, 7. This not only the Pope doth, in direct terms, (as 〈◊〉 Crakenthorpe proves at large, in the first Chapter of the Pope's temporal Monarchy,) But the Lordly Prelates likewise; who anciently have, and now again attempt, to sway and dispose of all Kingdoms of the world with all dignities, offices, and promotions in them at their pleasures; and by promise of them, or of Bishoprics, Benefices, Deaneries, and other preferments to them creatures and agents, tempt diverse both of the Laity and Clergy, even against their knowledge and conscience, to fall down, obey fear, serve, and worship them more than God, than Christ, their Sovereigns or their laws, as woeful experience manifests at this day, wherein most men in authority, fear and worship our Prelates more than God or the King, and are more careful to obey, more fearful to offend their Injunctions, Articles, Edicts, pleasures, than either Gods or the King's laws, as I could instance in sundry particulars, in Prohibitions, habens corpora and other actions against the Lord Prelates, their officers and creatures which I spare to mention.  
17. The devil adventured to tempt Christ himself by several successive temptations, to draw him to his beck. Math. 4. 1. to 12. Luke 4. 1. 10. So do Lordly Prelates, adventure by several wiles Stratagems, flatteries, promises and fair pretences, (yea and by perverting the Scripture itself, as the devil did here with Christ) to tempt Kings, Princes, Nobles, great officers of estate, Scholars, Lawyers, and all men of note, (especially the eminent Preachers and Professors,) to take their parts, to prostitute themselves to their Papal Institutions, Superstitions, decretals, pleasures, Ceremonies, Innovations and commands; and to protect, uphold, advance their Antichristian tottering Hierarchy, (as ancient Histories, with present experience, and Mr. Tindalls' Practice of Popish Prelates testify.  
18. The devil would have Christ himself to fall down and worship him notwithstanding God's express Commandment to the contrary, Math. 4. 8. 9 10. Luke 5.. 6. 7. So our Prelates would have all men even against the laws of God and the Realm to fall down and submit to them and their antichristian novel Ceremonies, Articles, Injunctions Oaths, Usurpation, Extorsions, encroachments to bow and cringe to Altars, Images, Crucifixes, Crosses, the Sacramental Bread & wine, the ver●… name of jesus &c, and to publish their Declaration ●…or sports and pastimes on the Lord's day, coloured only by them with his Majesty's name, though really none of his in their Parish Churches, as if it were Gods own 〈◊〉 & Law, to spur up yea precipitate the people to all manner of disorder, & the profanation of Gods own sacre●… day, to the ruin both of their soul●…s and bodies. (Yea the overthrow of all piety and Religion,) silencing, suspending, excommunicating, yea suing such in their Consistories, and high Commissions, who refuse to puplish it, (though there be no Law or Canon for it,) notwithstanding God's Commandments, and many late exemplary judgements from heaven, (●…or which, some Prelates threaten to bind God Almighty himself to the peace and good behaviour at the next Quarter Sessions and Assizes, expressly prohibit it: So like are they in this particular to their Spiritual Father the devil in persuading, enforcing men to fall down and worship them and their Commandments against Gods own heavenly Precepts.  
19 The devil is a great enemy to the purity of God's word and ordinances, and whiles men sleep soweth Tares among the wheat and good seed to corrupt and mar●…e them Math. 13. 24. 25. 38. 39 So do Lord Prelates, who sophisticate, pollute, deprave, yea mar the purity of God's word, worship. Sacraments, and other Ordinances with their Idolatrous, Superstitious Antichristian Ceremonies, vestments, genuflexions additaments, mixtur●…s and humane inventions, And whiles many of our Spiritual Watchmen are a sleep and silenced, they have sown so many Popish Tares among our wheat that little else but Tares appear now upon the ground, & by that time Harvest comes, If men awake not the sooner, we are like to reap nothing but a crop of these pernicious Tares instead of wheat, being already led by some leading Prelates (like the Syrians by the Prophet Elishah into the midst of Samaria 2. Kings. 6. almost into the very midst of Room like persons hoodwinked, before we are aware of it; as all whose eyes God hath opened plainly se.  
20. The devil hinders Gods Ministers to go and preach the Gospel to the people that they may be saved 1. Thess. 2. 8. So do the Prelates now by suspending, silencing, excommunicating, imprisoning most of the best and powerfullest Ministers, and forbidding them to preach unto the people, that they might be saved (Yea even in the times of Pestilence and mortality) to fill np their sins alway, ●…or the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 1. Thes. 2. 16.  
21. Where the devil cannot hinder the preaching of God's word altogether, there he comes and steals it away presently out of men's hearts and minds, as soon as it is sown, that so it may take no root, and bring forth no fruit at all. Math. 13. 19 So Lord Prelates, where they cannot altogether suppress the preaching of the word, do (just-like the devil) endeavour pr●…ntly to catch and steal it out of men's hearts, by giving them liberty on the Lords own day, as soon as ever the Sermon is ended, to fall to their May-games, Morisses, dance, sports, and pastimes, (practice condemned in express terms long ago by Clemens Alexandrinus, Pedagogil. 3. c. 11. Tertullion de spect●… lib. & Chrisostom H●…m. 5. in Math. and by all Divines of note since their age tot his, as Hellish, Heathenish, Diabolical, impious, and pernicious, depriving men's souls of the benefit of all God's Ordinances) and by prohibiting them to meet together to repeat their Ministers Sermons with their friends, neighbours, and families punnissing them for Conventicles if they do it, contrary to St. Paul's, St. Chrisostoms', Theophelacts, Caesarius Arelatensis, Bishop jewels, Dr. Boys, Mr. john Sprintes, Bishop, Baglies, and all other Divines Doctrine that I ever read or heard of, (If not to the Canons, 1571. p. 16. & 1602. Can. 13 & 79) who much urget his Repetition of Sermons as a necessary duty on all Christians, though of diverse families) A stupendious strain of Atheistical profaneness, and desperate impeity which no Prelates ever aspired to, before these of this last impious age, in affront of all the Prelates and Clergy of England in H. 8. his days, who prescribe and urge it much to these Novellers eternal shame.  
22. The divi●…l to work his own devilish ends and designs, will sometimes transform himself into an Angel of light, though he be still a devil in truth 2. Cor. 11. 14. So the Prelates (the archest Hypocrites breathing) will sometimes do the like, putting on a counterfeit vizard of piety and holiness, to cloak their devilish designs, seeming, Angels of light in show, when as they are still mere Devils incarnate in verity: as appears by several Popes, by Thomas of Becket, Anselm, Edward, Thomas, and William, of Canterbury, with diverse of our anuncient English, and late out landish Prelates, whose lives are at large related in Antiquitates Ecclesiae Britanicae, Malmesbury & Godwyn, in the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Centuries of Magdeburg (cap. 6. 7. 10. of each) in Crantzins' ●…is Metropolis, Catalogus Testuum veritatis, Auealini An: Boiorum, & others; who manifest Lordly Bishops in all ages, to have been the greatest Pypocrites, dissemblers, Schizmatickes, Atheists, Traitors, Rebels, Villains, and Monsters of impiety, under the pretence of Sanctity, that ever had existence in the world; as you may there read at leisure; and in Doctor john White his way to the true Church Sect. 55. n. 9, 10. Sect. 57 n. 9, 10, 11. Sect. 38. n. 45, 6. and Defence of the way, c. 6.  
23. The devil is a proud insolent domineering spirit, falling (as most hold) by this sin of pride and arrogance 1 Tim. 3. 6, 7. Isay. 14. 12, 13, 14, 15. Such and no other are the Lordly Prelates, witness all stories present unanswerable experience, and the common Proverb. As proud as a Prelate they being the most arrogant, insolent, domineering, proud, ambitious, Luciferian generation of all the Sons of men, trampling all others under their Lordly feet; when as if they were Christ's members or disciples, they should be the lowliest and humblest of all oaths both in heart and conversation, as he was Math 11. 29. An infallible Character that they are none of his institution, but the Devils, whose pride they imitate, equal, if not transcend, and which sin (no doubt) will shortly ruin them, Prov. 16. 18. as it did their father the devil.  
24. The devil entered into Iud●…s (Christ's Lord Treasurer. john. 12. 6. 13. 29.) and moved him for 30. pieces of silver to betray his M●…ster Math. 26. 14, 15. Mark 14 10, 11. Luke 22. 3, 4, 5, 6. john 13. 17, 18, 19 c. 18. 3. So these Lordly Prelates, for hopes of honour, money, or preferments sell and betray even Christ himself, his Word, truth, Gospel, Saints, members, to the Pope, yea the devil himself, or any that will hire them to do it: Nay hundreds of them (both at home and abroad) have for lucre, honour and money, betrayed, murdered, deposed, conspired, and rebelled against their own Sovereigns, (Emperors, Kings, and Princes) (such notable treacherous varlets have they been in all ages) as sundry Stories manifest at large; yea in former ages, and this present too, they insinuate into men's heats, with p●…omises and rewards, causing Servants to betray their Masters, Wives their Husbands, Children their Parents, People their Pastors, Nay one Minister, one Professor (at least in 〈◊〉) another, and cause one friend, one neighbour to accuse, entrap, and betray another, whom they malice for their grace and goodness, or any other occasion) that so they may persecute, hamper, ruin them in their ecclesiastical or high Commission Courts, or crush them by their temporal power and greatness at their pleasures, by putting them from their freeholds, and lawful callings, confining them to some prison, or forcing them to fly the land, in case they stoop not to their lusts in all particulars; as hundreds of late Precedents, manifest a●…●…ull.  
25. The devil doth buffet and bind God's servants, till Christ by his infinite power doth lose them 2. Cor. 12. 7. Luke 13. 16. So have done, and yet daily do Lord Prelates buffet and bind God's people by their Censures, Excommunications, officers, Pursuivants, Iaylo●…s, till Christ by his omnipotent power shall rescue and deliver them from this their tyranny.  
26. The devil filleth men's hearts to lie to the Holy Ghost Acts 5. 3. So Lord Prelates with promises and persuasions do the like, by suborning their instruments in their writings and Sermons before Kings, Princes, Universities, and the most eminent assemblies, to maintain their Episcopal jurisdiction, lordliness, pomp and power, their superstitious Popish Ceremonies, Altars, Crucifixes, Tapers, genuflexions, Conservations, adorations, etc. to be all jure divino warranted an●… prescribed by God's Law and word, of purpose to deceive the Auditors (when as their consciences know t●…e contrary to be true, and that they lie against the Holy Ghost in what they preach and write) and to forge diverse notorious fables and calumnies of Puritan Precizians and godly Christians out of their own poetical brains (as false as any figments in the golden Legend) to bring both them, the practice, power, and profession of Religion into public scorn; that so Popery, Atheism, and Profaneness may overflo●… the world, A dangerous (yet now a common) sin and practise, which I wish the guilty would reform by Ananias and Saphirahs' exemplary punishments for this very sin, Acts 5. 3. to. 10.  
27. The devil tempts and encourageth men to all kinds of sin, of wickedness, and to disobey all God's Commandments, Gen. 3. 1. to. 7. to ●…cleanenesse. 1 Cor. 7. 5. to cruelty and implacableness 2 Cor. 2. 11. to wantonness, worldliness, lasciviousness, profaneness, and fleshly lusts Ephes. 2. 2, 3. 1 Tim. 5. 15. besides murder, treachery, lying, and other forenamed sins. So do the Prelates; witness their many late ungodly, Superstitious, licentious Books and practices, to spur men on to Popery and superstition, but especially to profane the Sabbath, to use dancing, Morriss, May-games, erect Alice, Maypoles, Bacchavalls', drink, swill, and play the Epicures, the Pagans, even on Gods own sacred day (and that whiles we lie all under God's scourge & plagues for this very sin) to tumble them headlong into hell, and draw down all God's wrath and plagues upon us from heaven at once, to our speedy certain ruin. Take but one fresh instance of this kind: Master Skinner the Bishop elect of Bristol, this last S●…mmer even in the heat of the Plague, invited one Sir Garret Ramsford (a prisoner in the King's Bench) with his Lady, to dine with him at his Country house on the Lord's day, and charged them not to fail him, for they would be very merry; They came accordingly, and his elect Lordship, according to promise was so merry, that he called for Bristol milk (strong Sack) to season him for that diocese, and sucked it up so freely, that he had almost got the Staggars; and his men seeing their new Lord set upon so merry a pin, plied him so fast with it, that at last he bade them take away the Sack for fear they should kill him with it, and what then should his Majesty do for a new Bishop? (as if enough would not be ready to succeed him, if he were gone): Well, their company was so good, that they must stay at Supper with him too; they did so, and they were very merry; Supper ended, his Lor●…ship calls for a pair of Cards, and to play they must all go; Sir Garret thereupon answered, My Lord I think you are of their opinion who hold, that the Sabbath endeth at six of the clock, that you will now go to Cards, for I hope you will not play upon the Sabbath: No (saith he) I am not of that opinion; but his Majesty commandeth us to play on this day. A notorious untruth; For where (I pray) commandeth his Majesty, or alloweth B●…shops or Ministers to play at Cards, or Dice, or Tables on the Lord's day, when as he commands; that nothing be done against the Laws and Canons of the Church, in that very Declaration they would father on his Highness, and the 73. and 74. Canons expressly pro●…ibit Bishops and Ministers to play at Cards, Dice or any other unlawful games on any day, Much less than on the Lords day, which the 13 Canon, and the Homily, of the time and place of prayer, with 5. & 6. E. l. c. 3. and his Majesty's prime Act. 1. Carolic. 1. will inf●…rme them aught otherwise to be spent then in Carding, Plays and pastimes. Sir Garret replied, that he conceived, it was against the fourth Commandment: and that his Majesty neither would nor could command any thing against God's Law; or if he did; we were not to obey in such cases. His Lordship replied, that the fourth Commandment was ceremonial and abrogated long ago. So (said Sir Garret) you may say as well of all the rest; and if his Majesty should command any thing against the other 9 Would you obey it? That (said his Lordship) we must dispute when there shall be occasion, (intimating, that if his Majesty should command any thing against a●…y of God's Commandments (which we trust he will never do) the Bishops would obey it without any great dispute.) Well, Sir Garret would not play at that time, and thereupon the Cards were sent back again. And is not this a man (think you) like to make a very ho●…y Prelate? It may be so, for he hath since been consecrated (and that with some new Popish Ceremonies as is reported.) And in truth he needed a Consecration, for I remember well, when he was fellow of Trinity College in Oxford, he after pretty Bes Bauger so long, that he begat a strong kind of spurious tympany in his belly, for which I never heard, he did any pena●…ce, or made any purgation; But his Consecration (doubtless) hath purged this and all other his sins clean away: Such holy examples are Lord Prelates, whose doctrine had need convert men's souls, for few of their lives will do it.  
28. The devil stirreth up Kings to offend God, to the destruction and prejudice of their subjects 1 Chron. 21. 1. and raiseth discords and dissensions and disaffections between Kings and their subjects judges 9 23. And have not Lordly Prelates anciently, yea lately done or endeavoured at least to do the like in Germany, France, that I say not in England too? Their chief practice 〈◊〉 always bee●…e to ali●…nate subjects affectiens from their Kings, by putting them upon unjust Taxes, 〈◊〉, Projects, Monopolies, oppressions, In●…ations; by giving them evil counsel, by ●…opping the course of laws, of common Right and justice, of the preaching power and progress of the cospel, by advancing Idolatry, popery, 〈◊〉, with their own intolerable 〈◊〉 and Lordly jurisdiction, by fathering all their unjust 〈◊〉 u●…on Kings, etc. and on the contrary to estrange the Ki●…gs hearts ●…om their Subjects, by false Calumnies, by seditious Court-Sermons and by infusing jealousies and discont●…nts into their heads and hearts against their best and loyallest Subjects without a cause; A devilish practice never more used then in these our days.  
29. Satan will not be divided against Satan for fear his Kingdo●…e should not stand Math. 12. 10. So these Lordly Prelates will never be divided one against another in point of their Antichristian jurisdiction Pomp, and Hierarchy (which they all concur i●…, though they have oft many deadly personal and particular fiends one with another) nor yet against the Pope or Devells Kingdo●…s; for than their o●…ne kingdom (a branch and me●…ber of the P●…pes and devils, as many of our godly M●…rtyrs and Writers have reso●…ved) should soon fall to ruin.  
30. The devil (that Red-Dragon) had seven crowns upon his head Revel. 12. 3. to show his royal power. So have the Popes and other Prelates, Crowns and Mitres o●… their pates, to testify their royalty and Lordly do●…inion over Kings and others, as they vaunted in D. Ba●…twicks Censure.  
31. The Devil had a seat and Throne in the Church of Pergamus, wherein he sat in state Revel. 2. 13. So have the Prelates in their cathedrals and Chappells; (as they then also boasted:) yea their great cathedrals are but ch●…ires for these great two legged Foxes Lordly tails to sit in; 〈◊〉 a lesser meaner Chair did then c●…ntent the devil, who now sits in greater state, and is far better served and attended in our Cathedrals then ever he was in the Church of Perga●…us.  
32. The devil (that Red-Drogon) with his tail drew the third part of the Stars from heaven and cast them to the earth, Revel 12. 4. So have Lordly Prelates (the tail of that fell Dragon) anciently, and of late times swept down the third part or more, of our stars (to wit, of all our faithful, powerful, pain●…full, zealous Ministers) f●…om heaven (to wit, from their Pulpits and ●…hurches) and by their suspensions, excommunications, imprisonments, deprivations, suppressing of Lectures, persecutions, etc. have cast them to the ground, nay trampled them under their dragonlike paws, depriving them of their office and Benefices; thereby robbing God and Christ of the glory, the poor people's souls of the fruit and comfort of their Ministry, to their greatest grief.  
33. This great Red Dragon, (the devil) stood before the Woman (the Church) which was ready to be delivered of a man-child, for to devour her Child (her spiritual regenerate Children) as soon as it was borne. Rev. 12. 4, 5. Thus those Lordly Prelates do; No sooner can the Church be ready to be delivered of a man-child, of a godly faithful Pastor, new Minister, or zealous Christian, but these great red scarlet Dragons, (w●…o can suffer dumb Dogs, deboist, licentious, dissolute drunken, scandalous Ministers and superstitious Popelings to sit still and do what they list, without danger or countroll) are at hand (like P●…aroah, and the devil) to devour, silence, suppress, pers●…cute, and destroy th●…m as s●…one as they are borne, or ●…ginne but once publicly to appear in the world; as experience too well ●…ifieth in most places, where a godly Minister or Christian can no sooner show his head or begin to do God faithful service but they presently lay traps and snares to hamper, or send Apparitors, Pursuivants, with such other Hellish Furies, to seize upon them, that so their Lordships may swallow them all up at a bit; Yea if any good Book shall begin to peep out against their tyranny, Prelacy, and Innovations, Houses, Ships, Studies, Trunks and Cabinets must be broken up and ransacked for them: Such ravenous red●… Furious Dragons are they, and such open wide Sepulchers are their devo●…ring throats to swallow 〈◊〉 all things that any way make against them.  
34. This Dragon, and his Angels make ware in heaven fi●…hting with Michael, (to wit, our Saviour Christ) and his Angel's Rev. 12. 7. So the Lordly Prelates and their Angels (To wit, their Deans, Arch-deacons officials, Chauncellors, Commissaries, Surragates, Advocates, Proctors, Registers, Pursevanst, Sum●…ers, Apparitors, & Household chaplains too for the most part) have in all ages to this very moment, made war in heaven (God's Church militant) with Christ and his Angels, To wit, his faithful, po●…erfull, godly Ministers; Preachers, Saints, and Servants; as all Histories, ages witness, And now this Battle seems to be at the hottest, here amongst us, More godly Ministers h●…ving been silenced, suspended, deprived, driven from their Ministry, & chased out of the Realm within these 5. years, though conformable to the established doctrine and discipline of our Church, then in many ages before.  
35. When the devil co●…es down among the inhabitants of the earth, and of the Sea, than woe be to them Rev. 12. 12. So woe be to the kingdoms, Churches, and people, where Lord Prelates come and bear most sway amongst them, witness our Book of Martyrs, and Chronicles of England; & to these Diocese wherein they domineer; Witness Norwich Diocese and others at this present.  
36. When this Dragon, and the Devil was cast out to the earth, he persecuted the Woman (the true Church of God) Rev. 12. 13. So have these Lord Prelates in all ages; (as the Books of Martyrs record at large) since they were cast out of heaven (Christ's true spiritual Church) for their Lordly pride.  
37. When the Dragon saw the Woman had such swift wings given her, that She escaped his hands, and fled into the wilderness, out of his reach and danger, where She was nourished for a time, than he cast out of his mouth a flood of water after her, to devour & drown her Rev. 12. 14, 15, 16. So these Lord Prelates, when any godly Ministers or Christians have escaped their Lordships, their Apparitors, Pursuivants, or other Cathpoles hands by flight, or otherwise; power out of their mouths a flood of Execrations, Excommunications, Intimations, Suspensions, Maledictions, reproaches, obloquys, and outrageous Censures against them, to devour and over whelm them; Yea Excommunications with agravations, that no man shall buy, sell, trade, eat, drink, or have any conversation with them; An Hellish Antichristian, tyranny lately practised, and revived (against all laws and Statutes of the Realm) against 4. men in Norwich, Only for not bowing at the name of jesus; and against Mr. Samuel Burrowes of Colchester, for Indicting Parson Newman for enforcing the people up to his new rail to receive.  
38. The devil, if stoutly and manfully resisted, will fly from us, ever raging (like a coward) over those with greatest extremity, that make the least resistance 1 Pet. 5. 9 james 4. 7. Thus do these Lordly Prelates; where they are stoutly and manfully withstood in their tyrannical exorbitant proceedings usurpations, and encroachments, by men of courage, there they (for the most part) fly, & give over; these ever faring best, that most manfully oppugn them: Where they are crouched, bowed, and basely submitted to, or faintly resisted, or not opposed (as late experience too well manifesteth) there they rage, tyrannize, triumph most, and make strange havoc in the Church. If Ministers, or people than will ever be free from the turanny, bondage, insolency, rage, or desperate oppressions, the unjust illegal Excommunications, Suspentions, exacted Fees, Visitation Oaths, Articles, Ceremonies, Innovations, Citations, Proceeding of these outrageous devils, made in their own names and rights alone, under their proper Seals, without any Patent or Commission from his Majesty's authorising them (Contrary to the express Statutes of 25. H. 8. c. 19, 20, 21. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 31. H. 8. c. 9, 10. 32. H. 8. c. 26. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1, El. c. 1. 2. 5. El. c. 1. 8. El. c. 1. 13. El. c. 12.) or from their high Con nission ex officio Oaths, Pursuivants, imprisonments and Fines, contrary to Magna Carta c. 29. the Petition of Right. 1 Eliz: c. 1. (on which their commission is grounded 3 ●…oli. and the Laws and Statutes of the Realm (as their very last High Commission itself expressly resolves; and therefore add a non obstante, these their ex officio oaths, imprisonments. fines, and censures be contrary to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm; Such is the Prelate's justice, conscience, piety, fatherly charity, and obedience to his Majesty's Laws, to foist such a desperate Papal non obstante into their High Commission): Let then them manfully, courageously, unanimously resist and withstand them to the uttermost of their power, by all just, warrantable, lawful means that may be (as loyalty to their King & Country, Charity to themselves and their posterity, and Conscience towards God, enjoin them) and then these base-born, ignoble, cowardly, mushroom Lords and devils (animated, flushed, enraged, only by men's former cowardice, faint-heartedness, and strange unchristian sordid baseness) will flee away shortly from them, and never assault or oppress them more, in such a tyrannical, unjust, illegal manner, as they have lately done; as Phil: 1. 27. jam. 4. 7. resolve and certify us for comfort and encouragement.  
39 There is, and hath been from the fall of Adam, to this present, a bitter, perpetual, implacable enmity and war, between the old Serpent (the devil) and his seed, and Christ the seed of the Woman, his Church, and her seed, the elect and regenerate Saints of God: Genes. 3. 15. So hath there been between the Lordly Prelates, their officers, spawn, and generation, and Christ and his true spiritual seed and faithful members, even from their first original, till this present; witness the desperate enmity, the implacable malice, and horrid cruelty of the ancient Lordly Arrian Court-Bishops towards the orthodox Christians of old; Of the Popes, and popish Prelates to the true Ministers, Professors of the Gospel, and Protestants; and of the ceremonious; pompous, Lordly English Lord Prelates towards the Puritans, and Precisians (as they) nickname them) the powerful, painful, zealous, godly Preachers, Ministers, and Christians since; Of all which, our Books of Martyrs, with other Ecclesiastical Histories, and late Treatises give ample testimony, which present experience cannot but subscribe to.  
40. The devil is a malicious malignant spirit whose malice is never satisfied, ended, mitigated, or appeased, but with the ruin of the parties maligned: as appears in job. 1. 13. to 22. c. 2. 1. to 8: Where he could not be satisfied with the destruction of jobs Children, Oxen, Asses, Sheep, Camels, Servants, and estate, but he would have had his life too; and when that could not be obtained; Yet he would torment his body with sore painful boiles from the Crown of his head to the sole of his foot. So Lordly Prelate's malice and rancour against God's faithful Ministers, is endless, boundless, implacable, they cannot be content to vex, molest, and trouble them with causeless suits, unless they silence & stop their mouths: when that is done, they are never quiet till they have quite deprived them of their livings and Ministry, stripped them of all their livelihood, cast them into some nasty Prison, or banished them the Realm: When this is acco●…plished, Yet is not their rage abated, nor their malice extinguished; even in Prison they will keep an hard hand against them, use them with all de●…pit and rigour, deprive them as much as may be, of all relief, resort, and comfort, seek out new occasions to vex and persecute them, But if perchance they escape beyond the Seas, and get out of their clutches; then they persecute them (as the high Priests did the primitive Christians) even into strange Cities and Countries Acts 26. 11. raising up fresh troubles and storms against them by their Catholic agents, even there, to destroy them; as they did against Mr. tindal, and other Martyrs of old; and against some of our godly Ministers of late, being never at rest or peace, till they have either sucked their blood, or seen them dead in their graves; A truth too apparent by many present Examples fresh before our eyes.  
41. The devil hath his Angels, his Ministering spirits, and spiritual Sons to do his service, advance his kingdom, and execute his Commandments Math. 25. 41. john. 6. 70. c. 8. 44. 1. john. 3. 8. 10. Yea, to persuade men to worship the devil and Idols of gold and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk Rev. 9 20. Math. 4. 8. 9, 10. Luke 4. 5, 6, 7. 1. Kings 22. 28, 29, 30. So have Lordly Prelates their Angels, their spiritual Sons, and Ministering spirits, to execute their several Injunctions & Commandments: Their Angels, (To wit) their household Chaplains (now known 
(h) Rev. 2. 5. 6.  Apostate Angels from their first faith love and works) and their spiritual Sons, To wit, their Priests serving at their ●…ew erected Altars, (as themselves now pray, write and preach, who now call themselves the Sons of the Church; to wit, of the Bishops) who like an Oven heated by the 
(i) Hose●…. 7. 4. 6.  Baker, send out nothing but black fiery 
(k) A Coal from the Altar. printed An. 1636.  Coals from the Altar, with which, their own tongues, and others 
(l) Isay. 6. 6. 7.  lips being touched, by these great Seraphins Commandments (according to their usual forms of prayer, before their Sermons) instead of crying out against the Idolatrous Altlas of bethel (as the man of God once did by God's special Commandment in the very presence of K. jeroboam 1. King 13. 2, 3, 4.) they do nothing else but preach and cry out for Altars, setting up of Altars, Images, Crucifixes, Tapers, with other Altar-trinkets, even before our most gracious King himself; and 
(m) job. 6. 5. See pocklington's Sunday no Sabbath.  Bray like a wild Ass, or rail and scold like Oyster women, against those who preach for Lords Tables (which they begin now again to term 
(n) Acts and Monuments. Edit. 1631 vol. 3. p. 85. 95. 497.  Oysterboardes, as that turn coat, Dr. White with other Papists did in ●…u. Mary's days, when they did set up Popery afresh) or oppose their Popish Idoll-Altars, and the turning of our Tables Altarwise: And not contented to set up Altars, and Crucifixes, against our Statutes, Articles, Homilies, Canons, Injunctions, established Doctrine of our Church, to which they have subscribed, Yea against the very Book of common prayer itself; (which prescribes only a Table, not any Altar) they crease not to preach continually at Court, Paules-Crosse, in both our Universities, and else where, 
(o) Shelford his Sermon of the Church Sunday no Sabbath. p. 46. ●…heeue, & others.  that men 〈◊〉 and aught to bow down and worship the golden Images, the stately guilded Altars, Cru cifixes, Images, which their great 
(p) Dan. 3. 5. 6. 7.  Nabucadonozer, the Lord Prelates, have set up in their own Chappells, Cathedralls, and other Churches, (as if one Stone, Stock, Image, or dumb Idol, might not fall down and worship another alone, but all else must imitate their example, as the Rule of faith and worship (and themselves bow down and worship before them, as the Idolatrous Isralites and Pagans did before their Idols and Altars 1. Kings 12. 30. 2. King●…. 18. 22. 2. Kings 5. 18. Besides these Angels, and spiritual Sons) who preach nothing now all most but their Lordship's 
(q) Math. 15. 9  Commandement●…●…de of Gods) they have diverse Ministering spirits; as Arch-Deacons, Commissaries, Pursuivants, Apparitors, ●…ilors, Registers, Informers, Advocates, Proctors, Spies, and Notaries in all places, to set up Al●…, 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉, impose and prescribe n●…w Ceremonies, Injunctions, Oaths, orders, Articles, to suspend silence, excommunicate, imprison, entrap, wailay, betray, persecute, fleece, and ruin all godly Ministers and people, and advance their Lordship's Monarchy, Honour, Pomp, State, Ravevewes, Kingdom, and cause all men to fall down and worship them, like som●… petty Gods descended from heaven, and their Antichristian fond Injunctions and Popish Innovations, as Gods sacred Oracles: So like are they to their Father the devil in this resemblance.  
42. The devil was a lying spirit in the mouth of Aha●…s Prophets; to persuade him to what they pleased, against God's word & true Prophets, etc. to advance his own designs: 1. Kings 22. 22, 23. So our Lord Prelates anciently were, & now are as much as ever, lying spirits in the mouths of many false Prophets (and I would we could not say, in most of his Majesty's Chaplains in ordinary, and others that preach before his highness, and in other public places) who preach nought else but their 
(r) Math. 15. 9  Lordship's pleasures, and those words, those precepts, they cunningly put into their mouths, (as the 
(s) 2. Sam. 14. 2. to 22.  Woman of Tekoah spoke joabs' words to David) to accomplish their own Antichristian designs, advance their own power and Hierarchy, and cause all men to adore them as the only Gods, Lords, and Oracles on the earth. 
(t) 〈◊〉: and Dr. john White his Epistle Dedicative to K. james before his De●…te of the Way.  Maximus Tirius records, That one P. Sappho dwelling in the parts of Libya, desirous to be canonised a God, took a sort of prating Birds, and secretly taught them to sing, P. Sappho is a great God: and having their lesson perfectly, he let them fly into thee Woods and Hills adjoining, where continuing there long, other Birds also by imitation learned the same, till the hedges rang with nothing but P. Sappho's ditty, Great is the God P. Sappho: The Countrypeople hearing the Birds, (but ignorant of the ●…raud) thought Sappho to be a God indeed, and began to worship him. This ●…ame not only hath been, but now is, both the Popes, and Lord Prelates practise; Who desirous to effect their own ambitious ends, advance their own pretended divine power, jurisdiction, Hierarchy, and to be adored and obeyed in all their Antichristian Innovations, Injunctions, and designs, as Gods, with sweet promises of preferments (which they have now for the most part monopolised into their own hands) they procure a company of bold audacious prating Birds (or Bussards rather) in our Universities, and elsewhere, with their own domestic Chaplains, to learn these notes by heart, That the Calling of Lord Bishops is jure Divino; that the holy Fathers the Prelates are to order all Church-affayres, and to be 
(v) Shelford his Sermon of God's house A Co●…e from the Altar. p. 1. 2. 3. &c Rheene his Communion Book 〈◊〉 expounded Epi●…. Dedicatory p. 20. etc.  obeyed in all their Injunctions and Commands without dispute: that they have power to decree Rights and Ceremonies, and authorities in Controversies of faith, a clause lately foisted by them into the 20 Article of our Church, (being not in the Latin, or English Articles of King Edward the fixed, Queen Elizabeth; Nor those of Ireland, taken Verbatim out of the English, that we must have Images, Crucifixes, Altars, Priests, Sacrifices; that men ought to set their Altars and Tables Altarwise at the East end of the Church, & to bow down unto them and worship them: that they ought to bow at the naming of jesus, Stand up at Gloria Patri, the Gospel, Athanasius, and the Nicene Creed, read, the 2. service at the Altar, pray with their faces to the East, submit to the Lord Prelates in all matters of faith and discipline, believing as they believe, and doing as they do: that they must always declaim and cry out thus against Puritans (as they now do in all their Sermons) that they are seditious factious persons, enemies and rebels to the King and his laws, (when as the Bishops themselves mere hildebrands ●…oth in Church and state, are such) mere Hypocrites and impostors, men far more dangerous and unsufferable in the State than Priests or Jesuits: that they must magnify auricular confession, extreme unction, and absolution, as things fitting to be received in the Church: Maintain a real presence in the Sacrament: Deny the Pope to be Antichrist, or his Ceremonies to be Antichristian: Cry up the use of dancing, sports and pastimes on the Lord's day: Cry down the strict ●…anctification of it as jewdaisme, superticious, and puritanical: Preach against lectures, lecturers, often preaching, and Sermons on the Lord's day afternoon, as mere babbling, prattling, and 
* So Dr. Corbet B. Bwrens' Chancellor jately termed preaching and said he had Scripture for it.  foolishness; with a world of such like Songs, all which these their prating jays having perfectly learned some two or three years since, they sent them abroad, not only into the Woods, Hills, and Dales in the Country, but also unto the Court, City, Universities, and places of greatest refort, to chant, and ●…oare out these their Episcopal Ditties; where these singing Birds (or Decoys rather) have so well played their parts of late, by preaching, printing, and chanting out these their lessons, in City, Court & Country, that other Birds also (by imitation ignorance, or hopes of like preferments as some of these first Decoys ha●…h attained to,) fall to ●…nge the self same ditties every where, as fast as they; So that now our cathedrals, Chappells, Churches, Pulpits, ring of little else but these Episcopal tunes and songs: which the people daily hearing every where (being ignorant, of the Prelates fraud and practise herein who taught those Birds these tunes, of which I now desire all to take public notice,) begin to think Lord Prelates, and all these their Romish Doctrines, Ceremonies, and Innovations, to be of divine Institution, and that their Lordships are to be obeyed in all things without dispute, as if they were Gods indeed; whereupon, they now fall down & worship them as some petty, yea the greatest Gods; and these their antichristian doctrines, C●…monies, Innovations, as Gods sacred Oracles and Institutions, they being far more happy then P. Sappho, in this their stratagem (worthy most serious consideration and discovery.) That he deceived only the, simple Country people with this policy, but they, not only Country-clownes, but Citizens, Scholars, Courtiers, and some great nobles too I fear; who upon the discovery of this their diobolical fraud (they speaking in these prating Birds, though Dumb for the most part themselves, and singing the self same ditties when they speak, as the 
(x) Gen. 3 1. 2. 3. 4.  devil spoke of old in the serpent) will no doubt undeify them again, and esteem them but as men, or heathenish Idols, not worthy adoration or any longer credit; and all these their Innovations, Romish Doctrines and Ceremonies, as mere jesuitical Impostures.  
43. The Devil desires to have all faithful Christians in his clutches (especially the eminentest Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel) that he may fifth them like Wheat to the very Bran, to find an hole in their Coats, or an occasion to destroy them. Luke 22, 31. So have Lordly Prelates desired and done the like in all ages, and still persist to do it; we need not go far for Precedents to exemplify it, there being never an eminent sincere Minister of England whom the Prelates have not thus winnowed, and laid traps for; and persecuted more or less.  
44. The Devil wo●…keth most of all, and beareth greatest sway in carnal fleshly men, and in the Children of disobedience. Ephes'- 2. 2, 3. 
* See this Answer to the great Turk's letter An●… 1542. & Bale de vitis Pontificium.  So do the Prelates work most in, with, by, and upon mere formalists, licentious, dissolute, carnal men and Ministers, and those who are most disobedient to the laws of God, of Christ, of Kings and temporal Magistrates, whose jurisdictions they have ever laboured to eclipse abolish & tread quite under foot, as one of our Kings, and our whole Parliaments have resolved in 2. public Acts. 37. H. 8. c. 17. & 28. H. 8. c. 10.  
45. The devil cometh armed with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness 2. Thess. 2. 9, 10. So do the Popes, and whole ●…able of Lordly Prelates, (as the Apostle there resolves,) who came armed against God's Church and people both with the temporal and spiritual Sword; with Ecclesiastical and civil Officers, Pursuivants, Summoner's, Censures, punishments, ter●…ors, and vexations of all sorts; with signs and lying wonders (of which we have many Instances in Popish legends Postils and Stories old and new) and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness; As costly Ornaments rich apparel, guilded Images, Stately Churches, Palaces, Altars, Altarclothes, sweet sounding Organs, and Church music, gay 〈◊〉, specious pretences, superstitious hypocritical devotions etc. apt to cheat and ensnare all ignorant carnal people, The only devices by which they maintain, support, and increase their pomp, wealth, State and Lordly power as Bernard longue since resolved, in his Apology to William Abot.  
46. The devil doth by himself and his instruments endeavour to enchant and bewitch men, to work them to his will Levit, 20. 6, 27. 2. Sam. 28. 1. to 12. 2. Chron. 21. 6. 2. Chron. 33. 6. Thus he bewitched the people of Samaria for a long time by Simon Magus his Sorceries Acts 8. 9, 11. Thus he bewitched the Gallatians by false Prophets, that they should not obey the truth Gall. 3. 1. Thus he permitted the Emperor 
(y) Mr. Tyndall his Practice of Popish Prelates. p. 350.  Charles the great to be bewitched by a notable Strupet with an enchanted ring, having a pearl with some strange imagery graven thereon, so that he could never be out of her company, or deny her any request whiles She lived, nor yet suffer her corpse (embalmed wrapped up in lead and carried about after him whether ever he went) to be out of his chamber or presence, when she was deed, till the ring was pulled of her finger, in such sort hath the Antichrist of Rome the 
(z) Platina & Bale de Vitis Pontificum. Dr. joh. Wite his Way to the true Church. Sect. 57 n. 9 10.  Pope, and Popish Prelates, heretofore enchanted diverse kings and others with their sorceries and conjurations, to cause them to give up their royallpower & prerogatives to these Beasts, as Rev. 17. 2, 17. c. 18, 9 28. H. 8. c. 10. Mr. Tindall ●…n his practice of Popish Prelates and Officers. relate. Thus did the 
(a) p. 368. Antiqu. Ecclesiae Brit. in the life of Archbishop Warh. p. 357. 3. 358.  great Cardinal, Favourite Woolsey, with Negromancy, and an Image made by sorcery, which he wore about him, enchant King Henry the 8. to bring him to his beck, which made the King to dote upon and run haunt after him, more than ever he did on any Lady or gentlewoman, so as the King after that, began to follow him, as he before followed the King, By means whereof, he ruled all things at his pleasure, till his black Art did fail him; Hereupon perchance) it was, that this King afterward made an Act against Conjuration, witchcrafts, Sorcery, and enchantments to procure unlawful love etc. An. 33. H. 8. c. 8, This Art hath been practised by many Priests and Jesuits here in England of late years, upon diverse of their Proselytes to seduce them to their faith, of which 
(b) Foot out of the same London 1624. p. etc.  M. Gour, regords two stories practised upon a couple of seduced Maids, I could add two later, practised upon two gentlemen (the one a young Devonsher man, of good estate, so bewitched with an enchanted Crucifix hang by a Priest about his neck, above 9 year since, that as long as it continued about him, all his friends could neither persuade, nor force him either to go to Church, or stay at home, or continue in the Realm, or to discourse or converse familiarly with them; but no sooner was it espied, and cut of his neck by his Mother (who believed it to be a Charm,) but he was presently another man, & wondered how he could be so strangely bewitched as he was for above 3. months' space before; Whither any of our great Lord Prelates have learned this Art from their familiars, Priests and Jesuits (who have charmed all their zeal and prosecutions against them, and turned the whole stream of it against the godlyest Ministers and people, whom they revile and persecute under the name of Puritans,) I leave to others to inquire after, who are more privy to their secrets then myself; If they have, I shall only desire them to remember, that Surely there is no enchantment against jacob, Neither is there any divination against Israel. numb. 23. 23. and if they have bewitched any men with any their sorceries, flatteries, misinformations, false delusions, or enchauntements, to up hold their Lordly pomp and greatness or Superstitious Romish Innovations, Yet this infernal craft (like untempered mortar) will undoubtely fail them are the last, and them shall they (like their Father Satan) fall suddenly and fearfully from heaven to earth, like Liteninge Luke 10. 18. yea the●…, with all their usurped power, lordliness, po●…pe, State, glory, and multitude, shall forever descend into Hell. Isay 5. 14. as to their proper place. Acts. 1. 25.  
47. The devil is an importunate suitor, who will hardly take any refusal or denial of his suit; A diligent so●…icitor and vigilant prosecutor of his designs, overslipping no opportunity or means to achieve ●…is ends, and an impudent shameless miscreant, who will never be shamed, daunted, terrified by any detection, discovery, or public dislike of his mischievous wiles, plots, and attempts against the Ministers, people, O●…dinances, Gospel, Kingdom of God and Christ; as appears by job 1. 13. to. 22. c. 2. 1. to. 10. Math. 4. 1. to. 10. Ephes: 6. 11, 12, 16. 1 Pet: 5. 8, 9 So the Lordly Prelates are importunate suitors to Princes, and others, for the advancement & preservation of their Hierarcie, usurpations, jurisdictions, Ceremonies, and the suppression of the purity and power of Religion, in which they will have no denial or foil; they are most vigilant, diligent, and earnest solicitors, losing no 〈◊〉, sp●…ring no cost or pains, or promises, to effect any thing that may make for the advancement of their profit, honour, power & jurisdiction, or suppression of the Puritans (as they term them now) as their late encroachments upon his Majesty's prerogative, the subjects liberties, the Common Laws, and other Officers witness, yea, they are impudent, shameless, most audacious brazenfaced creatures, who will neither blush at, give over, nor desist the prosecution of their impious Popish designs, though publicly detected to all the world; witness our present experience: For though the execrable Romish, ●…esuiticall practices of some of our Lord Prelates to usher in Popery, Superstition and Idolatry, (as by licensing Popish and s●…perstitious Books, purging and altering the Common Prayer-book, ●…ast-booke, and Gun-powder-treason-boo●…e in a most g●…osse and shameless (that I say not traytorly) manner, by erecting Altars, Images, Crucifixes, Crosses, (as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Arch-Irnovator both in Church and State affairs, though he will not be thus reputed, hath erected Altars and Crucifixes in the Chappells of Lambeth, Croyden, London-house, Fu●…ham, etc. The Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield D. Wright, this last pestilential Summer blotted out Gods Ten Commandments in the Cathedral at Litchfield, a●…d set up a giont-like monstrous Crucifix, as big and large as any three men, with an Altar under it, and also raised the Chancel; and set up an Altar at Coventry, as one Knightly, a known Popish Priest in those parts directed; as that Goodman, S. Godfrey of Gloster hath also erected a Crucifix and Altar in his Cathedral at Gloster, and solemnly consecrated Altarclothes for them. And likewise hath set up a new Cross at ●…inzor, with a large glorious Crucifix on the one side, and the picture of Christ arising out of his grave, with his Body half in and half out of his Sepulchre in goodly colours, on the other, not fearing to write thereon in Capital letters, and to give public notice to all the Realm: That this Cross was repaired and beautified at his costs Anno Domini 1635. contrary to the express Doctrine of 
(c) Of the Peril of Idolatri p. 41. 42. 61, It is wickedness for a Christian to erect such an Image to God in a Temple, etc.  our Homilies, which condemned the very making of the picture of Christ, or a Crucifix as Idolatrous wicked, and a mere lie, to which, he, and all other our Cross erecting Prelates have oft subscribed, and therefore are worthy of no painted, but a real Cross themselves, for tollerating and erecting such Crosses and Crucifixes, contrary to their own subscriptions, only to set Popery:) by silencing, suspending, and persecuting godly Ministers, Suppressing lectures and powerful preaching in many Diocese, encouraging people to neglect and profane Gods Saboathes with all Heathenish sports and impieties, imposing new visitation O●…thes, Articles, Ceremonies, and the like, setting up the Pope's Canon law, railing upon godly Ministers and people, & suppressing them under the name of Puritans, Magnifying Popish writings, and vilefyinge Protestant Authors, endeavouring to bring in the Gregorian account, punishing all those that oppose their Romish Innovations, or indicte or molest them for it in the high Commission, now made a mere Spanish Inquisition to suppress our Protestant Religion, and set Popery with an high hand against his Majesty's Laws and public declaration, and by sundry other such jesuitical tricks and stratagems prescribed long since by the jesuit Contzen Politiq. liber. 5. which their Lordships follow to an hair's breadth. Since some, or all these their execrable practices I say (at which the very devil himself might blush and hide his head) have been 
* See look about you.  laid open to all the world of late, in such an apparent undeniable manner, that all the people both clearly see, declaim against, and abhor their treachery, villainy, and wicked Romish designs, and themselves (had they any conscience, shame, ingenuity, grace, or modesty in them) would be ashamed to show their faces either in city, or country, Much more at Court, having so notoriously abused his Majesty and affronted his Laws and Declarations in all these particulars, and injured his Highness in his Royal Issues, Sister, Nephews, in blotting them out of the Collect, late Fast-booke, and Catalogue, of God's Elect; Yet these audacious holy Fathers (as blushless as their Gowns, their Rochetts or the devil) are so far from being ashamed, or reforming these their enormities and impieties, that they proceed on with as great or greater rage and violence in them then before, silencing more Ministers every day; yea breaking open the houses, committing close Prisonners and questioning those with an high hand, as seditious persons and offenders, 
M. Henry Burton D. Burges, M. White, and others.  who dare preach or write against, or find fault with those their perfidious, traytorly, disloyal, impious practices, Purgations, Innovations, Crucifixes, Altars, Tapers, and proceedings, execrable both to God and man; So like to the Devil are they grown, in their affronted shameless impudence.  
48. The devil hath great wrath, b●…cause he knoweth he hath but a short time: Revel: 12, 13. So have Lord Prelate's no●…, great wrath, and ●…xercise strange unusual rage, persecutions, exorbitances against Gods faithful Ministers and people, hunting after them with their bloodhounds the Pursuivants, and ri●…ing and breaking up their houses, Studies, Coffers, with unheard of violence, as if they were the archest Traitors breathing, witness their late proceedings against Master Burton in clapping him up close prisoner, and convicting his wife and Clerk to several prisons only for obeying his commands in presenting his Appeals and Sermons to the Lords, For God and the King, which makes people stand amazed at their tyranny, and causeth the Papists to triumph as if the day now were theirs: whereas Priests and Jesuits (mere Traitors by our laws) are favoured of late, as their darling Sons, and not molested by them. Therefore doubtless the time of their usurped tyranny & reign will be but very short, and their sins now grown ripe withal for the Sickle of God's judgements) the fica●…l ruin of their antichristian Hierarchy and more than b●…barous tyranny, near at hand.  
49. When the great red Dragon and his Ange●…ls were cast out of heaven (God's Church) the heavens, and those that dwelled therein, by God's commandments, did rejoice, Rev. 12. 12. So when those Lordly Prelates and their forenamed Angels shall be ca●… quite out of the Church of God, She and all her faithful members will exceedingly rejoice, they being now her greatest grief and grievance, of which she is so weary and sick at heart, that she groans to be delivered from, unb●…thened of them, being now intolerable for her to sustain: Such is their present devilish insolency, pride and open tyranny: especially of that Arch-wolfe, and mad red Dragon of Canterbury, who now makes open havoc of God's Church and Ministers; like another furious power, against all Laws of God & the Realm, to the amazement of the people.  
50. Hell and everlasting torments are prepated for the devil and his Angels, reserved now in chains of darkness ●…nto the judgement of the great day, when they shall be all cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever: Math. 25. 41. 2 Pet. 2. 4. jude 6. Revel. 20. 20. So are they prepared likewise for all proud Lordly, persecuting, 
* Oh that a man had but the view of hell; (saith ●…ather Latymer in his Sermons, He should see on one side of it a row of unpreaching Prelates in their square caps as far as between this and Dover, I warrant you, as far as between this and Dover.  unpreaching, oppressing, tyrannising Prelates, who suppress the preaching and progress of the Gospel, with the Preachers, Ministers, and Professors of it, and hate them to the death: And if there be any place or torments in Hell, hotter, deeper, greater, or mo●…e insupportable, ●…orrid, and loathsome than other, certainly that shall be reserved for these ungodly Lord Bishops and false Prophets; who shall have the same condemnation and torments in●…icted on them as the devil himself shall undergo. 1. Tim. 3. 6, 7. Rev. 20. 10. O that our proud persecuting Lording Prelates would now at last consider this, o that they would repent and amend in time before they fall down headlong 
* It is reported of his Archgrace of Canterbury, that when he was a poor Scholar in Oxford he dreamt, that he should first be a Bishop, then Archbishop of Canterbury, and a great persecutor of God's Ministers and people: (which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉) and that at last he si●…cke do●…ne into hell, 〈◊〉 he awaked, and then and since oft related this dream enough to terrify and a●…ake his Lordship, if true, in the midst of his present furious ●…ersecutions.  quick into Hell, Some of them (as their late actions manifest to all the world) being grown as insolent, as impudent, as desperate professed public enemies to purity, piety, holiness the sincere preaching and Preachers of God's word and power of Religion, as the very devil himself; and some of them I ●…eare) worse than any devils. For first all the devils believe Gods threats, word, judgements, and tremble at them james. 2. 19 but they (as their atheistical, unjust, unconscionable, tyrannical lives and actions proclaim to all men,) do neither believe, nor tremble at them.  
2. The devil confessed Paul & his fellow preachers, to be the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation Acts. 16. 16, 17, 18. Lordly Prelates will not confess our godliest faithfullest Preaching Ministers to be such witness there expung of the Collect in the last fast-booke beginning thus: It had been good for us etc. Only because it magnifieth often preaching, and call such preachers, Gods servants.  
3. The devil is exceeding diligent night and day, but Lordly Prelates very lazy & negligent in following of their spiritual Plough, (as B. Latimer shows at large in his Sermon of the Plough:) & so in those three respects are worse than he: When as they are parallels and checkmates with him in all and every of these 50. Particulars. From all which I shall frame this Argument, discovering the office and calling of Lordly Bishops and Prelates, not to be from God, nor of divine institution, but from the Devil, and his invention; which I challenge all great Lord Bishops to answer, if they can.  
Those who are altogether like the very Devil, tread in his footsteps, do his works, and bring forth his proper fruits in all the forecited particulars and that principally by reason of their function; those (questionless) are none of God's institution, but of their Fathers the Devil, of and from whom they are Christ himself so expressly resolving: john 8. 44. 1 john 3. 8. Math 7. 16. 20.  
Such have Lordly domineering Pontificial Bishops and Prelates in all ages been, and that principally by reason of their Lordly functions, as the premises, all Stories and experience manifest.  
Therefore they, and their Lordly function, are none of God's institution, but of their father the devils, of and from whom they are.  
Yet mistake me not, I pray, as if I concluded every Bishop to be like the devil in all these particulars, or to be damned; Such uncharitableness and impiety, be far from me and all good Christians; I know some Bishops have been godly men, and Gods dear Saints, & I doubt not but there are some few such now: though their cowardice and silence in God's cause, in which they now dare not publicly appear, be inexcusable.  
1. But yet this I say withal. First, that they were such before they were made Lord Bishops.  
2. That their Bishoprickes never made any of them better or more laborious or courageous sore the truth then before, but many of them far worse fearefuller and lasier.  
3. That since Bishoprics were endowed with Lordly riches, jurisdiction, power, and pomp, I never read of any one man that was ill before, who grew a good and godly Christian by being made such a Bishop (a thing remarkable;) nor of any good man before, that ever grew better, more painful, hol●… zealous, heavenly minded and laborious, but most of them all much ●…orse, more idle, worldly, covetous, proud, luxurious, malicious, oppressive petulant, self-willed, and unjust.  
4. That most Lordly Prelates (especially those who have been most pontificial, powerful, Lordly, domineering, active and stirring in the Church and state) have in all ages since they were made Lords, Peers, and B●…rons, been like the devil in all or most of the forecited particulars; and if any proved good, or became not such, it was only from the overruling sanctifying grace of God's spirit in their hearts before and after they were made Lord Prelates, not from this very Lordly office, pomp, power, and function itself, which otherwise would have made them such, as it hath made most other Popes and Prelates, as all sto●…ies evidence.  
5. Finally, I affirm; that if to be a Lord Bishop, be such a thing only as many now define and make it; Namely, to manage temporal offices, and state-affairs, to give over preaching, except one Leuten Court-Sermon in a year or two, not in their proper Dioc sse to their people, to follow and hunt the King's Court, to get and dispose o●… Ecclesiastical (and so 〈◊〉 civil) osfices and preferments; to suppress Lectures, Lecturers, and often preaching of God's Word; Suspend, excommunicate, persecute, imprison, deprive godly Ministers and Professors for toys and trifles, (yea for their zeal and piety,) against all Laws of God and man; to consecrate Chapels, Churches, set up Crucifixes. Altars, Tapers, Crosses, Organs, Images, ●…oyle in Communion-tables Alta●…wise, set up Superstition, Popery, and Idolatry; Licence Popish and Armenian Books, Corrupt and purge the common-prayer-book, the Gunpowder treason Book, the Fast Book, yea the Articles of Religion, ad normam Romanae fidei, to make and impose new visitation Oaths, Articles, 〈◊〉 Orders, Innovations, to make Mini●…ers & Churchward●…ns 〈◊〉; to keep visitations and Consistories without any Patent or Commission from his Majesty, in their own names and rights alone; to grant out Citations, Process Excommunications, Probate of wills, Commissions of administration, etc. in their own names, under their own Seals, not his Majesties to fine, imprison censure, and 〈◊〉 his Majesty's good Subjects, etc. their fellow brethren at their pleasures; to be coached and barged up and down from place to place (I am sure seldom to the pulpit) to be courted, capped, attended, clothed like petty Kings and Princes, to far deliciously every day, to have stately Palaces, great possessions, Knights and brave Gentlemen to attend them, Lords and Earls to crouch unto them, all to fear them, flatter them, none to rebuke, oppose or control them, (no not in their oppressing and unjust courses) to bolster out their encroachments upon the King's Prerogative and Laws, and on his Subjects Liberties with might, threats, and violence; to tramp●…e all Laws of God and man under foot, and do all things by will & power, not Law or Canon; to be implacable, unmerciful, pitiless, proud, stately, cruel; to shake up, terrify and b●…ow-beate, imprison, Excommunicate deprive, degrade, presents their fellow-brethrens, and eat them like their Curs; to set forward all profaneness, disorders, sports and E●…hnicke pastimes even on Gods own day, and make no conscience of it; to do all things like absolute Lawgivers, Lords, Popes, and Monarches, or rather professed Atheists, fearing neither God ●…or man, and breaking all their laws, to bolster up base, drink, idle, scandalous clergy men, exempting them fro●… secular power & jurisdiction, to maintain their Officers in 〈◊〉 open exortions, oppressions, abuses, exorbitant misdemeanour & the like: Which is now only to be and play the Bishop in point of Doctrine and practice: Then thus to be and act the Bi●…hop, is in truth to 〈◊〉 and play the very devil, and to parallel him in all forecited respects; let those who are such Lordly. Prelates deny it if they can or dare.   

The second Parallel BETWEEN THE JEWISH HIGH PRIESTS And Lordly Prelates.  
AS Lordly Prelates resemble their Father the devil in all the forenamed particulars, so do they the jewish high Priests in these ensuing Particulars.  
1. The high Priests of the jews, were ordained of men, to offer gifts and sacrifices on the Altar Heb. 8: 3. Exod. 40. Levit. 1. to. 22. So our high Priests the Lord Prelates, are and will be ordained and also ordain others high Priests for this end, to offer Sacrifices and gifts at their new erected Altars (not to preach) the end why they every where erect, advance, consecreate, and bow down to Altars, which now want nothing but a Mass to grace them withal.  
2. The jewish high Priests had their Mitres, and brave costly pontifical Robes, ornaments, and attires, whereby they were differenced from other men Exod. 31. 1. to. 32. c. 28, 2. to 43. So have the Lordly Prelates, and that in imitation of the jewish high Priests, from whence they derive them.  
3. The jewish high Priests went but once a year into the second Tabernacle to offer for the people. Heb. 9 7. And our Lordly high Priests commonly go but once a year, (and many of them scarce once in 3. or 4. years, witness both our present Arch-prelates; & some other unpreaching Bishop's examples, into the Pulpit, to preach unto the people, or to offer sacrifice on the Altar.  
4. The jewish high Priests commanded the Apostles, not preach any more in the name of the Lord jesus, to the people, that they might be saved; and apprehended imprisoned, and scourged them, for do●…ng it. Acts 4 & 5. 1 Thess. 2. 16. Our Lordly Prelates heretofore, and at this very day, silence and suspend our best, our painfullest Ministers from preaching God's Word unto their people, that they may be saved (though God, the King, the Books of Ordination and Statutes of the Realm enjoin them for to do it,) and threaten to apprehend, imprison, and fine them if they preach contrary to their suspensions; as the Apostles did, Who in despite of all the high Priests threats, inibitions imprisonments, stripes, three times one after another, Daily in the Temple, and in every house, (which now would be a Conventicle) ceased not to teach and preach jesus Christ- Acts 5. 41, 42. And so would and should our Ministers (now silenced against Law and Canon too) were they true successors of the Apostles, and not intoxic●…ted with a base unworthy spirit of carnal fear and cowardice, which makes them betray their liberties, Religion, Flocks, Brethren to the will and rapine of these beastly ravening Lordly Wolves.  
5. The jewish high Priest granted out warrants or letters missive to Saul (brea●…hing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,) that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Ierus●…em. Acts 〈◊〉. 2. Lordly Prelates heretofore, and now, grant the like letters missive, warrants, and Attachments to their Pursuivants and other malicious wicked Informers (that breath out threatenings and slaughter against the Lords disciples) against diverse godly Ministers, Christians, and all such as they please to style, Puritans and Cowventicklers, whither men o●… women, to breaks open and ransacks their houses, take their bodies, bring them up Prisonners to London, Ye k●…, or Durham, before their Lordship's holynesses, to fine, censure, deprive, imprison and undo them though Christ, his Apostles, and the primitive Bishops never claimed or exercised any such Lordly secular tyranny or jurisdiction, but condemned it as unlawful and unbeseeming Clergymen.  
6. The jewish high-Priest Ananias, when Paul was convented before the Counsel and began to make his Apology and plead his own cause, commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth, and would not suffer him to speak in his own defence Acts 33. 1, 2. Thus do our Lord Prelates deal with God's Ministers when they come before them in the High Commission or elsewhere; they will not suffer them to speak in their own defence, or plead their own causes to the full; but when they offer to speak, enjoin them silence, or else command the Pursuivant or jailor to smite them on the mouth, or take them away to the Prison, So imperious are their Lordships grown. Take but one fresh memorables instance instead of many others. One M. Snelling a grave Kentish Minister, was suspended ab Officio & Beneficio about a veare and half since by D. Wood, commissary to the Bishop of Rochester, and after that excommunicated, pursuivanted and articled against before the High Commissioners, at Lambet●…, only for not reading the Declaration for sports, fathered falsely upon his Majesty by the Prelates. To which Articles he drawing up a full answer, showing the reasons both in point of law and conscience, why he conceived himself not bound to read it, and so not culpable of any crime; the Register refused to accept or receive his Answer though tendered to him in writing, saying, it was too long, and he durst not take it. Hereupon he contracted it into less than a sheet of paper and tendered it to him as his answer. He refused it the second time; and though he thus tendered his answer, yet an Attactment issued out against him, for not answering. The conclusion was, he must put in only such an answer as the Register should prescribe, without any justification or defence, or mention of the reasons why he refused to read the Book, telling him that he might and should put in his reasons in court, by way of defence. Whereupon he gave in a short answer without any defence at all in a manner; which coming to be repeated before one of the Commissioners; the Register and he dashed out of his very answer (against all Law and justice) what they pleased: which M. Snelling perceiving, professed he would not acknowledged for his answer none of his, but their own making; vet notwithstanding this answer must stand as his. This Hilary term he tenders his defence; the Register and Court at Informations refused to accept thereof, telling him 〈◊〉 came too l●…te; though before the cause informed against: At Lambeth he tendered his defence in Court; the Archbishop refer the consideration of it to Sir Nathaniel Brent, and D. Guyn whether it were fit to be received; only he told them, he would have no dispute of the point; which is all one, as if his Grace had said; I will have no defence at all: This the event hath manifested, For he tendering his defence to these, Refers they refuse, to receive or allow thereof: telling him that the 
* See how these disloyal Officers most unjustly lay the blamt of all their tyranny, oppression, Innovations & injustice upon his Majesty: to rob him of his people's hearts and affections.  King & the Archbishop have decreed that the Book shall and must be read, and therefore he must submit and read it, and they can allow of no Defence against it. That the Archbishop hath decreed it shall be read, I believe it without an Oath; but that his Majesty hath made any such Dec●…ee, they must give me and all others leave to demur to it, till they shall be able to produce such a Decree as this under his Majesty's great seal; which will be ad Grecas Calendas, lo here the desperate impiety and injustice of our Prelates, parallel to that of 
(h) Acts. 22. 1. 2.  Ananias, when he commanded Paul to be smitten on the face as ●…ee began to make his Defence. For first they will make and prejudge the not reading of this forged declaration, an heinous off●…ce, though there be no law, canon or precept at all for the reading of it; nor any clause at all that it should be read; much less by the Minister, nor any power given them so much as to question, much less to suspend, excommunicate, fine or cenfure, any who refuse to read i●…. When as the great question is, whether it be an offence at all? but this must not be disputed. What now is this but to prejudicated, and not judge men's causes.  
2. No answer must be given or received, but what themselves shall make and allow and alter at their pleasures. Is not this pretty justice? Who then shall be, innocent?  
3. When the answer is in, no defence must be made or accepted: If so, than the most innocent man in the world may be condemned. What, no defence made? Christ himself had liberty to make his defence before Pilate an Heathen judge: Paul the like liberty before Felix, Festus and Agrippa, ●…eere Pagan Infidel Magistrates. Yea the veriest Traitors and Rebels in the world, have liberty in all Courts of justice, to make their defence, and plead the best they can for themselves, yet this godly grave Minister cmming for such a grand crime as this, before our Lordly Prelates, must make no defence at all: O devil, o jewish High Priests, blush at this impudence, impiety and injustice of these your sons and successors: A drunkard, an Adulterer, a Symoniacke, any incarnate devil may put in what answer and defence he please before them; but this grave Minister every way unspotted in his life and doctrine must not do it, because they have decreed before hand to condemn him. Is not this right high Priests justic●…?  
7. This jewish high Priest ●…te to judge Paul after the law, and commanded him to be smitten contrary to the Law. Acts 2●…. 3. So our Lordly Prelates in their Consistories, Visitations, and Commissions, sit to judge Ministers and others his Majesty's Subjects according to the Law, and yet imprison, fine, excommunicate, suspend, deprive, degrade, tear, fleece, and judge them, for the most part, contrary both to the Laws of God, the Realm, and their own Canons; as thousends of Precedents evidence of late.  
8. The jewish high Priest, by Tertullus his Orator, accused St. Paul before Felix the Governor, for a P●…stilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the Sect of the Nazarens, Acts 24. 1. Io●…. The self same accusation have the Lord Prelates laid to our Ministers charge in former ages, and to our zealous godly Ministers and Preachers now adays, accufing them to the King and his Counsel, and persecuting yea, suspending: imprisoning them every where as pestilent, factious, seditious 
Witness M. Henry Burton now charged by them, with sedition: with many others, as was B. Latimer, and all our Martyrs of old.  persons, and ringleaders of Sects and Schism; as many late examples, and some now in agitation evidence.  
9 The jewish his Priests, informed Festus the Governor against Paul, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to jerusalem, that there they might judge him themselves according to their own law, or else murder him by the way Acts. 25. 23. c. 24. 6. Our Lordly Prelates (Especially his Archgrace of Canterbury and other our Cant Bishops) do the like; informing the King, or temporal Magistrates against godly Ministers and people; and desiring not justice, but favour against them, that they would sent for them into their own Courts or High-Commissions, or not suffer them to appeal, or be released thence by Prohibitions' o●… other means; that so they might judge them after their own law and wills, and be both enemies, parties delinquents, and judges in their own cause, contrary to all reason justice, equity, and law, both of God and man; of which we have manylate memorable Instances; and one thing very observable, that they have caused his clause (derogatory to his Majesty's royal justice and supremacy, to make themselves absolute supreme Kings and judges) (that there shallbe no Appeal or Provocation allowed or admitted from the high Commission●…rs, to be inserted into their last Commission: A strange clause, to tie up his Majesty's hands and sovereign justice from being able to relieve his oppressed or injured subjects, be their causes never so good, their judges their censures never so partial mali●…ious exorbitant or unjust.  
10. Saul, by authority received from the jewish chief Priests, shut up many of the Saints in Prison, and persecuted them even unto strange Cit●…es. Acts. 26. 10. 11. 12. Our Lordly Prelates Pursuivants, Catchpoles, creatures and vermin, by like authority warrant and Commission from their Lordships, have done, and yet do the like, breaking up men's doors and houses with open violence, as if they were traitors or felons by their High-Commission warrants, in which case if they be slain they have no remedy, neither is it any felony or murder as all the judges of England resolved in one Simpsons' case 42. Eliz.  
11. The jewish chief Priests came to Festus to jerusalem 
judges of England resolved in one Smipsons' case 42. Eliz.  informing him against Paul, and desiring to have judgement against him without more ado; To whom 〈◊〉 gave this answer. It is not the man●…er of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he which is accused, have the accuser's face to face, and have licence to answer for himself, concerning the crime laid against him Acts 25. 15. 16. The same do Lord Prelates at this day; they inform Princes and temporal Magistrates and judges against godly Ministers and people, desiring to have present judgement against them. O that they would give them such an answer as this; Heathen Governor Festus did the jews high Priests; and not condemn them but by lawful witnesses ever bringing both them and their accuser's face to face, which would discover many a false brother and sly informing knave, who no●… by means of ex Officio Oaths & proceedings never appears face to face to make good his accusation, and passeth undiscovered.  
12. Christ foretold his disciples, that he must suffer many things of the chief Priests. Math. 16. 21. And our go●…ly Martyrs and writers in all times, have foretold all godly Ministers and people, that they must and shall suffer many things of Lordly Prelates for Christ's sake, as they have done for many ages in all places where they have borne any sway; yea Christ predicted, to his Disciples that he should be betrayed to the chief Priests, and that they should condemn him to death Math. 20. 18. The like hath been predicted to his faithful Ministers and servants, concerning Lordly Prelates.  
13. The jews chief Priests sent officers to apprehend Christ, because many of the people believed on him and hearkened to his Doctrine; and were exceeding angry with the Officers because they did not bring him john. 7. 30, 31. 32, 35. Lord Prelates in former times, and now adays, have also usually sent out Officers and Pursuivants to apprehend Christ's faithful Ministers, because the people believe and hearken to their Doctrine; and are exceeding angry with them, if they ●…scape their hands and bring them not before them; as appears by many late examples.  
14. The jews chief Priests consulted how to put Lazarus to death, because that by reason of him, many of the jews went away and believed on jesus john. 12. 10, 11. So Lordly Prelates heretofore have consulted how to put Gods faithful Ministers to death, and now how to s●…lence, suspend, deprive, imprison and thrust them from their Ministry, because by reason of them many of the people go away from them and their traditions and believe on jesus; as hundred particular examples testify.  
15. The chief Priests of the jews hired judas for 30. pieces of silver to betray Christ his Master, & deliver him into their hands, sent a great multitude with swords & Staves along with him, to apprehend him; which they did. Math. 26. 14, 15, 47, 48, 49, 50. Mark 14. 10. 43. to 47. Luke 22. 4. 5, 6, 47. to 52. john. 18. 1. to 14. The same have Lordly Prelates done in all ages, hiring and corrupting godly Ministers and Christians, false disciples, friends, servants, yea sometimes their very Kings, wives and Children to betray them into their hands and sending Persevants and a great company of Sheriffs, Constables and other Officers with them to apprehend break open their houses, doors like thiefs, and bring them before them, as the Books of Martyrs, and present experience plentifully evidence, to their shame.  
16. The high Priest sought for false witnesses against jesus our Saviour, to put him to death Math. 26. 59 to 64. Mark 14. 52. to 62. and by their false testimonies seek to contemn him, Ibidem. The same have done & yet do Lord Prelates; (as Hi●…ories and experience manifest) against Christ's faithful Ministers and servants.  
17. When these false witnesses would not steed them, they endeavour to enforce him to accuse himself by captious questions First, they examined him concerning his disciples and doctrine; To which he gave them this answer; I spoke openly to the world, I ever taught in the Synagogues and in the Temple, whither the jews alway resort, and in secret have I said nothing, why askest thou me? ask them that heard me, what I have said unto them, behold they know what I said (refuting to accuse himself or his Disciples) john 18. 19, 20, 21, 22. 23. After this, the high Priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us, whither thou be he Christ, the Son of God. jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said etc. Thou the high Priest rend his ●…lothes saying, he hath spoken blasphemy, what farther need have we of witnesses, behold now ye have heard his blasphemy; What think ye? They answered and said, he is guilty of death; Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him, & others smote him with the palm of their hand saying Prophecy unto us thou Christ, who it is that smote thee, etc. Math. 26. 63. to. 69. After which, they took counsel together to put him to death, and deliver him bound to Pilate the Governor, before whom they accuse him; And when Pilate would have released him to the people, they persuaded them that they should ask Barrabas and destroy jesus, and to cry out let him be crucified; And when Pilate yet pronounced him innocent, and would have discharged him; the chief Priests replied; If thou let this man go thou art not Caesar's friend, for he speaketh against Caesar; Never leaving him till they had crucified, and sealed him up fast in his Sepulchre. Math. 27. & 28. john 18. & 19 Thus have Lord Prelates formerly dealt with the godly ministers and Saints of Christ, and now deal with his faithful Ministers and Servants; when they have no true or sufficient witnesses against them, they enforce them against Scriptures, Counsels Fathers, Decretals Canon, Civil Canon law, the practice of the primitive Church for above 1300. years after Christ all which time there is not one precedent extant or story of any such Oaths or proceeding among Christians) by ex officio Oaths and Articles to accuse and entrap themselves, of purpose to catch matter of censure and condemnation out of their own mouths which when they have gotten, than they insult over them spit in their faces, buffet, revile, deride, and jeer them; take counsel against them to silence, suspend, deprive, fine, imprison, or destroy them; never ending their malicious prosecutions, till they see them close prisoners in their grau●…s; and if any temporal Magistrates pronunce them innocent, or are willing to discharge them at any ti●…e then they accuse them as enemies to Caesar, as factious, seditious, pestilent fellows and tell them, If they let them go, they are not Caesar, the Kings or Churches friends; Yea when any time of grace, release or Pardon comes they can, and do persuade Kings and temporal Magistrates to pordon and release Barrabas, thieves murderers, whores, bawds Priests Jesuits, Adulterers, drunkards, and all other notorious malefactors, but yet jesus his innocent Saints and servants must have no grace at all, no mercy enlargement, grace or justice, but be imprisoned, ruined, molested destroyed and by this means at last they most unjustly Crucify, vex and ruin these pure innocent Saints of Christ, as they did Christ himselse. A●… whizh our Book of Martyrs and daily experience witness to the full, in each particular; yea, many of our present Prelates do as much as in them lieth to crucfiy Christ himself, and that in a far more barbarous manner then ever the jews did: For First, they crucified and set him only unto many Crosses. 2. The jews crucified him but once, they oft times one after another. 3. They kept him no longer on the Cross then till he was dead upon it, & then gave joseph of Aramathea leave to take him down, beseeching Pilate that he might not hang thereon till the next day john 19 Our Lord Prelates keep him always hanging before their eyes, on the Cross, and never take him down, as if he had still continued on his Cross till now, and never been taken off, buried, raised again from the dead, and carried into heaven. And why so I pray? First, to show their cruel and bloody disposition, it being their daily practice to crucify Christ in his Image and Saints, which makes them so much in love with the sight of the Crucifix. 2. To ma●…st themselves to be the high Priest undoubted Successors, who crucified Christ. 3. To testify, that they delight so much in the picture of Christ's death, as they have no care nor thought at all to imitate him in his painful preaching life. 4. To manifest to all men, that if Christ were now a live in the flesh, they would as certainly crucify him again as the high Priests did. 5. To tax the Sacra●…nt of the Lords Supper, & Scriptures of much imper●…ction; as if they were not sufficient, to show forth Christ death till he came (without this additament of a Crucifix) to their Dull Lordships, who seldom receive the one, or seriously meditate of, & preach the other. 6. To manifest, that they desire not to have Christ to live & ruleas a King or supreme living Lord in his own Church, which he cannot do as long as he hangs as a dead manon his Cross; that so they themselves may Lord it and rule Christ's Church at their own pleasures according to their own Canons, Lusts, and pleasures, not his word, as the jewish high Priests did. 7. To testify, that their Lordships think there is little need to preach Christ crucified; &, that a dumb blind painted Crucifix, is a far better preacher of Christ and his death then their Lordships. And if so, what need of Bishops or Preachers, when we may have store of Crucifixes at a far cheaper rate?  
18. Finally, so●…e of the jews high Priests, were rebels and traitors to their Sovereigns; as Abi●…thar was to Solomon, who there upon deprived him of his office, but spared his life though he deserved death 1. Kings. 1. 7. c. 2. 26. 27. So many hundred LOrd Prelates in foreign parts, and above 60. of our own here at some (Especially the Archbishop of Canterbery, & York) have been notorious Arch-Traytors, Conspirators & Rebels too against their Sovereigns, Especially those Emperors and Kings, who have most favoured magnified and advanced their secular greatness, pomp, and power, A just judgement of God upon them, for advancing these Prelates be Lords and temporal Princes, against Christ's own precept, Math. 20. 25.) and I pray God, all of them be now faithful to their Kings and Sovereigns, which I have cause to fear. In all these regards than you see how the jewish high Priests, and Lordly Prelates are direct Parallels, and so in verity, their undoubted Successors; one main argument and pretence to support their Lordly Hierarchy over their Brethren, being deduced from the high Priests example.   

The disparity or Antithesis, between Christ's and Lord Prelates.  
IF any now in these Prelate's behalf reply, that they are of our Saviour Christ's own institution, his true Disciples, Sons, and followers, not the devils, (as the First Parallel manifests them;) To disprove this Cavil, let them a little consider the Antipathy, or disparity between our Saviour Christ and them, in these ensuing particulars.  
First, our Saviour Christ was so poor, that he had not so much as an house or kedde of his own whereon to rest his head. Math. 8. 20. Our Lord Prelates, (though in regard of their births for the most part very like our Saviour, borne in a stable, or some poor Obscure Cottage:) yet when once they become Lord Bishops they have many Manfions, Palaces, and stately princely habitations, wherein they wallow & take their pleasure, as if they were borne Prelates or Princes: and yet not content therewith, they still complain their are poor Prelates, craving and hunting after far more, far greater Possessions, though not borne heirs to one farthing by the grace, nor demeriting half so much for their pains or preaching, at the poorest ten-pound Curate in their Diocese.  
Secondly, Our Saviour Christ, had but one poor threed-bare-Coate without a seam, woven from toe to toe, for which the Soldiers cast lots. Math. 27. 35. john 19 23. 24. 〈◊〉 john Baptist (the greatest Prophet that ever was borne of a Woman) hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Camel's hair (not silk or satin) and a leathern (not a brave great silken) girdle about his loins, Math. 3. 4. O●…r Lordly Prelates have many silken, satin, scarlet, G●…nes, c●…ssockes, robes, copes, rochets, hoods, patched up with ●…any sea●…es and piebalde colours, with many new invented Pontifical vestments, disguise and quadrangular ca●…s and ●…rinkets peculiar to their Holinesses, which po●…re C●…rist never wore, saw, knew or dream'te of, and would have certainly disdained to look on, much more to wear, being as unseemly for, as displeasing to him, as the purple scarlet ●…obe, and Crown of Thorns that the Soldiers violently put upon him in derifi●…, when they mocked and Crucified him.  
Thirdly, Our Saviour Christ, had but course far, and hard diet for himself and his Apostles and Guests; to wit, a few barley lo●…ves and some small fishes ●…or the most part served in on the bare ground; it being his chiefest meat & drink, to do his Father's will, and to finish his work. john. 4. 31. 34: c. 6. 5. to. 15. Math. 14. 17. to 22. c. 15. 34. to. 38. c. 16. 9 10. john. 21. 9 10. 13, Yea, great john Baptists ordi●…y food, was nought else but Locusts and wild honey. Mith. 3. 4. Our Lordly Prelates have all variety of costly 〈◊〉, cates, junkets, wines, drinks, and Provisions, both for themselves, wives, children, guests, servants, equal to any Baron's Lords or Earls of the Real●…e, making commonl●… as sumptuous, great if not more luxu●… feasts than they. Witness the more than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 royal excess●…e feast of (
(p) Antiq. Ecclesiae Brit. p. 350. 351. 352. Godwins' Catalogue. p. 167. ) Wi●…liam Warham 〈◊〉 of Canterbury; at which the great Duke of Buckingham with his 120; attendants, waited on this Archprelate, as his High-Steward and Butler, (too mean an office for the greatest Peer than living) going bareheaded before his Grace, ush ring in his first Service & bowing his body to his Holiness, as to the Pope of this other world. Witness the (
(q) Godwi. p. 611. to 614. ) unparallelled monstrous Feast of George Ne●…ell Archbishop of York, the greatest that England ever knew or heard of; the particulars whereof you may read at large in Godwins' Catalogue, with others, which I pretermit, of which Antiqui●…tes 〈◊〉 Brit: Godwin, and Sir George Paul in the life of Archbishop Whitgift, can inform you. And it is so far from being their meat and drink, that it is their least thought and care, their least desire and endeavour, their greatest trouble, pain and purgatory to preach God's Word, and do his will and work, as Christ our Saviour did.  
Fourthly, Our Saviour Christ was so poor, and so ill stored with moneves, that he had not so much as a Didrachma (about fourteen pence of our money to pay tribute money for himself and his followers, but was enforced to send Peter to the Sea to borrow it of a poor Fish, for want of a friend to lend him so much, he and his whole retinue, not being able to make up so small a sum among them: Math. 17. 27. But Lordly Prelates, borne-not to a Didrachma, have not only their hundreds and thousands by the year, (and yet do none, or little spiritual work for it, most of them all put together, not preaching half so often as a poor Sti●…endiary Curate that hath but eight or ten pound by the veare:) yea their hundreds or thousands lying by them in their bags, beside, and yet are not contented. So like are they to our Saviour i●… this particular.  
Fifthly, Our Saviour Christ, and his Apostles too, went about on foot from village to village, preaching the Gospel throughout all Galilee and judea. Math. 4. 23. c. 51. 2. c. 10. 5, 6, 7, 9 10. 14. c. 12. john. 4. 6. Mark 1. 38, 39, Luke 9 2, 3, 4, 5. c. 10. 3. to. 12. Acts 10. 38. Math. 14. 13. Mark 6. 33. Acts 20. 13. And when he road (in state) into jerusalem (which was but once) he road but on an Ass. Math. 21. 1. to. 16. But our Prelates when they go abroad to visit or preach before the King (for they seldom preach in any Country village in an age) or when they have any business to Court, to Parliament or any City, yea when they go to their cathedrals, or a Church that is necre them, are so far from going a foot, that they seldom ride on horseback, (and then on a stately Palfrey) but in a Coach or Chariot drawn with four or six pampered horses, with many horses, horsemen and footmen environing them; and if they meet a poor cart or waggon by the way (or a lighter meet their Barges on the water, where they ride in pomp to) if they stir not presently out of the way to give their Lordship's passage, they will lay the poor Carters and Lighter-men by the heels for their pains (as 
* His Archgrace of Canterbury.  some of them have lately done:) So like are they to our Saviour. And here I cannot pretermit a merry Story. (
(p) In an old Book in H. the 8. his days of the difference between ) A certain german Clown or Boar (as they term him) seeing the Bishop of Colen ride in state with a great train of horsemen before and after him, stood gaping on the Bishop as he passed by and smiled to himself; The Bishop perceiving it, made a stand, and demanded 
Christ's & antichrists Bishops.  of the Boar why he thus smiled, bidding him speak the truth freely without fear, for he should sustain no damage, Whereupon the Boar replied, that he smiled to think with himself, whether St. Martin (Patron and First Bishop of ●…olen) ever road in such state as he did now: The Bishop hereunto answered, that he was an ignorant silly fellow, for he did not ride in his state, as he was Archbishop of Colen, but as he was the chief Prince Elector of Germany: Where upon he wittily retorted; Suppose (said he) my Lord, the devil should come and fetch away the Prince Elector, I pray what would become of the Bishop, I fear me he would to Hell too: At which the Bishop being confounded went his way. Our Prelates may apply it to themselves without my help.  
6. our Saviour Christ was meek and lowly in heart, full of compassion and mercy, and gave rest to men's souls and bodies. Math. 11. 28, 29. c. 9 36. Luke 10. 33. Heb. 5. 2. Ephes. 4. 32. Our Prelates (like men exalted from law degree) are for the most part fierce choleric, furious, proud, haughty, insolent, arrogant, malicious, revengeful, implacable, full of merciless and barbarous inhumanity, vexing and disquieting both the bodies and consciences of godly Ministers and people; as the Book of Martyrs, and experience testify.  
Take but this one remarkable fresh instance in leive of many. This last pestilential Summer, the Lord Brook his Lady, was delivered of a child ●…t Dallam in Suffolk within Bishop Wrems D●…ocesse of Norwich. The Earls of Bedford Doncaster, & 3. or 4. Lords more, were here upon invited to the christening; which being solemnised on the Lord's day afternoon, these Lords earnestly pressed the Lord Brooke, that they might have a Sermon then preached upon this extraordinary occasion. He thereupon desired one Mr. Ash, his household Chaplain to preach; who knowing the Bishop's perverseness, was unwilling to do it, till at last upon his Lords command to preach, he condesc●…nded, and preached accordingly. Bishop Wren h●…aring of it, some two days after sends his Apparitor with a Citation, to summon Mr. Ash to appear before him: who being rode that morning to Cambridge, the Appa●…itor after he had been courteously entertained at my Lord's house, desired to speak with my Lord Brook himself, who coming to him; he acquainted his Lordship, that he had a Citation for his Chaplain, who it seemed was rode abroad & therefore he would leave the Citation with his Lordship, to serve it on his Chaplain when he returned: My Lord thereupon, demanded of him, whether he took him to be an Apparitor, or intended to make him one? He replied, that the Bishop commanded him to leave it with his Lordship, in case his Chaplain was not within, and if is Lordship would not receive it, he would sue out an excommunication against his Chaplain and have it published in the Church the next Lord's day. Upon which he took the Citation; and upon his Chaplains return rode over with him to the Bishop: who fitting in state like a great Lord, or demi Pope, my Lord Brook acquainted him, how his Apparitor had left a Citation with him against his Chaplain, and that he and his Chaplain were thereupon both come together to his Lordship to know what the business was, and what his Lordship could object against him; His Lordship thereupon answered, that his Chaplain had openly affronted him in his Diocese in daring to presume to preach therein without his special licence, and that on the Lord's day afternoon, when he had expressly prohibited all Sermons within his jurisdiction: telling Mr. Ash, that he would make him an example to all others, and that if he could not punish him sufficiently in his own Court, he would bring him into the 
* The Court our Bishops now abuse to set up their own Papal Hierarchy, and enforce their unlawful commands.  High Commission for this insolency, unto which my Lord Brook answered, that his Chaplain was unwilling to preach, and that thereupon h●… commanded him to do it upon this spe●…iall occasion, being importuned by the Earkes and Nobles then present; defiring his Lordship not to be offended with his Chaplain, for obeying his command, upon such an extraordinary occasion. The Bishop replied, that his Lordship did very ill to offer to maintain his Chaplain in this; that No Lord of England should affront him in his Diocese in such a manner, and if he did his Majesty should know of it, & that he would make his Chaplain an example. My Lord Brook demanded, whether his Lordship could take any exception either against his Chaplains l●…fe or doctrine? He answered no: Then my Lord, said he, I hope the offence is not great, there being no Law of God, or the Realm, nor Canon of the Church, that inhibits Ministers to preach on the Lord's day afternoon. (To which he might have added that the very declaration for Sports, much urged by the Bishop on the Ministers of his Diocese, as his Majesties, allows of Sermons every where in the afternoon; Since it prescribes No Sports to be used but after the end of divine Service, and AFTERNOON SERMON: as Bishop white confesseth in his examination of A and B. p. 131. and p. 9 of the Declaration: our pleasure is, That the Bishop and all other inferior Churchmen shall for their parts be careful and Diligent, both to instruct the igno●…ant, and co●…vince and reform them that are m●…led in religion etc. Therefore that Bishops and Ministers sho●… preach on the Lord's day afternoon, as well as in the forenoon; & not be questioned, but commended for doing it:) The Bishop demanded of Mr. Ash, how he durst presume to preach in his Diocese, without his special Licence? (though his 〈◊〉 could preach at Cambridge, as they say, in Paris his pulpit, without his licence:) Mr. A●… answered, that he had a Metropolitical licence fro●… the Arch Bishop to preach over all his Province: the Bishop bade him produce it: My Lord, said he, I have it not about me; No, replied the Bishop, nor any such licence, and for aught I know you are no Minister: where are your Letters of Order? My Lord, said he, I durst not be so bold or dishonest to inform you I had such a licence, were I not able to produce it; and had I no letters of order, or were no lawful Minister, I presume my Lord would not have entertained me for his Chaplain: m●… Lord, both my licence and orders are at home, and I use not to carry them always with me in my pocket. My Lord Brook int●…ed his Lordship to dismiss his Chaplain and prosecute him no further, all would not do; he would make him an example, and so after many threatening speeches to him and my Lord, they departed. The Bishop presently proceedeth with all violence against Mr. Ash in his own Court, no Mediation of Lord and friends would pacify him; till at last the Earl of Doncaster told him, that if he would not dismiss him his Court, he would complain to the King against him, since he preached only upon my Lord Brooks command, and his and other Earl's importunity: Hereupon the Bishop leaving the Chaplain, falls upon the Churchwardens of the Parish for permitting him to preach without his Licence; fines them (Quo iure I know not) forty shillings a pi●…ce, enjoins them to do public penance in the Church with a white wand and a paper in their hands; to ask God, and his Lordship forgiveness, to confess, that their censure was just, and to desire all others to take example by them, not to offend in like manner; All which the poor men were enforced to do. O pride! O tyranny.  
7. Christ's very yoke is easy, and his burden light. Math. 11. 30. Lord Prelate's yokes exceeding heavy and intolerable; witness those under which the whole Kingdom now lie groaning & languishing, with their many late new invented Ceremonies, Oaths, Articles, Injunctions and Innovations.  
8. Christ, whiles he was on earth, went about continually doing good, and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil. Acts 10. 38. Lord Prelates when they ride about in circuit, or their vifitations, (not foot it, as our Saviour did,) do no good at all, but only mischief; silence Ministers, set up Altars and new popish ceremonies, pill and poll both Ministers and p●…ople with new extorted fees & procurations disquiet a●… good men, and instead of healing, wound and further oppress those like devils that were spiritually oppressed by the devil before, by exactions, suppressing Gods ordinances especially powerful pr●…aching, which should cast out the devils that spiritually possess & take them captives at their wills.  
9 Our Saviour Christ went about all the Country preaching in every Synagogue where he came, Math. 4. 23. Mark. 1. 38, 39 Our Bishops ride sometimes about the Country in their triennial visitations, to fill their guts and purses, and at other times hawking, hunting, feasting, and recreating themselves, but seldom or never go or ride thus abroad to preach in any one Church or Synagogue; inhibiting those Ministers that would, to do it.  
10. Our Saviour preached daily and constantly in the Temple, beginning early in the morning, and continuing until evening (and so preached morning and evening) Luke 19 47. c. 21. 37, 38. john 8. 2. But yet we find not that ever he read any common Prayers or Homilies in the Temple or any other Synagogue. Our Lordly Prelates are so far from preaching daily in our Temples, that few of them preach monthly, or quarterly; some of them, scarce yearly; some, not once in three or four years, yea in ten or twelve years together; and other not at all; and so far are they from preaching, or approving morning and evening Sermons even on the Lords own Sacred day, much less on others; that they have suppressed the Lords day early morning Lectures in London, and all afternoon●… Sermons on the Lord's day in many Diocese in the Country, making it an high offence, deserving both suspension and excommunication, to preach on the Lord's day after dinner. Yea they are not ashamed to licence Shelfords Sermon of uncharitrble Charity, against often preaching, in direct opposition to our Saviour's example, and the very established ●…omely of the right use of the Church. p. 3. 4. to which he & themselves have subscribed. Such undoubted Sons disciples and followers are they of our Saviour in this particular.  
11. Our Saviour Christ when he preached, read only his Text, and then closed the Book and gave it again to the minister, & sat down & preached without book. Luke 4. 17. to. 22. Our Prelates, when ever they chance to preach, commonly read not only their Texts, but their who●…e Sermons too, if not their very prayers; being so dull of memory, that whereas our stage-players can get their parts by heart though they act every day of the week, yet their stupid blockheaded Lordships cannot con one Sermon by heart in a year or two; their doctrine being so far from sinking into their own hearts, that it never so much as enters into their heads when they preach it, but only into their books, where they leave & shut it up close prisoner into their lips, which presently vent it out again: Are they not then very devout Preachers, very much in ●…oue with God's word, with which they will neither trouble their brains nor hearts; sweet followers of our Saviour's steps, in this particular?  
12. Our Saviour Christ with fasting, praying, weeping & preaching was so lean, that he might tell all his bones. Psal. 22. 17. Our Lord Prelates with feasting, Lording, laughing, sleeping & loitering are so fat & plump (for the most part) that they or others can neither tell nor feel their bones.  
13. Our Saviour Christ was full of grace, goodness and truth john 1. 14. Lord Prelates are commonly ●…ul of gracelessness, profaneness, malice, envy, pride, ambition, covetousness, idleness, di●…imulation, and hypocrisy, having little real, but only mere titular grace to adorn them.  
14. Our Saviour Christ made both the deaf to hear, the blind to see, and the dumb to speak: Math. 9 33. c. 12. 22. c. 15. 30. 31. Our Lord Prelates make the hearers of God's Word deaf for want of preaching, the seeing blind through ignorance and our preaching Ministers dumb, by silencing and suspending them.  
16. Christ sent forth his disciples, not to read Homilies, or divine service (which every clown or school boy can do as well as the learnedst Minister) but to preach the Gospel, Math. 10. 7. 10. 14. Luke 9 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. c. 10. 2. to. 15. and that as well in men's private houses as the public Synagogues, Ibid. and Acts 5. 42. c. 20. 20. which now (for sooth) our Lordly Prelates condemn and censure for a conventicle: yea he bid and commanded his disciples go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, teaching them to observe all things that he had commanded them. Math. 28. 19 20. M●…rke. 16. 15. yea he enjoined them earnestly to seed his flock and Lambs. john 21. 15, 16, 17. Our Lord Prelates silence and suspend Christ's faithful Ministers, prohibiting them (not only in private houses but in Churches to) to preach the Gospel to their people, send them about only to read divine service and homilies; and command them to observe and subscribe to whatsoever Canons, Orders, Articles, Ceremonies, and Injunctions they shall prescribe them, though con●…rary to Christ's; charging them; not to feed, but fleece their Lambs and Sheep; And are they not then good Pastors?  
16. Our Saviour Christ was the goo●… Sheopard that laid down his life for his Sheep●…; he knew his Sheep, and was known again of them, and they heard and knew his voice john 10. 6. 11. to 16. Lord Prelates are rather Wolves than Sheopards, reddier to take away their Sheep's lives then to lay down their lives for their Sheep; many of them being so far from knowing their Sheep by name, that they never so much as saw them, the most of their Sheep never so much as seeing or knowing their faces, much l●…sse hearing or knowing their voices in the Pulpit, many of them (though they have thousands by the year, of purpose to preach to their Sheep) not so much as bestowing on Sermon on them in 3. or 4. years' space; receiving above 3. or 4000 pounds for every Sermon they preach, too great a rate sor so little w●…rke; It thesemen were Tankard-bearers and should sell their water at that rare they take for their Sermons, our water certainly would be far●…e dearer than the richest wine; Yet many of their Sermons for which they take so much, are scarce so good as ditch water.  
17. Our Saviour Christ, though he were equal with God the Father, yet he made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a Servant, & was made in the likeness of men, ●…ubling himself for far, that he became obedient to death even to the dreath of the Cross Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8. Our Lord Prelates, though equal commonly in birth to the meanest Peasants, yet (in doubt in imitation of our Saviour) make themselves of so great reputation, that they take upon them not only the form and title, but the pomp and state of Lords and Petty Princes, not servants; and as if they were not made in the likeness of men, but borne Princes, Angels or demi Gods; they become disobedient to all laws of God and man; and instead of humbling themselves to death, and the Cross for Christ's sake, they tyrannically humble their brother Ministers and other Christians to the Prison, the Pillory, the Cross, & Stocks for Christ. Witness our Books of Martyrs, and late experience.  
18. Our Saviour Christ, though he were rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. 2. Cor. 8. 9 Our Lord Prelates, though poor and beggarly at first, yet for Christ's sake they are content to become great and rich; that so others through their power, riches, avarice, tyranny, and extortion may be made poor, to enrigh themselves the more.  
19 Our Saviour, when Peter drew his sword to cut of Malchas ear therewith, immediately healed it again, commanding him to put up his sword into the Scabbard. john. 18. 10, 11. Luke 22. 50, 51. Math. 26. 51, 22. Our Lord Prelates now engross both swords into their sacred hands, and instead of putting them into the Scabbard, draw them out like valiant men, smiting off some men's ears and noses with it, and now threaten to main and mangle more in like manner, instead of curing those already maimed by them: Such swashbucklers and gladiaters are they grown. If we have wars with Spain, we hope his Majesty will send these hackster's packing to those wars to mangle and hackle off the Spainards' ears and noses, instead of his loyal Subjects.  
20. Our Saviour Christ, after he began to preach, refused to inter meddle with secular affairs, or to divide the inheritance between the too Brethren; refused the kingdoms, Pomde and glory of this world; affirming openly, that he and his kingdom were not of his world Math. 4. 8, 9, 10. Luke 12. 13, 14. joan. 6. 15. c. 17, 16. c. 18. 36. Our Lord Prelates, after they become Lords (forgetting their primitive base original and pedigree, with that vow they made to God in Baptism, to forsake the devil and all his works, the vain pomp & glory of the world with all covetous desires of the same, and all carnal desires of the flesh, so that they will ●…ot follow nor be led by them; and that 〈◊〉 of St. john. 1. john. 2. 15, 16. Love not the world nor the things of the world, if any man love the wor●…d, the love of the Father, is not in him. For all that is in the world, (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and pride of life) is not of the Father but is of the world) entangle themselves in worldly, secular state affairs and off●…s, become Lords T●…mporall instead of Spiritual; ●…meddle with all 〈◊〉 affairs, hunt after the Kingdoms, government, honour, pomp, state, and pleasures of this world with all greediness and diligence, i●…steed of preaching the Gospel and converting souls to God: ing●…sse all power and temporal jurisdiction into their hands, smite with both swords at once like madde-men on every side, and though they pretend their Lordly calling to be of God, y●…t they and it are plainly of this world, and ●…ot o●… Christ, as their actions manifest.  
21. C●…rist both 〈◊〉, and administered the Sacrament to his disciples, in his ordinary apparel, sitting at a Table, and that standing in the midst of the ●…me, Math. 26. 26, 27, 28, 29. Mar●… 14. 18. 22, 23 24. Luke 22. 14. to: 21. I●…n 13. 4. 25. 28. ●…or. 10. 21. c. 11. 23, 24, 25. Yea, when he sent abroad his disciples to preach he sent them in their usual 〈◊〉, expressly ●…hibiting them, to provide them, either silver or gold in their purses, or to take or wear two Coats Math. 10. 9 10. Mark 8. 8, 9 Luke 9 3, 4, 5 c. 10. 4. (Therefore certainly they wore no cass●…cks, hoods, gowns, coats or surpluses (alias surplusages) or rochets on their backs, or any such new, Massing, masking vestments, as our Prelates have since invented and prescribed, under the severest penalties, for Ministers to preach, to administer the Sacraments and read their divine Service in) our Lord Prelates when they preach, or administer the Sacrament themselves, or by others, preach and ad●…inister it in their Pontificalibus, copes, surplusses, hoods, cassocks, gowns, rochets, with other disguized extraordinary apparel; Yea, they administer the Lords Supper in these holy vestments, only at an Altar standing at the East wall not a Table, in the 
* Septem Diaconi sublivior gradu caeteris proxime circa aram Dei quasi columniae Altaris assisterent I●…dor, & Concilium Aquisgra●…se.  midst of the Q●…ire, as of of old, commanding all to receive the Sacrament of Christ's Supper, kneeling, not sitting, (and why not Baptism then as well as it?) the betrer to adore the Eucharist; condemning Christ's and the Apostles gesture of sitting, as irreverend, unmannerly, and undecent; adoring the very Altar, and bowing to it even to the ground. when as they have the consecrated Bread & Wine in their hands, as if it were more honourable and worshipful then that, for which they say they bow unto it. All, which antichristian Popish vestments ceremonies and ●…opperies Thom●…s Becan hath learnedly refuted, in his display of the Popish Mass, to which I shall refer you; only I shall answer a Scripture or two, which they allege for their white rochets and surplesses; To wit, Revel. 3, 4, 5. 18. c. 6. 11. c. 7. 9 13. c. 19 11. Where 
Ibidem.  the Saints and Martyrs, are said to be clothed in white linen robes; Therefore Bishops ought toweare white rechets, and Ministers white surplesses. A learned argument if well prosecuted.  

1. For, these white linen robes and garments mentioned in these Texts, were no rochets or surplesses (as these fond men dream,) but the spotless white robes of Christ's own merits and innocency, wherewith these Saints (who had put on the Lord jesus Christ, and made their robes white in his precious blood) were invested, as is obedient by Rev. 19 18. c. 3. 18. 4. 5. c. 7. 13. 14. compared with Pom. 13. 14. Ephes. 5. 26, 27. which kind kind of sacred white rochet or surplice, few Lord Prelates ever yet wore upon their backs, o●… gown●… eves.  
2. These white robes were not worn only by Bishops, Ministers, Clergy, & Cathedral men as rochets and surplesses are, but by all the Saints and Martyrs of Christ alike. If these Tips than prove any thing, it is only this. That all men ought to wear rochets and surplices not Bishops and Church men only.  
3. These white robes were their ordinary daily garments which they never put of upon any occasion, no not when they road in ●…riumph upon white horses, ●…ev. 19 14. Therefore no argument fo●… rochets and surplesses wh●…ch are put on only upon special occasions and not ever worn as ordinary apparel, These Lordly Prelates perscribing only black gowns and garments, wearing none but such out of the Church and their supplisses & rochets (to testify their spotless purity and holiness) for the most part only in the Church, to testify that they are only white Saints in show whiles they are in the Church and Quire, but black friends and devils for the most part in all places else, in thei●… lives and actions. The true significant reason, as I conceive, why they wear white robes and rochets only in the Church in time of divine services (where they commonly leave and put them off with all their seeming purity and holinesses with their surplesses) but black coats & vestments under them and in all places else. A thing worthy observation.  
4. These robes were not worn by these, or the Martyrs, on earth, whiles they lived; but put upon them in heaven, after they were dead. Therefore no argument for, but against the wearing of rochets and surplesses here.  
5. The Disciples and Apostles when they were sent to preach had c●…rtainely but o●…e Coat and garment on the them, and that undoubtedly no white rochet, nor surp●…esse; These Scriptures therefore make nothing for both, or either of them.  
6. These Saints are said, to ride upon white horses only, and in these their white linen garments. Revel. 19 14. I may therefore better argue hence; That Bishops and Ministers ought ever to ride upon white ho●…ses and no other, and that in their rochets and surplesses, not th●…ir Canonical coats cloaks or halfe-gownes; then they thence inf●…r: That they ought to preach & read prayers in their surplesses. But of these surplesages enough and too much: I proceed.   
22. Christ professeth of himself, that he came into the world, of purpose for to preach the Gospel, Mark. 1. 38. Luke 4. 18. Lord Prelates profess, that they were not ordained Lords or Bishops, to preach God's Word, but to rule, govern, and Lord it over their fellow Brethren and their diocese:  
23. Our Saviour Christ maketh continual prayer & intercession to his Father for all his chosen people, Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Our Lord Prelates, as they seldom preach, so they early or never contend earnestly or make interc●…ssion unto God in earnest hearty fervent prayer for their people that they may be saved and converted: Yea some of them (as Bishop Wren) contrary to the practice of all former ages, begin to prohibit Ministers under pain of suspension and excommunication, to make any conceived prayers before or after their Sermons, suspending, and excommunicating them if they do it; ounparalleld impiety! o atheistical Novelty! We know that Moses, David, Solomon, Ezra, jeremiah, Daniel, with the Saints and Prophets in the old Testament used conceived, but no set forms of prayer, that we read of, the like did Christ and his Apostles in the New T●…stament; prayer being a special gift of God's Spirit, given to all his children, upon all their several necessities and occasi●…ns. 1 Kings 8. 38. 45. 49. 54. Neh. 1. 6. 11. Ps. 102. 7. Ps. 141. 2 Ezeh. 12. 10, 11. Acts 1. 14. c. 6. 4. c. 10. 31. c. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 5 Phil. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 11. Col. 4. 2 jam. 5. 15. 16. Ephes. 6. 18. Rom. 8. 15. 26, 27. jude 20. Thus did the Ministers & Preachers of God's Word in justin Martyrs and Tertullians' days, (as appears by both their 〈◊〉) both 〈◊〉 and after their Sermons & love-feastes: Thus did the Fa●…ers, as appears b●… th●…ir works; & the Primitive Christians and Martyrs upon all occ●…sions, as Ecclesiastical Historians 〈◊〉. Thus did our Martyrs of old witness M. Fox his Acts and M●…uments. Yea, Archbishop Sands of York, be●…ore & after his Sermons; & B. Pilkington of Durham before and after his Sermons on Nehemiah, Obadiah, etc. with other of our Bishops used conceived Pray●…rs o●… different for●…es, according to the variety of their Texts, & the 〈◊〉 occasions; wh●…ch the●… published in print, for others imitation. Thus have all our Ministers, generally done in all ages and places, especially from the beginning of reformation to this present, till a ge●…eration of upstart unpraying Lordly Pre●…ates and lazy Docto●…s, (who know not how to pray, or make a conceived prayer out of their own heads and hearts upon any occasion, no more than a child that is newly borne,) have cried down all extemporary conceived Prayers, (as well as studied Sermons and frequent preaching,) endevoring utterly to extinguish this most heavenly gift of Prayer, not only in all private Christians, but also in all those godly Ministers whom God hath endowed with this eminent faculty, by confining them only to the very words of the Canon; which are no more a prayet then the Creed or ten Commandments, (which many ignorant people mumble over, as good prayers) and hath made many great Doctors unable for to pray without the help of a Common-prayer book, upon any urgent occasion. For proof whereof, I shall instance only in two late examples. When the Earl of Castle haven was to be beheaded, there came two great learned Deans & Doctors of Divinity, to his lodging, to pray with him before his death. Where calling for A Common-Prayer Book they read over the Litany to him, (which was all the Prayers (they could make) and so concluded their devotions. The Earl much grieved and discontented therewith, broke forth into these speeches. Alas, what do these Doctors mean to trouble themselves, or me, in praying to God, to deliver me, from lightning and tempest, from plague, pestilence and famine, from battle and murder, and from sudden death, who am now presently to die and lose my head? Or, what doth their praying, to preserve all that travel by land or by water, all women labouring with child, all sick persons and young children, etc. concern either me or my present condition, who am now ready to perish and be destroyed? Miserable comforters are they. This he spoke with tears in his eyes; and there upon desired the company there present with him to go with him from these Deans into another room, where he made such an heavenly fervent extemporary Prayer, pertinent to his present dying condition, as ravished all the Auditors, and drew rivers of tears both from their eyes and hearts, which these non-praying Doctor's Litany could not do. When the honourable religious Lord Veer some two years since, was suddenly struck with death arrow at Sr. Henry V●…ne his table at Whitehall, as he sat at dinner, and carried from thence into a withdrawing chamber adjoining where he died, a grand Dr. of Divinity (one of his Majesties Chapplaines being there present, was upon this unexpected occasion desired to kneel and pray with the company. The Dr. Hereupon calls for a common-prayer-book, and answer being mad that there was none present; he replied, that he could not pray without a Book. Whereupon a Knight there present took him by the gown, and forced him to kneel down telling him, that my Lord was dying, and he must needs say some prayer or other; upon this he begins Pater noster, for other prayer could he none: Which the Knight hearing, bad's him hold his peace, for my Lord was dead, and he was but a dead Divine. Who knew not how to pray. Such wooden Doctors & Prelates have we now adays, that know not how to pray upon any sudden occasion; because (like little children) they ever confine themselves to a set form of prayer, proceeding neither from their heads nor hearts but their lips only, which every Schoolboy can read with as much devotion, as they. So unlike are they to our Saviour Christ and his Apostles, who who were able to pray ex tempore, with all mann●…r of supplications, and prayers upon all occasions, and would have all Ministers and private Christians, to be thus able too. Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Tim. 2. 1, 28. Phil, 4. 6. 1. Pet. 4. 7. jam. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 14.  
24. Finally, our Saviour Christ whiles he was on earth, suspended, silenced, deprived, censured, imprisoned, and close imprisoned no Ministers or Christians, whiles he was on earth: (yea, he was so far from this, that he was anointed and sent by the spirit of the Lord God, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Isay. 61. But Lord Prelates silence, suspend, deprive, censure, imprison, and close imprison both Ministers and good Christians at their pleasures; but never bind up the brokenhearted, or proclaim liberty to the Captives, or the opening of the prison to them that are bound, Take him jailor. Catch him Pursuivant; Away with him to the Fleet, the Clinke or Gatehouse; I set a thousand pound fins upon his head; etc. bring their usual mercy, language, & Lordly tone. Christ had no Prisons, Counters, Gate-houses, Cole houses, to imprison and mue up Christians or Ministers in, for discharging a good consciences, or obeying God rather than men, or refusing to take an unlawful ex officio Oath: No consistory or High-commission to convent men in, no visitation or ex officio Oaths Articles, Procurations, Dispensations, Totquots, Licenses to preach or keep school; No Deans, Archdeacon's, Vicar's general, Chancellors, Commissaries, Surrogates, Officials, Registers, Pursuivants. Apparitors, Informers, but only 12. preaching Disciples attending on him. Lord Prelates have all and every of these, and would not think themselves Bishop without them. Christ thought his written word & precepts, sufficient to govern and instruct his Church, to the end of the world, without any Prelate's Canons. Math. 28. 19 20. Lord Prelates think not so, but deem their own Canons and Injunctions without his word, the only laws whereby to govern and direct the Church. Christ was persecuted, imprisoned, scoffed at, crucified by the high Priests, and yet prayed for his enemies, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps Ephes. 4. 32. 1. Pet. 2. 21, 23. Luke 23, 24. Lord Prelates are not thus persecuted, imprisoned, scoffed at, and crucified, but persecute, imprison, scoff at, crucify, and burn others for Christ's sake; and instead of following Christ's footsteps in praying for their enemies, they excommunicate, ban, curse, anathematise them to the very pit of Hell, with Bell Book and Candle, and sometimes offer this unchristian violence to their very ashes, bones, and v●…ines; as our Book of Martyrs manifests. Since therefore Lord Prelates in these and infinite other particulars are so contrary opposite, & unlike to our Saviour jesus Christ, I may safely conclude them to be none of his institution, Sons, or followers: For he that is truly Christ's, and saith that he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as Christ walked 1. john. 2. 6. But Lord Prelates walked but directly contrary to him in all these particulars: Therefore they are none of his, and abide not in him what ever vaunts they make to the contrary: And if they be none of Christ's institution, Sons, Disciples or followers, then certainly none of his Apostles (the next thing I shall succinctly illustrate.   

The opposition and contrariety between Christ's Apostles and Lordly Prelates.  
FIrst our Saviour's Apostles yea Peter (the Prince of all the rest, as the Papists vaunt) had neither silver nor gold Acts 3. 6. Lord Prelates have plenty of both: yea do little or no work for it, and less good with it, unless it be out of a vaineglotious humour to get themselves applause by some Pontifical stately structure, or monument of their ambition pomp and pride.  
2. These Apostles were poor, and vet made many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all thing 2. Cor, 6. 10. Lord Prelates are rich, and yet by their oppression, tyranny injustice, great Fines, imprisonments, extortions and griping Officers make many Ministers and good Christians poor; they have all things their hearts can wish, and yet through covetous ambition and desire of more, and il●… use of what they have, truly possess nothing.  
3. The Apostles were made a spectacle unto the world unto Angels, and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9 Lord Prelates are not made but make others such for Christ's sake.  
4. The Apostles to their dying days, did both hunger & thirst & were naked, buffeted, despised, accounted fools, defamed, reviled and persecuted, Yea they were made the very silth of the world and the offscouring of all things for Christ's sake, being in stripes often, in imprisonments, perils, and death often, in watchings often, in labours more abundant for Christ 1. Cor. 4. 10, 11, 12, 13. 2. Cor. 6. 5, c. 11. 23, 24, 25, 26. Lord Prelates are in no such condition at all, they sustain no such hardship for Christ; but they eat and drink of the best, are gorgeously clad, courted, yea flattered, honoured and accounted great Lords, praised above measure, feasted, promoted and made the greatest Peers the most swaying overruling Lord controllers of the world, & Primates of all others for Christ's sake; being never in stripes etc. But only in voluptuous pleasures, stately Palaces, Princes Courts, down beds, and lazy idleness for Christ; and when persecution or affliction for the Gospel come; they either turn chief persecutors, or turne-coates, rather than they will undergo any stripes, imprisonments, perils, or deaths for Christ, by whom they enjoy so much honour, pomp, wealth and worldly pleasures.  
5. The Apostles had no certain dwelling place and laboured, working which their own hands, and yet never gave over preaching for want of maintenance 1. Cor. 4. 11, 12. Acts 20. 34. 1. Thess. 2. 9, 2. Thess. 3. 8. Lord Bishops have diverse certain Palaces, Sees, Manors, & Pontifical Mansions; their hundreds and thousands by the year; never labour with their hands (and seldowne with their tongues or brains) to get their livings; and yet preach not so oft in 2. or 3. years, as Paul and other Apostles did in a week, when they laboured to.  
6. The Apostles were troubled on every side, for Christ, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despairs persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the mark; of the Lord jesus, and being always delivered unto death for jesus sake: 2 Cor. 8, 9, 10, 11. Lord Prelates never were in such extremities, never suffered such things, as all or any of these for Christ, but have usually brought others into the Apostles condition far specified for Christ's sake; As the Book of Martyrs, and experience manifest.  
7. The Apostles were called from the receipt of custom, from all other secular employments, and separated for the Gospel of Christ; forsaking all other things to preach and propagate it alone as soon as they were called to be Christ's Apostles and disciples, Math. 4. 18. to. 23. c. 9 9 Mark 10. 28, 29. Rom. 1. 1. Acts 13. 2. Lord Prelates when they are made such, intrude themselves into secular offices and employments, call themselves back again to the receipt of custom shouldering themselves into Lord Treasurerships' Lord Chancellorships & other such great temporal offices, tosupport and maintain their part, pour and antichristian throne; erect Popery and Romish superstition, and rule all things at their pleasures: yea they almost wholly separate themselves from Christ, and the preaching of his Gospel, lay aside and give over their Ministry, etc. Preaching, that so they may wholly addict themselves to the world, the pleasures honours and preferments of it, to Court and State affairs, and Lord it over all men both in Church and State.  
8. Christ's Apostles, were all equal among themselves, and Lorded it not one over the other, nor yet over their fellow brethren, or the Lord's inheritance never Pursevanting, imprisoning, fining, banishing or depriving of them like Pagan Princes, they being expressly prohibited so to do, Math. 20. 25. 26. 27 Luke 22. 25, 26. 2. Cor. 1. 24. 〈◊〉. Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. Lord Prelate's Lord it one over another and are not equal among themselves, witness their Popes, their patriarchs, Cardinal, Bishops, metropolitans, Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and Bishops Suffragans, all subordinate unto another; they claim a superiority jure divino over their fellow Presbyters (their equals, and all one with themselves by divine law & institution Acts 26. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 〈◊〉. 1. 7 ●…m. 3. 1, 2, 3. c. 5. 17. Titus 1. 5, 7. 1. Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3. Math. 20. 25, 26, 27, c. 28. 19: 20.) Yea they Lord and tyrannize it over their fellow Ministers, Diocese, and the Lords inheritance suspending, silencing, excommunicating, pursevanting, fining, imprisoning reviling, depriving them, prescribing new Ceremonies, Injunctions, Articles, Oaths, Orders, and fining and punishing them for the violation of them at their pleasures, like absolute Popes, Kings, Monarches, Parliaments, against all laws of God, and the Realm; as ancient, and (above all others) present experience testifieth; So like are their Lordly Sanctities to the Apoftles, or rather to their holy-Father the Pope & devil.  
9 The Apostles preached daily the Lord jesus, and his Gospel, to the people, because Christ, & God himself enjoined them to do it, notwithstanding the high Priests & whole Counsels suspentions inhibitions, threats, imprisonments, and scourge to hinder and deter them Acts 4 & 5. 1. Thess. 2. 15, 16, 17. Lord's Prelates (on the contrary) are so far from imitating their examples, that they every where against the laws of God and the realm, yea contrary to the very Book of ordination and charge there given them when they were ordauned,) suspend & prohibit Ministers from preaching Christ & his Gospel to the people, that they may be saved, threatening to imprison deprive and ruin them if they do it; notwithstanding Christ and his Apostles have expressly commanded them, (and their Lordships to if Christ's Ministers, or their Successors) to do it under pain of eternal woe (which Bishop wren commanded to be blotted out of a Church wall in Ipswich Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark. 16. 15. Acts. 20. 281. Cor. 9 16, 17. 1. Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1 Tim. 4. 13. c. 5. 17. The very height of all iniquity and impiety 1. Thess. 2. 15, 16. Yea, money base faint-hearted Ministers forgetting this Precedent of the Apostles, set now silence under these illegal impious suspensions, and some of them, like hirelings f●…e from their flocks, and leave them to be devo●…vred of these raging wolves, as full experience manifests, whereas if they were true Sheopards and faithful Ministers, they would rather lay down their lives then fly or give over preaching upon such ungodly, unjust Suspentious, merely void in law, which of Common, Civil, Canon or Divine.  
10. The Apostles daily in the Temple; and in every house (which now fotsooth were a Conventicle) ceased not to teach and preach jesus Christ Acts 5. 42. (and that notwithstanding all the high Priests inhibitions, suspensions and imprisonments) Nay S. Paul as he spread and preached the Gospel of Christ almost over all the world ever from jerusalem round about to Illyricum and where Christ was not once so much as named before, Rom. 15. 19 20. So he disputed and preached daily in the School of one Tyrannus for two years' space, Acts 19 9 10. Yea for three years' space together, he ceased not day and night to warn every one at Ephesus, with tears, teaching them publicly and from house to house, (now a dangerous unlawful conventicle in our Lord Prelates judgement) Acts 20. 20. 21. 31. he, and the rest of the Apostles, by their daily preaching and holy lives, converting thousands unto God & planting and watering many eminent Churches; as the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles, witness. Our Lordly Prelates are so far from not ceasing thus to preach daily, themselves, that few of them preach monthly, or quarterly, and it is much if they preach annually, and then only at Court: Others of them (as our great Archprelates) not in three or four years' space or more; some not at all, (as the dumb Bishops of Oxford, Landaffe, and others:) yea, they do all they can to preach, write and cry down frequent preaching, as hurtful and superfluous; suppressing all or most weeke●…day Lectures, with Sermons on Lords days afternoon in many Diocese, (o impiety!) inhibiting all painful, godly Ministers from preaching, some totally, other at least half so often as they desire to do, or more: and, (which is a thing almost incredible, and most impious) suppressing Lectures and preaching in all infected places, and that on the solemn Fast-day, as a means to spread the pestilence, even then, when all former ages, and an eminent ancient Popish Council, have cried them up as most necessary and useful; the sick having far more need of spiritual physic and Physicians, than the whole: Math. 9 12. 13. As for preaching from house to house (be it by a Minister in his own parish only) our holy Lord Prelates are so far from practising or approving it, though Apostolical, that they most unchristinaly prohibit, most impiously condemn, most severely punish it, and the repetition of Sermons for a dangerous Conventicle, deserving imprisonment, excommunication, fining, deprivation and what not, is a cloud of late examples testify. Such holy successors of Christ's Apostles are these ghostly Lords spiritual; I will not say, carnal, worldly, and diabolical, as some too truly style them: This being one of Satan the great dragon his 
* An Answer unto a letter sent by the Great Turk etc. compiled & imprinted by john Mayler, an. 1542,  principal instructions to the herdsmen of his goats, Bishops and Archbishops; to see that they hate, despise and blaspheme both the word of God, and the true Preachers and lovers thereof, and not to suffer the truth and freedom of God's Law to be known, but to keep it under as much as they can: to suffer no true Preachers to abide in their Dioceses, but quickly to bring them into great thraldom, charge and penury; and never to cease till they have driven them away and set up in their rooms and places Doctor Ignorance Domine drunkard, Sir john Lack-latin, with Sir William Wilde-oathes that hunteth after whores, and such also as can play dissembling hypocrites, whereby the devil's empire of darkness doth exceedingly flourish, which much decayed in all places by the true and frequent preaching of God's Word. As for their planting or watering of Churches, and converting store of souls to God, by their diligent frequent zealous preaching and pious lives, Alas, which of our great Archprelates can truly say, that he ever yet truly converted one soul to God by his life or doctrine? Which of all our Lordly loiterers can show me one man that he thoroughly convetted to Christ or reduced to an holy life since he became a Prelate? (scarce one or two, I fear, of the whole paeke.) Or what men are they this day living in England who can say with comfort, that a Lord Bishop was the means of their true conversion? Such converts doubtless are so rare, that all their names, I fear, (like the good Roman Emperors) may be engraven in one ring; whereas the souls they have murdered and tumbled into Hell by their ill examples, unjust, ungodly, tyrannical, atheistical lives, supressing of preaching Lectures, godly Ministers, repetition of Sermons, private Fasts, and Christian private assemblies in all places; declamations against purity, Puritan, piety and preciseness, making and countenancing ungodly, unworthy scandalous Ministers; stirring men up to profane the Lords own day by Dancing sports, etc. As woeful experience witnesseth passed all denial. O that these unprofitable Lord Prelates would consider that excellent saying of Pope Gregory the first. Pensemus ergo etc. Let us therefore diligently consider, who have ever been converted by our preaching; who being reprehended for their perverse actions, have repent upon our reprehension: who out of our instruction hath for saken his luxury; who declined his covetousness, who his pride? Let us consider what gain we have brought into God, who receiving a talon are sent by him to negociate with it. For he saith; Occupis till I come. Behold he now cometh; behold he requireth gain out of our negotiation What gain of souls shall we show unto him out of our negociation? How many sheaves of souls shall we bring before his sight out of the crop of our preaching? Let us set before our eyes that day of so great distress, wherein the judge shall come and exact a strict account of those servants to whom he hath committed talents. There, shall Peter appear with converted judaea, which he hath drawn after him: There, Paul, leading, that I may so speak the converted world. There, also Andrew shall lead Achaia after him; there, john Asia, Thomas India converted by them, and present them to the view of the judge. There all the Rams of the Lords flock shall appear with the gains of souls, who by their holy Sermons draw a converted subdued flock after them. When therefore so many Shepherds shall come thus with their several flocks before the presence of the eternal Shepherd, what shall we poor wretches (what shall cur unpreaching, unprofitable Lord Prelates) say, who after our negociation return empty to our Lord; who have the name of Pastors, and yet have no sheep at all to show whom we have nourished and converted. Here were we are called shepherds, and yet thus we lead no flock at all●… therefore we shall then be reputed 〈◊〉 hireling and murderers, not as Pastors. A speech which should make all our Lordly Prelates humble and give over their Lording, loitering and secular employments, to fall a preaching & win some souls to God.  
11. Paul, (Christ's most laborious Apostle) preached not only in the morning, but also in the evening on the Lord's day, and continued his Sermon until midnight. Acts 20. 7. Our godly devout Lord Prelates, not only give over preaching themselves on Lords day evenings, but professedly prohibit it as unlawful, by their printed visitation articles, suspending those that dare to preach, (though they catechise also) on the Lord's day evening, that so the profane vulgar may have more liberty, and spend that time in dancing and playing, which this Apostles spent in preaching. And are they not then his undoubted Successors.  
12 Finally, the Apostles had no quadrangular Ca●…s for their round pates, no stately Mitres for their heads, no rochets, Surplesses, Stoles, or other Pontifical disguised vestments for their backs or arms, no rings or Crosiers for their hands and fingers, no Altars for their Sacrament of the Lords Supper no Tapers, vestment Images, Crucifixes Altar clothes, Organs, or Arras hangings, Singing men, Cheristers, Prebends, Petty Canons, Canons, Deans or Chapters for their cathedrals or private Chappells (which they wanted) no Vicars general, Commissaries, officials, Registers, Pursuivants, high Commissions, visitation Oaths, Articles, Orders, Injunctions, Canon laws or Canonists for their Diocese, no Coaches, Chariots, pamper●… Palfreys, Footmen, Horsemen, Cooks, Butlers, Keeper's Hunters Falconers, & train of attendants for their pleasure, State, journeys, or hospitality; no cringings and bowings to Altars, Tables, Crucifixes, or the name of jesus, no standing up at Gloria Patri, Athanacius and the Nicene Creed, no kneeling at the Sacrament, no Procurations; Letters of Ordination, licenses to preach, or keep Schools, Probate of wills, Commissions of administration, Seals of arms, Tit'es of your Grace, your Lordship, your Holiness, your Father hood, Primate, Patriarch, Metropolitan, Archbishop, most reverend Father in God etc. Alas poor silly Fishe●…s and Michaniks, they neither had, nor knew, nor ever dreamt of all these Pontifical Inventions, ceremonies, vestments, Ornaments, Titles, which our Lord Prelates claim, enjoy, enforce by divine authority as their Successors, in which they place the very honour, lustre, life and essence of their Episcopalities and Lotdlyresse; They; poor men, thought the Canon of the Scripture (as did their Master Christ) sufficient to rule and guide the Church to the end of the world Math. 28. 19, 20, Gal. 6. 16. Sufficient to make them wise to salvation, to build them up, to give them an inheritance among them that are sanctified, and to bring them safe to heaven Acts 20. 32. Gal. 6. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Yea all sufficient for doctrine, reprooffe, correction, instruction inrighteounesse, that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2. Tim. 3. 16, 17. without any other Canons, decretals, Articles, Injunctions etc. Lord Prelates are of a quite contrary faith and judgement. They, poor silly Creatures, in their First general Counsel at jerusalem, would impose no Ceremonies at all upon the Gentiles, nor lay no other but these necessary things, as a burden on them, to abstain from fornication, and from blood, and things strangled Acts 25. 28, 29. And Paul himself, without express Command from God, would not enjoin or single unmarried life to any, but only advise it, Yet so, as to leave every man to his own free liberty and discretion 1. Cor. 7. 8. 9 25. 26. 27. 28. to 40. Yea else where; He beats down all humane Traditions and Constitutions as no ways obligatory in divine, or Ecclesiastical matters. Col. 2. 20. 21. 22. 1. Cor. 7. 23. 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Gal. 1. 10. c. 2. 9 to 20. c. 3. 1. 2. c. 5. 1, 2. But our Lordly Prelates far wiser and statelier than they, who were no Lords nor Peers, of their several divided heads without advice of Kings and Parliament, by their own Lordly authorities in their own names, can forge, prescribe enjoin, and that upon Oath and subscription, many hundred unnecessary Ceremonies, Articles and injunctions, not any where commanded by Christ; and impose them upon Ministers and people under pain of suspension, excommunication, imprisonment, deprivation, and what other penalties their royal Papal Majesties please, to inflict, enforcing Churchwardens (contrary to God's Law, by the very Rhemists 
If thou be put to an Oath to accuse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they ought to do, or to utter any innocent man, to God's enemies and his, thou oughtest to refuse such unlawful Oeaths: but if thou have not constancy and courage so to do, yet know, that such oaths bind not at all in conscience and law of God, but may and must be broken under pain of damnation. For to take such vows or oaths is one sin and to keep them is another far greater. Rhenists Notes on Acts 23. v. 12. A shrod blow to all visitation and ex officio Oaths.  own doctrine) to present the infringers of them upon Oath, (whereas they enjoin them not to present the violaters of Gods own Ten Commandments, Or any of Christ's, or his Apostles precepts (as they are such upon oath, which God himself never enforced to b●… enquired or presented upon oath; a thing considerable) Such Gods, Popes, Kings, Tyrants, and absolute Lords are they now grown over men's consciences, souls, bodies and estates, all now made captive to their more than divine, Imperial, Papal, pleasures; as experience every where testifieth to our grief and pain.  
judge now even you Lordly Prelates, and all ye people of the realm, by all the premised Parallels; whither these great Lords and th●…ir Prelacy be of diabolical or divine institution, whither they are of Christ or the devil; the imps and spurious beats of the one; or Sons and genuine Children of the other; the successors and followers of the I●…wish High Priests, or of the Apostles: judge, I say, of these things, not with passion or affection, but with imparciallitie and conscience; not by opinion or fancy, but by experience and truth; not with malice or prejudice either way, but with downright sincerity, as you desire CHRIST shall judge you at the day of judgement, and as yourselves then shall judge. And when you have done his, then let our Lordly Prelates give up that verdict of themselves and others of them, as their souls and consciences shall sincerely dictate; And then I doubt not, but their pretended Ius diuin●…m for their Lordly Hierarchy, will be a non est inventus, and all their lordliness, pomp, power, state, Pride, Canons, Articles, Oaths, Ceremonies, Titles, Innovations, Suspensions, and present fore-specified practices, cast and sentenced for ever to the pit of Hell, from which they sprung, if my poor weak judgement doth not misinform me.  
john Rupescissa (a bold prophetical preaching Friere) told the Ro●…ish Cardinals and Prelates some 300. years since, that they were the Peacock whom all the birds had enriched with their feathers, whereby she was grown so proud, that she would never know herself, till the Kings and Princes of the earth that had decked and enriched her, should come, and taking every one of them his own feather, leave her as bald and naked as they found her, and then as their pride & wealth was the beginning of all the errors, Schisms and corruptions in religion that troubled the world, so their humiliation and fall should be the end of them. I may apply his Prophecy to our Lordly Prelates now: they are the only proud Peacocks of the world so adorned and swollen with worldly honour, power wealth, pomp, pride and greatness, that they will never know either God or themselves till the King & temporal Lords who have decked and enriched them with these gorgeous plumes, shall come, and taking every one of them his own feather, leave them as bald and naked as they found them. And then as their pride, pomp, lordliness, power and worldy wealth hath been the errors, Schisms, Innovations, corruptions in Religion that have troubled our Church and the whole world; (yea, of all the grievances, oppressions, Tallayes, and mischiefs, that have instead our state of later years) so their humiliation and fall shall be the end of them. Up therefore o most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, & all ye English Nobleses, without more delays, and unp●…ume these luciferian proud Peacocks of all those royal Lordly feathers, they have unjustly stolen and usurped from you: and since they claim all of them from a divine Right and Title, (without any shadow or ground of truth, as I have been demonstrated in the preceding Parallels, beyond all contradiction,) and will no longer enjoy or claim them as from your grace and bounty, leave them not one feather more to hide their nakedness, but what Gods word hath clearly endowed them withal; then certainly they will be so bald and naked, that they will never play the devils, Lords or high Priests more. And that this dunghill generation of Lordly Peacocks may no more inf●… either our Church or state; beseech you, follow the Counsel, that one Curghesis once gave to the King of Meth, when he demanded of him, hom he might destroy certain noisome birds then lately came into Ireland, where they did much harm to the Country? Nidos eorum ubique destruendos: Let their Nests be every where destroyed, I mean, their pompous, papal unprofitab●…e, unuseful Sees and cathedrals, (now their very chairs of pestilence, the Seminaries of Popery, superstition, idolatry, pride, laziness, Nonresidency, Epicurism and profaneness,) or else turned to some better uses, as were our Abbeys, Priories, Monasteries, Nunneries and Chauntries heretofore; else though they be cast out for a time, yet they will (as Popery now doth) creep in again by degrees, and hatch more Lordly Peacocks, Ravens, Rooks noisome birds, as bad, as ravenous and pernicious as themselves, to the utter subversion both of our Church and state, which now lie gasping out their last breath under their Papal pride and tyranny without some speedy rescue.   
FINIS.