Differing Worships, Or, The odds, between some knight's Service and God's.  
OR TOM NASH his Ghost, (the old Martin queller) newly roused, and is come to chide and take order with Nonconformists, schismatics, Separatists, and scandalous libelers.  
Wherein their Abusive opinions are manifested, their jeers mildly retorted, and their unmannerly manners admonished.  
By John TAYLOR.  
LONDON, Printed for William Ley, and are to be sold at his shop near Paul's chain. 1640.   

TO THE FRIENDLY, unfriendly, PREjudicate, or Indifferent Reader, or Hearer, and so consequently to all, and everybody.  
I (with applause) have writ, near seavenscore Books,  
Yet never feared base words, or scurvy looks:  
Though some detracting spirits snarl and hiss,  
I (with mine own hand) do acknowledge this:  
Let Rake-hells rail, and Rebels kick and spurn;  
The Bush shall be unburnt, when they shall burn:  
Such as would sink the ark (which doth denote  
That then God's Church was in that sacred boat)  
More barbarous than the barbarous soldiers were  
That did refuse Christ's seamless coat to tear;  
To such as these, and none but such as these,  
My lines may have a relish to displease;  
And I do say (as better men have said)  
God is my record, I am not afraid  
Of Force or fraud; for he that feareth such,  
Will never dare t' abide the Test or touch:  
Nor is it flattery that doth cause me write,  
(My climacterical doth say, Good Night)  
And 'tis a courtlike adulating sin,  
Which I ne'er used, nor will I now begin;  
He that's offended, let him tell wherefore,  
And show some reason why he hath therefore;  
And where my error is, but show me it,  
In all Humility I will submit.  
Some satin Momus, or some silken Zoylus,  
Or Midas puffed in plush, or musky Troilus;  
This was not writ to do them any pleasure,  
Nor can their wisdoms take of it true measure;  
If such as understand not, are offended,  
I bid them all come kiss my Muse, and mend it.  
But sure, as long as God is on my side,  
What need I care if rascals do deride;  
My dear, dear Mother, England's Church, 'tis she,  
(In humble duty) draws these lines from me;  
For though I am no clergyman, I know,  
That I obedience unto HER do owe;  
In HER, I was baptised, and in HER  
I have been showed Truth, and to shun to err;  
In HER th' eternal food (most excellent)  
I have received, in th' Word and Sacrament,  
And for HER sake (to vindicate her cause)  
Expecting neither profit nor applause,  
These following lines unto the world I send,  
Which (I am sure) shall last, till time shall end.  
J. T. Poeta Aquaticus.   

Differing Worships, Or The odds, between some knight's service and Gods.  

And first to begin with the Knights or Ladies High and Mighty Worships.  
NOte the Rare fabric of his worship's Building,  
Behold th'Illustrious splendour of the Gilding,  
View well the Columns, and the Buttresses,  
Mark the fair Pompous Porches Glorious dress,  
The Pillars, and the pilasters admire,  
Look how the pointed Pyramids aspire,  
The obelisks, Corinthian carved work fine  
Of purest Marble, jet, or Serpentine,  
Of Alabaster, touch, or Porphiry,  
Or of th'admired (mock-Jeat) Ebony;  
From the Foundation to the Battlement  
Most sumptuous, stately and magnificent.  
His worship's radiant Hall, wood-linings pure,  
mitered and cyphered, and revaled Immure:  
His Marble Pavement checkered black and white,  
T'Amaze and Ravish the beholder's sight;  
His worship's fair glass-windows, with his name  
And arms, (which shows from what descents he came)  
His Worship eats and sleeps, in rooms, are hung  
With costly Arras, and himself among  
(I mean his Picture, if right understood)  
Gentles allied, in Marriage, or in Blood;  
See more, and take note what you see, at length  
His Worships Altar's crowned with Glorious strength  
Of massy Plate; His worship's Tables hold  
Large Purple Velvet Carpets, fringed with Gold.  
His worship's Spouse, and Issue; like a Rood  
Of glistering Images; his worship's food  
Approaching, Be uncovered, Stentor cries;  
His worship's Waiters bow before him thrice,  
With servile reverence, humbly stooping low,  
They pay the duty they his Worship owe.  
His worship's chaplain, twice, (with double grace)  
In fear and trembling, takes and leaves his place,  
And (having read his Chapter) still must say,  
Thus ends your worship's Lesson for the day.  
His worship's Lady (likewise mighty fine)  
Adored is, as 'twere a Thing Divine;  
Her Waiting-woman, and her chambermaid  
Is sued to, bowed to, and implored and prayed.  
knight's Service thus, and Lady Worship, see  
How oddly, madly Gods and this agree.   

Here followeth the unfashionable fashion, or the too too homely Worshipping of God.  
God's Houses, almost like Troy's Ilium,  
Are also built of course and baser stone,  
With broken Pavement, Window, Wall and door;  
Well, if but white-limed, and then oakered o'er;  
Drillings of Raine, make green and yellow streaks,  
And (Where they give him place) the Painter speaks  
In Creed, Commands, and Prayer, and 'gainst his Will  
To the King's foes, puts dizzy Painter still,  
Says Woodcock was churchwarden, than cries Woe  
Over the Pulpit, and in mind to show  
Beggars at door, how dreadful to their trade  
Death is, he sets him working with a Spade.  
Nine dusty Seats, twelve trestles, two cracked bells,  
Three broken Halters. And what? Nothing else  
Goes to a Church? The chancel hath a board  
Worth nine pence (most unworthy of the Lord)  
With pretty homespun Linsey-woolsey Spread  
Under the linen, whither (scarce white) Bread  
And cheap sour wine, two hob-nailed Wardens drag  
In Gibeons Bottles, and course pudding-bag.  
All manners, and all decency must be  
Laid by; as much as bowing of the Knee,  
Unlawful is, though Paul commands it so,  
Yet many new pure spirits do say no.  
That Kneeling, comes so near Idolatry;  
T'avoid which, they will be so mannerly  
To be Christ's fellow, and to sit at's Table,  
And give his house like reverence as the stable.  
Thus saucy morals (vile and transitory)  
Do rob themselves of grace, and God of glory;  
These rude behaviours every good man grieves,  
When Temples are esteemed like dens of thieves.  
God's Worship this! The great King's Service! see  
How oddly madly Gods and man's agree.   

The unequal or incomparable comparison.  
'TIs strange that some Religions do allow,  
That men to stocks and stones shall bend and bow;  
And that the man that did the Image frame,  
Must kneel (in adoration) to the same;  
Imploring aid, and hoping for a good  
From rags and relics, stones, and stocks of wood.  
Erecting Churches with great charge (profuse)  
For man's idolatry, and God's abuse;  
And think they merit their salvation.  
For impious works of superstition;  
With Ceremonies such superfluous store,  
As Pagans, Jews and Gentiles ne'er had more;  
With humble bending, bowing, crouching, creeping,  
With kneeling, crossing, penitential weeping,  
With slavish fear, and fearful reverence,  
Preposterous zeal, and blind obedience;  
They think't too little, all they can or may  
In serving God▪ the quite contrary way.  
On th'other side, a peevish crew doth lie  
(Most perverse pure, in their impurity)  
And they so sparing of their manners be,  
They'll move no hat at Church, nor bend a knee;  
And whilst they dwell in houses seeled in State,  
God's Houses must lie waste and desolate;  
The consecrated Temples they'll come in,  
Esteeming Reverence there to be a sin,  
And that (for holiness) there is no odds  
In manners, twixt his horse's house and God's.  
But leaving this Saint-seeming holy crew,  
Who (in their brains) do strange religions brew: 
They have neither Scriptures, examples of patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, counsels, Ancient Fathers, nor the Primitive first true Church, but all are against them in this point of duty.   
Whose Grounds have neither Reason, Root or Pith,  
Which patriarchs were ne'er acquainted with,  
Which from the Prophets were unknown and hid,  
Which Christ and his Apostles did forbid,  
Which counsels, or old Fathers ne'er decreed,  
Nor from the first true Church did ere proceed.  
If either Separatist, or schismatic,  
Or Anabaptist, harebrained heretic,  
From Scripture, Church, or Father could but show  
That reverently to God men should not bow,  
In triumph then, they might display their Banners,  
And show some reason for their want of manners.  
To thee (that readest or hear'st) these lines I send,  
That art so stiff in th'hams, thou canst not bend;  
Thou oughtst (in fear and love) bow down thy knee  
To him, whose Grace and Love came down to thee;  
Oh fall before him that hath raised thee up,  
And (for thy soul's life) drank Deaths bitter cup.  
Thy Body prostrate, that it may express  
Thy souls intentions humble thankfulness;  
As he's thy Maker, duteous honour do him;  
As he's a Judge offended, kneel unto him;  
The Captive doomed to hell for his offence,  
Ought kneel to Him that did redeem him thence;  
Fall down, (and with thy soul) thy body bend,  
And then (no doubt) thy prayers will ascend;  
For though Heaven be from Earth, a mighty space,  
The most High's nearest the lowly with his grace.  
An injured man ofttimes such mercy feels  
To pardon his offender, when he kneels.  
Judge and condemn thyself, and then the fruit  
Will be, God will not Judgement execute.  
For free remission of thy sins unholy  
Thou canst not (in thy gesture) be too lowly;  
He that's ashamed to worship God, is then  
Like him that doth deny him before men.  
Then, if thy soul be touched with penitence  
Express it, with thy body's reverence;  
For though God of our kneeling hath no need,  
To bless Humility he hath decreed.  
And not to kneel, when we God's blessings seek,  
Doth show we neither lowly are or meek.  
To bow thy heart, true faith doth thee persuade;  
And he that made thy heart, thy knee hath made;  
And since he hath made all, and every part  
he'll have thy knees obedience, with thy Heart:  
he'll have no halves, he made, and will have all,  
And there's no halting safe, twixt God and Baal.  
Beware therefore, when God thou com'st before,  
Thy rude behaviour not incense him more,  
Thy misery bewail, upon thy knee  
And he (from misery) thy soul will free;  
For as thou often kneel'st for daily Bread  
Wherewith thy earth-decaying corpse is fed;  
So forth' Eternal Living Bread must thou  
Both heart and knee, both soul and body bow.  
The prodigal with kneeling and with mourning  
Was graced, and feasted at his home-returning.  
That Christ to man Coheireship doth impart,  
'Tis God's abundant Love, not man's desert;  
His humble servants here, by him shall be  
Exalted to eternal dignity.  
Wilt thou, or dar'st thou (thou frail earthy clod)  
Be fellow to th'immortal son of God,  
Or dar'st thou stand or sit with saucy pride  
To entertain thy Saviour glorified?  
Dost thou not know the Great King's seal of Heaven  
Is come from thence to thee, and to thee given,  
Wherein the pardon of thy sins is signed,  
Whereby thou mayst true peace of conscience find?  
Whereas Christ's Holy Spirit present is  
Wherewith his Grace doth bless this work of his,  
Where Bread of Life, the bread doth sanctify  
To all that Eat it, in humility:  
Thou also (in the Cup) by faith mayst see  
His precious Blood, that deigned to die for thee;  
Which signs and figures of Remembrance must  
Put us in mind that we must firmly trust  
His Body offered for us, and his Blood  
Is All in All, the sum of all our Good.  
He that Receives this, and will not afford  
To kneel and thank so Great, a Gracious Lord;  
Is Atheist, Pagan, or besides his wits,  
Unworthy of such blessed Benefits.  
There is the figure of th'eternal Feast,  
And thither Grace invites thee as a Guest,  
The royal Robe, the wedding Garment there  
Is set before thee, for thy soul to wear;  
The King is present, Angels wait on thee,  
And wilt thou not kneel down, and thankful be?  
And now some proofs I plainly will unfold  
How good men worshipped God in times of old.  
When God (who is for evermore I AM)  

Gen. 17.17.  Did promise Isaac unto Abraham:  
The good old man his duty knew so well,  
That humbly bowing, on his face he fell.  

Deut. 9.18.  Moses did fall before the Lord, and pray  
He would from Isr'el turn his wrath away:  

2 Sam. 12.16.  blessed David all night on the earth did lie,  
And fast and pray in great humility.  

1 Kings 8.54.  King Solomon did to this duty yield,  

2 Chron. 6.15.  That (though his prayer was long) he praying kneeled:  

1 Kings 18.42.  Eliah humbly kneeled, and prayed for rain,  
And blessed fruitful showers he did obtain:  

Math. 8.2.  The Leper worshipped Christ, and faith procured  

Mark. 1.4.  
Luke 5 12.  That (I WILL, BE THOU clean) was said, which cured:  

Math. 8.8.  When our Humility is of such proof,  

Luke 7.6.  To know ourselves unworthy that our roof  
Christ should come under; then such Grace we win,  
That then the King of Glory doth come in.  

Mark. 7.25.  The woman kneeled, and begged, and her request  
Was granted, and the devil dispossessed  
The man possessed, with many fiends fell down,  

Luk. 8.28.  And all the Legion to the swine were thrown.  

Luk. 8.41.  When Jairus kneeled, and did for favour plead,  
His daughter was revived, that was dead.  

Luk. 8.47.  The woman with the bloody Issue fell,  
And kneeled, and trembled, and she was made well.  
Among ten Lepers cured, Grace bore such sway,  
That one returned, 
Luk. 17.16.  and tithe of Thanks did pay.  
Our Saviour (humbly) kneeled and meekly prayed  
God his heavenly Father for his aid. 
Luk. 1●. 4.  
Mat. 26.39.   
St. Peter kneeled, and prayed unto the Lord, 
Mark. 14.35.   
And Dorcas was from death to life restored. 
Acts 9.36.40.   
And blessed Paul with kneeling did implore,  
That God would bless his Church for evermore;  
And when from Tyrus he did make repair, 
Acts 20.36.   
He (with the rest there) humbly kneeled in prayer.  
St. Steven kneeled and prayed with veh'ment cries, 
Acts 7.60.   
For his stone-hearted stony enemies.  
The slave did kneel, 
Mat. 18.26.  and from his Lord did get  
Forgiveness for ten thousand talents debt.  
Th' Almighty (by himself) hath sworn and vowed, 
isaiah 45.23. God did swear here; and it is not in man's power to make him call it back.   
That every knee shall unto him be bowed,  
In Heaven, in Earth, all things beneath the same,  
That every knee shall bow at Jesus name.  
The wicked and accursed fiends of Hell 
Phil 2.10.   
In fear and trembling down before him fell. 
Mark 3.11.   
In Heaven (where endless Glories Saints do crown) 
Revel. 4.10.   
The four and twenty Elders do fall down,  
And worship him that sits upon the Throne, 
The Nonconformist may perceive by these commands and examples that kneeling and bowing must be used but the Scripture doth not commad standing or sitting or disobeying in any place.   
That lives for ever, the blessed three in one:  
There Angels, heaven's, and all the Powers therein,  
The chanting Cherubin and Seraphin  
Continually three Holies loud do cry  
Unto the Lord of sabbaths majesty;  
The Glory of whose majesty doth fill  
Both Heaven and Earth, whose praise is singing still  
By blessed Apostles, Prophets, martyrs, and  
The holy Church through every realm and Land;  
All these do knowledge him alone to be  
The Father of infinite majesty;  
Whose honourable, true, and only son  
By his obedience, hath our pardons won;  
The Holy Ghost, the comforter of all  
Such as with steadfast faith for comfort call;  
To this God, Good and Gracious, Glorious, Great,  
To him all knees must bow, all souls entreat;  
All those that will not bend, such power he hath  
That he will break them in his furious wrath;  
'Tis well t'avoid will-worship, but 'tis ill  

Private men must not frame what worship they will.  To frame what kind of worship each man will.  
When in the Temple we do God implore;  
'Tis God, and not the Temple we adore.  

Exod. 37.6.  The Priest did worship towards the mercy seat,  

1 Kings 6.23.  And twixt the Cherubins our God entreat;  
He worshipped neither Seat, nor Cherubins,  
But only God that takes away our sins.  
And as on Sea and Land, in every place,  
With humble reverence we must sue for Grace:  
So in his Church, and houses consecrated,  
And to his service only dedicated,  
Wherein Christ Crucified is preached, where he  
In Word and Sacraments doth deign to be,  
Sure, in those places, where God's love is such▪  
All men's best manners cannot be too much.  
For though we owe God reverence everywhere;  
Yet in the Church it best becomes us there;  
When we participate most of his Grace,  
O, then, and there, show manners in that place.  
The Saints in heaven do kneel, and praise God's name,  
And Saints on earth must likewise do the same.  
O come let's sing unto the Lord, rejoice  
In our salvations strength, 
Psal. 91.  our hearts and voice;  
Let us (with thanks) before his face appear,  
And show (in him) with psalms our gladness there:  
O, come, let's worship, fall, and kneel before  
The Lord our maker, let us him adore.  
This doctrine David to the Church did teach,  
Which (from those times to these) all good men preach.  
Only a new fantastic upstart troop  
Of proud contentious spirits, scorn to stoop.  
I have showed proofs, and more I will produce,  
How men are bowed unto this reverent use.  
St. Paul repeats the places I have showed,  
That every knee shall to the Lord be bowed; 
Rom. 14.11.   
For there's no other name else under Heaven,  
But Jesus name, 
Acts 4.12.  by whom Salvation's given.  
Th'Apostle kneeled, and told th' Ephesians why,  
To pray that Grace their faith might fructify. 
Eph. 3.14.   
In Jesus blessed name, our soul's relief  
And life eternal doth consist in chief. 
Ioh. 20.31.   
In all we say or do, we still must frame  
To say and do (with thanks) in Jesus name; 
Coloss. 3 17.   
Believers in this name, with faith most steady  
Are saved, 
Ioh. 3.18.  and unbelievers damned already.  
This name alone was the Apostle's aid  
To dispossess the devil from the maid; 
Acts 16.18.   
That from this name no bonds should make him fly,  
And for this name he willingly would die. 
Acts 21.13.   
Full of such proofs as these the Scriptures are,  
Which to all people plainly doth declare  
That 'tis th'almighty's Mandate and decree,  
That all, at Jesus name, shall bend the knee.  
And in all ages, till these times and days,  
The church's practice it hath been always;  
And that (amongst us) this duty is not new,  
But Queen Elizabeth's Injunctions view:  

Injunct. 52.  Or else King James his eighteenth Canon read;  
There (by Authority) 'tis published.  
Archbishop Whitguift if you please to note  
In's Book, which he 'gainst master Cartwright wrote,  
Maintains, that all men must this duty do;  
(Imprinted, page, seven hundred forty two.)  

Lib. 5. §. 30. page 148.  And learned Hooker doth the same defend,  
In that rare Tract and Treatise which he penned,  
ecclesiastic Polity instiled;  
The true use there, of Kneeling is compiled,  
So absolute, acute, and exquisite;  
That all the Christian world approveth it.  

Calvins' Institutions lib. 1. cap. 13. §. 24. lib. 2. c. 11. §. 12 lib. 2. c. 14. §. 3. lib. 2. c. 15. §. 5. lib. 3. c. 5. in all these places Calvinis plain for the reverend use and practice of this duty.  Those unkneeling saucy Separatists  
Are often falsely called Calvinists:  
For master Calvin's flat against their side;  
And they are all from his directions wide:  
He (in his Institutions) doth allow  
At Jesus name, that every Knee shall bow;  
Those that will read, may (in five places) find▪  
How Calvin clearly hath declared his mind.  
Mad innovators, in their Consultations  
Do nothing but cry out 'gainst Innovations;  
Like he that robbed himself, and by and by  
Cried thieves, thieves, and pursued with Hue and Cry.  
So these men have new fashioned fangles found,  
Which have from Scripture or the Church no ground;  
Whilst we in our Church government do hold  
Not any thing but what's authentic old:  
Yet vile Impuritans revile the State  
And Church; when they themselves do innovate.  
Sure they are Ignorants or Hypocrites  
That are inspired with these unholy fits;  
And with a heaved-up hand, and white of eye,  
They'll do a man a mischief zealously,  
And on religious points will stand most stoutly,  
But in conclusion cozen men devoutly.  
These people's brains are stuffed with froth and bubbles,  
Their concord's discord, and their peace is troubles.  
He that can measure smoke, or weigh the wind,  
Or to the Peace the restless Ocean bind;  
Number the stars, or Sands on Neptune's bounds;  
Or take great Whales at Sea, with hunting hounds;  
Make mountains swim, stop Rivers in their source,  
Or stay the sun in his diurnal course:  
He that can do all these, hath power and skill  
To fix these fellows steadfast in their will.  
These are our Church and Ceremony haters,  
That love to fish in foul and troubled waters;  
Swift in defame, their reason is their will,  
And Will shall be their reason, they say still.  
To end this point, they are a sort of youths,  
Whose judgements still are farthest off from truths,  
But He that in the Heavens doth reside,  
Doth see their malice, and their plots deride;  
And though they rave and rail, our State shall stand  
Supported only, by th'almighty's hand.  
And through the venomed vapours of their spite,  
Our church's Government shall shine more bright.  
Their errors have been answered, quashed and quelled,  
And often (by grave learned men) repelled  
Their causes have been canvased and disputed  
By Scriptures, counsels, Fathers, all confuted,  
Ecclesiastic Canons, Statutes, laws,  
Decrees, Sense, Reason, all against their Cause;  
All Institutions, Orders, decency,  
And Ancient custom tells them all, they lie.  
But all these they esteem at slender rate,  
For they have vowed still to be obstinate.  
They'have been refeled by wise-men, grave, and good,  
And learned, and still all these they have withstood;  
Therefore they are unworthy of Reply  
From wise men, but from such poor fools as I,  
To Answer their poor cavils, they are such,  
A Sculler's fitter than a scholar much.  
I know two Enemies God's Church resists  
(The Papists, and schismatic Separatists)  
And she (alas) like Christ between two thieves,  
Prays daily for their Pardons and reprieves.  
For why? Betwixt the Roman monarchy,  
And the severe Geneva anarchy,  
Our Church disperseth her resplendent beams,  
As blessed virtue is twixt two extremes.  
For whilst she hath a biding in this world,  
From Wrong to Injury she's daily hurled,  
From Scylla to Charybdis, flung and tossed,  
And (did not grace preserve her) she were lost.  
And yet Both those, that thus do her oppose  
(One 'gainst the other) are inveterate foes,  
Yet both agreed, maliciously enticest,  
Like Herod joined with Pilate to kill Christ.  
'Twas our sins killed him (as my faith avows)  
And shall we rend and tear his sacred Spouse?  
(The Church I mean) O impious shame of shames!  
Unworthy are all such of Christian names.  
The Ceremonies of our Church are three,  
Which neat, and decent, and convenient be:  
Kneeling was one, which I have treated on;  
The other two I le not be long upon.  
The cross in baptism, (that most Christian sign)  
'Gainst which these seeming Christians do repine.  
About some seven and thirty years agone,  
When blessed King James did grace Great Britain's Throne, 
Canon and Constitution ecclesiastical 30, Anno primo Iacobi 1603.   
The first year over England that he reigned,  
Canons and Constitutions were ordained,  
Wherein this Ceremony they derive  
From the true Church that is called Primitive.  
For than the ethnics, and the faithless Jews  
Did both th'Apostles, and the rest abuse,  
Because they did believe and preach Christ died  
And suffering on a cross, was crucified  
'Mongst misbelievers; all Christians were then  
Derided and esteemed the scorn of men;  
The Christians (deeming all the world as dross)  
T'express their constant faith, professed the cross.  
The Jews did mock the Christians; and again,  
The Christians gloried in the Jews disdain;  
The scorns of men, not daunted them awhit,  
The cross (their comfort) they rejoiced in it,  
They loved the cross, and triumphed in the same,  
And (for the cross) were never feared with shame.  
Since then the Greek and Latin Church combined  
With great applause, and one consent of mind,  
That (at Baptizings) every Church and Nation  
Should sign all christened in each Congregation  
With that most Christian Badge, to show that we  
From world, flesh, fiend, and sinful lusts must flee,  
And under our redeemer's Banner fight  
'Gainst sin, the devil, and the world's delight.  
These reasons plainly do demonstrate this;  
This Ceremony now, no new thing is,  
Nor yet from Rome did first admittance win,  
For from th'Apostles times it did begin;  
Yet had it come from Rome, the Roman faith  
Was 
Or published. ●m 1.8.  Famous through the world, th'Apostle saith;  
And those that will have nothing that was there,  
Must neither have God's Church, his Grace, nor fear.  
The Romish Church was Right, for many years,  
Till ('mongst their wheat) the Envious man sowed tares:  
Wherefore we first began to leave her choir,  
When she began to mingle wrong with right.  
She parted not from us, but we from her,  
And we left her in all that she did err:  
As far as she leaves Christ, 'tis good that we  
Should so far from her Errors sundered be;  
The Roman Church was Right; but superstition  
Hath made her Wrong, and altered her condition:  
Her Errors (not her Essence) we oppose,  
With prayers and tears we do resist our foes;  
And they allow our Service and our Prayers  
Are good, and that we leave much good of theirs;  
But let them keep what's good: Let us be glad  
That we have left them (only) in what's bad.  
And for the sign o'th' cross, no man that lives  
Doth think it virtue unto baptism gives;  
'Tis but a Ceremony (Used of old)  
Which signs Christ's sheep and lambs into his fold;  
All Emperors and Kings, who Christ profess,  
All Potentates and Princes (great or less)  
Their Hatchments, arms, escutcheons, every one,  
The figure of the cross is formed on;  
Their Banners, ensigns, flags, and golden crowns,  
The Crosse's figures fixed for their renowns:  
And by the Ball and cross, the world may see,  
That underneath the cross the world must be,  
And by the cross they show (by signs external)  
The Christian Faith (professed) is supernal;  
All Christian coins do, likewise Crosses bear,  
(But those put not our Puritans in fear)  
The sight of those, to them are much delicious,  
They only unto such are superstitious,  
They love them, with such zeal and verity,  
They'll never part with them in charity.  
The Crosse's use proved since th'Apostles time,  
Through th' ancient practice of the Church called Prime  
And in the reign of th' Emperor Constantine,  
All Christians that were baptised, had this sign,  
And that from thence unto these very days;  
This Ceremony hath been used always,  
By Christians through all Christendom so graced,  
So long a time with great regard embraced.  
Shall any proud Scismatique, impure crew,  
Dare offer to suppresseed or call it new▪  
It adds no virtue to the Sacrament,  
Nor is it used for any such intent;  
For after Baptism done, our Church doth use  
To sign with th' cross (which wranglers do abuse)  
Thus 'tis a decent and indifferent thing,  
And from it doth no superstition spring,  
Yet not so' indifferent any should withstand it;  
It must be; for the King and Church command it;  
Th' Almighty doth the Higher Powers ordain;  

Rom. 13.1.2.  And Kings bear not the sword for nought, in vain:  
And seeing this command is just and good,  
It neither ought, nor must not be withstood;  
All power proceeds from God, therefore submit,  
And scape God's judgement in obeying it.  
We must not dare to construe, mould, or fashion  
The Scriptures to each man's interpretation;  

2 Pet. 1.20.  And surely, the unlearned and unstable,  

2 Pet. 3.16.  To understand hard Scriptures are unable.  
The Lord's thoughts, and his ways, are his, not ours,  

isaiah 55.89.  And high as Heaven from Earth, above our powers.  
Where God commands, weak men must not dispute,  

We ought to obey the King in love, for conscience sake, especially in such of his commands as are not contrary to God's word.  And where they understand nor, there be mute.  
Then, as the King is God's lieutenant here,  
Obey in conscience, not in slavish fear,  
And as the Church and State, with pains and cares  
Ordained good laws obeyed for many years.  
What bold audacious spirits than are they  
That King, Church, State and laws thus disobey?  
Ten millions of their brains can ne'er devise  
A book so good as that which they despise;  
(The Common Prayer I mean) if they should sit  
Ten thousand years, with all their Art and wit,  
They would prove Coxcombs all, and in the end,  
Leave it as 'tis, too good for them to mend.  
These are the Crew that under fair pretences,  
By flattery cause division and offences,  

Rom. 16.17.18.  These serve not the Lord Jesus Christ a jot,  
They are their bellies servants (well I wot)  
With adulating speech, and fair deceit,  
They do the hearts of simple people cheat;  
Contentious men that do contention crave; 
● Cor. 11.   
We, nor the Church of God such custom have:  
And thus to these cross men I have declared  
How much of old the cross was in regard,  
And though the Papists use it with abuse,  
That cannot take away the lawful use;  
For though a golden idol be a curse,  
That makes not God (well used) to be the worse.  
Material Crosses made of wood or stone,  
(Through zeal) most of them are cast down and gone,  
From age to age, the Sires to their succession;  
Those Crosses stood t'express our faith's profession;  
But when th' abuse of them began to grow,  
That to those Crosses sots would creep or bow,  
For this cause (chiefly) they were overthrown,  
Abused from their first use, were beaten down;  
But our cross used in baptism, 
Some 12 〈◊〉 since at Te●●●bury in Gl●●●●stershire, a 〈◊〉 cise Church warden put down a 〈◊〉 of stone caused a h●●● trough to made of 〈◊〉 top of it; his hog's 〈◊〉 mad and 〈◊〉 and he his whole family came ●●●denly to chances o● timely end  still hath been  
A sign invisible, yet never seen:  
Nor doth it on the infant's face appear  
That ever any cross was figured there.  
Then what mad men are those, that bear such spleen  
Against a thing, not to be felt, or seen,  
Yet heard (though hardly to be understood)  
By many of the perverse brotherhood?  
For of their constant faith we may despair  
Who are afraid of shadows in the air.  
And thus much for the cross may well suffice  
To give content to all, except precise  
Now, for the Surplice, which is third and last  
Of Ceremonies, which make fools aghast:  
Such as do prize it as a rag of Rome,  
An issue of the Whore of Babel's womb;  
Such as do hold it (for their Sect) more meet  
To suffer penance in a milk-white sheet,  
And think it better doth affect their sight,  
Than in the Church to see a Surplice white.  
These Amsterdamnable opinions run,  
As fierce as pellets from an elder-gun;  
Their wit's less than their reverend beards by half,  
And each of them as wise as Waltham's calf,  
And wisdom is as thick amongst the rout  
As water-gruel when the oat-meal's out.  
Yet they are wise enough, with tooth and nail,  
To libel, and talk nonsense, rave, and rail,  
And with a scandalous and vile intent,  
To cast contempt upon all government;  
Now, for an answer to their cavilling,  
(Who are indeed not worth the answering)  
Note, what high names the Holy Ghost hath penned,  
To honour such as on his Church attend;  

〈◊〉. 1.2.  For their great dignity he doth afford  
To call them Angels, in his sacred word;  
To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus,  
Of Smyrna, Sardis, and of Pergamus,  
Of Thyatira, Philadelphia,  
And of the (Lukewarm) Laodicea;  
To these seven Ministers St. John did write,  
And gave them each an angel's epithet;  
And heavenly Angels often did appear,  

〈◊〉. 28.3.  In vestures white as snow, bright, pure and clear:  

〈◊〉. 16.15.  Which doth denote that churchmen ought to be  

〈◊〉. 24. 〈◊〉 20.12.  In Doctrine sound, and in integrity,  
Angelical, white, clean and clear, unspotted,  
Wherefore the Surplice was to them allotted  
To be an Emblem of pure sanctity,  
And for distinction of their quality;  
Whereby, the ministerial function may  
Be known, and well distinguished from the Lay.  
And as on White a spot is soonest seen,  
So with, God's Ministers it still hath been;  
A layman's crimes like little glow-worms glow,  
A Church-man's like prodigious Comets show;  
Therefore the Surplice was, on good pretence,  
Given as a Robe of spotless Innocence,  
To show (that though all men are sinful, frail)  
Pastors should be most cautious how they fail;  
Because so many look on them and pry, 
This Pope Stephen was a glorious Martyr, beheaded by Decius the 29 Emperor from Julius Caesar, of which 29 only 16 did reign but 45 years of 252 years' time after Christ. And in those times many Popes were put to death by those Tyrants, because they would not deny their Christian faith.   
And to their conversations have an eye.  
The Surplice came from Rome, I dare confess,  
(What tho, 'tis not to be esteemed the less)  
Nay more, it was Rome's Bishop did ordain it,  
And yet that not a jot at all doth stain it.  
Pope Stephen lived, as by Record appears,  
Since Christ, two hundred, fifty and two years;  
And as his Name was Steven, so his fate  
Was, that he did Saint Stephen imitate.  
When Decius was the Roman Emperor,  
That Pope died by that Pagan tyrant's power;  
He (for his Saviour) suffered martyrdom,  
And he ordained the Surplice first in Rome.  
Thus, when the Church was in her prime perfection,  
This vestment was ordained by good direction,  
For order, ornament, and decency,  
And not for perverse non-conformity.  
There were no Brethren then so out of frame  
To think clean linen was the church's shame;  

Revel. 6.11. & 7.9.  No, they believed That long white Robes in Heaven  
To th'everlasting blessed should be given;  

Revel. 15.8.  And in that place seven Angels did appear,  
And they all pure white linen Robes did wear;  
Pure, fine, white shining linen doth express  
The Saints most ever happy blessedness:  
And at the Marriage of the lamb 'tis said  

Revel. 19.8.  The Church (Christ's Spouse) in white shall be arrayed.  
And when our Saviour (graciously) did show  

Matth. 17.2, 3.  His Glory, to John, James, and Peter's view;  
His face shined as the sun, his clothes as white  
As was the radiant luster of the light:  
Yea, very white as Snow, and that no Fuller  

Mar. 9.5, 4.  Upon the earth can make so white a colour;  
And therefore with our glorious blessed Messiah  

Luke 9 29.  appeared two good men, Moses and Elias.  
Thus spotless Innocence, Immaculate,  
In most pure white was seen in glorious State.  
Thus Angels, Saints, and blessed immortal Spirits  
(Who are where all true happiness inherits)  
And Christ, when he his three Disciples led  
To Tabor's Mount, and was Transfigured,  
They all wore linen white, (or like the same)  
They did themselves in their appearance frame;  
The Saints wore white, as figures mystical,  
Christ as a glorious Robe majestical.  
Which shows God's Ministers (in Imitation)  
May wear a Surplice in the Congregation;  
For men (on Earth) are in the best estate,  
Who do the Saints in Heaven most imitate:  
These Ceremonies (Three) are proved to be  
Past fifteen hundred years' antiquity:  
And they that murmur, prate, and call them New,  
Are Corah's, Dathans', and abiram's crew.  
'Tis falsely called Religion that doth cause  
Men to resist God's, King's, and Churches laws,  
They being all from God's decree derived  
So long used, with such charge and care contrived,  
So Tolerable to be undergone,  
So necessary, easy to be done,  
So reverend (in their use) discreet, and neat,  
Most decent (as I did before repeat)  
That they who 'gainst them do revile and brawl,  
Are (in their fiery zeal) Topheticall;  
'tis not Religion, 'Tis divillity  
T'oppose the King, 'Tis bad divinity.  
And what a fine Church were we like to have  
If these companions had what they would crave?  
Yet not to wrong their learning in a letter,  
'Tis known, no men can rail or libel better,  
As if th''ve learned of Oyster-wives to prate  
At th'university of Bellinsgate.  
Cain sacrificed, and Jesabel did fast,  
Prince Absolom some silly fools embraced,  
So Judas kised when as to kill he meant,  
So Pilate washed, yet was corruptly bent,  
So Ananias brought his feigned gift,  
So Satan alleged Scripture for a shift:  
These were all Hypocrites, and so are you,  
Pretending Truths, intending nothing true:  
Whose glazen Arguments will bide no hammer,  
For they are but bad logic, and worse Grammar.  
Their suppositions, false mistrusts and doubts  
They prove with nothing else but lies and flouts.  
A Good cause may be spoiled, and quite disgraced  
By indiscretion, and by words misplaced:  
But these men's causes being bad, their course  
And filthy language makes it much the worse.  
And these sweet Rules and Grounds they do profess  
As mighty Maxims of their holiness.  
Such men, who in authority are great,  
With envy still are round about be set:  
They are not only blamed so doing ill,  
Put for not doing all that all men will.  
Their honours are so mixed with toils and cares  
Which oft (before old Age) doth bring grey hairs;  
Their broken sleeps make us more soundly sleep,  
Their unrest doth in rest and peace us keep,  
And whilst the Peasant takes his sweet repose,  
The peer is round behemed with oats and woes.  
No labour's like the labour of the mind,  
And Kings rich crowns with pricking Thorns are lined.  
Shall we be disobedient then to such,  
Who for our peace disturbed are so much?  
Shall hellhounds dare aspersions base to fling  
'Gainst those that thus few God, the Church and King?  
No; let's implore th'eternal majesty,  
To guide and guard their true integrity.  
To draw to end, kind brethren, take advice,  
In things indifferent be not overnice,  
Presume not to bind Princes Wills to yours;  
Love, and seek Peace, obey superior powers;  
Stand to the Faith, do more good works I pray,  
And serve not God the clean contrary way.  
And now my pen in Quiet shall remain,  
Except some madmen Rouse it up again.   
FINIS.   

l'envoy, or Postscript.  
FRom wronging of my King, from State reviling,  
From Libels writing or in Print compiling:  
From troubling of my coxcomb, brains, or mazzard,  
From putting my estate or ears in hazard:  
From seeking things that are beyond my reach;  
From dreaming I could all the clergy teach;  
From Pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy,  
From striving to obtain a Pillory,  
And from deserving of the triple Tree,  
Good Lord of Heaven and Earth deliver me.