❧ A SECOND Admonition to the Parliament.  jeremy. 26. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 
Then spoke the priests/ and the Prophets/ unto the Princes/ & to all the people/ saying: this man is worthy to dye: for he hath prophesied against this City/ as ye have herded with your ears. Then spoke jeremiah unto all the princes/ and to the people/ saying: The Lord hath sent me to prophesy against this house/ and against this City/ all the things that ye have herded. Therefore now amend your ways and works/ and hear the voice of the Lord your God/ that the Lord may repent him of the plague that he hath pronounced against you. As for me/ behold/ I am in your hands: do with me as you think good and right. But know ye for certain/ that if you put me to death/ ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves/ and upon this City/ and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you/ to speak all these words in your cares.   

To the godly reader's  
Grace and peace from God. etc.  
THe treatise ensuing (Christian Reader) being in deed purposely meant/ as the title pretendeth/ to be a second Admonition to the Parliament/ as yet not being not dissolved/ cannot choose I am sure/ but be read of divers/ that are not of that honourable assembly at this time/ so that though the treatise is principally directed to them/ yet the knowledge of the matters/ as it must needs pass further/ so are they 
●ese m●t ●s neces●y to ●ther ●own/thē●h 〈…〉 ●ētonly  necessary to be further known/ and they are the liker to take good effect/ by means of the general consent of those that like them/ and especially by means of the faithful prayers/ which many good men shall pour forth to God for his gracious good blessing therein: wherefore some thing was to be said in a Preface/ as me thought/ which might be directed to thee (christian reader) whosoever thou art/ that lightest upon this book to read it. And world to God many more might read this book then are like/ because much worse will be said against it/ by them which shall speak of it by hear say/ then could/ or would be said/ 
●ear● sayeth much ●rt.  if all read it that will speak of it: whereof we have had too much experience in the former Admonition. But we have cast our accounts which do bend ourselves to deal in these matters/ not only to abide hard words/ but hard and sharp dealings also for our labour/ and yet shall we think our labour w●ll bestowed/ it by God his grace/ we attain but to thus much/ to give some light of that reformation of religion which is grounded upon God's book/ and 
●hat we ●ould be ●ad to at●yne/●o by ●is & such ●e books.  somewhat to have opened the deformities of our English reformation/ which highly displeaseth our eternal God. Nevertheless/ if it might be/ we would be sorry to offend any/ but especially any good Christian man/ for our purpose is not/ if we may choose/ to purchase more hatred/ or get us more enenmies/ for undeserved we have of that/ and them far too much 
We have too many enemies/ too much hatred already undeserved.  already/ and to offend the godly man/ is far from our meaning/ for God knoweth we altogether so●ke to do such good. But what is there in our books that should offend any that be/ or would seem to be godly? ●nd yet some man may say either there is much amiss in our books/ or else we have a great deal of wrong offered us/ and that by such men as would seem to be the fathers of all true godliness/ for the authors of the former have been & are hardly handled 
Next doo● to hanging / to be sent close prisoners to Newgate/ next door to hanging/ and by some of no mean estimation it hath been said (as is reported) that it had been well for them/ if they had been sent to Bedlam to save 
Bedlam.  their lives/ as though they had been in ●earill of be 〈…〉 hanged/ and another likely prelate said/ if they were at his ordering/ Newgate should have been 
Newgat● their suer● and fette● their band●  their surette/ and fetters their bonds. And yet now that they have had the law/ and I think with the most too/ that they were close prisoners/ they are found neither to have been traitors nor rebels/ and if it had bend tried by God's law/ they should not have been 
The authors of t● former admonition no rebels our law ● by God's law n●●e●●ers. E●. ●ol. ● pa. ●. Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against▪ th● former admonition  found to have offended against that law at all/ but to have deserved praise of that law/ and of the church of God/ as rightly that learned man master Beza saith they deserve/ which oppose themselves against such endeavours/ as they do in that little book/ far worse than those/ which he calleth a manifest falling away from Christ. And I pray the● gentle Reader mark these words well of that great learned & godly M. Beza/ and it shall answer for them to two men/ principally/ that have earnestly declamed against that admonition/ and the authors thereof. The one said ●t was a foolish book: the other said the authors were to rash in setting it forth without a council/ and I wots not what allowance before it were de 〈…〉 ed. But this learned man answereth them both with one word/ that it is a commendable work/ and deserveth no dispraise. And whatsoever the declaimer saith/ they shallbe circumspect enough/ that shall avouch undoubted truths out of the scriptures though they wait not for the consent of a few/ no nor yet of many 
●icenses ● plurali●s non regence and ●ch like lisses used ●ongs us/ a 〈…〉 any●t falling ●ay from ●hriste. / for master Beza dare say/ it is a manifest falling away from Christ to maintain pluralities of benefices/ licences for non residence. etc. though he hear not that any council hath agreed upon it in England/ sore he knoweth it is a resolved truth in all right reform churches/ and especially in the scriptures. And what I pray you have they done amiss/ but the declamer also offended in it/ if it be an offence? They have published in Print that the ministery of England is out of square/ & he hath published at Paul's cross/ that the bishops of England have been uncircumspect in making of ministers/ and that hath he published before any council in England had determined 
●eraduen●re he forced him ●fe.  it. Would to God he had never done worse fault/ nay/ would he had not more offended there/ which he craved pardon for/ when he had done it/ and yet so/ as he said he cared not though they pardoned him not/ for he thinketh of like/ that he need not care for offending the poor members of jesus Christ/ and for as much as he spoke against them two in Newgate/ he shall never go to Newgate for saying the bishops were uncircumspect. I could wish such to be more circumspect what they say to offend simple/ and poor members of Christ. Let such men remember the penalty threatened/ better a millstone 
●at. 18.  tied about their necks/ and they drowned in the depth of the sea. Now I need not ask what they have answered to that book/ for they have answered 
●auishe ●lke.  nothing/ but the it is a foolish book. etc/ but with godly wise men I trust/ that will not be taken for a sufficient answer/ as in deed it is not▪ They say there is an answer towards/ for my part I long to 
●n answer wards.  see it/ and yet to say truth/ I should be loath/ considering they cannot but betray their weakness to the papists/ or else confirm them in their follies/ but principally offend the church of God. And in part/ you shall perceive their dealing/ in a collection that they have made of those things which they mislike 
what the● dealing will be/ is to be seen by that which the have already don● in this.  in the former Admonition/ by a short treatise containing a confutation of their collection or view as they call ●●. The treatise came to our hands/ the author unknown/ and we have thought good to unparte it to thee (Christian reader) that thou mightest see and consider. But what stand I so much in defence of the former admonition. Some peradventure will think I had need to speak for this second more. But till I hear more/ I will say little. Yet thus much I say/ if some suppose it to be too particular/ & to touch the quick to near/ let them think withal how necessary it is to be known/ and further/ that these deformities 
Points to be thought of.  be the cause that we require reformation/ and what an intolerable thing it is to suffer all these enormities amongst us. And if some doubt whether all the particulares be true that are here named/ let them seek examination/ and they shall find far 
Seek examination.  worse matter/ then is here alleged. They shall find such stomach of one side against the other/ that they cannot abide any thing/ never so well done of the other side/ and that of a stomach. I will not open an old 
stomach.  ulcer/ or examine why the Geneva translation and notes of the Bible find so little favour/ although 
Geneva Bible.  to this day no translation is so good in England. I will not rip up among our prelate's the simony/ the treachery so particularly as is come to my knowledge. But those particulars which I have touched/ the very occasion forced me to it/ and such just occasion I may have/ that I may be more particular hereafter. Now/ whereas some very unproperly (as 
Unproper applying of Cham● examyle. Gen. 9  I think) do say that we in this do uncover our father's privities/ and would with us to forbear so to do. We are of their mind that Cham did nought/ but they shall not find us like that ribald Cham/ which took delight in that nakedness/ they shall find the time servers/ and such as dally with the shame 
I'm a ribald.  of nakedness in this time/ they shall find them to take Cham's trade/ but for us/ we would/ and do 
Time ser●ers take Cham's ●rade. Gen. 9 23.  what we can/ to cover this shame with a right cover/ that is with a right reformation/ and that do we going backward/ as men loath and sorry to hear of the nakedness/ and desirous to cover it/ that our fathers (if they will be our fathers) may no longer show their shame. Again whereas some men (& that good men to) will say these treatises be too hot for this 
These tresses to hot ●r this ●me/aun●weared. God's mat●ers not to ●e minsed. Esay. 58. ●. 2.  time/ I wish to know wherein? whether in the matters which we handle? or in the handling of the matters? The matters are Gods/ wherein we may not mince him. And the deformities have continued long/ and are manifestly intolerable/ where against we are commanded to cry out. Cry out and cease not/ lift up thy voice like a trumpet/ & tell my people their wickedness/ and the house of jacob their sins/ saith the Lord to his Prophet/ which saying and the verse following/ doth so belong to us/ that we shall hardly answer it to God/ if we do the contrary/ & scarce well answer it/ that we have forborn so long. And who they be/ and what the scripture thinketh of them/ that require that their Preachers 
Esay. 30. ●. 10. 11. ●2. etc. ●al. 1. 10. Exod. 32. hundred. 20. ●. reg. 18. 28. 27. Math. 3. ●. 8. 9 ● cor. 5. 13. Ih. 9 10 ●at. 15 & 23 ●ordes ●●ed to ye●atter/ and ●t to serve action.  should speak pleasing things/ it is more evident than that I need to amplify that point. Again/ that they which study and endeavour to please men/ are not the servants of God/ Paul's words are plain. Now for the handling of the matters/ whereas some will say such a sentence is too hot/ and such and such a word is too sharp/ if they measure our zeal with the zeal of mild Moses/ of Elias/ of the prophets/ of john Baptist/ of Paul/ of the Apostles/ of john the elder against Diotrephes/ of Christ our saviour against the Phariseis/ I trust they shall find us to keep ourselves within the bounds of the examples of the scriptures. And if they mark our writings well/ they shall find us to have uttered nothing but true/ and necessary matter/ and to have framed our words unto our matter/ & not to have sought words to serve our affections. But they which speak slanderously of them ● offend not/ o● those ● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●n their doing/ which call them rebels and seditious/ which are faithful subjects to God & their Prince/ which either wrist men's words/ or falsify them/ what deserve they? God forgive them that/ and far worse matters/ for his Christ's sake/ and give them better minds towards his true church & a right reformation. And yet for as much as we hear they will answer us/ this I say/ if they will keep them to the truth itself/ the word of God/ then will the 
joh. 17. 17 A good issue where matters of religion/ are tried by th● word of God itself. A craft of the papists to a●ase the people wt● show of authority.  matters shortly come to a good issue/ but if they draw us to other trials/ there will prove craft in daubing (as they say) for that hath been the craft of the papists/ to rig up all corners/ and to find all the shifts they can/ to have scope enough to vary a lie: to say much nothing to the proof/ and yet to amaze the people with show of authorities. But if they will answer us still with cruelty & persecution/ we will keep ourselves out of their hands/ as long as God shall give us leave/ and content ourselves with patience/ if God suffer us to fall into their hands/ and surely we shall hardly escape them/ if they and their doers which be certain persecuting printers/ may have their wills. And here humbly we beseech her majesty/ not to be stirred against us/ by such men as 
An humby request to her m●●esti●.  will endeavour to bring us more into hatred/ which will not care what to lay to our charge/ so they may oppress us/ and suppress the truth: They will say we despise authority/ and speak against her sovereignty. But O Lord what will not envy say against 
Ill will n●uer said well.  truth? ill will (they say) never said well. Not/ no/ we heartily/ plainly and faithfully profess/ that the chief governors in civil matters/ have chief authority over all people/ in their dominions & countries 
Rom. 13. Es. 4●. ● 2. chr. 19 5. 6. 7. 8. / and are the softer father's/ and nurse's of Christ's church. And as jehosaphat having chief authority/ did by his authority set up/ and defend not only the civil government/ but also the true reformation of the church at that time/ in his dominion/ and 
1. 〈◊〉. 1. 2. 3. 4.  to our sovereign/ beseeching her Majesty/ and the whole state/ to proceed in it. And this is most true/ that her Majesty shall not find better subjects in her land/ then those that desire a right reformation/ 
Most assured subjects.  whose goods/ bodies/ and lives/ are most assured to her Majesty/ and to their Country/ and which cease not to pour forth their hearty prayers unto God for her majesties long & happy reign in much prosperity/ to be an ancient matron in Israel/ in the church of God in England/ and her dominions/ to defend and maintain the same in much peace and godliness/ all the days of her majesties natural life/ and to be crowned after in heaven with eternal glory/ which I beseech God by the working of his spirit/ fully to accomplish and perform for his Christ's sake: which thing also (Christian reader) I beseech thee to commend unto God continually in thy earnest prayer. And thus for this time/ desiring thee to peruse this treatise with a single eye/ as also I desire 
A single eye.  all those that are of the honourable assembly of the Parliament to do/ for the time that the parliament continueth prorogued/ that they may be well acquainted with the matters when they come together again: I do commend you and them/ and continually will commend you both/ in my earnest prayers unto our good/ and gracious Lord god/ to whom in Trinity of people/ and unity of godhead/ be ascribed/ and given all authority/ dominion/ and power for ever. So be it.   

¶ A second admonition to the Parliament.  
IT is no new matter to see the faithful and profitable admonitions of God his preachers currishly rejected of them/ which should gladly and thankfully hear and embrace them/ which should obey them/ which should to their uttermost promote them/ which should employ themselves to defend them: and yet it is as old a custom as it is lamentable/ to find such as should be most friends/ most foes. To leave the elder times/ when * 
a Gen. 4. 8.  Abel found no worse friend than Came/ his own brother/ when Ishmael * 
b Gal. 4. 29.  persecuted Isaac/ when Esau * 
c Goe 27. 41.  jacob/ when joseph * 
d Goe 37. 23.  was persecuted by his own brethren/ when Moses * 
e Exod. 12. 13. 14.  was fame to flee from Egipte because of the jews/ and so forth till the time of the Prophets/ when * 
f jere. 26. 8●  jeremy found lest favour at the priests hands/ when Ozeah saith that Gilead the * 
g Ose. 6. 8.  college of priests was a city of wicked doers/ and polluted with blood/ when Amos was so ill entreated by * 
h Am. 7. 10.  Amazia the priest of Bethel/ yea leaving these/ and coming nearer/ when our saviour Christ crieth * 
i Math. 23. 13. 14. etc.  woe to the Scribes and Phariseis/ exact intexpreters of God his law/ because of their hypocrisy/ who though they would feign seem holy/ yet had they not the hearts to yield to the truth preached by our saviour/ because their credit and gain (as they thought) lay another way: they therefore yielded not/ but in steed thereof they slandered Christ's person/ and his doctrine/ they bend themselves wholly against him/ they persecuted him/ yea the text is plain/ that Phariseis and priests all of them/ * 
k joh. 11. 47  counseled against him/ left him not till they brought him to his death/ nay which is more/ one of his own compame/ one of the principal/ one of the * 
l mat. 26. 48  twelve/ judas letrayed him. Let us cast our eyes upon the Apostles/ they found not only the Phariseis & priests their masters chief persecutors/ to be there's also/ but divers * 
m 2. Corinth. 11. 26.  false brethren/ I say brethren/ but false brethren/ nevertheless they went and were taken for brethren/ these I say they were endanngered by: so then/ to overpass the examples of the church since/ as they are reported in the Ecclesiastical histories (because we have and may have ever best light by the scriptures) this is it I would say/ that in these our days/ the preachers find not less favour/ nay they are not more slandered and persecuted/ by any/ then not only by the learned of the popish profession/ but also by such as would seem pillars of the true religion. And surely a strange thing it is/ and a marvelous case/ and much to the dismay of many that it should be so/ saving that in perusing the scriptures/ it is found to have been commonly used. There were two little Treatises lately set forth/ both tending to one end/ namely to admonish the parliament/ what it had to do touching religion/ and tending to one end/ they bear one name/ that is/ a Admonition to the parliament. The matters therein contained/ how true so ever they be/ have found small favour. The persons that are thought to have made them/ be laid in no worse prison than Newgate. The men that set upon them/ be no worse men the Bishops. The name that goeth of them/ is no better than rebels/ and great words there are/ that their danger will yet prove greater: well/ whatsoever is said/ or done against them/ or whosoever speak or work against them/ that is not the matter: but the equity of their cause is the matter. And yet this I will say/ that the state showeth not itself upright/ if it suffer them so to be molested/ for that which was spoken only in the way of admonition to the parliament/ which/ was to consider of any such admonition/ and to receive it or reject it/ without further matter to the Authors: except it contained some wilful maintenance of manifest rebellion/ or treason/ which it cannot be proved to do. Again appealing as they do to that highest Court of Parliament/ from the lower of the Bishops/ and Commissioners/ because they find not equity at their hands/ nor cannot/ the Bishop's/ who are in their Admonition most touched/ being chiefest in Commission/ allege the Parliament what it will (as some say it was not in form of law/ and Imprinted/ and yet I trow there may be found presidents of the like/ as that of Roderike Mors/ the way to Common wealth/ the Complaint of the beggars/ and such like.) All honest men shall find lack of equity/ if their safety be not provided for in this respect/ yea/ and their appeal thought upon/ herded/ and yielded unto. If it were the case of any number/ for worldly respects/ this high Court were to provide for it/ but being the case of the whole church of England/ and Ireland/ and in deed God his cause/ all good consciences shall condemn that Court/ that provideth not for it/ but rejecteth it. The scripture is plain/ it * 
n Math. 10. 14. 15.  shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgement/ then for such a Court. God give it grace to provide for it/ or ever it be dissolved/ and pardon the negligence already committed/ for otherwise surely/ there is none other thing to be looked for/ then some speedy vengeance to light upon the whole land/ provide as well as the politic Machevils of England think they can/ though God do his worst: but shut God out of your assemblies and courts/ as hitherto in this your last Parliament you have done nothing therein as you aught/ no though you have been solicited/ but have suffered them that were your solicitoures/ to be molested/ you shall find/ both that you ought to have sought the * 
o Mat. 6. 33  kingdom of God first/ and also you shall find/ if you consider not your own ways in your hearts/ how you think it a time to build seeled houses/ to devise laws for the preservation and prosperity of your common wealth/ and neglect God his church/ leave that waste/ provide not for that/ you shall find (as the * 
p Ag. 1. 5. 6.  Prophet says) ye shall sow much/ and bring in little/ ye shall eat/ and not have enough. As for the Convocation house/ whereof many have conceived a marvelous opinion/ and which should of duty look to these matters/ common experience doth prove/ that they do for the most part apply themselves to the time/ and seek rather to please and follow worldly policy/ then sincerely to promote God's cause/ and to publish his truth. And hereof their last convocations can be good witnesses. But you say the Bishops are good men/ & great clerk/ they know what they have to do/ and possible some of them do/ except the God of this world have bl●nded their eyes/ and so did some of the popish bishops: but you were deceived by them/ and you are like to be deceived by these/ if you trust them so far/ as experience teacheth. Nevertheless you shall die in * 
q ●ze. 33. 8.  your sins/ you shall both * 
r ●at. 15. 14  fall into the ditch. But some will say that the admonition hindered other things. As who should say that to further Gods cause/ is to hinder other matters that be profitable for the common wealth/ doth the knowledge of God/ and the promoting of his glory/ hinder profitable laws? that is a thing that I would gladly learn/ for I could never understand it before. Wherefore this may be as a second Admonition/ with the like mind as afore by them/ to crave redress of the great abuses in our Reformation of Religion/ some being continued from the papists/ some devised by the fantastical heads of vain men/ and some though not maintained/ yet suffered and not reform unto this day/ yea and further/ as they afore/ do again appeal to this high Court of Parliament from all other Courts/ being ready to defend that which I write touching the substance of it against all men/ and that upon the peril of my life. Let me be but uprightly herded and interpreted. The matter is Gods/ overpass it not lightly/ for we may not (though you devised laws to cut us off/ as by some one bishop you have been ere now provoked) for our parts thus leave it. The other books are short (as it was requisite to present to you) and therefore they have not so much told you how to Reform/ as what to Reform. They have told you of many things amiss/ and that very truly/ they have told you in general/ what were to be restored/ but how to do these things/ as it is the hardest point/ so it requireth/ as themselves say/ a larger discourse. I mean therefore to supply (as shortly as I can/ because I write as they did to you) some thing that may make to the expressing of the matter/ so plainly/ that you may have sufficient light to proceed by/ till they which are endued with greater gifts/ discuss it more exactly/ or till we ourselves/ who have begon/ may have further opportunity to proceed/ if it be neglected of their part which could we it better. And yet this I dare say/ for the substance of those Treatises (which is it that galleth the adversaries most/ how so ever they quarrel with them upon words) that it is so grounded upon the undoubted truth of God his book/ that the devil of hell/ cannot with his colours blemish it/ save he may seek to suppress it by violence: nor any but he/ and those whom he hath deceived/ or whom God hath not yet given so much light unto/ will or can stand against it. I would/ and do therefore earnestly admonish them that know/ to know as they aught/ and to do as they know/ and to beware of the 
* understand this of the devil/ as joh. 12. 31 Ih. 14. 30. Ephe. 6. 12 2. Cor. 44. Ma●. 2. 2. 3 Rom. 10. 2  God of this world/ that he deceive them not/ for the time will come/ that this * dung shall be thrown openly in their faces/ to their everlasting shame/ that maintain it/ like as at this day it hath befallen to the senseless Papists/ who will never give over/ till they can neither will nor choose with shame enough. Next I would/ and do earnestly ad●●onishe those that are ignorant/ to learn to know/ and to beware of a blind zeal/ which is more violent & unjust/ then ought else/ carrying men headlong/ to maintain that/ they have no reason for/ and wickedly to gainstand the express truth/ to their endless perdition. Now to the matter/ I say that we are so scarce come to the outward face of a Church rightly reform/ that although some truth be taught by some preachers/ yet no preacher may without great danger of the laws/ utter all truth comprised in the book of God. It is so circumscribed & wrapped within the compass of such statutes/ such penalties/ such instructions/ such advertisements/ such articles/ such canons/ such sober caveats/ and such manifold pamphlets/ that in manner it doth but ●●epe out from beh●●de the screen. The laws of the land/ the book of common prayer/ the Queen's Injunctions/ the Commissioners advertisements/ the bishop's late Canons/ Lindwoodes Proumetais/ every bishop's Articles in his diocese/ my Lord of Canterbury's sober caveates/ in his licences to preachers/ and his high Court of prerogative or grave fatherly faculties/ these together/ or the worst of them (as some of them be too bad) may not be broken or offended against/ but with more danger then to offend against the Bible. To these subscribing/ and sub 〈…〉ing again/ and the third subscribing/ are re〈…〉 red/ for these/ Preachers and others are endi 〈…〉 are fined/ are priso●ned/ are excommunicated/ are banished/ and have worse things threatened them: and the Bible/ that must have no further s●●pe/ then by these it is assigned. Is this to profess God his word? is this are formation? He that could not abide strange fire in the old law/ but burned * 
s Levi. 10. 12  them that used it/ what will he do to us in the new law/ that erect a new and strange course/ or word/ to rule his church by? What did the Pope but so? he did suffer God his word to have a course as far as it pleased him/ so that he might have the whole authority above it. so did the Popish church: but we say the * word is above 
Ephe. 2. 20  the church/ then surely it is above the English church/ and above all these books afore rehearsed. If it be so/ why are not they over ruled 〈◊〉/ and not it by them? Here falls forth to be answered a shift of descant to turn and wind this 〈…〉 o. Forsooth these are not repugnant/ saith 〈◊〉 to the word of God/ no nor yet say we/ are 〈◊〉 consonant/ no more is chaff like to quench 〈◊〉 no nor yet can it abide the fire. But gold can. ●●uen so are these unable to quench the light of 〈◊〉 gospel/ no * 
t 1 Corrin. 3.  nor yet can they▪ abide the court o● the gospel/ but true religion abideth the trial of the word of God. As well reasoned/ it were to say/ lay hay or stubble on the fire/ for it will not quench the fire/ and therefore it will not be consumed by the fire/ as to say receive this reformation/ for it is not repugnant/ therefore it will abide the trial of the word/ but the scripture abideth no such distinction of contrary/ and divers/ for he that is not with me/ take he the jews part/ the Turks/ the Papists/ or the hypocritical English protestants part/ * 
v Mat. 12 30  he is against me saith Christ. Another/ he talketh for the queens supremacy/ Out saith he/ may not the Queen do this and that/ but you must 〈…〉 her to a reckoning: how allow you then her supremacy in Ecclesiastical things/ (which are in deed to be determined in conferences and counsels/ and that by the warrant of the word) you will prove very Anabaptistes'/ not suffering Magistrates/ nor any politic orders besides/ and so he runneth away with alleging scriptures that command obedience to magistrates/ and say things must be done orderly and decently/ and he deviseth many foul names/ and reproaches for us. But here her Majesty is to be humbly entreated/ that of her clemency/ she will abide us (who are bond by duty/ and obedience to God) freely to discuss all things as they are set 
* Deu. 4. 4 Ios. 1. 8.  forth in the word of God/ though her Majesty otherwise think it strange/ and also have in own to exasperated her Majesty against us poor men/ who are far unable to abide hit displeasure/ and would be sorry to offend her/ if it might please God to incline her majesties heart to consider of our cause/ and not to be turned from us by the importunateness of our adversaries/ nor by other prejudice of our persons or places: but to deal with us even according to the truth of the matters we deal in/ which are according to the very word of almighty God/ or else if it will not fall out so/ we will be content to abide her displeasure and sharp punishment. Out if it fall out ●o/ then as an 〈…〉 our Magistrate may not take the authority of the highest into his hantes/ no more may any Magistrate usurp Gods. To Ce 〈…〉 
* Math. 11▪ 21.  give that which is Caesar's/ & to God that which is his/ saith our saviour. Non● is so high at her common wealth/ as her majesty: none so use the sword but she/ and whom she appointeth under her/ according to the laws of this land/ so that it be not repugnant to their vocation/ as to ministers. Likewise/ none is so high in the church as Christ/ none to do any thing/ nor any thing to be done in his church/ but as it is appointed in his word/ either by precise or general direction. And therefore it is allowed and commanded to Christian men/ to try all 
y 1. Th. 5/21  * things/ and to hold that which is good/ whosoever forb●dde without exception/ Prince/ or other/ so that if we examine every thing done in this church of God in England by the word of God/ and hold that which is good/ though the law be offended/ that law is to be reform/ and not we to be punished/ for whatsoever our persons or places be/ if our matters we deal in/ be Gods/ her majesty we trust/ remembreth what the scripture saith: he that despiseth you * 
z Lu. 10/1●  despiseth me/ and he that receiveth you/ receiveth me. As we know this case to be clear/ so we trust and daily pray/ that God will open her majesties heart/ to consider of it and us. But to these men again/ let them show us (if they can) by what authority they may en●oyne us (if God his word bear them to be magistrates) to observe the book of Common 
Moore say● for this book/ then we say for the Bible.  prayers/ both in matter and manner/ as in their last Canons they forbidden their ministers to departed from one or other? it is wicked to say no worse of it/ so to attribute to a book/ in deed ●ulled out of the vile popish service book/ with some certain rubrikes and gloss of their own devise/ such authority as only is due to God his book: and inditements/ imprisonments/ and such extremities used against them which break it/ is cruel persecution of the members 
Cruel persecution.  of jesus Christ. And of all other grievous enormities laid upon this church of God in England/ this is the greatest/ that it is not lawful to utter that which we learn truly out of the scriptures. We must be in danger of a praemunire if we follow not the laws of the land/ though they be against the scriptures/ and in danger of a twelve months imprisoment/ if we speak against the book of common prayer/ though it be against the word of God. In deed if there were order taken for conferences/ 
Acts. 15. 2  such as the scriptures commends to the church for the trial of truth/ when it is hard & dark/ then were the dealing not hard/ but upright. As for the Convocation house I told you before what it was/ and what may be looked for at their hands/ and somewhat more shall be said of it hereafter. If that were said for the Bible/ which is said for the book of common prayer/ and which God saith in his law for his 
*& Deut. 4. 2  word/ then were the dealing upright and and good. Now if they mean by/ not repugnant that it is consonant in all and every the contents thereof with the word of God/ that can they never prove. But could they prove that/ yet they snare the church of God between that book and other books/ which they obtrude with strait charge to be observed/ which books do differ amongs themselves: as the book of common prayer/ and the injunctions about wafers/ the book of common prayer and the advertisements about the church vestures/ the Canons against the pontifical/ in not ordering of ministers/ sine titulo, the preface of the last book of homilies/ and of the last new Bible against the book of Common prayer in the manner of reading of the scriptures. And in many things the bishop's articles in their several dioceses differ from this book/ as about the standing of the communion table/ & fetching the dead to church/ and such like/ but the court of Faculties/ that 
Thus shall they be perplexed/ that follow men's heads.  for marrying without ask the banes/ and many more things differeth from it and all other their books/ but chiefly from God his Bible: what say we to this case? we are neither free to follow the Bible/ nor out of doubt what to do by these books/ but to follow God and his word/ we are so free/ that we are by the Apostle forbidden to become servants 
*a 1. Cor. 7/23  of men. If this be true/ as who can deny it/ then is it your parts to rid our church of these shrewd encumbrances. And whereas it was meant to bridle papists/ make direct laws against them. 
direct laws against papists.  Further/ whereas our church yet misseth of the right course of the scriptures in our reformation/ let your learned men be driven to draw a platform out of God his book (where it is describe at full) according to his will in the same revealed/ and the examples of the best Churches beyond the seas/ as Geneva/ France/ etc. And the only 
The cause that all 〈…〉 ches ●o no● agreed.  cause why our church differeth from the churches reform of the strangers/ or amongs ourselves/ or they amongs themselves/ is because one church suffereth not itself so to be directed by the course of the scriptures as an other doth/ except it be in those things of order/ wherein one parish may many times differ from an other 
Church's may differ in matters of order.  without offence/ following the general rules of the scripture for order/ as in appointing time and place for prayers/ and so forth. So that we are so far off from singularity wherewith we are commonly charged/ that we desire to draw by one line with the primitive church/ and the churches best reform at this day/ for we say there is but one * 
b Phil. 3. 16  line throughout all countries/ and at all times as the scripture speaketh/ there is one * 
c Eph. 4. 4.  body/ one spirit/ one hope/ one Lord/ one faith/ one baptism/ one God and Father of all which is above all/ and through all/ and in us all. The people and causes that are to deal and to be dealt with in the church are certain/ and expressed in the scriptures. The life of the word is the ministery of the same/ how shall they hear without a * 
d Ro. 10. 14  preacher saith the Apostle. The former treatises therefore have rightly spoken against the bastard/ idol/ and unpreaching ministery of this church. And therefore this I say/ that first you must provide a sufficient 
Sufficient ●rouisyon for the minsteric.  maintenance for the ministery/ that in every parish they may have a preaching pastor/ one or more/ that may only intend that charge. Is not the scripture plain: Thou shalt not * 
e ●. Cor. 9 9 10. 11. 12. etc. Deu. 25. 4 ●. Ti. 5. 18 Ro. 15. 27. Deu. 18. 1  mousel the mouth of the Ox▪ that treadeth out the corn? for our sakes no doubt this is written/ that he that careth should care in hope/ that they which sow you spiritual things/ might reap of you temporal things/ which is no bad exchange for you. Now/ to your hands our ancestors have raised a maintenance/ which is not so embeseled away/ nor the property so altered/ but that (though men's devotion be cold to the ministers) the state may easily by law restore the same provision again/ without loss in manner to any party. If none other way may be found/ then have the bishops and cathedral churches temporalties enough/ to redeem those livings that be impropriated/ or otherwise out/ and to better those livings which are too small/ and as I think to be employed to other good uses of the church also. But we will not stand with you so much in the manner of the raising of their provision/ for raise it as it shall please God to put you in mind/ so that you provide sufficiently for your ministers/ that they may be of ability to maintain their charge/ and to bestow upon fit furniture of books and honest hospitality. But in the mean while/ until a sufficient provision be made/ it is no better than sacrilege and spoiling of God to keep back any way the provision which hath been made in that respect/ and the curse of God threatened by Malachi to those that spoilt y● * 
f mal. 3. 8. 9  Levites then of their provision/ belongeth/ and will light upon our spoilers now/ & upon them in whose hands it is to redress it/ if they do it not. Also there must be orders taken and looked unto/ for 
bestowing of university livings  the bestowing of the livings provided in the universities (now dens of many thievish non-residentes:) not to the greedy use of many cormorant masters of colleges/ and at their wicked pleasure/ as they are/ but to the bringing up for the most part of such as will be content to be employed upon the charge of the ministery/ when as the church shall have need of them/ and to take from them that have more livings/ all save one/ and that to/ except they will be resident/ and be able and willing to discharge it/ having beside the allowance which afterwards shallbe spoken of by God his grace. And this provision must so sufficiently be established/ that it may be paid without ado/ and not to be 
mat. 10. 17 2. cor. 2 67 Ministers maintnance is not to be recovered by excommunication. Vnburdening of benefices.  sought for/ or worm by suspensions/ or * excommunication / which are applied by the scriptures to a far more proper and spiritual use/ & not at all to this. And also there are many charges going out of benefices/ whereof they should be unburdened. Next/ you must repeal your statute or statutes/ whereby you have authorized that ministery that now is/ making your estate partly to consist of Lords spiritual (as you call them) and making one minister high than another 
Repealing of statutes / appointing also an order to ordain ministers/ which order is clean differing from the * scriptures/ wherefore you must have the 
Act. 1. 31. Act. 6. 3 Act. 14. 23 1. ti. 3. 2. 7 Tit. 1. 6.  order for these things drawn out of the scriptures/ which order is this. When any parish is destitute of a pastor/ or of a teacher/ the same parish may have recourse to the next conference/ and to them make it known that they may procure chiefly from the one of the universities/ or if otherwise/ a man learned/ & of good report/ 
The choosing of ministers.  whom after trial of his gifts had in their conference/ they may present unto the parish which before had been with them about that matter/ but yet so/ that the same parish have him a certain time amongst them/ that they may be acquainted with his gifts and behaviour/ and give their consents for his stay amongst them/ if they can allege no just cause to the contrary: for he may not be sent away again/ which is so sent to a parish/ except a just cause of misliking/ the cause alleged being justly proved against him/ either amongst themselves in their own consistory/ so that he will appeal no further for his trial/ or else in the next conference/ or counsel provincial/ or national/ unto which from one to another he may appeal/ if he find himself clear/ and if he give over/ they may proceed as afore for another. And when such an one is found/ to whom the parish must give consent/ because there is no just cause to be alleged against him/ the next conference by whose means he was procured/ shall be certified of the parishes liking/ whereupon they shall amongst themselves/ agreed upon one of the ministers/ which shall be sent by them to the same parish/ and after a sermon made according to the occasion/ and earnest prayer to God with fasting according to the example of the scriptures made by that congregation to God/ the it would please him to direct them in their choice/ and to bless that man whom they choose/ he shall require to know their consent/ which being granted/ he & the elders shall lay their hands on him/ 
1. ti. 4. 14.  to signify to him that he is lawfully called to that parish to be pastor there/ or teacher. Now/ for as much as I have made mention of a pastor/ and a teacher/ of a consistory in each parish/ of a conference/ and of a counsel provincial/ and national/ I will as briefly as I can declare/ what each of these means/ and what the use of them is. There is required in every well reform church these two things: A right ministery * 
g mat. 9 38  of the word and sacraments/ and a right 
h mat. 18. 17  * government of the church/ which two things are by our saviour commended to his church/ before there were any churches gathered. And in the Apostles time/ when they had gathered several churches or congregations/ they not only teach what should be/ but they establish orders accordingly. In the ministery therefore/ after rehearsal made of those rare and extraordinary functions of Apostles/ Prophet's/ and Evangelists/ there is declared in the last place those ordinary functions of * 
i Ephes. 4● 11. 12. 13. Two sorts of ministers only. The difference of their offices/ and wherein they are alike.  shepherds and teachers/ which endure in every well ordered church/ till we all meet together into the unity of faith and knowledge of the son of God. There are then in the ministry only two sorts of ministers/ namely pastors & teachers/ which do not differ in dignity/ but in distinction of office/ and exercise of their gifts/ and yet in many things their office is so like/ that they are confounded in the name of Elders/ as also the governors are with the ministers in the same name confounded. But these two offices differ in this/ that the pastor or pastors/ be they that have the oversight & charge of the whole parish/ to instruct to admonish/ to exhort/ & to correct by doctrine all and every one in the assemblies or in the private houses of the same parish/ and to minister the sacraments in the same parish. The teacher (save that in the consistory of the same parish/ and in all conferences of ministers/ he is to be ioyned with the ministers) shall in such places as provision is made for him/ & being lawfully called as afore/ only intent lectors/ and expositions of the scriptures/ to the end that there may be set forth/ and kept a soundness of doctrine/ a right & natural sense of the scriptures/ and plain and manifest proves of the articles of the Christian religion/ so that he ought to be an exquisite and mighty man in the scriptures. The use of such an one 
The use of the doctor's office.  is most needful/ where the fry of the church (as I might call it) is/ to enter them well which after should be employed to the ministry/ whether it be in the university or elsewhere/ that such be brought up to this turn. So that in deed the titles of our university doctor's/ and bachelors of divinity/ are not only for vain glory sought 
University doctors and bachelors of divinity.  and granted/ but there they are the names of course/ conferred rather by the profane judgements of them that know not what office of the church they belong too/ and by the importunate suit and means made/ by such vain men as desire to climb/ and to have high names/ and also of a blind custom partly/ which (besides the graces got easily by friendship/ or corrupt brtherie/ compounding I should say/ although no show of learning be uttered/ nor exercises kept) doth in respect of continuance of standing in manner throw these titles upon many dolts/ which neither do/ nor can do any thing that is required in a teacher or doctor. And a plain case it is/ the ostentation and outward glory is sought by these names/ & by the name of master of Art/ which is esteemed many degrees beneath the titles of Doctor/ or Bachelor in divinity/ for otherwise they would not offer those titles to such as the universities would show pleasure unto/ as to noble men and others/ as though they were noble names/ nobilitating them that otherwise were unnoble/ and adding to their nobility that without them were noble. And thus have they turned upside down/ and made a mockery of God his or●●●/ conferred upon his church for the benefit of the same/ except they will not be ashamed to profess themselves herein to follow the 
Heathenish tradition.  heathenish tradition of profane schools which rather seek by such titles to advance learning/ as they say/ then by their learning to advantage the church of God. For none other are true teachers or doctors/ but they which do teach/ and be found meet/ and be called by the church to teach/ how so ever the university doctors seem to have some indelible Character/ that once and ever doctor/ as the popish priests once shaven/ were ever priests/ and can never be no priests after/ but such doctors as these/ though they had never so many graces/ shall be but idol doctor's/ as truly doctors/ as an image ●s a man/ which hath nothing but the show of a man/ eyes and see not/ ears and hear not/ and so they/ teacher's & doctor's/ and teach not. These vain names become such vain men/ but the church of God they become not/ and are forbidden by our saviour. * 
h Mat. 23. 8.  Be not you called Rabbins/ and to be called Rabbins is the matter with our doctor's/ but to teach/ that is to base or needless for them. I have spoken the mere of this/ because the abuse is great/ and not thought of/ for howsoever it will be faced out/ the name is not a name ●f dignity/ but a name of duty to be done to the church of God/ by him that hath the excellent gift of faithful & right expounding of the scriptures/ and of the undoubted proving and avouching of all the articles of our christian religion/ which is most requisite in place where I said before/ and very requisite every where/ & is to be had where competent provision may be made for such an one. Thus you see briefly how these two differ/ and what is the use of the teachers or doctor's office. Now the pastors in their charges and parishes 
The use of the pastors office/ and that it is requisite in every congregation. / have not only to propound sound doctrine/ but also charge to exhort/ and to admonish publicly and privately them that they find to need it/ and to examine them/ and to Catechize them in their faith/ upon whom only lieth the charge of the whole congregation/ whether there be a teacher/ or doctor or no. For if the doctor faithfully keep his lectures/ and answer his calling by godly life there is no further thing to be required of him/ save that in the consistory (again I say) he app●y himself with the pastors to guide and direct the rest of the assistants/ and in like sort join himself with the pastors in their conferences counsels/ and such like meetings. But every congregation must have a pastor/ I say not a parson vicar or stipendary priest/ or curate (as they call him) but a pastor or shepherd/ which is able/ and doth intent feeding of them/ every way/ by preaching doctrine/ by exhorting to the same/ and to godly life/ by admonishing offenders/ by conference with them/ by visiting the sick/ to teach and counsel them/ by Cathechising the congregation/ by making prayers/ by ministering the sacraments/ and examining before hand the communicantes/ and whatsoever he is directed unto by the prescript of the word of God. And these two offices thus set up/ according to the scriptures/ there remains no use 
The good that ensueth of the erecting of a right ministery.  of fat canons/ prebendaries/ petty canons/ singing men/ choristers/ virgirs/ and the rest of that crew/ nor yet of roving preachers/ which preach quarter sermons/ nor of stipendary curates/ & that unbridled (untituled clergy I should say) but that the livings of the former might be bestowed upon the maintenance of the right ministery/ and the latter to be no longer an unprofitable burden to the church. And further/ such provision being made/ there shallbe no need of such dignities/ as they call them/ nor of qualifications for many beneficens/ as pluralities/ trialities/ totquors/ and I wots not what conferring of benefices/ or prebends upon bishops/ to amend their livings forsooth. All this good cometh of the erecting of a right ministry/ beside the faithful discharging of so great a charge as the feeding of Chrystes flock is. And also this I say/ it is so far of that any can take vyon him the charge which our Lord Bishops do/ as they say/ one of them to be parson 
L. bishops take far more charge upon them/ than they are able to discharge.  (pastor they seem to mean) of a whole diocese (most dioceses containing divers shires) yea/ and some one of a province (containing many dioceses) that indeed it is in manner too much for one to take charge of one only parish/ and to say truth/ if every parish were able (as it would be provided for/ by restoring impropriations by augmenting of the livings/ & by joining more parishes in one) if every parish I 
Respects require ●ather two pastors over one flock then one over many.  say/ were by some such means made able/ it were meet every parish had two pastors at lest/ both for the common charge that lieth upon the shoulders of the pastors/ and for sundry uses that their congregations have to employ them upon/ or chiefly/ because in the sickness of the one/ the other might supply. And the pastor or pastors being rightly called/ may not be put away/ but for such causes/ and in such sort as was said before/ nor he or they may not leave their charge/ for he or they have a necessity * 
n ●. cor. 9 16. The pastor may not leave his ●lock at his ●wne pleasure.  of tarrying on their charge laid upon them with their charge/ except by the good order o● the churches it be thought expedient/ or when the sheep are wolves/ & so they driven to fly from them: so that our resignations will not stand with the word of god/ m●ch less will our non residents abide the trial/ both serving the covetousness of greedy bellied wolves/ the one to fleece without care of feeding/ except it be themselves either in some chaplams room/ or in some other sty/ to spare their labour where they should intend: The other serveth him that ever gapeth for a greater pray/ or to make money when other shifts sail. And further/ I will not excuse all those that either resygne/ or suffer themselves to be deprived to avoid further trouble/ without consideration of their flock/ if the same conspire not generally against them/ seeing they ought to give their lives for their 
Ih. 10. 11.  flock. But this is not thought to be so needful/ nor in deed were so needful/ if to read the scriptures/ the homilies/ and the course of our book of common prayers were enough/ for then a boy of ten years old may do the ministers office/ for the substance of their office is not in the years/ but in the reading. And in deed boys and senseless asses are our common ministers for the most part/ for/ but common reason may serve this turn/ and do this feat well enough. It is in deed les●● busy then popish priests 
Our course ● religion destroyeth ●ys care of Chrystes ●ocke.  service/ because the calendar and the rubrikes of the book are fewer: and plainer than his porteous and pie were/ so that less clerks than popish priests/ which had but some blind Latin in their b●lly/ may serve for our store/ & therefore in deed the blindest buzzard of them/ if he will keep his conscience to himself/ nay he is not so narrowly looked unto/ if he will subscribe to our Articles of Christian religion before his ordinary/ and blindly read them at his benefices/ he shall not only be serving priest (I use their own terms) but he may have one benefice or more/ and nothing shall/ nor may be said against him/ and so he proui●● his quarter sermons or pay his Ordinary for that default and such like/ he is as good a Pastor as the ●●st. And yet I think verily/ the last Parliament 
A good statute of the last parliament/ taketh little effect/ by the negligence and corruption of the Ordinaries as they call them.  save this/ meant very well in this respect/ by a statute provided in this case/ so that many a lewd Priest of them (if the Ordinary had been good/ not being corrupted by bribes/ or by their bribed offices and servants) would have been removed/ and the benefices ready for better pastors/ but I can hear of none/ of few so bad/ but he is where he was/ and my Lord bishop his great friend commonly/ for it seemeth by some of them/ that they sin●ll my Lords the bishop's meaning/ is to make their hand now/ and to money themselves now/ and provide for their wife and children somewhat, honestly (I will not say pompously) for fear of after claps against a rainy day/ whatsoever time or change come/ and this humour these priests/ and all other Time servers f●e●● full handsomely/ and it serveth their purposes in deed fully. Not/ no/ this is not that ministry/ which we have ne●●e of/ and which God erected in his church/ reading 
Reading of Homilies came in by abuse/ and maintenieth an ●ooll ●● 〈◊〉.  an Homily/ is Popish and s●nd/ whether they ●●●edes homilies/ or any other ancient writers homilies/ which in times passed upon the like error were 〈…〉 sed so supply the like lack of preaching a● though afterward they read them or sung them in an un 〈…〉 tongue: or they ●● our bishops homilies in our own tongue/ for faith cometh by hearing/ and hearing not by homilies: but by the * 
o Ro. 10. 17 The ministry of faith is the preaching of the same.  word of God/ & in deed reading of the word is as good/ and better preaching/ then reading of homilies/ but the ministery of faith is the preaching of the same/ out of the word of God/ by them that are sent of God. How can they preach except they be * 
p Ro. 10. 15  scent/ as it is written/ how beautiful are the feet of them which bring good tidings of peace: they must be sent of God/ endued with the gifts of God/ furnished with his graces unto that ministery/ that they may be able to bring the good tidings of peace/ and good things to their congregations/ that their feet may be beautiful to them/ that they may know that they are jewels of God bestowed upon his church/ that every church may be assured they have a treasure of their minister or ministers. This is the right way to bring the ministery into credit and estimation 
The way to bring the ministery ●nto credit ● estimation. / their gifts given them of God/ & their painfulness/ and honest life amongst their congregations/ & not to make some of them Lords/ Grace's/ Earles/ Prelate/ and Register of the Garter/ Baron's/ Suffragans/ some of them rich Deans/ Archdeacon's/ master's of Colleges/ chancellors/ Prebends/ rich people and vicars/ and though some of them be poor enough/ to get them credit by their rochets/ hoods/ caps/ cloaks/ tippets and gowns/ or such like implements used by the * 
q Math. 23. ●. 6. 7. 11. ●ur saviour orbiddeth ●ys miny●ers to seek ● be noted ● outward apparel and guises.  Phariseis which claimed high rooms/ and made large borders on their garments/ & loved to be greeted/ and to be called Rabbi/ which things by our saviour are forbidden his ministers/ and an order enjoined/ that they which look for it/ should not have it/ but be least esteemed. This is true/ read the scriptures yourselves I pray you/ if you find it not so/ disprove us/ if it be found so/ strengthen us by your authorities/ and let the word of God have the free course that it aught to have. They be but pretences to serve the glorious course that some of our ministers are entered into/ when they say/ it is the credit of the ministery/ and the upholding of the same/ and this way of ours/ is the discrediting and overthrowing of the ministery/ & of all good orders/ and to bring confusion into the church/ and as they pretend plain Anabaptistrie. But they are no better but pretences and flat untruths/ for it is God his own order set by our saviour and his Apostles in his church/ and I trust (as briefly as I can) to make it appear to be God his order/ and the least order/ and the only order which should be in the church of God. And as 
The covetous abuses that are too common among the bishops.  for the order which they pretend to be maintained by them/ it may be that they know their order when they ride in their scarlet roads before the Queen/ and how to poll their clergy as they call them/ and all other in their dioceses/ & how to lease out benefices to the patrons/ or by the person or vicar and patrons means royally to lease them out to some other/ or to alienate the house/ or the glebe for a round sum of money to their Lordship's chests/ or bribes to their wives/ or to their children/ or to their offices/ or servants/ that they may have their share thereby/ or how to keep their courts/ and get them officers for their best advantage/ or how to rattle up these new fellows/ these young boys that will not obey at a beck to their articles/ advertisements/ canons/ caveates/ and such like stuff of their own forging/ or whatsoever proceedeth/ or is from/ or: for their Lordly estate and degree/ or how to pleasure their friend/ or friends/ or friends friend/ with a Benefice/ or with a Pr 〈…〉: so that it may be a good turn to themselves/ coming by simony away/ or how to lease out their own temporalties of their bishopprickes/ yea & possible akenate them from their successors/ and how to match their sons and their daughters together/ with great sums of money passing between them/ and how to purchase lands and leases in their wives & children's names/ because if they were priests/ their children cannot inherit/ nor are legitimate by the laws/ and how to raise fines and rents/ and many such good orders more/ they are very skilful in/ and keep very diligently. I would for experience/ some of their doings were examined/ and then no doubt we should see many of 
Examination of the bishops doings very expedient.  these goodly orders brought to light. And till it be examined/ I would that they which are honest men/ would bring to light their doings which they know/ for as finely as they have handled the matters/ there are some which know enough/ and I trust they will impatt it ere long to the state/ that they which are of so sharp a sight to see who offend them/ may themselves lie open/ and show how they offend God and his church/ and how utterly unnecessary they are/ and to be removed from their rooms/ and their rooms from the church/ which by them are continued to stall the popish Bishops in their pomp again/ if ever their time serve them here. For good orders/ let us hear any one they make/ but even as the law directeth them/ which any other temporal officers might/ and would do as well as they/ if the laws did not prohibit it. And there is none other but laws with them/ no God his book/ no brotherly talk with them/ they will not run in a praemunire for any of all their brethren/ nor for any of God his matters neither/ they will not have the Queen's displeasure for any of them all/ they will not be defaced 
The Bishops own talk/ and extreme cruelties.  whatsoever cometh of it/ nay they will rail upon/ and revile their brethren/ they will persecute and prison them/ they will stir her majesty and all other against them/ they will starve/ stifle/ and pine them to death. How many good men's deaths have they been the cause of/ by an inward sorrow conceived of their doings? how suddenly died master Pullen after they began to rage? M. Horton? M. Caruell and many others? and how did they kill the good man's heart/ old good M. Coverdale? although they pretended they would provide for him/ after much ado from the counsel/ and as they say/ from the Queen to them/ & yet they allotted him a small portion/ and paid him by fits/ and sometimes with base gold/ and money if they had any worse than other/ which I have herded very credibly reported. Old D. Turner was much beholding to them/ being a good man/ & an ancient preacher/ never shaven nor greased/ & yet he had no small stir by them/ M. Leaver/ M. Samson/ and some other/ at this day learned & godly/ how have they grieved their good hearts? utterly leaving some of them without living/ to the wide world/ to shift as they can. And yet they may not shift some of them by those gifts which God hath given them/ they may neither preach/ nor teach children publicly nor privately. And they that are in some livings/ what sorrow do they hold them withal/ and how ticklishly do they hold them to/ evermore in danger of being called before the high Commissioners/ and to lose those livings. How many have they driven to leave the ministery/ and to live by Physic/ and other such means/ or to leave their country? How many students have they discouraged from the study of divinity/ and to change their minds since they saw their dealings/ and to change their studies also? How many poor Artificers and other commoners in this city/ and elsewhere/ have they ill entreated? brought up slanders upon? and by their ill usage and lack of diligent conference/ have they not suffered to fall/ but have been the cause that they have fallen into errors? Contrariwise/ what encouragement and favour have they showed to papists? how have they opened their ears to their complaints against the ministers/ and shut their ears when Papists have been complained upon/ or slightly overpassed it. Yea some of them have said/ that conformable Papists were more 
I wis you shall sinned Precisions/ as you call them/ better subjects than these/ as b●d as you make them.  tolerable than these precisians and godly men that seek for reformation? Hanson of Oxford/ which amongst other articles was charged justly/ and is yet to be proved that he said Story was an honest man/ & was put to death wrongfully/ and had friends alive would revenge his death one day/ how slightly did the Bishop of Canterbury use him: what friendship found Thurlbie in his house? may poor preachers be half so well used/ or such other poor men/ which led by the word of God/ do freely utter their consciences against the abuses in our Reformation? Or rather shall not they found harder dealing than Hanson did: will not they take on more against the author of this book and such like/ then against Hanson? Let us proceed/ who be their Chauncelloures? but most suspected papists/ I hear not of one of them that is no briber. Who be their summers but the vertest varlets? What are the canonists? What are they but suspected Papists? and where have they their most countenance/ but of the bishops? to be their chiefest doers/ and high Commissioners with them/ to wring their brethren/ if they be God his children/ and to let papists scape scotterfree/ or to be punished but lightly: what causes deal they in for the good of the church? certainly few at all/ but as they should do they deal in none. How are matters dealt in in their courts/ but all for mistress money? who can reckon their disorders? in those former Treatises you read of a blessed company/ do you not? how stiff & sturdy are they in the maintenance of their disorders? how have they shaken of the honest suits of many honest worshipful citizens and others: yea/ of honourable personages which have dealt with them for those whom themselves aught to have had most care of? How lightly have they esteemed the learned letters of many famous men at home/ & abroad/ written unto them in the same case? how many honest men have they by their flattery and tyranny perverted/ and drawn to their side? whereof many live with wounded consciences at this day amongst them/ and yet for fear of loss of living (for they must have a living they say) do therefore serve the bishop's appetites. What a charge are they to their clergy? and what a sum have they yearly/ that might be saved? and it is no small matter that mamtayneth their courts/ all which charges might be saved also/ and matters belonging to the government of the church might be better/ & more godly ended. To conclude this part withal/ what is more expressly forbidden in the scriptures/ then those names and offices which they have. Our saviour saith expressly to his Apostles/ 
* Luke. 22. 25. 26.  you shall not be called gracious Lords: and surely they were as 
* Apostles as worthy to have been Lords/ as our bishops but they might not/ being expressly forbidden it.  worthy as any ministers were since/ or shall be/ yea/ they were the Archbuylders/ not the Archbishops/ nor was there any Archbuilder of them one more than another/ and not any since are allowed to have the name of Archbuilders. And albeit any would have called them gracious Lords/ and given it them/ yet they might not have taken it/ but our men though they have used the same text/ and other learned men as a plain text use it also/ against 
Of the lordship of bishops.  the dignity that the Pope challengeth above all other bishops/ and against his two sword▪ yet it means no such matter with our men/ but that they may be Lords over their brethren/ and use civil jurisdiction also. It forbiddeth them to seek it/ they say/ but if it be offered to them/ they take it. Our saviour refuseth to divide the land 
Luke. 12. 13. 14. joh. 6. 15. Ih. 18. 36. mat. 20. 28  between the two brethren when it was offered him/ he avoideth when they sought to make him a king? what think you he would have taken it/ if it had been orderly offered by the whole state? no/ he saith: my kingdom is not of this world/ or a worldly kingdom/ I came not to be ministered unto/ but to minister/ and even so he telleth his disciples/ it must be amongst them. And yet further/ doth that text forbidden ambition in the ministers/ and allow it in princes? for he disproveth not the kings that they are lords/ and exercise authority over their nations/ and have great titles/ for not only there/ but the scripture is plain/ that they may so do/ and yet not be ambitious/ which they may be/ if they content not themselves with their own countries/ and titles/ but covet others. But in this place he showeth / that they must not exercise authority as 
mat. 20. 27 If bishops ●oe take Lordship upon them others are forbidden to ●iue it them. 1. Pet. 5. 3  civil magistrates do/ and may do/ nor be one above another/ you shall not be so/ he that is chief among you/ let him be your servant/ so that if they will take it/ it may not be given them. The apostles/ they also avoided it amongst themselves/ and they forbidden it in others/ as the place of Peter is plain/ and so plain/ that it is a worldly wise way to seek some other shift to face out the matter/ and to underprop this ruinous Hierarchy withal. The scriptures are plain against it/ and therefore some other device must be found at a pinch/ to flap the world in the mouth with somewhat: to tell them that good and ancient chronicles make mention of the lordly degree of bishops/ and to bring forth the heralds craft to help out the matter/ to blaze the arms of such worthy prelate's as have been of long time before. This were a worldly wise way/ and as I hear/ is intended to be practised. But surely if this be practised/ they must also practise to stop the course of the scriptures/ for else the scriptures will on the other side display as fast/ the folly of such proud men. Hear some keep hot schools/ what say they/ every one as good as another amongst the ministers? shall not one be better than another? what is disorder if this be not? well this is God his order/ and in deed as I said afore/ the best order. How is that says another? Thus I say. First/ let no one minister meddle in any cure save his own/ but as he 
Not one minister to meddle in another's cure without order.  is appointed by common consent of the next conference/ or counsels (as afore) provincial or national/ or further if it may fall out so/ general of all churches reform: A conference I call the meeting of some certain ministers/ and other brethren/ as it might be the ministers of London/ at some certain place as it was at Corinth/ or 
1. Cor. 14 A conference.  of some certain deanery/ or deaneries in the country / as it might be at Ware/ to confer and exercise themselves in prophesying/ or in interpreting the scriptures/ after the which interpretation/ they must confer upon that which was done/ and judge of it/ the whole to judge of those that spoke/ and yet so/ as some one be appointed by all/ to speak for them/ as they shall amongs themselves agreed what shall be spoken/ which thing was always used among the Apostles/ one to speak for the rest/ which conferences may sometime be more general than other sometime/ as occasion of the Churches may require/ to call the brethren together. At which conferences/ any one/ or any certain of the brethren/ be at the order of the whole/ to be employed upon some affairs of the church/ which they shall show to be needful for the same. So was john & Peter sent by the Apostles to Samaria/ to confirm 
Act. 8. 14.  Philip's work. So was Paul and Barnabas sent from Antioch to the business appointed them by the Lord/ and yet so (which I would 
Act. 13. 2.  have well marked) that the holy Ghost said to the congregation: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them/ he might have called them forth without these words to them of the assembly/ but that he would show how he approved of that order/ and the more the order is commended/ that he would have Saul/ one of his Apostles/ to be thus sent by those whereof none were of the Apostles. At this assembly also/ the demeanours of the ministers may be examined/ and rebuked/ as Paul witnesseth he did in an assembly rebuke Peter. 
Gala. 2, 14  This is that which I call a conference/ where sundry causes within that circuit/ being brought before them/ may be decided and ended. But it is to be used continually/ for the exercise of the ministers/ and others/ as it should seem by the Apostle in the place to the Corinth's/ to exercise their gates in the interpretation of the scriptures. I call that a ●●ynode pro●●nciall/ which is the meeting of certain of the consistory of every parish 
●f Synod provincial/ ●ationall & ●●nersall.  within a province/ which is of many conferences/ as it might be that which is called Canterbury's province/ if it be not to large/ and therefore of some one or more dioceses: where great causes of the churches/ which could not be ended in their own consistories/ or conferences/ shall be herded and determined/ and so they shall stand/ except when a more general Synod/ and council of the whole land be/ which I call national/ and they will have it heard there/ to whose determination they shall stand/ except there be a more general Synod of all churches/ and that they will have it herded there/ and determined/ whereto they shall stand/ as it was at jerusalem/ except it be a great matter of the faith/ or a great matter expressly against the scriptures/ as that was in the Nicene council of the marriage of ministers/ where the whole council would have concluded against it/ had not one man Paphnutius withstood them/ or that assembly 
joh. 7. 51  where Nicodemus only withstood the rest/ or that at Antioch where Peter and Barnabas 
Gal. 2. 14  and all the jews were entered into a dissimulation / and only Paul withstood them. In which case the scripture saith/ you have one father/ one master/ and hear him/ and examine all things/ and hold that which is good/ and try the spirits whether they be of God/ or no/ and 
Mat. 23. 8. 9 Mat. 17. 1. Th. 52 1. Ih. 4. 1 Galat. 1  again sayeth the apostle: Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed. Except I say it be in such a case/ they must stand to the determinations as afore. And otherwise then thus/ let no one minister use/ or challenge any authority out of his own charge. And there let him/ or them (if they be two pastors or more in one charge) not only alone meddle with the charge of preaching/ and other such parts of the pastor/ but also let him or them in that consistory/ and in all other conferences and counsels▪ let the ministers go before/ as I might say/ and guide the other of the assistants and elders/ in the government/ as it is in the council at jerusalem. But before I speak 
Act. 15. 12  more of the government/ let us a little consider of this order of the election of the ministers/ and these exercises and conferences for the continuance of sound religion/ and of the equality of ministers/ whether the bishop's course be better/ or this be the best. First/ this is well warranted 
A comparison between the former description of the ministery/ and the bishop's order.  by the scriptures/ and there's is not. There's hath already been the cause of many mischiefs/ and this the cause of much good in the primitive church/ and is so still where it is practised in the reform churches beyond the seas. This alloweth only painful and true preachers/ there's ignorant Asses/ loitering and idle bellied Epicures/ or profane and heathenish Oratoures/ that think all the grace of preaching lieth in affected eloquence/ in fond fables to make their 
Profane preachers.  hearers laugh/ or in ostentation of learning of their Latin/ their Greek/ their Hebrew tongue/ and of their great reading of antiquities: when God knoweth/ most of them have little further matter than is in the infinite volumes of common 
Common places and A pothegmes.  places/ and Apothegms/ culled to their hands. But if they carry away the praise of the people for their learning/ though the people have learned little or nothing at their hands (for they can not learn much/ where little is spoken to purpose) or for some merry tales they have told/ or 
merry ●ales.  such like pageants to please itching ears withal/ such a fellow must have the benefices/ the prebends/ the Archdeaconries'/ and such like loiterers preferments/ especially if he can make low courtesy to my lords/ and know his manners to every degree of them/ or can creep into some noble man's favour to bear the name of his chaplain/ this is he that shall bear the preferments away from all other/ and to flaunt it out in his long large gown/ and his tippet/ and 
Flaunting preachers.  his little fine square cap/ with his Tawny coats after him/ fisking over the city to show himself/ none can have that he may have/ except some certain fat fellows/ with long bags 
Long bags  at their girdles/ and some in their sleeves/ or with a dish of M. Latuners apples. Corruption/ too much corruption in these matters. This order avoideth intrusion into any benefices/ but to be choose by the consent of that parish where they shall be ministers/ and there to tarry. There's/ so the patron present/ and the bishop institute/ thrusteth upon parishes such/ as what so ever they are/ they cannot be refused/ and may resign or otherwise depart as they list. There's appointeth not only more hoy ministers/ & dumb dogs not able to bark/ then they wots where to bestow/ but also many roving preachers/ to preach in whose cure they list/ out of all order. This/ appointeth every pastor to his charge/ and by a very good order/ none to meddle out of his own charge. By this/ all without exception/ are drawn & driven to exercise themselves among themselves/ for the increase of knowledge/ and for the confirmation of them in the undoubted truth. There's appointeth at their lordships pleasure/ and their Archdeacon's/ their men either to say a part of one of the epistles without book/ or to turn it out of Latin into english/ or to write their fantasies of some Theme given them/ wherein there is much good stuff if it were well known/ or to learn M. Nowel's Catechism by roate/ rather then by reason/ or if they have some exercises of prophesying any where/ it is so raw/ and without order/ except perhaps an order not to speak against any of their proceed/ that as good never a whit/ as never the better. This showeth a ready and a right way/ to resolve all doubts and questions in religion/ and to pacify all controversies of the churches/ to pass from one or few to more/ & from more/ to more godly and learned/ to be decided by them/ according to the truth and word of God. There's raiseth many doubts and questions in religion/ breeds many troubles and contentions/ and will have nothing examined that they do/ but many must able for the pleasure of some one of them/ and all must abide the determination of one/ such Lordship they claim over the faith of their christian brethren. 
●r. 1. 24.  The Apostle renouncing it/ and acknowledging himself to be a helper. If they say lordship of bishops is agreeable to the word of God/ who may say against them/ without much trouble? yea/ dare say against them? yea/ what prevaileth it to say against them/ if they hold together? to whom it is to sweet to say say against it/ or if my Lords grace/ Metropolitan of all England hold/ & stick fast in the matter? for so it goeth/ many must to one/ & so from one to one/ till it come to the Pope of Lambeth/ as it was wont in the Po●ishe church/ clean contrary to the course of the scriptures/ for there is no more one's/ but only one one/ to whom all the church must obey/ and from him/ the whole church hath authority over the members of the same/ for so goeth the scriptures/ you have but one master/ all you are 
●. 23. 8 ●. 17. 5 18. 17 ●e him/ ●ell the ●h.  brethren/ hear him/ and tell the church/ this is the scripture. Now/ except they will follow the Pope's rule/ and bring the universal church to be but a particular place/ and a particular man in that place/ as Rome is the place/ and the pope is the man/ or as Caunterbury or Lambeth might be the place/ and my Lord his grace the man/ the scriptures and their doings will not agreed. And his Lordship shallbe a Pope/ and his confederates the Pope's underlings/ except they leave their lordliness/ and submit themselves to the church of God/ to be ordered by the same/ according to the word. And take them for better/ who shall/ they are none other/ but a remnant of Antichristes brood/ and God amend them/ and forgive them/ for else they bid battle to Christ and his church/ and it must bid the defiance to them/ all they yield. And I protest before the eternal God I take them so/ and thereafter will I use myself in my vocation/ and many more to no doubt which be careful of God his glory/ and the church's liberty/ will use themselves against them/ as the professed enemies of the church of Christ/ if they proceed in this course/ and thus persecute as they do. What talk they of their being beyond the seas in Queen Mary's days because of the persecution/ when they in Queen elizabeth's days/ are come home to raise a persecution. They boast they follow 
Persec● raised.  the steps of good master Ridley the martyr: let them follow him in the good/ and not in the bad. What man/ Martyr or other/ is to be followed in all things? why follow they not M. Hooper as well as him/ who is a martyr also? or Roger's/ or Bradforde/ who are martyrs also? They say all those good men in Queen Marres 
The m●tyrs in Mary o● days/ they sufred?  days died for the book of common prayer/ but they slander them/ for they took not so slender a quarrel/ they died for god his book/ and for a true faith grounded upon the same. divers of those martyrs/ would not in those days of king Edward/ abide all the orders in that book/ but if they had had such a time beyond the seas in the reform churches/ to have profited and increased in knowledge of a right reformation as these men had/ it is not to be doubted/ but that they would have done better than he promised/ that had rather all England were on a fishpool/ then he would be brought to matters f●r less/ then now of his own accord he wilfully thrusteth himself upon. Why we they not follow the examples which they saw beyond the seas? In which of the reform churches see they a Lord bishop allowed? or the Canon law to direct church orders? or will they translate the book of common prayer into Latin/ and their pontifical/ and use the Latin of the popish portuise/ manual/ and 
Turning y●●oke o● concion prayer ● the pontifical/ unto ●ortuis la●iue/ to try y●●●dgemē●s ●f that reform church's con●rmng thē●equired.  pontifical in those matters wherein they have followed those books/ and but translated them out of Latin/ and will they require & abide the judgements of the reform churches concerning the matters? If they be not singular/ if they mean plainly/ let them do thus. If it will abide the trial/ then let them use it still. They shall not be disgraced/ but we for disquieting of them. They have f●cendes that will say for them/ they are a learned company and ne●oe not the help of any other churches. Then let them offer to defend their course by learning. Let them never go over sea for the matter (and yet surely I would some took that translation in hand/ & took some pains in the matter/ to procure the judgements of those reform churches) but let them offer free conference here at home. Nay/ let them take our offer for conference (by writing to avoid much brabble if they will) and show themselves ready to the state/ without cunning practice to stop it by their friends/ and let us join in it freely/ and than we will think better of them/ and yield ourselves to have been deceived in them/ if they deal plainly. O Lord that we were deceived ●n them. That they were not wickedly bend/ to maintain that which they are entered into/ to the great disquieting of this Church of Christ in England/ until the Master come/ (which they think will defer his coming) and disquiet them/ whom he fynedeth like lordly Epicures/ eating & drinking with the worldly drunkards/ and beating their fellow servants. They that are poor men/ already beggared by them/ and which have many ways b●ne molested and imprisoned/ some in the marshalsea/ some in the white Lion/ some in the Catchouse 
There is no persecution now ● they say/ ● report m● to these examples.  at Westmi●ster/ others in the counter/ or in the Clynke/ or in the Ficete/ or in Bridewell/ or in Newgate/ they which have these many ways and times been hampered & ill handled by them/ they still offer themselves to all their exercinities/ and therefore put for the their treatises/ because they pass not how dear they bought it/ so they might redeem our state out of this defor●ed reformation/ to a right platform drawn out of the scriptures. They say/ such are men pleasers. Surely/ if they sought advantage that way/ it were best for them to please my Lords. They say they are desirous to be said to be in prison/ & 
Vain an● wicked objections.  that they profit by it/ they would not then keep themselves out of the way/ nor when they are in/ be such suitors to come toor●he/ nor abide to be stifled and choked with the stench of the prison/ but that is an old shift and cunning of he adversary to say so. Not, not/ God his cause is the matter. You pretend a reformation/ and follow not the word of God/ nor will be led by that. The sum of all therefore is this/ that either you of the Parliament must ●ake order to have all reform according to the word of God/ whereof already you have herded a part/ and sh●ll hear briefly the rest by God his grace/ or else they to bring your reformation to the trial of the word of God/ and to overthrow by the same all that we say/ and all that the other of the ●●st reform churches do use. Well they may confer and yield/ for never shall they overthrow the truth which we utter/ and which the reform churches do practise/ nor shall they be able to maintain their own doings/ but by cruelty/ & wl, at success that hath ever had/ judge by the scriptures and by the papists experience. For this order of choosing of ministers for their conferences and equality therefore/ you shall prove none to be so good as this/ which I have mentioned/ nor disprove / but that this ought to be in a reform church. Shall I examine their other orders? that were infinite/ but yet for the book of common prayer/ which of all other must not be touched/ 
Book of common prayer.  because they have got the state so to bear it out/ Even for the very states sake/ for the prince's sake/ for the church's sake/ and for conscience sake/ he hath but a bad conscience that in this time will hold his peace/ and not speak it for fear of trouble/ knowing that there are such intolerable abuses in it/ as it is plain there are. First I say/ that if it were praying/ & that there were never an ill word/ nor sentence in all the prayers yet to appoint it to be used/ or so to use it as Papists did their matins and evensong/ 
In intolerable abuse of prayer.  for a set service to God/ though the words be good/ the use is nought. The words of the first chapter after S. john/ be good/ but to be put in a tablet of gold/ for a sovereign thing to be worn/ that use is superstitious and naught/ and so is the use of this service/ for the order must be kept/ and that being done/ they have served God. And if they allege that that use was not meant/ and that it is an abuse. I say and can prove it/ that if it be an abuse/ it is so settled it will not be reform/ till there be a reformation of prayer. Again/ wherelearned they to multiply up many prayers of one effect/ so many times Glory be to the Father/ so many times the Lord be with you/ so many times let us pray. Whence 
Gloria patri. Dominus vobiscum. Oremus. Kyriele●son. Many pater nosters.  learned they all those needless repetitions? is it not the popish Gloria patri? their Dominus vobiscum? their Oremus? Lord have mercy upon us/ christ have mercy upon us/ is it not kyrie eleeson/ christ eleeson? their many Pater nosters/ why use they them? But as though they were at their beads. The words be good/ so were they when they were in Latin/ but the use is nought/ forbidden by our saviour: you when you pray use not vain repetitions as the 
Mat. 6. 7.  heathen do/ saith he. And then the Collect for the day to be used at end of matins/ what shall I call it? and afore the epistle and gospel as they call it. The book is such a piece of work as it 
Reading prayers no praying. In praying many guises taken up ● used rather of custom/ then of reason & knowledge or conscience.  is strange we will use it/ besides I cannot account it praying as they use it commonly/ but only reading or saying of prayers/ even as a child that learneth to read/ if his lesson be a prayer/ he readeth a prayer/ he doth not pray/ even so is it commonly a saying/ and reading prayers and not praying/ the child putteth of his cap as well as the minister. For though they have many guises/ now to kneel/ and now to stand/ these b● of course/ and not of any prick of conscience/ ●● pureing of the heart most commonly. One he kneeleth on his knees/ and this way he looketh/ and that way he looketh/ another he kneeleth himself a sleep/ another kneeleth with such devotion that he is so far in talk/ that he forgetteth to arise till his knee ache/ or his talk endeth/ or service is done. And why is all this? but that there is no such praying as should touch the heart. And therefore another hath so little feeling of the common prayer/ that he bringeth a book of his own/ and though he sit when they sit/ stand when they stand/ kneel when they kneel/ he may pause sometime also/ but mos●e of all he in●endetly his own book/ is this praying? God grant us to feel our lacks better than this/ and to take a better order than this for prayer/ it is & will be all nought else. Again/ the Psalms be all read in form o● prayer/ they be not all prayers/ the people seldom mark them/ and sometime when they mark them/ they think some of them strange gear/ and all for that they are 
Reading ●t psalms.  bu● only read/ and scarce read oftentimes. It is a very simple shift that you use to shifted it with an Homily/ to expound dark places of scripture/ for they be darkly expounded that be expounded/ and many places more dark than you rehearse ●ny which are not once touched. Simple and homely gear in divers homilies there is. There is none other help I came tell you/ but plain preaching which is God his plain order.  
What reason to sing the chapters of scriptures/ 
●inging of 〈…〉 ers'.  and yet so they may in a plain tune. Are all the prayers that are ●●ed/ agreeable to the scriptures? to let pass the Benedi●tus/ where I would 
●enedic●s.  knowehowe I might say in my prayer: for thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the highest/ and the Magnificat/ where I wolf know 
magnific.  how any man/ yea/ or woman either might say the tenure of these very words: for he hath regarded the low degree of his handmaid/ for behold from henceforth all gencrations shall call me blessed? mark this well/ and you can never answer it well/ but that it is a palpable folly/ and vain praying. To let these pass/ I would know in what canonical scripture they find this prayer: O all you works of the Lord? and what they mean when they say O Anamas/ Azarias 
Ananis 〈…〉 / and Misael praise the Lord? which part of prayer is not according to the scripture/ if all the rest be/ but the whole thanks giving is Apochriphall/ and yet those men that are named/ were then alive/ & said it themselves/ if it were truly their prayer/ and it belongeth not to us to speak to them now/ that are dead/ and why to them more than to the virgin Marie/ Peter or Paul. & c? Let him that speaketh/ speak as the 
1. Pe. 4. 11  word of God/ sayeth the Apostle. with what truth can we say/ that one Collect which is appointed to be said from the Nativity to newyears 
collects at the feast of the nativity and Whitiontite.  day? which is/ that upon the nativity day I must say/ that christ vouchsafed this day to be born/ & when I read it another day/ I must say he vouchsafed this day to be born/ and the next day again this day. Surely I lie/ one of the days/ and such a prayer is at whitsuntide appointed. I would know where upon they ground their Collect appointed for the service of s. Bartholomew (for we have Sametes/ and Angel's/ 
A collect on Bartho lomewe day.  and All-Hallows service which the first treatises speak of) I would I say know whereon they ground that Collect? wherein they pray that they may follow Bartholomews sermons/ seeing there is never a sermon of his extant/ and so we shall follow we w●t not what? or that they pray that the church may preach as he did. when as they neither have his sermons/ nor yet the whole church may preach/ but the ministers of the church only. Is this praying? God forgive us/ it is a wicked prattling. By what scripture have they Lent service: A sowedensday service? three Collects 
Service for Lent/ ● shwedensday. &  for that day? There is also 
* A Commination.  a Commination grounded upon great reason/ if that be well marked/ which the priest (forsooth) must say at the entrance into the matter/ that is/ what a piece of Discipline was in former times kept about the holy time of Lent/ which until it be restored/ would be supplied with this jewish 
* Deu. 27 13. 14.  order. But what place of scripture doth induce them to reduce this ceremony? or what place of scripture would warrant such a piece of discipline/ as there they seem very desirous to have restored? as who should say such devices of obscruances for 
* Galat. 4. 9 10. 11.  days and times were profitable or sutterable in Christ's church. Let them endeavour to commend god his discipline/ which should be all the days and times of our life exercised in Christ's church. Let them require that. I would know what there is in Athanasius Creed/ that that must be upon high 
Athanasius Creed. Venite.  days (as they term them) rather then the Apostles Creed: I would know why Venite may not serve at Easter as it must all the year afore/ and after follow Domine labia? it is surely a strange thing to see the fancies that this book is full of. I overpass the dry Communion (as they call it) the Epistle/ the Gospel/ the Offertory/ and because they have in the former treatises touched many things of the sacraments/ of matrimony / of confirmation/ & of the rest/ I the more willingly skip over many things else/ saying shortly that the sacraments are wickedly mangled & profaned. But as for Confirmation/ as it hath no ground out of the scriptures at all/ so I would 
Confirmation.  have their prayer marked/ how they reckon up the sevenfold grace as the papists did? neither more nor less/ where they have one grace more/ then the. 11. of Esay hath/ which they allude to. And again/ they have far fewer than are mentioned in the rest of the scriptures. Lord/ to se● these very follies/ may not this book be altered neither in matter nor manner? Surely/ then have 
A mannery sort of ministers. jere. 6. 6. 17. 18. 9 20. 21.  you a mannerly sort of ministers that strain courtesy to forbear to lie/ and to forbear superstition/ when they seem to present themselves before the Lord/ which can worse like such service than you can to forbear it. I have thus much further examined the orders that these men use in prayer/ beside the general observation/ that they allow prayer in public place without a sermon/ which is rightly prohibited in Churches reform. Would the word of God thus negligently/ thus santastically/ profanely/ and heathemshly be preached? or the sacraments be so wickedly/ with out examination at the supper/ or sincerity at baptism/ be so (I say) wickedly ministered? would prayers be made either that were so foolish/ or so superstitious/ or so false/ or the best of them so undevoutlye/ if there were such right orders as were in the churches planted by the Apostles/ as is in the best reform churches/ and aught to be in ours? What though these men be/ and will be taken so learned/ so right/ that they need learn of none other/ are not these their orders? do they not maintain them? do they not persecute them that speak against them? and yet I pray you are they not stark nought? yea/ and so are divers of them/ not only for their bribing and corruption/ and their arrogancy/ their tyranny/ but for flat heresy in the sacrament/ and some be suspected of the heresy of Pelagius. For the first/ that 
Bishops themselves/ some of them in heresies/ and some suspected. The book of Articles of christian religion.  is concerning the sacrament/ the bishops are notoriously known which err in it/ and for Free will not only they are suspected/ but others also. And in deed the book of the Articles of christian religion speaketh very dangerously of falling from grace/ which is to be reform/ because it too much inclineth to their error. Other things there are maintained by some of them which are not agreeable with the scripture: namely the false interpretation of this clause in our Creed (he descended into hell) which is expressly 
The Crede in metre.  set down contrary to the scriptures in the Creed made in metre in these words: His spirit did after this descend into the lower parts/ to them that long in darkness were/ the true light of their hearts. If they can warrant this out of the scriptures/ then Limbus patrum/ & within a while purgatory will be found out there. And yet this must be privileged/ and such like divers matters disagreeing with the scriptures/ 
The humbl● suit of a sinner. The last great Bible.  as in the humble suit of a sinner it is said/ that the Saints and Angels see Christ's bloody wounds as yet/ and in their last great Bible in the first edition of it/ such a sight of blasphemous pictures of God the father/ as what they deserve for it/ I will refer them to none other judge then their own note upon the. 15. verse of the fourth of Deuteronomie/ we hold I wot not what heresies that speak against their pride & traditions/ but they that expressly speak and we against the scriptures/ hold nothing I trow but 〈◊〉. But let these guides weigh the scripture/ which saith/ you strame a gnat/ and swallow down a Camel. Well now/ seeing we 
mat. 23. 24  have thus far weighed/ partly God his orders for the ministers election/ for their exercises/ and for their equality/ that it is better than our L. Bishop's/ for the continuing of sound religion/ and that the order of bishops is contrary to the scriptures/ and that they make and maintain with cruelty against the scriptures many wicked orders/ let us now come to the other part/ which is of the government of the church/ to see how that standeth by the scriptures. I have already made mention of a Consistory/ which were to be 
Consistory whereof it consists. The ministers first 〈◊〉.  had in every congregation. That consists first of the ministers of the same congregation/ as the guides and mouth of the rest/ to direct them by the scriptures/ and to speak at their appointment/ that which shall be consented upon amongst them all/ because of their gifts/ & place amongst them/ which maketh them more fit for those purposes/ The assistants are they/ whom the parish shall 
Who the assistants must be.  consent upon and choose/ for their good judgement in religion and godliness/ which they know they be of/ whereby they are meet for that office/ using the advise of their ministers therein chiefly/ and having an eye to a prescript form drawn out of the scriptures/ at the appointment of the Prince and state/ by the godly learned men of this 
How the assistants must be choose.  realm/ b●cause of the rawness of this people yet/ and also using earnest prayers/ with fasting/ as in the choice of the minister/ & having made their choice thereafter/ they shall publish their agreement in their parish/ and after a sermon by their minister/ at their appointment/ and upon their consent the minister may lay his hands upon every of them/ to testify to them their admission. This consistory is for that only congregation/ 
wherefore this consistory serveth.  and must do that which they we/ wyntly in any common cause of the church. And these are to employ themselves/ and to be employed by that congregation/ upon the necessary and urgent affairs of the same church. These are they in the church/ to whom our saviour commandeth them that have twice/ or oftener admonished an offender/ and he heareth them not/ to utter such an offender: when he saith/ tell the church. These are they/ whose last admonition he of that church/ or they which regard not/ shall be taken as a publican 
mat. 18. 1●  or heathen. These are they/ that shall admonish all such in that congregation/ as they know to live with offence to the church/ or as be presented to them/ by good testimony of their offence committed. These be they/ which shall excommunicate the stubborn/ making the whole church privy to their doings/ and shall upon repentance/ take order for the receiving such an one in again/ making open profession of his or their repentance/ to the satisfying of the congregation. Yet ever so must they excommunicate/ & receive the excommunicate in again/ that they require the assent of their whole congregation/ showing 
Assent of their whole congregation.  the grievousness of his fact/ and how they have proceeded with him by admonition/ and his contempt/ which they shall do/ both because their upright dealing may appear to the whole church/ and because they may not usurp authority over the whole church/ whereby we might cast out the tyranny of the bishops/ & bring in a new tyranny of there's: who are appointed by good order/ to have the examination of matters/ & the rest of the dealing/ in the name of the whole congregation. Nevertheless/ what they do well/ the congregation cannot altar/ neither shall the congregation put them/ or any of them out/ but upon just cause proved/ either in that consistory/ or in some one of the counsels/ and the cause accepted for sufficient. Neither may they/ or any of them leave to deal in that turn/ except they can show good cause to that consistory/ and it to be approved by them/ with the consent of the whole congregation/ and good liking. For neither must they lightly be brought into suspicion/ nor they must not lightly cast of so weighty a calling/ and 
1. Tim. 5. 19 Disordered ceremonies.  function of such importance/ no more than the ministers may. They also shall examine all disordered ceremonies used in place of prayer/ and abolish those which they find evil/ or unprofitable / and bring in such orders/ as their congregation shall have need of/ so they befew/ and apparent/ necessary both for edifying/ and profit & decent order: proving it plainly to the whole 
Necessary order. ●eude cu●omes.  church that it is so. And in like sort shall they suffer no lewd customs to remain in their parish/ either in ga●es/ or otherwise/ but having conferred of such things amongst themselves/ they shall admonish him or them brotherly/ that he or they/ use them not any more/ as unseming to Christian men to use the like/ or if they be common/ they shall give open admonition/ and it shall be left. In all these things/ & in all things of the church/ they shall not meddle with the civil magistrates office/ nor with any other punishment 
They may not meddle with the civil magistrates office.  but admonition/ and excommunication of the obstinate. Yet this they must do/ that he which hath lived with offence to that congregation / although he hath suffered the punishment of the law for his offence against it/ yet he shall by them be admonished/ to satisfy the congregation to whom he hath given offence/ & amongs whom he dwelleth. As for example: he that hath usury 
Usury.  proved against him/ so that he loose his principal for taking above ten in the hundred/ yet shall he also for committing so hamous offence against God/ and his church/ to the very ill example of others/ not be allowed to the Sacraments/ until he show himself repentant for the fault/ and study thereby to satisfy the congregation so offended by him. These shall receive the informations 
Information and accounts of the deacons.  of the deacons/ for the relief of the poor/ & their accounts for that which they shall lay out that way/ and of their diligence in visiting them/ that the congregations may by the Consistory be certefyed of all things concerning the poor/ both that there may be made provision accordingly/ and that the provision made/ may be well husbanded/ and the poor may by the deacons be visited/ comforted/ and relieved according to their lack. Lastly/ one or more of these assistants/ with one of the ministers/ & a deacon or deacons shall 
Who shu● repair to the counsels for the churches affairs.  be those/ that shall at their church's charges meet at the provincial council/ or national/ if there be any business that concerneth their church. Especially/ one of the ministers shall not fail/ and one of this assistance/ to be parties in any general cause of all the churches that may be dealt in there/ whether it be concerning doctrine/ or manners. Now a word or two of excommunication/ and deacons/ because I have made mention of them/ and than I will show upon what scriptures these orders are gros●●ed/ and a little compare them with those which we use/ and some certain matters incident to these/ & than I will draw to an end by God his grace. Excommunication may not be used/ but after sundry brotherly 
Of excommunication.  and sharp admonitions too & great occasions/ offences/ and contemptes showed/ as the scripture is pla●e. And in these cases they are by the people/ and order asore/ not shut out of the church door as we use/ but o●t of the church 
Shutting out of the church door.  of God/ and communion and fellowship of the saints/ they are delivered to sathan/ and to be esteemed/ and to be no more taken for Christian men/ till they repent/ then Heathens or Turks are/ save that/ as they may be allowed/ yea and procured if it may be to come to hear sermons/ so also they may be conferred with by the brethren/ to bring them to repentance. But they shall not be allowed to the sacrament/ the pledge of Christ his league with his church/ until by repentance they may be admitted as afore is said/ into the fellowship of the church again. Neither shall any brother/ or sister/ use his or their company/ but to admonish them/ and exhort them to repentance / or as he or she may the heathens company/ for their necessary affairs in the world/ as they may have dealing together/ or as a wife/ which 
1. Cor. 5. ●. 10. ●. Cor. 7. ●2. ●3.  may not departed from her husband if he will abide with her/ and yet she may be admitted to the fellowship of the congregation/ if she contemn not the doing of the church/ but do her uttermost to call her husband home. In like case/ if it were the wife that were excommunicated/ he should be admitted/ and not she. Shortly to say: Excommunication 
No punishment so grievous in this world/ as Excommunication.  is a fearful thing/ as it is prescribed by the scriptures/ and used by the Churches of Christ reform accordingly. No punishment to it in this world/ but only hell eternally/ for he that is in it/ either he hath his conscience seered who a hot iron/ I mean it is brawned/ and he hath no feeling/ or else he cannot be without a hell ●n his conscience: for he is out of the fellowship of the Saints/ he cannot claim to be of Christ his body/ nor that his promises and mercy belong to him/ if he seek not to be received by repentance into the congregation of christ again/ nor he may not have that comfortable pledge of Christ his supper in fruition with the church/ till his repentance be accepted by that church. Neither may any other church receive him/ till he have satisfied that church/ but the 
some shar● punishment would be provided b● the civil magistrate for him that contemneth excommunication/ but with less● charge them a significavit. What a deacon is. Act. 6. 3.  minister and consistory of that church/ whereto he newly repaireth/ shall inquire from whence he came/ and have testimony from thence/ and not admit him/ no more than the other church/ or if otherwise/ to answer it at some conference or council provincial/ or national. And besides/ the civil magistrate/ the nurse and foster father o● the church/ shall do well to provide some sharp punishment for those that contemn this censure and discipline of the church/ for no doubt it is in the degree of blasphemy/ of a heathen our saviour saith/ that renounceth God/ and Christ/ and thus much of that. A Deacon is an office of the church for the behoof of the poor/ chosen to this office by the congregation/ by such means as afore is prescribed in the choice of Elders/ by advise and consent/ being a noted man for godly judgement/ and faithfulness/ as it is plain out of the scriptures/ that such a one he should be. His office is to visit the poor in deed/ to look diligently what they lack/ and how many they be/ and what be their names/ and to certify the Consistory/ or such a number in one parish they may be/ that they shall need a general contribution/ and then the deacon/ or deacons/ with those of the Consistory afore named/ may certify the counsel provincial/ that a provision may be levied for the sustentation of those poor/ which provision shall be delivered into these deacons hands/ to be distributed and turned to the behoof of that poor/ and to give an account of that they distribute/ and the rest in their hands to their own Consistory/ for that which is collected there/ or they/ and those of the consistory/ as afore/ to certify it to the council provincial/ for the general contribution/ how it is truly employed. This office howsoever papistry● hat●e converted/ or perverted it/ is an office needful/ and commanded to the church of God/ used by 
Luk. 11. 4. 3. h. 13. 29.  the jews before the coming of Christ/ Christ himself using in his small company to have one to bear provision for the poor/ the Apostles took it up in the church of jerusalem. The Apostle Paul not only maketh mention of that 
●●t. 6. 13.  office to the Romans/ showing thereby that it was there/ but he and Timothy saluteth them/ writing to the Philippians/ showing thereby 
Phil. 1. 1. ●. T●. 3. 8.  that they were of great account. And writing to Timothy/ he prescribeth their election what it should be/ to direct not only the choice of them/ but to commend the use of them to the church. And therefore such there must be procured in this english church/ as at this day there is in reform churches. Now to let pass the order of deacons at this day/ having no ground out of the scriptures/ but foolish/ and according to the popish canons/ whereby they may as well make them the bishops guard/ to defend him when he preacheth/ as in those canons they are/ & the eye of the bishop to look about many things touching his person/ as thus employ them. To let pass to speak thereof/ seeing it is noted in the former treatises/ this I say further/ that this is God his order for the poor/ and none that will fit it so well. Surely God be thanked for that care 
The last statute for the poor.  which you have had this Parliament of the poor/ and of the suppressing of idle and wicked vagaboundes/ being in so good a way/ it may be easy to practise this way/ to fortify by law th●s course of the scriptures for the pores provision/ and to continued that other branch still/ for the suppressing of idle and wicked vagabonds. For as touching the poor/ which are poor in deed/ they must have further provision/ & further comfort/ then in deed can be procured by this statute. For besides the naming and knowing of them/ they are not enjoined to visit and comfort them/ whereby they might be provoked to godliness/ they may seek and wait for their provision/ and peradventure have many a hard word to grieve them with/ and no christian consolation/ & they may lack many things which they ought to have. And these collectors shall not be subject to the consistory/ & congregation/ to give account not only of the sums collected/ but also whether they have visited the poor/ and comforted them. For in the primitive church/ there was such care had of the poor/ that there were also widows appointed and maintained/ that should 
widows  wash/ pick/ and keep the things about the poor/ sweet/ and clean/ and intent them for their necessaries 
1. tim. 5. 5 / that should entertain the poor strangers that travailed/ and were driven from place to place for then conscience/ and were not sufficient to maintain their own charges/ to entertain them I say/ to bathe and wash their feet/ surbatted with going/ and to intend to minister to them/ the necessaries there provided by that church for that use. O godly care/ and very christian custom. I would/ we would in some part/ in this our great wealth and abundance/ resemble the care for the poor (our own brethren/ ou● own flesh) which the poor churches had in the time of their own trouble/ for the poor that then were amongst them/ and repaired from other places to them/ we should not then thus unnaturally / hardly be drawn by law to pay that we are rated at/ but we would willingly stretch out our purses/ yea and strain ourselves far/ rather than either they of our own parishes/ should lack any thing/ or yet the afflicted churches of the strangers/ which are amongst us from 
●ore stran●ers ●o be stied.  France/ Flaunders/ Italy/ Spain/ or any other place should be destitute/ or lack any thing for their comfort. And yet God knoweth/ most unchristianly/ and wakedly/ many of us cry out against poor strangers/ as though we never had been strangers/ nor were never relieved by them/ or that we were not all of one body. Thanks be given to God for the Queen's majesty/ and the counsel/ and the rest of the honourable/ worshipful/ and others by whose means they are here supported and maintained. And I am sure of it/ we all far the better for it at God his hands. And I beseech the whole state/ & beseech God/ that the whole stare may bend themselves to have more and more care for the godly strangers that are of the churches in deed/ and not to be grieved that they are so many/ but to pit their present persecution/ and to comfort them. For the other swine that are not of the churches/ I pray God they may find little favour/ except they repent & join themselves to the churches. Thus much also of the Leacons. This order of the church government/ is grounded upon that saying of our saviour. 
* Mat. 18. 17. Num. 11.  Tei the church/ wherein it is certain he alludeth to that consistory of the jews/ and the scriptures that direct their government. And it is so certain/ that such a consistory they had/ and such elders/ as it shall not 
Deu. 31. ● 2. chr. 19 ● Synedriū● mat. 5. 22▪ ● 1. tim. 5. 1●  need further to examine those scriptures/ but to come to the practice of the Apostles/ & the churches planted by them. The apostle noteth that there are in the church bearing office/ & ruling/ which should be had in estimation for their office/ two sorts of elders and rulers/ whereof the one sort also ruleth/ but they labour in the word and doctrine to/ and their office is the principal. He distinguisheth them to the Corinth's/ the teachers 
1. Cor. 12. 28.  and the governors/ because all governors are not teachers/ but because all teachers are governors/ as to Timothy before is said/ so to the Romans/ dividing the offices of the 
Rom. 11. 6. 7. 8.  church into two sorts/ government/ and ministering to the poor. To the first office he assigneth doctor's/ pastors/ and governors/ calling them by these names/ teacher's/ exhorters/ and ruler's/ and to the second office/ he assigneth deacons & widows/ calling the first those that minister/ and the widows those that show mercy. Of the widows I will say no further/ but upon like decasyon it is God his order. But for the other orders/ they must be in all well ordered churches of Christians. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas 
Act. 14. 2  set such order in the churches which they planted. It was so in the churches of Rome/ of Cornith/ of Ephesus. An order is set down 
Act. 20. 1  what men they must be. How they are to be choose/ the ministers/ the assistants/ the deacons/ yea and the widows/ is declared in the Acts of the Apostles/ and the epistle to Timothy/ as ● sore is noted. How they are to proceed against offenders/ is declared by our saviour/ and practised 
Math. 18. 15. 16. 17. 2. Thes. 3. 14. 15. 1. Cor. 5. 4. 5. 2. Cor. 2. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 11. 16. 1. Cor. 14. 40. Act. 15.  among the Thessalonians/ & the Corinth's/ and likewise of the receiving again of an excommunicate person/ and how they should use him while he abideth excommunicate. And the ordering of things comely/ and removing abuses every one to keep himself within his vocation/ so plain the places be that it needeth no more/ but that it would please you to read them/ and weigh them. And in like sort for conferences and counsels to d●ale for the stay of the churches in true doctrine/ and in godly order and quietness to the Corinth's it is plain/ and the council at jerusalem/ wherein is dealt for all those causes of the churches at once. The people that were sent to the council/ the people that chiefly dealt/ and how/ and the general consent of the Apostles/ Elders/ and brethren/ would be well observed/ as giving great light for many purposes. Well/ now who are our doers in this church government? how are they choose? what causes do they deal in? and how do they deal? In every 
What order we ●aue/ and what our ●ighe prelate's may ●oe by their ●an●n law ● commission.  parish a consistory there is not/ nor in every great town containing many parishes/ nor in every shire/ but only one in a diocese/ which containeth divers shires. I may peradventure d● deceived/ for there may be so many in adiocesse/ as there are Archdeaconries'/ besides the grand consistory of the bishop/ or his substitute the Chancellor/ for they say the Archdeacon or his substitute the official/ may visit oftener than the bishop/ & keep courts oftener than the Chancellor/ & there are in some diocese divers Archdeacon's. But what of all this? whence have they their authority? who called them? what causes deal they in? and how? of God they have not their authority/ they hold it by the Canon law/ and by the bishop. And some of them pay the bishop full well for it/ they say. And so they say/ that Chancellor's offices are so gainful/ that some of them are in fee with their bishops for them/ yea they say some bishops have paid for their byshoppricks other ways/ though not to the Queen/ and that some of them have large fees going out of their bishopprickes/ to their friends that holp them to their preferments. These are not rightly called. And whereas there is a statute to avouch this calling and authority that the bishops usurp/ the statute may make it good by law to hold such titles and dignities/ but not before God. I have spoken of it before/ and seeing ministers must be equal/ and the order must be/ that some must be governed by all/ and not all by some in the church government/ then the same argument is of force against Archdeacon's/ and all such high prelate's/ which is against Lord bishops/ Lord bishops (I say) for the name bishop is not the name of a Lord/ but of a painful minister/ and pastor/ or teacher: and yet in deed 
Bishop in England is the only name of a Lord minister/ but in scripture ● is no lorde● name at all.  in England every bishop is a Lord. I know the common people would marvel/ yea/ and jolly wise men too/ if they herded their pastor say/ I am your bishop/ a bishop on God his name/ when were you made Lord/ and so take him to be proud/ for no man is a bishop here/ but he is also a Lord/ which thing I say/ because I do not mean that the scripture alloweth not a bishop/ but not a Lord bishop. A bishop or overseer / or pastor/ and teacher in every congregation the scripture doth allow/ and him or them to be the principal of the consistory of their congregation it doth allow/ but this high Prelacy it alloweth not/ but forbiddeth it utterly. Now than/ seeing they have no lawful calling/ how can they deal in any causes lawfully? but yet they do deal/ though not lawfully before God/ and that in infinite causes. And the proctor's and doctor's of that law/ say the study of the law is infinite/ because the causes are infinite/ one I trow en gendering another/ and so surely are the delays and fees of those courts infinite. They have to examine all transgressions against the book of common prayer/ the injunctions/ the advertisements/ the canons/ the metropolitical articles/ the bishop's articles of the diocese/ all the spiritual causes (as they call them) of the whole diocese/ or every Archdeacon of his circuit/ and the Archbishop of his province/ and the Arches of the whole realm/ and for certain causes the prerogative court of my Lord his grace of Canterbury/ is over the realm also. Also of spiritual/ yea and many carnal causes also/ and that so handled/ that it would grieve a chaste earc/ to hear the bawdy pleading of many proctor's and doctor's in those courts/ and the summoner's/ yea/ and the registers themselves/ master Archdeacon/ and master Chancellor/ are eiten feign to 
●nchaste ●leading.  laugh it out many times/ when they can keep their countenance no longer. An unchaste kind of pleading of unchaste matters. They have much ado in marriage matters: when folk may not marry: what degrees may not marry/ and much more ado about divorcements/ then either God or equity would/ restraining both parties from marriage/ as long as they both are alive together. Besides they have the trial of titles to benefices/ and trial of tithes/ & trial of testaments/ and by their high commission they may do many more things/ and use other then spiritual coercion (as they call it) they may do what they will/ saving life (I think) beaten/ prison/ punish by the purse/ banish/ & I wots not what? All people/ dicares and curates/ all church wardens/ all side men/ sworn men/ and many forsworn/ and all parishes are at their commandment. They 
A large scope.  may command all Matres/ Bailiffs/ Constable's/ and such like officers. All people are open to them/ all jailers obey them/ receive their prisoners/ and hamper them as they enjoin them. They have good causes and bad brought before them/ and punish both sometimes/ but the worst seldomest & lest/ and the best oftenest and most. Many of their causes/ & much of their dealings are declared in the former treatises/ therefore I will be but brief. And thus I say/ that neither they/ nor any order we have in England this day doth/ or can do that/ which only God his order can do/ and was appointed to do. Neither their provincials/ nor the whole course of their canon law/ nor their articles/ nor commissions/ can rightly order Christ's church/ nor any statute availeth thereunto/ but only that law/ which bindeth the whole land to God his orders for the governing of his church. And therefore to make laws it availeth not/ save mere civil/ as in this case (which they count spiritual) for the provision of the ministry/ & a law to stablish a right reformation drawn 
Conuocatio house.  out of the scriptures. I would leave to speak any further of their convocation house/ because the force of it dependeth upon the other houses of parliament/ and my lords the bishop's pleasures/ for nothing they do but for a fashion/ until they come to the subsidy/ and they have had pretty devices to stop their doing/ they have had an order ere now to speak nothing but latin/ which was 
Clerks of the parliament house.  the way for many to tell but short tales/ for fear of shame. But yet among abuses of these clergy men/ this is a great one/ the whole house is a great abuse/ but the polling of their clergy for their clerks fees/ and their disorderous choosing of their clerks may be numbered among the rest of their enormities/ following none other order/ but for the face of a thing/ saving only my Lord bishops pleasure/ or else he will know why/ and yet it shallbe as he will/ when at is done/ for either his Archdeacon shall have one room to bear his charges withal/ which otherwise must be there Ex officio/ & so ware his own charges/ or some other of his friends shall have that room/ & his Chancellor shall have the other to pleasure him with/ not for any pleasure commonly that the Chancellor can do in this house/ who ca scarce say (as they say) sue to a goose/ and if they had need of 
Clerkly divines.  a divines answer or him/ wing most commonly a dudging Canonist/ & sometime a Doctor. But when he is best/ best is to bad. Thus I say/ for this matter the bishop dealeth/ or to testowe it upon his chaplain/ which shall wait at the stirrup/ or at the bridle/ to buy him a new gown/ & somewhat with/ but as unfit for the house as the former commonly/ but the bishop will have the apoynting of both ro●me●. O the tyranny that they use many/ many ways. I have thus briefly as I could/ and handling matters as I aught/ passed through many abuses in the ministry/ and government of the church of Christ in England/ and I have according to my poor talon declared/ what should be the state of a well ordered and reform church. How many sorts of ministers/ how they should be called to the function/ what their effice is/ what order should be amongst them/ what meetings & conferences there should be for the continuing of true religion/ and for them to increase in knowledge by. And in like sort I have waded in declaring what offices there should be in the government/ what struck they may b●are/ so it be by the congregation/ what a consistory is/ what excommunication is/ what provision there should be made for the poor/ what the deacons office is/ and or all other orders of the consistory/ which it pleased God that I had in mind/ and thought most profitable to utter. It remaineth for me now to return again to the state. To the Queen's most excellent majesty/ the hou〈…〉able Co 〈…〉 rs/ all the Nobility & all the worshipful Commons of this realm. And I humbly beseech her Majesty in principal 
Appeal.  to vouchsafe the hearing of us/ and like as 〈◊〉 make our appear from the L. bishops to be uprightly herded/ what may be said of our parts further/ and more 〈…〉 ghly in this matter of Gods/ by divers o● no small learning and judgement/ & 〈…〉 tie of li●e/ so it will please her majesty/ and you all/ ●erem to accept our appeal/ that not only we may 〈◊〉 jus be oppressed/ & wrung 
Urgent causes.  as we are/ against all equal and conscience/ but also that God his cause should not i● so trodden under foot/ the benefit of his church so little regarded/ such daily contentions raised by/ and not pacified/ such grieving of godly men's consciences / & they not relieved. In so quiera reign of our sovereign/ that Papists for pity are not much disquieted/ and yet there should be a persecution of poor christians/ and the professors of the gospel suffered not far unlike to the s●●e articles 
The s●xe Articles.  which cratty heads devised/ and prought the king her noble father unto as they would do her majesty how. That we should have God his cause by us truly and faithfully propounded/ & by others wickedly oppugned/ and withstood/ & yet it may not by us again be maintained without great per●l. We beseech you to pity this case/ and to provide for it. It is the case already of many a thousand in this land/ yea it is the case of as many as seek the Lord aright/ & desire to have his own orders restored. Great troubles will come of it/ if it be not provided for/ even the same God that hath stirred me/ a man unknown to speak/ though those poor men which are locked up in Newgate/ neither do/ nor can be suffered to speak/ will daily stir up moas yet unknown/ though I were known & an hundred ●o/ well able to writ and speak in the matter. Except you will profess to persecute us (which we hope her majesty of her wont rare clemency will not suffer though no doubt she shallbe by many importunately solicited/ and in manner forced) our cause unheard/ we do require and humbly beseech you/ if by these books you be not resolved what to do/ yet to provide for our safety/ & give us the hearing. They would bear men in hand that we despise authority/ and contemn laws/ but they shamefully slander us to you/ that so say. For it is her majesties authority we sly to/ as the supreme governor 
The magistrates authority/ and the laws we fly to.  in all causes/ & over all persons within her dominions appointed by God/ and we fly to the laws of this realm/ the bonds of all peace & good orders in this land. And we beseech her majesty to have the hearing of this matter of Gods/ and to take the defence of it upon her. And to fortify it by law/ that it may be received by common order throughout her dominions. For though the orders be/ & aught to be drawn out of the book of God/ yet it is her majesty that by her princely authority should see every of these things put in practice/ and punish those that neglect them/ making laws therefore/ for the church may keep these orders/ but never in peace/ except the comfortable and blessed assistance of the states & governors link in to see them accepted in their countries/ and used. For otherwise the church may and must keep God his orders/ but always in troubles and persecution/ which is like to light upon us/ except a reformation of Religion/ or a direct Proviso for us be made/ for surely only this is God his order/ & aught to be used in his church/ so that in conscience we are forced to speak for it/ and to use it/ & in conscience/ & in the reverence of God/ we are forced to speak as we do of that reformation/ which we now use/ not so much for ought else/ as to set out the deformities thereof/ that we might think upon the amending of them. It is showed in the former treatises/ how we think of the time and the people/ when/ and by whom it was first made and authorized: yea & we know/ that hitherunto the state that now is/ hath not been sufficiently instructed in any better than they use/ wherefore we lay the fault where the fault is/ upon the bishops/ & that sort who are so soft set/ & fat fed/ that they think they cannot better themselves by god his orders/ not for worldly ease & pomp/ and therefore they neither have dealt/ nor will deal themselves/ to change the course/ nor for aught I see/ will suffer any other to deal/ but their authority & friends shall fail them/ but they will oppress them. They pretend much that her majesty is sore bend against us/ and that it is not so much their doing: if that were so/ then should they themselves deal for 
Quarrellous justices.  us to her majesty/ and cease that course they have gone. But we know because it most toucheth them/ they must hate us. Wherefore we beseech your godly wisdoms to have consideration of the matter/ and not to leave us in their danger/ nor in danger of such justices & other/ which be glad to have a quarrel to us for our conscience/ which can find none in our lives/ inditing us/ fyneing us. etc. Now it is thus propounded unto you/ if it seem strange & hard to you (as no doubt to them the are not acquainted with the matter it will do/ because they are better acquainted with another course/ we beseech you to suffer/ & to procure it to be further discussed by free conference among the learned men in this realm. There are many well able to do it/ & will be ready to do it/ if they 
Certain obiectious answered.  were called upon/ & so shall you have sufficient light. There be that say. It will be troublous to proceed in these things by public authority/ & that it cannot be done. I would desire them that say so▪ to remember how troublous it is/ and will be the while/ to many good consciences/ & how that God cannot but be highly displeased in the mean time/ & how that he cannot but revenge this trouble / that is raised against poor men his faithful servants. There are the say this order cannot be throughout a realm/ we cannot erect a consistory in every town/ we cannot find in every town faithful men/ & some p●●ish hath small choice of any kind of men. Surely there would be somewhat thought of the uniting of small parishes in one. But yet there is no parish so small/ but if it have need of Christ/ and to be saved/ then it hath need of Christ's orders. And there is no subject (though in deed it be a raw time for to find in most parishes a competent number of faithful men to deal/ or to have skill to deal in these matters/ there is no subject I say/ but if (making the best choice) he were choose as it is directed afore/ and a great penalty upon him to deal in it faithfully/ but he could not choose but deal in it/ & that trustily & well/ so that withal there were drawn certain general orders/ to direct him or them how to deal/ & an honest learned pastor placed over every stock. But some say it will be hard to find a preacher such a one as I spoke of before for every parish to furnish the realm any thing like. To this I say/ use those you have. First place in manner as afore/ all your bishops in benefices/ that be of a sound religion/ and you shall furnish so many benefices as they be in number/ for they have none. Yet they say/ some of them have some benefices/ as I said before to amend their livings withal. Besides/ use all you have abroad which be fit for it/ and in the universities. And let such exercises be taken up/ as I have spoken of/ and let the towardliest of those that already have been in benefices/ if they will be content to go to their books/ & afterward be employed upon the ministery/ let them be sent to the universities/ or such like places/ and be provided for/ by y● colle●ges/y● they may proceed in learning. And you know not the store that God will raise you ●● short time/ if you go about this godly purpose thoroughly. Take order that those faithful ministers which you have/ may be placed in the greatest congregations. And for the sacraments/ let those parishes/ that are yet unprovided/ repair to the parishes next adjoining that are provided of pastors/ that they may use the sacraments as they aught/ not without the preaching of the word so that they be content to be examined & allowed/ as in that church whereto they shall resort/ they shall find it ordered. And in the mean whil●/ till preachers increase to furnish the places unfurnished/ if upon conference among the learned/ it be thought meet/ let 
What prayer should be made.  the places unfurnished be appointed some discrete man/ or to make some entire prayer/ publicly with them for all the church/ this realm/ our sovereign/ the state/ and the particular occasions of that congregation/ for such prayer should be 
Patron's/ presentations/ i●stitu●ions & inductions now used must cease.  made. He majesty/ and other that have had the gift of benefices are to be desired to departed with it that in manner as afore/ the choice of the minister may be free/ without all corruption/ the minister being sought and received for his fytnesse only. For the contrary cannot be continued without great tyranny exercised over the Church of God/ and many corruptions necessarily ●●●oent thereupon. Thus will I conclude/ desiring them that think I have been too round with the bishops / and that sort/ to remember how round they are with us/ and how cruel/ and again how just my speech is/ and further how it concerneth them not/ any longer than they keep this trade/ no more than the upbraiding of popish priests/ which toucheth not those which have renounced it/ and I desire those that amongst themselves have a right remorse of God his glory/ and the churches good/ to give over/ that we may brotherly join together/ and be helped by the good gifts which God hath given them. And we shall praise God for them with all our hearts. And our admonitions/ our God knoweth/ hath no worse meaning. And I beseech him so to bless our labour/ and those that deal in this his cause/ that though our sins deserve no increase/ yet for his Christ's sake pardoning us/ we may every day be more and more lightened in godly judgement/ and stirred to embrace godliness/ that as we profess to be his church/ we may keep him our loving God and father/ and be kept by him to be his obedient servants and sons/ here to serve him/ & after to inherit with him/ that crown purchased and promised unto us of his own great unspeakable mercies in Christ his son our dear saviour/ ever to praise and magnify him in that eternal blessedness and glory/ being God most high and unsearchable in his wisdom and judgements. To whom be all praise/ power/ and dominion ascribed & yielded as is right/ and due now/ and for ever. So be it.  Galath. 6. 7. Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth/ that shall he also reap.  

CERTAIN Articles, collected and taken (as it is thought) by the Bishops our of a little book entitled an admonition to the Parliament/ with an Answer to the same. Containing a confirmation of the said Book in short notes.  Esay. 5. 20. Woe be unto them that speak good of evil/ and evil of good/ which put darkness for light/ and light for darkness/ that put bitter for sweet and sweet for sour. 

The printer to the Reader.  
This work is finished thanks be to God/  
And he only will keep us from the searchers rod.  
And though master Day and Toy watch & ward/  
We hope the living God is our safeguard.  
Let them seek/ look/ and do now what they can/  
It is but inventions/ and policies of man.  
But you will marvel where it was finished/  
And you shall know (perchance) when domes day is ended/   

Imprinted we know where/ and when/  
judge you the place and you can.   
I C. I SAINT