THE POLLUTION OF Vniversitie-Learning, OR, SCIENCES (Falsely so called)  
Whereby most of the youth are so infected, and both they and their Parents so deceived, that when they come to age, they prove either unprofitable or hurtful Members to the Commonwealth, as now in these dangerous days all the truly godly have doleful exeperience; As it was well observed almost threescore years ago, by that faithful Martyr of jesus Christ, Mr. Henry Barrow, in divers of his Books for Separate or independent CHURCHES.  
The evil of which kind of learning so attained, with many others flowing from thence, may be remedied henceforth by the grave determination of the King and Parliament.  
Read 1 Tim. 6.20, 21. and Colloss. 1.2, 8.  
LONDON, Printed in the year, Anno Dom. 1642.   

The Preface to the READER.  
IF thou that readest this Treatise, be one that hast drunken of those polluted Fountains of Vniverstie learning, which (upon the terms thou didst believe it) is so much the more poisonable for the soul, than the waters of Mara were bitter for the body, as the soul is more excellent than the body, yet if thou hast any true desire (though never so small) to be refreshed with the clear and fresh waters of life; or if thou wilt await at the Pool of Bethesda, until the Angel of the Covenant come and cure thee, surely there is a possibility of thy recovery, and God that separated light from darkness, can easily make a separation between the evil thou hast received there, in thy tender years, and the good thou hast attained otherwise; even as he did both in Moses when he was pleased to call and fit him for his special service being trained up in all the wisdom as well as the profits and pleasures of Egypt; and also in Paul, who was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and could speak more languages than all the Philosophers of Corinth.  
Or if thou be one that baste been taught in all godly learning (which truly both deserveth and getteth the name in God's Word) as the sons of the Prophets were of old, and wherein Timothy was brought up from a child, though thou be ignorant of all University learning (especially upon such hard, or rather intolerable terms as whereby it is obtained) surely thou hast great cause to rest contented, use it to the right end, and praise the wise God, who knoweth best what is for thy good.  
And as for the tongues, which God gave at the first for a curse or judgement, to hinder the building of the Tower of Babel, the same God that can bring good out of evil, did at the first preaching of the Gospel, change that curse or judgement into a blessing or mercy to all Nations, through the divulging thereof to each Nation in their own language; if these (I say) or any godly learning may be had in a holy way, doubtless a happy and sanctified use may be made thereof, to the glory of God and good of his Church, but no otherwise, nor upon any unlawful terms, such as wicked oaths, orders, degrees and ceremonies, neither Idolatrous places, nor yet in, nor amongst the company of such ungodly Doctors, Bachelors, graduates, Masters of Arts, Fellows, Professors nor Students, whose lives and conversations are in this Treatise described to be like Rome if not like Sodom.  
And although these days be very hard and harsh unto many thousands, as I and mine have had long and doleful experience; yet in many respects, especially of a hopeful plantation of Christ's glorious Gospel in the purity and authorithy thereof (for any other reformation can hardly or possibly be good) these days (I say) are far better than the former days, wherein we, and our predecessors went on superstition, sin and ignorance, and when we would not commit sin enough, and that with greediness, there were both wicked laws and taskmasters to urge us, as it was both in Egypt and 〈◊〉 in the days of Phraoh and Jeroboam; but praised be our good and 〈…〉, that hath so mercifully and beyond both our expectation and deserving infinite degrees, raised up the Scottish nation, both to break all their bands, and cut their cords, yea, and to make such a happy way for us, that both live and sojourn here, whereby to escape the crafty snares of the bloody enemies, as a bird out of the hands of the fowler: Many Prophets and righteous men in Christ, would have been glad to see the days that we see, and could not see them, and to hear the things that we hear, but could not hear them.  
But lest I be too tedious, I will not insist by way of preamble, because few words are sufficient for the wise, (I mean for the godly wise, and not those mentioned, 1 Cor. 1.18, 19) I refer thee to this little portion of a worthy Martyr's observations (of never dying memory, notwithstanding all the Clergies cruelty) who, when he was close prisoner in the Fleet many years, being not only urged to write anumber of books against ambitious and covetous Clergy men, but to answer all their objections in many several disputations and examinations, two of them being sent after, two by the Bishops to forge quarrels, and to try if they could entangle either him in speech, or Master Greenwood, who was a close prisoner also, and executed with him early in a morning, before either any competent number of people gathered; or Queen Elizabeth heard (being twice rescued by her before) whose several examinations, excellent observations, and their adversaries calumniations, as also those of that that other worthy martyr, Master Penry, are yet extant in print, though the light thereof bathe been long eclipsed and obscured, with many other worthy men's Works through the injury and iniquity of the times, until now, that by God's special providence, undederserved and unexpected love to us in Christ, that the strong deludge of books which (hath been so long by such wicked laws, decrees and persecutions stopped, as that most severe book of statutes made in the Star Chamber against printers, and the cruelty used against John Lilbourne can testify) doth (I say) overflow all the banks, both of hellish and Romish limitation.  
All whose Works, with learned Master Henry ainsworth's. wilkinson's, robinson's, with many others of the separation, I wish thee to peruse, and so regard them for thine own good, as thou seest them tend to the glory of God, being tried by the touchstone of his Word, and then, I hope, thou wilt give him the whole praise, and howsoever thou esteems either of the Author or me, his frail instruments, I bid thee farewell.   

Faults escaped in the aforegoing page.  
In the preceding page, line 3. for believe, read receive. and line 20. read only wise God.   

The unlawfulness of University Learning, Or Sciences, falsely so called, extracted out of Mr. HENRY BARROWS Book.  
ONE sort of the Ministry of the Church of England is the Collegiate or idle Ministry, which may be divided, or rather distinguished, because sometimes they are mixed and joined, one man being a Master of a College and a Dean, a Fellow of a House, and a Preband, and each of them have a Parsonage or two for a need) into these two kinds, Academical and Cathedral. The third sort the Monastical, being by the hand of God and the Magistrates sword cut off and suppressed. These Academical Divines live, have their education and degrees in the Colleges, Halls and Cells of the two Universities. The original corrupt customs and use of which places it is not my purpose here to discourse; neither indeed have I skill aright to discuss whether, and how they sprang from the Heathens, or from the Papists. Only this I dare affirm, that from the Book of God they never derived these their Colleges, Schools, Halls, Orders, Degrees, Vows Customs, Ceremonies, Attire, that I say not their Arts, Authors, exercise and use of their learn, disputations, commencements, etc. But as they have received them elsewhere, so have they ever belonged to another head and Kingdom, and can by no means (in this state they now stand, and have time out of mind continued) be made to accord to the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ, whereof these University Divines have ever been the professed and most bitter enemies, furnishing Antichrists Host in all the rooms and places even from the Pope's chair, to the Parish Priests pulpit or pew, with fresh servitors continually, corrupting the pure Fountains, and perverting the text it sefe with their glosses, paraphrases, notes, figures etc. fight with their School-learning, vain arts, philosophy, rhetoric, and logic against the truth and servants of God, striving hereby to uphold Antichrists ruinous kingdom and abominable wares, which these merchantmen set to sail for gains as we by present experience see (now their portion and idle Monastical life, beginneth but even a little to be reproved by the light and power of the Gospel) how these craftsmen, these University Clerks rage and take on, and with their School-learning seek to turn away the evident truth of God, to colour and plead for all the abomination and sin of the times, to heal the wound and uphold the throne of the Beast, to rend, reproach, and blaspheme such as speak and witness against it, as their vituperious, unchristian and erroneous books which they daily publish, declare.  
Neither is their education and learning (if they be duly examined) such as is required in the holy Ministry of Christ: All of them (as is said) being nourished even from their Cradles with the milk of superstition, instructed in the Schools of heathen vanity, brought up in the Colleges of more than Monkish idleness and disorder, exercised in vain and curious arts, whose divinity is by tradition, etc. The truth of these things Mr. Giffard not being able to gainsay, seeketh to shuffle off with a bold boasting challenge against men unto himself unknown upon the dispense of bearing the shame, If he find not in the Universities many Bachelors of Art for exceeding in the knowledge of the liberal Arts, the three Tongues, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, or in sound judgement of Divinity, even the Principal Masters of Brownism; which if it could in so few years be obtained with more than Monkish idleness, then may the Brownists in some thing be believed. First, we give him, to wit, that there are of those he calleth Brownists, sundry of greater continuance, and that have as high degree in those Schools with as high commendation as himself, although they boast not of such things whereof they ought to be ashamed. Then that there are, as many of his brethren the Monks, that think themselves as skilful as himself, or the greatest Clerk in the University. But now, in all this, what will our ignorance help him or their store of learning show, that they have not been, and are not thus initiate and brought up. In their Grammar School it cannot be denied, but they learned, and learn the Latin tongue, from the most heathenish and profane authors, lascivious Poets, etc. which are allowed with the privilege of the Church of England, as most Christian rudiments to be taught the youth in the public School. When they have passed all these forms, and can both say much of those Authors by heart, and use their phrase, then are they sent to the University to learn the arts, and to be instructed in Philosophy, etc. Hitherto it cannot be denied, but Heathenism, and such execrable Idolatry as is found in those Authors, is written and engraven upon the tables of their heart, and filled upon their tongues; even from their infancy. Well and when they are come to the University, there are they first salted, as they call it in the College, and matriculate in the public Schools solemnly sworn upon the Proctor's book, to keep their mother's statutes and secrets, and not to reveal her Mysteries, or teach her Arts any where but in the University. Then are they instructed both publicly and privately in Logic and Rhetoric in the Elenches and Topics, in the Tropes and Figures of all kinds; wherein they must be perfect, for these Arts are of special use unto them and to serve at all assays. Then proceed to Philosophy, and there Aristotle is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst them, out of whose mouth and writing they fetch their Positions and Axioms; Definitions, Aphorisms, Distinctions, etc. out of his Ethics, Economics and Politics they fetch the order and government of their manners, private estates, and commonwealth. He yet further instructeth them of the Soul, and of the World, in large and special books; of the heaven, of natural and supernatural things, of Nature, Fortune, the eternity of the world, and perpetuity of all creatures in their kind in specie, of the regions of the air and several things in them contained, the Meteors, etc. there learn they the causes of the Rainbow, the making of the winds, clouds, and of the whole sky, fare otherwise then is set down in Genesis. Yet leadeth he them higher, and showeth them the celestial Spheres. Planers' Stars, Quintessences, even from the Moon to their Caelum cristallinum empiraeum, and their Primum Mobile, with their several places, dimensurations, motions and Motors: yea, yet learn they more secret things with their constellations, radiations, influence, and predomination according to their signs, houses, oppositions, aspects, eclipses, etc. whereby most strange and wonderful things are prognosticate and foretold concerning the weather & seasons of the year the state of Kingdoms, the diseases and dangers to come, etc. concerning nativities and times of death (commonly called Fortanes) concerning things to come, or things past, stolen, lost, found, etc. These things, it were frenzy, if not blasphemy, to call vain and curious Arts. Master Giffard would never bear it at the hands of such blind Schismatics (whose bane such deep learning is) seeing these Sciences are vulgarly taught, studied, practised, allowed and maintained, not only in the Universities, but of the whole Church of England, as by their yearly Prognostications every where to be sold, is to be seen. These studies and Arts we may not call perierga, curious, because Mr. Giffard saith, Luke speaketh only of conjuration, Acts 19 But let him approve these lawful by the Scriptures, and surely I will gladly confess mine ignorance and sin, in calling these studies and Arts profane, curious, unfit for a Christian, much more for a Minister of the Church. Otherwise let not any through mine unskilfulness (who peradventure repeat not aright, or in due place the terms of these Arts, as having either forgotten them through long discontinuance, or it may be, never learned them a right) take occasion either to carp at me therefore, or especially to think the better of these vain and curious, yea, unlawful and unchristian Arts and studies, which have not only no warrant in God's Word, but are directly contrary unto, and expressly forbidden in the same, as were not hard to show and prove, if the subject were not too large, and should not make too wide a Parenthesis in this Treatise, and draw it out to a greater length than I would. I will not therefore stand here to discuss their philosophical problems, paradoxes, axioms, or several sentences and opinions, which are authentical and currant amongst them, how evil they agree to the Word of God; or to show how fare these curiors' Inquisitors, these Stargazers, Astrologians, Calcars, Wizards Divines, exceed the bounds of faith and sobrietiy, and pass the limits of Gods revealed Will: or, whether they may wander by these heathenish or devilish opinions of the Heavens, Stars, and their revolutions, influence, etc. Motors, Demons or Spirits, and how near this approacheth to conjuration: Or to show how fare they are suffered to proceed, yea, profess and practise in these devilish Arts: Let the books (that I charge no persons) which are commonly bought and studied in the Universities, and in all other parts of the Realm without their controlment show. Neither will I here proceed to repeat their other vain, curious, fond, trifling and vile Arts and Studies, which were endless. Only in this place I must here add unto those public professed Arts above recited, the study of all Heathen and profane Histories of all ages, nations, persons wherein they must of necessity be prompt and expert; as from those fountains to draw their examples and platforms of manners and the government of States; as from whence to fetch the chief ornaments of their stile, Orations, Sermons, Books, to exemplify, illustrate, prove or improve: yea, as whereby to open and expound the Scriptures both of the old and new Testament, chief the old Prophets, without which they cannot be understood, but especially Esay and Daniel. As to Rhetoric and Logic they are so necessary, as without which it is impossible to understand or divide any part of the Scriptures aright; as without which they cannot understand or declare to the people by what trope or figure, by what form of argument or Syllogism the holy Ghost speaketh.  
In these Arts and Studies, are the Academical Divines, or rather Peripatetic Philosophers, trained and exercised. In these they must needs spend seven of their first years at the least, else should they be unfit to take those degrees of Bachelor and Master of Art; or to make that public profession they do of the Arts at their Commencements. In these Arts and Studies when they are once a little exercised and instructed, that they begin to perceive the grounds and method thereof, then are they trained both publicly and privately to defend or oppose against some of these Axioms or Positions, both by way of Oration and Argument in their Sophisms and Disputations, and therein all being approved (or at the least allowed) they then take the first degrees of Schocles, and commence Bachelors of Art; and have as ensigns of their degree and knowledge, special attire and furniture assigned them to be known from other common scholars; as the square Cap, trunk Gown, the Hood of one shoulder, the habit, etc. which they must wear. Afteward having spent more than three years in study on these Arts, and having done their public acts Pro gradu, than they commence Masters of the said Arts, and are again solemnly sworn and made Regent's and Lecturers of their Schools, and sit, read, and dispute of the same Arts publicly in a solemn high Seat, Pulpit or Chair for Orations; as also read private Lectures thereof in their Colleges. Now I would here by the way know of Master Giffard, what time and leisure a Bachelor of Art that continueth in the University, and proceedeth in those orders and degrees can have, to study Divinity, or to grow so prompt in the knowledge, judgement, and exercise thereof, as he dare engage his credit he shall be found fare to pass therein such as in therein 〈…〉 been allowed publicly to preach, and of the Bishops been made full Ministers. But to our purpose, when these Clerks are thus instituted and furnished with these liberal sciences, and this groundwork throughly laid, then may they in good time proceed to the study of Divinity, (as they call it) which is set out unto them in great volumes and infinite books of men's writings, both old and new, where they have such variety of Paraphrases, Commentaries, Common places, Catechises. etc. (Not to trouble them at the first with the Primitive Histories, Doctors, Counsels) as they may in short space (if they study hard) become pretty Divines, and be able to show their Author's judgement, yea (through the help of Rotoricke and a good memory) to make a Sermon an hour long: Always carefully provided that they utter no more, then that they have read in some allowed Author, having the privilege of the Church of England and presume not either to understand the Text otherwise then their Authors interpret it, or to add one note of their own observation, for that (how consonant soever to the truth) were great presumption & rashness. Neither may they over-far apply or enforce the judgement of their Authors against any present enormity established by authority in the Church of England, for that were intolerable against the peace of the Church, yea, seditious against the Magistrate's authority, etc. Thus, whilst these Divines are held within these limits of modesty and sobriety, and continue with their Mother the University, they may in due time set up their bills of challenge upon the School doors that they mean to dispute upon such and such questions of Divinity, and do their acts pro gradu. Which being dispatched, either in tenebris or in luce, then are they fit for the Commencement to be made Bachelors of Divinity. In like manner against that day must such of them as have before passed all these degrees, and now are fit to proceed Doctors of Divinity, do their acts in the public School accordingly in these Divinity Disputation Sermons ad derum, etc. And against this solemn Commencement must especial choice be made of those that are to commence Bachelors and Doctors of Divinity, to keep the public acts that day. And these for their further credits often times will undertake to defend against all comers, such Propositions as are most odious to all men, in whom is any light, conscience, knowledge, or fear of God. As that it is lawful for one man to have more Benefices and Flocks to attend on, than one at one time; That it is lawful to be a Non resident, to live from his flock whereof he taketh charge; That the unpreaching Ministers are true and lawful Pastors, and the Sacraments by them delivered true and holy Sacraments; That Christ's outward government in his Church, practice and set down by his Apostles, is not of necessity or perpetual, but variable and arbitrable at the will of men, according to times estates etc. These and such like, these Graduates publish and defend, the Vice-Chancelor and and whole Senate of the University conclude and confirm, as Catholic Orthodox and most sound, rejecting whatsoever Scriptures or Reasons shall by these comical Disputers either University Doctors and Divines, be brought against them. Well, unto this famous act are these Commencers solemnly brought in their several attires and arrays, in their scarlet gowns, hoods, habits, caps, tippets, etc. with the Bedells proclaiming and carrying staves and maces before them, with a great troop of Graduates and Clerks following them. And thus they march thorough the streets to the place appointed and prepared for these prizes, where they have their sticklers and moderators ready to rescue, when they are in any distress and where their adversaries fight booty, being of their own confederacy. Where it is not lawful for any that will to oppose or to speak for the truth of God. Neither are these questions discussed in the English tongue before those multitude of people and strangers, but in the Latin tongue after their Syllogistical and Romish manner lest the folly of these Prophet should be laid open unto all men, and these gamesters be hissed off the Stage by the people. Thus though with many other trifling ceremonies and circumstances then either I can, or care to recite, are these Academical Divines, advanced to their degrees. Which degrees, titles, ceremonies, orders oaths vows, manner of disputations, etc. how consonant they are to the Ministry of Christ by the Apostles rules, let Master Giffard or those learned Divines approve by Christ's Testament, as it standeth them upon, that bring them in and exercise them in the Church. For ourselves we protest we never there read or heard of any such: and therefore cannot but think them fond strange, and Antichristian, such as no way belong to or beseem the Ministry of Christ, neither are necessary or tolerable in Christ's Church. Thus, even by this very brief and insufficient recital of but some of their Arts, studies, orders, degrees etc. I hope this assertion will not prove so false or incredible That the learned Ministry of the Church of England is nourished even from their cradles with the make of superstition instructed in the Schools of heathen vanity, brought up in the Collidges of more than Monkish idleness and disorder.  
For of such kind of Societies and Colleges of Ministers and Clerks, to live together after this Monastical manner, we never read in the whole Book of God. How like they are to the Schools of the Prophets at Naioth, Rama jericho let their Arts studies vows customs, orders, ceremonies, degrees disputations exercises etc. declare. And as to the holy exercise of prophecy spoken of in the new Testament, it belonged unto and always was exercised in some Christian Congregation, in a more holy, reverend, and free manner, and not after those Heathenish Popish customs above said. We in Christ's Testament never read of such a Monastical Ministry so withdrawn and sequestered from any particular Congregation, Office, Charge and Function, as these University Divines and Ministers are in their Colleges, Halls, Cells: Where they must needs live in idleness and disorder, that are thus licentiate and dissolute, that will beheld within no Christian bonds or order. We never read in Christ's Testament of any such Societies or Ministers, that lived in no particular Congregation, that were called to no particular Office, or Flock, that live idly, professing to be Ministers, and yet execute no certain Ministry or Function. When Master Giffard shall directly prove by the Scriptures these things to be lawful, then so fare forth we shall allow of these Vniversitte Divines, these Collegiate Ministers: And the rather, if he also approve by God's Word their worship in their Service-booke; and last of all (not to cumber him with their manifold other superstitious enstomes, Commemoratons, etc.) if he can show it to be lawful for any Minister or Christian to join unto and live in any such College, Society or Fellowship, where Gods holy Ordinance of honest marriage is by express law forbidden all the Fellows and Scholars of these Colleges, they being no longer to remain in that Society, than they live unmarried, I say not now chastely: For how possibly or likely that is, for so many young men in the flower of their youth and prime of their strength, especially being nuzzled in such heathen vanity profaneness, vainglory, curiosity, superstition, disorder, dissoluteness, and (as is said) contempt of God's Ordinances, let any judge: yea, let the Scripture itself judge; where God showeth the reward of these sins, how he therefore giveth them up to the lusts of their own hearts, unto uncleanness, to shameful lusts, 
Rom. 1.  contrary to nature, to work filthiness, and to dishonour their own bodies amongst themselves etc. And so until some of them can justify this their life, orders, custom, vows and proceed of these Academical Divines in their Schools and Colleges, we must number and leave them with their brethren and sisters, the Monks, Friars, Nuns, etc. under God's fearful judgements, utterly in this estate unfit for the Ministry or Church of Christ.  
Yet would I not here, that any should deem or suppose that we condemn any lawful Arts or necessary Sciences, or any holy Exercises, or Schools of institution; and so do labour to bring in barbarism, as Master Giffard, Master Some, and others have given out. No, we are so far from it, as we blame these Universities, Colleges and Schools, for their heathen, profane, superstitious unchristian societies disorders, customs, ceremonies, for their vain, curious, unlawful Arts and studies, and their manner of teaching and exercising them, etc. We desire with our whole hearts that the tongues and other godly Arts were taught not in the Universities, or a few places only, but in all places where an established Church is, at the least in every City of the land. Yet this indeed we hold, That every Christian man ought to have his abiding and dwelling, and to bring up his children in some such place where a Christian Congregation is, and that all Schools of learning ought to be kept in such places, where both Teachers and Scholars may be under the holy government and censures of Christ in his Church, and may live and be kept in holy order. Then, that the Arts and Sciences which are thus taught or studied, be not vain, curious, or unlawful but necessary and godly. Thirdly, that they be not taught, exercised or practised after any profane, vainglorious or superstitious manner, but in all sobriety, modesty, and in the fear of God. To these few rules; if their Universities, Colleges, Schools, were reform, then should they not be as they now are, the Seminaries of Antichrist, the bane of the Church, the corruption of all youth in the Land: But than should they be (that which they now pretend) the Schools of all godly learning to garnish the Church, to furnish the Commonwealth with fit and virtuous men for every place, office, and estate.  
Here they will with one voice answer, that the Universities are the Seminaries of Religion, of the Ministry of the land; the Schools and Colleges of learning wherein the sons of the Prophets are trained up as they were in Naioth, in Bethel jeriche jorusalem and Corinth.  
If the tree be known by the fruit, the Cockatrice by the poisoned Eggs the Viper by the spawn the nest by the birds; then let the Religion and Priests of the Land show what kind of Seminaries and Colleges these Universities are. If these be the best fruit and famoufest men (that are instructed in nothing but 〈◊〉 corrupt and cavil against the truth) then let them take heed for the Axe is laid to the root of the tree, etc. If also these your Universities be compared to the Cities, whither these faithful men repaired (because of these famous Prophets) to be instructed in the Laws of God, we shall find them more like to the Sodomitical Colleges and Fellowships of the Idolatrous Monks and Friors, brethren of a birth, even by both parents; then unto the holy assemblies of the Prophets. And this will appear, if we compare them either in the persons assembled, or in the manner and ends of their education and training.  
What the sons of the Prophets were, is already showed; namely, godly men that repaired to the Cities where these famous Prophets were most resident, to be instructed in the Law of God. But the persons that resort to these Universities are the children of all the profane in the Land, that repair thither to be instructed in heathen and vain Arts, whereby they may get their living; or if they study Divinity, (as they call it) they make an occupation, of it: It is but for their belly, for worldly promotion, and not for the glory of God, as the greedy seeking after their Ecclesiastical live by the one sort, the selling of their cunning, and letting forth their tongues to hire of the other sort, declareth.  
Third holy companies of Prophets mentioned in the Scriptures, were trained up in the Law of God, lived orderly in the fear of God together with their wives and families. But these Vnivensity Colleges are a miss line rout of very young men for the most part, and boys together, leading their lives in Idolaity, confusion; disorder; spending their lives if vanity, folly, idleness, living neither in the fear of God, not in an well established order of his Church, neither in any lawful calling in the Commonwealth. They are forbidden in these societies to live in holy wedlock: If he be married, he may not there enter: If he being entered marry, he may not there tarry. An endless discourse it were, but to recite their several Idolatrous profane usages mysteries, others, vows, ceremonies; all which evidently show from whence they had their original, namely, from Antichrists chair, to which they have ever served, and still maul places do serve, fight stoutly under his banner against the Faith and Church of Christ, supplying him continually with fresh soldiers to carry abroad his merchandise, and fet abroach the deceits of Satan.  
Neither are they more like unto the Churches of Christ, 
Revel 〈◊〉 1 john 〈…〉 2 Cor. 〈…〉  then unto the Schools of the Prophets: the Church of Christ is no cage of such unclean and hateful birds of their fry and offspring: the Churches of Christ have no such Colleges, Societies, Fellowships; the Churches of Christ have no such heathenish and Idolatrous customs, exercises usages, oaths, vows, ceremonies; they have no such profane Arts, 
1 Tim 〈…〉 & 4. 〈…〉 3.4.5 〈…〉 1 Tim 〈…〉 Tit. 〈…〉 1 Pet. 〈…〉 Acts 〈…〉 1 Cor. 〈…〉 Mat 〈…〉 Acts 〈…〉  vain education and literature; they have no such degrees and ostentations of learning, neither are there found either Bachelors or Doctors of Divinity. Their Pastors and Teachers are chosen for their knowledge, gravity, goodness of life; they have no such fastuous and blasphemous titles, but are called to a labour and a charge; for the faithful performance whereof, they rather desire to be commended, then to be thus greeted in the Marketplace. As they are by the Church wherein they serve, called to to this office; so are they orderly and reverently ordained by and in the same Congregation, with fasting and prayer, etc. and not arrayed in scarlet with the habit, hood, tippet, corner-cap, with their maces and beadles proclaiming before them, and such a train of the Pope's Olerks, young and old following them through the streets, till they march to the place where they play their prifes: Neither are they in this manner dubbed Doctors by the delivering a book unto them, sworn upon a book to their father's fidelity, and their mother's mysteries adopted their son by a ring and a kiss, or enthronised in a chair, with many other ceremonies, and made Doctors of Divinity, Doctors in name and title only, 
Act 〈…〉 1 〈…〉  without any certain office or Church wherein and whereunto to administer.  
For this title of Divinity, I know not how to give it unto any mortal man without blasphemy, Christ only excepted, 
Col. 〈…〉  in whom the fullness of the God head dwelleth bodily. 
Rev. 〈…〉 Rev. 〈…〉  The English of Christian Religion and Profession of the Gospel and faith of Christ, I can well away with and digest; but this English, Romish abstract of Divinity, I am assured came from the same forge that their title of the supreme Head of the Church did, and cannot with all the glosses, scholions, and learned interpretations they can devise, be made other then most high blasphemy against the sacred person of Christ, 
〈…〉  who is only universal Doctor of all his Disciples, and of all true Religion. And evil may D. S. either defend or pattern his Doctorhood by Saint Paul, who in the same verse, by him alleged, 1 Tim. 2.7. showeth a lawful calling, a lawful and certain office, and also a sincere and faithful administration thereof. But now, as Saint Paul's Apostolic office is ceased, the Church being established and delivered to other certain offices; so if Paul's Apostolic room of Doctorship (as he calleth it) were void, I suppose, D. Some not the fittest man in the world for it; although (if it be as I hear) he can be no less than an Apostle by his offices, he being a Pastor, if not a double or plurified Nonresident Pastor of many Churches; a Doctor you see by privilege and stile, and a Deacon I mean also at Ely. And what was or could any Apostle be more? Yet, seeing all these are but forged stuff, and that he hath neither any true office in the Church neither any true calling thereunto, etc. we can take him but for a false Apostle at the best, if he sit not in an Apostates chair, that I say not an Apostates gown somewhere else, and so leave him either to repentance, or to follow his predecessors to his appointed place.  
But by following this bird over fare, I had almost been trained from the nest. I was showing what little affinity there is betwixt the Churches of Christ, and these Universities, these Colleges of Clerks, these Schools of Prophets. In the churches of Christ, the names and offices of Chancellor, Vicechancellor, Commissary, Proctors, Taskers, Bedells, Provosts, Masters of Colleges, vice-Masters, Bowcer's, Deans, Fellows, etc. are all strange and unheard of; as also their several statutes, customs, ceremonies their manner of degrees, and disputing for their degrees and order of teaching, which were no small labour but to reckon up.  
All which, as they are strange to the Church of Christ, who find not in all God's Word, any of these offices, degrees, statutes, orders, customs, ceremonies, vows etc. neither any such Universities, colleges, Societies of Scholars; so (seeing they have no ground in the Word of God, no fellowship or communion with the Church) I see not why they should have any more toleration than their elder brethren the Monks, who every way had as great show of holiness and colour of utility to the Church as they, or these other Cathedral Collegiate dens have, yea, and might both as soon and as well have been purged of their Mass and Latine-service, as these are: so that the same end that is besalne the one remaineth the other. The Lord is not pleased with any voluntary Religion. That building that hath not the Word of God for the foundation, though it be daubed with never so great cunning and learning, 
〈…〉  and undershored with never so great policy and power, though it be built as high as Babel, yet shall it assuredly fall, and the greater shall be the fall thereof. As there is no building without the Word of God for the foundation; so is there no fellowship or communion out of the Church of God. And therefore no such consused Colleges, no such Idolatrous assemblies as are not gathered unto Christ, but unto Antichrist, as live not in that Christian order and fellowship which Christ hath appointed to all his servants in his Church, but lead their lives in Antichristian disorder, in Babylonish, if not Sodomitish confusion; no such heathen Schools wherein youth is not trained up in the fear, knowledge and order of Christ, but in vain Arts, 
Ephes 〈◊〉 Prov. 〈◊〉  superstition, Idolatry, disorder, etc. have any foundation in the Word of God, any fellowship with or allowance in the Church of God.  
But here will the University Knights draw me within the compass of these two absurdities: First, that I condemn all good Arts and Literature; then, that I quite drive them out of the world by taking away the Schools of the same, wherein youth might be trained and brought up.  
Nothing less, I with my whole heart allow of any Art or Science that is consonant to the Word of God, and to the Doctrine which is according to godliness; only the curious and heathen Arts profane and vain babble and oppositions of Science falsely so called, which they profess, and wherewith they poison and corrupt all the youth of the Land I abhor, because God condemnech.  
As  Schools to teach the Tongues or any laudable or necessary Art, I wish them in abundance; that if it were possible, not only the youth, but even the whole Church might be trained therein: I with my whole heart wish that all the Lords people were Prophets: such an enemy am I to the true knowledge and learning that I would not have it any longer kept secret in a mystery, but even proclaimed upon the house top in every Cit., and in every street; yet still and ever with this caution, that these Schools both be in an established Church (I mean in such places where the Saints live together in the faith order obedience and communion of Christ) and not in such Monkish, Idolatrous confused idle, profane Colleges and Fellowships as theirs are: Likewise, that the Tongues or Sciences be here taught in an holy, sanctified, reverend grave manner, and not in such an unsanctified vain manner as they use: So shall the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters that cover the sea: for in the Church of Christ are all his springs enclosed which by this means should run at every conduct and water the whole land abundantly, whereas now they lie in miserable darkness, wholly overgrown with brambles and briers.  
And surely, I even with marvel wonder, how these men can be so blinded to compare these wicked Idolatrous societies, to the assemblies of the Prophets or unto the Church of Christ, when you see they have nothing common with them, or like unto them, either in the people assembled, Doctrine taught, manner of teaching and learning, or order of life; when they utterly want warrant in the Word of God for such kind of Colleges, Societies and Schools, these having been derived either from the Heathens, Egyptians, Greeks', Persians, that had their peculiar Colleges and Schools to their peculiar Sects, or else have issued out of the smoke of Antichrists inventions out of the bottomless pit. They always have been, and still are the very hives and nurseries of these armed poisoned Locusts and venomous Scorpions, I mean, either that false Ministry of Antichrist, even all the governing and teaching Priests as Cardinals, Archbishop. Bish. Suffragans, Archdeacon's, Chancellors, Commissaries, Civil Doctors, Advocates, Proctors, Vagrant, roving Ministers and Preachers, parish Priests, etc. or those counterfeit religious hypocrites, Monks, Friars, Nuns, Clerks, or (as we now of late call them) Scholars. All which have in innumerable multitudes from time to time, and at all times swarmed and issued out of these hives into the face of the whole earth, corrupting and destroying every green thing, poisoning the pure founraines of God's Word with their accursed glosses, deep learning, subtle and figurative interpretations, darkening the sun and infecting the air therewith; as also with the blasphemous traditions of their King Apolluon that Angel of the bottomless pit. They have always most pestilently fought under this their Captain against the Lamb, his Gospel and Church, plentifully furnishing and continually supplying all the offices and rooms belonging to that huge Midianitish Host of Antichrist: the Leaders, Captains, and Officers whereof, are, and ever have been, wholly taken out of these Seraliaes; even from the Pope's person to the lowest Priest.  
How they are reform by having this English portesse their service-booke in stead of their old mass-book, may partly by that which is above written concerning the same, appear: but more manifestly, by taking a view of foam of the blasphemous Idolatrous customs which still remain in practice with them in the same manner, as they did under the Pope: all or any of which it is not here my purpose any further to describe. It sufficeth me to have showed them to be confused, Idotrous, unchristian, unlawful assemblies and societies; so fare from being to be compared unto, or justified by the assemblies of the Prophets or that heavenly exercise of prophecy now in the Church of Christ, as they are not to be suffered in a Christian Commonwealth. And therefore here again once more I conclude, that both these ungodly assemblies, as also the Cathedral Dens and Colleges, aught by as good right to be abolished, as their other brethrens and sisters of a birth, the Monasteries and Nunneries are, seeing they all want foundation in the Word, had one and the same hellish original, had and these still retain the same blasphemous incurable abuses, which can by no way be reform but by their utter dissolution.  
FINIS.   

A PROTESTANTS ACCOUNT Of His Orthodox Holding in Matters of Religion, at this present in difference in the CHURCH: For his own and others better confirmation or rectification in the points treated on, Humbly submitted to the censure of the Church of ENGLAND.  
Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to the University of Cambridge. 1642.  
And are to be sold by John Milleson, Stationer over against great St. Maries in Cambridge.