FIVE looks Over the PROFESSORS of the ENGLISH BIBLE. Wherein is showed the infinite indiscreet Invention, of inconsiderate, inveterate dissension, about the exaltation of the Propagation of that Gospel, which we all say, we do profess to believe. Whereunto is added, the English Protestants Resolution. Published by LEVEK HUNARRY. Whilst we about nice points of Scripture strive, The Pope would us quite of the Scripture shrive. Novem.. 9. London Printed for George Lindsey. 1642 Five looks over the Professors of the English Bible. The emblem which you see on the title of this Book, doth very fitly represent unto the view of all m●…n, the present condition of the Church of England, as it now is full of distraction, and trouble. In the view whereof, whosoever pleaseth to 〈◊〉 their eyes on the Bible; as it there stands opened (which is verb●…m Dei, God's o●… world revealed unto us, to teach us, for the salvation of our soul) to be veiled with so black a mist, that there is now great difficulty found in the true reading thereof; even as there was many difficulties under the Law, till the 〈◊〉 was taken away, so is there now so great a veil, or rather vanity, of humorous ●…nventions under the gospel at this day in the Church of England, that (whi●… they remain) t●…e true Protestant Religion, is exceeding diffic●… to be ●…uly pro●…essed. Is it not 〈◊〉 miserable thing that when England is at peace with all the world▪ she should th●… quarr●… with herself? and labour with the Spider to weave out her own bowe●…ls▪ what England that h●…th the most absolute Prince of Piety in 〈◊〉 the world! art th●…u so ev●… to be at enmi●…y with thyself? thou that hast called the wi●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ever ●…ate; art tho●…●…ed? thou that h●…st the 〈◊〉 preac●…d ●…o ●…rely to ●…e, art thou so rude! Oh E●… the g●…y of the world▪ 〈◊〉 thou make thy se●…e the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉▪ what wan●…●…ou (that o●…her Na●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do thee good! or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou desire more o●… God, th●…n he hath done for thee▪ O then take heed poor Engla●…●…at t●…u dost not pr●…ke God to leave thee, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ove from thee: lo●…●…e tr●…▪ 〈◊〉 peace, and learn 〈◊〉 ●…rve God. I. On the right hand at the bottom of the Picture, you may behold an Anabaptist, laying claim to the Bible with one hand, and holding an Olive branch in the other; his laying hold to pull the Bible to him, doth show that he makes Religion his pr●…tence, and desires the Bible to be the judge of his cause: And the Olive branch in the other hand doth declare unto us that great maxim of their doctrine: for the Anabaptiss teach, that whereas they seek to have a government of the Church in England, to be as it is in Holland, by Lay Elders independent to the Church of England, and that none but believers shall be of their congregation; nor infants baptised until they can give a reason of their faith &c. yet they hold it not lawful to seek it by the sword by blood, or by disobeying authority: but on●…ly to use the lawful spiritual arms and weapons of a Christian, namely faith and patience, and by prayers to call upon God that it may be so. II. The Picture at the foot on the left hand of this Emblem doth likewise demonstrate unto us, that the Brownists do●… also pretend Religion for all their tenants, actions, ways, who are verily persuaded that they are the true Church and therefore do admit no unsanctified person to be of their congregation, they desire to have liberty of conscience, to serve God without Ceremonies, or precepts of men▪ & to the end they may not be hindered; they desire an independent Church where they may freely assemble, & exercise after their own discipline, in the pursuit whereof▪ the club that is in his hand doth show that he will fight for the Religion which he profess●…th; and though he suffer never so much for his conscience, yet i●… he no whit discouraged thereat▪ but counts ●…t 〈◊〉 ●…our to suffer for Religion, being mightily persuaded that all who ar●… not of his opinion▪ are ungodly and reprobates. III. The great Ar●…an, that stands on the left hand of the E●…eme doth show by his pulling of the Bible, that he 〈◊〉 pretends to seek to do all thing●… according to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God; and these tenants he stands out stoutly for, viz. 1 That Bishops, be they never so wicked, are Iure Divino. 2 That the government of the Church of England, as it now stands by Archbishops, Bishops, &c. is so holy a government, that it is a sin to alter it. 3 That the discipline which the Prelates establish, be it what it will, is Iure Divino. 4 That all the Ceremonies of the Church of England, bind the consciences of the people to be subdued under them. 5. That Christ is not originally God, some of them have taught. 6. That the Scriptures are not the only means, concerning God, of all that profitably we know, and that therefore we must build our faith on that construction which the Prelates of the Church make of the Scripture, to prevent private construction thereof: as the Bishop of York's chaplain, and divers others have affirmed. 7. That man's will is apt naturally, (without grace) to take or refuse any particular object, whatsoever presented unto it; and so consequently to believe, that men's natural works, or to do that which Nature telleth us (without grace) must needs be acceptable to God; as some of our Bishops have taught. 8. That the Word of God can not assure us, that it is the Word of God, and from thence to draw arguments to take all things upon trust from the Church, whatsoever they establish. How dangerous this doctrine is to overthrow the Fundamentals, and principles of a Christians faith, let all men judge? 9 That a man may do works, in themselves absolutely good, and acceptable in the sight of God, as they all maintain. 10 That the Minister hath power to absolve sin verily, and indeed, where according to his judgement he finds a person, as he conceives to repent, and believe; a proud Arogan●…. 11 That a Minister hath power to damn a man that is not conformable to the Ceremonies of the Church: as a Lecturer in Cornhill, and others have taught. 12 That to be preserved from all sin in this life, is not impossible. 13 That the Church of Rome (as it now standeth) is the family of Christ, and some members of that Church amongst us, are the Kings best subjects, as Master Squire of Shoreditch, and others have preached. 14 That Idolatrous wicked heretics are members of the visible Church, if they be not excommunicated, as it hath been often taught in Paul's by some of the Arminians. 15 That there is in Orders given an indelible Character. 16 That we ought to receive the Communion upon an Altar, and not on a Table. 17 That the real presence of Christ is visible in the Bread and Wine after Consecration. 18 That the Latin Service ought to be in Churches, as it began to be used in S. John's college in Cambridge. 19 That Sacraments do give and confer grace, and are instruments of Justification, that they are as necessary in their place, and no less required than belief itself; as they often have declared in their Sermons. 20 That Sunday is no Sabbath, as Doctor Poclington hath writ. These and many other things have they laboured to bring into the Church, contrary both to the Scripture, and the true Protestant Religion, professed and taught in the Church England, Scotland, and all other Reformed Churches. The Sword which the Arminian beareth in his hand doth show, that he is a man that delighteth in blood, who for the a●…ncing of his own humour, cares not how much blood is spilled. The Arminian in a word) is one, who having gotten both Swords into his hands over the Protestants; would soon fight for the Pope with the one, and against the Protestant with the other; he is like the Tartars, to the O●… House amongst the Turks, and fights for Rome, expecting to be a Roman; I pray God root them out of the Church of England, and grant us peace. iv. On the right side of the Picture you may see an honest-hearted Protestant weeping; whose tender eyes send forth abundance of tears meekly kneeling upon his knees▪ who being grieved to see Religion clouded thus by cavilling, ●…ee labours to know God truly out of his holy word, ●…nd therefore labours to remove the veil, that obscures it from our eyes, he is not grieved for himself alone, but for the dishonour done to God, neither doth he weep because he is grieved, but because the Church of God is so distracted; he ●…lies not to men, but to God, prayeth not for blood, but peace; being grieved to see poor England thus languish. V. The Pope which you see behind the Bible, doth the●… unto us what a danger the Church of God may be exposed to (if God do not help us) for the Pope is glad of these distractions amongst us, and would now take the opportunity to snatch away the Bible from us; he would fain take our Religion away; but we hope to send him back again to R●…e with a powder; not like that in the Bishop's Canons, 〈◊〉 with nothing but Paper▪ but the sword of the Spirit of God, with which we hope he (both root and branch) will be utterly rooted out of the Church of England, which God grant. Amen. The Protestants Resolution. OH England, thou that 〈◊〉 so rich, and happy Nation, God c●…ls on th●…e, and offers Love, Peace, and Salvation; G●…d ●…okes from heaven high, beholding every thing, F●…ll d●…e and pray aloud, the Lord bless Charles 〈◊〉 King. Religion in thy Churches hath been taught ●…ost free, A●…ve this fourscore years, and still it is ●…e ●…e, S●… that the Romish Rabble, have not power 〈◊〉 bring Th●…ir doctrine in, then pray, the Lord bless Charles our King. L●…ng time this Land hath now been filled with peace and plenty, Now we are full, do we forget? are we so dainty, That we shall quite neglect ourselves? no I will sing, Whilst I have days to live, the Lord bless Charles our King. King Charles, thou art a royal Prince, and does ●…are To all the world, thy goodness, virtue, love, and care, All Princes stand amazed to hear thy praise to r●…g, Al●… true hearts daily pray, the Lord bless Charles 〈◊〉 King▪ 〈◊〉 is a blessing great that God ●…th England sent To t●…ee so grave, so godly, wise, a Parliament; C●…England more desire, than thus in every thing, Blessed to be, Oh pray, the Lord bless Charles our King. Oh England, would to God, thou d●…st consider well, Th●… ev●…, where home War, hath to the Church befell, Nothing b●…●…w and misery it still doth bring, Then pray for 〈◊〉, and say, the Lord bless Charles our King. Come let us all ●…plore, and pray to God for peace, That all domestic wars, and troubles soon may ●…ase, Amen, Amen, O Lord, Oh let u●… always sing, And pray with all our hearts, the Lord bless Charles our King. Amen. The Protestants Sacrifice. Oh Lord my God for Engl●…nd I ●…mplore, Which in thy Wrath thou now hast wounded s●…re, Thy will be done, Lord we submit, For Mercy Lord, 〈◊〉 make us fit, That we may live, And prays●…s give, To thee always, Oh hear our prayer, And do us spare, That are but ●…lay, O send us peace good God, Remove thy heavy rod, And r●…concile us unto thee, An happy union let us s●…, Lord give us all g●…●…o rep●…nt, and bless 〈◊〉 King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. FINIS.